Daley Reigns A.C. Champ Karts
Atlantic City, NJ — Chris Daley, as a reigning World Karting Association champion, knows how prized an Atlantic City Indoor Races Gamblers Classic champ kart feature victory is here in Boardwalk Hall Saturday night.
Daley, of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., climbed from 21st starting spot to oust polesitter Bob Baker on a lap four restart. Daley and Baker ran nose-to-tail the remaining 21 laps with Nick Herriven third.
Baker, who races from Lexington, N.C., received ACIR’s Cargo Trailer Sales Long Haul Award from among the some 200 champ kart, Slingshot and TQ/600cc micro sprint entrants.
Daley, whose nearest kart track is Poughkeepsie Speedway in LeGrange, N.Y. only brings his No. 44 Trick Olympia/Briggs and Stratton champ kart to Boardwak Hall and selected races. He usually campaigns on the WKA dirt oval track tour, where he has earned two straight B&S class crowns.
“This is the biggest race win of my career,” said Daley between hugs with his pit crew and posing for photographers. “We had to be patient the early laps and be in contention late in the race.”
ACIR officials placed Daley 21st among the feature’s 30 starters after his qualifying in one of two last-chance consolations that afternoon. Officials had disqualified Daley after finishing one of the four 7-Come-11 heat races Friday night.
“They said that I had an unofficial part on my car,” said Daley. “I had to climb my way back into the feature.”
Early attrition helped Daley claw his way to the top again. Two complete restarts were called after separate nine- and six- kart accidents occured exiting turn three on the one-10th-mile concrete oval.
Baker held the point despite seven colleagues dropping out before a single full lap was scored. He continued his command despite yellow – and red – flag fever broke out four more times.
The most serious of the three red flag halts came out for Jon Stewart on lap 16. Stewart, of Ringoes, N.J., was vying for the lead when he suddenly went nose-first against the backstretch concrete Jersey barriers. The Wall Township (N.J.) Speedway Sunday Series Senior Champ Kart titlist walked to medics on his own.
WSS racers George Bark, Jr. and Mark Lawshe, Jr. finished 10th and 11th from among the 14 runners taking starter Warren Alston’s checkered flag. Modified micro stock maven Tom Ervin finished 14th after making his class debut aboard Kevin Smith’s No. 49.
SENIOR CAGED/CHAMP KARTS 7-Come-11 Heat Winners (11 laps): Coby Cressinger, Tim Solomito, Larry Stolzenberg, Tammy Smith.
FEATURE (25 laps): CHRIS DALEY, PLEASANT VALLEY, N.Y.; Bob Baker, Nick Herriven, Tim Solomito, Shawn Solomito, Ron Midford., Jr., Cale Reigle, Anthony Colandro, Andrew Hutchinson, Andrew Swisher, George Bark., Jr., Mark Lawshe, Jr., Rich Kuiken, Jr., Tom Kelly, Tom Ervin; (DNF) Jon Meyer, Jon Stewart, Alan Purser, Steven Hricko, Larry Stolzenberg, John Hillman, Nic Davidson; (DNS) Vinny Delaney, Matthew Remick, Coby Cressinger, Andy Burkholder, Merle Brehm, Tammy Smith, David Pantanella.
Sources: Walter Elliott/Elliott Enterprises PR.