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| July 30, 2006 News |
| EKN Trackside: Barber Pro Kart Invitational - Sunday Report |
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 | Nemesis pilot Derek Eastty dominated the Formula E division
(Photo: Dennis Lathem - photobama.com) |
Over 100 karts took to the 2.4-mile Barber Motorsports Park circuit as the warm-up event for the Grand American Rolex Series Porsche 250 when the Big South Road Racing Series hosted the Pro Kart Invitational presented by Dunlop Tires this pasr weekend. Nemesis Superkarts pilot Derek Eastty took home the big victory of the day as he dominated the United States Superkart Championship Formula E division, bagging the overall victory in the process.
Early morning Qualifying was cancelled after a hard rainfall went across the area, finishing up during the Grand Am warm-up. During the hour lunch break and quiet time, the track was able to dry up as the sunshine and humidity returned to the Birmingham, Ala facility.
With Qualifying being cancelled, the drivers lined up according to how they registered. At the drop of the green, the field of 28 USSC 250cc shifter karts went four wide heading into the downhill turn one. Fortunately, all the drivers made it through and began dicing around for the entire opening lap. As they came by to cross the line for the first time, reigning FE champ Johnny West (MSR/Honda RS) led the field down the frontstretch. The next time by, Eastty was at the point and he never looked back.
After three laps, West’s transmission failed and left him on the side of the track for the remainder of the race. This left a great battle for second between Reggie Brown Jr. (P-1/BRC250FE) and Chris Taylor (Turfrey/Yamaha TZ). Though Brown’s engine was not running as he hoped, he was able to hold off Taylor for the runner-up spot with Taylor rounding out the podium.
 | ICE pilots Andy Kiker and Jim Ingram put on a great show again with Kiker coming out in P1
(Photo: Dennis Lathem - photobama.com) |
In Intercontinental E, Andy Kiker (Anderson/Honda CR) again took the win, extending his streak to seven straight Final victories, dating back to Road America of 2005. It was, however, a battle as Jim Ingram (PVP/GasGas) was again attached to Kiker’s rear bumper, as he has been all season. The two mixed in with the Brown/Taylor fight until Brown put a gap on the rest of them, leaving Taylor and Kiker fighting for the third overall spot. Ingram was there for most of the 18 laps but traffic killed his momentum a few times, dropping him back a few seconds. Kiker settled in for the fourth overall spot as the checkered flag fell, claiming the ICE victory. Ingram cruised to second while USSC rookie Jason Slahor (Colbalt/Yamaha YFZ) earned his second straight podium finish.
Mike Spear Jr. (Emmick/Pavesi) dominated the Super Kart Illustrated Formula 125 Enduro Challenge, leading flag-to-flag in the 17-lap event. Running lap times similar to the April event, he went unchallenged to take the win by 31-seconds. Scott Fiesler (Emmick/West Racing Honda RS) was running second until he went off track, dropping back to fourth behind Mitch White (Emmick/SwedeTech Pavesi). He was able to work his way back up to second in front of Brian Wilhelm (Owl/SwedeTech Pavesi) until Wilhelm set him up for a last lap pass for the runner-up spot, putting Fiesler third on the podium.
Also in the fast Group 1 were the WKA classes of Unlimited and Formula 100. Gary Slahor took the Unlimited class win by 19-seconds over Griff Goad and race director Robby Harper. The Scavuzzo brothers of Johnny and Richard Scavuzzo took the top two spots in Formula 100 with Scott Campbell grabbing the final podium.
 | It was a CMC-Swiss Hutless 1-2 finish for Rob Morris and Brent Harper in 125cc Sprint Shifter
(Photo: Dennis Lathem - photobama.com) |
The first race for the karts was Group 2 as the sit-up classes took the track first and put on a great show. As did Group 1, Group 2 was lined up according to entry and they made for some great passing manuevers in the opening laps. During the early portion of the 125cc Sprint Shifter 16-lap event, Canadian Trevor Hill (All Kart) controlled P1 as the rest of the field sorted itself out. As the race was reaching the half-way point, a four-kart lead pack formed around Hill as Talon Craft and CMC/Swiss Hutless drivers Brent Harper and Rob Morris joined the fight. The four swapped positions multiple times each lap as they fought through heavy traffic. In the end, it was traffic that helped Morris open up a lead on the final lap and cruising to the victory. Harper was able to beat Hill to the line by 0.046 seconds with Craft in tow.
Along with the 125cc shifters, the Spec 125 Sprint and 80cc Junior Shifters hit the track with Trevor’s brother Travis taking the Spec victory by 36-seconds over Jered Hodgkins and James Gutierrez, who was making his second ever kart event, while Luke Canizales went unchallenged in 80 Junior as Kari Summers only completed 1 lap.
The USSC group will now head to Utah for the USSC National Runoffs to be held at Miller Motorsports Park on August 18-20 as the East will meet the West to decide the National Champions in both FE and ICE, who will have earned the right to carry the US title plate throughout 2007.
For full results visit the Event Page |
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