CONCORD, NC - The first edition of the Fall Brawl at NCM Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky between the WKA VEGA/TSRacing National Road Race Series and the Russell Karting KART/MARS Series turned out to be not only a battle between the top 2 Road Race Karting groups in the country, but a constant battle with Mother Nature all weekend long. In the end, competitors left very happy, as the two competing organizations worked as 1 well oiled machine in providing a full weekend of on track action, assuring all competitors earned their titles on the track, avoiding the alternative, that being rain points. While the KART Series already runs in the rain, half the battle was already won. Whether it be wet or dry, Jim Russell Jr of Raymore, Missouri brought the sunshine to his pit area, claiming 5 national event wins for the weekend, taking wins in the Sprint TaG Senior 1 and 2 finals, as well as Stock Leopard, Tag F and TaG Heavy.
While no other driver could equal the feat of Russell, there were still plenty of multiple winners for the weekend as Steven Wheatley claimed both finals in the Animal 385 class. Rob Hindery and Benjamin Thompson also shared a pair of national event wins, with both splitting wins respectively in the Animal 360 and the Clone LO206 360 classes for 2 wins apiece.
Other multiple winners included James Cartledge in the Clone LO206 385 Classes, Brian Fisher in Stock Honda, Robert Garland in the Animal Masters 410 classes, Matt Michel in Yamaha Sportsman Lite and Medium, and Kent Vaccaro in Junior Enduro Lite and Heavy. The ladies held their own as well with Abigail Tobin checking in for wins in the Animal Junior Sprint Lite and Heavy classes, while Amy Hollowell claimed the wins in Junior Sprint Lite and Heavy.
For Russell, victory came in the KART sanctioned Sprint TaG Senior class twice, as the Missouri driver topped Sam Jordan and Todd Hite for the win on Saturday, while returning Sunday to top Aaron Tirez and Sam Jordan for the top prize. While Russell also laid claim to the Tag F and TaG Heavy KART wins, he ventured into the highly competitive Streeter Super Stands Stock Leopard class for WKA, taking the win over Ian and Dennis Bushey.
For James Cartledge, one of the many southern drivers making the venture to Bowling Green, he edged Tim Gallagher in the first race for the Clone LO206 385 class, while coming back Sunday to repeat the effort over Gallagher one more time.
Brian Fishers Stock Honda wins were also tough ones to come by in one of the most competitive classes of the season. Fisher claimed the win on Saturday over Lee Waddell and Pascual Torres, while besting Chris Hines and Steven Rougeou in the second race on Sunday.
Steven Wheatley led the charge in the Animal 385 class on both days, topping fellow southern drivers Blake Beattie and Rob Garland in the first final. On Sunday, Wheatley topped Beattie and Garland again, with Brent Hadden taking 4th both days.
Rob Hindery and Benjamin Thompson shared the top spot in 2 different classes this weekend. On Saturday, Hindery claimed the Clone LO206 360 win with Thompson and Tim Gallagher the top 3, then claimed the Animal 360 win on Sunday over Blake Beattie and David Clevinger. Thompson took control of the Animal 360 class on Saturday over Beattie and Hindery, while taking the Sunday version of the Clone LO206 360 class Sunday.
Back over to the 2 cycle side of life, Matt Michel took the Yamaha Sportsman Lite class on Saturday over Tim Linthicum and Jeramie Weeden, while returning Sunday to claim the Yamaha Sportsman Medium class over Linthicum and Lindsay Walkup-Fox.
Robert Garland led the Animal Masters 410 contingent, taking the Saturday win over James Cartledge and Steve Johnson, while Sundays version was not only a repeat performance, but a mirror image of Saturdays top 3.
And at least 1 Father/Son combination took victories this past weekend with Anthony and Kent Vaccaro scoring 3 wins between them. Anthony, the elder of the two, claimed the Yamaha Heavy win over Scott Grenier and Robert Cacoilo while Kent swept the Junior Enduro Lite and Heavy wins.
While Saturdays classes were a mix of both series, Sundays early rain prompted Race Directors Robby Harper and Kelly Read to alter the schedule. With KART adaptive to running in the rain, the first 2 events of the day were all KART classes. By the time the KART events were done, and a 30 minute WKA practice session was complete, the track was in perfectly dry shape, allowing the WKA competitors, who normally do not run in the rain, the opportunity to take to the dry track and decide their titles behind the wheel.
The final checkered flag at Bowling Green also completes the 2015 season for the VEGA/TSRacing National Road Race Series, but not for long. Entry information has already been distributed for the latest edition of Daytona KartWeek, scheduled as always Dec 27-30 at the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway.
On behalf of WKA, our sincerest thanks to all the sponsors this year, the bulk of which were at Bowling Green for the finale, congratulations to our 2015 soon to be announced national champions, and special thanks to Kelly Read at KART, as well as Mitch Wright and the entire staff at NCM Motorsports Park for making the First edition of the Fall Brawl a great one!!!!!
Thank you!!!!
VEGA/TSRacing
CKI
Matthai Material Handling
Millers Dyno Time Racing
KALL Racing
The Agile Group
Streeter Super Stands
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