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Minnesota Missile Monday: Two Features, Two Poles, Two Second Places

The 2019 season officially started this past weekend with racing action at Newton Kart Klub. After a short practice Friday night, the driver decided he would like to double class his first night out. After a motor change at the shop, KC was ready to compete in the restricted box class and the Jr. 1 division.

RESTRICTED BOX:
Eight karts registered in the quickly growing restricted box class. KC Sparks lined up in the third position for the first heat and quickly moved into the runner up position behind his friend, Sawyer Nott who started on the front row. Sparks would get close but ran out of laps before the checkered fell and Nott claimed the first heat of the season.

Heat two had an inverted start lining Sparks up outside row three in the eight kart field. Sparks was working through traffic as he worked his way from fifth around Nixon Heiderscheidt to fourth and a couple laps later around Ryder Murphy to move into third. Pole starter, Brantley Tjaden and third starter Kaden Rice battled for the lead with Rice taking the heat win ahead of Tjaden.

Using the new passing points system this season at NKK, Sparks earned the pole position for the feature. Tjaden joined Sparks on the front row and the two friends battled out front with Sparks having the early advantage. Tjaden remained within striking distance and showed a nose to Sparks down the back stretch a few times. As the lead duo battled closely, Nott closed in on them as Rice was also moving up through the field. Just past halfway, Rice made his way past Nott and set his focus on Tjaden. One lap later, Rice was able to get to the inside of Tjaden going into turn one and finally cleared going into three. Sparks maintained the top position but Rice was coming fast. With two to go, Sparks slipped up getting out of turn two and Rice took full advantage moving under him and into the lead. Sparks didn’t let Rice pull away and when the lapped kart became a factor, Rice didn’t hesitate and moved around Cameron Schwab and cruised the last lap to the win. Sparks was second with Tjaden, Nott, and Heiderscheidt rounding out the top five.

JUNIOR ONE:
Six drivers were in competition for Jr. 1 action on Saturday night. With a 99 draw, KC Sparks lined up last for the first heat. With two of the drivers not making the call, Sparks was able to start in fourth and was ready for the start. At the drop of the green, Sparks made it three wide past the flag stand and pulled into the lead. Nikki Ballard was directly behind and in close pursuit, not allowing Sparks to make a mistake. Although challenges were made all race, Sparks held on for heat one win.

Heat two saw Sparks line up alongside Riley Kriegel on the front row. Sparks got the early jump and Kriegel was in second battling off the challenges from Ballard and Masyn Titus. Sparks drove to a comfortable advantage while Ballard made her way into second with Titus following. At the checkers, Sparks led flag to flag to pick up a second heat win with Ballard, Titus, and Kriegel as the top four.

Two heat wins earned Sparks his second pole for his second feature of the night that rolled onto the track just before midnight. The group of tired kiddos took several attempts to get the start right. After numerous tries, the green flew and stayed out but Sparks did not see the green light and assumed the caution was coming out again he let off the gas allowing Ballard to get into the lead before realizing the race was still green. Ballard held a ten kart length lead throughout the race with Sparks closing at times and Ballard extending out at other times. Sparks held off challenges from Titus throughout the race and through the lapped traffic. Ballard hung on for the first victory of the season with Sparks, Titus, Kriegel, Levi Hogeland and Sierra Rose Gary rounded out the field.

After the evening KC reflected on his performance saying, “I left the bottom open and lost that first race to Kaden. I can’t leave the bottom open.” KC also added that he has learned that the lights are not always flipped on right away and to race until he sees a yellow. “I didn’t see the green light, so let off.” After a couple hard lessons, KC is happy with his performances and ready to hit the track again next weekend.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Friday 4/26: English Creek Speedway Opening Night
Saturday 4/27: Newton Kart Klub Weekly Races (R-Box entry)

SPONSOR APPRECIATION:
Autoland; Sioux Falls, SD
Furby’s Auto Repair; Sioux Falls, SD
Heser Auto and Detailing; Jackson, MN
Last Deck LLC: Jackson, MN
Jared Bailey Photography; Carlisle, IA
DRE; Boyden, IA

YTD STATS:
Heats Ran: 4 Wins: 2
Features: 2 Wins: 0 Top 5: 2 Top 10: 2

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