Spaulding To Drive In Big Race In Arizona

Kiel Spaulding

TUCSON, Ariz. —Fifteen-year-old Kiel Spaulding of Elk Grove will drive for Phil Giebler Racing in the opening round of the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas Friday through Sunday (Jan. 27-29) at the Musselman Honda Circuit of Kart Racing.

It will be the initial event for Spaulding with Giebler’s team. Spaulding finished fourth in the Rotax Grand Nationals to qualify for the world championship Grand Finals last November at the Al Anin Circuit in the United Arab Emirates. Spaulding was the youngest driver in the Senior division and finished 29^th in the feature.

“My expectations for this event are like every event I show up, to finish first,” Spaulding said. “The Rotax Worlds last year made me a 100 percent better driver and I feel I can apply all that I learned here in America. I’ve raced against Phil or Phil’s team for a long team and they seem to run a very nice program.”

Spaulding was runner-up in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas in the Junior division in 2010 with two wins. 

The Gatorz Challenge of the Americas is a three-round, six-event competition that is part of the path to qualifying for the Grand Finals in Kart Racing.

Owned by the 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year, Phil Giebler Racing is based in Orange, Calif., and competes nationally at the highest level of karting in the United States.