[I]When local karter Phil Harp approached John Sarpriaccone in 2005, asking if he would schedule one race for a champ kart division, Phil had no idea what the future would hold.
On Thanksgiving weekend of 2005 at Desoto Super Speedway, John gave Phil a race date. As Phil drove to the track that day, his biggest fear was that his fellow racers might not show up to support the event. When he pulled up to the gate, and saw the line of karting race trailers parked to the side, he knew that others shared his passion. Twenty-six racers competed that night, and a series was born! The Desoto Champ Kart Series is named in dedication to Desoto Super Speedway, which took a chance on a small group of karters. Since 2005, the series has raced at five different stock car tracks in Florida. [/I] And, in 2009, the series will visit all five tracks! (DSS, CCMP, CCS, Auburndale Speedway and OSW)
This Saturday night, April 18, the Desoto Champ Kart Series will sanction it’s 50th RACE!! It will also be one of the biggest races in series history, as it is the first leg of the 3rd Annual Florida Triple Crown Series, at the 3/8 mile banked paved oval of Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, FL!
Also on the schedule at Citrus County Speedway for April 18 are Street Stock, Pure Stock, V8 Thunder Stock, 4 Cylinder Bombers, Bass Champions Challenge Series, FOWL and Mini Cup.
You can view some in-kart video from the Feb. 7 DCKS race at Citrus County Speedway, at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH5AENhUaq8&fmt=18 (Courtesy of Romay Venta!)
In addition, here is another great video of the track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtM-Klu6_hE&fmt=18
The 3rd Annual Florida Triple Crown is a four-race series, with one drop allowed (to accommodate racers who are chasing points with other series/tracks).
3rd Annual Florida Triple Crown Series
April 18 - Citrus County Speedway, Inverness, FL
June 6 - Auburndale Speedway, Winter Haven, FL
Oct. 31 - Charlotte Cty Motorsports Park, Punta Gorda
Dec. 5 - Orlando Speedworld, Orlando ($500 to win)
In 2007, Ryan Williams of Lithia, FL was crowned the 1st Annual FL Triple Crown Champion. (See Hall of Fame Page at http://desotochampkartseries.com/about.html )
In 2008, Chase Fitzgerald was crowned the 2nd Annual FL Triple Crown Series Champion (See Hall of Fame Page at http://desotochampkartseries.com/about.html )
Also racing with the series this Saturday night will be the 2-time defending TBARA Winged Sprint Car Champion Troy Decaire, in his red #5 champ kart. In addition, the 2008 Desoto Super Speedway Late Model Champion Dustin Chisholm will be in the field, in his black/green #7 champ kart. Also racing will be Legends Car racer Darin Coker, in his #0 champ kart, along with 9-time WKA National Shifter Kart Champion and former Hooters Cup Driver Chad Dokken in his #73 champ kart.
However, the favorite for Saturday’s race might be a racer that’s easy to overlook… it’s Tara Henderson, from Loxahatchee. Tara’s innocent looks are deceiving… she has been nicknamed Tara “The Terror” by some of her competitors, for her relentless driving style. In six career Desoto Champ Kart Series starts, Tara has never finished lower than 3rd. She has collected 2 wins, and is the early favorite to steal away the Florida Triple Crown Series title from her teammate, and defending Triple Crown Champion, Chase Fitzgerald. Tara and Chase have dominated the series “big” races, scoring wins in four consecutive starts! And, if either Chase or Tara win this Saturday night, they will have claimed the victory in 4 of the last 5 Triple Crown races!
The 2009 FL Triple Crown Series Champion will receive a unique solid glass trophy, that will be a proud possession for the owner, for many years to come: http://karting.4cycle.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=4097&size=big&cat=recent&limit=recent The Champions trophy will be on display at each Triple Crown race!
CUTTING EDGE KART SHOP has posted the following awards:
For the 2009 Florida Triple Crown Series:
• $500 CASH FOR THE YEAR-END POINTS FUND!! 
CUTTING EDGE KART SHOP and Series Director Phil Harp will work together, to decide how the $500 CASH will be distributed to the top finishing racers in the 2009 Florida Triple Crown Points!
The next time you talk to Chase Fitzgerald, please thank him for his support of the Desoto Champ Kart Series! This is Cutting Edge Motorsports second year of sponsoring the Desoto Champ Kart Series, and we appreciate their continued support, very much!!!
Also, for the CHAMPION of the 2009 Florida Triple Crown Series:
• Free Engine Rebuild Labor (any make), parts extra
After the 2009 Florida Triple Crown Series finale is held at Orlando Speedworld on December 5, the 2009 Triple Crown Champion will be allowed to select a Free Engine Rebuild from either MOON POWER SOUTH! or TS RACING!. 
The next time you see Donnie Lewis of Moon Power South at the track, or place an order at 386-938-2434 please thank him for his support of the Desoto Champ Kart Series!
In addition, the next time you place an order with TS Racing at http://www.TSRacing.com , or see Victor Peters at the track, please thank him for his continued support of the Desoto Champ Kart Series! (This is Victor’s second year sponsoring the DCKS, and we appreciate his continued support very much!)
Also, for the 2009 Florida Triple Crown Champion:
- [B]$100 CKI Giftcard, redeemable for any store merchandise![/B]
- [B]$50 CKI Giftcard, redeemable for any store merchandise![/B]
Also, for the 2009 Florida Triple Crown Champion:
- [B]One complete custom body and decal design, including installation![/B]
Check out some photos of the creative work from TERROR GRAFIX at: Tara Henderson (terrorgrafix) on Myspace (click on ‘Pics’)
And, if Tara Henderson wins the 2009 Florida Triple Crown title herself, this prize will instead be awarded in a drawing, for the 2nd through 5th place finishers in Triple Crown Points!
Please thank Tara Henderson for her support of the Desoto Champ Kart Series, the next time you see her at the track!
In addition, several other contingencies have been posted for the Triple Crown Series:
For EACH of the four Triple Crown Races, 5 STAR MOTORSPORTS has posted a $50 giftcard (redeemable for the purchase of any RAGE parts) if the winner is on a RAGE chassis! If RAGE karts sweep all four 2009 Triple Crown races, Ricky will give out $200 in giftcards !
And, if noone wins a 2009 Triple Crown Race on a RAGE chassis, 5 STAR MOTORSPORTS will give out one $50 giftcard (redeemable towards the purchase of any RAGE parts) for the top finishing RAGE chassis, in the final 2009 Triple Crown points!
Please take a moment to check out the website for 5 STAR MOTORSPORTS at http://www.5starmotorsports.net. And, please thank Ricky Bohatka for his support of the Desoto Champ Kart Series, the next time you see him at the track!
If a racer wins a feature during the 2009 season with VEGA TIRES (any compound) on both the right front and right rear, and has a VEGA TIRES decal on his/her kart, he/she will win one free VEGA TIRE (right side tire)!! This is in addition to the cash payout and trophy that the feature winner will also get for that night!! A racer may use any left side tires that he/she wants, and still collect the award. And, the same racer can collect the award multiple times during the year! Each win with VEGA TIRES on the right side will win a racer another free tire! Participation is entirely optional… the DCKS has an open tire rule.
When you call http://www.TSRacing.com for your next order, please thank Raymond and/or Tod for their continued support!
At every event:
• Cash Purse!
• Race under the lights!
• Trophies for the top three finishers!
• Top three finishers interviewed by the track announcer in front of a packed grandstand!
If you have any questions, please contact series director, Phil Harp at 727-510-5401. Phil and the series also welcomes sponsors for any of races. Lap leader awards, door prizes and contingency awards are all appreciated by the racers in this series! Nothing out-of-pocket is required to become a sponsor, and everything posted it given to a deserving racer (series keeps nothing from any sponsor).
2009 Overall Track Series Sponsors:
VEGA Tires from http://www.TSRacing.com, and
COMPETITION Karting, Inc. in Welcome, NC
2009 Florida Triple Crown Sponsors:
Cutting Edge Kart Shop at http://www.cuttingedgekartshop.com
COMPETITION Karting, Inc. in Welcome, NC,
Moon Power South, Donnie Lewis at 386-938-2434 ,
TS Racing Engines at http://www.TSRacing.com,
HEAT RACING of Brandon, Florida,
J. Hite Exterminating at http://www.hiteexterminating.com,
VEGA Tires from http://www.TSRacing.com,
PBS Sales and Service of Tampa at http://www.pbssalesandservice.com,
5 STAR MOTORSPORTS at http://www.5starmotorsports.net,
Creative World Early Learning Centers at http://creativeworldschool.com ,
TERROR GRAFIX at
Tara Henderson (terrorgrafix) on Myspace (click on ‘Pics’)
The Desoto Champ Kart Series – The Series that brings FUN back to racing!
Series Website: http://www.DesotoChampKartSeries.com
