With one temporary circuit already behind them in 2020, TB Kart USA brings another strong twelve driver lineup to the final round of the ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour. Taking on the barrier lined circuit in the parking lot of Tropicana Field in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, TBKart drivers will be aiming for the top step of the podium with seven of them competing across a pair of gearbox categories.
“We have had an up and down Florida Winter Tour this year, but our goal is to finish it strong,” explained TB Kart USA Owner Farshad Bagheri. “We have had multiple podiums in the Shifter Master category and have been fast but unlucky in Shifter Senior. We want to win in St. Pete as we prepare to close our winter karting season and head into spring.”
With five drivers in the ROK Shifter Master category, a pair of them sit in the top-five in the series points battle. Courtesy of a pair of podium finishes, Rene Martinelli slots himself into second with a shot at the title while Pete Licciardi’s point total from the first two rounds classifies him in fourth. Needing a strong weekend and a little luck, both drivers are in the position to strike for the title should things go their way.
Farshad Bagheri and Chris Gannon will be the third and fourth TB Kart USA drivers in the Masters gearbox category as the aforementioned quartet all qualified in the top-ten at the most recent Florida Winter Tour round. Showing their speed throughout the weekend but unlucky in some of the wheel-to-wheel competition, Bagheri and Gannon will be aiming towards the top step of the podium during the third and final event weekend. Adding a fifth driver in the ROK Shifter Master class, Edgardo Ortiz Romo will look to keep the momentum rolling for TB Kart USA.
With five drivers in the elder of the gearbox classes, Austin Garrison and Zachary Hollingshead will enter ROK Shifter Senior in St. Pete. Scoring a podium result at the first temporary circuit of the 2020 Florida Winter Tour, Austin Garrison will look to climb one step further up the podium this coming weekend. Zachary Hollingshead will look to turn his luck around in the inaugural street race. Having a Winter Tour to forget in regard to main event results, the ultra-fast Floridian’s goal is to not only shoot for a podium result, but also springboard into the second quarter of the season with some much-needed momentum.
Jed Perkins, Jorge Ruiz and Andrew Burley will be back behind the wheel in TB Karts in the 206 Senior class as the trio looks to maintain and improve on their top-ten results. Perkins currently sits fifth in the series championship with Ruiz back in tenth. With a new and never before seen track layout, the three drivers will look to work together and find themselves battling for the win on Championship Sunday.
The Mini ROK class will see one TB Kart USA driver as Steve Miller will fly the flag. Improving five positions in round two’s main event, Miller is gaining knowledge and experience with each passing lap. Forgoing the first round of the series, Miller will attempt his first temporary circuit of the season.
Pulling double duty in classes throughout the Florida Winter Tour, Collin Warren will close his 2020 ROK Senior campaign with TB Kart USA. Showing impressive speed in Ocala, Warren had a pair of top-ten results in the ROK Senior heat races improving on his 15th place qualifying effort. Unfortunately, his seventh place starting position in Saturday afternoon’s prefinal turned into a 33rd place result, and he was forced to climb back up the running order during Sunday’s main event. Gaining 16 positions Sunday, the second most of any ROK Senior driver, Warren showed top-five pace in his drive forward.
TB Kart USA and the rest of the ROKKERs at the Florida Winter Tour will hit the track on Thursday morning for unofficial practice. Qualifying and heat one will take place on Friday afternoon with more racing throughout the weekend.
For more information on TB Kart USA, how to become a dealer or their national level race team, please contact Farshad Bagheri at 727.204.7633 or via email to FBagheri@TBKartUSA.com. TB Kart USA can also be reached online at www.TBKartUSA.com or by searching TB Kart USA on the Facebook, Instagram and Twitter social media platforms.
Photo: Canadian Karting News