May 3-4, 2008, Monticello, FL - Stop number three of the Florida Kart Championship Series (FKCS), was at Monticello Karting this past weekend. The weather could not have been more perfect as it made for quick laps, close competition and overall Chamber of Commerce weather weekend.

Easykart 125 Lite ran on Saturday and Nick got only the two morning rounds of practice before qualifying, but is was all he needed as after only one hot lap Nick pulled in and had only this to say, "If anyone beats that I'm gonna crap myself!" Nick had in one lap set the new track record for Easykart 125 Lite of 57.132, trumping the previous lap record by almost 2 tenths.

From the drop of the green flag in the pre-final Nick Rickert knew something was wrong as a flat tire would cause an early retirement while running 2nd. the problem was traced to a leaking bead lock.

With the leaking bead lock fixed Nick was set to take on the field, even though he would start last on the field. Nick was able to make a clean start and started picking off drivers one by one one his way to the front. But at lap 6 his air box would fall off and he would receive the meatball black flag for two laps, before finally receiving the black flag. nick ignored that black flag for one lap and pulled in with one lap to go, right behind the second place kart. relegating Nick to an 8th place finish in Easykart Lite. Special thanks to Brett Thompson and JC Courreges for the generosity in providing the Easykart MG White tires for the race! Now just need to figure out who bought that darn right rear?!

Tag would race again on Sunday and Nick was ready for the fight as he was practicing on Sunday morning below the track record and when qualifying was over he had reset the Tag track record to the tune of a 57.892. Seven tenths quicker than the next closest driver. The pre-final was all Nick as he checked out on the field to the tune of 4.895 seconds over Chris Grektorp whom came up from his 5th place starting position. The final was the race of the weekend as Grektorp, Rickert and Ierna proceeded to set a blistering pace on the field. Grektorp got the jump on the start and would head into turn two with Dane Ierna in 2nd and Rickert in 3rd. The two Easykarts of Ierna and Rickert hooked up to try and motor past Grektorp and on lap 6 Ierna bobbled off turn 17 and gave up the position to Rickert. But even after the positions switched neither driver had the power to motor past Grektorp and he would finish 1st  just .053 ahead of Nick in 2nd.

Nick Scores Big at Jacksonville FKCS Race!

March 22-23, 2008, Jacksonvile, FL - The first round of the Florida Kart Championship Series presented by Easykart & OGP was held at the 103rd St Sports Complex in Jacksonville, FL on March 22-23, 2008. The race is the first of a series of five to be held throughout the state of Florida.

Nick piloted his Monticello Karting Easykart 125 to the pole position in Easykart 125 Lite class. Local driver Michelle Hummell (Pace, FL) qualified third. Rickert and Hummell would cross the line in the pre-final in 2nd and 3rd respectively. In the final Rickert and south Florida's Jamie Shahan checked out on the field by 6 seconds. On the last lap of the race while running a behind leader Shahan, Rickert attempted a last turn pass for the win and spun giving up 2nd spot to Hummell. Hummell and Rickert finished 2nd & 3rd for the first podium finishes for Monticello Karting at an FKCS race in 2008.

TAG (Touch and Go) was the largest class of the weekend with 17 karts in the field. Four Easykarts took on the sea of Leopards and proved the Easykart's competitiveness in the Regional series. Chris Grektorp's (Tallahasse, FL) last minute entry in an Easykart gained him a 3rd place qualifing position only to be DQ'd for being underweight. Only .010 behind Grektorp was Nick Rickert whom would end up starting 3rd due to Chris's DQ. Rickert battled with pole sitter Nicholas Andries for a few laps before making a pass and setting sail on the pre-final win. Nick would start lap one of the final in second place as local Jacksonville, FL driver Michael Andrews got the jump on the start and would lead the first half of the race with Nick on his heals. The two pulled out a 5 second gap on 3rd place while Chris Grektorp tore thru the field from a next to last place starting position to eventually finish 4th. Rickert passed Andrews at half way and was able to hold of the hard charging driver even through a last lap side-by-side battle thru turn one and two, giving Monticello Karting it's 6th podium finish of the weekend.