CKI Florida Cup Presented by DFR and Supertune USA Round 1 Race Report

After a very short off-season, following the 4th Annual PRI CKI All-Star Karting Classic, Championship Karting International officially opened its 2010 season this weekend at the Homestead Karting facility, launching Round 1 of the CKI Florida Cup, presented by DFR and Supertune USA. After a successful day of Practice Friday, followed by the CKI Hosted BBQ, the Drivers of the seven classes were poised and ready to start the racing action, vying for their share of over $130,000 in cash and prizes.

International Drivers from as far away as Russia and Norway, along with teams from around the country came out to compete in CKI’s unique mix of Rotax, KF, and American Leopard Categories. The able staff at Homestead Karting offered their usual hospitality, pulling out all the stops to ensure all attendees were comfortable and well attended to.

Introducing a one-of-a-kind prize package, CKI displayed the 2010 Mazda 3 that will be awarded to the Champion of Rotax Senior, and announced a Contingency Package that included cash and products from partners such as LEATT Brace, T.D.C. Sprockets, On Track Promotions, and D.I.D Chain, in addition to the large prize package for the drivers, and Incentive Cash Awards for the Teams.

RDD Motorsports Rotax Junior

Alessandra Madrigal The weekend action opened with the Rotax Junior Category, sponsored by RDD Motorsports. Saturday, the day belonged to Sebastian Ordonez, who not only put his Kart Mini on the pole, but dominated both the Pre-Final and the Final. But the action was heavy just behind Ordonez in Saturday’s 20-lap Final, as a three-kart battle of Dore Chaponick, (DFR Alonso Kart), Alessandra Madrigal, (J3 Competition Kosmic), and Ethan Ringel, (TonyKart). The three drivers exchanged positions, keeping the crowd on their feet the entire race, with Madrigal taking the second position behind Ordonez, and Chaponick taking the third step on the podium.

Sunday’s action was just as exciting, as although Ordonez again took the pole, he failed to finish the Pre-Final, which was won on a wet track by Jesus Rios Jr., (Homestead Karting/Playthings Racing CRG). In Sunday’s Final, the crowd was entertained with Ordonez charging through the field, and Madrigal and Rios in a classic battle, that was one of the best races of the weekend. Battling the entire race, either of the two could take the win, but with two laps remaining, Madrigal took the point, holding on for the win, with Rios coming in second, and a hard charging Ordonez rounding out Sunday’s Podium.

With the CKI Florida Cup’s unique Event Point System, where Drivers accumulate points throughout each Event Weekend crowning a Champion for the Event, Madrigal now leads the points chase in the RDD Motorsports Rotax Junior Category, taking home $700 in prize money for her weekend efforts, with Ordonez second, and Rios rounding out the top three.

Arie Ouimet Rotax Senior

With a number of well known drivers, Rotax Senior provided phenomenal racing throughout the weekend, all looking for their chance to take home the series prize in the class, the 2010 Mazda3. Starting off with the qualifying efforts of Richard Benitez, (J3 Competition Kosmic), who was the only driver to break into the 47-second range in Rotax Senior both days. Benitez would carry that position through the Pre-Final Saturday with the win, only to have his hands full in Saturday’s 25-lap Final with the likes of Arie Ouimet, (SSC East CRG), Taylor Miinch, (Grand Products Top Kart), Joey Wimsett, (SSC East CRG), and Marco DiLeo, (Goodwood Kartways Intrepid Canada). Starting from third, but dropping to 5th early on, Ouimet would fight his way back up the field in a hurry, catching Benitez within 10-laps, to put on a great battle for the lead. Meanwhile just behind, DiLeo and Wimsett put on a show of their own, displaying thrilling, clean racing to the checkered, while Miinch applied pressure to Ouimet. Ouimet would take the win but only by 0.162 seconds over Miinch, who was followed by Wimset, Dileo, and Benitez to round out the top 5.

Sunday, Benitez would again take the pole in qualifying early on as rain started to fall mid-way through the qualifying session, forcing drivers to retire their sessions early to accept their dry lap times. Ouimet came in second, followed by Alex Speed, (Tony Kart Florida), Phil DeLaO, (Grand Products Top Kart), and Jarvis Gennari, (Tony Kart) rounding out the top five. In Sunday’s Final, Ouimet took the top spot in the first lap, and never looked back, spreading his lead from Speed. As the two lead the race, Benitez and Miinch would delight the crowd with a race-long battle for the final podium spot, with Benitez assuming third just past half-way. At the checkered, Ouimet claimed the victory by just over 3-seconds over Speed, followed by Benitez, Miinch, and the Tony Kart of Jarvis Genari.

Ouimet’s double win placed him at the top of the CKI Florida Cup points in Rotax Senior and the leader thus far for the series-ending 2010 Mazda3, with Benitez second, and Miinch third.

SSC East Rotax Mini

Jordan Perry In a field of eighteen, the Rotax Mini drivers, impressed the spectators with their usual tight battles throughout the entire weekend. Starting off on Saturday, Dalton Sargeant, (RDD Motorsports Kart Mini) would be the only driver to break into the 49-second range, putting himself on pole, continuing his dominance in the Pre-Final. In Saturday’s 16-lap Final, Sargeant would take the early lead and never look back. However, the thrilling battle between Jordan Perry, (Homestead Karting Playthings Racing CRG), Logan Sargeant, (RDD Motorsports Kart Mini), Ashley Rogero, (Tony Kart Florida), and Kyle Kirkwood, (DFR Alonso Kart) was the race to watch early on Switching positions in this early charge, the four impressed the crowd with their clean, close racing. Perry broke away from the group first to solidify second, followed by Kirkwood to round out the podium, then Logan Sargeant fourth and Rogero fifth.

Sunday’s SSC East Kart Mini proceedings proved to be a completely different set of circumstances as the rain fell just as the drivers lined up to take the track for Qualifying. After a short delay, granted by the Officials to switch to rain set-up, the drivers took to the completely wet track for their Qualifying, with Patrico O’Ward, putting his Arrow Kart on pole. Perry made his way to the front for the win in the Pre-Final, which was back in dry conditions. In Sunday’s 16-lap Final Sebastian Coulsen, (RDD Motorsports Kart Mini) took the early lead over Perry, only to have Perry take it back three laps later. Although Perry maintained his position, he was under constant pressure from the battle between Coulson, Kirkwood, Logan Sargeant, and Rogero.. This battle would continue throughout the race as one of the best fights of the weekend, with Dalton Sargeant (RDD Motorsports Kart Mini) joining the scrap mid-way through the race. Perry took the win, but only by 0.088 seconds over Logan Sargeant, with Kirkwood third, and Dalton Sargeant and Coulson rounding out the top five.

At the end of the weekend, Perry found himself atop the SSC East Rotax Mini points tally with Dalton Sargeant second, and Logan Sargeant third.

Tristan DeGrand Grand Products KF3

With five of the 2009 CKI KF3 Top-10 returned for the 2010 season, the Grand Products KF3 Category provided the same great racing that was witnessed throughout last season. Saturday, CKI National Champion, Tristan DeGrand, (J3 Competition Kosmic) starting the season atop the charts with a pole position in Qualifying. DeGrand would continue his lead through the Pre-Final over Camden Geise, (SSC East CRG), with Jesse Lazare (PSL Karting CRG) third. In Saturday’s Final DeGrand would take the early lead, never giving it up, with Geise following. True to the history of KF, the racing was evenly matched, with Alessandra Madrigal (J3 Competition Kosmic) and RC Enerson, (Anderson Racing Birel) would battle towards the end of the Final with Enerson taking the third step of the podium.

Sunday’s results were quite different, however with Lazare taking the pole in Qualifying and the win in the Pre-Final, but only over a slim margin over DeGrand. Sunday’s 20-lap Final was a change in the tide from Saturday. Prior to the Start, DeGrand experienced technical problems, causing the race to be started with DeGrand not up to speed (and eventually retiring after 4-laps). Up in the front, however an epic battle between Lazare, Madrigal, Geise and Norwegian pilot Dennis Olsen, (Energy Corse). At the halfway point, Olsen would take the lead from Lazare and spread the lead comfortably for the win. Geise came home second with Madrigal rounding out the podium.

The chain of events from Saturday to Sunday separates point leader DeGrand and second place Geise by only 5-points. Olsen’s Sunday win placed him third in the points chase.

KF2

Alex Speed The action in KF2 was tight right from the start in Saturday Qualifying with the top three being separated by only a tenth of a second. Nicholas Madsen, (Energy Corse) would take the pole, but only by a tick over Phillip Orcic, (J3 Competition Kosmic), making the step up to Senior, and Alex Speed, (Tony Kart Florida). In the Pre-Final, Speed continued the pressure throughout the race on Madsen, with Orcic close behind in third. Madsen would take the victory, but by only 0.078 seconds over Speed. In Saturday’s 25-lap Final, however, Russian Pilot, Sergey Sirotkin (Energy Corse) would take the early lead from Orcic, setting up a battle that included 2009 CKI KF2 Champion Arie Ouimet, (SSC East CRG). Orcic took back the lead on lap 9, getting under Sirotkin, while Ouimet followed to take second. Orcic extended his lead over Oiumet, taking the win, with Madsen coming home third.

Sunday’s KF2 action placed Speed, Ouimet, and Madsen in a battle early on in the 25-lap Final. Speed and Madsen’s battle broke away from Ouimet, who was comfortably in third, but carried on throughout the race. Speed crossed the line first, with only a 0.871 second lead over Madsen, with Ouimet solidly in third.

The change in positions between the KF2 Pilots, finds the series points chase with Speed leading, taking home a $1,500 check for his first position in the Event, followed closely by Madsen and Orcic.

Dan Wheldon Leopard Senior

With $1,000 check on the line for the Event Winner of Leopard Senior, each session proved exciting with battles throughout the top 3. Dan Wheldon, (BTK Motorsports Arrow), Taylor Miinch, (Grand Products Top Kart), and William Isaias, (Corsa Racing Kart America) shared the top three in each Session.

Starting the weekend, Miinch made the first statement by qualifying on pole on Saturday. Wheldon would win the Pre-Final, only to cross the scales light, turning the win over to Miinch, with Isaias second and James Winslow third. In Saturday’s Final, Wheldon and Miinch would swop the top spot throughout the entire 25-laps, but Miinch would cross the line in front. An Official’s decision would asses a 3-second penalty to Miinch, in turn handing the win to Wheldon, with Miinch second and Isaias third.

Sunday’s action was just as competitive, however with Qualifying being conducted in wet conditions. Miinch would take the point in Qualifying with James Winslow, (Zanardi USA) second, and Wheldon third. The Pre-Final was another great back-and-forth between Miinch and Wheldon, with the win going to Miinch.and Isaias third. Sunday’s 25-lap final would not see Miinch take the start due to an early start to make it home for school Monday, allowing Wheldon to secure a double win weekend. Gianni Alexandria, (J3 Competition Kosmic) would come across second, due to an early retirement by Isaias, who was scored in third.

From Wheldon’s double win, he secured the top spot in the points battle after the Round 1 CKI Forida Cup, along with the $1,000 check for the Event win; with Miinch second, and Isaias third.

Rotax Masters

Eduardo Martins (L) and Rico Campos (R) Rounding out the Event schedule, Rotax Masters displayed camaraderie in usual Masters style. Saturday, Todd Ulmen, (Homestead Karting Playthings Racing CRG) immediately set the pace, by taking the pole in Qualifying, but by only 0.07 seconds over Eduardo Martins, (Tony Kart Florida). Ulmen would continue his dominance in the Pre-Final. In the Final, Martins and Ulmen would take a few laps of close exchanges, however the day belonged to Ulmen as he began to pull away from Martins, who finished second. Behind the two, Rico Campos, (Arrow), and Fabian Valencia, (PCR) gave a great show, switching positions the entire Final, with Campos bringing home the final step on the podium.

Sunday Qualifying met the drivers with wet conditions, but Martins found the speed to take the pole position over Jaime Zuleta, (JDL Distributing First Kart), with Ulmen third. In the Pre-Final, Ulmen would drop back from traffic in the opening corners, but eventually work his way up to second to challenge Martins. Laps ran out, and Martins took the Pre-Final win, with Ulmen second, and Valencia third. In Sunday’s 25-lap Final Martins led wire-to-wire. Ulmen came home second, with Campos third.

After Round 1 of the CKI Florida Cup, Martins assumed the points lead, but only a tick over Ulmen, with Campos third.

With the completion of Round 1 of the CKI Florida Cup, presented by DFR and Supertune USA, the one-of-a-kind Participation Incentive Awards are also starting to take shape. CKI created the Participation Incentive Awards to give back to the Teams and Drivers for their participation.

At the top of the $2,500 Cash “Driver Most Top-10” Award, Arie Ouimet leads the standings with his consistent podiums for both Rotax Senior and KF2, both Saturday and Sunday.

The Team thus far with the “Most Podium Finishes”, which at the completion of the CKI Florida Cup Series, will be paid in Cash to the tune of a whopping $7,500, is J3 Competition Race Department. Their drivers’ combined efforts brought four podium finishes for the team to put J3 at the top of the standings.

The Cash Prize of $2,500 to the “Team with the Most Entries” standings finds Homestead Karting Playthings Racing at the top after Round 1.

After a successful Round 1, CKI is completing the preparations for Round 2, February 26-28. Entries are already being received, as the storylines are set from the first round of competition, and Drivers express their desire for over $130,000 in Cash and Prizes. Entries and updated information can be found at http://www.ChampionshipKartRacing.com.