July 11, 2009

EKN Trackside: WKA Manufacturer’s Cup – Road America Sunday Report

Yamaha Sportsman
After qualifying sixth in the field, Jeff Myers Jr. (Birel) was at the head of a three-kart breakaway during the opening laps of the Yamaha Sportsman Prefinal. Santino Ferrucci (Maranello) and top qualifier Mike McAndrews (Margay) were on Myers’ bumper from the get-go and they would both slip past at the end of the frontstraight at the beginning of lap five. The majority of the field were still right there as McAndrews re-took the lead on lap seven, pushing Ferrucci back to second as the top-10 tightened up, led by a charging Karl Weber (Birel). McAndrews would go on the defensive over the final lap and despite sacrificing exit speed, he was still able to hold off any attacks from Ferrucci, who was second at the line. Garrett Johnston (Margay) advanced from seventh to third, finishing ahead of Karl Weber (Birel) and Kyle Kalish (Merlin).

The opening corner of the feature shuffled up the field as Weber escaped with the lead and showed the way until McAndrews reassumed the top spot on lap four. McAndrews led a three-kart breakaway with Johnston and Kalish on his bumper. The fight for fourth saw a large pack shuffling position, which allowed the front three to continue to pull away. They would run in line for the majority of the race. The white flag lap decided the race as Johnston went inside of McAndrews into turn three to make his bid at the victory. McAndrews won the battle and emerged with the lead. Kalish capitalized on Johnston going wide on the exit of four to slide through for second. They would run that way to the line with McAndrews earning his first win of the season. Jens and Collin Campbell (Birel) rounded out the top-five.