Closing out the Route 66 Sprint Series over the October 5-7 weekend, Top Kart USA invaded the Mid-State Kart Club facility in Springfield, Illinois. Taking on the stout competition that presents itself in the series, Top Kart USA drivers amassed four pole positions, six main event victories and ten podium results. Calculating the yearly total, the Indianapolis, Indiana based race program garnered 28 victories in Route 66 Sprint Series competition alone.
“The season finale at Mid-State Kart Club was the perfect event to end the season,” explained Blake Deister. “Top Kart drivers were on their game all weekend, and many were able to pull off some great results and keep their Top Kart chassis up front! Sealing four total championships and the constructors title with overall 28 feature wins on the year, we look forward to bringing this momentum into the 2019 season with great opportunity for even more success.”
Kaden Wharff led the way for the Top Kart brand as he claimed four of the total six victories in Illinois. Scoring the top step of the podium in both Yamaha Junior main events, the talented youngster also secured the checkered flag in the X30 Junior finals on both Saturday and Sunday after winning the pole position on Saturday morning.
“A long season it has been but a very good one! I am extremely happy and thankful for the success I’ve been able to achieve this year and grow even more as a driver,” added Wharff. “My last year in the junior category has been my best yet and can’t wait for my future in 2019. I can’t thank my supporters Top Kart USA, Comet Racing Engines, Grand Products, and all of my family and friends for helping along the way.”
Alex Kardashian added the other two victories for Top Kart USA, one of them in Yamaha Senior and the other in X30 Senior. Not to be outdone, when he wasn’t on the top of the podium he only had to step down one block as Kardashian added a pair of second place results as well as one pole position.
Kardashian explained, “I am proud of my continued success this year and to the success of Team AMK. Hardworking and talented individuals surrounded around our racing team bring it together to create our success. The competition has been very tough this season and that makes winning two championships an even greater feeling. Also I would like to thank my parents for all of their support for my racing, my teammates at AMK that race with our program and make it all fun, and Top Kart USA working with us to help race on the best chassis we could ask for, while assisting us give our customers the support they want and need.”
Adam Maxwell joined Wharff on the podium in Yamaha Junior securing a second place result Saturday and a third place finish Sunday. In the KA100 Junior ranks, Maxwell claimed a pair of pole positions and turned those into top-five finishes crossing the stripe fourth and fifth during wheel-to-wheel competition. Dakota Pesek continued his podium streak coming home third on Saturday in the KA100 Senior class. Looking to improve on Sunday, Pesek could only muster a sixth place finish.
The brother and sister duo of Jake and Arie Venberg hovered around the top-five throughout the weekend, with Jake getting the best of his sister in the Yamaha Senior category. Arie claimed a pair of sixth place finishes while Jake ended his weekend with fourth and fifth place results. Carter Pease improved on his tenth place result on Saturday to cross the line in ninth on Sunday while Nate Dean encountered some bad racing luck, but is already looking forward to his 2019 season.
Ben Chefjec finished sixth in Yamaha Junior on both Saturday and Sunday while Zach Collins added a fifth place finish on Sunday after a mechanical issue took him out of contention during Saturday’s main event. Owen Mahle also added fifth and seventh place results in KA100 Junior.
In the Micro Swift category, Top Kart USA entered three drivers as Austin Olds, Auston Jurs and Carter Nelson threw their hats into the mix. While Nelson had no luck on the weekend and failed to finish both main events, Jurs added an eighth place finish on Saturday with Olds scoring a top-ten on Sunday with a seventh place result.
“What a great year it has been for Top Kart USA and our support team AMK Race Products at the Route 66 Sprint Series in 2018,” added Bill McLaughlin Jr. “A great deal of hard work and dedication to the brand and development of our product to ensure we continue giving the utmost in support and proven product to guarantee our customers that they are driving a winning product.”
Shifting their focus to the biggest event of the year, Top Kart USA will participate in the upcoming SuperKarts! USA (SKUSA) SuperNationals November 14-18 at the RIO All Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About Top Kart USA – Top Kart USA is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a distributor for the Top Kart product line. Housing a national level race team and competing in the World Karting Association and SuperKarts! USA programs as well as throughout the regional level in the Midwest, Top Kart USA is continuing to evolve and develop Top Kart dealerships throughout the United States. Supported by Top Kart importer Grand Products, Top Kart USA is owned and operated by McLaughlin Motorsports.
Photos: creativeworks-design