WKA: Four Duces at Stratton Dirt Nationals

GREENVILLE, NC - Four of the 720 racers entered in the WKA/Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series Comp Cams Grand Nationals at Southern Pitt Raceway in Greenville, NC earned double bonus point wins and coveted WKA Grand National Eagle trophies July 19-21. Sandy Ridge, NC racer Justin Moorefield, who swept both Controlled classes, was the first of the four to score a win on the wide 1/4-mile plus dirt oval. That Saturday he fought his way from an eight-place start to take the win 1.639-seconds ahead of pole winner Stephanie Pitts.

"The Phantom kart and Beef Performance motor worked great. It took off real good and I can't thank Greg James enough for all of his help," Moorefield said after his first win. "I want to thank everybody that's helped me and God for keeping us safe during the race."

That Sunday Moorefield turned in a perfect performance in Bordeaux Dyno Cams Briggs Controlled Heavy. A 17.247-seconds lap put him on the pole from where he led the 30-racer field flag-to-flag finishing just 0.241-hundreths of a second ahead of outside pole winner Brad Gerrells.

Winchester, VA based James Kirby claimed a pair of 2-Cycle wins taking American Power Sports Yamaha 2-Cycle where he edged out Chuck Clark by just 0.535-hundreths of a second and going wire-to-wire in Clark Fabrication Stock 2-Cycle where he beat Archdale, NC competitor Scott Bazen to the stripe by just 0.945-hundreths of a second.

"I would like to have won all three 2-Cycle classes like I did in Aynor," Kirby admitted, but mechanical troubles took him out of Bully Clutches Unlimited 2-Cycle.

Moon Powered, Jacksonville, FL based Shadow kart pilot Blaze Martin bagged two wins from their poles. In Saturday's Competition Cams Animal Heavy he earned the pole with a quick 16.027-seconds lap. He hustled into the early lead and then developed mechanical problems. After making a slight adjustment he was back in contention and setting his sites on the race leader. Martin took charge of the 16-racer field at mid-race and never let go.

Nothing slowed Martin down in Sunday's Dixie Karting/Southern Karting Briggs Super Stock where a 17.213-seconds lap earned him the pole and 0.623-hundreths of a second separated him from second place Jason Scruggs at the stripe.

"The kart was great and the motor was strong," Martin credited after his second win.

Lancaster, SC competitor Brad Pittman posted a pair of wins that Saturday taking Bandit Racing Chassis Brigs Medium and Trick/Olimpic Karts Briggs Lite with Unadilla, GA based Dee Paschal trailing him each time.

"The Shadow Kart was awesome and my dad's motor was awesome," Pittman credited after his first win which clinched him the national points title.

Darren Brown, an Ormond Beach, FL based Moon Powered Phantom kart pilot dominated E-Z Bore Briggs Junior Lite and Shadow Racing Chassis Briggs Junior Heavy for his first two national wins. In Saturday's Lite race the 13-year-old double winner clocked the pole lap at 17.434-seconds and hustled into the early lead over the 30-racer field. On lap six the race's only caution waved. Brown led the restart and then briefly surrendered the lead to Todd Goble before beating Andy Pugh to the finish by just 0.432-hundreths of a second.

"It feels pretty good getting my first national win, especially at the Grand National!" Brown beamed after his first win. "The Phantom kart handled great and the Moon Power motor was strong all race."

For the whole race report and more photos see the next issue of WKA's Karting Scene. To subscribe visit the official World Karting web site at www.worldkarting.com or call the office at 704.455.1606.

WKA/Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series racers have one more race remaining on their national schedule the Precision Cams Nationals that will be raced September 6-8 at Margarettsville Speedway in Margarettsville, NC.