Andersen Racing Builds On Solid Strengths In Florida Karting Championship Series

PALMETTO, May 15, 2010: Wes Phillips, Andersen Racing’s director of competition karting, was very pleased with how members of the Palmetto, Fla.-based team worked together during the second round of the Florida Karting Championship Series (FKCS) recently at the 0.7-mile karting track at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla.

Fielding karts for eight different drivers was a challenge, but Phillips said the team functioned as one entity. “All the team members knew their tasks and interacted in fluid motion, whether on the track or in the paddock,” Phillips said.

“I had more time to work with the drivers and their Birel karts, and I feel this team has an exceptional mix of talented drivers and a very well-balanced chemistry,” Phillips continued. “Everyone works well together, and I believe that can translate onto the track. The team had podium pace in every division it entered, and I don’t see that as a chance happening.”

The eight drivers representing the team at Homestead were: * Jacob Duvall of Neptune Beach, Fla. (Senior Max, TaG One and TaG Senior); * Michael McCarthy of Clearwater, Fla. (Mini Max); * Morgan Healey of Bradenton, Fla. (Junior Max and TaG Junior); * Eddie Kish of Palmetto, Fla. (TaG Masters and TaG Senior); * Michael Melancon of Atlantic Beach, Fla. (Senior Max and TaG Senior); * Ivan Xia of Bradenton, Fla. (Mini Max); * Yamir Raj of Weekiwachee, Fla. (TaG Senior); and * Joe Keel of Plant City, Fla. (TaG Masters).

Duvall, who was making his second start with the team and who won the TaG Junior championship in this series last year, had the best results.

“He surprised the field at Round 1 at Andersen RacePark when he came from 24th to finish fourth with the fastest lap of the race by a clear margin, and he had a victory, a second and a fourth in three separate TaG classes at Homestead spread over two days,” Phillips said. “He’s only 16 but he shows the maturity of a seasoned driver, and I look forward to seeing what he will do in the future.”

Duvall is now just six points out of second place in the series’ TaG point standings. He’s currently second in TaG1.

McCarthy finished fourth in what Phillips said was the largest Mini Max class he has seen in the series so far. “He qualified well, was very active in learning the track, and fought through stiff competition to finish fourth,” Phillips added.

Healey, a student from Andersen Racing’s competition karting camps, qualified third in Rotax Junior but then ran into some bad luck. “As Morgan further develops her racecraft she will be a contender for the podium at every race,” Phillips predicted.

Phillips said Kish was well clear of the field in TaG Masters and was even faster than nearly all the TaG Senior competitors on Friday, but his kart developed electrical issues on Saturday and Sunday. “Even with the mechanical problems he still managed a top three in qualifying and the heat race in TaG Masters,” Phillips noted. “I think he’ll be looking for a little redemption at the next event.” He’ll also be looking for points, as he’s fourth in the TaG Masters point standings.

Melancon was making his debut with Andersen Racing, and Phillips was impressed with how fast he was in a TaG kart since he just moved up into the senior ranks. “Michael can be a major threat for victories in his divisions with further development and experience,” Phillips said. “He is the kind of stock that I look for when training a high-caliber driver.”

Xia was also making his first start with the team, as he has come from China to compete in American kart racing. “Although he doesn’t speak much English he caught on well, and he’s a welcome addition to Andersen’s family of young racers and a fitting teammate to Michael McCarthy,” Phillips said.

Raj missed practice on Friday due to tests at his school, but he made a serious stab at the competition on race day even though he’d never seen the track before.

“Keel, who also serves as a mechanic for his two grandsons in Micro Max, was participating just for fun, as it’s been awhile since he stepped into a competition kart,” Phillips added.

The first round of the FKCS was held at Andersen RacePark in February. Round 3 is coming right up May 21-23 at Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Fla. Round 4 is slated for June 11-13 at the Ocala Grand Prix in Ocala, Fla. The 103rd Street Complex in Jacksonville, Fla. will be the site of Round 5 on July 23-25. The series concludes Aug. 27-29 at Monticello Karting in Monticello, Fla.

For more information on the series, see flwkasprintseries.com.

Andersen Karting offers corporate, regional, national and international karting programs from its headquarters at Andersen RacePark in Palmetto, Fla. For more information see andersenkarting.com and andersenracepark.com. Eddie Kish, manager of Andersen RacePark, can be reached by telephone at (941) 723-3900 or by e-mail at eddie@andersenkarting.com, while Phillips’ e-mail address is wes@andersenracingteam.com.

Andersen Racing is a top formula car team that participates in Star Mazda and Firestone Indy Lights. It is sponsored by Allied Building Products Corp. Its Web site is at andersenracingteam.com.