With a half-track lead on his competitors,
Michael Gregory took the checkered flag at
the Rotax New York State Championship last
month making him the 2013 New York State
Rotax Race Champion.
This championship win concludes
Michael’s 2013 race season in which he traveled
the Northeast, taking podium finishes
throughout the states.
“It has been quite an exciting season.”
Michael said. “I am very proud of my accomplishments
this season and can’t wait to take
on nationals next.”
Michael, an Amity High School sophmore,
is a member of the U.S. Rotax Max Challenge
(USRMC), a professional kart racing
series with national and regional races held
throughout the country.
Competing in his first full season, Michael
and his team focused on the Northeast regional
races as well as the Oakland Valley
Race Park Club Series.
Michael dominated his competition on the
track taking the checkered flag in 12 of the
16 races, earning him the 2013 Oakland Valley
Race Park Champion.
“Oakland Valley is one of my favorite
tracks; it is always a challenge and very exciting.
It is where I first got into outdoor karting
and was instantly hooked,” Michael said.
After facing national and international
competition at Oakland Valley Race Park,
F1 Boston, Pittsburg International Race
Complex, New Jersey Motorsports Race
Park and New Hampshire Motor Speedway,
Michael finished in second place for
the 2013 Northeast Rotax Max Challenge.
“Every track is very different, facing
you with new driving challenges each
weekend. The kart set up is unique for
each track as well and that is where my
tuner (my dad, Douglas) and I come together
to figure out the best setup for
each,” Michael said.
“My dad works on my kart until it has
optimum performance for each track. My
mom (Deborah) and sister come to every
race to cheer me on and help keep everything
running smooth and on schedule.
We really are a great team and that’s what
it takes to win,” Michael said.
Michael plans next year to take part in
the U.S. Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals
and the Pan American Challenge in
which he will compete for national titles
and a position on the coveted Team USA
squad to compete at the Rotax Grand Finals.