Pro Karting - Phil Giebler Racing's Peterson, Ruch, Daughters, Dees, Grey Win Six Features At Four Tracks

Indianapolis, June 16, 2011: Phil Giebler Racing drivers Jess Peterson, Joe Ruch, Mason Daughters, Keith Dees and Paul Grey combined to win six features in karting events at four tracks in four states Saturday (June 11) and Sunday (June 12).

“We had an outstanding weekend,” Giebler said.

Peterson, of Sparks, Nev., had two victories in an IKF Region 11 TaG Senior feature at the Southern Oregon Kart track in Medford, Ore. Peterson’s FA Kart-IAME Leopard-Bridgestone machine was tuned by mechanic Cole Nelson, a former driver and friend with whom he recently reconnected.

“Jess and Cole have 21 IKF national championships between them and they proved to be a strong combination the past weekend,” Giebler said.

Ruch, of Frankfort, Ind., qualified on pole and won both heats and the feature in S2 Shifter in the second round of the Superkarts! USA Central State Challenge series at TNT Kartways in West Quincy, Ill. Ruch, who also won the opening round at Anderson, Ind., drove a SRS Engines-prepared, 125cc Honda-powered FA Kart on MG tires.

“Another great job by Joe,” Giebler said.

Daughters, of Polo, Mo., triumphed in TaG Junior in the Heartland Mazda Sprint Series at the Liberty Kart Track in Independence, Mo. Daughters was the second fastest qualifier despite having only one flying lap before the chain came off his FA Kart-IAME 125cc-MG. Daughter’s engine was prepared by Comet Racing.

“Mason has worked very hard over the past six months and he is getting more confident all the time in the kart,” Giebler said. “He has been a quick study and I am sure we will see a lot of success in his future.”

Keith Dees, of La Quinta, Calif., won the feature in Spec PRD Senior in the Los Angeles Kart Club event at the .75-mile CalSpeed track in Fontana, Calif.

“Keith did a great job to bring home the win with intense pressure from behind,” Giebler said. “It was a tight battle at the top.”

Dees finished second in the first heat and won the second.

“Keith had to start the first heat dead last in 18th after a draw to determine starting positions,“ Giebler said. “He made it to second in an eight-lap heat race and won the second heat with PGR teammate Derek Zimmermann right behind in second.”

Grey, of Mission Viejo, Calif., was victorious in PRD Grand Master at Fontana. He also won both heats.

“Paul drove very well,” Giebler said.

Zimmerman, of Upland, Calif., finished fourth and Gianfranco Casadei, a Brazilian living in Los Angeles, was fifth in the Spec PRD Senior feature.

Dees, Grey, Zimmerman and Casadei drove PRD-powered FA Karts on Bridgestone tires. The engines were prepared by Hyper Racing Engines.

“The CalSpeed event in Fontana is a good example of affordable spec racing,” Giebler, of Huntington Beach, Calif., said. “The PRD 125cc water-cooled engine is a great entry level class that provides an equal playing field."

Phil Giebler Racing, owned by the 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, is based in Orange, Calif., and competes in karting events coast-to-coast in the USA.