Impressive turnout leads to championship fights

The second round of any karting series could be considered the “moving round”, when drivers can still make up big advancements in the championship standings before the final act. Palm Beach Karting played host to the VCI powered by AM Engines Florida Winter Tour presented by Fikse Wheels with weather in near perfect conditions. This was the weekend 189 drivers put in their best efforts to make some noise before heading to Ocala in four weeks. Each weekend gets a boost in the amount of points one can earn, putting that much more importance on each time out on the track.

The entry count was at 189, which is a 28% increase in entries over last year’s round two in Ocala, and, in fact, the entry count matched round one in Homestead. Last year, between rounds one and two, there was a drop off of 20%, so to have no drop-off at reveals two things: (1) competitors and teams are respecting the officiating and the procedures set forth by MAXSpeed Entertainment, and (2) the Vortex ROK engine package is gaining the consumers trust and that trust is spreading.

Championship standings taking shape in senior categories

For Ryan Norberg, the Birel ART ace was able to stretch out his lead in the Senior ROK championship, however minimally it was. After Austin Garrison had basically dominated the heat races, it looked as though the Compkart driver would have the lead after round two, but that wasn’t the case. Norberg put together pre-final and final runs that would help him surpass his fellow Floridian in weekend points. With only a 60-point difference now, it will likely teeter one way or the other each time these two hit the track in Ocala.

In Shifter ROK, although points have not been accumulated yet, Gary Carlton is to remain the leader followed by Rubens Barrichello. Barrichello likely topped Carlton in weekend points, narrowing the previous gap after covering the Formula K driver in the heats and pre-final, followed by a second place finish in the final. With poor results in the finals by Jonathan Thonon and AJ Myers, this is to be a two horse race between Carlton and Barrichello, although the jump in points for Ocala does give them a fighter's chance. Danny Formal’s lackluster showing in Homestead has him in the same boat as Thonon and Myers.

It was fun while it lasted

Ben Barnicoat didn’t win in Senior ROK -- nor did he finish well at all -- but he did give us, the fans and media, some excitement on Sunday. The Fullerton USA special guest driver from Britain had ran-in two new tires in the Pre-Final earlier in the day, and would start the final with those tires used; a distinct disadvantage to his competitors with four new slicks.

As soon as the opening lap, the 20-year old was running a defensive line which caused a logjam of five karts behind him. Initially Austin Garrison tried his hand at getting around the Briton, but had no luck. Ryan Norberg had the next shot, but could not get much done until lap nine. At that time, the nose-cone of Norberg’s Birel ART machine was quite bruised, but it was effective, as the Floridian was able to get by and use the open track to break out to a comfortable lead.

Barnicoat continued to defend, until ultimately spinning out in the very tight turn one dropping well back in the order, only to race aggressively with drivers outside the top 15 and spinning once again in an attempt to pass two karts at once into the same tight turn number one. It was fun while it lasted, however, Chuck Yoder (Race Director) was not at all pleased in the race craft showed by Barnicoat.

Gonzalez grabs Speed Racing Concepts inaugural win

It was only a matter of time, but Tyler Gonzalez and Speed Racing Concepts are now on the board for 2017. In what people consider to be the driver to beat all year in Junior competition, Gonzalez put together a full weekend of unparalleled pace. With the sweep in the heats, pre-final and final win, Gonzalez now leads the Junior ROK category quite comfortably over former leader Eduardo Barrichello.

Benik bags two more

With six main events in the cadet categories in the Florida Winter Tour, Benik has won four of them, reaffirming their dominance in the divisions they dedicate themselves to. All four wins are from different drivers as well: Miguel Costa, James Egozi, Brandon Carr, and Reece Gold. With another win on the west coast in Challenge of the Americas with driver Diego LaRoque a few weeks ago, we are looking at another impressive year for the Fort Lauderdale brand.

MAXSpeed