Season Finale at Mid-State Raceway By Chris Shearburn SPRINGFIELD, IL - The final points race of the year was run at Mid-State Raceway this past October 13th. Due to cold weather, entries were kept minimal, but the racing was kept hot. Point battles were decided as well as the many great battles that lasted all year. The first class to roll onto the track was the Kadet class. This time around the Kadets tried a rolling start. For the first time this year, all the adult classes had to take notes as the five to eight year old kids demonstrated perfect starts all day. The racing was tough and everyone had a great time. The Kadets also qualified for the first time this year with Bradley Brittin setting quick time. On the track next was the 2-Cycle Rookie class. Tim Sykes led the field down to the green with Matthew Laukaitis, Samantha Miles, Tony Nika, and Gino Giannetti in hot pursuit. As the field headed into the concrete turn for the first time, Laukaitis got caught with the dreaded cold tires and did a half spin dropping him to last place. When the field came around for the first lap it was Sykes in first by slightly under a second over Samantha Miles and Tony Nika, who was followed closely by Giannetti and Laukaitis. Laukaitis drove his heart out and managed to get back up to third position by race end. However, no one could catch the leader as Sykes was able to cruise to yet another victory with Samantha Miles taking second. Tony Nika took fourth with Gino Giannetti came in fifth. The 4-Cycle Light class took to the track next. Bryan Vought started from the pole, won the pre-final, and won the final in dominating fashion. Jess McKie was able to hold station on Vought but just didn't have enough to give him a run for the win. Vought has really turned up the wick the last few races assuring him of the point championship. Up next was the 4-Cycle Rookie class. Jeff Green started from the pole with Jack Miller outside and Nick Scaduto in third. Green led the field into the first set of turns followed closely by Miller. As they headed into the tight section, Miller closed in, and heading out of the house turn the two made slight contact getting Green just loose enough for Miller to take the lead. The rest of the race saw Green make several strong moves to retake the lead but he just couldn't quite pull it off with Jack Miller taking the win and Jeff Green holding on for second with Nick Scaduto following in third. Now up was the ever-exciting 4-Cycle Heavy class. Todd Hayes and Chad Kruger had one last race to put on yet another entertaining bumper to bumper, wheel to wheel battle for supremacy. Kruger had the honors of starting from the pole after a dominating qualifying and pre-final run. Hayes started from second with Jerry Miller in third and Cameron Lane in fourth. Kruger grabbed the early lead with Hayes tracking him down. On lap four, Hayes was able to reel in Kruger and start to put the pressure on. Lap five saw Hayes make a move heading into turn one but he just couldn't get the job done as Kruger held him off on the high side. On lap seven, Hayes made another move into one, but Kruger would have nothing of it. The next time down the long straight Hayes made a slingshot move on Kruger and was able to pull off the move. For the third race in a row Kruger waited for the last lap and made the move at the end of the long straight heading into the final turn. Hayes held on around the outside and the two raced hard to the line with Hayes inching out Kruger for the win in yet another close and exciting finish. The 2 Cycle Senior Supercan class headed out next with Ross Johnson starting from the pole. Greg Grafton started on outside pole and led the field into turn one with Johnson right on his bumper. Johnson made the move down the long straight for the lead and never looked back. On lap three Dustin Kessinger took over second from Grafton and set his sights on Johnson. The two tried to work together but just couldn't close the gap. Grafton looked to be waiting for the final lap but when the last lap came, Kessinger stretched out enough of a lead that Grafton couldn't make the move. Johnson took the win with Kessinger crossing the line in second. However, post-race tech found Kessinger's SSX can slightly illegal giving second to Grafton and third to David Kreis. The Shifter class was the last one up. John Barnard started form pole and led wire to wire to pick up the win. The real battle was for second with Bill Gianetti and Tim Barnard dueling it out. Barnard made several runs but just couldn't get the spot as Giannetti held on for second with Tim Barnard in third and Steve Yergler in fourth. This concluded not only another great day of racing and the final season point race at Mid-State Kart Club for 2002. The awards banquet is scheduled for November 9 and the 2003 rules meeting and election of officers will be held on November 17. See www.midstatekartclub.com for additional infromation. RESULTS (October 13, 2002): 4-Cycle Rookie: 1.) Jack Miller, 2.) Jeff Green, 3.) Nick Scaduto 4-Cycle Lite: 1.) Bryan Vought, 2.) Jess McKee 4-Cycle Heavy: 1.) Todd Hayes, 2.) Chad Kruger, 3.) Cameron Lane, 4.) Jim Rapps, 5.) Frank Kruger, 6.) Jerry Miller Kadet Participants: Colton Ramsey, Bradley Brittin, Kirsten Mosley, Jordan Laukaitis, Trevor Boblitt, Trevor Giannetti 2-Cycle Rookie: 1.) Tim Sykes, 2.) Samantha Miles, 3.) Matthew Laukaitis, 4.) Tony Nika, 5.) Gino Giannetti 2-Cycle Junior: 1.) Katie Lord Yamaha Super Can: 1.) Ross Johnson, 2.) Greg Grafton, 3.) David Kreis, 4.) Mike Curry, 5.) Dustin Kessinger Shifter Kart: 1.) John Barnard, 2.) Bill Gianetti, 3.) Tim Barnard, 4.) Steve Yergler