June 17, 2008
Team Top Kart USA - WKA Grand Nationals Report
Tyler Thomas in his first season in Junior competition was the lone Team Top Kart driver at the event. Competing in four classes, HPV Jr. Lite, Heavy and Jr. SuperCan Lite, Heavy, Tyler was ready to take on the challenge of a new track. Taking the weekend off, defending TaG Grand National Champion Chris Wehrheim was on hand to coach and tune the young talent.
Showing speed throughout Friday practice Tyler was consistently a front-runner. Saturday saw him competing in HPV Lite and Jr. SuperCan Heavy. Tyler qualified a strong eighth position in HPV Lite, but SuperCan would not go as well, qualifying twenty-fourth. The Finals faired much better with Tyler moving up one position in HPV to finish eighth. Right before the SuperCan the skies opened up forcing the teams to switch to wet tires. The last time Tyler raced in the rain he finished second at the Stars of Karting Ocala round. At the drop of the green he was on a mission moving from sixteenth to fourth on the opening lap but unfortunately dropping a wheel he spun and fell to the back. Turning quick laps he managed to race his way back up to ninth.
Sunday proved to be a turning point in Tyler’s season. Though qualifying did not go as well as practice times showed, the prefinals and finals would go much differently. After qualifying eleventh in HPV Jr. Heavy and seventeenth in Jr. SuperCan Lite, Tyler moved up to sixth and eleventh respectably. In the HPV final Tyler fought his way to third to be involved in an epic three-kart battle, which he came out on top finishing in third. This was his first podium finish in the junior category in WKA. Jr. SuperCan Lite went even better. Tyler methodically moved his way into the top four with three laps to go when two of the top three drivers wrecked entering the boot. This put Tyler in perfect position to go for the win. Making his attempt in turn two where he made nearly every pass, he just missed completing the pass and would come home in second.
"This was an awesome weekend," stated Thomas. "I have to thank Grand Products, Top Kart, Bridgestone, Woltjer, Doug Flemming, Bell Helmets, Chris, and of course my parents. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season and getting my first win."
“I am very proud of Tyler and his progression throughout the weekend,” commented Wehrheim. “With his new confidence I am sure he will be challenging for podium in Stars by the end of the season.”
Next up for the team is the final round of the Stars of Karting East division in Shawano, WI. To learn more about the team please visit http://www.grandproducts.com
Showing speed throughout Friday practice Tyler was consistently a front-runner. Saturday saw him competing in HPV Lite and Jr. SuperCan Heavy. Tyler qualified a strong eighth position in HPV Lite, but SuperCan would not go as well, qualifying twenty-fourth. The Finals faired much better with Tyler moving up one position in HPV to finish eighth. Right before the SuperCan the skies opened up forcing the teams to switch to wet tires. The last time Tyler raced in the rain he finished second at the Stars of Karting Ocala round. At the drop of the green he was on a mission moving from sixteenth to fourth on the opening lap but unfortunately dropping a wheel he spun and fell to the back. Turning quick laps he managed to race his way back up to ninth.
Sunday proved to be a turning point in Tyler’s season. Though qualifying did not go as well as practice times showed, the prefinals and finals would go much differently. After qualifying eleventh in HPV Jr. Heavy and seventeenth in Jr. SuperCan Lite, Tyler moved up to sixth and eleventh respectably. In the HPV final Tyler fought his way to third to be involved in an epic three-kart battle, which he came out on top finishing in third. This was his first podium finish in the junior category in WKA. Jr. SuperCan Lite went even better. Tyler methodically moved his way into the top four with three laps to go when two of the top three drivers wrecked entering the boot. This put Tyler in perfect position to go for the win. Making his attempt in turn two where he made nearly every pass, he just missed completing the pass and would come home in second.
"This was an awesome weekend," stated Thomas. "I have to thank Grand Products, Top Kart, Bridgestone, Woltjer, Doug Flemming, Bell Helmets, Chris, and of course my parents. I am really looking forward to the rest of the season and getting my first win."
“I am very proud of Tyler and his progression throughout the weekend,” commented Wehrheim. “With his new confidence I am sure he will be challenging for podium in Stars by the end of the season.”
Next up for the team is the final round of the Stars of Karting East division in Shawano, WI. To learn more about the team please visit http://www.grandproducts.com