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| November 08, 2010 News |
| EKN Exclusive: SKUSA SuperNationals XIV Preview Series – S5/TaG Junior/TaG Cadet |
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When the gates open the week of November 15 to the parking lot of the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino, the Superkarts! USA organization will be welcoming the largest contingent to compete at the famed SuperNationals. The SKUSA SuperNationals XIV is set to host a record-breaking 485 entries for 11 categories on a temporary circuit outside the famed Las Vegas facility. Drivers from all over North American and around the world will converge to ‘Sin City’ at a chance to claim a piece of SuperNats glory and place their name into the history books. eKartingNews.com – in conjunction with it’s exclusive Trackside Live coverage - has slated the remaining days leading up to the event for an in-depth look at the entry list and the major players in each of the categories. TaG Cadet, TaG Junior and S5 will begin the preview program, then followed by TaG Master, G1, S4, S2, KF2, TaG Senior, KZ2 and the headline S1 division.
For complete coverage, visit the EKN Event Page.
S5 Junior Stock Moto
 | Kiel Spaulding will attempt to claim his second straight S5 SuperNats title
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Since being introduced in 2007, the S5 Junior Stock Moto program has continued to grow each year with 2010 set to be the biggest and most competitive field to date. Nearly 30 drivers will take to the Rio parking lot course in hopes to add their names to the prestigious list of formers winners in hopes of progressing their way up the SKUSA ladder and possibly compete one day for the S1 title. Only four drivers are returning from last year’s entry list, as a number of them have graduated to the S2 category already and will make their bid to win this year’s SuperNats. In total, five drivers with S5 SuperNationals experience will line-up on Sunday, but one already holding onto a victory in the category.
2009 S5 champion Kiel Spaulding is set to defend his crown for a final time as the 14-year old is sure to move up to the Senior ranks in 2011. The win for the Top Kart driver did not come easy. After scoring the pole position, Spaulding ended up second for the main event grid. After taking the lead for good on lap three. Spaulding drove away to a two-second victory to clinch the third straight victory for Top Kart in the class.
Not only looking to dethrone Spaulding but also earn the inaugural SKUSA Pro Tour S5 title will be the three drivers in the championship chase. Austin Schimmel (GP) has a slim five-point edge over Texan Alex Tartaglia (Intrepid) with Christian Schureman (GP) just 60 markers back. Schimmel was the running-up in 2008 at the SuperNats while placing eighth one year ago, a spot ahead of Schureman. Tartaglia competed at the ’08 edition (14th) but missed out last season. SKUSA Mountain Region champion Schureman has two wins on the season while Schimmel took the last battle in July. Tartaglia has been consistent, placing second in all four SKUSA Pro Tour feature races. The chase to the title should be interesting come SuperSunday.
 | Along with a SuperNats win, Austin Schimmel is looking to lock up the SKUSA Pro Tour championship
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
The other driver to win on the SKUSA Pro Tour was newcomer Daniel Langon (GP). The Californian is fourth in the PT standings thanks to his round one victory at his home track in Sonoma. Working with veteran and former SuperNats winner Ron White throughout the season, Langon could use that to his advantage on the weekend. Looking to keep Top Kart on top of the podium for a fourth straight year will be two rising stars. Texans Alec Udell and Mason Chelootz have excelled in the other Junior categories and both will try their hand at S5 after testing throughout the summer months.
A number of S5 SKUSA regional competitors will be on hand to make their bid at the SuperNationals crown. Matias Podboj (CRG) was the ProKart Challenge South champion and will be joined by series regulars Scott Phillips (Italkart) and Micah Hendricks (Intrepid). SKUSA Central States Challenge champion Colton Brooks (GP) and series runner-up Joe Reed (GP) will travel from Missouri to compete against the best Junior shifter drivers. The class will also see some international drivers for the first time, including four drivers from Mexico as well as two drivers from Canada – Adam Dowler (Tony Kart) and Rotax Junior National Champion Lance Stroll (Tony Kart).
S5 Junior Stock Moto Provisional Entry List - Updated 11.09.10
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | City | State | Country| 00t | Mason Chelootz | Team Top Kart / Grand Products | Top Kart | Houston | TX | USA | | 1 | Guillermo Santibanez | Aluminos | CRG | Mexico City | | Mexico | | 3 | Adam Dowler | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Edmonton | AB | Canada | | 4 | Fernando Casillas Jr | Casillas Racing | Italkart | | | Mexico | | 5d | Eli Ziegler | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Littleton | CO | USA | | 7t | Clark Toppe | Kart Nation | Top Kart | The Woodlands | TX | USA | | 8y | Kiel Spaulding | Team Top Kart / Grand Products | Top Kart | Elk Grove | CA | USA | | 09t | Grant Prejean | Mike Doty Racing | Birel | Franklin | TX | USA | | 10t | Alex Tartaglia | The Kart Shop | Intrepid | Colleyville | TX | USA | | 11d | Ryan Rudolph | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Denver | CO | USA | | 12k | Augie Lerch | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | Tucson | AZ | USA | | 13t | Miguel Lopez | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Tyler | TX | USA | | 17d | Christian Schureman | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Golden | CO | USA | | 18e | Joe Reed | Crockett Motorsports | GP | Hillsboro | MO | USA | | 24d | Austin Schimmel | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Colorado Springs | CO | USA | | 42 | Salvador de Alba Jr. | Ferdez Racing | Italkart | Guadalajara | | Mexico | | 46 | Axel Matus | Ferdez Racing | CRG | Guadalajara | | Mexico | | 51e | Coltan Brooks | Crockett Motorsports | GP | St. Charles | MO | USA | | 51y | Daniel Langon | STA Racing | GP | Alamo | CA | USA | | 61t | Alec Udell | Kart Nation | Top Kart | The Woodlands | TX | USA | | 73c | Micah Hendricks | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | Glendale | AZ | USA | | 74y | Luis Tyrrell | Kartel Motorsports | Wild Kart | Brisbane | CA | USA | | 75x | Brandon Scheiber | Northwest Race Karts | Intrepid | Maple Valley | WA | USA | | 86 | Lance Stroll | Scuderia Karting | Tony Kart | Montreal | QC | Canada | | 88c | Matias Podboj | Extreme Karting | CRG | Anaheim | CA | Argentina | | 94d | Connor Wogrin | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Highlands Ranch | CO | USA | | 97c | Scott Phillips | | Italkart | Tucson | AZ | USA | | 168t | Bristol Gunderson | Kart Nation | CRG | Seabrook | TX | USA | |
TaG Junior
 | A runner-up last year, Kiel Spaulding will try to add a TaG Junior victory to his resume
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
For the third straight year, the TaG Junior division will be one of the most competitive classes of the SKUSA SuperNationals. While the 57 drivers set to compete in 2010 did not surpass last year’s number of 66, the quality is just as strong if not better. While 2009 race winner – Brit and new CIK-FIA U18 World Champion Jake Dennis – will not be back to defend his title, a host of drivers will look to add their names to the long list of SKUSA SuperNationals winners.
Of the 57 drivers in TaG Junior, six of them will be looking to make history as the second driver to sweep both Junior categories while racing S5 as well. In 2005, Connor De Phillippi – the 2010 Star Mazda Rookie of the Year – won 80cc Junior and JICA to become the first double winner in the same event. Of those six is returning S5 winner and TaG Junior runner-up Kiel Spaulding. The second half of the Top Kart 1-2 from last year’s finish, Spaulding will attempt to stand on the P1 step at this year’s event and maybe earn a slice of SuperNats history. Other drivers doing the double duty effort include Mason Chelootz (Top Kart), Bristol Gunderson (Top Kart), Lance Stroll (Tony Kart), Luis Tyrrell (Wild Kart) and Alec Udell (Top Kart) - all with a chance at a possible victory or double dip on the weekend.
 | Luis Tyrrell is in the hunt for the TaG Junior victory, and scoring the Pro Tour title in TaG Junior
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
For Tyrrell, a win in TaG Junior would help secure the first SKUSA Pro Tour TaG Junior championship as he enters Vegas leading the title chase. Three feature wins in four rounds have him leading fellow Californian Emmanuel Mestre (Tony Kart) in the championship standings – who has three runner-up finishes to his credit.
One driver who has been in the hunt for the past two editions is Texan Austin Self (Birel). Finishing fourth last year and sixth in 2008, Self is primed to be one of the top contenders this year following another successful season. Two other drivers that are at the top of the contenders list returning from a strong finish last year are Sebastian Ordonez (Kart Mini) and Jesse Lazare (CRG). Ordonez claimed the Rotax Pan American Challenge title this season and elected to pass the opportunity to race at the Grand Finals in Italy to race in Vegas. Lazare narrowly missed his opportunity to represent Team Canada and will look to capitalize on an opportunity at a SKUSA SuperNationals victory.
In total, 12 drivers will be competing from outside the United States and Canada, emphasizing the level of competition that will be on hand in Vegas in this year’s lineup. Also within the roster could be a number of sleepers, which we will step up Wednesday and Thursday during the eight practice sessions.
TaG Junior Provisional Entry List - Updated 11.10.10
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | City | State | Country| 00c | Jake Craig | SSC West | CRG | Mission Viejo | CA | USA | | 00t | Mason Chelootz | Team Top Kart / Grand Products | Top Kart | Houston | TX | USA | | 1 | Dalton Sargeant | RDD Motorsports | Kart Mini | Boca Raton | FL | USA | | 2 | Collin Willis | Crockett Motorsports | Wild Kart | Wildwood | MO | USA | | 4 | Jesse Woodyard | Champion Racing | Intrepid | Newall | OK | USA | | 4a | Scott Foster | Kartforce Australia | Losmic | Balcatta | Perth | Australia | | 4o | Richy Yates | True Racing Development | Top Kart | Independence | KS | USA | | 07t | Austin Self | Motorama Kart Parts (MKP) | Birel | Austin | TX | USA | | 8 | Humberto Silva Jr. | Total Karting USA | Tony Kart | Sanford | FL | USA | | 8y | Kiel Spaulding | Team Top Kart / Grand Products | Top Kart | Elk Grove | CA | USA | | 9 | Alex Guenette | SH Karting | Tony Kart | Mascouche | QC | Canada | | 10 | Martin Moggia | Bordogna Racing Team | Tony Kart | Monte Grande | | Argentina | | 11 | Florian Latorre | G-Phactory | SodiKart | Auriolles | Gironde | France | | 13 | Allan Cesarman | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Cuajimalpa | | Mexico | | 13r | Zachary Claman-DeMelo | Claman-DeMelo Racing | Tony Kart | Westmount | QC | Canada | | 13x | Bailey Murphy | AZ Kart Werx | CRG | Phoenix | AZ | USA | | 14o | Wyatt Maness | | Birel | Tulsa | OK | USA | | 15y | Austin Dement | MMS Karting | Top Kart | Reno | NV | USA | | 16 | Keegan Laithwaite | Italian Motors | Italkart | Coquitlam | BC | Canada | | 16e | Mason Daughters | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Polo | MO | USA | | 17x | Juan Garcia | Position One Motorsports | Maddox | Baldwin Park | CA | USA | | 19 | Kyoichi Tsutsui | SSC West | CRG | Calgary | AB | Canada | | 21 | Jesse Lazare | PSL Karting | CRG | Trois-Rivieres | QC | Canada | | 22 | Dennis Olsen | Energy Corse America | Energy | | | Norway | | 22b | Jesse Huaman | Position One Motorsports | CRG | Buena Park | CA | USA | | 28 | Tristan DeGrand | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Eureka | MO | USA | | 29x | Enzo Mestre | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | San Gabriel | CA | USA | | 30 | Zacharie Scalzo | GBR Kart Racing | Arrow | Drummondvill | QC | Canada | | 34c | Camden Geise | SSC West/East | CRG | Rancho Santa Margarita | CA | USA | | 34r | Emily Maddison | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Calgary | AB | Canada | | 35j | Joel Jens | Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Manitowoc | WI | USA | | 39 | Austin King | Overdrive Motorsports | PCR | Calgary | AB | Canada | | 43 | Lance Stroll | Scuderia Karting | Tony Kart | Montreal | QC | Canada | | 49a | Pedro Sabella | Bordogna Racing Team | PCR | | | Argentina | | 50 | Joao Ricardo Quieroz Vieira | Tony Kart America | Tony Kart | Sao Paulo | | Brazil | | 50j | Karl Weber | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Ambia | IN | USA | | 51 | Marcos Vieira | Tony Kart America | Tony Kart | | | Brazil | | 55c | Carter Williams | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Clovis | CA | USA | | 56y | Austin Thomas | STA Racing | GP | San Rafael | CA | USA | | 61 | Sebastian Ordonez | RDD Motorsports | Kart Mini | Deerfield Beach | FL | Columbia | | 64 | Yurik Carvalho | Italian Motors | Italkart | Sao Paulo | | Brazil | | 61t | Alec Udell | Kart Nation | Top Kart | The Woodlands | TX | USA | | 63y | Kathryn Cornell | | Intrepid | Stockton | CA | USA | | 66 | Logan Bearden | Mike Doty Racing | Haase | Austin | TX | USA | | 74 | Chad Campbell | Innisfil Indy Karting | GP | Belwood | ON | Canada | | 74y | Luis Tyrrell | Kartel Motorsports | Wild Kart | Brisbane | CA | USA | | 77 | Jamie McAllister | Italian Motors | Italkart | | BC | Canada | | 78y | Austin Elliott | Kartel Motorsports | Top Kart | Shingle Springs | CA | USA | | 95 | Adrian Lazzaro | BTK Motorsports | Arrow | Melbourne | Victoria | Australia | | 96 | Joseph Mawson | BTK Motorsports | Arrow | Hinchinbrook | Queensland | Australia | | 139 | Luke Chudleigh | Prime Kartsport | CRG | | ON | Canada | | 168t | Bristol Gunderson | Kart Nation | Top Kart | Seabrook | TX | USA | | 316 | Tristan Nunez | TN Racing | Tony Kart | Boca Raton | FL | USA | | 682 | Carlee Taylor | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Yucaipa | CA | USA | | 727y | Jack Freese | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Salinas | CA | USA | | 811a | Juan Maldonado | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Bogota | | Columbia | |
TaG Cadet
 | Colton Herta has the lead in the TaG Cadet title standings and will look for the big win in Vegas to lock in the championship
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
New to the SKUSA SuperNationals class roster is the TaG Cadet division. For the first time since 2005, Cadet-age drivers will be competing at the famed Vegas karting spectacular. As part of the new SKUSA Pro Tour program, the spec-engine category has took off in its first year under the SKUSA banner. With 10-15 regular drivers at the SpringNationals and SummerNationals, the division is the new building block for the future of the organization. Utilizing the Vortex Mini Rok 60 powerplant, 41 drivers will compete to become the inaugural class winner.
Aside from the prestige of winner at the SKUSA SuperNationals, on the line for a select few will be the inaugural SKUSA Pro Tour championship and a ticket to the 2011 ROK Cup International Final in Italy, courtesy of SKUSA and Vortex Engines. California’s Colton Herta (Nevoso BA-1) currently leads the standings thanks to four podium finishes on the year, including a victory at the SummerNationals in Wisconsin. Chasing him will be Noah Grey (FA Kart), Canadian Parker Thompson, and Tate Holleran (Nevoso BA-1) – all who have one feature win to their credit.
 | Coming off a fourth place finish at the Rok Cup International Final in Italy, Patricio O'Ward is among the contenders in Vegas
(Photo: OTK Kart Group) |
The rest of the entry list is a ‘who’s who’ in Cadet racing from coast to coast. Representing the East will be a number of drivers who were successful in the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup program. Texan Austin Osborne (Birel) is multiple winner on the season and will be joined with Cadet regulars Emerson Reed (Merlin) and Leonardo Stoia (PCR) from Ohio along with a host of others.
Drivers that were successful in the Rotax program in 2010 will look to transfer that into a podium run in Vegas. Set to compete in Vegas include five drivers that finished in the top-10 at this year’s Grand Nationals - Cole Glasson (FA Kart), Devlin DeFrancesco (FA Kart), Patricio O’Ward (Kosmic), Logan Sargeant (Kart Mini) and Davey Manthei Jr. (Wild Kart). Micro Max Grand National Champion Anthony Gangi Jr. (CRG) and pole award winner Camden Donaldson (Birel) will also be on hand, looking to mix it up at the front. O’Ward may have the advantage coming into Vegas, fresh off a fourth place finish and fast lap honor at the Rok Cup International Final in Italy.
One thing will be certain, the winner for the inaugural TaG Cadet division most likely will not be decided until the final few feet of the course on the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino.
TaG Cadet Provisional Entry List - Updated 11.11.10
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | City | State | Country| 00 | Devlin DeFrancesco | DeFrancesco Racing | FA Kart | Fort Lauderdale | FL | USA | | 01 | Leonardo Stoia | Checkered Motorsports | PCR | Medina | OH | USA | | 4d | Tate Holleran | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Aurora | CO | USA | | 6 | Patricio O'Ward | J3 Competition | Kosmic | San Antonio | TX | USA | | 06c | Anthony Sawyer | Pitts Performance | Nevoso BA-1 | Los Angeles | CA | USA | | 07n | Anthony Gangi Jr. | | CRG | Brookville | NY | USA | | 7y | Curtis Paul | MMI Motorsports | Tony Kart | Stockton | CA | USA | | 08 | Flinn Lazier | | Merlin | Vail | CO | USA | | 8 | Clay Van Erd | | Birel | Charing Cross | ON | Canada | | 8c | Justice Lepe | Pitts Performance | Nevoso BA-1 | San Diego | CA | USA | | 10 | Guido Moggia | Bordogna Racing Team | Tecno Kart | Monte Grande | | Argentina | | 11 | Seth Alex Brown | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | | CA | USA | | 12c | Adam Iavelli | Adams Motorsports | Avanti | Ramona | CA | USA | | 13 | Kami Laliberte | Scuderia Karting | Tony Kart | Montreal | QC | Canada | | 14r | Gianfranco Mazzaferro | Scuderia Karting | Tony Kart | St. Bruno | QC | Canada | | 18 | Nathan Adds | The Kart Shop | Intrepid | Rowlett | TX | USA | | 20 | John Paul Southern Jr. | Checkered Motorsports | PCR | Westlake | OH | USA | | 21 | Austin Osborne | Leadfoot Motorsports | Birel | Houston | TX | USA | | 24 | Logan Sargeant | RDD Motorsports | Kart Mini | Boca Raton | FL | USA | | 26c | Colton Herta | Pitts Performance | Nevoso BA-1 | Valencia | CA | USA | | 29 | Jacob Drew | Pitts Performance | CRG | Fullerton | CA | USA | | 29y | Hunter Corbitt | Team Top Kart / Grand Products | Top Kart | Folsom | CA | USA | | 31 | Jeff Fulham | GBR Kart Racing | Arrow | Winnipeg | MB | Canada | | 34b | Christian Brooks | Pitts Performance | Nevoso BA-1 | Santa Clarita | CA | USA | | 42 | Corrie Hiatt | Cambrian Go-Karts | Birel | Colorado Springs | CO | USA | | 42z | Davey Manthei Jr. | Kartel Motorsports | Wild Kart | Pasco | WA | USA | | 43 | Pedro Cardoso | Parazinho Competitions | Tony Kart | | | Brazil | | 72 | Camden Donaldson | Motorama Kart Parts (MKP) | Birel | Camby | IN | USA | | 74t | Nicholas Brueckner | Kart Nation | CRG | Hockley | TX | USA | | 77u | Austin Versteeg | Nola Motorsports Park | CRG | Sandy | UT | USA | | 79 | David Malukas | Motorama Kart Parts (MKP) | Birel | Chicago Ridge | IL | USA | | 80r | Parker Thompson | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Red Deer | AB | Canada | | 88 | Hannah Williams | 3G Kart Racing | Birel | Denton | TX | USA | | 88j | Emerson Reed | Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Mason | OH | USA | | 90r | Jordan Redlin | Checkered Flag Racing | Vemme | Aldergrove | BC | Canada | | 94y | Garrett Dixon | Cambrian Go-Karts | Birel | Tahoe City | CA | USA | | 97x | Noah Grey | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Dana Point | CA | USA | | 112 | Cole Glasson | DeFrancesco Racing | FA Kart | Corinth | TX | USA | | 316z | Sting Ray Robb | Kartel Motorsports | Wild Kart | Ontario | OR | USA | | 421y | Blaine Rocha | Kartel Motorsports | Wild Kart | Oakdale | CA | USA | |
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