Go-Kart Nationals Race Into Green Country

Thursday, June 21st 2007, 5:00 pm

By: News On 6

Some of the best go-kart racers in the country are in Tulsa this week for the National Championships. The News On 6â€™s Rick Wells reports some of the top stars are still in elementary school.

Competitors ran practice laps Thursday for the KART Southern Sprint Nationals, and most of the best racers in town are kids.

"They start at 5-years-old,â€ said President of the Tulsa Kart Club Ron Pattison

Ron Pattisonâ€™s Tulsa Kart Club is hosting this championship. All the racers have won regional events to qualify for the National Championship. Nine year old Zack King and his family are in town from Texas.

"You gotta be pretty good to be here," said News On 6 reporter Rick Wells.

"Yes," responded young racer Zack King.

Another Texas racer is 11-year-old Joe Taylor.

"How long you been doing this?" Wells asked.

"About four years," racer Joe Taylor said.

"You pretty good?â€ asked Wells.

â€œYes," Taylor responded.

Most of the young racers know each other. They play together when they're not racing, but are very competitive when the green flag drops.

Mom and dad serve as pit crews at the events. Nine year old Zack King said the cool thing about having his parents as a pit crew is that sometimes you get to tell them what to do, just not very often.

Racing starts Thursday night at the race course on West 51st Street.

The Sprint Nationals are hosted by the Tulsa Kart Club, you can find out more on their website, tulsakartclub.org.

Watch the video: Young Racers Speed Into Town