Nash Motorsportz Senior Max
Saturday Report
Chess was the game played during the 15-minute qualifying ses-
sion for the Senior Max division. Drivers hit the track when the
green flag waved, slowing to a crawl as they all jockeyed for po-
sition behind Friday fast driver Mason Marotta (Tony Kart). A few
near misses occurred with others going full speed to try and lay
down the fast lap on the opening circuits. Early on, Luke Selliken
(Kosmic) was the provisional driver on the pole position, and was
challenged by Round Two winner Brenden Baker (Tony Kart). Sel-
liken fourth circuit put him back on top, and despite a number of
attempts by the rest of the field, his 46.064-lap stood, earning him
five crucial points in the championship. Baker ended up back by 66
thousandths, with Marotta in third. Louie Pagano (Tony Kart) and
Canadian Bryce Choquer (Kosmic) completed the fast five.
Marotta was able to escape the 17-lap Prefinal with the win after
a hard fought battle. Selliken led the field to the green, but was
passed by Choquer at the end of the circuit. The inside line got the
jump, and Baker suffered, dropping to seventh after the first few
laps. Up to fourth by the completion of lap one, it appeared he
was the quickest driver on the track. Selliken and Marotta teamed
up to get past Choquer for the lead on lap three, as he continued
to fall down the order as the race went on. Marotta took over the
Christian Brooks
Brenden Baker
Luke Selliken
Sr. Max
top spot and led the remainder of the race as the fight was for sec-
ond. Both Baker and Brooks took a turn, before Selliken regained
the spot back. On the final lap, Baker and Brooks drafted past the
Rolison Performance Group driver, dropping Selliken back to fourth
at the checkered. Pagano and Jake Craig (Formula K) worked past
Stepanova Nekeel (Tony Kart) in the final corner for fifth and sixth.
What appeared to be a lock for Baker, rookie Brooks slid in
during the late stages of the race to secure his first victory as a Se-
nior driver, and became the third different winner in the first three
rounds. Baker and Brooks pushed away out front early, as a heavy
fight for third included Marotta and a number of drivers. Early on,
racing contact shuffled up the order with Selliken moving into the
spot. Baker seemed to have an advantage on Brooks, however, the
young driver never gave up. With six laps remaining, Baker’s en-
gine lost speed briefly, allowing Brooks to close right back up onto
his bumper and slipped past at the end of the straight. From there,
Brooks pulled a couple kart lengths with Selliken now pressuring for
second. At the line, Christian secured the victory and Baker held on
to second, giving Nash Motorsportz another 1-2 finish. It was a sec-
ond podium on the season for Selliken in the third spot as Marotta
finished fourth and Jim McKinney (Tony Kart) fought his way to fifth.