LOGAN CALVIN SCORES NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT 2012 SPORT KART GRANDS; DAVE MESSIMER CLAIMS MASTERS TITLE AFTER THREE DAYS OF RACING ACTION!

[June 26, 2012] After three intense days of racing action, Logan Calvin grabbed his first National Championship, dominating the inaugural Sport Kart Grand Nationals hosted by Southern California’s Calspeed Karting Center. Calvin’s run over the past weekend was one of complete brilliance as he never logged a finish worse than seventh. With the win, Calvin not only claimed the title of National Champion, but also took home the $2,000 first place prize to go with it. The Master’s Class Championship was a much closer affair, as Dave Messimer edged Diego Morales by just 3.5 points at event’s end.

With over 70 drivers in attendance vying for the title, drivers from all corners of the country, as well as several international pilots, made the trek to sunny Southern California to do battle. Day 1 action opened with Calvin immediately taking control of the points lead with two heat wins and a third place finish in his three sessions. From there, Calvin would not falter all weekend as he found himself in the center seat of the post race press conference each of the next two days to follow.

Also joining Calvin on the podium would be Aaron Downs and Patrick Britain, who despite just one heat win between them, would finish second and third in the points due to their uncanny ability to run in the top five all weekend. Logan’s older brother, and current league championship rival, Miles Calvin would complete a strong weekend finishing fourth overall, while Las Vegas’ Bryan Armbrust capped an impressive weekend which featured a couple heat wins and an overall fifth place finish out of the 72 registered drivers.

One of the major storylines of the weekend would be the minefield of issues suffered by many of the potential championship contenders in attendance. Three time USIKC Winner, and 2011 CalSpeed Champion, Jon Kimbrell had a weekend he'd just as soon forget as he would experience a rear tire puncture in one session, unknowingly run 30lbs heavy in another, and cap it off with a black flag penalty for avoidable contact as he tried to dig himself out of the unfamiliar hole he'd find himself in. The recipient of Kimbrell's optimistic move would be fellow championship hopeful, Fred Ogrim. Ogrim's weekend would be just as tough as he'd be on the receiving end of contact on more than one occasion, much like Master's favorite Sergio Bravo, which would force the two into an uphill battle for much of the event. Ogrim's weekend would be capped off by back-to-back pit lane penalties in his PreFinal round and a tough kart draw for the SuperFinal leaving much to be desired by the VLK standout.

As it turns out, tough luck is not just an American thing. Both foreign drivers in the field, Sean Brierley of Britain and Martin Handardt of Germany, ran into their own issues throughout the weekend. Hanhardt would suffer heartbreak in his frist heat race of the weekend when he would mistakenly report to pit lane after receiving a black stick warning from officials, not an actual waving black. He would follow that up in his next session with an actual waving black flag penalty for avoidable contact in the first few corners of the race. Brierley, who earned a bid to the Grands via his runner up status with the British Rental Kart Championship, showed strong pace all weekend as he claimed four different front row grid positions, but was unable to convert any to a much needed race win. Super Sunday would bring both a pit lane violation and a blocking call on the Brit... a tough finish after a very strong overall showing.

Pit Lane would be tough on several competitors come Super Sunday as Sam Zian, Mike Kai, and Jerott King all suffered self-inflicted wounds during their mandatory pit stops on the final day of action. Eventual Master's Champion Dave Messimer would cost himself the most on pit lane however, as he would come in for his final pit stop with a massive lead and just two laps to go, only to overshoot the first stop box... a mistake that would send him well down the finishing order. While he would be fortunate to maintain his Master's Championship lead after the debacle, the mistake would cost his T4 Autosport squad the overall Team Championship in the end.

In addition to claiming four of the top five individual positions on the weekend, Team SPV also scored the coveted Team Championship as the SPV/HJC squad of Miles Calvin, Patrick Britain, and Darren Mercer beat out the T4 Autosport squad of Taylor Hays, Dave Messimer, and Matt Widner. Several other drivers posted notable achievements as Octane Raceway’s Chaz Baca Jr. claimed victory in the SuperFinal race closing the weekend, while VLK’s Fred Ogrim, Umigo Indoor Karting’s Jerott King, and IKF hotshoe Nick Johnston all earned ‘Drive of the Day’ honors from officials over the course of the weekend. The depth of overall talent showcased at this first-year event was staggering, and can probably be best illustrated by the fact that there were 16 different race winners in 23 sessions on the weekend. It is a level of talent that is sure to expand come next summer.





Full Results:

1. Logan Calvin – 319.5
2. Aaron Downs – 303
3. Patrick Britain – 294
4. Miles Calvin – 293
5. Bryan Armbrust – 290.5
6. Chaz Baca Jr. – 284
7. Taylor Hays – 282.5
8. Dave Messimer [M] – 280
9. Diego Morales [M] – 276.5
10. Tony Severson – 276
11. Kirk Feldkamp – 272
12. Darren Mercer – 268.5
13. Adam Kellerman – 267.5
14. Robby Stanovich – 265
15. Matt Widner - 263
16. Nick Johnston - 255
17. Kyler Repella - 255
18. Tyler Bryant – 249.5
19. Fred Ogrim – 248.5
20. KC Cook – 248.5
21. Sergio Bravo [M] – 247.5
22. Sean Brierley – 235.5
23. Jay Schreiber [M] – 234.5
24. Mike Kai - 232
25. Jerott King - 209
26. Sam Zian – 206.5
27. Jon Kimbrell - 204
28. Michael Shawhan - 193
29. Steve Lattanzi [M] - 192
30. Alex Herndon - 179
31. Marcelo Bravo [M] - 179
32. Ty Matta [M] – 174.5
33. Martin Hanhardt [M] - 172
34. Keith Sears [M] - 166
35. Dennis Kimbrell [M] - 165
36. David Kelmenson [M] - 162
37. Paul Ciralli - 161
38. Derek Esquibel - 161
39. Mark Robinson [M] - 160
40. Steve Jasinski [M] - 160
41. Derrick Islas - 158
42. Mike Kinney [M] - 158
43. Chris Huerta - 156
44. Oliver Rojas - 148
45. Michael Wu – 147.5
46. Henry Morse - 145
47. Ennis Bragg - 141
48. John Shim - 140
49. Rodney Bryant [M] - 133
50. Tony Roflson - 120
51. Jordan Wallace - 129
52. Alex Majerus - 127
53. David Matchett - 125
54. Brian Guevara - 123
55. Gregg Hall [M] - 119
56. Rene Hourian - 118
57. Corey Farrow [M] - 118
58. Patryk Tararuj - 117
59. Jose da Silva [M] - 109
60. Steve Branson - 105
61. Andrew Brown - 103
62. Chris Carter [M] - 100
63. Brian Warden - 95
64. Jeff Carson - 95
65. Ary Jogasurya [M] - 95
66. Richard Talbert - 87
67. Jeff Hall [M] - 84
68. Richard Wood [M] - 83
69. Mike Peterson [M] - 74
70. Greg Reinhardt [M] - 73

SPORT KART GRAND NATIONALS PREVEIW PART 3 of 3: OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP

[June 20, 2012] 2012 Sport Kart Grand Nationals Preview Part 3 of 3: Overall Championship

Heading into practice day #1 for the inaugural Sport Kart Grand Nationals, the entry list sits at 66 drivers from 21 different tracks, hailing from 4 different countries, and 11 different states. There are several big names from the sport entered in this year’s event, but there are many more making their first attempt at a big national event. With everything in karting from indoor to outdoor, gas or electric, to drivers who put time in full-fledged racing cars, this year’s field is filled to the brim with talent. The following preview looks at the entry list, and given the stats in front of this writer, ranks the potential at the overall win at this year’s event.



The Contenders…


Jon Kimbrell – CalSpeed Karting | San Clemente, California

Heading into this weekend, ‘Kimby’ will have the target painted squarely on his back. As the reigning 3-time National indoor karting champ, and the defending 2-time Super Series champ, there is no driver in the country who’s been as successful as he has in recent memory. Returning from the Sodi World Series finals without the finish he wanted, he looked to have a renewed spark, and a return to form in the latest round. If he is indeed running at 100%, then he is going to be a very tough driver to best.

Fred Ogrim – Victory Lane Karting | Charlotte, North Carolina

Momentum is a beautiful thing, and something that the Californian native has in spades. Ogrim is having a career year, winning just about everything he enters, including taking the championship at his home track and scoring the free entry for the Grands. This momentum stems from his second place finish at last years USIKC, and the last time anyone in Sport Karting had this kind of run, they ended it as national champ…

Miles Calvin – CalSpeed Karting | Fullerton, California

The current point leader in the CalSpeed Super Series, the older of the two Calvins hasn’t had the smoothest seasons, despite sitting atop the points ladder. On more than one occasion, Miles has turned what could have been a tipping point in his season into a strong result, and many times in grand style. One of the few drivers that displays the ‘wow’ factor on a regular basis at CalSpeed, expect him to be one of the biggest challengers for the title, if not the leader heading into the final day.

Logan Calvin – CalSpeed Karting | Fullerton, California

Consistency wins championships, and despite not having won a single main this season, Logan held the point lead up until this past round. Showing pace and patience in equal parts throughout 2012 puts him towards the top of the list of contenders, and his 6th place finish at the USIKC last fall proves he can’t be counted out this time either.

Adam Kellerman – Sykart Indoor (TIG) | Tigard, Oregon

Known as one of the best talents in our sport, Adam Kellerman is also coming off a strong run at the USIKC this past Fall, where he bounced back from an early upset to win the Super Final and grab 4th overall. Consistently one of the fastest drivers in both qualifying and in the race, ‘Kelly’ has lead the points at the USIKC more than once and will be a definite threat this weekend as well.

Patrick Britain – CalSpeed Karting | Orange, California

Tied for the most A-Main wins here in the CalSpeed Super Series, Patrick Britain has always been a fast driver at his home track, but has had a rough time of things when traveling. Now that the big event is coming to him, we may see a breakout run at the national level for the Sport Karting veteran, which would come as no surprise for those that have seen his pack-racing prowess.

Taylor Hays – CalSpeed Karting | Whittier, California

The Team Principal for T4 Autosport, Hays is one of the regular front-runners in the Super Series, but has also shown his strategic talents in endurance races. Entering this weekend, Hays carry’s a lot of momentum after an incredible run from 18th to 3rd last round, and was ultra quick in their 2nd place finish at the Petit Machismo.

Aaron Downs – CalSpeed Karting | Norco, California

When it comes to these big national races, ‘Downsy’ always seems to find a little something extra. Here at his home track this should be enhanced, with downs already grabbing two wins this year. When he is on point, he is one of the fastest drivers at CalSpeed,and could be a real contender in the end.

Mike Kai – CalSpeed Karting | Newport Beach, California

Mike Kai’s aggressive style gets him to the front on a regular basis, but it also has bit him a few times. One of the fastest drivers at CalSpeed, Kai has no shortage of race craft as well, and has been know to put on some pretty spectacular moves. If he stays out of trouble, he will be a very real threat to the top step.

Chaz Baca, Jr – Octane Raceway | Mesa, Arizona

Chaz enters the Grands as the de facto #1 from Octane Raceway, home of the USIKC, and a long history of talent. Fresh off his seventh championship at the Phoenix based track, Baca will look to carry that momentum into this weekend. Known for hs aggressive style, Baca will have no problem getting to the front where the fighting will be the thickest

Jerott King – Umigo Raceway | Walnut Creek, California

When you talk about great drivers from the Nor Cal region, the first name you think of is that of Jerott King. In the passed couple of years, King has stamped his presence in the sport, finishing third in the past two USIKC’s, and was the highest ranking American at last years World Championship. While not a regular on the outdoor circuits, King will still find pace early, and will certainly find the front before too long.

Sean Brierly – BRKC | Kent, United Kingdom

Making the long trek from across the pond, Brierly will be one of the main away drivers to keep an eye on, have score his ticket here through his second place result in the Britich Rental Kart Championship. Finding victory on the Teeside outdoor track in May, he should be right at home on CalSpeed’s .7 mile circuit.

Michael Wu – Allsports GP | Herndon, Virginia

Scoring his free entry via his 2011 Championship in the Volta GP series, Wu will be another of the away drivers to keep an eye on. With plenty of seat time in outdoor karts via Volta’s stops at Summit Point Karting, Wu will look to find pace early, and take the fight to the locals, possibly carrying the baton for the rest of the east coast contingent.

Sam Zian – Dubai Autodrome | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

While a relative new name in the States for Sport Karting, Sam makes his living as a FIA Instructor at the Yas Marina circuit in Dubai. Originally from Los Angeles, this homecoming may turn into an overall win for the karting and touring car ace. A two time UAE SWS champ, Zian has plenty of experience in this type of racing, and will be a certain threat for the overall title.

Michael Shawhan – LeMans Karting | Los Gatos, California

Fresh off a win in the Petit Machismo this year, Shawhan was a late entry after plans changed from racing his BMW E30, to making the trek to So-Cal. With the laps he turned in that May event, Shawhan will be a quick runner out of the box, and will be able to fight for solid points early on.



The Spoilers…



Robby Stanovich – CalSpeed Karting | Redondo Beach, California

As one of the top drivers at K1 Speed, Robby made the move to the Super Series halfway through last year, and immediately made a splash. Now a KartSport SP driver, he sits 8th in the points and is coming of his best round to date, where he fought inside the top 5 before finishing a season 6th. He enters this weekend with something to prove, and will be an exciting driver to watch.

Kirk Feldkamp – CalSpeed Karting | Costa Mesa, California

Kirk has made consistent improvements with every race he’s entered, culminating in an IronMan Series victory in round #3. Showing his ability to not only run with the front runners, but having a strong strategic mind, will pay dividends this weekend, and could see him pretty high up the order.

Matt Widner – CalSpeed Karting | Torrance, California

While just outside the top ten in Super Series points, Matt’s sheer speed is undeniable. Entering the series last year, he made a big impression when he ran toe-to-toe with reigning champ Jon Kimbrell right out of the box.

Tyler Bryant – CalSpeed Karting | Gardena, California

The 2011 Super Series Rookie of the Year, Bryant is currently inside the top ten in points, and has become a staple at the sharp end of the field. While accused of being too nice on track, Bryant has turned it up as of late, and will be challenging for string points in every round this weekend.

Darren Mercer – SB Raceway | Oak Hills, California

Of all the ‘Spoiler’ drivers on this list, Mercer may have the strongest shot at the top step, given his pair of A-Main wins this season. While only in his first full season, Mercer is constantly raising eyebrows, and will look to do the same at the Grands. He has proven to have the pace when up front, the question will be can he get there.

Tony Rolfson – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

A past USIKC champ, and multi-time champ in both leagues, and monthly series at Octane Raceway, Rolfson looks return to his winning ways at national events this weekend. With no shortage of experience indoors, the only question is how fast he’ll come up to speed outdoors, to whether he fights for race wins or top 5’s this weekend.

Kyler Repella – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Kyler raced his way into the USIKC SuperFinal and norrwly beat Baca in the Junior category last year, and is fresh off a second place in the Spring championship at Octane Raceway. While young, the kid has undeniable speed, and with his outdoor experience should adapt well to the Calspeed course.

Anthony Severson – Hill Country Kart Club | New Braunfels, Texas

This week, Severson has already scored a triumph: father to his newborn daughter Tuesday evening back home in Texas. Promptly hitting up his flight however, he should still be here in time for Practice on Wednesday. Tony has also just won the championship at his local outdoor track as well, and will look to carry that momentum into this weekend.

Ennis Bragg – Grand Prix New York | Long Island City, New York

Ennis made a splash in his first big national event at the USIKC last Fall, making the super final, and regularly challenging inside the top 5. Making the transition outdoors this week, look for him to pick up where he left off, and once again score solid points through the championship.



This is just a small look at some of the talent entered into this weekend’s affair, and certainly doesn’t hit up on all the great drivers on the list. As the saying goes, ‘on any given Sunday’, this weekend could be the breakout event for any one of the 65+drivers entered, and it is anyone’s guess who will come home with the top spot. Stay tuned to sportkartusa.com for regular updates, interviews with drivers, pictures, live timing and more, as the inaugural Sport Kart Grand Natiols gets under way with timed practice today (Wednesday) and Thursday, followed by 3 days of racing Friday-Sunday.


2012 Sport Kart Grand Nationals | June 22-24 | Official Entry List

Aaron Downs – CalSpeed Karting | Norco, California

Adam Kellerman – Sykart Indoor (TIG) | Tigard, Oregon

Alex Herndon – GoKart Racer | San Jose, California

Alex Majerus – Xtreme Indoor Karting | Coral Springs, Florida

Andrew Brown – CalSpeed Karting | Whittier, California

Anthony Severson – Hill Country Kart Club | New Braunfels, Texas

Ary Jogasurya – Allsports GP | Fairfax, Virginia

Brian Guevara – CalSpeed Karting | Pasadena, California

Brian Warden – CalSpeed Karting | San Diego, California

Bryan Armbrust – N/A | Las Vegas, Nevada

Chaz Baca, Jr – Octane Raceway | Mesa, Arizona

Chris Carter [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Culver City, California

Chris Huerta – CalSpeed Karting | Santa Fe Springs, California

Darren Mercer – SB Raceway | Oak Hills, California

Dave Messimer [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Lake Forest, California

David Kelmenson [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Pacific Palisades, California

Derek Esquibel – CalSpeed Karting | San Pedro, California

Derrick Islas – CalSpeed Karting | Cerritos, California

Dennis Kimbrell [M] – CalSpeed Karting | San Clemente, California

Diego Morales [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Brea, California

Ennis Bragg – Grand Prix New York | Long Island City, New York

Fred Ogrim – Victory Lane Karting | Charlotte, North Carolina

Greg Reinhardt [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Rancho Palos Verdes

Gregg Hall [M] – Need 2 Speed Indoor | Redding, California

Henry Morse – K1 Speed | Redondo Beach, California

Jay Schreiber [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Yorba Linda, California

Jeff Carson – CalSpeed Karting | Sunland, California

Jeff Hall [M] – Need 2 Speed Indoor | Redding, California

Jerott King – Umigo Raceway | Walnut Creek, California

John Shim – Allsports GP | Springfield, Virginia

Jon Kimbrell – CalSpeed Karting | San Clemente, California

Jordan Wallace – Volta GP | Annapolis, Maryland

Jose da Silva [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Sao Paulo, Brazil

Keith Sears [M] – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Kirk Feldkamp – CalSpeed Karting | Costa Mesa, California

Kyler Repella – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Logan Calvin – CalSpeed Karting | Fullerton, California

Luis Arrieta – CalSpeed Karting | Chino Hills, California

Marcelo Bravo [M] – Allsports GP | Gainesville, Virginia

Mark Robinson – Sykart Indoor (TUK)/Pacific Grand Prix | Puyallup, Washington

Martin Hanhardt [M] – Daytona Kartbahn | Essen, Germany

Matt Widner – CalSpeed Karting | Torrance, California

Michael Shawhan – LeMans Karting | Los Gatos, California

Michael Wu – Allsports GP | Herndon, Virginia

Mike Kai – CalSpeed Karting | Newport Beach, California

Mike Kinney [M] – Pacific Grand Prix | Olympia, Washington

Mike Lewis – CalSpeed Karting | Redondo Beach, California

Miles Calvin – CalSpeed Karting | Fullerton, California

Oliver Rojas – Allsports GP | Alexandria, Virginia

Patrick Britain – CalSpeed Karting | Orange, California

Patryk Tararuj – All Sports GP | Baltimore, Maryland

Paul Ciralli – CalSpeed Karting | Tustin, California

Rene Hourian – CalSpeed Karting | La Crescenta, California

Richard Talbert – All Sports GP | Randallstown, Maryland

Richard Wood [M] – Willow Springs Raceway | Lancaster, California

Robby Stanovich – CalSpeed Karting | Redondo Beach, California

Rodney Bryant [M] – SB Raceway | Highland, California

Sam Zian – Dubai Autodrome | Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Sean Brierly – BRKC | Kent, United Kingdom

Sergio Bravo [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Hermosa Beach, California

Steve Branson – CalSpeed Karting | Los Angeles, California

Steve Jasinski [M] – CalSpeed Karting | Torrance, California

Steve Lattanzi [M] – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Taylor Hays – CalSpeed Karting | Whittier, California

Tony Rolfson – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Tyler Bryant – CalSpeed Karting | Gardena, California

Masters & Team Championships

2012 SPORT KART GRAND NATIONALS PREVIEW PART 2 of 3: MASTERS AND TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

[June 19, 2012] In part two of our Sport Kart Grand Nationals preview, we take a look at what is sure to be a hotly contested fight for the Master’s Title, as well as set the stage for what could be an equally as exciting fight for the overall Team Championship.

The Teams…

While the Sport Kart Grand Nationals are an individual-based championship, one of the two sub-categories also up for grabs is the Team Championship. Teams of three drivers will have their points compiled after each round, with the best 7 of 8 rounds counting towards the championship. At the end of the event, the top team will take with them prizes from K1 Race Gear and Gatorz Eyewear, along with some pretty nice hardware.

At the time of this writing, nine different teams have been confirmed, but with the deadline to submit team entries not till Friday morning after the Driver’s Meeting, we could see a few more confirmed entries enter the fray before the green flag flies. Looking at the rosters confirmed so far, below is a look at the biggest lineups, and strongest contenders for the Team Championship:

SPV HJC – Miles Calvin | Patrick Britain | Darren Mercer

If you just look at 2012 Super Series stats alone, then this will be the team to beat, as Miles Calvin is the overall point leader, and both Britain and Mercer have amassed four A-Main wins in the six rounds so far. Mercer kicked off the year with his first career A-Main win, and will carry plenty of momentum into the Grands, after winning his second two weeks ago. Britain has been in this game a while, and this could be his best chance at putting together a winning run. As the winning-est driver in the Super Series (tied at 6 A-Mains with J.Kimbrell), Britain has never looked better. Then there is Miles Calvin: for this writer, there is no other driver at CalSpeed that puts in the kind of performances this driver does. While he may be the point leader right now, Calvin has had to claw for the points, and has put in some of the best drives I have ever seen to do it.

SPV AVMetrics – Jon Kimbrell | Logan Calvin | Diego Morales

If their sister team is the team to beat statistically, it isn’t by much, as this squad is very close #2. Diego Morales is a regular front runner, and a strong chance for the Masters title, Logan Calvin has lead the points nearly all season, and Jon Kimbrell… well, he’s Jon Kimbrell. The 3-time national indoor karting champ and reigning 2-time Super Series champ certainly has the credentials to be the team lead here, and will no doubt back them up this weekend. Calvin has shown maturity, and smarts this season that has been built off a 6th place at the USIKC last fall, and will score some very solid points for the squad. In Morales you have the experience of someone who has won numerous endurance races, and should be the go-to for strategy once the longer runs start.

Team TBD – Adam Kellerman | Fred Ogrim | Ennis Bragg

An impromptu team put together among three lone drivers from three different regions of the states, this team may end up as one of the strongest. For the last few years, two names have always been mentioned when discussing the best talent in Sport Karting: Adam Kellerman and Fred Ogrim. ‘Kelly’ is known as one of, if not the best driver from the Pacific Northwest, and has lead the USIKC on more than one occasion, finishing 4th overall last fall. As the lone driver from the Victory Lane Karting camp, Ogrim comes to the Grands carrying the same reputation, having finished second at the USIKC last year. Teaming up with these two is relative newcomer to the national scene, Grand Prix New York driver Ennis Bragg. In his first big race, Bragg put up strong numbers, making the final and scoring a top 20 result. Although not a traditional team entry, these three will be strong contenders for the overall Team Championship.

T4 Autosport: Tanto – Taylor Hays | Matt Widner | Dave Messimer

Team Principal Taylor Hays is the brainchild behind T4 Autosport, and he has put together a pair of strong entries for the 2012 Grands. For the ‘Tanto’ entry, Hays retains the same lineup he has employed for the Super Series, including himself, Matt Widner and Dave Messimer. All originating from K1, all three drivers found success in the electric venues before moving outdoors, and all three are regulars at the front at CalSpeed. Hays has been on the overall podium multiple times this season, coming off a stellar 18th to 3rd run in the A-Main just a couple weeks ago. For his part, Messimer currently sits 2nd in the Super Series Masters standings and has scored several top 3 finishes including a few race wins this season. Matt Widner is one of the ‘new’ kids at CalSpeed, debuting last year with a bang, immediately matching pace with eventual champ Kimbrell. Still driving beyond his experience level, Widner completes a very strong lineup that is marked as one of the top three teams at CalSpeed.

T4 Autosport: Trickle – Robby Stanovich | Tyler Bryant | Bryan Armbrust

T4’s second entry is an interesting mix of drivers, as not a single full-time T4 driver is on the roster. Instead, they picked up KartSport SP driver Robby Stanovich, SPV development driver Tyler Bryant, and Las Vegas native Bryan Armbrust to complete their lineup. In terms of experience at CalSpeed, Tyler Bryant sees himself as team lead, having won the Super Series rookie of the year title last year. Robby Stanovich is the de facto #2, racking up almost identical stats as Bryant this season, and is coming off a spirited round that saw him score a season high finish. The odd man out is Armbrust, who because of active duty in the airforce has been forced out of the seat as of late. That said, he has plenty of experience, having won several endurance races, including the Machismo event in 2010, and has also done some racing over in Europe.

Team Deathproof – Tony Rolfson | Chaz Baca Jr | Kyler Repella

Team Deathproof arguably has the strongest talent coming out of the Octane Raceway facility, with former USIKC champ Tony Rolfson, 7 time league champ Chaz Baca Jr, and regular front runner and outdoor karter Kyler Repella. Right now, Chaz Baca Jr is the best driver at Octane raceway, and will certainly be the baton carrier for this team as well. Having made one previous run earlier in the year, he narrowly missed the A-Main, but for for the B-Main win all the way to the end. Tony Rolfson is the 2007 USIKC champion, and while he hasn’t raced out here, he did come out and run some strong practice laps a couple months back. It will be interesting to see how he adapts to the outdoor pack racing, but the skill is still there. Kyler Repella is one of the youngest drivers in the field, but he showed pretty well at last years USIKC, and could score some more strong points this weekend.

2012 Sport Kart Grand Nationals | Team Championship Sub-Category | Official Entry List

SPV HJC – Miles Calvin | Patrick Britain | Darren Mercer

SPV AVMetrics – Jon Kimbrell | Logan Calvin | Diego Morales

T4 Autosport: Tanto – Taylor Hays | Matt Widner | Dave Messimer

T4 Autosport: Trickle – Robby Stanovich | Tyler Bryant | Bryan Armbrust

Team TBD – Adam Kellerman | Fred Ogrim | Ennis Bragg

Team Deathproof – Tony Rolfson | Chaz Baca Jr | Kyler Repella

Team Titanium – Steve Lattanzi | Keith Sears | Tony Severson

Team Need 2 Speed – Gregg Hall | Jeff Hall

Team Night Shift – Jay Schreiber | Sergio Bravo



The Masters…

Like the Team Championship, the Masters title is also going on in conjunction with the overall championship, but unlike it, is another purely individual based class. With nearly twenty drivers making up the 40 plus-age category, this group sees an incredibly deep talent pool, and will see them fight for race wins in addition to just a class win. With some of the best Masters talent in the world entered in this year’s event, it is anyone’s guess who will be standing on the top step come Sunday. Below we take a look at the Masters class entry list, and highlight some of the protagonists in this year’s Masters Championship chase:

Martin Hanhardt – Daytona Kartbahn | Essen, Germany

Looking at the list of drivers in the category, one would have to argue that Martin could be the favorite heading into this event, as he enters this championship as the reigning Indoor Karting Masters World Champion. Experienced not only indoor, he has also turned laps outdoors in both arrive and drive type karts, and competition style karts, and will be a sure front runner in the category. Expect Hanhardt to take the fight to the front, and stamp his authority early in the event.

Diego Morales – CalSpeed Karting | Brea, California

Last year Morales took the Master’s title at the United States Indoor Karting Championship, and finished second behind Hanhardt in the 2011 IKWC Master’s division. Locally, he finished 5th in the CalSpeed GP Series, which was highest among masters drivers. Expect to see the Hanhardt vs Morales fight pick up where it left off in Europe last summer, this time in latter’s home court.

Sergio Bravo – CalSpeed Karting | Hermosa Beach, California

While he hasn’t raced abroad or entered the national indoor championship, when it comes to the Master’s that race at CalSpeed, Bravo is in full control. The reigning Super Series Masters Champ, he currently leads the standings again, and is on pace to make it two in a row. Not lacking for pace, Bravo is the record holder for fastest race laps at CalSpeed, besting some of the best in the business on regular basis in sheer speed.

Dave Messimer – CalSpeed Karting | Lake Forest, California

Running a truncated schedule in 2011 prevented Messimer from fighting for the Super Series Master’s championship, but this year he sits second in points and in striking distance. Coming off a strong performance in the past round, look for ‘Messi’ to take the fight to not only the other Masters, but challenge for the front in every single race. A regular at the front at CalSpeed, he wont be one to back down to the younger drivers in the field…

Jay Schreiber – CalSpeed Karting | Yorba Linda, California

Having a regular quick pace is what keeps Schreiber towards the sharp end, but it is his mind for strategy and his consistency that shows him as the point leader in the CalSpeed IronMan Series. If Schreiber enters ‘Super Sunday’ with a strong haul of points, then he is going to be a strong threat for the championship once the pit stops start coming into play in the Semi’s and the Finale.

David Kelmenson – CalSpeed Karting | Pacific Palisades, California

A champion and regular front runner from the indoor K1 Speed ranks in Southern California, Kelmenson has made the move to the outdoor gas powered venue of CalSpeed with ease. A regular finisher inside the top ten, his strong qualifying ability is will play a big part in taking the fight to the more experience driver’s in these type of events.

Mike Kinney – Pacific Grand Prix | Olympia, Washington

Rising to the top of the ranks at his home indoor track before it closed down, Mike Kinney made the move to the outdoor course at Pacific Grand Prix and immediately had pace. This pace was also seen at the regional level, where he fought for race wins both indoors and outdoors. Also a road racer in spec racer fords, expect Kinney to learn the course quickly and find pace early.

Dennis Kimbrell – CalSpeed Karting | San Clemente, California

While his biggest claim to fame may be being the proud father of Jon Kimbrell, the Senior Kimbrell has been making a name for himself lately. Dennis has had several runs inside the top 5 lately in the CalSpeed Super Series, and carries a bit of momentum in to the Grands this week. Coupling a strong qualifying effort with his race pace will be the key to see him at the sharp end this weekend.

2012 Sport Kart Grand Nationals | Masters Sub-Category | Official Entry List

Chris Carter – CalSpeed Karting | Culver City, California

Dave Messimer – CalSpeed Karting | Lake Forest, California

David Kelmenson – CalSpeed Karting | Pacific Palisades, California

Deigo Morales – CalSpeed Karting | Brea, California

Dennis Kimbrell – CalSpeed Karting | San Clemente, California

Greg Reinhardt – CalSpeed Karting | Rancho Palos Verdes

Gregg Hall – Need 2 Speed Indoor | Redding, California

Jay Schreiber – CalSpeed Karting | Yorba Linda, California

Jeff Hall – Need 2 Speed Indoor | Redding, California

Jose da Silva – CalSpeed Karting | Sao Paulo, Brazil

Keith Sears – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Marcelo Bravo – AllSports GP – Gainsville, Virginia

Martin Hanhardt – Daytona Kartbahn | Essen, Germany

Mike Kinney – Pacific Grand Prix | Olympia, Washington

Richard Wood – Willow Springs Raceway | Lancaster, California

Rodney Bryant – SB Raceway | Highland, California

Sergio Bravo – CalSpeed Karting | Hermosa Beach, California

Steve Jasinski – CalSpeed Karting | Torrance, California

Steve Lattanzi – Octane Raceway | Phoenix, Arizona

Octane Raceway Drivers Chaz Baca Jr & Tony Severson sit in 2nd & 3rd Place after Day 1

CALSPEED'S LOGAN CALVIN LEADS DAY 1 OF THE 2012 SPORT KART GRANDS, OCTANE RACEWAY'S CHAZ BACA JR, AND TEXAS WHEELMAN TONY SEVERSON CLOSE BEHIND

[June 23, 2012] Day 1 of the 2012 Sport Kart Grand Nationals saw an intensely competitive field of 70 drivers do battle over the first three rounds of racing. By day's end, Southern California local, Logan Calvin, narrowly missed a clean sweep of his heat races, grabbing two wins and a third place finish. Seven-time Octane Raceway Champion Chaz Baca Jr. was the closest challenger to the lead after grabbing a win of his own in his first session, paired with two strong finishes in his later heats. Sitting in third overall is Tony Severson, who made the trip to the Nationals just hours after his wife gave birth to their second child. Severson ran at, or near the front all day, and looks to take that momentum into Day 2.


Championship Points After Day 1 [ Top 25 ]:

1. Logan Calvin - 144.5
2. Chaz Baca Jr - 135
3. Tony Severson - 133
4. Miles Calvin - 132.5
5. Aaron Downs - 130
6. Kirk Feldkamp - 122.5
7. Dave Messimer [M] - 122
8. Patrick Britain - 121
9. Nick Johnston - 115.5
10 Bryan Armbrust - 114
11. Diego Morales [M] - 113
12. Darren Mercer - 112
13. Matt Widner - 112
14. Sam Zian - 111.5
15. Jon Kimbrell - 110
16. Sergio Bravo [M] - 109.5
17. Fred Ogrim - 108
18. Kyler Repella - 108
19. Jerott King - 106
20. Robby Stanovich - 105
21. Sean Brierley - 103.5
22. Taylor Hays - 102.5
23. KC Cook - 101.5
24. Adam Kellerman - 101
25. Tyler Bryant - 99



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Jack Fresquez Wins Round 1 of Jr League 6/9/12

The opening round of the Jr league held Sat. June 9 had a small but fast group of Jr league racers competing on track 1 c/w. Four of the five Jr league racers were return racers after competing in the inaugural Jr league back in March/April of 2012.

 Sam Gillum is the current defending league Champion and he was on track once again to prove all his practice during the hiatus would pay off. Jack Fresquez who finished 2nd overall last Jr league is back prevent Gillum from repeating as Champion.
He only lost by 9 points overall.

Another return fast racer and the only young lady racer in the group is Kiana Lamanilao who missed the first race last Jr league and without the 1 race drop finished 4th overall. This season she vows to make all the races even though we are going with the 1 drop format. There will be a total of 5 races this Jr league series and the 1 race drop will factor into the points strategy.

Michael Stout, a Raceology 101 graduate and one of the youngest and smallest Jr league racers is back.
He spent time behind the wheel during the off season working on his stamina and cornering speed.

The new Jr racer on the block is Jordan Manoff and he is the oldest at 12 and the driver that has the to overcome the size of a 12 year old compared to a 8 or 9 year old. He has only raced at Octane 3 or 4 times but has the ability to overcome the weight disadvantage and will win races once all the race line pieces come together. My hope is that he does not give up before that happens and it will happen sooner than he thinks.

5 lap Qualifier has Michael Stout on pole for the 10 lap Heat with Sam Gillum lined up in P2, Kiana Lamanilao, P3, Jack Fresquez P4 and Jordan Manoff starting from P5.
Michael Stout wins the position Heat race after 10 laps and has a fast lap time of 26.349.

Qualifier/Heat Finish Order:
Michael Stout...Sam Gillum...Kiana Lamanilao...Jack Fresquez...Jordan Manoff.

Michael Stout will now start from pole position for the 30 lap Main. The green flag drops and away they go. Nose to tail for the first 10 laps on Track 1 c/w. Good close racing with very little contact. Fresquez who started in P4 is now working his way thru the field and is closing in on the leaders Gillum and Stout. Lamanilao tries a risky inside pass and get stuck on the turn 1 barrier wall and drops to 4th.
Meanwhile Jack is looking for an opening to go to the lead and finally has a mistake from Sam Gillum and takes the lead by diving inside at the back turn. 5 laps later we see the Checkered Flag and Jack Fresquez is on the top step of the podium stand for the first Jr league race.

Main Finish Order:
Jack Fresquez...Sam Gillum...Michael Stout...Kiana Lamanilao...Jordan Manoff.

Congratulations Jack on the WIN!

The Jr leagues will be back on Track 2 c/w for Race #2 of 5 on Sat. June 23rd.
Check in by 9am. Driver meeting/kart draw 9:15am. race starts by 9:30am.
5 lap Qualifier into a 10 lap Heat. redraw for karts and start a 20 lap Main.

 Points after Race #1 of 5.
Michael Stout........28
Sam Gillum...........28
Jack fresquez.........27
Kiana Lamanilao...25
Jordan Manoff.......22

We have 13 open race spots as of Tuesday June 12 for the next Jr League Race on Sat. June 23rd.
Sign up your Jr racer online or at the Front Desk Admissions. It's the most fun they will have indoors this summer! Entry is only $30.00 and includes tax.
Thank You!

Chaz Baca Jr Races to yet Another Win in Spring League race #8

Who in their right mind would be racing in this early heat wave to hit the Phoenix area? The best indoor kart racers at Octane Raceway, that’s who, because they know they will be protected from the heat and the sun by the air conditioned building while going head to head in the heat of battle on league night.

Round 8 of 10 was held Tuesday June 5^th at 7pm.

Twenty one hardcore racer types strapped themselves into the 9hp Honda motored Sodi karts. Tony Rolfson returns from a two week siesta to join the fray once more and gather as many points as possible before the 2012 Spring League season comes to an end on Sat. June 16^th. He is able to maintain his top 10 overall points position but is out of the running for a top 3 with only 2 races left unless food poisoning or some other malady strikes the racers 1^st thru 8^th place. Not much chance of that happening but Tony has offered to make us all a “nice” dinner prior to race #9 on Tuesday June 12^th. Hmmmm??? I didn’t even know he knew how to cook and since when does a recipe call for a dash of Hemlock?

The father /son team of David Button & Jonathan Button also joined us for a great night of fast times and no shortage of passing on Track 2 c/c/w.

The only time the tracks are run backwards (c/c/w) are during competition races and it’s always a challenge when not raced that way very often by so few.

No major incidents were reported, no Black Flags were thrown and the races stayed green, start to finish.

Twenty one racers dictated the running of two groups.

Group 1 has Steve Lattanzi taking the pole for the 25 lap Heat where he finished 1^st by a gap of over 4 seconds to Kyler Repella. Philip Schroeder qualified 2^nd , started the Heat from P2 but got shuffled back thru the field and finished 8^th which had Schroeder displaying the ultimate Mr. Unhappy Face. Not only did Repella take advantage of that spiral thru the field by Schroeder but Josh Sarchet came along for the ride to finish 3^rd overall in the Heat. Philip had his work cut out for him as he had to now make his way thru the “B” Main to stay in the top 10 overall points battle.

Finish Order Group 1 Q/Heat:

Steve Lattanzi…Kyler Repella…Josh Sarchet…Mike McClaran…Don Angel…Chris “BIGfoot” Wynne…Chris Manwaring…Greg Gillum…Philip Schroeder…David Button.

The new nickname(“BIGfoot”) for Chris Wynne can be explained by him having his foot run over at an event by a “friend” of his that was backing up before the start of a race. With friends like that who needs enemies. Good this he wasn’t driving a steamroller or we would be calling Chris, flatbread road kill.

Group 2 has Chaz Baca Jr lead the charge once again and takes the pole position for the Heat which he wins over the likes of Tony Rolfson And Cody Gutierrez. Group 2 with the exception of Scott Lodding & George Sklyarevsky maintained their starting spots from the qualifier in the Heat. Lodding & Sklyarevsky traded places with lap traffic playing a part in that transaction. No harm, no foul and no small children were harmed during the racing action.

Finish Order Group 2 Q/Heat:

Chaz BACA Jr…Tony Rolfson…Cody Gutierrez…Keith Sears…Charles Crowe…Scott Lodding…George Sklyarevsky…Brian Landry…Gavin Harlien…Craig Moore…Jonathan Moore.

After a small break to let everyone catch their breath and try to explain away a random bump or two we reset the fields and pull another round of karts for the start of the “B” Main which races first and the “A” Main.

The Winner of the “B” Main will get to race another 40 lap Main. I’m exhausted just writing about it.

Scott Lodding on pole and very determined to finish the “B” Main in the top spot. Will the energy drink he is guzzling live up to its name or will Lodding peak too soon and fall by the wayside?

With Chris “BIGfoot” Wynne starting from P2 and channeling all of his energy to his oversize right foot it will be a battle right to the end. Having Sklyarevsky starting P3 will keep both Lodding and Wynne on high alert as one mistake between them will leave the door open for George to make his move to the front.

Most of the race we see nose to tail racing with the front 3 pack playing nice and moving away from the rest of the field. Chris Manwaring goes from 4^th to 8^th, Philip Schroeder moves north from 7^th to 4^th. Brian Landry loves 5^th place so that’s where he starts and finishes. Greg Gillum moves back 1 position, from 6^th to 7^th and Unabomber vested Craig Moore goes from 9^th to 6^th. I hear he threatened to pull the pin unless the other racers let him by. Lucas Oil Off road kart racer and the youngest racer in our group tonight, Gavin Harlien, strapped on as much as 75 extra pounds of weight and faired pretty well with a 9^th place finish. Not too bad for his first time racing against the best and with sooooooo much added weight. Hope his LOOR schedule allows him to come back again. Great kid, clean racer. The father/son racers David & Jonathan “Buttoned” up the last two spots and came away with a new found place to be on Tuesday night. Jonathan made most turns a drifting exercise and we now will help him fine tune the art of cornering with less tire noise and more grip if he chooses to return. Yes, Scott Lodding wins the “B” Main which means he’s on track literally to do another 40 laps.

Finish Order “B” Main:

Scott Lodding…George Sklyarevsky…Chris Wynne…Philip Schroeder…Brian Landry…Craig Moore…Greg Gillum…Chris Manwaring…Gavin Harlien…David Button…Jonathan Button.

“Lucky Lodding” moves into the “A” main for another 40 laps of racing on Track 2 c/c/w.

Which now brings us to the “A” Main. Chaz Baca Jr starts from his week to week reserved spot,P1, but he has Steve Lattanzi, who is hungry for a #1 finish, starting from P2, before the season ends and the always fast Tony Rolfson and Baca’s new shadow, Kyler Repella starting 3^rd and 4^th respectively. Cody Gutierrez has finally broken into the top 5 and is giddy with excitement even though he has Team Dive Bomb, Josh Sarchet nipping at his bumper. The field is rounded out with Keith Sears…Mike McClaran…Charles Crowe…Don Angel and Winner of “B” Main, Scott Lodding.

Green flag flys and Rolfson wants by Lattanzi before Baca can put too much distance between himself and the rest of the group. Rolfson’s attempts are unsuccessful as Lattanzi fends off the passing to the inside moves lap after lap.  Lattanzi manages to maintain P2 and Rolfson slips back to finish a disappointing 5^th right behind Gutierrez who is jumping with joy with his 4^th place finish.  Sears and Sarchet who have tangled most of this season swap spots and played nice right to the very end. Lodding moved up one position to finish 10^th over Don Angel. Crowe and McClaran also made a position swap. This must have been the Swap mart 500 race. No Black flags and no foot stomping so all the passes must have been clean. Miracles do happen and we hope for more when we come back to compete in Race #9 on Tuesday June 12 @ 7pm.

Finish Order “A” Main:

Chaz Baca Jr…Steve Lattanzi…Kyler Repella…Cody Gutierrez…Tony Rolfson…Keith Sears…Josh Sarchet…Charles Crowe…Mike McClaran…Scott Lodding…Don Angel.

Congratulations Chaz Baca Jr who is rapidly approaching his 7^th Octane Raceway Championship title, on yet another amazing drive to a race win and max points. Also a big thumbs up to Cody Gutierrez who has stepped up his racing game and was only 1 spot away from a podium finish.

See all of you and more on Tuesday June 12 for race #9 of 10. Track 1 c/w.

The league Final is also this Sat. June 16^th @ 9am. Surprises are on the menu as well as the Awards ceremony with trophies, gift cards and more.

If you’re Late, You May have to Spectate!

Keeping the Rubberside Down,

Steve "Kandyman" Lattanzi

Team Titanium of Octane Raceway

steve@OctaneRaceway.com

Competition Director

Offsite Specialty Events Coordinator

Lead Instructor for the Raceology 101 Jr Kart Racing School

317 S. 48^th 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.

Raceology 101 June 2,2012

The Raceology 101 class held Sat. June 2, 2012 was the largest to date with 12 students signed up to learn the ins and outs of how to safely maneuver an indoor Jr race kart at speed. Taught by longtime indoor/outdoor kart racer Steve “Kandyman” Lattanzi, who is also the Competition Director here at Octane Raceway. He was joined by his seasoned karting experts Chaz Baca Jr, who is on track to win his 7^th league series in a row, Kyler Repella who is running second overall  in the leagues and also races an outdoor kart and Keith Sears who is a longtime indoor kart racer and also is the grid master at the local outdoor kart track (PKRA).

Steve and his band of qualified instructors take the students from, what that flag means and what the green (throttle), red (brake) pedal do, to a flat out 20 lap race. All in the course of 2 hours. A brief intro to the flags, proper fitment of helmet and kart to a 1 lap track walk. Then into karts for a 2 lap stop and go exercise to introduce the students to the throttle & brake. Next up we go into a 3 lap qualifier with 2 or 3 students on the track at once. Then we reset the group based on fastest time on pole for the standing staggered start of the all out 20 lapper. Achievement Certificates are then handed out and a podium picture ceremony concludes the class. Pizza & soft drinks end a morning of learning and fast fun!

Amazing to watch most of the students go from shy and a bit nervous to fist pumping confident in such a short time.

This class had the baseball team and friends of Corwin Hemmingsen join him for his birthday celebration. Birthday Boy Corwin set fast time in the qualifier to start from pole position in the 20 lap race. Unfortunately during the race a slide and a bump from another competitor put racer “Birthday Boy” back to 4^th place where he finished. Up to that time both he and racer Tony Stewart (Liam Lafferty) raced nose to tail, lap after exciting lap.

Lap times also went from 33 seconds to 40 seconds in the qualifier to 30 seconds to 34 seconds. In the race. Minimum lap time improvements of 3 to 6 seconds a lap.  Great class and for the first time 100% of the class wore the new black Octane Raceway membership shirts. Bravo!

Big thanks goes to all the parents that took the time and resources to give their sons a taste of what indoor kart racing is all about and the trust they put in Octane Raceway and myself to do it safely.

Finish order of 20 lap Main Race:

Tony Stewart (Liam Lafferty)

Stealth Ninja (Aiden Barrett)

Mike 26 (Mikey Ford)

Birthday Boy (Corwin Hemmingsen)

Cade McCoy (Cade McCoy)

Whiplash (Matthew Gallegos)

Justin Upton (Thomas Rea)

Speedy (Augie Walters)

Dan Weldon (Jake Wright)

Kolt45 (Kolton Kurzman)

Lightening (John Lauinger)

Turbo (Andy Newman)

Congratulations one and all of the graduating class of Raceology 101… June 2, 2012.

‘Til we meet again I will be,

Keeping the Rubberside Down,

Steve "Kandyman" Lattanzi

Team Titanium of Octane Raceway

steve@OctaneRaceway.com

Competition Director

Offsite Specialty Events Coordinator

Lead Instructor for the Raceology 101 Jr Kart Racing School

317 S. 48^th 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.