After opening the 2013 World Karting Association Manufacturers Cup program with decent results in Daytona Beach, Florida in late December, Top Kart USA was primed and ready when the team travelled to round two in the program. With more time to prepare and properly ensure all their drivers were up to speed, the team would travel south to the Carolina Motorsports Park (CMP) facility this past weekend and leave with some hardware. Taking home seven class victories, Top Kart USA was the dominant team on the weekend and will now look to carry the momentum into the remainder of 2013.
“The team had a great event in Kershaw and it showed by our results,” explained Top Kart USA’s Billy McLaughlin. “Round one was a little challenging for us as we just switched to the Top Kart brand and went into the event with no testing at all. Now that we are more organized, have proper inventory and key personnel in place, we are better able to serve our customers. With the extra time, we were also able to complete some valuable testing that will help us in achieving our goals for the rest of the season.”
The story of the weekend would have to go to the Ferris family, as dad Scott would see action in TaG Masters on both Saturday and Sunday while son Tyler would compete in Yamaha Rookie. With both drivers scoring main event victories in their respective classes on both event days, the Ferris family would write their names in the record books now being the only father-son duo to win twice on the same weekend in WKA history.
TaG Masters pilot Steve Schiewer would not be outdone in Saturday’s main event as he joined Ferris on the podium with a third place effort. Sunday looked to be a little better for the Indiana resident before contact in the final would force him to retire from the event.
Three Top Kart USA drivers would claim top-five results in Sunday’s Yamaha Junior final as Killian Keaveny would score his first career WKA victory. Battling hard with a trio of drivers that would all look to top the blocks, Keaveny would come out on top as he tries to put himself in a position to make a run at the national championship. Junior rookies and Top Kart pilots Ryan Raffa and Emerson Reed would cross the line in the third and fifth positions respectively.
With rookie drivers in several classes, Garret Johnston would impress all in Sunday’s TaG Senior main event. Having just moved up from the junior ranks before round one of the series, Johnston turned up the wick at CMP and dominated the main event. Gapping the field early during the 14-lap final, Johnston would go unchallenged to take his first senior victory of his career.
Perennial front-runner Patrick Olsen had an up and down weekend but would manage to take home the victory in Saturday’s Komet Pro division.
"We had an extremely successful weekend at Carolina Motorsports Park under the Top Kart USA tent, and we are very proud of all of our drivers competing on such high level and many of our driver setting that bar even higher after the events this weekend," explained Bill McLaughlin Sr.
“Friday night started the weekend off great receiving the Manufacturers Cup award for Top Kart from Mike Tetreault,” added Blake Deister. “We are lucky to have such a great relationship with all of our team, families, and partners of the Top Kart USA team as a whole."
McLaughlin Jr. added, "Taking the number one spot on the podium in seven events throughout the weekend was a great addition to our four coming from Daytona. We are well on our way to working on another Manufacturers Cup championship and will continue to work hard to take it for the 2013 season."
With only a few weeks off, Top Kart USA will now begin preparation for the opening round of the United States Pro Kart Series (USPKS). Taking place at the new Mooresville Motorplex facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, Top Kart will look to add to their 2013 win total and start the chase for more championships off on the right foot.
For more information on McLaughlin Motorsports, Top Kart USA and opportunities to join their World Karting Association Manufacturers Cup and other programs, please contact their offices at 317.858.8888.
With a website now complete, further information on Top Kart USA, McLaughlin Motorsports and Motorama Kart Parts can be obtained by contacting their offices at 317.858.8888 or visiting them online at www.TopKartUSA.net.
About Top Kart USA - Top Kart USA is located in Indianapolis, Indiana and is a distributor for the Top Kart product line. Housing a national level race team and competing in the World Karting Association and SuperKarts! USA programs as well as throughout the regional level in the Midwest, Top Kart USA is continuing to evolve and develop Top Kart dealerships throughout the United States. Supported by Top Kart importer Grand Products, Top Kart USA is owned and operated by McLaughlin Motorsports.
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