Dunlop Tire Road America Super Nationals a huge success!

By David Cole and Mike "Speed" Weaver
ELKHART LAKE, WI - When Father's Day approaches, it means only one thing to the road racing karters across North America! And that's the Dunlop Tire Road America Super Nationals! Hosted by the Badger Kart Club, this event is typically one of the largest races based on entries and this year was no exception. Over 500 karters from across North America invaded Elkhart Lake's Road America road course this year to take in the 4-mile world-renowned course. By the end of the weekend, over 900 entries were recorded, once again making this race weekend second only to Daytona's Kart Week! This race weekend was also a points-paying event for the Dunlop Mid-States Series, with associate sponsor Russell Karting Specialties, as well as a WKA regional.

Although mild weather greeted the karters on Thursday night for trailer drop-off, the rains moved in and stayed throughout most of Friday. Several attempts were made to dry the track, only to have Mother Nature foil them repeatedly. Finally, near mid-afternoon, the clouds broke, the track was dried and the officials were able to sneak in two rounds of practice before things had to be shut down due to local ordinances.

On Saturday, the rains were gone and temperatures in the mid-80's soaked the crowd in sunshine. On Sunday, the rains stayed away again making for a beautiful day of racing in the foothills of Wisconsin. The driver's meeting was called a little after 7:30 with Race Director Bingo Emmons giving all the drivers instructions for the day. Practice began right on schedule and was immediately followed with the races. The first race of the weekend was the Briggs & Stratton Pro Race. This race was moved to be the first race of the weekend to try and boost its entry count. Coupled with the 100% payout, the race pitted 14 of the best Briggs road racers against one another. After the dust settled, Dan Roe won first place with Mike Fox coming in second.

Bret Spaude, who made the trip from Florida to race, was the big winner of the weekend taking four victories. His first victory came in the Sprint Yamaha SSX Can Jr. Lite Saturday. Bret was able to win by one and half minutes. Spaude then walked away with the Enduro Yamaha SSX Can Jr. Heavy class, in which he leads the DMSS points. On Sunday, he was able to run five seconds faster to take the Enduro Yamaha SSX Can Jr. Lite class. After that, he took his forth victory in the Sprint Yamaha SSX Can Jr. Heavy. Spaude leads in DMSS points for both Sunday classes.

James Bach made a great 2001 debut by taking three victories during the weekend. Bach was able to hold everyone off in one of the most exciting races of the weekend to win the K.R.S. Promotions Sprint Yamaha SSX Can Saturday class. The lead pack consisted of twelve karts for the entire thirty minutes, with positions changing every lap. He was followed by Jason Knuteson, Allen DeClerk, points leader Jerry Revely and Andy Hall. Bach was then able to take the Sprint Yamaha Saturday class. He held off Rich Schupbach by 0.866 seconds. Points' leader Eric Erickson, Donnie Day and Paul Schunke, followed them. He then also took Sprint Yamaha Sunday by beating points leader Jason Knuteson to the line by 0.127 seconds. They were followed by Rich Schupbach, Eric Erickson, and Donnie Day. Bach was unable to go four for four with Allen DeClerk taking the Sprint Yamaha SSX Can Sunday class. DeClerk was able to hold off Andy Hall, points leader Jerry Revely, Chris Tomasik, and Bach.

The biggest class was the closet finish of the weekend in the Greenflag Motorsports Sprint 125cc Gearbox Saturday class. Points leader Ted Tackett and Chris Wright went back and forth the whole race until Tackett was able to slide pass Wright in Canada Corner and hold him off till the finish line by 0.018 seconds. Jay Spoder, Todd Jurs, and Preston Jay Peltier followed them. Wright was able to catch Tackett and get to the line by 0.087 seconds in the Sprint 125cc Gearbox Sunday class. Tackett and Wright were able to get stay ahead of Mark Barth, Troy Brown, and David Clift.

In one of the many close finishes during the weekend, Randy Fulks was able to hold off Jay McQuinn in the O&H Products, Inc. Yamaha Lite class. The margin of victory was 0.062 seconds. They were followed by Brian West, Garrick Schneiderman, and Brock Schneiderman. Fulks also was able to hold off the competition in the Enduro Yamaha SBX Sportsman class. He was followed by points leader Scott Grenier and Mike Spear who were 0.001 seconds apart. Then Richie Warren and Brian West followed them.

McQuinn was able to take the Yamaha Heavy class on Sunday. Jerry Culp, points leader Scott Grenier, Dave Hechler, and Mike Spear, Jr, followed him. Grenier was dominant on Saturday by taking the Enduro Yamaha Sportsman and extending his points lead. He was followed by David Somers, Lance Fry, Barry Taft and Paul Corcoran. He also was able dominated the New Concept Design Enduro Yamaha SSX Can class to extend his points lead. Brian West, Jim Fry, David Somers and Chris Amend followed him.

The West Racing Enduro 80/125cc Gearbox class saw Mike Spear Jr. take the win with Felton Stroud, Harry West, Mark Hooper, and points leader Brian Wilhelm. Wilhelm was able to take the win on Sunday to extend his points lead.

Nick Ricketts was able to take the victory in the Presnell Racing Sprint Briggs Stock Medium class. He was followed by Dean Patzer, Thomas Telitz, Charles Karau and Rob Will.

Bill Riley turn the fastest lap time of the weekend, 2:26.105, in the Unlimited I class on Saturday to take the win and extend his points lead. Randy Fulks, Gary Slaher, Robby Harper III, and Jim Farr followed him. Farr was able to out run everyone in the West Racing Unlimited II class. He was followed by Robby Harper III, Gary Slahor, Brad Jackson, and points leader Johnny West.

James A. Russell took the German Motors Controlled Limited I victory. Mike Roncke, points leader Tom Disch, Kyle Schreiber, and Rod Williams, followed him. Dan Dean was able to hold off Russell to take the win in the Karting Specialties Controlled Limited II. The margin of victory was 0.801 seconds. They were followed by points leader Tom Disch, Mike Fischer, and Rod Williams.

John Scavuzzo extended his points lead in the Martin Custom Products, Inc. Enduro 100cc Controlled by taking the win. He was able to hold off his brother Steve by 0.430 seconds. Jeff Berger, Tim Bryan, and Ron Taylor followed them. John also took the class on Sunday followed by Steve Scavuzzo, Tim Bryan, Santo Scavuzzo, and William Huck.

The father and son Revely team took its third victory of the year in the Redeye Electronics Sprint Team Yamaha SSX Can class. They were followed by the Gary Hendrickson team, Quentin Smith team, Rod Williams team, and the William Anderson team.

The weekend saw six other double winners. Brad Richards took the Sprint Jr. Briggs Lite and Heavy classes. Tyler Theilmann took the Sprint 80cc Gearbox both days. George Gaddu win both Sprint Briggs Super Stock classes. Alan P. Pierschal took both Sprint Briggs Stock Heavy classes. Brian West team took the Enduro Team Yamaha SSX Can class and West won the Enduro Yamaha SSX Can Sunday.

Check out the full results and DMSS points at www.michkartclub.org in the DMSS Area. The forth round of the Dunlop Mid States Series will be at Grattan Raceway in Grattan, Michigan, hosted by Michigan Kart Club. After the Saturday races, there will be a BBQ and Kids Games with prizes for all kids.