On Location: ROK Festival NOLA Day 2
One last heat race followed by the Finals on Sunday in a sweltering New Orleans, Louisiana.
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.
Jason Campbell had a rather pedestrian run going through the heats aboard his DRT USA/DR Kart, collecting a 3/3/5/4 scorecard, well behind front running Mike Jones from Dallas Karting Complex who swept the quartet of heats.
Despite the low turnout for Micro ROK, National front-runner Caleb Gafrarar still put in the work this weekend to better himself and the development of his Parolin cadet chassis. The Gafrarar's are running everywhere this year and it's paying off, having just captured a 10-second win in demanding conditions.
Jace Park was unbeatable after Heat 1, racking up the next three heat race wins and a Final win on Sunday. None of them were easy victories, but the Overland Park, Kansas driver continually positioned himself in the right places at the right time. We're watching this young Midwesterner evolve into one of drivers to watch on the National level in cadet competition, and this weekend helps solidify him in the upper tier. With tutelage coming from long time karting veteran, Jim Russell, the relationship looks to be blossoming.
Having been a last minute decision to run, Florida's Tyler Gonzalez had a kart prepared for him by Zanella Racing while Speed Concepts turned the wrenches this weekend. Gonzalez had been tested in each of his heat races, but the SCR driver had no equal in Sunday's 20-lap final at NOLA Motorsports Park for the ROK Festival.
After grabbing the pole position on Saturday morning, Emma Delattre lost her footing a bit through the three remaining heats that day, finishing 11/3/2. However, Sunday she came with her A game, winning the final heat in the morning to slot in third for the final starting grid.