More... PHOTOS RESULTS

       Sunday, August 5th marked the fifth running of the Burris Circle Tour's Gold Runner Race.  This special event showcases the talents of the Jr. III class drivers.  The event includes special trophy dashes and a 25-lap feature event.  Jeff Everts beat out an extremely strong field in the first of the four lap Gold Runner Dashes.  Matt Atkinson, Brian Freiberg, Jimmy Johnson, Amy Ghislain and Chris Faestel took second through sixth.  The second dash was a last line thriller.  Peter Byrne crossed a half a kart length in front.  Second place was up for grabs with Ray Mooi, Amanda Lishamer and Jimmy Johnson coming across in second through fourth within inches.  Marly Mooi took home fifth place.

        Jeff Everts continued his domination of the day and built a commanding lead in the 25 Gold Runner Feature race.  Raymond Mooi, Matt Atkinson and Peter Byrne battled it out for second through fourth using the dynamics of the draft at every turn.  The two drivers hooked into the draft could pass the single kart at every turn.  At the halfway point, a group in the middle got together bringing out the yellow flag and taking away Everts' big advantage. The Channahon, Illinois 8th grader showed the lead wasn't a fluke and got right back out in front.  Mooi and Atkinson swapped places while Byrne settled into fourth.  The action was just as hot in the middle of the pack with Amy Ghislain, Matt Vice, Brian Freiberg and Amanda Lishamer all trying to find their way to more season points.  At the checkers it was Everts, Akinson, Mooi, Byrne and Ghislain finishing first through fifth respectively.

        Jessica Brannam returned to the Circle Tour in style after missing the last two races.  Jessica won the first heat race and then built up a 1/4 lap lead to take home her first feature win of the year.  Clay Kliem and Carly Mandarino passed more times than in a Nascar race before Clay got in front for second place and Carly finished third.

        Jesse Fox, from Momence, Illinois has seen steady improvement in his performance in the Sr. Medium class.  This week it all paid off as he earned the first place trophy.  Anthony Danta and Nikki Yepsen drafted the entire race.  Yepsen closed up in the last lap and tried the inside pass on the final lap.  She couldn't make it stick so Danta took home second, Yepsen third and Brandon Hill finished fourth.

        Jacob Humphrey swept both heat races and the feature in the Sr. Lite class besting 18 of the best kart drivers in the Midwest.  This class has been very competitive all year and this week was no exception.  Joe Moser, from Delavan, Wisconsin led most of the race with Humphrey close behind.  In a pack a few feet back, Ryan Rockhold, Richard McGill, Ricky Johnson and T.J. Mertes passed each other inside, outside - and sometimes sideways.  With just a few laps to go, Johnson made a pass and got enough momentum to take the third place finish.  Ryan Rockhold held on for fourth.  Moser is the overall Burris Circle Tour Series points leader, Rockhold is in second and Humphrey is in third place overall.

        The competition in the Sr. Heavy class is also tightening up.  This week's lead pack went two, three and four wide around the progressively banked oval.  Bob Chatten held his line to fend off challenges from Rick Stromme, Scott Mayborne and Brandon Hill, but no matter what trick Bob tried, Anthony Danta made his kart seem 12 feet wide and made it virtually impossible to pass.  Danta won, followed by Chatten, Mayborne and Stromme. The fans in the stands said one of the best races of the day was the action in the Jr. Champ Kart class.  The three Jr. entries are very competitive and any of these young drivers can win any week.  Early in the feature, Gina Mooi was at the head of the draft.  On almost every lap, Nick O'Dell pulled along side but couldn't make the pass stick.  Halfway through Nick took the lead, but it only lasted a few laps.  A few more lead changes later, Gina took the lead for good and the checkered flag.  O'Dell was second and Mickey Kudlicki was third.

        In other action, John Hunley won the Sr. Sportsman feature, Denise Kruse and Denny Biggs rounded out the field.  Eric Freiberg won the Sr. Yamaha Sportsman class with Jake Mogan finishing second - his best finish of the year.  Dustin Colombi was third.  The F2000-OHV class was a chance for the crowd to see these engines really hooked up.  Ryan Vehring won the feature. The next Burris Circle Tour event is scheduled for August 19th at the Rockford Speedway.  In addition to 11 classes of kart racing action, a "Scooter Scamper" is planned.  Participants of all ages can come to the track and race their scooters for fun and trophies.  Admission to the grandstands is free.