AZ Predator 212 Report by Rebel James (with a little help from AMS timing and scoring) 

Let me start by saying I had a hell of time hanging out with the Clampetts from the pucker brush valley. The Ricketts family are fun. They brought the whole family down to the valley to race. Three brothers and a couple of children to race, and if there was a hard luck award, they would have all earned it! 

So let's start with the stock sealed class. They had 19 karts. Aaron Cavaleri in the #9, started fourth in the first heat and drove it for the win. Brad Weiss won the 2nd heat with Nic Danner in 2nd. 3rd heat was won by Nicholas Wheat with Mike Danner in 2nd.  In the main, Stevie Sussex in the #21 came from the 14th starting spot and drove his butt off to take the win. However, Stevie drove past the scales to put gas in the kart because he thought his niece was driving next. Little did he know that there was another race before hers which she won. Once he drove past the scales he was automatically dq'd. In the post race interview, he said, "So I lost a go-kart race that I won." He was more concerned about the kids. Aaron Cavaleri started on the pole and checked out. He lapped Kc Stitch coming off of four and then Kc dumped him going into one. It was not intentional, just a bad racing move. Aaron restarted last and was making a pass for third and then got dumped again. Not sure by who, but I'm sure he knows. He was not happy. So with the dq of Stevie, Mike Danner got what I believe was his first main event win. Correct me if I'm wrong Mike. CJ Bunch (from San Andreas CA) was 2nd and Brandon Bolton came in 3rd.   Lonnie Oliver won the Hard Charger award.   

The un-sealed class had 14 karts. Stu Moffett started 4th, passed 3 karts and drove away in the first heat driving his #73. Andy Sole went wire to wire leading every lap of the 2nd heat. In the main, well it was over before it even started. The only thing keeping Stu from winning would have been a tornado. Not referring to the "Tempe Tornado, Lealand McSpadden," but an actual tornado. Tony Helsel finished 2nd in the #55 and Connor Lundy rounded out the podium in the #45 Stevie Sussex owned kart.  Dayton Sheldon drove from 8th to 4th to claim the Hard Charger award. 

Let's get to the bad boys. The open class. There were 12 of the baddest karts in the state. Not mine. I still haven't touched it since the memorial. Robert Cole won the first heat in the #16. In the 2nd heat, these dumb sumbitches tried to go three wide into turn 3 on the first lap. Well that ended up with the #40 of Cody Ricketts saying, I'm in the air, help me Tom Cruise, help me Oprah Winfrey." As we watched him flip over and take out Stevie Sussex, :)  all I could think about was he should have put his sponsors on the bottom of the floorboard. His daddy, Randy Pappy Ricketts, said that he counted and assured that all the bolts were there. :) After all of that with the adrenaline running through him, he got back in the kart and finished the race. Still with adrenaline running, he forgot to put fuel in it and ran out in the main.  I love the Clampitts :)  Ricky Noyes won the heat driving the #17 Stu Moffett owned kart.  So the front row starters was the "Golden Boy" on the pole and his daddy, the "Godfather," Keith Noyes in the 11 outside. Nobody, not even the "Godfather," had anything for Lloyd Christmas.  Just like the Un-sealed main, it was over before it started. The kid basically gave dad the middle finger and said come get me sumbitch. Robert Cole brought the #16 home in third. Lonnie Oliver crossed in fourth and "The Nomax Kid" Eric Kelley Jr. finished 5th driving the #73 Stu Moffett owned stock kart after I hooked him up with the ride. You're welcome Eric....   Aaron Cavaleri won the Hard Charger award after starting 10th and finishing 7th.  

See y'all later

Rebel out