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KartSport&Kirkwood Shine in FWT Opener
KartSport Team Arrow Racing recently attended the first round of the 2012 Florida Winter Tour at Palm Beach International Raceway. The track's long straightaway made it hard for leaders to break away, but it kept the races action packed as many drivers were in the hunt to win. Arrow would go on to capture two wins during the event.
Kyle Kirkwood made his first TAG Junior start on the national level at the 2012 Florida Winter Tour. After crashing out in the first turn of Saturday's prefinal, it left the Floridian starting at the back of the main. However, Kirkwood piloted his way to a victory from the tail end of the field in his Kartsport prepared Arrow X1-E chassis. Sunday would be no different as he once again crossed the stripe in first after a last turn pass on his competitor.
The momentum from Kirkwood's two wins would carry over to the next weekend for the ultra competitive Rotax Jr. class. On Saturday, Kirkwood proved to be the man to beat after taking the pole position but was later disqaulified for not having an o-ring under his Rotax carburetor cap. Starting dead last in the LCQ, Kirkwood once again drove his Arrow X1-E from the tail end to finish the LCQ in sixth, and transferred into the main. Kirkwood shocked everybody with his race-craft, and once again drove to sixth on the tail end of the lead pack in the prefinal. The final saw Kirkwood and and two of his competitors break away from the field, and Kirkwood was unable to advance his position on the final lap bringing home a podium finish. In Sunday's final, Kirkwood would find himself in a different position. He led most of the race up until the final lap, but was overtaken at the end of the long straight away. Kirkwood looked for a hole on the last few turns but was unable to sneak by, and came across the stripe in second.
Scott Falcone once again challenged for wins on board his Arrow X1-E chassis. Falcone set a quick time in Saturday's qualifying putting him off pole for the prefinal. It was a competitive race out front with many swaps for the lead. He saw himself drop back to tenth after contact with other karts on the start, but was able to charge through the field turning laps over half a second faster than the leaders. With just two laps to go, Falcone has found his way to third on the bumper of the leaders. However, contact between first and second place sent the second place kart spinning in front of Falcone ending his race. Falcone once again showcased his speed on Sunday pulling off to a clear lead in the prefinal before being turned by the kart behind him. He dropped back to tenth to start the final, and would quickly advance through the field to finish on the last step of the podium.
KartSport North America would like to thank all of the Arrow drivers who competed at the first round of the 2012 Florida Winter Tour in Palm Beach. Look for Arrow drivers to shine at the top of the podium in round two at Homestead. For more information on KartSport and Arrow racing karts, please visit www.kartsportna.com or email us at info@kartsportnorthamerica.com
