Nestled in the rolling hills of northern Wisconsin is a kart track that many put on their “favorite track” lists, US Air in Shawano Wisconsin. The Comet Racing Team was on hand for engine support, driver coaching and chassis tuning with Comet Racing Engines customers recording numerous podiums, fast times, poles and a win!

Zach Holden is in his first full year of senior level competition but you wouldn’t know it by watching him on track! With IAME 125 Pro the headline class of the series with karting’s best drivers competing, Zach put everyone on notice Friday by posting fast time in the “Happy Hour” practice session to finish the day with his Comet Racing Engine X30 engine on the Tony Kart. Zach was in the mix in the heat races slotted into second on lap 2 of the final where he methodically chipped away at the gap to the leader before taking the lead with 4 laps to go. Zach proceeded to put a few tenths between him and second place capturing the win by 1.3 seconds at the line while also running the races fastest lap! AJ Myers overcame a 9th place starting spot on the iKart to finish in 4th but a broken hose clamp on his airbox would result in a DQ at the scales. Sunday was shaping up to be another good day for Zach in the IAME 125 Pro class qualifying on the front row. Unfortunately while running second in the final on Sunday Zach hit a piece of debris on the track that ripped out his throttle cable and he slowed to a stop early in the final. Myers had another productive run finishing in 6th on the iKart.

Despite just moving up from the sportsman classes this year Aiden Harrington has already been in the mix with drivers with a couple Junior seasons under their belts. On Saturday Aiden was in the lead draft the whole race and made some moves on the final lap to secure 2nd place with a Comet Yamaha on a Kosmic Kart. On Sunday it was shaping up to a really good day when Zach Pretorius (who just started traveling to new tracks this year) qualified on pole with his FA Kart and Comet KT100 with Harrington in third. Unfortunately the start didn’t go as planned with Zach getting knocked off in the first corner of the heat race and Aiden pulling off with a brake issue. The second heat went better with Aiden in 2nd and Zach finishing 3rd but Zach’s bad start luck continued and was knocked off the track again at the start of the final. Aiden had an uneventful run after starting mid pack to finish 6th with Jack Dorsey in 8th on a Comet KT100 on an FA Kart.

Brothers Garrett and Logan Adams despite just starting to travel to different tracks this year were up front all weekend in the Yamaha Cadet class. On Saturday Garrett and Logan both had strong runs in the heat races with Garrett finishing in the 3rd and 4th and Logan in 4th and 7th to start in the top 5 for the final. Garrett had a clean start to move into second place but Logan’s day was over on the first lap when his valve stem was damaged in a collision. Garrett pushed the leader for most of the race before a couple driving mistakes allowed first to pull a gap that remained to the checkered flag where Garrett ended up second on an FA Kart and Comet KT100 and James Lynch finishing 8th with a Comet KT100. Sunday was another strong run for Garrett but unfortunately for Logan, who had the speed all day, he definitely didn’t have the luck. The Sunday final was almost the same as the day before with Garrett pushing the leader in the early stages of the race and building up a lead to third place. Late in the run Garrett dropped back from the leader with the pack of karts behind him catching Garrett on the last lap. Garrett managed to hand on for another podium finish in 3rd. James Lynch had a strong run to finish 5th.

Yamaha Pro continues to produce some of the best racing in all of racing, not just karting with 5-6 karts nose to tail racing for the lead with multiple lead changes during the race and no telling who will cross the finish line first! Zach Holden started out Saturday on a high note putting his Comet KT100 on a Tony Kart on the pole. In the final it was another classic Yamaha Pro race with Zach leading multiple laps during the race and everyone waiting on the final lap to really go for the win. With a lap to go Zach was in 3rd place but was hit from behind which sent him into the second place kart which allowed the leader to pull out a considerable lead. Zach would cross the line in second place never getting the chance to challenge for the win. Sunday was another insane final with more lead changes than you would count on both hands. With only 4 corners to go Zach made his bid for the lead going into the hairpin, unfortunately after briefly taking the position he was pushed by on the outside by two karts and had to settle for third at the line. It was still a great run and another awesome Yamaha race.

Cayla Chapman made great strides in Yamaha Pro aboard her Top Kart and Comet KT100 throughout the weekend in just her second national event since making the transition from 4cycle racing. In her first visit to the Shawano circuit and also her first time working under the Comet tent she achieved nearly every goal she set for the weekend.

Mark Dismore Jr. with Comet Kart Sales summed up his weekend as a tuner and driver coach, “It was a fun weekend under the tent! I was extremely happy with all of our customers pace throughout the weekend. I also am glad all the long hours in the engine shop with Mark Harrison, Gary Lawson and Jason Zentz is really paying dividends. They have worked tirelessly and the performance from all our Comet Racing Engines shows that.”

“It was great to see many of our young drivers battling at the front of the pack in many classes,” said Gary Lawson, Comet Racing Engines engine builder, tuner and driver coach. “Our team keeps growing and gaining momentum as we get into the busy part of our schedule and we expect that trend to continue.”

Team Comet has spots available for the remainder of the WKA Manufacturers Cup and USPKS schedule. Comet excels in chassis tuning, engine support, driver coaching and data acquisition. Comet specializes in OTK karts but all kart brands are welcome. If you are looking for a team with the experience and ability to get you to the front give us a call. As always Comet will be on hand to provide engine support to all Comet Racing Engines customers.

Championship Winning Comet Racing Engines are available for purchase or rent. Comet continually track tests and dyno tests looking for the next big gain in engine performance. If you are looking to join the Comet Racing Engines family contact Mark Dismore Jr. or Gary Lawson at Comet for more information. www.cometkartsales.com or call 317-462-3413.