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| April 22, 2011 News |
| SKUSA Pro Tour Readies for Launch at SpringNationals |
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This year’s Superkarts! USA Pro Tour is fast becoming one of the bright spots of American karting for 2011, as our sport is now rebounding from being hard hit by the recent economic recession. Despite the continuing issues with the national economy, karting is certainly fighting back as entry numbers in the primary regional series have been extremely encouraging, and SKUSA is part of this recovery. There is positive momentum building all over the country and SKUSA’s West Coast-centric ‘Pro Tour’ is enjoying significant buzz regarding good fields in virtually all of its classes. The opening round of the SKUSA Pro Tour – the Honda Racing/HPD SpringNationals in Tucson, AZ - is now less than a week away and the research performed by the EKN staff shows that this program will see significant growth for 2011. The inaugural Pro Tour launched last spring at Infineon Raceway with just over 100 participants and the forecasted numbers for this year’s opener are north of 170.
The 2011 SKUSA Pro Tour will consist of three events, anchored by the granddaddy of them all, the SuperNationals in Las Vegas in November. The season kicks off on the April 29 – May 1 weekend in Tucson, Arizona for the second running of the SpringNationals. As recently announced on EKN, Honda Racing and Honda Performance Development (HPD) have signed on as the title sponsor for the event, helping to raise the bar for an event that SKUSA’s Tom Kutscher is aimed at making into a “mini SuperNats”.
SKUSA’s return to the S1-S2-S3-S4-S5 class structure in 2010 has provided a clear ladder for drivers looking to advance in their gearbox categories and the Pro Tour will provide a great look at this program in action. Several drivers have made the move to the next level of competition, namely the class champions from both the S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto and S5 Junior Stock Moto classes. The one major change to the shifter dance card has been the departure of G1, as the class drew only minimal support through SKUSA’s multiple offers to reserve a place for the class on the Tour. The organization’s TaG class approach is equally as clean, with drivers moving from Cadet to Junior and eventually into the Senior class, anchored by a growing Master division.
SKUSA and the Musselman Honda Circuit - site of this year's SpringNationals - have put together a promo to broadcast on Tucson radio stations leading up to next weekend's event: Click Here
 | Fritz Leesmann will look to defend his 2010 Pro Tour title in S1
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
S1
In S1 Pro Stock Moto, the return of #1 plateholder Fritz Leesmann (CRG) has been confirmed by Aluminos team owner Rob Soares, setting up another run for the big money. Leesmann took home the $5,000 championship check last fall, further establishing himself as one of the finest in the business. The S1 class continues to develop the depth of its talent and this year could be Leesmann’s toughest test yet. The champion’s take for this year is $3000 cash, plus the enhanced SKUSA ‘Circle of Champions’ program that will give all eight champions a sponsored entry into next year’s Pro Tour, which includes entry, pit passes, fuel and tires. This is worth almost $3000 for the season, pushing the championship awards for S1 and TaG Senior to nearly $6000.
SKUSA will see a handful of S1 veterans on the grid when the SpringNationals get underway, all focused on taking the title away from Leesmann. PKC South S1 title winner Clinton Schoombee and former SuperNats race winner Tom Dyer are both ready to take up the challenge, while last year’s Pro Tour TaG Senior champ Phil Geibler will make the move to the top shifter class for the 2010 edition of the Tour. Schoombee will be back under Mike Robbins’ Select Shifter tent, having moved to the DR Kart chassis for 2011. The equation has found success early in the season as Schoombee has already tasted victory in PKC South competition, winning at Willow Springs in February. Dyer (GP) can never be counted out, and despite continuing his position with Aluminos as a driver coach, Soares confirmed Dyer’s participation as well. Although he has focused on the TaG Senior class for the last couple of years, Giebler (FA Kart) has ample gearbox experience and will be a force from the get-go. Giebler’s own race team will be a big part of the Pro Tour as well, as he has a number of solid young drivers under his Phil Giebler Racing banner. That said, EKN spoke with Giebler at the recent Grand Prix of Long Beach, and he was considering a move to the TaG Senior class once again to align himself with more of his team pilots.
 | 2010 TaG Senior Pro Tour champ Phil Giebler is undecided on defending his crown or joining the mix in the S1 category
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
The S1 class will see a few wildcards to stir up the pot this year. Wednesday’s announcement that former SKUSA ProMoto Tour champion Bobby Wilson will re-unite with Greg Bell and Leading Edge Motorsports has certainly captured our attention and it will be interesting to see how competitive Wilson will be out of the box, having spent the last few years as a driver coach and tuner. The other wildcard will be Kartel Motorsports’ Ryan Phinny, who returned to S1 action last year at the SuperNationals. The former SKUSA star made the move to formula and sports car racing for the past five years and is back to take on the organization’s current line-up of star pilots. Phinny may run both S1 and TaG Senior in Tucson.
Aluminos’ Brad Dunford (CRG) and Rocky Mountain Kartworks’ Daniel Bray (GP) are expected to challenge for podiums all year. Bray has always been quick and if not for some bad luck, he would have enjoyed better finishes in 2011. On the other hand, Dunford has been improving steadily and now seems poised to enter the upper echelon of the class. He kicked the regional season off in style with a PKC win at Adams, getting the monkey off his back for good. Dunford will be fun to watch this season.
A trio of young drivers will graduate from S2 into the headline S1 class this year, including reigning Pro Tour S2 champ Derek Crockett (GP). The St. Louis, MO driver turned up his game last season against a tough field of Semi-Pro Stock Moto competitors and came away with the crowned. Armed with his A License, he will need to step up his game in 2011 to fight with the leaders. Regional S2 champs Lukas Johnson (Central States Challenge) and Ryon Beachner (ProKart Challenge South) are also up to the task. Johnson (GP) has been logging winning track time in Florida in preparations for the new year, while 2 Wild Karting’s Beachner (Tony Kart) recently scored his first S1 win in PKC South racing, stepping to the top of the box in Buttonwillow.
The S1 field may not be huge for 2011, but it is deep with talent and the racing is guaranteed to be exciting.
Provisional S1 Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis| Andrew Vargas | Aluminos | CRG | | Bobby Wilson | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | | Brad Dunford | Aluminos | GP | | Clinton Schoombee | Select Shifter Services | DR Kart | | Daniel Bray | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Derek Crockett | Crockett Motorsports | GP | | Don McGregor | Aluminos | GP | | Fritz Leesemann | Aluminos | CRG | | Lukas Johnson | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Phil Giebler | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | | Ryan Phinny | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Ryon Beachner | 2Wild Karting | Tony Kart | | Tom Dyer | Aluminos | GP | |
 | 2010 S2 Pro Tour vice-champion Matt Alcorn is the leading contender for this year's title
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
S2
The departure of Crockett for S1 will open the door for a new champion in S2, and it is expected that 2010 frontrunner Matt Alcorn will once again be in the fight. That said, the S2 class on the Pro Tour will explode this year as close to 40 drivers have been confirmed for the SpringNationals, so it’s anyone’s guess who will step up. Alcorn was very strong last year aboard his Energy, and his smooth style will be an asset in both Tucson and Grand Junction. He is focusing on the Pro Tour this year with the goal of winning the S2 crown and the #1 plate.
Six drivers from last year’s SuperNats’ top-10 will challenge for the S2 title this season. A leading contender is the event’s runner-up finisher, Innovative Karting’s Nicky Freytag (Intrepid). The 19-year old from Arizona has gotten off to a solid start in 2011, as he currently leads the PKC South standings and will look to defend his home turf. Fellow podium finishers Cody Diede (Intrepid) and Josh Lane (DR Kart) join Freytag as championship contenders. Diede showed growth in maturity last year and ended the season fourth overall in the Pro Tour S2 title chase. Working under the tutelage of Leading Edge’s Greg Bell, Diede is sure to be a factor in Tucson. Midwest road race guru Lane put in an impressive fifth place effort in Vegas last year. Now teamed up with the new DR Kart importer (DRT Racing) and putting in a solid off-season training program, Lane is poised to challenge for the season championship. Colorado driver Cory Milne (GP), Zanardi America’s own Arie Luyendyk Jr. and Adam Booker (Wild Kart) placed inside the top-10 in Vegas and should be included in the battle in Tucson.
There will be some promising young talent coming into the battle this season, including guys like 3G Kart Racing’s Jake French (Birel) and Champion Racing’s Evan and Shane Walters (Intrepid). French jumped from S5 to S2 last year, impressing at the Rock Island Grand Prix King of the Streets and qualifying second to Crockett at the SuperNationals, only to hit trouble in the heat races to fall out of contention. The Walters’ brothers from St. Louis bring with them an eagerness that could see them battle for podium finishes.
SKUSA’s internal ladder will graduate more top S5 drivers into S2 this year and ’10 Pro Tour champ Daniel Langon (GP) will lead a crew that includes Christian Schureman (GP) and Augie Lerch (Intrepid). All three will need to develop poise under pressure in taking on this massive S2 grid.
Provisional S2 Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis| Adam Booker | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Andy Gerl | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Arie Luyendyk Jr. | Zanardi America | Zanardi | | Augie Lerch | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Bill Kann | Team AZ Karting | Birel | | Brandon Scheiber | Northwest Race Karts | Sodikart | | Bryan Lemon | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Bryce Cornet | Champion Racing | Intrepid | | Carly Mandarino | Crockett Motorsports | GP | | Chance Stephens | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Christian Bird | Aluminos | GP | | Christian Schuerman | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Clint Korte | 3G Kart Racing | Birel | | Cody Diede | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | | Connor Wargin | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Corey Neuveau | 2 Wild Karting | Tony Kart | | Cory Milne | Aluminos | GP | | Daniel Langon | STA Racing | GP | | Eli Ziegler | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Evan Walters | Champion Racing | Intrepid | | Jake French | 3G Kart Racing | Birel | | Jessica Sollberger | Select Shifter Services | DR Kart | | Josh Lane | DRT Racing | DR Kart | | Kyle Hathcox | AZ Kart Werx | GP | | Logan Jones | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Mariana Ramirez Sabage | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | | Matt Alcorn | Syar Motorsports Energy | Energy | | Nicky Freytag | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Patrick Cushenberry | Kimball Williams Racing | CRG | | Ryan Kinnear | Champion Racing | Intrepid | | Sabre Cook | Critical Zone Racing | CRG | | Shane Walters | Champion Racing | Intrepid | |
 | The large S4 field will all be chasing Phil Conte to take over the no.1 plate
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
S4
During the initial run of the SKUSA ProMoto Tour, the addition of the G1 class in 2001 provided a high-quality level of competition for drivers over the age of 35. This class grew quickly as many ‘veterans’ were eager to be able to run in these prestigious and exciting national events. However, G1 is quickly slipping into regional obscurity, while the S4 Master Stock Moto class has taken its place on the national stage and the numbers for the Pro Tour are proof positive that the equation works.
The ‘over 30’ drivers entered in the class for Tucson will be chasing the right to claim the Pro Tour #1 plate, currently held by Kimball Williams Racing driver Phil Conte (CRG). Overcoming a bent axle in the chaotic finale in Vegas, Conte outlasted his title rivals to earn the honor of becoming the first Pro Tour S4 champion last November.
The driver coming into Tucson with the most momentum is current PKC South chase leader Jimmy McNeil (CRG). The reigning SKUSA SuperNats champ has two victories already on the year, both in impressive fashion. There will be lots of competition for McNeil and one driver you can never count out is one of the most decorated pilots in the category, three-time SKUSA SuperNationals winner Jeff Littrell (Tony Kart). As we witnessed at last year’s SpringNationals when Jeff Smith swept the action, one of these two drivers could pull off the same feat. EKN has not yet received confirmation if Smith will be back in action on the Tour, however, if he does appear, he too will be consider a primary contender.
Several top G1 drivers have made the move to S4, cranking up the level of competition in a big way. Last year’s Pro Tour G1 champ Fernando Diaz (GP) will strap on a Honda CR125 this spring, as will PP Mastro (CRG), Nick Firestone (Zanardi), Roy Montgomery (CRG), Howie Idelson (Sodi Kart) and Dave Conyers (GP).
The S4 category has its share of veteran talent that will no doubt be in the mix, such as national #3 plate Jonathan Allen (GP), Rob Logan (CRG), Phil Dunford (GP), Jason Campbell (Zanardi), Steve Perdue (Intrepid), Mike McDonough (GP) and Robert Marks (CRG).
Provisional S4 Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis| Brad Dhesi | Aluminos | GP | | Brian Frank | Northwest Race Karts | Intrepid | | Carlos Fernandez | Ferdez Racing | Intrepid | | Christiaan Bouhuys | Pure Karting | Tony Kart | | Darrell Tunnell | Team Visalia | CRG | | Dave Conyers | Aluminos | GP | | Derek Poirer | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Fernando Diaz | Aluminos | GP | | Greg Jewett | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | | Howie Idelson | G-Phactory | Sodikart | | Jason Campbell | Zanardi America | Zanardi | | Jeff Littrelll | 2Wild Karting | Tony Kart | | Jeff Smith | Aluminos | GP | | Jet Davis | Critical Zone Racing | CRG | | Jimmy McNeil | Team Visalia | CRG | | Joe DiVito | Zanardi America | Zanardi | | Joe Johnson | The Kart Shop | CRG | | Jonathan Allan | Aluminos | GP | | Ken Shilling | Extreme Karting | GP | | Lance Lane | DRT Racing | DR Kart | | Levi Bennette | Team Visalia | CRG | | Luke Bianco | Team Visalia | CRG | | Mike McDonough | Aluminos | GP | | Nick Firestone | Zanardi America | Zanardi | | Paul Flori | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Phil Conte | Kimball Williams Racing | CRG | | Phil Dunford | Aluminos | GP | | Phil Serniak | Tucson Kart Club | Sodikart | | PP Mastro | High-Rev Engineering | CRG | | Ray Zanotto | Tony Kart America | Tony Kart | | Rob Logan | Kimball Williams Racing | CRG | | Robert Marks | Team Visalia | CRG | | Roy Montgomery | Kimball Williams Racing | CRG | | Steve Perdue | Northwest Race Karts | Intrepid | | Todd Wilson | Aluminos | GP | | Vatche Tatikian | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | |
 | Austin Schimmel is the lone driver competing in the S5 division this year who scored a feature win last season
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
S5
SKUSA’s Junior shifter program is looked on by the organization as an important part of their ladder and while new names slowly have been entering the class, it has not yet enjoyed the surge in numbers that the 80cc Junior shifter program had in the old SKUSA ProMoto Tour. A number of drivers, including reigning champion Daniel Langon, graduated to the S2 category for 2011, opening the door for the next class of future SKUSA stars to shine.
This year’s action will be led by 2010 title contenders Austin Schimmel (GP), Alex Tartaglia (Intrepid), and Luis Tyrell (Wild Kart). Schimmel stood on the podium in four of the five feature races last year, including the runner-up at the SuperNats, and he will drive for Rocky Mountain Kartworks. Champion Racing’s Tartaglia drove to four-straight runner-up finishes at the SpringNationals and SummerNationals, running into trouble in Vegas. Tyrell is the reigning TaG Junior Pro Tour champion and showed well in his limited S5 schedule in 2010. Colorado’s Ryan Rudolph (GP) and Arizona’s Micah Hendricks (Intrepid) will make their first Pro Tour starts after success at the regional level as will Texans Grant Prejean (Birel) and Miguel Lopez (GP).
Provisional S5 Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis| Alex Tartaglia | Champion Racing | Intrepid | | Austin Schimmel | Crockett Motorsports | GP | | Grant Prejean | Iron Rock Racing | Birel | | Luis Tyrell | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Micah Hendricks | Innovative Karting | Intrepid | | Miguel Lopez | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | | Ryan Rudolph | Rocky Mountain Kartworks | GP | |
 | Current PKC South point leader Travis Lowe is poised to challenge for the Pro Tour title this season
(Photo: P1 Imaging) |
TaG Senior
There is going to be no shortage of excitement in the TaG Senior category at this year’s SpringNationals as all of the West Coast’s top drivers will be on-hand. EKN learned while attending the Grand Prix of Long Beach that reigning #1 plateholder Phil Giebler may move back to the TaG Senior class this year to defend his crown, and that would certainly shake up the expected title fight. This year’s battle will be amped up more with a solid group of drivers scheduled to challenge for the championship.
The Tony Kart West team will be bringing a strong squad to the fight, armed with race-winning pilots like Matt Johnson, Devin Lindsey and PKC South Buttonwillow winner Mason Marotta. Kosmic driver Travis Lowe will pit under the Tony Kart West tent and he must be considered as a lead title contender thanks to his rocket start in ProKart Challenge South action. Lowe swept the first two events in solid fashion and this kind of confidence and momentum is vital when attacking the first national race of the year.
Brett Felkins will tackle the SKUSA Pro Tour once again with Greg Bell, but they will move to the TaG Senior class this year rather than S1. Cody Diede will join Felkins on a pair of Leading Edge Intrepids.
Some of the rookies this year could be quick, including Kathryn Cornell (Intrepid), Austin Elliott (Top Kart) and Kiel Spaulding (Tony Kart). Cornell is running under the Leading Edge Motorsports banner and has shown to have the speed to challenge in her rookie season, while Elliott scored a big PKC North win at Dixon in his Senior debut and should progress quickly under the guidance of the Kartel Motorsports operation. Spaulding earned podium finishes the last two years in the Junior ranks at the SuperNationals (TaG Junior in 2009 along with S5 in 2009 and 2010) and hopes his first full assault on the Pro Tour equals more success.
A surprise entry from the Italian Motors camp will definitely make things even more exciting as the TaG Senior winner of last year’s SuperNationals is now in the line-up. Brazilian Andre Nicastro is fast anytime he hits the track and his addition to the SpringNationals increases the level of talent of the field.
Provisional TaG Senior Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine| Aaron Telitz | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | | Adam Isman | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | | Adrian Starrantino | Pitts Performance | CRG | Vortex | | Andre Nicastro | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | | Andrew Weiner | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | Austin Elliott | Kartel Motorsports | Top Kart | Leopard | | Austin King | Zanardi America | Zanardi | Leopard | | Ben Schermerhorn | | Arrow | Rotax | | Brett Felkins | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | | Chad Brassfield | Zanardi America | Zanardi | Leopard | | Chris Cricca | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | Devin Lindsey | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Vortex | | Emily Maddison | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | Jeremy Kane | Full Throttle Karting | Arrow | Vortex | | Jess Peterson | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | Joe McKinney | Zanardi America | Zanardi | Leopard | | John Wallace | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Vortex | | Kathryn Cornell | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | | Keegan Laithwaite | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | | Keil Spaulding | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Leopard | | Kolton Griffin | Pure Karting | Tony Kart | Leopard | | Lloyd Mack | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | Louie Pagano | Dave's Performance Karting | Birel | Leopard | | Luke Chudleigh | Prime Powersport | CRG | Leopard | | Mariah McGriff | JR Industries | Italkart | Leopard | | Martin Plowman | Zanardi America | Zanardi | Leopard | | Mason Marotta | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Leopard | | Matt Johnson | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | Vortex | | Michael England | | Top Kart | Vortex | | Paige Wallin | Northwest Race Karts | Intrepid | Leopard | | Ryan Phinny | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | | Shawn Cricca | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | TJ Fisher | Cambrian Go-Karts | RK Kart | Leopard | | Travis Lowe | Tony Kart West | Kosmic | Vortex | | Troy Diede | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | | William Owen | KartSport North America | Arrow | Rotax | |
 | TaG Master champ Ethan Wilson will have a host of drivers gunning for him and the title this season
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
TaG Master
During last year’s debut of the SKUSA Pro Tour, the TaG Master category was sparsely attended, pulling just a couple drivers each race ahead of the SuperNationals where a full field was enjoyed. Despite the low numbers, SKUSA elected to keep the class as part of the program and simply added them in with the TaG Senior line-up. This won’t be the approach in 2011. Things are now much different as a recent wave of momentum has fueled a predicted surge to over 20 competitors for this year’s SpringNationals. Good numbers in the regional ProKart Challenge events have helped, and many drivers have also been on the phone firing up their competition. As a result, the Pro Tour appears to have become a hot bed for Master level TaG racing.
Reigning Pro Tour champion Ethan Wilson (Tony Kart) will be back to defend his crown and #1 plate and he is ready for all challengers, already having found victory over a solid PKC field in Buttonwillow earlier this month. More competition is stepping into the ring however for the ’11 campaign, led by such veteran pilots as Bill Cleavelin (CRG), Larry Fraser (GP) and David Harwin (Tony Kart). SummerNationals S4 winner Peter Workum (CRG) will be moving to TaG Master for this year’s Pro Tour after having competed in the class at the regional level in year’s past.
A crew of Midwestern drivers has also entered in TaG Master to make things really interesting, including former Rock Island GP race winner Brian McHattie (FA Kart), road race veteran Jim Russell Jr. (Parolin) and last year’s EKN Road Racer of the Year Chuck Gafrarar (Parolin). A Colorado crew led by Scott Falcone (Arrow) and Brian Robson (Arrow) will round out the wide spectrum of regions providing drivers, but suffice it to say, the TaG Master class has jumped into the big leagues for this year’s Pro Tour. This is easily an early look at the guys we’ll see battling for the title at the SuperNationals in November.
Provisional TaG Master Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine| Billy Cleavelin | Mike Manning Karting | CRG | Motori 7 | | Bob Rodrick | GJMS/PSL Karting | CRG | Leopard | | Brian McHattie | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | | Brian Robson | One Race Gear | Arrow | Leopard | | Chuck Grafarar | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | | Cory Brown | AZ Kart Werx | FA Kart | Leopard | | David Harwin | Tony Kart America | Tony Kart | Vortex | | Ethan Wilson | Corwin Motorsports | Tony Kart | Motori 7 | | Jason Bell | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Motori 7 | | Jim Russell Jr. | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | | Larry Fraser | Aluminos | GP | Motori 7 | | Paul Holbein | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | | Peter Workum | Aluminos | CRG | Motori 7 | | Randy Froom | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | | Randy Stover | KartSport North America | Arrow | Rotax | | Scott Falcone | KartSport North America | Arrow | Rotax | | Steve Weiner | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex | |
 | Austin Dement is the leading contender to dethrone Tyrrel from the TaG Junior steeple
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
TaG Junior
There will be many new faces in the TaG Junior class in addition to a solid core group returning for the 2011 season. Last year’s champion Luis Tyrrell (Wild Kart) has elected to remain in the Junior category for the year and will defend his #1 Pro Tour plate. Maxx Marian (Zanardi), Austin Dement (DR Kart) and Mason Daughters (FA Kart) will be back in action at the SpringNationals and all are expected to take a run at the title. Dement has been particularly impressive early this season with wins in the both ProKart Challenge North and South openers, as has Carter Williams (Tony Kart), the young pilot who is definitely an up-and-comer. Both drivers will be ones to watch in Tucson in both Saturday and Sunday main events.
The top graduates from the TaG Cadet class should be Canadian Parker Thompson (Tony Kart) and Blaine Rocha (Wild Kart). Each have found success already in 2011, Thompson earned a championship during the winter months along the west coast while Rocha sits third in the early title chase of the PKC North program.
Provisional TaG Junior Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis| Austin Dement | DR Racing Kart USA | DR Kart | | Bailey Murphy | AZ Kart Werx | CRG | | Blaine Rocha | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Carter Williams | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | | Christian Munoz | G-Phactory | Sodikart | | Curtis Paul | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | | Giovanne Velasquez | GJMS/PSL Karting | CRG | | Jack Freese | Leading Edge Motorsports | Birel | | Jesse Woodyard | Champion Racing | Intrepid | | Jim McKinney | Zanardi America | Zanardi | | Jordan Redlin | Champion Racing | Intrepid | | Juan Esteban Garcia | Maddox Kart USA | Maddox | | Juan Jiminez | G-Phactory | Sodikart | | Luis Tyrrell | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Mason Daughters | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | | Maxx Marian | Zanardi America | Zanardi | | Miana Wick | Critical Zone Racing | CRG | | Parker Thompson | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | | Sonny Cervelli | Kartel Motorsports | Top Kart | |
 | Colton Herta will look to defend his title in the TaG Cadet division
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
TaG Cadet
In the early years of Superkarts! USA, the Cadet shifter division helped kick start many of the sport’s stars of the last few years. With the new direction of the organization and the Pro Tour, those drivers we see today in the TaG Cadet division could be the top guns of SKUSA in five years as they move up the ladder system into the elite levels of karting. A new category for the organization just last year, the TaG Cadet class is building momentum throughout the sport, posting 40 drivers in its debut at the SuperNationals last year.
Roughly half of that are expected to contest the opening Pro Tour event and all will be chasing #1 national plate of Colton Herta (DR Kart). The second-generation driver put on a clinic at last year’s SuperNationals, coming from the tail of the field to a third place finish and the Pro Tour title. Herta has shown no signs of slowing down, currently leading the PKC South title chase. The Phil Giebler Racing duo of Noah Grey and Tate Holleran will once again be among the championship contenders, including Herta’s DR Racing Kart USA teammate Christian Brooks. Current PKC North point leader Davey Manthei Jr. (Wild Kart) has picked up his game thus far in the season and will look to make it a five-driver fight for the win in Tucson.
Provisional TaG Cadet Entry List
| Driver | Team | Chassis| Anthony Sawyer | DR Racing Kart USA | Nevoso BA1 | | Austin Versteeg | GJMS/PSL Karting | CRG | | Christian Brooks | DR Racing Kart USA | DR Kart | | Cole Davis | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Colton Herta | DR Racing Kart USA | DR Kart | | Cooper Whitbred | DR Racing Kart USA | DR Kart | | Danny Rubino | Cambrian Go-Karts | Birel | | Davey Manthei, Jr. | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Garret Dixon | Cambrian Go-Karts | Birel | | Garrett Gulenchyn | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | | Jack Von Quillick | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Justice Lepe | DR Racing Kart USA | DR Kart | | Noah Grey | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | | Royal McKee | Tony Kart West | Tony Kart | | Scott Huffaker | Cambrian Go-Karts | Birel | | Sting Ray Robb | Kartel Motorsports | Wildkart | | Tanner Carter | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | | Tate Holleran | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | | Trenton Estepp | Texas Karts | Intrepid | |
Race Coverage
eKartingNews.com, in cooperation with Superkarts! USA, will be providing the ‘EKN Trackside Live’ coverage throughout the event. Those unable to attend will be able to listen live to the audio play-by-play and view the SKUSA live timing feed through the EKN LIVE page: http://www.ekartingnews.com/live . Full written coverage, including daily reports, forum updates (top-10 from each on-track session), and links to results and photos will be available throughout the weekend, beginning Friday afternoon. Audio coverage begins with qualifying on both Saturday and Sunday (12:30pm EDT, 9:30am MST) and runs through until the last main event of the day.
For more detailed information on the upcoming event, be sure to visit the SKUSA website - http://www.superkartsusa.com |
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