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| October 04, 2012 News |
| eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month - Connor Lund - September 2012 |
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 | Lund drove to first in Clone Heavy and LO 206, along with a third in Clone Medium at Rock Island Grand Prix
(Photo: Joe Brittin) |
In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are.
Four-cycle racing has been a constant at the Rock Island Grand Prix since the race was first held back in 1994. Numbers have seen high points and low points as the years passed. but in recent editions of the GP, entries were falling to the point of concern. The emergence of the Clone engine program to the sport has provided new growth in the region and the Clone class was introduced at the Labor Day weekend street race in Illinois in 2010. The first year welcomed 20 drivers and, in 2012, both the Clone Lite and Heavy saw entries close on the 30-driver mark. This year was also highlighted by the introduction of the Briggs and Stratton LO206 engine to the event, hosting 24 drivers in the inaugural offering. One driver stood out last month, storming around the Rock Island streets, ahe he was Connor Lund, who scored two of the three 4-cycle category victories to earn the eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month honors for September.
Lund entered all three 4-cycle categories this year, and was heading into the weekend looking for redemption as victories in both Clone categories were taken away from him last year by a tech issue due to a slight infraction during engine inspection. Up first this time around was the LO206 category, where Lund was on rails in qualifying on the wet track. He was the only driver in the 44-second category, beating out the closest competitor by six tenths. Connor led from the pole position to the checkered flag in on a dry track, pulling out to a near five-second victory with a fast lap of 37.832 seconds.
The Clone Heavy category was his next target and once again stepped up to the plate. He proved to have the quickest rain set-up for qualifying, posting a 44.519-second lap to secure the pole position. The start of the feature race looked as if Lund may be in trouble, as he was shuffled back to fifth on the opening lap. Posting the fast laps of the race, he quickly made it into the top-four and was at the point by the completion of lap six. From there, he continued his torrid pace to stretch out to a three-second victory in the 15-lap main event, taking his second ROCK trophy of the weekend. It also gave him another $500 check for a victory, bringing his winnings to $1,000 for the event.
Lund completed the weekend with a third place in the Clone Medium category. A drying track put during qualifying put him seventh overall after he sat on the provisional pole following the running of the first group. The opening corner of the main event collected a number of drivers in a wreck, but Lund was able to avoid any real damage and continued on in eighth. He would post the fast laps of the race as he drove up to the third position, simply running out of time to earn the Clone sweep. With his result, however, he still secured the championship in the Rock Island Grand Prix Clone Challenge.
Lund’s season is all but over, although some indoor racing this winter, along with a 100-lap event in Norway, Illinois at the end of the month, will keep him sharp. His main concern is at school, where he is working to graduate next spring with a finance degree from Indiana University.
September 2012 EKN Driver of the Month - Connor Lund
 | | Connor Lund - EKN Driver of the Month - September 2012 |
Bio
Born: 9/9/1991
Hometown: Durand, Illinois
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Height/Weight: 6’ / 200lbs
Education: Indiana University
Occupation: Student
Racing Resume
Chassis: Arrow
Engine/Engine Builder: Kart City Performance / Rob Smith
Sponsors: Kart City Performance
Series You Compete In: Gold Cup / RIGP Clone Series
Years Karting: 6
How did you get started in karting? Visited the local track, drove a friends kart when I was 15 and then cut grass all summer to pay to get my kart
What has been the high point in your racing career? Winning two of three classes at Rock Island as redemption for the previous year
What are your goals in racing? Have fun with friends and continue to bond with my Dad
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Patiently aggressive
Funniest moment at the race track? Any time Jason Trennephol and Cale Downs are present
Likes
Favorite Track: USA International Raceway - Shawano, WI
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula 1
Favorite karting driver: Aaron Anderson / Lance Anderson
Favorite professional driver: Jenson Button
Favorite website: SpeedTV
Favorite movie: Law Abiding Citizen
Favorite actor/actress: Jennifer Aniston
Favorite music/group: Eric Church
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Northern Wisconsin / Long Lake
Favorite food: Steak
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? Work on my vehicle, go off-roading, watch racing
What are your goals outside of karting? Work as a financial planner and become self-employed
What type of street car do you drive? 02’ Toyota 4Runner
What type of street car would you like to drive? Camaro ZL1
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? People who whine or feel entitled
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? Dropping of personal agendas and doing what is best for the sport as a whole
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? Being able to spend time with my Dad that otherwise I may have not and make friends from all different parts of the country
September 2012 Driver of the Month - Honorable Mention:
- Mason Chelootz: Rock Island Grand Prix - 2 wins (TaG, Rotax Senior)
- Tommy Andersen: WKA Manufacturers Cup Series New Castle - TaG win to clinch championship
- Ashley Rogero: Rotax Pan American Challenge - Junior Max winner
- Collin Dalley: Rotax Pan American Challenge - DD2 winner
- Phil DeLaO: Rotax Pan American Challenge - Senior winner
- Mike Jones: Rotax Pan American Challenge - DD2 Masters winner |
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