Coming off several solid regional race weekend performances, Austin Schimmel (Colorado Springs, CO) arrived in Shawano, WI looking to continue his stellar 2010 season. The outstanding USA International Raceway was host to rounds 3 and 4 of the 2010 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour. The Pro Tour SummerNationals featured an exciting three day format. One full practice day of six on-track sessions, followed by two complete and separate race days.
Schimmel drove his S5 Rocky Mountain Kartworks GP fantastically through the Friday practice sessions, getting familiar with the track, and setting a pace that no competitors could match. He topped the time sheets in both of the Friday afternoon timed sessions. Saturday qualifying saw Schimmel on pole by nearly 1 second, posting a lap time of 1:12.871. He settled into a rhythm for heats 1 and 2, winning by over 3 seconds in both 6 lap races. In the 12 lap main event, Schimmel built a comfortable lead, but developed a chain/sprocket problem causing him to relinquish the lead and come to a halt on the final lap. A disappointing result for certain, but Schimmel’s pace was undeniably strong.
Saturday night brought foul weather and rain showers that continued at the circuit through warmup and qualifying on Sunday morning. Schimmel qualified 7th on the soaked track after spinning off early in the session. In the first of two heat races, Austin rocketed to the front, holding P2 after 2 laps and taking the lead after 5, winning by about a second and claiming the fastest lap by over half a second. Then, Austin lead the entire 2nd heat and won by nearly 5 seconds, displaying a strong pace for the main event to follow. In the 12-lap final race, it appeared that his competitors had gained a bit of ground, but it wasn’t enough to deny Schimmel. He won by 5 seconds, and set the fast lap of the race, gaining him additional championship points.
Schimmel and the Rocky Mountain Kartworks team are surely pleased with his first career Pro Tour win. Austin’s strong weekend in Wisconsin earned him some nice hardware on the podium, as well as the lead in the season’s points standings. Schimmel will look to score well and protect that championship lead at the SKUSA SuperNationals this fall in Las Vegas, NV.
For more information and racing updates, please visit Austin's fan page
