The start of each racing season typically offers several variables and unknowns.

However for Trent Walko, the 2008 season opener was quite the opposite as for the first time since joining the WKA Manufacturer's Cup Series, he was returning to a track he knew and racing in a team setting with which he was familiar.

The combination of confidence, comfort level and maturity paid off for the North Huntingdon driver as he scored his first national win in the Cadet Junior Sportsman class on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway and then followed up with two sixth-place runs in Cadet and HPV Junior Sportsman on Sunday.

"I qualified second, which was good, but the first turn at Daytona can be difficult to start from the outside, and I lost a few spots at the beginning."

Walko's growing on-track maturity showed, though, as he never lost the lead draft and watched the heated battle at the front until the closing lap for his chance to move forward.

"The leaders were being pretty aggressive, so I waited for a chance to take advantage of a mistake," he said. "They hit each other on the last lap, and I was able to bump draft the third place kart by them and then get under the leader in the last turn. I had a good exit from the last turn and had them covered to the checkered flag."

Despite being 800 miles from home, the win turned out to be a popular one for the young driver, who was one of 20 drivers in Daytona from BeaveRun, his home track.

"It was a lot of fun; I was completely crowded after the race with all of the BeaveRun racers, all the guys from MRP and all my Nationals friends too. It was exciting!"

According to his father John, this race was not only their most successful National event to date, it was one of the easiest.

"I didn't have to do a lot to the kart. It was good from the start -- tire pressure adjustments and slight rear width changes were about it. It was fast from the time we got there," John Walko said. "I think finally, with being our third year in nationals, we are seeing tracks for the second time now since the series moves around so much. I think that was the big difference I saw. He was confident and remembered everything."

After starting the Manufacturer's Cup season in such strong fashion, Trent was very appreciative of the help of many important people.

"I want to thank my dad, everyone at MRP, Chris and Tim Lobaugh especially, and Marc and John Zartarian from Hi-Rev Engineering. This was our best nationals race thanks to all of these people," the winner said.

"We had a lot of power, and the engines were really perfect by the time the finals came around. Working closer with Chris this year helped our kart setup. After the sessions, we'd talk about the kart, and they would come up with some new ideas we hadn't tried before. Those little things really helped the kart work good."

Trent's win on Saturday not only was a victory on the track but off the track, as well.

As a winner of one of four Junior class races on Saturday at Daytona, Trent earned the opportunity through Kids Racing for Kids to have $1,000 donated in his name to Pat's Place, a child advocacy center in Charlotte, N.C.

For more information regarding Trent Walko visit his Web site, www.trentwalko.com, and for more information on John Walko Racing in Trafford, visit his site, www.johnwalkoracing.com.

-- Submitted by Dan Schlosser