14 Jan 2010

Presentation of the 2009 National Points Championship Top 10 – Mini Max 

The second class for our Top 10 presentations is Mini Max.  In the category of karting classes for 9-12 year olds the Mini Max class is the fastest class with a 125cc restricted 2 cycle motor producing 13.6 horsepower.  The design of the class is to teach drivers and pit crews the importance of driver ability and chassis tuning.  As with the Micro Max class, a spec gear eliminates one element of tuning and allows for concentration on the areas where the biggest on track gains can be made.  Each year the competition level in this class increases as the skill levels of both drivers and tuners grow.   

With the introduction of the Micro Max class in 2008 an expected drop in the number of Mini Max drivers nationwide was expected, this turned out not to happen.   The Mini Max class in 2009 actually grew by 8%.  This growth is the result of drivers from other categories in karting recognizing the level playing field the Rotax series offers, spending money on track time and testing rather than in the motor shop.   

Leading the 2010 National Points Championship was Dalton Sargeant of Boca Raton, Florida. Joining his brother Logan in the Micro Max Class, the RRD team sweeps the 2 youngest categories for the 2009 USRMC National Points Championship.  Following Dalton was Jordan Perry, only 6 points behind, giving the South Florida RMax Challenge from Homestead Florida a 1-2 sweep. Completing the Top 10 5 Drivers from the Southwest Regions Cup, plus 2 drivers from the California Gatorz Karting Cup and the lone lady in the Top 10, Hanna Zellers from the MRP series.   

Looking throughout the ranks of the US Mini Max class are a number of drivers who will move up to the Junior class this year but don’t think the competition will lessen as there are also a number of Micro Max drivers moving into Mini Max to challenge for the 2010 titles in both the USRMC National Points and USRMC Grand Nationals.  The one definite we know looking into the new season is the competition will be just as intense. 

Congratulations to all of the 2010 USRMC Top 10 Mini Max drivers. 

Position

Driver

  

Home City

ST

Home Series

Final Points

1

Dalton Sargeant

  

Boca Raton

FL

South Florida Rmax Challenge

1211

RDD Motorsports              RDD-Rotax/Kart Mini      Home Track   Homestead, Florida 
2006 - Starts driving the age of 8 on the Comer 80cc kart (Trackmagic Chassi). 
2007 - Becomes an official Driver for Kart Mini Chassi on the Rotax Mini-Max  Class. 
2007 – Second place on the South Florida Summer Championship Mini-Max Class.  
2008 – Third place on the South Florida Winter Championship Mini-Max Class. 
2008- Finish in sixth on the Rotax Florida Winter Tour Championship Mini-Max Class with one third place podium at the Moroso Raceway. (Kart Mini Chassi). 
2008 – Finish in Second Place on the South Florida Rotax Max Challenge Championship on the Mini-Max Class. 
2008 - Second Place on the Rotax Summer Shootout on the Mini-Max Class in USA International Raceway – Shawano, Wisconsin. (Kart Mini Chassi). 
2008 – Finish in sixth on the 2008 Rotax Grand Nationals on the Mini-Max Class in USA International Raceway – Shawano, Wisconsin. 
2009 – 2009 Rotax Florida Winter Tour Championship third place on the Rotax Mini- Max Class. (Kart Mini Chassi) 
2009 -Rotax Summer Shoot Champion

2

Jordan Perry

  

Miami

FL

South Florida Rmax Challenge

1205

Homestead Karting/PLaythings Racing Teams     Homestead Rotax/CRG  #8 
Favorite Track  Homestead Karting  Favorite Driver: Michael Schumacher & Dale Earnhard Jr. 
*Sponsors: Homestead Karting, Todd and Tim Ulmen at Playthings Racing, Auto Craze, Permik Steel Erectors, Snap On Tools, Deel Volvo and Dave Davis at SSC 
*Favorite Food: BurgerKing 
*Crew Members: Dad (Kevin R. Perry) 
*When I am not racing: I Go to school, Race BMX Bikes, Play outside with Friends, and spend time with my family 
* Jordan’s biggest achievement was round 1 and 2 of the Florida Winter Tour 2009 pole position on both days and flag to flag in round one.   
* Jordan already knows what he wants to be when he grows up; a race car driver!  
Jordan is a very determined young boy that doesn't give up. 
Special Thanks to Homestead Karting and Playthings Racing for their continues support throughout the year. 

3

Patricio O'Ward

  

San Antonio

TX

Southwest Regions Cup

1195

2009 SWRC Rotax Mini Max Champion is 10 years old and lives in San Antonio, TX. Patricio was the 2008 US Grand Champion in the Micro Max class and moved up to the Mini Max class in 2009. He is also the 2007 Mexican Easykart 60cc Champion and the 2007 Mexican Rotax Grand Champion in Mini Max. Patricio is a factory driver for Arrow Racing Karts, his sponsors are Arrow, BTK Motorsports, SuperTune USA, Paradise Racing and WD Corporation. Website - www.patriciooward.com

4

Cole Glasson

  

Corinth

TX

Southwest Regions Cup

1061

Cole Glasson is 9 years old and lives in Corinth, TX. Cole is on the Alonso Kart National Race Team, he is also coached and tuned by DJ Ortiz of Kart Racing Solutions. Cole has been racing karts since age 5. Cole is the 2009 IKF Grand National Champion in the Rotax Mini Max class an also the 2008 KART National Champion in the cadet class.  His sponsors are Frozen Fire Films, Glasson Racing, Kart Racing Solutions, Tyler Web Design, and Defrancesco Racing . Website www.coleglasson.com

5

Blake Dunkleberger

  

Simi Valley

CA

Gatorz Karting Cup

1040

I started racing in 2006 when I was about 10 years old.  In 2008 I ran my first mini max season and finished 2nd in the season championship. I finished in the top 3 in 5 of the 8 races on the Gatorz tour. In 2009 my goal was to win races and go to the nationals. I won 3 races this year in Gatorz tour and won the season championship. The nationals we had a really good kart and were top 5 all weekend. The final didn’t go to well though as I was hit from behind on the first corner, but I learn a lot from competing at the nationals. It was a really great season for me. I am glad I did so well and got to participate in the Rotax series. I would like to thank Premier Motorsports and my family.

6

Allyn Hewitt

  

Houston

TX

Southwest Regions Cup

1007

Allyn "Bucky" Hewitt started kart racing in 2007. Bucky is 12 years old and is a member of the Kart Nation/SRR Race Team based at the Kart Nation/ MSR Houston kart track in Angleton, TX. Bucky's sponsors are Hyperfuels, L H Brazilian Gems, Petrogas Environmental Systems

7

Royal McKee

  

Las Vegas

NV

Gatorz Karting Cup

973

Sponsored by CRG, SSC Racing and Elegant Homes. 
Royal started racing Kid Karts @ the age of 7 wining the Las Vegas X-Plex Championship. The next year He won the Las Vegas Kart Club championship and competed in the IKF Kid Kart class winning three events and becoming the first ever IKF Kid Kart Grand National Champion. After turning 9 Royal moved in to the Rotax Mini Max class winning 3 Gatorz National events. This year was Royal's first full season on a Mini Max Winning the LVKC championship, Placing 3rd in the Gatorz Challenge of Americas and 2nd in the Gatorz Cup series.

8

Hanna Zellers

  

Granger

IN

MRP Rmax Challenge

969

Home Track   MRP    MRP Rotax/Birel  #39 
The lone female in the Mini Max Top 10, Hanna is in 7th grade.  While the other girls spend their weekends doing whatever, Hanna heads to the track.  Running both Mini Max and Yamaha Sportsman she captured 20 poles during the course of the season and 27 times she set fast lap in the finals of her classes,  26 Pre Final / Final Wins,  43 Top 3 Pre Final / Final Finishes.   In her short career she has some very good accomplishments to brag about;  2008 MRP JR Driver of the Year,     2009 MRP Class Champion Rotax Mini Max / Ranked #7 Nationally,   2009 MRP Class Champion Yamaha Sportsman. Hanna was also the first female  in the ultra competitive Florida Winter Tour Micro Max Class in 2008 and placed 8th in the series standings.        Next up for Hanna are the Junior classes in 2010.

9

Derek Scott Jr.

  

Franklin

TX

Southwest Regions Cup

964

10 years old and a member of Gulf Coast Karters kart club, GCKI in Katy, TX is his home track. Derek started racing karts at 8 years old, in the TAG Cadet class. Derek is the 2009 SWRC Tag Cadet Champion and won first place 8 out of 10 races. As well as placing third in MiniMax. Derek's sponsors are Derek Scotts Motorsports, 3G Kart Racing.

10

Michael Schneider

  

Lake Dallas

TX

Southwest Regions Cup

950
 

The United States Rotax Max Challenge is organized and managed by SSC Racing, Palm Springs, CA.  Over thirty local and regional series throughout the United States organize and manage official USRMC RMax Challenges with top competitors attending the annual USRMC Grand Nationals. At the USRMC Grand Nationals the top finishing drivers in the Junior Max, Senior Max and DD 2 classes will be awarded spots to the Rotax Grand Finals where World Champions will be crowned in these 3 premier classes.  For more information about the US Rotax Max Challenge go to www.rotaxmaxchallenge.com.  A complete list of Rotax distributors, dealers and series can be found on the appropriate pages.  For complete standings of all competitors in the 2009 USRMC National Points Challenge go to;  2009 USRMC National Points Standings 

For information how you can become a USRMC member and compete in the 2010 National Points Challenge and qualify to compete at the 2010 USRMC Grand Nationals send your request for information to   Marshall Martin, USRMC National Race Director, USRMC Member and Series Administration    rmaxnrd@gmail.com