Story and photos by Bruce C. Walls
GARRETTSVILLE, OHIO – Over 300 racers entered the American Kart Racing Association’s Road Racing Series season opener May 17-19 hosted by Nelson Ledges Road Course in Garrettsville, Ohio. It was the first time in over 30-years that karts competed on the legendary 2-mile asphalt road course. Seventy-eight practiced that Friday and 229-racers started their 2019 AKRA Road Racing campaigns.
Fran Mazzucotelli pulled off a hat trick. Mazzucotelli led the way in Saturday’s first race Formula 125 Final l backing it up Sunday with wins in Formula 125 Final 2 and 100cc Limited Enduro Final 2. There he beat veteran kart racer Jerry Cole, owner of Michigan Kart Supply, to the stripe.
Over the two days Frankford, OH based Tracy Stevens Racing Engines powered Top Kart pilot Austin Hill racked up 7 wins. His only challenge came from Matthew Gibson in Junior Sprint Final 1. Gibson was two laps ahead of Hill when the checkers waved. However, post race technical inspection reviled an improper exhaust system surrendering the win to Hill.
Hill’s other six victories were solo runs. They were; TaG Junior Sprint Final 2, TaG Junior Sprint Finals 1 and 2 and Junior Combined Finals 1 and 2.
“It feels really good getting this many wins in one weekend,” Hill said. “The Top Kart handled good and the Stevens motor was good too. I want to thank my dad and Tracy Stevens, my mom and all of my grandparents.”
Seven racers were double winners. Ben Eberhart swept the Vintage Piston Port USA Finals 1 and 2. Saturday he owned a huge 3-lap lead over second place Herb Dickel. Sunday he had a 5-lap advantage over his nearest pursuer Fred Stoll.
Jerry Revely of Lake Villa, IL won both Open Sprint Finals 1 and 2. “I’m getting use to the speed,” said the Buller Racing Engines powered CKI chassis pilot. “The motor was good, but I was a little worried about the clutch, the clutch was giving me a little trouble,” he added after his first win.
Steven Mitchell crossed 5-laps down for second and third place finisher Lance Hiser was further back, 14-laps down from Revely. Sunday Mitchell was down 8-laps and Hiser was 16 laps behind.
Randy McDaniel was another double winner. McDaniel won the G-125 Shifter Finals 1 and 2. Saturday he owned a 20.587 second advantage over Joseph Wallace. Michael Comley crossed and Robert Wimmer trailed him.
Sunday Wimmer, who trailed three laps down, had nothing for Mc Daniels.
Despite the loss Wimmer was a double winner that Saturday taking checkers in TaG Senior Heavy Sprint Final 1and TaG Master Sprint Final 1. In the Heavy class Jarrett Bank trailed Wimmer 1:06.461 minutes later. Wood Holder was down 2-laps and Larry Cole capped the top five.
Henry Baker won Pro Gas Finals 1 and 2.
Adam Myers was also a double winner. Myers led a large talented field of Piston Port Sprint Final 1 racers across the stripe. Behind him by 10.555 was Bethpage, New York competitor Otto Vollmerhausen. Next across the stripe was Louis Magiera trailing by 18.065 seconds. Following Magiera in the top five were Ted Carbonaro and Eric Stockford.
Myer’s second Saturday win came in Controlled Final 1. Hayden was leading the two-racer battle when he was forced out of the contest.
Single race winners included Brian Ellis, who was 2.500 seconds faster than Scott Grenier in Yamaha Final 1. Wayne Rumsey was third across that followed by Michigan Kart Supply backed Nick Cole. Colin Jedrzejek capped the top five of 18. Sunday’s Final had 10 entries.
“I got a good start,” 26-year-old Ellis, of Akron, OH, credited. “ The LED chassis worked great.”
Daniel and Joe Barth battled it out in 125 Shifter Final 1. Their fight for the checkered flag went down to a 0.648 seconds difference. Bob Davis was third followed in the top five by Chris Frizza and Nicholas Robinson.
Sunday’s G125 Shifter kart Final 2 was more of the same except this time in was Joe in charge when the checkers waved. Daniel made second by just 0.338 seconds. Ryan McHugh was third across the stripe followed in the top five were Nicholas Robinson and Brandon Basela.
Brad Berelsman bagged Unlimited Final 2 with a nearly 2-lap lead over EJ Korecky, Jeremy Baldi. Further back in the top five were, Ian Algie and Scott Hodges.
Louis Magiera dominated Sprint Final 2. At the stripe he was 5.738 seconds ahead of Adam Myers. James Sorrentino, Eric Stockford and Ted Carbonaro were the rest of the top five.
In another down to the wire nail biter Jason Pribyl beat Regan Vehring to 4-Cycle Sprint 350’s checkered flag. Following Vehring in the top five were, Anthony Wimmer, Max Renner and Jack Reall.
Red Bull backed Sidney Danals bagged Super Kart 250 Final 1 “The kart was handling good like it should. It wasn’t pushing.”
Other single race winners included:
Chan Donner-Stock Honda Heavy Finals 1 and 2
Fred Stoll-Formula 100 soloed Final 1 and 2
Jeff May-Vintage Twin Engines Final 1
Don Axe-Vintage Unlimited Final1
Todd Hayden-Controlled Final 2
Craig Bollinger L0206 Sprint Final 2
Shane Hayden-Junior Enduro 1
Henry Baker-Pro Gas Finals 1 and 2
Scott Hodges-Super Kart 250 Final 1
Mallory D’Augustine-100cc Limited Enduro
Jeff McClellan-Stock Honda Lite Final 1
Brad Berelsman-Unlimited Final 1
Sidney Danals-Super Kart USA
Cameron Robinson-TaG Senior Heavy Sprint Final 1
Otto Vollmerhausen-Yamaha Sprint Final 1
Craig Bollinger-CIK/L0206 Super Heavy Final
Dave Benham-Yamaha Sportsman Sprint
Robert Wimmer-TaG Masters Sprint Final 1
Regan Vehriing-4-Cycle Sprint370 Final 2
Andy Leighninger-Yamaha Sprint Final 2
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AKRA’s next Road Race Series race will be June 14-16 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Last year’s race was eclipsed only by the Daytona race.
