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Tornado Factory Driver 2011 Open Enrollment

If you are looking to become part of a team dedicated to wining then give a look at the success of the Tornado Team of cadet and kid kart drivers. Our equipment is top notch Choromoly technology and dyno tuned and tested race engines. Submit a request for more information or nominate a driver at tornadodriver@gmail.com.

Driver of the Month December

Alanmykael Polley

Alanmykael is a determined racer that has the support of a family that really knows kart racing. He's raced our stretch cadet and regular cadet karts with success. He recently wrapped up the Clone class at the Mid American Track Challenge series. He won his points class at his home track with a win in the final 50 lap race. The team is determined and optimistic about what needs to get done each race weekend. The test, check the data, adjust and observe what needs to happen to go faster. Alanmykael does the rest by working his magic on the track. Their consistency paid of with the regional win in the clone class, meant to highlight the driver and chassis instead of the engine.

 

Kid Kart Driver Of The Month for December

Hudspeth

This young driver grabbed the attention of the Southern California faithful when he won the final IKF R7 race of the year. While he was not running as part of our Factory Team he did get his kart and engines from one of our Factory drivers. Even though his front end was adjusted incorrectly he had enough grip at the end of the race day to work his way to the front and show that the Tornado had the grip required for the Calspeed sealed surface track. This young driver's parents are champion Rally racers. It looks like their son has picked up some of the key dna that makes a great racer, and the teaching will take hold. Being soft on the wheel in a Rally car is similar to what it takes to win in a kart. We look for great things from this driver next year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Driver of the Month August

Zach Preizer of Elkheart Wisconsin

Zach deserves the driver of the month and more after taking the pole, the heat win, the pre-final win and the Final at the KKN in St. Louis this year. He worked so hard in the weeks prior to get ready with new technology. Agains a field of almost 30 drivers Zach was victorious for the Tornado Team. He never have up hope, was upbeat and it paid off for him with a trophy bigger than he is. Zach congratulations on being driver of the month and KKN Unrestricted National Champion. Zach joints a distinguished list of drivers to win the St. Louis race, names like Flin Lazier (Indy 500 driver Buddy Lazier's son), Owen Leatherberry (Son of Greg Leatherberry of the sprint car familes up north as well asNoah Nigro. We've been fortunate to have won the KKN Title six times in the last seven years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2010 Factory Drivers

 

Preston Anderson

Preston came highly recommended for a Tornado Factory Driver spot. He had a great season finishing up second in the last race on a really old beat up chassis and a new Queen style engine from us. We are rebuilding his back up now and hopefully he'll like the feel of sturdy chromoly under his heels. Preston has worked very hard this year and his hard work will start to pay off in 2010. He hopes to run in Phoenix and Los Angeles. They may even try a couple IKF races, depending on the rules this season...

One of Preston's favorite drivers is Tony Stewart and he has a picture of himself with Tony when he was only three. He's a real racer in my book Preston, and that's what someone said that was watching you race for me. I look forward to see you race in person next year. We are happy your first engine from us spiced up the game a little in Las Vegas and once it breaks in you'll really give the leaders some heat.

 

Preston chatted with us via video conference and we talked about next year. I look forward to meeting him in person next month. They looked at racing the first IKF Regional race but we've put that on hold. It's off to Phoenix to see family and test over Christmas.

Welcome to the Tornado Factory Drivers Team for 2010 Preston! A new shirt and some videos are on the way to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob Winslow

Jacob Winslow of Lee's Summit Missouri was new to the Tornado Factory Driver Team last season and he will be returning and moving up to a Cadet this year. He did very well this year and took his Tornado to victory lane many times. Jacob ran the SKUSA series in the Midwest against a tough group of drivers, mostly other Tornado Factory Kid Kart drivers. Jacob took the SKUSA title and brought it home for the Tornado Team.

Jacob also won his club title in Kansas City. He ran a new 2009 Kid Kart and a top Stealth old style engine. He broke the track record in Iowa and in Kansas City and set the bar pretty high for those that  will follow him in the Midwest. He rented an engine for nationals and did a very good job of moving up the field to the front. We are so proud to have Jacob returning along with his talented crew chief and family of assistant tuners. We wish we could show you what his team has up their sleeves or under their skin for this season but we are sworn to secrecy. Let's just say it will be amazing. New Cadets are headed out this week to Jacob and he'll be ready for next year as soon as the snow melts.

Welcome back to the Factory Team for 2010 Jacob, we are so happy to have you on the team. Can you recommend any great female drivers in your area? We need more ladies to balance out the team.

Michael Schneider

The Ice Man Dallas Texas

Jeff and Michael Schneider have made quite a team over the years. We got a chance to work with them for the first time when they were racing Kid Karts and took their Tornado to the KART national title. Since then they have won regional titles, club titles and taken the first shot at a national title. Michael has proven himself over and over again. With a very small trailer and a limited budget he's placed at or near the top of the podium consistently.

It's often that we get a phone call from the Midwest to tell us how dark it is in the shadow of the big race trailers, but how fast we are. This will be Michael's third year in Cadets and he'll start to be one of the favorites. Last year he took the IKF Regional Road Race title, placed very high in the SWRC and had a shot at winning two Grand Nationals.

Michael and Jeff have been pioneers in design too. They asked for a special torsion bar in their last chassis and made it work successfully, showing us a new option that is now part of our F4 and F5 Cadets. This addition helps in the early spring racing when grip is at a premium. We hope that we get a chance to get the Ice Man on the 2010 soon because we value his opinion and feedback. Where there is a will there is a way.

Welcome back Michael. We look forward to working with you again this year and I know the other team mates are excited to have you and Jeff in the corner as they press the limits of the Tornado Cadet this season. Jeff has been a valued crew chief often giving hours of his time helping others tune. Thank you Michael and Jeff for taking us to Victory Lane so many times over the last three years and for helping so many other Factory Drivers get their too.

 

Zach Preiser

Elkhorn, WI

 

This young driver put on a great show last year at a national race. He picked up an engine with not much time to test and worked it right up next to a podium spot. All things considered he easily could have had third spot. He is a regular winner in Wisconsin when he is from, a native of Elkhorn.

Zach has a determined and optimistic crew chief in his Father Jerry and the two make a formidable team. Zach tasted success last season and wants to finish what he started in 2010. He's got some very good equipment and will be right there to challenge for the win anywhere in the Midwest and rumor has it he'll be going to Daytona in a couple weeks to dust of some parts and brush up a bit.

We are proud to bump him up from the regular team to the Factory Driver status for 2010. Zach we appreciate how many times you took us to Victory lane with you this year and look forward to cheering you on in 2010. A new Factory Driver shirt is on it's way to you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alanmykael Polley

This young Illinois man is tough, really tough. He's not afraid of rain, any driver, heck he'd drive in the snow if they'd let him. He was a consistent top three finisher this year, his first year in Cadets. That's a great start on a year old used Tornado kartand he's got a new 2010 Cadet witthe torsion bar, changeable length and mixed steel types ordered and will soon have even more adjustability to take on his older competition. A fresh rebuild will also help and we just got our hands on the engine.

We think this will be Alanmykael's year to upset some favorites. It won't be easy but it will be fun. At the end of the year he was right at the back bumper of the drivers that were a year older. We know each time the Polley's are in a race we have a shot at the top of the podium. Thanks team Polley for taking us to the podium so many times in 2009. Happy New Year and new equipment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe St. George

Chloe is one of the drivers returning for a third year and the older of our first ever sisters team - watch out boys. She was one of our first minority development drivers that we sponsored. I can still remember the race in Vegas when she was driving a beat up old saggy mild steel Top Kart, doing her best but the big boys were sailing through the corners with fresh chromoly and bumping her as they came through. She didn't pound a fist, she didn't look around, she gained control of the kart put her head down and kept pushing on. I found her parents and inquired about her. Next thing you know she was part of the team

Heather and Chloe St. George - First Sister Team Ever For Us ---->>>

Keith has been a loyal friend and supporter ever since. He's learned much of what their is to know about our karts and engine program, tested many things and helped Chloe achieve the best ever record of a kid kart driver with the most regional race wins and two top three finishes at both national races.

She moved up to Cadets last season and immediately let people know she wasn't just running great engines and chassis, she was driving smart and fast. She stepped into a Tornado Cadet/Gazelle Tag 60 and set track record at Infineon and took her MicroMax to the front there as well, having never been to the track. She had  a great showing at the Rotax Nationals this fall she was up into the top 4 at one point running laps within .1 second of the other two leaders. She won the LVKC track championship this year with light competition but won the Los Angeles Kart Club championship they year before against 30 kid karts.

 

Chloe has excelled on a very limited budget for three years now. She has been a smart, thinking driver. She is passionate about winning. Her state of mind while racing continues to improve and she makes smart choices on the track and she'll be aggressive when she needs to. This will be a big year for her if she decides she wants be a professional. She has the goods to go all the way if she chooses that direction. We are proud to have her back a third year. Thanks Chloe for taking us to victory lane so many times. You can find her at www.chloestgeorge.com

 

Pickles Please - Pass The Cory and Speed Sauce

If you are going to have a sandwich then it is much better with pickles and we as a team are much better off with this young talented driver. He's been recruited heavily but has made the choice to return for a second season with The Tornado Factory Team. Slicing through dicey situations is his specialty and if you want to ketchup to him you'll need more than a little mustard and will power. Are you getting hungry with all the food references? One this is for certain, few drivers will take the track with more hunger to win that this driver in 2010.

This young driver made some tremendous progress in 2009, he won a regional race in the Midwest against some of the toughest teams. He showed early that he can really race. As with all racers he had some mechanical issues in a key race or two, but hopefully that will be part and parcel to learning and more of the gremlins will stay home in 2010. One Factory Team Crew Chiefs put it this way "whatever you do keep that boy and his family happy because he has real talent, you can see it when he drives."

 

 

 

Nicholas Cory on the inside of the turn with fellow Factory Driver Jacob Winslow

We could see it in his eyes when we met him. We look forward to what Nicholas Cory We look forward to what he will do this coming season. He's got two Tornado Chassis, multiple engines including a seven sisters engine and he has the will to produce wins. Over the winter we'll focus on old style engine developments and of course that was where our engine building gained it's early fame in sorting old styles.

 

Announcing Heather St. George 2010 Factory Driver

After much deliberation, review and suggestions from existing Tornado Factory Drivers we are ready to start announcing the team drivers for next season. There is some debate as to whom should go first. There are many people wondering if they will be selected. Our announcement order  after seniority and ladies first is specifically random because we don't want anyone to think that we rank our drivers. Each driver is unique and this one is very special.

Our order is ladies first for this announcement and then we'll start with returning drivers. This is a way of respecting the returning drivers and being born in the South I was taught to respect the ladies and let them go first. We will do about one announcement a day and should be done by New Years.

The first announcement is a bold choice, our youngest selection ever. Some may wonder and debate about the merit of a choice so early at five years and six days old, before the driver is proven. We make this choice with all sincerity. The choice is based on several lunches with the driver and her family. It is also based on witnessing her sibling's dedication, perseverance and skill. If the genes are the same she will be as good as her sister. She has a tuner that is ready to go and trained well. She has a driver coach in her older sister. Having witness my four sons fight it out at home and on the track she has something else going for her, a wish to do as well or better than her sibling. In this regard if she is half as successful she will be a great Tornado Factory Driver. We have witnessed her sisters toughness on the track, that is one of the reasons we picked her sister as a development driver.

Over lunches I have witnessed her determination to do battle with her sister and anyone that got in her way. If she carries this will and determination onto the track in a graceful way she'll have what it takes to race in the tough market that is Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Her sister has won many IKF regional races and the Los Angeles Kart Club championship so her crew chief Keith St. George knows the ropes. It is with great pride and hope for the future that we make the announcement of Heather St. George as our youngest ever Tornado Factory Driver and welcome her to our family of drivers.

 

 

 

 

 

December Driver of the Month Award Winners

Sport Cowen of Las Vegas, Nevada

Sport wrapped up the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Title in December. It is one of the toughest markets to win and the cement is slick but Sport negotiated the many track configurations to best Tanner McKee by just a few points for the title. Three Tornado drivers took the top three spots in the points and we are happy to congratulate Sport on bring home the LVKC title for Tornado for a third year in a row.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cadet Driver of the Month for December - Brian Lockwood

Brian does not drive a Tornado Kart. He can't because Easykart racing requires you to run a kart supplied by the sponsor of the series. All participants run the same chassis. Easykart opened up the engine program and did not required a sealed engine by an authorized center. This gave us the opportunity to rebuild Brian's engines. We played a small part in his success in winning the state championship. He is a talented and determined Cadet race driver. Brian is lucky to have a dedicated crew that keeps his equipment in good shape and understands what needs to be done to test setups.

We think you may see a lot more from this young driver next season. For today he is our pick for Cadet Driver of the Month. Thanks for taking us with you to the Florida State Championship in EasyKart 60 and to the World Championships in Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009 Tornado Team Factory Drivers -

Hannah Williams - Texas

Hannah is on the far right, we'll need to grow into that shirt!

Hannah is returning for a second year as a Cadet Tornado Team Factory Driver. She won two Southwest Regional Series races last year and lead the series in points for a while. A kart that lost control ahead of her and almost destroyed her chassis and engine set her season on end or she could have challenged for the title in her first of three years of eligibility.

Hannah's Father Chris has raced before and is a great tuner and coach for Hannah. "Hannah enjoyed being part of the team last season and wants to continue again this season" said Chris and we are more than happy to continue to support any female driver as talented and hard working as this young lady.

"With the new axle changes we made the kart is really working nicely. Once we fix the issues with the engine after the crank was bent in that bad wreck last year we should be back up front".

 

 

 

Chloe St. George - Las Vegas, Nevada Age 9

Chloe was the most successful kid kart driver in the nation last year. She won more regional races than anyone else in IKF. She took the pole at the Kid Kart Nationals and almost won it as she was leader with only two corners left to go. She is a development driver for the team and has been with us three years now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owen Leatherberry, Wisconsin - 2008 Kid Kart Nationals Champion, 2007Third in Kid Kart Nationals Restricted, coming from the back to third. 

SKUSA- Midwest Champion 2008

Winner WKA Manufacturers Cup Charlotte Motor Speedway 2008

Age 8

 

 

Jacob Winslow

We are pleased to announce that Jacob Winslow of Lee's Summit Missouri has joined the Tornado Factory Team. Jacob started where we started at the Liberty track in Missouri. We have so many fond memories of that tight little track where our four sons started racing.  Jacob was second at last years KART Nationals, but even more impressive he won his first ever race. He had six first places and podiumed in 18 of 20 races last season.

Jacob races under the Artgrunt Racing flag. www.artgrunt.com to see some of the great work that they do. You can tell by the graphic scheme on their 2009 Storm Tornado that they do great work. The debuted their new kart in Liberty and then brought it to St. Louis to finish fourth. As we work to get their engine program sorted out keep an eye on this young man as he challenges the nations best drivers.

 

 

 

Alanmykael Polley

"Choose the path of least resistance & race hard but race fair!!! "

The Polley family has joined the Tornado Driver Factory Team and the long list of families working together. Alanmykael had a successful kid kart career and watched as Kaleb Allison repeatedly won in the Tornado Cadet. Michael Polley was a successful kart racer years ago and saw the success of Kaleb. Kym Polley also raced karts and in 1997 she outraced more than 30 drivers. Michael's brother Kevin also raced kart and has helped wrench. They have road racing experience as well as sprint. He purchased their rig for Alanmykael and they've been out practicing. Early testing has been promising and we look forward to seeing the Polleys on the podium!

Michael and I talked the other day. On a drive from Sacramento to San Francisco we talked karting. After paying tolls and hanging up I had realized that I was several exits past my turn off... I think with all the knowledge they have Alanmykael will go far. Alanmykael and I are pretty similar in that we like Tony Stewart, pizza and Chinese food. He likes to race clean and so do we. We look forward to meeting the Polleys at the track some day, it will probably be somewhere near the podium.

Nicholas Cory -  Illinois

Nicholas Cory was class champion last season at TNT Kartways. He and his Father Nick Cory have been working hard together to learn about karting and what it takes to get to the front. They've invested in some good equipment that will show up soon including Chloe's best engine from last year. They have a steady pace of improvement and this will be a good learning year. With teammates like Owen Leatherberry and Mason Mitchell they'll have some good coaches as both National Champions are happy to help new teammates. The reviews from the other Tornado Factory drivers were unanimous that this team was going somewhere and should be part of the team.

Congratulations Nicholas for being nominated and named to the 2009 Tornado Factory Team! Nice paint job on that helmet! You've got a new Tornado Factory Driver shirt coming soon. We expect that when GQ magazine shows up for a photo shoot you'll wear it. This is one handsome young man. We look forward to meeting you this summer.

 

 

 

 

Jaydon Biles - Princeton Iowa

We are pleased to announce Jaydon Biles has joined the 2009 Tornado Factory Driver Team. Jaydon had a very good 2008 season and showed that he can drive. He's got one of the hottest tuners around in his father Jon Biles. Jon's history in snow mobile engine building has given him the edge in the development of power but it's Jaydon that has put the rubber to the road. We hope to learn from each other this season and collaborate to make his old style engines faster and get some new styles that can run up front.

 

They have worked hard to tune their Tornado well and will now add in the help from the Factory and the other Factory drivers to move up even higher. We'll add some new technology to the kart and give some new techniques to Jon to test on the Midwest tracks. They really don't need much help Jaydon entered the Restricted Class at the Kid Kart Nationals and took 4th overall, he also won 4 of 6 Route 66 races last year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Griesbach of Wisconsin

We welcome Grant and Jeremy Griesbach to the Tornado Factory Team for 2009. Grant has been driving 4 wheelers since he was three years old. He know all the NASCAR drivers by number and the number 17 is his favorite driver. Grant's goal this year is to focus on the corner speed and dialing in each corner. One thing is guaranteed if the corner can be taken wide open he'll do it!

"We are excited to have the privilege of joining the Tornado Factory team.  This is truly providing us the opportunity to work with the best Kid Kart teams in the nation.  Last year was our first year in racing and boy did we both learn a lot.  It was quite an eye opener to travel to Pevely, MO for the Kid Kart Nationals in July 2008.  We have the luxury of pitting next to the Leatherberry’s and a few of the other Tornado Factory Drivers.  It was great to witness the team work that was going on around us.  Unfortunately, we were not part of that team at the time.  However, we quickly realized that in order for both of us to continue to grow and learn, one of our goals should be to join the Tornado Factory Team.  KKN also taught us that not only do Grant and I need to improve our skills but we needed to acquire the Tornado equipment to have a chance to compete with the competition! "

With the Leatherberry's as coach and teammates we hope that the Wisconsin crew will be a force whenever they show up to race in the Midwest. We are happy to have you Grant as part of the team! Congratulations for being nominated and accepted to the Tornado Factory Team.

 

 

 

2008  Tornado Factory Team Drivers

The 2008 Factory Team is in place. Here are the Drivers that have qualified, been nominated and approved as Factory Drivers for 2008. Each has earned the right to run as a Factory Pilot for the Tornado Team. We expected great things of them and they have shown us great results by controlling 5 of the top 6 spots in IKF Region 7 in 2007 competitive Kid Kart Racing, both a National and Grand National race in the St. Louis Kid Kart National and the IKF Sprint Grand National. In qualifying at the KKN the four Tornado drivers in the field took the top four spots with Flinn Lazier winning it the next day. We are proud to be associated with such talented young men and women, as we often say at the end of the race "thank you for making our karts and engines look so fast".

 

Kaleb Allison

 

 

 

Brothers Logan and Mason Mitchell

Mason Mitchell - Missouri Kid Kart National Champion Restricted Class

The little man with the big smile is how I always remembered Mason but last year he grew up. He came to some R7 races with his older brother and kept working hard to catch up. At the Kid Kart Nationals it was his day to step out from his big brother's shadow to take down the Kid Kart Nationals Championship in the Restricted Class. He took turns dicing it up with our other Factory driver Dalton Adkins but a clogged carb and great driving from Mason gave the win to Team Mitchell.

Mason has raced from coast to coast already and was one of the two fastest kid karts in Daytona this winter. He'll come back to challenge for the Unrestricted title this year and try to be the first driver to win KKN's twice.  He'll have plenty of competition but one thing is for certain, he'll have a smile on his face at many points during the weekend.

The Mitchell's are great sportsmen always willing to help. They focus on sticking to the rules and hunting for new areas to gain speed. They are great ambassadors for our team and we are happy to have Mason join us for season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

www.mitchellsmotorsports.com/

Logan finished fourth in the IKF R7 opener and has a full schedule of racing in the Midwest and across the nation. Logan also won a heat at the Daytona WKA Man Cup race. Mason has beaten his older brother once already and is climbing the ladder quickly. Check out their site above and schedule to see them race at a track near you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Hannah Williams of Texas

 Age 9

 Southwestern Regional Cup Winner 2 Times in 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe St. George of Nevada

 Age 8

IKF R11 Points Leader 6 Wins

Pole and Second at Kid Kart Nationals

3rd at IKF Grand Nationals

IKF R7, R11 and R4 Winner!

LAKC Champion

 www.sgfracing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Tanner McKee Age 6 Las Vegas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RJ Lantz of California - Winner of King Taco Open, IKF R7 Buttonwillow, Front Row Qualifier at Kid Kart Nationals in 07

Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cruz Fiore of Las Vegas Nevada - 2007 California State Champion, Winner Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 6th in overal Points IKF R7 in 2007, IKF R7 Winner Calspeed Opener

Age: 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braden Johnson of Illinois -  IKF R7 Champion 2007 and Central States Super Series Winner

Age 9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Schneider of Texas

 Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owen Leatherberry, Wisconsin - 2008 Kid Kart Nationals Champion, 2007Third in Kid Kart Nationals Restricted, coming from the back to third. 

Winner WKA Manufacturers Cup Charlotte Motor Speedway 2008

Age 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Year's Factory Drivers

 

 

2007 (Formerly ComerJet) Tornado Factory Team Drivers

The 2007 Factory Team is in place. Here are the Drivers that have qualified, been nominated and approved as Factory Drivers for 2007. Each has earned the right to run as a Factory Pilot for ComerJet's Tornado Team. We expected great things of them and they have shown us great results by controlling 5 of the top 6 spots in IKF Region 7 competitive Kid Kart Racing, both a National and Grand National race in the St. Louis Kid Kart National and the IKF Sprint Grand National. In qualifying at the KKN the four Tornado drivers in the field took the top four spots with Flinn Lazier winning it the next day. We are proud to be associated with such talented young men, as we often say at the end of the race "thank you for making our karts and engines look so fast".

Pato O'Ward of Monterrey Mexico - ACK Mexican Championship, Mexican DIPSA MOTORSPORTS Champion

Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Royal McKee of Las Vegas Nevada - IKF Sprint Grand National Champion, IKF R7 two wins, 3rd in points with Drops.

 

Age 9 Royal McKee of Las Vegas Nevada - 2007 IKF Sprint Grand National Champion, IKF R7 two wins, 3rd in IKF R7, Gatorz Challenge of the Americas 2 wins!

 

 

Cruz Fiore of Las Vegas Nevada - Winner Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 3rd in overal Points IKF R7

Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RJ Lantz of California - Winner of King Taco Open, IKF R7 Buttonwillow, Front Row Qualifier at Kid Kart Nationals in 07

Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braden Johnson of Illinois -  IKF R7 Champion 2007 and CSSS Points Leader

Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I Want To Go Fast!!" - 3 Year old Ricky Bobby or Braden Johnson?

 

At the Kid Kart Nationals we heard the story of young three year old Braden Johnson. While waiting for his Mom in the car, Braden started the engine to hear it rev, thinking that it needed to be in neutral to rev better he pull on the gear and it went into drive as he had it floored. He was going fast just like in the movie Ricky Bobby. Braden took his Mom's car for a wild ride, sideswiped a shed, jumped a dirt ramp of his and struck a propane tank. He drove the Trans Am back to the house and parked the wrecked side up against the house so his Mom wouldn't see and turned it off. The 1000 gallon propane tank disconnected and rolled twenty feet causing a four mile area to be evacuated. It wasn't until a couple hours later that Braden admitted to his Grandmother what he had done and his Mother saw the side of the car on the passenger side was destroyed. One spark and Braden would have been part of a huge crater left in the field.

Braden has always wanted to drive and go faster. He's coming back to California for a chance to enter the record books as the youngest out of state, and out of area driver to win the much coveted IKF R7 championship. While far from over, he leads the points by a wide margin over six year old Chris Trickle and eight year old Royal McKee. Chris is one of the favorites for next year and will be racing with his younger brother Tommy Trickle in the series.

Braden's Mother drives for a living so maybe it's in his blood. He's one of the best drivers we have seen and he can give us feedback on how the kart is handling. He can make things happen even when the set up is not perfect. He's a thinking driver and he has a chance to wrap up the IKF Region 7 championship  and drop the final race if he gets a top 5 finish or finishes 4 spots behind Chris Trickle or Royal McKee. Anything can happen as Royal McKee could tell you. He has two wins and a second, but two gremlins have bitten him, first a broken clutch spring at the first race then a sprocket in race three. Chris Trickle got knocked off the track in race one but recovered, he could have won the opener had it had just one more lap as he was catching up fast. He could have won the second race had his crew chief picked up the right fuel can, because he had the pole. Many things can happen, as Braden's crew chief knows after dropping out the little black bar in the air filter at KK Nationals. Michael Thompson will be guarding against every small detail and hoping no parts break in the final race or two. Almost everyone is routing for the young Midwestern phenom, all his competitors for the points lead are his team mates on the ComerJet Factory Team. While they want his spot they could not pick a nicer, more worthy person to win the championship. The main question is, will he go for the win or play it safe.

With as many as 14 Tornados scheduled to race in this race, things will be flying and it will get crazy out there. The weather forecasters have put a red box around the high desert and Edwards Air Force base for September 7th and 8th. The shuttle will need to land somewhere else because the desert is going to be a bit wild with all that Tornado racing action. You can't count out Baker, fourth in points that wants a win and considers this tight track his best shot. Iavelli needs a top showing to move up in points and is a wonderful driver, Corbit will certainly be there trying to get his first deserved podium spot. Logan Mitchell will be in from St. Louis to test the waters for a possible run at the points next year and Pato has booked his flights, he'll be riding a special black Tornado. If he has a top engine he could easily win against the West's best as he's the smoothest driver we've seen in years. Rader will be racing the engine that won the Kid Kart Nationals, could he jump up in points with a first or second. So many racers and such a tight track. Fortunately for us Tornado's love tight tracks and testing has gone very very well so far there. As the season comes to a crescendo one thing is for sure fans will be yelling for 5 more laps as the white flag comes out. Maybe the fans will take the starter prisoner and keep it going for twelve laps. Maybe, just maybe, everyone will ask IKF nicely to consider boosting the 5 mile rule up to 8 for next year. ;-)

Oh yes, let's not forget about Cruz Fiore. He did his best Ricky Bobby impression last month as his flywheel exploded on the straight at the Xplex. Eddie said, "he was running around yelling, help me Tom Cruise!!!". Eddie was thinking, what's wrong with that boy. The flywheel had exploded and gone through the gas tank, and it was spilling on his hot muffler. ZZ Top is going back together again because the head was not hurt and Cruz is still fourth in overall points with drops.

 

 

Nelson Rader of Carlsbad California - Front Row Qualifier at IKF Grand Nationals, finish 5th at Grand Nationals

Age 8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owen Leatherberry, Wisconsin - Third in Kid Kart Nationals Restricted, coming from the back to third. Winner WKA Manufactures Cup Charlotte

Age 6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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