F1 Race Factory has Repeat Winner with Chaz Baca Jr taking down another Win in the 2011 F1 Summer League Series.

Twenty Nine of the best indoor kart racers from Phoenix/Tucson & Prescott came together at F1 Race Factory on Tuesday, July 19th to claim their rightful place atop the shrine to winning…the podium stand. All three that made it to the three steps of the podium stand were repeat visitors since the Summer league started. You can’t say podium without mentioning Chaz Baca Jr and Tuesday night was no exception with a repeat win by one of the most winning indoor kart racers to come along. Steve Lattanzi (2nd) and Mike Davila (3rd) filled the rest of the empty real estate on the podium. Former repeat Champions like Brad Godfrey, Tony Rolfson, and Blake Ledesma, just to name a few, have since moved on or up in the world of speed. Tony & Blake still make guest appearances in the AZIKC and leagues but as life happens and budgets get stretched some of the repeat winners back off from other responsibilities, but still try keep one toe in the waters of competitive indoor kart racing. Word on the street is Brad Godfrey is making a name for himself in the ARCA race series back East where most of the locals talk with a southern drawl and drink lots of Sweet Tea and Mint Juleps. NASCAR is not only a Sport back there in the Carolina’s but a truly devote religious lifestyle experience enjoyed by many. Amen, brother! My Holy Grail of Racing is Formula 1.

Group 1 Qualifying/Heat saw Tony Rolfson (29.402) take the pole position over Jason Burstein (29.418) and Chaz Baca Jr (29.517).

Group 1 Heat Finish Order:
Tony Rolfson…Chaz Baca Jr…Jason Burstein…Keith Sears…Joshua Walker…Eric Dickinson…Ian Pierce…Scott Lodding…Mike McClaran…Paul Miller…Jason McCormack…Julia Castro…Joe Flitner…Josh Tatman…Greg Gillum.

Group 2 Qualifying/Heat had Steve Lattanzi (29.497) on pole over Mike Davila (29.686) and Robert Neumann (29.697).

Group 2 Heat Finish Order:
Mike Davila…Steve Lattanzi…Robert Neumann…Cody Gutierrez…Rees Candee…Don Angel…Kyler Repella…Chris Wynne…Josh Lambeth…Mark Heeg…Ray Stevens…Kyle Tatman…Phillip Schroeder…Chris Webb.

The “A” field is set with the top 7 from each group and the “B” Main gets set with the remaining 7 plus 1 from Group 2. Winner of the “B” Main is rewarded with a spot at the back of the “A” Main. Chris Wynne, also a member of NASA-AZ and a regular NASA-AZ/F1 Race Factory league racer, wins and now moves into the “A” Main to try to move up thru that field and score within the top 15 points system. Back to back Mains on Track 1 are equal to one long 80 lap race which has Chris W looking for a cold energy drink and some extra adrenalin to keep him sharp and fast.

The “B” Main was not an easy one to win and the top five of Chris Wynne ,Scott Lodding, Josh Lambeth, Mike McClaran and Paul Miller were running laps so close together and for so long you would almost get the impression they were connected by some invisible force field. Heavy lap traffic comes into the picture, flags are waved and a turn two traffic jam insues to change the running order with Josh Lambeth popping out of the mix in the lead with Wynne now scrambling to play catch up. Scott Lodding took the biggest hit to distance between him and the top three that are now clear of traffic and racing each other again. Wynne now catches Lambeth and makes the pass and will hold onto that spot to see the Checkered Flag first.
Josh Tatman from Tucson had a scary moment when he was racing toward the first turn late in the race and went airborne, hit the tires that are at the pit exit and went sideways into the pit only to be stopped by the portable swamp cooler. I guess he just wanted the prime cool off spot at the cooler before everyone else came in. He did go back out on the track and did not repeat his Joey Chitwood Stunt Show Airborne maneuver, again. I guess once is enough. Wonder what he has in store for next week. Jump thru a burning hoop? I’d pay extra to see that. Glad nobody got hurt. It tends to slow the whole night down. Goes to show you how well put together these Sodi RX-7 karts are. Like the Timex commercial states, “Takes a Licking, and keeps on Ticking”

Special mention goes to the only woman in this sea of testestrone, Julia Castro goes wheel to wheel with the big boys and holds her own against these brutes. Good show Julia. She’s one fast and cool, young lady. She also happens to be one of the nicest people in the building.

“B” Main Finish Order:
Chris Wynne…Josh Lambeth…Mike McClaran…Scott Lodding…Paul Miller…Kyle Tatman…Julia Castro…Chris Webb…Mark Heeg…Ray Stevens…Jason McCormack…Phillip Schroeder…Josh Tatman…Greg Gillum…Joe Flitner. Chris Wynne moves into to the “A” Main race.

The “A” Main has Tony Rolfson starting from the pole position and one of the toughest “A” Main racers right on his bumper. The daredevil Mike Davila. Concerned about his karts “B” Main performance Rolfson spends the moments leading up to the start trying to figure out how much w-i-d-e-r he can make his kart so there’s very little room to pass him in this 40 lap feature race. With Mike Davila right behind him this is not going to be easy. Mike usually finds the smallest window of opportunity and throws open the shutters and goes flying by before you know what happened. And now with tag team Lattanzi/Baca right there to capitalize on any small misstep you know that both the frontrunners will be trying to put some distance on the rest of the field quickly. Didn’t go as planned for Rolfson and Co as it became readily apparent he was in trouble and the field behind nipping at his rear bumper to get by. Lattanzi has Baca go by so he could break up the love fest and sure enough is successful if not downright bump and run, Black Flag worthy against Davila about it. No BF was waved. With Davila and Rolfson out of the way and mixing it up with the likes of Jason Burstein, Bobby Neumann, Keith Sears and Cody Gutierrez, Baca & Lattanzi have clear sailing and a strong wind behind them. The Baca/Lattanzi show is now in prime time territory and lap after lap a game of reel ‘em in, lose some ground is playing out between them. Even though Steve Lattanzi set fast time of the night during the “A” Main chase, Chaz Baca Jr prevails for his second win of the Summer League Series.

Congratulations to all that show up week to week and have a fun time racing with their compadre’s. Many friendships have been formed during these league seasons and it is one reason a lot of us look forward to getting together every Tuesday night.

Next 2011 F1 Race Factory Summer League Race will be Tuesday July 26. Race #4 of 8. Check in by 6:30… Driver meeting/Kart Draw 6:45…Racing starts at 7pm. Track 2 c/c/w.

It’s the most fun you can have with your helmet on.
Just don’t be Late, or you may have to Spectate!

“A” Main Finish Order:
Chaz Baca Jr…Steve Lattanzi…Mike Davila…Tony Rolfson…Jason Burstein…Bobby Neumann…Keith Sears…Eric Dickinson…Joshua Walker…Ian Pierce…Don Angel…Rees Candee…Kyler Repella…Cody Gutierrez…Chris Wynne.

Top 10 in Points after 3 Races: Chaz Baca Jr 167…Steve Lattanzi 165…Jason Burstein 160…Mike Davila 153…Keith Sears 145…Eric Dickinson 133…Cody Gutierrez 126…Chris Wynne 125…Scott Lodding 113…Kyle Tatman 101.

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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