The season’s final race is also when titles are clinched for any racing series.
STEAD (Oct. 2) – Desert Park Raceway echoed with the sounds of racing as the Northern Nevada Kart Club closed out its 2016 points season. Despite the wind and temperatures the racing was as hot as ever as championships were secured.
Usually each driver gets one throw away so if they have a bad race that isn’t counted against them. However this race, which was for double points, can not be dropped so competing was very important.
As the wind picked up and temperatures dropped the day ended with the F-80 shifters and two veterans returned to do battle with their younger counterparts.
“My kart handled like a dump truck,” Cody McKinney said after scoring a narrow victory in the F80 main. “It was a good day, it was handling good but I like perfect so to me it was far from perfect.”
Then he thanked “me, myself, and I,” as well as his son Colby.
This time the started didn’t use the normal lights but waved the green flag and sent the field off into Turn 1. On point was Jeremy Holm with McKinney and veteran Ben Fisher close behind.
Eventually McKinney got into the lead while Holm had his hands full fending off Fisher. Later Holm got free and closed to right off the back bumper of McKinney.
Going through the final complex of turns they were nose-to-tail but McKinney scored the victory with Holm right behind him while Fisher was a bit further back in third.
Heading for the checkered flag Cody McKinney just leads Jeremy Holm in the F80 main that ended NNKC’s season.
For Holm this was a title-winning run and after the race he said, “I was hoping we had those four more laps that got taken away from us, I mean it was a great race but I felt like I blew it when I let him by. That’s the best I’ve ever driving and Cody is a great driver, he’s been driving all year, almost every weekend and I just haven’t had that much competition this year.
Then he thanked Team Bankruptcy his tire sponsors, Kay Motorsport for their help all through the season, his father, who spent many hours working on the kart, his brother, Mom and dad’s girlfriend Mary.
Another close race was in the Tag Master’s race, which came down to a battle of brothers.
When the green waved Steve Ryckebosch took off with his brother Mike on his back bumper. Behind them Randy Ryckenbosch and Mike Mullen, who was second in points, started a race-long nose-to-tail duel for third.
Lap after lap the Ryckebosch brothers stormed around the track, usually inches apart. However after taking the white flag things changed.
The TAG Master’s race was a family affair with Steve Ryckebosch (17) leading his brother Mike until the final lap. Then Mike got the lead and scored the victory.
On the last lap there was a slight mistake made by Steve that gave his brother Mike a chance he needed to get past in Turn 3 for the lead.
TAG Masters had a race-within-a-race as there was a three way duel for third. Here Randy Ryckebosch (8) leads Mike McMullen (5), who eventually took the position with Randy Ryckebosch bringing up the rear.
In the end Mike scored the victory but Steve’s runner up spot should be enough for him to claim the victory. Behind them Mike McMullen managed to pull off a pass that gave him third dropping Randy Ryckebosch to fourth.
Asked about the pass Mike said, “He faltered a little bit and I got a pretty good run on him and made it stick going into Turn 3. Then we kind of checked out a little bit.”
Then he thanked Rodney at Nevada Kart Sport and Tom Cromer for their help.
The other winner in the race was in TAG Senior and that was Taylor McKinnon.
Stock Moto 125 main got off to a blistering start with Dean Andrews on point while Jeremy Kay was on his back bumper. For most of the race they cruised in formation only inches apart.
Further back Jeff Warmre was holding down a distant third while both leaders were increasing the gap between them.
With only a few laps to go Kay got a run was going to make his move in Turn 6. Unfortunately at that moment Andrews got sideways then came back toward the inside when his kart got traction.
The collision couldn’t been avoided and it sent Andrews off the track while Kay was able to continue and score the victory with Warmre coming home second.
After the race Kay explained what he saw to the officials who questioned both drivers and other observers that witnessed the incident.
Jeremy Kay came into the season expecting to win only one race but he won six times and earned the Stock Moto 125 title.
Then Kay said, “I got a run on Dean going on through Turn 5 and had the inside on him in Turn 6 and I felt he kind of turned down on me. I wanted to give him a clean pass and obviously I just don’t like winning like that. It’s been a really good season, it’s our sixth win now and we only came into this year expecting one race win and here we are at six.
Then he thanked everyone that helped him out this season.
This was actually the third race of seven and faced with the possibility of incoming weather the officials cut laps on the remaining four main events.
Senior LO206, which had the biggest car count, started the mains after qualifying. By then the weather was begin to turn with temperatures dropping and the wind picking up.
When the green waved Dean Andrews led points leader Zach Rivera and Nicholas Grossi. At that point is was a three way battle for the lead.
Soon it briefly became a four-way duel but then things got a bit crazy and Grossi was able to take the lead. Behind him there had been contact and Rivera had to drop out of the race.
If a driver loses that bumper it becomes a safety issue and they either drop out or are put out of the race.
After the scramble Grossi was left with a big lead and stormed his way to the win. Behind him Andrews was second while Gary Guzelis, who started second in points, came home third.
Nicholas Grossi on his way to winning the Senior LO206 main.
“Third to first, coming out of Turn 1 and 2 I setup first and second place where I could get on the inside of them when they went wide. I was able to stick it for second and then going into Turn 3 I got underneath first place, going up the hill I was able to have enough run on him to get him in Turn 5 going down the downhill,” Grossi said after the race.
He also noted the changing track conditions as temperatures were starting to drop from the morning.
“Jeez, I haven’t raced this kind of track since it was winter time. I came out her to practice for the KPX race just to see what the track would be like in cold conditions. I’ve got old tires on from Fresno KPX race and I was able to hold up with these guys and these locals are pretty fast, have more track time here than I do,” he said.
Then he thanked Cole Nelson, C&R Racing, Bob Grossi Construction, Grossi Fabrication, Grossi Electric and G&R Racing.
Running in the same race were the Heavy LO206 Class and that was won by Brud Beaudon with Jason Anderline second while Barry Barnwell finished third.
When the Junior 2 LO206 main began points leader Aiden Hawkins took off and left everyone in his dust. Behind him there was a three-way duel between runner up Jake Guzelis, Chase Dulude and Bryce Berry and they finished in that order.
Aiden Hawkins on his way to winning both the Jr. 2 LO206 main and class championship.
After the post race weigh in Hawkins said, “It was fun, I like racing here. It’s harder to be way out in the lead as I don’t have any pressure and I mess up sometimes. It feels amazing to be the champion.
Then he thanked the Nelsons from Invader Karts and his family.
Brooks Anderline on his way to winning the Jr. 2 LO206 main and class championship.
Another runaway came in the Jr. 1 LO206 main. On the green points leader Brooks Anderline took off while behind him a four-way duel for second was developing.
Eventually Boden Barnewll moved into second while Jack Schrady, Austin Hawkins and Brinley Barnwell were racing for third.
The cold was getting to him in the end as well his emotions. In fact Anderline’s family greeted him with a large banner celebrating his championship
Brooks Anderline celebrated his championship with a banner after he won the Jr. 2 main.
After regaining his composure and putting his cold hands inside his driving suit to warm his fingers he said, “It was really hard because the track was cold and was really slick so I was fighting the kart being really loose not wanting to turn. The tires started to get more grip as the race went on so the kart wasn’t as loose as it was at the beginning. This means I just keep moving up and going further.”
Then he thanked Cole Nelson Racing and his parents.
Once again there were three Kid Kart drivers on hand. During both heats Mia Wright was the winner despite some spins but after each she was able to catch and pass Tarron Graves.
However when the main began all three drivers, Graves, Wright and Alyssa Winters spun in Turn 2. Adults then rushed out to help them and got Graves going first.
Tarron Graves on his way to winning the Kid Kart main.
By the time Wright got going the distance was too great between her and Graves so she settled for second behind him while Winters wound up third.
The club also bid good-by to its long time flagman Dave Brandt. After 14-years on the flag stand, he’s stepping down but will flag for the last time when the KPX race is at the track in two weeks.
Now the club will total up all the points and prepare for the final race this year. Then begin to play for the awards banquet.
Note: There is a photo gallery after
OTHER RACING NEWS
- For those interested in the Rattlesnake Outlaw Karts there will be a rules meeting next Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Pizza Factory in Fallon.
Adults are welcome and for those that can’t be there they can send comments to outlawkartsfallon@yahoo.com.
• As NASCAR’s Chase winds down two series were at Dover this weekend. In Saturday’s Xfinity race Brendan Gaughan finished 13th after starting ninth.
In Sunday’s Sprint Cup event Kyle Busch was second while older brother Kurt wound up 15th.
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RESULTS
Northern Nevada Kart Club – Round 9
Desert Park Raceway – October 2, 2016
+ Kids Karts: 1. Tarron Graves, 2. Mia Wright, 3. Alyssa Winters.
+ Jr. 1 LO206: 1. Brooks Anderline, 2. Boden Barnwell, 3. Jack Schrady, 4. Austin Hawkins, 5. Brinley Barnwell, 6. Heavyn Hill, 7. Isaiah Nobles, 8. Landon Kwapich.
+ Jr. 2 LO207: 1. Aidan Hawkins, 2. Jake Guzelis, 3. Chase Dulude, 4. Bryce Berry.
DNF: Aidan Pigojott.
+ Sr. LO206: 1. Nicholas Grossi, 2. Dean Andrews, 3. Gary Guzelis, 4. Alec Beaudon, 5. Jacob Ciari, 6. Stephanie Callahan, 7. Nat Sombatsiri, 8. Rick Meleod.
DNF: Zach Rivera.
+ Heavy LO206: 1. Brud Beaudon, 2. Jason Anderline, 3. Barry Barnwell.
DNF: Tim Maddox.
+ TAG Masters: 1. Mike Ryckebosch, 2. Steve Ryckebosch, 3. Mike McMullen, 4. Randy Ryckebosch.
DNF: John Ryckebosch,Jeff Solvenson.
+ TAG Sr.: 1. Taylor McKinnon.
+ F80: 1. Cody Mckinney, 2. Jeremy Holm, 3. Ben Fisher, 4. Turbo Sombatsiri, 5. Kurt Holm.
DNF: Jeff Wamre, Ryan Holm.
+ Stock Moto 125: 1. Jeremy Kay, 2. Jeff Warmre.
DNF: Dean Andrews.
