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| February 25, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside: Gatorz Challenge of the Americas - PKRA Saturday Report |
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 | Aussie David Sera showed his talent during the opening day of racing with a dominant victory in Senior Max
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
The Gatorz Challenge of the Americas fired things up in Phoenix on Saturday as the first of two days of racing action went in the books at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association Formula K Raceway in Glendale, AZ. It was a picture-perfect day for weather and the challenging 3/4-mile course provided a great platform for some exciting racing that took the six-race championship series to its halfway point. The big winners on the day included Australian David Sera, who made a guest appearance in Senior, Luke Selliken, the emerging Pacific Northwest star, who scored his first big victory in Junior, and Fritz Leesmann, who struck back to score his third victory of the season in DD2.
Buddy Rice Karting Senior Max
With 37 drivers in the field in Phoenix, the Senior Max category was sure to provide another exciting weekend. With such a huge field, the qualifying session included two groups, with the fastest from Friday’s practice session set as the last to go out on track to set their time for the start of Round #3 action. Some early jostling for the provisional pole took place, that is, until hometown driver Phil DeLaO (Top Kart) secured the spot on his second lap. His 45.449-second lap put him on top of the order, leaving everyone to chase his time. Virginia’s Nick Rivellini (CRG) was the closest challenger, coming in just over one-tenth short of DeLaO’s time. Aussie David Sera (Arrow) was making a surprise visit to the series and he clocked in the third quickest time ahead of fellow Arrow driver Dakota Dickerson. Mason Marotta (Intrepid) capped the fast five. Championship leaders Kiel Spaulding (FA Kart) and Luke Chudleigh (Maranello) were a ways back, as they posted the ninth and tenth quickest lap of the session to fill out row five for the Pre-Main.
The start to the Pre-Main was exciting as there was a lead group of five karts until Sera established himself as the driver to beat. DeLaO led early, but Sera was on the move after dropping back to third. After getting up to the lead, the factory Arrow pilot drove away to a two-second victory as they battled behind him for the second position. DeLaO was able to hold the runner-up position to the checkered flag, but there was a great fight behind him. Rivellini need to fend off an charge from Andrew Zimmer (Energy), who powered up from seventh on the grid. Marotta trailed in the fifth spot until the closing laps when Spaulding was able to work by for the position, gaining valuable points toward the championship.
 | Fritz Leesmann broke through in the feature to score his third of the season
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Sera - the 2011 Rotax Grand Finals runner-up - showed why he is among the best in the world with his performance in the Senior main event. Sera laid down some blistering lap times that were consistent and quick, giving him the lead from the get-go. Taking the lead from the pole position, Sera was never challenged during the 25 laps and drove away to a four-second advantage, which he let shrink to two seconds as he slowed behind a lpapped car coming to the checkered flag.. The fight for second came down to DeLaO, Rivellini, and Spaulding. Rivellini held it on the opening lap until DeLaO took over the position. Spaulding was the next to get by the double podium finisher from Tucson, as the three then went on to pace near identical lap times to the checkered flag. DeLaO earned the second step of the podium, while Spaulding improved on his points position with a third place result. Rivellini would settle for fourth, holding off a late charge from Louie Pagano (Birel), who drove up to fifth after starting eighth.
Overdrive Motorsports DD2 / Buddy Rice Karting Engines DD2 Masters
Qualifying for the DD2 categories saw some changes up front. The DD2 class, with a ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals on the line, saw birthday boy Daniel Burkett (LH) lay down a solid lap in qualifying to secure the pole position and five crucial championship points. His 44.689-second lap was best, while fellow Canadian Austin King (PCR) slotted into the second spot. Championship leader Fritz Leesmann (CRG) was unable to continue his perfect streak from Tucson, posting the third quickest lap of the session ahead of John Wallace III (Energy). John Crow (Arrow) began round three with the pole position in the DD2 Masters class, over Mark Wheeler (PCR) and Jim Carey Sr. (Arrow).
In the Pre-Main, Burkett showed that he was not going to let this championship be decided after the first event, taking it to Leesmann in the 17-lap Prefinal. The two drivers were able to break away from King while exchanging the position on several occasions in the early going. Burkett ran in the spot for the majority of the race with Leesmann on his bumper throughout the duration. At the line, Burkett took the win over Leesmann as King was four seconds back in third. Crow led wire-to-wire in the Masters group with Wheeler running four seconds back in second and Carey in third.
 | John Crow went wire-to-wire in DD2 Masters
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
While Burkett was the top dog for much of the day, Leesmann stepped up to the challenge in the Main Event to score his third feature win in as many races thus far. Burkett and Leesmann battled for the lead early until Leesmann took the spot and King challenged Burkett for the second spot. This gave Leesmann enough space to lay down some consistent lap times to pull away. When the checkered flag waved, Leesmann had the victory by nearly six seconds. King challenged Burkett the entire time, running second at the white flag until an error on the final circuit gave the position back to Burkett. Wallace rounded out the field as Crow scored his third sweep in the Masters division, over Wheeler and Carey.
Rolison Performance Group Junior Max
The Junior Max field started out the weekend with an exciting qualifying session that came down to the end. The top spot was shuffling around for most of the 15-minute run for the second group with Luke Selliken (Kosmic) finding the right setup near the end of the run to steal the pole position. Championship leader Parker Thompson (Tony Kart) tried to take the spot but came up 0.063 seconds short. Rookie Austin Versteeg (CRG) was third quickest with Zacharie Scalzo (LH) and Jim McKinney (Intrepid) rounding out the fast five. All the top five clocked in times within 0.072 seconds of a second.
A long line of Junior drivers navigated the PKRA circuit to begin the Pre-Main race, a distance of 17 laps. Selliken held the lead through the opening laps with a host of drivers behind him. Lap five, Thompson made his move by Selliken for the lead, brining Scalzo with him as Jake Craig (CRG) kept his composure in fourth. The lead group eventually was narrowed down to six drivers with 10 laps to go as they all were very close in lap times. At the checkered, Thompson scored the win with Scalzo and Selliken on his bumper. Versteeg was able to work around Craig for fourth with McKinney in sixth.
 | Luke Selliken triumphed in Junior Max
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Ending the day with a great race, the Junior field put on a show for everyone to close out round three. Thompson led the field to the green flag but it was Scalzo showing the way at the completion of lap one. As the early laps clicked off, the top seven formed the lead group, with Thompson shockingly falling down the running order. As the front group continued to shuffle, Thompson stayed with the lead group as others, including Versteeg and Selliken, took their turn at the point. Lap 15 was Thompson’s final circuit as the rear bumper detached from his frame, forcing him to pull off and record a DNF. Meanwhile, Selliken was the driver on the move as he and Versteeg fought up front with McKinney and Scalzo right there. In the end, Selliken held on to score his first big victory in his career over the rookie Versteeg. McKinney scored a popular third place finish on the podium with Scalzo and Craig rounding out the top five.
Billet Performance Group Masters Max
The action in Masters Max was exciting in Tucson, however, the events that unfolded early in Phoenix set up for what was an exciting day. With the addition of some local drivers to the field, the battle for the pole position was a tight margin. Derek Poirier (Intrepid) showed his skills at his home track, posting the quickest lap of the session to score the pole position for the Pre-Main. His 47.229-lap was 0.055 seconds quicker than championship contender Paul Bonilla (Arrow). Last year’s series vice-champion Bill Kann (Birel) began his first start of the season with a third place effort in the timed session, just 0.083 seconds back of Poirier. Ken Maxfield (Arrow) stepped up the pace to begin round three with the fourth fastest time, just ahead of Phoenix resident Arie Luyendyk Jr. (Zanardi). The top-five were just separated by 0.12 seconds. Championship leader Brent Harper (Swiss Hutless), making his first start at the PKRA facility, was sixth in the order.
Poirier and Bonilla broke away from the field in the 17-lap Pre-Main. Bonilla looked to have the race in hand until Poirier stepped up the pace toward the end of the race. As they fought for the top spot, Kann and Luyendyk closed back in to make it a four-kart battle. Poirier assumed the point and was able to break away as Kann and Bonilla fought for second in the closing laps. Kann earned the spot and Bonilla fell under fire from Luyendyk. Poirier drove away to the win by over two seconds ahead of Kann with the fight for third coming to the final corners. A lapped kart slowed the pace of both Bonilla and Luyendyk with Bonilla able to work around the driver and secured the third spot for the Main Event grid. Luyendyk settled for fourth with Scott Falcone (Arrow) advancing to fifth and Harper retaining the sixth spot.
 | Bill Kann was awarded the Masters Max victory after a DQ in the tech barn
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
From the drop of the green flag, Poirier had the Masters Max Main Event in control. Leading all 25 laps, Poirier just drove away in the top spot and completed the provisional day sweep in a near six-second victory. Behind him was a great battle for second that included Luyendyk, Kann and Falcone after Bonilla fell down the order thanks to a spin on lap five. Kann made it a PKRA 1-2 as he assumed the second position and held the spot to the checkered flag. Falcone and Luyendyk battled to the end for third as Falcone secured the position. Rounding out the top-five was championship leader Harper as Bonilla drove back to ninth. The final standings changed however in the tech barn as Poirier came in underweight and Luyendyk had an improper part in the carburetor. This moved Kann to the #1 step on the podium, Falcone to second, and Harper up to third.
BBR Karting Mini Max
The Mini Max category is shaping up to be more than a one-driver show as it was in Tucson. The battle for the pole position in qualifying saw three drivers clock in times within three-hundredths of a second. Royal McKee (Energy) came away with the pole position with a 48.183-lap. Christian Brooks (Energy) - double winner in Tucson - was second in the order, just 14-thousandths off, with Nicky Hays (Birel) in third. Sting Ray Robb (Tony Kart) ended the session fourth with Jeff Fulham (LH) capping off the fast five.
A great battle in the Pre-Main for the Mini category took place as the top five drivers battled it out for the 13-lap race. McKee looked to have things locked up until a charging Horatio Fitz-Simon (CRG) came through from sixth and was a lightning-bolt down the back straight. On the final lap, running second, Fitz-Simon blasted by McKee and took the lead through the final corners of the race for the win. McKee crossed the line in second with Robb, Hays and Brooks right behind.
 | Sting Ray Robb scored his first Mini Max win of the season
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
The type of racing you expect out of the Cadet category in karting completed the day for the Mini Max division with a great five-driver dice for the victory. Included in the fight were Fitz-Simon, McKee, Robb, Fulham and Hays. Brooks was on the tail end of the fight early until he spun, trying to avoid hitting Fulham through turn one. He would eventually come back to finish sixth. Lap after lap, the front five exchanged position numerous times until Robb took control of the lead and broke away to leave the rest of the pack fighting for second. At the line, Robb took the checkered flag first with Hays crossing second over Fitz-Simon, McKee and Fulham.
Apollo Motorsports Micro Max
The youngest group of the weekend - Micro Max - started off the third round of action as they took the track for their 10-minute timed session to grid them up for the Pre-Main. The field was paced by newcomer Payton Durrant (Birel). The Utah driver, making his first start of the season, scored the pole position with a 52.469-lap. Championship leader Sophia Price (Kosmic) was just off the pace, mere thirty-three thousandths of a second. Marco Kacic (CRG), Griffin Dowler (Tony Kart) and David Rafailov (Birel) completed the fast five.
Durrant and Price broke away in the 10-lap Pre-Main, fighting for the win until the checkered flag with Durrant scoring the win. Price crossed the line just three-tenths back. Jacob Blue Hudson (Energy) advanced from seventh to end up third over Kacic and Derek DesLauriers (Energy).
 | Jacob Blue Hudson became the third different Micro Max winner in as many races
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
A great battle unfolded in the Main Event with four drives fighting it out for the victory. Price and Durrant were at the front for much of the race until a charging JBH moved his way forward. With the quick laps of the race, Hudson eventually worked his way to the point in the final laps. Price tried on the final lap but a lap kart hampered her shot at a pass for the lead, leaving Jacob to score his first victory of the season. Price finished second with Durrant in third. DesLauriers trailed in fourth as Dowler ended the day in fifth.
Round four will take place Sunday as drivers will have a chance to repeat their success, or redeem their results from Saturday with a new start in the morning. Qualifying begins at 9:30am MST / 11:30am EST with live coverage on http://www.ekartingnews.com/live ready to start your Daytona 500 day off right. |
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