RACE REPORT: Central States Challenge From Gateway International Raceway
(St. Louis, MO) The second event of the season for the Superkarts! USA Central States Challenge took competitors from across the Midwest to the arch city – St. Louis – and the Gateway International Raceway for round three of the series. Contested over two days, racers competed on a temporary circuit inside the facility that incorporated the oval, road course and other paved areas. Drivers were given plenty of track time Saturday to get accustom to the long and challenging course before qualifying took place at the end of the day. Two heat races and the main event on Sunday decided the winners for the event.
Evan Walters was one of the winners to leave Gateway as he made his first series start and scored the feature victory in S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto. The event began with Derek Crockett as the driver to beat following qualifying with a 52.275-lap time. Walters was second in the order with point leader Lukas Johnson third. Crockett however would be unable to compete in the races following an engine failure Sunday morning during warm-ups. Johnson took advantage as he would go on to win both heat races. In the final, Johnson and Walters went back and forth for the lead. Lap traffic would come into play and Walters took advantage. Taking the lead, he would hold on to the checkered flag to score the victory over Johnson and Kyle Gnau.
