RACE REPORT: SKUSA PRO TOUR SPRINGNATIONALS SATURDAY REPORT
The Honda Racing/HPD SpringNationals kicked off the start of the 2011 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour season, putting in the first round of results into the books Saturday at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. After battling hash weather conditions during Friday’s practice, including high temperatures and strong wind gusts that damaged tents throughout the paddock, Saturday was a warm welcome to comfortable racing conditions. With roughly 170 drivers in attendance and the fields stacked with talent, the racing on track was phenomenal as the nearly 8/10-mile circuit provided the perfect backdrop for exciting wheel-to-wheel action. At the end of the day, the first 2011 Pro Tour winners were established with a number of drivers earning their first ever series victory.
A solid field of 31-drivers took to the track for qualifying in the S2 category. 2010 S5 Junior champion Daniel Langon (GP) held the provisional pole early on as the karts hit the track. Langon’s time held through until Nicky Freytag (Intrepid) posted his fast lap on his second circuit. Freytag’s local knowledge certainly helped the Arizona driver as he put down a 48.730-lap. Making a return to the seat on the weekend was Utah’s Patrick Cushenberry (CRG). ‘Cush’ moved to second in the order to fill out the front row for heat one. Another S5 graduate posted a strong result in qualifying as Christian Schureman (GP) ended the session third with Cory Milne (GP) sandwiched between he and Langon.
A very young and excited front group of drivers stalled at the start of the opening heat. Polesitter Freytag stalled at the line and Schureman had no where to go, making contact with him. Langon stalled behind them as well, able to get going after the field left. Cush took the holeshot with Matt Alcorn (Energy) coming from 10th on the grid to second. Owen, Milne and Arie LuyendykArie Luyendyk Jr. (Zanardi) made up the top-five. Cush led they way until Alcorn took the top spot from him on lap seven with a great move into turn one. Behind them, Luyendyk was on the charge as he put both Owen and Milne behind him and looked to chase down the leaders. After 10 laps, Alcorn took the win over Cush with Luyendyk, Owen and Evan Walters (Intrepid) completing the top-five.
A better and clean start for the S2 group as they all got off the line and around the opening corners. Cush grabbed the holeshot but Alcorn led the opening lap. Cush’s race came to end quickly as a broken rear bumper put him on the sidelines. Luyendyk, Hathcox and Owen made up the top five until contact dropped Arie and Owen to the tail of the field after the fourth lap. Walters, Jake French (Birel) – who started 19th in heat one and 10th this heat, made his way forward to fourth with Lane in fifth. Hathcox pulled some distance on Alcorn as Walters reeled in Alcorn slightly. Freytag, who finish 18th in heat one, worked his way up to sixth and was pressuring Lane. Hathcox took the win comfortably as Alcorn held off Walters. Lane made a last lap pass to steal the outside of row two for the main event with Freytag crossing in sixth behind French.
At the start of the main when the lights went out, Hathcox grabbed the holeshot with Freytag moving up to second when they completed their first lap with Alcorn falling to fourth behind Lane. The trio fighting for third allowed Hathcox and Freytag to pull away and allowed Ryan Kinnear (Intrepid) to close in on the fight for the top-five. Lap seven, Freytag took over the top spot with a pass through turn four and held the spot for two laps before Hathcox came back in turn 10. Walters was able to pull away in the third spot as Kinnear, Lane and French fought for fourth. Lap 13, Lane went off at turn four while racing for position, losing his shot at a top-five. With three to go, the top two began their dual for the victory. They exchanged the position into turn one and then back out of the corner. Freytag took the white flag as the leader and held off Hathcox’s charge into turn one. Hathcox regained the lost real-estate and made a moved in close by turn ten but it wasn’t enough. Freytag held on for the victory at the line to overcome his mishap from the first heat race in a strong performance in his home state. Walters ran to an impressive third spot on the podium with French fourth and Kinnear holding on to the fifth spot over Milne and Alcorn. Luyendyk drove from 28th on the grid to end up eighth and another driver of note was Cushenberry’s charge from 20th to 13th.
Walters Motorsports would like to thank all our business partners for their continued support to the team and racing in general. These include; Caribbean Creme, Champion Racing, Intrepid Kart Technology, Leading Edge Motorsport, WaltersWebDesign.com and WaltersImages.com.
For more information on Walters Motorsports please visit our website www.WaltersMotorsports.com
Written By: EKartingNews.com
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