STEAD, NV (April, 18) – The Northern Nevada Kart Club opened it’s 2021 season this weekend. It was a very good turn out for the season’s first race as 77 drivers were on hand. Desert Park Raceway can be altered for every event. This time it was a throw back as the club used the original configuration before the track was expanded.
The honor of starting the new season went to the youngest racers in the Kid Kart Class. While they aren’t racing for points they still are out there and for some just staying on the track is a victory. Up front Cash Prater was on point until Drake Kephart got past him.
Later Kephart spun out of the lead handing it back to Prater. A bit later Cayden Duncan took over the lead but had to pull off due to a problem, which an adult rushed over and fixed. That put Prater back on point and he was the first to reach the checkered flag.
While everyone that races gets a participation award the results don’t list them in numerical order. As the season progresses these youngsters will have opportunities to earn their racing spurs.
At least three races had place swapping and one of them involved the younger drivers in the class that comes when the move up from Kid Kart, the Junior 1 division.
The Junior 1 main took two attempts to start their main and on the second attempt the field got the green flag and roared off toward Turn 1. There was a bit of a scramble in the pack but everyone involved was able to get going again.
Up front Jeremiah Nobles was leading Kayden Williams and Jeremy Heath. Eventually Heath took over second then later, due to lap traffic, he took the point. With only a couple of laps to go the chase was on. In the end Nobles was able to reclaim the lead and finished just 3/10th of a second ahead of Heath.
Asked about the race Nobles said, “It was good, we were battling for first, on the third to last lap we were coming down the straight away and I hit lap traffic. Second got around me and I was on his bumper for two laps. On the last lap I got him in Turn 1 so I just held it and got through.” Then he thanked his grand parents, brothers, friends and Cole Nelson Racing.
Next class to have the younger drivers is Junior 2, these racers will graduate to what adult classes next. When the green waved past champion Brooks Anderline took off with Isaiah Nobles and Nathan Heath giving chase. All three finished in that order.
Another race that went down to the final lap was the Masters/Heavy main. During both heat races Kelly Chinander was the winner and then the green sent the main off she held the point. Actually she was leading a five-kart train.
Soon it became a two- kart duel for the lead as Eric Kuzemchak was right behind her. For the remainder of the race they had a nose-to-tail duel.
After taking the white flag Kuzemchak went for it and took the lead as they went through the Turn 1-2 complex. Still Chinander didn’t give up and while she had to settle for second at the end Kuzemchak won by just over 2/10th of a second.
After the post race weigh in he said, “I’m a Reno native and the Kart is number 68 named for 1868 when Reno was founded. I had to wait for the right moment, actually earlier today we had a heat that I made a mistake and it was not easy fighting these people trying to get back up there. So it was just biding our time, waiting for the right moment to pass. We may have gotten a entangled a little bit but it was like one of things ‘you’ve got to risk it for the biscuit.'”
Then he thanked the Invader Camp as they helped him change to a different sprocket that made the difference. Karts are chain driven so changing a sprocket is like changing a gear on a car.
Another race that went down to the final lap was the Senior LO206 class that had the largest field with 15 karts in it. After the green Isaac Bourque took the point with Matt Winfrey giving chase.Soon both leaders pulled a gap over the others and it was a two-kart duel. Behind them there was a three-way battle for third.After taking the white flag Winfrey finally was able to make the winning pass in the Turn 4 area dropping Bourque to second. Behind them Deehame Malone was third ahead of Alec Beaudoin and Jacob Ciari.
Back in the tech area Winfrey said, “I drive the 44y for Cole Nelson Racing, knew I had the speed and on last lap I knew I could make a pass. I was setting him up the whole race, felt like that was the perfect time to do it and got her done. Felt like we had the speed to win today. Patience was the key here, great racing, great teammates, good times.”
Only four racers took the green for the combined KA100/TAG race. Up front Adrik Owen was untouchable but behind him the KA100 Masters were in a three-way duel for their class lead.While Owen took the overall victory Nat Sombatsiri was able to gap the other two and won the KA100 victory.
Fastest of all is the Shifter class and all but one of them were driving 125cc karts. The exception was Skylar Corson, who apparently was seated in an F80 shifter kart.
The field was headed by Cabot Bigham, who has raced professionally for many years and now competes in Rallycross events. For him it’s a return to the way he started racing, in karts.The class uses a standing start and when the green lights came on Bigham was off with Jeff Wamre trying to catch him.In the end Bigham just ran away with the race while Wamre had to settle for the runner up spot while Gerry Williams ended up third.
After the race finished Bigham said, ” It was good, my first time doing a race out here in probably seven years. But I did a bunch of practice days before this. I think karting is my favorite way to stay in shape for racing Rallycross. So I was super eager to get back out here, especially after Covid because it was extremely boring for most of us.
“So to be able to turn laps and be around the race energy with all the people watching is pretty amazing. I’m out of breath but that was more karting than I’ve done in a long time but I had such a good time doing it.”Then he thanked his manager Cory, Swedetech engines and Alumnos chassis, which he’s very pleased with.
Finally the day ended with the Super Stock main. On the green all seven took off with Kory Williams on point.
Behind him Justin Heath was solo in second but there was a three-way duel for third. Eventually it became a two-way duel for third.Up front there was no catching Williams as he scored the victor and brought the day’s racing to a close. Behind him Heath was second a scant 2/10th of a second ahead of Edward Atkins.
Next race for NNKC is on Sunday, May 2 and they’ll use a longer configuration for Desert Park Raceway. For further information about the club and schedule please check their website at, www.nnkcreno.com.OTHER RACING NEWS:
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RESULTS: • Desert Raceway Park – April18
Northern Nevada Kart Club – Round 1
+ Kid Kart: Davey Jorgenson, Hunter Nelson, Drake Kephart, Cayden Duncan, Jameson Judd, Cash Prater, Dakota Holdiman.
+ Jr.1 LO206: 1. Jeremiah Nobles, 2. Jeremy Heath, 3. Kayden Williams, 4. Claire Thompson, 5. Samantha Jallo, 6. Wyatt Koch, 7. Skylar Gagna, 8. George Hitti, 9. Noah Nobles.
+ Jr. 2 LO206: 1.Brooks Anderline, 2. Isaiah Nobles, 3. Nathan Heath, 4. Brody Allyn, 5. Jack Foy, 6. Joseph Hitti.
+ KA100/TAG: 1. Adrik Owen (TAG), 2. Nat Sombatiri, 3. Troy Berry, 4. Michael McMullen.
+ Masters/Heavy: 1. Eric Kuzemchak, 2. Kelly Chinander, 3. Jacob Burchette, 4. Jeff Jallo, 5. Derek Anderline, 6. Matt Prater, 7. Rachael Williams, 8. Gerry Altaminra, 9. Jessica Mansfield, 10. Josh Prater.
+ Senior LO206: 1. Matt Winfrey, 2. Isaac Bourque, 3. Deehame Malone, 4. Alec Beaudoin, 5. Jacob Ciari, 6. Steve Dow, 7. Stevie-Ray Rosario, 8. Heavyn Hill, 9. Xiang Li, 10. Austin Hawkins, 11. Chris Echard, 12. Kyle Harlan, 13. Jonathan “Zach” Sievert, 14. Tommy Rosario, 15. Noah Kitchingman.
+ Super Stock: 1. Kory Williams, 2. Justin Heath, 3. Edward Atkins, 4. Brud Beaudoin, 5. Luke Anderson, 6.Jimmy Johns, 7 Paul Picotte.
+ Shifter: 1.Cabot Bigham, 2. Jeff Wamre, 3. Gerry Williams, 4. Skylar Corson, 5. Henry Damas, 6. Adam Auerbach, 7. Zeke Korson.
