Holeshot Drive Systems Senior
Max Saturday Report
Many of the competitors here at the Challenge took part in the Red
Line Oil Karting Championship Series event at Sonoma, including race
winner Louie Pagano. TheDallas KartingComplex/Sodi Kart USAdriver
was quickest in the qualifying session, clearing the field by two tenths
with a 52.087-second lap. Two-time Challenge race winner Jake Craig
(Tony Kart) was second in the order, followed by rookie Blaine Rocha
(Kosmic). Point leader Phillip Arscott (Kosmic) was fourth, with veteran
Matt Johnson (FA Kart) completing the fast five.
Pagano took advantage of the pole position, and drove away to a
solidwin in the Prefinal. The 17-lap race got underway with contact be-
tween Rocha andCraig, putting both at the tail of the field. Craig pulled
off before completing theopening lapwithdamage tohismachine,while
Rocha fought back to ninth. Up front, Johnson slotted in behind Pagano,
but would be caught by the charging Arscott. After he dropped to fifth,
the former US champion drove his way up to second by lap seven.With
times similar to Pagano, the over one-second advantage was enough
for Pagano to hold onto. DD2 2013 Rotax Grand Finals runner-up Joey
Wimsett (CRG) started sixth, but followed his fellowOregondriver up the
order and into the third spot. Senior rookie Luke Selliken (Kosmic), another driver fromOregon, followed suit as heworked past Johnson for positi
The endof thedaywas amajor turningpoint in the chase for the RotaxGrand Finals ticket, awarded to the champion inSeniorMax. Pagano led
into secondafter the opening corner toput Arscott in third. The veterandrivers pulledaway from the field, setting up forwhat looked likea threedriv
pace, moving to second by lap five, and then began challenging Pagano for the lead. During that time, Craigwas making his way forwardwith t
Arscott moved into the lead for the first time on lap 13, with an aggressive move at turn four. Pagano came back a few corners later, returnin
Pagano driftedwide on the exit and that pushedArscott off into the grass. He nearly lost control in thewet grass but managed to hang on and re
to close in, includingWimsett, Rocha, Craig and others. As they navigated the tic-tac-toe section,Wimsett lost his chain andwas out of the run for
short-lived as Craig took over the position before the lapwas completed.
The result was Pagano holding a solid lead over Arscott and Craig. That was until they began cutting into the advantage, and Pagano running
tenths in just one circuit on lap 19. This brought inArscott right to Pagano’s bumper and he tried once again to take lead at turn onewith four laps
to move into the second spot. Arscott fought his way back just a few laps later, taking over second fromCraig and setting his sights on Pagano.
Arscott was there for a final lap battle. Inching forward, they exited turn sixwith Arscott looking by. They exited turn seven side by side, with Arsc
onArscott, and the twomade heavy contact. They reached the final corner with PaganogivingArscott some love, moving himwide at the exit. This
the two drag-raced to the line. At the stripe, Paganowas first by 14 thousandths of a second, with Arscott crossing third.
Officials penalized Pagano for the aggressive contact made on the final circuit, dropping him two positions. This awardedCraig his third victor
Charger Award of a free set ofMojo tires, courtesy ofMAXSpeedGroup. Arscott wasmoved to second, that was until technical inspection. He elec
than Sunday, and unfortunately, his enginewas found to have improper alignment with his balance driver gears. That awarded him a disqualificati
ship chase. His removal put Pagano second on the podium, and rookie Selliken third for his first podium trip. Rochawas classified fourth, with Joh
JakeCraig
Sr. Max
