Rotax Racer's ready for Race #3 at Infineon in the 2009 Jim Russell Northern California Rotax Challenge.

On Saturday, June 6, the Jim Russell Northern California Rotax Challenge will take to the Jim Russell International Karting track at Infineon Raceway for round #3 of the 10 race long 2009 season. And to add to the excitement of the first race of the summer season, the track configuration will be the Reverse National track layout. This will be the first time in 2009, and only the third time in Infineon history The popular Reverse National track layout will give the racer's an exciting challenge.

The 2009 Norcal Rotax Series has started off the year with record turnouts and another record turnout is expected for Race #3. The turnout surprises so far for 2009 have been the size and strength of competition of the Senior Rotax fields. With 20 entries per race, the Senior Rotax class has had strong racing throughout the field with the first two wins going to veteran Nic LeDuc and 2005 Rotax National Champ Wes Philips. The other surprise has been the strong turnout for the two new classes for 2009, Micro-Max and Mini-Max. Micro-Max (ages 8-10) has had 7 karts in each of the first two races with the Mini-Max class (ages 10-12) having had entries of 5 and 4 respectively for the first two races.

In Junior Rotax, Kiel Spaulding is looking to make it three in a row after strong wins in the first two races. David Harwin has also had great early season success with a first and second in Rotax Masters class as well as a strong 3rd place finish in Senior Rotax in Race #2. But after a great tactical win for Donald Durbin in Race #2, The Masters class will have a strong battle to see who will be the strongest Masters driver.

Nic LeDuc is hoping for a comeback in the Senior Rotax class and get back to the form that allowed him to dominate Race #1. Wilson Skjerven, Nicky Hayes and Michael Mitchoff will resume their battle for the win in the Micro Max class with the similar battling expected coming between four drivers, JR Raczko, Cole Davis, Drew Setzer and Harrison Mills in the Mini-Max class.

Troy Castaneda has dominated the first 2 races in Rotax DD2, but expect the likes of David Arnstein and Kyle Gimple to bring much improved drives into Race #3. Even though he is new to karting in the US, Italian Andrea Delfanti will be looking to make it make it 3 in a row in the regional Masters Light class.

Practice and Pre-registration for the event will be available from 2:00 to 6:00 on Friday, June 5. Registration starts on Saturday at 7:30 with firs practice at 8:20. The First Pre-Main starts at 1:00. Entry fee is $105 and this includes use of a transponder. Pit passes for crew, family and friends are all free, so bring everyone out to the Infineon track for a great day of racing.

Great food is available at the track from J&D Snack Shack.