The NASA-AZ race group is back and better than ever for their 2011 NASA-AZ Indoor Karting League at F1 Race Factory. Once a month they get together, compete indoors, out of the AZ heat of summer and race right thru to their final league race on Sunday Nov. 13th. This six race series will prove to be an exciting way for up to 28 drivers to get together to race in a weight equalized, to level the playing field, indoor karting series that will keep the NASA-AZ group together during part of their “off” season and a way to have like minded individuals hang out for a few hours racing and enjoying the better part of a few hours swapping places on the track and swapping tall tales off the track. The ice cold beer will only enhance the story telling once the racing is done for the day. The first outing had all age groups and all skill levels represented.
Twenty competition junkies broken up into two groups signed on to do the opening race which is comprised of a 5 minute qualifier into a 10 minute heat. New karts are drawn for the “A” & “B” Mains and the winner of the “B” Main gets to join the “A” Main from the last place starting spot. That’s another 20 minute/40 lap race on Track 1 to gain a better finishing position which pays more points for the day. Stenos Wijaya was the recipient of the move up bonus and went from 11th place to 5th overall when the “A” Main saw the Checkered Flag. Congratulations Stenos! Might have something to do with the NOS Energy drink I saw him guzzling before the start of the “B” Main. What’s even more impressive is that Stenos had to serve a Black Flag stop & go penalty during his “B” Main race and still was far enough ahead to win it. WOW!
The finishing order for the “B” Main is as follows:
Stenos Wijaya…Wayne Porter…Eric Dayton…Paul Kuzma…Jeff Abrams…Stephen Busler…Tyler Doskocil…David Baum…Steven Marlow… DNS due to lack of Wheaties for breakfast… Martin Saltzman.
Last year’s “Winner” of the 2010 NASA-AZ League, Ronald “The Lone Wolf” Jones decided to sit this one out and is working diligently to meet the criteria of “active NASA –AZ driver”. He is prepping a Mustang to go head to head with the best within the NASA-AZ group. Time will tell. Honorable mention goes out to newly crowned Winner of the Bondurant Formula Mazda Championship Race Series, Austin Newmark. He now gets the opportunity to test in a number of different race series & cars to take the next step in becoming a professional race car pilot. Congratulations Austin and his dad Pete for showing the rest of us that hard work and a bit of luck will help to reach your goals. Lots of behind the wheel natural talent and smarts with good people helping along the way are also very instrumental to making it to the top level of racing.
So you would think Austin would be the obvious pole position starter but that prize went to none other than, week to week, F1 Race Factory league racer Chris Wynne. Chris set fast time in the qualifier and won his heat race to put him on pole for the “A” Main race but lurking right behind and looking for another win to put in his resume’ was Austin Newmark. NASA-AZ president, Tage “The Milkman” Evanson starting from the third spot followed by Kent Porter and another F1 league racer Paul Miller. Rounding out the eleven “A” Main racers were Dave Schutt..George Sklyarevsky…Eric Jacobsen…Leland Forbes…Kent Buckley and move up specialist Stenos Wijaya.
Wynne was able to hold off Newmark and the battle was so great at the front that 2nd/3rd & 4th place traded places more than once before half way. A good pass by Newmark, who was back as far as 4th place, on the leader Wynne saw Wynne not only lose the top spot but be freight trained by two more racers to end up off the podium with a 4th place finish. Mean while coming thru the field was none other than the winner of the “B” Main bonus, Stenos. That’s 80 laps or 40 minutes of racing on Track 1. Would have taken it’s toll on mere mortals but with NOS Energy pulsing thru the veins of Wijaya he was ready if more laps became available to him. Wasn’t to be and he finished a very respectable 5th overall for the day.
The finishing order for the “A” main is as follows:
Austin Newmark…Tage Evanson…Paul Miller…Chris Wynne…Stenos Wijaya…George Sklyarevsky…Kent Buckley…Kent Porter…Dave Schutt…Leland Forbes…Eric Jacobsen
On a side note we are all glad to see Tage Evanson among us after a life threatening incident not too long ago and I know I speak for many when I say it's great to have you racing with us. Without his help the 2011 NASA-AZ would not exist and the hope is for a fun and safe 2011 NASA-AZ League Race Series. Thank you all for taking the time and resources to do this.
The next NASA-AZ league race will be held on Sunday July 31…Check in by 1:30pm…Driver meeting/kart draw 1:45pm…Qualifying/Heats start at 2pm. Track 1 c/c/w. Racer cap of 28. Weight equalized to 200#. Over 200? call Dr. Lipo Suction. 1-800-NOT-FAST. Entry cost per race is $45.00 including tax.
F1 Race Factory Summer Leagues start Tuesday July 5th…Check in by 6:30…driver meet/kart draw 6:45…racing starts @7pm same format as the NASA league. Entry price is $45.00 or $325.00 for 8 race series pre pay, includes tax.
Keeping the Rubberside Down,
Steve Lattanzi "Kandyman"
Team Titanium of F1 Race Factory
steve@f1rf.com
Specialty Events, F1 Race Factory
317 S. 48th Street . Phoenix, AZ 85034
(d) 602-427-4416 / 602-302-7223 (t) 602-321-2035(m)
Visit us online @ www.f1racefactory.com
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Arizona's Premier Indoor Karting & Entertainment Venue
Seasonal Leagues, High Level Competition Events, Public Racing 363 Days A Year
Two Indoor Tracks, 45+MPH Karts, Billiards, Trackside Bar & Grill.
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