Rain doesn't spoil kart racers' Duffy love | Tri-City Herald

RICHLAND -- Day 2 of the 2010 International Karting Federation 4-Cycle Sprint and Shifter Grand Nationals at Horn Rapids ORV Park in Richland on Friday saw a little rain mixed in with a whole lot of suspense.

Tristen Orear of Yucaipa, Ore., said before the finals began that he would gladly trade in his seven Screaming Eagle trophies (given to the class' top qualifier) for one national championship.

No trading necessary.

The 15-year-old earned his first two national titles with victories in the Senior World Formula Medium and later in the F200 Heavy to highlight a day of close racing.

Orear passed pole winner Brett Lucas of Benton City in the sixth lap of the Senior World Formula Medium final and held off Boise's Tim Lawrence for the duration to win his first Duffy, the national title trophy named after karting legend Duffy Livingstone.

"I've won almost all my prelims and have never gotten that Duffy, so this feels good," he said. "I was just trying to stay perfect after I took that lead."

Orear would have to battle the elements to win his second title as the rain played a big factor in the race, washing several race leaders out of a chance for a title. David Dean of West Richland began in the 15th position but managed to take the lead late in the race amidst a bevy of spinouts.

Orear managed to pass Dean on turn one of the final lap for his second title of the day.

"That one was really close and was just me going for it," Orear said. "It was my last shot and I just ducked underneath."

Alan Cathey, a winner in day one, took home his second title and sixth overall with a victory in the Senior Animal. Cathey, 20, held off Terry Lawrence at the finish line to win in one of the closest finishes of the day.

"It's unbelievable," said Cathey, whose six titles is just one less than his father Roger's seven. "We came here expecting to just get some podium finishes, but to win two titles is just incredible."

Richland's Hailey Groff survived a scare on the way to her national title win in the Junior 2 Gas Animal. Groff, who started in the pole position, passed early leader Colton Schultz in the sixth lap. Schultz attempted to re-pass Groff, but instead found the front end of his kart lifted in the air -- on Groff's shoulder.

"I saw his bumper and it scared me a little bit," Groff said. "It hurt my shoulder a little bit but that was it."

The 14-year-old came into the scales to a hero's welcome for her first national title win.

Michael Schorn and his son David of Banks, Ore., made it a family affair on the track, with each adding national titles to their impressive kart rsums. Michael Schorn won his fifth title in the Senior Animal Masters in a race that saw several drivers trade the lead before Schorn made his way to the front late.

"Those are some of the toughest guys to race against," Michael Schorn said. "There's a lot of respect out there."

David Schorn earned his first Duffy of the weekend and third overall with a win in the Junior 2 World Formula Heavy, the final race of the day in the pouring rain. The conditions led to leader David Schultz spinning out early, allowing Schorn to take a lead that was never challenged in what ended up being a last-driver standing scenario. Only four drivers out of eight finished the race due to the rain.

"That was insane," David Schorn said.

The largest margin of victory of the day belonged to Davey Manthei Jr. of Pasco, who took first place in the Junior 1 Gas Animal Medium.

Manthei, who was the pole winner, led wire-to-wire and was never challenged during the race.

"It felt so good because I've been waiting for this weekend," Manthei said.

All results are considered unofficial until post tech inspections are complete and any contested races are settled officially.

Races finish up today with several more national titles on the line.

Senior World Formula Medium

1, Tristen Orear, Yucaipa, Ore.; 2, Tim Lawrence, Boise; 3, Terry Lawrence, Boise; 4, Brett Lucas, Benton City; 5, Alan Cathey, Boise.

Junior 2 Gas Animal

1, Hailey Groff, Richland; 2, Myles Pederson, Meridian, Idaho; 3, Colton Schultz, Spokane; 4, London Amlin, Cottonwood, Calif.; 5, Payton Manthei, West Richland.

Senior Animal Masters

1, Michael Schorn, Banks, Ore.; 2, Michael Groff, Richland; 3, David Dean, Richland; 4, Roger Cathey, Boise; 5, Keith Foux, Red Bluff, Calif.

Senior Animal

1, Alan Cathey, Boise; 2, Tristen Orear, Yucaipa, Calif.; 3, Brett Lucas, Benton City; 4, Austin Moen, Pendleton, Ore.; 5, Connor McNiel.

Junior 1 Gas Animal Medium

1, Davey Manthei Jr, Pasco; 2, Sting Ray Robb, Boise; 3, Britney Zamora, Kennewick; 4, Ken Hoobery III, Santa Maria, Calif.; 5, Kyle Adams, New Westminster, British Columbia.

F200 Heavy

1, Tristen Orear, Yucaipa, Ore.; 2, David Dean, Richland; 3, Brody Roa, Buena Park, Calif.; 4, Corey Poynor, Richland; 5, Cory Gwin.

Junior 2 World Formula Heavy

1, David Schorn, Banks, Ore.; 2, London Amlin, Cottonwood, Calif.; 3, Tiffany Brown, Kennewick; 4, Nick Ferguson, Newbery, Ore.