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| May 01, 2009 |
| Driver News: Devlin DeFrancesco - WKA South Bend Preview |
 | DeFrancesco has recent wins on both sides of the border
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
After just over a month away from the National scene, Devlin DeFrancesco returns to major competition this weekend when the World Karting Association Manufacturer’s Cup schedule resumes at Michiana Raceway Park. Host to the second of five rounds, the MRP Speed School Nationals in South Bend, Indiana, will see the talented nine-year-old return to action in Cadet Junior Sportsman.
While he hasn’t run much under Comer power since Daytona Kartweek, DeFrancesco has been anything but idle in racing the entire Florida Winter Tour and Rotax Micro-Max on both sides of the border recently. Since wrapping his FWT at Ocala, DeFrancesco has kicked off the South Florida Rotax Max Challenge at Homestead, returned to Canada for the inaugural weekend with the Toronto Racing Association of Karters, and raced last weekend in the North Florida Rotax Max Challenge at Ocala. Impressive in all, he was on the podium at each and every stop.
Beginning at Homestead in early April, DeFrancesco had to fight forward from the back of the pack after losing his pole-qualifying time due to a technical disqualification. It was due to a non-performance related part, and it didn’t take him long to prove it as after an eight-lap prefinal he was right back on the front row, and did so in setting the fastest lap. It was much the same in the main event as DeFrancesco once again had fast lap and went toe-to-toe with FWT Micro-Max Champion Logan Sargeant. The pair eclipsed the field and did so while swapping the lead multiple times. In the end, DeFrancesco took second with the lead pair crossing within three-tenths of a second.
Two weeks later he was running in Canada as TRAK raced its first club event at Goodwood Kartways, home of the 2009 Canadian National Karting Championships. DeFrancesco raced both Micro-Max and Novice, this time standing on top of the blocks. In Novice he earned pole by a second, won the prefinal with the fastest lap on nine of ten, and went flag-to-flag in the main event to win. In Micro-Max he took pole by well over a second, crossed second in the prefinal with fast lap of the race, and was settled nicely into a race plan in the main when a piggy-back situation ruined his run. Fast lap of the race and an unofficial track record was the consolation prize for his efforts.
Back in Florida a week ago DeFrancesco dominated in running races three and four of the North Florida Rotax Max Challenge. On pole Saturday he took over a second per lap from the field and won the feature by six seconds. Sunday was much the same as he was once again on pole, won the prefinal and took the final by a commanding margin for the second straight day. He will be looking to continue his strong form at MRP this weekend as he races just his second WKA National event. To track the latest news and information, visit the forums at http://www.ekartingnews.com |
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