Race 4 4 Cycle Stock Heavy Race Report

With over 37 entrants, and only 30 spots for the features, qualifying well was crucial.  The top 25 qualifiers garanteed a spot, they were seperated by 2 seconds.   What makes that notable was the diversity of this field - not only was it an IKF vs. WKA battle, it added the mix of offset speedway and dirt karts as well.  Perhaps the only major event in the world where this happens....

Joe Janiga put his Briggs powered machine on the pole with Carlos Ramirez and Matt Riggs just behind.  Qualifying times were very close.  James Kellen and Eric Jones matched times of 39.582, as did Allen Kopel and Steve Lawson at 40.599.  It took the consolation race on Sunday morning to determine the field of 30 warriors ready for battle in the feature.

4 Cycle power is big in the Eastern half of America, while 2 strokes seem to be the power of choice among the Western sprint racers.  Watch for an upcoming article in the TechArt section featuring the "Kartland Country Singers" with full audio....

Position Kart # Driver Best Lap

1

  17  Joe Janiga  39.335
2  06  Carlos Ramirez  39.451
3  88  Matt Riggs  39.491
4  11  Eric Garland  39.499
5  10  Gary Lawson  39.551
6  34  Eric Jones  39.582
7  27  James Kellen  39.582
8  32  Billy Dickson  39.63
9  8  Ken Paulson  39.673
10  8  Jerry Miller  39.752
11  70  Chris Harding  39.813
12  61  Robby Smith  39.82
13  55  Jason Birdsell  40.029
14  52  Joe Bodenschatz  40.033
15  92  Scott Kleman  40.043
16  53  Nathan O'Rourke  40.117
17  77  Stephan Kammerer  40.134
18  2  Cale Downs  40.509
19  67x  Allen Kopel  40.559
20  5  Steve Lawson  40.599
21  94  Chris Hale  40.815
22  21  John Major  41.087
23  48  David Pierce  41.257
24  42  Jerry Sharp  41.285
25  24  Bill Darcy  41.393
26  69  Ken Williams  41.436
27  9  Richard Hale  41.496
28  14  Tony Franklin  41.888
29  3  Brian Gallagher  42.263
30  33  Brian Mosher  42.28
31  31  Sean Crawford  42.488
32  97  Chad Paterson  43.043
33  5  Larry Adams  45.038
DNQ   66  Denny Bartz   

 

The sound of 30 Briggs motors is unique, and the smell of methanol fuel pleasing to a motor head.  This was another action filled race with the field settling down into 3-6 car trains through out the field by the second lap.  Watching the front straight saw passing several times per lap.  Some karts needed no castor at all as they bicycled into turns 1 and 2 sometimes lifting the inside tires over a foot high!  Eric Garland and Gary Lawson pulled away into their own two car pack, Gary struggling to take home the coveted "rock".  Nathan Orourke & Billy Dixon put on a great show with Nathan placing.

The first Red Flag of the day was shown, with Matt Riggs being assessed the removal penalty.

Position Kart # Driver Elapsed Time Best Lap
1  11  Eric Garland  06:43.2 38.959
2  10  Gary Lawson  0.151 38.954
3  53  Nathan O'Rourke  5.5 38.917
4  32  Billy Dickson  5.585 38.921
5  61  Robby Smith  6.293 39.001
6  06  Carlos Ramirez  7.308 38.655
7  55  Jason Birdsell  7.696 38.673
8  8  Ken Paulson  7.896 39.086
9  52  Joe Bodenschatz  8.186 39.228
10  70  Chris Harding  8.714 39.51
11  92  Scott Kleman  9.274 39.326
12  8  Jerry Miller  10.313 39.513
13  2  Cale Downs  14.15 40.044
14  42  Jerry Sharp  14.391 39.698
15  27  Kellen James  14.534 39.337
16  17  Joe Janiga  15.524 40.256
17  33  Brian Mosher  16.049 40.053
18  24  Bill Darcy  22 40.701
19  21  John Major  22.419 40.546
20  69  Ken Williams  22.605 40.405
21  9  Richard Hale  26.675 40.842
22  5  Steve Lawson  26.773 40.906
23  48  David Pierce  38.652 42.009
24  88  Matt Riggs  1 Lap  38.997
25  34  Eric Jones  1 Lap  39.489
26  3  Brian Gallagher  1 Lap  42.094
27  94  Chris Hale  2 Laps  40.479
28  31  Sean Crawford  2 Laps  41.733
29  14  Tony Franklin  6 Laps  42.306
30  67x  Allen Kopel  7 Laps  42.011