"Alan Rudolph and Fritz Leesmann score wins for PSL Atlantic in Palm Beach"
The PSL Atlantic team celebrates on the podium in West Palm Beach
(Photo by: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group)
Fredericton, NB - January 23, 2012 - The PSL Atlantic Karting Team of Fredericton, New Brunswick, kicked off their 2012 Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour (FWT) with not only some 'Serious Fun,' but with some serious winning. Scoring wins in both the DD2 Masters and Rotax Senior categories against some of the toughest grids anywhere at Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, Florida, PSL Atlantic team drivers Alan Rudolph and Fritz Leesman brought their 'A' game to the Sunshine State to start their 2012 karting seasons.
Karting legend Alan Rudolph took the DD2 Masters field by storm in West Palm Beach. Having never piloted a DD2 powered kart before and making his FWT debut, the shifter kart master started off his 2012 Florida Winter Tour campaign with a third place run during the first qualifying session on Friday, which would set the grid for Sunday's main. Putting the pedal to the metal for Sunday's qualifying run later that day, Rudolph would post a blistering lap with his CRG kart to earn pole position for the round one prefinal on Saturday.
Unused to rolling starts, Rudolph would put four wheels outside the starting lanes during the start of the Saturday prefinal. An ensuing ten-second penalty relegated the championship caliber driver to the 11th place when the prefinal came to an end. Starting the final race from the inside of row six, Rudolph rocketed to second place in just two laps! Battling with the race leader for the following 16 laps, Rudolph took the top spot with a few laps to go. Unable to hold on to the point, the karting veteran settled for second place, crossing just 0.339 seconds back.
Starting third for Sunday's prefinal, Rudolph quickly made his way to the second position. Battling for the lead, Rudolph emerged the victor and would start the day's final from the pole position. In the final, the five-time Rock Island Grand Prix King of the Streets winner stole the show by taking the win by nearly five seconds and topped the blocks in the evening podium presentation. With his win and second place finish, Rudolph is well on his way to earning the DD2 Masters title and a chance to represent the USA at the Rotax Grand Finals later this year.
Alan Rudolph took the DD2 Masters win on Sunday
(Photo by: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group)
"This is the first time I have worked with Alan and one thing I have come to realize is that you can never count him out regardless of where he starts in the field," commented PSL Atlantic Team Principal Mike Dobbelsteyn. "He started 11th on Saturday and finished in second place, unbelievable! Then, to win on Sunday, it truly shows his strength and versatility."
Running against 68 hungry competitors in the stacked Rotax Senior field, perennial frontrunner Fritz Leesmann led the way for the PSL Atlantic squad. Turning heads in the paddock, Leesmann would make a statement in the ultra-competitive class as he clocked the fastest time during Friday's first qualifying session. Returning later in the day for Saturday's qualifications, Leesmann proved his speed was no fluke, as he would turn the second quickest time to start off-pole the next day.
However, Saturday would be one to forget for the 2010 SKUSA S1 Pro Tour Champion. Not turning a lap during the day's prefinal and classified in the 37th position, Leesmann only managed to muster up a 26th place during the final race.
"Fritz started up front in Saturday's prefinal," noted Dobbelsteyn. "Then, a catastrophic brake rotor explosion put us in the back for Saturday's final. It's too bad as we were fast all week."
Back to the track for a new day, Leesmann would show just how fast he really was. Starting the prefinal on pole, the shifter kart star went on to not only take the prefinal victory but did so in commanding fashion. At a track where the draft is everything, Leesmann broke free and ran his CRG chassis uncontested to a 4.4 second win. Falling back to third at the start of the final, Leesmann would maintain his pace with the leaders and eventually capitalize on the last corner of the last lap to steal the victory and cap off a sweep of the day.
Fritz Leesmann earned another victory for PSL Atlantic in the Rotax Senior category
(Photo by: Cody Schindel - Autosports Media Group)
Also contesting the Rotax Senior class under the PSL Atlantic banner were Nick Rivellini and Nathan Kelly. Working with AJ Whisler of Whisler Racing Services, Rivellini would start off his FWT campaign with two solid qualifying efforts on Friday. Transferring directly to both prefinal races, Rivellini maintained his 26th place starting position during Saturday's prefinal action but fell to 34th during the main event. Posting the 18th quickest time during Sunday's qualifying session, Rivellini came home 30th during the 14 lap prefinal on Sunday and then went on to improve all the way to 20th during the day's final. Kelly, running a one-off race with PSL Atlantic, struggled to find the necessary speed in qualifying and would be forced to run the last chance qualifier both days. Finishing the LCQ outside the transfer positions, Kelly went on to take third in Saturday's B main. Sunday would see Kelly finish eighth in the LCQ, earning him a place in the main event. Failing to turn a lap during the prefinal and scored in 38th, Kelly had a great showing in the final after he recovered to 29th place, a great drive for a newcomer to the series.
"I was extremely pleased with the effort both Alan and Fritz put forth in Sunday's race," continued Dobbelsteyn. "They both have the heart of a champion. The entire PSL Atlantic team has a lot of heart, and I really think it showed here in West Palm."
PSL Atlantic will next see action at the Florida Winter Tour as rounds three and four are set for February 16-19 at Homestead Karting on the grounds of the famed Homestead-Miami Speedway. For more information in PSL Atlantic or inquires on Florida Winter Tour opportunities with the PSL Atlantic team, please call Mike Dobbelsteyn at 506-458-9357 or email mdobbelsteyn@dobbelsteyns.nb.ca.
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