"The Inaugural 2001 Track Challenge"
By Silvio Roberre
DOUSMAN, WI - The 2001 Track Challenge was held October 7, 2001 on the grounds of the Badger Kart Club in Dousman, Wisconsin. The event included over one hundred drivers chosen from their respective clubs to try to determine the "Track of the Year." The clubs that took part included the Badger Kart Club, the Mid-States Kart Club, the Michiana Kart Club, and the Sugar River Raceway. Along with the club drivers; the Midwest Sprint Series, the Great Lakes Sprint Series, and Ohio Sprint Series also elected several drivers to take part in the event to determine the "Series of the Year." Now this all is fine and dandy, but what did the drivers get out of it? First place in each class took home a Grand Prix style silver cup, a 2002 Bell helmet of their choice, a Grand National caliber jacket, and a $250 gift certificate for their favorite kart shop. From second on down to tenth, the drivers collected gift certificates ranging from $200-$50 with the top three receiving the same cups as the winners, and the top two receiving jackets. Everyone who raced received a 2001 Track Challenge shirt as well. A total of over $20,000 worth of contingencies was given away during the weekend. From the looks of the drivers on and off the podium after the race, it was apparent that everyone had a good time.
The first class to roll on to the track was the Yamaha Medium class. The front row of Nick Wagner and Kevin Nelson led the eleven kart field down to the green with Nelson's Margay taking the lead with Brandon Adkins' Invader following in his wake. Nelson had a comfortable lead for most of the race until Wagner's 38 Special passed Adkins with two laps to go. From that point on, it was the hunter and the prey as Wagner reeled in Nelson on the last few corners, but it was too little too late, as Nelson's #1 Karts Ltd.com/Switch Motorsports/Margay Racing/Horstman Mfg./AIM Sports kart took to the stripe first, with Wagner 0.129 sec. behind, capturing the fast time on the last lap. Adkins grabbed the third spot with the #8 Margay of David Cox fourth and the #83 Tracy Kart of Jayson Eschrich rounding out the top five.
The ever-competitive Briggs Light class rumbled up to the green next, as outside pole sitter Ryan Cassity took the lead over Pre-Final winner Ashley Morrissey. On lap three however , Morrissey attempted to take the lead from Cassity in turn one, but lost control and spun, slipping to the seventh spot. From that point on, Cassity was out for a Sunday drive, as the Decatur, IL Coyote Pilot took the win over second place John Kaat Jr. Morrissey managed to fight her way back to the third spot by the end of the twelve lap main, setting a blistering fast time in the process. Steven Needles' #41 BRM took fourth place honors with Bryan Vought a nose length behind in fifth.
The US 820 Jr. feature started out reasonably well, as the three karts of Mike Wittenburg, Jr., Mark Sobczyk, and Matt Cudnohoske all stayed nose to tail the first three laps. From that point on, Wittenburg's setup finally came in, and the Big Bend, WI native started to open his lead over the other two pilots. On lap six, Sobczyk and Cudnohoske came together in turn two, sending the duo into the haybales. The two continued in the same order, but didn't make up for the time lost as Wittenburg crossed the line eighteen seconds ahead with Sobczyk second and Cudnohoske third.
As if Kevin Nelson hadn't racked up enough prizes already in the weekend, the Grafton, WI rocket man managed to capture the Yamaha Sr. SSX class by 2.024 seconds over Chris Shearburn. The third place battle was a nail-biter, as Chuck Tate and Joe Gidlund both wanted to get the final silver cup for the class, and it was seen in their driving as they fought hard the whole time. Tate fought off Gidlund's final charge across the line, making it a Margay sweep on the podium. Gidlund finished fourth with Brandon Simms rounding out the top five.
The HPV Junior class took the green next with Burlington, WI's Matt Byrne taking the lead, never to look back. The #21 Industrial Scales/Switch Motorsports driver managed to build a lead of 3.683 seconds by the time it was all said and done, with Doug Della's PCR coming home second. The #1 Gold Kart of Zack Emmons made do with a third place result, as the #99 Invader of Corey Reeves edged out the #88 Tonykart of Clay Yates for fourth place honors.
The US 820 Senior retro rockets made their way to the 6/10 mile surface next, as pole sitter Jacques Dresang took the lead on lap one as his nearest competitor Katie Waters went out on the first lap with mechanical problems. Dresang took his #820 UEMSI/Utecht Tool/GS Racing/Karts Ltd.com/Shiddy Reeds/Solar Engineering sponsored Veronikart across the line first. After the checkered flag, Dresang capped off his 820 career by performing two doughnuts in the infield; yes, it can be done with an 820. Mike French captured the second spot with his #7 Zip Kart, 25.559 seconds behind Dresang, with the #17 Coyote of Scott Koerner third, Jeff Sobczyk's #24 BRM fourth, and Waters' #5 BRM fifth.
Ever since Jason "The Matador" Matuszewski captured his first MWSS overall win at Road America, he has been hard to catch at the finish. This was again the truth in the Yamaha Junior SSX class, as Matt Byrne lead most of the race, only to retire with mechanical troubles on the seventh lap. From that point on, it was all Matuszewski, as the #75 Birel pilot zipped across the line 4.227 seconds ahead of the #29 Margay of Joe King at the finish. "I would again like to thank Dave Talbet from Rocket Racing Engines for the fast motor," said Matuszewski, "as well as my Grandpa, my Mom and Dad, Steve and Gary Welk, Tom Hanley, and Birel USA." Doug Boyer crossed the line in the third spot with Clay Yates and Corey Reeves rounding out the top five.
Troy Hintzsche took home his first overall big win of the year in the HPV Senior class, as the #14 Margay driver started from the second spot with Kelsi Guess on the pole. Guess led early and faded at the half way point, allowing Hintzsche to gain the top spot with "Nitro" Nick Wagner gaining the second spot with his 38 Special. Hintzsche finished the twelve-lap event 0.345 sec. ahead of Wagner, with Guess third. Jayson Eschrich managed to come from eighth on the grid to fourth at the finish, with Jamie Sieracki rounding out the top five in the fifteen kart class.
The Briggs Heavy class featured a great run by Steven Needles, as his #41 BRM managed to hold off Jeff Dolian for the win. Cale Downs picked up the final cup on the podium with Derrick Quella and Ryan Cassity rounding out the top five.
The Briggs Junior Medium class took to the track next with Shane Wright and Shane Morrissey taking the nine kart field down to the green. Morrissey was passed after a lap by Terry McDermott who then had a terrific dice with Wright for the lead. Wright managed to hold of McDermott at the end, to take win with McDermott second. Morrissey managed to hold off B.J. Anderson for the third spot, while Steven Brooks filled up the top five.
The 125cc Shifter Final saw the tightest field of the day, as the #38 Fox of Matt Mercier lead from start to finish despite the numerous attempts of the #16 BRM of Jamie Sieracki. The duo finished one-two, with the #14 PCR of Tommy Mayr rounding out the field in third, 1.385 seconds behind Mercier at the finish.
Overall, the 2001 Track Challenge was a success, as everyone from drivers, officials, and parents left after the podium presentation with smiles and positive comments for the event. The Midwest Sprint Series took home the honors at "Series of the Year," as the Badger Kart Club earned the most points for a track, thus, they will again host the 2002 Track Challenge.
