2009 Jim Russell Northern California Rotax Challenge Opens Season with Record Turnout - and some great racing too

The first race of the 2009 season for the Jim Russell Northern California Rotax Challenge not only opened with great weather at the Jim Russell International Karting Center at Infineon Raceway but also a record entry of 66 karts. In addition, this race was the debut of both of the Junior-1 Rotax classes in the Nor Cal Series. In classic Rotax fashion, close racing existed in most all of the classes.

Rotax Micro Max - For the first time in Nor Cal. The Micro Max (ages 8 to 10 years) was part of the Nor Cal Rotax Challenge Seven drivers took to the track with Chloe St George taking the pole ahead of Michael Michoff and Wilson Skjerven. In the 12 lap Pre-Main, Chloe lead then Michael then Chloe but Michael took the lead near the end for a 1.5 second win with Skjerven and Sarah Setzer in 3rd and 4th. In the Main, Michael and Chloe resumed their battle and ran close for the first 11 laps. On lap 12, Michael and Chloe were dueling for the lead again when they touched and Chloe's left rear valve stem was damaged and she had to pit with a flat tire. Michoff went on to a 6 second lead over Wilson Skjerven followed by Sarah Setzer, Nate Fleischzi and Toni Breidinger.

Rotax Mini Max - Five karts showed up for the debut race of Mini Max (10 to 12 years)) at Infineon with Drew Setzer taking the first pole followed by Cole Davis and Harrison Mills. In the Pre-Main, JR Raczko emerged as the kart to beat at the end when he came through the field to take the win just barely over Setzer with Harrison 3rd. Davis took a DNF and had to start the Main in 5th spot. The Main turned out to be a JR Vs Drew race with the two running close the entire 18 laps trading the lead several times. With about 4 laps to go, JR and Drew had a minor coming together exiting turn one and it allowed a stalking Cole Davis to drive by on the inside to take the lead. The experienced Norcal Davis put his head down and drove the best of his day to hold on for a one tenth of a second win over Raczko with Setzer in 3rd less than a second back. Harrison Mills and Austin Makev were 4th and 5th.

Junior Rotax - 11 drivers turned out for Race #1. Kiel Spaulding, who won the HPV2 and Jr TaG races 2 weeks prior at the Prokart race, took the pole over Dylan Lupton followed by Brody Zink, Donavon Wheeler and Bryce Hylbert. In the Pre-Main Spaulding pulled away to a convincing win over Lupton who just barely ahead of Wheeler, Hylbert and Zink. In the Main Kiel repeated his winning ways onto a convincing victory. The best battle was for 2nd where Lupton fell back at the start and had to work his way back through the field to take the 2nd spot at the end of the race. Hylbert battled Wheeler and finally found a way by near the end to take 3rd; Wheeler in 4th and Austin Root working his way into a well deserved 5th place at the end.

Senior Rotax - There is no doubt that the Senior Rotax race was the highlight of the day. Not only was the field large with 20 karts, but the field was stacked with some outstanding Norcal drivers. Taking the pole was Nic LeDuc, also a Jim Russell Championship Series competitor, with 2008 Nor Cal Champ Gregory Liefooghe 2nd followed by Brett Felkins, David Harwin and Jordan Jadallah. This was Harwins best Qualify for the veteran Masters driver. In the Pre-Main, LeDuc lead into turn one with Gregory losing the outside line battle and having to take to the outside turn one shoulder and lost several positions. Nic went on to lead all the way but was hounded by the talented Felkins the whole way. Nikola Radsoavljevich moved up from his 6th place start to take a close third less than a second back with Jake Mottaz improving his 9th place Qualify to take 4th followed by the 2008 Junior Rotax champ Jadallah. In the Main, LeDuc again took the lead followed by Felkins and Jadallah who got a great start. LeDuc then pulled out to a small lead while Felkins had his hands full due to the pressure from Jadallah. Mottaz took up the 4th place spot and as it ended up he had a boring race sitting about 4 seconds back of the lead trio and 4 seconds in front of the 5th through 8th battle. The best racing in the Main came from 4 drivers battling for 5th place. Nikola, Matthew Powers, Clayton Snow and David Harwin exchanged positions constantly during the 18 Laps with Nikola finally taking the 5th place spot followed by Powers, Snow and Harwin. Near the end of the race, Jadallah made the pass on Felkins to take the 2nd place spot behind LeDuc.

Rotax Masters and Masters Light - for 2009, the Masters (405#) and the Masters Light (365#) classes will run as on race group, but scored separate. Andrea Delfani (Lights), who has lots of experience in Italy but this being his first US kart race, took the pole followed by Joe Karratt (Lights), David Harwin (Masters), Jack Arluck (Masters) and Donald Durbin (Masters). In the Pre-Main, Delfani took the lead right from the green flag and lead the whole way followed by Karratt with Durbin working his way up to 3rd followed by Harwin and Arluck, Mert Solis (Light) and Mary Beth Wilson (Light). In the Main, Karratt got the jump on Delfani and won the race into turn one and was never headed to take the overall win and Lights class top spot. Delfani (Lights) was 2nd followed by Harwin in 3rd and first in the Masters class. Durbin was putting the pressure on Harwin until he lost his brakes at mid race and had to pull off. Newcomer Jack Arluck made a great start to the 2009 season with a solid 4th overall and 2nd in Masters. 5th overall was Mary Beth Wilson (Lights) followed by Mert Solis (Lights), Jerry Pretti (Masters) and Andre Eriksen (Masters), Paul Hohlbien (Masters) and Dave Higaki (Lights).

Rotax DD2 - The 2 speed Rotax class had 8 drivers for Race #1. Troy Castaneda, who has been running the Gatorz Winter Series, took the pole over Reno's Kyle Gimple and January Grove. In the Pre-Main, Troy took the lead at the green flag and was never headed. Gimple was 2nd followed by Grove, Cameron Craig and Bruce Weir. In the Main, Gimple had an early problem and had to pit on the first lap. Castaneda went on to take a convincing victory and lapping the entire field except for the 2nd place January Grove. Cameron Craig took the 3rd spot with Weir in 4th and Dave Moody in 5th.


The 2009 started out with great weather, 20% more racers, great racing and no incidents. This is Race #1 of a long 10 race Rotax series that will run into the first weekend of November.

The next race is May 2nd at the Jim Russell International Karting Center track at Infineon Raceway running on the Sprint Track configuration.

For more information about the Jim Russell Northern California Rotax Challenge Series, contact race director Ric Shaw.