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July 8, 2009 Italkart captures numerous victories in all classes
The Italkart Factory Team kicked off the 2009 season on March 1st at the Stars of Karting opener in Ocala, Florida. The team debuted the 2009 Italkart’s for the first time with an all new aggressive styling package. The event was very successful for the team which saw Hayden Duerson win KZ2 (ICC), David Jurca win TAG Senior, Don McGregor win TAG ICC with Remo Ruscitti placing second and David Jurca capturing second in his first outing in KF2. Italian Motors’/Italkart Head Tuner, Scott Cowell was more than pleased with that weekend. “We spent a lot of time in the off season developing the engines and chassis. Our results spoke for themselves. Winning Ocala in dominant fashion has set the tone for the year and the wins make all the hard work worth it. We are very fortunate to be working with some of the best drivers this year we have ever had.” A scheduling conflict for Jurca led to Brazil’s Andre Nicastro joining the team for second event in Sonoma, CA along with new comer Tyler Wheeler from Calgary, Alberta and Cameron Karting’s Brett Buckwalter from Sonoma, California. Team regulars Don McGregor and Remo Ruscitti both ran TAG ICC while Ruscitti did double duty in Tag Senior. In Tag Senior, Rookie sensations Remo Ruscitti and Tyler Wheeler each put in great drives which placed them in the top 5 for the pre-finals but a first corner incident pushed the drivers to the tail end of the field. With the home track advantage, Brett Buckwalter took the victory in the highly competitive TAG senior category closely followed by Andre Nicastro. Italkart claimed the top two spots of the podium and it was the team’s second TAG Senior victory of the year. Remo Ruscitti was doing double duty in TAG ICC and TAG taking a heat race win on Saturday. Contact damaged his shifter kart in the final forcing him back while his Teammate Don McGregor drove through the field to take the third spot on the podium. Next was the inaugural CKI event in New Castle Indiana. David Jurca once again joined the team after coming off his dominant performance in Ocala. Jurca did not have the same pace all weekend as he had in Ocala. Jurca struggled throughout the weekend with various gremlins but put in a solid drive to come from 17th to 5th in the final. Ruscitti was the driver on the move in the final though running some of the fastest laps of the race. However, contact with eventual winner Masson Marrota eliminated Remo’s chance of a victory. Wheeler and Isman who were fast all week had their fair share of bad luck. Isman who was having an outstanding weekend was taken out on the first lap while Wheeler dropped back with carburetion issues after starting 6th in the final. Don McGregor moved to KZ2 for New Castle and had a bit of a scare while battling for 3rd with Brendan Phinny. The two driver’s karts came together at the fastest part of the track flipping McGregor and destroying his kart. Luckily he walked away with only a sprained wrist. For the next round in New Jersey, Nicastro joined the team once again. Remo Ruscitti, Adam Isman and Tyler Wheeler Joined Nicastro in TAG Senior while Don McGregor was the sole Italkart entry in KZ2. Nicastro was flying all weekend placing his Italkart Rapido V on pole by half a second. This dominant performance carried through the heat races and he lined up on pole for the pre-final. On the first lap, Nicastro lost his neck brace and was black flagged. Nicastro then put on a clinic, taking his Italkart Rapido V/Italian Motors Parilla from 18th on the grid to 1st. It was an amazing performance to say the least. Junior drivers Remo Ruscitti and Tyler Wheeler did not fare as well. Contact set them back in the race and a loose bumper forced Wheeler to pit. It was unfortunate since Wheeler had a 4th place starting position in the Pre-Final. Isman was taken out in the first corner on lap one. McGregor struggled all weekend with his hand injury from New Castle. He put in a solid drive to place 5th in KZ2. “I am very happy with the teams and drivers performances this year.” Said team manager, Michael Valiante. The chassis have been phenomenal and the engines have been putting out great power. I have to mention that our junior drivers have impressed me every weekend while our veterans continue to rack up wins. Scott Cowell and I have put together a solid program and I am proud to contribute to the effort on my weekends away from Grand-Am. I am looking forward to the rest of the year”. 
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