November 19, 2023

The AMP Winter Series doubleheader put on an amazing display of talent. If you thought Saturday’s race day was great, you should see what Sunday’s races offered. Lets jump straight into the action, starting with one of our three biggest classes, the LO206 Masters.

Matt “The Cookie Man” Lassiter (87) would lead the field to green. If you recall from Saturday’s race, Al Edwards (711) would overcome odds and win the Pre-Final in amazing fashion. Edwards would push his Will Bite Racing machine quickly up to the second position. Lassiter, Edwards’ teammate and protege, would continue to lead the race with Edwards hot on his tail. Macon Moore (61) would pass Edwards with 5 to go and would take a jab for the lead on the last lap. Moore would give it his all but Lassiter would prevail, winning the LO206 Masters Pre-Final.

Next on the grid is a personal favorite of mine, the LO206 Seniors, or as I like to call them, “The LO206’s of Mayhem”. This 23 kart field was led to green by Erik Evans (29). Nic Lefferdo (00) would make an early push for the lead, but Erik closed the door on his Racing For Childrens’ teammate. Both Evans and Lefferdo would put a sizable lead on the number 55 of Carson Craig, who was running third. The battle for third would come to a climax on the final lap, when Elijah Skaggs (2) would barely nose by Michael Gay (121) at the line. Evans would take the checkered flag in the Pre-Final and lead the field to green for the Final.

You can almost smell the next division idling in the pits, that being the KA 100 Juniors and Seniors. This 17-kart field was led to green by Danny Perez (9), followed by his DPC Motorsports teammates Jarvis Li (992) and Andrew Hammill (905). Aiden Augustyne (800) would lead the Juniors field in overall 11th place. The battle for Seniors remained the same throughout the entire race, but the battle in the Juniors division was neck and neck. Talon Laney (48) would make it two wide for the fourth position in Juniors. Perez would clinch the overall win and Augustyne would come home in overall 11th, but first in the Juniors division. Perez would lead the field to green for the Final.

The first final of the day was the LO206 Masters division. Two laps in, the Will Bite Racing duo of Lassiter and Edwards would make contact and lock bumpers. This resulted in both drivers going on a safari at the top of turn two. This would end Edwards’ day and push Lassiter all the way back to 7th. Lassiter would fight his way back through the pack and regain every position he lost. He continued his push back to the lead by a bold overtake in turn 4 with two laps remaining. Macon Moore (61) would try to overtake Lassiter in turn 16 but came up short. Lassiter would win the Final in a very close finish.

The rumble of 23 karts shook the buildings as “The LO206’s of Mayhem” started their engines. The drama started early in the Senior division, with multiple karts making contact on the first lap. The bumping and banging would continue, and our pole-sitter Evans would fall all the way back to sixth within two laps. Lefferdo would take the position from his teammate and lead until the final lap. The final lap would have everything you would want in a door-to-door hard racing battle. Entering turn four, Elijah Skaggs (2) would claim the lead. Skaggs overdrove the final corner, making contact with Carson Craig (55), who was running third. Erik Evans would overcome seven positions in the final corner and barely edge Skaggs for the victory.

The Final race of the day would be the KA100 Juniors and Seniors. This race was pretty much the same as the Pre-Final. Danny Perez would continue his weekend dominance and clinch his fourth win of the weekend and second of the Winter Series. Aiden Augustyne would also clinch the win in Seniors, and close out our final race of the double header weekend.

The crew at LRR would like to thank the wonderful staff at AMP for all that they do to make each and every race day special. We want to include a special shoutout to an amazing man and media mentor, Charles Head or “Yellow Hat” as most in the industry know him. Mr. Head announced this morning in our production meeting this would be his final race as an announcer at Atlanta Motorsports Park, closing out an amazing 40+ year career in motorsports. From all of us at LRR, thank you for all that you have done for the sport! Maybe someday, we can all wear a yellow hat just like you. This article is dedicated to you Mr, Head, and we wish you the best in retirement.