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| December 12, 2011 |
| Industry News: SwedeTech Racing Engines Customers Are Once Again Crowned SuperNational Champions |
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The 2011 racing season was officially over for the crew at SwedeTech Racing Engines when the final checkered waived at the 2011 edition of the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas. Once again, the SwedeTech customers did a fantastic job at this prestigious event. Our hardworking customers won 4 separate classes and one driver was crowned the SKUSA ProTour National Champion.
Three of our customers received special awards for their performance at the SuperNationals. SuperNationals S2 Winner, Nick Neri, received a 3 Day racing school from Skip Barber. S4 SuperNationals Winner Bonnier Moulton, and S4 Front Runner Robert Marks received a test day from World Speed Motorsports in the Formula Speed 2.0.
The SwedeTech Racing Engines staff was very busy this year at the SuperNationals, supporting over 80 engine customers in 10 different classes. The long and hard work days were well worth it. The photo of Bonnier Moulton pretty much sums it up for all of us.
The SKUSA staff squeezed a large dose of racing into the 5 day schedule. The Tag Jr class, powered by the IAME Parilla Leopard, had 68 entries ready to hit the track. The class was separated into two groups for qualifying. Group 2 would qualify first and at the end of the session, Lance Stroll (Zanardi) was sitting 2nd and David Beckmann (Zanardi) was 5th. It was time for Group 1 to make their qualifying run, and last years defending Tag Jr. winner, Joao Viera (TonyKart) started where he left off in 2010 by placing his SwedeTech Leopard on pole. Matthew Graham (Zanardi), Thiago Vivacqua (Energy), and Connor Jupp (Energy) secured the 4th, 5th, and 6th spots.
 | Bonnier Moulton, S4 SuperNationals Champion – Bonnier has never missed a SuperNationals event
(Photo: MFG Photography) |
When the main event rolled around, Thiago Vivacqua would find himself starting 22nd after a couple of unfavorable heat races. Determined not to quit, Thiago drove to a overall finish of 4th place. Connor Jupp remained consistent all week and earned a well deserved runner-up finish.
For the past few years, the G1 class has been dominated by good foreign drivers and a foreign engine builders’ KZ rental program. Jimmy McNeil (CRG) decided to pull double duty in Vegas with entries in both the G1 and S4 classes. The newly crowned S4 ProTour National Champion was fast out of the box, putting his SwedeTech Maxter package on pole and he didn’t stop there. Jimmy won two heat races and set fast time in all three heats. When the green flag flew in the main event, Jimmy steadily drove away from all of his competitors. When the checkered waived, Jimmy had almost a full straight between himself and second place. This was a proud victory for both Jimmy and SwedeTech.
The S4 class has been very good to us over the past few years. A majority of our shifter customers run this popular class, and this year was no different. This year the S4 Stock Honda class had 60+ entries and each year the competition becomes better. To start the week of racing action, Jimmy McNeil (CRG) qualified on pole and Bonnier Moulton (TonyKart) qualified 2nd with the SwedeTech CR125 Honda packages. All heat races were won by either Bonnier or Jimmy. The forecast for the main event looked exciting for the S4 Stock Moto class. Jimmy’s race ended on lap 6th when a barrier was moved out of position, bending his front end. Bonnier was able to gain early control of the race and drove to a well deserved SuperNationals victory. Eddie Olpin (Kosmic) had a solid run and kept his kart clean in the main event to finish 3rd place.
 | S4 Driver Robert Marks won a test drive from World Speed
(Photo: MFG Photography) |
The Semi Pro S2 class was packed with our future S1 talent. In qualifying, SwedeTech customers filled the top 4 spots with Nick Neri (TonyKart) sitting at the top of the charts. Scott Hargrove (ItalKart), Milan Dontje (Energy), and Daniel Langon (Zanardi) qualified 2th, 3rd, and 4th. All of the S2 heat races were won by SwedeTech Honda Engines, with Nick Neri winning all of his heat races. Scott Hargrove and Milan Dontje did a great job winning the other heats. The main event was controlled from the beginning by Nick Neri. Milan Dontje was fast and consistent all week long and earned a runner up finish. Scott Hargrove had a terrific drive from 18th to 3rd to complete the SwedeTech Sweep of the S2 class.
The headline S1 Stock Moto class was once again filled with superb racing action. Nothing beats watching a pro driver take a kart deep into a corner and working the brakes to the maximum, and still make the corner and accelerate to the next section. The S1 class was packed with top level talent this year. A number of Europeans made the leap to a Honda package for this event and for anyone that was watching, it was a gift. The pole position in this class went to Indy Dontje (Energy) and Jason Toft (Team STA) was only 0.007 seconds off.
Once again, SwedeTech Power dominated the heat races at the hands of Indy Dontje. Indy won all three heat races. Making a big impression on the class was Mirko Torsellini (CRG). Adapting to the Honda Package quickly, Mirko had his work cut out for him in each heat race from an 8th place starting point. Mirko finished no worse than 3rd in any heat. In the main event, both Mirko and Indy pulled away from the rest of the group. At the end of the 25 laps, it was Mirko who would carry the checkered around the circuit as the new SuperNationals S1 champion. Indy capped off a solid week long performance with a 2nd place finish. Joey Wimsett (CRG) overcame many obstacles during practice to finish 5th over all.
 | Jimmy McnNeil, G1 SuperNationals Champion and your current ProTour S4 Champion
(Photo: MFG Photography) |
SwedeTech would like to thank ALL of our customers for attending this great event. Without your business throughout the year, we wouldn’t have a reason to make this terrific venue. It brings joy to all of our staff when your hard effort is rewarded with great results. Our job is to supply our customers with reliable and unbeatable horsepower and every year our customers come through and supply the determination and desire to win.
For more information about SwedeTech Racing Engines, contact Jason at info@swedetechracing.com
http://www.swedetechracing.com (technical site)
http://www.shopswedetech.com (official online store). SwedeTech Racing Engines offers parts and service for all two – stroke kart racing applications |
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