2012 Winter League Race #8 of 9 @ Octane Raceway Tuesday March 20, 2012
Chaz Baca Jr has another strong finish going into the Final Winter league race on Sat. March 24. Eight races in and 5 Heat and Main wins go to Baca. Missed the podium once with a fourth place finish in Race #4. Tony Rolfson just can’t seem to break the stranglehold Baca has on winning the FREE entry into the SportKartUSA Grand Nationals at CalSpeed Karting Center June 22-24, in Fontana, CA. CalSpeed Karting put up the FREE entry prize as a way to entice more to take a shot at what will be one of the premier Sport karting events of the year. With only 125 entries being accepted I expect a sellout and fast times come June. I’m in, how about you? Don’t be Late, or You Will Have to Spectate! Not nearly as much fun as being on the track, racing against the best Sport Karting has to offer.
Thirty-two hotshoe indoor kart racers signed on the dotted line to compete in league race #8. Two brothers escaped the frozen tundra of Wisconsin to join us. Thank you Matt & Jake Solin. Heard they were in town to thaw out, enjoy spring break with family and take in a Cactus league baseball game. Heard good things about Octane Raceway and decided to stop by to give it a go. I think the high level of competition took them by surprise. Also newcomer Martin Gray took a shot at the league action and managed to stay out of trouble. Plenty of racing miles on Track 2 c/c/w and no shortage of smiles by most who came to compete against the best of the best at Octane.
I said most because there was one regular visitor to the “A” Main that had nothing but trouble staying on track and out of the Black Flag penalty zone.
First faux paux was spinning former employee and great racer Ronald Phillips into the wall on the warm up lap to the Qualifier.
Said racer qualified on pole for the Heat. All’s well but not for long. How so, you ask? With a 5 to 7 kart gap and in the lead in his Heat he comes out of the S’s way too hot and bounces off the wall and spins to the center of the track where he is now backwards to face oncoming traffic. First to fourth in the blink of an eye. Don’t know who was more shocked by this chain of events, errant driver, spectators or Ron, George or Mike who up to that moment were running 2/3/4. Gift and not even one birthday.
Now in fourth place, Spinderrella takes off after the drivers that are now between him and his first place finish in the heat. First to feel the pressure was Mike McClaran who was on the receiving end of an improper pass that invited the Black Flag to the party. Stop and go penalty but not before coming out of the pit exit into the side of innocent victim #2 John Vanderwey. Oh ,S#*t was heard right before the side pod contact. Soon enough heat race went checkered and a 9th place finish cements a “C” Main start for yours truly, Steve “Kandyman” Lattanzi. The crowd readies the pitchforks and lays down bets on his finish in the “C” Main. Very optimistic of them. To be continued…
Group 1 Q/H Top 5:
Ronald Phillips…George Sklyarevesky…Mike McClaran…Keith Sears…Don Angel
Congratulations Ronald Phillips.
Group 2 Q/H Top 5:
Chaz Baca Jr…Kyler Repella…Cody Gutierrez…Chris Wynne…Joe Landram
Group 3 Q/H Top 5:
Tony Rolfson…Josh Walker…Scott Lodding…Keaton Swane…Phillip Schroeder
From my vantage point group 2 & 3 Q/H’s without drama, just good racing.
“C” Main Top 5:
Josh Tatman (advanced to “B” Main)
Johnny Pegna
Josh Sarchet
Kyle Tatman
Krystal Wright
As you can see a win was not in the cards for Lattanzi and with another deserved Black Flag thrown in his direction put an end to his expected return to the “A” Main, by way of winning the “C” Main then winning the “B” Main. Overall finish for the night was 8th in the “C” Main and 29th for the night. Scored a whopping 14 points out of a possible 57!
I can only explain it this way. The real Kandyman was abducted by aliens right before the racing and this novice driver with little patience was substituted. Entertaining to some but a major disappointment to most including Lattanzi who may have to change his nickname from “Kandyman” to Apollo “G”. Sorry was as plentiful as the candy and were handed out to all involved with the promise of the real Steve Lattanzi showing up for the final on Sat. March 24 and racing clean and without incident. Silver lining was he won the 50/50 raffle of $26.50 and three comp race cards but decided to donate the winnings to the overall prize pool drawing at the Final awards ceremony Sat. Comp cards went to Mike McClaran and Keith Sears.
“B” Main Top 5:
Keaton Swane (advanced to “A” Main)
Phillip Schroeder
Rob Hartz
Joe Landram
Brian Landry
Now the Main that pays the most points and the two way battle for the top is between Tony Rolfson and Chaz Baca Jr.
Rolfson started from pole but Baca is not about to let Tony get away.
Nose to tail racing until Baca finds a way around Tony with a clean pass and manages to put some air between them. Baca scores victory #5 out of 8 races.
“A” Main Top 5:
Chaz Baca Jr
Tony Rolfson
Ronald Phillips
George Sklyarevesky
Scott Lodding
Overall points going into 2012 Winter League Race #9 (The Final) …Top 10
Chaz Baca Jr…449
Tony Rolfson…438
Kyler Repella…395
Josh Walker…391
Steve Lattanzi…382
Mike McClaran…354
Cody Gutierrez…352
Scott Lodding…348
Keith Sears…299
Joe Landram…290
Once we factor in the 1 race drop post Final Main Race the top 10 order may see changes to the overall points positions.
Top 10 will be computed Sat.
Keeping the Rubberside Down,
Steve "Kandyman" Lattanzi
Team Titanium of Octane Raceway
Competition Director
Offsite Specialty Events Coordinator
Lead Instructor for the Raceology 101 Jr Kart Racing School
317 S. 48th Street . Phoenix, AZ 85034
(d) 602-427-4416 / 602-302-7223 (t) 602-321-2035(m)
Visit us online @ www.OctaneRaceway.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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