October 30, 2007

HUFF HEADS TOWARDS HIS DREAM

Photos by Dan Huff

By Bruce C. Walls


EAST PALESTINE, OH-Competing in NASCAR’s Nextel Cup Series is a dream Brandon Huff is working hard to make come true. So far, in a racing  career spanning half his young life, 17-year-old Huff, of East  Palestine, OH, has compiled an impressive resume’. His first full  season was 2000. That year he championed the Rookie Purple Plate class  in the Akron, OH Karting Club. The next season he advanced to Junior  Gold Plate repeating his previous performance. “I’m looking to move up through other eries and learn along the way,”  Huff says. “It’s a learning process, but the best part is I get to  spend quality time with my dad.”

In 2002 Huff sought tougher competition. He found it in two regional series, The Buckeye Karting Association and Ohio Sprint Series. That  year he was crowned Junior Gold Plate champion in the Buckeye Karting  Association. He finished sixth overall in the Ohio Sprint Series  Briggs Gold Plate division.

The following year Huff, who pilots a Turner Racing Engines powered  Bandit Chassis, began campaigning in the Great Lakes Sprint Series.  There facing some of the toughest competition of his career at that  point Huff earned second place overall finishes in  Briggs Restricted Gold Plate and Briggs Unrestricted.

After three-years of successful regional racing experience to his  credit Huff decided, in 2004, it was time to tackle the toughest  competition out there, the World Karting Association’s National  Horstman Gold Cup Series. There he earned impressive fifth place  overall finishes in Restricted Gold Plate and Unrestricted. In  addition to his national successes that year he also campaigned  successfully in the Great Lakes Sprint Series Briggs Unrestricted  Heavy. Along with that championship he also was third overall in  Briggs Restricted Gold Plate. Huff also competed in the Clyde Street  Race that year taking the Briggs Restricted Gold Plate class’s checkered flag.

Checkered flags continued waving for Huff in 2005. That year he earned  two national championships in the Horstman Gold Cup Series were he was  crowned Briggs Unrestricted Lite and Heavy champion. He also  campaigned in Briggs Restricted Gold Plate Lite and Heavy where he earned second and fourth place overall finishes.

Huff chased four Great Lakes Sprint Series titles in 2005. He earned  two championships, Briggs Unrestricted Lite and Heavy and posted third  place overall in Briggs Restricted Gold Plate Lite and Heavy. He chased four national Horstman Gold Cup championships in 2006. Huff  captured the title in Stock Lite came in second in Heavy and was fifth  in Animal Medium and eighth in Heavy. That year he finished second in  Stock Medium and Heavy at the Clyde Street race.

Huff began his 2007 season competing in the All-American Driver  Challenge conducted in February and March. He was one of 10 finalists earning the chance to compete and be evaluated by an impressive panel  of experts. “They tested us on our communication skills, coach ability and appearance,” Huff explained.

Huff and hundreds of others started their challenge at Metro Detroit,  Michigan’s Indoor Karting Facility in early February. “We raced and  they also judged us on communication skills and appearance,” Huff said.  Judging them were CBS, NBC Sports and Speed sportscaster Rick  Benjamin, Speedway Illustrated Editor Bones Bourcler, East Enterprises  Bob East, Calico Coating AADC Crew Chief Gary Huffman and Calico  Coatings AADC Founder Tracy Trotter. “I qualified in the top 24 and  advanced to the second location,” Huff said.  Round two was held at the Andretti Indoor Kart Track. There racers were judged on speed, technical feedback, communication, fitness, character and mental toughness. Once that challenge was over the group was whittled down to 10, including Huff.

During round three, held at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, N.C.  challengers got to drive a Ford Focus Midget. “Wepracticed at first  following another car,” Huff explained. “The actual test was best. The  cars had a lot of horsepower. It was a great experience and I got to  meet a lot of people.”

When it was over Huff was high in the standings. “They didn’t tell us  where we actually finished, but they told us we were second or third,”  said Huff. “They told me they liked me, but they saw something else in  the other driver.” In addition to racing last season Huff also moved out on his own  taking an apartment in Charlotte, N.C. where he worked for the Petty  Driving Experience. The Petty Driving Experience gives customers a  chance to either drive or ride along in a stock car similar to what  Nextel cup and Busch drivers compete in. There Huff performed a number  of duties including working on the grid, flag stand and garage work.   Huff supported himself shopped for his own groceries, cooked, did  laundry and paid his bills. Quite an achievement for a 17-year-old out  on his own for the first time. Plus he got to work around stock cars Huff’s 2007 season isn’t quite over. He and the rest of the national Horstman Gold Cup competitors still have one more national to settle  championships. Huff is in the running for two of the four national  championships he’s chasing this season. National Gold Cup competition  started at Daytona where they competed on the sprint track behind turns  three and four of the famed racetrack. There Huff won the Raptor 370  class and had finishes of fourth and second in Animal Lite and Heavy.

From there the national tour traveled to one of karting’s legendary  racetracks G&J Kartway in Camden, OH. This time Huff captured the  Raptor 340 checkered flag and finished fifth in Raptor 370. The next stop was East Lansing Kart Track in East Lansing, MI. Huff  won Animal Heavy that weekend. He also had finishes of second in  Raptor 370, sixth in Raptor 340 and seventh  in Animal Medium. Their  season finale’ happens November 2-4 on the challenging 6/10ths-mile 12  turn infield road course between turns three and four at Lowe’s Motor  Speedway in Concord, N.C.

Looking further ahead Huff says he’s going to run a limited National  schedule and race locally. “I’m starting college next year,” said  Huff, who plans on attending the University Akron. “I’m looking to  move up. I want to keep racing every other weekend and try to get some  sponsors.” Currently Huff gets backing from Thor Oil, G-Man Kart Works   and DWT Douglas Wheels Technology.

Huff plans on completing his college education while racing, searching  for sponsors and patiently waiting for the right break for a chance to  move up in motor sports.

--
Bruce C. Walls
Action Enterprises, Inc.
Action Sports Photos/Action Sports Promotions
P.O. Box 914 Bethany Beach, De 19930
Phone/Fax 302.537.7223
E-mailbwalls@fast.net  or sportsshooter@verizon.net
www.printroom.com/pro/DSAM

October 26, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AKRA MEDIA

ARC offers CID Contingency Cash

MONROE, N.C.-ARC Racing (Amundsen Research Corp.) will be presenting the winner of Christmas in Dixie’s Animal Heavy class with $500 in  contingency monies. That is provided the winner has an ARC rod in their  motor and ARC decals on their kart’s bodywork. ARC decals will be  given to Animal Heavy entries at registration. This contingency cash  will be in addition to the advertised $500 purse making it a $1,000  value for the right race winner.

Founded in June of 1992 ARC Racing has become a major manufacture of  karting after market engine parts. Their commplete catalog of karting  and other motorsports products can be found on their website at:  www.arcracing.com  or by calling their toll free order line  1-800-521-3560. ARC also has a tech support line at 229.432.202 

“On behalf of AKRA and FKA we want to thank ARC Racing for their  support and sponsorship of Christmas in Dixie,” said FKA President  Jimmy Sims. Animal Heavy will race Friday December 28, 2007 on the  fifth mile dirt oval at Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, FL.

The third annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ will feature two day of dirt and  two days of asphalt racing between December 27 and 31. This year’s  event will include the ‘World 100’ a 100-lap asphalt race comprised of  two 50-lap segments.

For more information on ‘Christmas in Dixie’ visit the AKRA website at  www.americankarting.us  or the FKA website at: www.fkadirtseries.com  or call 704.764.8138 or call Jimmy Sims at 386.938.4211.

No photos

--
Bruce C. Walls
Media Director
American Kart Racing Association
e-mail-bruce.walls@akrainc.com
Phone (302) 537.RACE (7223)
www.americankarting.us
KARTING'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHO YOU SUPPORT TODAY.

October 22, 2007

Williamson and Kicklighter Triple At AKRA Dirt Finale’


Words by Bruce C. Walls
Images by Bruce C. Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls


    LORIS, S.C.-Racers in the American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) American Speedway Championship Dirt Series wrapped up their 2007 season  Saturday October 13th with Vickery’s Speed Shop Fall Nationals at the  Myrtle Beach Motorsports Complex in Loris, S.C. Two racers were triple  winners that Saturday. Lake City S.C. racer Chris Williamson capped a  stellar season earning three wins from their poles on the fifth-mile  dirt oval.  Jak Kicklighter, of Savannah, GA swept the Coyote Products  Junior Sportsman Champ offerings and added a win in JDI/Foodcraft  Junior 2.

Piloting a Mishue Motorsports powered Phantom racing chassis Williamson  was dialed in for qualifying. Times of 12.765, 12.423 and  12.541-seconds earned him poles in R.L.V. Tuned Exhaust Products Stock  Lite, WMS Products Stock Medium and Shadow Racing Chassis Stock Heavy.

After a failed first start Williamson led Stock Lite racers single file  into turn one with Brian Throckmorton challenging him for the lead.   Throckmorton passed Williamson as the two leaders pulled away from the  field.  Several laps later Wade Frye and Aaron Sapp drafted into the   lead.  Williamson wrestled control from them as a four way battle for  the lead raged.  Williamson pulled ahead leaving the rest to squabble  over second.  Throckmorton and Sapp traded second and third.  As  Williamson closed in on the  fields’ rear Throckmorton’s machine developed problems forcing him from the contest.  That left Sapp and  Matt Cox battling for second.

Williamson reached the finish line with Sapp trailing by 2.094-seconds  followed by Cox who was 2.525-seconds off the pace.   Further back Wade Frye and Cody Trull finished fourth and fifth.

“I went with tires that were a little hard,” Williamson explained.  “They just took a few laps to come in. It took a little while, but it  was good on the long run. I don’t know what was going on behind me.  When you’re up front you don’t look back. The kart was good it just  took a couple of laps for it to come in.  We’ve been working with  Harrill (Wiggins) at Phantom he gives us a good chassis to work with, I  feel good about the kart and Eddie (Mishue) gives us good motors.”

Williamson hustled into Stock Medium’s early lead only to have Cox  engineer a four racer freight train roaring by him.  Williamson fought  his way back to the top taking the lead near the end.  With time and  distance closing in on him Williamson passed Cox for the lead.  At the  stripe Cox was 0.578-second late.  Wade Frey crossed third trailing the  leader by 0.842-second. Sapp and Trull topped of the podium finishing  fourth and fifth.

As he did in his first two wins, Williamson shot into Stock Heavy’s  early lead.  This time third fastest qualifier Josh Haire was quickly  closing in on him.  Williamson bobbled, momentarily slipped off the  track, and then quickly gathered it back up. Haire  inherited the lead  and by the time Williamson got back on track Haire had opened the lead.   From a distant second Williamson began reeling Haire back in.  It took  a couple of laps before Williamson  was on Haire’s tailpipe threatening  the retake the lead.

“There was some loose dirt in the corner I slid off the track,”  Williamson explained.  “He got by me and I just had to get back on the  track and get back by him.”  Williamson did it in time to take the  checkered flag with a 0.303-second edge over Haire.  Completing the top  five this time were Wade Frye, Bass and Chuck McKenzie.

“It’s the same thing as the other two wins the kart was good, real good  on the long runs,” Williamson credited.

A 13.453-seconds lap earned triple winner Jak Kicklighter the Junior  Sportsman Champ poles.  In the first feature Kicklighter captured the  early lead and held on, as outside pole winner Johnson stayed glued to  his tailpipe during the first several laps.  Kicklighter pulled away  from Johnson building a 2.657-seconds finish line advantage over  Johnson.

“We did good today,” said the 11-year-old Savannah, GA based Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Millenium kart pilot.  “The engine was running  really good, we had the right tires and the kart was really fast.”

Kicklighter lost the second feature’s early lead to Johnson who led  most of the 20-laps.  With five laps left Kicklighter made the comeback  pass between turns one and two. Kicklighter fought off Johnson’s late  race challenges taking the checkered flag with a 1.031-seconds edge over Johnson.

Two races earlier Kicklighter captured Junior Sportsman 2’s second  feature from a third place start.  Gus Dean spun the pole wining lap in  12.836-seconds.  Kicklighter shot by Dean for the early lead.  Dean was  in striking distance the whole race, but couldn’t catch Kicklighter who  beat him to the stripe by just 0.455-second.  Rounding out the top five  were Austin Babb, Andy Forsyth and Joshua Pearson.

Dean dominated the first Junior Sportsman 2 feature.  From the pole he  hustled into the early lead.  After showing the field around twice he  surrendered the front to Cannon Ward.  Dean battled back and recaptured  the lead on lap four. Ward passed him back next time around.  Before he  led another lap Ward spun out in turn four.  Dean inherited the lead  and took it to the finish where he was just 0.196-second ahead of  Kicklighter.  Forsyth finished third and was followed in the top five by Babb and Joshua Pearson.

“It’s all because of Jack Kicklighter,” said Dean, a Bluffton, S.C.  based Hi Tech Racing Engines powered Millenium kart pilot. “We made a  deal.  He helped me and now I’m going to help him.”

Two racers were double winners that day.  Chesterfield, VA competitor  Colton Cox swept the Millenium Chassis Junior 3 offerings from their  poles.  Cox clocked a 12.504-seconds top qualifying lap. Second fastest  qualifier Sam Lilly turned a 12.585-seconds lap and trailed Cox both  times.

In the first feature Cox’s Mishue Motorsports powered Eclipse Kart  jumped into the early lead as the field spread out behind him.  Cox  cross the stripe with a very comfortable 4.306-seconds cushion over  Lilly who closed the gap to 1.273-seconds in the second feature.

“Dad put the right tires on it and the right gear I just sat in it and  drove like normal,” Cox reported. “The Eclipse kart handled real good  and Eddie Mishue’s motors are always strong.”

Trask Shelly and Michael Hedin qualified third and fourth which is how  they finished in each feature.

Cole Johnson spun a 13.501-seconds top qualifying lap for Mike  Holcombe’s Tire & Auto Junior Sportsman 1’s pole. Trey Tarltonwas  second fastest qualifier turning a 13.510-seconds lap.  Johnson led  half of the first lap before surrendering the lead to Tarlton who took  it to the checkered flag from there.  Johnson trailed him finishing  4.562-seconds later.  Drew Whidby, Austin Smith and Andrew Poston  completed the first podium.

“I stayed out front pretty much the whole time,” described the  10-year-old Great Falls, S.C. based Tarlton who added, “I drove the  kart as hard as I could.  I want to thank John Kicklighter and the  whole Kicklighter family, Jamie Knopf, my mom and dad and  Schu-Power.”

Tarlton had to work a little harder for his second win.  Johnson  grabbed the early lead showing the six-racer field around the first  time.  Whidby whizzed by him next time around.  Two laps later Tarlton  took the lead.  By mid-race he amassed a huge lead over Whidby who was  trailing by over two seconds.  Tarlton continued expanding on his lead  finishing the race 5.800-seconds ahead of Whidby.  Further back Smith,  Johnson and Poston filled third, fourth and fifth.

Adam Beville spun Andy’s Speed Shop Animal Heavy’s fastest qualifying  lap.  His 12.486-seconds lap was 0.114-second faster than Eric Driggers  12.600-seconds lap.  Beville blasted into the early lead with third  fastest qualifier Shane Bass chasing him own. Bass reached Beville and made contact.

“When I got there I thought I had enough,” Bass, of Farmville, N.C.  said.  “He didn’t lift, I thought he saw me and I guess he didn’t see  me there. I drove it in there and I thought I had enough.  Evidentially  not enough or evidentially he didn’t see me. I didn’t mean to knock him  out.  We’ve raced good for years.  I hate to see it happen, but we’ve  got another race.  We’ll be alright in the second one.”

Beville fell back into the pack.  Bass assumed the lead. Driggers took  second.  Beville battled his way back to third as Driggers closed the  gap on Bass.  Driggers was threatening Bass’s P&P Speed Shop powered  Millenum V2 machine at every turn. They crossed the finish line  nose-to-tail with Bass beating Driggers by 0.101-second.  Behind them  Beville dropped to fifth.  Nick Scott  was third across the stripe followed by Drew Wentworth in fourth.

Beville avenged himself in the second feature beating Bass to the  stripe by 0.242-second. This time he and Bass diced up the early lead  before Beville took it for good.   The field was nose-to-tail. Beville  led four laps.  Bass blasted by Beville.  Two laps later Beville took  it back for good.  “This doesn’t make up for the earlier race, but  that’s racing,” said Beville of Stoney Creek, VA. “We picked up our  feet and came back and won the second one.”

Bass kept the pressure on down to the finish where only 0.242-second separated them.  Behind Bass Driggers, Wentworth and Brandon Watson  filled the podium.

  “Even though it didn’t matter in points at least we can say we won a  race,” Beville said. “It was a hard day.  I want to thank my sister,  mom and dad, Matt, Tommy Harrell, Less, the Kart Shop, Higgy, and  everybody that helped me all year long.  It’s been a good year and we  ended it with a win.”

Monroe, N.C. competitor Walt Barnes blasted around the track in  13.116-seconds for Walt Barnes Vinyl Siding Senior Stock’s pole. Barnes  blasted into the early lead. Pamlico, N.C based. Tempest Kart pilot  Neil Poston was glued to his tailpipe. The field was nose-to-tail.   Poston passed Barnes and showed the field home from there.  Barnes was 1.303-seconds late at the stripe followed by Rodney Lambert who crossed  third.

“I didn’t know where they were. I didn’t look back,” Poston said of how  close his competition was.  “We had a good day.  I want to thank all  the guys who helped us. The Tempest Kart was great and the C&C Racing  Engine was fast.  They had everything just right.”

Brandon Watson won Wyman’s Acoustics Super Heavy’s pole.  He did it in  12.999-seconds.  Erwin, N.C. competitor Josh Haire started next to him.    Watson almost led the whole first lap.  As he and Haire battled down  the back straight Haire got a nose on him.  Haire dove his Mishue  Motorsports powered Galaxy Eclipse kart low entering turn three exiting  turn four in the lead.

While racers behind him battled for positions Haire stayed in front of the fights. Zac Powell won the battle for second. Watson dropped to  third across the stripe followed in the top five by Timmy Holmes and  Drew Wentworth.

“It was just a little bit of luck, that’s all,” Haire said. “I  appreciate these guys driving clean.  The kart handled good it got a  little  slow halfway into the race.  We’ve got to make a change for Super Heavy.”

That wraps up the American Speedway Championship Dirt Series 2007 season. Dirt racers will be joining American Speedway Championship  Asphalt Series competitors December 27th-30th for the 3rd Annual  “Christmas in Dixie” at Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, FL.  Series  champions will be crowned and other racers recognized for their  achievements during a dinner banquet the Friday night of the first race  of he 2008 season.
--
Bruce C. Walls
Media Director
American Kart Racing Association
e-mail-bruce.walls@akrainc.com
Phone (302) 537.RACE  (7223)
www.americankarting.us
KARTING'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHO YOU SUPPORT TODAY.

October 218, 2007

Jones Rules First ‘Firestone 100’

Words by Bruce C. Walls
Images by Bruce C. Walls
And Susan Taylor –Walls


ROUGEMONT, N.C.-For years asphalt racers have been asking national sanctioning bodies to host a long distance asphalt oval race to replace the defunct Briggs & Stratton 300 that once competed on the front straight oval at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Hearing that call the American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) together with Firestone Tires, G-Man Kartworks and Torco Racing Fuels pooled resources and hosted the ‘Firestone 500’ scheduled to race October 7th on the fifth-mile asphalt oval at Orange County Kartway in Rougemont, N.C.

Their efforts drew seven entries to what should have been a historic turning point for asphalt racing. Rain forced the cancellation of Friday’s practice and qualifying. Saturday morning AKRA officials decided to reduce the distance to 100 laps and rename the event the ‘Firestone 100.’ Despite the low turnout competition among those entered was heated and exciting from start to finish where the difference was 0.142-second.

Despite the low turnout a $2,500 guaranteed purse was distributed down to the fifth place finisher. That payout would have continued through 10th place. First place also received an impressive Championship Cup Trophy. Trophies were also presented to second and third place finishers.

Format changes were also made. Instead of scheduled pit stops every 75-laps, one mandatory pit stop was held at mid race. Competitors were allowed to eat and drink while their crews worked on their karts. Based on their performance the top pit crew earned $100 pit crew award. After the mid race pit stop racers lined back up based on how fast their crews got them back out to the racetrack.

Local Wesley Poole, of Rougemont, N.C. spun a 13.521-seconds lap for the G-Man Kartworks pole award. Poole pocketed $100 for winning the pole. Joey Maruca was second fastest at 13.666-seconds. Kenneth Jones and Mark Hall occupied row two with lap times of 13.725 and 13.757-seconds. Behind them Kyle Long and Cullen Mumaw filled row three. Randy Treadway brought up the rear in row four.

“It was great,” Poole said of his pole-winning lap. “I can’t say enough about this Laser chassis. It’s been quick all day. I’d like to say a special thanks to my fiancé Cristan Dunagin she’s worked hard all day, my dad, my racing buddy Bob Stanley and his son Joseph we all worked hard for this all day and it’s paid off. I hope we can stay here for 100-laps. We’ll see what we can do. Consistency, staying out of wrecks and staying quick for 100-laps is what it will take to win.”

Racers took a couple of warm up laps before lining up two abreast heading for the green flag. As they exited turn four Maruca broke into the early lead with Hall and Poole pressuring him from second and third. Just after lap five was booked Hall and Jones slipped under Maruca for the top two spots.

Hall opened the lead Jones closed it. Lap 10 went into the record book with Hall still leading Jones. Next time around Jones saw an opening and drove his Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon into the lead. As Jones took the lead Hall held onto second. Maruca and Poole were further back in third and fourth.

Jones was hooked up. After leading a few more laps he began passing lapped karts further extending his lead over Hall. Jones was still leading when the checkered flag waved for the first segment, which earned him $100.

Karts rolled into their pit stalls for their five-minute stop. Crews went to work while drivers refreshed themselves. Jones was first out of the pits. When racing resumed Jones hustled back into the lead. Treadway took second followed by Long, Maruca, Poole, Hall and Mumaw.

“I’ve just got to be consistent and stay out in front of these guys,” Jones said while his crew worked on his kart. “They’ll be coming after me. The kart’s handling pretty good. It’s not bad, it could be better, but it’s not bad. We can make it to the end.”

Jones pulled away from the field while Hall worked his way through it. Hall reeled him in midway through the second segment and began threatening his lead. Nose-to-tail Jones and Hall pulled away from the rest of the field. Further back Poole passed his way back to third.

With 10-laps left Jones started threading his way through the field putting several lapped karts between him and Hall. Hall hung with him passing lapped karts on his way. Jones was still using traffic to his advantage with five laps left. In the final laps Jones entered clean air with Hall trying to reel him in before the checkered flag waved.

Hall continued closing the gap in the final laps. Jones took the white flag. Hall was right behind him as they rounded the final lap. Jones took the checkered flag. Hall trailed by just 0.142-seconds.

“The kart was good we made a little air-pressure change there between the first and second segments,” Jones described. “It seemed to help the kart. It drove a lot better in the second segment. I could hear Mark Hall coming back there. He was breathing down my neck Sometimes I messed up in the corner he’d get close to me. If I did anything wrong I could feel him. He raced me clean and I appreciate all of the competitors driving me clean. It makes for good racing. It was actually a close race. The Phantom Icon drove great. Tod Miller power did awesome and maintained the whole race. My pit crew got me out first, my dad, the Howell family, and Randy Kirby. It was a picture perfect race from start to finish.”

Jones earned $1,000 for his efforts. Hall pocketed $300 plus a distinguished cup trophy. Poole’s third place finish earned him $200 and a trophy. Further back Maraca’s fourth place finish put $125 in his pocket. Long finished fifth earning him $75. Treadway ended the first segment in last place. His pit crew quickly did their job returning him to the field in second place. Their efforts were rewarded with the presentation of the Pit Crew Challenge along with $100.

According to Hall, “It was Kenneth’s race to loose. He had a better kart. The only time I could gain ground was when he messed up. He was better on the long run. I caught up to him a lot on the short run. Then he could pull away a little bit. Our kart was good. Kenneth had a little on us. When he messed up I could handle him a little bit. It was a good run. I wish we’d have gotten out of the pits a little quicker, but I had a header strap burn on my arm. I had to fix that or I wouldn’t have been able to finish the race at all. I lined up sixth and he lined up first and that probably made a difference. He beat us at the end by about three kart lengths.”

Poole was pleased with his finish. “I’ve got to thank Laser karts they’re a really quick chassis. P&P Motors gave me good horsepower for the whole race. Usually a good qualifying run means a good tight kart and I think it stayed that way. We tried to free it up all afternoon. We got it a little freed up during the pit stop and the middle of the second run it ran really quick. Just too much ground to make up. I had some lapped karts to catch up with. A top three finish is good anytime especially against the competitors we had here today like. Kenneth Jones, Mark Hall, Kyle Long, and Randy Treadway are all top-notch competitors. A top three finish here is awesome. I’ll take third home and come back next year.”

October 17, 2007

WALKER WORKS HAT TRICK AT AKRA ASPHALT SUPER NATIONALS


Words by Bruce C. Walls
Images by Bruce C. Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls   Bruce & Susan Walls Photos

ROUGEMONT, N.C.-Tyler Walker turned a hat trick at Orange County Kartway in Rougemont, N.C. Saturday October 6th duringthe American  Kart Racing Association’s American Speedway Asphalt Series season  finale’ Torco Fuels Super Nationals. Piloting a Titan flat kart and a new Rage Champ Chassis, the 12-year-old North Tonawanda, N.Y. triple  winner swept both Junior 2 Blue plate feature wins to which he added a  Junior Sportsman Champ win in the first feature round.

More than $5,000 in purse and contingency monies lured 200 entries  representing most eastern states to the fourth and final race of the  season. Three double winners took home a large portion of the purse.  Walker pocketed his share for his champ kart win. But his first win  was in Junior 2 Blue Plate.

From the pole he earned with a 14.755-seconds lap around the1/5-mile  asphalt oval, Walker dominated both Junior 2 Blue Plate features with  perfection. Austin McKee trailed him across the stripe each time-trailing by 6.299 and 0.521-seconds.

“The Titan kart was awesome,” Walker said after his first win. “I’d  like to thank my dad and brother for helping me all day on this kart  and the champ kart. I also want to thank Valvoline and Pizza Logs for  sponsoring me.”

Walker won the first Junior Sportsman Champ feature over pole winner  Chance Wright who clocked a 15.385-seconds top- ualifying lap. In one  of the day’s most exciting races they diced it up from start to finish  where just 0.083-seconds separated them. Nose-to-tail behind them were  Steven Berlin, Mickey Giachetti and Camden Gullie for the top five.

“Our champ kart’s just been fast,” Walker boasted. “We bought it from  Jeff Hoisington at Rage Karts and it’s the fastest champ kart I’ve ever  driven. We just got it and came here and finally won on a new Rage kart. I want to thank Valvoline, Pizza Logs, they’ve been a big help  and my dad for getting the karts ready.”

As he’s consistently done all season Durham, N.C. competitor Wayne  Winters won both Senior Champ features. Piloting a Laser AV chassis  from their poles, he earned with a 13.739-seconds lap, Winters was at  the stripes 7.089 and 5.746-seconds ahead of third fastest qualifier  Cullen Mumaw.

“This is our home track so we’ve got kind of an advantage here,”  Winters described. “I saw Chris Sorrell come off early. I figured he  was going to be pretty tough. When I saw him come off I figured that  would make it a little easier for us. My crew chief and I were up here  six hours the other day testing. Without him I couldn’t do it. I want  to thank Competition Karting Inc. for the great Laser AV chassis. We  had a Competition Karting engine on today and it was phenomenal. You  saw it. We put a half a track lead  on them at the end of 20-laps. You  don’t get days like today often so you’ve got to enjoy them.”

A 15.084-seconds rounding earned 10-year-old Phantom kart pilot Joseph  Everett Junior 1 Purple Plate’s pole. From there the Henderson, N.C.  based double winner was perfect leading second fastest qualifier Justin  Haden across the stripe each time.

“The Phantom kart was pretty good and the P&P Speed Shop motor gave me  plenty of horsepower,” Everett credited adding, “Dad works on the kart  every night. It was just a great day. I was hoping a few more people  would be here today, but hey I got to race and it was a good day.”

Ensor Speed Shop powered Cody Fairchok clocked Junior 3 Gold’s pole  time in 13.706-seconds. Creedmoor, N.C. competitor Brandon Warren   shared front row setting up some of the day’s most exciting feature  racing. Warren dove low into turn one taking the first feature’s early  lead. During the first half Warren roared around the track escaping his closest pursuers. In the final laps Fairchok closed in, tucked behind  Warren and began challenging his lead. Warren protected his  position. Fairchok offered his final challenges as they headed for the checkered flag. When they got there Warren was 0.163-second ahead of  Fairchok. Further back  Chase Fegert, Kyle Appel and John Blacker rounded out the top five.

“We got off to a good start. Kart was going really good,” Warren, a  14-year-old X- Caliber powered Phantom kart pilot, described. “There at the end with  about five (laps) to go it started getting really tight. I could hear  them coming up on me. Cody Fairchok, he’s a really good driver, I  appreciate him driving me clean. I want to thank Wayne Oakley, Scott  Oakley, X-Caliber Racing Engines, Phantom Racing Chassis and everybody  back at the shop. I also want to thank Jesus Christ for keeping us all  safe out there.”

Later that afternoon Warren and Fairchok lined up on front row for  another performance. This time Fairchok charged into the early lead  with the rest of the field chasing him down. Fairchok led them under  the halfway signal with Warren quickly closing in. With the pressure  on him Fairchok bobbled and dropped a wheel off the track. It was the  opportunity Warren was waiting for. As Fairchok gathered it back up  Warren roared by him taking the lead. By the time Fairchok got four  wheels back on the track Warren had a half track lead. Still in second  Fairchok floored it and began reeling Warren in.

At the end Warren ruled by 0.872-seconds. Following Fairchok in the  top five this time were Appel, Blacker and Fegert.

“We got off to a pretty bad start,” Warren said. “It took awhile for  the tires to come in. But they finally came in and we were able to run  him down. Coming out of two the kart just got loose, there wasn’t  anything I could do. I would like to thank Wayne Oakley, Shaun Oakley  and X-Caliber Racing Engines.”

Piloting an Ensor Speed Shop powered Rage champ kart Fairchok spun a  14.110-seconds Junior Champ qualifying lap. His time was just  0.371-second slower than pole winner Tyler Robertson’s 14.110-seconds  run. Driving a CKI Laser kart Robertson hustled into the early lead  with Tyler Strickland patiently waiting for his machine to come in. Robertson was still in charge at mid-race, but things were about to  change. Strickland saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. 

Next time around Robertson recaptured it. They battled down to a  thrilling side-by-side finish where both ended up spinning across the  stripe. When the dust settled Strickland was 0.066-second ahead of  Robertson and 0.067-second ahead of Yoder. Fairchok finished fourth  0.861-second later. Nick Giachetti was fifth, 7.223-seconds late.

“We had a very strong kart all day,” said Strickland, a Medina, OH  based X-Caliber Racing Engines powered Rage Kart pilot. “The track was  really green and we really weren’t prepared for that. After qualifying  we made a few changes and we got the win  despite some difficulties. It was a good race.”

After three close losses, Fairchok was still determined to take home a  win from Orange County Kartway. The second feature was as exciting as  the first. Robertson roared into feature’s early lead with Andrew  Yoder and Fairchok battling for second behind him. Several laps later  third fastest qualifier Tyler Strickland was threatening to take if  from him. Strickland turned up the pressure. Going into turns one and  two Strickland got a nose on Yoder and then passed him before they finished the turn.

The top four were nose-to-tail. Yoder recaptured the lead. With three  to go he surrendered it back to Robertson. Battling for the checkered  out of turn four Yoder, Fairchok and Strickland went three wide.  Spectators were on their feet shouting for their favorite. From the  middle of the sandwich Fairchok got a nose on his competitors for the  day’s closest finish. Behind him Robinson crossed 0.032-second later  followed by Strickland who was 0.176-second late. Yoder was fourth  across the finish line 0.538-seconds off the pace. Three seconds later  Giachetti completed the podium again.

Kenneth Jones and Joe Maruca were the top two Stock Heavy qualifiers  turning lap times of 13.565 and 13.621-seconds. When the first  feature’s green flag flew so did Jones and Maruca. After dicing it up down the front stretch Maruca got a nose on Jones heading into turn one  and took the early lead. Jones tucked in behind him and stayed glued  to his tailpipe. On their third trip around Jones engineered a freight  train by Maruca. Kyle Long and Drew Fergert came with him dropping  Maruca to fourth.

With a three racer battle for second raging behind him Jones extended  his lead. In the final laps Wesley Poole won the fight for second  passing Fegert and Maruca. Jones took the checkered flag with Poole  railing 1.779-seconds later. Mark Hall rounded out the top five.

“It was luck,” Laughed Jones, of Albemarle, N.C. who added, “The kart  was a little off. But it was good enough to win. I’d like to thank  Phantom karts, Tod Miller Power, my dad and the Howell family for  coming and helping us.”

Poole powered into the second Stock Heavy feature’s early lead with  Hall challenging at every corner. Hall passed Poole only to have Poole  pass him back before lap three was in the book. By lap four Poole had  pulled away from Hall and the rest of the field. Behind him Kyle Long  and Maruca teamed up to work the draft against Poole.

Before they got the halfway signal Maruca passed Poole as they battled  down the front stretch. Hall came with him. Maruca built his lead as  racers battled for positions behind him. On the final lap Maruca  reached the stripe just 0.230-second ahead of Hall. Trailing Hall in  the top five were Poole, Long and Fegert.

“It wasn’t too bad for 20-laps,” said Maruca, of Lexington, N.C. “I  want to thank MY-CHRON, Bully Clutches and E-Z Struts. Hopefully we can  bring back something for this 100-lap race later on this evening. The Laser kart wasn’t too bad and the CKI motor was strong. We’re going to  do a little bit of work to it and get it ready for this next run.”

Stoneville, N.C. racer Lee Richardson ruled Super Heavy’s qualifying  with a 14.203-seconds run. J.P. Curry, of Pottsville, PA was second  fastest at 14.237-seconds. Richardson roared into the early lead with  Curry glued to his tailpipe. Curry looked high and low for an opening.  On lap 13 he found it. From there Curry held it to the finish line  were he was 0.655-second ahead of Richardson.

“I knew my kart was setup for the long run. I just tried to be real  patient and I tried to pick out Lee’s weak spots on the track and tried  to use them to my advantage,” Curry explained. “I got a run on him  down in turn one with seven to go and was able to hang on from there.  I’ve got to thank Paul White for building these Mongoose Racing Chassis   they’re just awesome. I also want to thank Wesley Poole for lending me   his P&P Speed Shop motor that thing was a train down the straight-aways. Hopefully we can go out and win the next race.”

That wouldn’t happen. When the second feature’s green flag waved  Richardson roared into a never surrendered lead. Behind him Curry  crossed the stripe 1.088-seconds later.

“We went back to the trailer and went to work,” Richardson reported.  “Me and him were dead even in the first one. I led the most laps he  led the last five. We went back, sat down, and went over our notes.  Made some changes and there’s your results.”

That wraps up the AKRA American Speedway Championship Asphalt Series  inaugural season. Final point tallies are posted on the AKRA website at  www.americankarting.us.  Series champions will be crowned and other  racers recognized for their achievements during a dinner banquet the  Friday night of the 2008 season opener.

Bruce
--
Bruce C. Walls
Media Director
American Kart Racing Association
e-mail-bruce.walls@akrainc.com
Phone (302) 537.RACE (7223)
www.americankarting.us
KARTING'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHO YOU SUPPORT TODAY.

Pl

October 5, 2007 

Talent Search for Driver Career Development

Talent Search for Driver Career Development – Driver Shoot Out October 19-22 The annual national talent search for the NASCAR focused driver development program conducted by Ron Sutton's Winner's Circle (RSWC) is going on now. RSWC is an established talent scout for NASCAR teams, providing a comprehensive driver and career development program for up and coming drivers focused on NASCAR careers.

The RSWC Race Team Alliance consists of eight organizations with 21 race teams dedicated to develop drivers in the program. The teams are a balance of Open Wheel and Stock Car oval track race teams ... with Road Racing added … to develop complete, versatile drivers for NASCAR Cup Teams.

The winners of the talent shoot out will plug into the training program and racing series that makes sense for the Driver’s age, experience and stage of development. The race series, and race teams, that RSWC utilizes include top West Coast NASCAR team, Bill McAnally Racing and Southern California powerhouse High Point Racing, both running NASCAR Late Model Stock Cars for RSWC drivers ages 17-21.

Championship team, Beebe Racing Enterprises, led by driving champ Eric Holmes, will run two RSWC drivers 18 to 22 years of age, in NASCAR Grand National and SRL Super Late Models. Kaplan-Gennuso Racing fields two USAC Sprint Cars on pavement for RSWC drivers ages 18 to 22, as well as DeBeaumont Motorsports fielding two Midgets in the USAC Midget Series on asphalt ovals for RSWC drivers from 17 to 20 years old.

Ron Sutton’s own team, fields four USAC Ford Focus Midgets in the Western States races for drivers in the 15 to 18 age bracket. National championship team Porter Racing fields a total of four cars in SCCA Formula Fords & F2000 for 16 to 18 year old RSWC drivers. Skip Barber is the chosen series of RSWC to develop young drivers’ road racing skills, with RSWC usually placing two to three drivers in either the Skip Barber Regional Race Series or the BFGoodrich Skip Barber National Series presented by Mazda. Both series feature the 2.0 liter Skip Barber Formula 2000 car.

Sutton has said, “We’re not looking for a number … We are looking for young talent that has real potential to go all the way to NASCAR Nextel/Sprint Cup.” With no set target number, eight talented drivers were chosen from last year's test. Day one, of the three day talent test, includes a seminar for Parents and Drivers, "The Real World Good, Bad & Ugly of Driver Career Development" and a training course for Drivers on strategies and terminology. Three separate tests for the young drivers include body fat fitness, a written problem solving test and psychological analysis.

Days two and three, Ron Sutton coaches each driver on driving, with the Drivers getting five 20-lap sessions on track, for 100 laps total to show the judges what they have. Team Owners and Crew Chiefs from the race team alliance are judges at the shoot out. They evaluate the drivers on 45 points, with the biggest areas being coachability, accurate feedback, focus, training retention, motivation, communication skills, personality, aggressiveness, learning rate, confidence and lap times.

Ron expects to receive over 500 resumes, as they have in the past, and narrow it down to approximately 20 drivers to test October 19th through the 22nd, at a track in California. If a driver is selected to be a part of the RSWC program, they will be groomed, coached, tested, trained, raced and molded into what NASCAR teams want in their drivers.

Young Drivers ages 12 to 21, and their Parents, are encouraged to get all the information and answers to common questions from the web-site, then submit their resume in time to be considered. The web-site is www.Winners-Circle-Racing.com

Pl

September 28, 2007

LJ DeZines Creates Firestone 500 Shirt

By Bruce C. Walls

    MONROE, N.C.-According to graphic designer Lee Jordan, of Rock Hill,  S.C., it took him a day’s work to create the design that will be  emblazoned on the Firestone 500 souvenir tee shirts. “I had to redraw  the kart and background staying with the color scheme of the American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) logo,” Jordan described. 

The shirt’s front has the AKRA American flag logo on it with their motto ‘Karting’s Future added below the logo.  For the shirt’s back  Jordan designed a unique combination of a race kart at the bottom and  sponsor logos around it.

Jordan describes LJ DeZigns as a one-man operation that designs and  prints tee shirts, designs company and race team logos.  After studying  design in technical high school Jordan began working for a design firm  where he worked for nine years.  He began getting a favorable  reputation in the karting community that brought him enough business to  strike out on his own.

  “I went out on my own in April and haven’t looked back,” Jordan  confidently stated.  He added that he is now also getting business from  late model racers, athletic departments and others needing his talent.   Jordan currently works out of a 20’ X 40’ shop where he can print up to  six colors.  “I’m hoping to get an “automatic” soon and then I can do more,” he said.

AKRA co-owner Bill McCutcheon said, “We’d been using another company  and then we saw Lee’s work.  We were impressed with what he did for us  and we’re looking forward to a long relationship.”

The AKRA Firestone 500 will be hosted by Orange County Raceway October  5-6 in Rougemont, N.C.  Competitors will practice and qualify that  Friday and the 500-lap race is scheduled for Saturday following the  AKRA ‘Super Nationals’ asphalt season finale’.

Jordan’s souvenir shirts will be on sale for $ at both events. But as sharp as they look they’ll go fast.  To get up with Jordan about his  design products either e-mail him at lee@p-rphotos.com  or call his shop  at 803.329.7557. You can see his work online at ljdezigns.net

  For more information about the Firestone 500 visit the AKRA website at  americankarting.us  or call the office at 704.764.8138.

Attached is a JPG of the shirt.

Thanks for Supporting AKRA=


--
Bruce C. Walls
Media Director
American Kart Racing Association
e-mail-bruce.walls@akrainc.com
Phone (302) 537.RACE  (7223)
www.americankarting.us
KARTING'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHO YOU SUPPORT TODAY.

Pl

Please mail to: AKRA, Inc.,