laps there is a full-course yellow, allowing the pack to regroup. David Zippie took the lead by the end of lap one in the heat race, and stayed there the entire heat, pulling a gap with each green. Kody Adcock (CRG) took 2nd over Hogg. Zippie and Joey Allen (CRG) had the best launch once again in Sunday’s final, with Zippie establishing himself early and demonstrating a mastery of the race’s for- mat once again. Behind him things were incredibly tight, with about every other kart on the track in contention. Adcock took 2nd just in front of Hogg, Samantha Silver (Intrepid/Leopard/Bridgestone) and Blake Romero (Italkart). With the win, Zip- pie earned a trip to Spain for the second year straight.
Critical Zone Racing TaG Junior
Kolton Griffin (FA Kart/Leopard) set the stage for the weekend in Saturday’s junior qualifying, with a 54.022 - faster than the seniors. Saturday’s heat race reinforced Griffin’s domination, with a seven sec- ond margin over a tight pack consisting of Remo Ruscitti (Italkart/Leopard), Mitch Cary (Arrow/Leopard), Chance Stephens, Christian Bird (GP/Leopard), and Sabre Cook (CRG/Rok TT). Sunday’s second heat was almost the same; Griffin finishing well in front of a slightly smaller train of Rus- citti, Cook, and Cary. The final? You guessed it, Kolton Grif- fin went to the front and built a lead, but the big excitement was happening a little further back. Cook was on a mission, start- ing off the race in P7, but picking off an- other position almost every lap. With one to go, Cook passed Ruscitti for 2nd. But it wasn’t over yet. In tech, Griffin’s engine was found to have an unapproved part, promoting Cook to her second straight TaG Worlds Championship, and earning her a new Parilla Leopard package. Ruscit- ti and Stephens rounded out the podium.
Scribner Plastics IAME Challenge Junior
The seniors weren’t the only ones to have fun with the IAME Challenge for- mat; the juniors and cadets had their own races too. In Saturday’s first round, it was Remo Ruscitti taking it after surviving a challenge from Mitch Cary after the sec- ond yellow. A few extra players joined the party on Sunday, Cary leading them out from the LeMans start until Ruscitti retook the point just before the first regrouping. After the third yellow, Sabre Cook took a look at P1, but got sideways down the hill, and Ruscitti took the win (and a Leopard) over Cary and Parker McKeen (Italkart).
Ribtect TaG Cadet 1
The youngest group of TaG racers were mostly from areas where the Gazelle engine is popular, though a few Colorado- ans gave it a try. Flinn Lazier (Merlin) took to the engine well and grabbed pole on Saturday morning with a 1:01.635. Heat one, though, belonged to Cole Glasson (Margay), who led wire-to-wire to finish in front of Alexander Kardashian (Intrepid) and Lazier. Sunday’s heat two saw Glasson back in front for the first few laps, but Kar- dashian mounted a strong challenge, and when Glasson’s kart slowed on the last lap, Kardashian took the win. The final was a fantastic battle be- tween Keaveny and Glasson for the first half, who were then joined by Kardashian and Tate Holleran (Intrepid). Keaveny lost the lead to Kardashian with one to go, then got it back on the back stretch, then lost it in the next turn, then got it back go- ing up the hill and held on through the last turn for the victory, only 2/10th ahead of Kardashian. Holleran held for 3rd.
Hoosier Tire TaG Cadet 2
The slightly heavier, higher-powered cadets were led by Tate Holleran (Arrow/ Comer) in qualifying with a 1:02.059. In the heat race, Lazier came out ahead in turn one, and held point all the way to the finish. Sunday it was Holleran’s turn to lead Go Racing Magazine Page 49
