Big ICC, ICA fields highlight wild racing at Stars of Tomorrow western openers BUTTONWILLOW, CA - Thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing and large fields in the international classes made for a spectacular debut at the Snap-On Champ Car Stars of Tomorrow presented by RACER national karting series opener last weekend (April 26-27) at the new Buttonwillow Raceway. The double race weekend saw some of the nation's top teams and drivers competing on the smooth seven-tenth's of mile karting road circuit near Bakersfield and the future auto racing stars proved that they can put on quite a show. The weekend marked the opening of the four-race Western Division on the 2003 Stars program, while the Eastern Division begins this coming weekend (May 2-4) at BeaveRun Raceway in Wampum, PA. In Saturday's program, fourteen-year-old phenom Alan Sciuto dominated the popular ICC shifter kart class in the opening main event. Sciuto, who was the top junior shifter pilot in 2002, swept pole, heat, and main events against 47 of the best shifter kart racers in North America. Sciuto expressed how thrilled he was with his win in his first senior ICC race in his trademark, understated style. "It's just incredible. It's a dream come true to do it against all these great drivers," said the Orange, California teenager after finishing ahead of teammate Jason Bowles and Leading Edge driver Tom Dyer. Sciuto had a determined and aggressive Darren Elliott to contend with in both the heat and final as Elliott made spectacular starts in both races. Ultimately, Sciuto drove the Extreme Karting CRG/Swedetech by Elliott. Elliott, fighting valiantly in second in the main, suffered a carburetor problem which eliminated him from contention. The ICC class was not without drama and controversy, as young Alex Speed was disqualified in the heat and started from the back of the large field. Speed ultimately rallied to finish ninth, though his charge was cut short by a race ending red flag. Karting star Kyle Martin suffered misfortune while running second when Jordy Vorrath, who pulled double duty in both premier classes, ran into the Texan and knocked his exhaust pipe askew. Martin was subsequently black-flagged. Martin's Trackmagic team appealed the ruling but was overruled on Sunday. Speed, 16, from Manteca, Calif., bounced back on Sunday to drive his KLS Racing machine to the ICC main event win over Scuiuto in another exciting 125cc shifter feature. Trackmagic driver Martin also returned to finish third. Like Sciuto on Saturday, Speed took the pole, pre-main, and final in Sunday's action. "The race was awesome," said Speed, the younger brother of past karting champion Scott Speed. "I spun the tires a little bit on the start but got some help from (Darren) Elliott going into Turn One. I had a pretty good lead. Alan caught up to me, so I paced him for a while then the kart came in and I put in good lap after lap. My kart ran awesome the whole race." Martin found himself starting 13th after the pre-main but launched his 125cc shifter kart at the start to gain several positions by the first turn. Martin battled with Lorenzo Mandarino, who later retired with mechanical problems. Paul Tracy Karting's Elliott ran at the front all weekend but did not finish either race. Sciuto leaves Buttonwillow with the Stars ICC Western Division point lead after scoring a win and second place on the weekend. Californian Andrew Alfonso came out on top after a thrilling five-way battle in the 22-driver ICA race Sunday at Buttonwillow Raceway. The JM Racing/Avanti driver made a late pass on TNR Kartsport's Chris Giumarra for the lead on lap 27 of the 30-lap affair. The race saw no fewer than five lead changes among four drivers. "Like Jean (team owner Jean Marchioni) told me, ŒBe patient out there, save the tires and everyone else is going to come back to you," said Alfonso. "And it paid off with about five to go." Giumarra, winner in the first Stars race Saturday established the lead early but was then passed by Joel Miller and Genesis Racing's Chris Glover. Glover proceeded to pass Miller a few laps later. It didn't last long as a mid-race tussle saw the Canadian relegated to fourth as Giumarra regained the lead with Miller in second and Alfonso in the third position. The battle continued to rage while Chris Glover's brother Kevin quietly worked his way up from his seventh starting position. The five drivers raced nose to tail and side by side in the remaining laps with Alfonso edging Kevin Glover by a mere 0.094sec, followed by Miller, Giumarra and Chris Glover. In Saturday's ICA race, Giumarra outlasted Canadian Jordy Vorrath in a fierce, 30-lap battle for ICA direct drive honors. Giumarra traded the lead with Vorrath, culminating in a last lap collision as Giumarra came alongside to pass. Vorrath retired while Giumarra was able to keep momentum, re-enter the track and cruise home to a twelve-second victory over Alfonso. In other Stars classes Burbank, California's Clark Sanchez-Figueras scored two dominating victories in the Rotax Max division. Justin Moon won the 80cc Junior class on Saturday while Cole Nelson won both the 80cc Junior and Junior Superbox races on Sunday. Cole Whitt took Junior Superbox honors Saturday with young Jahana Mongul victorious both days in the 8-12 year-old Grand Products Cadet class.