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HOMESTEAD, FL (February 22, 2009) – The fourth racing weekend of the 2009 season was the most successful one for the PSL Karting squad as they closed out their two-month stay at the Homestead Karting facility, where their drivers competed in the first two rounds of the Florida Winter Tour. The ‘Formula Kart’ weekend class line-up completed the second leg of the double-header weekend on the newly repaved 7/10-mile circuit. Ten drivers flew the PSL colors during the event, earning eight podium finishes over the two days, including a win each for Jesus Rios Jr. and Doug Cox.

For Jesus Rios Jr., it was his second straight weekend with a victory following his win in Rotax Junior competition earlier in the month. This time around, he made his KF3 debut aboard a CRG/Maxter package for PSL and did not disappoint. It did not take long for Rios to become accustomed to the higher speed of the KF engine as he qualified second in his first official session. From there, Rios assumed the lead after lap two of the Prefinal to score the win and the pole for the main event. After battling for the lead in the first half of the race, Rios controlled the top spot to go on to win his second race in his KF debut. On Sunday, Rios was second in qualifying which led to a third place in the Prefinal. A good start in the final put Rios in the second spot for the majority of the race until he was shuffled back to sixth in the final laps.  It was a dazzling debut for the young PSL-backed competitor.

Fellow Floridian Doug Cox was among the quickest in the Masters Shifter category. Running a solid third in qualifying and the Prefinal on Saturday, Cox found the extra speed needed to move up to the second step of the podium in the main event. Continuing to improve his lap times, Cox put his CRG Road Rebel/Maxter package on top in the Sunday qualifying session. A slow start to begin the Prefinal dropped him to second, but he would assume the top spot with two laps to remaining and would hold the position for the win. The feature would be a repeat of the heat race as Cox slid back to the second spot, waiting to pounce on the leader. With three laps to go, Cox retook the lead and went on to earn his first victory of the 2009 season.

The same CRG/Maxter package earned three podium finishes by two drivers in the Pro Shifter category. Defending series champion Fritz Leesmann and new PSL recruit Matt Lee added to the success of the PSL squad. Leesmann ran second in Saturday’s action while Lee finished third. On Sunday, however, Lee would have trouble in the Prefinal and retired early to start the main event from 12th. Leesmann started the feature from second, although he would have to take evasive action to avoid a dead kart in front of him, falling to the sixth spot after regrouping. Lee took advantage and moved up to third during the first time by the scoring loop. Lee would go on to finish second while Leesmann battling back to fourth. Colorado’s Ben Schermerhorn returned for his second event on the Tour, placing sixth both days and gaining valuable experience running with Leesmann and Lee.

Jimmy Cabrera is steadily building himself into a star at the Florida Winter Tour, as he followed up his podium run last weekend in Micro Max with two more trips to the rostrum in the Cadet division. Cabrera had his CRG Cadet package running in the top-five all weekend, stepping up his game when needed in the Finals. After falling back as far as fifth, Cabrera muscled his way up to second in the main event on Saturday. Cabrera followed that up with another second place finish after running in the position for most of the 12-lap feature.  Although no relation to young Jimmy Cabrera, Victor Cabrera is equally as fast and he ran his second weekend aboard a CRG/Iame KF2 package for PSL Karting. Still adjusting to the new chassis and engine combination, the reigning Stars of Karting TaG National Champion ran just outside the top-five, finishing sixth in both Finals.

It was a tough weekend for PSL’s TaG Junior contingent as all three drivers struggled to find the needed speed to run up front. Sabre Cook recorded finishes of 14th and 16^th, while new PSL driver Herbert Alguarin - by way of Puerto Rico - ran 21st and 16th in the two feature races. Carlos Abreu ran aboard a PSL-prepped CRG and finished 12th in Saturday’s action, and then had to sit out on Sunday suffering from a broken rib.

The Florida Winter Tour will close out the 2009 season at the Ocala Gran Prix, just north of Orlando, on March 13-15 with the Rotax divisions and March 20-22 with the FKP classes. PSL Karting will be there in full force, contending for the series championships during both weekends. For more information on PSL Karting, please contact Team Director Stephan St. Charles at 819.377.5566. You can also e-mail Stephan via Stephan@pslkarting.com   PSL Karting can be found on the Internet @ www.pslkarting.com

  ###  About PSL Karting:PSL Karting is one of the most respected shops and teams in the sport.  Located in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, they are a Canadian importer of CRG karts and Maxter engines, as well as a dealer and distributor for a long list of the best products in the sport such as Rotax, Arai, MG Tires, Vega, MIR Racewear and Tillett Seats.  PSL Karting is a full service operation, offering karts and parts, arrive-and-drive programs on the Stars of Karting, Florida Winter Tour and Coupe de Quebec series, engine building and tuning, and an intensive driving school that features dynamic and experienced instructors.