WKA: Alabama pavement Nationals report

Crum caps steller season at WKA NC Chassis Company/Rage Karts Pavement National

WETUMPKA, AL-Jake `The Snake' Crum captured two title-clinching wins at the WKA/Bandit Racing Chassis Speedway Pavement Series season finale, the NC Chassis Company/Rage Karts National September 13-15 hosted by Wilson's Motorsports Track in Wetumpka, AL. Crum, of Statesville, NC, scored wins in Ultramax Racing Chassis Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Lite and NC Chassis Company/Rage Karts Briggs Junior Sportsman Champ that Saturday earning the 10-year-old Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Phantom kart pilot his 11th and 12th championships of the season.

Crum added those championships to his six North Carolina Divisional Championships, two North Carolina Triple Crowns and a WKA/Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series Championship. Crum also beat Matt Martin, son of Winston Cup driver Mark Martin, in a down to the wire Bandalaro championship battle at Lowe's Motor Speedway near Concord, NC.

That Saturday Josh Berry topped Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Lite's qualifying with a 12.150-seconds lap around the wide 1/5-mile asphalt oval and Crum turned in a 12.160-seconds lap earning him the outside front row starting position. When the initial green flag waved Crum powered his #1 machine into a never surrendered lead with Richboro, PA racer Scott Glover, who produced the race's fastest lap time, all over his rear bumper. As the two were battling for the lead on lap four the first of two caution flags waved. Crum led the restart and opened a comfortable lead over Mohnton, PA GT Machine powered Twister kart pilot Toby Parese, who took second from Glover. On lap 11 the final caution waved and when racing resumed Crum lead the restart and showed the 20-racer field across the stripe ending with a narrow 0.124-hundreths of a second advantage over Parese.

"I was a little worried, especially on that last caution, I knew they'd be coming after me with the championship on the line," Crum admitted, "But the Phantom kart handled great and Tod Miller's motor was real strong. I want to thank my mom and dad for all of their support and Tod Miller for a great motor."

Jacob Wilson took third and was followed by Glover and James Fowlkes for the top five.

Later that Saturday Crum fought his way from a fifth place start to the front of Briggs Junior Sportsman Champ's 13-racer field where he and Hyde Park, NY pilot Jesse State battled for the lead and the championship down to just a 0.099-hundreths of a second difference at the stripe.

Also that weekend, Winchester, VA based Mike Heath Racing Engines powered Phantom kart pilot Michael Edwards II tamed both Briggs Animal classes with Gray, GA Moon Powered Shadow Kart pilot chasing him across the finish line each time. Edwards also added a win in Competition Karting, Inc. Briggs Medium to his record that weekend. In Saturday's MY-Chron by Aimsports Briggs Animal-1 Edwards owned a 0.208-hundreths of a second victory margin and in Sunday's Coyer Enterprises/Longacre Briggs Animal-2 Edwards crossed the finish line with a very comfortable 2.363-seconds advantage over Nasworthy.

"I want to thank Keith Maupin and Chris Taylor, they're the best pit crew there is," Edwards credited. "I want to thank God for a safe race and COOL POWER and Erectors Plus, Inc. for their support,' he added.

Edwards beat Creedmoor, NC competitor Jason Petty to Briggs Medium's finish by 0.280-hundreths of a second.