It was another great day for shifter kart racing at the Florida Winter Tour in Homestead. Once again all eyes in the paddock were on the ROK Shifter category with the likes of Rubens Barrichello and Nelson Piquet Jr. competing amongst a field full of talented kart racers.
ROK Shifter
Rubens Barrichello (OGP/TonyKart) was the pole sitter in the shifter category ahead of KZ ace Patrik Hajek (Praga North America), and Austin Garrison (OGP/TonyKart). Canadian Nicholas Latifi (Ferrolati Corse/CRG) continued to put in a strong effort in his return to karts as he beat out Nelson Piquet Jr. (Piquet Sports/TonyKart) for the fifth position.
Hajek wasted no time in the prefinal as he had an amazing launch to take the lead at the drop of the green flag. Barrichello cruised behind to come home in second ahead of Garrison, Collin Daley Jr. (Homestead Karting/CRG) and Latifi.
Hajek once again jumped out to an early lead in the final over Barrichello but unlike Saturday, Barrichello didn’t fade back. Tracking down the leader with five laps to go Barrichello found the rear bumper of Hajek. Making a move to the inside of corner five a lap later, his lead didn’t last long as a quick counter move by Hajek was all he needed. The Czech factory Praga driver kept Barrichello behind him for the remainder of the race as it appeared Barrichello had used up all of his material, unable to mount another charge. Daley Jr. completed the podium on his home turf while Garrison and Latifi completed the top-five in an excellent battle for the position.
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ROK Masters Shifter
Richard Heistand (OGP/TonyKart) was dominate once again Saturday in ROK Masters Shifter after taking pole and winning the Prefinal and easily cruising in the Final.
The battle for second was close in the Final as three drivers battled it out for the position. In a drag race to the finish line, Victor Jiminez (CRG) just nipped Tom Hankinson (FA Kart) for the second position while Jason Alden had to settle for fourth.
