Beautiful weather welcomed the Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge South program to the Santa Maria Karting Association facility on June 27 for the sixth round of the 2009 championship. The karting circuit, located on the grounds of the city’s airport, provided great racing around the 7/10-mile circuit known as the ‘National K layout’. The event marked the return of former PKC regulars to the top of the podium – as Nick Firestone showed the way the entire day in the G1 division, while Connor De Phillippi took the win in S1.Firestone was on his game early as he out-qualified the closest competitor, Fernando Diaz, by four-tenths. Running in the 47-second lap bracket, Firestone cruised to a five second victory in the first heat and three second win in the second heat. Roy Montgomery and PP Mastro swapped positions to run second and third to Firestone in the heat races. Mastro tried to keep it close in the 20-lap feature; however, Firestone continued to put down a consistent pace that Mastro could not match. Firestone was able to stretch out to a two-second advantage for his first PKC win of the year. Mastro had to settle for second, although he gained ground on Troy Butts and Roy Montgomery in the championship chase, as they finished seventh and fifth respectively. Diaz was able to record the fastest lap of the race, as he played catch up on the front two, running out of time and filling out the final step of the podium – with PKC North driver Jim Kidd finishing fourth.
