The 2007 Route 66 Sprint Series


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ROUTE 66 SPRINT SERIES
Presented by Margay/Bridgestone

Round :: 03
Event Sponsor :: Digatron
61 Kartway, Delmar, Iowa

June 23 & 24, 2007
Story by: Greg Grafton
Photos by: Connie Holliday

LAUKAITIS, JENNINGS, AND ERDMANN CLAIM TWO CLASSES EACH
The Route 66 Sprint Series traveled to 61 Kartway for round three on June 23-24, 2007. For those of you that are in the area and have not been to this fine facility, you must make a point to get there as soon as possible. Greg Hughes, all of the Nielsons and the fine staff at 61 Kartway made everyone feel welcome and went above and beyond to ensure everyone’s happiness. With a doubtful forecast for Saturday, 115 entries filled the pits to tackle this wonderful facility. The event’s activities kicked off with practice on Saturday, followed by qualifying on Saturday evening. The rain held off, and the formation of the weekend’s races were completed. 61 Kartway also provided a wonderful cookout for all of the racers and their families on Saturday evening. Sunday brought great weather and some close racing. The winner of the complimentary set of Bridgestone tires donated by Margay was Drake Ostrom. Michael Dittmer claimed the Viper Racing Fast Time Award.

The action started with the Joey Karter.com Kid Kart class. Twelve of these little racers took to the track in search of some fun. The racing was close, and there were many great battles all over the track. The participants were Kaleb Allison, Brady Dunn, Luke Nimrick, Dawn Tilley, Thayne Chapin, Daltyn England, Parker Corson, Tyler Grafton, Diego Ochoa, Eric Erdmann, Eric Recker, and Zachary Buecker.

The Viper Racing TaG Lite division always provides some on track entertainment and this weekend was no exception. Kelsi Hirschy laid down a great lap in qualifying to claim the pole, followed by Sam Miles and Zeke Schmidt. Hirschy took off on the start of the prefinal and got out front ahead of Miles, but it was a little hectic after that. From about fourth or fifth back, the rest of the fifteen racers were involved in a crash in turn one that let the front three get out ahead of everyone. On the start of the final, Miles jumped out ahead of Hirschy, followed by Todd Malmstrom and Dustin Kessinger. It was going to be a great race between Hirschy and Miles, but on lap three Kelsi’s gear hub keyway stripped out and she was left wandering what could have been. Malmstrom had broken on lap two, which left Miles leading Kessinger, Jeff Brzeczek, and Schmidt. Miles showed the poise of a seasoned veteran by setting the fast lap of the race and pulling away to an almost five second win on her Margay/Leopard. Brzeczek claimed the fierce battle for second over Kessinger and Schmidt, with Peter Cook rounding out the top five.

Justin Stiffler had a perfect weekend in the Jet Karting TaG 60 group. Justin set fast time in this field of four karts on Saturday evening, won the prefinal and claimed the final win by over 35 seconds. Stiffler had his PG Racing Wildkart working perfectly all weekend. Sam Bell bested Chris Gray for the second position. It’s a good thing Gregory Gerst had such a great race in his Yamaha kart as motor problems plagued him all day resulting in a fourth place finish.

Jordan Laukaitis certainly saved the best for last in the Franklin Kart HPV Junior Sportsman group. Jake Cole set fast time for this group of nine, followed by Laukaitis. Laukaitis and Cole were running nose to tail in the final, slowly pulling away from a large group battling for third. This would be the first win of the day for Laukaitis as he won by over a second over Cole. JT Lewis claimed the battle for third over Perry Needham, and Kyle Kalish.

With twenty-one racers entered in the Laukaitis Racing Yamaha Jr. Sportsman class, Laukaitis had his work cut out for him. Evan Epperson set fast time in this competitive field and looked to be the man to beat all day. Epperson, Jake Cole, Laukaitis and Gregory Gerst were all locked in a battle for the top four positions right from the start of the final. Epperson led early, while Cole had problems relegating him to the sidelines. This left Epperson leading, Laukaitis in second and Gerst in third, all nose to tail. Laukaitis made a move to take the lead towards the end of the race but Epperson was having no part of it. Laukaitis couldn’t get up beside Epperson going into turn one, and nearly spun himself out to avoid hitting him. Meanwhile, Gerst was busy setting fast lap of the race and holding his spot right behind the top two. Coming to the checkered flag, these three were still nose to tail, with incidental contact resulting in Epperson spinning and Laukaitis taking the win over Gerst. Epperson, who drove an outstanding race, recovered to finish third. Mike Dionne nipped Nicholas Mirjanic for fifth, followed by Grant Sandberg, Tyler Stillmunkes, Justin Stiffler, Dillon Morley, and JT Lewis.

As if that wasn’t enough excitement, Express Karts N Parts Yamaha Junior Supercan racers had their own battles on the racetrack. Colton Ramsey set fast time in qualifying on Saturday evening, followed by Matthew Laukaitis. The action was all over the track in this field of eighteen racers. Ramsey took off leading the final over Justin Jennings, and Bryce Williams. Laukaitis was forced off the track on the first lap and finished for the day. Ramsey’s kart was really strong early, but once Jennings got a run on him later in the race, he wasn’t able to hold him off and slipped to fourth at the finish. Bryce Williams moved his way through the pack to finish second, followed by a Route 66 career best for Josh Clack. Clack was shoved back on the start and ran the leaders down to be in the front group at the end of the race. Brandon Cather claimed fifth ahead of A.J. O’Brien, BJ Bates, Zach Corson, Derek Ware, and Matt Harper.

Jennings other win wasn’t quite as eventful as perennial front runner Matthew Laukaitis had to start fourth in the Motorama Kart Parts TaG Junior class final. Jennings took off on the start and never looked back as he narrowly missed cracking the 44 second bracket. Jennings claimed the five second win over Laukaitis, Austen Lamb and Derek Ware. Jennings made a clean sweep of this class, as this was his second double win in a row as he pulled off the same feat at Midstate in May.

In the Comet Kart Sales Yamaha Supercan Heavy group, Michael Dittmer made quick work of the field in qualifying over Greg Grafton and Chad Kruger. Sunday entrant Kyle Erdmann showed why he is “the man” at 61 Kartway by starting shotgun on the field in the prefinal and picking off competitors until he ended up second. Dittmer and Erdmann checked out in the final ahead of Chad Kruger and Jason Allen. Erdmann patiently picked his spot to pass and slowly pulled out to a one second win over Dittmer, Allen, Kruger, and Grafton.

Erdmann’s second win came in the MyChron 4 HPV Senior class. Rod Holliday claimed fast time in qualifying and jumped out to the lead in the pre-final, followed by Erdmann, Will Laub and Chris Pappathopoulos. Erdmann claimed the win in the prefinal to get the preferred starting position in the final. The final race was all Erdmann, as he led flag to flag to secure the win. Holliday claimed second over Laub and Pappathopoulos.

In the Trackside Diner TaG Heavy group, Andrew Goodhart looked to be poised to pick up his first win in the Route 66 Series as he started off on the right foot by qualifying on the pole. Scott Kalish fought mechanical gremlins all weekend and ended up with a bent gear which put him on the sideline. Goodhart looked to be ready to claim his first win, but dropped a wheel with two laps to go while he was in the lead. Mike Gray who won the prefinal ended up taking the win for these racers.

For the twelve Adkins Speed Center Yamaha Supercan Lite racers, the competition was very close. Tony Neilson barely set fast time on Saturday evening over Becky Kaestner. Neilson claimed the win in the prefinal over Kaestner to secure the number one spot for the final. Neilson took off on the start, with Mike Welsh following him through turn one, putting Kaestner back to third. This was the race as Neilson was able to hold off Welsh and Kaestner wasn’t able to recover from the start, and finished third. Brett Johnson held off Kyle Erdmann for the fifth spot. Tony Velez, Jason Allen, Chris Pappathopoulos, Jeff Green and Matthew Roberts completed the second ten.

Mike Franck took the win in the TaG 4 Stroke class over Chuck Kocan, Patrick Ciolino, and Greg Lay. With all of the awards and tech completed by 4:30 p.m. racers were able to head home at a decent hour. The Route 66 Series would like to thank additional sponsors Streeter Super Stands, Tyre-Tech, Team 39 Motorsports, Digatron LLC, Triple E Sales, Bell Racing, Ribtect, and Burris Racing. The Route 66 Series and 61 Kartway are already discussing details for the race in 2008. The folks at 61 Kartway should be commended for their devotion to making this race such a success. Round four of the Route 66 Series presented by Margay/Bridgestone will be on July 28th at Concept Haulers Motor Speedway in Norway, IL. For additional information, please check www.route66kartracing.com for schedules and classes.

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