Pro Karting - Giebler Racing's Dees, Grey Win LA Karting Club Main Events

Fontana, Oct. 27, 2011: Phil Giebler Racing’s Keith Dees celebrated his 20th birthday with a main event victory in Spec PRD Senior and Paul Grey took the main in Spec PRD Grand Masters and both clinched Los Angeles Karting Club championships Sunday (Oct. 23) on the .75-mile CalSpeed Kart Track at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.

“It was a great race for Keith and a great way to finish off a championship-winning season,” Giebler said. “He drove a solid race with lots of pressure and he stayed focused and brought home the victory. Keith has learned a lot since joining our team and he is a big help to the team when he is not driving as well.”

Dees was third fastest in qualifying, averaging 67.023 mph in a FA Kart/Hyper Engines-built PRD on Bridgestone tires. The La Quinta, Calif., resident finished sixth in his heat.

Grey was the top qualifier, averaging 65.213 mph in his FA Kart/Hyper Engines-built PRD on Bridgestone tires. The Mission Viejo, Calif., resident was pushed into the barriers in the heat and flipped.

“Paul was a little banged up and bruised and he came back in the final after repairing his kart to win the main and take the championship in style,” Giebler said.

PGR’s Noah Grey of Dana Point, Calif., finished fifth and Seth Brown of San Diego was ninth in the KPV-2 main. Grey was sixth and Brown ninth in the heat race. Grey qualified fifth, averaging 65.151 mph, and Brown 10th, averaging 63.845. Both drove FA Karts powered by KPV engines built by Tru Tech on Bridgestone tires.

“Noah had a good run in his first event in the older age group (12-15),” Giebler said. “He had some good races and battled in the lead group. I’m looking forward to seeing Noah’s progress in the older age group. It will be a good challenge for him and he will learn a lot.

“Seth is fairly new to karting compared to his competitors and he did a fantastic job learning a new track, new kart and new team.”

PGR’s GianFranco Casadei won the So-Cal Sprinters championship in Senior PRD TaG Controlled by finishing first in the premain and second in the main Saturday at the Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside, Calif. The Los Angeles-based Brazilian was the fastest qualifier, averaging 52.724 mph on the .7-mile track

Victor Barbosa of Los Angeles finished third in the main, second in the premain and was second fastest in qualifying with an average speed of 51.142 mph in Jr1 PRD TaG Controlled at the Adams track. The Phil Giebler Racing driver finished second in the Jr1 championship in So-Cal Sprinters.

“Victor had a great second part to the season and his confidence is growing with each race,” Giebler said. “Next year he will be moving up to the 12 to 15 age group. He is fired up and excited about next year.”