Championship Karting International Scores in California

The Championship Karting International national kart racing series did their west coast swing this weekend for the CKI Grand Prix of California, putting on another top-notch weekend of hot competition and big prize packages.  Just like CKI’s first two events – New Castle and New Jersey – all the action was on display, via live video/audio coverage.  A race fans delight, the Grand Prix of California was another big hit, showcasing dominant performances, on-track drama and thrilling checkered flag action.  Some of the biggest moments came from new faces including a double Sunday sweep by Gustavo Menezes (Tony Kart) in the KF3 and IAME Jr. classes and Gary Carlton’s (CRG) third straight CKI event victory in KZ2.

In what is quickly becoming a Championship Karting International trademark event highlight, CKI once again featured live video race coverage for the Main Events as well as live audio coverage for the Pre-Finals, on SpeedcastTV.com.  Another first for a national kart series, CKI announced its 2010 schedule live on air during Sunday’s telecast.

“Just a tremendous weekend for CKI competitors – CalSpeed did an excellent job with the facility, our team was on top of their game and we had great support from our sponsors.  We had great story lines – drivers coming from the back of the pack; tight finishes; dominant performances – everything you like to see at a big race,” states CKI Co-Founder RJ Valentine.  “The balance of the year will be just as exciting – next up is the CKI Grand Championship at Oklahoma Motorsports Complex, Oct. 9 – 11; then on to the PRI/CKI Karting All-Star Classic at the PRI Trade Show in December.  The CKI team is dedicated to providing the type of racing experience that trains the next generation of Motorsport stars, and offers the most open, competitive karting in North America.”

Gary Carlton KZ2
With $7,000 up for grabs in the KZ2 class – CRG’s Gary Carlton was up to the task.  Other than a snag in Saturday’s third heat, point’s leader Carlton had all the answers, running the table on Sunday, after two heat wins on Saturday.  In the pre-final, after Jacob Neal (CRG) grabbed an early lead, Carlton charged ahead on lap three.  Those two, along with Alex Speed (Tony Kart), kept up a close race until Carlton pulled away for a 4 second victory, Neal landing 2nd, Speed 3rd and Gregory Leifooghe (Intrepid) DNF due to mechanical issues.

Carlton made it a sweep with a start-to-finish victory worth $3,000 in the Final.  Speed, Neal and Leifooghe, staged an entertaining battle for the remaining podiums.  Neal constantly challenged Speed for the 2nd spot, finally grabbing it on lap 11 to take the 2nd place $2,000 purse.  Speed held on for 3rd ($1,000); Leifooghe in 4th ($750).

Alex Speed KF2
The action was hot in KF2 all weekend, heat wins by three different pilots on Saturday set up a great Sunday showdown.  A front row of Chris Wehrheim (Top Kart) and Alex Speed (Tony Kart) brought the field off the line.  Tony Kart’s Joel Miller joined the mix at the top early on, as he and Speed would jump out in front of Wehrheim.  Miller would soon fade with mechanical issues, as Speed pulled away from the pack, taking the checkered flag.  Wehrheim took 2nd and Will Martindale (Tony Kart) – from the 7th position – would grab 3rd.

In the final Wehrheim would take an early lead on new tires, only to see pole sitter Speed get it right back.  Martindale, Richard Benitez (Kosmic), Miller and Brendan Phinney (Top Kart) shuffled early on for the top five positions.  Speed would begin to pull away, Wehrheim solid in second; separating from the field.  Speed would grab the victory and $3,000, with Wehrheim in second for $2,000.  Meanwhile a great battle took place for the final podium with Phinney and Benitez in a side-by-side drag race to the finish.  A thriller, Phinney would take the $1,000 3rd place prize by a slim 0.05 seconds, Benitez settling for 4th ($500) and Martindale rounding out the top 5 ($250).

Joey Licata Jr. IAME Sr.
IAME Sr. produced a big field and some of the best racing at the event.  In the pre-final, two false starts landed Andre Nicastro (ItalKart) and Timmy Bachman (Top Kart) in the front row; with Joey Licata Jr. (CRG) and Mason Marotta (Intrepid) bumped down a row.  Out of turn one Nicastro and Bachman would lead the pack, followed by Licata in 3rd and Marotta 4th.  In the second lap Licotta would jump Bachman and chase leader Nicastro.  Bachman would continue to slip as Cody Jolly (Tony Kart) and Michael Hogg (Top Kart) worked into the 3rd and 4th spots; and Neil McCoy (Top Kart) joined the mix.  Licotta ran down Nicastro and kept getting faster, leading the rest of the way for the victory.  Hogg took 2nd, when Nicastro let up on the throttle for 3rd place and the inside lane of the second row for the main event; McCoy and Marotta would outdistance the pack for 4th and 5th spots.

The action got better with each round – setting up a great main event in IAME Sr.  At the green flag Licata would get out in front; with Hogg, McCoy, Nicastro and Mike Herta (CRG) in the top group.  Plenty of shuffling in the lead group – Licata would drop back to 4th with Hogg taking the lead for a while.  The action would see Licata work his way back up to the front; Jolly and Neil Alberico (Top Kart) climbing into the fray.  As the race played out, a great battle for the 3rd spot between Alberico, Nicastro and McCoy took shape.  Consistently fast, Licata would run away and win the $2,500 purse to sweep Sunday’s IAME Sr. events.  Nicastro would lose power and fade; Hogg taking 2nd place and $1,500; Alberico earning $1000 for the final podium; McCoy 4th ($750) and Herta ($250) impressive at the 5th spot

Gustavo Menezes KF3
Always entertaining, the KF3 class showcased action-packed racing in the pre-final.  Gustavo Menezes (Tony Kart), building on two strong heat wins Saturday, came out of a bunched-up field with the lead early, with Nicholas Silva (Kosmic) and Taylor Miinch (Top Kart) two and three.  With the action heating up, Miinch would jump into 2nd and the top three would gain ground on the field.  Menezes kept the pace, progressively getting quicker and taking the checkered flag.  Silva would retire with mechanical problems.  Miinch placing 2nd; Tristan DeGrand (Kosmic) worked his way up to take 3rd; Alessandra Madrigal (Kosmic) landing 4th and Phil DeLaO (CRG) working through the pack to take 5th.

In the final, pole sitter Menezes would remain the racer to beat, with Miinch also on the front row.  At the green flag Menezes took the lead in turn three; Miinch in 2nd and DeLaO charging into the 3rd position, from the 5 spot.  The action would see Menezes immediately begin gaining ground as DeLaO and Miinch battled for 2nd and 3rd.  By the half way point Menezes was 3 seconds clear, DeLaO and Miinch tight in 2nd and 3rd; Madrigal and DeGrand rounding up the top 5.

DeGrand would push the pace, closing more every lap on Miinch and DeLaO –setting up a great nose to tail fight for 2nd place.  The white flag lap would see Menezes go uncontested for the victory and the class sweep.  DeLaO, DeGrand and Madrigal would put on a fantastic battle –arguably the best of the weekend.  DeLaO looked sharp to take 2nd, DeGrand bring home 3rd place, Madrigal taking 4th and Miinch holding onto 5th.

Taylor Miinch and Gustavo Menezes fight to the finish. Miinch would be penelized and moved to 2nd. IAME Junior
IAME Jr. featured not only Gustavo Menezes (Tony Kart) dominating another class, but also some tight racing from the top pilots and a few surprises.  Taylor Miinch (Top Kart) took the green flag lead with Louie Pagano (Birel) also out in front of Menezes, who started on the pole.  Soon Menezes would get comfortable, work past pace setters Miinch and Pagano to take the lead; Kiel Spaulding (Top Kart) and Tristan DeGrand (Kosmic) also in the top five.  With Miinch and Menezes out in front, the action unfolded in the next grouping as a handful of racers battled for the top 5.  Camden Geise (CRG), Phil DeLaO (CRG) joining Pagano, DeGrand and Spaulding in a 3 through 7 place battle.  At the finish line, Miinch kept it close but Menezes prevailed.  Pagano would earn 3rd place; Spaulding 4th; DeGrand 5th; Geise 6th and DeLaO working his way from 14th to grab 7th.

In the main event, two failed starts bumped Menezes and Miinch to the second row, with Pagano and Spaulding moving up to lead the 20 car field.  At the green flag a wild start put Spaulding out front.  When the dust settled, Pagano took the lead, Menezes in 2nd.  By the second lap, Miinch grabbed the lead with Pagano, Spaulding, Menezes and Geise 2nd through 5th.

By the mid-point, Spaulding would drop off with a spinout; Miinch would remain in the lead but Menezes gaining ground each lap.  With six laps to go, Miinch and Menezes started to pull away from the rest – Menezes gaining the lead after some hot bumper to bumper action – Miinch better in the turns, but Menezes besting him in the straights.  The final two laps provided one of the highlights of the weekend – Miinch and Menezes battling out in front; Pagano and Geise fighting just as hard for 3rd.  Miinch and Menezes came out of the final turn side-by-side – with Miinch first to the flag by 0.046 seconds.  However he would be penalized, moving him to 2nd place and handing Menezes his second sweep of the weekend.  Geise made a last lap move to take 3rd; DeGrand landing in 4th and Madrigal finishing in 5th place.

Zane Smith takes the checkered flag in a drag race to the finish Cadet
The Cadet class is always a crowd favorite featuring hot competition and great strategy – it held true to form at the Grand Prix of California.  The pre-final was red flagged on the second lap.  When racing resumed with a single file re-start, Slater Stowell, Brendan Baker (Nevoso) and Willy Axton (TopKart) making a fast top three.  Stowell and Baker would battle to the finish, with Baker besting Stowell by just 0.045 seconds; Axton in 3rd; Michael Womack (Birel) 4th; and Riley Reyes coming from outside the top 10 to round out the top 5.

The thrills kept coming in the Cadet Final, with Stowell and Baker in the front row to lead the 19-driver field.  Baker grabbed the lead on turn one; with seven drivers in the lead group.  Womack then worked his way up to take the top position from Baker; joined by Stowell in the top 3.  Typically tight racing, a lead pack of 8 went four and five wide at times.  With top spots changing fast and furious, Zane Smith (TopKart), Nick Ramirez and Davey Manthei joined the hunt for top spots.  Three deep out of the last turn, Smith would take the checkered flag in a drag race to the line; Ramirez in 2nd; Manthei lands 3rd; Stowell hung on to 4th; Baker in 5th.

Next up on the 2009 CKI schedule is the season finale, CKI Grand National Championship at Oklahoma Motorsports Complex, Norman, OK on October 9-11.  CKI then goes to the annual PRI Trade Show for the PRI/CKI Karting All-Star Classic in Orlando, FL on December 10.  Entries are now being accepted at the CKI’s website event page, offering racers an easy to use, one-stop portal to register for races.  Check it out at http://www.championshipkartracing.com.