CONCORD, NC - As part of the weekends festivities for the Kart City Performance Nationals this past weekend in Kershaw, South Carolina for the 2015 version of the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series, champions from the 2014 season were honored at the Palmetto Club, as well as many other drivers for their awesome accomplishments through the season.
CONCORD, NC - As part of the weekends festivities for the Kart City Performance Nationals this past weekend in Kershaw, South Carolina for the 2015 version of the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series, champions from the 2014 season were honored at the Palmetto Club, as well as many other drivers for their awesome accomplishments through the season.
Leading the way in the champions category was Maryland driver Zach Wells, the recipient of 3 titles in 2014. Wells took top honors in the Thor Oil Junior Medium class, besting David Kalb Jr and Joshua Stark, the first of three visits to the front of the room for hardware. Wells also claimed the Brad’s Heating and Cooling Junior Heavy Mix class, with Stark and Kalb again his 2 staunchest rivals for the title. The trifecta for the young driver came in the Van K Wheels sponsored Junior Pro Gas Class, as Wells topped Connor Tebbe, Kalb, Dylan Murray, and Stark. In addition to the sets of Bridgestone tires for his championships, Wells also received a kart stand from RLV, a set of wheels from class sponsor Van K Wheels, his national eagle, and much more. While Wells could have taken his championship jackets and additional kart stands, he instead chose to trade them for a mammoth sized trophy, identical to the Manufacturers Championship Trophy, won this year by Paul Rice and MGM Chassis, and proceeded to list the victories on the trophy that paved the way for his 3 title performance.
For Rice, his acceptance of the Manufacturers Championship Trophy marked the second such award he has earned from 2014. The other award of this nature was a result of MGM’s major victory on the Vega Tire/TS Racing National Road Racing Series, ending a long run of dominance by Road Race chassis giant CKI. On the Gold Cup side, MGM came away with 22 wins on the season, followed closely by Coyote with 15 wins. Right on Coyote’s heels were Razor and Margay, both with 13 wins, while Bandit Chassis took 11 wins on the season.
As the focus turned back to the national classes, young Cody Hall was recognized for his dual championship performance in 2014, taking the Razor Chassis Sportsman Pro Gas Lite title over a stacked field including Matthew Miller, Jason Alder, Alex Vrabel, and Nick Fauci. Hall was also recognized for his title efforts in the Baker Racing Engines Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy class, again topping another very competitive field. Hall bested Jason Alder, Matthew Miller, Alex Vrabel, and Brian Van Cleve.
The first Senior class to be recognized was the Performance North Animal Modified Medium class where longtime campaigner Jim Lipari claimed the title over Paul Headley, Cayla Chapman, Tyler Sandmeyer, and Tanner Lee.
Jason Alder was next to be recognized for his championship efforts in the Miller Welders Sportsman Methanol class, edging out Matthew Miller and Riley Kelley, all 3 of which will be solid choices for 2015 titles after 2 national races this year.
The Coyote Motorsports Senior Pro Gas Animal class was next to be honored. Always sporting strong fields, numbers wise, as well as competition wise, Sean Meier came away with the top honors, topping former Junior driver Dustin Demattia, Tyler Sandmeyer, and Dylan Zobkiw.
The LO206 Kid Karts are gaining numbers momentum wise this season, following a great title run by Jax Walker 1 season ago to claim the title in the Kartcandy.com, Tyler Sandmeyer Racing sponsored class. Chasing Walker for the title were Blake Boon, Asher Johnson, and Jet Tobin.
While only 2 drivers were recognized in the Kart City Performance/Briggs and Stratton Racing LO206 Heavy class for 2014, the numbers for 2015 have well exceeded into double digits into the first 2 races of the new season. Taking the top honors for 2014 was Matt Skaggs, as he fended off Jordan Mincey.
The final class to be honored was the CKI/Power Plus Lubricants Animal Heavy Mix class where Paul Headley laid claim to the title. Tyler Sandmeyer, Patrick O’Neil, Tanner Lee, and Joshua Stiefel were the top 5 for 2014.
In addition to the champions and top 10 drivers being honored, several other special awards were presented.
Congratulations to the following individuals for their wonderful achievements in 2014.
World Karting also recognized their 2014 Race Sponsors
Special thanks go out to Andy Weyenburg of Miller Welders for providing a Miller Welder to be raffled off. Special thanks also to Dave and Sue Koehler of GT Machine, as well as Brian and Natalie Bass of Van K Wheels for providing certificates as door prizes.
WKA would like to extend a most special thanks to Art and Rod Verliengre of RLV Tuned Exhaust Products for their continued title sponsorship of the Gold Cup Series, and to all the most wonderful families and competitors of the Gold Cup Program.