Formal's surprise move pays off in Shifter ROK - 2019 ROK The Rio
In full redemption mode this week, Danny Formal (Leading Edge / Formula K) got the better of Mathias Ramirez this year after a remarkable move in the final corner on the 24th lap of a 25-lap final in Shifter ROK.
Both Formal and Ramirez led multiple times throughout the race, but neither could pull away from the other as both drivers ran defensive lines down the stretch. The final move came where few passes had come all week: in the final corner as the drivers were setting up to enter the front-straight for the white flag. Ramirez didn't see it coming and ran a normal racing line and Formal took advantage. The GFC Kart driver, knowing he had superior top-end, went to set up Formal as the drivers entered the long straight and clipped a barrier, dropping him a half-second back and ruining his chances of a final lap move.
Nicholas Le Duc (Karting Collective/ Sodi Kart) came home in third after a great drive from seventh, overtaking Race Liberante (Formula Works / Compkart) on lap 19 who had run third since lap two. Liberante came home in fourth ahead of Remo Ruscitti (Catalyst / Italkart).
Two favorites this weekend, Jake French (PSL Karting) and Ron White (Ron White Racing / CRG), both collided on the opening lap, ending up in the barriers.
Race Results - Top Five
2019 ROK The Rio Shifter ROK Final
| Rnk | # | Driver | Gap | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 437 | DANNY FORMAL | 46.126 | |
| 2 | 401 | MATHIAS RAMIREZ | 1.166 | 46.008 |
| 3 | 421 | NICHOLAS LE DUC | 4 | 46.085 |
| 4 | 434 | RACE LIBERANTE | 4.396 | 46.27 |
| 5 | 495 | REMO RUSCITTI | 5.774 | 46.1 |
Full standings
| Rnk | # | Driver | Gap | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 410 | VINCENZO SARRACINO | 8.542 | 46.116 |
| 7 | 456 | ZACHARY HOLLINGSHEAD | 10.284 | 46.231 |
| 8 | 470 | ZACH PETTINICCHI | 10.301 | 46.29 |
| 9 | 486 | KOL BAILEY | 14.467 | 46.515 |
| 10 | 409 | KYLE WICK | 5.03 | 46.192 |
| 11 | 411 | RUBENS BARRICHELLO | 16.691 | 46.354 |
| 12 | 412 | COLLIN DALEY | 16.766 | 46.446 |
| 13 | 422 | BRIAN KECK | 16.865 | 46.081 |
| 14 | 420 | RODRIGO PFLUCKER | 19.067 | 46.391 |
| 15 | 400 | MATT JASKOL | 20.183 | 46.504 |
| 16 | 428 | KEAWN TANDON | 17.202 | 46.297 |
| 17 | 485 | COLE SHADE | 18.043 | 46.412 |
| 18 | 491 | COOPER BECKLIN | 27.404 | 46.529 |
| 19 | 433 | KYLE APUZZO | 27.804 | 46.686 |
| 20 | 431 | ALEX MANGLASS | 28.506 | 46.691 |
| 21 | 414 | STEFANO LUCENTE | 28.932 | 46.722 |
| 22 | 408 | HANNAH GREENEMEIER | 29.618 | 46.714 |
| 23 | 478 | ANDREW BUJDOSO | 33.312 | 46.202 |
| 24 | 455 | JUSTIN LUIK | 36.592 | 46.924 |
| 25 | 451 | BRENDEN RUZBARSKY | 37.05 | 46.453 |
| 26 | 429 | COLE O'CONNOR | 37.732 | 46.825 |
| 27 | 449 | HENRY KNOX | 3 Laps | 46.982 |
| 28 | 441 | MAX PRESTON | 5 Laps | 46.629 |
| 29 | 407 | JONATHAN GUEVARA | 7 Laps | 46.718 |
| 30 | 417 | XINGRAN TANG | 14 Laps | 46.954 |
| 31 | 477 | ANNIE RHULE | 14 Laps | 48.451 |
| 32 | 436 | HUNTER PICKETT | 15 Laps | 46.139 |
| 33 | 419 | AIDAN O'NEILL | 15 Laps | 46.533 |
| 34 | 405 | OWEN CLARKE | 15 Laps | 47.054 |
| 35 | 432 | DEAN HELDT | 17 Laps | 46.597 |
| 36 | 476 | PIERCE BALDUS | 17 Laps | 46.846 |
| 37 | 403 | RICKY WORLEY | 19 Laps | 47.619 |
| 38 | 415 | DAVIDE GRECO | 22 Laps | 47.125 |
| 490 | PAOLO CASTAGNETTI | Retired | ||
| 471 | RON WHITE | Retired | ||
| 425 | ENZO PREVOST | Retired | ||
| 406 | JAKE FRENCH | Retired |