|
 |
|
 |
| January 27, 2008 News |
| Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - Willow Springs Sunday Report |
| Article by: SHIFT Communications Group |
Oh, yes…rain, and lots of it
Sunday dawned bright and sunny after an overnight rain storm, giving hope for another dry day of Rotax racing. While the practice and qualifying sessions were all run in dry weather, dark clouds looming in the distance during Dave’s Performance Rotax Masters qualifying became a full downpour before the session was over.
It made for a markedly different show from the Saturday events, with decidedly different results.
Performance Racing Industry Junior Rotax
Some of the best racing of the day was supplied by the Juniors, with four or five who looked capable of taking the win. Adrian Starrantino picked up where he left off on Saturday by qualifying on pole, but had a forgettable heat race and finished a lap down. Taylor Miinch took a narrow win over Cameron Jocelyn, but Jocelyn would have the last laugh as he took the lead in the main at the start and never relinquished it.
Behind him, Tyler Wheeler, Philip Orcic, Miinch, and Camden Geise supplied the entertainment but strung out towards the end of the race and finished in that order.
 | Cameron Jocelyn broke through to win Sunday's Performance Racing Industry Junior Rotax race
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Precision Works DD2
On a drying track, Curtis Cooksey kept clear of Gregory Liefooghe and Erik Jackson to sweep the weekend’s DD2 victories. Jackson gamely put up a fight to Liefooghe in the early laps, but steadily fell back as his rain tires suffered under the torture of racing on a dry track.
King Taco MiniMax
This race became the big gamble; the track was dry but the storm clouds were gathering.
Breanna Miscione was the class of the field in both qualifying the heat race. She went for slicks. Michael Davis, Saturday’s winner, had finished behind her both times. He went for rain tires.
Within five laps of the start, those dark clouds turned into yet another rainstorm, and everyone on slicks started sliding backwards. Miscione slipped down the order to finish ninth – hardly a result that reflected her driving on Sunday. Davis, meanwhile, ran unopposed to take the win, ahead of Blake Dunkleberger and Austin Versteeg – two more drivers who were happy with their rain tire selection?
MSquared Rotax International
On a completely wet track, Wes Phillips led Nick Johnston, Sean Mac Donell, and Joey Licata Jr. into turn one. Noticeable by his absence in the lead group was Joey Collins, who missed qualifying and had to race through the field in the heat race, ending up in ninth. However, as predictable as the first lap carnage would be, what was more unexpected was that it was Collins who was sent off the track and into retirement.
The race’s next moment of excitement came around the halfway mark, when Joey Licata, Jr. had a mechanical failure and ended up in the haybales in turn nine. Phillips held his lead for the duration of the race, crossing just ahead of Johnson and Mac Donell.
 | Wes Phillips took MSquared Rotax International in very wet conditions
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine) |
Dave’s Performance Rotax Masters
Erik von Zeipel had convincingly won the heat race, but with Paul Bonilla coming through the field to finish third after a first-turn crash, Bonilla appeared poised to take the top spot in the final. He had run out of time to battle with David Harwin – a lead group that was markedly different than Saturday’s.
The field made it cleanly through the start, although Mike Daniel and Ian Thomas came together towards the end of the lap, dropping both far behind the field. Bonilla made quick work of both Harwin and von Zeipel in the early stages, and ran uncontested to the end of the 30-lap main. Von Zeipel finished second with Harwin third.
The series will return in February in Northern California at the Infineon Raceway Karting Center on the 22-24 weekend. To discuss this event, check out the EKN Official Discussion Thread. |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
