Christmas in Dixie 2008 Sees Double Triples

December 28-30 saw 700 oval kart racers from around the country compete in dirt and asphalt oval competition.  Below is my account of those three full days of racing.

Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls

JASPER, FL-Two of nearly 700 racers entered in this year’s fourth annual AKRA "Christmas in Dixie" turned "Hat Tricks" at Cross Roads Motorplex in Jasper, Fl December 28-30.  Hawkinsville, Ga hot shoe Dee Paschal produced a trio of wins on the first day of racing on the wide ¼-mile dirt oval. On day two White Bluff, TN racer Kyle Bowers did the same.

Racers came from not only nearby states, but from great distances as well.  Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, New York, New Jersey, and Alabama were represented in the entries.

Paschal showed his wheel turning talents in two and four-cycle racing producing four-cycle wins in Stock Lite and Senior Stock and a two-cycle victory in the Florida All-Stars feature. “It takes a lot of preparation and a lot of good people behind you to get three wins here at this level,” Paschal pointed out after his third win.

After two rounds of qualifying Stock Lite’s field was set with Dustin McGraw, who turned a 14.391-seconds lap, on the pole.   Dale Fisher shared row one with McGraw.  Austin Weaver and Austin Struth made up row two.  Behind them Paschal was positioned in the fifth starting position. 

It took several attempts to get the field going, but once they did McGraw broke from them only to have his small advantage taken away by the race’s second caution flag.  McGraw led them back to the green flag.  Behind him Wilson Keene and Paschal were working together.  Keene began challenging McGraw for the lead.  The pressure of two challengers proved too much for McGraw who surrendered the front to Paschal who took it to the finish line from there.

“The track was super slick so the tires took a little while to come in,” described Paschal, who pocketed $500 for the win.  “Then it was a combination of tires, motor and kart that got me up front until the end.”

Classes with over 20 entries offered a $500 winning purse and classes with less than 20 entries payback based on 80 percent.  A total of $35,000 was awarded back to racers that weekend.

In the final laps racers battled for positions behind Paschal.  Jerry Mullis took second closing within 0.988-seconds of Paschal at the stripe.  McGraw held third and was followed by Dillon Jackson and Tara Henderson for the top five of 29.

Three races later Paschal started on Senior Stock’s outside pole. Monroe, N.C. based Walt Barnes blasted out a 14.517-seconds lap for the pole that was 0. 091-seconds faster than Paschal’s best effort of 14.608-seconds.

The first attempt to get the field racing fizzled as the leaders were rounding turn three.  Behind them karts tangled in turn two.  On the single file restart Paschal slipped by Barnes for the lead which he never surrendered.  Paschal built a huge 7.274-seconds advantage over Barnes.  Troy Hale came from an eighth place start to a third place finish. Neal Harraway finished where he started in fourth.  Lennon Gray, who started ninth, was fifth across the stripe.

“We made some changes after Stock Lite and the kart got real quick,” Paschal said “We broke a header at the beginning of the race, but it still came together.”

Paschal scrambled back to the grid to start on Florida All Stars’ outside pole.  Shay Chavous produced that pole lap in 12.984-seconds.  Paschal’s best time was 13.103-seconds.

After their first start attempt failed Chavous started them backup single file.  Chavous roared ahead of the field while Paschal went backwards. “The tires wouldn’t come in and I fell back about a straightaway,” Paschal explained. “But then the tires hit and the kart came in.”

Chavous enjoyed a comfortable early lead.  But that was temporary. “Then the tires hit and the kart came in,” Paschal added.  Paschal powered his way to second and was about to make his move for the lead when the caution flag waved. “We were second when the caution flag waved,” Paschal explained.  “I didn’t have anything for Shay (Chavous) the throttle stuck we were pretty even until then and it makes it tough.”

Paschal offered Chavous several serious challenges finally taking the lead from him with just three laps left.  Paschal crossed the stripe with Chavous just 0.469-seconds behind him. Eight seconds later Eddie Gilbert was third across the stripe.  Three seconds later Wayne Howe and Clint Jack followed in fourth and fifth.

Day two was Bowers’ day.  From their poles, Bowers bested two full fields of Box Stock Project racers and handled Super Heavy as well.  Bowers’ day started with a 15.558-seconds trip for Box Stock Lite’s pole.  Todd David was second fastest qualifier rounding the oval in 15.919-seconds.

When the green flag flew so did David.  David showed the field around twice before surrendering it to Bowers who led from there.  By mid race Bowers owned a very comfortable lead.  At the stripe he was 5.08-seconds ahead of Jacksonville, Fl based Davey Hicken.  David, Trey Cole and Mike Nicosia completed the top five.

“I knew we had a good kart.  I qualified on the pole and I just had to hang in there and wait for the tires to come in,” Bowers said.  “I was at 385 lb for a 325 lb class so I just had to hang in there and wait for the tires to come in and get up to first.”

Bowers blasted around the track in 14.315-seconds for Super Heavy’s pole.  Tommy Townsend was second fastest at 14.373-seconds.  When they got the initial green flag Bowers rocketed into the early lead with Townsend glued to his tailpipe.  The stayed locked nose-to-tail for 20-laps.  At the end just 0.490-seconds separated them.

“I never looked back so I wasn’t worried about who was behind me.  I just ran my line and let it roll,” Bowers said after his second win.  “The kart handled good and Eddie Mishue’s motors got me around the corners.  I’d like to thank my dad and Dee Paschal for the tires and all the help he’s given me.”

Three races later Bowers was back on the front of the grid ready to lead Box Stock Heavy racers with perfection.  Bowers blasted away from the field at the green flag’s waving and never looked back. Behind him outside pole winner David Hicken was struggling to hold second.  Working together Dale Thaxton and Chris Harrell passed Hicken, which is how they crossed the stripe for the final time.

“I have no clue why I’m so fast on these Box Stock karts.  It’s the first time I’ve driven one and we’re just having fun with it,” Bowers described.  “I guess I’m lucky on tires.  The kart drove itself like the last two.”

A 15.709-seconds pass put Bowers on Box Stock Heavy’s pole.  Dale Thaxton joined him on row one with a fast time of 16.123-seconds.  Following in his legendary father’s tire tracks Jacksonville-based David Hicken Jr. was third fastest at 16.305-seconds. Brittany Yates 16.356-seconds lap had her staring next to him on row two.

Bowers blasted into the early lead. Caution waved before he could book the first lap.  He led them back to the green flag.  Hicken grabbed the lead on the next restart.  Hicken would then lead them another two laps when caution returned.  They got another two laps in before caution returned as it would every other for the next six laps.

Hicken held onto a comfortable lead over Harrell and Whitehouse who were almost three seconds behind him at the stripe.  Further back Bowers and Brittany Yates crossed fourth and fifth.

“At the start I was kind of worried about the cautions with the clutch coming in and all, but we ended up alright and everything came in,” Hicken Jr. described.  “The Trick/Olimpic kart handled good and the Hicken Power motor was awesome, couldn’t be better.”

In addition to the two hat trick winners, there were four double-dirt winners that weekend.  Rampage Racing Engines powered Prowler kart pilot Garrett Green grabbed day one’s Junior 2 Blue Plate win and Day Two’s Junior 1 Purple Plate win.  Spencer Davis earned both poles with lap times of 14.737 and 15.526-seconds.

Davis hustled into Junior 2 Blue’s early lead with Greene, Ryan Boyd, and Joseph Galloway nose-to-tail behind him. Five laps later he was leading them through the race’s only caution.  Davis quickly shot into a small lead. Behind him Greene was leading a freight train gaining steam.  Several laps later Greene led the train by Davis. “My Prowler kart just came in and I came on.  The kart’s just fast,” Greene reported.

Then Davis’s kart started coming in and he began climbing back through the field.  Davis reached Galloway, but couldn’t get around him.  Boyd and Jimmy Pope were behind Davis scrapping over fourth.  Greene reached the stripe 1.929-seconds ahead of Galloway.  Davis, Boyd and Pope passed the stripe after him for the top five.

“I want to thank my pit crew, my mom and dad, Heat Racing, Rampage Racing and I want to add a special thanks to Blaze Martin,” said the 10-year-old Valrico, Fl based double winner. 

Sunday Zachary Wells joined Davis on Junior 1 Purple Plate’s pole. Greene started third again. After a failed first start Davis led them single file back to the green flag.  Davis drove low into turns one and two for a firm grip on the lead.  He held it down the straightaway and back to the stripe for the first time.  He booked another lap before Greene grabbed it.  One lap later the caution flag waved.

Greene led the restart with Nick Long, Davis, Cory Saxton and Allen Scurry in the top five behind him.  In the remaining laps the field spread behind him.  Long was 1.566-seconds late.

“I was worried these lapped karts were kind of hard to get around,” Greene said during his second visit to victory lane.  “We had a crappy kart all day, but we finally got it going and we brought home the win.”

A Junior 1 Purple Plate B Main was also raced.  Wells won that race taking the final flag 0.832-seconds ahead of Matthew Boyd.  Lane and Cory Marsh followed in third and fourth.  David Bradshaw completed the top five of B Main racers.

Wilson Keene captured both Junior 3 Gold checkered flags from their poles with perfection. Lap times of 14.544 and 14.413-seconds earned him those poles.  In the first he beat John Bryan Nall to the stripe by 1.199-seconds.  “It was a pretty good race.  I just had to deal with lapped traffic,” described the 15-year-old Abbeville, Ga based double winner.  “The kart handled pretty good, it was a little loose, but we can get it tightened up for the next one.  Tim Fishel’s motor was awesome, it was a brand new one and it was about the best one yet.”  Levon Bennett, Jay Gnann and C.J. Leary completed the top five.

In the second feature several mid-race cautions almost changed the story.  Keene had two huge leads evaporate. He also had Gnann threatening from behind each time.  “I was running pretty good and then the cautions came out,” Keene explained. “The Ultramax Kart handled great.  It was a little loose, but we’ll get it right. Tim Fishel’s motor was great, it was a new one and it’s the best one yet.”  This time Jack Speshock, Nall and Leary filled the podium.

Chris Evans chased PEC Racing Engines powered Rage Kart pilot Ricky Bohatka across the Senior Champ Kart stripes.  Saturday Zach Holcombe clocked the classes’ fastest qualifying lap in 14.874-seconds.    Bohataka’s best effort of 15.082-seconds earned him the other front row starting position.  Holcombe hustled into the early lead with Jessica Maloney challenging him.  On lap two she muscled her way by him for the lead bringing Bohataka with her. 

Near half way Bohataka battled by Maloney for the lead.  Evans came with him dropping Maloney to third. Behind her in the top five were Brittany Yates and Zach Holcombe. 

“I just got a good pass coming into turn two and just took off from there,” said the 19-year-old Lutz, Fl native.  “The kart handled pretty good, tires were good and the motor was good.  I want to thank my mom and dad, my girlfriend, my sister, David for the motor and me for doing my tires.”

Sunday Bohatka blasted around the dirt oval in 15.020-seconds for Senior Champ’s pole. Evans started next to him. Glen Morton and Maloney were behind him in row two.  After a failed first start Bohatka led them single file.  They got the first lap in before the race’s second caution flag flew.  When they got the got the green flag for the third  time Bohatka blasted bake into a comfortable lead.    “I started on the pole today and I just took off from there.  I want to thank David from PEC Racing Engines for the motor, Rage Karts and Five Star Motorsports for the tires and setup.”

This time Evans crossed 1.809-seconds late.  Bobby Knox Trailed in third followed in the  top five by Maloney and  Glen Morton.

Bohataka’s younger sister, 16-year-old Jessica, followed with a win in Sunday’s Junior Champ class.  Jessica started on the outside pole next to Billy Smith who spun a 15.374-seconds lap for the pole.  Smith scrambled into the early lead with Dylan Colding chasing him.  Suddenly as Smith and Colding battled through turn two they made contact causing both to lose control of their machines.  Bohatka, trailing in a distant third, instantly inherited the lead with J.R. Houston and Nick Hebrank closing in on her. 

Bohatka kept the PEC Racing Engine powering her Rage kart floored as the laps counted down.  When she reached the stripe Houston was just 0.132-seconds behind her; Hebrank 0.445-seconds later.  Smith and Colding completed the top five.

 “I was really happy when the leaders crashed out in front of me,” Bohatka smiled.  “I got the lead and from there on I led the rest of the race.  The Kart handled really good and I think PEC motors are the best out there.”

Bohatka earned Saturday’s Junior Champ pole with a 15.153-seconds lap.  Smith scored the outside pole position from where he hustled into the early lead.  By mid-race he owned a huge lead over the field with Houston trying to close the gap from a distant second. Bohatka and Casey Harrell trailed Houston in fourth and fifth.

“The Momentum kart handled fine it brought me to the front and kept me there the whole time,” credited Smith, a 13-year-old Zephyr Hills, Fl native.  “I didn’t feel him behind me on the last lap.  I just kept my head on straight and drove. I want to thank Earl Mural, my dad and Sandy.”

Sunday Dustin McGraw grabbed a pair of wins topping Sunday’s Animal Heavy followed three races later with a Stock Medium win. After loosing Saturday’s Animal Heavy race to Jerry Mullis, McGraw returned Sunday ready to rumble.  He blistered the track with a 13.981-seconds pole-winning lap.   From there he led the 25-racer field flawlessly through an early race restart.  Shay Chavous trailed him across the stripe 1.957-seconds late followed by Dillon Jackson, Josh Robinson and Clint Jack.

“I kind of thought someone was closer to me than they were so I wanted to really get going at the start,” McGraw, 22, said. “The kart worked pretty good and we finally got the tires right today.  I’d like to thank John Hall for the motor, Brandon Burr for the kart and Greg Vanburg for helping me out a little bit and my dad for the tires.”

Sunday’s Stock Medium required two rounds of qualifying to get a full 30-racer field.  McGraw earned the pole with a 14.220-seconds effort.  From there he led the filed flawlessly with Allen Michael Lester chasing him the entire trip.  Lester trailed by 0.634-seconds.  Ethan Nipper, Mullis and Chris Thompson.

The event’s first feature, Junior 1 Purple Plate, was a 15-lap crash fest.  Caution flags waved seven times before a winner was chosen.  These young drivers learned from having their first feature cut by five laps.  Sunday’s feature was only stopped twice by caution flags.

Davis dominated qualifying with a 15.433-seconds rounding.  Nick Long was second fastest at 15.515-seconds.  When the green flag flew crashing commenced.  Long dove low into turn one for the lead.  He was blasting down the back straight when karts behind him were tangling in turns one and two.  That put Davis back on the pole.  On the next start mid and backpack racers were line up single file as the top three diced up the lead until Davis settled into it. 

Davis enjoyed less than lap of  comfort as the third caution flag flew on lap three.  Davis led the restart, but Greene got the jump on him and took the lead.  Davis battled back, recaptured the lead, opened it up again only to watch it evaporate again as caution returned on lap five tightening the field into another restart.  Caution waved two more times before the field got going.

Once they returned to racing Hunter Lee took the lead as the passed the 14-lap mark and next time around caution returned.  With 15 laps complete AKRA officials called the race naming Lee the leader.  Filling in the remaining top five of 29 were Ethan Prosser, Mason Ledbetter and Austin Sprinks.

Super Heavy’s competition was all fans and racers could expect.  Returning veteran kart racer Jamie Capehart,  who’s been out of  the seat several seasons, out raced former favored competitor Tommy Townsend in a down to the wire match up. Joey Pierce produced the pole-winning lap.  His 14.692-seconds rounding was 0.15-seconds faster than Capehart’s 14.842-seconds effort.  Behind them in row two were Brian Danforth and Townsend.

Capehart led them in a single-file start.  Instead of tucking in behind Capehart, Townsend powered past him.  Townsend led them to the mid race mark with Capehart threatening down every straight and around every corner.  Just after they got the halfway signal Capehart saw the opening he’d been looking for and took advantage of it. 

Capehart crossed the stripe comfortably 2.123-seconds ahead of Townsend. Trailing Townsend in the top five were Danforth, Zach Powell and Mile Eller.

“It was pretty tough.  I’ve been out of the kart for a while so this is a pretty big win for me,” said the 26-year-old Jacksonville, Fl native.  “I got to race my buddy Tommy (Townsend) for it and that was pretty special.  The kart handled pretty good until the last five laps.  I think I ran out the tires at the end, but I had a big enough lead to hold them off at the end.  The Radical Racing Engines motor was awesome we just got it freshened up and it was incredible.  They did a fabulous job on it, it was excellent.”

Jerry Mullis and Dustin McGraw dominated Animal Heavy.  Mullis started on the outside pole while McGraw started on the pole. David Brekke clocked Saturday’s pole time in 14.220-seconds.  Mullis grabbed the early lead showed them a full lap and then led them through a caution restart.  Brekke and Victor Peters were behind him battling for second. When Mullis took the white flag Peters was nearly a second behind him. At the stripe Mullis was 1.920-seconds ahead of Peters.  McGraw, of Okatie, S.C., was third across the finish line followed by Bryan Bourgeois and Matt Collier for the top five.

“It got a little rough there at the end with lapped traffic and everybody getting all bunched up, but it worked out, we still got what we deserved,” said Mullis of Belmont, N.C.  “The Ultramax kart was perfect.  I wouldn’t ride anything else and Tim’s (Fishel) motor was excellent.”

McGraw returned Sunday ready to rumble.  He blistered the track with a 13.981-seconds pole-winning lap.   From there he led the 25-racer field flawlessly through an early race restart.  Shay Chavous trailed him across the stripe 1.957-seconds late followed by Dillon Jackson, Josh Robinson and Clint Jack.

“I kind of thought someone was closer to me than they were so I wanted to really get going at the start,” McGraw, 22, said. “The kart worked pretty good and we finally got the tires right today.  I’d like to thank John Hall for the motor, Brandon Burr for the kart and Greg Vanburg for helping me out a little bit and my dad for the tires.”

Brad Bowman and Justin McRAE ruled Junior Sportsman Champ offerings.  Dustin Smith spun Saturday’s fastest qualifying lap in 15.694-seconds.  Bowman secured the outside pole with a 15.831-seconds rounding.  Smith shot into the early lead with McRAE and Dylan Colding threatening from behind.  With the pressure behind him Smith over drove his kart spinning out.  Colding inherited the lead briefly as Spencer Davis was quick to snatch it from him. 

Bowman and McRae began working together and soon the shot by Davis for the top two spots dropping Davis to third.  Colding and Smith clung to fourth and fifth with Nick Hebrank and Brandon Yates close behind.  Smith’s Victor Peters Racing Engines powered Shadow Racing Chassis ruled keeping the 12-year-old Clearwater, Fl based Bowman in the lead during the race’s second half.    McRae kept Bowman on his toes finishing just 0.218-seconds behind him at the stripe.  Davis was a distant third. Further back Colding and Smith crossed fourth and fifth.

“It was really good. We had the kart,” Bowman explained. “We had some help from some people behind us. We had to work the leader a little bit, but after we passed the first kart it was all about motor and kart.  The Shadow kart handled great. We had a lot of help from people.  I want to thank GS Racing, Eagles Nest, Victor Peters Motors and Todd Wilson’s Lawn Service and Landscaping and Advanced Motorsports.”

Sunday Bowman blasted around the track in 15.590-seconds for Day 2’s Junior Sportsman Champ pole.  Davis joined him on front row with McRAE and Smith behind them in row two.   It was obvious from the waving of the green flag that the battle would be between McRae, Bowman and Smith. 

McRAE grabbed the early going with Bowman behind him and Smith coming on strong.  Bowman kept the pressure on and finally passed McRae just after the halfway signal was shown.  The lead swapping battle between them continued down to the wire with McRAE getting it back in time to take the checkered flag with a mire 0.141-seconds to spare.  Behind them Smith, Colding and Hebrank rounded out the top five.

“I just didn’t let off the gas too much and was just driving good,” McRae, of Mobile, Al.  “The kart handled good, especially at the end of the race and Eddie Mishue’s motors are high class. I want to thank my mom and dad, Nick Ellis and Dustin Smith.”

Baton Rouge, La based Wesley LeBLAC led 28-Stock Heavy competitors across the stripe.  Shay Chavous was the class’s fastest qualifier dialing in a 14.699-seconds run for the lead starting position.  After a failed first effort Chavous led them single file back to the green flag.  When it waved for the second time Walt Barnes blasted from a third place start into the early lead.  Two laps later Terrence Burdette took the top spot from Barnes.  Burdette barley led a lap when Jay Messer’s kart flipped and caught fire.  Messer was fine and back racing. 

Burdette led the restart with McGraw and Barnes behind him.  Burdette quickly pulls away from the field.  McGraw and Le BLAC closed in on Burdette in the final laps.  Le BLAC passed McGraw setting his sites on Burdette.  He swept by Burdette and then McGraw for the lead.  As Le BLAC assumed the lead Cole Exum and Paschal moved in behind him.  Exum was 0.798-seconds behind Le BLAC at the stripe.  Further back McGraw and Burdette were fourth and fifth.

“We had some good racing going on,” LeBLAC said.  “Me and (Dustin) McGraw had a good little race going on there. He drove me clean and so did everybody else and it was good to come out with the win.  The Phantom Icon worked great this is my first race on it. Phantom makes a great chassis. I’d also like to thank the Smith Brothers for a great motor.”

Joseph Galloway grabbed Day Two’s Junior 2 Blue Plate’s win over Garrett Blaney who trailed Galloway by just 0171-seconds.   Galloway and Blaney diced up the early lead.  Several laps into it the  race’s only caution flag flew.  Galloway held on as Blaney kept the pressure on down to the end.  Behind Blaney in the top five were Woodrow Mullis, Jimmy Pope and C.J.Leary

“I never looked back, my dad gets on me when I look back and I never did this time.  I want to thank God for a safe race, my mom and dad. The kart handled great and the motor was awesome.”

Shay Chavous earned day two’s Florida All Stars win from the pole he earned with a 12.941-seconds trip.  Chavous and Paschal scrapped over the early lead.  Paschal dove low in turn one coming up with the lead.  Chavous tries to take it from him, but spun.  Chavous gathered it back up and chased Paschal down.  Suddenly Paschal’s machine developed mechanical problems forcing him from the competition as Chavous returned to an inherited lead he took to the finish line.  Local Ed Shriefels followed nine seconds later.  Further back Brian Able, Tim Taft and Wayne Howe.


With the fourth annual ‘Christmas in Dixie’ dirt program in the book it was time to move across Cross Roads Motorplex to their asphalt track, which is almost identical in size and design to its famous dirt oval.



CID Part 2 Asphalt

Barnes Bags World 100


Story by Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
Susan Taylor-Walls

    JASPER, FL-Several years ago American Kart Racing Association (AKRA) owner and CEO Bill McCutcheon, FKA Owner/President and track owner Wade Murphy decided to include Asphalt racers to their annual "Christmas in Dixie" event.  Each year since its inclusion the asphalt portion of "Christmas in Dixie" has grown. Last year (2007)
AKRA, FKA and track owner Wade Murphy decided to add an annual "World 100" race with $1,000 going to the winner to the asphalt action which was held again this year.

Racers began arriving early that morning.  Threats of afternoon and evening showers never materialized and the show went on at a comfortable pace starting with racers getting two full rounds of practice. 

After a short driver’s meeting racers returned to their pits for final adjustments before qualifying. Junior 1 Purple Plate racers qualified first.  Piloting a Rampage Racing Engines powered Eclipse kart Justin McRae set a new track record qualifying lap of 14.887-seconds. Piloting a similar machine Dustin Smith grabbed the outside pole with a 15.030-seconds lap.

When the green flag flew teammates McRae and Smith quickly broke from the pack for their own fight for the front.  Running nose-to-tail they battled through lapped traffic back into clean air.  When they reached the stripe McRAE was 2.350-seconds late.  Garrett Green was third across the finish line followed by R.J. Murphy (son of track owner Wade Murphy) and Kristin Clements who capped the top five.

“It was pretty hard getting around my teammate (Justin McRAE), but I managed to get by him,” Smith said.  “Lapped traffic was a big help. The Eclipse kart worked real good, I like them, and the new Rampage motor was pretty sporty, it was fast.”

Stock Medium racers were next off the grid led by pole winners Matt Padgett and Bobby Knox Jr., who recorded lap times of 13.967 and 14.103 seconds, respectively.  Padgett and Knox were in an early fight for the front when Hi Tech Racing Engines powered Millenium kart pilot Aaron Sapp sped by them for that lead.  Sapp, of Brunswick, GA, kept his foot on the gas building a huge lead while the field behind him battled for positions.  Kati Leonard fought her was from a fourth place start to trailing Sapp by 3.931-seconds.  Padgett was third across the stripe followed by Michael Hughes.  Hughes failed to bring his kart to tech and was disqualified.  That moved Garrett Reinhardt up from fifth to fourth and Knox advanced from sixth to fifth for the official top five.

“The kart was handling real good.  I just kept running my line and it paid off,” said the 19-year-old winner.

Spinning a 14.879-seconds earned Dylan Colding Junior Champ’s pole.  Nick Hebrank was second fastest at 15.117-seconds.  Colding captured the early lead with Hebrank and Houston battling for second behind him.  Hebrank secured second and began reeling in Colding.  When he reached Colding’s tailpipe Hebrank began challenging him for the lead.  The battle heated up in the final laps.  They were side-by-side on the white flag lap and when they reached the stripe for the final time Hebrank had it by just 0.063-seconds for the weekend’s closest finish.

Jacob Young did it all in Senior Champ.  The Homestead, Fl based Kirby Speed Secrets Racing Engines powered Mongoose chassis pilot produced a 14.046-seconds lap for the pole and then went untouched in the feature shaking off early challenges form Dusty Chisholm and late race threats from Brittney Yates who trailed Young by just 0.117-seconds.

“I didn’t even know they were back there.  I was just running my own race,” Young said adding,  “The Mongoose Chassis was amazing.  It’s the best chassis I’ve had so far and the motor was fast.”

David Hicken was a dominant factor in the dirt Box Stock classes during the dirt portion of  "Christmas in Dixie."  The Jacksonville, Fl native produced a first place in Box Stock Heavy along with  finishes of second in Box Stock Lite and fourth in Box Stock Super Heavy.   He was just a strong on asphalt taking Box Stock Heavy’s checkered flag 2.022-seconds ahead of pole winner Levon Bennett. 

Third fastest qualifier Robert Lowrey leaped into an early lead with Hicken and Bennett locked in a fight for second.  Several laps into it Hicken got a solid grip on second and started reeling in Lowrey.  He reached Lowrey’s tailpipe and began pressuring him for the position.  Entering turn three just before the mid-race signal was shown, Hicken dove low getting by Lowrey for the lead. 

Bennett got by Lowrey in the final laps for a second place finish.  Lowrey held third and was trailed in the top five by ARC factory driver Tom Cole and Frog Murphy.

Brenden, Fl based Prowler kart pilot Seth Adams rounded the track in 14.079-seconds for Junior 3 Gold’s pole.  Brandon Sellers was second fastest at 14.088-seconds.  The leaders tried muscling each other out of first place as they beat and banged their way around the track several times.  Adams finally secured the lead and held off final challenges from Sellers and Jay Gnann.  Sellers held onto second as they crossed the stripe for the final time.  Adams beat him there by 1.228-seconds.  Gnann, C.J. Leary and  Brett Heatherly finished out the top five.

“The Prowler kart was good. It was a little bit loose at first, but it always takes a little while for the tires to come in pilot. Then it was real good,” reported the 13-year-old winner who pilots a Rampage Racing Engines power Prowler kart. “My dad was telling me from the fence line that someone was closing in on me, so I knew they were coming.  I just tried harder and harder every lap.  My tires started going away just a little bit.  They started loosing rubber, but it was a good race.”

A 14.049-seconds rounding earned Oxford, Al native Justin Dopson Stock Heavy’s pole from where he mounted a successful campaign to victory lane.  Outside pole winner Walt Barnes blasted into the early lead, but he slid sideways in the middle of turn one surrendering the lead to third fastest qualifier Bobby Knox.  Dopson was right behind Knox poised to pass him when opportunity presented itself.  When it did Dopson drove his John Hall Motorsports powered Phantom Icon kart by Knox for the lead.  Daniel Brown followed him dropping Knox to third.  That’s how they finished with Dopson comfortably 5.876-seconds ahead of Brown. John Passatt finished fourth followed by Barnes for the top five.

“He (Bobby Knox) got a good jump on the start.  I had to let him have in and drive in on him a little bit there.  I kept looking back to be sure I had a good lead and see how far behind me they were.  The kart handled great, it did real good.  My dad had it rolling.”

Garrett Green grabbed Junior 2 Blue Plate’s pole with a 14.938-seconds lap.  C.J. Leary joined him on front row turning the second fastest lap at 15.086-seconds.  Caution waved before the first lap was complete.  Green led them single file back to the green flag.  Green opened a small advantage over Leary in the early laps.

Smith closed in on Green and shot by him at the halfway mark.  Behind them McRAE was building steam.  Once his kart came in McRae blew by them taking the lead with just a  few laps remaining.  McRae held it across the stripe beating Green to the stripe by 0.356-seconds, but when he got to tech they found him illegal and awarded Green the win.  Dustin Smith was third across the stripe, but like McRAE, Smith was found illegal at tech as well.  That brought Leary up from fourth to second.  Jimmy Pope advanced to third followed in the official finish by Yates and Matt Anderson.

Then it was time for the day’s highlight-The World 100.


 
WORLD 100

By Bruce C. Walls
Photos by Bruce C. Walls
And Susan Taylor-Walls


    JASPER, FL-Based on the success of Cross Roads Motorplex’s Annual Dirt World 100, last year track owner Wade Murphy, AKRA CEO/President Bill McCutcheon and FKA Owner/President Jimmy Sims decided to hold a second World 100 during "Christmas in Dixie", this one on asphalt.   A $2,000 purse was up for grabs. The winner pocketed half; the rest was evenly divided among the top finishers.

Piloting a Tornado Racing Engines powered Epic Kart Matt Padgett pumped out the pole winning lap in 13.703-seconds.  According to Padgett, a 17-year-old Starke, FL native, staying out front,  “It’s going to take a lot of patience and trying not to get wrecked.  It stuck pretty good in qualifying and got better and better the longer I ran so I should be good for the race. I knew I had some good laps, but I didn’t know I had that much.”

Jacksonville, FL native Davey Hicken turned the second fastest qualifying lap a 13.896-seconds rounding.  Joey Collins and Tara Henderson turned times of 13.948 and 13.955-seconds respectively for row two.  Starting in row three were Dusty Chisholm and Justin Dopson.  Further back Kevin Ingram and Tommy Townsend started in row three and behind them in row four were Walt Barnes, of Monroe, N.C. and Wayne Howe.  Starting in row five were Chase Fitzgerald and Bobby Knox, Jr.

Hicken hustled into the early lead with Padgett and Henderson closing fast.  Henderson passed Padgett as the lead pack began taking on lapped traffic.  Further back Dopson began gaining on the leaders.  He reached Henderson and took second from her.  Two laps later he took the lead bringing Chase Fitzgerald with him dropping Henderson to third. 

As battles for the lead raged at the field’s front Walt Barnes was working his way through the field from dead last.  He was catching the lead pack

When they got the halfway signal Dopson had opened a comfortable lead.  Fitzgerald was following him from several kart lengths behind.  Hicken was in third at that point with Henderson and Padgett trailing in fourth and fifth.  As the final laps of the first fifty-lap segment unfolded Dopson’s machine developed problems forcing him to surrender the lead to Henderson.  

Barnes continued climbing through the field reaching second.  He took the lead from Henderson in the final laps and held to the halfway flag.  “My neighbor gave me a couple of tires. I didn’t have anything to loose so I tried them and wow this thing woke up,” Barnes said as he and his crew worked on his kart during the mandatory pit stop.  “I’m stoked. It’s getting it done right now.  Right now if the tires continue to be quick and the kart will stay together it looks like we’re a little quicker than everybody so we should be in good shape now.”

Henderson, of Loxahatchee, FL held onto second when the checkered waved. “We got fast at the end and I’ve got to just ride by him.  We’ll have to see what happens, The Phantom Icon kart was handling good at first, but then it started getting a little tight at the end. But the Moon Power South motor always works.”

Racers and their crews were given a two-minute warning.  Two minutes later they got the command to stop working on their karts.  Then the field was lined up according to their first segment finish.  Barnes, Henderson, Joey Collins, Aaron Sapp and Padgett made up the top five when they got the green flag.

Four laps into it Collins closed in on Barnes, challenged him for the led and took it.  Next time around Barnes got it back bringing Henderson with him. Collins battled back to the front.  Henderson was behind him, Barnes behind her.  Barnes got back by her, dove low going into turn three and exited turn four back in the lead as the front pack began taking on traffic again with nine karts still on the lead lap.

Barnes began breaking away from the field as battles for positions raged behind him.  In the final laps Collins climbed back to second finishing 3.440-seconds behind Barnes.  Trailing in third Henderson was 4.260-seconds off the leader’s pace.  Townsend was fourth across the stripe followed by Chisholm who capped the top five.

“Wow! From the back row to the front row,” Barnes beamed in Victory Lane.  “I’ve really got to thank my neighbor parked beside me he loaned me two tires and wow, they made a big difference.  I’ve got to thank Tod Miller for building a superb motor.  That thing there is awesome.  I’ve also got to thank Harrill Wiggins for the Phantom kart; it took a lot of licks in the first 25 laps and still came out quick.   I’m proud of everybody in my family for keeping me in the sport, I’m proud of the people that come and continue to support this sport and racing in general.”

With the second asphalt World 100 in the record book plans for next year’s race are being made.  But before that happens AKRA and Orange County Kartway owner Ollie Spain are making plans for a 150-lap race at Orange County Kartway in July.  Once plans for that race are finalized AKRA will announce them.