5/25/2020
KC Sparks
Minnesota Missile Monday: Regular Season Finally Begins
Minnesota Missile Monday: Regular Season Finally Begins
(New Richmond, WI)
May 25, 2020
After all the delays with getting the 2020 season going due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cedar Lake Indoor Arena was the site of the first race of the regular season. The venue hosted a two day Rumble in the Arena opener to get the karts rolling.
Friday Practice
The team rolled into town on Friday afternoon to participate in some practice on the new track. With the new track and bigger horsepower, KC struggled out of the box with holding his line and was about 1.5 seconds off the pace of the other drivers.
Saturday
KC entered two classes of competition, the Jr. Wing and PRO Jr. Wing. The format was draw for heat race position and using passing points to line up the feature events.
Jr. Wing
KC drew the third heat in the 22 kart field for the Jr Wing division. He had a great start quickly moving into the third spot by turn one and made a pass out of turn four to run second on the first lap. The next lap saw KC drive past the 36 kart of Meelan Watson and take the lead. He was still struggling to hold the bottom line and on the next lat, Watson drove hard into turn three, getting under and into the side of KC, causing him to spin around while she swerved and overtook the lead. KC was sent to the tail for the restart. While making a pass to the inside going into turn three, KC jumped over a disc and bounced his kart into the side of the 10, causing the two to get stuck together and KC suffered a bent spindle resulting in a DNF for the heat race.
The track determined that the mix of skill levels in the Jr. Wing class required some split to allow the kids to get the seat time and split the field into the top 11 in points and the back 11 in points, putting KC in the second feature due to his DNF in the heat. KC lined up fifth and got a great start moving into second place exiting turn two. Laela Eisenshank moved past KC to move him back to third place where he ran for the next several laps. On a restart, KC remained in second but going into the first turn, contact was made with the second place running 32 kart and the duo slowed ahead of the field bringing out another caution. KC was sent to the tail and worked his way back up to finish fifth. ( 15, 32, 7, 69, 1, 66...33, 88, 12, 67, 25)
PRO Jr. Wing
Fifteen drivers did the double also running the PRO division and KC drew the back of the field for heat one. KC demonstrated more patience as he worked his racing line and moved through the field, one kart at a time. By the halfway point, KC had raced his way to fourth and took advantage of Ayden B (18) spinning from third and KC cruised home to a third place finish (40, 93, 1, 30, 66, 88, 18, 7)
KC’s performance in the heat race made him the high point man and he earned the pole for the feature event. Adams lined up alongside and used his experience to push KC down over the discs for the start. The field scattered with karts spinning and a complete restart was set. Adams again pushed KC into the discs in turn three coming to the green, allowing Laela Eisenshank to move from outside row two ahead of KC who settled into third. Ameila Eisenshank moved ahead of KC a few laps later with Ellie Hensley and Watson close behind. A restart near the halfway point had KC running fourth mixed in with the much more experienced drivers. KC was caught overdriving in the corners allowing Hensley and Watson to get past on the next few laps. KC was able to drive back under Watson when her kart got upset in the corner. Watson returned the pass on the next lap. KC kept in the throttle and held off challenges from Kayden Boyer in the 93 to finish sixth. (15, 1x, 70, 36, 40, 1, 93, 63, 18, 88, 69, 66, 67, 30, 7)
SUNDAY RUMBLE IN THE ARENA
Jr. Wing
For the second day, the Jr. Wing class was separated into experienced drivers and ametaur drivers who were just starting. KC was placed with the experienced drivers and had a lot of learning to do. He drew pole for the heat race starting alongside Kaden Rice. KC took the early lead but Laela Eisenshank used her experience to get KC loose going into turn three allowing herself and Adams to move ahead. KC held off challenges from Owen Graf to finish in third (15, 40, 1, 63, 69)
The ten kart field had KC lined up outside row 3 for the feature event. The chaos of the opening lap had KC dropping back to 8th on the field but he quickly refocused and began his charge forward. He quickly moved into 7th on the second lap and put some space between himself and the back runners. Watson, who was running at the tail, moved forward and overtook KC on lap 6. KC kept his focus and chased down Graf for the next several circuits. The experienced drivers clicked off all 15 laps without caution and KC drove home in 8th position. (?, ?, ? 40, 93, 36, 63, 1, 69, 7)
PRO Jr. Wing
Eleven drivers entered the PRO division for Sunday’s show. KC started outside row 2 for the first heat behind Watson. As the field was coming to the green, KC got into the back of Watson trying to keep the outside line in pace with the inside, spinning her kart and causing a complete restart. On the restart, KC drove to the inside of Watson and was challenging Boyer for second when Watson got into the side of KC, sending him spinning off turn two. The field was then put in single file order for the start. KC stayed in contention with the top runners, even making a pass on Watson for third but she turned under him and Ameila Eisenshank tried to get the position from KC but the two hooked together and were sent to the back. On the restart, KC was able to drive pase Laela Eisenshank and Boyer holding on for a third place finish (36, 18, 1, 93, 1x, 15)
The 20 lap feature was paced to the green by Hensley and Watson. KC lined up outside row 2 behind Watson with Adams to his inside. On the initial start, KC was able to slip to the inside line and run in 4th but the caution came out for the 18 kart spinning in turn two. The restart had KC pulled down behind Adams who drove over a disc and bumped himself and Watson high, allowing KC to move into the second position behind Helsley. The officials realigned the field in single file formation and KC held his own running in the top four. With five laps remaining, Ameila E closed in on KC’s back bumper and tried a couple bumps to get him lose and out of his line but the racing allowed Laela E to close in and KC was able to hold on for fourth ahead. (36, 70, 40, 1, 1x, 15, 93, 88, 18, 63, 69)
Upcoming Schedule:
Saturday 5/30: Plessis Motor Speedway; Hartley, IA
Sunday 5/31: Cedar Lake Indoor Arena Sizzlin’ Summer Series; New Richmond, WI
2020 Partner/Sponsor Appreciation
Autoland; Sioux Falls, SD
Furby’s Auto Repair; Sioux Falls, SD
Last Deck LLC; Jackson, MN
Heser Auto and Detailing; Jackson, MN
DRE Horsepower; Boyden, IA
Jared Bailey Photography; Carlisle, IA
MyRacePass; #TeamMRP #GetTheApp
GRP Motorsports; Stillwater, MN
TL Racing; Jackson, MN
YTD Stats:
Features: 5
Wins:1
Top 3: 1
Top 10: 5
Heat Wins: 1
Finishing order is unofficial but best guess based on video I had
Article Credit: Stephanie Sparks
