As the holiday season approaches many weekend warriors may be switching off their engines for the 2015 racing season. While this may be true for some, kart racers across the nation will be filing into Greensboro, NC this weekend for one of the most prestigious championship races of the year. The 14th Annual King of the Concrete Go Kart Champion will be crowned this Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum.
With a competing field of 300+ drivers from across the nation expected to compete in more than 17 classes on a very small 500 foot indoor concrete track, this is sure to be one of the fastest nights of the holiday season.
“Imagine taking ordinary racing and minimizing it down to a track that’s just 500 feet in length. You get fierce wheel-to-wheel action in six to seven second laps and karts pulling 1.5 lateral G’s in the corners. With 14 karts on the track at a time, it’s challenging to watch and compete,” said Race Promoter Andrew Harris.
“The track is inside a building; therefore, it has short straights and hairpin turns, which leaves the drivers with no time to relax. So, from green flag to checkered flag it is full throttle racing with occasional braking to stay off the guy in front of you.”
Coal City, Illinois native and 2014 King of the Concrete Winner Dustin Heath will return this season to attempt to retain his crowning glory.
“Although I compete at various races throughout the season, King of the Concrete is the main race I look forward to every year,” said Heath. “The competition is really tough for this race and this main feature race is one of the most demanding 50 laps possible. Everything has to be perfect whether it be the driver, tires or the kart, but the best part of winning this race is knowing that you are the king for a year and that everyone is gunning for you the following year.”
Fellow competitor Alex Krohn, who will be competing in a variety of classes during this weekend long event, is hoping that the most important win on the list comes to fruition. “Ever since my brother began competing in karts I have wanted to compete as well. Fortunately, I have had the opportunity to do so over the years and I am hoping that this experience will lead to the King of the Concrete title this year,” said Krohn.
Although Krohn has experience competing on dirt, in both a late model as well as in karts, this experienced driver said that this weekend’s final feature is one of the most challenging around.
“As a competitor winning the King of the Concrete title is important because no matter how prepared you think you are, the competition is some of the best in the country and the challenge is non-stop,” said Krohn.
Krohn will definitely have a challenge in front of him when challenging other competitors like first year competitor Jacques Newsom, whose sponsor Track Tac often treats racing surfaces like the one that these drivers will have to overcome this weekend.
“This will be my first year competing for the King Of Concrete title so it will be very much a learning experience for myself and my team, especially since we are used to running on dirt more than concrete” said Newsome.
“While we are also out there to learn for others who use our Track Trac treatments I am also hoping to have a great finish.”
With 50 drivers vying for the $10,000 King of the Concrete feature win, this crown will definitely be one of the hardest fought for gifts of the season.
Follow RacingJunk.com on Twitter @RacingJunk as we bring you all the action from Saturday night’s King Of Concrete Championship at the Greensboro Coliseum. For more information about this event visit Facebook.com/KingoftheConcrete.
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