SKUSA: CKTs' Preston Peltier Mid-Ohio race report

Peltier cruises to a couple of second place finishes at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Lexington, OH-Preston Peltier, pilot of the Azzurro Wheels, Millennium Technologies backed shifter kart team, maneuvered his CKT Honda powered CTS to two-second place finishes over the weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Peltier's weekend started off literally with a bang when the 25-year-old shoe destroyed his brand new CTS kart in practice on Friday, when another competitor clipped a stalled kart in the middle of the race track sending the driverless machine into Peltier's path. The CKT team quickly prepared the brand new backup kart just in time to complete two laps on the race course before Saturday's race began. With the kart fully prepped and a new set of MG tires, the team made their way to the grid for Saturday's race.

Saturday's race got underway with Peltier leaping from the fourth starting position into second behind Lance Lane followed by Chad Dokken and Adam Romito. The four kart draft quickly pulled away from the rest of the field swapping positions amongst themselves. Peltier just barely hanging onto the four kart draft, slowly worked his way into the first position on the final lap. Leading only three quarters of the lap, Peltier looked poised for victory, when in turn ten Chad Dokken mounted a charge stealing the victory from Peltier. Adam Romito finished third, followed by Lance Lane and Rob Morris rounding out the top five.

Sunday's CIK 125 race saw a full field of karts scramble off the starting grid. Once again, Peltier slid into the second position behind Lane as both competitors maneuvered by a kart sitting in the middle of turn six. Fifteen minutes into the race, three CKT teammates pulled away from the rest of the field, with Lane leading over Chad Dokken and Peltier. The final laps were settled amongst the teammates with Lane pulling away with the lead and Dokken falling out of the race. Peltier finished a close second with Chad Donner finishing third,

Rob Morris and Troy Pressnall rounding out the top five.

"We found a stuck ring after Saturday's race and that's the reason that we couldn't pull up in the draft or lead the race." Peltier offered. "What's strange is that the kart had the same characteristics in Sunday's race as in Saturday's yet we couldn't find any problems. I'd like to thank Azzurro Wheels, Millennium Technologies and CKT Racing Engines. They have really stepped up to the plate this year with an incredible amount of support. This is really a team effort. I would also like to thank AIM Sports, MG Tires and RCE pipes. These companies are what make this team successful. With people like this backing me, it makes my job easy," stated Peltier.

You can see the CKT race team in action over the next four weeks beginning at Virginia International Raceway on May 31-June 2. Followed by race 2 of the SKUSA Pro Moto tour at Texas Motor Speedway with the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series and the Indy Racing League June 6 - 8.

- SKRACER -