*****BREAKING NEWS*****
Tuesday July 24, 2012
Austin Kipp wins Race #3 & Kyler Repella takes the overall points lead in the 2012 Summer Leagues at Octane Raceway. Looks like the stranglehold on the #1 spot held by Chaz Baca Jr (BMB) is finally over. After scoring maximum points for the better part of 7 league seasons Baca’s domination may finally be waning. Has he aged out? At just 15 I don’t think so. Has he been thrown to distraction by the members of the opposite sex? Very possible. Has he helped Kyler Repella too much? A most definite YES! Will he be helping Repella from now on? We shall see. Seems like the student is now schooling the teacher or at least harassing him.
Now for the real story. Chaz made an out of character risky pass move on fellow competitor, Josh Sarchet, which resulted in both Baca and Sarchet dropping thru the field in Group 3 Heat race.
Sarchet was in P1 at the start, Scott Lodding P2 and Chaz Baca Jr P3. Baca dove on Lodding and got into Sarchet which ended up putting both into the “B” Main with a 4th place finish for Sarchet and a 5th place finish for Baca. Cody Gutierrez won the Group 3 Heat race over Lodding. Congratulations Cody Gutierrez!
The math of the groups was this. Twenty seven racers divided into 3 equal groups of 9. Top 3 from each group go into the “A” Main. Finish 4th/5th or 6th and you are in the “B” Main. Finish 7/8/9 and it’s the C” Main for you. Bonus is if you win the “C” Main you advance into the “B” Main. Same for the “B” Main winner. Win the “B” Main and you advance to the “A” Main. Points are awarded for the highest finishing position.
Top 3 in each Heat Group:
Group 1: Austin Kipp…Tony Rolfson…Charles Crowe.
Group 2: Kyler Repella…Steve Lattanzi…Chris Wynne
Group 3: Cody Gutierrez…Scott Lodding…Keith Sears
“C” Main competes first and Kyle Tatman from Tucson is on pole with Krystal Wright parked right on his bumper in P2. Newcomer, Peter Madrigal starts an impressive 3rd. Track 1 was the track of the night and the direction for the Mains was c/w. Track 1 c/c/w was in play for the Qualifier/Heats. Once the green flag flew to start the race, Tatman and Wright took off and left everyone wondering if maybe some rocket fuel was added to those two karts. Krystal got by Kyle and they both settled in for an epic battle that would last until they caught lap traffic once again. An honest mistake by a slow running backmarker newcomer took Tatman off Wrights bumper and back thru most of the field. Tatman now set his sights on catching Wright and by the end of 50 laps was right where he left before the “takeout” that has nothing to do with a fast food order.
Hmmmm? Was that Krystal Wright in the parking lot slipping 20’s to the mysterious backmarker who “mistakenly” bumped Tatman? Fair and square win by Krystal Wright and she advanced into the “B” Main where she raced another 50 laps and finished 9th or 18th overall. Congrats to Krystal Wright who has made it crystal clear she is one serious racer to contend with.
Everybody who’s anybody stayed for the “B” Main to see how “B” Main Baca (BMB), as he has been aptly named, fares starting from 4th. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, 4th and not one easy task as he has racers Mike McClaran, Philip Schroeder and Baca hit recipient Josh Sarchet to contend with. Starting right behind “B” Main Baca” is former Track manager, Pat Joyce, who now finds himself on the fun side of indoor kart racing. He traded in his marshalling flags for a white kart racing helmet and never looked back. I hear he is expecting an addition to the Joyce family in the fall. Congratulations Pat and the lucky lady.
Meanwhile back in the race ” BMB” is making short order of the “B” Main race to the front and for the win. And win it he does which now puts all the “A” Mainers on RED alert. He has the 9 racers in his crosshairs and the plan is to go to the front as soon as the green flag drops. Easy will not be the word of the day with names like Crowe, Wynne, Sears, Lodding, Lattanzi, Rolfson, Gutierrez, Repella, and Kipp standing between BMB and the WIN. But lo and behold and one by one all but two fall into the wake left by BMB. The pass on Steve Lattanzi was at the same turn and the third time was the one that worked. Lattanzi vowed to procure a wider kart for the next race. Tenth place to 3rd place and back on the podium but two steps away from his usual perch which is now occupied by a very happy and pleased with himself Austin Kipp. Kyler Repella is grinning as wide as a Cheshire cat knowing that he has now taken over the overall points lead going into Race #4 on Tuesday July 31st. BMB Jr is vowing to change that back and make it “right”. We shall see.
Trouble is BMB is usually the one being chased and not the chaser. Always impressive to watch this much talent spread among this many great indoor Sport karting enthusiasts.
Top 10 “A” Main and with Overall league season points:
Austin Kipp…164
Kyler Repella…167
Chaz Baca Jr…165
Tony Rolfson…99 (missed 1 race)
Cody Gutierrez…155
Steve Lattanzi…148
Keith Sears…143
Chris Wynne…135
Scott Lodding…92 (missed 1 race)
Charles Crowe…133
Octane Raceway is home to some of the best indoor kart racing leagues in the country. It also continues to be one of the biggest and the best indoor kart racing venues in the country.
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
Octane Raceway - 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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