NEWS
Five Wins for OTK USA at PKRA
OTK USA drivers reached the midway point of the season with Rounds Three and Four for Challenge of the Americas in sunny Glendale, Arizona at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association. The fast, 12-corner circuit hosted just over 115 drivers for what would be a crucial round of the championship with only one weekend remaining. Several drivers and teams on the OTK product line collected wins and podium finishes on the weekend.
Nixx Eggleston doubled up in the win column at his home track to put himself in the Junior 100cc championship fight (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Blake Nash (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) cruised to victory both days in the OK-N category, winning by 1.7 seconds on Saturday, and an impressive 7.2 seconds in Sunday's main event. Along with the Final wins, Nash also brought home the top qualifier honor and Prefinal win on Sunday. Nash Motorsportz teammate Jesus Vasquez Jr. (EOS) stood alongside Nash both days on the podium, with Vasquez picking up a third and second-place finish in Phoenix.
Nixx Eggleston (Ruthless Karting / Exprit) took dual wins on the weekend in the Junior 100cc division, propelling him up to second in the championship standings. Eggleston was consistently in the top three during Saturday, taking third in qualifying and backing up that pace by finishing second in the Prefinal, and eventually taking the Final win. Alexander Gonzalez (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) ended up second with Payton Westcott (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) just outside the podium in fourth. On Sunday, Eggleston took the clean sweep, standing on the top step at the end of the Final, scoring maximum points for the day. Max Altman (Speedsense / Exprit) gave OTK a 1-2 finish. In second, making it an OTK USA 1-2.
Christopher Mann secured that elusive win in the Master 100cc category (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Christopher Mann (Ruthless Karting / Exprit) spearheaded the charge for OTK USA products in Master 100cc, finishing at the top of the scoring sheets every session apart from one. Mann went fastest in qualifying both days, followed up by two Prefinal wins, along with being the first across the line in the Sunday Final for his first career victory at the Challenge. Saturday, Mann finished second after a mid-race scrap for the lead, still bringing home solid points for the championship where he's only 20 points back from the summit of the table. Along with the win on Sunday, Ron Schoonover (JH Motorsports / LN Racing Kart) was able to get his Tony Kart inside the top five, achieving a fifth place finish.
OTK USA teams racked up four podium finishes during the weekend in Senior 100cc. On Saturday, Jesus Vasquez Jr. (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) brought home a runner up finish in the Final and had fellow OTK USA driver Josh Campbell (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) behind in third. In Sunday's Final, four of the five drivers in the top-five were on OTK machinery. Parker DeLong (Tony Kart) came across the line as runner-up after a solid day for him, with Vasquez in third, making it two podium finishes for the Nash Motorsportz driver. Campbell is now just 36 points away from the championship lead after a solid weekend of results that saw him finish the Sunday main event in fourth while Lydia Small (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) capped off the top-five finishers with her best finish of the season.
Macy Williams drove to fourth-place in both main events for ROK Shifter (Photo: eKartingNews.com)
Macy Williams (CB Motorsports / Gillard) in ROK Shifter had a competitive kart all weekend and was challenging for the final spot on the podium throughout. Williams came away with two fourth-place finishes in Phoenix, a solid points weekend for the OTK driver.
Challenge of the Americas returns trackside on April 14-16 at the Sonoma Raceway facility in Sonoma, California for Rounds Five and Six to decide the 2023 champions. Drivers looking to compete with the most popular kart brand in the world or purchase OTK karts and components can contact their local OTK USA dealer. Head to www.otkusa.com for a complete list of dealers and details on the entire brand roster.
