Settles Clinches Victory at United States Pro Kart Series in Cincinnati

The Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati witnessed thrilling karting action this past weekend as the United States Pro Kart Series descended upon the challenging track. The event, which brought together some of the best karting talents, saw Clay Settles rise to the occasion, securing a dramatic victory in the KA100 Masters Feature race.

The weekend’s events began on Friday with four rounds of practice, giving drivers an opportunity to fine-tune their setups. The day concluded with the all-important qualifying session, where Settles demonstrated impressive single-kart pace. Although unable to capitalize fully on the draft, Settles secured a P5 starting position for Saturday’s heat races, just 0.183 seconds off the pole time in a highly competitive field.

Saturday’s heat races were a test of consistency and strategy. Settles kept his cool, finishing 2nd in Heat 1, 3rd in Heat 2, and 6th in Heat 3. These strong finishes earned him a 4th place starting spot for Sunday’s Feature race.

Reflecting on his performance, Settles remarked, “The kart was very racey. I could put it anywhere I wanted throughout the heats. I was conserving a bit, knowing how many laps we needed to race on the same set of tires. I didn’t mind not pushing for the win in all of the races leading up to the final; I just knew I didn’t want to crash out and make it more difficult for myself on Sunday.”

Sunday’s Feature race was a 25-lap battle of endurance, strategy, and skill. Settles had a clean start, settling into the front pack early on. As the race progressed, he observed his competitors beginning to struggle with grip, while his kart continued to come alive. By lap 15, Settles began to push harder, confident in his tire management.

With three laps remaining, Settles made a decisive move in the back section of the circuit, taking the lead in a thrilling overtaking maneuver. Despite a late challenge on the final lap, Settles expertly defended his position and powered through the last two corners to claim victory.

This win marks another significant achievement for Settles in his 454 Top Kart machine in the national-level United States Pro Kart Series, solidifying his reputation as a top competitor in the sport.

Blake Deister, Team Owner of Top Kart USA exclaims, ” We are proud of Clay and the Settles family on their achievements with the brand over the last 2 seasons. They trust the product and it has shown that with determination and minimimal tuning they can achieve the top result. We look forwrd to seeing Clay continue his success through 2024 at the next National event on his schedule.”