Three-way Battle at SSC Racing/Shifter Kart Pro Series By Tom Koutny PACIFIC JUNCTION, IA - The fourth stop on the 2002 SSC Racing/Shifter Kart Pro Series was held at the new Mid America Motorplex in Council Bluffs, Iowa on August 3rd and 4th. The trip was well worth it for those that came to this excellent facility, with its challenging road course, paved pits, grandstand for the spectators, excellent food and spirits and one of the friendliest staffs around. Well, back to the racing. In qualifying for the SK125 Pro sponsored by Shifter Kart Illustrated, T.J. Koutny one again put his Intense racing, Tony Mitox / Rocket Racing powered Honda to the Pole with Scott Barnes joining Koutny on the front row. The race itself was a three way battle between Scott Barnes (teammate of Jason North and also flies in to each race from the beautiful island of Bermuda) with his T2 Track Magic, Greg Yocum and T.J. Koutny. The battle shaped up to be a chess match between Barnes and Yocum with Koutny on their Tails. Greg Yocum was be testing Barnes for most of the race, while Scott Barnes held off Yocum for the win; Koutny ended with the Final Podium spot of 3rd. It was good to see Greg Yocum and Clayton Prater at the Mid America Motorplex, since they along with Clayton Prater Sr. where involved in a auto accident, on the way home, after racing at Grattan Raceway. Greg still had a small cast on his broken thumb. In the ICC Pro 125 sponsored by National Kart News, Rich Salerno brought his gold machine in for the win with Oscar Navarro on his bumper and Chad Donner finishing 3rd. In the Road race Max Challenge Sponsored by The Inside Track, Brian Kay was the race winner with Bryan Wheatley finishing 2nd and Dan Costello placing 3rd. A personal special thanks goes to Bill and Owen Wharton for lending T.J.Koutny their spare motor and also to Andrew Chase for doing likewise for Erik Winberg, otherwise neither driver would have made the race. Thanks again Bill and Owen Wharton and Congratulations to the Winners! Visit the International Racing Asscoiation's website Here!