Three wins for Lamont Critchett at Gateway CES

Story & phots by Joe Brittin
MADISON, IL - The fifth round of the MG-Tires Championship Enduro Series was held at Gateway International Raceway on July 27 - 29. Although rain was forecast throughout the weekend, only a few sprinkles fell during race two on Saturday and was not a factor. High temperatures did play a factor causing some blistered tires and fatigued drivers. The Friday practice day went off smoothly with seven rounds of practice completed. In an attempt to beat some of the heat on Sunday, practice was started early at 7:30 and the program was finished by 2:30. The first race scheduled for Sunday was also moved back to Saturday late afternoon. An extra round of practice was also worked in late Saturday afternoon.

The relatively new Gateway facility (built in 1997) has a smooth track surface that is rather abrasive to kart tires. Only a few minor bumps have emerged, that have not effected lap times significantly. The 1.6-mile oval/road course configuration is the shortest track in the series. The faster enduro classes were completing up to 35 laps of racing in their forty-minute races. The 125cc shifter karts were lapping the track in the 1:05 to 1:06 minute range.

The SSC Racing Shifter Kart Pro Series race had yet another close finish with Todd Jurrs, Clayton Prater, and Marc Miller finishing in a tight draft at the end, along with the lapped kart of Tim Koutny, who had to make a pit stop. Jurrs also won the Saturday SK-125 S1 preliminary race earlier in the day. The now traditional champagne spraying celebration for the top three in the SK-125 Pro-S1 shifter class was held in the Gateway victory lane, with the winner's karts joining them on the podium. Jon Kettlewell also ran with the lead pack for most of the pro race before being shuffled out of the draft.

The fast growing Yamaha Sprint class produced some of the best competition of the weekend. John Barnard Jr. won on Saturday and Samantha Weakley won on Sunday. Both were using the new longer wheel-base/narrow Margay chassis and worked together to break away from the pack. Their races were both red-flagged, but no injuries were reported. John Barnard's younger brother Tim Barnard also won both Yamaha Jr. Sportsman races in the new style Margay chassis. Their father, John Barnard, also competed in the Yamaha Sprint classes.

The Saturday Unlimited enduro race produced a scary moment when team-mates Tim Gilbert and Eric Brogdon got together while slingshot drafting each other too closely. One of their karts hit the wall directly under the flag-man's stand and spun across the track, coming to a rest against the inner wall. Fortunately, the only injury reported was a broken thumb.

The only driver to win three races this weekend was Lamont Critchett who won the Yamaha Sportsman Lite class on Sunday, and Yamaha Sportsman Heavy both days. Other drivers picking up more than one win were Jessica Brannam (Novice), Kirk McElheny (Jr. Enduro), Tim Barnard (Yamaha Jr. Sportsman), Andy Brunner (Kohler Box Stock), Brandon Hill (4-Cycle Sr.), David Tallant (G-125 shifter), John Larue (Yamaha Sportsman and Yam. Over 35), Todd Jurrs (SK-125 S1 and SK-125 Pro-S1), and Owen Wharton (SK-80 Pro-K-1 and K-1 Sr. 80cc).

The next race for the series will again be held at Gateway on Aug. 31 - Sep. 2.

Saturday Results:
Novice (Zaagman Decorating): Jessica Brannam, Tony Nika, Matthew Gilbert, Patrick McCarty, Nicholas Weiss, Samantha Miles, Joey Brannam, Jon Williams

Yamaha Sportsman Lite Sprint (MAC Tools Motorsports): 1.) Bob Zirves, 2.) Brian Zirves, 3.) Lamont Critchett, 4.) Jerry Revely, 5.) Allen DeClerk, 6.) James E. Hurst, 7.) Dustin Kessinger, DQ-Paul Shunko, DQ-Fred Garcia

Tecumseh Star (Tecumseh Motorsports): 1.) Mike Gibbs, 2.) Bart Bartusiewicz, 3.) Gerard Schrementi

Yamaha Jr Sportsman Sprint (KG Racing): 1.) Tim Barnard, 2.) James B. Hurst, DQ-Deanna Van Dorn, DQ-Brad Read

Yamaha Sr Sportsman Sprint (Streeter SuperStands): 1.) Gerald Revely, 2.) Richard Dubay, 3.) Kevin Thompson, 4.) Kurt Freeburg, 5.) Mark Kluempers, 6.) Mark Davis, 7.) Cliff Roll, 8.) Michael Myers, 9.) Richard Hadley, 10.) David Hamel, DQ-Mike Flowers

B-Limited (Oilman's of Wilmington): 1.) Brian Weiss, 2.) Scott Grant, 3.) Michael Cousin

Unlimited (ATC Commercial Colections): 1.) Bob Lapke, 2.) Leo Pastore, 3.) Bob Reynolds, 4.) Dale Clark, 5.) Tim Gilbert, 6.) Eric Bogdon

Yamaha Heavy (Fov Valley Kart Shop): 1.) Jerry Culp, 2.) Jay McQuinn, 3.)John LaRue, 4.) John Goodman, 5.) Dave Meigel, 6.) Charlie Hackenthal, 7.) Jim Edgington, 8.) Jon Bruner, DQ-Mike Spear Jr.

100cc Controlled Ltd. (Kart Expo Int'l): no entries

Yamaha SSX Enduro (Martin Custom Products): 1.) Greg Hayden, 2.) Scott Berkowitz, 3.) Douglas Morrison, 4.) DeAnne Dressler, 5.) Michael Finley, 6.) Rick Morris

4-Cycle Sr (Competition Karting): 1.) Brandon Hill, 2.) Kris McCarty, 3.) Tiffany Wester

4-Cycle Jr (Briggs & Stratton Motorsports): no entries

Kohler Box Stock (Kohler Engines): 1.) Andrew Bruner, 2.) Jon Bruner

F200-OHV (Kohler Engines): 1.) Steve Johnson, 2.) Regan Vehring, 3.) Glenn Branstad

100cc Sprint/HPV (G-Man Kartworks, Inc): 1.) Amy Rowe, DQ-Bryan Cohn, DQ-Andre Stunson

Jr. 80cc Shifter (sscracing.com): not available

Yamaha Sprint (Funkhouser Racing Engines): 1.) John Barnard Jr., 2.) David Bird, 3.) Andrew Chase, 4.) Samantha Weakley, 5.) Donald Tate, 6.) Robert Martin, 7.) Ronnie Rose, 8.) Ron Boyer, 9.) Louis Matusik, 10.) Jeremy Padgett, 11.) John Barnard, 12.) Mike Dibart, 13.) Clayton Prater, 14.) Dan Schrementi, DQ-Bill Cook, DQ-Steven Crossley, DQ-Owen Wharton, DQ-Sharion Duncan, DQ-Nick Edgington

Yamaha Sportsman Heavy (G.E.M. Products): 1.) Lamont Critchett, 2.) Jerry Revely, 3.) Kevin Thompson, 4.) Gerald Revely, 5.) Richard Dubay, 6.) Mark Kluempers, 7.) Chad Landers, 8.) Quincy Smith, 9.) Doug G Koin, 10.) Michael Raisley, 11.) Herbert Eckhard

Yamaha 80cc Sportsman (Kartech): 1.) Anthony Vecci, 2.) Larry Andel, 3.) Anthony Pisano, 4.) Dirk Williams, DQ-Drew Williams, DQ-John Baker

Jr Enduro: 1.) Kirk McElheny, 2.) Brian Wester

Yamaha Lite (Red Line Oil): 1.) Paul Corcoran, 2.) Brandon Maurer

Yamaha Sportsman Enduro (RLV Tuned Exhaust): 1.) Mike K. Spear, 2.) John LaRue, 3.) Jarrett Corcoran, 4.) Mike Cousin, 5.) Kenneth Dressler, 6.) Eric LaRue, 7.) Joe Brittin

Controlled 99 (RA Adams Enterprises): 1.) Tim Kizer, 2.) Carl Weakley, 3.) William F. Huck Jr.

SK-125 S1 (GEM Promotions): 1.) Todd Jurs, 2.) Jon Kettlewell, 3.) Marc Miller, 4.) Clayton Prater, 5.) Chris Wright, 6.) Lance Lane, 7.) Ross Kasner, 8.) Ken Ivaska, 9.) Rich Salerno, 10.) Erik Winberg, DQ-Randy Matlock, DQ-Tim Koutny

SK-125 S2 (WD-40 Company): 1.) Chad Sinnett, 2.) Blake Hansen, 3.) John Hoppa

G-125 Over 35 (eKMI.com): 1.) David Tallant, 2.) Melvin Nelson, 3.) Wilson Powell, 4.) Todd Williams, 5.) Tris Gour, 6.) Oscar Navarro, DQ-William F. Huck Jr

K-1 Sr. 80cc Shifter (Flatout Group Graphics): 1.) Angela Hoffman, 2.) Ray Smith, 3.) Mike Jacobs, 4.) Rich Voss

Charity Team Sportsman (Kartshop.com): 1.) John Barnard, 2.) Paul Schunke

Charity Team Enduro (BK Racing): 1.) Bob Thompson

Sunday Results:
Novice (Zaagman Decorating): Patrick McCarty, Nicholas Weiss, Jessica Brannam, Tony Nika, Samantha Miles, Matt Gilbert, Joey Brannam

Jr. 80cc Shifter (Hegar 4 Products): not available

Yamaha Sprint (Nelson Mfg/Invader): 1.) Samantha Weakley, 2.) Wesley Hiser, 3.) Chad Landers, 4.) Shanon Duncan, 5.) Donald Tate, 6.) John Barnard, 7.) Steve Crossley, 8.) Louis Matusik, 9.) Ron Boyer, 10.) John Barnard Jr.

Yamaha Sportsman Heavy (Kartshop.com): 1.) Lamont Critchett, 2.) Jerry Revely, 3.) Gerald Revely, 4.) Chad Landers, 5.) Brian Delaney, 6.) Quincy Smith, 7.) Cliff Roll,

Yamaha 80cc Sportsman (Kartech): 1.) Dirk Williams, 2.) John Baker, 3.) Larry Andel, 4.) Drew Williams, 5.) Anthony Pisano Jr Enduro: 1.) Kirk McElheny, 2.) Brian Wester

Yamaha Medium (Laukaitis Racing Engines): 1.) Mike Spear Jr., 2.) Jay McQuinn, 3.)John Goodman, 4.) Brandon Maurer, 5.) Charlie Hackenthal, 6.) Jerry Culp

Yamaha Sportsman (GEM Promotions): 1.)John LaRue, 2.) Eric LaRue, 3.) Michael Cousins, 4.) Jon Bruner, 5.) Mike K. Spear, 6.) Bob Thompson

Controlled 99 (Alpha Karts): 1.) Brian Weiss, 2.) Mac Hubbard, 3.) William F. Huck

SK-125 S-1 (Rocket Racing Engines): 1.) Ross Kasner, 2.) Ken Ivaska, 3.) Randy Matlock, 4.) Lance Lane

Sk-125 S-2 (PMB Motorsports): 1.) Blake Hansen, 2.) Dale Fagg, 3.) Chad Sinnett, 4.) Glenn Burkemper

G-125 Over 35 (Gearbox): 1.) David Tallant, 2.) Melvin Nelson, 3.) Tris Goor, 4.) Todd Williams, 5.) Wilson Powell

Yamaha Sporstman Lite Sprint (MAC Tools Motorsports): 1.) Lamont Critchett, 2.) Brian Zirves, 3.) Bob Zirves, 4.) Jerry Revely, 5.) James E. Hurst, 6.) Dustin Kessinger

Tecumseh Star (Tecumseh Motorsports): 1.) Gerard Schrementi, 2.) Bart Bartusiewicz, 3.) Mike Gibbs

Yamaha Jr. Sportsman (Fast Lane Kart Shop): 1.) Tim Barnard, 2.) Josh Lane, 3.) James B. Hurst, DQ-Brad Read Yamaha Sr. Sportsman (New Concept Design): 1.) Kevin Thompson, 2.) Mark Kluempers, 3.) David Hamel, 4.) Michael Myers, 5.) Mike Flowers, 6.) Mark Davis, 7.) Cliff Roll, 8.) Richard Hadley, 9.) Richard Dubay, DQ-Gerald Revely

B-Limited (ATC Commercial Collections): 1.) Scott Grant

Unlimited (United Home Inspections): 1.) Leo Pastore, 2.) Dale Clark

Yamaha Over 35 (Lava Soap): 1.) John LaRue, 2.) Dave Meigel

100cc Controlled Ltd. (RLV Tuned Exhaust): 1.) Robert VanAcker, 2.) John Stockbridge, 3.) Erik Mack

Yamaha SSX Enduro (On Trac Sales): 1.) Joe Brittin, 2.) Rick Morris, 3.) Doug Morrison, 4.) Scott Berkowitz, 5.) Greg Hayden

4-Cycle Sr. (Briggs & Stratton Motorsports): 1.) Brandon Hill, 2.) Kris McCarty, 3.) Davd Wester Jr.

4-Cycle Jr. (RA Adams Enterprises): not available

Kohler Box Stock (Kohler Engines): 1.) Andrew Bruner, 2.) Wil Bruner

F200-OHV (Tecumseh Motorsports): 1.) Regan Vehring, 2.)Glenn Branstad