Nicknamed “showtime” by his tuner, Ontario-based Junior kart racer Garett Grist did what he does best…goes out and wins races. The dynamic duo of Kyle Herder and Grist gelled from the start when they connected in early February and began to put the pieces of their season together. This week they achieved their ultimate goal taking the big show in style and winning a national title to boot. The Canadian Nationals went almost perfect with Grist gaining grid positions in nearly every session and setting fast time in seven of nine timed sessions. The 5’ 4”, 94 lb athlete is the smallest pilot on the grid competing against drivers nearly a foot taller and 60 pounds heavier. The team has to bolt on nearly forty pounds of lead to make class weight, which creates its own set of challenges. Being one of the smallest and youngest Rotax rookies in the field, Grist certainly made things look quite the opposite. Garett took charge in the races and used his experience to set up the kart for the longer races, ultimately shinning in the only session that counts: the final. Grist would start the season off on the wrong foot missing a planned two week test period at the world renowned Florida Winter Tour. The team would use the Ontario based Brian Stewart Karting Championship to qualify for and tune up for the Canadian Nationals Championship. In BSRKC and TRAK regional action, Grist started off the year going 6 for seven 6 in podiums including three first places. In the last race a lap one incident put him at the back and he was able to get back into the top ten setting fast lap of the race finishing in eight spot. Despite his best efforts Grist was not favored to win at the big show. One website poll gave him only one vote to win. Grist used his lethal Top Kart 102 as his hot rod of choice and used it to dominate the run up to the Nationals. Support all season came from Garett’s Team Top Kart USA teammates including help from team leader and fellow Alpinestars driver Chris Wehrheim. “My goal from the start was to win the National title,” states Grist. “And that’s exactly what we did. The Top Kart program is amazing and I can’t thank Grand Products and Mike Tetreault enough for all his support,” continues Grist. “The 102 is amazing and works in all conditions, the perfect kart for me.” Garett began with the Team Top Kart USA group in March of 2008 in his final year of Comer Cadet competition. The team had success off the start taking a top five in the opening round and staying at the front of the top flight US national tour. Garett would start testing in Junior taking second in his first Rotax Junior race at a street race in ‘Windsor, Ontario across the river from Detroit. The numbers really tell the story of Grist’s road to winning the National title. In Friday timed practice round two, Garett set fast lap and set a new Rotax Jr lap record at Goodwood 37.51. That time was not beaten all weekend. Grist was the only driver to convert 100% of all five starts into a top three finish. He set fastest lap time in heat one and heat two clearing the field by nearly two tenths. Grist was also the only rookie in the top five and led 28 of 30 laps in the finals. “At the end of the day it is just a go kart race and really most people don’t care,” comments Jeff Grist, Garett’s father. “The thing we are most proud of is that Garett set a goal and made it happen. That’s the stuff that builds character, which is the thinking that creates champions.” Up next for Garett is the final round of the top regional series the Brian Stewart Karting Championship being held a unique round/oval circuit in central Ontario. Grist goes into the final race with nearly a 100-point lead in the standings and needs to only take the green flag to lock up the championship. After that, he will represent Team Canada in December at the Rotax Max World Finals in Egypt.