April 4, 2007

Knopf Sweeps Five Classes During AKRA Opener


Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Susan Taylor-Walls
Bruce C. Walls

Jamie Knopf brought his big broom to the American Speedway Champions Series season opener, Dyno Cams Nationals March 2-4 hosted by the Georgia Karting Komplex in Carnesville, GA. With it the Lancaster, S.C. based Tempest Kart team racer swept his way to five wins that weekend. Knopf’s efforts earned him over $4,200.00. Knopf started with a win in the first feature in R.L.V. Tuned Exhaust Products Stock Lite where he spun a 14.621-seconds pole-winning lap on the 1/5th-mile clay oval.

With Brett Miller beside him, they headed the 14-racer field to the waving green flag in front of them. Miller jumped into the early lead leaving the rest of the field to fight for their own positions. Knopf kept on the throttle. “I started on the pole and didn’t have to pass anyone,” Knopf said after first win. Knopf held onto the lead down to the stripe where just 0.456 of a second separated them. Locked nose-to-tail behind Miller were Stephanie Pitts, Andrew Dove and Stephen Adams.

“The kart ran good,” Knopf added. “We had awesome power from Eddie Mishue’s motor. The first race everything went pretty good. I started on the pole and didn’t have to pass anyone. The second one was a little harder. It was a little too hard,” laughed the now double winner.

The new clay is fun. Real fun.” Knopf added. “Everything went right for us, it feels nice, but I was afraid I’d passed Brett (Miller) too early and he’d pass me back at the end.”

Miller turned the fastest qualifying lap in Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Heavy beating out 20-entries with a time of 14.805-seocnds. David Meade was second fastest at 14.844 seconds. “I had to come from ninth,” Knopf laughed.

While Miller was shaking off Meade’s early challenges, Knopf climbed through the field. “By lap three I was in second,” Knopf proudly stated. Miller held first for a number of laps before surrendering it to Knopf who, waited until five to go before slipping into the lead.

“I was just staying behind him (Brett Miller), Knopf described, “I knew he was close and I didn’t want him to stay on me and pass me back again before it was over. But then when it was five to go I had to pass him. We were so far ahead I just figured it would just be between him.” I have to thank him for driving me clean.”

When the five to go signal was shown Knopf made his move. With drafting help from behind Knopf pushed his way into the lead. Miller fought off the challenge holding onto second. Behind Miller Jerry Mullis took third, Jason Higginbotham followed in fourth. 5.221-seconds later Shane Evans capped the top five of 16 starters.

Knopf showed up Sunday determined to fatten his wallet some more. Poised on Stock Lite’s pole Brett Miller was just as determined to stop him. Miller spun a 14.668-seconds lap for the pole. Knopf was just a tick slower with a 14.722-second’s run. With the field lined up doublewide behind them, they exited turn four. When they saw the green flag waving ahead of them they hit their throttles. Miller quickly dropped low and into the lead. Knopf quickly closed the gap between them. Battling nose to tail Miller and Knopf pulled away from the field.

Knopf carried it the rest of the way for his fourth win. “That makes four!” Knopf beamed. “It feels good doing so good so far. It takes a lot of hard work. A lot of help from my crew up there in the pits Trace, Don, Randy, Little Jack and my buddy Nelson Adkins he helped me yesterday and Beach Motorsports and Millimun Racing Chassis.”

Further back Stephanie Pitts; Stephen Adams and Brandon Snow filled the rest of the podium positions.

Exhausted with sweat pouring down his face Knopf and his crew hauled the #43 kart back to tech. While his crew stayed with his kart Knopf ran back up hill to his pit and then to the grid where he and Miller shared front row again. While he scrambled back to his pit from tech a fan shouted, “Do you have another win in you this weekend?” “I hope so!” Knopf shouted back. He did.

On the grid Miller and Knopf shared front row again, this time in Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Medium. Times of 14.576 and 14.696-seconds put them on the poles. Miller slipped into the early lead. Knopf stayed patiently behind him. They passed under the mid-race single nose-to-tail. After two more laps Knopf decided it was time to pour on the power and pass Miller.

Fans were on their feet yelling for their favorite driver. As Knopf and Miller exited turn four for the final time Miller pulled up beside Knopf. They battled side-by-side down the front straight to the stripe. When they got there just 0.063 of a second separated them. Knopf took the checkered flag. He rounded the track again this time stopping at the tower’s base. He climbing up the fence and gabbed the checkered flag. He climbed back down the fence and back into his kart. He spun a couple of donuts and then took a well-deserved Victory lap. Four seconds later Jason Higginbotham crossed third, Pitts trailed him in fourth and was in turn trailed by Stephen Adams who finished fifth out of 15-entries.

Five entries earned double wins that weekend. Youngun Lee Justice won both Mike Holcombe’s Tire & Auto Junior 1 offerings.

Saturday Drew Jackson dominated qualifying with a16.537-seconds run. Jackson jumped into the early lead. Behind him a three-way fight for second unfolded. The battle for second soon became a battle for the lead. The top three continued dicing down to the end where Justice crossed the stripe 0.007 of a second ahead of Blake Cannon. Outside pole winner Austin Smith finished third, Austin Guest followed in fourth and Drew Jackson in fifth, which completed the field.

Sunday Justice was Junior 1’s fastest qualifier. Justice turned a 16.302-seconds lap that was a tick faster than Cannon’s time of 16.533-seconds run. Racers lined up for the start. When they got the green flag Justice jumped into the early lead. Behind him Cannon, Smith and Guest were battling for second. Justice stretched out a small gap Cannon closed the gap. Justice opened it up again by mid race where he owned a comfortable 4 seconds lead. Smith took second from Cannon and tried to close the gap. In the final laps Smith closed in. Smith trimmed off that lead at the stripe were he trailed by 3.117-seconds. Further back Cannon claimed third, Guest fourth and Drew Jackson fifth for the field.

Adam Beville blasted around the track in 14.484-seconds for Andy’s Speed Shop Animal Heavy’s pole. Behind him, starting third, Jerry Mullis quickly rocketed into the early lead. Beville stayed glued to his tailpipe. “It was a pretty good race Mullis described. “He (Beville) drove me clean. I was pushing him a little bit at the beginning so I could get away from him and battle clean like we did at the end. I thought my kart was a little better so I went on and took it a little earlier instead of just waiting. Some times you can push someone too long and loose the draft on him or her. I just want to thank Max Parnell and Tim Fisher for all the great stuff they give me.”

When Mullis took the checkered flag he was 0.248 of a second ahead of Beville. Behind Beville in the top half of the field were Andrew Williams, Josh Haire and Tyler Burnette.

Mullis posted his second win later that day this one in Wyman’s Acoustics Stock Super Heavy. He earned the pole with a 15.111-seconds effort then led the field flawlessly before reaching the stripe with a comfortable 2.624-seconds cushion over outside pole winner Zac Powell. Further back Josh Haire, Brandon Watson and Drew Wentworth finished third through fifth.

Erwin, N.C. competitor Josh Harie’s Eddie Mishue Racing Engines powered Olimpic kart dominated Ultramax Racing Chassis Senior Champ. Saturday he was fourth fastest qualifier with a fast time of 15.547-seconds. Forrest Vaughan captured the pole with a 15.396-seconds run. Vaughn toured them around the first lap and then outside pole winner showed them around the next time. On lap three Haire headed for the front took the lead. Once he got there Vaughn tried to take it back as did Zach Holcombe. After shaking off those challenges Haire rallied on beating Holcombe to the stripe by 0.121 of a second.

Sunday Harie hustled around the track in 15.179-seconds for the pole. Holcombe was second fastest at 15.362-seconds. When they got the green flag Haire and Holcome began battling for the lead. After shaking off Holocombe’s challenges Haire quickly built a comfortable 2.320-seconds lead he took to the stripe. Eddie Sorrentino and Nic Reynolds followed Holcombe across the stripe for the field.

Bobby McCarty blasted around the track in 14.774-seconds for Millenium Chassis Junior 3’s pole. Brandon Brown joined him on front row with a time of 14.823-seconds. When the green flag waved for the 14-racer field third fastest qualifier Wilson Keene broke from the field and roaring away with the early lead. In the final laps McCarty closed the gap, but when they reached the stripe Keene was there 0.323 of a second ahead of McCarty. While trying to take the lead McCarty also had to hold onto second as Justin McDonald tried to wrestle it from him. Brandon Brown was fourth under the checkered flag followed by Colton Cox for the top five.

“This is great!” Keene beamed after his first win. “I want to thank everyone who made this possible,” added the 13-year-old Abbeville GA native.

Sunday Keene captured the pole with a time of 14.724-seconds. Cox shared row one with him. Behind them Scotty Phagan and Brown made up row two. When the green flag flew the excitement began. Heading into turn one the leaders went three wide. Phagan squeezed through the middle for a the early lead. Describing what happened from there Keene said,

“On the start I got shifted back to ninth or tenth and had to fight my way back to the front. I was hoping and praying for a caution and one finally came out so that helped my brakes. I just needed to stay with him so I could maybe slingshot around him on the last lap or something. Then Bobby (McCarty) moved Scotty (Phagan) so that got him out of the way. And then when he did that I went under him.”

Keene crossed the stripe with a 0.896 of a second edge over Phagan. Cole Exum, Cox and Sam Lilly were third, fourth and fifth across the finish line.

Adam Beville led the way in Kolors by Keisler Limited Modified. Saturday he did it all. He earned the pole with a track blistering fast time of 13.877-seconds. Hunter Slayton was second fastest at 14.029-seconds. Beville blasted into the initial lead and ran untouched to the finish line where he was comfortably 1.655-seconds ahead of Slayton. Trailing Slayton in the top five were Stephen Adams, Brandon Snow and Andrew Williams.

Three racers entered Sunday’s Limited Modified, but when Beville got to the grid he was alone. Beville took the green flag drove one lap and took the checkered flag.

Twelve racers were single winners. Dahlonega, GA Bradley Gerrells topped a tough 17-racer filed in Andy’s Speed Shop Animal Heavy. Gerrells, a Southern Express Kart Shop factory driver, fought his way from a fifth place for the win. Mullis made second trailing by 0.614 of a second. Keith Graham grabbed third, Shane Bass followed in fourth and Tyler Burnette trailed in fifth.

Chase Vaughn and Tanner Amon split the wins in Dean’s Custom Air Junior Champ. Vaughn, Amon and Brandon Brown finished in the order they qualified. Sunday Amon out dueled Brown in a two-racer battle.

Walt Barnes Vinyl Siding Senior Stock contests were two racer fields pitting Walt Barnes against Rodney Lambert. Barnes won Saturday beating Lambert by 7.332-seconds. Sunday Lambert turned the table on Barnes.

JDI/Foodcraft Junior 2 also saw two winners. Saturday MC Motorsports powered Ultramax pilot Annnabeth Barnes clocked the pole lap in 15.366-seconds. From a single file start she led the 15-racer field into turn one. As they exited turn two Gus Dean piloted past her for the lead. Barnes got it back next time around held it for several more laps. In the final laps she and Gus Dean battled side-by-side. Exiting turn four for the final time they drag raced to the finish, which would be the second closest contest of the weekend. Just 0.098 of a second difference separated them under the checkered flag. Close behind Grayson York, Dillon Jackson and Cannon Ward filled the podium.

York was Sunday’s fastest of 16-qualifiers. He turned a 15.305-seconds ride for the pole. Dean was second fastest, Barnes third. York started them single file. He held the lead until they exited turn two. Dean and Barnes drafted by him. Next time around Barnes passed Dean for the lead. When the checkered flag waved it was for 11-year-old Barnes. York trailed her, but was disqualified at post race tech.

Mullis wheeled a 15.053-seconds lap for Wyman’s Acoustics Stock Super Heavy’s pole. Saturday’s outside pole winner Shane Evans produced a 15.152-seconds rounding. The green flag unfurled and Mullis rocketed away from the field battling for positions behind him. In the final laps Zach Powell powered past Mullis and tried to reel Evans in. By then Evans was nearly a full second ahead of him. When they reached the finish line for the final time Evans was 0.989 of a second late. Behind Evans, Mullis, Trey Cartee and Haire finished third through fifth.

Spencer Malick and A.J. Carlisi captured the Coyote Products Junior Sportsman Champ classes. Barnes earned both poles with times of 16.618 and 16.575-seconds. Saturday she quickly jumped into the early lead with Malick behind her. Several laps into it Malick and Carlisi worked past her for the top two spots. Carlisi stayed glued to Malick’s tailpipe to the end where Malick owned a 0.326 of a second advantage. Barnes was next across the strip followed by Gus Dean and Austin Babb for the top five.

Sunday Barnes shared front row with Carlisi. When the green flag flew so did Barnes and Carlisi. Barnes led the way, Carlisi stayed glued to her bumper. “Well, I was pushing her the most of the time,” described the 11-year-old X-Caliber Racing Engines powered Rage kart pilot. “I had to get around her before the rest of them caught up with us. My dad set the kart up good and we were just rolling.”

In the final laps Carlisi cranked up the pace and passed Barnes. Barnes stayed close behind crossing the stripe just 0.475 of a second slower. Eleven seconds later Dean, Jak Kicklighter and Austin Babb crossed nose-to-tail.

Three veteran racers entered the new 2-cycle Unlimited All Star class. Shay Chavous led the way from qualifying to feature. He spun a 13.267-seconds run for the pole and held a two-lap advantage over outside pole winner Brandon Snow. Steve Snow’s machine gave up three laps into it.

American Speedway Championship Dirt Series racers travel to Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N. C. April 6-8. June 8-10 Johnston County Speedway in Garner, N.C. will host the Super Nationals. This year’s Labor Day Bash will be held August 31-September 3 at Georgia Karting Komplex in Carnesville, GA. November 2-4 the Saturday Night Special Championship Event will be held at a to be announced location. The season finale ‘Christmas in Dixie’ will celebrate its third season December 27-29, its second at Cross Roads Motor Sports Complex.

Pavement Racers start their inaugural season April 13-15 at Concord Motorsports Park. Chapel Hill Speedway in Humphrey, N. Y. will host the second race June 15-17. From there the tour travels to Beaver Run Motorsports Complex in Wampum, PA. September 28-30 Concord Motorsports Park will host the first annual Super Nationals including the ‘Firestone 500.’

2007 Delmarva Motorsports Park Kart Divisions  Not US 13 Kart Club

DMP Memberships      $50                                          Qualifying Racing       7:15 pm
                                                                                   Feature Racing           8:00 pm

March 29, 2007

Delmarva Motorsports Park 2007 Kart Schedule


Sunday, April 22nd
Practice - All Classes 1:00 - 4:00

Wednesday May 2nd
Racing - 1st race for the 2007 DMP Kart Championship Series
All Divisons - WKA Classes, Outlaw Classes, and PeeWee Class

Racing every Wednesday night through September!!


WKA Delaware State Series Events
These races will be part of and controlled by US 13 Kart Club's Delaware State Series

Saturday June 2nd

Saturday July 7th

Saturday September 8th
 

Area Kart Racers Pack HP Speed Shop’s Open House

Story by Bruce C. Walls

Photos by Susan Taylor-Walls  Click here for photos

            Georgetown, DE-If the crowd at HP Speed Shop’s Open House Saturday February 24^th is any indication, Delmarva’s kart tracks will be very busy as well this season.  Hundreds of area kart racers packed HP Speed Shop’s 1,800 square foot facility on Rt. 9 near Georgetown, DE for their Annual Open House. Most left hands full of new products, others had to back their trucks to the shop’s door to carry off their purchases.  “It’s been real busy all day long,” beamed Charlie Hayes who co-owns the company with his wife Phyllis. According to Phyllis, “Our Open House gets people all charged up for the coming season. I know it does that for me”

            Visitors touring the shop looked at its contents in awe.  Chassis and tires hung from the walls and ceiling of the front showroom along with other large products.  Behind the counter various such as Gold Speed gears, Williams Motor Sports wheels and Maxxis Tires were boxed up and organized.

            Further back in the shop visitors got to see where veteran winning engine builder Chad Hayes and his crew create some of the area’s fastest motors.  HP Speed Shop Engines have earned many regional, divisional and US 13 Kart Club wins and championships.  They have been the dominant motor powering most of those series’ championship winners for nearly a decade. 

            The Hayes’s sons Charles and Chad are top runners in both series.  The venture to Virginia for the Virginia Dirt Karting Association (VAKA).  After campaigning for the Animal Super Heavy Championship for a number of seasons Charles finally earned that prestige title last season. “It was a long time coming,” Charlie said of winning his first VDKA title.  “We had the largest class trying to qualify for 20 positions every race.”  Winning a VDKA championship is quite a feat considering the number of entries they draw and who they are. Many American Karting Association (AKRAR) and World Karting Association (WKA) national Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt titlists are VDKA competitors.  Charles’s brother Chad, another multi winner and crowned champion in both series.  This year he also earned a prestigious Animal money race win in Elizabeth City, VA that was quite profitable.

            Coming out of the engine room racers toured the scale area where according to Charles, “We have up to eight employees when we’re going full speed, which is most of the time. Racers and crew chiefs were questioning employees about scaling a kart and other setup issues from tire pressure to more complicated topics such as caster camber setting and other setup topics that help make their kart easier to handle and thus faster.

            Club Milton Speedway owner Trey Isaacs was there getting parts for his son’s kart visiting with the Hayes’s and his racers as well.  “This is a great way to get the season going,” he said.

            Customers were packed wall to wall a day long making the event a huge success for the Hayes.  “We’ve been busy the past few weeks,” Charlie commented while his wife was calling out names for their drawing that included G-Man Bodyworks products, Maxxis Tires and official HP Speed Shop apparel.  

            When the last customers left Charles closed his shop doors and opened the doors of the 2007 season for area kart tracks which include US 13 Kart Club, Club Milton Speedway, Fairlane Acres Speedway (Little Dover Speedway), Nicholson Speedway in Chestertown, MD and others.

            For the seasoned veteran kart racer to those just getting started HP Speed Shop has everything you need to succeed in the sport locally, regionally and nationally. You can reach them at 302.856.7835 or in a few weeks visit their website where you can enjoy shopping for your karting needs from home.

View Flyer Here

!IT'S PARTY TIME AGAIN!

H. P. SPEED Karts & Parts Plus Graphix

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

Saturday, February 24, 2006   10:00 AM - 4:00 PM!!!

Regular Store Hours: Tues. & Thurs 5:00 PM 9:00 PM

Sat. 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• G-MAN BODIES IN STOCK

• MAXXIS TIRES IN STOCK

• THOR OIL IN STOCK

• PLUS MUCH MORE!

Including The Baddest Animals In Competition!

Unleash Our Beasts!

Come Enjoy Our Famous Meatballs & Chili

We'll Be Having Door Prizes!

And In Store Specials

We'll See You There!

As Always Tax FREE Shopping

More Info Call 302.856.7835

January 9, 2007

‘Christmas In Dixie’

Story by Bruce C. Walls
 For Photos by Bruce C. Walls and
Susan Taylor-Walls

JASPER, FL-Weather forecasters predicted three days of rain December 28-30 for the Floridian Panhandle. Scheduled those days at Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, FL, the American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) Second Annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ race sponsored by ARC Racing/Vega Tires. Despite dire forecasts, Florida’s East/ Central Panhandle was perfect those three days. Highs in the mid 70’s provided great weather for the event. Racers competed on the 1/2-mile top round 1/5-mile racing groove dirt oval and then on the final day, Dec. 30th they headed across the facility to the 1/5-mile asphalt oval for a day of competition there sponsored by Jody Pierce Racing.

The main attraction, Day Two’s twilight race Bordeaux Dyno Cams Stock Medium, with $1,500 waiting a winner at the strip. A second round of qualifying was needed to fill the 40-racer field. Brandon McGee of Pohowotan, VA was the pole winner spinning a 14.203-seconds lap. Another Triple Crown winner, Brett Miller, shared front row.

Waiting on the pole McGee, of Greenville, S.C., said, “So far it’s lot of luck and some good tires. The kart did pretty good all day. We struggled yesterday. The track’s better today. Hopefully it won’t get too slick and we’ll be all right. I need to hit my line every lap consistently.”

According to another contender, Jamie Knopf, of Lancaster, S.C., “Hopefully the kart will stick. The track’s little slicker than I thought so I hope I’m not in trouble. Hopefully we’ve got the right tires on. I don’t know if my kart’s good enough or not.”

Drivers lined up on the front straight, introduced then given the command to start their engines. McGee paced them around in a couple of warm-up laps before they took the green flag. Two laps into it the first of two yellow flags waved. Davy Hicken took the lead two laps later. From there it was green flag racing. Stephan Adams, of Fore Oaks, FL, grabbed the lead for the first time only to have Hicken hustle by him again. With the final laps unfolding a three wide three way fight for the front raged. Adams got the best of them took the lead beating Miller to the stripe by just 0.125 of a second.

“It was awesome man. It was awesome,” Adams, said of the pass for the lead. “He drove me clean, I drove him clean. It was a good race. I thought he was going to get me on the last lap. I held on-thank goodness. P&P’s horsepower was awesome. The whole kart was really great. My dad did a great job on tires. Brandon, Reed, Trip and all the boys that help me out. I also want to thank JDI Foodcraft, Lee and Kim Jones and everybody up there. Booth and Jones Insurance. I also want to say a big thanks to AKRA for putting on a great show.”

More than 200 racers competed at each day of dirt racing. Nearly 100 entered the dirt competition, which was a first for Pavement racers between the holidays traditionally held for dirt and other types of kart racing. Adams was one of two event multi winners.

Josh Haire, of Erwin, N.C., swept the Aim Sports Senior Champ classes from their pole completing the hat trick with another win in Vickory’s Speed Shop Super Heavy. His pole times were 15.630 and 15.225-seconds. Day one he dominated the nine racer-field from start to finish where his wire-to-wire run ended 8.248-seconds ahead of Ricky Bohatika.

“The kart was pretty good. It had good bite, a little more than we thought it would,” Haire explained. “I want to thank the Lord most of all, my parents, Dave and everybody who came here and helped. I also want to thank Eddie Mishue for the motor and Trick/Olimpic for the new Riddler chassis.”

Day two several more registered for the class adding some competition. Haire had the pole, but this time he let Wes Simmons slip past him. Mike Mitchell got a piece of the lead and led the race’s only restart. Haire fell to third then fought his was back in time to take it with a 1.361-seconds edge over Mitchell.

“The race track was good today, a lot better than last night.” Haire said adding, “It got a little slicker in that time so we went with the setup we had for qualifying last night. We messed up a little bit, but came out at the top.”

Lonnie Keisler led G-Man Kart Works Super Heavy’s 11 qualifiers with a track blistering 14.863-seconds. Haire started third and jumped quickly into the early lead. Flooring it he built a 4.928-seconds advantage over Kyle Chappell at the end.

Earlier in the day Adams topped Walt Barnes Vinyl Siding Limited Modified’s qualifying with a super fast 13.964-seconds lap. He flawlessly led the 11-racer field from there scoring the win 5.903-seconds ahead of Keisler.

“The kart was hooked up great and Dan made the right call on tires,” said the 18-year-old winner. “The Mishue motor was awesome. I want to thank AKRA for having a place to race at during the holidays. I also want to thank Trip and Reed for all of their help, JDI Food Craft I wouldn’t be here without them so I want to thank them and everybody else who helped me.

“I’ll put half of the money back in the kart program. As you can see I need new body work so I’ll put 1/2 into the kart and the other half I’ll put in the bank.” he said of his winnings”

Quite a few dirt racers entered AKRA’s first pavement race. Some for their first time competing on pavement. Ed Schreifels was a perfect example of the later. Schreifels competes in the growing new Bully Clutches100cc Outlaw 2-Cycle class where he won wire-to-wire in day 2’s dirt competition admitting later that, “I started getting in over my head a little bit. I’ve never raced asphalt before.”

For being an asphalt rookie he didn’t do bad outrunning seasoned veterans like Wayne Howe who won day one on the dirt track, Jackie Torreyson, Joe Torreyson and Monty Mashburn who all were in the final top five. Schreifels shot off the pole never seriously challenged on his way to beating Howe by 1.767-seconds.

“I’ve never raced asphalt before. I was kind of getting the hang of it getting into a rhythm trying to keep the kart underneath me,” said Howe a Lake City, FL native. “I guess I slowed down a little bite. Towards the end I tried to pick it back up because I could hear them coming, but I held off and prevailed. I went as fast as I needed to I guess. I was fast enough to win. It was fun. I’ve never run asphalt before. Compared to the dirt it’s unique.”

Veteran Ryan Glenski grabbed Southern Karting Junior Champ’s pole and was also never seriously challenged crossing the finish line ending with a 3.546-seconds victory margin over John Blacker. Chase Vaughan crossed third followed in the top five by Brady Todd and Kyle Bryant

Kolors by Keisler Stock Medium’s win went to Jody Pierce, of Prattville, TN who finished 0.705 of a second ahead of Walt Barnes. 18-year-old Bradenton, FL racer Nathan Wendrick captured ghost Racing Animal Heavy’s victory over WMS Products Senior Champ winner Drew Fegert.

Full results from ‘Christmas in Dixie’ are posted at www.akrainc.com. Following the Pavement race an awards banquet was held under a huge tent. Photos from these events can be found at www.printroom.com/pro/DSAM.  The 2007 banquet will be held onboard a cruise ship. Space on the ship is limited and you don’t have to be a member to enjoy this cruise.
 

 
"The Foundation of Motorsports"                                                       World Karting Association

                                                                     6051 Victory Lane, Concord, NC 28027-P) 704-455-1606-F) 704-455-1609

THERE'S No BETTER WAY To ENJOY YOUR
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY THAN WITH Us FOR Six DAYS OF RACING IN SUNNY FLORIDA!

DECEMBER 27, 31, 2006 - JANUARY 1, 2007
2ND ANNUAL
VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK WINTERNATIONALS
PRESENTED BY VEGA TIRES

DECEMBER 28 - 30, 2006
26TH ANNUAL
WKA BRIGGS & STRATTON SPEEDWAY DIRT SERIES DIRT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
PRESENTED BY AMERICAN POWER SPORTS
 

Enclosed you will find event & entry information
for the entire week to distribute to your karters, friends, family, or to use for yourself.
Additional forms may be downloaded by visiting www.worldkarting.com,  www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com. 
We look forward to spending our holiday with you doing what we all love - racing karts!

 

October 27, 2006   

To All:

From:   Ralph Moore

"Well first of all,  I'd like to let everyone I am OK, nothing broken.  My back and chest very sore, but overall pretty good shape.  The Go-kart needs a few parts but good to go. 

I would like to thank everyone for their calls, concerns and best wishes.  I know at times when something like this, you hope you have good people to take care of you.  I feel in this case everyone involved did their very best.  

This is where words don't fully express one's feeling of thanks and appreciation.  Again, thanks to all!  God Bless." 

                                                "5 & 48"

                                                                        Ralph Moore & Family

Friday, October 20, 2006 will be the last points race for the club. 

The Third Annual Costume Party for the kids 10 & under will be held.  During intermission judges will be asked to come to the flag stand and watch the lit’ ghost & goblins parade around while collecting goodies from members of karter teams.  That way everyone will be out of arms way for racers preparing to take to the grid.  Prizes and refreshments will be scattered about.  The club is requesting for teams to also bring treats for the trick or treat-ors that will be going around with their costumes collecting treats.  Anyone wishing to dress up in costume rather kids or adults will be allowed by the Wizard Master this night only and Welcomed If You Dare!  The Wizard says enter at your own risk and he will let you leave on your own, Ha Ha Ha!

BANQUET NEWS

U. S. 13 KART CLUB BANQUET WILL BE HELD

CATERING BY JIMMY’S GRILLE

WHEN:  SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 ,2006        

TIME:  AT 7 PM

WHERE:  LAUREL FIRE HALL, LAUREL, DE, 10^TH STREET

COST OF TICKETS:  ADULTS $20.00 CHILDREN 9 & UNDER $10

NUMBER OF TICKETS NEEDED:        _______  ADULT TICKETS

         _______  CHILDREN TICKETS

TO RESERVE A TABLE FOR THE BANQUET:   $ 5 PER TABLE

NUMBER OF TABLES NEEDED:           ________  TABLES

NAME:   _____________________________________      

ADDRESS:  ____________________________________________________

PHONE NUMBER:  ________________________

AMOUNT PAID: _____________

ALL MONIES ARE DUE BY: NOVEMBER 20, 2006

PLEASE RETURN TO:  Cindy Phillips or Teresa Morris

OR MAIL TO THE:

 US 13 KART CLUB

P. O.  BOX 573

BRIDGEVILLE, DE 19933

ALSO:  Door prizes will be given out through out the night, and we need help with these prizes.  We would appreciate everyone's help in getting local businesses to participate by donating something as a door prize.  All donations are tax deductible and will be mentioned in our Banquet program with a thank you to those sponsors.  Prizes & Donations can be mailed to the same address as above.  Thank you for all your help and support.

ALL DONATIONS MUST BE IN BY NOVEMBER 20, 2006

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRINT A COPY CLICK HERE

GO TO FILE AND SELECT PRINT

September 7, 2006

Bajer Gets Big Bucks at AKRA Labor Day Bash

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Click here for Photos by Bruce C. Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls

CARNESVILLE, GA-Scotty Bajer was the big winner during the 1st Annual G&M
Auto Sales American Kart Racing Association (AKRA)/Tri-State Labor Day Bash held September 1-3 at the Georgia Karting Komplex in Carnesville, GA. Bajer was joined by more than 650 racers who attended the three day event.

AKRA’s usual procedure is to race for trophies and contingency offerings on their first day. National points are tallied both days all season to determine national champions. Day two the same classes run for money. For the Labor Day Bash day one and two classes competed in one day. Racers qualified for day one’s competition and those time s were used again to grid racers for day two’s racing. Stock Heavy paid $1,000 to win and Stock Medium paid $750. Bajer won both.

“I hope we can hang on to it,” Bajer laughed while waiting in the pole position on Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Heavy’s grid. “It’s going to take a little luck. The slowest guy is going to be the one in the lead. I hope we can break away, then we have a shot at making it.”

Stephanie Pitts started next to Bajer when he led the field to the green flag. Before he could lead a lap Bajer got freight trained by a pack of karts. The lap still wasn’t complete when the caution flag waved. Bajer returned to the front and led the restart. This time Bajer dove low to protect his position. Pitts, of Lake City, S.C. was a distant second, but quickly reeling him in. Working together, Pitts and JL Furrow passed Bajer next time around.

As the front pack pulled away Furrow forced his way to the front. Pitts dropped to third as Bajer got back by Furrow on his way to the front. Bajer gets it in time to take the white flag and then the checkered flag. Furrow followed Bajer by 0.222 of a second. When the dicing behind Furrow was finished Pitts was third, Walt Barnes fourth and Brett Miller fifth.

“I just hooked up with JL Furrow and pushed him on up through there,” described Bajer of Mechanicsville, VA. “We got away from the pack and I passed him with two to go and held him off. That was about all there is to it. I figured the only way we were going to catch Stephanie was just kept pushing and we did that. He (Furrow) pulled under and I kept pushing to make it a two-man race. That’s what ended up happening. Then I was able to get to the front and hold on.”

Earlier that day Pitts powered her way from third into WMS Products Stock Heavy’s early lead. Furrow offered her some early race challenges. Then Bajer worked his way to second and began challenging Pitts for the front. Bajer got by her as she fell to fourth. In the final laps Pitts powered her way back behind Bajer. Before it was over Pitts threatened Bajer’s lead several times. Stephen Adams offered Bajer several late race challenges before trailing him across the stripe. Pitt passed third, Miller in fourth, Jason Kimball fifth.

“The kart was pretty good. I was happy with the way it hooked up,” said Bajer who pocketed $750 for the win. “I want to thank Steven Adams for running me a good clean race. I want to thank Phantom Racing Chassis for the new Icon racing chassis, Harrill Wiggins, Avis Electric Racing, the Brightwell family and Bajer Kart Sales.

Pitts posted RLV Racing Products Stock Lite’s win from the pole. She led with perfection as battles for second place raged behind her between Furrow and Ultramax Racing Chassis factory driver Jamie Knopf of Lancaster, S.C.. Furrow was in second when Pitts passed the stripe ahead of him by 0.598 of a second. Knopf, Furrow and Adams filled the rest of the podium.

“My kart seemed to be pretty good,” said Pitts who pilots a Chris Williamson Racing Engines powered Phantom Racing Chassis. “They were battling behind me and I got a little bit away from them. Chris (Williamson) did pretty good on that one, now we’ll see what we can do in heavy.”

Sunday was Stephen Adams turn to shine. The Four Oaks, FA based P&P Speed Shop powered Olimpic kart pilot posted three wins that night. “I wish we could have done it when the money was up,” Adams laughed.

From Stock Lite’s pole Adams was perfect. He toured the 1/5-mile dirt oval 20 times in 5:44.708-minutes with Miller trailing him by 0.150 of a second at the end. Miller threatened Adams the entire ride offering challenges at every turn.

“I blew up two motors and locked one up earlier so I really needed this win, it feels good getting this one” Adams said. “The Trick/Olimpic kart worked great, it was a little bit loose. but overall it was awesome. I’m just glad to be here in Victory Lane.”

Brett Miller bagged Stock Medium’s pole. Adams shared front row with him quickly jumping into the lead. Miller reeled him in and ran past him. Adams followed him until there were just two laps to go. After looking high and low Miller found an opening and made his move. Two laps later Adams crossed the finish line 0.227 of a second ahead of the pole winner.

While qualifying for Kolors by Keisler Limited Modified’s pole Adams blew the top off his motor forcing him to start in the rear. After working his way to second in the final laps Adams made a daring outside pass when Beville dropped low to protect his lead. Adams steered high, passed him, then took the white flag before beating him to the stripe next time around by just0.227 of a second.

“That pass on the outside was awesome,” Adams boasted. “I knew he’d go down and block,” Adams described. “He got a little sideways so I made the move. The kart was awesome. I helped him get up there and I knew we’d be alright. Tires are the key to winning here and so is the motor and the help of Brandon and my brother. I want to thank Adam (Stevens) for letting me borrow a motor. I blew up two and I want to thank him a lot.”

Thirteen-year-old Garrett Bunch, (G-Baby Bunch) swept both Coyote Products Junior Sportsman classes from their poles. Piloting a Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Rage Kart Bunch topped a last lap three-way battle for the front beating AJ Carlise to the stripe by a comfortable 9.129-seconds.

“I didn’t know what was going on behind me. The kart felt good the whole time especially at the end. Lapped karts got in my way at the end, but I managed to get by them.”

That night Bunch fought off challenges from Matt Bowling before beating him to the stripe by 0.119 of a second. Behind Bowling in the top five were Gus Dean, Brady Todd and JD Eversoll.

“Matt Bowling told me before the race he’d help me win the championship,” said the Front Royal, VA based double winner. “We’re close to the title and he missed the first two. I want to thank him for helping me. I also want to thank Rage for an awesome kart, Tod Miller for a great motor; my dad, my brother, Stiffie and everybody else that helped me win the championship this year.”

Bunch earned Wyman’s Acoustics Stock Super Heavy’s pole. Bunch shot into the early lead, but before he could complete the second lap Lonnie Keisler cruised by him for the lead. Bunch got it back next time around.

Haire inherited the lead with Troy Bunch threatening him from behind. Then Haire got the break he needed to extend his lead. Keisler engineered a freight train by Bunch. Once securely in second Keisler went after Haire. He reached Haire’s bumper, but couldn’t get by him. Haire handled the pressure crossing the stripe with a 0.230 of a second edge over Keisler.

Haire started on Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Heavy’s pole. He jumped into the early lead and began building on his lead with every lap. Walt Barnes, of Monroe, N.C., closed in and began challenging Haire near the end. Haire held on and took the win 0.252 of a second ahead of Barnes.

“It feels good getting two wins here today The Charger kart handled good. It was a little loose, but the P&P Motor was running real good, Haire said. “I want to thank my parents, P&P Speed Shop, my dad, David, God and everyone who helped me today.”

In-between the two sets of feature races AKRA entertained those there with two bike racers and a tire-changing contest. Pedal bikers battled in junior and senior classes for half of the $489 combined purse. Tire changers competed for $200 won by Lancaster, S.C. based Ultramax factory driver Jamie Knopf with a time of 11.13 -seconds.

AKRA’s next race (round five) will race October 13-15 at Possum Kingdom Raceway in Belton, S.C. For more information on this race and registration forums go to the AKRA website where you can also see complete results for the 1st Annual Labor Day Bash.

April 27, 2006
Story by Bruce C. Walls
                                       

AKRA’s Margarettsville March Madness
 

MARGARETTSVILLE, N.C.-Sometimes referred to as the Talladega of national dirt karting, Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N. C. was the perfect stop for round two of the American Kart Racing Association’s (AKRA) American Speedway Championship Series powered by Heat Racing. More than 250 regional dirt racers made their way to Margarettsville Speedway to competed for cash, trophies and leather jackets March 31-April 1.

Young gun Garrett (G-Baby) Bunch had a perfect weekend. The 12-year-old Front Royal, VA racer scored four wins from their poles on the wide 3/8ths mile high-banked oval. His Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom kart rounded the track in 16.111-seconds for Saturday’s JDI/Foodcraft Junior 2’s pole. Matt Bowling started next to him all four races.

Bunch blasted into the early lead with Bowling banging on his back door. Bowling was still battling with him at the halfway mark. Then Gus Dean came up and began challenging Bowling for second. As they squabbled over second Bunch stretched out the lead. By the time Dean took second Bunch had amassed a huge three-second lead. J.D. Eversole drafted with Dean settled into third. Bowling fell to fourth fighting off hard challenges from Brandon Brown. They held their positions across the stripe with Bunch 1.560-seconds ahead of Bowling,

“It was a close race all the way around. He raced me clean and didn’t send anybody or me out.” Bunch described. “He got me sideways once, but I came back and it came down to the last lap.”

Later that day, starting from a pole he earned with a 16.111-seconds run that was 0.530-second faster then Bowing’s best effort, Bunch worked quickly opening a small cushion over Bowling. Shaping up to be a replay of Junior 2, Bowling and Dean began scrapping over Ghost Racing Junior Sportsman Champ’s second position.

Suddenly, Amanda Frye’s #9 machine spun in turns three and four. She was a sitting duck stalled in the middle of turn two. Bunch swerved to miss her ending up in the hay bales. Others did the same and weren’t as lucky. Once the track was cleaned racing resumed with Bunch back in the front. With just a few laps remaining Bunch hit the throttle Dean tried to stay with him, but Bunch prevailed taking the final flag with a 3.308-seonds cushion. Behind Dean in the top five of eight were J.D. Eversole, Bowling and Brandon Brown.

“I stayed out front about the first 10-laps and then a lapped kart spun in front of me and got me off the track. Thanks to Tony Barton and the other officials they put me back up front for the restart. I just held onto the lead down to the finish,” Bunch said after his second win.

With two wins in his pocket Bunch returned Sunday to back up those wins with two more. He secured the poles with times of 15.337 and 15.893-seconds. Bowling turned in runs of 15.567 and 16.221-seconds for the outside poles.

Bunch and Bowling headed Junior 2’s 15-racer filed out of turn three, around turn four and down the front straight where the green flag was waving for them. Bunch and Bowling battled side-by-side the first time around. They were still door-to-door when karts behind them tangled bringing out the race’s only caution.

When they lined back up Austin Banker was behind Bunch poised and ready to take the lead from him. Racers got the green flag again and this time it was a hard charging Banker riding nose-to-tail behind Bunch. The two battled through the field. When they were back into clean air Banker, saw an opening, knew he had the power to do it and went for it.

Two laps later Bunch blasted back by Banker recapturing the lead. Next time around Banker did the same and was now leading with four laps to go. With just two laps left Bunch rocketed back into the lead. Eversole captured second closed in, but was 0.712-second late at the end.

“It was about 8 or10-to go something like that one dropped underneath me and then the other two drafted by me. I got back to them and got by them and held them off for the last few laps. It feels really good to win four here this weekend. We raced here the past two weekends and were pretty good. It’s been a prep war for two weekends. This weekend it’s been a dry racetrack. Now I just hope we can do the same thing in Johnson County.”

Also reaching the podium were Dean, Gilson Fearnow and Bowling.

Powhatan, VA racer Brandon McGee swept Sunday’s Stock classes, Lite, Medium and Heavy. Two from their poles. Stephen Adams captured stock Lite’s pole with a 14.551-seconds rounding. Jared Jackson was second fastest at 14.597-seconds. Behind them in row two were Bobby McCarty and Bryan Fallen. Further back Brett Miller and Brandon McGee shared row three.

Adams led the first lap with lots of pressure from Jackson and McCarty. Coming down the front straight the leaders went three wide across the stripe. As they entered turn one for the second time they were still three wide. Adams went high and spun off the track, Jackson dove low into the corner and came out the race leader. Shortly after Jackson assumed the lead McGee popped up behind him anxiously looking for a way to the front. Suddenly the caution flag waved for an accident under the flag stand.

Jackson led the restart, but the momentum was behind him breathing down his neck. McGee wasted little time recapturing the lead. He quickly opened up the lead, helped by the scrapping over second between Adams and Joseph Studier. Once Adams secured second he went after McGee. Adams reeled in McGee for some late race action. They battled side-by-side down the front straight for the checkered flag waving ahead of them. At the stripe only 0.063-second separated them.

“I felt the guy at the end,” McGee recalled. “ I was trying to take it easy. He bumped me with about five to go. So I made sure I hit my lines right. Then he pulled back away.”

Later that day McGee and Adams were on Stock Medium’s front row. This time McGee hustled into a huge early lead. Behind him Adams and Joey Collins were battling over second. Adams held the position and again set his sites on McGee. After reeling him in Adams began to challenge McGee for the lead. McGee prevailed with a 0.160-second finish line advantage.

A 14.584-seconds lap was fast enough capture Stock Heavy’s outside pole. McGee grabbed the early lead and continued building on it with every lap. When it was over McGee had stretched out a 5.287-seconds advantage. Bryan Bradford, of Salisbury, MD, was third, Walt Barnes fourth and David Meade fifth.

Josh Haire, of Erwin, N.C. was also a triple winner. Along with sweeping the Senior Champ classes the 20-year-old Mishue Racing Engines powered Charger kart pilot also posted a win in Saturday’s Wyman’s Acoustics Super Heavy.

Troy Bunch topped Super Heavy’s qualifying with a lap time of 14.967-seconds. Haire’s 14.992 earned him the outside starting position. From there Haire hustled into the initial lead as the field spread out evenly behind him. Haire continued building on that lead lap after lap. With eight laps in the book it seemed nothing would stop him, nothing except a caution flag that flew that lap. “That caution changed everything,” Haire said. “The kart never got going like it was at the beginning of the race.”

Haire led the restart followed by Wes Morgan and Brandon Watson. Haire quickly jumped back to building a larger lead. This time the field behind him was scrambling for positions. Bunch and Morgan scrapped over second. Bunch pulled along side of Haire forcing him to fight wheel-to-wheel. Haire fought off final lap challenges by Bunch. When it was over Haire nipped Bunch by just 0.047-seconds. Morgan crossed third followed by Drew Wentworth in fourth and Dwight Futrell fifth.

Anthony Jenkins was fastest qualifier in both Senior Champ classes. He earned their poles with times of 16.238 and 16.060-seconds. Haire messed up Saturday’s qualifying and was forced to start dead last.

Back at the front of the pack, Jenkins held a slim lead over Ayers. Haire headed for the front. Soon he and Jenkins were battling for the lead down the back straight. Haire took the lead, but only held it for a lap. Next time around Haire retook it down the front straight.

Haire barely led a lap before Ayers and Jenkins drafted by him. Haire hit the throttle and recaptured it again. In the final laps Jenkins looked high and low for a way around Haire. The chance never presented itself and Haire crossed the stripe with a 0.316-second edge over Jenkins.

Jenkins and Haire led Sunday’s field to the green flag. Jenkins jumped into the early lead leaving Ayers to deal with Haire. And deal with him Ayers did, swooping under him for the lead on lap three. Moments later Ayers spun himself out.

Haire cranked up the pressure. Jenkins was there for the mid-race signal and he was there to take the five laps to go signal. Time was running out on Haire. Suddenly the opportunity he was looking for opened up. Jenkins bobbled a little and Haire quickly drove past him for the lead. Now Haire was in the catbird seat, but time was against him as Haire took the white flag followed by the checkered. Jenkins was 0.748-seconds late.

“It was a good race,” Haire said of his final victory. “I think second was leaking a little fuel at the end. I don’t know what happened to him on the last lap, but he was there from the get-go. I fell back a little bit early on and had to work my way back up and came away with the victory. I want to thank my mom and dad, David, Andy Murray, Steven Adams, Charger Racing Chassis and Eddie Mishue.”

Two others were double winners that weekend. Brett Miller won Saturday’s WMS Tru Roll Wheels Stock Medium and Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Heavy. Miller was second fastest of 11-Medium qualifiers. His best lap time of 14.613–seconds was 0.03-second slower then Adams time of 14.585-seconds.

With fans from both camps on their feet waving and screaming Adams and Miller slowly headed Stock Medium’s field double wide to the green flag waving in front of them as they exited turn four. Working up to full speed Adams and Miller battled to be the first nose into turn one. When they reached turn one Adams dug in and took the early lead. Through turns three and four Miller was threatening to retake it. Next time around Miller drafted by him in the same spot bringing Joey Collins with him. Collins was nice to draft with, but when it’s a run at the front it’s every driver for themselves.

Collins didn’t have time to settle in and get comfortable in his new position before it was gone. Next time around Miller recaptured the lead. Adams quickly zipped by him. Down but not done Miller mounted another successful charge to the front, this time bringing Tripp Massengill with him.

With just a few laps remaining Massengill dove low opening the door for Collins who takes the lead. Three laps remained. Miller muscles by Collins for the lead. Massengill comes with him. Nose-to-tail they whipped around the track three more times before the checkered flag flew. Miller hunkered down for the fight. Behind him Massengill rolled his kart high and low looking for an opening that wouldn’t be there. With a 0.429-second advantage Miller went under the checkered flag.

Miller captured Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Heavy’s pole with a 14.691-seconds ride. Haire started next to him. This time Miller quickly took charge of the 10-racer field. Behind him Mike Cathey and Harie were trying to settle second. Once that was done Cathey chased down Miller who had been enjoying a comfortable lead. That was about to change.

Cathey began reeling Miller’s machine in. With just a few laps left Cathey continued hammering on Miller to no avail. Miller crossed first. Cathey was 0.591-seconds late for second, Ryland Meade was third, Danny Meeks fourth and Bradford fifth.

“In the first race I kind of bided my time a little too long and got passed,” Miller said after his first win. “This race I got a little more aggressive and got in there to lead a few laps. It worked out at the end somehow and we came out first. I want to thank J.T. Stillwagon, Hi Tech Racing, my mom and dad and everybody else that helps us here at the races.”

Joey Collins and Stephen Adams put down pole winning lap times of 14.859 and 13.827-seconds for Kolors by Keisler Limited Modified Lite’s poles. But Adam Belville prevailed at the end of each.

Collins shot out early, but Beville was along side of him in an instant. After challenging him in the first two turns, Beville went by him in turn three. Adams was glued to his back bumper trying to retake the lead. Hunter Slayton takes second and set his sites on Adams. Suddenly the race’s only caution flag flew.

Belville led the restart with Slayton and Collins putting on the pressure “Everyone challenges the leader,” said Beville. Slayton looked low, then high. He tries to get beside Belville, but ended up spinning out leaving the race to Belville who finished 0.842-second ahead of Collins.

“They were all on me the whole race,” described the Stony Creek, VA based TKS powered Illusion kart pilot. “They drove crazy and I was just out front riding slow. My tires gave way the last half of the race. But I was still out there riding. There wasn’t much I could do but just hold on and hope they messed up. I was riding low so if they wanted to pass me they had to go high.”

When the green flag flew for Sunday’s feature Adams quickly jumped into the early lead. Slayton followed glued to Adams tailpipe. Slayton began offering challenges low then high. He was almost side-by-side on the outside and then he got too high spinning off in turn one’s marbles. Belville took second and closed in on the leader. Adams came with him when he made his move. From there it was clean air and checkered flags as Belville roared across the finish line with a 2.709-seconds advantage over Adams.

Shallotte, N.C. competitor Canon Ward won Saturday’s Mike Holcombe’s Tire & Auto Junior 1 Purple with perfection. After spinning the fastest qualifying lap at 16.511-seconds he led the 12-racer field to the checkered flag with Ryan Heavner chasing him across the stripe.

“He sure was behind me the whole race,” said the 10-year-old winner. “He didn’t bump me too hard. I was a little worried on the restart. Putting that lapped kart between use made me feel a little more comfortable.”

Ward won Sunday’s pole, but 10-year-old Boomer Racing Engines powered Charger Kart pilot Ryan Heavner, of Lincoln, N.C. beat him to the stripe with a 0.615-seconds advantage.

“I thought he (Canon Ward) was going to get me there at the end with three laps to go. I held him off and got the win,” Heavner beamed in Victory Lane.

Bobby McCarty won both Millennium Racing Chassis Junior 3 Gold poles. Saturday he beat Joey Mahanes to the stripe by 0.245-second.

“Actually it was pretty fun because I had a clean race,” said the 13-year-old Summerfield, N.C, based Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Charger kart pilot. “I didn’t have to worry about the guys behind me so it was a lot of fun. The kart handled great. Ever since we changed to the Charger kart we’ve been up in front every week. It’s a great feeling to tell you the truth. The motor was so powerful I was pulling guys on the outside and down the straight-aways I had no problem with the motor at all.”

Sunday Mahanes turned the tables on McCarty. McCarty spun a 14.710-seconds pole-winning lap and rocketed away from the field at the start. From a distant second Mahanes began his campaign. He quickly closed the distance between himself and Adams. Colton Burnette tucked in behind him and together they worked by McCarty for the top two positions. Then caution flags were flying in every corner. Mahanes took the restart green flag with the field behind him jockeying for positions.

With some drafting help from Colton Cox, Mahanes was on his the way to the front. McCarty closed in on Mahanes and wheel hopped him in turn three. Mahanes reached around and disconnected them without missing a beat. McCarty dropped back into the field while Kyle Appel moved up to second. Appel was 0.313-second late at the stripe.

“I just held on and went straight to the bottom and, it just stuck, ”Mahanes said. “The kart handled good and the motor was awesome.”

Darek McCauley dominated Dean’s Custom Air Jr Champ’s qualifying with a 15.273-seconds run. Joey Mahanes started next to him and when the green flag flew the action started. McCauley dove low and took the early lead forcing Mahane to tuck in behind him. Mahanes set McCauley up for the next time around. Mahanes charged McCauley in turns one and two, but he wouldn’t budge. Aman picks up on it and charged ahead for the lead. Mahanes offered several challenges. They get side-by-side in turn three and tangle coming out of the turn. At first it was a local corner caution. Karts continued banging together in that corner and others. Then it was a full course caution.

McCauley’s kart was damaged in the accident forcing him from the track. That put Aman in charge of the restart. Aman blasted off from the restart and never looked back. After building a 0.386-second lead over Alicia Piland who worked her way from a fourth place start.

“I got a big break,” said the 13-year-old Ruther Glenn, VA based I thought I’d lag behind the top karts the whole race. The Rage kart drove a little tight, but other than that it was perfect. I wasn’t really nervous on the restart. I knew the girl behind me wouldn’t hit me intentionally because she’s a good racer. It was a fun race.”

Derek McCauley was flawless in Sunday’s race. He spun a 15.765-seconds pole-winning lap and then left Aman in the dust 6.164-seconds behind.

John Martin soloed Saturday’s Digatron Unlimited All–Stars race. Sunday there were three competitors. Ryan Martin spun a 13.650-second lap for the pole. From there he was flawless finishing the ride 0.580-second over Hunter Slayton who was followed across the stripe by Neil Culley.

“The kart handled good. We struggled a little early on. The track’s real good and everything ran good and I’m happy to be here,” Martin said.

After securing Wyman’s Acoustics Super Heavy’s pole Steve Brightwell led the field flawlessly to the finish where he was a comfortable 3.818-seconds ahead of Jim Ackerman.

“We were just fortunate enough to get out ahead of them and do our own thing and kind of set the pace in front of them,” said the Mechanicsville, VA based winner. “ I want to thank Bajer Kart Shop, Scotty Bajer Buddy Reassure, Brandon McGee, My brother Michael, Tod Miller Racing Engines and Harrill Wiggins of Phantom Racing Chassis.”

Walt Barnes, of Monroe, N.C. spun a 14.927-second for Walt Barnes Vinyl Siding Senior Stock’s pole. Barnes blasted off from the pole and had racers battling 3 wide behind him for second. Kevin Elliott emerged as the victor of that fight. He then set his sites on Barnes who’d built a comfortable lead that was about to evaporate. In two laps Ellitott cut the distance and then passed Barnes. Barnes tucked in behind the new leader and began challenging him. Everywhere Barnes tried to pass him Ellitott closed the door on him. They were nose-to-tail at the end with Elliott just 0.469-second ahead.

“We messed up in qualifying. We had a 17 drive on and should have been on 18 after coming up here last week for the VDKA race in the rain,” said the South Boston, VA based winner. “We changed the clutch for that race and dummy (referring to himself) never changed it back. It was tough a little tough in qualifying, but it turned out pretty good.”

AKRA Speedway dirt series drivers meet again June 9th at Johnson County Speedway in Garner, N.C. for round three of the five race series.

PLEASE READ!

Thank You To All Those Who Volunteered Their Time At The Practice! 

* NOT  ALLOWED!!

• NO! - 4 - WHEELERS

• NO! - 3 - WHEELERS

• NO! - SCOOTERS

• NO! - SKATEBOARDS

• PLEASE BRING - Birth Certificates for any child under 18 years old

• PLEASE BRING - WKA card for STATE Race on Saturday, April 8, or No Racing that day    Check Your Expiration Date on the WKA Card - WE WILL BE CHECKING!

*** VENDORS

• Must Pay Venders Fee

• Need a Copy of Business License

• Need Both of These By Saturday, April 8th, the First Race

Next Practice is Saturday, March 25th, Gates Open 9:00 AM, Registration Starts at 9:00 AM Until 10:00 AM  NO EXCEPTION!!  Unless You Call Prior to 10:15 AM!!

****     

Work Day/Track Clean up is Sat., March 4, 2006 @ 9:00am  If you want to race you will need to help come clean the track up.

Race date change: There was a typo when the schedule was made up the date change is May 26th club race not the 27th

All Jr Sportsman drivers will need to have a breast plate before the 1st state race. These will be worn for each club and state race, as this is a new WKA Safety rule.

We will have 3 practice races March 18, March 25, & April 1 $20 to race $5 entry fee

We are in need of a flagman for club races, 2 corner flagmen, a scales person, and a grid person. These are all paid positions, you can contact Chad or Billy for further information.

We are still in need of sponsors for state races for the following classes: Jr. Rest Lite, Sr Champ, Stock Lite, Stock Heavy, Sr Stock, Stock Xheavy, Limited, Animal and Open. 

H. P. SPEED Karts Parts & Graphix

Open House

March 4, 2006   8:00 AM-4:00 PM

302.856.7835

Regular Hours: Tues. & Thurs 6:00 PM 10:00 PM

Sat. 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

NEW  ITEM:

Maxxis Tires In Stock

Kart Lettering

Full In Stock Inventory

Door Prizes!

Food & Drinks

H. P. Famous' Meatballs & Chili

Everyone Welcome!

                                                    Minutes from U.S. 13Kart Club Meeting 2/10/06:

Richard Pearson, Larry Reed, and Lora Reed resigned there positions for the club.

The new President is Chad K. Grosh, the new Vice President is Tim Crissman, the new Treasurer is Mrs. Morris and Cindy Richards. Billy Cropper is our new Race director for Club and State.

The appeal committee for state is as follows: Walt Ramsey, Chad Hayes, John Oakley, Brock Anthony, and Mike Bradford.

The appeal committee for club is as follows: John Oakley, Mr. Hayes, and Steve Meadows. (The appeal committee will only be used if Race Director questions his call).

The new tire for 2006 for Club and State is as follows: Maxxis HT3 and Maxxis HT5 only!!!

We will be allowing Billett rod in all animal motors.

In State series the controlled class will be dropped. And animal medium with 350lb. weight limit will be added.

Anyone taking transponders off the premises after the races will be fined $25.00 each time. You do have till Wednesday night to return it without the fine. The fine must be paid before you race the following week or you will not be allowed to race. Missy Meadows will be in charge of them this year.

Registration will be done by Missy Meadows and Mrs. Bullis. Anyone wanting to learn registration please call the president @ 410-742-2995.

In the tower this year will be Missy Meadows and Tammy Ford again.

We are looking for Sponsors for the State Class series anyone interested please contact the president. State classes already taken are: Stock Medium, Junior 2 Heavy, and Stock Light.

Parking will be handled by Phyllis Hayes again this year. Any questions please contact her at 302-856-7835.

**Flaggers are needed for club and state series….Anyone interested please contact the president at 410-742-2995.

Thanks for the great turnout for the meeting…everyone’s input is appreciated. Please try to help out the new board of directors as much as possible this year!
 

                                                                               2006 U. S. 13 Kart Club Board of Directors


President: Chad K. Grosch

Vice President: Tim Crissman

Treasury: Cindy Phillps
Mrs. Morris

Race Director: Billy Cropper
(Club & State)

Series Director: Chad Reed

Trustee: Walt Ramsey

Board Members: Richard Pearson
PeeWee Morris


**Any members wanting to be on the Board please notify Chad K. Grosch @ 410-742-2995. We will be meeting as needed to discuss track issues.

                                                    Ward Makes History at Christmas in Dixie


Story by Bruce C. Walls

Jan 18, 2006.....Conway, SC- Nine-year-old Canon Ward made karting history December 28th and 29th. It started when he joined 550 other karters celebrating the season at the 1st Annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ presented by Heat Racing. Then Ward, from nearby Shallotte, SC, earned the honor of taking the American Kart Racing Association’s first checkered flag. Junior 1 pole winner Quinn Fowler broke into the early lead with Thorne Skipper close behind. When Ward joined the battle his Chris Mills Racing Engines powered Phantom kart quickly seized it and went on building a 9.038-seconds advantage over Matthew Grooms

“The kart was kind of loose and hard to drive,” Ward said. “But it feels very good knowing I was the first AKRA winner,” he added.

Skipper crossed third, Hunter Colson was fourth and Fowler fifth out of 17 entries.

Thursday Ward kept adding his name to the AKRA history book. He spun a 16.409-pole winning lap on Conway Speedway’s 1/4-mile Dirt Track at the Beach. This one he had to fight a little harder for. Ward rocketed into the early lead with Fowler focused on him. Four laps into it, the race’s only caution flag waved. “I was very worried on the restart,” Ward admitted. “I was going into the corner low and he was high and I got under him.”

When racing resumed both took off for turn one. This time Fowler went low and came out of turn two leading the 15-racer field. Ward quickly scrambled down the back straight and recaptured the lead, which he held the rest of the distance. By the end Ward opened up a 2.924-seconds lead over Fowler. Dalton Pate was third across the finish line followed by Grooms and Jacob Schneider in fourth and fifth.

“It feels good to win two times in a row!” Ward beamed after his second win. “I want to thank Chris and people at the shop for all the hard work they did on the tires.”

Bobby McCarty was also a ‘Christmas in Dixie’ double winner. Thursday the 13-year-old Summerfield, N.C. competitor earned Junior Champ’s pole with a 16.524-seconds rounding. His Boomer’s Speed Shop powered Charger Kart was flawless from there. At the strip he was 8.583-seconds ahead of Bradley Bell. Chris Fahed was third across the stripe followed by Spencer Euler and Wednesday’s winner Chad Brooks.

A 15.782-seconds lap put Brent Lucas on Junior 3’s pole. Devin Dowell was a tad slower at 15.844-seconds for the outside pole. Further back McCarty was fighting his way from a fifth place start to the front. Caution flags waved for the 29-racer field after the first lap was complete. Lucas led the restart, but behind him Devin Dowell and McCarty were working together. Before another lap was complete they shot by Lucas for the front two positions dropping him to third. Caution returned again. Brooks got the drop on Dowell at the restart for the lead. After taking them through their third restart McCarty showed them home with Michael Brown 1.698-seconds behind him.

“This one was a lot harder to win than the earlier one,” McCarty said adding, “The kart was pushing and loose at the same time. I had to wheel it the best I could and somehow it worked out.”

Lucas was third at the stripe, Dowell’s machine was fourth followed by Bell.

McCarty was fastest of eight-Junior Champ qualifiers on Wednesday. He led the field through a restart before midway and then surrendered the lead to Enola, PA pilot Chad Brooks’ Ensor Racing Engines powered Ultramax kart. The two diced it up a bid at mid race then with five to go Brooks took the lead and expanded upon it for a comfortable 1.049-seocnds-victory margin over Bradley Bell. Behind Bell in the top five were Shaina Lawson, Spencer Euler and Derrick Wilhoit.

“I just got a good lead and pulled away,” Brooks said of the final laps. “I looked back and could hardly see him.”

Wednesday’s second winner was Rocky Mount, VA racer J.L. Furrow won Stock Light. Furrow started on the pole. He drove deep into turn one when the 30-racer field got the green flag exiting turn two in the lead. Before he reached turn three Gary Bryan and Dustin McKenzie teamed up and overtook him. Furrow fought back in the final laps recaptured the lead in time to show the 30-racer field the rest of the distance. In the final shuffling Bryan was 2.276-seconds behind Furrow at the finish. Dustin McKenzie was third, Shane Tyler fourth and Justin Starnes fifth.

“I think we made the wrong tire call, but we ended up winning luckily anyway,” Furrow laughed. “I’d like to thank Eddie Mishue for the great motors and Andy Murray for the great kart and tires, Boomer Hawks if it weren’t for them I couldn’t do this.”

Powered by a motor built by J.T. Stillwagon, Tempest kart pilot Scotty Phagan led 21-Junior 2 racers wire-to-wire. The 12-year-old winner was comfortably 3.595-seconds ahead of Tommy Lee Watts when it was over. Jared Dutton, Tucker Wood and Garrett Bunch were also on the podium.

“The kart’s been very good. My dad’s been working really hard. We work hard on the kart pretty much all day and we did very good,” Phagan explained. “We got a lot dialed in between qualifying and the race. It was very loose in qualifying, but it held together good.”

Thursday Trey Martin topped Junior 2’s 20-racer qualifying field with a lap time of 16.235-second Gus Dean was second fastest qualifier at 16.347-seconds. Martin hustled into the early lead cruising comfortably to the half way mark. It was then the excitement began, Gus Dean’s machine passed him as the top three moved way ahead of the falling field behind them.

The dicing continued. When it was over in the closing laps Tommy Lee Watts was leading Dean and Martin. Further back were Phagan and Dutton. The field was frozen from there with Dean 1.467-seconds late at the end.

“My motor and tires made the big difference out there, mostly tires though,” the 11-year-old Conway, N.C. based winner explained. “I’d like to thank Anthony Fox for the motor. Actually it was pretty fun running by my self I didn’t have to worry about anything. The kart was loose, but I could still handle it. It was about the best it could be. I saw Boomer and my dad out there waving their hands and all so I figured I was out pretty far so I started taking it easy.”

Wednesday’s fifth class, Senior Stock, left the grid with clouds thickened above and the air at ground level was suddenly windy and chilled. Serious weather was headed for Conway. Veteran Michael Schumacher headed the 26-racer field off the grid on to the track for line up. Schumacher showed them around twice and then suddenly caution flags waved around the track and the flagman waved the red flag for an incident in turn four.

Schumacher led the restart with AKRA officials watching the track with one eye and the skies with the other. Six laps were left to race. Officials rushed to line them up for the finale, but a steady rain turned heavy and lighting bursts in the background ended the race day instead. Senior Stock racers had passed the midway point. Schumacher was awarded an almost certain win and the remainder of the classes that didn’t’ compete were awarded rain points and prizes.

Rain continued pounding the South Carolina coastal region early into Thursday morning. When the sun popped out of the eastern sky the track dried nicely. The pit area didn’t. After a four hour delay karts were on the track running it in so they could get three rounds of practice in before qualifying and racing.

Thursday Stephanie Pitts spun a 15.538-seconds run for Stock Medium’s pole. She shot into the early lead with Brad Pittman chasing her down from a third place start. Pittman closed in on her looking for that little advantage. He found it and the lead. Pitts regrouped and hung with him for the rest of the distance. At the end she was 0.946-seconds late.

“We kind of struggled both days. But we finally hit it in one class,” said Pittman. “Tires is the thing it’s mostly tires. I think this is going to be a great series. We’re going to support it as long as we can. I think it’s going to be a good series and I hope it does well.”

Brett Miller was third out of 29 followed in the top five by Jerry Muller and Bobby McManus.

From the pole David Waddell won the new Unlimited All Stars class, which drew five competitors. Waddell whizzed around the track in 15.248-seconds for the pole and was 5.340-seconds ahead of Ashley Waddell at the finish line. Chris Sturkie crossed third followed by Tyrone Cox and Troy Hensley for the field.

Gus Dean grabbed Junior Sportsman Champ’s pole with a 17.113-seconds run. From there the Hi Tech Racing Engines powered Tempest kart pilot nipped Garrett Bunch at the stripe by just 0.096, for one of the event’s closest finishes.

“I thought he had me near the end. I just had enough go-kart and he made just one little slip and I was there to take it.”

Fowler, Troy Toombs and Brett Heathery made up the rest of the top five.

Randy Garner struggled in Super Heavy qualifying ending up 11th out of 32 entries. Between then and race time his team worked on the kart right up to the last minute making educated guesses on setup and tire pressure. They hoped they got it right and they did.

Mark Rabon ruled qualifying with a fast 15.917-seconds run. Averitt Lucas started next to him. Rabon rocketed into a comfortable early lead as Garner threaded his way to second. Just before they took the halfway signal Garner slipped into second and set his sites in on Rabon. After getting the crossed flags Garner stepped up the pace as they entered turn one and slipped by Rabon for the lead. From there Garner gained 1.698-seconds edge over Rabon. Rounding out the top five were Josh Haire, Jarrett Dove and Lucas.

“Mark’s a friend of mine and a good competitor,” said the Dublin, N.C. based winner. “I knew we could catch him, but I didn’t know if we had enough laps. I want to thank Performance Plus Bookie Power, Dyno Cams, John, Gary and Ray and all the rest of the guys who came down here and helped this weekend. “

Teddy Burris beat a field of 22-Senior Champ racers to the stripe where he was 0.252-seconds ahead of Jeffery Kummer. Burris was light at the scales and forced to surrender the win to Kummer. Filling out the official top five were Donnie Nall, Eric Rendleman, Eddie Sorrentino and Billy Parrish.

Chad ‘Houdini’ Haithcock handled the event’s final feature Limited Modified’s 16-racer field from start to finish. There his Hi Tech Racing Engines Powered Tempest kart was a very comfortable 4.103-seconds ahead of Michael Todd.

“We got it going in qualifying, said the Bluffton, S. C. “We struggled most of the day, but I think we put the right set of tires on. I want to thank my dad David, Jay Boggy, JT Stillwagon and a special thanks to G-Man, and everybody that helps me I appreciate it a whole lot.”

AKRA racers were invited to stay for the annual Conway Speedway New Year’s race. Together with the AKRA Christmas in Dixie’ 1010 racers were at Conway Speedway making it the largest holiday karting show this season.

AKRA will hold its first national points race of the 2006 season February 3-5 at Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, FL. The full season schedule and entry blanks are posted on their website at www.akrainc.com.

Anyone in DELAWARE or ANY KARTERS that likes to kart race, the US 13 Kart Club Track located on Delaware Motorsports Complex, (located 1/2 mile north of MD/DE line) grounds will be holding the 2nd annual Money and Halloween Party on Oct. 28, 2005.

An $50 Entry fees for Stock Lite & Med, Animal with pay back top 5.  An $25 entry fee for Stock Xtra Hvy, Limited & Open classes with 80% back on entry fee (need 10 or more or winner takes all.)  Lastly, an Entry $25 with trophies for all Pee-Wee, and top five in Juniors.

Last year, the first costume party for the kids 10 & under was held and what a hit it was.  During intermission judges will be asked to come to the flag stand and watch the lit’ ghost & goblins parade around while collecting goodies from members of karter teams.  That way everyone will be out of arms way for racers preparing to take to the grid.  Prizes and refreshments will be scattered about.  Anyone wishing to dress up in costume rather kids or adults will be allowed by the Wizard Master this night only and Welcomed If You Dare!  The Wizard says enter at your own risk and he will let you leave on your own, Ha Ha Ha! Check www.dekarting.net  for more details.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

P & S SIGNING

MACKLIN & SON DEMOLITION

BRUNO ELECTRIC

GREG HITCHENS SERVICES

H. P. SPEED KARTS - PARTS & GRAPHIX

L & H EXCAVATING

MIDWAY CARPET CO.

ANTHONY'S KARTING

 RELIABLE MAINTENANCE SERVICE

RED MILL LAWNCARE

GEORGE HOUCH

MESSICK CONCRETE

JOHN OAKLEY KARTS & PARTS

WAPLES HARDWARE LANDSCAPING

STURGIS MARINE

DOMINO'S PIZZA - SALIS.

BRYAN BRADFORD RACING

US 13 KART CLUB

USILTON TIRE & AUTO

AQUATECH- WELLS & PUMPS

HERTICH'S FAMILY AUTO DEALERSHIP

                                         "Brandon White of Lewes, DE wins 2005 WKA National Championship"  

Brandon White of Lewes, DE, team driver for Upper Cut Racing Tires and James Lewis Motorsports capped of the 2005 season with a bang.  Heading into the final race of the Virginia State Dirt Series White had to win the race to win the VDKA championship and gain the transfer points needed to edge fellow Upper Cut Racing Tires driver Cameron Collins in the national points chase.  White qualified 4th and won the race securing his place in Delaware Karting History.  White finished the season with two Virginia State Championships, a Delaware State Championship, a Dirt World Championship at Daytona earlier in the year and a World Karting Association Jr. Sportsman II Lite National Championship. Congrats!!!

   Jamie Lewis

      BANQUET NEWS        

The U. S. 13 Kart Club Banquet will be held on January 21, 2006

LOCATION:  Laurel Fire Hall, 10th Street, Laurel, DE 19940

WHEN:  January 21, 2006

TIME: 

COST: Adults: $25 6-12 Years: $15

Please respond in a timely fashion so the best arrangements can be made.  Contact Phyllis Hayes, at H. P. Speed, 22091 Lewes Georgetown, Georgetown, DE 19947, 302-856-7835.  Or Laura Reed, 17673 Little Hill Rd., Laurel, DE 19956, 302-875-2461

ALSO:  Door prizes will be given out throughout the night, and we need help with these prizes.  We would appreciate everyone's help in getting local businesses to participate by donating something as a door prize.  All donations are tax deductible and will be mentioned in our Banquet program with a thank you to those sponsors.  Prizes & Donations can be mailed to the same address as above.  Thank you for all your help and support.   More news will be following.

ALL Donations Must be in by Dec. 15, 2005.

Glen and Bryant Renfro make unexpected visit to thank the U. S. 13 Kart Club

August 5, 2005

by Bonnie Nibblett

Delmar, DE.....The U. S. 13 Kart Club Track had a special appearance made by Glen and Bryant Renfro.  The Renfro's were in a serious fire accident and both burned badly at a WKA National race in Ohio in June.  Bryant received 60% and Glen 50% of burns on their bodies.  However, both are healing well; and were released 2 weeks ago in later July.  Bryant still will have quite a while to recover, but overall doing very well.  The doctors said, when they returned home and were seen by John Hopkins for follow up that Bryant is healing very well.  Bryant had been required to wear a whole body suit sock type for his burns.  When seen at John Hopkins, he was told he did not have to wear the whole suit with all the progress he has made, so that was real good news, his father stated.  He will still have to wear them on his hands and arms for now and not go in the heat or sun. 

06212005 - Update On Glenn And Bryant Renfro

Update On Glenn And Bryant Renfro
06.21.05 – The family has written an update for posting as well as have included contact information.

As written and submitted by Josh Willet:

Glenn is healing very well. Doctors have confirmed that all of his burns are 2nd and 1st degree. No longer does Glenn have any 3rd degree burns. The doctors feel that he should be able to go home in the next week or two.

Bryant is also doing well. He is still in intensive care. We have seen a lot of healing on him. His chest and back are now confirmed to be only 2nd degree burns, although his arms are still 3rd degree and may need skin graft surgery. His face is also 2nd degree burns, with a few small 3rd degree burns under his eyes. Bryant is breathing on his own, eating some real food, and walking short distances.

We continue to pray that both Glenn and Bryant remain infection free. Thank you for all your support and prayers. Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who asks. I will try to send you an email at least once a week. The following is the information on the relief fund and the hospital address:

Renfro Family Fund
C/O Westminster Union Bank
1631 North Main Street
Hampstead MD 21074

St. Vincent’s Burn Center
C/O Bryant Renfro Room 166
2213 Cherry Street
Toledo, OH 43608-2691

Sincerely
Josh Willet

May 22, 2005

                                                             Four Double at MD Sprint Divisional

Story Bruce C. Walls

Nicholson Speedway in Chestertown, MD hosted round two of the Maryland Sprint Divisional Series May 14-15. The regions top two and four-cycle competitors battled in 25 classes offered that weekend by this unique series that offers both styles of road racing competition.

Four racers were double winners on the 1/4-mile asphalt road course that boasts a long straightaway leading into a fast sweeper and down to a sharp hair pin turn leading back to the start/finish line. Coyote factory pilot JR Petrella posted both a four and two cycle win that weekend starting with Junior Sportsman 1 Lite where he lost the early pole advantage to Jake Petrella who shot into the initial lead. JR who won both Lite and Heavy in the season opener at Sandy Hook Speedway in Street, MD, dropped to third and had to fight his way back to the front. Once he recaptured it he struggled to hold it to the end.

“Mitchell Mills, who finished second, tried to go for me in the hairpin, but he didn’t have enough speed at the end. I was a little worried he’d pass me on the final lap, but I held him off and won it,” described the 10-year-old Harwood, MD based double winner who added, “The GT Machine motor was very fast. We used this one in the last divisional too and its very fast.”

Sunday Petrella posted a 2-cycle win in Cadet Junior Sportsman. Will Allen and Emmanuel Guillusson completed the top three.

Urbana, MD based team Coyote driver Justin Cassity claimed a pair of wins that weekend. Saturday his Rat Powered machine ruled Briggs Heavy from a last place start. Earlier in the day his left front tire slipped off during the heat race forcing the former national Horstman Gold Cup champion to start in the rear. “In the first heat we forgot to put the cotter pin in the left front tire and the left front tire fell off. We were having a good run. I was nervous coming into this feature starting in the back.”

Heat winner Michael Osborn, of Barclay, MD, shot into the early lead as Cassity climbed through the field. Before half the distance was covered Cassity reached second. As they headed for the mid race signal Cassity pulled beside Osborn and dove under him in the hairpin. He took the halfway sign and held off Osborn’s challenges to the finish. “The kart worked great and the engine worked great so that helped me get from the back to the front,” Cassity described.

Sunday Cassity and Osborn were back at it in Briggs Medium with Cassity again the victor. Jeff Oleen, Zachary Cornelius and James Postick rounded out the top five.

With a little luck, a little driving skill and a powerful GT Machine motor Gaithersburg, MD based Tyler Sandmeyer recorded a pair of junior wins that weekend. Saturday Sandmeyer finished second to Zachary Linsell in Restricted Junior Heavy. He had the early lead over Linsell who closed the gap and in the final laps sped by Sandmeyer. It wasn’t over at the stripe. Linsell was caught at tech with illegal Dunlap tires that were supposed to be Bridgestones. Linsell was disqualified and Sandmeyer was credited with the official win.

Later that day Linsell led 16 Restricted Junior Lite racers across the stripe with Sandmeyer glued to his tailpipe.

“This makes up for the race earlier. We definitely had other tires on and we did good with those too,” said the Garland Racing Engines powered Windgap, PA Coyote kart pilot.

Sunday Sandmeyer showed 12 Briggs Junior Heavy racers across the finish line with Toby Parese, Linsell, Jason Tauber and Steven Moore, Jr. chasing him in the top five.

Bethesda, MD based Jeff Oleen led the way in Saturday’s Briggs Lite wire-to-wire and later soloed a win in Animal Modified. Lite’s win wasn’t as easy as he make it look.

“We came here, didn’t do much to the kart, tweaked it a little here and there and it ran good all day. The Rat Power Motor was real strong it came alive and just ran down the straightaway.”

Saturday’s competition began with Chris Braun capturing Super Heavy. Winning the heat race earned him the pole, but Bear, DE driver John Anderson blasted into the early lead from the outside pole. As the field spread behind them Braun chased down Anderson. The side-by-side battle began in the hairpin and lasted part of a lap when Braun powered past Anderson for the lead.

“He was blocking me the whole time and when I went to pass him he went down on me and we sort of touched wheels and I don’t know what happened to him,” said Braun a Blair, MD based GT Machine powered Coyote kart pilot. “Obviously he ran off the track and was a little upset about it.”

Anderson gathered it back to finish second, Danny Miller was third, Tom Fash fourth and Kenneth Burke fifth.

Jimmy Heavlow and Aaron Usilton split the Junior Sportsman 2 classes with Heavlow handling Saturday’s Lite field and Usilton taking Sunday’ Heavy win. Zachary Taylor and Ernie Carlisle were on Lite’s front row for the heat race. Heavlow shot by them in the early going and built a huge lead by the end for the feature’s pole. Heavlow surrendered the feature’s early lead to Taylor. Two laps later he was challenging Taylor for the lead. Before the third lap was complete Heavlow had the lead, which he carried to the finish with Taylor trying to take it back at every turn.

“I wasn’t on my game at the start,” explained the 12-year-old Galena, MD based winner, “but we had a fast Bandit Y2K4 kart and we worked on it and you’ve always got to have a little luck. I want to thank Palmer Racing Fuels, Mercury Marine, Jim’s Marine, Chris Joiner and Turner Racing Engines.”

Two cycle competitors were next on the track with Clinton, MD competitor Paul Kennedy’s DAP powered Sodi kart leading the way in ICA’s heat and feature races with Virgil Gross behind him. “Unfortunately we didn’t have a good turn out today, but I’ve got to give it to Virgil he’s coming along quickly I’m looking forward to more competition, but you race where you can when you can,” said the veteran national Manufacturer’s Cup racer.

Harold LaVere roared off of Yamaha Lite’s pole and never looked back. According to the Felton, DE native, “The Haase kart was just handling great today, it pivoted in the turns real well and Paul Kennedy’s motor was just awesome.”

Peter Minnig was a solo winner in Yamaha Junior Super Can.

Back to 4-cycle competition, Bethesda, MD based Jeff Oleen led the way in Briggs Lite wire-to-wire. It wasn’t as easy as he make it look.


Rat Powered Coyote kart pilot Jeff Yanetta, of Bridgewater, NJ was the fastest in Briggs Senior Sportsman Medium. From the feature’s pole he roared ahead as a three-way battle for third raged behind him. “We came here, didn’t do much to the kart, tweaked a little here and there and it ran good all day. The Rat Power Motor was real strong it came alive and just ran down the straightaway,” Yanetta said.

Sunday’s features started with a wild Senior Stock feature. Paul Quattro broke into the early lead and led every lap except the one that counted. Joe Loper made a last lap move on Quattro in the sweeper. Quattro tried to take it back in the hairpin and ended up in the hay bales. Loper won and Quattro crossed sixth.

Buddy Sload, Jr. took Senior Sportsman Heavy’s checkered flag. Dana Lail, Bruce Taylor, Chad Hamilton and Alex Blanco filled the remaining top five positions.

Mitchell Mills who had JR Petrella close behind him captured Junior Sportsman 1 Heavy. Chris Wells and Jake Petrella rounded out the field. Aaron Usilton won Junior Sportsman 2 Heavy over Zachary Taylor. Will Allen was third, Heavlow fourth and Ryan Bennett fifth out of nine. Tyler Gale grabbed Animal Heavy’s win topping a two-racer battle with James McKinney.

Three 2-cycle classes competed Sunday; Salvatore Evola scored the Formula Yamaha Senior win over Mike Simon and Michael Macik Jr. Jack Beasley beat Oleen in a two racer ICC battle and Will Allen soloed Yamaha Junior Sportsman’s win.

Maryland Sprint Divisional racers head back to Sandy Hook Speedway in Street, MD for round three of the six race series June 11th and 12th.

May 7, 2005     

                                                         4 Double at DE Dirt Divisional


By Bruce C. Walls

Four of nearly 100 entries in round 2 of the Delaware Dirt Divisional Series were double winners on U.S. 13 Kart Club's 1/5-mile dirt oval  Saturday, May 7th.  Piloting a Phantom Phenom kart powered by a motor  his father built, 9-year-old Derek Magee, of Georgetown  dominated the  Junior Sportsman 1 classes from their poles with perfection.

HP Speed Shop drivers Charles Hayes III and Chad Reed, both of Lincoln, DE, repeated their performances from the first race of the season with  double wins.  Hayes III Handled Controlled Heavy and Stock-X Heavy while his teammate topped the Limited and Animal classes.

“She was fast,” Hayes III said. “I want to thank my brother Chad.  Mark  and Chad Reed back at the shop and I want to thank my mom and dad for  everything they do and thank my sponsors  HP Speed, G-Man Kartworks  and Millinium Racing Chassis.”

After back-to-back wins Reed said, “Once again I want to thank HP Speed Shop, Chad Hayes for all of his help he builds one heck of an Animal  engine and JT Stillwagon builds one heck of a Millinium chassis.  We  had our beach tires on and they were digging through the sand.”  Like Magee, Hebron, MD based Ultramax kart pilot Mike Mowbray, Jr. won  both Junior Three classes wire-to-wire.  “It was fun the kart felt good  Michael (Scott) was close behind me most of the time, but it was fine,” Mowbray said after his first win.

Mike’s Uncle, Matt Mowbray, was one of 8 single winners that night.  Matt, a veteran and former series champion, also of Hebron, MD, made a  late race charge for the front and led the 20-racer field across the  stripe.  Outside pole winner Matt Hardy took them through a trio of  caution restarts before Mowbray got to the front.  Once in charge Mowbray  built asmall lead that was cut when the caution flag flew for the  fourth time with four laps remaining. Chad Hayes, of Georgetown and  Matt Cooper, who captured Stock Lite’s win, were on his tailpipe for  the last laps, but couldn’t get by him.

“It was a tough one. Actually it was terrible,” Mowbray described adding,  “I had to play with the throttle to get it right.  My brother,  Keith Jones and Matt Layton all helped out on tires.  We missed it in  qualifying and hit it in the feature,”

Young guns Brandon White and Tyler Reed ruled the Junior Sportsman 2 classes.  White won Heavy and Reed won Lite. White captured both poles.  From Heavy’s pole White fought off  challenges from Clint Chalabala for 20-laps before taking the checkered flag.

“I didn’t even know he was back there. My kart was loose at the beginning, but then it got a lot better,”  said the WKRP Racing  powered  Phantom kart pilot.

Later that night Reed grabbed Junior Sportsman 2 Lite’s early lead from White.  Caution returned the lead back to White before the first lap  was booked.  Reed quickly recaptured the lead as Cameron Collins of  Millsboro, DE worked his way to second. From there  Reed hammered the throttle and his HP Speed Shop motor kicked into high gear powering his
Millinium kart into a comfortable lead he held to the end.

“It was hard holding off Brandon White because I started on the outside pole,” said the Greg Hitchens Services Bonneville’s Roofing backed  11-year-old winner.  “When we were on the grid I was trying to figure a way to get around them on the start.  Then when we had to go single file I just knew that I had a chance to get it.”

Wyoming, DE driver Mike Ellerbush blasted off Outlaw Open’s pole  rocketed across the finish line with perfection. “It was just Morris Power. With Shannon building the engines and Wayne Fields setting the  kart up out of the MO Power Shop you just can’t go wrong they get the  job done,” Ellerbush credited, “The Phenom handled excellent I love the  kart.  Upper Cut Tires on it couldn’t get more horsepower to the  ground.  It’s just unbelievable I’m certainly happy.”

Mike Prather earned Senior Stock’s pole, but when the checkered flag waved it was for Bridgeville, DE based Rick Argo. “We started third.  I didn’t know if I  was going to have anything for the leaders, but the tires stayed good and we stayed up front,” Argo said in victory lane.  “Everybody drove a good race. I want to thank Anthony Karting, Brock  Anthony he really helps me out a lot, Auto Parts of Greenwood, J&L  Enterprises,   I hope we can keep it up.”

Troy Pyles earned Senior Champ’s pole.  The Winchester, VA based P&P  Speed Shop powered Fast Racing Chassis pilot lost the early going to Erika Hearn.

“When we went out there for the start I though we were going to get a  warm up lap and we didn’t get it we just took off so she (Erika Hearn)  got  me on the start,” Pyles said. “I knew if I just settled down and  let the tires come in we’d be ok and they finally come in and run her  back down and passed her coming off the corner with a great go-kart and  a great motor.”

For Immediate Release

With Our Thanks

Web: www.dekarting.net

Contact: redbud69racing@aol.com

                         U. S. 13 Kart Club First Practice Canceled

                        With Grounds Being Too Wet

March 26, 2005

Delmar, DE.....U. S. 13 Kart Club was all set to hit the track for the first time this past Saturday.  Only week long downpours drenched the ground, after pounding more that an inch and a half of rain during the week.  It was the first practice session for the 2005 season, with karters ready for some action on the oval.  The year looks great to start off with a lot of support from our sponsors for the season; sponsors will be named throughout the weeks to come.

Drivers and crews have been getting ready for the new year and anxious to get the feel of running some laps in with their new karts or changes to older ones and set ups.  Everyone has worked hard to get ready, while a few have visited other tracks during winternationals but, still itching to get out on the home track.   

The club has scheduled one more practice session for next Saturday, April 2, 2005, with gates opening at 9:00 AM.  This will be the last, yet first practice before the Delaware Dirt Divisional Series (DDDS), a WKA sanction event is held.  The first club race will be April 15, with the gate opening at 5:00 PM.  Also the gate entrance fee will be $5.00 this season.

April 9, will be the first of the monthly DDDS races held at Delmar.  A complete schedule for the U. S 13 Kart can be view on the tracks web site at www.dekarting.net.  That Saturday, gates and registration open at 7:00 AM, with practice starting at 9:30 AM.  Check the tracks hotline for updates as well at 302.846.2646. 

H. P. SPEED

Karts & Parts

Open House

February 26, 2005 10:00 AM -4:00 PM

302.856.7835

NEW  ITEMS:

*Tomar Clutches

*1 gal. Fuel Jugs

*Tomar Skip-Tooth Sprockets

Full In Stock Inventory:

NEW SERVICE:

H. P. Graphix Kart Lettering

Special Guest - Bruce & Susan Walls of Delmarva Sports Action magazine

Food & Drinks

H. P. Famous Meatballs & Chili

Free Drawing for:

Zamp Helmet Winner Choice of size & color

 Indoor Professional Go-Kart Racing is Coming to Central Illinois

Indoor professional go-kart racing is coming to Central Illinois for the first time since 1987. Jim Maroon, owner of Maroon’s Kart Systems, 309 Carver Lane, East Peoria, IL is promoting three professional go-kart races at the East Peoria Convention Center.

East Peoria, IL (PRWEB) January 27, 2005 -- The Trilogy Apparel Indoor Pro Kart Cup Series ’05 is a three race series beginning February 20 with a Swap Meet/Trade Show in the morning and kart racing in the afternoon. Race #2 will be two weeks later on March 6 and the final Championship race will be on March 20. The overall Series Champion will be given an embroidered jacket “on the spot” with the 1st place finishers name and Pro Kart Class that they won. This will be done by the overall event race sponsor, Trilogy Apparel, which is a new store located at 311 Carver Lane, East Peoria. All race classes are sponsored which allows each class to received guaranteed cash awards. The 5 to 8 year old class is the only class not receiving money. Instead they will receive 4’ tall trophies just for participating in the event.

Racing will be done on concrete floors and on Coke syrup. The racetrack is 180’ long by 60’ wide (on the inside) with racing lanes of 25’. Racers ages will range from 5 years old to 81 years old (karting legend Denny Sheppard of Bartonville). Kart Race entries are coming in from racers all over the Midwest and as far away as North Carolina.
The event also includes provisions for fund raising to a Christian Outreach Program, Victory Acres and Bryan Brown, seven-year-old son of East Peoria firefighter, who has cancer and recently had a stroke. A portion of the profit from each T-shirt sale will go toward Bryan’s stroke medical bills that are not covered by St. Jude.

Life long karting enthusiast, Lance Anderson, will be the flagman for the event. A memorial award will be given in memory of his son Aaron Anderson for the person at the event with the “Best Professional Attitude”. Aaron was an up and coming professional racer with a great attitude. National Kart News and the Inside Track magazines will cover this Indoor Pro Kart Cup Series. These are two of the largest karting magazines in the country.

For additional information, email e-mail protected from spam bots or phone Jim at 309-699-5278. Jim Maroon, promoter and Race Director  CONTACT INFORMATION:Terry Morey, Maroon's Kart Systems, Visit Our Site, 309-694-9100
Email us Here 1/25/05

 

Senior Stock Champ Karts Added To Saturday Afternoon "Small Car Nationals" At Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall


ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The Senior Stock Caged Champ Karts are joining the party.

Running under WKA motor and safety rules, the fleet Champ Karts have been added to the "Small Car Nationals" portion of the Atlantic City Indoor Race weekend at the seaside resort's Boardwalk Hall.

The Champ Karts will join the Micro-Stocks, Young Lion Slingshots and Mini-Cup machines during the "Small Car Nationals" activities, scheduled for Sat., Jan. 22, starting at 12:30 p.m.

The Champ Kart field will be limited to the first 30 entries received. Two-thirds of the entry fees collected will go toward the division's purse, and other special prizes will be offered to competitors.

Entrants will have no club to join, but all drivers must be at least 15 years old to compete under New Jersey State guidelines.

All cars and drivers will be required to meet New Jersey State rules as well as the WKA motor and safety mandates. A minimum weight of 400 pounds with driver before the race will be in effect.

The Boardwalk Hall's concrete oval track will open for "Small Car Nationals" practice at 11 a.m. on Jan. 22.

Two heat races and a feature are planned for the Champ Karts.

The Atlantic City Indoor Race weekend will also include evening programs featuring the TQ Midgets/600cc Micro-Sprints and Slingshots on Fri., Jan. 21 and Sat., Jan. 22. Race time is 7:45 p.m. on Friday and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday.

Friday's show is headlined by the "Roaring 20s," a series of three 20-lap events for the TQ Midgets/Micros that will transfer 12 drivers directly to Saturday night's "Gambler's Classic" for the division.

A full card of qualifying on Saturday night leads up to the 40-lap "Gambler's Classic" for the TQ Midgets/Micros.

All Saturday pit passes and general admission tickets are good for both the afternoon "Small Car Nationals" and the evening program.

White Wins Daytona

Story by Bruce C. Walls

Bradon White, of Lewes Del., won Junior Sportman 2 Lite during the 2004  Dirt World Championships at Daytona  Beach, Florida’s Municipal Stadium December  28. White worked his way from a  10th place start, took the leed on lap 11  of 20 and never looked back. In four years of kart racing Brandon  White has complied quite an impressive  record. The 12- ear-old Lewes, DE racer  has earned eight divisional titles in both  the Delaware and Virginia Dirt Series  along with a  club championship at US 13  Kart Club.

Last season piloting a WKRP Racing  Engines powered Shadow ZX 1kart  he swept the Junior Sportsman 2 classes,  Lite and Heavy in Delaware and earned  Heavy’s in the Virginia series. In 2003  White won both Junior Sportsman 1 divisions  in Delaware along with Junior  Sportsman Champ’s title. In Virginia he  topped Junior Sportsman 1 Heavy.  “My crew  deserves most of the credit,”  White said adding, “It’s a total team  effort. I almost won all of the races in  Delaware and we had to win the last one  to get the title.” 

White’s karting career keeps the family on the road. In the six weeks before  Christmas he competed in a money race at  the Georgia Karting Complex in Carnesville,  GA, the World 100 at Cross Roads  Motor Plex in Jasper, FL and in the John  Jackson Memorial Shoot Out at Southern   Pitt Raceway in Ayden, NC. According  to White racing around the  county is, “a  lot of fun and you get to meet a lot of  people from around the country.” He   added that his favorite national track is    Possum Kingdom in Belton, SC. “It’s a  big track and it’s really fast,” he pointed  out. “We ran the whole national series  for two titles. We worked hard and raced   hard and had consistent top five finishes.  In Lite we’re ranked 7th and we’re 10th in  Heavy.”

“I came in ninth at the World 100  this year. I should have won it in 2003.  I was running second and got spun on  lap 4,”  said White who has also been an  A Honor Roll student at Beacon Middle  School every marking period for the past  two years. He’s currently a seventh grader. This year White will defend his Junior  Sportsman 2 titles in the Delaware  Dirt Series, however, he will be piloting  a new Phantom Phenom kart in 2005.  “Dad wants me to run the Phenom kart  because of its new technology, but I still  like the Shadow. We started racing the  Phenom at Southern Pitt and we stunk.  We finally got it right in Carnesville,” he  explained.

White started his 2005 campaign  in Daytona, FL between Christmas and  New Years during the Dirt World Championships where thousands of dirt kart  racers compete in their first national of  the 2005 season.   White and the other US 13 Kart Club  and Delaware Dirt Divisional champions  will be crowned during a dinner banquet  the will be held Saturday January 15 at   the Laurel, DE Fire Hall. Club competition will begin in early April. Dates for the Delaware Dirt Divisional Series will be published on our website at www.delmarvasportsaction.com  as soon as they’re  available.

      BANQUET NEWS        

The U. S. 13 Kart Club Banquet will be held on January 15, 2005

LOCATION:  Laurel Fire Hall, 10th Street, Laurel, DE 19940

WHEN:  January 15, 2005

TIME:  Dinner starts at 6:30 PM

COST:  Adults $25, 6 -12 years old $15, Under 5 free

Please respond in a timely fashion so the best arrangements can be made.  Contact Phyllis Hayes, at H. P. Speed, 22091 Lewes Georgetown, Georgetown, DE 19947, 302-856-7835.

ALSO:  Door prizes will be given out throughout the night, and we need help with these prizes.  We would appreciate everyone's help in getting local businesses to participate by donating something as a door prize.  All donations are tax deductible and will be mentioned in our Banquet program with a thank you to those sponsors.  Prizes & Donations can be mailed to the same address as above.  Thank you for all your help and support.  More news will be following.

FIVE EARN DOUBLE GOLD AT G&J KARTWAY

Story and images by Bruce C. Walls

CAMDEN, OH-Five 4-cycle road course racers earned double wins during the WKA/Horstman Gold Cup MCP Brake Nationals held during the Fourth of July weekend at G&J Kartway in Camden, OH. Four hundred and nine racers entered the competition on the 1/2-mile nine-turn course up 30 from last year’s second race of the tour’s season. Starting with the event’s second winner Kyle Capodice the other double winners included Justin Cassity, Scott Rettich, Austyn Fugle and Eric Winkle who posted his pair that Sunday.

Capodice, of Sandusky, OH, piloted his Baker Racing Engines powered Bandit kart with perfection in Saturday’s RLV Briggs Junior Sportsman 1 Lite taking all the class offered. He spun the fastest qualifying lap at 37.337 seconds, beat outside pole winner Jimmy Heavlow to the heat’s stripe by 0.627 seconds and finished with a huge 3.759 seconds lead over Dakota Bell in the Feature.

“I don’t know how I stayed out front,” admitted the nine-year-old winner, “the kart handled great and the motor was real good it was real strong.”

Sunday TJ Duke was the fastest qualifier in McDonald Motorsports Briggs Junior Sportsman 1 Heavy beating Capodice out of the top starting spot by 0.057 seconds with a 37.417 seconds run. Capodice captured the rest of it. He beat Duke to the heat’s checkered flag by 0.572 seconds and by an even closer 0.162 seconds margin in the feature. As they were heading for the final flag a lapped kart appeared ahead of them. “I was worried when that lapped kart got in the way,” he described adding, “The kart felt great.”

Cassity an Urbana, MD based Rat Power Racing Engines powered Coyote kart factory driver bested fields of 19 and 26 in American Power Sports Briggs Heavy and Turner Racing Engines Briggs Medium. In Heavy he led the charge from start to finish with a 34.220 second lap for the pole from where he beat Jon Baker in the heat race by 0.146 seconds to the feature where Baker trailed him by 0.064 seconds. “I wasn’t sure who had it going down the straight-away on that last lap. We came in that last corner before the front straight there and I knew Jon (Baker) was going to try me in the corner,” Cassity described. “ Thankfully I stayed on the outside and was able to hold onto the lead and I got a good push from Lawson in the back there so it worked out great. I want to thank Thor Oils they’re helping my engines run a lot better and helped my success.”

Sunday’s Medium proved more of a challenge. Cassity struggled in qualifying with a 34.361 seconds lap 0.118 seconds off the pace set by Tommy Van Cleef’s 34.243 seconds pole wining effort for a fifth place start. Things got worse for Cassity in the heat where he finished 15^{th out to 26. He roared back in the feature. While his brother Ryan was enjoying a comfortable lead Justin worked his way to third, then second. He slipped past his brother near the end and beat him to the stripe by 0.648 seconds.}

“That was unbelievable. I got taken out in the heat and started 10th in the feature,” he described. “I was just hoping to run in the top three or five today. Sometimes the way things workout is crazy. It just worked out where every pass was perfectly timed it was almost a coincidence not even driving skill. It just happened the way it did and I was lucky.”

Rettich, a Camden, OH native, earned his wins that Saturday. Piloting a new Margay kart he earned a win in Power Products/Super Seat Briggs Limited Medium and when Justin Bonsignore was booted from Precision Industries Briggs Animal Medium at tech, he inherited his second win.

Rettich ruled Limited Medium from start to finish beginning with a blistering 31.845 seconds qualifying lap that earned him the pole. He dominated the heat and feature over Van Cleef who trailed him by 2.105 seconds and 2.837 seconds. “The Margay chassis was great,” Rettich explained. “The Coyote kart works great in the slower classes, but for the faster classes the Margay just works better, it just handled great. I was confident from the beginning and the kart came in as was just great.”

Fellow Ohio race Eric Winkle, of Cedarville, earned his first two national wins that Sunday starting with Viper Racing Engines Briggs Restricted Junior. ‘Bad’ Brad Bischoff blasted out a 34.909 seconds pole-winning lap. Winkle was the fifth fastest qualifier, but was fastest when in counted. He quickly climbed through the field in the heat race passing Bischoff before the half. When it was over Bischoff was 0.230 seconds behind him across the stripe. In the feature race Winkle roared by Bischoff as they battled down the front straight for the lead, which he held to the end where this time his was 0.311 seconds ahead of Bischoff at the end for his first national, win.

“It was easy because Eric Garland had me so hooked up on power and he hooked up the Shadow kart perfectly and my dad did a great job with him on setup,” Winkle credited after his first win.

Sunday Floridian Justin Larson cranked out a 35.510 seconds lap for Baker Racing Engines Briggs Junior Animal’s pole. Winkle cracked the top five in qualifying with a 35.699 seconds effort. Third fastest qualifier Steven Axtell topped the heat race with a 0.283 seconds edge over Larson and then followed Winkle by 0.230 seconds when in counted.

“The Garland Racing Engine had enough top end to power by him (Axtell) easily and Eric Garland’s setup the kart so good I was flying around the track.”

Livonia, NY based Austyn Fugle notched his first national win that Saturday and backed it up with another Sunday for a sweep of the Briggs Junior Sportsman classes. In Saturday’s Coyote Products Fugle was the fastest of 27 qualifiers with a 35.633 seconds lap. Brett Farmer and Tyler Sandmeyer got by him in the heat, but he rallied back in the feature winning it by 0.441 over Farmer. “It was kind of hard and I could hear them back there and I didn’t know if I was any faster or not,” admitted the 10-year-old Fugle. “The Margay kart handled pretty good and the Turner Motor worked really good.”

Backed by the confidence of his first national win Fugle took all Bonsignore Kart Shoppe Briggs Junior Sportsman 2 Heavy offered. A 36.106 seconds lap put him on the pole from where he captured the heat race with CJ Lintner trailing by 0.442 seconds and in the feature where he opened a 1.121 seconds advantage over Sandmeyer.

Horstman Gold Cup competitors have two more nationals remaining in the 2004 season. Next up they travel to Wampum, PA August 20-22 where they will compete at BeaveRun Motorsports Complex followed by Grand Nationals which will again be part of the North American Karting Championships at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, NC November 5-7.

U. S. 13 Kart Club Delmar, DE 19940

 www.redbud69racing.com

redbud69racing@aol.om

For Immediate Release With Our Thanks

                                           Bitten By Mother Nature Again

Delmar, DE.....June 11, Mother Nature bit the hand again this week for the U. S. 13 Kart Club at the Delaware Motorsports Complex for the second  week in a row.  No Race will be held this Sunday June 13 as a rain make up.  The next race will be June 18, 2004, weather permitting.  Gates open 5:00 PM, practice at 7:00PM.  So come out and get in on the fast action and play in the clay.

Join us on June 26, for the third Delaware State Briggs Dirt Series race features.  Gates open at 7:00AM, practice 9:30AM.  Tyler Reed leads in the  BRIGGS JR. SPTS. I LITE, Cameron Collins leads BRIGGS JR. SPTS. I HEAVY, Brandon White leads BRIGGS JR. SPTS. II LITE and HEAVY, while Kolby Schroder leads in the BRIGGS JR. SPTS. III LITE and HEAVY, Matt Mowbray leads in BRIGGS Lite, Chad Hayes in the BRIGGS -MEDIUM and SUPER HEAVY and BRIGGS CONTROL HEAVY, James Lewis in the BRIGGS HEAVY, Glenn Renfro in SENIOR STOCK and the BRIGGS SENIOR CHAMP,  Kenneth Peek leads in BRIGGS LIMITED HEAVY, Chad Reed leads in ANIMAL HEAVY and Shannon Morris leads in OUTLAW OPEN.

The current leaders in U. S. 13 Club points are Austin Wright in JUNIOR I, Scott Hitchens in JUNIOR II, Brandon Beale in JUNIOR III and has won every feature so far in that class.  Butch Tucker leads in STOCK LITE, John Macklin leads in STOCK MEDIUM, Anthony Brock leads in STOCK HEAVY, James Hickman leads in STOCK XTRA HEAVY, Ralph Moore in 35 AND OVER, and John Ellis Jr. leads in the LIMITED classes.

               ATTENTION DRIVERS: 

 If you notice your points are not correct, Please contact Richard Pearson at 302.349.5169.

Also, when you do see an error or have a question about your points don't wait weeks or months to notify us.  Thank you.  If there is another error on one of the drivers records  or something notify Bonnie by email or which ever is easiest.  Thank you.

Jerry Nadeau Returns to Connecticut with Endurance Karting: NASCAR driver and Danbury [CT] native Jerry Nadeau returns to his home state June 18 and 19 for the www.EnduranceKarting.com  events at Lime Rock Park. Nadeau will serve as an instructor in the June 18 racing school, which is limited to 20 participants. On Saturday, June 19, Nadeau will be on one of 28 teams competing in an eight-hour go-kart endurance race. Nadeau says: "I really enjoyed instruction and working with people and coming back to Lime Rock is going to be so much fun." Pre-registration is required for the race and the school. "I have raced with www.EnduranceKarting.com three times at the kart track at Lowe's Motor Speedway [in Charlotte]," Nadeau said. "Last time, I teamed up with Ernie Irvan and my dad, who had not raced in years. We had a great time, racing together and against racing enthusiasts." Nadeau was seriously injured in a May 2003 crash at Richmond International Raceway. He has since undergone extensive rehabilitation and has progressed remarkably. He keeps his racing skills in practice through go-karts and racing-themed video games, in hopes of returning to the Nextel Cup Series in 2005. The Lime Rock race also marks a homecoming to go-kart racing for Nadeau. He began racing go-karts at age four, winning three consecutive World Karting Association Gold Cup Championships (1988 to 1990). He won the WKA Grand National Championship and the Skip Barber Eastern Series Rookie-of-the-Year title in the same year (1991). In 1996, he competed in the Formula Opel European Series and finished sixth, the highest-ever finish by an American. Nadeau began racing in the prestigious Nextel Cup Series in 1997, posting one win at Atlanta Motor Speedway (November 2000) in 177 starts. Throughout his rehabilitation process, Nadeau has enjoyed spending time with his wife Jada and one-year-old daughter Natalie.
www.EnduranceKarting.com travels the country holding "Arrive and Race" events for the avid race fans to try the spirit of racing. For more information on the Lime Rock races, or EnduranceKarting's other events in Portugal, North Carolina, Indiana, Las Vegas or Florida, visit www.EnduranceKarting.com  or call toll-free 1-866-722-3669.(Endurance Karting PR)  Jayski.com
  

THREE DOUBLE AT DELMAR 

May 13, 2004

Story and Photos by

Bruce C. Walls

            DELMAR, DE-Regional kart racers competed in the second of six races scheduled in the World Karting Association Delaware Dirt Divisional Series at Delaware Motorsports Park in Delmar, DE Saturday May 8^th.  Three of more than 100 racers entered earned double wins that day on the 1/5-mile dirt oval.

HP Speed Shop team drivers won seven of 16 classes offered that day starting with double winner Tyler Reed of Delmar, DE who swept the Junior 1 Heavy and Lite races from their poles.  Starting on Heavy’s pole Reed led the 10-racer field through two caution restarts before beating Austin Wright to the finish.  Cody Davison got a piece of the lead early on but Reed quickly raced by him. Austin Wright took over second in the final laps, but couldn’t catch Reed.  “I had to keep the pressure on 36’s (Davison) bumper,” described the 10-year-old Delmar, DE based double winner after his first trip to victory lane.  “He (Davison) got loose and I got by him and stayed low on the restarts and kept going.”

Later that day Reed decisively ruled Junior 1 Lite from start to finish with Brandon Stargus trailing a distant second at the end. Davison offered several early challenges, but dropped back into the field later on. “I want to thank my dad for hooking me up,” Reed said during his second visit to victory lane. “Cody (Davison) came up on the back of me and I thought I was going to loose my position, but I held on to it. The motor and the Shadow kart both worked good.”

Charles Hayes III added two more wins to HP Speed Shop’s tally topping Controlled Heavy and Stock Extra Heavy.  Kenneth Ayers hustled into Controlled Heavy’s early lead with Hayes III closing fast.  Hayes III pulled up beside him and they battled side-by-side for almost half a lap before Hayes III took it from him down the back straight and never looked back.  Behind him Manchester, MD based Renfro tried to reel him in.  Renfro was close at the finish, but couldn’t get close enough to take it at the end.

“He (Renfro) was on me. I started to develop a fouled plug or a coil or something was going wrong with the motor.  With five to go the motor started shutting off on me a little bit like she was running out of fuel, but I held on to her” Hayes III of Lincoln, DE described. “I’d like to thank my brother Chad, G-Man Kart Works, HP Speed Shop and I want to thank Opie Lawson for helping me today and I want to thank my Mom and Dad for everything they do for me.”

James Lewis, of Delmar, roared away from Stock Extra Heavy’s pole with Hayes working his way through the field behind him.  Hayes reached Lewis’s bumper near mid race and then shot by Lewis for a never surrendered lead to the finish. “It took about ten laps, but once she came in she was good to go,” Hayes said of his second win.

Hayes’s brother Chad, won Stock Medium over pole winner Charles Vallanginham of St. Mary’s County, MD taking the lead from third on the last lap as the front two Vallanginham and Matt Mobray of Hebron, MD tangled battling for the lead. 

According to Chad, “That was wild.  Vallandingham went to the inside and got Matt Mobray a little high. It was just a battle for the lead.  I just took advantage of it.  I want to thank my sponsors HP Speed Shop, G-Man Kart Works, Phantom Chassis and Maxxis tires they were really hooking up good today we had a good setup and everything was good to go.”

Radical Racing Engines powered Legend Kart pilot Kolby Schroder swept both Junior 3 classes.  Robert Grady III earned the pole and grabbed the early lead from there as Schroder battled his way through the field.  Schroder reached second near mid race and then got by Grady for the lead.

“I was right there, I was just waiting for the tires to come in,” said Schroder of Staatsburg, NY.  “ I knew it was going to take awhile because in qualifying they got really better after three or four laps.  I just needed to get down on the start.  I knew I’d run them down; it was just a matter of how early I could get them.”

Later that day in Junior 3 Lite Schroder started from the pole and quickly built a huge lead over the 15-racer field.  Then the caution flag suddenly cut his lead.  Schroder led the restart and built another big lead that he took across the strip for his second win.

“It was awesome winning two again here,” said Schroder who won both at the first race April 10th, “I can’t believe it.  Actually I have four in a row two here today and two here at the last state race.  I’m just excited.  We were running pretty fast but we were really fast at the other race.  This race the track slowed down a little bit, but we were still really fast.”

After struggling early in the Stock class, Chad Reed, of Lincoln, DE, won the Briggs Animal feature in an HP Speed Shop powered Phantom Kart.

“It definitely made up for that other race,” Reed said, “We scrambled all day with the stocker, tore the floor pan up ran a set of Burris tires that weren’t very good and come back with a good setup on this Phantom Nemesis and HP Speed Shop’s Animal motor and got out there and won it.”

Parsonsburg. MD pilot Brad Trice led 15 Stock Lite racers with perfection.  After producing the fastest qualifying lap the Ace-N-Racing Powered Outlaw kart pilot quickly hustled into the lead over Vallandingham, the outside pole winner.  Vallandingham kept the pressure on Trice, but couldn’t take the lead from him.

“Today she really hooked up well.  I qualified on the pole and we had a good kart to win today so everything worked out to our advantage.  Hopefully everything will work out the rest of the year,” Trice said.

In other racing action that day David Feester won Junior 2 Lite over defending series champion Brandon White of Lewes, DE.  White also the defending Junior 2 Heavy champion, lost that one to 11-year-old Nicholas Hughes of Hampstead, MD. “The kart was good. I just ran my line as fast as I could.  The motor was excellent I have two races on it and the kart handled good,” Hughes said.

Rookie Limited racer John Ellis, Jr., of Seaford, DE better known as ‘The Iceman’ lead a talented group of veterans in that class wire-to-wire. “They got a lot of experience back there.  But we got the kart hooked up good.  I’ve got to give a lot of thanks to HP Speed Shop for their sponsorship without their help we couldn’t do it,” he explained.  “I’m a rookie in the limited class and I’ve got a good year going on so far. We’ve got a couple of features so I’m feeling pretty good wining my second straight state race. It was a lot of fun.”

Glen Renfro, of Manchester, MD piloting a P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom Nemesis kart posted Senior Stock’s win with a perfect performance from the pole. “It was all the setup my son put on the kart,” Renfro credited. “ I had problems in warm up and a guy ran into me and believe it or not he lent me his motor so I could race this race and you thank God for people like that because without friends we’d have nobody and I thank Tommy Adkins for the courtesy and consideration of giving me that motor and allowing me to get this win.”

John Davis was the final feature winner dominating the Open/Outlaw Class.  Delaware Dirt Divisional racers return to Delaware Motorsport Park June 5^th for round three. 

 FIVE DOUBLE AT DE DIRT DIVISIONAL OPENER

Story and photos by

Bruce C. Walls

            DELMAR, DE-Racers in near record numbers competed in the first of six races in this year’s Delaware Dirt Divisional Series season opener last Saturday April 10 at US 13 Kartway in Delmar.  Five of the 160 entries earned double wins on the fast 1/5-mile oval.

Cameron Collins, of Millsboro, swept the Junior Sportsman 1 classes Lite and Heavy. He won Lite’s pole with a 13.145 seconds lap and then beat Tyler Reed to the stripe by 3.492 seconds in the feature. In Heavy the 11-year-old HP Speed Shop powered Phantom kart pilot qualified dead last in a field of 12 and came back for the win over Kody Joudery by 2.709 seconds.  “The kart felt good enough to do just what I wanted and what I wanted it to do to win,” Collins said.

Staatsburg, NY based Kolby Schroder scored both Junior 3 class wins wire-to-wire.   In Heavy he spun a blistering 12.992 seconds lap for the pole and then beat outside pole winner Robert Grady III to the stripe 3.370 seconds.  “That was an awesome race, the kart was really good,” Schroder said after his first win. “In the beginning I was struggling with a push and then it just got better and better.  It was awesome.”

Brandon White bagged both junior 2 feature wins starting with Heavy were he started on the outside pole and beat pole winner David Feeser to the finish by a huge 5.450 seconds.  “This is the first win of the season and it feels good to win,” said the Lewes, DE native. “The Shadow kart skated pretty much the whole time, but it was good enough to pull out the win.  I’ll be back here in victory lane later, “ he predicted.

His prediction came true.  He turned a 12.953 seconds lap for the pole and led the field flawlessly to the finish where he was just 0.242 seconds ahead of Jacob Pearson.

Veteran Thomas Adkins of Sharptown, MD captured Controlled Heavy and Senior Stock’s feature wins.  He grabbed Controlled Heavy’s early lead from pole winner Bryant Renfro and beat him to the stripe by just 0.199 seconds. “The first person I want to thank is the Lord, the second person I want to thank is my girlfriend Jo Ann and the third person I want to thank is P&P Speed Shop,” Adkins said after his first win. “I also want to thank Ronnie Robinson if it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be here today.  Everybody was very competitive so it was a good race.”

Later that day Adkins went wire-to-wire in Senior Stock.  After producing the pole lap at12.872 seconds he beat Ralph Moore to the stripe by 0.224 seconds. 

Club competition at US 13 Kartway will be held every Friday night until October and the next divisional race is scheduled for May 8^th.