Park outduels Baker in Mini ROK in NOLA
Jace Park ends the weekend on a roll.
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.
Park's closest competitor this weekend was undoubtedly Noah Baker, who had set fast time on Saturday morning, but never could get that top spot back in any of the heats or 14-lap final. Baker too is growing substantially as a driver with guidance from Speed Concepts Racing and has his name in the hat for national race wins wherever he goes.
Vinicius Tesaro was in a pack of four to start the Final, but he and Jack Jeffers had slowly lost touch with the top two of Park and Baker. Tesaro and Jeffers would eventually have an incident on lap 10 of 14, ending Jeffers day and knocking Tesaro briefly back to fourth before he regained the final podium spot over Tanner Garvin.
Race Results - Top Five
2018 ROK Festival NOLA Mini ROK Final
Rnk | # | Driver | Gap | Best Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
156 | JACE PARK | 1:09.407 | ||
149 | NOAH BAKER | 0.077 | 1:09.401 | |
130 | VINICIUS TESARO | 3.395 | 1:09.257 | |
153 | TANNER GARVIN | 3.754 | 1:09.694 | |
123 | ARTIE FLORES | 12.493 | 1:09.999 |
Full standings
Rnk | # | Driver | Gap | Best Time |
---|---|---|---|---|
142 | SANTIAGO HERNANDEZ | 14.776 | 1:09.983 | |
133 | JACK JEFFERS | 4 Laps | 1:09.430 |