Rookie racer Cale Grimes, 8, of Vienna, clinched the championship in the BeaveRun Karting Series this past weekend.
Grimes swept all 4 heat races and took the checkered flag in the 2 feature races at the racing complex in Wampum. The series still has 2 more races to go.
In his first year of racing, Grimes has won 13 of 18 heats and 7 of 9 features. Grimes, who races for engine builder Zero Error Racing of Sharon, attended the 2009 Kid Kart Nationals in Pevely, Missouri, on July 24-26.
Grimes won the heat and took 2nd in the feature race. His exhaust vibrated loose and he was disqualified. It was his first national event and only the 2nd track he has ever raced on.
His competitors during the Kid Kart Nationals featured past champions and drivers with 25 or more races under their belts.
Grimes will race in the Great Lake Sprint Series next month and starts quarter midget racing in Columbus at the Buckeye Indoor Winternationals in Nov.
ä The re-scheduled “Faster Pastor IV” race will be held on Saturday at Sharon Speedway. The special race will feature 10 area clergy, who will race stock cars to see who will earn bragging rights as the fastest pastor in the region.
Another highlight for Saturday’s action in Hartford is that the Big-Block Modified class has lost 3 races due to rain this season, so the race will be worth double points, along with the race on Aug. 29.
Rob Kristyak holds a slim 1-point lead over defending champion Dave Murdick. Rob Curtis is only 7 points behind Kristyak.
ä The Pennsylvania Football News has released its 2009 Resource Guide, which is filled with historical data and plenty of statistics.
One of the notable lists in the book is all the players that have reached 4,000 rushing yards and up.
The Herald’s all-time leading rusher is Sharon’s T.J. Phillips (1999 grad) with 6,241 yards. He stands 17th all-time on the list. Marko Jackson, who played at both Sharon and Glen Mills (1995) had 5,223 yards, good for 36th on the list.
Here are The Herald’s other all-time top rushers with their all-time list number in parantheses:
Joe Korcinsky of Greenville 1997, 5,197 yards (38th); Mike Archie of Sharon 1990, 5,136 yards (40th); Justin Napotnik of Sharpsville 1999, 4600 yards (76th). Others that have reached 4,000 yards include: Ron Park of Reynolds 1987, 4,537 yards; Blair Sweet of Wilmington 1988, 4,451 yards; Lee Plotts of Kennedy Catholic 2006, 4,307 yards; Carmone Parchman of Sharon 2000, 4,224 yards; Lee Plotts of KC 2006, 4,207 yards; Chris Burns of Wilmington 2007, 4,043 yards; Ross Gargano of KC 2006, 4,028 yards and Deke Ison of Lakeview 2001, 4,008 yards.
´´ Another interesting notation in the book is the list of Pa. prepsters who have played at least 1 game in the NFL. George Blanda of Youngwood High tops the list with 340 games played.
The District 10 leaders are Cathedral Prep’s Mark Stepnoski (Dallas Cowboys) with 194 games and Tech Memorial’s Fred Biletnikoff (Oakland Raiders) with 190.
ä High-tech swimsuits have been banned for teams in the PIAA. The National Federation of State High School Association made the move at a recent board meeting in Indianapolis.
The controversy erupted during the Swimming World Championships in Rome when records seemed to be set after each and every race. Michael Phelps’ coach, Bob Bowman, even threatened to withhold Phelps from competing in international events.
The ban is against the expensive nylon and polyurethane suits that help with body compression and buoyancy.
Rob Malsom is a sports writer for The Herald
