Formal finds a gap on last lap in Shifter ROK

Daniel Formal, AJ Myers, and Jimmy Cabrera were clearly the standout drivers in the premier class this weekend. Each driver had recorded a result of 1-2-3 in the first three heats, placing them in a dead heat heading into Heat 4. Cabrera came up victorious in that event this morning, while Formal had complained about his tires going away late, but was happy with his pace despite those issues. Myers seemed to be deeply in trouble with transmission issues, placing fourth in the morning heat and well off where he was yesterday.

In the Final, Cabrera kept the lead at launch, but aggressive moves into turn one had dropped him down to fourth. Myers and Formal ran 1-2 followed by Zachary Hollingshead. At this point it was clear Myers had cleaned up his transmission issues and looked like a newly energized driver.

The TB Kart of Myers led the Tony Kart of Formal my mere tenths throughout the 20-lap final, until the last lap. Formal had noticed Myers was slower through the middle S section and chose that to be his place of attack if he wanted to win, assuming Myers would block down the final straight. The Costa Rican went for it and appeared to be wheel-to-wheel with Myers. Myers got loose in the marbles, hitting the barriers, but still able to continue on in second.

Formal led for only half a lap, but it was the most important half lap of the day. Myers limped home in second, well in front of Cabrera who had eventually got around Hollingshead but no where near the pace he had earlier in the day.

Myers and his crew did not seem all too happy with the move from Formal, but officials deemed it a clean overtake. Formal will now likely attend the next ROK Festival in New York for his chance to earn the ROK International Final ticket if he were to win there.