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| November 12, 2012 News |
| EKN Exclusive: MG Tires SKUSA SuperNationals XVI - Preview Program - TaG Senior |
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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
Each and every year at the SKUSA SuperNationals, the TaG Senior category provides some of the best racing we get a chance to see. The talent level is incredibly deep, and when mixed in with the challenge of a tough temporary circuit, it brings out the best in these drivers. The fences are lined each and every session and the anticipation of the SuperSunday main event is palpable. It’s a situation where simply making the main is an accomplishment.
This year will be a little different as the field is young and hungry. Only seven drivers have made three or more starts in Las Vegas and the average age of the field in 20 years old. It’s expected that the veterans will emerge, but as we have seen this year on the Pro Tour and in previous SuperNats, anything can happen.
The one thing we know for sure heading into this year’s event is that the SKUSA Pro Tour TaG Senior championship is down to just two drivers - Phil DeLaO and Remo Ruscitti - as they established themselves as the driver’s to beat early on and have continued it through to Vegas. The championship in TaG Senior is worth almost $6000, as a $3000 check is awarded to the title winner, as is the #1 plate and inclusion in the SKUSA Circle of Champions for 2013, which is worth close to $3000 as SKUSA sponsored all their Pro Tour champions with entry fees, race tires, fuel and oil for next year’s Pro Tour.
 | Phil DeLaO
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Phil DeLaO
No stranger to the national scene in United States karting, Phil DeLaO has been extremely solid in his Pro Tour debut season. Following a sweep at his home track in Phoenix for the SpringNationals, the Top Kart USA pilot added a third podium finish in the Sunday main in Utah for the SummerNationals to extend his championship lead. The Challenge of the Americas champion will be making his first SuperNationals start, much like a majority of the field. The difference is this…DeLaO knows what it takes to run up front and stay there, which he will need to do in order to clinch the championship.
Pro Tour Results:
SKUSA SpringNationals #1 - 1st
SKUSA SpringNationals #2 - 1st
SKUSA SummerNationals #1 - 4th
SKUSA SummerNationals #2 - 2nd
Previous SuperNationals Finish: N/A
Remo Ruscitti (-170 points)
Italian Motors’ Remo Ruscitti has been developing himself into one of the top drivers in North America. The 2012 season has been his breakout year, as the 18 year-old is also competing in his debut SKUSA Pro Tour season. The Canadian ran second to DeLaO at the SpringNationals and raced his way to victory in the SummerNationals to remain in the title chase. The plus for Ruscitti heading into the Vegas is his SuperNationals experience, running as part of the winning team in 2010 and racing against the world’s best in KZ2 last year. A podium finish is a must should he have a chance to steal the title away from DeLaO.
Pro Tour Results:
SKUSA SpringNationals #1 - 2nd
SKUSA SpringNationals #2 - 2nd
SKUSA SummerNationals #1 - 1st
SKUSA SummerNationals #2 - 5th
Previous SuperNationals Finish: KZ2 (2011), 6th (2010), DNF (2009)
The SKUSA Pro Tour title may be down to just two drivers, but there are well over two dozen competitors who have a chance of scoring the victory on SuperSunday. Defending race winner Phillip Orcic has moved to the KZ2 category, leaving just two former winners in the field for this edition of the race. 2010 winner Andre Nicastro (Italkart) has been in contention all three years he’s been in Vegas. Last lap contact in 2009 took a victory away in his debut after a post-race penalty. The year he won featured one of the most dramatic finishes in SuperNats history, as he edged out Aussie David Sera for the win by a fraction of a second. If Nicastro can stay clean throughout the event, the Brazilian will have his Italian Motors entry near the front as always. Joel Miller (FA Kart) has a solid SuperNationals resume in TaG Senior, as well. The 2007 winner has three podium finishes in four starts. Second in 2008 and fourth in 2011, there is no doubt the Phil Giebler Racing pilot will be in contention once again.
 | Remo Ruscitti
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
The only driver to win three straight SuperNationals in a single class is Italian Motors’ Michael Valiante. At the first three SuperNationals events in 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Canadian was the top Formula C pilot in those years, and has developed into a solid professional race car driver. With strong results in American Lemans Series and the Rolex Grand-Am program, Valiante returns to his roots once again after a year off. A fourth, a seventh and a third in his last three starts in TaG Senior show his consistent performance level and another podium run could be on the horizon for Valiante. He’s just a driver who you know will be there in the end.
Three other drivers come into this year’s event with previous trips to the SuperNationals podium. As mentioned before, David Sera (Arrow) was the other half of the wild finish in 2010. Driving from 29th on the starting grid, the Aussie came within inches of the victory after a stellar drive. After skipping last year’s event, he returns with KartSport North America for another run at the podium. Florida driver Danny Formal (Tony Kart) made his SuperNats debut last year, impressing the paddock with a solid runner-up finish aboard an Intrepid. The recently-crowned Rotax Grand Nationals champion makes a return to Vegas, looking for the top step before heading to Portugal for the Rotax Grand Finals. Chris Wehrheim rounds out the former podium finishers. A multi-time top-five finisher, the Top Kart USA driver’s best result in recent years was fifth in 2010.
This year’s field will see 12 of the top-20 in the eKartingNews.com TaG Driver Rankings, including #1 driver Mason Chelootz (Top Kart). A stellar 2012 season has put him at the top of the order, including a number of victories in WKA action. The Texan ran 20th last year in his SuperNationals debut, and recorded a best finish of seventh at the SummerNationals in July. One driver who Chelootz has seen all year is new WKA champion Tommy Andersen (Kosmic). The privateer runs under the Kart Star Motorsports banner and has found his way in the TaG category this season, and has beaten many of the drivers who will be in Vegas. Andersen has a win at the Rio, scoring the victory during the only time that the HPV2 Junior was offered (2008), and he is making his second start in TaG Senior.
 | Andre Nicastro
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Matt Johnson (Energy) and Louie Pagano (Birel) round out the seven drivers who come from the EKN top-10, including DeLaO, Formal, and Wehrheim. Johnson currently sits third in the Pro Tour standings and is among the veterans in the category. MJ always has the speed to compete for the win. If the Buddy Rice Karting driver - who is the only driver to win on the Pro Tour aside from DeLaO and Ruscitti - can avoid any mechanical gremlins or on-track contact through the heat races, there is no doubt he’ll be in the first few rows come SuperSunday grid. Pagano will be making only his second start in the Senior ranks, and like Formal and DeLaO, he will travel to Portugal a week later as part of Team USA for the Rotax Grand Finals. Pagano was solid last year, placing eighth, and the DPK/Birel driver could match or better that this year.
A number of younger drivers will be making their first or second starts in TaG Senior, moving up from the Junior ranks. Austin Elliott and Joel Jens have shown well thus far on the SKUSA Pro Tour, entering Vegas fourth and fifth in the overall standings. Elliott made the SuperSunday main event last year, finishing 21st. The Top Kart USA driver has improved his racecraft this year, earning four finishes of sixth or better on the Pro Tour. Jens jumped up to the Senior ranks this year in Superkarts! USA competition, and has faired well in his Verde Speed Tony Kart. Jens was among the hard chargers in TaG Junior last year, recovering from a flip in the heat races and working his way through the LCQ to end up an amazing sixth. Also of note is reigning SKUSA Pro Tour TaG Junior champion Jake Craig, who will make his SuperNationals debut in TaG Senior. Craig has made the move to G-Phactory and the Kosmic chassis since the last Pro Tour event, so the Californian is hoping to improve on a fifth place finish, his best so far this year.
There are more drivers to watch for this week as the 2012 SuperNationals unfolds. Jamie Sieracki will lead ‘Merlin Nation’ into battle, coming off an impressive third place finish at the SummerNationals in TaG Senior. The Wisconsin driver is making his first start in at the SuperNats since his SuperPro run in 2006. He’ll have Midwest frontrunners TJ Koyen and Colton Ramsey, among others, under the Franklin Motorsports tent this year. Another Pro Tour podium finisher on the season is Californian Andrew Wiener. He will be part of the new ART Grand Prix America operation with the ART GP kart. A handful of international drivers will also be competing, and it’s expected that a number of their names will appear near the top of the time charts once the action begins.
EKN Selections:
 | Joel Miller
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Rob Howden
In looking over this stacked field of TaG Senior competitors, I can’t help but realize that it’s almost impossible to pick the top-five. Yes, we can go by this year’s results on the Pro Tour and in the other major series, and we can look at past SuperNationals performances. But, really, this line-up is ridiculously stacked. It’s incredible. David and I could pick a top-five and we could still see a totally different quintet of drivers end up there, it’s just that close. Having enjoyed so many different racing series this year, and having following so many different drivers, I’m going to put my #1 pick on Danny Formal. This emerging star has become a powerhouse on-track, and in this plastic-lined ‘cage match’, he will not be pushed around. His outright speed is undeniable and he’s shown the ability to win on the national stage. Formal finished second last year, so experience on the Rio parking lot is not an issue. I believe that Formal will grab the reigns early and will be able to hold back the lions. I have Joel Miller taking second over Remo Ruscitti, as Miller’s extensive SuperNationals experience, coupled with his pace at the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, may give him the edge. Italian Motors has always been strong in Las Vegas, and they have a solid team that will provide great data sharing all week. I have Ruscitti in third, but that could easily be Valiante or Nicastro. Sera can never be over-looked, and I just love watching Matt Johnson race. There’s a fire inside him like no other. Johnson runs the same for first as he does for 15th. If the BRK crew can get him dialed in early, he could find himself anywhere in the top-five.
1. Danny Formal
2. Joel Miller
3. Remo Ruscitti
4. David Sera
5. Matt Johnson
David Cole
Like a game of craps, selecting the podium finishers in the TaG Senior category is at the mercy of the dice. With so many of the top drivers from across the continent, and a mix of international stars, there is no telling who we will see crowned as the 2012 SuperNats winner. I’m going with experience, and Joel Miller has it. An engine issue took him out of the hunt last year, and if he qualifies inside the top-five, he’s got it. The Italkarts have always shown well in Vegas, and I see three in the top-five this year. Ruscitti will beat DeLaO on track, but the title will go to the Top Kart driver. Aussie David Sera will be in the hunt once again, and will reach his second straight podium.
1. Joel Miller
2. Remo Ruscitti
3. Andre Nicastro
4. David Sera
5. Michael Valiante
TaG Senior Entry List
| No. | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | City | State | Country| 61 | James Allen | Kartsport North America | Arrow | Leopard | Mooresville | NC | AUS | | 8j | Tommy Andersen | Kart Star Motorsports | Kosmic | Leopard | Spring Grove | IL | USA | | 30y | Kolby Araki | Grand Products / Top Kart USA | Top Kart | Leopard | Clovis | CA | USA | | 206 | Logan Bearden | Mike Doty Racing | Haase | Leopard | Austin | TX | USA | | 22 | Marcus Brodie | Team Vemme / Checkered Flag Racing | Vemme | Leopard | Kelowna | BC | CAN | | 70 | Cory Cacciavillani | CF Racing | Kosmic | Leopard | Leamington | ON | CAN | | 55 | Diego Camodeca | Bordogna Racing Team | TBR | Leopard | Tigre | BA | ARG | | 74 | Chad Campbell | GP Canada / Innisfil Indy Kartways | GP | Rotax | Belwood | ON | CAN | | 313 | Allan Cesarman | | FA Kart | Leopard | Acapulco | Guerrero | MEX | | 145s | Hunter Ceto | Praga USA / Team MDD | Praga | Leopard | Suwanee | GA | USA | | 503 | Gabriel Chaves | Keane Racing | Tony Kart | Leopard | Deerfield Beach | FL | COL | | 00t | Mason Chelootz | Top Kart USA / Grand Products | Top Kart | Leopard | Spring | TX | USA | | 39 | Luke Chudleigh | Prime Kartsport | Maranello | Leopard | Campbellville | ON | CAN | | 60c | Jake Craig | G-Phactory | Kosmic | Leopard | Mission Viejo | CA | USA | | 16e | Mason Daughters | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Leopard | Polo | MO | USA | | 77x | Phil DeLaO | Top Kart USA / Grand Products | Top Kart | Leopard | Peoria | AZ | USA | | 15y | Austin Dement | Pitts Performance / Nevada Kartsports | DR | Leopard | Reno | NV | USA | | 2 | Dakota Dickerson | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Leopard | San Diego | CA | USA | | 42 | Derek Dignan | | Arrow | Leopard | Rochester Hills | MI | USA | | 78y | Austin Elliott | Top Kart USA / Grand Products | Top Kart | Leopard | Shingle Springs | CA | USA | | 99d | Scott Falcone | KartSport North America | Arrow | Motori 7 | Lone Tree | CO | USA | | 126c | Alejo Fernandez | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Vortex ROK TT | San Bernardino | CA | USA | | 157 | Diego Ferreira | IPK North America | OK1 | Leopard | Uxbridge | ON | VEN | | 128a | Luiz Cordeiro Filho | PSL Karting | CRG | Rotax | Brasilia | DF | BRA | | 137 | Danny Formal | Advanced Karting | Tony Kart | Leopard | Riviera Beach | FL | USA | | 04 | Olin Galli | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Leopard | Fontana | CA | BRA | | 104 | Jorge Goncalvez | IPK North America | OK1 | Leopard | Uxbridge | ON | VEN | | 243 | Alessio Guazzaroni | Grand Products / Top Kart USA | Top Kart | Leopard | Bensalem | PA | ITA | | 138r | Scott Hargrove | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Surrey | BC | CAN | | 17j | Zach Hawley | Merlin USA / Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Leopard | Fond Du Lac | WI | USA | | 24m | Kevin Hernandez | ART Grand Prix America | ART GP | Leopard | Temixco | Morelos | MEX | | 76o | Anthony Honeywell | Honeywell Competition | Tony Kart | Leopard | Tulsa | OK | USA | | 03 | Michael Ilavia | PSL Karting | CRG | Vortex ROK TT | Houston | TX | USA | | 32r | Adam Isman | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Vancouver | BC | CAN | | 35j | Joel Jens | Joel Jens Racing / Verde Speed | Tony Kart | Leopard | Manitowoc | WI | USA | | 3 | Matt Johnson | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Vortex ROK TT | Las Vegas | NV | USA | | 81y | AJ Juergens | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | Galt | CA | USA | | 90c | Matt Kimball | | Top Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Mission Viejo | CA | USA | | 38j | Scott Kopp | Innovative Performance | Tony Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Big Bend | WI | USA | | 68j | TJ Koyen | Merlin USA / Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Leopard | Sun Prairie | WI | USA | | 12 | Charles Leclerc | ART Grand Prix America | ART GP | Leopard | Cremona | CR | ITA | | 95b | Bryan Lemon | Formula Tech Service | Kosmic | Leopard | Glendale | AZ | USA | | 55x | Devin Lindsey | Tony Kart USA / Orlando Kart Center | Tony Kart | Vortex ROK TT | Highland | CA | USA | | 340 | Alejandro Liverant | IPK North America | Praga | Rotax | Maple | ON | CAN | | 10 | Sergio Lopez | Scuderia Bassano Corse / Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Cassola | VI | VEN | | 63x | Travis Lowe | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Leopard | Pasadena | CA | USA | | 131f | Juan Diego Maldonado | Praga USA / Team MDD | Praga | Leopard | Miami Beach | FL | COL | | 25o | Nick Martin | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Overland Park | KS | USA | | 25m | David Martinez | ART Grand Prix America | ART GP | Leopard | Loanalco | Mexico | MEX | | 97r | Jamie McAllister | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Vancouver | BC | CAN | | 57 | Bill McLaughlin | Motorama Kart Parts (MKP) / Top Kart USA | Top Kart | Leopard | Moorseville | IN | USA | | 18 | Evan Mehan | Praga USA / Team MDD | Praga | Leopard | Carmel | IN | USA | | 00x | Enzo Mestre | Ryan Perry Motorsports | Formula K | Leopard | San Gabriel | CA | USA | | 14x | Joel Miller | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Leopard | Hesperia | CA | USA | | 111x | Johnathan Miller | Nash's Karts | Tony Kart | Leopard | Beaumont | CA | USA | | 113x | Bailey Murphy | AZ Kart Werx | CRG | Leopard | Phoenix | AZ | USA | | 122 | Stepanova Nekeel | | FA Kart | Leopard | Seattle | WA | USA | | 9 | Andre Nicastro | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Sumas | WA | BRA | | 20a | Arthur Oliveira | DeJorge Racing | Maranello | Leopard | Barueri | SP | BRA | | 46 | Dennis Olsen | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Leopard | Seriate | BG | NOR | | 72y | Tazio Ottis | Infinity Kart Services | CRG | Leopard | Berkeley | CA | USA | | 23d | Will Owen | Kartsport North America | Arrow | Leopard | Castle Rock | CO | USA | | 355c | Louie Pagano | Dave's Performance Karting | Birel | Leopard | Camarillo | CA | USA | | 115 | Bruni Palli | IPK North America | OK1 | Leopard | Uxbridge | ON | VEN | | 05 | Gian Franco Pescetto | Grand Paroducts / Top Kart USA | Top Kart | Leopard | Bensalem | PA | PAN | | 255y | Jess Peterson | Leading Edge Motorsports | Praga | Leopard | Sparks | NV | USA | | 147y | JR Raczlo | Energy Corse America | Energy | Vortex ROK TT | Rocklin | CA | USA | | 101 | Roger Ralston Jr. | Praga USA / Team MDD | Praga | Rotax | Boca Raton | FL | USA | | 08j | Colton Ramsey | Merlin USA / Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Leopard | Springfield | IL | USA | | 127 | Jesus Rios | | Birel | Rotax | Miami Beach | FL | USA | | 141s | Nick Rivellini | Team WRS | CRG | Leopard | Great Falls | VA | USA | | 150n | Daniel Roeper | Oemetrix / Advanced Arch Grilles | CRG | Leopard | New Hyde Park | NY | USA | | 13 | Vasily Romanov | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Leopard | Seriate | BG | RUS | | 96r | Remo Ruscitti | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Burnaby | BC | CAN | | 5 | Devon Sandeen | Team Vemme / Checkered Flag Racing | Vemme | Leopard | Surrey | BC | CAN | | 262y | Shelby Sander | Leading Edge Motorsports | Intrepid | Leopard | Cameron Park | CA | USA | | 96 | David Sera | Kartsport North America | Arrow | Leopard | Mooresville | NC | AUS | | 16j | Jamie Sieracki | Merlin USA / Franklin Motorsports | Merlin | Leopard | Oconomowoc | WI | USA | | 66d | Brandon Southwick | Unser Racing / G-Phactory | SodiKart | Leopard | Westminster | CO | USA | | 108y | Kiel Spaulding | Phil Giebler Racing | FA Kart | Leopard | Elk Grove | CA | USA | | 13j | Aaron Telitz | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Birchwood | WI | USA | | 120 | Marco Tulio | Tony Kart USA / Orlando Kart Center | Kosmic | Vortex ROK TT | Orlando | FL | BRA | | 95r | Michael Valiante | Italian Motors | Italkart | Leopard | Vancouver | BC | CAN | | 799y | Josh Veloz | Cambrian Go Karts | Birel | Motori 7 | Campbell | CA | USA | | 44 | Bruno Vermeeren | Russell Karting Specialties | Parolin | Leopard | Zaventem | VB | BEL | | 7 | Rodrigo Campos Vieira | Advanced Karting | Tony Kart | Leopard | Petropolis | RJ | BRA | | 43x | John Wallace III | Energy Corse SRL / Buddy Rice Karting | Energy | Vortex ROK TT | Duarte | CA | USA | | 16s | Chris Wehrheim | Grand Products / Top Kart USA | Top Kart | Leopard | Atlanta | GA | USA | | 15x | Andrew Wiener | ART Grand Prix America | ART GP | Leopard | Spring Valley | CA | USA | | 555y | Brody Zink | Rolison Performance Group | Kosmic | Leopard | Minden | NV | USA | |
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