OTK USA Claims First Ever OK-N Victories at Challenge of the Americas
Four wins in total at Musselman Honda Circuit to open up 2023 west coast winter series
Jesus Vasquez Jr. became the first ever OK-N winner in the new FIA sanctioned category (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
The season is underway on the west coast as OTK teams and drivers took part in the opening weekend for Challenge of the Americas over the February 3-5 weekend at the Musselman Honda Circuit. The Tucson, Arizona facility will be known in the karting history books for the launch of the new OK-N category globally, which were dominated on the weekend by OTK USA drivers. Nash Motorsportz pilots Jesus Vasquez Jr. and Blake Nash – both aboard the EOS chassis – became the first ever winners of the new FIA recognized category.
The debut of the OK-N category in the United States and around the world featured two victories by OTK USA drivers. Nash Motorsportz pilot Jesus Vasquez Jr. will be noted in the history books as the first driver to claim an official victory in the OK-N division, leading all 20 laps aboard his EOS chassis to win by over three seconds ahead of teammate Blake Nash. The following day, Nash was able to find speed overnight to put in a round sweep, leading from qualifying through the Prefinal and Final, leading all 20 laps of the main event to put his Nash Motorsporz / EOS entry on top of the podium. Vasquez was second on track, however, a start penalty dropped him off the podium and into fourth in the final results.
Blake Nash secured his first victory in the new OK-N category in Sunday’s main event in Tucson (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
History was made in the ROK Shifter division by OTK USA entrant Macy Williams. The CB Motorsports / Gillard driver was the lone female driver in the category on the weekend. Williams put in her best series performance to date with a runner-up finish in Saturday’s main event, recording the fast lap of the race. The following day, Williams started the day on top of the charts in qualifying for her first career pole position in the category. She went on to lead every lap of the Prefinal to hold the P1 grid position. In the main event, Macy led all 20 circuits while recording the quickest lap of the race en route to her first series victory. The Colorado driver becomes the first female driver in the history of the series to win in the ROK Shifter division.
The fourth different win on the weekend for OTK USA came in the Junior 100cc division by Nixx Eggleston (Ruthless Karting / Exprit). Eggleston rebounded from a DNF in Saturday’s main event to start out Sunday with fast time in qualifying. After falling to second in the Prefinal, Eggleston fought off several competitors to claim his first series victory. Alexander Gonzalez (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) joined him on the podium in third with Graham Trammell (Precision Works Racing / Kosmic) placing fourth. Saturday’s action for OTK USA drivers were led by Gonzalez, finishing third ahead of Kyle Drysdale (Ruthless Karting / Exprit) and Erik Doan (SpeedSense / Exprit).
Macy Williams became the first female winner in the ROK Shifter division at Challenge of the Americas (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Christopher Mann (Ruthless Karting / Exprit) doubled up in the podium column in the Master 100cc category. Mann was among the front runners all weekend long, placing second throughout the day on Saturday to stand on the podium in his class debut. He followed up with fast time in qualifying to lead the field to the green flag in the Prefinal. Mann led much of the race until slipping to second late in the race. The main event began with Mann jumping out to the lead however, he would eventually finish second, earning two podium finishes on the weekend. Ron Schoonover (JH Motorsports / LN Racing Kart) recorded his career best finish on Saturday, ending up fifth in the main event.
Three drivers recorded top-five results in the Senior 100cc category for OTK USA brands. All three were in the Sunday main event with Timothy Carel (Kart Nick / Tony Kart) leading the way to his first career podium result at the Challenge, placing third. Josh Campbell (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) rebounded from a DNF Saturday to end up fourth with Kane Martin (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) capping off the top-five.
Nixx Eggleston captured his first career Challenge victory in Junior 100cc (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Jackson Gibson (SpeedSense / Gillard) marked his Challenge debut in the Mini ROK division with two top-five results. Gibson drove to fourth in the main event on Saturday and found more pace Sunday to be in the hunt for the victory. After the checkered flag, Gibson was classified second for his first Challenge podium result.
Challenge of the Americas returns trackside on March 3-5 at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association facility in Glendale, Arizona for Round Three and Four of the championship series. Drivers looking to compete with the most popular kart brand in the world or purchase OTK karts and components can contact their local OTK USA dealer. Head to www.otkusa.com for a complete list of dealers and details on the entire brand roster.
