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| June 09, 2011 News |
| eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month - Daniel Langon - May 2011 |
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In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are.
 | Daniel Langon scored his first S2 victory at the PKC North round in Reno
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
Looking back at the many drivers that came through the Superkarts! USA program during its early years, the 80 Junior shifterkart class hosted a number of rising stars in its day. Many of those same drivers can now be seen on the television over the weekend, racing in NASCAR, IndyCar, Grand-Am, American Le Mans and other ranks of professional motorsports. Now with the S5 Junior Stock Moto category, SKUSA is providing that same platform and an avenue for long-term karters to begin young and grow within the organization with the same kart package. We are starting to see the rise of some of the early S5 drivers, and it should be no different for Daniel Langon, the May 2011 eKartingNews.com Driver of the Month.
Bursting onto the national scene with a victory at the SKUSA SpringNationals in 2010 in the S5 category, Langon carried on to lead the Pro Tour standings through to the SuperNationals where he claimed victory en route to the series championship. Now in 2011, Langon has made the jump to the S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto category to battle among one of the largest fields in karting today. After a solid two opening rounds at the ProKart Challenge North program, Langon showed the speed but didn’t have the luck to contend for victory at the Pro Tour opener one month ago. At the third round of the PKC North series at the Desert Park Raceway in Reno, NV, Langon once again had to overcome early misfortunes and claimed his first S2 main event victory.
Langon began the event with the quick lap in qualifying, posting a 47.564-lap at roughly 0.15-seconds faster than second. At the start of the opening heat race, the shuffle into the opening corner brought on contact with another driver. The result was a spin for Langon and he was unable to continue in the race. With the DNF in the heat race, Langon began heat two from the sixth grid position in class and was up to third by the completion of lap one. Just a few laps later, Langon was into second and setting up a move for the lead when his driver fairing broke lose, impairing his vision and pressing against his clutch lever. That forced him into the pit lane on lap six and once again put him on P6 for the grid, this time for the main event. Similar to heat two, Langon was up to third after lap one and was charging forward to the lead. By lap six, Langon was at the point and never looked back over the course of the 20-lap run. Running the fast laps of the race, Langon scored the victory by over six-seconds.
Now with a win under his belt, the young 16-year old is hoping for more good luck to follow him the remainder of the 2011 season. After the Reno event, Langon made the move from GP to the Zanardi brand with Zanardi America, based out of Phoenix, Arizona. They just completed a test session together at the Grand Junction Motor Speedway, site of the SKUSA SummerNationals, with extremely positive results. Langon will contest the remaining ProKart North and South series events on the calendar in addition to the Pro Tour SummerNationals and of course, the SKUSA SuperNationals. Langon will also include the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, Red Line Oil Karting Championship Series, and possibly the Rock Island Grand Prix to his remaining 2011 schedule.
May 2011 EKN Driver of the Month - Daniel Langon
 | Daniel Langon - EKN Driver of the Month - May 2011
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Bio
Born: 12/19/1994
Hometown: Alamo, CA
Parents: David & Kathy
Siblings: Ryan 13, Mikayla 9, and Ally 5
Height/Weight: 5'6"/140lbs.
Education: Sophomore at Monte Vista High School
Job: Student
Racing Resume
Chassis: Zanardi
Engine/Engine Builder: CR125 Honda/SwedeTech
Sponsors: SwedeTech Racing Engines, Honda Racing, Zanardi America, and my parents
Series You Compete In: ProKart Challenge North, SKUSA Pro Tour, Redline Oil Racing Series
Years Karting: 8
How did you get started in karting? When I was 8 years old, one of my friends asked if I wanted to go up to the track to drive a kart, and I said "Of course!"
What has been the high point in your racing career? Winning SKUSA SuperNationals 14 (S5 Junior Stock Moto)
What are your goals in racing? To advance up the open wheel ranks and eventually reach the IZOD Indy Car Series
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Calm, Calculated, Consistent
Funniest moment at the race track? When I was learning how to drive a shifter kart, and was struggling with my starts. Mike Speed instructed me how to do a good start and jumped on the front of my kart to show me. As I left the line, I expected him to quickly jump off the kart, but to my surprise, he continued to stand on the front of my kart all the way down the straightaway.
Likes
Favorite Track: Shawano, WI
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula 1
Favorite karting driver: Alex Speed
Favorite professional driver: Lewis Hamilton
Favorite website: Besides Ekartingnews.com, Facebook
Favorite movie: Driven to Race
Favorite actor/actress: Megan Fox
Favorite music/group: Electronic/Dance-Deadmau5
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Disneyland
Favorite food: Buffalo Wings (Extra Hot)
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? Hang out with my friends, play soccer, and work out
What are your goals outside of karting? To get through college and build a successful business
What type of street car do you drive? 2001 Chevy Pickup Truck
What type of street car would you like to drive? Lotus Elise
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? When the sun reflects off a car mirror and blinds me, when I have a stuffy nose, and when I get an itch that does not go away
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? Make one huge national series instead of having 2 or 3, and have more than one tire compound to choose from
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? Learning new tracks, traveling to new places, making new friends, overtaking, and the pressure to perform well
May Driver of the Month - Honorable Mention:
- AJ Myers: Pan American Rotax Max Challenge - Rotax Junior Sunday winner
- Jimmy McNeil: SKUSA ProKart Challenge South - S4 victory (event sweep)
- Joe Ruch: Anderson Mayor’s Cup Grand Prix - S2 Stock Moto double winner
- Oliver Askew: Florida Karting Championship Series - Rotax Junior winner, 3rd in TaG Junior (point leader in both classes) |
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