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| June 14, 2005 News |
| Black Rock Summer Shootout – Finals Report |
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 | Alex Speed's (1) pass of Jason Bowles (11) was the decisive moment in the Pro ICC Final
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
The battle for supremacy in the ICC class here in the United States continued between Alex Speed (Birel) and Jason Bowles (Tony Kart) Sunday at the Black Rock Summer Shootout in Salt Lake City, Utah. In a day marked by runaway wins in the other four classes, the Pro ICC Final came down to the last couple corners as Bowles tried to best Speed and take home bragging rights along with $5,000.
The race – the last of the day in the tightly scheduled Sunday of main events - started with Bowles taking the lead from his outside row one starting position. Speed slotted into second while polesitter JJ McTiernan (Tony Kart) dropped back all the way to fifth. Speed hounded Bowles in the opening laps and found his way past about five laps into the race.
Bowles didn’t give up and kept his Tony Kart close over the course of the remaining 20 laps. As was the case Saturday, it looked as if Bowles kart was much better under braking in a few key corners but Speed’s Birel/SwedeTech TM was quicker coming out of the corners.
Slotting in behind the leaders were Gary Carlton (Trackmagic), Bonnier Moulton (Tony Kart) and McTiernan. Over the course of the run, McTiernan would recover from his slow start to take over the third spot where he finished. Moulton and Carlton ended the day in fourth and fifth.
On the final lap, Bowles had drawn close to Speed but it didn’t look like he would be close enough to try a move. With just a few corners to go and with $5,000 on the line, Bowles threw his Tony Kart into the right-hander turn 11 hoping for the best. He drew along side Speed but was unable to complete the pass. Speed crossed the stripe first with Bowles in second place.
 | Chris Farrell celebrates a solid win at Black Rock
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
In the 125 Masters class, Chris Farrell (Tony Kart) completed what he began at last year’s race, and took home the big win. Last year in the combined 125 expert class, Farrell had a sizeable lead but a late-race lapse in concentration caused him to loop his kart allowing Tyler Dueck to sneak through for the win. This year there were no problems for Farrell and he cruised to a 9.3 second win over Kelly Baker (Trackmagic) while Randy Mitchell (Tony Kart) was third in the race. Back in fourth and fifth were Chris Livingston (Italkart) and Craig Sender (Top Kart).
Taking a runaway win in the Rotax International category was Wes Phillips (CRG) as he led the Final flag-to-flag. The best action was for second between Moulton and Sean Gilmartin (CRG). The two swapped the position a couple times during the race but in the end, it was the older, more experienced Moulton taking the higher step on the podium. Andrew Weber (CRG) finished in fourth while Eddie Olpin (Tony Kart) was fifth.
 | Andy Seesemann was the man in Rotax Masters
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
Reigning Rotax Max Masters National Champion Andy Seesemann (Birel) showed why he holds the title driving a solid race to claim victory at Black Rock. The Full Throttle Karting owner drove deep into the first corner to take the early lead with Bob Naylor (Monza) close behind. During the middle sections of the race, Naylor looked like he might be able to make a run at the lead but eventually, Seesemann began pulling away. It ended with the Birel 3.4 seconds ahead. Coming home third was Gary Persner (CRG) with Derek Murdock (Birel) and Joe Cloward (Birel) rounding out the top five.
After coming up short in Rotax Junior last year, Michael Self (Birel) was the dominant driver in the class at Black Rock. Last year, the youngster from Salt Lake City made a daring attempt for the lead that saw him end the race in the gravel trap. This year, he needed no such heroics as he drove away from the field building up a 14 second cushion on the second place finisher Austin Isaac. Nearly seven seconds behind Isaac was third place finisher David Chapel (CRG). Rounding out the top five were Keenan Schmitke (Invader) and Beau Newhouse (GP).
At the end of the day, race organizers doled out the promised big purses in the each of the classes. It was a fairly good day’s racing where those who came to watch – and there were a few spectators – were treated to the best race at the end of the day. With Black Rock Raceway headed for the history books, there will be no more Black Rock Summer Shootouts, it remains to be seen if there will be a similar event next year at the kart track at Miller Motorsports Park.
Final Results
Pro ICC
| Pos | # | Name | Chassis/Engine | Best Lap| 1. | 1 | Alex Speed | Birel/SwedeTech TM | 48.759 | | 2. | 11W | Jason Bowles | Tony Kart/Vortex | 48.8 | | 3. | 6 | JJ McTiernan | Tony Kart/Vortex | 48.766 | | 4. | 49 | Bonnier Moulton | Tony Kart/Vortex | 48.906 | | 5. | 27 | Gary Carlton | Trackmagic/TM | 49.017 | |
125 Masters
| Pos | # | Name | Chassis/Engine | Best Lap| 1. | 58U | Chris Farrell | Tony Kart/DDR Honda | 49.291 | | 2. | 4Z | Kelly Baker | Trackmagic/APD Honda | 50.124 | | 3. | 46U | Randy Mitchell | Tony Kart/Vortex | 50.214 | | 4. | 5 | Chris Livingston | Italkart/Italian Motors TM | 50.044 | | 5. | 45 | Craig Sender | Top Kart/CRE Honda | 50.186 | |
Rotax International
| Pos | # | Name | Chassis | Best Lap| 1. | 6 | Wes Phillips | CRG | 51.752 | | 2. | 4 | Bonnier Moulton | Tony Kart | 51.837 | | 3. | 47 | Sean Gilmartin | CRG | 51.843 | | 4. | 17 | Andrew Weber | CRG | 51.844 | | 5. | 62 | Eddie Olpin | Tony Kart | 52.335 | |
Rotax Masters
| Pos | # | Name | Chassis | Best Lap| 1. | 51 | Andy Seesemann | Birel | 53.034 | | 2. | 8 | Bob Naylor | Monza | 53.021 | | 3. | 7X | Gary Pesner | CRG | No time | | 4. | 24 | Derek Murdock | Birel | 53.163 | | 5. | 11 | Joe Cloward | Birel | 53.388 | |
Rotax Junior
| Pos | # | Name | Chassis | Best Lap| 1. | 28U | Michael Self | Birel | 52.009 | | 2. | 70 | Austin Isaac | NA | 52.688 | | 3. | 44 | David Chapel | CRG | 52.859 | | 4. | 32 | Keenan Schmitke | Invader | 52.781 | | 5. | 9 | Beau Newhouse | GP | 52.909 | |
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