May 4, 2024

Despite the overcast and rainy weather, adrenaline was high as drivers prepared to navigate through the already challenging 16 turn road course of Atlanta Motorsports Park during Round 3 of the AMP Kart Racing Series. Drivers were in for a change, as they had to navigate rainy conditions. This was not just any light rain, as spurts of torrential downpours added an extra layer of excitement to the event.

You might be reading this and thinking, “Racing in the rain?” Unlike our usual coverage of short track racing, karts can be equipped with rain tires. The track conditions played a major factor throughout the day, with qualifying being on rain tires, the Pre-Final being ran on slicks, and the Final being back on rain tires. Let’s dive into LO206 Senior Division.

The drivers of the Senior division put on one of the best shows we have seen at AMP. The Pre-Final was led to green by Sam Avrutsky (125) . The second turn claimed multiple drivers on the first lap, with 3 drivers spinning. Ryan “Kitty Attack” Curtin (37) would battle Avrutsky for the lead early on in the 10 lap Pre-Final. Danny May (9) and Alyssa Vascocu (107) would have an intense battle, and Carson Craig (55) would eventually challenge May, swapping positions for three consecutive laps. Craig would gain a slight advantage, then May would close the gap. Curtin and Avrutsky would cross the line side-by-side for the whole length of the track entering the final lap. The pair would make contact entering the final stretch, crossing the line side-by-side. Avrutsky would start the Final on the front row alongside Curtin.

The day would continue with dry conditions until halfway through the third of AMP Divisions’ Finals. This torrential downpour would drastically change race strategy in all regards.

Race Director Lucas Arnett would tell the drivers, “We started the early morning off on rain tires and it looks like we are going to be switching back to that.”

After a short 15-minute break for the crews to change back to rain tires, we would get Finals back underway, and also changing the format from 12 laps to 10.

All gloves were off in the Final. Avrustky would take the green in first place but that did not last long. In the first corner, Curtin would take to the point and lead the field. Behind our two leaders, an intense battle would begin to brew between Vascocu, Craig, and May. All three drivers would attempt to take it three wide through “The Kink”. May would fall all the way back to sixth with Vascocu and Craig battling for the third and fourth spots.

The tire battle began to brew with all of the drivers on rain tires. The track was slowly beginning to transition back into a slick tire track. Avrutsky and Curtin would swap blows, but unbeknownst to them, Craig was sitting in third and waiting to pounce. Craig would pull within three kart-lengths of the leaders, slowly closing the gap with 5 laps to go. May would also be holding back, playing his cards and trying to determine what the leaders would do in the final laps.

Curtin, Avrutsky, Craig, and May would run first through fourth with only 3 laps to go. On the final lap, May would carry his speed in turn two and join the train. Curtin, Avrutsky, Craig, and May would take the last five corners double-stacked. All four drivers would make the final corner still side-by-side. Craig briefly took second away from Avrutsky in the final stretch, but Avrutsky would cross the line before Craig.

Curtin would take home the checkered flag, followed by Avrutsky in second and Craig in third. For all of the results from today’s race, check out RaceHero.

Cover photo: killboy.com