With only a few BENIK branded drivers traveling to Simraceway Performance Karting Center in Sonoma, California early in August, the results were still plentiful as Championship and Vice-Championship honors were added to the company’s growing resume. Competing at the annual United States Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Nationals with invitations to join Team USA at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) later this season, Diego La Roque would top the blocks with young James Egozi in the second position.
“We did not have a lot of drivers attend the Grand Nationals but the ones that did, ran near the pointy end of the field,” explained BENIK Kart Co-Founder Nick Mitchell. “Congratulations to Diego on his National Championship as well as to James Egozi for his chance to race for the United States in Italy later this year.”
Qualifying and the heat races would go well for the BENIK drivers as La Roque, Egozi and Carson Morgan took their turns at the front of the field. With all three drivers leading laps and dominating the competition, the trio would race out of different camps proving the diversity of the BENIK brand.
The main event would start off with a corner one incident that would see La Roque and Egozi jump to the top two spots and draw away from the field. Morgan, poised to challenge for the victory, was a victim of the first corner melee and essentially ruined any chances of a race win or podium result as he would close his week in the 11th position.
When the dust had finally settled and the final checkered flag had flown, Diego La Roque would top the blocks for the 2016 Sofina Foods Rotax Micro MAX National Championship. Fighting him all the way to the end would be Egozi in only his second event with a new team, showed the speed necessary to be a major contender all week long.
Mitchell continued, “Diego and James will represent Team USA in Italy later this year. Diego earned his ticket through his championship lead at the US Open while James raced hard this weekend and earned his courtesy of his second place finish. Congrats guys!”
Ashton Torgerson would also throw his hat in the mix in Rotax Micro MAX by starting the main event in the third position. Hanging with the lead duo of La Roque and Egozi for a few circuits, Torgerson lost the draft and fell back to the chase group. Battling hard to close the race out on the podium, Ashton would cross the line in fourth to make it three BENIKs in the top-five.
Santiago Trisini would also compete in the Rotax Micro MAX division but would endure some bad racing luck throughout the weekend. Working hard with each and every passing session, Trisini would end his weekend with a top-ten finish.
For more information on BENIK Kart, please contact Nick Mitchell or Ben Cruttenden via e-mail to Info@Benik-Kart.com or by phone at 754.206.4870.
BENIK Dealer Network:
Midwest – SSC Go Karts – +1 314 952 3034 – sscgokart@gmail.com
Northeast – www.Kartworkz.com – +1 570.237.1095
Texas – Iron Rock Motorsports – +1 512.773.3873
Nevada – Acceleration Karting – www.AccelerationKarting.com
California – Nash Motorsportz – +1 951.233.3431 – nashmotorsportz@yahoo.com
Florida – The Karting Experience – +1 305 525 6502 – thekartingexperience@gmail.com
North Carolina – Interstate – +1 704 619 6968
Australia – Pro Karting – pro.tech978@gmail.com +61 402 901 088