”
Little John
”
wins main; Brian finishes third in first race of rookie dirt
season
TULARE – The kart racing season started up this past weekend for John and Brian Pipkin at the 1/10 mile dirt oval at Tulare.
“Little John” – who switched from competing in asphalt oval and road racing last year to dirt oval tracks for his 2003 campaign – glided to his first victory in the 12-16 year old Junior 2 category.
Meanwhile, younger brother Brian – an eight-year-old rookie in the Junior 2 group for 8-12 year olds – threatened to take the lead in the final lap before finishing a respectable third.
“Little John” showed he can do it on any surface – sitting in the second position at the start of the 20-lap main event. The local speedster held his distance for the first four laps – but when the leader drifted up the track in the turn, he swooped into the lead. John took his Gilroy Tile & Stone, Melo Concrete, PDA-sponsored kart to the bottom and made his move. Although closely pursued for the remaining 16 laps, “Little John” held of the 12-car field to take the checkered flag.
In his two heat runs for pole position, “Little John” started fifth and finished third, and then started in front and placed second.
Brian burned runbber through his heats – starting third and placing second in both runs riding his Kent Construction, Security Shoring & Steel Plate-sponsored entry.
Starting in the second position to open the 20-lap main event, Brian was forced to stay within striking distance behind the leader for the first 19 laps. On the last turn, Brian put the pedal to the medal and went for an outside pass – nearly sliding into the lead before his kart drifted up the track.
