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| November 05, 2005 News |
| EKN Trackside: USSC National Championship Runoffs – Saturday Report |
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 | Earning his first win of the season was FE driver Chris Taylor
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
The chase for the national championship continued at Road Atlanta today with the running of the U.S. Superkart Championship Prefinal. After a full day of practice and qualifying on Friday, the superkarts hit the track in the fourth group of the day, running their 30-minute Prefinal at the same time as the main events for the Formula 125, Formula 100 and WKA Unlimited categories. Heading into the event, which will set the grid for the final tomorrow afternoon, the defending champions looked to have things in control. Reigning Formula E champ J.R. Osborne (Stockman) and ICE titliest Andy Kiker (Anderson) each led the way in Friday qualifying and were scheduled to start from the inside of the front row of their respective classes in today’s session.
Osborne would not take his position at the start, however, having repaired the broken component on his primary car’s BRC powerplant, a problem that put him in the back-up for yesterday’s timed session. The Colorado driver had qualified his T-Car – a Yamaha TZ-powered P1 - for the race and by swapping back to his number one ride, he was forced to start at the tail of the field. This allowed primary challenger Derek Eastty (Nemesis) to take the lead at the green flag and he was followed into turn one by Chris Taylor (Turfrey). Johnny West assumed third in his Stockman while Kiker bolted into the ICE lead as well, leading Jim Ingram (PVP) and Ryen Miller (PVP).
 | Nemesis Superkarts' Derek Eastty finished his first race with the FPE powerplant
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
Through the first half of the race, Eastty set the pace as he pulled out a considerable gap over Taylor. Osborne would not be a factor as a motor issue kept him from running at 100%, so the team used the session to get everything squared away by running several short stints in an effort to diagnose the problem. For Eastty, it was smooth sailing as he stretched his lead gap.
Attrition was a big factor in the run, as Osborne was joined on the sidelines by fellow FE drivers West (broken spindle), Reggie Brown (fuel pump) and Jim Brannon (motor). In ICE, Kiker’s competition dropped out in droves as well as Randy Domikis was the first to retire, out due to a blown crank seal after just one lap. Ingram started second despite not posting a qualifying time (no transponder), as both the series officials and his competitors okayed his MyChron times to be used to set the grid. The Texan was fast and chased Kiker early, but he, too, went out when a broken steering shaft sent him straight off in turn one. Ingram’s PVP came to a stop before the retaining wall, and he was forced to watch the rest of the Prefinal from behind the fence.
As the laps wound down, Eastty would see his lead disappear with five to go when the spark plug wire come off one of the cylinders on his FPE. He was able to get it back on the first time, but the problem continued, as he was forced to limp to the finish, shocking himself with every plug wire re-installation. This issue allowed Taylor to close and take over the lead, which he would hold to the checker. Eastty was able to finish and took second, and he will start alongside Taylor on the front row for tomorrow’s main event. Marc Croslyn (PVP) took third ahead of Loren Feldner (P-1) and they will occupy the second row while Osborne will start fifth, benefiting from the immense attrition and his competition of 11 laps.
 | The fast three in ICE - Kiker, Ingram, and Miller
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
In ICE, Kiker’s only competition came at the start of the race when Miller took over the top spot with a strong move into turn one, getting by both Ingram then Kiker with the move. Kiker was back by a lap later after taking the lead on the backshute and he would not be challenged again. Ingram pushed hard and stayed within visual distance but he would end up in the gravel rap, as previously detailed. Miller put in a solid performance to take second ahead of Bobby Butler (PVP). Ingram’s front-running pace put him far enough ahead of his competition to take fourth thanks to the attrition, while Sid Swift rounded out the top five. At this point, Kiker looks untouchable in the ICE showdown as his Anderson-built Honda CR250 is running clean and his PVP is enjoying a solid set-up. When asked in the paddock after the race, Kiker told EKN that they were going to “leave it alone”.
The championship final is set to run with group five tomorrow afternoon and EKN will have a full report tomorrow evening. The team will be setting up in J.R. Osborne’s pit area this evening for the second installment of the EKN Trackside Live ‘Happy Hour’ with a special U.S. Superkart Championship edition. The guests on the docket include Osborne and BRC Race Engineering’s Riley Will. In addition, tomorrow’s main event race call by SKI Editor Rob Howden will be posted on the site and made available for our readership. Stay tuned as the battle for the national championships are going to be exciting. |
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