Raptor 200 report

WEIR WINS RAPTOR 200
By Bruce C. Walls

ROUGEMONT, NC-Phantom Kart pilot Scotty Weir, of Marion, IN, took the Raptor 200's checkered flag 6.666-seconds ahead of pole winner and fellow Phantom kart pilot Jason Petty May 6th at Orange County Kartway near Rougemont, NC. Thirty-two racers attempted to make the event and only two didn¹t make the 30-racer field.

Creedmoor, NC based Tod Miller Racing Engines Powered Wynns sponsored Petty earned the pole with a 13.229-seconds lap and rocketed into an early lead of the first of four 50-lap segments.

"I sure didn't think I had the pole time that lap I thought I was off Michael Dowell's time by about 3/10's," Petty said after earning the pole. "Now I¹ve got to drive hard, be consistent and use the draft which plays a big part in this kind of race."

Weir took the led for the first time on lap three and dominated the rest of the first segment. After the first 50-laps racers took a 10-minute pit stop. While the crew was fueling his SBR Power Plants & Performance powered kart and making adjustments Weir swallowed a big gulp of water and said, "The Phantom kart's running great and if it keep running like it is we¹ve got a good shot at winning this."

When racers got the second segment's green flag Weir rocketed off with Mike Dowell, who turned Happy Hour's fastest lap time at 13.153-seconds, glued to his tailpipe. Weir held on while Dowell surrendered second to Petty. Then suddenly on lap 74 the race's only caution waved. Weir led the restart, but Petty shot by him on lap 76 and held the lead until the mid-race pit stop.

Petty led the start of the race's second half with Weir threatening from behind. Petty jumped into the early lead; once the air in their tires heated up so did the battle for the lead. Several laps into it Weir and Dowell drafted by Petty who recaptured it several laps later. In the segment¹s final laps Petty and Weir took their battle into traffic and Weir came out of it in time to take the checkered.

Weir's kart was unstoppable in the final segment. "We had fast tires for the first segment and put them back on for the final segment when we needed them," explained the 16-year-old winner. "The kart never got loose and the SBR Power plant ran good all day. I want to thank SBR Power Plants & Performance Parts, SBR Power Pipes, Air Tech Carbs, Speed Cut Tires, Phantom Racing Chassis, SMC Vortex 4000 Racing Clutches, Burris Racing, CMS Body Works, WMS Wheels and Kinser Air Filters for their support," Weir added.

Weir pocketed $4,250 for his efforts. The win earned him $2,300 and the rest came from contingencies. He now has a shot at the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Winners Circle Bonus of $15,000.

Petty's second place finish earned him $3,625. "The Phantom kart was good and Tod Miller's motor was good as always, Scotty was quick that's all," said Petty. Four hundred of Petty's earnings came from the Speedway USA Pole Award, which was presented by Rob Howden, of Howden Communications, owner of Speedway USA Magazine. The Speedway USA Pole Award at Twin Fountains Raceway will be $400 and then it will increase to $1,000 at Charlotte for the Briggs & Stratton 300.

Beef Performance powered Phantom kart pilot Justin Moorefield, of Sandy Ridge, NC came in third and collected a total of $1,250 in purse and contingencies. "The Phantom kart ran good and I want to thank Beef Performance for a great motor and I want to thank my mom and dad for all of their support," Moorefield said.

Wall, NJ race Jace Reynolds ran third and earned $700 in purse monies Mike Dowell followed in fourth and collected $600 for his effort.

Round two of the 2001 Briggs & Stratton Pro Kart Tour, the Intek 250 will be hosted by Twin Fountains Raceway in Shelbyville, TN. Racers will compete on that 1/5-mile track August 26th and then head for Lowe's Motor Speedway for the Briggs & Stratton 300 November 1-3 where they will compete on the 1/4-mile track in front of the main grandstands.