STEAD, NV (Oct. 9) — For three days this weekend the Northern Nevada Kart Club hosted the International Karting Federation Grand Nationals. This event last visited Desert Park Raceway in 2009.
Racers were competing for two desired trophies. The first is a “Duffy” the class winners earn while the next was for the driver turning in the fastest lap; the “Screaming Eagle.”
After Sunday morning’s practice and the third set of heat races everyone was ready for the 20-lap main events.
Up first were the young racers in the Junior 1 Class. First on point was Cason Hodge while Jaxon Young was close behind leading a gaggle of other karts. There was a final pass in the last complex of turns and it appeared that Jason Hodge had the victory.
However every racer had to go through the “Table of Doom,” for a post-race inspection. This is like NASCAR’s “Room of Doom” and on this day the IKF was doing a inspection of a racer’s motor.
So after apparently winning an event, if there were no on track penalties a racer had to sweat out and see if the kart’s motor passed.
When all the dust settled Hodge was not given the victory but it went to Jaxon Young. He was just over two tenths of a second ahead of runner up Zoquan Holbrook while Kayden Williams ended up third.
The LO206 Senior class got the next green flag and first on point was Kade Godbehere with Zach Rivera in second. What developed was a 6-way duel for the lead until Dylan Albiani took the lead and put a gap between himself and those chasing him.
As the laps wound down the top three closed up and the chase was on. In fact for a while it was a 5-way fight for the lead.
In the end Albiani reached the checkered flag first less than two-tenths of a second ahead of runner up Issac Bourque who crossed the line just ahead of third place Bryce Dickman.
After the post race weigh-in, where initial finishing positions are confirmed Albiani said, “It was a pretty quite race until about four or five to go. They all got nose-to-tail and ran me down. We started dicing it up and I knew I had to make my move early in the lap so the guys behind me would get battling.
That’s what happened able to get by going into three and I was able to take I and it felt so good.”
Then he thanked Invader Racing Engines, Speed Sense for the Go-Kart. He also expressed special appreciation for all the help Racer Motorsports has given him or he wouldn’t have been there.
Now it was time for the LO206 Masters to be on the track. When the green waved Michael Yazembiak took off with Jesse Gwin and Bandon Walsh right behind him.
Around the halfway point Gwin made a pass for the lead. Later Walsh took over second only to lose it to Yazembiak. Late in the race Walsh spun in Turn 2 so gave Gwin the gap he need to pull off the victory. Yazembiak was the runner up while Walsh recovered and ended up third.
“It’s seems like forever when you’re running up front, a great weekend, thanks to everybody for coming out and making it. Thanks to Team BROL, Rodney, thanks to my dad, couldn’t get more happy,” said Gwin.
When the starter sent off the Junior 2 class Andrew Hitchcock was leading with Brooks Anderline and William Wallis right behind him. Soon the top two put a small gap between themselves and third place.
Late in the race the top three closed up again but now Anderline was on point. In the final laps he did manage to create a small gap between himself and the other two.
In the end Anderline scored the victory just under one and a half second over runner up Hitchock. Wallis ended up third about three tenths of a second behind second place.
Not only was it his first Duffy but the victory was very emotional for Anderline. His victory wasn’t the only thing on his mind right then as it was a combination of tears of joy as well as sadness.
After he took breath Anderline said, “It was an outstanding race, that was a hard race dude, they were there from start to finish. I need to thank Cole Nelson Racing, all the guys I raced with today.
“I need to thank Cooper Perez, we had a tragic accident two years ago, a family member got lost. This whole weekend and everything we’ve done for the past two years worked toward him. He wanted a Duffy at some point so we won this for him.”
After that the Shifters lined up and when the green lights flashed they were off. Sadly when the field reached Turn 3 a trio of them tangled and only one was able to continue.
Up front Brian Keck was leaving everyone in his dust. The race was between Seth Humtley and Ethan Booher, who where disputing second place. Lap after lap Keck extended his lead and had over an eight second lead at the checkered. Behind him Humtley reached the finish just six tenths of a second ahead of Booher.
Asked about the drive Keck said, “There’s no such thing as a Sunday drive in go karts man. You’re always pushing the limit.”
He also had to contend with changing weather conditions as the sun/cloud combination was changing the track’s surface.
“I’d say the track had fallen off from where it had previous been in the weekend. The sun cover here seems like it makes it very slick. Tough to stay on top of the track as it keeps going in and out from sun/shade. It’s an abrupt change, every quickly.”
Then he thanked, GFC as he thought it was their first Duffy as Sonny and Jerry do a great job, his friends and family.
Next was a class that usually doesn’t race with NNKC, the IAME Mini Swifts, whose drivers are in the younger set. First on point was Cason Hodge with Troy Ferguson right behind him
There would be a few lead changed during the 20-lap race but eventually Ferguson would put a small gap between himself and second place. In the final laps the lead trip closed up but Ferguson reached the finish three tenths of a second ahead of runner up Erik Doan. Finishing third was Hodge.
Asked about the race Ferguson said, “It was really hard I had a pretty good start and I was just trying to get into the lead. But we battled for the same time and I won.”
Then he thanked P1 Engines, Troy Adams and his parents.
As the racing day wound down there would be a few drops of rain but not enough to get the track wet. However the drivers took not of this. Next up was the LO206 Heavy class.
On the green Michael Yazbembiak took off and soon put a gap between him self and the others. Like the other mains the race would be decided in the final laps.
Yazbembiak soon had Jared Simms on his back bumper with Jesse Gwin not far behind in third. In the final charge both leaders tore out of the last corner and headed for the checkered flag. Yazembiak arrived there first almost nine hundreds of a second head of Simms, who was essentially beside him.
Further back, about two tenths of a second was third place Gwin. This was the closest finish of the day.
After the finish Yazbembiak said, “For me the race was very cosistent. I knew these guys were coming, I just played it as smart as I could, knew I just needed to keep them behind me so I did everything to do just that.” Then he thanked his wife, family, father and the whole BLR crew and Rodney from Nevada Kart Sports.
The two KA100 classes finished off the racing. Day first on the track was the Junior Class.
From the get go the race belonged to Valentino Garbarino. After extending through out the race he scored a clear victory, and the Duffy that went along with it.
Finishing second was Jessynta Taylor while Mason Mitchell ended up third. “It was a tough race, Garbarino said.
“Track conditions made it difficult, been waiting a long time for this one and it means a lot. I’d like to dedicate it to everybody for supporting me this year. We really haven’t had the best of luck, I’m grateful an blessed to bring this home for those guys, I’m happy I could.
The honor of closing the weekend’s racing went to the KA100 Senior class. Five of them took the green flag and headed into the first turn Up front Travis Mitchell was on point followed by J.C. Perez and Deeahme Malone.
For a while they were nose-to-tail but spread out as the race progressed. When the weekend’s final checkered flag waved Mitchell scored a clear victory. Perez ended up second while Malone finished third.
Asked about the race Mitchell said, “Towards the end but it was pretty close at the start. We didn’t know what was going to happen with the weather. I think all of us were kind of nervous we were going to slide and go off the track because it decided to sprinkle and then it got a little bit dusty. If was definitely difficult to stay on the track but towards the end it gripped up.”
Then he thanked his mechanic Donald Durbin, Jerry who build his engine in the 4-stroke class and Swede Tech who built his engine in the 2-stroke class that he just won with as well as his dad and family.
Then of course they all had to sweat their karts going through the Table of Doom. Once that was done there was the award ceremony.
This marked the end of the 2022 season for the Northern Nevada Kart Club. Apparently it was a pretty successful one. Except for testing Desert Park Raceway will be silent but in late March 2023 it should echo with the sound of racing again.
REPORTER’S NOTE: Jay Hayden was taking individual pictures of the racers both Saturday and Sunday. If anyone might want a print one can contact him at, jthmultimedia@gmail.com.
With the holidays coming an autographed picture would mean a lot to sponsors and those who supported and helped a driver this season. And it helps insuring the photographers will return
OTHER RACING NEWS:
• Teresa’s Garage Radio Show is on the air from 2 until 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. In northwest Nevada, it can be heard over the air at 1060 AM and 93.7 FM.
There is also a Podcast at amm.streamon.fm or it can be seen live on Face Book. The show is focused on all things automotive, trends, new developments and trivia.
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RESULTS:
IKF Grand Nationals – Oct. 7 to 9 Desert Park Raceway
– Northern Nevada Kart Club
• LO206 Junior 1:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Jaxon Young, 2. Zoquan Holbrook, 3. Kayden Williams, 4. Miles Boertje, 5. Bristol Borneman, 6. Wade Boertje, 7. Matt Guidera, 8. Stephen Searock, 9. Jeremy Heath, 10. Jeremiah Nobles, 11. Aidan Go, 12. Byron Borneman, 13. Luke Rommeck-Kornbluth, 14. Mason Gill, 15. Matthew Reinoehl, 16. Floyd Frisby.
– DQ: Carson Hodge, Troy Ferguson.
• LO206 Senior:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Dylan Albiani, 2. Issac Bourque, 3. Bryce Dickman, 4. Zach Rivera, 5.Stephen Eisert, 6. Giovanni L. Medina, 7. Colby Romero, 8. Nathan Heath, 9. Kade Godebehere, 10. Anthony Toscano, 11. Jonathan Endrizzi, 12. Kyle Chatham, 13. Giovanni Benson, 14. Travis Mitchell, 15. Troy Arnzen, 16. Ryan Mar.
• LO206 Masters:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Jesse Gwin, 2. Michael Yazembiak, 3. Brandon Walsh, 4. Adam Booker, 5. Jared Simms, 6. Andrew Kemp, 7. Brian Gallagher, 8. Rachael Williams, 9. Eric Kuzemchak, 10. Josh Prater, 11. Derek Anderline, 12. Paul Booher, 13. Tim Brunyansky, 14. Michael Van Muyden.
• LO206 Junior 2:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Brooks Anderline, 2. Andrew Hitchock, 3. William Wallis, 4. Cooper Perez, 5. Mason Mitchell, 6. Ragan Saville, 7. Jessynta Taylor, 8. Nate Spitz, 9. Gavin McCune, 10. Isaiah Nobles, 11. Nate Woodmency, 12. Luca Sweetland, 13. Ethan Perry, 14. Bryce Benton, 15. Penny King.
• 125 Shifter:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Brian Keck, 2. Seth Humtley, 3. Ethan Booher, 4. Devon Johnson, 5. Christian Cecil, 6. Adam Auerbach, 7. Mitch Kennedy, 8. Zeke Corson.
• IAME Mini Swift:
– Overall(20-laps): 1. Troy Ferguson, 2. Erik Doan, 3. Carson Hodge, 4. Bristol Borneman, 5. Gabby Guidera, 6. Wade Boertje, 7. Bryon Borneman, 8. Miles Boertje, 9. Matthew Reinoehl.
• LO206 Heavy:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Michael Yazbembiak, 2. Jared Simms, 3. Jesse Gwin, 4. Brandon Walsh, 5. Colby Romero, 6. Tyler Hall, 7. Paul Booher, 8. Jason Maples, 9. Gage Griego, 10. Jazz Manning, 11. Brandon Arace, 12. Andrew Kemp.
• KA100 Junior:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Valentino Garbarino, 2. Jessynta Taylor, 3. Mason Mitchell, 4. Truly Adams, 5. Jackson Glendenning.
• KA100 Senior:
– Overall (20-Laps): 1. Travis Mitchell, 2. J.C. Perez, 3. Deeahme Malone, 4. Nathan Heath, 5. Cory Svean.
