FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gatorz Challenge of the Americas set for second showdown of 2010
February 25, 2010 (Orange, Calif.) – Picking up where the series left off a month ago at PKRA in Phoenix, the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas is traveling west to compete at the Calspeed Karting Center in Fontana, Calif. located at the Auto Club Speedway. The series will use the backwards Grande configuration, which provides exciting, competitive racing and provided several last-lap surprises at last year’s CotA weekend. And with the series expecting more entries than in Phoenix, with the addition of several very fast drivers, there will only be more of the same this weekend in Fontana.
Every qualifying session, heat race, and main will be broadcast with live timing and scoring, commentary, and video from the series website at www.gatorzkarting.com.
Gobirel.com Micromax
Connor Robustelli and Toni Breidinger split the victories in Phoenix, but a new favorite this weekend will be Nicky Hays, who was the 2009 Gatorz Karting Cup champion in Micromax.
Apollo Motorsports Minimax
If the two rounds at Phoenix are any indication, the Minimax races in Fontana are bound to be exciting as the two races produced two completely different podiums. Parker Thompson and Blaine Rocha both had the speed to win on both days but their tally would only be one, owing to a mechanical failure for Thompson and losing the lead on the last lap for Rocha, followed by a DQ. Hunter Corbitt, the points leader, Royal McKee, Davey Mathai, Jr. and Trenton May will be at the front fighting for podiums. Also, look for another solid weekend from Noah Grey as he stayed out of trouble in Phoenix to sit second in the championship.
Reaction Karting Junior Rotax
Junior Rotax was the domain of Louie Pagano in Phoenix, sweeping the weekend to take a commanding points lead. His biggest competition came from Raquel Martinez who finished second on both days but was DQ’d in the tech shed on Sunday. She will be back in Fontana. Dakota Dickerson, who was on the podium both days in Phoenix, Kiel Spaulding, and Nicholas Silva are likely to fighting for the podium spots. Another driver to keep an eye on will be Michael Davis, last year’s CotA Minimax champion who will be making his Junior Rotax debut.
Championship Karting International Rotax Senior
A heavy favorite in the always competitive Rotax Senior class will be Gustavo Menezes, who looked set to win the two races at Phoenix before a fouled spark plug ended his Sunday race – which he started on pole. His DNF allowed Mason Marotta to not only win after finishing second on Saturday, but allowed Marotta to take a large lead in the points after two rounds. Phil Gelinos scored two podiums in Phoenix, while Dylan Lupton, Steven Barros, and Masters-turned-Senior driver John Crow sit third, fourth, and fifth in the championship. One of the fastest drivers in Phoenix – who had zero luck on his side – was Stepanova Nekeel. Far back in the championship, it will be all or nothing for Nekeel as he tries to make up ground in the championship.
Overdrive Karting Rotax Masters
Masters will see the resumption of the battle between Paul Bonilla and Mike Daniel that started in Phoenix on Saturday, and ended with a penalty on Sunday after the two karts came together – letting Scott Falcone through for his first CotA win. Joining the race this weekend will be the 2009 Rotax Masters National Points Champion, David Busby, and Steve Dzurilla, who finished 3rd in the 2009 Rotax Max National Points Championship.
Team Arizona DD-2
Troy Castaneda had things more or less his own way in Phoenix, sweeping the weekend, but he was challenged at times by Erik ‘Action’ Jackson. Calspeed, however, is Jackson’s home track and he will be able to get his DD-2 kart up to speed quickly on the difficult to tune for Calspeed surface. Noel Dowler finished third on both days in Phoenix, but the whole field may be pushed by a new competitor – Matt Ostiguy, who will be making his first appearance in a kart since the Rotax Nationals last season, where he finished fourth in DD-2.