Route 66 Racing Coverage
2009 Racing Coverage
Route 66 Series Opens 2009 Season at Mid-State Raceway
Springfield, IL
April 25-26, 2009
Story By: Joe Brittin
Photos By: Joe Brittin
The MyChron Route 66 Series presented by Margay/Bridgestone and Kartlift opened the 2009 racing season at the historic Mid-Sate Raceway which is entering its 50th year of continuous operation. The event sponsor was B & B Electric of Springfield, IL. The six race Route 66 Series, which has grown from a two-track series over the past seven years, will also hold events at Concepts Haulers Motor Speedway, New Castle Motorsports Park and 61 Kartway.
The series was initially called the I-55 Sprint Series back in 2003 when it was staged at two tracks linked by Interstate 55. When a third track was added to the series at Norway, IL, the name was changed to the Route 66 Series since all three tracks were linked by the old Route 66 highway. The series was originally conceptualized to give new kart racers a chance to try different tracks. The series has continued to grow with the addition of two more tracks and is now one of the premier sprint series in the Mid-West.
Over 140 entries in attendance were greeted with near record high temperatures and a strong south wind that limited draft passing on the long back straight-away at Mid-State. The racers found that Mid-State Kart Club members had recently made improvements to the racing surface including the complete replacement and widening of the corner which precedes the long back straightaway. Five other sections of the track had also been cut out and replaced with new concrete to smooth out the bumps. The improvements resulted in faster lap times in spite of the strong head-winds.
The Route 66 Series is generally conducted as a two-day event with practice and qualifying on Saturday and racing on Sunday. The popular driver's meeting prize drawings continued this year. A set of Bridgestone YHC tires donated by Margay and a Leatt brace donated by Leatt and Express Karts and Parts were given away. Also a drawing for a gift certificate donated by Triple E Sales was held for the pole qualifiers. These prizes will continue to be given away at each event this season by a drawing. Another tradition continued with the hosting Mid-State Kart Club providing a free cookout for everyone in attendance at the end of the day on Saturday.
The first of fifteen classes to hold their finals on Sunday was the Kevin Williams Karting Yamaha Jr. Supercan Heavy class. With the large number of Yamaha Juniors competing last year in one class and a big group graduating from the 2008 Junior Sportsman class moving up to Junior in 2009, it was decided to split Yamaha Juniors into a Lite and Heavy class this year. This would also give the Juniors an option to race in both classes if they desired. Ten karts qualified for the Heavy class with Brad Brittin taking the pole. Jake Cole, Colton Ramsey and Brittin finished nose to tail in the pre-final. Cole would take the finals win by .99 seconds over Ramsey with Brittin, Grant Vogel and Chance Holder rounding out the top five.
Next up was the Adkins Speed Center Yamaha Sr. Supercan Lite class where Kyle Erdman qualified on pole. Erdman and Justin Jennings swapped the lead several times and Jeff Green also made a strong move toward the front. Erdman held on for the first of three wins on the day by edging Jennings by just .775 seconds. Rounding out the top five in a close pack were Jeff Green, Brandon Cather and TJ Keesy.
The next final for the Dagget Racing Photography TAG 60 class was dominated by pole sitter Kaleb Allison who pulled away to a 12 second win over Alanmykael Polley with Austin Mayton finishing third. The Jet Karting TAG Masters class followed where Keith Freber jumped to the lead over Rod Holliday. Holliday was able to draft by Freber and hold on to the win by just .104 seconds with Russ Kemple taking third.
In the Franklin Kart Supply HPV Junior Sportsman final, Kaleb Allison started on the pole with Anthony Granata in close pursuit. Fast qualifier Granata was able to move his Birel kart back to the front and hold off Allison in a heated battle by just .053 seconds at the finish which was the closest finish of the day. Jared Needham, Mick Dibenardo and Grant Sandberg rounded out the top five with close racing going on throughout this final.
Next up was the biggest class of the day at 19 entries for the Express Kart Parts Yamaha Jr. Supercan Lite. Fast qualifier Josh Hotz started on the outside of the front row with pre-final winner Jake Cole starting on pole in the final. Cole and Hotz had moved up from the Jr. Sportsman classes last year and adapted quickly to the higher speeds of the Junior class. Other quick learners moving up from Junior Sportsman included Cory Tucker, Jordan Laukaitis, Collin Griffin and Perry Needham, all finishing in the top ten. In the finals, Hotz jumped out to the early lead with Cole and Colton Ramsey in close pursuit. Ramsey worked his way to the lead by mid-race with Cole tucked on his bumper. Cole drafted by Ramsey and was able to hold him off by .857 seconds for his second win of the day with Josh Hotz, Collin Griffin and Michael Dionne rounding out the top five in a very competitive final.
Fifteen kid karts were up next using a standing start for their final in the Joey Karter Kid Kart Unrestricted class. Fast qualifier Jadon Biles took the early lead followed closely by Egan Shankleton and Eric Erdman. Biles and Shankleton were able to break away and battle for the win with Biles taking the win by 1.448 seconds. Mason Mitchell, Daltyn England and Eric Erdman rounded out the top five in a tight battle for third place. The 10-lap race went off without any troubles and only four of the karts were lapped.
The Viper Racing Tag Sr. Leopard class was gridded next for their final with Brett Johnston and Kyle Erdman pacing the field at the start. Johnston, Erdman, Cal Stewart,
Justin Vancil and fast qualifier Dustin Kessinger ran in a tight pack up front for the entire race. On lap eight, Kevin Martz and Matthew Laukaitis tangled when the throttle stuck on Laukaitis's kart bringing out the red flag and ending the race since it was past half way. Martz was transported for observation but checked out to be ok. The top five of
Johnston, Erdmann, Stewart, Vancil and Kessinger finished just 1.5 seconds apart.
Next up was the MarCo Sign and Graphix Yamaha Rookie class where fast qualifier Jeremy Fierke battled with Dillon Schwanbeck for the win. Schwanbeck took the win by just .345 seconds in his Margay over Fierke. Logan Mitchell, Alec Evers and Carter Logsdon rounded out the top five.
The Comet Kart Sales Yamaha Supercan Heavy class took to the grid next where
fast qualifier Chad Kruger and Brandon Cather started on the front row. Kruger would
lead for most of the race until Cather drafted by and held on for a .168 second win in one of the closest finishes of the day. TJ Keesy, Tim Brinkman and Brad Franklin rounded out the top five.
In the Triple E Sales Yamaha Jr. Sportsman class, 15 karts started the finals with Kaleb Allison and Grant Sandberg battling up front followed by Stephen Wallace and Keith Deuter. Allison was able to hold off Sandberg by just .15 seconds for his second win of the day as the two karts ran nose to tail the entire race. Fast qualifier Dillon Morley finished third in a tight battle with Chris Gray followed by Keith Deuter in fifth.
The Laukaitis Racing TAG Senior class saw Kyle Erdman pickup another class win as
he dominated with fast time, pre-final and final win. Brett Johnson led briefly
early in the finals, but Erdman would pull away to a 1.805 second win. Justin Vancil, Matthew Roberts and Dustin Kessinger rounded out the top five.
Also competing on the day were the Merlin Racing Karts TAG Jr. Leopard class won by Drake Ostrom, the Streeter Super Stands HPV Junior class won by Josh Hotz and the LSR Motorsports HPV Senior class won by Kyle Erdman who was the only competitor to
take three class wins. For the complete race results, visit www.mylaps.com.
A big thank you goes out to all of the Mid-State Kart Club volunteers who helped stage this event. Mid-State Raceway is one of the very few kart tracks that is operated as a not-for-profit entity and all of the profits are put back into improving the facility. The club has big plans for its 50th anniversary next year including a big push to repave the old section of the track. Visit www.midstatekartclub.com for more information.
Round two of the MyChron Route 66 Series presented by Margay/ Bridgestone and KartLift will be held at the Concept Haulers Motor Speedway in Norway, IL on June 13 and 14. A cookout will be held after qualifying on Saturday. Spec fuel will be available at the track. For more information visit www.route66kartracing.com.
