Eric Gunderson talks to the anouncer after winning at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale
Eric began racing karts in 2005 when he was 11 years old. He has recently completed his fourth season of driving. Eric currently competes against racers of all ages, some of whom have been racing for 15 years. Eric states that “our team is enjoying great success because of our professional approach that combines hard work, teamwork, dedication, and attention to detail."
This year (2009) is Eric's first season of United States Auto Club (USAC) competition. He drives Ford Focus Midgets on pavement and dirt tracks.
Ford Focus Midget cars are high performance, sophisticated race cars. The power to weight ratio of a Focus Midget is the same as the Sprint Cup cars raced in NASCAR's premiere series. They require the same peak physical conditioning and mental strength as other forms of motor racing.
Eric is currently a sophmore in high school, where he is an honor roll student. Eric has served as a coach for the Dale Carnegie "Effective Communications and Humans Relations" course. His long term goals include becoming a professional race car driver. Highlights of Competition Results
2009
Four Top Three finishes in first 6 races
First place, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
2008
10 main event wins
Toyota Speedway at Irwindale- Rookie of the Year; 2nd of 62 drivers in season points standings
2007
IKF Grand National Champion—Jr. Sportsman
IKF Region 7 HPV 2 Series Champion; first of 55 drivers in the class
Tri C Karters Club HPV 2 Series Champion, first of 30 drivers in the class; Junior Driver High Points Champion; HPV 2 Fast Lap Award
2006
National Junior Sprint Champion, RLV Weekly Racing Series by WKA
WKA Grand Nationals: 2 pole positions, 2 heat race wins, 2 top three finishes
California State Championship Second Place HPV 2
So-Cal Sprinters Kart Club: Undefeated HPV 2 Champion; Junior Driver High Points Champion; Summer Shoot-Out Champion; HPV Fast Lap Award
Tri-C Karters: HPV 2 Championship runner-up; HPV 2 Fast Lap Award
IKF Grand Nationals: One off-pole position; one top 10 finish
King Taco Open: Second Place HPV 2
2005
First year racing
Competed in cadet class (age 8-11)
Seven First Place finishes
So-Cal Sprinters Kart Club, Second Place points championship
