Rodgers Victorious at Daytona KartWeek
Gage Rodgers and Ed Rodgers start from the Pole for the Final
Team BirelArt USA pilot Gage Rodgers made the trek from Coldwater MI to Daytona FL to take on karters from around the country at the World Karting Association Manufacturer’s Cup race at Daytona International Speedway. The sprint kart track is located in the turn four infield portion of the speedway. The unique track is only utilized once each year during Daytona Kart week. Gage entered the Yamaha Sportsman and Pro Tag Sportsman division during kart week with his Birel C28 Chassis’ and Fleming Racing power.
In the Pro Tag Division Gage would qualify in the 9th position for Sunday’s 15 lap pre final race and 20 lap final. Gage drove well and just missed the podium with a solid 6th place finish in the final.
The Yamaha Sportsman division was a different story. Threes were a charm for Gage as he would qualify his Birel C28 in 3rd and finish 3rd in both of Mondays heat races setting the field for Tuesdays Finals. These consistent finishes would move Gage into the 2nd starting spot for Tuesday’s Prefinal event. North Carolina’s, Pauly Massimino swept both heat races and was a favorite to win going into the final races.
“Going into Sunday we needed to find 1-2 tenths to compete with Massimino in the finals. Tim Lobaugh of newly formed Trackside Karting Services helped us make the right changes for the finals. ” said Rodgers.
Starting outside the front row, Rodgers was able to run away with the 15-lap Prefinal race winning by 2.375 seconds. Massimino started on the pole position, but settled for the second spot with Ohio’s Jamie Williams winning the third spot over a hard charging Jason Welage, who started 10th.
Massimino fought back in the 20-lap Final, taking over the lead when the green flag waved. He along with Rodgers and Welage broke away from the field of twenty three karters, with Welage moving up to the lead by lap six. It was a battle as Rodgers moved back to the point after the halfway point. With two laps remaining Welege moved to the lead and was immediately passed back by Rodgers out of turn four. The two battled side by side with Rodgers holding off Welage at the line for the victory in the season opening event.
When asked about starting the year with a national win by sweeping the Pre Final and Final in the Yamaha Jr. Sportsman, Rodgers stated, “It feels good to win and I am thankful for the opportunity to race. I would like to thank Mike McAndrews for his driver coaching…it really helped me on the last lap.”
Gage and his team would like to thank Fleming Racing Engines, Tim Lobaugh’s Trackside Karting Services, and MRP BirelArt for their great products and support.
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