By: Elijah Jones
(June 29th, 2020)…..Last Saturday night we held Points Race #5 at the Cycleland Speedway. After a late start to the season, we have now gotten in a rhythm with weekly points races. It has been one of the most competitive starts to a season ever, as we have seen incredibly high kart counts, and spectacular racing each and every weekend.
In the Open Class, 2017 Champion, Landon Brooks has jumped out to the early season points lead in his Factory QRC #60L entry. Over the last two weeks though, Casey Schmitz has stormed onto the scene. This year Schmitz is piloting the Tri-C Machine #3c entry and now has scored back to back Main Event Triumphs. Saturday night’s event was a barnburner as he and Landon Brooks paced the field the entire race. Brooks, just never was able to pull the trigger on a move for the race lead. He would settle for second. Third Place went to young Brayden Williams, who was making his first career Main Event start in the Open Class at Cycleland.
In the Box Stock Class we saw another driver score his second straight Main Event win. Racin Gramps scored Win #2 on the season in a dominating performance that saw him cross under the Checkered Flag more than two seconds ahead of the second place finisher Jett Barnes. Barnes currently holds a commanding lead in the Championship Points and is definitely the early season favorite to win the Championship. Third Place went to the #57 of Jake Nuxoll who started deep in the field and charged to a podium finish.
The 250 Intermediate Class saw the older of the Gramps brothers pick up the victory, as Rowdy Gramps picked up his first win of the season. Early in the race, Tater Reich looked to have the field covered but a collision with a spun car cost him a chance at victory. That accident turned the lead over to Gramps and he would never look back. Brax Dietz had a strong showing as he crossed the line in the second position, followed by the defending 250 Intermediate Track Champion, Eric Botelho in the third spot.
In the Open Intermediate Class, Blake Burgess came alive in the second half of the race and drove past everyone including early race leader Dawson Hammes. Burgess was PUMPED UP after the checkered flag flew, and rightfully so. Hammes would hang on to finish in second, subbing for younger brother Carson. We want to send well wishes out to Carson Hammes, he had a hard hit at the end of Points Race #4 and will be taking a couple weeks off before getting back behind the wheel of his #56c. The third place finisher in the Main Event was the #24k of Koa Crane. Koa has been FAST so far this season, he already has multiple fast times to his credit and is a strong Championship contender.
In the Sportsman Class it was “Mr. Excitement” John-Michael Bunch, picking up another Main Event Win. Bunch always lets it all hang out and is a thrill to watch wheel a race car. He got the win over his fellow Championship contender Michael Helwig. Helwig and Bunch have been nearly inseparable on the racetrack so far this season as they seem to be battling each other every single week. Chad Duprey made his first start of the season a good one, as he brought his beautiful #1 kart home in the third position.
We are back in action, Saturday, July 4th with Points Race #6. This Saturday will mark the first time in the nearly 30 year history of Outlaw Kart racing at Cycleland that we will hold a race on July 4th. It should be a lot of fun, with a lot of great racing as usual.