LAKC Back On-Track Following Incredible Opening Event
Packed paddock expected once again as drivers return to CalSpeed for round two
Throngs of SoCal karters will make the trek back to the CalSpeed Karting complex this coming weekend (April 27-28) when the Los Angeles Karting Championship hosts the second round of its 2013 schedule. The LAKC’s home track is located just outside the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California and the pit area is expected to be jam-packed. The LAKC is coming off a wildly successful opening round that saw over 215 entries hit the track to begin the new season. The saying “quality over quantity” has not been needed to describe the 2013 LAKC season, as both quality racing and a great quantity of entries has been the highlight. With the schedule now underway, so too are the battles for the championships as the primary contenders made themselves known during the opening round back in March.
The LAKC may be hosting its second round of the year this weekend, but this was originally scheduled to be the third race of the year, as the opening round of racing was cancelled when surprisingly strong winds kept the competitors off the track back in February. Despite being a round behind schedule, nothing is expected to keep racers away from CalSpeed this coming weekend as the weather promises to be perfect – sunny all weekend with temperatures in the low 80s. This will be about as perfect as you can get.
With the majority of the season still left on the schedule, most drivers aren’t overly focused on the championship chase, but with one round in the books, the point battles are already forming. The primary players made themselves known from the get-go. In the Junior and Kid Kart classes, several drivers are coming into the second event following perfect weekends in Round #1. Ryan Schartau is the leader in both the DR Racing Kart Junior 1 and the Fleming Racing Engines KPV-1 classes. In the two Kid Karts categories offered by the LAKC, Chance Gibson leads the way in the Pure Karting Comer C51 class, while Jaden Goetz sets the pace in the new HPD Honda Kid Kart program. Andrew Murowatz sits atop the points in the Empire Karts KPV 2 class after a completing a perfect opening round in March when he won the pole, pre-final, and final.
The LAKC’s TaG classes see a mix of both national and regional talent atop the standings in the different TaG categories. Myles Farhan is the championship leader in two classes – PRD Junior 1 and OTK Kart USA TaG Cadet. Michael Middleton leads the way in the Rotax Grand Masters class, while Paul Bonillia had a perfect weekend in the Phil Giebler Racing PRD Grand Masters class, earning him the point lead in that class as well as in PRD Senior, sponsored by RLV.
Not to be left out, the shifters have shown up in droves this season to compete with the LAKC. Brian Shafer sits atop the championship fight in the TM Racing USA Open Shifter class after running a perfect opening weekend last month. Steve Donia was looking at starting the season off in second place in the Acceleration Kart Racing S4 Magnum points after trailing Rick McAllister all day during the opening round. However, McAllister recorded a DNF in the main event, handing the win and the point lead to Donia. In the 2Wild Karting S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto class, and the MRC S4 Master Stock Moto class, no one had anything for the Musgrave family. Father Willy and son Billy each had perfect days in the Stock Honda classes, as Willy swept S4 while Billy dominated S2.
In the LAKC Team Series, the 2Wild Karting squad of Eric Molinatti, Carlee Taylor, Willy Musgrave and Billy Musgrave lead the championship ahead of the Hyper Racing Engines team of Joey Paonessa, John Wallace III, and Paul Bonilla.
For those fans of the LAKC that wont be able to make the second round of racing in person, the LAKC offers live timing on their website – http://www.lakc.org
