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| November 11, 2010 News |
| EKN Exclusive: SKUSA SuperNationals XIV Preview Series – S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto |
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When the gates open the week of November 15 to the parking lot of the Rio All-Suite 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 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 started off the preview program and were followed by TaG Master-G1 preview and then S4 Master Stock Moto. S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto category is looked at today with KF2, TaG Senior, KZ2 and the headline S1 division to follow leading up to the overall event preview.
For complete coverage, visit the EKN Event Page.
S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto
 | Matt Alcorn will attempt to wrap up the championship chase in S2 with a win in Vegas
(Photo: Tony Leone - sixspeedphotos.com) |
The S2 name makes a return to the SKUSA SuperNationals this year thanks to the organization’s new class structure, which is based around the Honda CR125 Stock Moto powerplant. The 2001 event at the Las Vegas Karting Center – located south of the Strip – was the last SuperNats event that hosted a S2 category (which at the time utilized the modified moto engine package). Now a focal point in the new SKUSA class lineup, the division is set to bring the young stars into the spotlight in their own division which also developing them for S1.
This year’s roster is a mix of young talent and some veterans ready to score their breakout victory. With the S2 division part of the SKUSA Pro Tour program, the focus will be on three drivers in the hunt for the inaugural title and #1 plate. Double SpringNationals winner Matt Alcorn (Energy) holds the point lead heading into Vegas. The Syar Motorsports driver from California has a 125-point advantage over Lukas Johnson (Birel) with double SummerNationals winner Derek Crockett (GP) waiting in the wings.
 | A victory at the SuperNationals could boost the young career of Lukas Johnson
(Photo: BattMotorsports.com) |
Both Alcorn and Crockett have competed in the S3 division the previous two editions of the SuperNats, both recording matching results with Crockett returning as the highest finisher from last year. Crockett also has the advantage in the EKN Driver Rankings – sitting seventh while Alcorn is 12th and Johnson is 16th. Johnson, a 16-year old student from Minnesota, is making the move up from the S5 Junior Stock Moto category – finishing fifth one year ago – and already has a regional title under his belt, edging out Crockett for the SKUSA Central States Challenge S2 championship. The three will battle for not only the SKUSA championship but also the title of best S2 driver in the country.
Looking at the eKartingNews.com Stock Moto Driver Rankings, 16 of the top-50 drivers will be in Vegas competing in the S2 division. Aside from the three mentioned above, three others sit inside the top-25; Neil Joseph (Italkart), Jack Bradley (Birel) and Cory Milne (GP). Joseph ran second to Alcorn in the ProKart Challenge North program this season and sits fifth in the SKUSA PT standings. Bradley recorded two top-five finishes at the SKUSA Spring Nationals and was vice-champion in the Racing the Rockies regional series in Colorado. Fellow Coloradoan Milne had similar results in 2010, highlighted by a podium finish in at the SpringNationals opening round.
 | Derek Crockett is still searching for that elusive SuperNationals victory after multiple trips to the podium
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Along with Johnson, a number of drivers will make the transition from S5 to S2 this year, all looking to make a statement in their first SuperNats at the Senior level. Corey Neveau (Tony Kart) was third last year in the S5 main event and had a solid season in the PKC South program, finishing fifth in the point chase. Canadian Reid Arnold (CRG) was just one spot off the S5 podium and will make a return trip to Vegas in hopes of a strong finish this year again. Back in 2008, Texan Jake French (Birel) had the field covered until he retired early in the main event, missing out on a SuperNats victory. After a Rotax campaign last year that took him to Egypt for the world finals, The 3G Kart Racing driver is back aboard a Stock Moto package and looking to break through with a strong performance after placing second at the Rock Island Grand Prix King of the Streets event back in September.
Other notables coming into Vegas with an edge in experience include; Kyle Hathcox (GP) was the runner-up in S4 last year, however, the 18-year old moves to S2 with the new class structure. Firestone Indy Lights driver Arie Luyendyk Jr. will battle in S2 aboard a Birel package, returning to the SuperNats for another run at the podium. Erik Jackson (Arrow) is one of the eldest drivers in the field but comes in with a solid resume to race against drivers half his age or younger.
S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto Provisional Entry List - Updated 11.15.10
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | City | State | Country| 003 | Cameron Egger | SSC West | Vemme | Mulino | OR | USA | | 3e | Kaylee Granberg | CarCar Motorsports | Parolin | Kansas City | MO | USA | | 5d | Cory Milne | Aluminos | GP | Broomfield | CO | USA | | 6h | Nevin Nelson | Syar Motorsports | Energy | Bloomington | MN | USA | | 6t | Jake French | 3G Kart Racing | Birel | Sachse | TX | USA | | 7 | Sergio Gallardo | Ferdez Racing | CRG | Guadalajara | | Mexico | | 7e | Evan Walters | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | St. Louis | MO | USA | | 8 | Chance Stephens | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | Tucson | AZ | USA | | 9 | Mariana Ramirez | Ferdez Racing | Intrepid | Guadalajara | | Mexico | | 9j | Carly Mandarino | Crockett Motorsports | CRG | Glendale Heights | IL | USA | | 9k | Nicky Freytag | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | Glendale | AZ | USA | | 11r | Josh Adams | Innisfil Indy Karting | GP | Guelph | ON | Canada | | 15b | Alec Gumpfer | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Kula | HI | USA | | 15t | Connor Wagner | The Kart Shop | Zanardi | Flower Mound | TX | USA | | 16c | Andy Gerl | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | Amado | AZ | USA | | 16y | Matt Alcorn | Syar Motorsports | Energy | Palo Alto | CA | USA | | 17c | Ryon Beachner | 2Wild Karting | Tony Kart | Lake Forest | CA | USA | | 18 | Martin Solis | Ferdez Racing | Italkart | Guadalajara | | Mexico | | 24k | Kyle Hathcox | Aluminos | GP | Phoenix | AZ | USA | | 24x | Harley Owen | Select Shifter Services | CRG | Phoenix | AZ | USA | | 25k | Arie Luyendyk Jr. | Team AZ Karting | Birel | Scottsdale | AZ | USA | | 26t | Kyle Books | The Kart Shop | CRG | Houston | TX | USA | | 28 | Reid Arnold | PSL Karting | CRG | Keswick | ON | Canada | | 28c | Corey Neveau | 2Wild Karting | Tony Kart | Santa Ana | CA | USA | | 32h | Lukas Johnson | River Lake Racing | Birel | Farmington | MN | USA | | 32y | Travis Duhn | | GSR | Minden | NV | USA | | 33e | Kyle Gnau | Crockett Motorsports | GP | St. Peters | MO | USA | | 34 | Carlos Medina-Armenta | Figuse Proa | CRG | Monterrey | | Mexico | | 37y | Neil Joseph | Cameron Karting | Italkart | Berkeley | CA | USA | | 38d | Jack Bradley | Doghouse Racing | Birel | Littleton | CO | USA | | 51e | Derek Crockett | Crockett Motorsports | GP | Cahokia | IL | USA | | 65d | Logan Jones | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | Gilbert | AZ | USA | | 71 | Carlos Medina | Ferdez Racing | CRG | Leon | | Mexico | | 86c | Erik Jackson | 2Wild Karting | Arrow | Long Beach | CA | USA | | 99 | Toto Padilla | Ferdez Racing | Italkart | Guadalajara | | Mexico | | 140y | Jamie Wilson | Cambrian Go-Karts | Birel | Pacific Grove | CA | USA | | 155d | Anthony Giannone | Critical Zone Racing | CRG | Colorado Springs | CO | USA | | 164 | Adam Booker | Kartel Motorsports | Top Kart | Citrus Heights | CA | USA | | 248y | Cody Diede | Diede Racing | Intrepid | Lodi | CA | USA | | 317d | Sabre' Cook | PSL Karting | CRG | Grand Junction | CO | USA | |
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