Fast Racing at South Bend with MKK Race #3 and #4 By Lisa White SOUTH BEND, IN - Michiana Kart Klub's second race of the season started fast and finished fast. As the drivers completed their two heat races, the sun disappeared, bringing temps slightly down and the wind kicking up. Starting with the first heat races, karts were getting caught up and even completely overturned on the raceway. The feature races started with 4 Cycle Senior Lite/Heavy. At pole was AJ Cooley #14 and outside pole Curt Allison # 71. The two were in for a battle, which neither would win. Cooley led the race, but was quickly passed by Allison on the first downhill. Cooley tried to regain his first place position as he and Allison were side by side. Cooley spun out and lost a tremendous amount of ground leaving him in last position. Allison took the lead only to have a mechanical breakdown and pulled of the track giving first place position to Matt Deardurff #8. Cooley worked his way up to Joshua Deardurff #6 and passed him for second place. With one more lap to go, Matt Deardurff maintained his lead giving second place to #14 AJ Cooley, and third to #6 Joshua Deardurff. In Spec 100 Med, Anthony Delp #22 jumped into the lead quickly, followed by Dave Delp #3 and Jerry Lockrey #95 in third. This was a very heated race as only 1.6 seconds separated the fastest kart from the slowest kart with five on the track. Anthony Delp kept his first place lead the entire race as the rest of the drivers fought for second then third place positions. When they crossed the finish line, it was Anthony Delp #22 in first, Jerry Lockrey #95 second and Erik Fisher #38 third. The shifters ran last on Sunday. The race included 125cc, 80cc, ICA, and 125 TAG resulting in 12 karts on the raceway. It was very tight in the first turn with #98 in first, #2j of Matt Lewis in second and #24 Phil Gordon in third going into the backstretch. Lewis and Gordon were battling for second place at top speeds in the hairpin resulting in Gordon gaining the spot. Kielar dropped to third place with a finish of Matt Lewis #2j taking first, and Phil Gordon #24 taking second for the race. Hat Tricks for May 4: Yamaha Jr. SSX/HPV Jr. - Mikie Breiner #13; 4 Cycle Jr. Sportsman - Justin Jarrett #17; 4 Cycle Jr - Kenny White #8; Intek Jr. - Eric Schumacher #10; Yamaha Jr. Sportsman - Derrick Griffin #95 First Place Points for May 4: 4 Cycle Lite/Heavy - Matt Deardurff #8; HPV4 Heavy - Matt Wilkey #94; Spec 100 Med - Anthony Delp #22; Animal Sr. - Todd Kirts #00; HPV Sr. 3 Med - Ryan Padgett #7; HPV Jr. Sportsman - Tony Ferrara #88; 125cc Shifter - Matt Lewis #2j; ICA - Jeff Strebly #5; Sprint 125 TAG - Bryan Bryniarski #3; Rotax International - Gary Campbell #31 Sunday morning, May 18, brought some new faces and some old friends to South Bend Raceway Park. Racheal Leir #98 of last year's 4-Cycle Jr. came back after shoulder surgery to take on the Animal class. Mitch Pugh #25 of Lake Village Motor Speedway came up north to challenge the track. Michiana Kart Klub is known for it's friendly atmosphere with family fun in mind, and this weekend was no exception. MKK changed the configuration of the track layout to N2, which meant every driver started a new track. South Bend Raceway Park's track is very large which allows for different configurations through out the season. This means different track times and set up changes. The challenge was welcomed by all. Starting the day, each racer qualified with the best of three timed laps, determining positions for the second heat. The features started with the younger drivers' classes first as school is still in session and families need to get home. 4-Cycle Jr. Sportsman's feature began with two-time feature winner Justin Jarrett #17 in pole position and Grant Lewis #7 in outside pole. As the green flag dropped, the drivers fought for lead position, leaving Jarrett unexpectedly in fourth position. With Lewis in first and JJ Schafer #6 in second, Jarrett worked his way up, sometimes with all four entrants running in a train. Jarrett was top qualifier and won the first heat, which gave him more reason to win the feature. After numerous attempts to pass Lewis, Jarrett succeeded taking first place position. Another scuffle for the lead between Jarrett and Schafer left Schafer falling into fourth place, Lewis in third, Tyler Brindley #3 in second and Jarrett in first. This is Jarrett's third triple play weekend in a row, giving the eleven year old points lead for the 4-Cycle Jr. Sportsman class. Intek Jr. and 4-Cycle Jr. ran their feature together as both classes are comparable in speed. The feature pole position was taken by Kenny White #8, with Mitch Pugh #25 in outside pole. Eric Schumacher #10 took inside second row in the line up with Tyler Wolgamott #29 in outside second row. As the drivers took the green, Wolgamott darted out between White and Pugh, taking second position with White in first. Schumacher passed Wolgamott in the front straight, gaining first place position for Intek Jr., while White maintained his first place position for 4-Cycle Jr. The race finished with Kenny White #8 in first and Mitch Pugh #25 in second for 4-Cycle Jr. class and Eric Schumacher #10 in first, Tyler Wolgamott #29 in second and Morgan Reynolds #9 in third for the Intek Jr. class. Both first place winners were also fastest qualifying and first in the heat giving them a triple play day. Animal Sr. ran with six entries including a few new faces to the class. Van Fore #47 started in pole position, having qualified with fastest time and first in the heat. In the first lap, Dave Ridenour #31 made contact with Jeremy Banning #30, causing Ridenour to fall back while Fore took the lead with Joe Janiga #1 right behind him. Rachael Leir #98 was attempting to take the third place spot of Banning, but Banning wasn't about to give it up too easily. It wasn't until the last turn before the checkered flag that Leir passed Banning by half a kart length to get third place at the finish line. Van Fore #47 maintained first and Janiga a second. Triple Plays for May 18: 4 Cycle Jr. Sportsman Justin Jarrett #17; Yamaha Jr. Sportsman Dustin Lane #25; Intek Jr Eric Schumacher #10; 4 Cycle Jr. Kenny White #8; HPV Jr. Sportsman Tony Ferrara #88; 4 Cycle Lite Joe Janiga #7; Animal Sr. Van Fore #47; 125 cc Shifter Curt Lewis #12j Points for Sunday May 18: Yamaha Jr. SSX/HPV Jr. Mikie Breiner #13; HPV 4 Heavy Ron Dials #38; Spec 100 Med/Yamaha Pipe Anthony Delp #22; Rotax Gary Campbell #31; Yamaha Sr. SSX JD Gunn #14; HPV 3 Sr. Tim Lobaugh #89 The next race for MKK will be on June 1, which will also include an Arrive and Drive race. Pit crew, pit chiefs, moms, dads, aunts and uncles can participate in this race, as SBRP karts are rented and driven for a fun time at the track. Just sign in at registration and grab a kart! MKK Pro Money Class will be held June 15 for 2 Cycle classes Yamaha Pipe, HPV 4 and 3, Yamaha SSX and SBX, and 4 Cycle Animal class. Be sure to get in on this race! Details are at http://www.mkk1.org. Also, check out points and pictures for your favorite racer. Check racing schedules and practice days for SBRP at http://www.sbrp.com.