So where do you find all the fast indoor kart racing hot
shoes going on Tuesday night? Why Octane Raceway is where you will find 30 or
more of the best Sport/Pro league competitors having fun and talking smack
before, during and after the racing. Yes, I said during because you know it and
I know it, there is a lot of talking into your helmet either congratulating
yourself or berating yourself for a good kart/turn/pass, etc or in some cases a
not so good kart/turn/pass, etc. I know I’m not the only one that does it. I used
to hold my breath but I became woozy after a very short time and not doctor
recommended. Last night was no different as I had to keep no less than four (4)
Pro leaguers at bay and keep them from my coveted 3rd Place podium
finish. Wasn’t easy with top notch racers like Kyle Hathcox, Chris Wynne, Mike
McClaran, Cody Gutierrez and Keith Sears biting at the bit and wanting their
picture taken on the podium.
The Chaz Baca Jr/Kyler Repella Show is in High Definition
(HD) mode and pulled away to an easy 1..2 finish. I will be outfitting my
helmet with binoculars so I can still see them as they race off into the
sunset. Kyler and Chaz are now tied for 1st place with 87 points after
two (2) of the seven (7) Pro league races in the record books. Steve Lattanzi
has managed to score enough points (86) to stay in the hunt for the fame and
fortune that comes with a Pro League Championship.
Octane Raceway has given the OK to expand the Sport/Pro
league series from five (5) races to seven (7). The added dates are Tuesday
Jan. 29th and Tuesday Feb. 5th. Sport…from 6pm to 8pm and
the Pro…from 8pm to 10pm. $40.00 is the total price per race night which
includes a Qualifier/Heat and Main for each competitor. Up to 2 groups of 14
for Sport league and the same for the Pro league. Online sign ups are highly
recommended to reserve your spot.
Sport League:
Twenty one (21) Sport league racers signed on for Race #2 of
7. Nick Evans set fast time Group 1 qualifier to start from the pole position
in his 20 lap Heat over John Moldt and Will Shurtleff. Twenty laps later we
have John Moldt taking the win over Nick Evans and Will Shurtleff holding on for a 3rd
place finish.
Group 2 see’s a comeback regular racer by the name of Chris
Webb take the pole for his Heat and Frank Dusanek starting from P2. Chaz Baca
Sr starts from P3 and is not familiar with having so many karts in front of
him. Ariel Rubio is right on his bumper and these two will have to work as a
team to make a run at the top. Chaz Baca Sr makes an early move by Frank and
then squeezes by Chris for 1st and then proceeds to pull away. Chris
Webb falls to 4th by race end Ariel Rubio moves into 3rd
and Frank reels Baca in but runs out of laps. He finishes 2nd.
The 25 lap Mains are now set and on pole for the “B” Main is
the youngest member of the Sport leaguers, Matthew Bryant. Right on his bumper
starting P2 is Greg Gillum who travels all the way from Prescott every week to
compete. Matthew holds on for about 5 laps and with one misstep Greg gets by
and waves goodbye. Craig Moore with his Unabomber weight vest also gets by Matthew
to try and chase down Gillum. Wasn’t to be this week. Greg takes the Checkers
first and now gets to race from the tail end of the Sport league “A” Main.
Chaz Baca Sr is back in his pole position comfort zone and
with no one to block his view and one of his favorite karts as his trusty steed
he races to another win over John Moldt who was .5 seconds off his rear bumper
at the end. Nick Evans came from a 4th place starting position to
finish 3rd and revisits the podium once again. Two for two for the
comeback kid who has stepped up his indoor kart racing game. He currently sits
only 4 points away from 1st place Baca Sr in the Sport league
overall points battle.
Top 10 in Overall
Points:
Chaz Baca Sr…90
Nick Evans…86
Ariel Rubio…82
Frank Dusanek…75
Scott Swayzee…74
Will Shurtleff…70
Chris Webb…64
Craig Moore…59
Jerry Hale…51
Dawn Sharp…50
Congratulations to Chaz Baca Sr…John Moldt…Nick Evans. Top 3
in the Sport “A” Main.
And to Greg Gillum for winning the “B” Main and going the
distance in the 30 lap “A” Main.
No dreaded Black Flags were thrown so it was a great night
for all.
Pro League:
The Pro league is so much easier to remember. Chaz Baca Jr wins
again…Kyler Repella 2nd and Steve Lattanzi 3rd. End of story,
case closed!
Hey not so fast, even though that was the “A” Main finish order
in the Pro League.
But Wait, There’s More!
Group 1 has Steve Lattanzi set fast time and take pole for
his Heat which he ended up winning over Chris Wynne and Mike McClaran.
The Heat race did not go so well for Philip Schroeder and
Carlos Carneiro who made contact with each other. Carlos decided to pull out of
the Heat with 11 laps left and regroup for the “B” Main. Philip stayed on track
knowing that a “B” Main was in his immediate future.
Group 2 was an epic battle between Chaz Baca Jr and Kyle
Hathcox. Baca Jr took the pole by a slim margin over Hathcox and for the entire
20 lap Heat race Kyle never let Baca Jr
slip away. Lap after lap and with the laps counting down Hathcox gets by Baca
Jr but Baca Jr fight s aback and gets the position back to take the win. It was
the best no contact performance so far this season. Kyler Repella had qualified
third and was biding his time during the Heat and hoping that Baca Jr&
Hathcox would take each other rout or slow each other up so that he could catch
and pass them. Didn’t happen, but exciting to watch none the less.
“B” Main has Keith Sears on pole and hungry for a win that
will reward him with a move up into the Pro “A” Main. Returning regular Eric
Dickinson who took a self imposed year off from competition was back to make
Keith work for that win. By race end it was all Keith Sears and into the “A” Main
he goes.
Meanwhile, Carlos and Philip, remember them?, are getting
together again but this time they are both nose into the wall and need track
marshal assistance to continue.
They both finished 1
lap down to the leaders and let’s just say not big fans of each other’s driving
style. Come on boys, kiss and make up. It’s supposed to be fun …remember? Just
for the record C.C. has a very aggressive and unique driving style that can be
very scary to watch, never mind race around. Enough said.
“A”Main has Chaz Baca Jr starting from, dare I say it, pole with Steve Lattanzi nervously sandwiched
between Baca Jr and Kyle Hathcox. That and Chris Wynne is now going to try and
hold off points leader Kyler Repella who wants to get to the front by way of
express bus. The laps click by with Baca Jr stepping away and one by one each
other racer taking a turn at getting by Lattanzi, who is quick in a straight
line but struggles with a sliding kart at every turn.
Kyler gets by once but not as clean as he should. Gives the
spot back and gets by cleanly the second time. Color him gone; trying to catch
his mentor Baca Jr who now has a lead he will not give up unless 4 flat tires
or a blown engine put him down and out. We can hope can’t we?
The race ends after 35 laps and not a moment too soon for
Lattanzi who managed to hold off the fast ones behind him and claim the 3rd
step of the podium. Two podium finishes in two races, so far so good. But, I
only have so much luck stockpiled and it’s getting low.
Top 10 in Overall
Points:
Kyler Repella…87
Chaz Baca Jr…87
Steve Lattanzi…86
Chris Wynne…76
Charles Crowe…72
Cody Gutierrez…69
Brian Landry…67
Keith Sears…65
Kyle Hathcox…41
Josh Lambeth…39
So far it’s been a great Sport/Pro league season and will
prove to be one of the best leagues to date prior to the move to the new location
with the new Sodi RTX Electric karts. The league racers have been invited to
test the new Sodi RTX karts when they arrive and I’m sure they will come away positively
charged up about what the future will hold for competition using the electric
karts. Thank You all for taking the time
and resources to compete in the best league series at the best indoor kart
facility in the country. It shall continue.
Next race is Race #3
on Track 1, Tuesday Jan. 22nd. Sport 6pm to 8pm…Pro
8pm to 10pm.
Don’t be Late, or You May Have to Spectate!
Keep the Rubberside Down,
Steve "Kandyman" Lattanzi
steve@OctaneRaceway.com
Competition Director
Lead Instructor for the Raceology 101 Jr Kart Racing School
317 S. 48th Street . Phoenix, AZ
85034
(d) 602-427-4416 / 602-321-2035(m)
Visit us online @ www.OctaneRaceway.com
1:Jake Dahlquist
