Racing News

March 25, 2006

Italkart Successful At 2006 Stars Opener

The Italkart Factory Racing Team had an extremely successful weekend at the Stars of Karting opener in Norman, Oklahoma.  The team walked away with two podiums and 4 top five finishes at one of the most competitive karting races of the year.  With these great results, Italkart has come away from Oklahoma leading four of the five classes in the Stars West Championship.

ICC

Tad Funakoshi has fit right into his new role as the lead ICC driver for Italkart.  With great speed in both the wet and dry sessions, Funakoshi was an early favorite going into the weekend.  With very limited rain experience, Funakoshi would impressively qualify 4th.  He would then go on to dominate the pre-final aboard his Italkart/IM Tuned TM package to secure himself a front row starting position for the final.  Funakoshi would have a race long battle with Boswell and Giebler crossing the finish line in 3rd position.

ICA

After failing to finish the pre-final, Colby Jenn (Italkart/IM Tuning TM) put in the drive of the class in ICA. In the Final, Jenn charged from his 32nd starting position up to the top five aboard his Italkart/IM Tuned TM.  Jenn actually overtook Pollock for 4th position on the final lap, but Pollock fought back to re-take the position in the final corner, a 180 right-hand hairpin.

JICA

Michael Hogg nabbed the pole in qualifying by impressively posting a time nearly 4 tenths of a second over the 55 kart JICA field. Piloting his Italkart/IM Tuned Parilla, Hogg would go on to dominate the pre-final to start on pole for the final.  Hogg made things interesting on the final lap, closing in hard on Munoz heading into turn one, but he came up short and was forced to settle for second behind Munoz.  Hogg now leads the Western Stars Championship.

Hogg’s teammate, Hayden Duerson had a disappointing end to his weekend after showing great speed in the warm up, when he broke his clutch and was unable to take the start in the final.  He was a favorite as well to challenge for the victory Hogg now leads the Western Stars Championship.

CADET

 Remo Ruscitti put in one of his best driving performances.  After leading the race, Ruscitti would have a race long battle for the lead.  Ruscitti would place an impressive 4th in the 46th kart field.