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WKA: Orange County Pavement race report

Petty and Keisler Post Double Wins at WKA Robinson Speed Shop Speedway Pavement Spring Nationals By Bruce C. Walls ROUGEMONT, NC-Jason Petty and Ricky Keisler each earned double wins during the Robinson Speed Shop sponsored WKA/Bandit Racing ...

Petty and Keisler Post Double Wins at WKA Robinson Speed Shop Speedway Pavement Spring Nationals

By Bruce C. Walls

ROUGEMONT, NC-Jason Petty and Ricky Keisler each earned double wins during the Robinson Speed Shop sponsored WKA/Bandit Racing Chassis Speedway Pavement 'Spring Nationals' that had 440 competitors battling it out on the 1/5-mile asphalt oval at Orange County Raceway in Rougemont, NC on April 27-29, 2001.

Petty scored his first win that Saturday leading eight G-Man Kart Works/Super Seat Briggs Limited Medium racers flag-to-flag ending the perfect ride just .465 seconds before Tim Fidanza. Wayne Baker trailed Fidanza, but was disqualified for improper driving which moved Mooresville, NC competitor Dan Snyder into third, Richard Thomas to fourth and Justin Hill to fifth.

"I'm wore out," Petty admitted after his first win. "I want to first of all thank Jesus Christ for a safe race and I want to thank Harrill Wiggins for a great Phantom kart and Tod Miller for a great motor. The whole package worked on this one," credited Petty who turned a 12.430 seconds lap for the pole.

A 13.059 seconds qualifying lap put Kernersville, NC competitor Kerry Parnell on Sunday's CKI Briggs Medium's pole and Petty's Tod Miller powered Phantom kart secured the outside front row starting position with a 13.142 seconds lap. Parnell grabbed the early lead with Petty threatening from close behind. Parnell fought off Petty's challenges until mid-race when Petty powered past him. Two laps later the race's only caution flag waved, but that didn't slow Petty down and he went on to capture the checkered flag with a .197-seconds advantage over P & P Speed shop powered Russell Moore.

"The Phantom kart and Tod Miller's motor did it for us again today," said Petty who added, "I want to dedicate these wins to the memory of Justin Moorefield's grandfather who past away just a couple of days ago."

Chris Hooker handle third, Dwayne Spires followed in fourth and Parnell capped the top five of 27.

Ricky Keisler swept both Briggs Junior Sportsman-1 classes from their poles starting with Saturday's Southwestern Cable Briggs Junior Sportsman-1 Lite. Keisler captured that pole with a 15.058 seconds lap and led the 22-racer field wire-to-wire, through a lap two caution, finishing .120 seconds ahead of Corey Mackey.

"I just drove hard," credited the 10-year-old Gilbert, SC competitor. "The Titan T-3 kart was awesome and the Schu Power motor had plenty of horsepower," added Keisler who turned the race's fastest lap time with two to go.

John Memmer, Eric Chiz and Ryan Doherty rounded out the top five.

Sunday Keisler topped O.S.I. Racing Briggs Junior Sportsman-1 Heavy's qualifying with a 15.031seconds trip. Keisler commanded the 22-racer field for several laps before the race's only caution flag waved. Keisler led the restart and then several laps later Cory Mackey captured it. Mackey swapped the lead with Eric Chiz and then surrendered back to Keisler who held it to the end where he was .270 seconds ahead of Zach Chiz.

"The kart and motor were great," Keisler credited, "I just drove smart and used my head."

Eric Chiz trailed his brother and was followed in the top five by Mackey and Seaford, DE's 'Awesome' Austin Hubbard.

Naples, FL based Moon Powered Phantom Banshee kart pilot Kyle Nicholas captured both Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 poles and won Sunday's RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Heavy leading the 24-racer field wire-to-wire finishing his perfect ride 1.524 seconds before Fair Lawn, NJ based Twister kart pilot Paulie Harraka.

"I just concentrated on staying focused and staying out front and did what I had to do," said the 12-year-old winner. "The kart was going away yesterday and Harrill Wiggins and Ronnie worked on it all night and got it right."

Rounding out the top five behind Harraka were Adam Taylor, Hunter Peacock and Vance Smith.

Nicholas earned Saturday's Ultramax Racing Chassis Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Lite's pole with a blistering 14.071seconds lap. He blasted into the early lead and commanded the 26-racer field until three laps were left. Hounding him the whole way was Coscob, CT competitor Sam Christie who took over in time to take the win.

"I stayed with the guy behind me and when we got the three to go signal I got by the guy in front of me," said the 12-year-old Advanced Racing Engines Pro Kart pilot. "The kart handled great, the best it's been all weekend and at a track this big you need a really good motor and we had one."

Jesse State, Michael Gervais and Harraka handled the remaining top five positions.

Beef Performance powered Phantom Nemesis kart pilot Justin Moorefield did it all in the event's first feature Dixie Karting/Longacre Racing Briggs Lite. The Sandy Ridge, NC racer earned the pole with a 13.007 seconds lap, turned the race's fastest lap time of 13.141 seconds on lap five and led the 30-racer field flag-to-flag finishing a comfortable 1.582 seconds ahead of Petty the defending national points champion.

"The Phantom Nemesis was great and the Beef Performance motor was the best I could ask for," Moorefield credited. "My grandfather passed away recently and I want to dedicate this win to him, he was with me every lap."

Trailing in the top five behind Petty were Joe Moore, Chris Hooker and Robert Baker.

Roxboro, NC racer Russell Moore ruled Twister Karts Briggs Heavy's finish taking the final flag just .020 seconds ahead of Dwayne Craver. Wilksboro, NC competitor Matt Adams earned the pole with a 13.285 seconds lap and hustled into the early lead over the 28-racer field. Craver captured the lead just before the mid race signal was shown. He and Moore battled through lapped traffic and when the checkered flag waved Moore emerged as the winner.

"I got lucky," Moore admitted, "lapped traffic came into play, but the motor worked like a dream, I want to thank the Lord for a safe race and I want to thank my dad and P&P Speed Shop and I want to thank Dwayne Craver for driving clean."

Kernersville, NC competitor Kerry Parnell came in third and was followed in the top five by Colts Neck, NJ based Rat Powered Coyote kart pilot Justin Gumley and Adams.

Franklinville, NJ Shadow kart pilot John Woodward was first under Love Concrete & Masonry, Inc. Briggs Controlled Medium's checkered flag, but the 15-year-old was disqualified for not having an air filter which made Gene Nasworthy the official winner. Rounding out the official top five of 18 were Adams, pole winner Robert Baker, who turned a 13.055 seconds lap for the top starting position, Dusty Cronelius and Coyote factory pilot Ross Furr of Mooresville, NC.

Petty clocked Coyote Products Briggs Controlled Heavy's pole time with a 12.993 seconds trip and led the 18-racer field the first three laps when the race's only caution waved. Petty led the restart with Adam's Schu Powered Titan threatening from behind. Several laps later Adams took over the lead and beat Petty to the finish by .202 seconds.

"I ran up on a lapped kart and that slowed me down a little," Adams explained. "The kart was like it was on a rail and the motor kept pulling and pulling," added the G-Man Kart Works/Maxxis Tires/Black Rhino/Gold Speed USA sponsored winner who thanked his crew for all their support.

Trailing in the top five were Nasworthy, Baker and Troy Bunch.

Five Champ kart classes competed that weekend starting with Beam Distr./United Express Line Briggs Junior Champ Lite where defending national champion Chris Howard captured the checkered flag just .378 seconds ahead of Mark Ford. Jennifer Spain earned the pole with a 14.424 seconds lap and led the 19-racer field the first lap before surrendering the front to Howard's Eddie Mishue Racing Engines powered Olimpic kart who took it from there.

"The kart handled great and the motor was great. I want to say a special thanks to Douglas Wheels and all my other sponsors Longacre Racing, Pace America, My Chron, and Burris racing," said the 15-yer-old winner.

Spain stayed with the front pack finishing third and was followed in the top five by Sean Dolan and Lindsay Barton.

Lindsay Barton, of Mifflintown, PA, posted Sunday's D&G Kustom Briggs Junior Champ Heavy's win edging out Howard at the finish by .137 seconds. Dolan dominated qualifying with a 14.444 seconds lap and shot into the initial lead over the 20-racer field while Howard battled his way from a fourth place start. Howard reached Barton and they swapped the lead several times in the final laps before Barton took the final flag.

"It was patience," said the winning Tod Miller Racing Engines powered Trick kart pilot. "I had to wait for the right time and the kart was really coming in at the end and the motor had lots of power,"

Dolan reached third this time and was followed in the top five by Irmo, SC Titan kart pilot Danny Efland and Robert Zook.

Seigler Motorsports Star Champ's checkered flag waved for West Columbia; SC JRPW powered Shadow kart pilot Nicholas Hutchins for the 16-year-old's first senior win. Hutchins earned the pole with a 13.765 seconds lap and hustled into the early lead over the 13-racer field. Titan kart pilot Furman Myers, also of West Columbia, SC, battled his way from third to second and closed in on Hutchins taking the lead briefly before the mid-race signal was shown. Myers led them under the crossed flags and then, with five laps left, surrendered it back to Hutchins who held it from there.

"I knew somebody was close back there," said the National Welders/Willoughby's/JRPW sponsored winner. "Furman (Myers) passed me near the half and after he passed me my kart got faster and I passed him back with six laps to go and barely held on from there."

"I have always looked up to Furman (Myers) as a mentor and to beat him is quite a feat," added Hutchins who took the win with a .253 seconds advantage.

Mike Goodwin, Dusty Cornelius and Jeremy Seigler rounded out the top five.

A 16.245 seconds lap put Fair Lawn, NJ based Twister kart pilot Paulie Harraka on Rage Motorsports Briggs Junior Sportsman Champ's pole. Harraka hustled in to the early led over Jake 'the Snake' Crum who reeled Harraka in several laps later. Crum commanded the 17-racer field until five laps were left when Harraka recaptured the lead. Harraka held on and beat Crum to the finish by .103 seconds.

"I was a little nervous at the end," Harraka admitted, "But that motor Andy Van Cleef built us was amazing, it had awesome power."

Hubbard handled third, Jesse State followed in fourth and Kenny Forbes finished fifth.

Geoff Hudson, of Durham, NC, clocked Titan Karts by Myers Fabrication Briggs Senior Champ's pole time with a 14.607 seconds lap and after a led swapping early battle with Ward, SC racer Mark Hall he held off Jeremy Seigler at the end by just .170 seconds.

"I was hoping we'd have a little luck here today," said the 16-year-old Hudson Karting powered Phantom kart pilot. "The kart felt good and I was really impressed with the way it came in and the motor had incredible horsepower.

Seigler was sited for improper driving which moved Hutchins into second, Donnie Loflin to third, Myers to fourth and Steve Humble to fifth out of 26.

Rat Powered Eclipse kart pilot Norm Messier ruled American Power Sports Briggs Senior's finish taking the checkered flag .153 seconds ahead of Coca Beach, FL racer Bobby Hopping. Todd Linville turned the pole time with a 13.714 lap. Hopping rocketed into the early lead from the outside pole and surrendered it to Linville the second time around. Linville pulled away from the field only to have Messier and Hopping draft by him at the end dropping him deep in the 12-racer field.

"I got a little lucky today," Messier laughed. "The Eclipse kart was awesome and I want to thank Eddie Mishue for that and Jace Reynolds' motor was awesome. I also want the thank my wife Robin, my son Dana and my parents for coming up from Florida to show their support."

Wayne Tilley, Bill Doll and Durham, NC driver Mark Hudson filled the remaining top five positions.

MCP Brake Systems Briggs Restricted Junior was dominated from start to finish by Nashville, TN Phantom Nemesis kart pilot Michael Driskell. A 13.565 seconds lap put Driskell on the pole and from there the 14-year-old led the 31-racer field to the finish where he was .230 seconds ahead of Derek Huebner.

"Michael Heath's motor was awesome and the kart was hooked up thanks to Keith Maupin's setup," Driskell credited. "We put a lot of hard work into this win and I also want to thank my parents for their support and God for a safe race."

Trailing Huebner in the top five were Daniel Pope, David Larussa and Jesse Lefevers.

Pope got his revenge in Sunday's Air Bag Service Briggs Junior where he edged out Michael Edwards by .210 seconds. Driskell turned the pole time with a 12.987 seconds trip and led the 27-racer field the first two times around. Michael Edwards drafted by Driskell the third time around bringing Pope with him. Just before the mid-race signal was shown Pope passed Edwards and led the rest of the way.

"I had to have a drafting partner to get the lead. We got a good run off turn four and if it weren't for the Heath Speed Shop motor I wouldn't have gotten by him," said the Smryna, TN based 13-year-old winner. "The kart was kind of loose the last two laps, faster loose than tight."

Driskell was third across the stripe. Huebner and Kyle Moffitt completed the top five.

Holland, NY racer Wayne Baker did it all in Horstman 4-Cycle Modified. The Ultramax Racing Chassis pilot posted the pole time with a 12.203 seconds lap and went on to lead the four- racer field flag-to-flag finishing 4.22 seconds ahead of his nearest pursuer Tim Fidanza.

"It was all power down the straight thanks to motor Shorty's Auto built, it pulled everywhere and with a great setup on the Ultramax kart I couldn't have asked for more," Baker credited.

Completing the field behind Fidanza were Adams and Hudson.

John Ivers, Jr. was another Ultramax Racing Chassis pilot scoring a perfect victory. The Vincennes, IN based racer captured Custom Trophy Briggs Super Heavy's pole with a 13.654 seconds lap and beat Troy Bunch to the finish line by .801 seconds.

"The go-kart worked good all 20 laps. I just want to praise the God, with Him everything is possible," Ivers said. "The Dunamis clutch worked great, Carl Young's motor was awesome it pulled hard all race long and the Ultramax kart handled real well and I want to thank my dad for all of his hard work."

Completing the top five of 10 were Lee Ottaway, Wayne Tilley and Mooresville, NC SBR backed Tim Snyder.

Monroe, NC based Coyote Karts factory pilot Walt Barnes bagged Tecumseh Motorsports Tecumseh Stock with a very comfortable 5.542 seconds advantage over Edwin Bartlett. "The Coyote kart worked great and the McCutcheon Motorsports motor pulled good today," Barnes said adding, "I also want to thank the crew we had here today at Orange County Raceway."

Jon Doster, Lee Jordan and Paul Cornelius completed the top five of six.

The C & D Motorsports Grand Nationals are next on the 2001 WKA/Bandit Racing Chassis Speedway Pavement Series schedule. Chapel Hill Raceway in Humphrey, NY will host the event on June 22-24. "Come Feel the Trill at the Hill" The SBR Graphics Summer Nationals will be raced July 27-29 at Twin Fountains Raceway in Shelbyville, TN and the Boulevard Auto Repair Fall Nationals will be held on October 12-14 at Wilson's Motorsports Track in Wetumpka, AL.

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