WKA: Aynor Dirt Nationals report

AYNOR, SC-Buller Racing Engines powered Buller Kart pilot James Kirby, of Winchester, VA, swept all three 2-cycle classes offered at the WKA/Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series Twister Kart Nationals that brought 840 of North America's top dirt racers to Low Country Kartway in Aynor, SC June 14-16. Kirby captured two of his wins from their poles starting with that Saturday's fourth feature American Power Sports Yamaha 2-Cycle where an 11.996-seconds trip around the wide 1/4-mile dirt oval earned him the top starting spot.

From there Kirby held off challenges from Clark Simonton, Jr. for 20-laps before taking the checkered flag by a narrow 0.352-seconds advantage.

"The Buller kart and motor ran good, but the tires started to go away at the end," Kirby said after his first win adding thanks to his family, "I want to thank my family for coming here on Father's Day weekend to support me."

Former national champion Chris Seay, of Spartanburg, SC was third across the stripe followed in the top five by Todd Shellenberger and Elvin Diller III.

Later that day Archdale, NC competitor Scott Bazen blistered the track with an 11.569-seconds lap for Bully Clutches Unlimited 2-Cycle's pole. Kirby earned the outside front row starting position with an 11.569-seocnds lap.

Bazen blasted into the early lead and held off Kirby until the final laps when, as Kirby described, "He (Bazen) made a mistake and we were at the right place at the right time."

Bazen dropped to fourth at the end and Matthew Hope took second across the stripe 1.504-seconds behind Kirby. Seay finished third again and his cousin Jason Seay rounded out the top five.

"The kart worked great the whole race and the motor was awesome as always and the tires worked good on this one too," Kirby credited.

An 11.638-seconds lap put Kirby on Sunday's Clark Fabrication Stock 2-Cycle's pole from where he fought off early challenges from Chris Seay and then last lap challenges from Matthew Hope who finished 1.504-seconds behind Kirby.

"It takes a lot of good help, an understanding family and a beach nearby to win three national races," Kirby said after his third trip to victory lane.

Chris Seay, Bazen and Jason Seay completed the top five.

Three other racers scored double wins that weekend. Jacksonville, FL based Moon Powered Shadow Storm kart pilot Blaze Martin bagged two in a row that Saturday starting with Maxxis Tires Briggs Controlled Medium where he beat Chad Haithcock to the finish by 1.810-seconds followed by his beating Brandon McGee to Competition Cams Animal Heavy's finish with a comfortable 2.165-seconds.

Lake City, SC competitor Chris Williamson scored two wire-to-wire wins that weekend. Saturday the Precision Cams powered Phantom kart pilot posted Saturday's Power Products Super Seat Limited Heavy's win narrowly holding off Joey Collins by 0.979-seconds and on Sunday he beat Dan Sox to Prototype Engine Sales 4-Cycle Modified's finish by just 0.618-seconds.

Justin Moorefield, of Sandy Ridge, NC, claimed Saturday's Bandit Racing Chassis Briggs Medium's win just 0.068-seconds ahead of Martin and then topped Sunday's Bordeaux Dyno Cams Briggs Controlled Heavy narrowly beating Williamson to that finish by just 0.059-seconds.