World Superkart Challenge Laguna Seca race summary

Lawson wins World Superkart Challenge; Yamaha driver sweeps heat and final at Laguna Seca.

SALINAS, CA - Eddie Lawson proved that he was most definitely the man to beat at this year's World Superkart Challenge at Laguna Seca as he scored a decisive Formula E victory in Sunday's main event. With a strong field of both national and international competitors in the paddock, this annual event is fast becoming one of the most prestigious races on the world's Superkart calendar and it was one that Lawson has been focused on winning all year. Armed with monster Yamaha power and his new P1 chassis, Lawson took to the top step of the podium after a dominating victory over Californian Tom Woods and Australian Brian Stockman. It was the debut 250cc run for Woods and his performance turned many heads.

Ignition problems in Friday qualifying put Lawson behind the eight ball from the get-go but a focused effort by his crew gave him the car he needed to storm from 27th in the heat race to a last lap win over an impressive Woods. Lawson got by the young driver on the inside of Turn #5 to complete his drive to the front, securing the pole position for the main event in the process. To follow-up this performance, a lap of 1:24.5 in the Sunday morning warm-up set the paddock abuzz as it was quick enough to outpace many of the American Le Mans Series entries that were the headline show at Laguna, including the entire GT field, all but one of the GTS cars (including both Corvette C5-R) and even one of the ultra-quick LMP675 machines.

At the start of the 30-minute final, Woods grabbed the holeshot from his outside front row starting position to lead into the first turn although by the end of the opening lap, Lawson had already assumed a lead that he would extend to over 15 seconds by the checkered flag. Woods and Stockman enjoyed similar cushions over their closest rivals as they drove to well-deserved podium positions.

The best race of the day was for fourth position and included a quartet of drivers that fought valiantly for the entire race distance. At the checker, Canadian Riley Will capped a tough weekend to take the position ahead of Wayne Rainey, Robert McMillan and Russ Warr. The Texan McMillan made an exciting charge from 15th after trouble in the heat race but began running out of fuel over the last two laps and as a result, he was unable to defend the determined attack of Rainey, who made a daring pass for fifth on the final circuit. McMillan ended up in sixth with Warr taking a satisfying seventh. Ryan Kurpiewski took eighth while Don Bootes and John Green rounded out the top ten.

In the 250cc Single ICE class, Cory Fancy turned in a great performance to take the win over Brad Davis and Vince Mumm.

In Victory Circle, Lawson was presented with a new perpetual award for the World Superkart Challenge - the Wayne Rainey Trophy. It was an emotional time for those involved with Laguna Seca and the World Superkart Challenge as Lawson and Rainey are the best of friends and hold a special place in the hearts of everyone at the track. For all those in this sport, there could have been no better winner.

<pre> WORLD SUPERKART CHALLENGE MAZDA RACEWAY AT LAGUNA SECA SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2002

FINAL - FORMULA E Pos. Driver (Country) Chassis Engine 1. Eddie Lawson (USA) P1 Yamaha TZ250 2. Tom Woods (USA) P1 Yamaha TZ250 3. Brian Stockman (AUS) Stockman Honda RS250 4. Riley Will (CAN) PVP Rotax 256 5. Wayne Rainey (USA) P1 Yamaha TZ250 6. Robert McMillan (USA) Nemesis Honda RS250 7. Russ Warr (USA) PVP Rotax 256 8. Ryan Kurpiewski (USA) Swift Yamaha TZ250 9. Don Bootes (USA) Anderson Yamaha TZ250 10. John Green (USA) Anderson Rotax 256

FINAL - INTERCONTINENTAL E (ICE) Pos. Driver (Country) Chassis Engine 1. Cory Fancy (USA) PVP Rotax 257 2. Brad Davis (USA) PVP Rotax 257 3. Vince Mumm (USA) PVP Rotax 257

-wsc- Prepared by Howden Communications Inc.