Pro Karting - Giebler Racing's Shawn Cricca Wins In TaG Senior At Lancaster

LANCASTER, Oct. 11, 2011: Phil Giebler Racing’s Shawn Cricca won, Chris Cricca finished fourth and Joel Miller was fifth in the TaG Senior main event in the Superkarts! USA Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix Sunday (Oct. 9).

Shawn Cricca dominated the weekend, winning both heats and posting the fastest qualifying lap on the .7-mile circuit in downtown Lancaster.

“It’s probably my biggest victory in the five years I’ve been karting,” the 20-year-old from Simi Valley, Calif., said. “It was definitely the most competitive class. There were 25 drivers capable of winning.”

Cricca started on pole, but fell behind Devin Lindsey of Highland, Calif., at the start. Third-place finisher Camden Geise was pressuring Cricca in the early laps.

“I told myself to get ahead of Lindsey because I didn’t want to get into a battle with Geise and let Lindsey get away,” Cricca said.

On the seventh lap, Cricca passed Lindsey.

“I had a good run off the corner and out-braked him into a hairpin,” Cricca said.

Cricca was .442 of a second in front of runner-up Lindsey at the checkered flag in the 20-lap feature.

“This was an amazing weekend for Shawn,” Giebler said. “It was his first major event victory. He has worked very hard for it and I’m very happy for him and his family.”

Brother Chris Cricca also was strong throughout the two-day event. The 17-year-old from Simi Valley was third fastest in qualifying and was fourth and sixth in the heats.

“Chris had a great weekend as well,” Giebler said. “He is gaining a lot of confidence and he is very quick.”

Miller of Hesperia, Calif., was second fastest in qualifying and third in the first heat. But he was pushed into barriers at the end of the second heat and had to start the main event 22nd in a 25-kart field.

“Joel had a fantastic run,” Giebler said. “His climb back up to fifth was a great comeback. He had the fastest lap of the race.”

PGR’s Emily Maddison of Calgary, Canada, finished 15th in the TaG Senior main. She was 19th in qualifying and the first heat and 14th n the second heat.

“Emily had a tough final,” Giebler said. “She was up to 11th when her kart was damaged on the sixth lap.”

PGR’s Andrew Wiener of Chula Vista, Calif., and Lloyd Mack of Beaumont, Calif., retired after completing two laps in the TaG Senior main. Wiener was 14th fastest in qualifying, finished fifth and eighth in his heats and was running sixth in the main when he was involved n a crash. Mack didn’t post a qualifying time, was 10th and 15th in the heats and fell out with mechanical problems in the main.

Shawn Cricca drove a FA Kart powered by a Vortex Rok built by D-Power. Chris Cricca, Miller, Maddison and Wiener drove FA Karts with IAME Engines built by D-Power. Mack drove an FA Kart with an Vortex Rok engine.

Mason Daughters of Kansas City, Mo., finished sixth in the main, qualified second fastest, and was fifth and 12th in the heats in TaG Junior in a FA Kart with an IAME engine built by D-Power for PGR.

“Mason had an up-and-down weekend,” Giebler said. “He did a great job to qualify second. In the second heat, he was chasing down the leaders until he pushed too hard and caught one of the barriers with his front wheel. Mason had a solid drive in the main and was up to fifth, but the ground wire to the engine was severed and his engine sputtered intermittently.”

PGR’s Steve Wiener of Chula Vista, Calif., finished ninth in the main, eighth and 11th in the heats and qualified 10 in TaG Master in a FA Kart powered by Vortex Rok. Teammate Vatche Tatikian of North Hollywood, Calif., was 14th in the main, 11th and 15th in the heats and qualified 15h in a Spec Honda Shifter with Honda CR125 power built by Darcy Decoste. Teammate Richard Griffin of Chula Vista, Calif., was fifth in the main, fourth in both heats and qualified fifth in Spec Senior PRD driving a FA Kart powered by PRD.