SKUSA: G-Phactory season preview

G-Phactory -- Locked and loaded for 2008

February 19, 2008 (Huntington Beach, Calif.) -- At this time last season, ahead of the Stars of Karting season opener, G-Phactory had just settled into its new digs in Huntington Beach, in what is one of the most spectacular kart shops in the country. The team were also familiarizing themselves with the then-new Sodi Karts, as well as several drivers new to G-Phactory.

With Monday's announcement that Nick Halen was joining the team for the 2008 season, the team has solidified its driver lineup on the same week that most members will travel to the Sodi Kart Expo International on behalf of Sodi Kart.

"No doubt, it has been a pretty busy off-season for us, as we've had a lot of good things happen off the track," said co-team manager Preston Newberry. "But we're ready for the season to start, and we're ready to have some good things happen on the track."

New recruit Halen will join the returning Ryan Yop in the Stars of Karting's ICC class. Yop impressed in his first season with G-Phactory last season, adapting to his new team and new kart quickly and finishing 11th in the national standings, and put in a credible performance at the SKUSA Supernats, finishing ninth. For his part, Halen finished seventh in the national standings before his run to sixth at the SKUSA Supernats.

Last year, G-Phactory visited the victory lane in the ICA class with James Kennedy, at both Shawano and the season finale at Moran Raceway. This season, Kennedy will take a break from racing and work as a G-Phactory mechanic and tuner. Taking his place on the ICA kart will be Andrick Zeen, who will partner a returning Pat Iannucci. Zeen has scored a win in the SKUSA Winternats at Qualcomm Stadium, while Iannucci has been racing down at the Florida Winter Tour.

Zeen's brother, Adam, will partner with new team member Michael Self in the forthcoming Stars TaG class. Adam also has one SKUSA Winternats victory to his credit, while Self has been busy racing in the Winternats and in the Skip Barber Regional series. He will also race in select Gatorz Challenge of the Americas / Karting Cup events, and will return to the Rotax Grand Nationals this year -- with Kennedy acting as his Rotax tuner.

The youngest member of the team, Thomas Micich, will be the lone Sodi Kart representative in the competitive JICA class for the 2008 season.

Another new member of the G-Phactory team is partner PR1 Motorsports. PR1 will supply a G-Phactory driver with a test in a Pacific F2000, who will be evaluated by PR1's Bobby Oergel and G-Phactory's Phil Giebler.

"Our guys have been driving and racing well in the winter," said Giebler, who will head testing and development for the team. "I'm really looking forward to how this year is going to go. We have talented drivers, but they are working well together, and they all have the right kind of attitude. Our guys are working well with each other, and that's where the excitement comes from."

The entire G-Phactory / Sodi Racing USA squad will be in action at the Stars of Karting Eastern Division season opener at the Ocala Grand Prix, April 4-6.

-credit: G-Phactory