Racer Dakota Dinkins dominated Thursday Night Thunder on May 8th at Bushnell Motorsports Park in their high-speed rental karts.
The competition was fierce, but Dakota Dinkins stood above the rest, facing off 17 competitive drivers and surging up the ranks to victory in the latest installment of Thursday Night Thunder. Starting in 3rd position-which he earned via the 6-minute qualifying session, finishing only .024 seconds behind first place racer Brittle-he swept the other drivers away, with second place racer Holden finishing 6.761 seconds behind him.
Thursday Night Thunder at Bushnell Motorsports Park, Florida (commonly referred to as BMP) is a high-speed go-kart race using BMP’s rental fleet. All the karts are meticulously prepared and balanced prior to the event, ensuring a level playing field amongst the drivers.
The format for the Thursday Night Thunder go-kart races is simple: A 6-minute qualifying session, and then a 1-hour race. Whichever racer completes the most laps and crosses the finish line first after the 1-hour mark takes home the win. The racers are required to do two pit stops during the race, where they jump in a new kart for each pit stop. Any racer that weighs under 210 pounds is required to add weights to their go-kart to ensure a level playing field for the go-kart racers.
The evening began with a tightly contested 6-minute qualifying session, which sets the grid for the Thursday Night Thunder 1-Hour Race. Racer Brittle claimed pole position, with a best lap score of 74.408 seconds. Phenoms rounded out the front row in second, pushing Dakota Dinkins to the third grid slot for the start of the hour-long showdown. The following contesters followed suit: Gui, Holden, Bdavis, SBruce, Shmad, Mr. Clean, Ted C, Naeem, MrFabyBaby, SEG, Aidan, NEAL, SWA, and Mark.
At the onset of the 1-hour Thursday Night Thunder competition, racer Brittle prepares himself in first position following his victory of the 6 minute qualifier, with racer Phenoms in second and Dakota Dinkins in third. Despite his current 3rd place standing, Dakota Dinkins carved through the track with his go-kart and took the lead with confidence. Once out front, he found a rhythm that proved to be unmatchable. His laps were smooth and relentless, pushing the limits of both machine and driver. It was a very close finish for Dakota Dinkins and his opponents, but he ultimately emerged victorious at the conclusion of the race, totaling 48 laps with his best lap timing 73.417 seconds. The battle behind Dakota Dinkins was equally intense, with a host of talented drivers jockeying for position. Holden kept a steady pressure throughout the race but could never quite close the gap. He crossed the line in second place, 6.761 seconds behind the leader. Bdavis19 clinched third, his gap timing 10.487 seconds, putting in a strong drive that solidified his place on the podium. Despite starting on pole, Brittle was shuffled down the order, ultimately finishing fifth after a hard-fought contest. The rest of the top nine (out of 17 racers, total) included Phenoms, SBruce, Mr. Clean, Gui, and Ted C—all of whom completed a full 48 laps, like 1st place winner Dakota Dinkins, though with varying gap times, all being within 20 seconds of eachother. Despite Dakota Dinkins success at Thursday Night Thunder, go-kart racers Brittle and Mr. Clean still had the fastest lap times of the night, at 73.346 seconds and 73.357 seconds.
The opponents of Thursday Night Thunder once again live up to their names, delivering an action-packed evening full of high stakes, fast laps, and unforgettable moments. Dakota Dinkins’ performance was impressive; with razor-sharp focus, precise driving, and relentless pace, he proved that consistency and confidence can turn a third-place start into a resounding victory. For the challengers behind him, the chase has only just begun—and at Bushnell Motorsports Park, the next chapter is always just one race away.
If you are looking for something fun to do in the Central Florida area – the high-speed rental karts are available at Bushnell Motorsports Park Wednesdays-Sundays. Follow our event calendar for special events and other special go kart races at BMP!
