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| August 08, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside: United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals - Preview |
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This week in USA karting is ‘Rotax Week’ as Rotax champions will be crowned for the 2012 season. The 12th annual United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals will take place from August 8-11 at the Michiana Raceway Park, just outside South Bend, Indiana. Nearly 200 Rotax racers from all across the country, including a handful from the Caribbean countries, will battle for one of the seven national titles up for grabs. Along with the championships, a number of prizes will be handed out Saturday after the main events, including 13 tickets to the Rotax Grand Finals and a chance to represent Team USA in Portugal.
Podium finishers in the DD2, DD2 Masters, Senior and Junior along with the Masters champion will receive a ticket to compete at the ‘Olympics of Karting’ - the 2012 Rotax Grand Finals in Portimao, Portugal on November 28-December 1. Those drivers who will make up Team USA this season also have a chance at $10,000 in cash - a bounty offered up by MAXSpeed Group - the promoter of the United States Rotax Max Challenge - should they earn the world title. Other prizes will be up for grabs, including Go-Pro cameras, Apple iPads, and PSP gaming consoles all thanks to the many event sponsors and supporters. K1 RaceGear, the official outfitter of Team USA, will be awarding contingency prizes as well - including suits, shoes, gloves and neck collars throughout the event for all categories.
In order to have a chance at any of the prizes or the chance to be crown a United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals champion, drivers must tame the Michiana Raceway Park. Formerly know as South Bend Raceway Park, the 10-turn course is located about 10 minutes from the downtown area. Built just 17 years old ago, the facility is currently owned by Garry Lobaugh and operated under the management of Andy Finke from JET Karting. The Rotax Grand Nationals will be making its second visit to the track. The 2005 edition from South Bend witnessed some great racing around the 3/4-mile course, including rain racing to decide the champions that year.
eKartingNews will be in South Bend for the four days of action, beginning with official practice on Wednesday. Qualifying and the first round of heat races will be held on Thursday. The final two rounds of heat races and the Last Chance Qualifiers on Friday will set the stage for Saturday where the Prefinal and Final events will decide the seven categories. Updates, including the top-10 from every session, will be posted on the Official Discussion Thread along with the Facebook and Twitter accounts. Below is a look at just some of the contenders and entry list in each category.
Senior Max
 | Nick Neri will defend his Senior Max title from 2011
(Photo: Autosports Media Group) |
Looking at the Senior Max entry list, sitting at 51 drivers, 10 of them stand out as the lead contenders for this year’s title. All will have their sites on defending champion Nick Neri (Tony Kart). The only driver to win titles in Mini Max, Junior Max and Senior Max, Neri is among the most seasoned driver in the Rotax community. The Ocala Gran Prix driver puts all his efforts into the Grand Nationals every year, and will be the target for the field once again. Fellow podium finisher from Utah - Sam Beasley - is always one to watch. The KartSport North America/Arrow driver has been on Team USA the past two seasons after two straight runner-up finishes at the Grand Nationals. No stranger to the South Bend circuit, Beasley knows exactly what it takes to take the checkered flag first.
One story to watch coming away from this year’s Grand Nationals is the battle at the top of the EKN TaG Driver Rankings. The current top three - Mason Chelootz, Phil DeLaO and Robert Bujdoso - will go head-to-head for the first time this year. Chelootz (Top Kart) has been the top driver in the standings for the past few months - including two wins at the Rotax Summer Shootout at the end of June. The Texan will be making his first start in the Senior Max category at the Grand Nationals with Junior and Mini Max experience prior. DeLaO (Top Kart) returned back to Rotax competition this season and shot straight to the top with the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas title. Already with a spot on the Team USA roster, he has the advantage to take chances for the win that others may not be able to. Bujdoso (PCR) will be making his first Grand Nationals start after recording two straight years of championships in WKA competition.
Aside from Neri, the only other former Grand Nationals champ in the field is the 2010 title winner Stepanova Nekeel. The Washington driver put in a memorable performance two years ago at New Castle to claim the crown and is hoping to sign ‘Back Home Again in Indiana” with his second title in three years. Another driver already on the Team USA roster is Gatorz Challenge of the Americas DD2 title winner Fritz Leesmann (CR). The PSL Karting driver was perfect this winter out west and the Californian will challenge the large field that makes up the Senior Max. Two others that are always quick at South Bend include Jesus Rios Jr. and Andrew Palmer. Both have plenty of time at the facility. Rios (Birel) has benefitted from the fact that MRP Motorsport calls the circuit home. 2011 Junior Max champion Palmer calls Michiana Raceway Park his home circuit as well. The J3 Competition driver has been fast at recent events at the facility and should be a contender this year. The interesting story as the event unfolds will be the dark horse or surprise contender that can come from any of the other 40 drivers in the field this week, trying for a chance to stand on the podium Saturday and be part of Team USA.
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 100 | Joe Criscione | Kosmic | 17 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 101 | John McCusker | Haase | 17 | Northeast | | 102 | Andrew Palmer | Kosmic | 18 | MRP Championship Series | | 103 | Ryan Nash | Birel | 17 | Northeast | | 104 | Sam Beasley | Arrow | 18 | MRP Championship Series | | 105 | Parker McKean | Kosmic | 15 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 108 | Daley Pagano | Alonso | 15 | Northeast | | 110 | Thomas Radivoy | Tony Kart | 17 | Northeast | | 111 | Sterling Mullen | Sodi | 19 | | | 112 | Andrew Evans | Tony Kart | 18 | North Florida | | 113 | Ann Hayden | Tony Kart | 18 | North Florida | | 115 | Andrew Wiener | Formula K | 16 | | | 116 | Fritz Leesmann | CRG | 25 | Sanzaru NorCal | | 117 | Evan Mehan | Tony Kart | 15 | South Florida | | 118 | Rachel Wiltgen | Birel | 17 | MRP Championship Series | | 119 | Ayrton Mutagaana | CRG | 15 | | | 120 | Sean Owens | Sodi | 24 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 121 | Collin Daley | | 14 | Jamaica | | 122 | Stepanova Nekeel | DK | 20 | | | 123 | Will Owen | Arrow | 17 | Rockies | | 126 | Timothy Venable | Tony Kart | 15 | North Florida | | 127 | Jesus Rios jr | Birel | 17 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 128 | Drew Cattell | CRG | 26 | MRP Championship Series | | 131 | Jonathan Kotyk | Tony Kart | 18 | North Florida | | 132 | David Zippie | ItalKart | 21 | Rockies | | 133 | Keith Harris | Birel | 18 | MRP Championship Series | | 134 | John Wallace III | Energy | 18 | Tri-C Karters | | 136 | Robert Bujdoso | PCR | 19 | | | 137 | Daniel Formal | Tony Kart | 16 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 141 | Nick Rivellini | CRG | 17 | Northeast | | 142 | Adam Taylor | Birel | 23 | MRP Championship Series | | 143 | Andrew Sherry | Maranello | 17 | Northeast | | 145 | Hunter Ceto | Tony Kart | 14 | | | 147 | Konrad Czaczyk | Intrepid | 15 | | | 150 | Dan Roeper | CRG | 15 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 151 | Nick Neri | Tony Kart | 16 | North Florida | | 152 | Michael Melancon | CRG | 19 | North Florida | | 153 | Kyle Byers | Kosmic | 18 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 155 | Michael Pagano | Tony Kart | 19 | Northeast | | 157 | Spencer Bogar | Birel | 16 | Northeast | | 158 | Chaz Nagel | Sodi | 17 | Dallas Karting Complex | | 161 | Mitch Carey | Zanardi | 18 | Rockies | | 162 | Alejo Fernandez | Energy | 16 | | | 168 | Melanie Giessen | Tony Kart | 17 | New York State | | 169 | Sheridan Odom | Margay | 39 | North Texas Karters | | 171 | Roger Ralston Jr | Tony Kart | 15 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 177 | Phil De La O | Top Kart | 19 | Bondurant | | 184 | Connor Thomas | Arrow | 17 | Rockies | | 195 | Thomas Bernacki | RK Kart | 17 | MRP Championship Series | | 196 | Mason Chelootz | Top Kart | 16 | Burger King Texas | | 199 | Brandon Salyer | Tony Kart | 18 | North Florida | |
DD2
 | Kristina Vorndran returns as the defending DD2 champion
(Photo: Autosports Media Group) |
While the numbers may not be there, the talent level is certainly among the best for the DD2 category. The last two champions along with three former Team USA members make up over half the field. Defending champion Kristina Vorndran (CRG) is set to defend her crown. The first female United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals champion will have her work cut out for her, as former two-time champion Cody Hodgson (Tony Kart) leads a stout field ready to take away the crown. Hodgson was champion in 2010 and 2011, spending last year racing in the NASCAR K&N series, and returns back with the potent Ocala Gran Prix operation.
Derek Wang, Nathan Mauel and Joey Wimsett are back, all looking for a spot on Team USA. Wang (Kosmic) was the runner-up at last year’s Grand Nationals and is searching for a second straight trip to the Grand Finals. Mauel (Kosmic) holds a record five trips to the Grand Finals and will be a contender for his sixth. Wimsett (Kosmic) was the runner-up in Senior Max back in 2009, placing fourth at the Grand Finals for the highest finisher by a Team USA member ever in the category. Now teamed with Rolison Performance Group, he’s gunning for a chance at the DD2 title.
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 215 | Connor Wagner | Sodi | 16 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 216 | Nathan Mauel | Kosmic | 28 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 217 | Matt Ostiguy | CRG | 22 | Tri-C Karters | | 227 | Joey Wimsett | Kosmic | 20 | | | 231 | Sabre' Cook | CRG | 18 | | | 246 | Kristina Vorndran | CRG | 17 | New York State | | 255 | Cody Hodgson | Tony Kart | 20 | Sanzaru NorCal | | 288 | Derek Wang | Kosmic | 34 | Northwest Gold Cup | |
DD2 Masters
 | Alan Rudolph is gunning to add Rotax Grand Nationals DD2 Masters champion to his respectable CV
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
The 2012 DD2 Masters field has nearly matched the total entry count for DD2 drivers at last year’s event. With all three podium finishes earning a ticket to the Grand Finals, it has helped the class grow to 13 entries. Some strong drivers are on the roster, all with a chance at a podium finish. One driver with nothing to lose is Florida Winter Tour champion Alan Rudolph (CRG). The longtime shifterkart champion made the transition to the two-speed Rotax package and performed well this past winter under the PSL Karting banner. One of the youngest drivers in the field with the edge on everyone is MRP Motorsport’s Tim Lobaugh (Birel). The first American to contest the Grand Finals back in 2001 in Malaysia, Lobaugh is returning to the seat and will contest the event at his home track.
Defending Masters Max champ Brent Harper will try his hand at the two-speed category for the first time. Racing for The Kart Shop out of Dallas, Harper will pilot a Sodikart machine in hopes of earning his second Grand Nationals title. Also making the move to the DD2 is veteran Masters driver John Crow. The Californian drove to the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas title to earn his trip to the Grand Nationals, and will be gunning for the title this week in his Billet Performance Karting Arrow machine.
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 301 | Rene Martinelli | CRG | 37 | North Florida | | 304 | Mike Jones | Sodi | 41 | Dallas Karting Complex | | 305 | Cristiano Piquet | CRG | 35 | South Florida | | 311 | Dan Lubin | CRG | 32 | Dallas Karting Complex | | 312 | Tim Lobaugh | Birel | 32 | MRP Championship Series | | 313 | Brent Harper | Sodi | 43 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 317 | DJ Ortiz | OTK | 48 | North Texas Karters | | 318 | Conrad Park | CRG | 59 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 323 | Bill Lester | Tony Kart | 51 | North Florida | | 331 | John Crow | Arrow | 42 | Tri-C Karters | | 356 | Jim Carey | Zanardi | 56 | Rockies | | 377 | Alan Rudolph | CRG | 42 | Bondurant | | 379 | Ariel Castro | A.M. Chassis | 34 | MRP at Palm Beach | |
Masters Max
 | Scott Falcone enters the Grand Nationals with the hot hand in Masters Max
(Photo: Autosports Media Group) |
With defending champion Brent Harper moving to DD2 Masters, that opens up the Masters Max category for a possible new champion and the new Rotax Grand Finals ticket awarded to go along with the victory. Only one former champ - Andy Seesemann (Arrow) will be in the field of 19 drivers. A winner at the last Grand Nationals held at the XPLEX Las Vegas in 2004, the Full Throttle Karting owner last visited the podium in 2007 at The Track in Colorado. Seesemann did however finish fourth in 2005 when the event was held in South Bend. Two of the hottest drivers coming into South Bend are Scott Falcone and Paul Bonilla. Falcone (Arrow) was the top driver at the Rotax Summer Shootout and enters the week on a solid winning streak over the past two months. Bonilla was the top driver in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas series this winter, earning his trip to the Grand Nationals.
Local drivers may also have a say in the podium finishing order as they have local knowledge advantage and have been strong here before. David Gildersleeve (Birel) was a top-10 runner that year and returns to the Grand Nationals looking to better that result. Chad Hartzell (Birel) was the man on the wrenches for 2008 champion Marc Miller, and now will make his first Grand Nationals start behind the wheel. Others to watch include current EKN US Rotax Driver Rankings top Masters Max driver David Pergande (Arrow) from Texas, Northwest Gold Cup top Senior driver Johnny Blair (Tony Kart) making his first Grand Nationals start as the youngest competitor in the field, and Florida driver Jason Bell (Kosmic).
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 600 | Jerry Brown | Alonso | 51 | North Florida | | 604 | Johnny Blair | Tony Kart | 32 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 608 | David Pergande | Arrow | 44 | Burger King Texas | | 610 | Dean Boyd | Tony Kart | 26 | North Texas Karters | | 616 | Mike Wilhelm | Birel | 61 | MRP Championship Series | | 620 | Paul Bonilla | Arrow | 43 | Tri-C Karters | | 628 | Scott Roberts | Tony Kart | 40 | North Florida | | 629 | Rob Maier | Tony Kart | 33 | North Florida | | 641 | Larry Hayashigawa | Energy | 60 | Tri-C Karters | | 649 | Justin Peck | Tony Kart | 39 | Utah | | 651 | Andy Seesemann | Arrow | 41 | Tri-C Karters | | 654 | Jason Bell | Kosmic | 37 | North Florida | | 657 | Chad Hartzell | Birel | 39 | MRP Championship Series | | 671 | Chris McGinley | Kosmic | 36 | F1 Championship | | 672 | John Bonanno | Kosmic | 40 | F1 Championship | | 685 | Bobby Greene | Maranello | 41 | F1 Championship | | 688 | David Gildersleeve | Birel | 66 | MRP Championship Series | | 699 | Scott Falcone | Arrow | 43 | Rockies | |
Junior Max
 | Oliver Askew looks for redemption in Junior Max, already locked in for Team USA
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
You probably have a better chance winning at craps rather than trying to pick the winner of this year’s Junior Max category. Only four of last year’s top-10 are returning, but the number of contenders is nearly triple that if not more. One driver with the slight advantage of already holding a ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals is Oliver Askew. The Ocala Gran Prix driver secured his trip thanks to the Florida Winter Tour title in March. Discouraged after last year’s issues that kept him from the Grand Nationals title last year, the Tony Kart driver is gunning for the title once again this year. Leading the returning top finishers from Utah is runner-up Jake Craig (Formula K). The Californian worked his way forward from eighth in qualifying to sixth after the heat races to stand on the second step of the podium. Craig was the top finisher for Team USA at the Grand Finals and is looking to secure a return trip.
Luke Selliken and Kyle Kirkwood come into the Grand Nationals as two of the top Junior drivers thus far in 2012. Selliken - driving for Rolison Performance Group - was the vice-champion in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas series and is the current point leader on the Pro Tour. Kirkwood is in his rookie season as a Junior driver, placing second at last year’s Grand Nationals in Mini Max. The KartSport North America/Arrow pilot is coming into the event riding on numerous wins - one at the Rotax Summer Shootout and numerous in WKA competition in the last few months, including two this past weekend in Illinois. The other winner at the Grand Nationals warm-up event was Alex Keyes. Formerly from Michigan and now resides in California, Keyes (CRG) was a Michiana Raceway Park regular with plenty of laps around the course.
In total, there are seven drivers from the MRP Championship Series competing this weekend, and could be the wildcards during the week. Others to watch from around the country include Santino Ferrucci (Energy), Jesse Woodyard (Intrepid), Austin Osborne (Birel), current EKN US Rotax Driver Rankings number one driver Jack Weprin (FA Kart), Ashley Rogero (Tony Kart), Austin Versteeg (CRG), and 2008 Micro Max champion Patricio O’Ward (Tony Kart).
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 0 | Trenton Estep | Tony Kart | 12 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 01 | Santino Ferrucci | Energy | 13 | | | 2 | AJ Myers | Kosmic | 16 | North Florida | | 3 | Michael Ilavia | | 15 | Burger King Texas | | 4 | Jesse Woodyard | Intrepid | 13 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 6 | Armin Cavkusic | Birel | 35 | MRP Championship Series | | 7 | Becker Reardon | Birel | 13 | MRP Championship Series | | 08 | Adam Tams | Birel | 12 | MRP Championship Series | | 12 | Lindsey Brewer | Arrow | 15 | Rockies | | 17 | Jack Weprin | Alonso | 15 | Northeast | | 18 | Lindsey Freier | Birel | 14 | Rockies | | 19 | Nathan Adds | Sodi | 14 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 21 | Austin Osborne | Birel | 13 | Burger King Texas | | 22 | Kyle Kirkwood | Arrow | 13 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 23 | Nolan Ruocco | Haase | 12 | New York State | | 24 | Victoria DiGiovanni | Birel | 15 | Northeast | | 26 | Nick Landi | Tony Kart | 15 | Northeast | | 27 | Ashley Rogero | Tony Kart | 14 | North Florida | | 28 | Austin McCusker | Haase | 14 | Northeast | | 29 | Dominic Tesoro | Tony Kart | 15 | North Florida | | 33 | Hanna Zellers | Tony Kart | 15 | MRP Championship Series | | 34 | Sebastian Coulson | Alonso | 15 | South Florida | | 36 | Zack Dante | Intrepid | 13 | Sanzaru NorCal | | 37 | Austin Versteeg | CRG | 13 | | | 38 | Oliver Askew | Tony Kart | 15 | North Florida | | 39 | Laura Shearer | Kosmic | 15 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 42 | Derek Dignan | Arrow | 16 | MRP Championship Series | | 43 | Brian Lockwood | Tony Kart | 13 | North Florida | | 44 | Sebastian Sierra | Tony Kart | 14 | | | 46 | Luke Selliken | Kosmic | 14 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 51 | Darren Keane | Tony Kart | 12 | South Florida | | 59 | Elliot Finlayson | Birel | 16 | Concept Haulers | | 60 | Jake Craig | Formula K | 14 | Tri-C Karters | | 62 | William Myers | Birel | 15 | Jamaica | | 63 | McKay Snow | Kosmic | 14 | Utah | | 66 | Patricio O'Ward | Tony Kart | 13 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 67 | Antoni Ptak | Birel | 15 | | | 68 | Juan Manuel Correa | Tony Kart | 12 | | | 69 | Alex Keyes | CRG | 15 | MRP Championship Series | | 71 | Chase Jones | Birel | 15 | MRP Championship Series | | 77 | Billy Ogle | CRG | 14 | Northeast | | 81 | Annie Breidinger | CRG | 13 | Sanzaru NorCal | | 82 | Toni Breidinger | CRG | 13 | Sanzaru NorCal | | 87 | Gavin Reichelt | Tony Kart | 14 | Northeast | | 90 | Alex Hornborg | Tony Kart | 15 | North Florida | | 92 | Austin Garrison | Tony Kart | 13 | North Florida | | 94 | Thomas Issa | Tony Kart | 14 | South Florida | | 98 | Connor Jevens | Birel | 13 | Powerade Carolina | | 99 | Brenden Johnson | Birel | 15 | Powerade Carolina | |
Mini Max
 | Neil Verhagen is among the Mini Max contenders, making the jump up at the start of this year
(Photo: Autosports Media Group) |
Thirty-nine drivers will attempt to become the next Mini Max champion. A void at the top has been left by nearly the entire top-10 from last year’s finishing order moving up the ranks in 2012. Winners from last month’s Rotax Summer Shootout stand at the top of of contenders for this year - Neil Verhagen (Haase) and Devlin DeFrancesco (Top Kart). Verhagen finished runner-up in Micro Max one year ago and was also the Mini Max vice-champion in the Florida Winter Tour this past March. Other top finishers from the FWT that will be in South Bend are Matthew Thomas (CRG), Christian Cole (Birel), and Darren Keane (CRG). David Malukas (Birel) put on a show with Verhagen in the Micro Max last year and will be another driver to watch this week. Coming from the west that should be among the contenders is Sting Ray Robb (Tony Kart). The Idaho driver was the vice-champion in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas program this year.
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 500 | Devlin DeFrancesco | Top Kart | 12 | | | 501 | Derek Scott Jr | Kosmic | 13 | Southeast Karting Challenge | | 506 | Ryan Lewis | Kosmic | 11 | Burger King Texas | | 507 | Anthony Gangi | Tony Kart | 10 | Northeast | | 509 | Kaitlyn Melton | Birel | 13 | Powerade Carolina | | 510 | Vincenzo Sarracino | Tony Kart | 11 | South Florida | | 511 | Sean Groenstein | CRG | 10 | Utah | | 514 | Kameron Chandler | Birel | 12 | Powerade Carolina | | 516 | Sting Ray Robb | Tony Kart | 10 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 520 | Matthew Stretch | Birel | 10 | Burger King Texas | | 521 | Michael Benyahia | Kosmic | 12 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 522 | Christian Cole | Birel | 12 | South Florida | | 523 | Ethan Tyler | Kosmic | 11 | MRP Championship Series | | 530 | Mathias Ramirez | Tony Kart | 10 | North Florida | | 532 | David Ilavia | | 12 | Burger King Texas | | 533 | Tyler Lindberg | CRG | 11 | South Florida | | 535 | Michael Hornborg | Tony Kart | 12 | North Florida | | 548 | Mitch Goldfarb | Birel | 13 | Powerade Carolina | | 549 | David Rafailov | CRG | 10 | Rockies | | 550 | Joseph Lamberth | Birel | 11 | Powerade Carolina | | 551 | Michael D'Orlando | Kosmic | 10 | Northeast | | 552 | Augusto Soto Schirripa | Intrepid | 12 | South Florida | | 555 | Max Hewitt | Kosmic | 11 | Burger King Texas | | 557 | Theo Chick | Kosmic | 11 | Powerade Carolina | | 570 | Joshua Sirgany | Tony Kart | 11 | | | 571 | Aaron Bass | Tony Kart | 11 | North Florida | | 575 | Bradley Zilisch | Birel | 13 | Powerade Carolina | | 577 | Michael Mccarthy | CRG | 12 | | | 578 | Lachlan DeFrancesco | Top Kart | 9 | | | 579 | David Malukas | Birel | 10 | | | 582 | William Wolfrom | Birel | 11 | MRP Championship Series | | 587 | Matthew Thomas | CRG | 11 | MRP at Palm Beach | | 591 | Neil Verhagen | Haase | 11 | Northeast | | 595 | Lawson Nagel | Sodi | 10 | Dallas Karting Complex | |
Micro Max
 | Gatorz champion Jacob Blue Hudson is among the many contenders in Micro Max
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
Twenty-one drivers will make up the field for the Micro Max category, making its fifth appearance at the Grand Nationals. Just like Mini Max, a number of top contenders have graduated on to the next level, offering up the top positions to be taken this week. The top three from the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas program this winter will be in South Bend fighting for the title. Jacob Blue Hudson (Energy) earned his trip thanks to the Gatorz title, edging out Sophia Price (Kosmic) and Derek DesLauriers (Energy). The Florida Winter Tour will have five of the top-six represented in South Bend. Justin Sirgany (Tony Kart) was crowned the champion this past winter with Harry Coulton (Birel), Dylan Tavella (Tony Kart), Jack Miller (Birel) and Nicholas Brueckner (Tony Kart) in contention. Those drivers among others will be in the hunt this week, all gunning for their first United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals crown.
| No. | Driver | Chassis | Age | USRMC| 402 | Derek Deslauriers | Energy | 10 | Rockies | | 408 | Hannah Greenemeier | Arrow | 9 | Rockies | | 409 | Ethan Arndt | Tony Kart | 8 | Burger King Texas | | 411 | Gage Rodgers | Birel | 8 | MRP Championship Series | | 414 | Dylan Tavella | Tony Kart | 10 | New York State | | 417 | Sophia Price | Kosmic | 10 | Utah | | 418 | Dylan Gennaro | Tony Kart | 10 | North Florida | | 433 | Giovanni Bromante | Tony Kart | 8 | New York State | | 434 | Ricardo Villasmil | Tony Kart | 10 | South Florida | | 439 | Justin Sirgany | Tony Kart | 10 | Jamaica | | 440 | Jack Miller | Birel | 9 | Indy Karting Series | | 448 | Devin Boutot | Tony Kart | 10 | South Florida | | 453 | Jacob Hudson | Energy | 8 | Northwest Gold Cup | | 457 | Tyler Gonzalez | Alonso | 8 | North Florida | | 465 | Logan Stretch | Birel | 8 | Burger King Texas | | 474 | Nicholas Brueckner | Tony Kart | 11 | | | 478 | Harry Coulton | Birel | 9 | MRP Championship Series | | 481 | Payton Durrant | Birel | 9 | Utah | | 488 | Pauly Massimino | Birel | 9 | Powerade Carolina | | 492 | Alex Verhagen | Haase | 8 | Northeast | | 495 | Nicholas D'Orlando | Kosmic | 9 | Northeast | |
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