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California ProKart Challenge
| California ProKart Challenge to Close Out 2012 Season at Streets of Lancaster GP |
| Monday, 10 September 2012 12:54 |
 The City of Lancaster and Superkarts! USA will unite once again to host racers from all across the western half of the United States for the 4th annual Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix. The Southern California city will open up the ‘Boulevard’ for a three day festival, featuring the final round of the California ProKart Challenge around a temporary circuit on the city streets September 14-16. Not only will the event be a prime location for preparation for the upcoming SKUSA SuperNationals XVI, the 10 categories featured on the weekend will wrap up the six-event championship chase that began back in February, with a $65,000 championship prize purse on the line.The event will just be a formality for Jimmy McNeil who has positioned himself as the soon-to-be champion in the S1 Pro Stock Moto category, sponsored by Extreme Karting/Vemme Kart. With three victories on the year, McNeil will look to earn his fourth 2012 win in Lancaster to secure the title and prepare for the upcoming SuperNationals. Ryon Beachner sits second in the standings, while Peter Abba is third. The same can be said for Matt Johnson in the TaG Senior division, sponsored by Leading Edge Motorsports. A winner in three of the five previous events, the veteran will face another strong field in Lancaster trying to deny him from his fourth victory. 2011 class champion Travis Lowe currently sits second in the standings with Devin Lindsey in third. The title chase is not yet completed in the Phil Giebler Racing-sponsored S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto category. Matias Podboj has led the standing the entire year, opening up the season with a perfect round one at Buttonwillow. Michael Leib has put on the challenge in the second half of the season, out-scoring Podboj in two of the last three events. The difference is just 178 points between the two heading into Lancaster with a number of drivers expected to take part, which could play a big factor in the final standings.  It’s just five points between Robert Marks and PP Mastro in the Pure Karting-sponsored S4 Master Stock Moto category. Marks has been a consistent front-runner in the Masters category, and a champion in 2008, but has yet to secure an S4 California PKC title. Mastro, a multi-time G1 champion in the series, is gunning for his first S4 title as well. Marks has the advantage with one victory in the holster, while Mastro recorded a DQ last round for too wide on the rear width. Trevor McAlister and Arie Luyendyk Jr. have combined to win the last few feature races, and are among the favorites heading into the weekend. Billy Cleavelin will likely secure the TaG Master title on the weekend, entering Lancaster with a healthy point lead after scoring the last four feature wins. Paul Grey is second, with the returning Ethan Wilson in third. Steve Ryckebosch is the top driver thus far in S3 Novice Stock Moto, sponsored by Select Shifter/DR Racing. Todd Wilson and Chalee Siengthai remain in the hunt. Ken Manning will look to wrap up the S4 Magnum Stock Moto title this weekend as well.The chase in the Russell Karting Specialties-sponsored TaG Junior category will come down to the wire. Defending champion Carter Williams holds the point lead heading into the Lancaster GP weekend, riding on two wins. The latest winner – Santa Maria feature victor Colton Herta – moved to second and is just 93 points out of first before factoring in the drop race. Christian Brooks, the round three winner, sits third in the title chase after missing the opening weekend. The three will decide the title on the city streets of Lancaster. Williams will also wrap up the S5 Junior Stock Moto championship and prepare for a showdown at the SKUSA SuperNationals, which completes the Pro Tour championship. TaG Cadet, sponsored by Sunshine Daydream Creations, is also a three driver chase. Hunter Kelly is the current point leader, holding a 56 point advantage over Anthony Sawyer, with Jack von Quilich only 19 behind him. Kelly took over the top of the standings thanks to his win at Santa Maria last month, including five straight podium finishes. Sawyer has two wins to his credit, but only one other podium trip. Von Quilich also has a win with two top-three finishes, setting up for a great finish to the season in Lancaster. eKartingNews.com will be trackside for the event with publisher Rob Howden providing the play-by-play over the two days. Live timing and live audio of the event can be followed at www.ekartingnews.com/live all weekend. The Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix will also include a strong presence of mass-media organizations and film crews around the track and throughout the paddock. The film crew of the ‘Become One’ karting documentary will also be on hand in addition to several local television stations. A welcome party for racers will be held Friday night from 7pm-10pm at Kinetic Brewery on Lancaster Boulevard, just west of the street course. Drink specials will be offered for those wearing their wristbands. Another gathering is set for Saturday night – the ‘Racer’s Review’ party – at Coach’s Sports Bar & Grill at 7pm. Big screens will re-broadcast the day’s races, with complimentary shuttles to and from the Oxford Inn host hotel set up for all racers and families. When not racing, be sure to take part in the festival surrounding the race, including live bands, lots of food and drinks, including a car show Saturday and BMX bike show on Sunday. The event opens Friday, September 13 with pit parking and registration taking place from noon to 7pm, along with tire and fuel desks opening up at 3pm. On-track will be a number of events featuring Lancaster VIP members aboard rental karts. The event will take place over two days, beginning Saturday with two rounds of practice followed by qualifying and heat one action. Sunday serves up a warm-up session along with heat two for each race group and the main events set to start at 12:30pm. A special package price for the two day event is set at $395, which includes race fees and race tires. Deadline to pre-register is Wednesday, September 12 at midnight, with the at-track registration price increased by $200. All event details, including lodging, camping, gate hours and other information, can be found at the PKC Event Page. For more information on the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, visit www.streetsoflancaster.com and for race-specific questions head over to Superkarts! USA, bookmark www.superkartsusa.com today. |