Spotlight Entries: KKM Giveback Classic presented by TRD
Brent Crews (10, North Carolina) – A native of North Carolina, Crews began kart racing at seven years old competing at GoPro Motorplex (Mooresville, N.C.) and began dirt racing in the beginner box stock class at Millbridge Speedway a year later. Now 10 years old, he is one of the youngest entries in the KKM Giveback Classic and has plenty of experience on his side. In addition to multiple wins on dirt over the last few seasons, Crews is a seven-time national champion sprint kart driver and won the IAME International Final’s inaugural x30 mini division title in Le Mans, France in 2017.
Anissa Curtice (16, California) – At five years old, Curtice started her career in karts, becoming a regular on the Northern California racing circuit where she has amassed eight feature wins. In addition to outlaw karts, Curtice competed in legend cars at Redwood Acres (Eureka, California) where she captured a feature event win and earned rookie of the year honors in 2017. She most recently graduated to the open wheel ranks, making her first competitive laps in a full-sized sprint car in May.
Karsyn Elledge (18, North Carolina) – A fourth-generation racer from North Carolina, Elledge began her career in karts, tallying three track championships at Millbridge Speedway in the Box Stock (2012-13) and Intermediate divisions (2013). Earlier this year, Elledge scored her first premier class win at Millbridge in outlaw karts. In addition to karts, Elledge has made starts in a limited late model and made her national midget debut in the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League in May.
Colby Horn (14, Texas) – A racer at heart, Horn and his father decided to travel from Texas to Millbridge Speedway on a regular basis this summer so the young driver can get more track time before the KKM Giveback Classic. The decision has already paid off as Horn captured his first win at the North Carolina track in June. Horn began his career racing outlaw karts with his brother and won the 2016 Wild West Shootout in the Open Outlaw division at Big Sky Kartway in Montana and the Short Track Shootout at KAM Kartway in Texas earlier this year.
Duke Johnson (17, Oregon) – An Oregon native, Johnson competes on the kart circuit out west where he has captured three open karting championships. Earlier this year, Johnson was victorious at the inaugural mini Strawberry Cup at Willamette Speedway (Vancouver, Washington) and later won the prestigious 2018 Wild West Shootout in Montana, becoming the second Oregonian to win the race.
Emilee Lowry (15, Oklahoma) – Started her racing career after winning a winged outlaw kart at the 2015 Chili Bowl Nationals for five dollars. Lowry went on to race the kart, receiving the ‘Hard Charger Award’ from Texoma Speedway (Wichita Falls, Texas) later that year. Lowry is currently running in the Outlaw 250 and Open Outlaw divisions at her home track of Kam Kartway (Rhome, Texas) where she is third and first in points, respectively.
Tyler Seavey (22, California) – In what can be deemed a breakout year, Seavey has amassed wins in the Red Bluff Outlaws championship and West Coast Nationals. In May 2018, he joined his younger brother, Logan, as a winner of the QRC Open outlaw kart event at Millbridge Speedway.
Casey Starr (19, Oregon) – An Oregon resident, Starr was a competitive figure skater as a child until she opted to trade her skates in for a driver’s helmet and began racing at the age of 12. Starr has amassed over 15 event wins, including a micro sprint win at River City Speedway (St. Helens, Oregon) earlier this season. After being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in late 2015, she puts her efforts towards raising awareness for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), including having a Crohns and Colitis Awareness graphics set for the KKM Giveback Classic.
Gracie Sonntag (16, Texas) – After closing last season in the top-three in the 250 Outlaw Class, Sonntag has continued to gain karting experience, moving to the Open Outlaw class this season. Sonntag is the 2016-17 Modified Kart champion in the Midwest Racing Winter Series, finishing in the top-five of the Animal class that same season. Sonntag is a third-generation racer as her father and grandfather both raced as well.