OCALA GRAN PRIX TO OFFER FREE PRACTICE
“A way to say thank-you to Florida karters for a great summer season”
Ocala, Florida – August 29, 2011 – Always looking to give back to the karting community, Ocala Gran Prix’s Jorge Arellano has opened up his facility in central Florida for a free day of practice on Labor Day weekend. With no charge for practice or to be on the property, attendee’s will need to sign a waiver before entering the main gate and the track will go hot for practice from 10:00am to 8:00pm on Saturday, September 3, 2011.
“This is a good way to give back to the karting community,” expressed OGP’s Jorge Arellano. “We have had a great year at our track as our local series and track action continues to grow. This is just a way that I can say thank you to the karting community. Everyone is invited to come out on that Saturday.”
Participants looking to attend the Saturday, September 3 free day will still need to sign the insurance waiver before entering the main gate at Ocala Gran Prix. At that point, each and every person entering the property will be required to pick up his or her insurance wrist band free of charge and enter the track.
Arellano added, “With a lot of drivers taking advantage of the great weather the past few weekends, we hope to have a packed house on Labor Day weekend.”
The Ocala Gran Prix facility is located at:
4121 NW 44th Avenue
Ocala, Florida 34482
352.291.0600
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 them at 352.291.0600 (Info@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com).
OCALA GRAN PRIX PROVES TO BE STRONG IN UTAH
“Neri wins Senior Max while Askew impresses in Junior”
Neri has now claimed National Championships in Mini Max, Junior and Senior (Photo: Autosports Media)
Ocala, Florida – July 27, 2011 – After staying out of the national karting scene since the end of the Florida Winter Tour in March, the Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) race team came back with a vengeance last weekend at the United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals. Taking place at the challenging Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, several OGP drivers could be seen at the front of the field taking pole positions, heat race wins and main event victories throughout the weeklong event.
Leading the way was multi-time national champion Nick Neri who was on fire in the Rotax Senior class. After scoring the elusive pole position, a heat race win and two other results in the top five, Neri would go on to claim a dominant race win in the main event leading from the drop of the green flag and never looking back.
“It is great to be a national champion yet again,” expressed Neri. “I managed to win the Mini Max and Junior championships in previous years and now Senior. Next year I would like to try and make a sweep and score the DD2 title.”
Fellow Senior Max drivers would be Floridian pilots Andrew Evans, Jonathon Kotyk, Anne Hayden and Brandon Salyer. While Hayden and Salyer ran into some bad racing luck in the heat races and did not advance to the final, Evans and Kotyk would battle in the front half of the field. After overcoming incidents and minor issues in the heats, Evans would score a solid 19th place result while Kotyk would come home 24th.
Askew was a threat for the win all week long (Photo: Autosports Media)
Two drivers dominated Rotax Junior all week long and one of them came from the OGP stable as Florida driver Oliver Askew was the only driver to out pace the eventual race winner. After qualifying in the second position and scoring two heat race wins, Askew was poised to attack for the national championship before deliberately being taken out in the first corner of the final. After dropping to the thirty-fourth position, Askew put on a clinic passing an astounding 27 karts in the 20 lap main. While going on to score the fastest lap of the event, Askew crossed the stripe with a very impressive seventh place result.
Fellow junior pilot Alex Hornborg also had his best weekend of national racing action to date. Consistently running in the top ten throughout the week, Hornborg began to turn heads as it looked as if he would challenge for a top five result in the main event. Only an on track incident could slow the young up and comer down as he would eventually be classified in the 25th position at the drop of the checkered flag.
Mathias Ramirez scored a solid top five (Photo: Autosports Media)
Despite being nearly fifteen pounds overweight for the Micro Max class, Mathias Ramirez wouldchallenge for the race win from day one of official action. After qualifying a disappointing ninth, Ramirez moved forward in two of three heat races and eventually finished the main event in fifth. After battling with the lead karts until the mid race point, Ramirez would lose touch of the draft and race the gap for the remaining ten laps. Joining Ramirez in Micro Max was Lucas Sobczak in his first career race outside the state of Florida. After coming to grips with the track, Lucas would run consistently in the top twenty to score a solid 17th place finish.
Mini Max would see a pair of OGP front-runners struggle throughout the race week. After looking good in unofficial practice, both drivers would show signs of speed on race day but could not attain the elusive results. Oliver Bellanger would claim the 14th position in the main event while Sebastian Sierra would cross the stripe in 17th.
Texan pilot DJ Ortiz would battle in the Rotax DD2/DD2 Masters class scoring a solid 11th place result in the combined divisions. Racing against drivers nearly half his age, Ortiz ran in the top ten throughout the weekend and would score a solid top five in the Masters class.
Heading to Utah for a weekend of racing and fun is what OGP’s Master’s drivers had in store as Eddie Gennaro and Scott Kalb would compete in the over thirty-five class. Gennaro would claim the 21st place result while Kalb would head back to Florida being classified 28th.
“I am very happy with the entire team’s results,” expressed OGP Team Manager Nate Grindell. “Under the tent, every driver and tuner worked together to ensure they were getting the best out of their equipment.”
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 them at 352.291.0600 (Info@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com).
OCALA GRAN PRIX TO FORGO FINAL FLORIDA KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES EVENT
“Multiple race weekends combine for hectic travel and possible delays”
Ocala, Florida – July 13, 2011 – During the busy summer months, multiple race weekends and series events get placed on conflicting weekends throughout North America. On other occasions, event weekends prove to be impossible logistic wise and some opportunities need to be passed upon. With the focus of the upcoming weeks on the United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals in Tooele, Utah, Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) officials have decided that team drivers will forgo the final Florida Karting Championship Series (FKCS) event.
“The demand on our crew and the cross country travel is going to make it very hard on both tuners, drivers and their families,” expressed Jorge Arellano, President of Ocala Gran Prix. “We can’t be guaranteed that all of our equipment will make it back to Florida and be prepped in time so as a company, we have decided not to attend the last race.”
The round trip from Ocala, Florida to Tooele, Utah is nearly 5000 long miles. The shipping company will not guarantee the arrival date of equipment returning from Utah in time for Ocala Gran Prix to prepare for the next event. Ocala Gran Prix has come to the conclusion that it would be better to not attend the last race of 2011 Florida Karting Championship series.
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 them at 352.291.0600 (Info@OcalaGranPrix.com) or Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com).
OCALA GRAN PRIX – UNITED STATES ROTAX GRAND NATIONALS PREVIEW
“Multiple drivers vying for a spot on Team USA”
Ocala, Florida – July 14, 2011 – Just as they did for the Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour Rotax weekends, Ocala Gran Prix will head west to Tooele, Utah with a large contingent of drivers. Competing at the challenging Miller Motorsports Park facility, team drivers will all be vying for the coveted podium positions and the invitation to compete at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals as part of Team USA.
“We have a total of fourteen drivers under the Ocala Gran Prix tent,” expressed OGP President Jorge Arellano. “They range from rookies to veterans and we have at least one driver in each racing division. A few of these drivers also include the top two podium award winners from the North Florida Rotax Max Challenge in which they received a free registration, tires and fuel from the series.”
The largest contingent of drivers will be in the Rotax Senior class, as five drivers will look to stand atop the podium. Leading the way will be multi-time champion Nick Neri as he looks to head back to the World Finals for the third consecutive year, this time as a senior. Neri will be joined by fellow Florida drivers Andrew Evans, Brandon Slayer and Jonathon Kotyk who have all been competing in Florida’s regional competition to prepare for this event.
Arellano continued, “Some of our senior drivers names aren’t the most recognizable, but believe me, they are fast. Couple them with some of the top tuners in the country, we should see them all in the front of the field.”
Only a pair of pilots will enter the Rotax Junior class as Oliver Askew and Alex Hornborg will work towards podium results. Askew has been tearing up the junior ranks as of late scoring two Florida Winter Tour victories and countless Florida Karting Championship Series and North Florida Rotax Max Challenge wins. Hornborg continues his to hit his stride and has proven to be very fast on most weekends and will look to continue that speed in Utah as he works with longtime tuner Tony Loniewski.
Noticeably absent from the Ocala Gran Prix driver list is two-time United States Rotax DD2 national champion Cody Hodgson who is forced to miss the event due to prior racing obligations. Looking to follow in Hodgson’s footsteps and getting behind the wheel of his two-speed machine will be Texan pilot DJ Ortiz. Ortiz has been pounding out laps throughout the United States with great success and recently completed a test with members of Ocala Gran Prix.
Two drivers will see action in the Rotax Masters division as both were awarded free trips due to their championship runs at the North Florida Rotax Max Challenge. Both Scott Kalb and Eddie Genarro hail from Florida and will look to conquer the Miller Motorsports Park facility.
In the younger Rotax divisions, Ocala Gran Prix will have a quartet of drivers doing battle. The duo of Sebastian Sierra and Oliver Bellanger will be a threat for the win in the Mini Max division while Mathias Ramirez and Lucas Sobczak will look to the front of the field in Micro Max.
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 them at352.291.0600 or via e-mail to Info@OcalaGranPrix.com.
ASHELY ROGERO CONTINUES HER WINNING STREAK IN WKA COMPETITION
“Four race wins and five podiums in two weekends”
July 13, 2011 – Just as she did all last year, Floridian driver Ashley Rogero has begun to win races in the heart of the karting season. After taking three main event victories at the Florida Karting Championship Series (FKCS) event in late June, the talented female claimed her first World Karting Association (WKA) victory as a junior driver this past weekend at the BeaveRun Motorsports Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania.
“I am very happy,” expressed Ashley after the weekend’s competition. “We had some bad luck in a couple of classes but we were able to overcome that in the other two with a win and a podium. I am feeling very confident now as a junior and can’t wait for the next race.”
Rogero’s winning ways began earlier in the year at the Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour as she went on to claim the Formula Leopard championship in March. Since that day, she has been traveling to events throughout the United States honing her skills and gaining valuable experience as a rookie.
In late June, Rogero competed at the 103rd Street Motorsports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. Entering three divisions, the up and coming female driver scored three victories as she was at the front of the field in the Komet Junior, Yamaha Junior and TaG Junior classes.
July saw the return of WKA national competition in the Midwest and the Rogero crew traveled North from their Florida home to compete. Not racing with a big name team or high dollar tuner, Rogero and her Dad went to work as they tested and prepared for the racing weekend.
When the dust had finally settled at the challenging BeaveRun circuit, Rogero had fared extremely well in the Komet Junior Lite class where she swept the day claiming the pole position, heat race win and main event victory. Komet Junior Heavy provided another podium for the Comet Kart Sales powered Tony Kart driver as she crossed the stripe in a solid third.
Rogero continued, “A lot of people were doubting my abilities as a junior but I knew I was just going through some growing pains. They say the first win is the hardest and it only took me four events to get there. Hopefully that means that there are many more in the future.”
Ashley would like to thank all of her sponsors for all their hard work and continued support: the entire crew at Ocala Gran Prix, OTK USA, Tony Kart, Grand Products, Bridgestone Tires and Comet Kart Sales.
OCALA GRAN PRIX TO BE PRESENTING SPONSOR OF 2011 UNITED STATES ROTAX GRAND NATIONALS
“OGP to also partially sponsor Team USA at Rotax World Finals”
Ocala, Florida – June 9, 2011 – Thanks to the support of long-time karting dealer and racing facility, Ocala Gran Prix, the July 19 to 23 event at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah will be known as the United States Rotax Grand Nationals presented by Ocala Gran Prix.
Just as in 2010, Ocala Gran Prix and Jorge Arellano have also stepped up to the plate to once again support America’s “Team USA”, made up of nearly twenty competitors from across the United States traveling to the Rotax Grand Finals in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates later this year.
“I am extremely excited to get back behind the US Rotax Grand Nationals and Team USA,” expressed Jorge Arellano from his location in Ocala, Florida. “Seeing our country and our drivers perform on the world stage is something that I really enjoy and I am looking forward to helping all of them succeed with their goals.”
Looking to help make the United States Rotax Grand Nationals one of the best karting events in the USA, Jorge Arellano and Ocala Gran Prix have jumped on board to help with the financial costs of taking the event to the next level. Showing their true commitment to the Rotax program, Ocala Gran Prix will help the event organizers provide live streaming for three days over the Internet for family and friends who are not able to travel to Utah.
“We would like to thank OGP for their continued commitment to the US Grand Nationals event and Team USA,” said Josh Smith, RMCUS Administrator. “Their support for these important entities helps us in the continued growth and success of the Rotax community.”
With the latest technology in trackside video, crisp and clear pictures will be broadcast worldwide via the United States Rotax Max Challenge website (www.KartRacingNetwork.com) as well as provide event personnel with video marshaling services to ensure a call will not be missed.
The United States Rotax Grand Nationals presented by Ocala Gran Prix will take place July 19 to the 23 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. For more information on the event, regional series, rules and the entire Rotax program, please visit www.GoRotax.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 them at 352.291.0600 or via email at Info@OcalaGranPrix.com.
ODY HODGSON SCORES BEST RESULT TO DATE IN NASCAR K&N PRO SERIES EAST
“Rookie-of-the-Year candidate claims another top ten”
Ocala, Florida – June 6, 2011 – Cody Hodgson of Escalon, California, posted his best-career finish inthe NASCAR K&N Pro Series East with a strong eighth place run in the Army Strong 150 at Bowman Gray Stadium this past weekend. Hodgson’s career night came in the series’ inaugural visit to the track affectionately known as “The Madhouse.”
After starting 22nd in the 27-car field, the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year candidate and Ocala Gran Prix sponsored driver slowly worked his way to the front by avoiding one of the many incidents that filled the evening’s action. For his efforts, the Dave Davis Motorsports prepared Dodge and Hodgson leapt three spots in the K&N Pro Series East standings to ninth through the first five events of the 2011 season.
“It was a wild one, that’s for sure. Coming from 22nd (starting spot), I wasn’t sure how the night was going to be. But I just stayed to the inside and I kept on the wheel and we were able to make up some ground,” expressed the two-time Rotax DD2 United States Grand National Champion. “In practice and qualifying, I just couldn’t find the balance of the car very well so we struggled with single lap speed. Once the race got going I could keep up with the guys in front of me and stay on the inside, no matter what, and I was going to be able to go by the guys on the outside. It’s definitely a one-groove track.”
When the dust had finally settled, Hodgson had completed all 156 laps of the event and garnered a solid eighth place result and 142 points for his efforts. In addition to his already secured point total, Hodgson moved into the top ten in the series point standings as well as into the second position for the Sunoco Rookie-of-the-Year honors.
Looking forward, the Ocala Gran Prix Dave Davis Motorsports Dodge will enjoy very little time off as they will travel to the half-mile Gresham Motorsports Park in Jeffersonville, Georgia this weekend. Hoping to build of his momentum from the previous two rounds, the former multi-time national karting champion is looking forward to the event.
For more information on Cody Hodgson, please visit him online atwww.CodyHodgsonRacing.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 atwww.OcalaGranPrix.com or contact them at 352.291.0600 (Info@OcalaGranPrix.com). For more information on media releases, please contact Mike Maurini at 317.270.8723 (Mike@RaceTechDevelopment.com).
