Rookie Shifter Kart Driver Sweeps Great Lakes Region of Skusa's 60cc Novice Class.

 

13 Year Old Cap Henry of Bellevue, Ohio sweeps the Great Lakes Regions 60 cc Novice Class in his inaugural shifter kart season winning 8 out of 9 events.

 

The young driver from The Shifting Gears Racing Team began the season by attending three days with Alan Rudolph @ the Bob Bondurant Shifter Kart School before beginning his inaugural season in a shifter kart. The young driver began driving on both asphalt and dirt at the age of 6 years old, and has won either local or regional championships his last 4 years behind the wheel.

    Cap began the season Easter weekend, flying back from Phoenix to attend his first Skusa race at Trane MotorSpeedway in Sheridan Illinois. This weekend began his success sitting on the pole both days, setting fast time, and winning both days.

   

    The team then ventured to Grattan Raceway in Belding Mi. for Cap's first race on a full size 2.0 mile road course. This seemed to be to his liking, as he out ran the field setting quick times, pole position and winning the race by numerous seconds.

 

 

 Next The Henry MotorSports sponsored driver headed for the Beaverun Motorplex in Wampum, Pa for what would be the one double weekend he would not sweep both days. On day one he sat on the pole and again set fast time during the race, unfortunately a competitor had clipped him from behind and while leading by 5 seconds his carburetor became detached form the motor. Showing strong resolve the young man fixed the kart, refired it and proceed to finish 4th out of 6 karts. Sundays race went more to his liking, again sitting on the pole, and setting a track record before the rain and lightning arrived finishing off the weekend.

 

    Race 5 &6  took place at South Bend Raceway Park in North Liberty, In. This track is no stranger to the young driver as he had raced here previously with the WKA Ohio Sprint Series in an 80 cc Cadet. Again Cap set the pace for the field, though his teammate from Henry MotorSports Corey Dalenberg was beginning to continue the pressure he had put on Cap at Beaverun. Cap set pole time for both days, winning the first day and being given the win the second day while sitting on the pole as the Rain & Lightning returned.

 

Race 7 & 8 took place at G&J Kartway in Camden, Ohio.

This was an unusual weekend as the 60 cc class lost 2 motors in the same day, though all the teams worked together to keep as many of the racers going as possible.

Cap again led the field, sat on the pole, set the Skusa Track Record and won both days events. Shifting Gears Teammate Kyle Klingelheber cam home 2nd both days. This wrapped up the championship for Cap Henry having now won 7 of the 8 events run in a series, and nailing down the second place for teammate Kyle Klingelheber.

 

The final race would take place on another long track at the 2.5 mile IRP race track in Clermont Indiana. Even though Cap had already won the championship the other competitors that showed up were not going to lay down for  Mr. Henry. Henry Motorsports Teammate and now new member of the Shifting Gears Racing Team Corey Dalenberg took away the fast time by drafting Cap, and clipping his time by .003 of a second. Competitor Patrick Nirschel came up and began pushing Cap during the race after Dalenberg dropped out with mechanical failure. The finish was a photo finish with Cap's transponder finding him the winner by less than 1/1000 of a second.

 

On top of a very strong Skusa Shifter kart Season the young driver proceeded to run in the top 10 in three out of four ventures into the Cart Stars series being listed in 11th position overall when last checked. He complete the season with a victory at The Clyde Street Grand Prix in his 80 cc Cadet Kart having now won that event for the past three years.

 

This winter 13 year old Cap Henry steps into a 600cc Micro Sprint Car for the Indoor Rumble Series of Racing. Next year brings another new beginning as the young driver steps up to the 80 cc Jr. Shifter Kart Ranks.

 

 

Submitted By:

 

Kit Henry