3/22/2021
KC Sparks
Minnesota Missile Monday: DRE Motors to Winged Wins
Minnesota Missile Monday: DRE Motors to Winged Wins
Concrete Challenge; Sioux Falls, SD
March 12, 2021
The Concrete Challenge in Sioux Falls, SD provided the 1KC Motorsports with the opportunity to race close to home while offering the challenge of syrup on concrete. In addition to flat karts, bikes, quads, and lawnmowers, there were three classes of winged outlaw karts in the program. The team spent the week preparing the dirt kart to try out some syrup and after Friday’s practice, there was still a lot of room for improvement.
Restricted Box
The restricted box division of winged outlaw karts had the largest group with nine drivers in competition. Carson Hansen earned the pole with his heat race win but LeRoy Ralfs was ready to defend his title from last year when he won his first ever wing kart race on the syrup. The top three in the feature separated themselves from the others as Hansen, Ralfs, and Florence Drost pulled away from the field.
Hansen held off challenges from Ralfs for several laps until the handling on his kart got too tight and Ralfs made a bold move and took the top spot. The caution flew once for Hansen who had to restart at the tail but worked his way back up to third by the time the checkers flew for Ralfs. Drost had started at the tail of the field and claimed second with Hansen working his way back up to third. Levin Meyer, Rylee Martens, and Kenlee Hansen finished out the field. The beginner drivers racing were Kollin Heiskell, Chase Overweg, and Luke Garner.
Box Stock
Only three drivers registered for competition in the box stock class and from the start of practice Friday, Karter Heiskell was the fastest driver of the track. KC Sparks and Wyatt Schutte worked all weekend on their karts through practice and the heat race to track down the speed of Heiskell.
The draw for the heat race put Schutte on the pole with Heiskell to the outside and Sparks in row two. Schutte got a good start and took the lead with Sparks scooting past Heiskell for second. As the field came around to complete lap three, Sparks’ kart got up on two wheels forcing him high and into the side of Schutte while Heiskell drove under both of the karts as they stopped by the tires under the flagman. Everyone restarted with Heiskell driving to the heat race win.
The 12-lap feature saw Heiskell take the early lead from Sparks. Heiskell led the first two circuits while Sparks settled into his own groove without hitting the disks along the infield. Heading into turn three on the third lap, Sparks closed in on Heiskell who had slowed to make the set of turns and Sparks hit the back tail of Heiskell, forcing him to bounce up the track while Sparks took the lead. Heiskell quickly recovered and pulled back into second position but was unable to chase Sparks down to challenge for the lead in the feature that took less than 90 seconds.
Intermediate Wing
A group of five dirt drivers from the Sioux Falls area brought their karts out for some syrup racing before they go back to the dirt next month. The heat race was won by Cole Garner with Kayden Clark running second. They set the front row for the feature event and Garner took advantage of his pole start to take the lead early on in the event. Jacob Peterson quickly moved into second moving Clark back to third.
Garner would continue to pace the field with Peterson closing while Clark was battling with Ryan Downing for third position. As the field closed in on halfway, Peterson was able to take advantage of a slip by Garner and overtake the top spot. Peterson was able to open a comfortable lead as Clark was fighting a light left side kart and racing through the turns on two wheels. Clark nearly piled into the tire retaining wall several times but slammed his kart down just in time to head down the straight aways. Downing was able to move past Clark and set his sights on Garner who was beginning to fight his own kart’s handling.
When the checkers flew, Jacob Peterson won his second syrup race while Downing claimed the second position. Garner held on for third with Clark and Trever Peterson finishing out the field.
A huge thank you to Corwin DeRoon and his DRE horsepower that helped Ralfs, Drost, Sparks, Peterson, and Downing claim the win or second in their feature events.
Additionally, thank you to Greg Parent of GRP Motorsports for coming down and being on hand for the feature win making that #3 on the year.
Upcoming Schedule:
3/27: Emma Indoor Raceway; Emma, MO
4/10: Emma Indoor Raceway; Emma, MO
4/17: Emma Indoor Raceway; Emma, MO
2021 Partner/Sponsor Appreciation
Autoland; Sioux Falls, SD
Furby’s Auto Repair; Sioux Falls, SD
GRP Motorsports; Stillwater, MN
Last Deck LLC; Jackson, MN
Heser Auto and Detailing; Jackson, MN
DRE Horsepower; Boyden, IA
Jared Bailey Photography; Carlisle, IA
MyRacePass; #TeamMRP #GetTheApp
TL Racing; Jackson, MN
YTD Stats:
Features: 9
Wins: 3
Top 3: 8
Top 10:9
Heat Wins: 3 out of 4
Quick Times: 0 out of 5
Article Credit: Stephanie Sparks