Cole Glasson Places 8th in Rotax US Grand Nationals
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Cole traveled to the Rotax US Grand Nationals from September 11th through September 19th to compete against 41 of the best Mini Max racers in the United States. He arrived in Norman, Oklahoma with the Alonso Kart USA National Team owned by Defrancesco Racing. The drivers were faced with wet conditions through qualifying which brought a lot of adversity for the week. Cole ended up qualifying 21st out of the 41 driver field which put him toward the back in all of his heat races. In Heat 1, Cole was taken out at the start when a driver forced him into another kart causing his bumper to bend under the car and ending his race in 16th position. In Heat 2, Cole came back with a vengeance forcing his way to the front of the field and finishing in the 6th spot. It looked as though Cole's National race would end early after Heat 3 where he again was wrecked out in Turn 11 putting him finishing dead last. This caused Cole to be the last transfer spot into the Finals on Saturday and starting him in the 28th position. While most drivers would be frustrated and just try to get in the top 20, Cole came out to reach the front. He charged from the 28th spot in the prefinal to finish 10th where he would begin the Final. In the final, he again charged out of the gate and was in an eight kart break away from the rest of the 34 kart field. The eight karts battled for position the entire 18 laps with Cole fighting as far up as fifth place. He would end his first Rotax Grand Nationals in eighth position of the 41 entered drivers and would run with the lead pack the entire race. The eight drivers that broke away from the field had lap times within 1/10th of each other and were spread apart less than 2 seconds at the finish line. Cole had a very good showing for the youngest driver in the Mini Max field. Follow the team’s success at the team’s website www.alonsokartusa.com.
A special thanks to DeFrancesco Racing / Alonso Kart USA for the team support- Andy DeFrancesco, Bobby Wilson, Dave Tennyson and Ben Cruttenden. Also a special thanks to DJ Ortiz who coaches Cole locally and offered some helpful advice throughout the race week.
Cole is supported by Alonso Kart USA which is owned by DeFrancesco Racing, Frozen Fire Films, Kart Racing Solutions, Glasson Racing, Polar Graphics, Moonshadow Auto Salon, Tyler Web Design, and The Kart Shop. For a complete list of supporters or to donate/sponsor Cole’s racing, click here. To continue to follow this racer’s journey, press releases, videos, pictures, race schedule, and results, you can visit his website at www.coleglasson.com.
