SHARKEY PODIUMS AT WKA AND LOOKS TO DO THE SAME AT SUPERNATIONALS
"Talented Junior set for biggest race of the year"
November 13, 2009 -- SCS Racing pilot and Merlin driver Shawn
Sharkey scored four top ten results including three podiums this past
weekend at the World Karting Association Manufacturer's Cup event.
Taking place on the grounds of the famed Lowe's Motor Speedway,
Sharkey competed in both the Yamaha and HPV classes and could be seen at
the front of the pack.
First on Saturday's racing schedule was the HPV Junior Heavy class
where Sharkey would qualify his P1 powered Merlin outside the second row.
With consistent form all weekend, the New Jersey native finished fourth
in both the prefinal final scoring his first podium result of the
weekend. The final result on the race day would be Sharkey's
overall result in the championship chase as he would end the HPV Junior
Heavy class in fourth.
The lower horsepower Yamaha Junior Lite class would also race on
Saturday, as a field of 31 competitors would take the green flag. With an
unhappy ninth place qualifying result, the Merlin driver would put his
head down in the prefinal gaining four positions and setting himself up
for a shot at the win. The 18 lap final would come down to some fierce
wheel-to-wheel battles as Sharkey hung with the lead group. Some mid-race
battles slowed his progress of attaining the top spot on the podium as
Sharkey would cross the stripe in the fifth position giving the junior
driver enough points to claim the fifth overall position in the WKA
championship.
Sunday would see the SCS Racing crew make minor weight changes to
Sharkey's Merlin karts as he would compete in the HPV Junior Lite
and Yamaha Junior Heavy classes. With a podium result on Saturday,
Sharkey would look to better his performance in Sunday's classes
and did so right off the bat by circulating the Lowe's Karting
Center with the fifth quickest time in the HPV division.
Starting on the inside the third row for the prefinal, Sharkey managed to
maintain his position on track and turned a quicker time than he did in
qualifying while several of his competitors times slowed. With a few
minor setup changes to the kart between races, Sharkey was back on track
for the main event where he managed to claim his third podium spot of the
weekend and come home fourth.
The Sunday classes at the 2009 Manufacturer's Cup program have been
unkind to Sharkey this season as he entered the final event just inside
the top ten in championship points. With some unlucky finishes early in
the season, the front-runner was looking to leave Lowe's with some
momentum heading into 2010. The Yamaha Junior Heavy class was another
aspiring run for Sharkey as he moved forward to claim the sixth position.
This strong result came after qualifying in the tenth spot but moving to
the tail of the field for the prefinal after an engine change. Sharkey
started the heat race in the 31st position and had one of the best drives
of the weekend as he moved forward to the 11th position.
"The 2009 Manufacturer's Cup series has been a great learning
tool for me," explained Sharkey after the events. "I have
been able to work with some extremely knowledgeable people that have
helped me succeed in what I am doing. 2010 will be my final year in the
junior field, and I will be working hard to be at the pointy end of all
these classes."
Shawn Sharkey and the SCS Racing crew will now travel to Las Vegas for
the 13th annual Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) SuperNationals. Competing in the
TaG Junior class, Sharkey will look to take the win at the prestigious
event that will be held on the grounds of the Rio All Suites Hotel and
Casino in Sin City.
-credit: www.ShawnSharkey.com
