Written by:
SPEED Staff
SPEEDtv.com
It’s four down, but two to go for the racers in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. The final two races of the 2009 season, which will be held at the Willow Springs Kart Track in Rosamond, Calif., will no doubt be as exciting and action-packed as the previous four in Phoenix and Fontana.
The Gatorz championship was in full flight at the Willow Springs Kart Track in Rosamond, CA. (Gatorz)
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Three trips to the Rotax Grand Finals in Egypt, and two to the Rotax Grand Nationals in Oklahoma are to be doled out Sunday afternoon, ensuring that this may be some of the best racing seen on the West Coast this season.
All of the racing action can be followed on Saturday and Sunday on the Gatorz Trackside page of the series website (www.gatorzkarting.com), which will feature live video, race (and social) commentary, and live updates of every qualifying, heat, and final.
Gobirel.com Rotax Senior
Just as it did last year, the Rotax Senior battle has boiled down to a battle of the two titans – Wes Phillips (birel) and Joey ‘The Busdriver’ Collins (Top Kart). Both have two final wins each and are well clear of third-placed Joey Wimsett (Intrepid) and fourth placed Joey Licata, Jr. (CRG). Stepanova Nekeel (CRG) has been a factor and could also act as a spoiler in the Phillips / Collins championship battle. Incidentally, at the Challenge of the Americas opener at Willow Springs last year, Collins and Phillips split the victories.
Overdrive Karting Rotax Junior
Phil De La O (GRG) enjoys a healthy championship lead heading into the final weekend at Willow Springs, but that lead belies the amount of action that the Rotax Junior class has seen all season. Phillip Orcic (Mach 1) has matched De La O at two wins a piece and sits second in points, just ahead of Taylor Miinch (Top Kart) and Lou Pagano (birel). Out of this group, De La O has never raced at Willow Springs, Orcic has only raced there once, and Starrantino won one of the rounds at Willow Springs last year. Local knowledge – which Miinch, Pagano, and Starrantino have – may well end up being a factor early in the weekend. De La O may be in the ideal spot to win that trip to Egypt, but there are plenty of other drivers taking aim for that trip as well.
Dave’s Performance Rotax Masters
If it weren’t for his DNF in round three of the Challenge of the Americas, John Crow (birel) would be running the table in Rotax Masters. Despite that result, he maintains a slight lead over David Harwin (CRG), who was a man on a mission at CalSpeed. Despite Crow’s victory on Sunday, Harwin narrowed the gap in the points standings to a mere seven points. Moving up the points table was a charging Mike Daniel (CRG), who leapfrogged Tyler ‘Tyrel’ Brooks (Kosmic) into third as Brooks was a DQ in round four for non-compliance. Mathematically, Daniel and Brooks have a shot at winning the championship, but Crow and Harwin would almost literally have to have their wheels fall off on both Saturday and Sunday at Willow Springs.
Reaction Karting MiniMax
The only class yet to not have a repeat winner is MiniMax, with four different winners in four rounds of Challenge of the America competition. Riley Ryes (CRG) leads the championship ahead of Royal McKee (CRG), Michael Davis (birel) who has yet to win a race in the class he dominated last year, and Michael Womack (birel). With no drops, Reyes has a healthy margin but second through fifth – which is Trenton May (CRG) is a hard fought battle that is only separated by 21 points. Davis swept both Willow Springs races last year, and such a result this weekend would put some serious pressure on Reyes for the championship and the trip to the Grand Nationals.
De La O Motorsports DD2
DD2 has more or less been the Scott Campbell (Intrepid) show, as the accomplished Canadian pilot is set to wrap up his championship and book his tickets to Egypt for the 2009 Grand Finals. His closest pursuer, Troy Castaneda (CRG) hasn’t notched a win yet and would probably like to before the season is out, as would local driver Erik ‘Action’ Jackson.
