“Multiple championships and awards in year ending function”

September 29, 2010 – With the Florida Karting Championship Series (FKCS) coming to a close, the last item on the yearly schedule was the end of the year awards banquet. With Ocala Gran Prix drivers taking home multiple championships, it was time for a night of celebration to recognize the job done by drivers this season. With a banquet that had nearly three hundred attendees and a charity race on the same weekend to support the Victory Junction Camp, it was a great way to end the 2010 racing season.

“The FKCS program had a great year,” stated outgoing President Jorge Arellano. “We set record numbers with entries and the racing was second to none. Next season is going to be even better, and I can’t wait to get back at it.”

When the final points were tallied, Ocala Gran Prix finished the Florida Karting Championship Series with seven championships, six vice champions and three third place results in the overall series title chase. Taking home their ‘Eagle Championship’ trophies were Nick Neri (KPP and Yamaha Junior), Ashley Rogero (Rotax Mini Max and Yamaha Sportsman), Oliver Askew (Tag Junior and Rotax Junior) and Jackson McKeague (KPP Sportsman). Vice champions were Ashley Rogero (Cadet and KPP Sportsman), Jonathon Kotyk (KPP Junior), Brandon Salyer (Rotax Senior and TaG) and Andrew Evans (TaG Junior) while Devin Boutout scored a solid third place result in Rotax Micro Max.

Other awards were handed out on the evening with double champion Oliver Askew taking home the Rookie of the Year award in his first season of FKCS action. National champion Ashley Rogero scored the Most Podiums of the Year award taking home fifteen top three results throughout the FKCS program.

Ocala Gran Prix will now shift their focus to the 2010 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals taking place at the famed La Conca facility in southern Italy. With a Team USA planned test a couple weeks from now, all focus and attention will be turned to scoring a world championship for the United States.

Ocala Gran Prix is also continuing to expand their dealership network. Any interested parties are asked to contact Kyle Kraus or Mike Maurini at OGP.

For more information on Ocala Grand Prix, OGP race team opportunities and info on how to get into karting, please visit Ocala Gran Prix online at www.OcalaGranPrix.com or contact Kyle Kraus at 352.291.0600 (Kyle@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@OcalaGranPrix.com).

Press release prepared by: Race Tech Development

Mike Maurini
Race Tech Development
Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com
P: 317.270.8723

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“Neri, Rogero and Kotyk provide results in New Jersey”

September 21, 2010 – The Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) and Tony Kart race team had a victorious weekend at the fifth and final round of the World Karting Association (WKA) Manufacturer’s Cup program this past weekend. With the on track action taking place at the New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) facility in Millville, NJ, OGP drivers went on to claim five podium results including three victories in their hunt for multiple national championships.

OGP’s Nick Neri went on to claim both the KPP Junior Lite and KPP Junior Heavy victories.

Leading the way in the junior ranks was Floridian driver Nick Neri as he would do battle in Komet Piston Port Junior Lite and Heavy as well as Yamaha Junior Lite and Heavy. After official practice on Friday, Neri and his rivals could be seen at the pointy end of the field as they all looked to have a chance at the victory.

Saturday would see the Tony Kart driver compete in Komet Piston Port (KPP) Heavy and Yamaha Junior Lite. After qualifying on the outside front row in both divisions, Neri took control of the KPP Heavy class as he went on to claim the heat race win. Taking the lead early in the main event, Neri fell back to the second position but never gave up as he stalked the leader. As the white flag flew, Neri made a passing attempt in corner two but was unsuccessful. As both drivers lost momentum, Neri followed the leader closely as they got back up to speed before attacking again in corner six, this time making it stick. Opening a small gap on the exit of the corner, Neri was able to hold off the advances of his fellow competitors for the last half a lap to take the win.

After claiming the second quickest time in the Yamaha Junior Lite qualifying session, Neri would finish fifth in the heat race after being involved in a first corner incident that would see him close the first lap in the nineteenth position. Battling hard, the OGP pilot moved forward to claim the fifth spot in the prefinal before finishing a solid second in the main event.

On Sunday, Neri scored a perfect day in the KPP Lite class as he took the pole position, heat race win and demanding six second win in the main event. Disaster would strike in the Yamaha Junior Heavy class prefinal after Neri claimed the pole position, his second of the day. After running the entire race in the second position, Neri looked content to have an outside front row starting spot when a broken connecting rod bearing on the last corner of the last lap caused him to drop back a spot as he coasted across the finish line. Utilizing WKA rules, a change in motor automatically forces you to start from the tail of the field as Neri would have to start in the 33^rd position. Looking to make a show of it, the talented up and coming driver passed 23 competitors to claim the tenth position.

Female driver Ashley Rogero scored one victory and three top five results at NJMP.

Saturday would be an up and down day for Sportsman driver Ashley Rogero. The female driver from Florida had a lot on her mind entering the weekend as she would be challenging for four different class titles. Things started off well in the Cadet Junior Sportsman class as Rogero claimed the pole position and heat race win. Looking to continue her momentum through the day, Rogero would battle hard with the lead group but would eventually be classified in the sixth position.

Rogero would also see battle in two other classes including Komet Junior Sportsman and Yamaha Sportsman Heavy. Working hard with her engine builder and her tuner to ensure her equipment was in championship winning order, Rogero cautiously attacked both fields of drivers. When the dust had finally settled, the Floridian scored a sixth place finish in Komet Junior Sportsman and a fourth place result in Yamaha Sportsman Heavy.

On Sunday, Rogero would do battle in the second of the two Cadet classes of the weekend as well as Yamaha Sportsman Lite where she would be victorious. After qualifying third and finishing seventh in the prefinal, Rogero showed that she is one of the best drivers coming out of the Sportsman categories as she had a spirited drive in the final. After moving into the second position, Rogero worked the leader over on the final two circuits to make a bold outside pass on the final set of corners to take the checkers.

After struggling in the Cadet Sportsman qualifying session in the morning, Rogero would need to work hard to move forward from her seventeenth place starting spot. After claiming the tenth position in the prefinal, the Tony Kart pilot would move forward three more positions in the main event to finish seventh.

Jonathon Kotyk would also make the long journey from Florida to New Jersey to compete in the Yamaha Junior Lite and Heavy classes. After not attending Friday’s test day, Kotyk used Saturday to get up to speed as he ran inside the top fifteen. Kotyk continued to improve with each passing lap of every session as he finished just outside the top ten in both classes.

For more information on Ocala Grand Prix, OGP race team opportunities and info on how to get into karting, please visit Ocala Gran Prix online at www.OcalaGranPrix.com or contact Kyle Kraus at 352.291.0600 (Kyle@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@OcalaGranPrix.com).

Press release prepared by: Race Tech Development
Photos courtesy of: Sean Buur – Go Racing Magazine

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Starting October 6^th we will have new track hours, 3pm to 8pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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“Tony Kart squad looks to repeat success of ’09 and ’10 seasons”

September 8, 2010 – While much has changed in the world of karting, one thing remains constant and that is the fact that Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) will be front and center at the 2011 Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour (FWT). With a large team and the goal of winning, the OGP squad will be hunting for multiple championships in almost all Rotax classes.

“We had a big team at the 2010 edition of the series and are going to trim back slightly,” expressed Ocala Gran Prix President Jorge Arellano. “We are trying to limit the team to twelve drivers and focus on making sure they are all at the front of the pack.”

With some driver’s returning to the series and others moving on, Ocala Gran Prix has a few positions open for arrive and drive opportunities under the team tent.

“We are going to have a high powered team in 2011,” explained OGP’s Team manager Kyle Kraus. “We have a number of very talented drivers and an outstanding group of tuners to continue on from the momentum built in previous seasons.”

Anyone interested in competing aboard a Tony Kart chassis under the official Ocala Gran Prix tent is asked to contact Kyle Kraus at 352.291.0600 or via e-mail at Kyle@OcalaGranPrix.com. Pending the number of inquiries turned into the team, OGP will then make the necessary decision on what is needed to better fill their program for 2011.

Ocala Gran Prix is also continuing to expand their dealership network with a high priority in both the New York/New Jersey area and Wisconsin. Any interested companies are asked to contact either Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com) or Kyle Kraus at 352.291.0600 (Kyle@OcalaGranPrix.com).

For more information on Ocala Grand Prix, OGP race team opportunities and info on how to get into karting, please visit Ocala Gran Prix online at www.OcalaGranPrix.com or contact Kyle Kraus at 352.291.0600 (Kyle@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@OcalaGranPrix.com).

Press release prepared by: Race Tech Development
Mike Maurini
Race Tech Development
Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com
P: 317.270.8723

Announcements, Newsletter

“Multiple championships secured under OGP tent”

September 1, 2010 – The Tony Kart / Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) race team travelled north this past weekend to Monticello Karting for the sixth and final round in the Florida Karting Championship Series (FKCS). With multiple championships on the line, drivers did not disappoint as a total of thirteen podiums were claimed in the two day event including five main event victories.

“Our team has gelled together nicely this year as we all try and work together to make everyone faster,” expressed Ocala Gran Prix President Jorge Arellano. “We have performed well at the Florida Winter Tour, Rotax Grand Nationals and WKA Manufacturer’s Cup and we’re looking forward to finishing off the FKCS program on a high note and take home the championships our team and drivers deserve.”

Back in fine form after a broken arm, Floridian Nick Neri had a near perfect weekend as he took the Komet Junior and Yamaha Junior main event victories. Neri also scored the pole positions in both divisions and only downfall was a second place result in one of the heat races.

Following in Neri’s footsteps, FKCS front runner Oliver Askew would do battle in TaG Junior and Rotax Junior. Saturday would see the up and coming driver sweep the day with the pole position, heat race win and main event victory. Sunday would prove to be a little tougher for the young driver as a fourth place qualifying position would make him work for the win. Moving forward in the Rotax Junior pre final, Askew led flag to flag in the final to take the victory.

Female driver Ashley Rogero would be in the hunt for three championships and would score two podium results on Saturday. Taking a second place finish in Rotax Mini Max, Rogero improved one spot in the Yamaha Sportsman division to take the win. In Sunday’s action, Rogero was one of the fastest drivers in the Cadet Sportsman class but a broken piston ring would cause her Tony Kart to slow after the midway point. Working the carburetor to try and save the power plant, Rogero limped her kart to a fourth place result after taking the pole position earlier that day.

Jonathon Kotyk would be a busy driver this past weekend competing in Easykart 100, Komet Junior and Yamaha Junior. Proving to be one of the most consistent drivers in the FKCS program, Kotyk walked away with three podium results including a second place finish in Komet Junior, a third place finish in Easykart 100 and a solid third place result in Yamaha Junior after starting from the tail of the field.

Looking to end the season of FKCS action on a high note, Masters driver Rob Maier decided to follow in the footsteps of the younger drivers and do battle in three separate divisions. Saturday would prove to be a busy day for the driver who is also his own mechanic but was rewarded in the end with third place results in both TaG 1 and Rotax Senior. Sunday would prove to be a little difficult for Maier as he scored the eleventh position in TaG.

With a shot at two championships, Brandon Salyer had no luck this weekend. After being forced off the racing circuit in Saturday’s Rotax Senior final, Salyer would drive forward to a ninth place result. Sunday proved to be even more disappointing for the championship contender as a broken bumper bolt forced a disqualification at the end of the event. With one of the fastest karts on track and taking the lead on several occasions, Salyer was disappointed with the ruling and was classified 17^th.

Junior driver Andrew Evans had an up and down weekend as he showed signs of speed to run at the front of the field. After finishing ninth in Saturday’s TaG Junior final due to contact on the start, Evans claimed a fourth place result in Rotax Junior on Sunday.

Sportsman driver Devin Boutout was back in action in the Rotax Micro Max class and was joined by Dylan Gennaro who made the move from Kid Karts. Boutout would score a fourth place result in Saturday’s main event giving him a second place result in the overall series championship. Gennaro would look to get up to speed in the faster kart and came home with a respectable fifteenth place finish. Gennaro would also compete in Cadet Junior Sportsman on Sunday where he would finish eighth.

‘Action’ Jackson McKeague continued to garner experience in the FKCS program and had one of his best weekends to date scoring a third place podium result in Yamaha Sportsman. ‘Action’ Jackson went on to take the KPP Sportsman championship in his first year of competition.

When the final points were tallied, Ocala Gran Prix finished the Florida Karting Championship Series with seven championships, seven vice champions and two third place results in the overall series title chase. Taking home championships were Nick Neri (KPP and Yamaha Junior), Ashley Rogero (Rotax Mini Max and Yamaha Sportsman), Oliver Askew (Tag Junior and Rotax Junior) and Jackson McKeague (KPP Sportsman). Vice champions were Devin Boutout (Micro Max), Ashley Rogero (Cadet and KPP Sportsman), Jonathon Kotyk (KPP Junior), Brandon Salyer (Rotax Senior and TaG) and Andrew Evans (TaG Junior).

Ocala Gran Prix is also continuing to expand their dealership network. Any interested parties are asked to come by the Ocala Gran Prix tent and speak with Kyle Kraus or Mike Maurini.

For more information on Ocala Grand Prix, OGP race team opportunities and info on how to get into karting, please visit Ocala Gran Prix online at www.OcalaGranPrix.com or contact Kyle Kraus at352.291.0600 (Kyle@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@OcalaGranPrix.com).

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