Sean Meier and Coyote Motorsports turned some heads September 25-27 at the 2015 World Karting Association Gold Cup Series Grand Nationals at Lamar County Speedway in Barnesville, Georgia, where Meier wheeled a brand-new 2016 Coyote Wide Track chassis to a sweep of the two Senior Pro Gas Animal main events at the historic quarter-mile sprint track.
After round three of the Gold Cup Series in July at Ohio’s G&J Kartway, Coyote went to work on a new Wide Track chassis design for 2016, with the goal to test the kart at the season-closing Grand Nationals. Months of hard work paid off, as Coyote was able to finish the kart in time for the big event, and give Meier an opportunity to race it at Barnesville.
“We entered 2015 with a focus on developing the Wide Track chassis,” Coyote Motorsports owner Mark Lipari said. “Sean has been giving us feedback throughout the year on the Wide Track, and we built a brand-new kart for Camden. It wasn’t perfect, and after Camden Sean came through with some recommendations. The kart Sean raced at Barnesville is the result of a season’s worth of feedback, research and development.”
Not only has Meier tested different versions of the Wide Track at 2015 Gold Cup Series nationals, but he and his tuner, Barry Hastings, have spent the year testing at different sprint tracks throughout their home state of Florida.
“Sean and Barry are a great team,” Coyote’s Jim Lipari said. “They go all over Florida and test, and their feedback is invaluable to us while we’re busy working in the shop. Barry is really sharp with electronics and analyzing the data. He understands how to improve the karts through the use of the latest technology, and that helps our research and development a great deal. We also want to thank our engine builders, Rob Smith and Kart City Performance for providing us with unbelievable LO206 and Pro Gas power. Also, Steve Baker and GT Machine have provided us with engines and support all year. We appreciate the performance they give us.”
Meier also took time to comment on his success at the Grand Nationals and the new 2016 Wide Track chassis.
“The new 2016 design of the Wide Track made all the difference for me at Barnesville,” Meier said. “We made very small changes and you could immediately feel the impact to the kart. The chassis was free the entire weekend and continued to get faster, and we ran our fastest laps toward the end of the races. Mark and Jim (Lipari) have done a great job with research and development and have provided a phenomenal kart for 2016. The new bearing hangers for the 2016 frame have been in development for over a year through prototyping and testing. They’re easier to work with and allow for quick adjustments. The ease of use in the new design will prove to be a performance enhancement. I’m very impressed and looking forward to the upcoming races.”
Coyote has begun taking orders for the 2016 Wide Track, which will be supported by a brand-new Junior Wide Track chassis designed for younger and smaller senior drivers. For more information on the new design, call Coyote Motorsports at 585-352-0806.
Meier led a number of talented drivers on Coyotes at the Grand Nationals.
Youngster Blake Boon closed out his LO206 Kid Kart career with a couple of strong runs on his Coyote Kryptonite chassis. Blake finished third in Saturday’s feature and came back for a fourth-place run in Sunday’s Kid Kart main event. The Kid Kart class started nine karts each day to make for a competitive field.
Josh Stark, Matt Tortorell and Talia Moffett carried the Coyote banner in the 12- to 15-year-old Junior ranks.
Stark’s best run of the weekend saw him finish fifth in Junior Pro Gas Lite on Saturday.
Moffett netted three top-five finishes on the weekend. Talia finished fourth and fifth in the two LO206 Junior finals. And after struggling to three 11th-place finishes in Junior Pro Gas, she concluded the weekend with a fine fifth-place finish in the last race Sunday, Junior Pro Gas Heavy 2.
Tortorell’s best finish on the weekend was sixth. He did it twice, finishing in the sixth spot in both Junior Pro Gas features (Lite and Heavy) and Saturday.
Jason Zobkiw made his return to Gold Cup competition. The Rochester, N.Y., veteran had a great run in Sunday’s 20-kart LO206 Heavy final. After getting knocked around on the start and sliding to dead last, Zobkiw worked his way back through the field, passing over 10 karts on his way, and finishing strong in the seventh position.
Jason’s brother Dylan also competed at Barnesville. The 2013 Senior Pro Gas Animal national champion’s best result came in Pro Gas on Sunday, which saw him finish ninth.
Florida’s Patrick O’Neal and ageless veteran Brad Farmer made the trip north to Barnesville for the final national of the season. O’Neal had a good run Sunday in Pro Gas, finishing in the fourth spot. Farmer rebounded from a disappointing 17th-place finish in Saturday’s LO206 main to finish a competitive 11th in Sunday’s 20-lapper.
Longtime Gold Cup racers Ben Wagenhals and Chris Carroll ran in LO206, as well. Wagenhals finished in the ninth spot both days, while Carroll ran into problems both days, finishing outside the top 10.
In his return to Gold Cup after a number of years out of the drivers seat, Wagenhals’ season highlight came at round two of the national series at Carolina Motorsports Park in June. The New Yorker swept Saturday’s three rounds of competition at Kershaw in LO206, winning the Pole Award and claiming the heat-race victory before finishing 0.6 seconds ahead of Austin Queen in the feature.
Wagenhals returned Sunday at Kershaw to qualify on pole and win the heat race for the second consecutive day. The New York racer would settle for third place in the day’s final.
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