The Norman facilities offer top amenities and is probably the best run track in America.  The track layout offers all combinations of driver challenge from the tight turns 7 & 10, to the banked turn 8, and the famous long and high "G" turns of 4-5-6 then 7-8-9.

The flatout turn 11 really makes the exit speed at turn 10 critical to master for a total 900' drag race to turn 1.

Jordan Mury put on a strong showing with several challenges for the lead throughout the heat and final races.  Tyler Campbell also put in a good performance.

Andrew Martz making his debut in SKUSA 60cc Novice found the step up to SKUSA competition to be pretty big.  Coming from a background with several National titles in fixed gear karts, his team worked hard to overcome some of the unique challenges the OMC facility presents to driver and machine.  The long high G turns caused a fuel starvation for many competitors, and clever  thinking by tuner Steve Martz cured a mid range response problem.  Watch for Andrew to make stride in this class for 2003.

Erin Dodson put in a good performance as she proves the boys from the Red River Region that girls can be just as fast, especially at the physically demanding tracks like OMC.  On track she normally duels with Justin Melton in "take-no-prisoners" form, yet off track the two are good friends.  This is what the sport is all about.

As always the Formula 80 Jr was action packed and tough competition throughout the pack.  Adrian qualified on top with the first 9 qualifiers within a second of the pole.

In Heat 1, it was CR Crews, Adrian Carrio, and Xan Rose all turning laps within a few tenths.  Carrio and Jonathon Beason were docked for jumping the start, although there were at least a few other untamed young lions that dropped the clutch a bit too early also.  Stiff warnings were given in the drivers meeting to prevent these precocious moves in later races.

In the final, Adrian Carrio jumped into the lead with CR Crews right behind.  Brad Coleman took to the chase and the three broke away from the rest of the pack for several laps.  Cr made a pass for the lead about midway, with Carrio coming back on top for the lead.  While Carrio and Crews were battlling, the second pack began to catch up, and the battle for 3rd-6th was now at hand.  On the heels of Coleman, Trevor Ott lmade his presence known, and in the pressure, Coleman made a mistake letting Ott by.  Justin Moon, then came in to challenge Coleman, and finally made the pass in the closing laps.

Meanwhile, CR Crews held on to Adrian Carrio's rear bumper with barely enough room to squeeze a phone book between the two in turn 1.  CR was clearly calculating his move by testing different lines and approaches with a last lap pass that took Carrio by surprise.

This was another barn-burner race with action through out the pack.

Following up the pack was LaMoon Braffett out for a little more then a Sunday drive,  LaMoon, has a boys that race in 125cc Shifter and Cadet classes, so this karting matriarch has fun behind the wheel of a Rotax too.  Watch for an upcoming interview with LaMoon.

Heat 1 found the top three being Jeff Carter, Chris Jackson, and Ryan Kinnear.

Heat 2 it was Jeff Patterson, Jeff Carter, and Ryan Kinnear.

In the final, that close battle of saw Jeff Carter jump into the lead with Jeff Patterson and Ryan Kinnear close behind.  Jody Bandfield and Chris Jackson were right in the heat of battle in the early laps, but Chris was just a bit off his normal pace.  Chris dropped a wheel exiting turn 1 and fell back as the understeer into turn 1 was becoming very tough for everyone.  Patterson made a move on Carter taking the lead briefly with Carter coming back for for the lead. Patterson again made the charge into turn 1 with Carter on the outside and Carter could not hold on and spun.  Kinnear hungry for the win put the bit between his teeth and made the pass for the lead in the closing laps.

This will very class be a race to watch for the World Finals.

Ken Johnson making his debut in FIC on the new Arrows chassis elected to make an easy run of it and not interfere with the G1 race by running a comfortable pace.

Among the National ProMoto contenders on hand were:

• Josh Schrieber
• Preston Peebles
• Berek McEwen
• Phil Carlson
• Jake Pierson
• Matt Wittmer

Top new chassis were entered in this race.  This track provides the most brutal of testing and tuning for chassis. 

The Arrows follows conventional design yet offers some new tuning features.  A clean design with aesthetically pleasing color.

The Trackmagic Memo Gidley chassis departs slightly from standard with front and rear axle layouts.

The Evolution RT is a radical departure from ordinary karting design and features an unusual (to karting) unequal length A Frame design (yet rigidly mounted) front suspension, with a levered seat mounting system eliminating the need for seat struts.  You can read more about this chassis in our NPI article.

In the first heat race, SuperPro drivers Berek McEwen, Preston Peebles, and Phil Carlson came home 1,2,3.  Brothers Phillip and Michael Johnson were 5th and 6th respectively.  Kyle Piepenbrok surprised many with a strong finish among the S1 level entries.  Kyle is only in his first year of racing, and has sponsorship from the Dallas Cowboys football team.  Look for Kyle to come to the front next year.

The order at the end of the second heat race came out Josh Schreiber, Jake Pierson, and Berek McEwen.  Phillip Johnson had to sit out the second race with some repairs needed.  The start was mayhem as Michael Johnson had clutch failure on the start and the hoard behind jockeyed for position with a few incidents of contact. 

In the final, a second lap incident took out Jake Pierson and Phil Carlson with Preston Peebles losing a few positions.  Phillip Johnson was hot on the heels of Matt Wittmer in 2nd having brought his Evolution chassis from the back of the pack.