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California ProKart Challenge
| PKC SoCal Program Readies for 2009 Finale |
| Friday, 21 August 2009 13:43 |
 The Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge South is completing its fifth season next weekend (August 29) with the 2009 finale at the CalSpeed Karting facility in Fontana, California. The same circuit where the season began, located outside the Auto Club Speedway, will end the seven round series on the ‘Grande’ course in the counterclockwise direction. The focus of the weekend, however, will be on the deciding results for the 2009 PKC South championship battles in the nine divisions.Eyes will definitely be on S3 championship leader Jacob Neal, who barring any trouble should be able to clinch the title with a solid run. The 18-year old has five straight feature wins in the SoCal program (although his winning streak came to an end in the North program last month). Now, Patrick Cushenberry is waiting in the wings if Neal is to slip up at all, needing to score his first feature win of the season in hopes of a title shot. The situation in the S1 category is even closer for Neal as he has Peter Abba on his tail. Separated by just 165 points when counting the drop race, Abba needs to be on top of his game to steal the title from Neal. The tightest battle for a championship is in the G1 category as Roy Montgomery and Troy Butts enter the seventh and final round separated by just 14 points when considering the drop race. Montgomery has zero feature wins to his credit, but a string of top-five results. Butts, however, has a feature wins and two second-place finishes, although his results have been less consistent. Depending on how the racing shakes down, the championship could be decided by qualifying or the fastest lap bonus points in the main. Fifty-five markers are all that sits between Howie Idelson and Larry Fraser in TaG Senior. Back and forth all year long, the two veterans will settle their battle in CalSpeed. Steve Wiener is in control of the TaG Masters standings, though he has been challenge as of late by Jeff Bobbitt - who now sits second in the championship chase. Consistency has been key for Jeff Smith, the S4 point leader heading into the final round. Winning his first feature at round six, Smith extended his point lead and sits 101 points ahead of Rob Whitley. Head to head, Smith has bettered Whitley four of six events, leaving Whitley with a load of work ahead of him to challenge for the title next Saturday. The new S4 Magnum category - the class coming on board at the second round - has been kept close between Luke Bianco and Tony Morrison. Separated by just 60 markers, Bianco has the advantage with three of the five feature wins, although an event sweep by Morrison could see him at the champion instead. Joining the PKC South program at round three, the KF2 division has Alex Speed showing the way with three straight feature wins. Will Martindale sits second in the standings, although a stab at the title is unlikely. The TaG Junior category has not seen the numbers as expected when the season began, however, judging by the full field of 40 karts and a significant wait list at this point for the upcoming SKUSA SuperNationals XIII in November, the class is truly growing and could be big for this final PKC South round . Max Zacky has already clinched the title, but is anticipating some fast local drivers to come out and challenge him for bragging rights on the podium next Saturday at CalSpeed. Pre-registration is open until Wednesday, August 26 at midnight, with a $35 savings to anyone entering early. Following the deadline, entries will be accepted at the track. The event will begin with unofficial practice (for only PKC classes) on Friday, August 28 from 9am to 5pm, with a complimentary BBQ dinner served afterwards to all those who paid for practice or a pit pass. A tentative race day schedule is available here. |