State Championship PDKA Selinsgrove race report

Pennsylvania Dirt Karter's Association
State Championship Kart Series Races Round Two

Some 240 karts raced for state championship PDKA and national BNSS points on an exceptionally fast Selinsgrove Raceway track Sunday.

"We are glad to see the series growing from the 218 at the first race, and hope many more will join us for the next one. All of the riders, especially the youngsters, had a wonderful time and we even had several entries from adjoining states and as far as Virginia," said Butch Diller, President of the Pennsylvania Dirt Karters Association (PDKA).

The six-race series alternates between Path Valley and the Selinsgrove Raceway and the remaining events are all Sunday races. Gates open at 7 a.m. with practice at 10 a.m. and racing at noon for the four remaining events. The best five finishes are counted toward the Pennsylvania State Championships and the Burris National Speedway Series points.

The additional Selinsgrove races are July 14 and Sept. 29. The third and fifth races at Path Valley are June 23 and August 18. Rain dates are Sept. 22 and Oct. 6.

The fast Selinsgrove kart track promoted plenty of spins and skids, but none of the hundreds of youngsters were seriously injured.

Among the 19 different class winners, all on Burris Tires, was Derek Locke of Mechanicsburg, son of the Silver Spring star Howie Locke, who proved the skill in open wheel racing runs in the family with his victory in the controlled heavy karts. Young Locke also finished third in the controlled medium class. The controlled medium winner was Missy Ciucci of Greencastle, a past champion in several different classes.

Austin Hogue of Manchester became the first repeat winner in this year's series with a victory in Junior Sportsman II Heavy karts. He was last year's champion in the Jr. Sportsman I class.

Austin Hogue of York, the 2001 state champion in Jr. Sportsman I

Jason Jones of Sunbury was a first time winner in the state championship series and he said, "I was just hoping I could take the motor home in a box this time, and really glad we can because it was a tough race." Jones referred to the strict PDKA engine technical inspections that require the complete disassembly of the Briggs motors to check specifications. After tech, the winning engines literally go home in a box of pieces.

"Our strict technical inspection, along with the high level of competition and officiating, is what makes this a legitimate state championship series," Diller explained. "Some of the young riders here just come for the chance to race against someone better than they are so they can learn!"

Feature race winners in all classes with 12 or more karts receive a winner's plaque and a $100 gift certificate from the class sponsor. Burris M15A or M15B tires are required for all classes.

New classes this year are Briggs Junior Sportsman Champ, Star Champ, Briggs Junior Sportsman 1 Lite & Heavy, Briggs Junior Sportsman 2 Lite & Heavy, F-200 Intek/ Honda/ Kohler/ Tecumseh @ 360#'s. For F-200 Rules click the Info & Rules section of the BNSS web site at www.burrisnationalspeedwayseries.com/.

The PDKA competitors range from Kid Karts for those 5 to 7 years old up to adult classes for those 15 and older. For rules, past state champions and information on the PDKA, riders can consult the series website at www.padirtkart.com/.

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