STEAD, NV (Aug. 18) – Desert Park Raceway hosted the final round of this year’s KPX series. Unlike the other rounds it was a night race and the NNKC (Northern Nevada Kart Club) was the host club.
NNKC President Rodney Rivera was pretty pleased with the turn out. He explained that in the last two visits there had been from 89 to 90 karts but this time there were 115.
After practice, qualifying and the 14-lap pre mains it was time for a dinner break. After that all the classes got ready for their 22-lap main events.
First up was the Jr. 1 Briggs 206 division. On the green Logan Chambers was on point with Jack Shrady close behind.
At the end of the straight there was a sign telling the racers how fast they were going and at one time these two hit 56 miles an hour.
The lead duo of Chambers and Shrady were being chased by Brooks Anderline and this trio soon separated itself from the pack. Eventually Shrady took the lead only to lose it then regain it back a few laps later.
Heading for the victory in Junior 1 Briggs/206 Jack Shrady is chased by early leader Logan Chambers.
Later they would encounter lap traffic and that seemed to work in Shrady’s advantage although once the leaders were past it they closed ranks again. In the end Shrady claimed the victory followed by Chambers and Anderline.
After the post race weigh in and receiving congratulations Shrady said, “The lap traffic helped a little bit but I knew he was on my back bumper and I knew I couldn’t let him get by me, especially on that last lap, it was very nerve wracking. He passed me in 1 then I just hung back a little bit, then I got a run on him and I passed him, but that was like four laps later then I just held it for the rest of the race.
Then he thanked his father, Art, who tuned his kart and Rodney Rivera from Nevada Kart Sport.
Next up was the smallest division of the night, the Senior LO206 Heavy.
When the green waved Kyle Abbas was on point with Brandon Apodaca and Tyler Agan close behind him. Just as little ways into the race and Agan took over second then set his sights on the leader.
After taking the around the half-way point Agan started to put a gap between himself and second place Abbas, who was chased by Apodaca, now in third.
In the end it was Agan, who won the previous KPX rounds clinched the class championship. He was followed across the finish line by Abbas, Apodace and David McDowell.
“Once I got a clean move as my kart came in really late, I took it. Track is all right and this kart is really heavy.” Agan said.
Then he thanked his team Agan Motor Sports and his family.
Largest field of the night was in Junior 2 Briggs 206 where 27 karts took the green flag.
The largest field of the night was in the Junior 2 Briggs 206 division. There were 27 karts that took the green although one kart spun in Turn 2, and somehow everyone missed him.
After the field reformed they were given the green and the race was on. Up front four karts were dueling for the lead and on the second circuit Jacob Smith took the point, while behind the leaders there was a three-way duel for third.
Then Issac Bourque took the lead about half way into the race then the lead duo just checked out from the pack. Behind them Cain Fredricks took over third followed by Boen Barnwell and Matt Winfrey.
Issac Bourque had to hold off a determined Jacob Smith to win the Junior 2 Briggs/206 main.
But up front Bourque wasn’t about to be denied and held off Smith to claim the victory.
“Me and the 11 (Smith) were running consistently and I knew that we’re breaking away from the pack, Bourque said. “I didn’t expect to pass right there but it ended up happening.”
Then he thanked Cole Nelson Racing, his fellow competitors and those that came out to support him. One special person was his Nana as you could hear her shouting encouragement every time Bourque went past.
Up next was the KA100 class and on the green Zack Rivera was on point with Harrison Mills and Jason Pettit close behind. Soon however Mills took over the lead and the chase was on.
Later in the race Rivera suffered a chain failure and was sidelined on the hill going to the top of Turn 5. This gave Mills a huge lead but Pettit was doing his best to close that gap.
For the points leader Rivera is was especially disappointing as Desert Park Raceway is his home track. But he had enough of a points lead that the won the class championship.
While Mills did win Pettit, who was second, cut the gap to less than three seconds at the finish. Alex Keys ended up third ahead of Aaron Heathman and fifth place Luis Perez.
“That was a great race, Zack was pushing out there and I knew we were going to have a good battle,” Mills said. “About half way through the race I looked back and he was gone. I saw I had a gap and knew from there I just needed to put my head down, not make any mistakes and bring it to the end.”
Then he thanked Patrick Newton from Karting Concepts for his kart, mechanic Sonny and the Pettit family that helped him. He and runner up Pettit were racing as a team.
After the green waved on the 18-kart field racing in the 206 Briggs division Brandon Walsh took off and left everyone in his dust. Behind him four karts spun in Turn 3 but everyone was able to continue.
Later two karts tangled but again they also were able to continue. Up front Walsh was racing into the next zip code as he left everyone and keep extending his lead.
Behind him there was a tight four-way duel for second. In the end Walsh won with the next four spots taken by Jack Arluck, Robert Melzer, Steven Piggott and Pedro Castro-Santos.
Asked about the race winner Walsh said, “It was fantastic. You know Cole Nelson Racing and Invader Karts still dominate after 50 years or however long they’ve been building them. It was fun haven’t been in a go-kart in 20 years and this KPX is a good deal.”
The next main was for the Junior 2 KA100 drivers and it was a wild one to say the least.
Up front there were several passes for the lead during the 22-lap main. And for much of the race there was a seven-kart train up front with first to seventh place separated by a second and a half.
In fact this class probably had more passes for the lead then all the other classes combined. Among those taking their turn at the front were Jacob Yesnick, Garrette Randolph Jr. and Oliver Calvo.
It was cut and thrust racing as these young drivers battled for the lead or a good finish.
In the final lap or two Dakota Tate had moved his way from the pack into second. That would be critical at the end.
Coming to the flag Oliver Calvo leads Dakota Tate. Due to a penalty they switched positions and Tate was declared the winner of the Jr. 2 KA100 race
When the race ended and drivers assembled to go through the weighing pad penalties were handed out from jumping the start to rough driving.
As a result Tate got the victory while Calvo’s penalty dropped him to second. Two other drivers also received penalties, which dropped them in the standings.
The second biggest class of the night was Briggs 206 Senior class with 26 karts taking the green flag. Here they are in formation heading for the green.
Last race of the evening was the Briggs 206 Senior Class, the second largest group with 26 karts taking the green flag. Right away there was a tangle in Turn 3 but everyone was able to continue.
Up front the top three were running close and soon leader Grant LeClaire was passed by David Vasques. Soon after that three karts dropped out with various problems.
As the race progressed the lead duo put a gap between themselves and Tyler Agan, who was running in third. Soon the leaders began to spread out.
Late in the race third and four place Tyler Agan and Brandon Benedix began to chase the leaders. Up front LeClaire had gotten the lead and holding off Vasquez.
in the Briggs 206 Senior main winner Grant LeClaire and runner up David Vasquez were usually only inches apart.
In the end LcClaire took the win followed by Vasquez, Agan, Benedix and Bryce Dickman in fifth.
“Made passes, trading positions pretty much in the early race. Me and Vasquez we were trading spots early on and I ended up catching him at the end of the straightaway. He stuck by me and was pushing me the whole way but we were able to take the win,” LeClaire said after the race.
Then he thanked KPX, NNKC, Jeff Nelson for wrenching and Cole Nelson Racing.
Once again Desert Park Raceway is quiet, except for some testing during the week. Next race for NNKC will be the annual night race on September 22nd.
REPORTER’S NOTE: There is a photo gallery at the end of this article.
OTHER RACING NEWS:
- Friday night into Saturday evening was the annual Las Vegas to Reno off road race. Congratulations to all of our racers that competed in the event.
I have the unofficial results for the locals after the KPX results.
• As usual this reporter will be on Teresa’s Garage Radio Show from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. The show covers all things automotive.
Teresa’s Garage Radio Show graphic.
My preview part comes on around 2:15 when go over what is going on for the weekend. Hope you’ll give it a listen.
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RESULTS:
• KPX Series – Round 6
Desert Park Raceway – Aug. 18, 2018
+ Jr 1 Briggs 206: 1. Jack Shrady, 2. Logan Chambers, 3. Brooks Anderline, 4. Trenten Helie, 5. Ayrton Tyler, 6. Brendan Choi, 7. Gage Brockway, 8. Dante Barrionuevo, 9. Noa Holtzman, 10. Jared Vandecaveye, 11. Isaiah Nobles.
+ Sr. LO206 Heavy: 1. Tyler Agan, 2. Kyle Abbas, 3. Brandon Apodaca, 4. David McDowell.
+ Jr. II, Briggs 206: 1. Issac Bourque, 2. Jacob Smith, 3. Cain Fredricks, 4. Boden Barnwell, 5. Matt Winfrey, 6. Dakota Tate, 7. Stephen Eisert, 8. Logan Calderwood, 9. Owen Rule, 10. Matthew Fecko, 11. Eli Mays, 12. Luca Ciambra, 13. Deeamee Malone, 14. Brinley Barnwell, 15. Tuesday Calderwood, 16. Wyatt Sander, 17. Korey Sander, 18. Heavyn Hill, 19. Landon Kwapich, 20. Sophia Storey, 21. Garrette Randolph Jr., 22. Tanner Schultz, 23. Anthony Toscano, 24. Chase Dulude, 25. Ethan Myrow, 26. Anthony Grivalva.
DQ: Sara Baker.
+ Sr. KA100: 1. Harrison Mills, 2. Jason Pettit, 3. Alex Keys, 4. Aaron Heathman, 5. Luis Perez, 6. Derek Morton, 7. Andrew Kemp, 8. Jay Juleson, 9. Donavan Bixler, 10. Eric Huang, 11. Daniel Ferguson, 12. Zack Rivera,13. Mike McMullen, 14. Kody McKenney
+ 206 Briggs Masters: 1. Brandon Walsh, 2. Jack Arluck, 3. Robert Melzer, 4. Steve Piggott, 5. Pedro Castro-Santos, 6. Tom Fahy, 7. Jeff Wamre, 8. Pat Beckley, 9. Doug Hunter, 10. Mat Kattanek, 11. Steve Dias, 12. Rich Phillips, 13. Brian Gallagher, 14. Charlie Holt, 15. Timothy Burnyawsky, 16. Robert Brackett, 17. Harrell Fischer, 18. Brian Baker.
+ Jr 2 KA100: 1. Dakota Tate, 2. Oliver Calvo, 3. Matteo Sandoval, 4. Jacob Yesnick, 5. Aiden Kempf, 6. Garrett Randolph Jr., 7. Gino Sandoval, 8. Owen Rule, 9. Bryce Berry, 10. Andy Newhall
DQ: Cole Gamma
+ Briggs 206 Senior: 1. Grant LeClaire, 2. David Vasquez, 3. Tyler Agan, 4. Brandon Benedix, 5. Bryce Dickman, 6. Logan Mitchell, 7. Andrew Kemp, 8. Hunter Corbitt, 9. Alija White, 10. Nick Short, 11. Dean Andrews, 12. Kenny Manchester, 13. Jacob Ciari, 14. Ruben Ramos, 15. James Selby, 16. Nathan Lavery, 17. Aaron Heathman, 18. Zack Reynolds, 19. Ken Reeher, 20. Steve Dow, 21. Aaron Heathman, 22. Manish Inturi, 23. Vijaya Narajan, 24. Dennis Hill, 25. Caleb Mayer, 26. Jonathan Mayer.
• General Tire Vegas to Reno
Best in the Desert – Aug 17/1
Unofficial results: (Overall plus class)
+ Motorcycles: 2. Brody Honea, 2nd Open Pro, 5. Wyatt Brittner, Open Pro, 7. Reece Honea, 30+ Pro, 10. Chad Thorton, Dennis Belingheri, Stephen Tichenor, Paul Luce, 40+ Pro., 11. Will Heiss, 30+ Pro, 19. Ricky Dahlberg, Open Pro., 28. Tim Fitzpatrick, Open E, 38. Jason Shakespeare, 40+ Exp., 42. Anthony Monachelli, Open A, 46. Chad Giguiere, Open E, 61. Dave Arnold, Quad IM A.
DNF – Colton Scudder, Open E.
+ Trucks, UTVs: 93. J.J. Schnarr, 1000, 140. Chad Hall, UTV Turbo, 157. Paul Ziegler, 2000, 159. Eric Verling, 1000.
DNF: Sam Cothrun, 6100, Jerry Lee Wood, Trick Truck.
PHOTO GALLERY:
