"Leonard takes Pro SK-125 win, Hodgeton takes Pro ICC-125 in Round Three of this popular IRA pro shifter series!"
By Tom Koutny
GRATTAN, MI (July 20, 2002) - The third stop for the 2002 SSC Racing/Shifter Kart Pro Series arrived at beautiful Grattan Raceway in Central Michigan, with very warm and humid weather. After a full day of practice on Friday, the SSC Racing Shifter Kart Pro Series was set to qualify for their race on Saturday morning. T.J. Koutny #57j put his Intense Karting/Intense Power/Rocket Racing Honda powered Tony MITOX Kart on the pole, with a quick time of 1:21:74 and #66j Chris Leonard's MRP Birel along side of Koutny with a time of 1:22:85.
At the start of the SK125 Moto race, it was a battle between Koutny and Leonard exchanging the lead when out of turn one a mechanical failure (broken coil wire) put T.J. Koutny on the infield. With Koutny sidelined, Eric Winberg #17 and his Franklin PCR Yamaha and last year's champion, Clayton Prater #27 on his Track Majic/Bellen Moterworks Honda, challenged Chris Leonard.
The train continued until Prater overheated and had to retire, this set up Winberg and Leonard to battle with Chris Leonard for his first SSC Racing Shifter Kart Pro Series Race. Brian Riemers #29j brought his SKM/Forest Lumber machine into third place.
Jonathon Kettlewell who was unable to qualify due to mechanical problems had an exceptional race. Starting dead last he campaigned his GP Fury/Bellew Honda for a fourth place finish. All the racers wish to thank SSC Racing/Shifter Kart and Shifter Kart Illustrated for all of their support.
In the growing ICC 125 sponsored by National Kart News Doug Hodgeton qualified on the pole With his time of 1:23.77 and Tyler Theilman joining Hodgeton on the front row with a time of 1:24.64, the race was a close battle until Tyler Thielman's #6 Franklin/PCR experienced two flat tires. A great Battle ensued for second between #14 Rich Salerno and his Woodfield Motorsports/John's Kartshop sponsored Gold Chassis and Oscar Navarro's #52 Biesse Kart to the finish line, side by side with Navarro taking second by three-tenths of a second. Doug Hodgeton #50 came home the winner.
The fourth stop of the SSC Racing Shifter Kart Pro Series will be at the new Mid-America Motorplex in Iowa. For more on the SSC Racing Shifter Kart Pro Series and other events of the International Racing Association check them out on the web at www.internationalracingassociation.com or call them at 1-866-689-RACE. For more information on the MG Tires Championship Enduro Series visit their website at www.championshipenduro.com.
RESULTS (July 20, 2002):
SK-125 Pro:
1.) Chris Leonard (#66j)
2.) Erik Winberg (#17)
3.) Brian Reimer (#29j)
4.) Jonathon Kettlewell (#98)
5.) Scott Barnes (#1)
 
6.) Greg Yocum (#14)
7.) Jason North (#2)
8.) Clayton Prater (#27)
9.) Gary Meunier (#99)
10.) Owen Wharton (#3)
11.) Tim Koutny (#57)
12.) Andrew Chase (#11)
DQ - Chris Wright (21)
ICC-125 Pro:
1.) Doug Hodgeton (#50)
2.) Oscar Navarro (#52)
3.) Rich Salerno (#14)
4.) Chad Donner (#43)
5.) Tyler Theilmann (#6)
6.) Jeff Easterday (#36)
 
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