April 12th, 2011 
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Winners Briggs Gas Animal Light
This weekend was the first of eight IKF Region 6 Northwest Gold Cup races. This season opener was at the Richland, Washington track is familiar to the Robb family, as it was our most visited track last year in preparation for the four cycle Grand Nationals where Sting Ray won his first Duffy. The weather was chilly and windy, but very bearable compared to the last two races at Calspeed and Sonoma, where we endured near tsunami conditions. On Saturday Sting Ray nailed the qualify effort with the fastest time in Junior 1 Animal (light), recording a blistering time that was half a second faster than the field. He went on to win the pre-final and the final ahead of his buddies, Justin Demars, Kyle Adams, Trey Manker, and Daytona Arnzen by 8 seconds.
In the mean time he qualified Third in Mini Max behind Davey Manthei and Kyle Wick. Those three packed ahead of the rest of the 10 kart field but promised a formidable competition in the two remaining heats. In Heat one Sting Ray got the hole shot but couldn’t outlast Davey. He held on to second, even though Kyle was charging hard.
Mini-Max Winners
In heat 2, Sting Ray got the hole shot again but in turn 2 went a little wide as the seasoned multi-time National Champion Davey Manthei smartly took the inside line and wedged his way to the lead. Sting Ray went off track and started up the hill to turn three in last place. He charged hard, passing 6 competitors (Matthew Morgan, Adam Spikes, Sara Brinkac, Seth Appel, Mason Morgan, and Devin Smith) before time ran out, finishing in fourth behind Cole Franchini, Kyle Wick and Davey Manthei. The next day he got to start in third and the race finished there for his second podium of the weekend.
On Sunday in Junior 1 heavy, Sting Ray blazed ahead with times equal to or better than the day before, even though he had an extra 20 pounds of lead on his kart, (50 total pounds of diving weights). The heat and final were equal to the day before, and his victory 11 seconds ahead of the pack, the second win of the weekend, and the third podium. St the trophy presentation Sting Ray thanked God for all He has done for him, and thanked Blake Choquer (BBR Karting) and the Red Apple Racing Team for all their help.
That was an awesome weekend for us all. The mechanics didn’t mess up one time, and Sting Ray drove fast and consistent, which is the key we have been striving for all year. Way to go, Sting Ray. We hope the next IKF race in Chilliwack will be as successful. In two weeks though, we will be headed to Tucson for a Skusa race in the Mini ROC Cadet class. This is the class he ran in Italy last year and at the Supernats last November in Las Vegas. He likes the engine package, and who knows, we might even keep his kart together.
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