Caleb Gafrarar locked up the Mini ROK championship at the Florida Winter Tour with victory in St. Pete (Photo: ROK Cup USA - CKN)

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.

The month of March was not a total wash for the sport of karting during this COVID-19 pandemic. Before the Stay at Home orders were issued, the ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour was able to complete the 2020 championship season. Their third and final event was held on March 5-8 outside the Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. This was the first time racing around a temporary circuit in St. Pete, and the second temp track for the series in 2020. The third event of the program crowned the 2020 champions, with those in the headline ROK categories earning tickets to the ROK Cup Superfinal at South Garda Karting facility in Italy for October.

Among those to claim a championship on the weekend was Mini ROK driver Caleb Gafrarar. The 2020 season is the second year in the Mini division for Gafrarar, a second generation driver racing under the PSL Karting tent aboard Birel ART. Gafrarar won the Micro ROK championship in 2018 and finished fourth last year at the FWT in his first season in Mini. Caleb G won the opening round at the Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park in January and finished third at the Ocala Gran Prix round in February to enter the finale as one of the top contenders for the championship.

Gafrarar started out the series finale by qualifying fourth, with the top-four within a tenth of a second. After a great start to the opening heat race, Gafrarar was spun around on the first lap, and dropped to tail of the field. He fought back to finish 14th. The second heat went without issue, as Caleb drove to the front and scored the win. It was a near repeat in Heat #3, placing second. Those results lined Gafrarar up on the inside row two for the Prefinal. Caleb was pushed down to fourth at the start of the 14-lap Prefinal, but from there, he charged forward. By lap 11, Gafrarar was into the lead and held on to the checkered flag to earn the pole position for the main event.

From the pole position, Gafrarar went wire-to-wire for in the 18-lap Final for his second victory of the season. The win helped to clinch the championship, his second at the Florida Winter Tour in three years. Gafrarar will be one of six drivers from the Florida Winter Tour to represent series, along with Team USA, at the ROK Cup Superfinal in October.

March 2020 EKN Driver of the Month – Caleb Gafrarar

Caleb Gafrarar (Photo: ROK Cup USA – CKN)

Bio

Born: June 12, 2008
Hometown: Midland, NC
Parents: Chuck & Jacqueline Gafrarar
Siblings: no siblings, but just got a new puppy, his name is Woodie
Height/Weight: 58 inches and 72 lbs
Education: 6th grader at cfa Academy (yes, cfa is lower case)
Job: Junior Pilot, Wheelman

Racing Resume

Chassis: Birel ART
Engine/Engine Builder: Woltjer Racing Engines, A+M Engines, GFR
Sponsors: PSL Karting, CPI Security, Bell Helmets, Minus 273, DB Motorsports, From the Ashes, SRI – Supplies for Racing
Series You Compete In:  ROK Cup USA, SKUSA, FK Formula Series Mexico, WKA
Years Karting: 7
How did you get started in karting?  My Dad…he is a multi-time national champion karter and it was a natural fit.  I started racing a kart around 2 pecan trees at the family farm at 3 years old.  Then when I was 4-1/2 years old, my Dad took me to GoPro Motorplex to drive the big track.  The weekend prior, my Dad had competed in the USPKS race at GoPro in the rain and wasn’t happy with his performance.  So on this practice day with me, he decided to go out with a different air pressure.  I wanted to go out but he didn’t want to change my slicks to rain tires.  I told him, “you’ve got to do more, Dad” and the rest is history!    
What has been the high point in your racing career? In 2019 when I became a team driver for PSL Karting and BirelmART.
What are your goals in racing? To continue advancing from karts to open wheel to one day be a world champion Formula 1 driver
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Drive Like a Boss
Funniest moment at the race track? We used to go to Kershaw, SC (Carolina Motorsports Park) for their monthly kid kart races.  We would drive down on Friday night and spend the weekend there in our motorhome.  One of those nights, Matt Lankford took all of the boys (Brent Crews, Danny Dyszelski and me) to the Quick Mart Convenience Store, just outside the track, on the golf cart to get ice cream.  The next thing you know, the store owner has all of us kids lined up touching our toes and crossing our arms pinching our ears. Then Matt bought a can of cat food. He told us that whoever lost the race the next day had to try it…lucky for me I won the race!  But ask Brent how the cat food tastes!  If you go to that convenience store now, the owner STILL remembers us and that night!

Likes

Favorite Track: New Castle Motorsports Park
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula 1
Favorite karting driver: Marijn Kremers
Favorite professional driver: Max Verstappen
Favorite website: YouTube
Favorite movie: Senna
Favorite actor/actress: Matt Damon
Favorite music/group: Rap
Favorite vacation/activity spot: The Islands
Favorite food: Noodles and broccoli

The Real Deal

What do you do when not at the track? Race on my simulator
What are your goals outside of karting? Finish school and become a boat captain
What app or game do you play right now? Clash Royale and iRacing
What type of street car would you like to drive? Pagani
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? Slow drivers
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? There should be a junior shifter class!
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? The friendships I’ve made, and the family time spent

March 2020 Driver of the Month – Honorable Mention:

* Andrew Bujdoso: Florida Winter Tour – 1 Win (Shifter ROK)

* Josh Lane: Florida Winter Tour – 1 Win (Shifter Master ROK)

* Diego Ramos: Florida Winter Tour – 1 Win (Senior ROK) – Champion

* Connor Zilisch: Florida Winter Tour – 2 Wins (Junior 100cc / Junior ROK) – Double Champion

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