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| EKN Trackside: Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals - Saturday Report |
| Tuesday, 16 April 2013 09:29 |
 The opening round of the 2013 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour was a long yet eventful day at the Musselman Honda Circuit outside Tucson, Arizona. SpringNationals action was completed Saturday as the 227 entries kept the track busy with action with qualifying, two rounds of heat races and a main event for all eight categories competing. A bit of controversy developed in the TaG divisions regarding engine selection, a few drivers put in some dominating performances for their first victories of the season, and the chase to the SKUSA championships begins.S1 Pro Stock Moto The S1 category is filled with a number of champions and race winners this year as the Pro Tour starts its fourth season. The two drivers who ran 1-2 last year finished off the qualifying session that way as defending champ Fritz Leesmann (CRG) and vice-champ Joey Wimsett (CRG) were at the top of the time sheet in qualifying. Leesmann scored the pole position with a 48.247-second lap, Wimsett second, S2 champion Sabré Cook (CRG) an impressive third with 2012 S2 SuperNats winner Billy Musgrave (Tony Kart) in fourth. Wimsett grabbed the holeshot to begin heat one as Leesmann slotted back to third with Musgrave the early charger. Leesmann would eventually work around Musgrave for the position and sat on the bumper of Wimsett to the checkered flag. Cook was the quickest driver on the track at the end of the race, working pass Musgrave to drop him to fourth and crossed the finish line right behind the top two drivers. Jimmy McNeil (CRG) showed speed as well, placing fifth to put 2011 champ Daniel Bray to sixth. Leesmann struck back in heat two to score the win to even out the battle with Wimsett. The #2 plate grabbed the holeshot again over the defending champ as they ran 1-2 with Musgrave and Cook close behind. Leesmann struck quick, working past Wimsett before completing the opening lap. Wimsett kept is close as the top four ran together the entire time to the checkered flag. They ran that way the entire time with Cody Hodgson (Tony Kart) advancing up to the fifth spot. The main event was one of the best Pro Tour S1 feature races to date, as the top four drivers went back and forth, putting on a show under the lights in Tucson. Leesmann grabbed the holeshot and was able to put Wimsett back to second right from the start. Musgrave and Cook rejoined them to form a four driver fight that lasted the entire 20-lap distance. As the race progressed, it seemed Cook had the edge as she dropped down fast lap after fast lap, trailing the top two. At the halfway mark, the battle picked up a level as Wimsett began his advances on Fritz. Deep into turn one, Wimsett took over the lead from Leesmann. A few laps later, Cook to her turn to show what she had, working past the two-time title winner in the same spot. It seemed they leaders got quicker and quicker, and the stop watch agreed as they clocked in the fast laps of the race the next few circuits. Cook kept the pressure on Wimsett, but in return, Leesmann was looking for a way by. On lap 18, he struck and moved inside, but Cook would not relinquish the spot as they went side by side through turns two and three. Leesmann came out with the position, as Wimsett was able to gap them. Lap 19, Cook showed she was ready for the S1 category, moving past Fritz with a great move in turn five. This gave Wimsett an even larger lead, as he cruised to the checkered flag. Leesmann drafted past Cook into turn one as they started the final circuit. He held Cook off to the checkered flag to secure the second spot, as Cook placed on the podium in her opening S1 main event. Musgrave finished fourth, just unable to make any moves into the top-three. Hodgson ran fifth the entire race as the rest of the field battled for top-10 positions. Read Full Story on EkartingNews.com |