WKA/KART: Daytona Dirt World Championships
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By Bruce C. Walls
DAYTONA BEACH, FL-Ultramax Racing Chassis factory pilot Chad
Porginski posted a pair of wins at Daytona Beach, FL's Municipal Stadium
during the American Power Sports 2000 Dirt World Championships raced
December 27th to the 30th. The annual kick off for the WKA/Briggs &
Stratton Speedway Dirt Series season lured 1,763 competitors to the
legendary 1/4-mile dirt oval. Thursday's competition was canceled
because of rain, but the remaining nights saw heated competition and
close finishes.
Porginski scored his first win that Wednesday taking Trick/Olimpic
Karts Briggs Lite just .225-seconds ahead of Barney, GA racer
Brett Williams. King Williams, VA native Stephanie Pitts turned a
19.288-seconds lap for the pole time, but outside pole winner Bradley
Gerrells, of Dahlonega, GA grabbed the early lead when the green flag
dropped. Williams quickly advanced to second with Porginski on his
tailpipe. Several laps later they drafted by Gerrells with Williams in
charge of the 30-racer field. Williams held the lead under the white
flag, but Porginski got by him on the final lap in time to take the win.
"The new Pro Force 2000 kart ran great and the Hi Tech motor was
great, it really ran fast," said the Greenville, SC based winner who
pocketed $1,000 for winning on an Ultramax Racing chassis. "I have
to thank J.T. Stillwagon, my dad, Ultramax Racing Chassis and Dill
Fabrication, Precision Cams and Jammer Clutches,"' Porginski added.
Gerrells finished third and was followed in the top five by Blaize
Martin and Brad Pittman.
Two nights later Porginski topped Ratech Corp. Briggs Senior Champ.
This time he took the final flag just .702-seconds ahead of Salisbury,
NC competitor Jody Miller. Justin Moorefield earned the pole with a
20.124-seconds trip, led the 30-racer field on the first lap, and then
surrendered the front to Miller's machine. Miller had just taken charge
when the first of two caution flags waved. As Miller held the lead,
Porginski worked his way from fourth to second. Once he secured second
Porginski set his sites on the leader and with 12-laps left he took the
lead as they passed under the flag stand. From there Porginski held off
Miller's challenges until the end.
"Most of the other karts were sliding on the corners and mine was
sticky," Porginski credited. "The Ultramax kart handled great, the
tires were perfect and JT's motor ran great. I want to say thanks to
Danny King and the Nye family," Porginski said after his second win.
Trailing Miller across the finish in the top five were Jason
Scruggs, AJ Currelli and Moorefield.
Wednesday's action got underway with Beef Powered Phantom Banshee
kart pilot Daniel Hemric edging out RLV Briggs Junior Sportsman-1
Lite pole winner Ricky Keisler at that finish by just .730-seconds
for his first win at Daytona. When Keisler, who earned the pole with
a 21.829-seconds lap, headed the 30-racer field to the initial green
flag the crowd was on its feet cheering their favorite drivers. Keisler
led the field through a pair of cautions with Hemric on his tailpipe.
Hemric grabbed the lead shortly after the field got the green again,
built a small advantage over Keisler who closed the gab in the final
laps.
"It feels great getting my first national win here at Daytona," said
the
9-year-old Winston/Salem, NC competitor. "The start was a little rough and
the kart was a little loose in the beginning, but it came in at the end
and I passed him (Keisler). The Beef Performance motor ran great and I
want to thank Harrill Wiggins for a great go-kart."
Anthony Comparetto finished third, Dustin Dunn took fourth and
Hunter Mallory ran fifth.
Tommy's Karts-n-Parts Briggs Junior Champ was a heated four racer
battle between pole winner Anthony Johnson, Andy Pugh, Donnie Nall and
Blake O'Neal. After securing the pole with a 20.556-seconds lap Johnson
took the early lead, but just after the first lap was booked Nall was in
charge of the 29-racer field. Three laps later the race's only caution
flag waved. Nall led the restart and quickly opened a comfortable
lead. Nall tried to extend his lead, but Pugh broke from the field and
ran down him with just five laps left. As they headed for the checkered
flag Nall made one final attempt for the lead, but he spun in the final
corner and Pugh took the victory.
"The kart ran great and the motor was awesome, it came in after
seven laps or so and then I just had to hold on," reported the
14-year-old Giniva, AL based PEC powered Ultramax kart pilot. "I want
to thank Dave Roland for the motor and set up," added Pugh who also
pocketed $1,000 for earning the win on an Ultramax chassis. JJ Nye
finished third and was followed in the top five by Luther Jenkins and
Anthony Johnson.
Veteran kart racer Chester Wright, of Jacksonville, FL, led 29
Phantom Racing Chassis Briggs Senior racers wire-to-wire. The Capps
powered Ultramax kart pilot said he prayed for 20-laps. "The kart was
perfect and Mike and Lee Capps motors are the strongest stuff in the
world. I want to thank my wife and kids for their support and Mike and
Lisa Capps for the motor." added the G-Man Kart Works/Dyno Cams/Southern
Karting sponsored winner.
Ray Parker, Phillip Bell, Thomas Pritchard and Stevie Stephenson
rounded out the remaining top five.
Ultramax factory pilots continued their domination over Wednesday
night's wins with Greensboro, SC based Brad Sellers beating Rohn Moon
to Team Simpson Racing Briggs Controlled Medium's finish. Barrett
Terry earned the pole with an 18.607-seconds lap and took the early
lead. Sellers rocketed from a sixth place starting position to the lead
several laps into it and never looked back.
"We missed a little on qualifying and made some small changes. I
gotta thank my Crew Chief Derek Baker, he's the best and I have to thank
Ronnie Robinson he did a great job on the motor it had unbelievable
horsepower," credited the Haul Mark Race Trailers/SBR Graphics sponsored
winner.
Completing the top five of 28 behind Moon were Gerrells, Chris
Douglas and Chad Haithcock.
Scott Bazen and Chris Seay were the first two across Horstman
Mfg. Stock
2-Cycle's finish line. But both were DQ'ed making the official top five Olin
Baldwin, Gregg Jones, Jason Seay, Chris Harrell and Ed Schreifels.
Barney, GA based Blake Williams bagged Friday's first feature
Bandit Racing Chassis Briggs Medium nipping Moon at the finish line by
.152-seconds. Moon clocked the pole time with a 19.244-seconds trip and
owned the race's first half while Williams worked his way from fifth to
second. Williams took charge of the 31-racer field just after the half
and held off Moon's challenges to the end.
"That was a tough race," admitted the Phantom Karts/Jammer
Clutches/WMS Products sponsored winner. "I want to most of all thank
God. And I want to thank all of the staff at Phantom Racing Chassis for
a great kart and my Uncle Larry for a great motor. Hard work paid off.
The kart was good, it was fast enough to win and the motor was awesome,"
Williams added.
Rounding out the top five behind Moon were Brett Miller, Justin
Moorefield and Jonathan Cash.
Hunter Peacock handled ARC Racing Briggs Junior Sportsman-2 Heavy's
pole with a 20.493-seconds lap, but when the lead swapping battle ended
Jared Jackson beat Daniel Hemric to the finish by .736-seconds.
"The Phantom kart handled good, the motor had great power
in the straights and that's what did it," credited the Hendrick
Motorsports/Checkered Flag Fuels sponsored winner.
Behind Hemric in the top five of 30 were Justin Bridges, Jonathan
Ross and Greg Tallent.
Beef Performance powered Greg James owned a comfortable
3.510-seconds lead over Randy Lightsey at Robinson Speed Shop Briggs
Super Heavy's finish. Dan, 荊he Shadow Man' Sox earned the pole with
a blistering 19.676-seconds lap and lead half of the race's first lap
before James came up from third and took charge of the 28-racer field
for good.
"The Phantom kart and Beef Performance motor both ran great," said
the Winston-Salem, NC based winner. "I want to thank my wife, Jeff
Carter and Harrill Wiggins," he added.
Sox finished third and was followed in the top five by Bryan Wheeler
and David Long.
An 18.264-seconds lap earned Ultramax kart pilot Chad Haithcock
Bordeaus Dyno Cams Briggs Controlled Heavy's pole position. Haitcock
took the early lead then surrendered it Rohn Moon who rocketed into a
comfortable lead that he ended 5.034-seconds ahead of Blake Williams.
"Blaize Martin had a great idea on what to do on tires, we did it
and it worked," beamed the Jacksonville, FL based winner. "This means
a lot. I can't thank the guys enough, it was a team effort and we all
worked hard and it worked," he added.
Haithcock held on to third, Sellers followed in fourth and
Mechanicsville, VA native Scott Bajer capped the top five of 28.
Sox avenged himself in Friday night's final feature Prototype Engine
Sales 4-Cycle Modified beating pole winner Moon to the finish by
4.233-seconds. Moon burst into a huge lead when the initial green flag
waved. Four laps later a pile up in turn four cut his lead. Moon led
the restart with Sox close behind. Sox shot by Moon two laps later and
never looked back on his way to the checkered flag.
"George Owenby gave me a great motor and this just shows what he can
do," credited the West Columbia, SC competitor. "The Shadow kart was
awesome and I want to thank Rohn Moon and the other guys in this class
for a good race," he added.
Shane Evans, Brad Gerrells and Barry Bryant rounded out the
remaining top five.
Augusta, GA racer Brian Connor earned CKI Briggs Limited Lite's pole
with a record setting 16.642-seconds lap. RJ Robinson, of Salisbury,
MD, clocked the outside pole position with a 16.742-seconds lap. Connor
took the early lead and then several laps into it Sellers found his
way from third to first for a short lived lead over the 30-racer
field. Florida racer Neal Lewis grabbed a piece of the lead from Sellers
and then surrendered it to Connor who showed the field home from there.
"The kart was excellent and the motor was real fast," Connor said
adding thanks to Dan and Charlie Sox for the Shadow kart and Jason and
David Larussa for helping in the pit
David Halk finished just .414-seconds behind Connor and was followed
in the top five by Lewis, Joey Justice and Sellers.
Seigler Motorsports, Inc. Star Champ's checkered flag waved for
Evans, GA racer Michael Rivers who finished just .206-seconds ahead of
Jason Moates. Pole winner Larry Bryant, who clocked a 17.783-seconds
lap, took the early lead with Moates and Jody Miller threatening from
second and third. Caution waved on lap six and Bryant led the restart,
but Rivers quickly took the lead from him. Rivers led the 28-racer
field through another caution restart before taking the final flag.
"It was tough. I lost a contact lens seven laps into it and then
lost the other one with eight laps to go," Rivers said. "I really needed
those orange cones to win this one," he laughed, "But the Shadow kart
ran great and the JRPW motor was awesome."
Jason Merriman took third, Miller following in fourth and Shawn
Parker rounded out the remaining top five positions.
Ben Stancill clocked Jammer Clutches Briggs Junior Sportsman Champ's
pole time with a 20.981-seconds lap. He and Eddie Daniels swapped the
led several times during the early laps before Daniels secured it and
led the
27-racer field through the race's only caution before finishing with a huge
8.791-seconds advantage over the Illusion kart of Eldorad, MO racer Nick
Helgason.
"The Ward Racing Chassis was good and the Ward Power motor was
good," said the 11-year-old Rayford, NC racer. "I just tried not to spin
out."
Rounding out the top five were Trevor Bayne, Thomas Barden and
Justyn Elwood.
Terence Burdette who turned an 18.254-seconds lap set E-Z Bore
Briggs Restricted Junior's pole time. Chase Luster rocketed into the
early lead from third and held it until a lap 11 caution. Luster led
the restart, but surrendered it to Woodstock, GA racer JJ Nye's Hi Tech
powered Millennium machine. From there Nye held off David Larussa's
challenges taking the final flag with a slim .181-seconds advantage.
"The kart felt good and the motor pulled real good," reported the
15-year-old winner. "I won two previous Daytona poles and now it feels great
to get my first win here. I'd like to thank my dad, Maxxis Tires, Buller
Clutches, Gold Speed USA and all the people who helped me win this
race."
Taking the remaining top five of 30 positions were Joe McIntyre,
Luster and Taylor Satterfield.
Twister Karts/Davis Mfg. Briggs Heavy's checkered flag was
captured by West Columbia, SC competitor Kevin Smith who owned a
very close .001-seconds edge over Blake Williams at the finish
line. J.T. Stillwagon earned the pole with an 18.203-seconds lap and
Williams clocked the outside pole time at
18.281-seconds.
Williams blasted into the early lead with Sox chasing him. On
the second lap Sox grabbed the lead in the back straight and then
Williams recaptured it in the same spot. Williams led the 28-racer field
through two caution restarts and with five laps left surrendered it to
Smith. From there it was a heated battle to the checkered flag with
Smith narrowly taking it at the end.
"I just waited for the right chance," explained the first time
Daytona winner. "I want to thank first of all my mom and dad, Michael
Schumacher, G-Man Kart Works and Louis and Furman Myers for all their
support."
Wright, Moon and Tod Miller followed Williams in the top five.
When WKA national flagman Buddy Burkett waved Bully Clutches
Unlimited
2-Cycle's checkered flag for Barrett Terry it triggered an explosive
fireworks show that lit the sky over Municipal Stadium signaling the
event's end. Terry, a former WKA 2-Cycle national champion from Lenior
City, TN, turned the pole time with a blistering 16.303-seconds lap.
From the pole Terry roared into the early lead and was building on
that advantage when caution waved for Chris Seay's machine in turn
four. Terry led the restart with Gregg Jones trailing him. Jones
grabbed a piece of the lead at mid-race, but Terry quickly recaptured it
and showed the 22-racer field home from there finishing a comfortable
1.020-seconds ahead of Archdale, NC competitor Scott Bazen.
"That was a hard race," Terry admitted. "We're very grateful to
win here tonight. I want to than Buller Racing for the kart and Donnie
Wheeler for the motor. I just tried to dodge the holes and keep cool."
Behind Bazen in the top five were Michael Gordon, James Kirby and
Raymond Seaman.
Spring Nationals are next on the WKA Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt
Series schedule. Oak Grove Motorsports Park will host them April 6-8 and
Low Country Kartway in Aynor, SC will host this year's Summer Nationals
June
15-17. Grand Nationals will be raced July 27-29 at Margarettsville Speedway
in Margarettsville, NC and the season ends with Fall Nationals that will
be hosted by Southern Pitt Raceway in Greenville, NC.
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