2019 FWT Miami 1: Mad Croc makes an entrance in Shifter ROK
The 1-2 finish gives the refreshed brand a huge start to 2019.
In their first true team effort at the Florida Winter Tour, Croc Promotions USA came in and put the Mad Croc brand under the spotlight in Shifter ROK with AJ Myers (Croc Promotions USA / Mad Croc) and Andrew Bujdoso (Croc Promotios USA / Mad Croc). Both drivers took part in leading the 18-lap final, but Myers ultimately got around Bujdoso late in the race to take the win over his teammate.
The holeshot belonged to Danny Formal (Leading Edge / Formula K) who had won two of the three heat races coming into Sunday. However, Formal and Myers tangled late on lap one with Formal later claiming a stuck throttle that would send him down the order, as far back as seventh. Out front, Bujdoso now led with Myers in second, followed by Mathias Ramirez (PSL / Birel ART).
The Birel ART driver was the driver on the move having started seventh and was now closing on the leaders as they approached the halfway mark. Myers and Bujdoso battled for the lead into turn 10, allowing Ramirez underneath for a three-wide race to turn 11 that positioned him in second behind Bujdoso. On the ensuing main straightaway, the opportunity for Ramirez to take the lead presented itself as he flew around the outside of Bujdoso who looked to be defending into turn one/two complex. Ramirez and Bujdoso touched tires, launching the rear of Ramirez into the air, losing most of his braking ability and hitting the outside wall. Although still able to carry on, Ramirez had dropped outside of the top 15.
Just a few laps later, Myers got inside of Bujdoso and the rest was history as the two Mad Croc teammates drove comfortably out front. Formal was able to rebound back to third, completing the podium and giving him more than enough points to keep himself in the fight when we come back to Miami in four weeks.
Robert Bujdoso (Checkered Flag Motorsports / GP) and Henry Cubides (Envia Racing / Tony Kart) finished a distant fourth and fifth. Ramirez was able to climb back to thirteenth after his spill.