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| Features |
| eKartingNews.com Driver Rankings – May 13, 2011 |
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There is certainly nothing better than a beautiful weekend at the race track. With the warm weather now moved in and tracks busy with action, the race fumes, farmer tans, and lack of sleep are back…and of course the best motorsport in the world - karting. The last weekend of April certainly marked one of the busiest weekends this season and provided some of the best racing we have seen thus far with karters all across the country competing at all levels of the sport. The new release of the 2011 eKartingNews.com Driver Rankings reflect that as results from the past four weekends have been added to the calculations to form this month’s standings. While EKN was trackside in Tucson, AZ for the opening round of the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, a large gathering of racers was at the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series event in South Bend, IN to help boaster a number of drivers up into the top of the rankings.
Despite two big events taking place, the number one positions remain unchanged - with Sam Beasley (Arrow) improving his standing in the TaG rankings. The 16-year old EKN Rising Star award winner from last year moved into the number one spot last month and gained 59 more points to his total thanks to his results in South Bend. Still holding second place is Australian David Sera as the factory Arrow driver earned his results from November to March here in the states. With no plans to return until the SuperNationals this coming November, Sera’s total will remain unchanged. Gaining 10 more points from last edition is WKA champion Robert Bujdoso (PCR). The Ohio driver posted his third straight victory in the TaG 1 category in South Bend, confirming his two championships last year were no mistake and keeping him in the hunt for the number one spot in the rankings. Daniel Formal (Birel) remains in fourth, adding no results in the last month with a number of events coming up on his calendar that could help his total. Jumping to fifth this edition is fellow Florida driver Jesus Rios Jr. Now a teammate to Formal at Birel America/MRP Motorsport, Rios added a WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series event to his restart with a solid runner-up finish to his total on the team’s home track.
Defending US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals champion Stepanova Nekeel (Tony Kart) falls to sixth with no new results added to his total. Jumping one spot to seventh is WKA Grand National double winner Tommy Andersen (Merlin), who added two more top-five finishes from South Bend to his ever-growing CV. The only driver inside the new top-10 to benefit from their performance at the SKUSA SpringNationals was Louie Pagano (Birel). His runner-up performance on Saturday helped the Californian to move up three spots to the eighth position. Other top performers from that event - #135 Brett Felkins (Intrepid) and #236 Dakota Dickerson (Arrow) - are no where near the top as of yet. Felkins ran Stock Moto last season but is sure to be near the top-10 in the driver rankings if he continues to run strong in the Pro Tour. Dickerson made his Senior debut and thus only has two race results counted toward the driver rankings. Sunday main event winner - #26 Matt Johnson (Tony Kart) moved up seven spots with this victory and could have moved up more, had a rear bumper issue not taken him out of contention on Saturday. Rounding out the top-10 for this month is WKA Parilla Leopard champ Michael Politis (Merlin) holding ninth and Challenge of the Americas titlists Felipe Fraga (CRG) falling three spots to 10th.
Reigning SKUSA Pro Tour S1 Pro champion Fritz Leesmann (CRG) continues to hold the #1 position in the Stock Moto rankings. Despite losing two podium finishes from last year’s SpringNationals and not replacing them with the strongest results from Tucson this year. The California driver’s best six results still put him on top of the standings over friend and rival Alex Speed (GP). While he has not been in the seat officially since the SuperNats, the former three-time national champion was wrench for S2 driver Daniel Langon at the recent SpringNationals just one weekend before getting married on May 6, Ed. note; congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Alex Speed from EKN. The big winner at this year’s SKUSA SpringNationals was New Zealand’s Daniel Bray (GP). Taking both main event victories on the weekend, Bray holds the Pro Tour championship lead and moved up to third in the EKN Driver Rankings. Missing from Tucson was NorCal’s Jason Toft (GP), who falls two positions to fourth as he loses the two podium finishes from last year’s round. Capping off the top-five is rising star Brad Dunford (CRG). The SoCal driver posted the new track record Saturday morning, only to have it bettered by Bray the following day. The unfortunate thing about Sunday’s qualifying session was Dunford’s lap times during the session were not recorded, as there was a transponder issue on his kart. He is sure to continue climbing the rankings, moving four spots up this month alone.
Clinton Schoombee (DR Kart) continues to search for the ‘mojo’ he had last spring. A winner on the Pro Tour a year ago, the 2010 PKC South champion has yet to show what it takes to score another Pro Tour win but is challenging for his second straight PKC title, currently sits sixth in our rankings. Last year’s S2 Semi-Pro champion Derek Crockett (GP) fell two positions as well, following a tough opening round in the S1 category in Tucson. A lack of track time and bad luck hurt his chances, but once the summer roles around the St. Louis driver is sure to bounce back. Ryon Beachner (Tony Kart) is the second of three S2 graduates now running S1 that sit inside the top-10. The PKC South S2 champion had a stellar opening weekend of the Pro Tour in Tucson, recording a top-five on Sunday to help him move up 13 spots to eight. Lukas Johnson (GP) is the third driver and as the S1 rookie, put on a show in Tucson to record two podium finishes. Fellow S1 veterans spoke well of his skills on-track over the weekend, and the 17-year old is sure to continue developing as the year goes on. Rounding out the top-10, jumping 41 spots, is the top S2 driver of the 2011 season thus far - Nicky Freytag (Interpid). The driver from Arizona currently leads the PKC South S2 title chase and sits second in the Pro Tour S2 championship standings after a victory and third-place performance in his home state.
TaG
TaG Driver Rankings Top-10
| Pos. | Apr. 15 | Plus/Minus | Driver | Races | Score| 1. | 1 | NC | Sam Beasley | 16 | 7272 | | 2. | 2 | NC | David Sera | 9 | 7185 | | 3. | 3 | NC | Robert Bujdoso | 18 | 7110 | | 4. | 4 | NC | Daniel Formal | 13 | 7079 | | 5. | 6 | 1 | Jesus Rios Jr. | 17 | 7056 | | 6. | 5 | -1 | Stepanova Nekeel | 11 | 7054 | | 7. | 8 | 1 | Tommy Andersen | 16 | 6967 | | 8. | 11 | 3 | Louie Pagano | 22 | 6947 | | 9. | 9 | NC | Michael Politis | 15 | 6926 | | 10. | 7 | -3 | Felipe Fraga | 10 | 6923 | |
For the full TaG Driver Rankings, Click Here
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 | Sam Beasley
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
TaG #1 - Sam Beasley
Leroy, Ohio
For a second straight month, Beasley Motorsports/KartSport Arrow North America driver Sam Beasley continues to set the bar for TaG racers across the country. Last year’s EKN Rising Star award winner bettered his rankings total with a runner-up finish at the recent WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series event in South Bend. Of his seven top finishes in the rankings program, fourth is his worst finish as he has an amazing average finish of 1.86. With two more WKA events on the calendar as well as the Rotax Grand Nationals in July and the Rock Island Grand Prix in September, there is no telling what Beasley’s point total will be come September.
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Rotax Pan Am Chall. ’10 - New Castle #1 | 9 | 4 | 975 | | Rotax Pan Am Chall. ’10 - New Castle #2 | 9 | 1 | 1005 | | US Rotax Grand Nationals ’10 | 10 | 2 | 1118 | | Rock Island GP ’10 - TaG Sr. | 10 | 1 | 1107 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’11 - Daytona -TaG 1 | 9 | 1 | 1018 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’11 - Kershaw - TaG 2 | 9 | 2 | 1020 | | WKA Man. Cup Series’ 11 - South Bend - TaG 1 | 9 | 2 | 1029 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 1.86
Average Points: 1038.9
Total Points: 7272
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 | Tristan DeGrand
(Photo: Ken Johnson - Studio 52) |
TaG ‘ON THE MOVE’ - Tristan DeGrand - #14
Eureka, Missouri
The TaG category is currently the hot-bed for a number of young and talented drivers that have made their way up into the Senior category as of late. Tristan DeGrand is another one of those drivers. The pilot from the J3 Competition stable has grown from the Cadet ranks into the Senior level in a blink of an eye. DeGrand made his Senior debut at the Florida Winter Tour in February in Palm Beach with remarkable charisma, battling for podium positions both day. DeGrand hit the podium the next month in Ocala, finishing second to ’09 EKN Driver of the Year Marco DiLeo and besting current #2 David Sera. The future certainly is bright for this young 15-year old.
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Florida Winter Tour ’11 - Rotax #3 | 9 | 8 | 944 | | Florida Winter Tour ’11 - Rotax #4 | 9 | 6 | 965 | | Florida Winter Tour ’11 - Rotax #5 | 9 | 2 | 1011 | | Florida Winter Tour ’11 - Rotax #6 | 9 | 4 | 990 | | Rotax Pan Am Chall. ’11 - Homestead #2 | 9 | 5 | 941 | | WKA Man. Cup Series’ 11 - South Bend - TaG 1 | 9 | 4 | 1009 | | WKA Man. Cup Series’ 11 - South Bend - TaG 2 | 9 | 6 | 996 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 5
Average Points: 979.4
Total Points: 6856
Upcoming TaG Driver Rankings Events
| Date | Series | Class | Track | Location | Rank| 5/14 | Florida Karting Championship Series #4 | TaG | Monticello Karting | Monticello, FL | 8 | | 5/14 | New Jersey Sprint Series #1 | TaG 1 | Old Bridge Raceway | Englishtown, NJ | 8 | | 5/14 | Route 66 Sprint Series #2 | TaG 1 | Concept Haulers Motor Speedway | Norway, IL | 8 | | 5/14 | SKUSA ProKart Challenge South #4 | TaG Senior | Streets of Willow | Rosamond, CA | 9 | | 5/14 | Southwest Regional Cup #3 | TaG Senior | North Texas Kartways | Denton, TX | 8 | | 5/15 | Great Lakes Pro Series #3 | TaG Senior | Anderson Mayors Cup | Anderson, IN | 8 | | 5/15 | New Jersey Sprint Series #1 | TaG 2 | Old Bridge Raceway | Englishtown, NJ | 8 | | 5/15 | Northwest Gold Cup Sprint Series #2 | IAME Cup | Greg Moore Raceway | Chilliwack, BC | 8 | | 5/15 | Route 66 Sprint Series #2 | TaG 2 | Concept Haulers Motor Speedway | Norway, IL | 8 | | 5/15 | SKUSA Central States Challenge #1 | TaG Senior | Anderson Mayors Cup | Anderson, IN | 8 | | 5/15 | Southwest Regional Cup #4 | TaG Senior | North Texas Kartways | Denton, TX | 8 | | 5/21 | Rotax Pan American Challenge East #3 | Rotax Senior | Michiana Raceway Park | South Bend, IN | 9 | | 5/22 | NorCal Outlaw Series #4 | TaG Senior | Stockton Motorplex Park | Stockton, CA | 8 | | 5/22 | Rotax Pan American Challenge East #4 | Rotax Senior | Michiana Raceway Park | South Bend, IN | 9 | | 5/28 | SKUSA ProKart Challenge North #3 | TaG Senior | Desert Park Raceway | Reno, NV | 9 | | 5/29 | Northwest Gold Cup Sprint Series #3 | IAME Cup | Glen Morgan Track | Star, ID | 8 | | 6/4 | New Jersey Sprint Series #2 | TaG 1 | New Jersey Motorsports Park | Millville, NJ | 8 | | 6/4 | Southwest Regional Cup #5 | TaG Senior | Gulf Coast Kartway | Katy, TX | 8 | | 6/5 | Cal State Karting Series #4 | Spec PRD Senior | Willow Springs Raceway | Willow Springs, CA | 8 | | 6/5 | New Jersey Sprint Series #2 | TaG 2 | New Jersey Motorsports Park | Millville, NJ | 8 | | 6/5 | Southwest Regional Cup #6 | TaG Senior | Gulf Coast Kartway | Katy, TX | 8 | |
Stock Moto
Stock Moto Driver Rankings Top-10
| Pos | Apr. 15 | Plus/Minus | Driver | Races | Score| 1. | 1 | NC | Fritz Leesmann | 8 | 6123 | | 2. | 3 | 1 | Alex Speed | 6 | 6068 | | 3. | 8 | 5 | Daniel Bray | 6 | 5988 | | 4. | 2 | -2 | Jason Toft | 6 | 5961 | | 5. | 9 | 4 | Brad Dunford | 11 | 5902 | | 6. | 4 | -2 | Clinton Schoombee | 11 | 5885 | | 7. | 5 | -2 | Derek Crockett | 9 | 5854 | | 8. | 21 | 13 | Ryon Beachner | 8 | 5752 | | 9. | 17 | 8 | Lukas Johnson | 15 | 5708 | | 10. | 51 | 41 | Nicky Freytag | 7 | 5664 | |
For the full Stock Moto Driver Rankings, Click Here
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 | Fritz Leesmann
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Stock Moto #1 - Fritz Leesmann
Elk Grove, California
Defending SKUSA Pro Tour S1 Pro champion Fritz Leesmann continues to hold the number one spot in Stock Moto. The Aluminos/PSL Karting driver will carry the number one plate, unfortunately, the change from his standard 161 did not fair as expected in the opening round of this year’s Pro Tour. Shutout from the podium, Leesmann’s first race since last year’s SuperNationals showed some rust. There is no doubt that from now until July for the SummerNationals, ‘Fritzer’ and his crew will look to iron out the issues and be fully prepared to defend his #1 plate in the coming months.
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| ProKart Chall. North #4 - S1 | 8.5 | 2 | 944 | | SKUSA SummerNationals #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 7 | 993 | | SKUSA SummerNationals #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 1 | 1057 | | SKUSA SuperNationals 2010 - S1 | 10 | 2 | 1130 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’11 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 4 | 1010 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’11 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 6 | 989 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 3.67
Average Points: 1020.5
Total Points: 6123
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 | Jake French
(Photo: jakefrench.com) |
Stock Moto ‘ON THE MOVE’ - Jake French - #12
Sachse, Texas
If you made a list of places to make your Senior debut in a shifterkart, the King of the Streets at Rock Island Grand Prix is certainly not high on that directory. In the case of Texan Jake French, the then 14-year old jumped from Junior ranks into the intimidating street course, showing the speed and maturity of a veteran to finish second. Now 15, the 3G Kart Racing driver is going full force at the SKUSA S2 Pro Tour title. A champion in 2007 at the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals in Mini Max, French has climbed the karting ladder and is sure to be hiking the EKN Driver Rankings more as the season goes on.
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Rock Island GP - King of the Streets | 10 | 2 | 990 | | SKUSA SuperNationals 2010 - S2 | 9.5 | 13 | 958 | | Southwest Regional Cup ’11 #1 | 8 | 2 | 865 | | Southwest Regional Cup ’11 #2 | 8 | 10 | 795 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’11 #1 - S2 | 9 | 4 | 1002 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’11 #2 - S2 | 9 | 4 | 1001 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 5.83
Average Points: 935.2
Total Points: 5611
Upcoming Stock Moto Driver Rankings Events
| Date | Series | Class | Track | Location | Rank| 5/14 | SKUSA ProKart Challenge South #4 | S1 | Streets of Willow | Rosamond, CA | 8.5 | | 5/14 | SKUSA ProKart Challenge South #4 | S2 | Streets of Willow | Rosamond, CA | 8 | | 5/14 | Southwest Regional Cup #3 | S2 | North Texas Kartways | Denton, TX | 8 | | 5/15 | Great Lakes Pro Series #3 | Stock Moto | Anderson Mayors Cup | Anderson, IN | 8 | | 5/15 | SKUSA Central States Challenge #1 | S2 | Anderson Mayors Cup | Anderson, IN | 8 | | 5/15 | Southwest Regional Cup #4 | S2 | North Texas Kartways | Denton, TX | 8 | | 5/22 | Racing the Rockies #2 | Spec 125 Senior | The Track at Centennial | Centennial, CO | 8 | | 5/28 | I-5 Corridor Series #1 | Stock Moto Light | Pat's Acres Racing Complex | Canby, OR | 8 | | 5/28 | SKUSA ProKart Challenge North #3 | S1 | Desert Park Raceway | Reno, NV | 8.5 | | 5/28 | SKUSA ProKart Challenge North #3 | S2 | Desert Park Raceway | Reno, NV | 8 | | 5/29 | I-5 Corridor Series #2 | Stock Moto Light | Pat's Acres Racing Complex | Canby, OR | 8 | | 6/4 | Southwest Regional Cup #5 | S2 | Gulf Coast Kartway | Katy, TX | 8 | | 6/4 | Utah Kart Championships #5 | Spec Light | Miller Motorsports Park | Tooele, UT | 8 | | 6/5 | Southwest Regional Cup #6 | S2 | Gulf Coast Kartway | Katy, TX | 8 | |
EKN Driver Rankings Calculation Process
The EKN Driver Rankings are calculated using a driver’s best finishes in major North American races. Assembled using events from the previous 12 months from the current date, we use a driver’s best seven finishes in TaG and six in Stock Moto to determine their overall current point total. With each new release, results posted from more than one year ago are discarded. To deliver our ranking list, we tabulate the results of all the national programs and selected regional programs. We have included the results for the major one-off events such as the SKUSA SuperNationals, the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals, the Rock Island Grand Prix and the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix.
Each race is initially weighted based on the prestige and history of the event or series with a score of ten (10) being the highest attainable base ranking. For 2011, the SKUSA SuperNationals and US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals receive a score of 10 in their initial weighting in the TaG category while the SuperNats is the lone event in the Stock Moto division. The SKUSA Pro Tour and Rotax Pan American Challenge national series events draw a base ranking of nine (9), while the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup, Florida Winter Tour, Challenge of the Americas, IKF 2-Cycle Sprint Grand Nationals and other regional program races were given a base ranking of either eight (8) or nine (9).
The EKN staff reserves the right to adjust the rankings of each event throughout the year. Continuing for 2011 is a minimum entry total for any events considered for the Driver Rankings program. If an event does not have at least five (5) drivers starting the race, those results will not be tabulated toward the Driver Rankings.
Added to these initial rankings are two variables that help confirm the true importance of an event to the ranking process – field size and field strength. A percentage of one weighting point is added for the size of the field, while the number of existing top 50 drivers entered offers another full point or fraction of a point. The sum of these numbers becomes the overall ranking for any race. Following a race, drivers receive points based on their finishing positions with 100 points earned for a win. Each subsequent position drops by one point with 99 points given to the second place driver and so on throughout the field. These points are then multiplied by the overall ranking to produce a driver’s final point total from each event. Using a driver’s best seven races in TaG, six for Stock Moto, we calculate each driver’s overall score and subsequent ranking. |
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