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| February 02, 2011 News |
| 2010 Champions: US Rotax Max Challenge National Points Standings - Senior |
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In cooperation with the US Rotax Max Challenge, eKartingNews.com is proud to present the champions and top-10 of the seven Rotax categories that make up the National Points Standings. Over the next six weeks, we will examine one class per week to highlight those who were able to score highest in the points standings in 2010. The USRMC National Points Standings ranks drivers from 30 local and regional Rotax Max Challenge Series across the country using a weighted points system. The system uses only registered drivers to compute each participant’s points in the series they are competing, awarding bonus points when the number of participants reaches a minimum level. This system is not to be confused with the USRMC Grand Nationals, where the top drivers in the United States come together to crown the US Rotax Champions. The USRMC National Points system recognizes and awards all drivers who compete in the series at all levels. Many of these drivers are very talented and for various reasons will never have the opportunity to compete on the national scene, but remain the backbone of the US Rotax Max Challenge. For complete standings and an explanation of the points system go to http://www.usrmaxnrd.com
Senior
Nearly 200 drivers competed in the Senior category over the course of the 2010 season for the United States Rotax Max Challenge regional programs that counted toward the National Points Standings. New England area driver Mark Pelligrini captured the Senior title for the year thanks to his efforts in the Northeast Rotax Max Challenge. This year’s top-10 is diverse, with drivers representing seven regional programs (Northeast, LAKC, Northern California, MRP, South Florida, Southwest Regional Cup, Northwest) and no driver returning from 2009. Five of the top-10 competed at this year’s Grand Nationals with Daniel Formal coming away with the best finish (3rd) and a spot on Team USA for his effort. The top-10 also includes the Rotax Pan American Challenge champion - Jesus Rios Jr. - who joined Formal on Team USA in Italy.
 | | Mark Pelligrini |
1. Mark Pelligrini
Hometown: Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Home Series: Northeast Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1233
Born: 11/15/1993
Sponsors: DR Racing, ClubeX Fitness & Nutrition
Years Karting: 9
Favorite Track: F1 Outdoors and New Castle Motorsports Park
Favorite Professional Driver: Fernando Alonso
2010 Accomplishments:
N/A
2011 Goals:
Run Rotax program and return to Rotax Grand Nationals
2010 was a season traveling SSC East and running a CRG Blackstar along with SSC East prepped Rotax engines that ran hard. One of Mark’s most exciting experiences was the Grand Nationals in New Castle. Mark was able to run in the front all weekend even with a race ending accident in the final. Mark still felt like he had accomplished one of his personal goals by running up front with competitive times. Mark also had a great experience competing at the WSK event at F1 New Jersey. The European teams are awesome! He learned a lot from watching how they work. Mark also attended the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas for the first time and had a great experience. This event is a must for every Karter.
My goals for 2011 will be a little restricted while I get through my junior year of high school. Mark plans to run in the Rotax program and head back to the Grand Nationals. It is a great program and attracts some of the best talent in the sport. Mark will be using a new DR Racing chassis in 2011. He tested this chassis at the SuperNationals in Las Vegas with the help of chassis designer and 5-time world champion Danilo Rossi, as well as DR's head mechanic Luca and Angelo Sodano.
 | | Brett Sheffer |
2. Brett Sheffer
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
Home Series: Los Angeles Kart Club
Points: 1207
Born: 11/24/1974
Sponsors: N/A
Years Karting: 4
Favorite Track: Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway
Favorite Professional Driver: Too many to list
2010 Accomplishments:
LAKC Rotax Senior Champion
2011 Goals:
Hopefully find time to practice. No practice time in 2010, so it would be nice to see what I’m capable of if I could put some time in at the track.
Brett is truly a ‘late comer’ to the world of karting, buying his first used kart in his early 30’s after having grown up on motorcycles since the age of 6. Wanting to learn more and become a podium regular, Brett hooked up with Full Throttle Karting (FTK) in Anaheim, CA. Brett’s lack of practicing/testing is definitely not by choice, he is a business owner which demands most of his schedule. Combine his long hours with international surf expeditions, photography adventures, motocross, and mountain biking trips, it’s clear why his available time to ‘practice’ is nil. Brett raced his second full season in 2010 at LAKC. His busy schedule only allowed him to make 8 of 9 LAKC races, but his speed and consistency was enough to clinch his first championship in Rotax Senior. Brett plans to continue racing in 2011 and hopefully finds time to practice soon.
 | | Raymond Bustamante Jr. |
3. Raymond Bustamante Jr.
Hometown: San Jose, California
Home Series: Northern California Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1192
Born: 8/10/1991
Sponsors: N/A
Years Karting: 3
Favorite Track: Jim Russell International Karting Center
Favorite Professional Driver: Michael Schumacher
2010 Accomplishments:
Northern California Rotax Standings - Second in Senior Rotax (4 wins, 2-second place, 2-third place)
2011 Goals:
Get a sponsor, go to the Rotax Grand Nationals and win to earn ticket to Rotax Grand Finals. Train hard to be the best driver I can be and reach my goal to become a professional race car driver
 | | Thomas Bernacki |
4. Thomas Bernacki
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Home Series: MRP Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1175
Born: 2/9/1995
Sponsors: Cinematronix, DPR Art Rescue, Quality Mobile Truck Repair, Terry Dowd Inc., Control Systems Inc.
Years Karting: 2
Favorite Track: Michiana Raceway Park
Favorite Professional Driver: Robert Kubica
2010 Accomplishments:
MRP Rotax Senior Champion
Most Improved Senior Driver Award
2011 Goals:
Compete at the Rotax Pan American Challenge and Rotax Grand Nationals
 | | Daniel Formal |
5. Daniel Formal
Hometown: Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Home Series: South Florida Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1130
Born: 12/24/95
Sponsors: Advanced Karting, DDF Racing Engines, Kosmic
Years Karting: 8
Favorite Track: La Conca, Italy
Favorite Professional Driver: Lewis Hamilton
2010 Accomplishments:
2nd place - Florida Winter Tour Rotax Senior championship
3rd place - Rotax Grand Nationals
5th place - Rotax Grand Finals
#1 ranked TaG Driver per EKN Driver Rankings
2011 Goals:
Win Florida Winter Tour, Pan American Challenge, Grand Nationals and Rotax Grand Finals
 | | Jesus Rios Jr. |
6. Jesus Rios Jr.
Hometown: Miami Beach, Florida
Home Series: South Florida Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1125
Born: 11/14/1994
Sponsors: PSLKarting.com, Homestead Karting, Info Auto Magazine, Smart Race Paint
Years Karting: 6
Favorite Track: USA International Raceway
Favorite Professional Driver: Kimi Raikonnen and Ayrton Senna
2010 Accomplishments:
Rotax Pan American Challenge Senior Champion
Second-time Team USA member
Skip Barber Regional Series Vice-Champion/Rookie of the Year
2011 Goals:
Increase sponsors and sealing a car ride for the whole year
 | | Ryan Kinnear |
7. Ryan Kinnear
Hometown: Sugarland, Texas
Home Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Points: 1097
Born: 8/14/1985
Sponsors: Champion Racing (Brett, Rodney, and Dub Berryhill)
Years Karting: 13
Favorite Track: Oklahoma Motorsports Complex
Favorite Professional Driver: David Coulthard and Dario Franchitti
2010 Accomplishments:
Won 6 of 8 races entered in Southwest Regional Cup
Working with Champion Racing on the season
2011 Goals:
Get back into racing shifters with Champion Racing and to win again
8. Josh Menting
Hometown: South Bend, Indiana
Home Series: MRP Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1095
Born: 12/27/1990
Sponsors: LSR Motorsports, Bonni Menting State Farm Insurance
Years Karting: 10
Favorite Track: Michiana Raceway Park
Favorite Professional Driver: Michael Schumacher
2010 Accomplishments:
Qualified for Rotax Grand Nationals and having a good time
2011 Goals:
Qualify for Rotax Grand Nationals and place in the top-10
 | | Andrew Zimmer |
9. Andrew Zimmer
Hometown: Spokane, Washington
Home Series: Northwest Gold Cup
Points: 1081
Age: 19
Sponsors: Spokane Alpine Haus, Oakley, Speedware Motorsports, Fastkart Indoor Speedway, Kartsport Northwest, Top Kart
Years Karting: 10
Favorite Track: Jim Russell International Karting Center
Favorite Professional Driver: Paul Tracy
2010 Accomplishments:
Northwest Gold Cup - Region 6 Rotax International Champion
2011 Goals:
To win the Northwest Gold Cup again. Go to the Rotax Grand Nationals and place well enough to go to the Rotax Grand Finals.
Andrew’s hobbies include watersports, snowsports, longboarding, and rock-climbing. Andrew is a sophomore studying Computer/Electrical Engineering at Washington State University. Special thanks to his Dad, Mom, Doug Sharp, Art Carpenter II, and all his supporters
 | | Carlos Calderon |
10. Carlos Calderon
Hometown: San Jose, California
Home Series: Northern California Rotax Max Challenge
Points: 1064
Born: 11/18/1980
Sponsors: TwoBitStar.com, Leatt, Cameron Karting, and Christy
Years Karting: 4
Favorite Track: Jim Russell International Karting Center
Favorite Professional Driver: Greg Liefooghe, Tom Dyer and Sebastian Vettel
2010 Accomplishments: Redline Oil/Northern California Rotax Max Challenge Senior Champion
Jim Russell Senior Driver of the Year
2011 Goals:
Win the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas Senior class with Rolison Performance Group |
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