CalSpeedAug2018

CSK RACING CLOSES OUT SUMMER WITH A THREE- PACK OF WINS… Labor day weekend played host to the 6th round in the Tri-C Karters 2018 season, taking to the Classico layout for the one and only time of the year to close out the summer months. The constant twists and turns for the oldest of the CalSpeed layouts saw some of the closest racing of the year, and when the dust settled, it was again CSK Racing finding victory lane… VLR SPEC 206 Spec class point leader Mark Connell would kickoff what would be a near perfect day by adding five points to his tally, scoring his 3rd pole position of the year, just in front of title rival TJ Blackledge. While he would go on to score both heat race wins, it was not without pressure, as CSK racing stablemates Adam Nagao and Sean Bradley stayed right on his heels for the duration. In the Main, it was once again the Connell, Nagao, and Bradley trio at the front for the start, until contact saw Bradley spinning on lap 3. While Bradley was able to continue, impressive first time driver Evan Karp would have no where to go and make contact with the near stationary Bradley. Back out front it was Connell leading over Nagao and Lukas Dziemidok, who was bouncing back from a tough start in qualifying. While Connell would hold on to score his third win of year, the latter two would duke it out on more than one occasion, with Lukas coming away with second over Nagao. Now with just two rounds to play, Connell extends his point lead over TJ Blackledge, and Lukas Dziemidok in third. VLR SPEC 206 TOP 5 POINTS (AFTER DROP): 1. Mark Connell 2273 (1965) 2. TJ Blackledge 2177 (1853) 3. Lukas Dziemidok 2075 (1755) 4. Sean Bradley 2020 (1704) 5. David Carlisle 1526 (1526) SENIOR 206 While he got nipped in qualifying and would start 3rd for heat one, current point leader Derek Esquibel would show the way from then on out, with teammate Mike Smith fighting inside the top three as well. For Esquibel, it was a decisive rebound from his bad luck last month, showing that he again is the driver to beat in the category. Taking over the heat 1 lead after running second at the conclusion of lap one, it was the last time that he would not command the front, going on to sweep both heat races and the Main event. It would be his third win on the season, lengthening his lead in the championship standings. Behind him, reigning Senior champ Mike Smith battled it out across all three races for a podium, after narrowly missing pole position in qualifying. While he was able to secure a 3rd and a 2nd place finish in the two heats, the Main would not go his way. Sitting in second with two to go, he would slip to 4th, and come up just shy of the podium. Heading into the final pair of events, Smith sits just 25 points back of second, and is still in the hunt to make it a CSK racing 1-2 in the category. 206 SENIOR TOP 5 POINTS (AFTER DROP): 1. Derek Esquibel 2258 (1926) 2. KC Cook 2205 (1864) 3. Mike Smith 2187 (1839) 4. Riley Dugan 2122 (1796) 5. Drew Zeller 1979 (1684) [Smith, Dziemidok, Bradley, Connell group shot] 206 MASTERS Classico once again proved how close the Masters division has become at Tri-C Karters, as while point leader Mike Smith earned the pole position, 2nd-9th were separated by just over 3 tenths of a second. Smith would score the win in heat 1, but most people were watching the drive from reigning Masters champ Mark Connell as he scythed his way up from 11th on the grid, bouncing back from a bumper failure in qualy. Heat two would also go to Smith, but this time with CSK stablemates Sean Bradley and Lukas Dziemidok right on his tail, with the former scoring fast lap in the process. By the time the Main started, the aforementioned Connell Photos by Heather Perrin Round 6 Sept 1