Yoder Clinches Two Delaware Dirt Track Points Championships

Story by: Mark Miller
Edited by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by:
Bruce C. Walls

HARRINGTON, DE-Ken Yoder recorded two Delaware Dirt Track Association points title clinching wins November 29th on the Association’s 1/10-mile Harrington, DE track. Yoder (Suz), a GNC regular, engaged in heated battles with Coatesville, PA pilot Perry Phillips (Hon) for 450 A and Sportsman checkered flags. In addition to winning the titles Yoder was named 2009 Track Champion. Phillips locked the Pro Class with a final win.

National #88 Raun Wood was 450 A’s early leader, but was forced to settled for a fourth and a third in the Sportsman finals. Former national numbered rider Tom Majeski finished third in the 450 A’s final, which earned him second overall in the championship chase. Majeski was also Vet A’s final winner over Ray Jenkins placing him third overall for the year in that division.

Jenkins and Scott Muller were tied in overall points. Muller won the tiebreaker for the class title over Jenkins.

Chase Smith dominated the youth classes with wins in 50, 65 and 85 cc classes. Smith topped Georgie Price in 65 and 85 cc classes while brother Jonathan finished second in 50cc.The prices won. But the Prices won the war topping all three youth divisions in the final points tally.

After a 20-year absence from Vet B, Dave Moore took the win. Dan Dougherty finished third locking him the overall title. Rebecca Zofia
topped 250 B, but Kade Keily claimed the season’s championship.

450 B’s title was a nail bitter between brothers Greg and Steve Lerch who were tied entering the final round. The brothers battled handlebar-to-handlebar for eight laps with Greg nipping his brother at the stripe.

Anthony Crabbe, son of former national number 38 Rob Crabbe, finished third, but Zofia fourth tied them in points. Zofia’s won the tiebreaker finishing third overall behind the Lerch brothers.

Riders will be recognized for their 2009 efforts during an awards banquet on February 27, 2010 at the Farming Fire Hall. For ticket information call 302.242.6016

Capital City Speedway’s Turkey Trot: Warm Day, Cold Cash

Images

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by:
Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

ASHLAND, VA-A warm fall day and a chance to win cold cash lured 400 racers to Capital City Speedway November 21st for their second Annual Turkey Trot. Regional racers from Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania were joined by a contingency of Ohio racers who came with Rage Karts owner Jeff Hoisington, along with others from New York, New Jersey, Georgia and further south.

“We have 400 racers here today,” said track owner Wayne Ezzell. “The track’s in great shape. It looks like the weather’s going to work out for us. I expect everyone to pleased with the program we’ve got here for them. We’re going to do something like this in the spring like a spring fling or something. We’ll do something hopefully in April.”

Team 220 Kart Shop factory driver Thomas Underwood took three of the top prizes. The Copperhill, VA based Falcon Kart pilot produced wins in Animal Medium, Heavy and Pro Animal Heavy earning him a total of $1,800. All non-pro classes paid $400 to win based on entry numbers.

Forty-seven racers attempted to qualify for 27 Pro Animal feature positions. Underwood’s 220 Racing sponsored machine was the fastest qualifier turning a 12.785 seconds lap on the ¼-mile clay oval. His pole time was 0.055 seconds faster than outside pole winner Scott Bajer of Mechanicsville, VA who was piloting an Avis Electric sponsored Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom kart. Corey Robert and Chris Beazley turned 12.847 and 12.855 seconds lap times for row two. Behind them the talent continued with John Yancey and Bryan Bradford starting in row three.

After a failed first attempt to get started Underwood led them single file back to the green flag. Two laps into it Bajer and Beazley blew by Underwood. Two laps later a multi-kart pileup in turns three and four brought out the red flag. Once the track was clear racing resumed with Bajer and Beasley holding onto their positions.

During the ensuing two laps Underwood took second from Beazley. The caution flag flew again. This time Underwood was behind Bajer on the restart. When they got the green flag again Underwood pulled alongside of Bajer and passed him for a never surrendered lead to the stripe. Bajer settled for second followed by HP Speed Shop factory driver Chad Hayes of Georgetown, DE. Brandon Brown followed in fourth trailed by Yancey for the top five.

“I’ve got to thank the Lord for this one,” Underwood credited. “The Fire Hawk kart handled fine. The right front wheel weights fell off so it was out of balance, but I hung onto it.”

Beazley was fastest of 42 Animal Heavy qualifying entries. His 12.678-seconds rounding was 0.043 seconds faster than Jason Higgy’s 12.721 seconds lap time. Richie Hornsby and Yancey were behind them in row two. Row three had Underwood inside and Brown on the outside. Beazley broke from the field after rounding turn two. Before he could get his kart up to full speed and complete the first lap the caution flag few. Higgy got the drop on Underwood dove low entering turn one taking the lead from Beazley on the restart. When they got the halfway signal Higgy was leading.

With 5-laps remaining Beazley grabbed the lead from Higgy. Then with Yancey in tow, Underwood took second. They quickly buzzed by Beazley next time around for the lead. Two laps later Underwood crossed the stripe for the final time. Yancey and Beazley were second and third followed in the top five of 27 by David Walker and Hayes.

“We had a good piece. We were good enough to win no doubt.” Underwood said. “It was just that Scotty (Bajer) and Beazley got up in the loose stuff and went up the racetrack and luck was in our favor. We still had a good kart it was real close. It was a real good race. I want to thank my mom and dad, God of course, 220 Kart Shop, Josh Philpott Racing, Southern Express Kart Shop for the motors, the Malick family and my wife Felicia.”

Underwood was Animal Medium’s second fastest qualifier producing a 12.680 seconds rounding that was 0.064 seconds off Brandon Brown’s top qualifying lap of 12.616 seconds. Brown blasted into the early lead with Underwood chasing him down. Underwood caught Brown on the fifth circuit. Brown got hung up behind a lapped kart. Underwood shot by him and showed the 20-racer field lap six and then the first of three caution flags flew. Underwood led the restart as he would two times again. The final caution was shown with just two laps remaining. Underwood rocketed away from the field took the white flag then the checkered with Brown on his heals. Hornsby, Bajer and Michael Allaband capped the top five.

“The race went well, I just ran second for awhile and finally got up to him (Brown) and he hit a lapped kart,” Underwood described. “I’ve got to thank Jimmy Ogles more than anything. The kart handed real good and Jimmy Ogles motors are the best on the east coast. It was a very fortunate day for us. The Good Lord was on our side, luck or whatever you call it. We had a good kart and we worked hard at it. This Falcon Fire hawk kart is a good kart and the 220 Kart Shop tire program   they’re on top of it. I also want to thank Josh Philpott and Philpott Racing, Southern Express Kart Shop for the karts and motors. It’s been a good day.”

Midlothian, VA based Epic kart pilot Chris Williams earned Pro Champ’s win for a $1,000 payday. Williams won the pole with a 13.076 seconds run. Beazley was second fastest qualifier by 0.162 seconds. Williams scrambled into the early lead. Behind him third fastest qualifier Tyler Warriner muscled by Beazley then quickly closed in on Williams. Further back Andy Kirby was threading his way through the field from an 11th place start. Kirby carried that momentum by Beazley then Williams for the lead. Williams kept the pressure on Kirby and with the white flag waving ahead of him Williams marched by Kirby for the lead and the win.

“I couldn’t see out of my shield and I was running off the racetrack. It was a good race I didn’t know he (Andy Williams) was that close, but then I ran off the race track because my shield was fogging up” Williams explained. “I want to thank Epic Karts, Venom Juice Tire Prep and Williams Speed Factory for the awesome horsepower.”

Kirby crossed second. Josh Peck was third, Bumpass, VA based Kyle Ezzell followed in fourth trailed by Beazley in fifth.

Thirty-one racers entered Senior Champ Animal Heavy. Twenty-six would make the feature. Williams won the pole with a 13.303 seconds rounding. Hunter Ashworth was second fastest at 13.405 seconds. Behind them in row two were JD Eversole and Darek McCauley. After a failed first start Williams led them single file to the green flag. Williams tried to break away from the field, but after showing them around once the first of three caution flags flew. Williams led the restart.

Before the second circuit was complete Hunter Ashworth tapped Williams causing them both to spin out. Fifth fastest qualifier Josh Tapscott reached third in time to inherit the lead for the restart. Tapscott took them around two more times before the next caution flag flew. Tapscott led a second restart with five laps complete.

As they were taking the mid-race signal Beazley blasted by Tapscott for the lead. Caution flags would wave again with five laps to go. That set the stage for a wild finish to a wild race. After fighting his way from a 21st place start Josh Peck passed his way to second and was now threatening the leader. As they rounded turn three heading for the checkered flag the lead pack went three-wide. Peck got a nose on his competition and took the final flag still battling door-to-door with Brad Davis. Following close behind were Beazley and Buzz Moore for the top five.

“I was just following them I had to wait on them to go high. I knew (Josh) Tapscott was going to make a run on them I just waited until he moved them out of the way and then I got by both of them. The Rage kart was great. I started 21st and came clear to the lead and the Enzor Racing Engine is awesome we won nine out of 12 Pennsylvania State Races and it never missed a beat and comes down here and keeps up with the best of them too. You can’t ask for more.”

Thomas Roach ruled Stock Heavy and Medium. The Mechanicsville, VA based Ogles Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon kart pilot came from a third place start to capture Heavy’s checkered flag. Bajer blasted around the track in 13.409 seconds for the pole. Bradley Sacra shared front row with Bajer with a lap that was 0.097 seconds off Bajer’s lap time.

Bajer jumped into the early lead and quickly pulled away from the field. Bajer continued growing his lead. Lap five his cushion   evaporated with the caution flag. Bajer led the restart. Roach roared by him for the lead. After taking the field through another caution flag showing them home from there with Bajer behind him. Bajer was disqualified for arguing with the flagman advancing Michael Allabond to second, Robert Walls to third, Charles Hall to fourth with Trevor Old capping the official top five.

Roach produced Stock Medium’s pole lap rounding the track in 13.144 seconds for that starting position. Jeremy Martin’s 13.440 seconds rounding put him on the outside pole. As soon as the green flag flew so did Roach who rocketed away from the field. While he was pulling away from the field Tyler Rodearmel was threading his way through it. Rodearmel reached second and began closing in on Roach. With time and distance against him Rodearmel made a final charge, but it fell short as Roach rolled across the finish line first. Jeremy Martin was third across the stripe followed in the top five by Old and Brandon Beale.

Monk Newsome and JD Eversole captured the Clone Medium and Heavy classes from their poles. Newsome notched Medium’s pole with a 14.476 seconds run. Newsome shot into the early lead and never looked back. After lapping the field he took the checkered flag. Marty Mattox and Lake Foster completed the three-racer field.

Eversole hustled into Heavy’s early lead fighting off Lee Johnson and Mark Newsome on his way to Victory Lane. Kelly Farrar finished fourth followed by Cameron Wood in fifth.

A trio of Sussex County, Delaware racers reached Victory Lane. Bringing home turkeys and 10% of the $12,000.00 total purse were; Reese White of Lincoln, Carson Wright of Georgetown and Rehoboth Beach based J.B. Loomis. Each pocketed $400 for their win.

Nine-year-old Wright was on the throttle in Junior Sportsman II Blue Sprint. He whipped around the ¼-mile clay oval in 13.587 seconds for the pole. Evan Dennis went high into turn one for the early lead. Wright quickly worked by him next time around.

After escaping his early pursuers and gaining an edge on the competition, a lap five caution flag closed the gap again. Wright led the restart and had to shake off Dennis and Sharp again before building another small lead over them while they scrapped over second.

Like Wright, White had to fight off challenges from Dennis for Junior 1 Sprint’s early lead. Dennis dominated qualifying with a 14.009 seconds rounding. Wright was second fastest at 14.046 seconds. When the initial green flag flew so did Dennis. Dennis led them around twice and was building on his momentum when his advantage was erased by the first of two caution flags.

Reese roared by Dennis on the restart and quickly stretched out the lead. He took the mid-race signal with a very comfortable lead. Next time around the caution flag canceled his lead. Reese, who pilots a Southern Express Racing Engines powered Falcon kart, roared away with the lead when racing resumed. After several laps he began threading his way through the field. He was still lapping traffic when he took the checkered flag with Dennis trailing in the distance.”

“Evan’s (Dennis) dad told Evan to come up on the start and I passed him going into the turn and I led the race all the next laps from there,” said the nine-year-old winner. “The kart was good and the Southern Express motor was fast. I want to thank my dad, Mike, Chad Reed, my mom, Shot by Shannon, Ad Art, Blue Hen and Jonathan Keller Racing Engines.”

Loomis struggled in Restricted Heavy’s qualifying. The 14-year-old HP Speed Shop powered Phantom Icon kart pilot qualified ninth out of 21-entries. Bradley Sacra spun a 13.462 seconds pole winning lap that was 0.222 seconds faster than Loomis’s 13.684 seconds rounding.

Back at his pit area Loomis’s crew worked on the kart to make the kart faster for the feature. Their hard work paid off. Loomis quickly threaded his way through the field to the front, which he captured in time to take the checkered flag. The only thing slowing him down were several late race cautions.

According to Loomis, “It was awesome. I was hooked up the whole time. But, the cautions worried me. At the end my kart started going away from me and I was sliding all over the track, but I still held it with two laps to go. It handled great the whole race except for after that long caution.”

C&P Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon pilot Kevin Elliott was first under Stock Extra Heavy’s checkered flag. Billy Tweeden was fastest of 19 qualifiers turning a 13.007 seconds lap. Mike Matthews was   0.069-seconds slower for the outside pole. Elliott startedbehind Tweenden Rob Matthews behind Mike Matthews.

Tweeden took the initial lead with Elliott hot on his heels. Two laps later the race’s only caution flag flew. When the green flag flew againElliott quickly got the jump on Tweenden. With the lead in hand Elliott held on tight as Tweeden threatened down to the finish. Allen   Larson, Daniel Terry and Mike Matthews rounded out the top five.

“He (Tweeden) slipped up off the corner a little bit. He might have been a little better than I was, but he slipped coming off the corner and I got by him (Tweeden),” Elliott described. “I would like to thank Tweeden for driving me clean. The Phantom chassis was pretty good. We’ve been off on tires a little bit all day, but we finally hit them right there at the end. The C&P Motor was good I’d like to thank Eddie Terry”

BradyPenny produced Junior Champ1 Purple’s win from the outside pole. Daniel Folds was fastest of a dozen entries with a 15.097 seconds qualifying time. Unfortunately for Folds his machine developed mechanical troubles before the green flag waved. Once it did Penny and Trevor Larrick began a side-by-side battle for the lead that lasted nearly a lap. Penny surrendered the front to Larrick. Two laps later Penny passed Larrick and was first under the mid-race signal.

One lap later the race’s only caution flag flew. Penny let the restart and fought off challenges from Cori French and Larrick before taking the final flag. Nose-to-tail behind him were French, Larrick in second and third followed in the top five by Owen Kitzmiller and Dusty Walters.

A 14.567 seconds qualifying lap earned Mason Bailey Junior Sportsman 2 Champ Blue’s pole. Chesterfield, VA competitors Mason Bailey and GR Waldrop earned champ kart wins. Bailey spun a 14.567 seconds top-qualifying lap for Junior Sportsman Champ Blue’s pole. Fellow Virginian Camden Testerman spun a 14.572 seconds lap that was mire 0.005 seconds off Bailey’s lap time. When the initial green flag was displayed Testerman hammered his throttle breaking into the lead then building on it.

Bailey quickly closed in on Testerman took the lead from him, but seconds later he was forced to hand it back to Testerman when caution waved. Testerman led the restart with one lap in the book. Bailey blasted by Testerman leaving the field behind him fighting for positions. Bradley Cabe passed Testerman for second. David Stone finished where he started in fourth. Sara Mitchell came from an eighth place start to cap the top five.

“It (the first caution) worried me cause they were knocking on my backdoor. I didn’t know if they’d get through and get to the lead and I was going to fall back. But I stayed in it, kept it in there and we finished up top,” explained the 12-year-old Ogles Racing Engines powered Illusion kart pilot. “The Illusion kart handled great thanks to Mr. O’Connor who did our tires. Ryan O’Connor pushed me all the way to the front and David Stone raced me clean. I want to thank my grandparents, my dad, my sister and Ryan and Mike O’Connor.”

Waldrop struggled in Junior Champ’s qualifying. The Ogles Racing Engines powered Rage kart pilot produced a14.188 seconds top- ualifying lap that was 0.633 seconds off the pole lap set by Kyle Meyer. Dylan Brockwell drove the second fastest lap at 13.897 seconds. Tyler Davis and Nick Richard started on row two.

Meyer shot off the pole dove low into turn one taking the early lead, which he held and opened as he cruised under the halfway signal. Then suddenly with the unfurling of yellow flags his huge lead disappeared. By then Waldrop had threaded his way through the field to second. Waldrop was closing fast, but the caution clinched it.

When they restarted Waldrop roared by Meyer who later drifted deep into the field. Waldrop, Moore and Meyer were battling nose-to- ail when the final caution flags waved from all corners. Three laps remained to be raced. Waldrop held onto the lead fighting off Moore’s challenges to the end. David Schilling ran third, Ryan Leb fourth and Brockwell fifth.

“That first restart completely saved me. If I didn’t get that restart I’d of never caught Kyle (Meyer) he was flying. When I restarted my tires are a little bit colder and I didn’t get quite the grip I had earlier in the long run, but I held it in down there. I love the Rage kart I wouldn’t have any other kart. Jimmy Ogles is such a good motor builder. He builds the best motors out there.”

Open racers had a surprise finish when the race leader ran out of fuel in the final laps. It all started with Billy Thompson dialing in the top-qualifying lap with the day’s fastest lap time 11.946 seconds. Thompson broke away from the 12-racer field during the early going and by mid-race he owned a comfortable lead.

That all came to a crashing conclusion with back markers tangling in turn two behind him. Thompson led the ensuing restart. In just a few laps Thompson threaded his way back through the field only to see his second huge evaporate with the flying of the caution flag.

While Thompson was leading the field, fifth fastest qualifier John Decker marched to second holding that position. Tapman took over next time around, but as he was heading for the white flag he ran out of fuel. Decker inherited the lead and held it to the finish. Justin Groome passed David Puckett for the second place finish. Puckett crossed behind him in third followed by Kenneth Peek and Dan Longfellow for the top five.

“It was a good race it just never gave up. The Nemesis chassis handled really well. We tried something different with the tires and it worked. It was going away on the long runs, but it was good enough. I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch (Matt) Tapman at the end. But then he broke, he ran out of gas? I didn’t know what happened to him.”

Tapman father/son team of Matt and Billy from New Church, VA, shared Yamaha’s front row. Times of 12.652 and 12.738 seconds earned them front row seats. The Tapman brothers put on quite a show during the early laps before Matt was disqualified. With his brother out of the contest Billy had to fend off challenges form Craig Schill and Nick Hall before taking the checkered flag. Groome followed Hall for fourth and Jonathan Wharton rounded out the top five.

“I backed off a little bit resting myself. I didn’t think they were that close,” Tapman said in The Icon kart handled great the tires were good my son and his wife did the tires for me and they were great. I want to thank my son and his wife and my wife.”

George Virvin was Senior Champ Flat Head (FH)’s fastest qualifier. His 14.395 seconds effort was 0.188 seconds faster than outside pole winner Jason Fitzmiller’ s 14.583 seconds rounding. Fitzmiller found the early lead and after shaking off a couple of early challenges Fitzmiller opened a comfortable lead he held to the stripe where Greg Flagg finished second, Virvin third, Robert Fisch fourth and Eric Heil fifth.

With the second annual Capital Speedway Turkey Trot now in the record books officials are already making plans for the third annual Turkey Trot and a similar spring money race. Update and more information will be posted on the track’s site at: www.capitalcityspeedway.net.

Images

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

ASHLAND, VA-A warm day and cold cash lured 400 kart racers to Capital City Speedway’s second annual Turkey Trot end of season money race Saturday November 21st. Among them were a contingency of Sussex County racers; three of whom were feature winners that night. Bringing home turkeys and 10% of the $12,000.00 total purse were; Reese White of Lincoln, Carson Wright of Georgetown and Rehoboth Beach based J.B. Loomis. Each pocketed $400 for their win.

Nine-year-old Wright was on the throttle in Junior Sportsman II Blue Sprint. He whipped around the ¼-mile clay oval in 13.587 seconds for the pole. Evan Dennis went high into turn one for the early lead. Wright quickly worked by him next time around.

After escaping his early pursuers and gaining an edge on the competition, a lap five caution flag closed the gap again. Wright led the restart and had to shake off Dennis and Sharp again before building another small lead over them while they scrapped over second.

Like Wright, White had to fight off challenges from Dennis for Junior 1 Sprint’s early lead. Dennis dominated qualifying with a 14.009 seconds rounding. Wright was second fastest at 14.046 seconds. When the initial green flag flew so did Dennis. Dennis led them around twice and was building on his momentum when his advantage was erased by the first of two caution flags.

Reese roared by Dennis on the restart and quickly stretched out the lead. He took the mid-race signal with a very comfortable lead. Next time around the caution flag canceled his lead. Reese, who pilots a Southern Express Racing Engines powered Falcon kart, roared away with the lead when racing resumed. After several laps he began threading his way through the field. He was still lapping traffic when he took the checkered flag with Dennis trailing in the distance.”

“Evan’s (Dennis) dad told Evan to come up on the start and I passed him going into the turn and I led the race all the next laps from there,” said the nine-year-old winner. “The kart was good and the Southern Express motor was fast. I want to thank my dad, Mike, Chad Reed, my mom, Shot by Shannon, Ad Art, Blue Hen and Jonathan Keller Racing Engines.”

Loomis struggled in Restricted Heavy’s qualifying. The 14-year-old HP Speed Shop powered Phantom Icon kart pilot qualified ninth out of 21-entries. Bradley Sacra spun a 13.462 seconds pole winning lap that was 0.222 seconds faster than Loomis’s 13.684 seconds rounding.

Back at his pit area Loomis’s crew worked on the kart to make the kart faster for the feature. Their hard work paid off. Loomis quickly threaded his way through the field to the front, which he captured in time to take the checkered flag. The only thing slowing him down were several late race cautions.

According to Loomis, “It was awesome. I was hooked up the whole time. But, the cautions worried me. At the end my kart started going away from me and I was sliding all over the track, but I still held it with two laps to go. It handled great the whole race except for after that long caution.”

AKRA racers will get a little break before heading out to the, ‘World Center of Dirt Racing’ Volusia Speedway Park the near Barberville, FL December 27-28 for the fifth annual American Kart Racing Association ‘Christmas in Dixie’ race. Discount Hotel packages are available through AKRA. To make reservations for this major karting event call the AKRA Monroe, N.C. office at 704.764.8138 or locally at 302.537.RACE (7223).

Images

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

AMELIA, VA-Spencer Davis and Josh Haire each scored a trio of wins during the American Kart Racing Association’s (AKRA) American Speedway Championship Dirt Series season finale’ October 9th at Amelia Motor Raceway in Amelia, VA. Along with clinching championships Davis inched closer to his goal of 100 wins in 2009. He came to Amelia with 84 wins   to his credit leaving with 87. “We still have a lot of racing to do so I think it we’ll make 100 this year,” Davis, of Dawsonville, GA, confidently stated after his third win of the day.

Davis started his trio of perfect wins with a wire-to-wire run in Junior Sportsman Champ. A 14.543 seconds rounding earned him the pole. From there he struggled to hold onto the early lead fighting off attacks from outside pole winner Ryan O’Connor and Mason Bailey. Two laps into it back markers tangled in turn three bringing out the race’s only caution flag. Davis led the restart and again had to fight off challenges from O’Connor. After shaking off O’Connor once more Davis drove away from O’Connor and the rest of the field leaving them to fight over the remaining positions.

Bailey fought his was to a second place finish trailing Davis by 1.358 seconds. Kaitlyn Crane and O’Conner crossed third and fourth followed by Richmond, VA racer Sara Mitchell.

“The champ kart handled good.” said the 10-year-old triple winner. “We’re kind of like an expert here. I’m kind of looking for pretty
good races here this week.”

Two races later Davis spun a 14.507 seconds lap for Rookie Box Stock’s pole. Outside pole winner Nathan Lam who clocked a 14.770 seconds fast time lap, trailed a very distant second to Davis who threaded his way through the field more than once. Third fastest qualifier Trevor Wells finished where he started followed by Kirstin Simmons and Ryan Keesee.

“Our EL’s fit really good,” Davis credited. “Dad did something to them and that’s the fastest I’ve ever went in a box stock wide open.”

Davis found Victory Lane again in Junior 1 Purple this time beating outside pole winner Jesse Riggins by 2.672 seconds. He captured the pole with a 13.770 seconds effort and rocketed away from Riggins who earned the outside pole with a 13.986 seconds rounding. As they did in qualifying Trevor Wells and Hayden Conner crossed third and fourth for the field.

Davis was looking for five wins from their poles that night, but Riggins and O’Connor held him to three wins. Riggins, an 11-year-old Charlotte, N.C. native, nipped him by 0.181 seconds at Junior Purple 1 Race 1’s stripe while O’Connor clipped him at Junior Sportsman Champ’s checkered flag by 0.120 seconds. Nathan Lam, Trevor Wells and Hayden Conner completed the top five.

According to Riggins, “I was pretty good during the race. The kart handled really good and Tim Fishel’s motor was really good too. It felt just a little bit loose coming out of the turns,” Riggins reported. “I want to thank Tim Fishel for the motor, my dad for helping with the
kart and Ultramax Racing Chassis.”

A 14.118 seconds lap earned Davis Junior Sportsman Champ Race 2’s pole. Lam started on the outside pole. When the initial green flag flew Davis and Riggins rocketed away from the field. Riggins had just taken the lead from Davis on the second lap when the race’s only caution flag flew for a turn four incident. Davis led the restart. He fought off O’Connor’s challenges until mid-race when Davis finally surrendered the lead. Lam came with O’Connor dropping Davis to third. Bailey and Kaitlyhn Crane capped the top five.

“This was a tough race,” Riggins reported, “It was loose coming off of turn two and I kept slipping and when I got around Spencer I was just waiting for him to pass me back. But I knew it was late in the race and I was smart and didn’t pass him early in the race. I think if I’d of passed him early in the race he of got me back before it was all over with. The chassis handled awesome and Tod Miller’s motors, nothing but.”

Mishue Motorsports factory driver Josh Haire, of Erwin, N.C., a two time national AKRA Senior Champ title winner, clinched his third straight championship in that class. He also won Pro Senior Champ and Super Heavy. Haire spun a 13.068 seconds lap for Senior Champ’s pole.   He fell back at the start and was forced to fight his way back to the front.

Once back in charge of the field Haire tried to open a small cushion, but after scrapping over second with several foes Stephen Crouch took second and began closing in on Haire. In the final laps Crouch closed the gap between them. He and Haire battled side-by-side heading for the checkered flag. When it waved it was for Haire winning by a hair who took it with a narrow 0.100 seconds margin. Nose- to-tail behind Crouch were J.D Eversole, Brad Davis and Darak McCauley.

“It sure handled a lot better in traffic then it did out of traffic I’ll tell you that much,” Haire laughed. “The kart wasn’t bad. After the first race we changed all four tires because the race track seemed to hardened up a little bit and we were fortunate enough to stay out
front.”

Chris Beazley produced Pro Senior Champ’s pole lap in 12.964 seconds. Haire’s 13.022 seconds qualifying lap earned him the outside pole. Beazley blasted into the early lead with Haire on his tail. On the second circuit Haire hustled by Beazley for the lead. Before he could try and recapture the lead Beazley had to beat Eversole out of second. Haire took advantage of the situation and built a small cushion over Beazley who battled back closing in on Haire as they headed for the checkered flag. When they reached the stripe Haire had it by a little   over a 10th of a second. Haire pocked nearly $1,000. Behind Beazley in the top five were Crouch, Jeremy Ryder and Richmond, VA karting veteran Mike Mitchell.

“It was just me and him (Beazley) out there and he was close. He might have been a little better there at the end and I was a little bit better at the beginning we were just lucky to get out there early and hold on to it. The Galaxy kart and Mishue motor worked great. The kart was sliding a little so we’ve got to make some changes for Heavy and the Dash for Cash.”

In a two racer duel for Super Heavy’s checkered flag Haire beat Rob Matthews to finish line by 1.373 seconds.

Holden Beach, N.C. hot shoe Jonathan Hickman handled Animal Medium and Heavy. Piloting a Mishue Motorsports powered Eclipse kart Hickman earned Medium’s pole with a 12.502 seconds run. From there Hickman roared into the early lead expanding it with every lap. When he reached the stripe he owned a very comfortable 3.685 seconds advantage over second place Robert Clarke. Outside pole winner Dougie Young was second followed by Michael Flagg in fourth.

“We had the kart pretty hooked up there we were trying a little something on the Firestone’s to get ready for the ‘Dash for Cash’ and hopefully we hit it pretty good there,” Hickman said adding, “I love the Eclipse kart they’re real good karts, I love them, we’ve been on them for awhile now. I think they’re a real great kart. I want to thank Ricky and Josh Haire, David Morgan, and my father Kevin Hickman, Jarrett Brown, everybody who comes with us in the pits, Eddie Mishue for the karts, Andy Murray for the tires, G-Man Kartworks, and Earl Pearson, Jr.”

Jerry Mullis was just a tick faster than Haire in Animal Heavy’s qualifying. Mullis took 12.452 seconds rounding the track. Haire covered the distance in 12.466 seconds. Mullis led the first to laps before surrendering the front to Hickman who came from third. With Mullis and Jones fighting for second behind him Hickman pulled away from them. Mullis won the battle for second and Hickman won the race crossing the stripe with a 0.627 seconds edge. Simon Jones fought his way to a third place finish from a seventh place start. McCauley completed the top five of nine.

“We run the same tires. We got a little deeper on them. There towards the end of the first one it started sliding there a little bit,” Hickman described. “We went a little deeper on the tires and it got better at the end of this one. I hope we got it figured out for the Dash for Cash.”

Richmond, VA racer David Meade was also a double winner. Meade’s Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Racing Chassis dominated Stock Medium and Heavy. He struggled in Medium’s qualifying relegated to a seventh place start. Monroe, N.C. competitor Walt Barnes, who earned both poles, blasted out the pole lap with a 13.318 seconds rounding. Simon Jones was second fastest with a 13.526 seconds effort.

Barnes grabbed the early lead. Meade quickly climbed through the field and in several laps he was battling door-to-door with Barnes for the lead. Meade finished the job muscling by Barnes for the lead in time to beat him to the stripe by 0.182 seconds. Further back Cody Franklin, Jones and Sam Church rounded out the top five.

Meade also struggled in Stock Heavy’s qualifying this time starting from the field’s rear. Lap times of 13.233 and 13.665 seconds earned Barnes and Church the front row starting positions. Once again Barnes blasted into the early lead as Meade worked his way to second. After three laps Meade was in second threatening Barnes. A short side-by-side battle ensued before Meade muscled his way past Barnes. Meade held a slight lead over Barnes until they crossed the stripe with just 0.430 seconds separating them.

“We learned that if you have a good set of tires at Amelia you wear them out. That was pretty much it,” Meade said. “We kept doing the same process we’ve been doing all day and came out there and just held on. It wasn’t as good as it was in the last one, it didn’t have the forward bite I like, but we’ll take it. It was still good enough to get the win. I’d like to thank Harrill Wiggins for a great kart and Tod Miller for good engines, the Lord for two safe races, Michael Brightwell for all of his help here at the track and Scotty Bajer for all of his help during the week. It’s been a good day.”

Tim O’Connor topped Junior Champ from the pole he earned with a 13.420 seconds run. O’Connor hustled into the initial lead while Tyler Davis and Hunter Crane scrapped over second. O’Connor easily cruised into a comfortable 2 second lead. Tyler Warriner worked by them for second. O’Connor still owned a 2 seconds cushion but it quickly evaporated when the first of two caution flags waved.

With nine laps completed the green flag returned. O’Connor led the restart with Warriner glued to his tailpipe. As they battled for the lead O’Connor and Warriner tangled in turn two. Hunter Crane, who was in third at the time, inherited the lead. Crane led the restart with racing frantically fighting for positions behind him. With the white flag waving ahead of them the leaders collided in turn two. O’Connor led the two-lap shootout and fought off challenges from Warriner down to the stripe where he was 0.139 seconds behind. Finishing second earned Warriner the championship. Davis was third, Crane fourth and Dylan Brockwell was fifth across the stripe, but he was DQ’ed for rough driving moving sixth place Kyle Myer to fifth.

“I was in third and the second place guy went under first and they got wrecked and I just kept going and thankfully I got first. The Rage Nitro kart handled great it was coming off the corners great and it was sticking and Tod Miller’s motor was roaring the whole time. I’d like to thank my dad and friend Mason Bailey and my brother Ryan.”

Riggins, Jr. rounded the track in 13.107 seconds for Junior 3 Gold’s pole. Bradley Sacra spun a 13.275 seconds lap for the outside pole. Lined up in row two were Michael Fose and O’Connor. Riggins, Jr. rushed into the early lead with Sacra glued to his tailpipe. They were still nose-to-tail at mid-race with Sacra desperately searching for an opening. That opening presented itself in the just after mid-race and Sacra took advantage of it. In the remaining laps Sacra opened a comfortable 1.555 seconds advantage over O’Connor who captured second from Riggins. Jonathan Belfiore, Fose and Kaitlinn Simmons crossed third, fourth and fifth.

“Man I was super fast” Sacra said. “I planned on following him for a long time, but I was so much faster I just took the lead and I knew I’d pull away so I went with it. I don’t know how the Icon kart could have been any better and the P&P Speed Shop motor had plenty of power.”

Riggins, Jr. turned the tables on Sacra in the Pro Gold Main. He turned the fastest qualifying lap at 13.034 seconds and beat Sacra to the stripe in a down to the wire battle that ended with the closest   finish of the day, just 0.066 seconds separated them. Fose and Belfiore followed in fourth and fifth.

“I just ran 20-laps hard,” credited the 14-year-old Charlotte, N.C. competitor, “It was nothing more than that I was just driving my own race. That Ultramax chassis is better than anything they’ve had in awhile so we aught to be good here when the track gets hard. Tim Fishel’s motor was awesome this is our second week on them and we’re doing good. I want to thank my mom and dad and Ultramax Racing Chassis and Tim Fishel.”

South Hill, VA racer Devin Gordon enjoyed a perfect Junior Box Stock race. The Phantom kart pilot produced a14.507 seconds pole- inning lap follow by 20-flawless feature laps. Simmons followed him across the stripe 2.707 seconds later.

One more race needed settling-the ‘Firestone Dash for Cash.’ Haire handled qualifying with a track blistering 12.229 seconds rounding. Mullis was just 0.052 seconds slower for the outside pole. Hickman and Simon Jones started behind them in row two. Spectators lined the back straight fence several deep as Haire and Mullis led the field out of turn four heading for the initial green flag.

Haire held the low line going into turn one exiting turn two with Hickman hanging onto his tailpipe. Mullis muscled his way past Hickman for second then charged into the lead. Several laps later Haire hustled past Hickman for second. As Mullis and Haire battled nose-to-tail their speed picked up. When they crossed the stripe for the final time their nearest pursuer, Hickman, was 3.413 seconds behind them. Jones was fourth under the checkered flag followed by Robert Clarke for the top five.

It was a pretty good race between Haire and me. We race good together, but that was pretty good,” Mullis said of his win. “I’d like to thank the Riggins family for this opportunity, Tim (Fishel), Ultramax for the great stuff they gave me the kart was perfect. It’s about time we get back here. Everything came together here at the end.” What’s he going to do with the $1,000 he pocketed? “I’m going to put it back into my racing program,” he said.

AKRA racers will celebrate their 2009 season with during an awards dinner scheduled for Friday March 5, 2010 at the Dexter Community Center. But before that they will be traveling to Volusia Speedway Park in Volusia, FL for the fifth annual ‘Christmas in Dixie. For more information about AKRA call the office at 704.764.8138.

Wayne Poole Memorial Race An Act of Kindness

Racers at AKRA’s American Speedway Championship Dirt Series 2009 season finale’ took time to celebrate the life of kart racing legend Wayne Poole who died in a tragic accident. Poole’s parents established a scholarship program in his memory each year donating funds to a needy student matriculated in automotive technology. To help that fund ARKA hosts a Wayne Poole Memorial Race to raise money for the fund through auctions held at the last race of the season. Many of the items come from the Darrell Waltrip online Store and were autographed by Darrell and Michael. Last years auction proceeds were divided between two deserving students studying to be motorsports engineers.

This year’s top prize was an Untramax Racing Chassis, which brought a high bid of $926.00 from Lynn Smith of South Hill, VA who bought the kart for his friend Brad Gordon a fellow South Hill native. Father son race team of Glen Allen, VA, based Randy and Tyler Warriner won the Larry Jones Heat Cube valued at $850.00.

“I just felt like I needed to. The guy (Brad Gordon) wants to go racing. He just a hometown guy and he wants to go racing,” Smith said.

According to, “It was a real surprise. This means a real lot to me,” Gordon said about getting the chassis. “I’ll be racing it here at Amelia and over at Brunswick,” he added. All together $1,300.00 was raised during this year’s auction.

Margarettsville Speedway’s Double Finale’ Weekend

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

MARGARETTSVILLE, N.C.- Margarettsville Speedway hosted a double finale’ weekend September 4-3. Saturday Virginia Dirt Karting Association (VDKA) racers wrapped up their 2009 season on the ¼-mile clay oval; Sunday N.C./VA Money Series competitors concluded their 2009 season with an $11,000 purse. Both races were rain make-ups. Final competition was fierce both days, despite results showing two triple and four double winners that weekend.

Saturday 250 racers entered the VDKA competition; Sunday another 250 entered the N.C./VA Money Series races. VDKA racers were making up a March rainout. That day belonged to 12-year-old Justin Kirby of Rixeyville, VA. Piloting a Moon Power North powered Epic kart Kirby collected a trio of Junior 2 wins starting with the fourth feature Sportsman 2 Champ Lite where he edged out Ryan Fisher at the finish line by just 0.089.

“That was a really good race because whenever I pulled down under (Ryan) Fisher he had the draft from (Camden) Testerman so I couldn’t quite get it,” Kirby described. “Then I got a run off of turn two and passed him (Ryan Fisher) and then I was able to pass (Camden) Testerman for the lead and I was able to take it from there. The Epic kart handed great and the Moon Power North motor had a lot, a lot of power.”

According to Fisher, “I worked with #20 (Camden Testerman). We went to the front, but my tires weren’t holding in turns one and two. I thought I could hold it, but I really didn’t know.”

Testerman trailed in third. Logan Willis and Brian Henderson crossed fourth and fifth, but infractions force officials to switch their   finishing positions. So in the official record Henderson was fourth, Willis fifth.

Five races later Kirby turned in a perfect performance in Junior Sportsman 2 Lite. After clocking Junior Sportsman 2 Lite’s pole lap in 15.626 seconds Kirby rocketed away from the field with Tervor Brightwell locked to his tailpipe. They crossed the stripe nearly side-by- ide through traffic with only 0.082 seconds separating them. This time Troy Doggett was third, Devin Dodson fourth and Christian
Williams fifth.

Before the night was over Kirby earned his third win fighting his way from a fourth place start in Sportsman 2 Champ Heavy to a first place finish to complete his hat trick. Fisher was the fastest of 11-qualifiers turning a 16.546 seconds lap for that starting position. Testerman earned the outside pole and Brian Henderson was third fastest   qualifier sharing row two with Kirby.

When the green flag flew Kirby quickly climbed to second with fifth fastest qualifier Mason Bailey drafting with him. On the third circuit Fisher recaptured second, closed in on Kirby, but couldn’t catch him. After several attempts Fisher surrendered second to Testerman.
Testerman took a couple of shots at Kirby, but missed. Kirby took the checkered flag with Testerman challenging to the stripe where he was a mire 0.062 seconds behind the leader. Fisher followed Testerman, Bailey crossed fourth and Logan Willis locked up the podium.

“Oh heck yea there were a lot of lead changes in that race, but it was really, really fun,” Kirby described. “I have to thank Camden Testerman he pushed me under (Ryan) Fisher. If Fisher had finished second he would have won the championship. Testerman could have gotten under me, but he raced me clean. I really appreciate that. There were a lot of lead changes in that one, but it was fun and I won the championship.”

It took Stephan Adams, of Four Oaks, N.C., two days to produce his three wins that weekend. Saturday Adams won the VDKA’s Animal Lite and Heavy from their poles. Sunday he completed his hat trick with a win from second in the NC/VA Money Series Animal Medium class.

Adams earned Animal Lite’s win with perfection. He spun a 14.629 seconds top qualifying for the pole from where he shook off early challenges from outside pole winner Austin Banker (14.656 seconds) before crossing the stripe with a 2.762 seconds cushion over Kevin Turner. Banker, Stephen Price and Bumpass, VA based Kyle Ezzel completed the podium.

“ It was a good win. The racetrack’s good,” Adams described. “I want to thank all of my help, my brother, Brian Bradford Racing, Jonathan Cash, P&P Speed Shop, Phantom Racing Chassis, Kevin Turner for riding my other kart today and for helping me out and everybody else involved in helping me win this race.”

A 14.265 seconds rounding earned Adams Animal Heavy’s pole. Lewes, DE native Brandon White was second fastest qualifier just 0.186seconds off Adams pole time. When the green flag flew Adams and White battled side-by-side. Two laps into it back markers tangled while battling for positions bringing out the races’ only caution flag.

When racing resumed White offered Adams several challenges before Adams opened a small lead over him. When they reached the stripe for the final time Adams was 0.109 seconds ahead of White. Fallen finished third followed in the top five of 16-entries by Stony Creek, VA based Adam Beville and Jared Jackson.

Piloting a Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon chassis South Boston, VA based Bryan Fallen beat White to Animal Medium’s finish line by 0.248 seconds. Banker blistered the track with a 14.322 seconds lap for the pole. Adams, the outside pole winner, rocketed into the early lead showing the 14-racer field for five laps before the race’s only caution flag flew. Adams led the restart, but before he led another lap Fallen and White worked the draft together to take the top two spots. After helping Fallen get the lead White tried to take it from him. They crossed the finish line nose-to-tail with 0.246 seconds separating them. Kyle Ezzell crossed third followed by Jason ‘Higgy’ Higginbothem in fourth, Banker fifth.

“It was just a good kart. It was good kart the whole race,” Fallen credited. “I was a little bit faster than Steven Adams so I went ahead and took the lead. I saw somebody make a run on me, I don’t know who it was, but they let me go and come away with the victory. I want to thank Scotty Bajer for giving me an opportunity to drive for him. Tod Miller’s motor was good.”

Powhatan pilot Jason Manes mastered Stock Super Heavy’s 10-racer field. According to Manes “I had to win. I had to beat Kooster. I fell back to sixth at the beginning and then my stuff started to come in. In reality I hated to se Kooster loose. He’s just a disserving of this as I am. He’s been up front all year. He’s had one-fifth place finish. The rest were firsts or seconds. It stinks, but somebody’s got to
loose.”

“My foot got hung up under the brake pedal in one and two and that made me shove up,” Manes described. “I slowed down and when you’re running behind slower people, you slow down. You don’t want to over drive. I figured out how to get through one and two. It wasn’t a corner you were you made speed, it was a corner you weren’t going to loose speed. Three and four were my strong suit. Once the kart came in that the place I made all of my passes. The kart handed good, but I went a little bit high on air pressure. You’re fighting a track that’s got some dust on it now in turns one and two causing the kart to skate down there. Kind of an uneasy feeling. But three and four, because of that air pressure were faster. Short on one end, big gain on the other. That’s racing.”

Jeremy Stroud trailed Manes across the stripe 0.844 seconds later. Elliott was third 1.180 seconds off the pace. Daniel Terry took fourth and Billy Tweeden completed the top five.

Also visiting VDKA Victory Lanes were Blaine Sharp in Junior Sportsman 2 Heavy, Billy Tappman who topped Yamaha. Bumpass, VA Ezzell brothers Kyle and Connor captured Senior Champ Heavy and Tag Sprint’s checkered flag. Chris Beazley beat a dozen-racer field for Senior Champ Lite’s victory; Mike Mitchell did it in Champ Over 35 as did Dylan Brockwell in Junior Champ.

Sunday, against competition from around the region, Emporia, VA kart racer Chase Rawlings, earned two wins at Margarettsville Speedway during the track’s hosting of a N.C./VA Money Series rain makeup. Rawlings blew away the competition in Junior 2 Lite and Heavy leading a total of 40-laps. The wins earned him Lite’s championship and second place in Heavy.

“I was nervous. I was just trying to win,”11-year-old Rawlings said in   Victory Lane. “I knew who I had to beat Blaine Sharp if I was going to get a leather jacket. I was nervous cause I saw my daddy telling me he (Blaine Sharp) was coming up and I got really nervous. The Icon kart handled good and the P&P Motor was strong.”

Rawlings earned Lite’s pole with a 15.268 seconds rounding on the ¼-mile clay oval. From there he piloted his P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom Icon with perfection fighting off challenges from outside pole winner Blaine Sharp. Rawlings showed the 10-racer field through two caution restarts before taking the checkered flag.

Later that night he started on Heavy’s outside pole. Sharp spun a 15.316 seconds top qualifying lap that was 0.182 seconds faster than Rawlings’ best effort of 15.498. Rawlings rocketed away at the start stretching out a comfortable lead he took to the end.

“It was the Phantom Icon Racing Chassis and the P&P Speed Shop motor,” Rawlings credited. “The kart was real fast. Those cautions worried me a little bit, but the kart was faster than last time. I want to thank P&P Speed Shop and wish my daddy a happy Birthday.”

“This has been our most dominating performance in four years of racing,” said Rawlings father Scott Rawlings. Scott added that they’d compete at the regular show Friday night at Margarettsville and that will end their 2009 season. Next year Scott says Chase will run another season of Junior 2 in 2010 and then in 2011 he’ll move up to Junior 3 Gold Plate.

Richmond, VA racer David Meade ruled ‘Raptor’ Lite and Heavy with J.D. Eversole trailing him across the stripe each time. In Medium a narrow   0.066 seconds separated them, in Heavy Meade built a 0.369 seconds advantage over Eversole.

Saturday David Puckett pulled off a perfect win in Unlimited All Stars (U.A.S.). The King George, VA racer clocked a 14.013 seconds lap for the pole. Puckett pulled away from the field in the early going lapping karts before mid-race. Behind him working his way through the field from an eighth place start Nick Hall was also threading his way through the field heading for the front. Hall reached a distant second trailing Puckett by 3.769 seconds. Further back Dan Longfellow finished third followed by John Allison in fourth and Billy Tapman in fifth.

“I was watching my guy in the corner and he was telling me I had it by a mile and to take it easy. With about six (laps) to go my header broke,” Puckett, explained. “I guess I was taking it a little too easy. I was trying to save it cause last time it broke on me more and burnt me real bad. But it was good enough for me to get a win here today. The Riddler kart handled good and I want to thank BDL for doing
my tires today.”

Austin Babb and JB Loomis led 21-entries in VDKA Restricted Junior qualifying. Babb bested Lite’s field with a 14.994 seconds rounding and Loomis earned Heavy’s pole with a 14.912 seconds rounding. Bradley Sacra and Tyler Foster clocked the outside pole times and then it was time. Row two had Delawarean drivers Tyler Reed inside; Alex White on the outside.

After a fizzled first attempt at getting started Babb led them back to the green flag single file. White caught Sacra passed him then Babb for the lead. Five laps were in the record book. Next time around Babb put his machine back to the front. White took another shot at leading the field then Reed raced by him with Chase Williams drafting with him. When they crossed the finish line just 0.272 seconds separated them.

“I tried my best and I ended up coming up with the W!” Reed beamed in Victory Lane. “At the start of the race Austin Babb had it in him. I started pushing and pushing and pushing him and then (Grayson) Brightwell got by me. After that I just started pushing him cause my dad said don’t make a move until there’s five laps to go. I saw the five to go signal and I started pushing and pushing and once they threw the two to go I started to make my move and when they threw the white flag I just dove low into turn one. The kart handled perfect I couldn’t have asked for any better and the motor was perfect, best one I’ve had.”

Grayson Brightwell fought his way from a fifth place start to a third place finish. Babb was fourth across the stripe followed by Sacra.

“I had a lot of pressure from behind. JB Loomis is definitely a strong competitor. He’s one of my best friends from up home we race together at Delmar,” Reed said. “I got by him with about 10-laps to go. I led over half the race and he started pressuring and pressuring me from behind. I looked back and he was drafting with me. On the last corner he tried to get me on the front stretch. I just pulled down low and blocked. The Phantom Icon kart handled great I couldn’t ask for better.”

When Restricted Junior Heavy’s green flag waved Nicholas Ogles mounted a successful drive to the front. Ogles, of King Williams, VA passed Brightwell, Forster and Loomis on his way there. Once in charge Ogles fought off fellow Virginian Chase Williams in another down to the wire   win. Battling door-to-door Ogles Icon took the win by just 0.089 seconds. Loomis trailed in third followed by Dallas Cosby in fourth. Reed rounded out the top five.

“I worked hard and long for this win. It wasn’t easy. Wins don’t come easy,” Ogles said. “I was a little worried at first then everything seemed to work out just to my pleasure. I want to thank my dad, I want to thank God for letting me be here, and I want to thank all of my competitors.”

Lewes, DE driver Brandon White won the Pro Heavy. White’s machine kicked in with five to go. “Man it was crazy out there,” White described. “I was just riding along. Our stuff wasn’t that good in the beginning. It took off with about five laps to go. They got shuffling and I got in second and then I just got Beville going into one and two.”

Once in the lead White built a 0.776 seconds edge over Fallen. Baker crossed third with Clint Moon and Beville behind him in fourth and fifth.

“The Mishue Motorsports motor was strong and the Galaxy Eclipse kart handled awesome,” White credited adding, “I want to thank James Lewis Motorsports and B& W Motorsports.”

Brady Penny, of Charlotte, N.C. and Richmond, VA racer Katlyn Alphin captured Junior Sportsman 1 Lite and Heavy. Dylan Jackson finished second in both. Lite’s remaining top five behind Jackson were Alphin,   Millsboro, DE based Zach Bullis and Evan Dennis. Following Jackson this time were Penny, Hayden Connor and Dennis.

Daniel Folds dominated Sportsman 1 Champ Lite. After rounding the circuit in 17.949 seconds Folds flew into the early lead from where he built a 2.852-seconds cushion over Gavin Jenkins. Jenkins spun a 17.369 seconds pole-winning lap. From there he turned in a perfect performance finishing the 20-lap feature with a huge 8.643 seconds lead   over Sara Mitchell.

Sunday NC/VA Money Series features started with Junior Sportsman Champ   (315 lbs). Dawson, GA based Spencer Davis clocked the pole lap in 16.375 seconds and Dylan Jackson earned the outside pole with a 16.544-seconds rounding. From a single file start Davis   cruised into the early lead with Jackson working him high and low looking for a way to the front. Taking the high side Jackson drove past Davis for the lead. Davis and Brayton Haws drafted together passing Jackson. Jackson fought back and grabbed the lead. Jackson was there when the mid-race signal showed and when they got the five to go signal and with three to go.

Davis snatched the lead from Jackson in time to take the white flag, but Haws wasn’t ready to give up. Haws, of Youngstown, N.C., floored the throttle on his Prowler kart and blew past Davis for the lead on the final lap. When the checkered flag waved it was for 10- ear-old Haws. “I thought he (Spencer Davis) had it. I thought I could pass him low because I thought I had the fastest kart out there,” Haws said. “The kart was perfect. I want to thank my dad, Brian Holder, Venom Juice, Bubba Banker for supporting me, my sister and my mom, and Mark Banker.”

Davis, Testerman, Jackson and Logan Willis were the rest of the top five.

Alex White led Restricted Junior Lite’s qualifying with a 14.645 seconds effort. Grayson Brightwell was 0.109 seconds slower for the outside pole. Starting side-by-side in row two were Chase Williams and Dylan Lawrence.

Dicing for positions caused an early race caution that led to more lead changes. White and Chase Williams traded the early lead. Brightwell was leading lap nine, but when they got the halfway signal Lawrence was leading. Williams recaptured it just in time to have to lead another restart. Williams got them started again, but before he could show them a full lap a five-kart pileup in turn one forced the caution flag’s return.

Williams led that restart with Lawrence behind him eagerly looking to take it from him. And when the green flag waved again that’s what happened. Lawrence muscled by Williams as they battled for the lead heading into turn one. Once securely back leading Lawrence left the field behind him battling for positions. Hunter Colson was a distant second. Further back Tyler Reed took third followed by Williams and Loomis for the top five.

“It was a tight race. I was up and down and they were battling and all,” said the 12-year-old winner. “The kart was the best it’s been all season and the CKI motor was fast.”

From a fourth place start Reed, of Lincoln, DE, ruled Restricted Junior   Heavy’s 22-racer field. Williams won the pole with a 14.504 seconds rounding. Loomis was second fastest. Williams led them for five laps. Before he could complete the next circuit the caution flag flew. Williams led the restart with Loomis and Reed behind him.

Loomis and Reed quickly drafted into the top two positions. Williams stayed in the fight for the front this time drafting with Reed. Williams pushed Reed to the front. Loomis took second from Williams as Reed pulled away from the field. In the final laps Reed opened up the lead. Loomis fought off challenges from Babb who was third across the   stripe. Williams fell to fourth trailed by Lawrence.

Spencer Davis is on a mission to win 100 races this season. He earned his 85th win in Junior 1 Lite with Zach Bullis chasing him across the stripe. Bullis, of Millsboro, DE, avenged himself later that night by beating Haws to Junior 1 Heavy’s checkered flag.

After his win Davis said, “I could feel Zach (Bullis) back there. I was thinking I could hear the motor and if it got really loud he was right behind me, and if it wasn’t too loud he was a foot or two away.   The kart handled really good and I want to thank Bradley Gerrells for the motor.”

Brandon White and Richard Noblett won Animal Lite and Heavy. White started Lite on the outside pole. He took the early lead from pole winner Tyler Foster while Johnathan Hickman advanced to second from a fourth place start. White held on as Hickman turned up the pressure. Before mid-race Fallen fought his was to second and began challenging the leader. That’s when the race’s only caution flag flew. White led the restart and went back to work. White opened a comfortable lead in the second half. Fallen chased him down to the stripe. John Cunningham crossed third, Shane Bass was fourth and Jared Jackson completed the podium.

Camden, N.C. competitor Richard Noblett started tenth when Animal Heavy’s green flag flew. In front of him pole winners John Yancy and Jason Higgy were battling over the early lead. JL Furrow found the lead near mid-race when suddenly racers battling for positions behind him tangled. Furrow led the restart. As soon as the green flag was airborne again Cunningham quickly grabbed the lead. Further back Noblett’s RNM Racing Engines powered Eclipse Racing Chassis was closing in on Cunningham.

Noblett caught up with Cunningham and brought his kart beside him. After trading a little paint and some pushing and shoving Noblett took the lead. Furrow recaptured second and began challenging Noblett in the final laps. But Noblett prevailed for the $1000 win. Banker, Turner and Cunningham completed the top five.

Mechanicsville, VA native Scotty Bajer put his mark on Stock Medium. Bajer was second fastest qualifier. His Avis Electric sponsored machine spun a 14.677 seconds qualifying that was 0.058 seconds slower then pole winner Dougie Young. Young hustled into the early lead with Bajer and JD Eversole pressuring him. Young held on for several laps then surrendered the lead to Bajer. Battles for positions behind him   gave Bajer a chance to run away with the lead. Behind Bajer when he crossed the stripe were Eversole, Young Ronald Renfrow and Meade.

“It was a close race between two people I help, Young and Eversole,” Bajer said. “I enjoyed it. It was fun. I think I just got lucky. Eversole pushed me there and I figured I’d better go. I went and it worked. The kart was so so. It took a long time for it to get going. That’s why I kept pushing because it wasn’t that good. It was alright. I don’t think any of us were that good.”

Tyler Warriner topped Junior Champ’s qualifying with a 15.195 seconds rounding. Young gun Dylan Brockwell, of Smithfield, VA, shot into the early lead from the outside pole. On the fifth circuit Warriner whipped by Brockwell for a brief turn at the top. On the next lap Kyle Myer pushed Brockwell back into the lead. Before Myer could get a run on Brockwell Tim O’Connor took second from him. O’Connor caught up with Brockwell, but before he could move by him the race’s only caution flag flew. In the final laps O’Connor challenged Brockwell down to the stripe. Filling the rest of the top five were Warriner, Myer and GR Waldrop.

Kevin Elliot claimed Super Heavy’s checkered flag. Elliott fought his way from a fifth place start to the front. Donny Alphin chased him across the stripe. Claiming the remaining top five positions were Tyler Gray, Mike Matthews and Erwin, N.C. competitor Josh Haire.

Alicia Piland produced Non-Pro’s pole lap with a 15.376 seconds   rounding. Just 0.077 seconds slower put Allen Wall on the outside pole. Piland took the early lead, showed the field for two laps before the caution flag flew for a spinner halfway down the back straight.

Piland led the restart with Wall, piloting a P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom Phnom chassis, chasing her. Wall closed in on her and put the move on her. From there he put more and more distance between them every lap. By halfway Wall had built a huge lead. In the final laps   Wall began taking on traffic. He took the checkered flag lapping traffic with Piland behind him threading her way through traffic as   well. Tim Hammock took third, Kyle Dickens followed in fourth and Cedric Forsyth finished fifth.

“I felt I was strong the whole time. I’d get back a little bit and then catch her real easy,” Wall, of Garner, N.C. described. “Once I got by her I knew I’d have a decent lead. It was easy sailing from there on. Just driving and doing my thing. The chassis was perfect it handled real well. It didn’t slide at all. I’ve got to thank Buddy Harris for doing my tires and Anthony Wilkins for helping out.”

Three Clone classes competed in the N.C./VA Money Series. Junior Clone 290 lbs racers were the first clone racers to take the green flag. Chase Teachry of Wallace, N.C. led the field that finished in the same order as they qualified. Twelve-year-old Teachry topped qualifying with a 16.806 seconds rounding. Rhianna French followed in second and Malik Koonce who completed the field.

“It was all motor,” Teachry credited with thanks to his father and God. “The Rocket Chassis handled pretty good, but it was all motor,” he added.

Twenty-one racers entered Clone 375. Austin Wyatt put down the fastest qualifying lap in 16.095 seconds. Duane Wade was second fastest at 16.135 seconds. Wade shot into the early lead leaving a large field fighting for positions behind him. Wade continued running away from the field. By lap five he own a very comfortable lead that was suddenly cut by the race’s only caution. Wade led the restart and quickly opened another comfortable cushion over the field. He took the mid-race signal with a huge lead over Wyatt. Wade continued expanding his lead in the second half.

Wyatt finished a distant second. Jamie Hayes crossed third followed in the top five by Todd Lyndall and Wayne Bradley.

“I appreciate my mom and pop and everybody who helped support my racing throughout my career. I appreciate all of them,” the Pinetops, N.C. based winner thanked adding, “The Phantom Icon kart handled real good I was very pleased with it. I wish I could get another one just like it.”

MD Capps captured Clone 400 lbs’ pole with a 16.316 seconds run. Tom Sauls 16.394 seconds qualifying lap earned him the outside pole.Capps captured the early lead with Sauls challenging him for it. Further back Illusion kart pilot MD Marty Mattox was closing in on Sauls. Mattox battled his way to second and carried that momentum to the lead. Mattox showed the 11-racer field home from there. Todd Lyndal took second, Sauls finished third, Capps crossed fourth and Chad Wall capped the top five.

“I know it felt good. I don’t know how much of a lead, but it was good, hat’s good every time,” Mattox, of Emporia, VA said. “The Illusion kart handled real good in that race. It was good in the last race, but it was a lot better this time and that’s when it counted.”

That wraps up both series’ 2009 season. VDKA racers kick off their 2010 season March 27 at a TBA track. The rest of the season dates are April 24th, May 22nd, June 26th, July 31st, September 18th and October 2nd is their rain out date. The 2010 NC/VA Money Series will race   March 13th, April 17th, June 12th, July 24th, August 21st with September 25th set aside as a rain date.

--
Bruce C. Walls
Action Enterprises, Inc.
Action Sports Photos/Action Sports Promotions
P.O. Box 914 Bethany Beach, De 19930
Phone/Fax 302.537.7223
E-mail bwalls@fast.net or sportsshooter@verizon.net
www.actionpicsandpromos.com
www.kartingkomments.com
www.wallsjewelry.com
www.talesofolddover.com

ASHLAND, VA-“ This is the greatest day of my life. I love this. This is the greatest thing I’ve ever done at a state race,” beamed nine-year-old Richmond, VA racer Dylan Jackson during his fourth visit to Victory Lane April 28^th at Capital City Speedway in Ashland, VA. That Saturday Jackson joined more than 300 VDKA competitors kick off their season. They were originally scheduled to start 2009 at Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N.C. Saturday March 28^th, but rain forced that race’s cancellation.

Jackson’s four poles, four-race sweep, a VDKA milestone, on the fast ¼-mile dirt oval started with the night’s second feature Sportsman 11 Champ Lite. A 14.301 seconds lap earned him the pole. Brayton Haws fastest qualifying lap was just 0.252 seconds shy of Jackson’s trip. Their first start fizzled before it could be completed. Haws surprised Jackson on the restart passing by him for the early lead. Jackson picked up the pace and passed him back next time around. Exciting lead swapping action continued to the end. Jackson got it back near mid-race and was there when the signal was shown.

Next time around, lap 11, Jackson recaptured the lead and held it from there to the finish. Haws was glued to Jackson’s tailpipe when they crossed the stripe. Nose-to-tail behind Haws for the top five were Gavin Jenkins, Sara Mitchell and Daniel Folds

“I didn’t think I was going to win it, but me and him (Haws) battled it out on the last three laps and then I got him,” Jackson described. “That was a very close race. The Rage kart handled great. Tod Miller’s motor was brand new motor just out of the box and it ran good too.”

Zach Bullis struggled in Junior Sportsman 1 Lite’s qualifying. His best fast time effort of 13.377 seconds lap had him starting fourth. Up front Jackson’s 13.033 seconds lap earned him the pole and Carson Wright’s 13.178 seconds lap put him on the outside pole. When the green flag flew so did Jackson and Bullis. Jackson hustled into the lead while Bullis worked his way to second. Once Bullis closed the gap he began challenging Jackson for the lead.

Jackson held on crossing ahead of Bullis. Behind Bullis in the top five of 11 were Evan Dennis, Will Argo and Trevor Wells.

Jackson and Wright shared Junior Sportsman 1 Heavy’s front row. This time laps of 13.075 and 13.197 seconds earned them those starting positions. Jackson led them for two laps before the race’s only yellow flag waved. When they got the green flag Jackson jumped back into the lead with Brayton Haws hooked to his back bumper. They pulled away from the field for their own battle. Behind them Bullis was quickly closing in. Bullis blasted by Haws for second and then began offering Jackson challenges for the lead. On lap five Bullis tried again. This time his effort fell short leaving him spinning off the track. That gave Jackson a huge lead with no challengers.

In the final laps Evan Dennis fought his way to second. Wright was third across the stripe. Haws was fourth; Bullis gathered it back for a fifth place finish.

Jackson’s fourth win came in Junior Sportsman 1 Champ Heavy. Piloting a Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Rage Kart Jackson spun a 14.081 seconds lap for the pole. Starting next to him was Gavin Jenkins who’s fastest run of 14.330 seconds was 0.249 seconds off the pace.

From the pole Jackson shot into a huge early lead with the field fighting over positions behind him. Haws worked his way to second from a fourth place start and closed in on Jackson. He reached Jackson’s tailpipe as they crossed under the mid-race signal. Jackson held an often challenged, but never surrendered lead to the finish from there. Close behind in the top five were Haws, Daniel Folds, Gavin Jenkins and Sarah Mitchell.

“This last race was pretty hard,” Jackson said. “On the last lap we got caught behind a lapped kart and still won. I’d like to thank Scotty Bajer for my awesome setups.”

“It’s great. I’m really proud of him. To come here and win four classes and set on four poles, it’s great,” his father Mike, said through tears of pride.

P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom kart pilot Stephen Adams was one of four double winners that day. Adams, of Fore Oaks, N.C., captured Animal Lite and Medium. Lap times of 12.292 and 11.942 seconds earned Adams their outside poles. Austin Banker and Scotty Bajer earned the poles. Banker blasted around the track in 12.191 seconds for Lite’s pole; Bajer earned Heavy’s pole with an 11.912 seconds rounding.

Banker hustled into the early lead with Jonathan Cash and Adams chasing him. Adams passed Cash then Banker. From there he rocketed away from the field. Cash tried to reach Adams, but couldn’t. He was forced to watch Adams cross the finish line ahead of him. Behind him Banker, Kyle Ezzell and Simon Jones, Jr. completed the podium.

“Man that was pretty good,” Adams beamed in Victory Lane. “The racetrack is hard and that’s where one of my strong points is when the racetrack gets hard. I’ve been fortunate all day I got the kart rolling and I just made the right call on tires. It was a great run.”

After two attempts to get Medium Drivers finally started single file with Bajer leading the way. On the third lap Adams saw a chance to get by Bajer and took it. Adams owned a comfortable lead under the mid-race signal. Bajer closed in on him in the second half and they diced up the lead several times. Adams had just recaptured the lead when the track went yellow again. Adams led the restart. Behind him, hungry for a win, Bajer was eager to take it from him. Racing nose-to-tail Adams and Bajer pulled away from the field. Bajer tried to take it, but failed. Adams crossed the finish line first followed by Bajer, Brandon White, Cash and Banker.

Bajer was quickest of 21-Animal Heavy entries. His track blistering 11.940 seconds run was just 0.045 seconds faster then the 11.085 seconds lap Adams produced for the outside pole. Bajer led them a full lap before the first yellow flag waved. On the first lap White rocketed from fifth to third and Richard Parks, Jr. advanced from seventh to fifth.

With Bajer ahead of them, Beville, of Stony Creek, VA, and Adams battled side-by-side for second. Beville won that fight and set his sites on Adams. “I was a little quicker then him (Stephen Adams),” Beville described adding, “I just couldn’t get to his bumper.” With time and distance running out Beville finally reached Adams in time to make the winning pass. “It was one of those things where I got a run on him and kind of got into him a little bit and it wouldn’t turn too good behind him, but he did the right thing and let me by and drove me clean. I want to thank him and everybody else for driving clean.”

Bajer crossed behind Adams and was trailed in the top five of 17 by Bryan Fallen and Cash.

Bajer, of Mechanicsville, VA, avenged himself in the evening’s final feature Pro Animal, which paid $500 to win. Producing qualifying laps of 11.842 and 11.856 seconds earned Adams and Beville the front row. Bajer’s 11.900 seconds rounding was third fastest out of 17 entries.

Adams quickly shot into the early lead. In the first three laps Bajer advanced to second. Adams was still a good distance ahead of him, but Bajer got a little help closing the gap from the first of two yellow flags. When the green flag flew again Bajer dove deep into turn one exiting turn two in the lead with Beville following him.

Lap seven saw the yellow flag again. Bajer led the restart with Beville and Brandon White in toe. After shaking off several challenges from White, Beville blasted by Bajer for the lead. With two laps remaining Bajer fought his way back to the front. Beville came with him. Adams tried recapturing the lead, but when the checkered flag flew it was for Bajer. Adams settled for second, Beville was behind him in third followed in the top five by Fallen and Cash.

“It was a great race between me, Adam Beville and Stephen Adams,” Bajer said. “It was an awesome race. Good clean driving. I just may have been a victim of circumstances. I was running good the whole race and then Adams got by me with five to go, then he slipped and I got the lead back and held them off. The Icon kart handled great. Harrill’s done an excellent job with the Icon. I’ve been struggling here of late so this is a nice win for me. Tod Miller gave us awesome horsepower and I couldn’t have done it without my main man Jim Ackerman he’s helped me a ton, the Browns they helped me a ton, Phantom Racing Chassis, Avis Electric, Bajer Kart Sales and my beautiful wife.”

Bumpass, VA racer Conner Ezzell, son of track owners Wayne and Coretta Ezzell, captured a pair of 2-cycle wins starting with the 14th feature Yamaha. Nick Hall handled qualifying with a track blistering 11.905 seconds run. Ezzell was second quickest qualifier at 11.938 seconds, 0.033 seconds off the pace.

Hall hustled into the early lead with father/son Wayne and Connor Ezzell working together behind him. Piloting similarly prepared Galaxy Eclipse karts powered by Mark Taylor motors the Ezzells drafted into the lead. On lap two Connor took the lead from his father and never looked back. Wayne was DQ’ed on lap 14 leaving Connor a huge lead over the 10-racer field. Hall took second and was trailed in the top five by Justin Groome, Billy Tapman and John Decker.

“It was fun racing with my dad. I think he had me, but he helped me out to win. They’re both equal karts. We don’t know who turned the quickest lap time because my tach isn’t working. Other than that the kart was working good, the motor was fast and the track was smooth and fast. The kart was good, but it got tight around lap seven or eight. I just had to ride it out.”

Ezzell set a track record qualifying lap of 11.840 seconds for Tag Sprint’s pole. Craig Schill joined him on front row with a lap time 0.304 seconds slower than Ezzell’s. Connor rocketed away from the field on the initial start. Three laps later the caution flag cut his lead.

Shill was still behind him when the green flag waved again. They battled for four more laps then yellow returned turning to red. The race stayed green from there with Ezzell leading the rest of the way for a perfect run. Behind him battles for positions raged. At the stripe George and Justin Clark crossed second and third followed by Greg and Michael Flagg who finished fourth and fifth.

Rixeyville, VA racer Justin Kirby was another double winner that Saturday. Kirby clocked Sportsman 2 Champ Lite’s pole time in 13.538 seconds. Powhatan, VA Rage Nitro pilot Ryan Fisher was second fastest just 0.003 seconds off the pole time at 13.5541 seconds. Kirby captured the early going with Fisher glued to his tailpipe. Fisher patiently waited for an opportunity to pass Kirby. On lap three he saw that chance opportunity ant took advantage of it. Next time around Kirby recaptured the lead and held it to the finish with Fisher fighting him all the way.

“We did a lot of dicing out there,” Fisher described. “It was fun. The kart was a little loose, but I held onto it. The motor was perfect, just the way I wanted it and the tires worked good too.”

Blaine Sharp, Logan Willis and Camden Testerman took the remaining top five of 11 finishing positions.

Trevor Brightwell, of Mechanicsville, VA, bagged both Sportsman 2 poles. He earned Heavy’s pole with 12.595 seconds run. Kirby’s best effort of 12.636 seconds earned him the other front row starting position. Brightwell blasted into the early lead with third fastest qualifier Troy Doggett closing fast. At mid race Doggett was ready to rumble. He was at Kirby’s tailpipe poised to pass him when suddenly a turn four pileup brought the yellow flag back out.

Brightwell’s Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon kart led the restart. Doggett and Brightwell were battling side-by-side during the final laps. They added Kirby to the mix going three-wide for the checkered flag. According to Kirby what happened next was, “a lapped kart got in the way of Trevor Brightwell. I got him sideways, I didn’t mean to do that, but then Troy Doggett and Trevor Brightwell got together and I went under them and fought Troy Doggett for the lead. The kart handled great it was perfect.”

Doggett managed a second place finish. Following him across the strip for the top five were Sharp, Brightwell, an 11-year-old Mechanicsville, VA native, and Logan Willis.

Brightwell turned Junior Sportsman 2 Lite’s pole time in 12.644 seconds. Doggett won the other front row starting position with a 12.726 seconds effort. Brightwell owned the early laps and was there for the finish. He showed them the first three laps then surrendered the front to Logan Willis. Willis commanded until three laps were left. Doggett captured it in time to lead a lap before the race’s final yellow flag waved.

Brightwell was behind Doggett when the two-lap shootout started. Before lap 17 was in the book Brightwell was back at the front. In the final laps Blaine Sharp passed Doggett and Kirby for a second place finish. Van Davis finished fifth.

“It was fun, it was fast,” Brightwell said adding, “I’d like to thank Troy Doggett the most; he drove me clean the whole time. He was quick too. He slipped up in one and two, but he was quick. The Icon kart was rocking. She handled really well.”

Fisher clinched Sportsman 2 Champ Heavy’s win. A 13.399 seconds qualifying lap earned him the pole and a 13.433 seconds lap had Kirby starting on the outside pole. Kirby got past Fisher for the early laps. Fisher captured it on lap three stretched it out a little only to have a late race yellow flag yank it away. “No I didn’t want to see that last caution, not at all,” said Fisher.

Fisher led the two-lap shootout. He floored it when the green flag showed and held on for two laps of Kirby trying to get around him. Kirby failed and was followed in the top five by Mason Bailey, Logan Willis and D.J. Cunningham.

“The front of the kart was a little loose, but it was fun,” Fisher said. “I had help from my mom giving me hand signals during the last few laps and that helped me.”

Restricted Junior Lite and Heavy were heated battles won by Brandon Brown and Bradley Sacra. Brown bagged both poles with lap times of 12.404 and 12.249 seconds. From a single file start Brown was perfect on his way to beating a determined Millsboro, DE driver Alex White to the checkered flag. White started on the outside pole, but quickly fell into the field while Brown enjoyed a comfortable lead. That lead was cut by the first of two caution flags. White got shuffled on the restart again then worked his way back to third.

White was trying to take second from Nicholas Ogles when the second caution flag waved. Brown, Ogles and White started nose-to-tail with just a few laps left. White worked his way by Ogles, but couldn’t do the same to Brown

White was trailed by some very talented Junior drivers. Ogles. Dustin Cosby and J.B. Loomis.

“I thought that last caution would throw us off and they were all going to get us,” said 15-year-old Brown of Woodbridge, VA, who was piloting a Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon. “It did feel like the tires were giving out a little, but Scotty (Bajer) got them right so we got to walk away. The Phantom Icon kart was excellent. It was good all throughout the day, but it did start going away at the end when they had that caution, but it all most saved our tires so it was good.”

Heavy was a similar story, except with different characters. Brown led them to the initial green flag. Then he quickly disappeared from the scene early on slipping towards mid pack. Meanwhile, at the front, Sarcra was running away with the lead. When he took the half way signal he owned more than a half-track lead over the 23-racer field. He held that lead until three laps were left. Suddenly the caution flag flew canceling the lead he’d built. Sacra led the restart and the final three laps. Chase Williams followed with Dallas Cosby, White and Brown behind him in the top five.

Josh Tapscott clocked both Senior Champ pole times with runs of 12.743 and 12.496 seconds. He hustled into Lite’s early lead with third fastest qualifier Buzz Moore, of Highland Springs, VA, quickly shooting by outside pole winner Josh Deck for second. Before lap two could go in the record book a caution flag for crashing kart in turns three and four halted the action. Tapscott led them back to the green flag and roared away from the field again. Three laps later the yellow flag returned freezing the field the way they completed prior lap.

Tapscott led the restart. While battles for position raged behind him, he held the lead. As they neared mid-race Moore closed the distance between Tapscott and himself. Moore was still trailing by several kart lengths at mid-race. Two laps later caution completed the job. Moore was on Tapscott’s bumper for the restart.

When they got the green flag again Moore quickly pulled his Branco Racing Engines powered Rage kart alongside of Tapscott. He took a piece of the lead going into turn one. Tapscott quickly recovered it, but Moore kept the pressure on. Moore roared back next time around and made a clean pass for the lead. One lap later the yellow flag froze the action. Moore led the restart and showed them home from there.

“I just held my line and waited for the guy in front of me (Josh Tappscott) to slip up. He finally did and I took my chance. I knew I had a fast kart I was kind of biding my time the whole race to save my tires,” Moore explained. “He slipped up and I was able to get out front. I’d like to thank all of my help today; Eric and Sidney for doing all of my tire washing and cleaning and I’d also like to extend a big huge thanks my father, if it weren’t for him we wouldn’t be here. I want to thank the Lord above us. I also want to thank Capital City Speedway fr having such great event and a great track to race on.”

Chris Beasley’s best Senior Champ Heavy qualifying lap of 12.611 seconds had him starting fifth. In front of him Tapscott and Moore were on the poles. Tapscott took the early lead with Moore threatening from behind. Just after the first lap was complete caution waved freezing the 19-racer field. Tapscott lead the restart. He and Moore pulled away from the field battling two and three wide behind them

As they battled for the lead, Beasley was busy threading his way to the front. He reached third, but still had some distance to cover to reach the leaders. A lap seven caution speeded up that effort.

When the green flag returned Beasley blasted by Moore and started threatening Tapscott. Tapscott took the mid-race signal while surrendering the lead to Beasley who took it to the stripe. Tapscott fell deep into the field. Chad Davis was riding in second when the checkered flag waved. Filling third through fifth were, Kyle Ezzell, Eversole and Moore.

“I knew from the get go I had something for them,” said Beasley, a Bowling Green, VA based Cline Motorsports powered Infinity kart pilot. “I just didn’t want to get out front too early. Josh (Tapscott) slipped and I took the lead and I had enough to hold them off. I can’t say enough about Mike Ward and Infinity karts. This is a new kart and it’s definitely running. I also want to thank Marty Cline I drive for him and if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be able to do this and all of my crew for helping me these guys stick by me no matter what. We’ve had a hard day today we built this kart for this race. I appreciate them and this goes back to them.”

Starting late last season United All Stars (U.A.S.) racers joined the N.C./VA Money Series. This year 11 U.A.S. racers entered the first competition of the season. Nick Hall rounded the track in 12.064 seconds for the pole. Matt Tapman joined him on front row with a 12.092 seconds run.

Hall hustled into the initial lead with sixth fastest qualifier David Puckett quickly powering his way past the competition on his way to the front. Puckett passed Hall like he was standing still. Several laps later Puckett was passing lapped karts which he was still doing as he took the halfway signal. On lap 12 he saw all of his hard work fizzle away with the yellow flag.

Dan Longfellow dove low heading into turn one passing under Puckett lead. His lead was brief. Puckett passed him back exiting turn two and in several laps Puckett was back threading his way through the pack. Longfellow finished second, Hall handled third, Josh Hughes finished fourth and Brian Jones completed the top five.

“It (the kart) was a lot better then it was in practice,” said Puckett a Trick/Olimpic pilot. “It was pushing real bad in qualifying and practice, but we freed it up and it was pretty fast out there,” explained the King George, VA based winner. “I was a little worried about traffic, but I was kind of laying back deciding what I’d do before I passed anybody coming up of lapped karts. The track’s fast, really fast. It’s a good day to race.”

Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon pilot J.D. Eversole dominated “Raptor Medium” from start to finish. A12.492 seconds run earned him the pole and Dagan Bowdoin made him earn the win. David Meade, JP Gates and Cory Sullivan filled the remaining top five positions.

“I knew I had a little bit of distance on second place, but I was just waiting for something to go wrong with the kart like it usually does but it stayed together and I ended up winning it!” beamed the 15-year-old Richmond, VA racer. “The Phantom Icon kart handled great and drove really great. It didn’t fight me at all.”

Eversole also clocked “Raptor” Heavy’s pole lap, this one in 12.361 seconds. Eversole showed them around three times, but before he could complete lap four the caution flag flew. Eversole led the restart, but quickly surrendered the lead to Dougie Young who led them to the stripe from there. Fifth fastest qualifier Richard Parks, Jr. was second. Trailing in the top five were Eversole, Corey Sullivan and Jeremy Martin.

“We slammed out its been a hot one today,” Young said adding, “but we got the Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon kart to Victory Lane again. It’s been a rough day. We struggled a little bit earlier and started in the middle of the pack and there at the end we were able to pull it off. It was a good day when it came down to the finish.”

Kevin Elliott captured Stock Super Heavy’s checkered flag from the pole he earned in 1.362 seconds. Outside pole winner Rob Matthews trailed him across the stripe with Discount Karting backed Jason Manes Ryan Bengies and Billy Tweeden in tow.

Mike Brightwell, of Quinton, VA, bagged Senior Stock-Over 35’s checkered flag from its pole. According to Brightwell, “We’re lacking a little bit we’ve got a little work to do to get ready for the Pro Race. We’re going to work on it and see how she does. But we had a good run. I wish there were more karts in this class, but that’s the way is goes.”

Matt Smith crossed second and Richard Taylor completed the three-racer field.

“We’re lacking a little bit we’ve got a little work to do to get ready for the Pro Race,” Brightwell explained adding, “We’re going to work on it and see how she does. But we had a good run. I wish there were more karts in this class, but that’s the way is goes.”

Ruther Glenn, VA racer Mike Mitchell climbed from a third place start to capturing Champ Over 35’s checkered flag. Wes Simmons whipped around the track in 12.796 seconds for the pole. David Henderson started on the outside pole and finished second. From the start Simmons built a huge lead. With five laps to go he was heading towards a perfect run. Then the caution flag flew. Simmons led the restart and held it until the final lap when Mitchell and Henderson drafted by him taking the checkered flag nose-to-tail. Jeff Davis was third across the stripe followed in the top five by Randy Emory and Simmons.

“That was a good race,” Mitchell described. “I got him on the last lap, but that’s all that counts, right, getting to Victory Lane. The kart handled pretty good. We were racing back there and he got a little lead on us, but when the caution flag came out and got us back tight again and I was a little better on the short runs and got him. I wanted to see that caution. I couldn’t have gotten him without it.”

Mishue Motorsports powered Eclipse Kart pilot Tyler Warriner, of Glen Allen, VA was perfect in Junior Champ. The 15-year-old racer ruled qualifying with a 12.690 seconds run that was 0.112 seconds faster than Temie Bottom’s time of 12.802 seconds. While Warriner was leading, racers behind him were battled for positions.

“The tires were sticking real good. Andy Murray’s got some good tires on this kart. I couldn’t do it without Eddie Mishue, Andy Murray, my dad, Lee Johnson and everybody else who supports me and helps me out. The kart was handling great. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

With round one in the record book VDKA racers will be heading to Amelia Motor Raceway April 16^th in Amelia, VA. On June 27 they’ll compete at Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N.C. From there the regional series travels to back to Capital City Raceway July 25^th, AMR September 19^th. The rainout will race October 3^rd at Margarettsville Speedway. For information about VDKA you can visit their website at: vakarting.esva.net.

Four Double for Doe at N.C./VA Money Series Opener

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

Images

Special Thanks to Firestone Tires and Competition Karting, Inc. Right side tires

must be Firestones(YJF), any left side tire allowed. Must register in at least 1

For Immediate Release
AKRA Media
Bruce C. Walls
bwalls@fast.net

2nd Annual Wayne Poole Memorial Race

MONROE|, N.C.-Plans are in the works for the official Second Annual Wayne Poole Memorial Race. This year’s race to raise funds for the Wayne Poole Memorial Foundation will be held Saturday October 10th during the AKRA American Speedway Championship Dirt Series National at Palmetto Motorsports Park in Gaston, SC.

Last year’s first annual race raised over $10,000. That money was split between two deserving motorsports students and other needy causes. According to Wayne’s mother Jeannie, “It is more about Wayne's name than the money. The money is used for a Scholarship fund for Trinity High School students where Wayne graduated. It goes to astudent who does not get any major scholarships, and it’s in the amount of $2000.00. The school said this is one of their better scholarships because of the amount and that the student does not have to have the best of grades. Also it goes to purchase school items for kids, Christmas gifts or other items and if funds are available help with power rent and other necessities. It’s also used for animal rescue for food and shelter. People are carefully chosen and must be in very bad need. Not someone who drinks and does drugs.”

According to AKRA Promotions Director Bobby Waltrip this year’s auction will include; many autographed items from NASCAR’s top series. “We will be announcing the autographed and other items as we receive them and there will be several big surprises,” Waltrip added.

Wayne, who lived in Archdale, N.C., began his eight-year karting career in 1994 as a Junior 1 competitor. He called two tracks home; Liberty Raceway in Liberty, N.C. andColeridge Raceway in Coleridge, N.C. “I was race director when Wayne started in karting,” recalled AKRA owner Bill McCutcheon. “It was a joy watching him maturefrom a young child into a grown man. He always had a smile on his face and a joke in his back pocket. It’s an honor to hold this race and auction in his memory.

During his career Wayne was a winner on and off the track. He was fiercely competitive on the track, but when racing was over he was everyone’s friend. Early on Beef Performance recognized his driving talents and began sponsoring him. “He earned his first national championship with Beef Performance in 1996,” Wayne’s mother Jeannie Poole recalled. Years later he left Beef Performance teaming up with Phantom Racing Chassis and Tod Miller Racing Engines. His #92 red kart was always a contender.

“Wayne and his family were a great example of what karting’s all about,” McCutcheon described. “Wayne was a great young man and a true champion.”

Wayne was driving his pickup November 29th, 2005 when he was involved in an accident. He died at the scene.

“I want to keep his memory alive for the younger generation of karters,” Jeannie said of her son. “He was great at the sport he loved so much and I loved doing it with him. His favorite class was Limited Lite and he always blew the doors off his competitors. Off the track he was always there to help people and he had a great attitude. Kart racing was wonderful for us. For us it was always about our family, our karting family.

“One of my fondest memories was the 2002 national at Jasper (Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, FL). Wayne won three poles that weekend and went on to win all three races from the pole,” she said.

The second annual Wayne Poole Memorial Race winner will pocket $2,000 for their effort. The Memorial Race will be a combined Animal Heavy (375lbs)/Briggs flat head(325lbs) raced under ARKA rules. Competitors in this race will be required to make a $50 donation to the Wayne Poole Memorial Fund. All proceeds from this race will beused to help a deserving student attend college. Two rounds of qualifying will determine the 30-kart feature field. Round one will fill the top 20-positions. Those not makingthe first round will have a second chance to make the main.

Both Animal classes will pay $1,000 each. Under this format there is a chance for one lucky racer to pocket $4,000.

AKRA will be making periodic announcements prior to the race. Any one who wants to be involved as a sponsor or wants to donate to the Wayne Poole Memorial Fund can e-mail Bobby Waltrip at bobwal17@ctc.net.

Midwest Championship Series Joins AKRA

By Bruce C. Walls

MONROE, N.C.-The American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) is pleased to announce that the new Midwest Champions Series (MCS) will be competing under the AKRA banner. Under the agreement AKRA will sanction the Midwest Championships Series, which will compete under AKRA rules. This addition to the AKRA family of series and tracks means that well over 2,000 racers are competing at an AKRA event every month.

According to Midwest Champions Series founder/CEO Tim Steenhoek he designed his series with low cost, a simple rules package and easier traveling in mind. His series also boasts a simple tire rule that includes branding, and simplified class structure that according to Steenhoek, “Will provide most racers with the ability to be competitive. They will get the excitement and competition of racing in a touring series without the expense of competing in a national level touring series. The four tracks we’ll be competing at are all within a 140-mile radius.”

Steenhoek’s four race series kicks off May 23-24 at historic Newton Kart Club. Founded in 1969, the Newton Kart Club’s current 1/8-mile oval was constructed in 1974. To find out more about Newton Kart Club and to see an aerial photo of the facility visit their website at: www.newtonkarting.com.

From there the series travels to Little Sunset Speedway a clay oval in Greenwood, Nebraska June 13-14. For more information on Little Sunset Speedway their website is http://www.neracewaypark.com/. Round three will be Fourth of July weekend at Wavelink Raceway Park. Racers should note this race will compete Friday night and Saturday afternoon instead of Saturday and Sunday. For more information on Wavelink Raceway Park please visit www.wavelinkracewaypark.com.

The series final race will be held at Thunder Lake Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas on Labor Day weekend. Their website is: www.thunderlakespeedway.com.

AKRA President/CEO Bill McCutcheon said the Midwest Champions Series will be a great addition to AKRA. “With the Midwest Champions Series coming onboard we now have an opportunity to help grow karting in that part of the county. We also are working on a plan to invite their top 10-racers to our annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ and guarantee them feature-starting positions in their respected classes. And this is just one of many ideas we have for joint ventures.”

For more information on the Midwest Champions Series you can visit their website at: www.midwestchampions.com or e-mail Steenhoek at: promoter@midwestchampions.com or call him at 515.202-6826. For more information about the American Kart Racing Association visit their website at www.akrainc.com.

MARGARETTSVILLE, N.C.-Five double winners highlighted the N.C./VA Money Series 2009 season opener Saturday March 21^st. Almost 300 racers came to Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N.C. for a shot at earning part of a $13,000 purse. Two double winning Delawareans earned a large share of that purse, Brandon White of Lewes and Zach Bullis, of Millsboro; each topped two classes on the wide high-banked high-speed ¼-mile dirt oval. White’s wins earned him $1,500; Bullis pocketed $630 for a combined total of $2,130.

White won Animal Lite from the pole fighting off challenges from Austin Banker who was just 0.058-seconds late at the stripe. “It was all good until my head started wearing down,” described 16-year-old White who pilots a Mishue Motors powered Galaxy kart. “ It all went down hill from there. We got lucky enough to hold it. The kart was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better deal. They said I was checking out, but I started wearing down eventually.”

Kevin Turner crossed third followed in the top five by Shane Bass and Thomas Underwood.

A chance to win $1,000 lured many of the east coast’s karting elite to compete in Animal Heavy 375 lbs. Group qualifying laps determined thirty-two feature positions. Each group got three qualifying laps. White’s fastest qualifying lap earned him a third place start. His 14.107-seconds rounding was 0.26-seconds off pole winner Turner’s 14.081-seconds lap time.

When the initial green flag flew Turner took off. In just a few laps Turner built a huge lead over the talented field. Turner was closing in on traffic when suddenly crashing karts behind him brought out a full field caution that also evaporated his lead.

This time when green flag racing resumed Derek Hedgepeth was banging on his rear bumper. Turner shook off Hedgepeth’s challenges, but as Hedgepeth slipped back to third White roared by him heading for the front. Next time around White took the lead in time to get the five laps to go signal. Turner tried to take it back, but White was determined to win and did leaving Turner trailing at the finish line by 0.043-seconds.

“I knew I was doing something wrong at the beginning,” White explained. I finally figured I was dive-bombing them in the turns. After that it was all positive. I got past Turner and just took it from there. The kart was amazing the way it handled. It was just driver error in the beginning. Once I figured out what I was doing wrong it was just smooth sailing from there. I couldn’t ask for any better ride and I want to thank Jim Lumas for the helmet.”

Bullis earned Junior Sportsman 1 Lite’s pole with a 15.835-seconds top-qualifying lap. From there he had Devin Dodson fighting his Hertrich Auto sponsored P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom Icon chassis for the lead. Bullis finally ran a kart length away from Dodson for a little comfort and then the first of two caution flags flew.

When the green flag returned Bullis could feel Dodson close behind him. Dodson gave him a little scare pulling along beside him going into turn three. Bullis dropped down and held the lead. I just had to block him to stay out front,” described the 10-year-old double winner.

Dodson kept the pressure on trying to pass Bullis on the outside. He was positioning himself for a pass attempt when the second caution flag waved ending that opportunity.

“That last caution worried me,” Bullis admitted. “I thought Devin (Dodson) was going to get by me on the restart. He was doing good back there. I thought he was going to get me on the high side going down the straightaway, but I was sure he’d spin out in the corner.”

In the final laps Zachary Taylor took second from Dodson, but was never really a threat to Bullis who cruised across the finish line with a small, but comfortable, edge over Taylor. Further back Dylan Jackson and Carson Wright completed the top five.

“The kart was good, but during the last few laps it started getting tight,” Bullis said after his first win.

Later that night Dodson and Bullis shared Junior Sportsman 1 Heavy’s front row. Times of 16.106 and 16.222-seconds earned them those starting positions. Bullis blasted into the lead as Dodson drifted back into the field where he finished last. Carson Wright took second and offered Bullis some serious challenges along their way to the checkered flag. When it waved Bullis lead Wright under it.

“This is great getting two wins today,” Bullis beamed. “The kart was good. It was strolling. I was a little worried out there trying to make a move on Carson (Wright). I was a lot faster then he was, but I couldn’t get past him. Then I was under him when it came time to pass him so I did.”

Dougie Young, of Highland Springs, VA, dominated Stock Medium (350 lbs) and Stock Heavy (375 lb). Young was Stock Medium’s second fastest qualifier. David Meade earned the pole with a 14.687 seconds run beating out Young by 0.123-seconds. Their first start fizzled when karts behind them got together causing an initial lap caution. Meade led them single file back to the green flag. Piloting a Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Icon Young got around Meade for the early lead. Before he could expand that lead the caution flag ended his momentum. Young led the restart as he would several more times before it was over.

As Young ran away with the lead Corey Evans and David Stallings scrapped over second place. Evans won the fight for second at mid-race, but by then Young was ½-track ahead of him. Caution cut that lead again several laps later. In the final laps Evans tried to hang with him, but Young quickly put the last few laps in the book on his way to win number one.

“We happened to put the right four shoes on that ride today, and well, everything worked out our way,” Young explained through a smile. “There were a lot of red flags out there, but that was alright because my tires were good, motor was running good and the kart was excellent, I have to thank Scotty Bajer of BKS Kart Shop and everybody that helps me.”

Young was the sixth fastest Stock Heavy (375 lbs.) qualifier. His best effort of 15.041-seconds was 0.229-seconds slower than pole winner Tyler Gray’s 14.812-seconds run. Gray grabbed the early lead then had to do it again as caution waved during the opening lap.

Once they got going Young quickly shot out front opening a huge lead. As Young lead the way Gray and Kevin Elliott fought over second behind him. Young held the lead until the mid-race signal was shown. Gray found some momentum, secured second then powered past Young for the lead. The excitement heated up in the final laps. Gray took the white flag with Young challenging him for the lead. As they battled down the back straight Young got a run on Gray going into turn three. Gray tried to recapture the lead, but time and distance were against him as Young took the checkered flag.

Elliott held onto third and was followed across the stripe by David Stalling and Alicia Piland for the top five.

“It was tight there at the end, real tight,” Young described. “But we put it together. I’ve got a good crew Ray Crowley, Carmen Wood, Matt Smith, BKS Kart Shop, Phantom Racing Chassis, and Tod Miller Power. I can’t say enough everything went well and we got two today. It takes a lot of hard work to win two of these races, a lot of hours during the week making sure everything is pristine. You have to know what you’re doing and get err done.”

With a Moon Power South engine bolted on his Phantom Icon racing chassis 14-year-old Bradley Sacra, of Spotsylvania, VA, scored both Restricted Junior Lite and Heavy wins. Qualifying lap times of 14.664 and 14.529-seconds put Lewes, DE driver Alex White on the poles.

Austin Wyatt was second fastest qualifier and Sacra started behind White. Back markers crashing in turns one and two forced a single file restart. White brought them back to the green flag and showed the 27-race field around twice before caution waved again. When the green flag waved again Sacra was quick on the throttle. He shot by Wyatt closed in on White and two laps later he was leading.

Lap four saw the caution flag return. This time Sacra led them back to the green flag. From there Sacra held on as White and fifth fastest qualifier Chase Williams scrapped over second. In the final lap Williams won that position. White was third across the stripe followed in the top five by T.J. Bolton and Nicolas Ogles.

“He (Brandon White) was pretty fast,” credited the 14-year-old winner. “I knew I was faster so I went on ahead and made the move early. There were a lot of cautions. The last one worried me a little. I had to guard my line to keep it. The Icon Kart was perfect, I don’t know how it could get any better and the Moon Power South motor had plenty of power.”

Heavy’s start was a repeat of Lite’s. On the single file restart White quickly pulled away driving deep into turns one and two. After building a small cushion over the field caution returned cutting his lead. White led the restart and one more lap before Sacra slipped by him. Sacra led them through a trio of cautions before crossing the finish line with White behind him. Following White in the top five were Wyatt, Williams and Austin Babb.

In addition to the Briggs classes raced, two Box Stock Project (Clone) classes competed with Mike Banks besting both fields. “This, a nice facility and a nice track, it just came to me,” said the Richland, N.C. based racer. “I didn’t get to practice, I qualified last in the first class, but I qualified on the pole for this one.”

Banks threaded his way to second in the first feature following Dennis Carroway across the stripe. Carroway lost part of his tailpipe in the final laps. He was disqualified at tech and forced to surrender the Clone 375 lbs. win to Banks. Chad Wall advanced from third to second. Officially third through fifth were Ted Gerard, Evan Bryan and Aaron Hudson.

Banks blasted around the track in 16.797-seconds for Clone 400 lbs. pole. From there he was perfect for 20-laps. Wall followed him across the stripe with Hudson, Gerard and Gregory Wood behind him in the top five.

“The kart was hooked up. It’s my lucky day I guess,” “The Phantom kart was excellent they’re the best on the market I’d say. Hands down for the budget racer there’s no comparison. The class is growing; it’s a budget class for the Friday night racer who can afford to do it. It’s not just the money it’s also for the racer who hasn’t got time to prep tires or get an engine rebuilt and all the other kind of stuff. I’m sure there are boys running this class that can afford to run another class, but they don’t have the time to work on their kart. That’s my biggest thing ‘time’ I don’t’ have time to run other classes. It’s a great class, I enjoy it and it’s what brought me back to karting. ”

Ryan Fisher ruled Junior Sportsman Champ’s qualifying with a 16.788-seconds rounding. Camden Testerman took the other front row starting spot with a time that was 0.028-seconds slower. Behind them in row two were Chester, VA racer Ryan O’Conner and Blaine Sharp.

Fisher led several laps with O’Conner tucked in tightly behind him. O’Conner saw an opening and took the lead. Next time around they reached lapped traffic. They went three-wide with traffic in the middle. O’Conner went high; Fisher took the low line and the lead with stunning displays of driving talent from both lead drivers as they continued threading through traffic.

Caution waved shortly after that part of the show. Fisher led the restart. O’Conner shot by him as they rounded turn two. As they battled down the back straight Fisher got a piece of it back. They diced the lead for two laps, and then caution returned. O’Conner was leading when racing was halted and led the restart.

Mason Bailey passed Fisher on the restart and began challenging O’Conner. Bailey tried to get around O’Conner high and low. O’Conner shut him out and held the lead down to the stripe. Logan Willis, Justin Kirby and Blaine Sharp rounded out the top five.

“We help him (Mason Bailey). He’s a good driver. It’s his first race here. He’s did pretty good. When he got me on the white flag lap I didn’t know to think or if I could get back by him or not. The Tod Miller Racing Engine was awesome and so was the Rage Nitro kart.”

Brian Farrow, Jr. was the fastest of 14-Non Pro qualifiers. Farrow, Jr.’s 15.161-seconds qualifying lap was 0.038-seconds then Alicia Piland’s 15.199-seconds best effort. Behind them Justin Ward and Kayla Watson occupied row two.

Piland hustled into the early lead. Caution waved as Piland was showing them for a second lap. Piland led the restart with Ward, Kayla Watson and James Robbins, Jr. battling over second behind her. Ward secured second and set his sites on Piland. He passed her and pulled away from the field. In the final laps Ward ran away with the lead. Cody Gregory trailed a distant second. Piland held onto third with Robbins, Jr. and Jeffrey Stroud behind her in the top five.

“I got shuffled back one time. I just had to keep on going to get there,” explained Ward, of Tyner, N.C. “That was the best I could do. The Millenium Kart was perfect, beautiful and Tod Miller’s motor was pulling hard.”

Crockernub, N.C. competitor Eddie Wall paced Senior Champ’s qualifying with a 14.725-seconds run that was 0.386-seconds faster than Edward Buck’s 15.093-seconds effort. Wall shot into the early lead and never looked back. Behind him Buck, Brandon Comer, Darek McCauley and Tanner Aman completed the top five of 15 entries.

“We sat on the pole and kind of checked out it felt like. We did the best we could. I don’t know how I could have gotten the Trick/Olimpic kart any better if I tried and P&P Speed Shop motors are the best out there on the market; no doubt about it.”

Just 0.006-seconds separated Jason Manes and Richlands, VA racer Donny Alpin in Stock Super Heavy’s qualifying. From the outside pole Alpin was perfect. He rocketed into the early lead and away from the rest of the field. Manes followed him in second.

The race’s real battle was for third. Chris Garris was there when it counted. Behind him in fourth and fifth were Duane Wade and Wes Morgan.

“The kart was tight and the driver was tired,” Alpin laughed. “We did alright we hung in there. That Tod Miller Racing Engines power is all it took. We took the lead on lap one and led every one of them from there. The driver is just tired.”

Trevor Brightwell topped Junior Sportsman 2 Lite. The 11-year-old Mechanicsville, VA based Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom Kart pilot beat pole winner Van Davis to the stripe. Outside pole winner Christopher Phillips captured the early going leaving Davis and Brightwell to battle over second. On lap five the first of two caution flags flew. Phillips huge lead evaporated.

Phillips broke from the field on the restart with Davis hot on his tailpipe. Davis pressured Phillips for three laps before taking the lead from him. They got the five laps to go signal and things heated up. Brightwell took second and was fighting hard for the lead. Phillips took the white flag. But Brightwell wasn’t giving up.

“The white flag lap was interesting. I didn’t think I could do it there, but then they shot up the track. I took the only chance I would get,” Brightwell explained. Brightwell took the checkered flag. Crossing close behind in second and third were Davis and Phillips. Further back Blaine Sharp and Justin Kirby completed the podium.

“The Icon kart handled really well, extremely well and Tod Miller’s motor was powerful,” Brightwell added.

Another of the Brightwell clan, Michael, followed with a win in Senior Stock. Michael clinched the pole and the win piloting a Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom kart. Brightwell bagged the pole in 14.378-seconds. The only thing slowing him on his way to the checkered flag was a caution flag. Something that always worries a race leader.

“There’s always a chance the tires cool off and you make a little slip and they can get by you. That’s racing,” Brightwell said. The Phantom Icon kart handled great. We finally got the right tires on it today; we’ve been struggling with tires lately, so we finally put the right four on. Tod’s motor was flawless as usual.”

Outside pole winner Wes Morgan held second. Craig Schill crossed third, Stuart Jennings followed in fourth and Shawn Fitzmorris crossed fifth.

Tyler Warriner won Junior Champ. The 15-year-old Glen Allen, VA based Mishue Racing Engines powered Eclipse kart pilot was third fastest qualifier 0.119-seconds slower than pole winner G.R. Waldrop’s 15.558-seconds trip.

Warriner quickly worked his way to the front, built a comfortable lead and then had Brockwell close in on him in the final laps threatening his lead until he took the checkered flag. Spencer Malick, Bailey Moore and Tim O’Conner completed the top five.

“I was worried about him (Dylan Brockwell) closing in on me there on the final laps and I had to start blocking,” Warriner said. “The Eclipse kart was handling real good and Eddie Mishue’s motor was strong. He builds some awesome motors.”

Kevin Turner was the fastest of 27-Animal Medium (350 lbs.) qualifiers. His 14.173-seconds run was 0.064-seconds faster than White’s best effort. After two failed attempts at getting started Turner led them single file back to the green flag. This time the field fought nose-to-tail through turns one and two. Then as they exited turn two racers battled two and three wide behind them down the back straight. Turner continued expanding his lead. He reached the field’s tail and took on traffic. He ripped through the field until the checkered flag flew.

Jared Jackson fought his way from an eighth place start to a second place finish. Richard Noblitt followed him from seventh to third. Stephen Adams finished where he started in fourth and Brandon McGee battled his way from 14^th to fifth.

“We learned a little bit from Animal Lite, worked on it and got a little better for this race. The kart handled pretty good the whole race that time and the P&P Speed Shop motor was strong the whole time.”

Bingo, N.C. based Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom kart pilot Christopher Phillips produced Junior 2 Heavy’s win. Van Davis clocked the pole time in 15.243-seconds. Phillips was second fastest at 15.436-seconds.

Phillips hustled into the early lead. Fifth fastest qualifier Blaine Sharp quickly shot into second pulled along side of Phillips and passed him for the lead. As they battled down the back straight Phillips recaptured the lead. In the final laps Davis and Kirby closed in on him threatening Phillips as he reached lapped traffic.

“The last lap was scary I thought they were going to pass me because of lapped karts, but they didn’t and I was happy, said the 13-year-old winner. “My dad and Cliff and everybody that helped me are what gave me the win. The kart handled good and the motor was good to it had a lot of power.

Behind Phillips Davis, Kirby, Logan Willis and Sharp rounded out the top five.

N.C./VA Money Series racers return to Margarettsville Speedway April 11^th, July 18^th and August 22^nd.

White and Bullis Bag Bucks at Margarettsville Money Race

Story and photos by
Bruce C. Walls

MARGARETTSVILLE, N.C.- Local kart racers Brandon White, of Lewes, DE and Zach Bullis of Millsboro made off with the majority of a $3,500 purse offered Saturday March 21 during the N.C./VA Money Series’ opening round held at Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N.C. Each topped two classes on the wide high-banked high-speed ¼-mile dirt oval. White’s wins earned him $1,500; Bullis pocketed $630 for a combined total of $2,130.

White won Animal Lite from the pole fighting off challenges from Austin Banker who was just 0.058-seconds late at the stripe. “It was all good until my head started wearing down,” described 16-year-old White who pilots a Mishue Motors powered Galaxy kart. “We got lucky enough to hold it. I couldn’t have asked for a better deal. They said I was checking out, I started wearing down eventually.”

A chance to win $1,000 lured many of the east coast’s elite kart racers to compete in Animal Heavy 375 lbs. Group qualifying laps determined thirty-two feature positions. Each group got three qualifying laps.White’s fastest qualifying lap earned him a third place start. His 14.107-seconds circuit was 0.26-seconds off pole winner Kevin Turner’s 14.081-seconds lap time.

When the initial green flag flew Turner took off. In just a few laps Turner built a huge lead over the talented field. Turner was closing in on traffic when suddenly crashing karts behind him brought out a full field caution that also evaporated his lead.

This time when green flag racing resumed Derek Hedgepeth was banging on his rear bumper. Turner shook off Hedgepeth’s challenges, but as Hedgepeth slipped back to third White roared by him heading for the front. Next time around White took the lead in time to get the five laps to go signal.

Turner tried to take it back, but White was determined to win and did leaving Turner trailing at the finish line by 0.043-seconds. “I knew I was doing something wrong at the beginning,” White explained. I finally figured I was dive-bombing them in the turns. After that it was all positive. I got past Turner and just took it from there. The kart was amazing the way it handled. It was just driver error in the beginning. Once I figured out what I was doing wrong it was just smooth sailing from there. I couldn’t ask for any better ride and I want to thank Jim Lumas for the helmet.”

Bullis earned Junior Sportsman 1 Lite’s pole with a 15.835-seconds top-qualifying lap. From there he had Devin Dodson fighting his Hertrich Auto P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom Icon chassis for the lead. Bullis finally ran a kart length away from Dodson for a little comfort and then the fit of two caution flags flew.

When the green flag returned Bullis could feel Dodson close behind him. Dodson gave him a little scare pulling along beside him going into turn three. Bullis dropped down and held the lead. I just had to block him to stay out front,” described the 10-year-old double winner.

Dodson kept the pressure on trying to pass Bullis on the outside. He was positioning himself for a pass attempt when the second caution flag waved ending that opportunity.

“That last caution worried me,” Bullis admitted. “I thought Devin (Dodson) was going to get by me on the restart. He was doing good back there. I thought he was going to get me on the high side going down the straightaway, but I was sure he’d spin out in the corner.”

In the final laps Zachary Taylor took second from Dodson, but was never really a threat to Bullis who cruised across the finish line with a small, but comfortable, edge over Taylor.

The kart was good, but during the last few laps it started getting tight,” Bullis said after his first win.

Later that night Dodson and Bullis shared Junior Sportsman 1 Heavy’s front row. Times of 16.106 and 16.222-seconds earned them those starting positions. Bullis blasted into the lead as Dodson drifted back into the field where he finished last. Carson Wright took second and offered Bullis some serious challenges along their way to the checkered flag. When it waved Bullis lead Wright under it.

“This is great getting two wins today,” Bullis beamed. “The kart was good. It was strolling. I was a little worried out there trying to make a move on Carson (Wright). I was a lot faster then he was, but I couldn’t get past him. Then I was under him when it came time to pass him so I did.”

This Saturday Bullis and White will return to Margarettsville Speedway for the first Virginia Dirt Karting Association race of the season. The following Saturday (April 4th) they travel to Ashland, VA where they’ll join hundreds of others in the second round of the American Kart Racing Association’s American Speedway Championship Dirt Series Nationals being raced at Capital City Speedway. Then before they get a break from traveling they got back to Margarettsville the following Saturday (April 11th) for round two of the N.C./VA Margarettsville Speedway Money Series.

Bruce
--
Bruce C. Walls
Action Enterprises, Inc.
Action Sports Photos/Action Sports Promotions
P.O. Box 914 Bethany Beach, De 19930
Phone/Fax 302.537.7223
E-mail bwalls@fast.net or sportsshooter@verizon.net
www.actionpicsandpromos.com
www.kartingkomments.com
www.wallsjewelry.com

The first stop for the month of March was to visit Highway 24 in Richlands, North Carolina. This was an event to remember Sue Watkins and was labeled The 1st Annual Sue Watkins Memorial Race.

The weather was sunny and in the 80's. The largest crowd that the facility has ever seen which lead to a long day and a short night.
We unloaded the Phantom ICON powered by P&P Speedshop in fine fashion. It appeared very early that Zach would be up and on the wheel as we set fast times in both practice sessions. In qualifing we had a set back with a karter spinning which caused a caution that would not allow us to complete our laps. However he still was able to Qualify outside Pole.

As Zach began the race from the outside pole he was able to take the lead before going into turn 1. As he lead back to the stripe a caution came out for a spinning kart and to have a restart. Again restarting from second Zach took the lead going into turn 1. Once again the caution was displaced.

On the restart Zach was able to take the lead and this time with no caution. While battling back and forth with track champion Katilyn Alphin, Zach was able to drive away only to have his lead taken away with another caution. The two battled over the second half of the race with a few more cautions.

With 4 laps remaining the motor began to skip as the fuel level was getting low. While coming to the white flag the caution was displayed once again for a spinning kart. With a green, white, and checkered flags coming and little to no fuel it would be difficult to hold off the field.

On the restart Zach was on his game and got an excellent start. The engine sputtered through turns three and four and shut off after the checkered flag for the WIN. Good thing the race was over. Zach had to push the kart from turn 1 all the way to the scales as the fuel was out.

Great job Zach on your well deserved WIN... We had the firestones working.

Our next stop will be a trip to Margarettsville Speedway to compete in the North Carolia Maxxis Dirt Series. This will be a 5 race point series that will be rewarded by money and an invitation to Maxxis National Race in Neeses, SC.

2009

American Speedway Championship Dirt Series

Core Racing Products Nationals - Round #2

Capital City Speedway, Ashland, VA

April 3 - 4 , 2009

NO Divisional/State Points Transfer needed to win 2009 American Speedway Championship Title!

The Race Format will consist of 22 classes competing Saturday. Some classes will compete twice (see schedule) below for classes. We will count the best 8 out of 10 finishes for those classes that compete twice, all others will count the best 4 out of 5. We will award and recognize the top finishers for their accomplishments at the year-end banquet. All classes must average 3 entries per class for year end awards .

Friday Schedule(April 3rd)

Gates Open: 4 pm – 10pm Parking

Pre-Tech: 4 pm – 8 pm

Registration: 4 pm – 8 pm

**We will have Saturday Devotional Service**

Sponsor Parking will be Reserved

with Todd Shaw – On Track Ministries

All other Parking Requests Must Call Track!!

Saturday (April 4th) Schedule

AKRA Year-End Championship Package

Gates Open: 7 am

AKRA Championship Trophy , AKRA Championship

Registration: 7 am – 9 am

Ring, AKRA Championship Jacket, PLUS a

Pre-Tech: 7 am – 9 am

Gift Certificate

Practice: 8 am (Open / 2 rounds)

Driver’s Meeting: to follow practice

Qualifying: to follow D. Meeting

WE WILL PAY MONEY IN ALL CLASSES!! *Plus Tire Manufacturer Contingency Awards*

(Firestone Tires - Maxxis Tires - Vega Tires)

Saturday Class Order Fast Time Awards: G-Man Kart Works

1. Stock Medium

2. Jr. Sportsman Champ

3. Super Heavy

4. Rookie Box Stock Project

5. Animal Medium

6. Jr. Champ

7. Box Stock Project

8. Jr. 1 Purple

9. Jr. Box Stock Project

10. Chasen’N Race’N Kid Karts

11. Jr. 2 Blue

12. Stock Heavy

13. Jr. Sportsman Champ

14. Senior Champ

15. Jr. 3 Gold

16. Jr 1 Purple

17. Animal Heavy

18. Jr. 2 Blue

19. Sr. Box Stock Project

20. Pro Jr. 3 Gold

21. Pro Senior Champ

22. Pro Stock

Note: Pro Classes Do Not Qualify for Year end

Awards.

Pro Classes , Payoff $1000 to win!!

Plus Contingency Awards

($75 Entry fee )*

ALL OTHER CLASSES - $400 to win!!

2^nd - $175

3^rd - $100

4^th - $75

5^th - $50

Plus Contingency Awards

( $55 Entry Fee )*

*Open Tire Rule in All Classes except BSP classes,

Maxxis EL Tire. Additional contingency bonuses in all

classes from Tire Manufacturers.

*See reverse side for entry form information.

*Join Us for Round #3 at Margarettsville Speedway

Margarettsviile, NC June 12-13, 2009.

*For more information, visit us at www.akrainc.com, or call

Bill McCutcheon (704) 764-8138. Capital City Speedway

www.capitalcityspeedway.net

*(Purse is based on minimum of 20 entries in a class unless

noted. Less than 20 entries is 80% payback)

Haire Crowned Four Times at AKRA Dirt Awards Banquet

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Susan Taylor-Walls

Dexter, GA-Josh Haire earned four championships in the 2008 AKRA American Speedway Championship Dirt Series. On Friday February 27th Haire, of Erwin, N.C., and other series National champions were recognized at an awards banquet. In addition to earning Eagle Trophies, Class champions received custom-made leather jackets and oblong cabochon cut blue sapphire rings set in gold. Multi-class winner’s rings included an imbedded .15 diamond.

“It takes a lot of hard work to win four championships in one series in one year,” Haire explained. “You’ve got to have everything going for you.” Haire won three flat kart classes and one Champ Kart title. He captured Stock Heavy, Animal Heavy, Super Heavy and Senior Champ. Monroe, N.C. competitor was his runner up in Stock Heavy. Jamie Knopf and David Meade were third and fourth in the final points talley.

Adam Beville, of Stoney Creek, VA, was Animal Heavy’s runner up. Completing the top five behind Beville were Brandon Watson, Knopf and Shane Bass. Watson was Stock Super Heavy’s runner up and Mike Mitchell was Senior Champ’s runner up finishing ahead of Falmouth, VA racer David Henderson.

“We hope to do it again this year,” Haire confidently stated. “But it’s a lot of hard work and a lot of luck. The other competitors are real tough and there’s a lot of luck to it and I want to thank God for that. I want to thank Eddie Mishue of Mishue Motorsports for giving me good karts and motors. We’ve got a lot of people running them, but man they’re one of a kind.”

Monroe, N.C. competitor Walt Barnes was a double winner earning championships in Senior Stock and Stock Medium. “I wanted to get three championships, but I’ll settle for two,”

Lancaster, S.C. lead foot Jamie Knopf was running up. David Meade was third and Ashley Abernathy fourth.

“It takes a lot of preparation and a lot of devotion to this sport. You’ve got to love the sport. It also takes good people behind you. People coming to the races and helping and doing work to win these championships is a big part of it too.

The first champion crowned was Millsboro, DE driver Zach Bullis. Bullis bested the Junior Sportsman 1 class with Dawsonville, GA driver Spencer Davis who finished the season as runner up. Fellow Georgian Taylor Wilkes, of Jefferson, was third followed by Fayetteville, N.C. competitor Austin Smith.

“I’ll always remember the last race of last season. I won it and (Spencer) Davis couldn’t get any points because he had a back up driver,” said the 10-year-old P&P Speed Shop powered Phantom kart pilot.

Davis dominated Junior Sportsman Champ. Wilkes was runner up. According to Davis to win a championship at this level, “You’ve got to win, have a good crew and kart and have the right engine builder, one that you like, and you have to feel comfortable in the kart.”

Trey Tarlton, of Blackstock, S.C. had the Junior Sportsman 2 field covered. “We had a good season,” Tarlton described. “We ran decent all the whole time. We had a lot of help throughout the season. Our karts ran good. We ran several different brands this year and they all ran good. I’ll remember the race a Margarettsville most because it’s my favorite track.”

Clermont, GA competitor Houston Smith was runner up. Jarratt, VA pilot Austin Babb,
Sean Keith Stanley of Amelia, VA and Savannah, GA racer Jak Kicklighter claimed third through fifth.

Pelzer, S.C. Phantom kart pilot Brett Heatherly put the most Junior 3 Gold points together for that championship. Woodbridge, VA based Brandon Brown was runner up. Brian Farrow, of Conway, N.C. trailed in third followed by Abbeville, GA racer Wilson Keene and Chesterfield, VA competitor Colton Cox.

“I’ll remember Dexter from last year most,” recalled the 13-year-old champion “That was the only one we won all season. You have to stay consistent and stay up front.”

Knopf was crowned Stock Lite champion and Brown took Junior Champ’s title.

Special awards were also presented that evening. Brett Heatherly’s machine was named ‘Classy Chassis,’ Ricky Haire was voted ‘Mechanic of the Year,’ the Tarlton Family was chosen for ‘Family of the Year’ and Austin Bab was voted ‘Sportsman of the Year.’

Lenny and Marsha McCutcheon presented AKRA President Bill McCutcheon with a plaque honoring his years of service to AKRA and the sport of karting.

Now that AKRA’s American Speedway Championship Dirt Series 2008 season is officially in the record book it’s time to turn to the new season. The 2009 season was supposed to kick off that Saturday. Unfortunately rainstorms, tornados and storm warnings forced AKRA officials to cancel the race. Now the 2009 will officially kick off April 3-4 at Capital City Speedway in Ashland, VA. From there the series travels to Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, N.C. for this year’s Super Nationals. Following the Super Nationals will be the Annual Labor Day Bash at the Georgia Karting Komplex in Carnesville, GA September 4-6. This year the national tour concludes October 9-10 at Palmetto Motorsports Complex in Gaston, S.C.

Delaware Dirt Track Association's 2009 Karting Racing Schedule:

2009 East Coast Karting Championships

March
21st Harrington gates open 10 AM
28th Harrington gates open 10 AM

April
11th Harrington gates open 12 PM

May
9th Harrington gates open 12 PM
21st Harrington gates open 12 PM

June
7th Harrington gates open 10 AM
21st Harrington gates open 10 AM

July
25th Harrington gates open 2 PM

August
15th Harrington gates open 2 PM
29th Harrington gates open 2 PM

October
18th Harrington gates open 10 AM
24th Harrington gates open 10 AM

November
7th Harrington gates open 10 AM
14th Harrington gates open 10 AM

Christmas in Dixie 2008 Sees Double Triples

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls

JASPER, FL-Two of nearly 700 racers entered in this year’s fourth annual AKRA ‘Christmas in Dixie’ turned ‘Hat Tricks’ at Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, Fl December 28-30. Hawkinsville, Ga hot shoe Dee Paschal produced a trio of wins on the first day of racing on the wide ¼-mile dirt oval. On day two White Bluff, TN racer Kyle Bowers did the same.

Racers came from not only nearby states, but from great distances as well. Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, New York, New Jersey and Alabama were represented in the entries.

Paschal showed his wheel turning talents in 2 and 4-cycle racing producing 4-cycle wins in Stock Lite and Senior Stock and a 2-cycle victory in the Florida All Stars feature. “It takes a lot of preparation and a lot of good people behind you to get three wins here at this level,” Paschal pointed out after his third win.

After two rounds of qualifying Stock Lite’s field was set with Dustin McGraw, who turned a 14.391-seconds lap, on the pole. Dale Fisher shared row one with McGraw. Austin Weaver and Austin Struth made up row two. Behind them Paschal was positioned in the fifth starting position.

It took several attempts to get the field going, but once they did McGraw broke from them only to have his small advantage taken away by the race’s second caution flag. McGraw led them back to the green flag. Behind him Wilson Keene and Paschal were working together. Keene began challenging McGraw for the lead. The pressure of two challengers proved too much for McGraw who surrendered the front to Paschal who took it to the finish line from there.

“The track was super slick so the tires took a little while to come in,” described Paschal, who pocketed $500 for the win. “Then it was a combination of tires, motor and kart that got me up front until the end.”

Classes with over 20-entries offered a $500 winning purse and classes with less than 20-entries payback based on 80%. A total of $35,000 was awarded back to racers that weekend.

In the final laps racers battled for positions behind Paschal. Jerry Mullis took second closing within 0.988-seconds of Paschal at the stripe. McGraw held third and was followed by Dillon Jackson and Tara Henderson for the top five of 29.

Three races later Paschal started on Senior Stock’s outside pole. Monroe, N.C. based Walt Barnes blasted out a 14.517-seconds lap for the pole that was 0. 091-seconds faster than Paschal’s best effort of 14.608-seconds.

The first attempt to get the field racing fizzled as the leaders were rounding turn three. Behind them karts tangled in turn two. On the single file restart Paschal slipped by Barnes for the lead which he never surrendered. Paschal built a huge 7.274-seconds advantage over Barnes. Troy Hale came from an eighth place start to a third place finish. Neal Harraway finished where he started in fourth. Lennon Gray, who started ninth, was fifth across the stripe.

“We made some changes after Stock Lite and the kart got real quick,” Paschal said “We broke a header at the beginning of the race, but it still came together.”

Paschal scrambled back to the grid to start on Florida All Stars’ outside pole. Shay Chavous produced that pole lap in 12.984-seconds. Paschal’s best time was 13.103-seconds.

After their first start attempt failed Chavous started them backup single file. Chavous roared ahead of the field while Paschal went backwards. “The tires wouldn’t come in and I fell back about a straightaway,” Paschal explained. “But then the tires hit and the kart came in.”

Chavous enjoyed a comfortable early lead. But that was temporary. “Then the tires hit and the kart came in,” Paschal added. Paschal powered his way to second and was about to make his move for the lead when the caution flag waved. “We were second when the caution flag waved,” Paschal explained. “I didn’t have anything for Shay (Chavous) the throttle stuck we were pretty even until then and it makes it tough.”

Paschal offered Chavous several serious challenges finally taking the lead from him with just three laps left. Paschal crossed the stripe with Chavous just 0.469-seconds behind him. Eight seconds later Eddie Gilbert was third across the stripe. Three seconds later Wayne Howe and Clint Jack followed in fourth and fifth.

Day two was Bowers’ day. From their poles, Bowers bested two full fields of Box Stock Project racers and handled Super Heavy as well. Bowers’ day started with a 15.558-seconds trip for Box Stock Lite’s pole. Todd David was second fastest qualifier rounding the oval in 15.919-seconds.

When the green flag flew so did David. David showed the field around twice before surrendering it to Bowers who led from there. By mid race Bowers owned a very comfortable lead. At the stripe he was 5.08-seconds ahead of Jacksonville, Fl based Davey Hicken. David, Trey Cole and Mike Nicosia completed the top five.

“I knew we had a good kart. I qualified on the pole and I just had to hang in there and wait for the tires to come in,” Bowers said. “I was at 385 lb for a 325 lb class so I just had to hang in there and wait for the tires to come in and get up to first.”

Bowers blasted around the track in 14.315-seconds for Super Heavy’s pole. Tommy Townsend was second fastest at 14.373-seconds. When they got the initial green flag Bowers rocketed into the early lead with Townsend glued to his tailpipe. The stayed locked nose-to-tail for 20-laps. At the end just 0.490-seconds separated them.

“I never looked back so I wasn’t worried about who was behind me. I just ran my line and let it roll,” Bowers said after his second win. “The kart handled good and Eddie Mishue’s motors got me around the corners. I’d like to thank my dad and Dee Paschal for the tires and all the help he’s given me.”

Three races later Bowers was back on the front of the grid ready to lead Box Stock Heavy racers with perfection. Bowers blasted away from the field at the green flag’s waving and never looked back. Behind him outside pole winner David Hicken was struggling to hold second. Working together Dale Thaxton and Chris Harrell passed Hicken, which is how they crossed the stripe for the final time.

“I have no clue why I’m so fast on these Box Stock karts. It’s the first time I’ve driven one and we’re just having fun with it,” Bowers described. “I guess I’m lucky on tires. The kart drove itself like the last two.”

A 15.709-seconds pass put Bowers on Box Stock Heavy’s pole. Dale Thaxton joined him on row one with a fast time of 16.123-seconds. Following in his legendary father’s tire tracks Jacksonville, Fl based David Hicken Jr. was third fastest at 16.305-seconds. Brittany Yates 16.356-seconds lap had her staring next to him on row two.

Bowers blasted into the early lead. Caution waved before he could book the first lap. He led them back to the green flag. Hicken Jr. grabbed the lead on the next restart. Hicken would then lead them another two laps when caution returned. They got another two laps in before caution returned as it would every other for the next six laps.

Hicken Jr. held onto a comfortable lead over Harrell and Whitehouse who were almost three seconds behind him at the stripe. Further back Bowers and Brittany Yates crossed fourth and fifth.

“At the start I was kind of worried about the cautions with the clutch coming in and all, but we ended up alright and everything came in,” Hicken Jr. described. “The Trick/Olimpic kart handled good and the Hicken Power motor was awesome, couldn’t be better.”

In addition to the two hat trick winners, there were four double dirt winners that weekend. Rampage Racing Engines powered Prowler kart pilot Garrett Green grabbed day one’s Junior 2 Blue Plate win and Day Two’s Junior 1 Purple Plate win. Spencer Davis earned both poles with lap times of 14.737 and 15.526-seconds.

Davis hustled into Junior 2 Blue’s early lead with Greene, Ryan Boyd and Joseph Galloway nose-to-tail behind him. Five laps later he was leading them through the race’s only caution. Davis quickly shot into a small lead. Behind him Greene was leading a freight train gaining steam. Several laps later Greene led the train by Davis. “My Prowler kart just came in and I came on. The kart’s just fast,” Greene reported.

Then Davis’s kart started coming in and he began climbing back through the field. Davis reached Galloway, but couldn’t get around him. Boyd and Jimmy Pope were behind Davis scrapping over fourth. Greene reached the stripe 1.929-seconds ahead of Galloway. Davis, Boyd and Pope passed the stripe after him for the top five.

“I want to thank my pit crew, my mom and dad, Heat Racing, Rampage Racing and I want to add a special thanks to Blaze Martin,” said the 10-year-old Valrico, Fl based double winner.

Sunday Zachary Wells joined Davis on Junior 1 Purple Plate’s pole. Greene started third again. After a failed first start Davis led them single file back to the green flag. Davis drove low into turns one and two for a firm grip on the lead. He held it down the straightaway and back to the stripe for the first time. He booked another lap before Greene grabbed it. One lap later the caution flag waved.

Greene led the restart with Nick Long, Davis, Cory Saxton and Allen Scurry in the top five behind him. In the remaining laps the field spread behind him. Long was 1.566-seconds late.

“I was worried these lapped karts were kind of hard to get around,” Greene said during his second visit to victory lane. “We had a crappy kart all day, but we finally got it going and we brought home the win.”

A Junior 1 Purple Plate B Main was also raced. Wells won that race taking the final flag 0.832-seconds ahead of Matthew Boyd. Lane and Cory Marsh followed in third and fourth. David Bradshaw completed the top five of B Main racers.

Wilson Keene captured both Junior 3 Gold checkered flags from their poles with perfection. Lap times of 14.544 and 14.413-seconds earned him those poles. In the first he beat John Bryan Nall to the stripe by 1.199-seconds. “It was a pretty good race. I just had to deal with lapped traffic,” described the 15-year-old Abbeville, Ga based double winner. “The kart handled pretty good, it was a little loose, but we can get it tightened up for the next one. Tim Fishel’s motor was awesome, it was a brand new one and it was about the best one yet.” Levon Bennett, Jay Gnann and C.J. Leary completed the top five.

In the second feature several mid-race cautions almost changed the story. Keene had two huge leads evaporate. He also had Gnann threatening from behind each time. “I was running pretty good and then the cautions came out,” Keene explained. “The Ultramax Kart handled great. It was a little loose, but we’ll get it right. Tim Fishel’s motor was great, it was a new one and it’s the best one yet.” This time Jack Speshock, Nall and Leary filled the podium.

Chris Evans chased PEC Racing Engines powered Rage Kart pilot Ricky Bohatka across the Senior Champ Kart stripes. Saturday Zach Holcombe clocked the classes’ fastest qualifying lap in 14.874-seconds. Bohataka’s best effort of 15.082-seconds earned him the other front row starting position. Holcombe hustled into the early lead with Jessica Maloney challenging him. On lap two she muscled her way by him for the lead bringing Bohataka with her.

Near half way Bohataka battled by Maloney for the lead. Evans came with him dropping Maloney to third. Behind her in the top five were Brittany Yates and Zach Holcombe.

“I just got a good pass coming into turn two and just took off from there,” said the 19-year-old Lutz, Fl native. “The kart handled pretty good, tires were good and the motor was good. I want to thank my mom and dad, my girlfriend, my sister, David for the motor and me for doing my tires.”

Sunday Bohatka blasted around the dirt oval in 15.020-seconds for Senior Champ’s pole. Evans started next to him. Glen Morton and Maloney were behind him in row two. After a failed first start Bohatka led them single file. They got the first lap in before the race’s second caution flag flew. When they got the got the green flag for the third time Bohatka blasted bake into a comfortable lead. “I started on the pole today and I just took off from there. I want to thank David from PEC Racing Engines for the motor, Rage Karts and Five Star Motorsports for the tires and setup.”

This time Evans crossed 1.809-seconds late. Bobby Knox Trailed in third followed in the top five by Maloney and Glen Morton.

Bohataka’s younger sister, 16-year-old Jessica, followed with a win in Sunday’s Junior Champ class. Jessica started on the outside pole next to Billy Smith who spun a 15.374-seconds lap for the pole. Smith scrambled into the early lead with Dylan Colding chasing him. Suddenly as Smith and Colding battled through turn two they made contact causing both to lose control of their machines. Bohatka, trailing in a distant third, instantly inherited the lead with J.R. Houston and Nick Hebrank closing in on her.

Bohatka kept the PEC Racing Engine powering her Rage kart floored as the laps counted down. When she reached the stripe Houston was just 0.132-seconds behind her; Hebrank 0.445-seconds later. Smith and Colding completed the top five.

“I was really happy when the leaders crashed out in front of me,” Bohatka smiled. “I got the lead and from there on I led the rest of the race. The Kart handled really good and I think PEC motors are the best out there.”

Bohatka earned Saturday’s Junior Champ pole with a 15.153-seconds lap. Smith scored the outside pole position from where he hustled into the early lead. By mid-race he owned a huge lead over the field with Houston trying to close the gap from a distant second. Bohatka and Casey Harrell trailed Houston in fourth and fifth.

“The Momentum kart handled fine it brought me to the front and kept me there the whole time,” credited Smith, a 13-year-old Zephyr Hills, Fl native. “I didn’t feel him behind me on the last lap. I just kept my head on straight and drove. I want to thank Earl Mural, my dad and Sandy.”

Sunday Dustin McGraw grabbed a pair of wins topping Sunday’s Animal Heavy followed three races later with a Stock Medium win. After loosing Saturday’s Animal Heavy race to Jerry Mullis, McGraw returned Sunday ready to rumble. He blistered the track with a 13.981-seconds pole-winning lap. From there he led the 25-racer field flawlessly through an early race restart. Shay Chavous trailed him across the stripe 1.957-seconds late followed by Dillon Jackson, Josh Robinson and Clint Jack.

“I kind of thought someone was closer to me than they were so I wanted to really get going at the start,” McGraw, 22, said. “The kart worked pretty good and we finally got the tires right today. I’d like to thank John Hall for the motor, Brandon Burr for the kart and Greg Vanburg for helping me out a little bit and my dad for the tires.”

Sunday’s Stock Medium required two rounds of qualifying to get a full 30-racer field. McGraw earned the pole with a 14.220-seconds effort. From there he led the filed flawlessly with Allen Michael Lester chasing him the entire trip. Lester trailed by 0.634-seconds. Ethan Nipper, Mullis and Chris Thompson.

The event’s first feature, Junior 1 Purple Plate, was a 15-lap crash fest. Caution flags waved seven times before a winner was chosen. These young drivers learned from having their first feature cut by five laps. Sunday’s feature was only stopped twice by caution flags.

Davis dominated qualifying with a 15.433-seconds rounding. Nick Long was second fastest at 15.515-seconds. When the green flag flew crashing commenced. Long dove low into turn one for the lead. He was blasting down the back straight when karts behind him were tangling in turns one and two. That put Davis back on the pole. On the next start mid and backpack racers were line up single file as the top three diced up the lead until Davis settled into it.

Davis enjoyed less than lap of comfort as the third caution flag flew on lap three. Davis led the restart, but Greene got the jump on him and took the lead. Davis battled back, recaptured the lead, opened it up again only to watch it evaporate again as caution returned on lap five tightening the field into another restart. Caution waved two more times before the field got going.

Once they returned to racing Hunter Lee took the lead as the passed the 14-lap mark and next time around caution returned. With 15 laps complete AKRA officials called the race naming Lee the leader. Filling in the remaining top five of 29 were Ethan Prosser, Mason Ledbetter and Austin Sprinks.

Super Heavy’s competition was all fans and racers could expect. Returning veteran kart racer Jamie Capehart, who’s been out of the seat several seasons, out raced former favored competitor Tommy Townsend in a down to the wire match up. Joey Pierce produced the pole-winning lap. His 14.692-seconds rounding was 0.15-seconds faster than Capehart’s 14.842-seconds effort. Behind them in row two were Brian Danforth and Townsend.

Capehart led them in a single file start. Instead of tucking in behind Capehart, Townsend powered past him. Townsend led them to the mid race mark with Capehart threatening down every straight and around every corner. Just after they got the halfway signal Capehart saw the opening he’d been looking for and took advantage of it.

Capehart crossed the stripe comfortably 2.123-seconds ahead of Townsend. Trailing Townsend in the top five were Danforth, Zach Powell and Mile Eller.

“It was pretty tough. I’ve been out of the kart for a while so this is a pretty big win for me,” said the 26-year-old Jacksonville, Fl native. “I got to race my buddy Tommy (Townsend) for it and that was pretty special. The kart handled pretty good until the last five laps. I think I ran out the tires at the end, but I had a big enough lead to hold them off at the end. The Radical Racing Engines motor was awesome we just got it freshened up and it was incredible. They did a fabulous job on it, it was excellent.”

Jerry Mullis and Dustin McGraw dominated Animal Heavy. Mullis started on the outside pole while McGraw started on the pole. David Brekke clocked Saturday’s pole time in 14.220-seconds. Mullis grabbed the early lead showed them a full lap and then led them through a caution restart. Brekke and Victor Peters were behind him battling for second. When Mullis took the white flag Peters was nearly a second behind him. At the stripe Mullis was 1.920-seconds ahead of Peters. McGraw, of Okatie, S.C., was third across the finish line followed by Bryan Bourgeois and Matt Collier for the top five.

“It got a little rough there at the end with lapped traffic and everybody getting all bunched up, but it worked out, we still got what we deserved,” said Mullis of Belmont, N.C. “The Ultramax kart was perfect. I wouldn’t ride anything else and Tim’s (Fishel) motor was excellent.”

McGraw returned Sunday ready to rumble. He blistered the track with a 13.981-seconds pole-winning lap. From there he led the 25-racer field flawlessly through an early race restart. Shay Chavous trailed him across the stripe 1.957-seconds late followed by Dillon Jackson, Josh Robinson and Clint Jack.

“I kind of thought someone was closer to me than they were so I wanted to really get going at the start,” McGraw, 22, said. “The kart worked pretty good and we finally got the tires right today. I’d like to thank John Hall for the motor, Brandon Burr for the kart and Greg Vanburg for helping me out a little bit and my dad for the tires.”

Brad Bowman and Justin McRAE ruled Junior Sportsman Champ offerings. Dustin Smith spun Saturday’s fastest qualifying lap in 15.694-seconds. Bowman secured the outside pole with a 15.831-seconds rounding. Smith shot into the early lead with McRAE and Dylan Colding threatening from behind. With the pressure behind him Smith over drove his kart spinning out. Colding inherited the lead briefly as Spencer Davis was quick to snatch it from him.

Bowman and McRae began working together and soon the shot by Davis for the top two spots dropping Davis to third. Colding and Smith clung to fourth and fifth with Nick Hebrank and Brandon Yates close behind. Smith’s Victor Peters Racing Engines powered Shadow Racing Chassis ruled keeping the 12-year-old Clearwater, Fl based Bowman in the lead during the race’s second half. McRae kept Bowman on his toes finishing just 0.218-seconds behind him at the stripe. Davis was a distant third. Further back Colding and Smith crossed fourth and fifth.

“It was really good. We had the kart,” Bowman explained. “We had some help from some people behind us. We had to work the leader a little bit, but after we passed the first kart it was all about motor and kart. The Shadow kart handled great. We had a lot of help from people. I want to thank GS Racing, Eagles Nest, Victor Peters Motors and Todd Wilson’s Lawn Service and Landscaping and Advanced Motorsports.”

Sunday Bowman blasted around the track in 15.590-seconds for Day 2’s Junior Sportsman Champ pole. Davis joined him on front row with McRAE and Smith behind them in row two. It was obvious from the waving of the green flag that the battle would be between McRae, Bowman and Smith.

McRAE grabbed the early going with Bowman behind him and Smith coming on strong. Bowman kept the pressure on and finally passed McRae just after the halfway signal was shown. The lead swapping battle between them continued down to the wire with McRAE getting it back in time to take the checkered flag with a mire 0.141-seconds to spare. Behind them Smith, Colding and Hebrank rounded out the top five.

“I just didn’t let off the gas too much and was just driving good,” McRae, of Mobile, Al. “The kart handled good, especially at the end of the race and Eddie Mishue’s motors are high class. I want to thank my mom and dad, Nick Ellis and Dustin Smith.”

Baton Rouge, La based Wesley LeBLAC led 28-Stock Heavy competitors across the stripe. Shay Chavous was the class’s fastest qualifier dialing in a 14.699-seconds run for the lead starting position. After a failed first effort Chavous led them single file back to the green flag. When it waved for the second time Walt Barnes blasted from a third place start into the early lead. Two laps later Terrence Burdette took the top spot from Barnes. Burdette barley led a lap when Jay Messer’s kart flipped and caught fire. Messer was fine and back racing.

Burdette led the restart with McGraw and Barnes behind him. Burdette quickly pulls away from the field. McGraw and Le BLAC closed in on Burdette in the final laps. Le BLAC passed McGraw setting his sites on Burdette. He swept by Burdette and then McGraw for the lead. As Le BLAC assumed the lead Cole Exum and Paschal moved in behind him. Exum was 0.798-seconds behind Le BLAC at the stripe. Further back McGraw and Burdette were fourth and fifth.

“We had some good racing going on,” LeBLAC said. “Me and (Dustin) McGraw had a good little race going on there. He drove me clean and so did everybody else and it was good to come out with the win. The Phantom Icon worked great this is my first race on it. Phantom makes a great chassis. I’d also like to thank the Smith Brothers for a great motor.”

Joseph Galloway grabbed Day Two’s Junior 2 Blue Plate’s win over Garrett Blaney who trailed Galloway by just 0171-seconds. Galloway and Blaney diced up the early lead. Several laps into it the race’s only caution flag flew. Galloway held on as Blaney kept the pressure on down to the end. Behind Blaney in the top five were Woodrow Mullis, Jimmy Pope and C.J.Leary

“I never looked back, my dad gets on me when I look back and I never did this time. I want to thank God for a safe race, my mom and dad. The kart handled great and the motor was awesome.”

Shay Chavous earned day two’s Florida All Stars win from the pole he earned with a 12.941-seconds trip. Chavous and Paschal scrapped over the early lead. Paschal dove low in turn one coming up with the lead. Chavous tries to take it from him, but spun. Chavous gathered it back up and chased Paschal down. Suddenly Paschal’s machine developed mechanical problems forcing him from the competition as Chavous returned to an inherited lead he took to the finish line. Local Ed Shriefels followed nine seconds later. Further back Brian Able, Tim Taft and Wayne Howe.

With the fourth annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ dirt program in the book it was time to move across Cross Roads Motorplex to their asphalt track, which is almost identical in size and design to its famous dirt oval.

CID Part 2 Asphalt

Barnes Bags World 100

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

JASPER, FL-Several years ago American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) owner and CEO Bill McCutcheon, FKA Owner/President and track owner Wade Murphy decided to include Asphalt racers to their annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ event. Each year since its inclusion the asphalt portion of ‘Christmas in Dixie’ has grown. Last year (2007)
AKRA, FKA and track owner Wade Murphy decided to add an annual ‘World 100’ race with $1,000 going to the winner to the asphalt action which was held again this year.

Racers began arriving early that morning. Threats of afternoon and evening showers never materialized and the show went on at a comfortable pace starting with racers getting two full rounds of practice.

After a short driver’s meeting racers returned to their pits for final adjustments before qualifying. Junior 1 Purple Plate racers qualified first. Piloting a Rampage Racing Engines powered Eclipse kart Justin McRae set a new track record qualifying lap of 14.887-seconds. Piloting a similar machine Dustin Smith grabbed the outside pole with a 15.030-seconds lap.

When the green flag flew teammates McRae and Smith quickly broke from the pack for their own fight for the front. Running nose-to-tail they battled through lapped traffic back into clean air. When they reached the stripe McRAE was 2.350-seconds late. Garrett Green was third across the finish line followed by R.J. Murphy (son of track owner Wade Murphy) and Kristin Clements who capped the top five.

“It was pretty hard getting around my teammate (Justin McRAE), but I managed to get by him,” Smith said. “Lapped traffic was a big help. The Eclipse kart worked real good, I like them, and the new Rampage motor was pretty sporty, it was fast.”

Stock Medium racers were next off the grid led by pole winners Matt Padgett and Bobby Knox, Jr who recorded lap times of 13.967 and 14.103-seconds. Padgett and Knox were in an early fight for the front when Hi Tech Racing Engines powered Millenium kart pilot Aaron Sapp sped by them for that lead. Sapp, of Brunswick, GA, kept his foot on the gas building a huge lead while the field behind him battled for positions. Kati Leonard fought her was from a fourth place start to trailing Sapp by 3.931-seconds. Padgett was third across the stripe followed by Michael Hughes. Hughes failed to bring his kart to tech and was disqualified. That moved Garrett Reinhardt up from fifth to fourth and Knox, Jr. advanced from sixth to fifth for the official top five.

“The kart was handling real good. I just kept running my line and it paid off,” said the 19-year-old winner.

Spinning a 14.879-seconds earned Dylan Colding Junior Champ’s pole. Nick Hebrank was second fastest at 15.117-seconds. Colding captured the early lead with Hebrank and Houston battling for second behind him. Hebrank secured second and began reeling in Colding. When he reached Colding’s tailpipe Hebrank began challenging him for the lead. The battle heated up in the final laps. They were side-by-side on the white flag lap and when they reached the stripe for the final time Hebrank had it by just 0.063-seconds for the weekend’s closest finish.

Jacob Young did it all in Senior Champ. The Homestead, Fl based Kirby Speed Secrets Racing Engines powered Mongoose chassis pilot produced a 14.046-seconds lap for the pole and then went untouched in the feature shaking off early challenges form Dusty Chisholm and late race threats from Brittney Yates who trailed Young by just 0.117-seconds.

“I didn’t even know they were back there. I was just running my own race,” Young said adding, “The Mongoose Chassis was amazing. It’s the best chassis I’ve had so far and the motor was fast.”

David Hicken was a dominant factor in the dirt Box Stock classes during the dirt portion of ‘Christmas in Dixie.’ The Jacksonville, Fl native produced a first place in Box Stock Heavy along with finishes of second in Box Stock Lite and fourth in Box Stock Super Heavy. He was just a strong on asphalt taking Box Stock Heavy’s checkered flag 2.022-seconds ahead of pole winner Levon Bennett.

Third fastest qualifier Robert Lowrey leaped into an early lead with Hicken and Bennett locked in a fight for second. Several laps into it Hicken got a solid grip on second and started reeling in Lowrey. He reached Lowrey’s tailpipe and began pressuring him for the position. Entering turn three just before the mid-race signal was shown, Hicken dove low getting by Lowrey for the lead.

Bennett got by Lowrey in the final laps for a second place finish. Lowrey held third and was trailed in the top five by ARC factory driver Tom Cole and Frog Murphy.

Brenden, Fl based Prowler kart pilot Seth Adams rounded the track in 14.079-seconds for Junior 3 Gold’s pole. Brandon Sellers was second fastest at 14.088-seconds. The leaders tried muscling each other out of first place as they beat and banged their way around the track several times. Adams finally secured the lead and held off final challenges from Sellers and Jay Gnann. Sellers held onto second as they crossed the stripe for the final time. Adams beat him there by 1.228-seconds. Gnann, C.J. Leary and Brett Heatherly finished out the top five.

“The Prowler kart was good. It was a little bit loose at first, but it always takes a little while for the tires to come in pilot. Then it was real good,” reported the 13-year-old winner who pilots a Rampage Racing Engines power Prowler kart. “My dad was telling me from the fence line that someone was closing in on me, so I knew they were coming. I just tried harder and harder every lap. My tires started going away just a little bit. They started loosing rubber, but it was a good race.”

A 14.049-seconds rounding earned Oxford, Al native Justin Dopson Stock Heavy’s pole from where he mounted a successful campaign to victory lane. Outside pole winner Walt Barnes blasted into the early lead, but he slid sideways in the middle of turn one surrendering the lead to third fastest qualifier Bobby Knox. Dopson was right behind Knox poised to pass him when opportunity presented itself. When it did Dopson drove his John Hall Motorsports powered Phantom Icon kart by Knox for the lead. Daniel Brown followed him dropping Knox to third. That’s how they finished with Dopson comfortably 5.876-seconds ahead of Brown. John Passatt finished fourth followed by Barnes for the top five.

“He (Bobby Knox) got a good jump on the start. I had to let him have in and drive in on him a little bit there. I kept looking back to be sure I had a good lead and see how far behind me they were. The kart handled great, it did real good. My dad had it rolling.”

Garrett Green grabbed Junior 2 Blue Plate’s pole with a 14.938-seconds lap. C.J. Leary joined him on front row turning the second fastest lap at 15.086-seconds. Caution waved before the first lap was complete. Green led them single file back to the green flag. Green opened a small advantage over Leary in the early laps.

Smith closed in on Green and shot by him at the halfway mark. Behind them McRAE was building steam. Once his kart came in McRae blew by them taking the lead with just a few laps remaining. McRae held it across the stripe beating Green to the stripe by 0.356-seconds, but when he got to tech they found him illegal and awarded Green the win. Dustin Smith was third across the stripe, but like McRAE, Smith was found illegal at tech as well. That brought Leary up from fourth to second. Jimmy Pope advanced to third followed in the official finish by Yates and Matt Anderson.

Then it was time for the day’s highlight-The World 100.

WORLD 100

By Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls

JASPER, FL-Based on the success of Cross Roads Motorplex’s Annual Dirt World 100, last year track owner Wade Murphy, AKRA CEO/President Bill McCutcheon and FKA Owner/President Jimmy Sims decided to hold a second World 100 during ‘Christmas in Dixie’, this one on asphalt. A $2,000 purse was up for grabs. The winner pocketed half; the rest was evenly divided among the top finishers.

Piloting a Tornado Racing Engines powered Epic Kart Matt Padgett pumped out the pole winning lap in 13.703-seconds. According to Padgett, a 17-year-old Starke, FL native, staying out front, “It’s going to take a lot of patience and trying not to get wrecked. It stuck pretty good in qualifying and got better and better the longer I ran so I should be good for the race. I knew I had some good laps, but I didn’t know I had that much.”

Jacksonville, FL native Davey Hicken turned the second fastest qualifying lap a 13.896-seconds rounding. Joey Collins and Tara Henderson turned times of 13.948 and 13.955-seconds respectively for row two. Starting in row three were Dusty Chisholm and Justin Dopson. Further back Kevin Ingram and Tommy Townsend started in row three and behind them in row four were Walt Barnes, of Monroe, N.C. and Wayne Howe. Starting in row five were Chase Fitzgerald and Bobby Knox, Jr.

Hicken hustled into the early lead with Padgett and Henderson closing fast. Henderson passed Padgett as the lead pack began taking on lapped traffic. Further back Dopson began gaining on the leaders. He reached Henderson and took second from her. Two laps later he took the lead bringing Chase Fitzgerald with him dropping Henderson to third.

As battles for the lead raged at the field’s front Walt Barnes was working his way through the field from dead last. He was catching the lead pack

When they got the halfway signal Dopson had opened a comfortable lead. Fitzgerald was following him from several kart lengths behind. Hicken was in third at that point with Henderson and Padgett trailing in fourth and fifth. As the final laps of the first fifty-lap segment unfolded Dopson’s machine developed problems forcing him to surrender the lead to Henderson.

Barnes continued climbing through the field reaching second. He took the lead from Henderson in the final laps and held to the halfway flag. “My neighbor gave me a couple of tires. I didn’t have anything to loose so I tried them and wow this thing woke up,” Barnes said as he and his crew worked on his kart during the mandatory pit stop. “I’m stoked. It’s getting it done right now. Right now if the tires continue to be quick and the kart will stay together it looks like we’re a little quicker than everybody so we should be in good shape now.”

Henderson, of Loxahatchee, FL held onto second when the checkered waved. “We got fast at the end and I’ve got to just ride by him. We’ll have to see what happens, The Phantom Icon kart was handling good at first, but then it started getting a little tight at the end. But the Moon Power South motor always works.”

Racers and their crews were given a two-minute warning. Two minutes later they got the command to stop working on their karts. Then the field was lined up according to their first segment finish. Barnes, Henderson, Joey Collins, Aaron Sapp and Padgett made up the top five when they got the green flag.

Four laps into it Collins closed in on Barnes, challenged him for the led and took it. Next time around Barnes got it back bringing Henderson with him. Collins battled back to the front. Henderson was behind him, Barnes behind her. Barnes got back by her, dove low going into turn three and exited turn four back in the lead as the front pack began taking on traffic again with nine karts still on the lead lap.

Barnes began breaking away from the field as battles for positions raged behind him. In the final laps Collins climbed back to second finishing 3.440-seconds behind Barnes. Trailing in third Henderson was 4.260-seconds off the leader’s pace. Townsend was fourth across the stripe followed by Chisholm who capped the top five.

“Wow! From the back row to the front row,” Barnes beamed in Victory Lane. “I’ve really got to thank my neighbor parked beside me he loaned me two tires and wow, they made a big difference. I’ve got to thank Tod Miller for building a superb motor. That thing there is awesome. I’ve also got to thank Harrill Wiggins for the Phantom kart; it took a lot of licks in the first 25 laps and still came out quick. I’m proud of everybody in my family for keeping me in the sport, I’m proud of the people that come and continue to support this sport and racing in general.”

With the second asphalt World 100 in the record book plans for next year’s race are being made. But before that happens AKRA and Orange County Kartway owner Ollie Spain are making plans for a 150-lap race at Orange County Kartway in July. Once plans for that race are finalized AKRA will announce them.