Finally the green flag waved, the practice laps over, the ones that count finally here as a 28-car field tore toward Turn 1 - the sight of so many early crashes at this year's 2008 International Karting Federation's 2-cycle Grand Nationals at the Santa Maria Karting Association's track.

The Jr. 1 Heavy racers jockeyed for position around the turn.

Suddenly, inevitably, crunch! Sure enough, racer Zane Smith collided with another kart, his cart twirling madly within a six-car crash. But the race continued for those fortunate enough to avoid disaster.

Around the next turn, another crash. This time, someone was hurt.

“The 25 car went sideways and the 4 car hit him,” official Gary Richter said. “That caused the ejection (of No. 25 Riley Reyes from his car). Then the 4 car (of Blake Dunkleberger) realized 25 wasn't moving.”

The field, again, continued on. Dunkleberger - his vehicle in fine condition to do the same - did not.

“He stopped,” Richter said. “To make sure 25 (Reyes) was alright. There are not many competitors that would do that. There was no damage to his go-kart.”

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Dunkleberger, worried Reyes was seriously hurt, beckoned for medical attention, he helped tear off Reyes' gloves and then his helmet. He did it because it was the right thing to do.

He became the inspirational story of the day, specifically Day 2 of the four-day event on Friday - starting at 8 a.m. and ending with six thrilling class finals. Qualifying races were held at 11:30 a.m., followed by heat races at 1 p.m. The finals began at 3 p.m. The action continues today, four more classes to be crowned.

Reyes suffered no more than a bruised arm. Dunkleberger suffered a drop in positioning.

But both, remarkably, returned to their cars, and to the start line - where the rest of the racers waited.

They competed once again.

This is the sport of go-kart racing. Sportsmanship mixed with fierce competition was on display for a packed track - fans clinging to the fence, go-karts whizzing by. And Dunkleberger and Reyes are no more than 17 years of age.

In the end, Austin Dement was the one to maneuver the 22-lap main event fastest for the win - picking up one of the prestigious Duffy awards. Duffy awards are, auto racing fans will affirm, nothing to scoff at. Karting for young racers is often the precursor to success in the high-level open-wheel ranks, including the Indy Racing League, NASCAR and even Formula 1.

Five Duffys were issued out on Friday, two going to Joey Licata Jr., who made the track his personal playground. Licata Jr. won the IKF Tag final by more than 10 seconds before edging Cody Hodgson for the HPV 3 title. In the day's first final, Garrett Wright took advantage of a scuffle on the final chicane to assume the lead with a couple laps remaining. He went on for the win. In the Kids Kart Heavy final, Jacob Drew picked up his second title of the Nationals, losing the lead late to friend Christian Brooks before reassuming top position on the last lap.

But the night in general belonged to those in the third race, the Jr. 1 Heavy racers.

Once officials spotted Reyes' injury, they stopped the race, without the first lap completed.

Fans cheered for Dunkleberger as he returned to the start line, Richter even breaking from his strict “official mode” to pat him on the back.

“I considered what he did,” Richter said. “... He easily could have gone around the racer.”

Both racers, as a result of the incident, had to re-start at the very back of the field.

“I was about to get back on the track when I saw him out of his car, flopping,” Dunkleberger said. “He was crying that he was injured. I helped take off his stuff, and asked, ‘What's wrong?'”

Dunkleberger played down the whole situation.

“I was crashed and out of the race anyway,” he said.

When the race did re-start, Dement passed Brenden Baker on lap 3 - yes, on the infamous first turn. He opened up a comfortable lead on Jake Craig mid-way through the race. That is, until Craig staged a furious rally and overtook Dement.

Dement countered with two laps to go, wrestling back the lead on the first turn. Dement and Craig finished 1-2, respectively, while Dunkleberger took 16th and Reyes 20th, unofficially.

In other results, Taylor Miinch cruised to a win in the Jr. Super Sportsman Heavy final.

The crashing, the camaraderie, the crowning continues today.

August 2, 2008