With four event weekends already under their belt in 2018, Speed Concepts Racing will be back on track this coming weekend at the Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) facility in Ocala, Florida. Completing a test there this past weekend at the OGP Local Race, the elite level program is now ready for rounds three and four of the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) Winter Series with seven hungry and talented competitors.
“I am excited to get back to some SKUSA competition,” explained Team Owner Mike Speed. “We had great success in Homestead with our Junior drivers in January and had a solid local race and test in Ocala this past weekend. We have seven drivers over two classes and will be working hard to ensure they have the proper speed and tools to achieve success.”
Justin Arseneau, Arias Deukmedjian, Tyler Gonzalez and Kyffin Simpson will enter the X30 Junior category and try to continue their speed from January. Deukmedjian scored the round two victory at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex while Gonzalez added podium finishes before winning the ROK Junior class the following weekend at the Florida Winter Tour. Simpson, a rookie in the junior ranks, continues to impress all with his sheer speed, consistently running in the top-ten in a stout field of experienced national caliber drivers. Arseneau had a great debut weekend with SCR and in the X30 Junior class in Homestead, and will focus on his steady improvement and march towards the front of the grid.
Joining Deukmedjian, Gonzalez and Simpson will be the trio of Speed Concepts Racing branded Mini Swift drivers in Noah Baker, Paul Bocuse and Alex Powell. All three have shown speed to run at the pointy end of the field, but luck in the Mini Swift class has been hard to come by on occasion. The trio will work with driver coach Alex Speed as they develop their skills and experience in SKUSA competition.
Speed continued, “I am happy with the progress of everyone in the team. I believe in my drivers and in our equipment. Powell has won races and had fast laps while Baker and Bocuse always have the speed and continue to move forward in field of Mini competitors. We will continue to work our hardest to put them in the positions that they deserve come the end of each and every race day.”
Official on track action for the SKUSA Winter Series will commence this coming Friday before wheel-to-wheel action takes place with two separate race days on Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to follow Speed Concepts Racing on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the events, and a full race report to follow the event. Find them at ‘Speed Concepts Racing’ or @SCR_Karting.
Photo: On Track Promotions – www.OTP.ca