9/16/2019
KC Sparks
Minnesota Missile Monday: Maxxis Midwest with DRE Horsepower
Minnesota Missile Monday: Maxxis Midwest with DRE Horsepower
September 16, 2019
After attempting to make it to a Maxxis Midwest show all season, the team finally was able to get to the season finale hosted at Newton Kart Klub. With guidance and support from TeamDRE, the race camp was full of racers in a host of classes. Team leader, Corwin DeRoon, can’t be thanked enough for helping get us pointed in the right direction with the slick tires and providing us with motors that have ran up front all season.
Friday:
The beginner wing class is new to the Maxxis series this season and hasn’t really taken off with only two competitors for the Friday make-up portion of the program. The format involves a three lap time trial which sets up the feature event based on times. Kaden Rice has been at all of the series races in 2019 so had some experience on the slick tires which were new to KC. Rice timed in with the better time and earned the pole for the 15 lap feature event.
Kaden used his inside position to take the early lead into turn one. KC drove a lane under Kaden down the back stretch and pulled ahead to lead lap one. Kaden returned the favor and reclaimed the top spot coming out of turn two. KC did not let Kaden get away and was literally right on his bumper, even banging into him two laps in a row square in the rear. Kaden maintained his lead but not getting more than a couple kart lengths ahead. KC was working different lines behind Kaden, using the hill to give him momentum and never giving up. With four to go, KC got a drive under Kaden in turn two but ended up spinning Kaden when they went for the same space on the track. On the restart, KC continued his pursuit of the win. Coming out of turn four to the white flag, KC dove under Kaden and the duo crossed under the white flag side by side. KC pulled into the lead in turn one and cruised to the feature win.
Saturday:
The team got a real taste of 24 classes of karts doing time trials, a 5 hour rain delay, and finally running the feature ten hours after qualifying. Logon Benge joined the drivers from night one making the beginner box stock class three participants. In qualifying, Kaden Rice again was quick time, KC was second with Logon third. The timing only mattered for line up purposes as the feature event saw more passing and challenges for the lead than any other class all evening.
On the initial start, Kaden started to soon resulting in a complete restart. The second start was clean but in turn two, Logon and KC made contact, sending KC around and to another complete restart. Third time was the charm with Kaden jumping out to the lead, Logon drove under KC down the backstretch to take second. Kaden continued out front while KC and Logon traded runner up position right behind him until they both spun, requiring another restart, single file this time. Kaden led the field back to the green with KC not waiting around and moving to the top position into turn one. The next lap Logon followed past Kden and got a run on Sparks, overtaking the lead out of turn four. KC dropped back to third but only stayed behind Kaden for a lap before moving ahead and chasing down Logon in three laps. With three to go, KC got under Logon for the lead but the two hung together for a moment, just long enough for Kaden to move past both of them. At the other end of the track, KC motored back ahead of Kaden and retook the lead. KC had to hit his marks and hold on for two more laps but with two to go, KC missed his mark turning into turn one and Kaden moved under him. Logon also made a challenge for the runner up position and moved KC to the tail as the trio took the white flag. In the final circuit, KC drove back under Logon while Kaden distanced himself to his biggest lead of the race and took the feature win ahead of KC and Logon in third.
For a class of only three karts racing on slick, unprepped tires compared to the treaded ones they are used to, these young drivers pulled off the show of the night. Congratulations to Kaden, KC, and Logon on a great performance. You all made some flat kart people fans of the wings, quite an accomplishment for kids that are 7, 8, and 9 years old.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday 9/21: Plessis Motor Speedway - Bullring Nationals - double class Rbox and BP
OR Newton Kart Klub Adrenaline Rbox only, Night race double Rbox and Jr. 1 or BP
SPONSOR APPRECIATION:
Autoland; Sioux Falls, SD
Heser Auto and Detailing; Jackson, MN
Last Deck LLC; Jackson, MN
Jared Bailey Photography; Carlisle, IA
DRE; Boyden, IA
MyRacePass.com #TeamMRP #GetTheApp
YTD STATS:
Features: 34
Wins: 14
Top 5: 30
Top 10: 34
Article Credit: Stephanie Sparks
