PSL KARTING SCORES VICTORY IN STARS OF KARTING OPENER.

2008 April 14th

PSL KARTING SCORES VICTORY IN STARS OF KARTING OPENER 

Leesmann leads Canadian team to victory in ICC category in rainy conditions 

OCALA, FL (April 9, 2008) – The PSL Karting team opened the 2008 Snap-on Stars of Karting Presented by IndyCar this past weekend at the Ocala Gran Prix facility in central Florida.

Battling both the weather and tough competition, success for PSL continued in the shifter category as the CRG importer brought home victory in the headline ICC category by way of Californian Fritz Leesmann.                                           Leesmann began the event as the top driver in Friday’s final two practice sessions, but come qualifying time, he would have to settle for the fourth fastest lap as the rest of the field got a little bit quicker. Starting from outside row two for each of the three heat races, Leesmann got great jumps in both the wet and the dry as the weather in a state of constant uncertainty. Strong performances resulted in two thirds and a second place, giving Leesmann the outside pole position for the two Finals. In the first final Lessmann bring home the first 2008 Stars victory for PSL Karting.                              It was the first Stars of Karting ICC win for Fritz Leesmann. Looking to repeat the feat in the second race, Leesmann was stricken with trouble early as his brake bias adjustment had locked to full front brakes. Looking to stay close to the leaders, he pushed it too far and locked up the brakes heading into the turn one, careening off the track and into the barriers. Totally focused, Fritz got the kart turned around and re-fired, before managing to drive back up to 19^th. 

Canadian Tom Cadieux had a solid weekend in ICC as well. Cadieux was sixth quickest in qualifying, but one bad heat race would put him back to 13^th for the pair of main events. A 12^th place run in the first final would be trumped his best performance in the second final, driving up to seventh place in the rainy conditions. Considering the depth of the field and the challenging weather, these were solid drives.

New PSL pilot Josh Schreiber adjusted quickly to his CRG/Maxter, getting the second fastest time in most of the official practice just behind teammate Fritz Leesman.  Schreiber had some problem in qualify and cannot make better then 18^th in qualifying, Schreiber got down to business in the heat races, advancing to seventh and 13^th in the first two sprints before an accident took him out of the third qualifying race. These results put him 16^th on the grid for the finals, where he shined in the wet. Running the fastest laps of the race, Schreiber climbed up to the fifth spot when the checkered fell, sitting right on the bumper of the fourth place kart. He would not be as fortunate in the second final as trouble hit the Pennsylvania native while running near the top-ten. 

Completing the four-driver PSL ICC line-up, Corey Rossmann gained valuable experience racing against the best shifter kart driver in North America in his first Stars of Karting start. After troubles in qualifying, Rossmann advanced positions in each of the three heats and the finals as well. The second final would see his highest finish of the weekend with a run to the 18^th position.

Antony Llopiz finish in a good 13th position in the second final. 

Making his Stars debut by graduating to the Senior category in the TaG class, Chris Ernst gained some valuable competition laps. Learning the new class and adjusting to the higher speeds, Ernst completed every lap in the three heat races running mid pack and learn a lot. Avoiding the rain all weekend, the TaG class would run their Finals on the wet track, where Ernst performed to the best , finishing 24^th and 26^th.

 In JICA, Tommy Beshro and Jesus Rios Jr. carried the PSL colors. Getting a slow start on the weekend, the duo shined in the rain-soaked finals. Starting 28^th in both 21-lap mains, Beshro put in a stellar performance to climb his way to a sixth place run in the opening final. He would follow that with a drive to 18^th in Race #2. Rios came from 21^st to finish 14^th and 13^th, respectively, in the two finals.

The Eastern Division squad will now look to the East versus West ‘Race of the Americas’ event, their second round, which takes place at New Castle Motorsports Park on May 30-June 1.  PSL owner Dominic Labrecque will be traveling before that date though, heading to Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah on April 25-27 to support Kohilo Racing with Fritz Leesmann, Jordan Jadallah and Josh Schreiber in the Stars Western Division opener.                                                                             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 long list of the best products in the sport such as Rotax, Arai, MG Tires, Vega, MIR Racewear and Tillett Seats.  PSL is a full service operation, offering karts and parts, full 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.