June 16th, 2008

Kurt Mathewson Wins Masters Shifter Race at
Grattan Great Lakes Pro Series Event

In one week, Evolution Karting’s drivers had to adapt from an sub-20 second lap in a parking lot race, to an 110 MPH, 82 second lap long track event.  Kurt Mathewson won the Masters 125 Shifter class for the second year in a row at Grattan Raceway in Michigan over Graham Wilcock at the final long track race of the year in the Great Lakes Pro Series event.

Driving his CRG Road Rebel, Mathewson qualified second next to pole sitter Voytek Burdzy by .2 seconds.  Graham Wilcock qualified 3rd but started last on the grid due to a technical violation in qualifying.  At the start, Mathewson beat Burdzy into the first turn and led for the first 10 minutes in the 25 minute timed event.  Meanwhile, Wilcock quickly got through traffic and hooked up with Burdzy to work together and push both up to the leader, Mathewson. Drafting was all-important on the Grattan track with its 3,200’ front straight, which you enter in 5th gear.

For the remainder of the race the 3 battled with Wilcock and Burdzy drafting by Mathewson once at the end of the straight. Mathewson was able to get back by Burdzy before corner 2 and drafted past Wilcock on the next straight.  The trio continued in close quarters for the remaining laps.

After the white flag Mathewson led the pack as the trio sliced through lapped traffic.  As they came out of the final turn, the leaders closed on more lapped traffic and as they crossed the finish line, Mathewson took the win followed by Wilcock and Burdzy.  While the race ended there, the racing didn’t. The flagman had trouble identifying the leaders from the lappers and was late waving the checkered flag, causing the front 3 to continue racing for another lap, not sure if the race was over or not.  On the extra lap, Mathewson’s engine coughed due to low fuel and Wilcock passed him and crossed the line ahead of Mathewson.  While Wilcock thought he had won, officials ruled that the raced ended at the prescribed time and Mathewson was indeed the winner.

Other Evolution team drivers didn’t fair as well as Cole Mathewson DNF’d in the Tag class with a broken chain, and Garrick Miller, making his first appearance of the year in Stock Moto, retired when his gearbox wouldn’t select 6th gear.
The team’s next event will be the Ironman 150 lap event June 29th at New Castle Motorsports Park.
For More Information on Evolution Karting visit: www.evolution-karting.com and visit their online store.