(Photo: Fade To Black Photography)

2023 was a significant growth year for rising wheelman Derek Wargo, coming off his Cup Karts South 206 Jr. and Karting The Coasts 100cc Tag Junior Championship seasons. Wargo traded his CKNA #1 Plate, and 206 Junior Compkart 4R ride for his #888, DYL KartSport-backed Compkart Covert 3.0, powered by L.A.D. Specialties KA100 and tried his skills on the high banks of Daytona.

With a total washout on practice day, Wargo would push to the grid in his first-ever road race with only nine laps of practice on race day. Other 100cc Air-Cooled Tag Juniors on the grid have been to Daytona many times and have years of experience on the world-famous 3.56-mile road course segment of the famous Super Speedway. Wargo took his last-placed line-up position on the grid. However, that position wouldn’t last long as Wargo would find drafting partners in road racing veterans James Hoff, Davis Henry, and Easton Cox.

For many, a win at Daytona has never become a reality. After the 30-minute race, #888 of Wargo would cross the checkers first. Capturing his first win at Daytona, at his first-ever road race event.

The World Karting Association’s new format for A and B races for the Air Cooled Tag classes allows for more track time—four total classes on the race event. Wargo would succeed in hitting the podium in all four class events and walking away from Daytona Kartweek with one win, 1 second, and two-thirds in his first road race against some intense competitors. He also collected two fastest lap times in race three on Day 2, Race number three with a top Speed of 96.4, a Lap Time of 2:32.239, and an average speed of 88.183. Also, on Day 2, race seven, he was fastest again, with a top speed of 94.2, a lap time of 2:36.036, and an average speed of 82.023. As a rookie road racer!

Drive Your Line, LLC and DYL KartSport Team President Christy Kendall was very excited with the results.

“Daytona is always a challenge for anyone, in any class, regardless of their experience in the sport. We were fairly confident with our setup, but at Daytona, anything that can happen will! We also have an outstanding relationship with L.A.D. Specialties engines and their trackside support are second to none. The last piece of the pie was a solid junior driver, and we have that in Derek Wargo Jr. He’s a cool-headed, clean driver, and he’s eager to expand his racecraft. Derek has been with us for 9-10 months as a DYL-supported driver and team member. Working with this talented, young, up-and-coming driver has been a pleasure. I hope we can help him get to the next level in motorsports as he moves up the ladder.”

Wargo says he would like to hit more road races this season when his sprint schedule allows. He’s looking forward to Mid-Ohio and PittRace WKA Road Racing events and a very extensive schedule of sprint events, including his home series, Karting the Coast, Stars, and CupKarts South.

About Drive Your Line: Drive Your Line has been a full-service Sprint and Road Racing kart shop and Compkart chassis dealer based in Brandon, Mississippi, since 2021. Serving the needs of 2-cycle and 4-cycle racers in the region and nationally.

Drive Your Line is also the parent company of Karting the Coast, a regional sprint series racing at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana, and Finishline Performance Karting in Biloxi, Mississippi. As well as the DYL KartSport Competition Race Team, located at NOLA Motorsports Park. Both entities offer a well-rounded, hands-on approach to karting in multiple disciplines. From total Novice to Champion, Drive Your Line has what you need to be successful!

Share on Facebook

Tweet