2019CalSpeedMagazineAug

The August event for the Tri-C Karters marked the 6th round in the 2019 campaign, and with just three events to go, the points chase started to creep into the minds of all the competitors. The Classico layout would be the host the day’s events, a short and twisty layout where passing can be easier said than done… 100CC TAG MASTERS The ongoing improvement of the VLR-KA package for CSK Racing’s Mark Connell saw his #4 looking pretty good after the qualifying session, clocking the 4th best time, less than three tenths off pole. It wasn’t the best lap either, as Connell admitted to a mistake that may have cost him pole position during his second lap. The first heat race would be an eventful one for Mark, as contact at the start would see him shuffled back a handful of spots, and immediately forced to be on the attack. Attack he did though, working his way back towards the front in the 8 lap heat race before a broken throttle cable on the final lap resulted in a DNF. So seems to be the luck for Connell this season, but he put his head down and went back to work in the second heat, working up to 12th by the end. It was in the Main that he really shined however, piloting his CSK Racing ride through the bulk of the field, including a brilliant 2 for 1 move in the hairpin, claiming the 5th position when the final checkers fell. While it was another solid salvage job for the rookie 2-stroke racer, the silver lining was that his VLR was working about as good as ever, and is ready to go for the final two rounds. 100CC TAG MASTERS (TOP 5 ) Robert Perez 1957 Steve Jasinski 1802 Mark Connell 1766 Bryan Williams 1707 Mike Dyer 1626 206 MASTERS 206 Masters has been a battle among CSK Racing teammates for the bulk of the season, with current point leader Lukas Dziemidok claiming a pair of wins, while Jose da Silva chases him in the standings but with three wins of his own. Round #6 would once again see the class leaders show pace, but it was Dziemidok that scored the advantage, with da Silva battling adversity most of the day. In the first heat race, Lukas would battle for the win from the second starting spot, coming up just .099 seconds short in the drag race to the line at the end, but the countered in the second heat to lead flag to flag for the win. In the Main it was all “Jimmy”, leading the most laps, and then fighting off a challenge in the final laps to claim his third win of the season, extending his point lead in the process. For his part, Da Silva would first have some contact with the Turn 4 outside wall in heat one, resulting in bent parts and a 10th place finish after running in the lead pack. Adding insult to injury, contact while working up through the pack in heat two not only stalled his work towards the front, bending more parts in the process. Come the 16 lap main, and Jose da Silva was on a mission; after coming through with a fantastic start, he put down fast lap after fast lap to reel in the top five, passing for 4th just after the halfway point. Cutting laps nearly as quick as the leaders, but without the aid of the draft, Da Silva would catch third just in time to steal away the final podium spot on the last lap. It was a pretty nice consolation prize, and well earned after such a phenomenal comeback drive. 206 MASTERS (TOP 5) Lukas Dziemidok 1975 Jose da Silva 1903 Steve Jasinski 1787 Sean Bradley 1768 Pietro Moro 1716 SENIOR 206 206 Senior would see a new name at the top of the charts after qualifying was in the books, as rookie 206 racer Seth Willits claimed his first career pole position, and with it, five valuable bonus points towards the title. Unfortunately, the start of heat one would not go his way, and the off-pole side would get the jump and beat him into turn #1, where Willits slotted into 2nd. Defensive driving from his rival made the pass hard to stick, and 2nd is where the pole sitter would have to settle for in the end. Heat #2 was an even greater challenge for Willits, this with CSK Racing stablemates Evan Karp and Lukas Dziemidok entered the fray, each distancing themselves Photos by Heather Perrin Round 6 Aug 17