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| March 14, 2006 News |
| EKN Trackside: Stars Race of the Americas Preview – JICA |
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 | Jacob Neal
(Photo: SKI) |
With the program dropping of the 80cc Junior division this year, the Junior Intercontinental A (JICA) is the lone Junior class on the Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by the IRL series in 2006. With only four of the top ten from last year returning and good crop of Cadet drivers moving up to the JICA division, the 2006 class will be one to watch every Stars weekend.
The top returning driver in 2006 will be PCH Motorsports' Jacob Neal (CRG/High-Rev Parilla). The Californian finished out the 2005 season strong, winning the Stars National Finals before spending a few weeks at the CRG factory during the winter months. At the 11th annual Winter Cup at the South Garda Karting Circuit, Neal had qualified in the top ten out of 100 drivers before getting bounced in the tech barn for being five grams too light, an impressive run nonetheless. Brendan Langlois (Maranello/Parilla) had an impressive run at the Stars National Finals and Winter Cup as well. In 2006, Langlois finished fifth overall in JICA and will look to contend for the national championship this year.

 | Brendan Langlois
(Photo: SKI) |
After taking the Western Division JICA championship last season, Bret Smrz made the switch to the FirstKart.com team for the 2006 season. He claimed two Florida Winter Tour championships this off-season in the JICA and Rotax Junior divisions, giving him plenty of seat time and confidence heading into Norman this weekend. Another driver who impressed everyone at the SKUSA SuperNationals in November was Connor DePhillippi (KRT/High-Rev Parilla). The young pilot dominated both the JICA and 80 Junior divisions and will look to contend for the JICA championship against this tough field.
Other drivers looking to mix up the front of the JICA field include Italian Motors Hayden Duerson (Italkart/IM Parilla), Kart Racing Technologies Scott Rossi (KRT/High-Rev Parilla), Christian Stover (Tony Kart/Parilla), who is returning with Tony Kart USA, and J3 Competition’s Richard Benitez (Kosmic/Parilla).
With the New Year comes the new drivers making the move up the ranks from the Cadet division. This year's crop sees a stellar group of young drivers making the jump. Five pilots that should stand-out in 2006 include Miles Maroney (KRT/High-Rev Parilla), Gustavo Menezes (Tony Kart/Parilla), Taylor Miinch (Birel/High-Rev Parilla), Brendan “Mini” Phinny (Birel/Parilla), and Zach Zimmerly (Intrepid/Champion Parilla).
With over 50 driver already entered to compete this weekend, there will be no room for error if a driver wants to make it to the Final on Sunday to have a chance at the Race of the Americas win, which will no doubt jump-start someone's national championship hunt.
JICA - Unofficial Entry List - as of March 10
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine| 3 | Jacob Neal | PCH Motorsports | CRG | Parilla | | 6 | Brett Smrz | FirstKart.com | First Kart | Parilla | | 10 | Hayden Duerson | Italian Motors | Italkart | Italian Motors Parilla | | 300 | Connor DePhillippi | Kart Racing Technologies | KRT | High-Rev Parilla | | 302 | Chemill Mercado-Melendes | Champion Racing | Intrepid | Champion Parilla | | 307 | Mikael Grenier | PSL Karting | CRG | Parilla | | 309 | Victor Carbone | Kart Racing Technologies | KRT | NA | | 310 | Conor Daly | Cytomax Daly | Margay | Parilla | | 311 | Miles Maroney | Kart Racing Technologies | KRT | High-Rev Parilla | | 312 | Addison Rayner | Cameron Motorsports | CRG | High-Rev Parilla | | 313 | Nigel Saurino | Team Saurino | Arrow | Parilla | | 315 | Scott Rossi | Kart Racing Technologies | KRT | High-Rev Parilla | | 316 | David Ostella | Cameron Motorsports | CRG | Parilla | | 317 | Joey Licata Jr. | TNR Kartsports | Biesse | Parilla | | 318 | Christian Stover | Tony Kart USA | Tony Kart | Parilla | | 319 | Nicky Freytag | Champion Racing | Intrepid | Parilla | | 320 | Taylor Miinch | Miinch Motorsports | Birel | High-Rev Parilla | | 321 | Mitchell Egner | True North Motorsports | First Kart | Parilla | | 322 | Victor Cabrera Jr. | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Parilla | | 323 | Brendan Langlois | Nevoso Kart | Maranello | Parilla | | 323 | Arie Ouimet | SSC East | CRG | Parilla | | 325 | Spencer Raine | Euro Kart Racing | Swiss Hutless | CMC Parilla | | 327 | Angel Caban | Champion Racing | Intrepid | Parilla | | 328 | Gustavo Menezes | Tony Kart USA | Tony Kart | Parilla | | 331 | William Tenney | Nevoso Kart | Maranello | High-Rev Parilla | | 333 | Kenny Riedman | 3-S Go-Karts | Birel | Parilla | | 337 | Tyler Wheeler | Overdrive Motorsports | PCR | Parilla | | 339 | Corey Lewis | Team OVRP.com | TopKart | High-Rev Parilla | | 340 | Adam Zeen | G-Phactory | Intrepid | Champion Parilla | | 345 | Martin Mohlin | Kart Mini | Kart Mini | Italian Motors Parilla | | 348 | Richard Benitez | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Parilla | | 350 | Josef Newgarden | Robo Pong Racing | Gillard | Parilla | | 357 | Kyle Shriver | Ewald Racing | Maranello | Parilla | | 358 | Sergio Pena | Nevoso Kart | Maranello | Parilla | | 359 | Adrian Figueroa | Champion Racing | Intrepid | Parilla | | 360 | Jerimy Daniel | SH Karting | Tony Kart | Parilla | | 363 | Garrison Masters | PCH Motorsports | CRG | Parilla | | 365 | Bryce Cornet | Champion Racing | Intrepid | Champion Parilla | | 366 | Max Riddle | True North Motorsports | First Kart | Parilla | | 367 | Andrick Zeen | G-Phactory | Intrepid | Champion Parilla | | 369 | Brendan Phinny | MRP-Birel AMERICA | Birel | Parilla | | 377 | Dusty Davis | NA | Maranello | Parilla | | 385 | Felice Snider | Champion Racing | Intrepid | NA | | 387 | Jose Antonio Zanella | Naka Racing | CRG | Parilla | | 392 | Michael Hogg | Italian Motors | Italkart | Italian Motors Parilla | | 393 | Derek Wagner | Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | High-Rev Parilla | | 394 | Zach Zimmerly | Champion Racing/ZachZimmerly.com | Intrepid | Champion Parilla | | 395 | Hayden Ritter | Italian Motors | Italkart | Parilla | | 396 | Timmy Bachman | PKS | TopKart | Fleming Parilla | | 397 | Andres Lopez | Miami Karting Club | Birel | Parilla | | 398 | Andrew Zimmer | Italian Motors | Italkart | Italian Motors TM | | 399 | Evan Walters | NA | Intrepid | Parilla | | |
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