Colorado Karting Tour Race #3 IMI Motorsports 6/5/16

[CJKC]

Race Day Schedule IMI 6/5
Gates Open – 6:30a
Registration Open – 7:00a
Morning Warm Up (8 minute Sessions)
8:00 – Surface Magic Kid Kart
8:10 – Weifield Group LO206 Adult
8:20 – Glass Works Mini Max /Race Life Jr2
8:30 –Unser Karting Junior Max/ Rotax Senior/Rotax Master/Open TaG
8:40 – Kramer Roofing Jr1 Cadet /Karma Enterprises Micro Max
8:50 – Open Shifter
9:00 – American Sprinkler Jr1
9:20 Mandatory Drivers Meeting (Attendance Taken)
Qualifying (8 minute Session)
9:50 – Surface Magic Kid Kart
10:00 – Weifield Group LO206 Adult
10:10 – Glass Works Mini Max /Race Life Jr2
10:20 – Unser Karting Junior Max/ Rotax Senior/Rotax Master/Open TaG
10:30 – Kramer Roofing Jr1 Cadet /Karma Enterprises Micro Max
10:40 – Open Shifter
10:50 – American Sprinkler Jr1
Pre Finals (11:00-12:45)
11:00 – 8 Laps – Surface Magic Kid Kart
11:15 – 10 laps – Weifield Group LO206 Adult
11:30 – 10 laps – Glass Works Mini Max /Race Life Jr2
11:45 – 12 laps – Unser Karting Junior Max/ Rotax Senior/Rotax Master/Open TaG
12:00 – 10 laps – Kramer Roofing Jr1 Cadet /Karma Enterprises Micro Max
12:15 – 12 laps – Open Shifter
12:30 – 10 laps – American Sprinkler Jr1
Lunch (12:45-1:30)
Finals (1:30-4:05)
1:30 – 12 laps – Surface Magic Kid Kart
1:45 – 15 laps – Weifield Group LO206 Adult
2:05 – 15 laps – Glass Works Mini Max /Race Life Jr2
2:30 – 18 laps – Unser Karting Junior Max/ Rotax Senior/Rotax Master/Open TaG
2:55 – 15 laps – Kramer Roofing Jr1 Cadet /Karma Enterprises Micro Max
3:20 – 18 laps – Open Shifter
3:45 – 15 laps – American Sprinkler Jr1
4:30 B2 Energy Trophy Presentation

[CJKC]

Colorado Karting Tour Race Report: Round 3: IMI Motorsport Complex, Counter-Clockwise
The Colorado Karting Tour traveled to Dacono, Colorado’s IMI Motorsports Complex for the 3rd round of the season. Although many CKT racers had already experienced this course at the ‘run your rust off’ race this season, IMI presented a new challenge for many, as the day’s action ran in the opposite direction—clockwise. The air was still, the sun was bright, and the temperature was hot. The action on the track across many of the classes was just as intense as the early summer sun, and the 67 entrants on hand put on outstanding shows in several classes throughout the day.
The Surface Magic Kid Karts were the first to take to the IMI course for qualifying, and Archer Eversman made it clear he had brought his A-game for the day, laying down a lap of 44.255 in his #22 machine. In the heat race, it was all #22 up front, as Eversman smoothly progressed through traffic to take a sizeable victory. Hudson Morrow gave spirited pursuit, while #51 Joelle Lewis and #1 Kaden Dosmann battled throughout the race for 3rd. In the main, Morrow placed his #55 out front early, but was unable to hold off Eversman after the initial lap. Eversman never relinquished the top spot, and crossed the line to take the victory by a margin of 18 seconds. Eversman and Morrow were followed to the line by Lewis and Dosmann. #5 Gage Korn managed to put some mechanical issues in the heat race behind him for the main, and worked his way through the field to finish 5th
The Open Shifter category showed the paddock that great racing doesn’t always require a large field. Xavier Romero placed his #17 machine on pole with a time of 54.602, just narrowly edging out Philip Craycroft’s #77 with a time of 54.628 over the 1 mile course. Romero elected to start from the rear of the field in the heat race, which elevated #2 Max Cortez to the pole position. By the end of the first lap Craycraft had piloted his CRG to a sizeable lead over Cortez and the rest of the field. Romero patiently worked his way through the field to finish second by the end of the heat, and it was clear that Craycraft and Romero would likely duke it out for the win in the main. At the drop of the green, Craycraft shot into the lead as Romero faltered momentarily. In the opening laps, Craycraft drove smoothly to develop a sizeable advantage. However, as the race wore on, the heat began to take its toll on the tires of the #77 machine, and Romero began to close. By the halfway mark, #17 was slowly reeling in Craycraft, who was clearly fighting a slippery track and kart. With only a handful of laps to go, Romero made his move, driving to the inside at the sweeping hairpin before the main straight. Craycraft battled back ferociously, and was able to hold Romero off. The #17 was ultimately not to be denied, however, and capitalized on a slip by Craycraft to take a close victory at the checkered. The CKT racing community showed their support for the great race, clapping and cheering as the drivers pulled in. Romero and Craycraft were followed to the line by #86 Cal Hankis, and #45 Zac Dieter saw his race cut short by a mechanical issue.
Judging by the first two rounds of CKT action, the American Sprinkler Junior 1 drivers were poised to deliver another outstanding example of racecraft and excitement at IMI. In qualifying, the Junior 1 drivers lived up to the hype, with #61 Cole Tuttle taking the pole with a time of 1:01.116, narrowly beating Tim Trostel and Jake Farreny. In the heat, #78 Trostel shot out to an early lead in his Margay. Tuttle ferociously fought back from a poor start, and by lap 2 reassumed the point. Trostel wasn’t done, however, and lead the next few circuits before Tuttle again took away the top spot. Trostel demonstrated his patience by waiting until the final circuit to re-take the lead, crossing the line to win the heat by only 0.158 over Tuttle. Parents, racers, and fans were ecstatic after yet another action filled Junior 1 race, and were eager to see what these young racers would do in the main. At the drop of the green for the main, Trostel piloted his kart to the front, with every intention of staying there. Tuttle had other ideas, and by lap 2 he was slowly reeling in the #78. By lap 4, Tuttle was nipping at Trostel’s heels, and was looking for a way by. After doggedly pursuing Trostel for several laps, a spin in one of the hairpins relegated #61 to the tail end of the field. Dejected but determined, Tuttle turned up the wick and blazed his way through the field, and would finish an impressive 3rd in the final tally. Behind the lead action, Maci Williams piloted her #14 to a smooth second place finish, while #33 Farreny attempted to hold off a charging Tuttle for third. Trostel, Williams, and Tuttle were followed to the line by Farreny and #24 Calen Roach.
Combined Unser Karting Junior Max/Rotax Senior/Rotax Master/Open Tag had a healthy turnout at IMI. #3 Ryan Rudolph set the pace in qualifying, turning a 55.257 in his GP. With Rudolph electing to start at the back in the heat, Liam Letzsch placed his #217 out front before surrendering the lead to Cody Dempster. By lap 8, Rudolph had sliced through the pack, and slipped past #222 to place himself at the front of the pack. Letzsch seized upon Rudolph’s move for the lead to wrestle 2nd away from Dempster at the line. In the main, Letzsch got the jump on the start, but was quickly relegated to second by Rudolph. Once out front, Rudolph began to open up a sizeable lead while Dempster, Letzsch, and Mason Frank engaged in a heated battle. By the middle of the contest, Rudolph appeared to be fading slightly, which allowed the tight pack behind him to close incrementally. Letzsch put the hammer down and gave spirited chase, but in the end Rudolph was able to hold off all challengers to take the win. Letzsch would take 2nd, followed by Dempster, Frank, and #203 Palmer Mahoney.
Kramer Roofing Combined Junior 1 Cadet and Micro Max was another event that CKT racers knew would produce great racing. Trayc Walker-Scott placed his #8 on pole with a time of 1:05.259, just a tick faster than Jennifer Baker’s #54, and Chase Groff’s #7 Micro Max. In the heat, Walker-Scott would capitalize on his pole position starting spot, leading most of the race before Groff used his Rotax power to find a way by at the line. In the main, Baker found another gear, and powered her way to the lead as Groff and Walker-Scott battled for track position. While Baker’s #54 opened up a sizeable advantage, #61 Dylan Archer would capitalize on some bobbles by Groff and Walker-Scott to advance to 2nd position at the checkered. Baker and Archer were followed to the line by Walker-Scott, Groff, and #7c Brian Bradley.
The IMI course favors the smooth, relaxed drivers in the Weifield Group LO206 category, rewarding them with speed and a quick lap time. In qualifying, it appeared that #173 Adam Kasick was the smoothest, as he laid down a time of 1:07.040, placing him ahead of #5 William Barkley and #2 Austin Chalman. In the heat, Barkley didn’t let Kasick get away so easily, and the duo battled for the lead in the latter stages of the heat race. In the main, Kasick immediately began to open up an advantage over Barkley, who seemed to be the only driver capable of nearly matching the #173’s speed. Starting at the back of the pack after some mechanical issues in the heat, #2 Austin Chalman swiftly advanced his way through the field. On lap 9, Barkley pulled into the pits with a mechanical problem and was done for the day. This left Kasick free to cruise to a substantial victory, taking the win by nearly 11 seconds at the end of the 15 lap contest. Behind Chalman, Henry Korn crossed the line in 3rd in his #13 after running a smooth and consistent race. #403 Jeremy Davis mixed it up with several LO206 Light drivers, and came away with the LO206 Heavy class victory, finishing in 4th overall. Rodney Ebersole followed Davis to the line, to take 2nd in class, and round out the overall top 5. Randy Flores placed in 3rd in his #47 kart after a spirited battle with #556 Zac Dieter early in the contest.
The Glass Works Mini Max /Junior 2 field saw a familiar face rise to the top at IMI, as Maximillian Opolski placed his #102 Compkart on pole in qualifying with a time of 59.454. Macy Williams was the only other driver to break the 1:00 barrier in the session, with a time of 59.740. Bridget Weidner set the pace in Junior 2, with a time of 1:03.550. In the heat Opolski shot into the lead early in the running, and never looked back, leading Williams and #137 Payton Johnson to the line. In the main, Opolski got the jump on the start, and began to settle into his rhythm out front. Williams attempted to wring all she could from her #114 Tonykart, but was unable to keep pace with Opolski, who began to slowly open up an advantage. Behind the lead duo, Johnson overtook #145 Duncan Warnke for 3rd, and #118 Jack Armstrong battled #198 Cameron Lazaroff throughout the race. At the line, Opolski would take the win over Williams, Johnson, Warnke, and Lazaroff.
After the races, CKT staff and competitors packed up, and enjoyed the trophy presentation. The race day had tested the teams, the drivers, and the staff in one of the opening weeks of what should be a sweltering summer. Despite the heat, the day had been a success, due in no small part to the racers, who produced clean yet aggressive racing all day. A special thanks should be extended to Chip, Ian, Doug, Eric, Makalie, Hunter, Kenny, Julie, and all the corner workers for working together to create a safe and fun environment for racers. If you’d like to reach out about racing with CKT, have constructive comments or suggestions for improvements, or have administrative questions, please contact the Colorado Karting Tour at [email protected]
The Colorado Karting Tour will travel next to SBR Motorsports Park in Calhan, CO, on June 19, 2016. This event will utilize the beautifully prepared SBR course in the counter-clockwise direction.
Please register for this event online at: http://coloradokartingtour.com/registration
For complete race results and lapcharts from IMI Round 3, see: http://www.mylaps.com/en/events/1278309

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