STEAD, NV (April 21) — With almost perfect weather the Northern Nevada Kart Club staged the first round of its 2024 season. Racing with a new compound tires offered a challenge but the drivers seemed pleased with them..
After two sets of heat races and an intermission it was time for the main events. Since the shortest course was used there were more laps for the heats and mains.
Leading off was the Kid Kart class and their main was 10-laps long. These are the next generation of racers driving low power karts and they use a standing start.
When the green lights went on Noah Beauregard, who won both heats took off. He just ran away with the race and claimed the victory followed by Brooks Morrisey and Ryan Knight.
Next main was for the Junior 1 Rookie class. This has the newest racers that have just stepped up from Kid Karts so it’s safer for them while they adjust to the higher speeds and their main was 10-laps.
On the green Drake Kephart took off and left everyone in his wake as he raced to claim the victory. Bryce Holdon was the runner up followed by Paisley Purdy and Gunner Yochum,
The Junior 1 Class had a 16-lap main as did the rest of the classes. On the green Kipton Bocchi was on point with Cash Prater and Axel Tibbs close behind.
Soon it became a two-way duel for the lead as Bocchi and Prater stormed around the track. Eventually Prater took the lead and would reach the finish with just over a second and a half margin ahead of Bocchi.
After the race Prater said, “I got in the lead I think I came up on him on the straightaway and passed him on the inside. I was just like, ‘don’t screw this up and you got this.’”
Then he thanked Cashed Out Racing, his father and his family.
Then it was time for the fastest class, the 125 shifters. On the start Mitch Kennedy got off the line with Zeke Corson giving chase.
Soon the Kennedy/Carson duel was making a small gap ahead of the pack, led by Jeff Wamre. Within a few laps Corson got the lead and was being chased by Kennedy.
The winning margin was five seconds as Corson took the win and Kennedy was the runner up. Behind them Wamre was third and Gerry Williams ended up third, the highest place driver using a Honda motor while the leaders used the ROK motos.
Asked about the race Corson said, “That was good, I blew the start, damned near almost stalled it, then had to make up lost ground. I got Mitch in between three and four.
“He had a small mistake in three and gave me an opportunity to capitalize on it. It’s been a long cold winter and I haven’t had any time to drive since the last race so it’s good to be back. Always want to thank my daughters for supporting me in all this.”
He added that he hopes his daughter that raced will race again. Then he thanked Mitch, Matt and Cody, who he said is his number one supporter.
One group is made up of three classes and that is the KA100, KA100 Masters and TAG. When the green waved Giovanni Medina took off with fellow KA100 racer Stevie Ray Rosario in hot pursuit.
Unfortunately KA100 Master racer Mike McMullen had problems and was off the course after Turn 2. Up front Medina, who won both heats, just keep extending his lead while further back Ben Fisher was heading the KA100 Masters Class.
At the finish Medina scored the win followed by Rosario and Douglas Stewart. In the KA100 Masters Class Fisher ended up fourth while the only TAG racer was Albert Diaz, who finished sixth.
After the post-race weigh in Medina said, “The race was really good, like the go kart was like amazing. We finally actually got it dialed down to the point like where I like it. The track is good, especially with the new compound, it’s a lot softer and it’s a lot faster.
Then he thanked his parents plus his family and friends.
The Heavy 206 class had the largest field as 16 racers took the green and raced into Turn 1. Up front Nathan Heath, Steve Dow and Eric Kuzemchak were the lead trio.
Soon everyone spread out and Kuzemchak took second with Dow close behind him. As the laps progressed Heath extended his lead while there was nose-to-tail duel for second.
Heath would cruise to victory. On the final lap Dow took over second and reached the checkered flag about 4/10ths of a second ahead of Kuzemchak.
After the weigh-in and before going to the Table of Doom, where karts are checked, Heath was asked about the race.
“It wasn’t easy and pretty stressful,” he said. “Just being alone, I never want to look back but if I do look back and see there is no one behind me I’ll start messing up.
“So I try not to look behind me so I don’t mess up. So I look ahead and not screw up at all.”
Then he thanked his parents and family as well as Cole Nelson for his wonderful four or five-year old kart and Invader Racing Engines.
The older group of young racers are in the Junior 2 Class.. They are working their racing skills for when they can move up in a class.
It took a bit to get everyone into the proper formation and when the green waved Landen Warren took off with Isaiah Manubi not far behind him.
Soon it was a three-way duel for the lead with Warren leading Bryce Benton and Isaiah Manubi. Eventually they spaced out during the middle of the 16-lap main event.
Later Benton used an outside move to claim the lead in Turn 1. Then a little bit later Manubi took the point with Warren and Benton following. They would finish in that order.
After winning Manubi said, “So I just tried to stick around them as long can, waiting for someone to make a mistake. One tried passing each other, I caught up and went around both of them coming out of Turn 2.”
The he thanked his Memo, brothers, Cole and everyone that has been helping him.
The Pro 4-Cycle main had seven racers take the green. Up front Jacob Ciari took off with Zach Sievert and Alec Beaudion giving chase.
Cairi soon put a gap between himself and Sievert. Behind them it was a four-way duel for third.
At the end Cairi took the checkered, Sievert ended up second while Alec Beaudion finished third ahead of Brud Beaudion.
“That was a good race, it’s my birthday so it makes it that much better. I did some basic stuff to it so it came alive.”
Then he thanked Alec for finding him a wonderful place to stay and the Beaudoin family. Ciari lives in San Jose, California and travels here to race with NNKC.
Final main was in the Senior LO206 Class. When the green waved 14 racers took of with Matt Winfrey leading Brooks Anderline and Nathan Heath.
Several laps later there was a lead change with Anderline taking the point, but the top trio kept roaring around the track passing any lappers they encountered.
In the final couple of laps the lead trio encountered two lappers that were side-by-side racing each other for position. The result was a scramble in Turn 2 that changed the finish.
Brooks Anderline was able to get through that and kept the lead he had. Unfortunately Winfrey and Heath were out of the race. Gioanni Medina ended up second while Carter Chaffey was a distant third.
After the race Anderline, who was also celebrating his birthday, said, “I think I got into the lead around lap 10. We were riding and I was trying to push him away from the guy in third but we weren’t pulling.
“I could feel he was holding me up. I knew I had top end so I could get in there in 1 and 2 and made the pass.”
Asked about that scramble at the end he said, “Oh man, that was a mess. I mean those two were battling side-by-side. Honestly they should have done a better job of making sure they stayed out of the leaders way. Sucks for the guys that guys that got wrecked in it. But you know, stuff happens, racing is racing.”
Then he thanked Cole Nelson Racing, Invader Racing Engines and parents.
Next race for NNKC will be on Sunday, May 5 and as usual there is practice on Saturday. Some NNKC racers will be heading over the hill next weekend for Round 2 of the Gold Rush series.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• This week’s Trucks & Tacos of Northern Nevada is traveling to Carson City. As usual the mee5 begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and the location is Tapueeia Alonso located at 2391 Highway 50 by the General Store.
• This Saturday and Sunday is the Virginia City Grand Prix. Pros, Experts and Amateurs race Saturday and Novice, Women and other classes go on Sunday. Starting times for both days is 10 a.m. so be sure to get there early.
• For you drifting fans and competitors Club Rowdy is having the Spring Fling Drift Party this coming weekend. Location is the road course at Reno-Fernley Raceway and the event starts Friday and goes through Sunday.
• Davey’s American Racing is found on Face Book. His focus is on western oval tracks as well as national series.
He recently started his broadcasts so to check Face Book around 6 p.m. Wednesday.
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There is medical that covers visits to the ER, ambulance rides and if a person has to stay in a hospital. In addition trailers as well as tools and tools in shops can be covered with additional policies.
If Kelby isn’t available the other guys at his office will be very happy to explain what they can offer both to racers and those enjoying motorized recreation.
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• The next shop is Moto-Source located at 3180 Mill Street. Once again they are a full service shop plus the showroom has about any thing a rider might need or want.
The phone number is 775-856-3855 and the website is,www.moto-source.com.
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Owner Brian Saul is a car enthusiast himself and is committed to continuing the shop’s reputation of quality work. Phone number is 775-329-4557 and the website is, www.concoursbodyshop.net.
• Hungry, want a great place to eat, then try PJ&CO for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and it’s a great place to watch your favorite sports. Wednesday evenings, starting around 5 p.m. is Bike Night, good time to meet fellow riders and have a great dinner.
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RESULTS
Northern Kart Club – Race 1 2024
Desert Park Raceway – April 21, 2024
Kid Kart:
- Heat Winners – #1 Noah Beauregard, #2 Noah Beauregard.
- Main (10-Laps): 1. Noah Beauregard, 2. Brooks Morrisey, 3. Ryan Knight, 4. Presley Prater, 5. Enzo Mendoza, 6. Mackenzie Kephaert, 7. Claire Morrisey.
Junior 1 Rookie:
- Heat Winners – #1 Drake Kepharet, #2 Drake Kephart.
- Main (10-Laps): 1. Drake Kephart, 2. Bryce Holdon, 3. Paisley Purdy, 4. Gunner Yochum.
- DQ – Jesse Shriver.
Junior 1:
- Heat Winners: #1 Kipton Bocchi, #2 Kipton Bocchi.
- Main (16-Laps): 1. Cash Prater, 2. Kipton Bocchi, 3. Axel Tibbs, 4. Owen Hanson, 5. Harrison Oziminski, 6. Jameson Morrisey, 7. Cole Harris, 8. Hunter Nelson, 9. Alex Gustin, 10. Kayden Duncan, 11. Noah Manubi.
Shifter:
- Heat Winners – #1 Mitch Kennedy, #2 Zeke Corson.
- Main ( Overall -16-Laps): 1. Zeke Corson, 2. Mitch Kennedy, 3. Jeff Wamre, 4. Gerry Williams, 5. Turbo Sombatsiri, 6. Javier Avila, 7. Jesse Goodrum, 8. Jeremy Koth, 9. Kevin Jerome, 10. Brooks Anderline.
- (ROK): 1. Zeke Corson, 2. Mitch Kennedy, 3. Jeff Wamre, 4. Jesse Goodrum.
- (Honda): 1. Gerry Williams, 2. Turbo Sombatsiri, 3. Javier Avila, 4. Jeremy Koth, 5. Kevin Jerome, 6. Brooks Anderline.
KA100/TAG:
- Heat Winners: #1 Giovanni Medina, #2 Giovanni Medina.
- Main (Overall 0 16-Laps): 1. Giovanni Medina, 2. Stevie Ray Rosario, 3. Douglas Stewart, 4. Ben Fisher, 5. Nat Sombatsiri, 6. Albert Diaz, 7. Cody McKinney, 8. Mike McMullen.
- KA100 Masters: 1. Ben Fisher, 2. Nat Sombatsiri, 3. Cody McKinney, 4. Mike McMullen.
- KA100: 1. Giovanni Medina, 2. Stevie Ray Rosario, 3. Douglas Stewart.
- TAG: 1. Albert Diaz.
Heavy LO106:
- Heat Winners: #1 Nathan Heath, #2 Nathan Heath.
- Main (16-Laps): 1. Nathan Heath, 2. Steve Dow, 3. Eric Kuzemchak, 4.Kelsey Nelson, 5. Derek Anderline, 6. Jake Burchette, 7.Josh Prater, 8. Jeff Wamre, 9. Ron Dumnie, 10. Jessica Mansfield, 11. Kyle Harlan, 12. Tim Henke, 13. John Morrissey, 14. Eric Bringuel, 15. Mike Foster.
- DQ Rob Amster.
Junior 2:
- Heat Winners: #1 Isaiah Manubi, #2 Landen Warren.
- Main (16-Laps): 1.Isaiah Manubi, 2. Landen Warren, 3. Bryce Benton, 4. Jeremy Heath, 5. Phoenix Ciocrciari, 6. Jeremiah Manubi, 7. Mason LaValley, 8. Tripp Yochum, 9. Tyler Hanson.
Pro 4-Cycle:
- Heat Winners: #1 Jacob Ciari, #2 Jacob Ciari.
- Main (16-Laps): 1. Jacob Ciari, 2. Zach Sievert, 3. Alec Beaudion, 4. Brud Beaudoin, 5. Chris Echard, 6. Jeremy Clark, 7. Raymond Smithson.
Senior LO206:
- Heat Winners: #1 Brooks Anderline, #2 Matt Winfrey.
- Main (16-Laps): 1. Brooks Anderline, 2. Giovanni Medina, 3. Carter Chaffey, 4. William Amster, 5. Evan Cooley, 6. Sassy McCormick, 7. Mia Smithson, 8. Penny King, 9. Jazz Manning, 10. Lucas Lemaire, 11. Joseph Huet, 12. Matt Winfrey, 13. Nathan Heath.
– DQ: Sebastian Sierra.
