STEAD, NV (May 7, 2023) — After the first race was canceled due to weather, the Northern Nevada Kart Club finally started its season. Cool weather greeted the racers for a full day of racing.
As usual the Kid Kart Class had the honor of opening the season. On the green Presley Prater was on point.
Soon he was replaced by by Cole Harris, who won the feature. Prater was second while Enzo Mendoza finished third.
Ending up 6th was 5-year-old MacKenzie Kephart, who was driving in her first race. She did manage to stay on the track and finished all seven of the laps.
Next up were the Shifter Class and on the green Zeke Corson took off followed by Mitch Kennedy and Steve Ryckebosch.
This later became a three-way duel for second while Corson extended his advantage very lap. At the end two karts had contact and were off the track below Turn 5.
At the checkered Corson won the race followed by Ryckebosch and Brooks Anderline, who has moved into the 125 Honda group which he won.
“That was good, the temperature is great which makes for a really mellow heats and a main so you could go for another 10 or 15 laps easy,” Corson said later. “Track’s nice, we’re running a little higher air pressure for the coolness but other than that, track’s never been better.”
Then he thanked his daughter Skylar, Morgan, Cody, Mitch, Rodney and all the others that have helped him.
Next class up is the Junior 1 group. These youngsters are up from the Kid Kart and working their way into the next class on the ladder.
Before the green even flew 2 karts were off the track but able to continue. Then, after the green another spun in Turn 1 but was also able to continue.
Up front the race belonged to Kayden Williams. The night before he won a 250cc Outlaw Kart main over in California.
In the end Williams ran away with the race followed by Kipton Bocci and Cash Prater, who finished second and third.
Asked about the race Williams said, “My two competitive buddies moved up so I’m alone now. When you’re in your marks and everything, when you’re alone like that and you don’t have competition, kind of run slower laps as you’re not chasing everybody.”
Then he thanked his father, who is the mechanic and everyone that helps them.
Next was the LO206 Heavy Class and on the green Kelsey Nelson was on point. Soon Brandon Arace took the lead with Nelson and Eric Kuzmachek close behind him.
Now it was a three-way duel for the lead. They finished in that order and the time spread between first and third was less than a second.
Asked about the pass that gave him the lead Arace said, “ it was down at the end of the straight at Turns1 & 2 on lap 2 or 3. I felt I had a good exit coming out onto the straight and I had the power.
“So I felt if I didn’t make the move now didn’t know when would be the time. Just stuck on the inside and Kelsey is a respectful racer so we stayed side-by-side with no touching.”
Then he thanked his father, who got him into kart racing and is the mechanic. Arace then thanked his family as well as Cole and Jeff Nelson for the great kart he’s racing.
Next was a very different race. It combines two classes, KA100 and KA100 Masters. On the parade lap pole sitter William Owen had his chain come loose.
He stopped right after Turn 6 then got out of the kart and eventually got it fixed. However his getting out of the kart while on the track disqualifies a driver.
In the race Owen took off and seemed headed for a clear victory. However when he arrived at the weight room they informed him of the disqualification.
Further back there was a long three-way duel for what appeared to be second but was actually for the lead. In the end Stevie Ray Rosario won the main followed by Caleb Mayer, who was only two tenths of a second in back of him and Steve Ryckebosch, who won the Master’s Class.
After finding out he won the race the delighted Rosario said, “I’m a second-generation racer. I fought through from fourth place, passed third down the straight into 1, passed second in Turn 1. Kart was so good and hooked up.”
Then he thanked his father for buying a brand new engine and his fiancee Melissa.
The Junior 2 main began with Cooper Perez being chased by Lucca Sweetland. Soon after that one kart went into the front straight wall but the diver was okay.
Up front Perez was leading while in back of him there was a four-way duel for second. After a few laps Carter Knight took over second.
When karts race each other it tends to slow them down. So the duel for second was allowing Perez to escape.
In the end Perez won with Knight in the runner up spot. Behind them Jeremy Heath ended up third while Bryce Benton was fourth.
Asked about running so far ahead Perez said, “After the race Perez said, “I’ve had pace on it and they were racing so I was able to pull a big gap. I just kept my head down the whole way.”
Then he thanked his parents, team and Invader Racing Engines, Jeff Nelson, Invader and Cole Nelson.
This season Super Stock is now Pro4cycle. On the green Rachel Williams took off with Ed Atkins giving chase.
As the race progressed it was clear that Williams was in the catbird’s seat and the guys were racing for second. At the checkered she won with Atkins second while Jimmy Johns and Alec Beaudoin were third and fourth.
“Oh boy, that was exciting as I’ve changed classes this year so it’s the first one in Super Stock. The karts are a little faster had a great time though.
“I actually had no idea where anybody was. I had them in my head they were right behind me and I just.
Then she thanked her son and husband for their support.
The race that ended the day had one of the closests finishes. One of the closest races of the day brought the curtain down on this round. When the LO206 Senior class got the green flag 13 karts headed toward Turn 1.
Soon it turned into a four-way duel for the lead. Lap after lap Gio Medina, Andrew Hitchcock, Brooks Anderline and Nathan Heath were a train ripping around the track.
Sometimes a very large blanket could have covered all of them. Going through the final corners they were nose-to-tail and the spread from first to fourth was just over a half second.
After the post race weigh in Giovanni Medina said, “They were really, really close. I think the secret is that they don’t pressure too much, stay calm as much as you can so you don’t make as much mistakes when you’re out on the track.”
Then he thanked his parents and friends that support him.
Next race for NNKC is June 4 and for further information please check, www.nnkcreno.com.
• On Sunday morning Reno Cars & Coffee had its first of the month meet. Location is by the Keitzke Starbucks.
Good weather made for a great turn out. Every thing from Exotic to regular in the parking lot and it appeared that at least 200 cars showed up but that might be an underestimate.
• From there several from the Reno Cars & Coffee event headed over to Summit Racing Parts in Sparks.
The occasion was the 4th Annual Sierra Nevada Zoological Park Charity Cruise. All the donations went to help the Park.
There was another good mix of cars and many got into the 50/50 raffle. Weather was almost perfect for the cruise.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Unfortunately due to computer problems Top Gun Dragstrip had to cancel its opening weekend. They should have the problem corrected by the next event.
• Registration is now open for the next BBMX event at Fernley Ninetyfivea Speedway. Good way to save some time that weekend.
- There is also a special sprint race added to the schedule. That round is hosted by the Reno Chapter of the Old Timers.
• For those going to participate in this year’s Mammoth Mountain Motocross event there has been a change in the date. This is due to the amount of snow and ice still in the area.
• Daveys Amercian Racing is usually on at 6 p.m. Wednesday evenings. One can see the show on Face Book and get into the chat was well.
Davey covers national series as well as racing in the western United States. His focus is on oval tracks.
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RESULTS:
Northern Nevada Kart Club – Round 1
Desert Park Raceway – May 7, 2023
Kid Kart:
- Heat Winners: #1 Cole Harris, #2 Cole Harris.
- Main (7-Laps): 1. Cole Harris, 2. Presley Prater,3. Enzo Mendoze, 4. Gwen Wright, 5. Brooks Morrisey, 6. MacKenzie Kephart.
Shifter:
- Heat Winners: #1 Zeke Corson, #2 Zeke Corson
– Main (12-Laps): 1. Zeke Corson, 2. Steve Ryckebosch, 3. Brooks Anderline, 4. Gerry Williams, 5. Jeff Wamre, 6. Sky Corson, 7. Turbo Sombatsiri, 8. Mitch Kennedy, 9. Gage Griego.
- (125 Honda) 1. Brooks Anderline, 2. Gerry Williams, 3. Sky Corson, 4. Turbo Sombatsiri.
- (125 Rok): 1. Zeke Corson, 2. Steve Ryckebosch, 3. Jeff Wamre, 4. Mitch Kennedy,5.Gage Griego.
Junior 1:
- Heat Winners: #1 Kayden Williams, #2 Kayden Williams.
- Main (12-Laps): 1. Kayden Williams, 2. Kipton Bocchi, 3. Cash Prater, 4. Jameson Morrisey, 5. Noah Manubi, 6. Trevor Graves, 7. Own Hanson, 8. Harrison Oziminski, 9. Drake Kephart.
LO206 Heavy:
- Heat Winners: #1 Brandon Arace, #2 Brandon Arace.
- Main (12-Laps): 1. Brandon Arace, 2. Kelsey Nelson, 3. Eric Kuzmachek, 4. Josh Prater, 5. Jeff Wamre (Heavy-212), 6. Jake Bruchette, 7.Derek Anderline, 8. Curtis Waggoner, 9. Jessia Mansfield, 10. Raymond Smithson,11. Jerry Stark,12.Rob Amster.
KA100/TAG:
- Heat Winners: #1 Gio Medina, #2 William Owen.
– Main (12-Laps):
- Main (12-Laps): 1. Stevie Ray Rosario, 2.Caleb Mayer, 3. Steve Ryckebosch, 4. Gio Medina, 5. Nathan Heath, 6. Douglas Stewart, 7. Mike McMullen, 8. Gerry Altamira, 9. Nat Sombatsiri.
- DQ: William Owen
-KA 100 Masters: Steve Ryckebosch, 2. Mike McMullen, 3. Gerry Altamira, 4. Nat Sobatsiri.
- KA100: 1. Stevie Ray Rosario, 2. Caleb Mayer, 3. Gio Medina, 4. Nathan Heath, 5. Douglas Stewart.
- DQ: William Owen.
Junior 2:
- Heat Winners: #1 IsaiahManubi, #2 Cooper Perez.
- Main (12-Laps): 1. Cooper Perez, 2. Carter Knight, 3. Jeremy Heath, 4. Bryce Benton, 5. Isaiah Manubi, 6. Tarron Graves, 7. Jeremiah Manubi, 8. Landon Warren, 9. Sebastian Sierra, 10. Lucca Sweetland, 11. Penny King.
Pro4Cycle (Super Sport):
- Heat Winners: #1 Rachel Williams, #2 Rachel Williams.
- Main (12-Laps): 1. Rachel Williams, 2. Ed Atkins, 3. Jimmy Johns, 4. Alec Beaudoin, 5. Jeremy Clark, 6. Damase Beaudoin, 7. Chris Echard, 8. Russell Rosario.
LO206 Senior:
- Heat Winners: #1 Brooks Anderline, #2 Brooks Anderline.
- Main (12-Laps): 1. Gio Medina, 2. Andrew Hitchcock, 3. Brooks Anderline, 4. Nathan Heath, 5. Austin Hawkins, 6. Ccarter Chaffey, 7. William Amster, 8. Jazz Manning, 9. Sassy McCormick, 10. Ethan Gustafsson, 11. Robert Amster, 12. Mia Smithson, 13. Kyle Harlan.
