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| November 08, 2012 News |
| EKN Exclusive: MG Tires SKUSA SuperNationals XVI - Preview Program - TaG Master |
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eKartingNews.com, the official online media partner of Superkarts! USA, is proud to present the SKUSA SuperNationals XVI Preview Program. Over the coming days leading up to the November 14-18 event, EKN will preview each of the nine categories that will compete for a share of the prize package worth roughly $100,000, and the completion of the 2012 SKUSA Pro Tour.
For complete coverage of the SKUSA SuperNationals XVI presented by MG Tires, visit the Official EKN Event Page
One of the most successful categories of the SKUSA SuperNationals event is the TaG Master division. The 2012 edition will be the fifth straight year featuring over 40 drivers, as the class enjoyed another year of growth on the SKUSA Pro Tour. While the drivers may not the youngest in the paddock, the talent pool within this class is right up there with that of KZ2 and S1. And the ferocity of the competition makes it one of the most exciting races of the weekend. During the last two years, the Pro Tour championship has been all but decided going into the SuperNationals. This season, three drivers are in the fight and they are separated by just 51 points. With five on-track sessions to score points, the #1 plate is wide open. After strong runs throughout the year, Scott Falcone leads the way with Paul Bonilla and Chuck Gafrarar right on his tail.
 | Scott Falcone
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Scott Falcone
Only two drivers stood atop the podium at the Pro Tour events this season, and Scott Falcone (Arrow/Motori 7) was the latest. The Colorado driver laid a smack down on the competition at the SummerNationals in Utah with an impressive two-day performance. With two features wins, he came just 10 points away from sweeping the entire weekend. It was a much needed effort after he placed just eighth in both of the main events at the SpringNationals in Phoenix. After struggling last year at the SuperNationals, the KartSport North America driver is hoping the momentum from MMP continues on into Las Vegas so that he cash in big.
Pro Tour Results:
SKUSA SpringNationals #1 - 8th
SKUSA SpringNationals #2 - 8th
SKUSA SummerNationals #1 - 1st
SKUSA SummerNationals #2 - 1st
Previous SuperNationals Finish: 30th (2011), 15th (2010)
Paul Bonilla (-27 points)
The only other driver to reach victory twice on the Pro Tour this season is Full Throttle Karting’s Paul Bonilla (Arrow/Vortex). The 2007 SuperNationals Rotax Masters race winner began the year as the driver to beat, besting the field both days at the SpringNationals in Phoenix. His trip to Utah was a difficult one as Lady Luck turned her head the other direction and dropped Bonilla behind in the championship chase. One of the top Master drivers over the course of the last five years, there is no counting out the Californian - who has improved his finishing position at the SuperNats over the last three years with a best finish of eighth.
 | Paul Bonilla
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Pro Tour Results:
SKUSA SpringNationals #1 - 1st
SKUSA SpringNationals #2 - 1st
SKUSA SummerNationals #1 - 7th
SKUSA SummerNationals #2 - 18th
Previous SuperNationals Finish: 8th (2011), 13th (2010), 26th (2009)
Chuck Gafrarar (-51 points)
Since making his Superkarts! USA debut at the 2010 SuperNationals with a fifth place podium finish, North Carolina driver Chuck Gafrarar (Parolin/Leopard) has been a consistent challenger each and every weekend. In the hunt throughout 2011, the Russell Karting Specialties pilot finished out the year seventh in the standings. This year, he turned up the wick and has been right there all season, placing second three times to place himself third in the standings and a major player for the class title.
Pro Tour Results:
SKUSA SpringNationals #1 - 2nd
SKUSA SpringNationals #2 - 4th
SKUSA SummerNationals #1 - 2nd
SKUSA SummerNationals #2 - 2nd
Previous SuperNationals Finish: 10th (2011), 5th (2010)
 | Chuck Gafrarar
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
It will be a difficult task for any of these three drivers to become the SKUSA Pro Tour champion, considering the fact that the 17 of the top-20 finishers from a year ago are returning, including two-time defending champion Leonardo Nienkotter (Kosmic/Vortex). The gentleman racer from Brazil came from third on the grid both years to score the victory. Jim Russell Jr. (Parolin/Leopard) finished second ahead of Robby Mott (Corsa/Vortex) while Billy Cleavelin (CRG/Motori 7) and Randy Froom (Intrepid/Leopard) completed the podium.
Russell has been fast in 2012, just as he was a year ago. A DQ for weight at the SpringNationals after a second place cost him a chance at this year’s title, but he still has sights on a SuperNats victory. Mott earned the Texas ProKart Challenge regional championship this summer as a warm-up for the Ribtect owner to repeat his podium trip in Las Vegas. Cleavelin, winner in 2008 and 2009, is the third driver in TaG Master history at the SuperNationals to score back-to-back wins (Michael Brooks in ’03 & ’04). Despite his absence on the Pro Tour, the Mike Manning Karting driver was dominant in the California ProKart Challenge to earn another championship for his long resume. A third win would put him in elite company in SuperNationals history. Froom was the sleeper on last year’s podium, and this year he’s got the attention of the paddock. The Leading Edge Motorsports driver is known to lay down a monster lap in qualifying, which will be an important step for a return trip at this year’s event.
As you keep reviewing the entry list, names continue to pop out at you, such as defending Pro Tour champ Brian McHattie (Exprit/Vortex), 2010 champion and recent Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix winner Ethan Wilson (Tony Kart/Motori 7), veteran Andy Seesemann (Arrow/Vortex), WKA regular front-runner Brian McEvoy (Merlin/Leopard), Florida pilot Jason Bell (Kosmic/Leopard), and newcomer Anthony Honeywell (Tony Kart/Leopard), a road race veteran. There’s no doubt that this class will provide some great action throughout SuperNationals week.
EKN Selections:
 | Leonardo Nienkotter
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Rob Howden
I’m always drawn to the Masters classes, as they’re ‘my’ guys. I’m a Masters driver myself, and would love to be out there with them. But, I’m going to be a little busy next week, so I’ll leave it all to this incredible line-up of competitors. This year, the American contingent will be gunning for Neinkotter, the back-to-back race winner who returns for a shot at the three-peat. This extra motivation could be what it will take to see a domestic driver grab back the top step of the podium. If I have to pick a winner, it would be Chuck Gafrarar. Chuck G has been on his game all year long and is due for a big win. I believe that this will be his year. This guy has so much passion for the sport, and his performances this year have been incredibly impressive. Neinkotter comes in with confidence and a winning pedigree, but I expect he’ll get bumped out of P1 this time around.
1. Chuck Gafrarar
2. Leonardo Nienkotter
3. Robby Mott
4. Ethan Wilson
5. Jim Russell Jr.
David Cole
This is probably the hardest category to select the top-five with so many drivers with the ability to reach one of the top-five positions, not to mention the ‘drink bribes’ I had to turn down once we arrive in Vegas. All BS aside, I like Nienkotter to earn his third straight to make history and join Michael Valiante as the only driver to win the same class three years in a row (ICC ’97-’99). As he has done all season, Gafrarar will be just one step away from victory, but will score in the big picture as he earns the championship by just a few points over Falcone. Cleavelin and McHattie are two of a select few to compete in the class over the past four years. Cleavelin has an average finish of 3.25 where McHattie is at 4.5. McHattie has podium in the even years, which means he’s destined to celebrate on one of the steps on SuperSunday, as well Cleavelin for a fourth time in the past five years.
1. Leonardo Nienkotter
2. Chuck Gafrarar
3. Scott Falcone
4. Brian McHattie
5. Billy Cleavelin
TaG Master Entry List
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | City | State | Country| 08 | Michel Aboissa | PSL Karting | CRG | Leopard | Sao Paulo | SP | BRA | | 108 | Munir Aboissa | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Vortex ROK TT | Sao Paulo | SP | BRA | | 06a | Eric Tinoco Andre | PSL Karting | CRG | Leopard | Sao Paulo | SP | BRA | | 54f | Jason Bell | BW Racing | Kosmic | Leopard | Tampa | FL | USA | | 20b | Paul Bonilla | Full Throttle Karting | Arrow | Vortex ROK TT | Cypress | CA | USA | | 50t | Scott Boone | | Birel | Leopard | Houston | TX | USA | | 57 | Jorge Borelli | Tony Kart USA / Orlando Kart Center | Tony Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Sao Paulo | SP | BRA | | 19c | Billy Cleavelin | Mike Manning Karting | CRG | Motori 7 | Covina | CA | USA | | 28 | Rodrigo Bastian Costa | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Vortex ROK TT | Florianopolis | SC | BRA | | 87 | Sandrei Alberto Da Silva | CRG-USA | CRG | Leopard | Grand Junction | CO | BRA | | 18y | Jeff Deehan | Aluminos | Rosso Korsa | Motori 7 | San Rafael | CA | USA | | 99d | Scott Falcone | KartSport North America | Arrow | Motori 7 | Lone Tree | CO | USA | | 909a | Jose Franca | PSL Karting | CRG | Leopard | Sao Paulo | SP | BRA | | 3 | Larry Fraser | Aluminos | Tony Kart | Motori 7 | Novato | CA | USA | | 98 | Enrico Friso | AM Engines | CRG | Leopard | Doral | FL | VEN | | 85y | Randy Froom | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | Orangevale | CA | USA | | 12 | Bruno Fusaro | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Sumas | WA | BRA | | 3s | Chuck Gafrarar | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Concord | NC | USA | | 7 | Tom Gerstner | Checkered Motorsports | PCR | Vortex ROK TT | Rochester | NY | USA | | 18x | Paul Grey | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Leopard | Mission Viejo | CA | USA | | 27q | Don Guilbeault | DRT Racing | DR | Leopard | Hudson | NH | USA | | 11 | Fernando Guzzi | Tony Kart USA / Orlando Kart Center | Tony Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Orlando | FL | BRA | | 31y | Paul Hohlbein | Snow Racing Engines | Intrepid | Leopard | Reno | NV | USA | | 76o | Anthony Honeywell | Honeywell Competition | Tony Kart | Leopard | Tulsa | OK | USA | | 15f | Phil Kirby | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Eustis | FL | USA | | 93g | Chris Koster | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Springdale | AR | USA | | 121a | Francisco Marques | PSL Karting | CRG | Leopard | Aguas Claras | BR | BRA | | 44 | Markenson Marques | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Rotax | Curitiba | PR | BRA | | 79j | Brian McEvoy | Merlin USA / Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Leopard | Waukesha | WI | USA | | 1 | Brian McHattie | DB Motorsports | Exprit | Vortex ROK TT | Youngstown | OH | USA | | 17y | Glenn McKinnon | Pitts Performance | Tony Kart | Leopard | Reno | NV | USA | | 612y | Corey Mitchell | Kartel Motorsports | Arrow | Leopard | Sacramento | CA | USA | | 15t | Robby Mott | Ribtect Karting Products | Corsa Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Victoria | TX | USA | | 121 | Leonardo Nienkotter | J3 Competition | Kosmic | Vortex ROK TT | Florianopolis | SC | BRA | | 200 | Roberto Azana Pasqualini | Tony Kart USA / Orlando Kart Center | Tony Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Diadema | SP | BRA | | 22a | Marcio Quixada | PSL Karting | CRG | Leopard | Sao Paulo | SP | BRA | | 21e | Jim Russell Jr. | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Raymore | MO | USA | | 51c | Andy Seesemann | Full Throttle Karting | Arrow | Vortex ROK TT | Orange | CA | USA | | 77x | Vatche Tatikian | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Altadena | CA | ARM | | 97 | Luis Terife | AM Engines | Tony Kart | Leopard | Miami | FL | VEN | | 09 | Francesco Ventre | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Leopard | Fontana | CA | BRA | | 54c | Steve Wiener | ART Grand Prix America | ART GP | Vortex ROK TT | Spring Valley | CA | USA | | 49y | Ethan Wilson | Phil Giebler Racing | Tony Kart | Motori 7 | Campbell | CA | USA | | 5 | Alessandro Xavier | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Curitiba | PR | BRA | |
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