On Sunday, July 31, F1 Race Factory hosted the 6th race of the AZIKC with twenty three entry’s signed up for the grueling 72 lap race with a 3 lap qualifier on the ½ mile GP Track. With outside temps exceeding 110 degrees proper hydration had become paramount to being able to finish this race. A sea of water bottles graced the tabletops of the Trackside Grill and by race end every one of them was as empty as a rain barrel in Arizona.
Tony Rolfson, who is the driver with the most wins in the AZIKC year after year, sat on pole for the 72 lap Main. Rounding out the top four were Josh Lambeth, Chaz Baca Jr, and Keith Sears. Strong front runner and multiple winner in the AZIKC, Blake Ledesma was set to challenge from the 5th starting spot. To count out Ledesma in any race he shows up for would be a mistake. Josh Lambeth had a seat adjustment issue but decided to stay with it and claimed the 2nd starting spot with that prudent decision.
Four very new to indoor kart racing decided to join this race and did pretty well competing against some of the best indoor karters under the F1 Race Factory banner. We shall see if John Dimercurio, George Ebacker, Brian Winegar and Russell Dailey return next month now that they have been properly baptized by the Cardinals of Speed. All four finished the race under their own steam.
The field of 23 takes the green and position changes happen pronto. Tony Rolfson maintains his lead and behind him the position swap fest is in full swing. Lambeth is staying within striking distance of Rolfson but Baca Jr wants to be closer to the lead bumper. He accomplishes that goal laps later with a perfectly timed 20 second pit stop which is a mandatory AZIKC rule for all teams running solo or as a two man team.
Jason Burstein who has been on the move to the front after starting 10th is coming like a freight train and proves to be harder to catch than the star of the movie “Unstoppable”.
Driver pit stops/driver changes happen without much drama. Blake Ledesma and Kyler Repella are now racing nose to tail and Repella is not about to let Ledesma escape. They catch Lambeth and in the blink of an eye Lambeth goes from from P5 to P9 with contact between him and Ledesma. Many different versions of what happened circulated with no concrete conclusion and no penalty handed out much to the dismay of Lambeth. Meanwhile Keith Sears who has changed his driving skill set for the better is just out for a Sunday cruise and his plan to stay out of harms way seems to be working. Run silent, Run deep is his new mantra.
And where is Team Titanium you might ask…Don’t ask. Team Titanium has yet to find the good karma they were blessed with for the 2010 AZIKC Series. A qualifying run to start 14th is not what you would call a stellar start to a very competitive field. That said there was less than a 1 second time difference between first (52.037) and 15th(53.024).
Top 3 Podium Finishers:
Tony Rolfson…Jason Burstein…Chaz Baca Jr. Congratulations to these frequent podium finishers and to Tony Rolfson who spends little time practicing and a lot of time winning. Big talent, small budget.
4th thru 23rd is as follows:
Keith Sears…Blake Ledesma…Kyler Repella…Josh Lambeth…Peter Liwanag…Bill Hunter…Mike Davila…Matthew Lamanilao…Josh Sarchet…Mike McClaran…Ian Pierce…Team Titanium(Steve Lattanzi/Charles Crowe)…Chris Wynne…John Pappagallo…Ryan Casillas…Team Zippy(Jason McCormack/Joe Flitner)…George Ebacker…John Dimercurio…Russell Dailey…Brian Winegar.
Top 10 in Points w/o Drop after Race 6 of 10.
Chaz Baca Jr 176…Blake Ledesma 170…Jason Burstein 154…Tony Rolfson 154…Mike Davila 149…Peter Liwanag 138…Team Titanium 119…Mike McClaran…Pat Joyce 102…Bill Hunter 96.
The next AZIKC Race is #7 on Sunday August 28th. Check in by 6pm… Driver meeting/Kart draw 6:15…Qualifying starts at 6:30pm. All on the ½ mile GP Track c/w.
Thank You all for taking the time and resources to do this. It’s the most fun you can have with a helmet on.
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
F1 Race Factory - Your Phoenix Destination For Adrenaline-Packed Outings
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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