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AUSTIN VERSTEEG EARNS PODIUM FINISH IN SKUSA PRO TOUR DEBUT
April 26, 2012 – Continuing to impress during his rookie season in the junior karting ranks, Sandy, Utah's Austin Versteeg recently made a return trip to the podium. Coming off a fourth place run in the Rotax Junior championship in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas series, where Versteeg made three podium appearances, the rising talent earned yet another trip to the podium this past weekend at the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) Pro Tour SummerNationals at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association (PKRA) Formula K Raceway. Taking on the TaG Junior category in his Pro Tour debut, Versteeg would have to battle through extreme heat in the desert locale, as well as tricky track conditions during the opening round of the third edition of the popular Pro Tour.
Setting himself up as one of the quickest juniors at the event, Versteeg would put his PSL Karting / CRG near the top of the time sheets during Friday's practice sessions. Posting second quick during the fourth and sixth timed sessions, Versteeg would lay down the fastest time in the fifth practice session, showing he has what it takes to run in the competitive west coast series.
Kicking off official action Saturday, Versteeg would clock fourth quick in the morning qualifying session. In a tight group of competitors, the 12-year-old karter only missed out on pole by a scant 0.095 seconds. With the Pro Tour utilizing a two heat race flight format, Versteeg would score the win during the first wheel-to-wheel racing action of heat one. For heat two, Versteeg would maintain his fourth place and then come home just shy of the podium with another fourth place result in the day's feature race.
Sunday would see the rising talent post the sixth fastest lap during the qualifying session. Falling back to seventh in the day's first heat, Versteeg recovered in the second to take fifth at the stripe. Ending his Pro Tour debut weekend on a high note, Versteeg would add another podium finish to his 2012 tally, as the Team PSL Karting driver scored a third place finish in the main event.
"This was the hottest race I have driven in; the air temperature was 105 degrees!" exclaimed Versteeg post event. "It was really hard racing conditions, the track got a lot of rubber laid down and if you were off line you were in the marbles and scrubbing time. I won a heat race and finished fourth on Saturday, and third on Sunday. It felt great to be back on the podium!"
Versteeg will continue his quest for a breakout feature win during his rookie junior season. The busy driver will next see SKUSA action in his home state for the second leg, as the Pro Tour resumes July 20-22 at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah.
Versteeg will continue to utilize off weekends for testing and training at the brand new Nola Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. As the newest and largest track in North America, the Nola Motorsports Park will offer full Rotax/CRG support for Versteeg as he builds his strength and race craft and continues to impress in the junior ranks in 2012.
Austin races with the generous support of PSL Karting / CRG, ULV race gear, Activa Technology and Nola Motorsports Park. For more information on Austin Versteeg, please visit www.AustinVersteeg.com.
Photos by: On Track Promotions - otp.ca