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| November 23, 2012 News |
| EKN Exclusive: 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Team USA Profile - Senior Max |
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eKartingNews.com, the official online media partner of the United States Rotax Max Challenge, is proud to present the profiles of each member of Team USA, set to represent the Red, White, and Blue at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal on November 28-December 1. Expectations are high with 19 drivers competing in the four categories this year, a record high for Team USA. In addition, the MAXSpeed Group - the distributor of all Rotax karting products through the United States and Caribbean - has offered up a $10,000 bounty to the first driver to secure a Rotax Grand Finals title.
Over the next four days, with the help of Ken Johnson at Studio52.us and GoRotax.com, we will look at each of the 19 drivers that make up the 2012 Team USA for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Full coverage can be found at the EKN EVENT PAGE.
When the statement of bringing the best to the Rotax Grand Finals comes up, it could not be truer for the Senior Max roster. All five drivers are currently ranked inside the top-25 of the eKartingNews.com TaG Driver Rankings, which includes many of the top Rotax Max Challenge events in the country. All five are current or former champions - all have been to the Grand Finals, and all are extremely talented. If you had to select one class where the odds would be in the favor of the first American to score a victory at the Rotax Grand Finals, Senior Max just may be that category.
 | | Sam Beasley |
Sam Beasley
Age: 18
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
If anyone is hoping the term “third time’s a charm” holds true, its 18-year-old Senior Max challenger Sam Beasley. Sam has been to two previous Grand Finals, Italy in 2010 and Abu Dhabi in 2011. On both occasions he was very fast but unfortunate circumstances kept him from the success he was looking for. He’s going to Portugal riding his third straight runner-up finish at the US Rotax Grand Nationals.
For this year’s Grand Finals, Sam will have his friend and sponsor Erik Jones tuning for him as he looks to emulate the successes he’s had when winning WKA titles and this year’s RoboPong 200 endurance race. Like many young kart racers, Sam ranks Dan Wheldon as his favorite racing driver, and hopes to chart a course like Dan did to go from karting to being a professional racing driver.
Sam says if he does become a professional driver, he’d really like to compete in sports cars of Indy Cars. But, if he’s not driving, he’d at least like to have a business that is involved in auto racing. Away from racing, Sam is a talented classical pianist and works for gasket maker Cometic Gaskets.
 | | Phil DeLaO |
Phil DeLaO
Age: 19
Hometown: Peoria, AZ
Arizonian Phil DeLaO became the first official Senior Max member of Team USA in 2012 when he won the championship at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas series. Later on in the year, he won the Rotax Pan American Challenge aboard the same Sodi Kart model that will be the spec chassis for the Senior Max. This year marks the 19-year-old’s second trip to the Grand Finals, having previously competed for Team USA in 2008 at the La Conca Circuit in Italy.
Phil has been racing karts for 11 years and says he got interested in motorsports at an early age while traveling with his father and watching him race cars. Other than his father, he also gets his driving inspiration from the late Ayrton Senna and Sebastian Vettel. Phil says he likes to take on challenging tracks, and that New Castle Motorsports Park is his favorite. “I really like the long straightaways, the elevation changes, and the technical infield section. It’s a great test for a driver,” he said.
Phil says he has no other hobbies outside of racing and is totally focused on the Grand Finals. While looking forward to the event, he said, “It’s an honor to represent my country at the Rotax Grand Finals. It would be a huge accomplishment to bring the trophy back home.”
 | | Danny Formal |
Danny Formal
Age: 16
Hometown: Orlando, FL
After missing the Grand Finals last year, Danny Formal returns to Team USA for his second time. During his first Grand Finals, in Italy in 2010, Danny was one of the favorites to win the Senior Max class until getting knocked off the track in the final. Even with the setback, he was still able to work his way back up to fifth at the end. With the increased level of maturity Danny has shown with his driving this year - winning the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals - the prospects are looking very good for the 16-year-old from Orlando, FL.
Danny says his racing heros are Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. Like Michael and Lewis, Danny aspires to make a career for himself as a professional racing driver. To that end Danny has spent a lot of his time studying his craft and working out in the gym. He says he still finds time when possible to go fishing to relax and unwind.
Danny races in many forms of karting, but says the Rotax Max Challenge provides the highest level of competition. “I race Rotax because it’s the biggest series in North America,” he says. “The level of competition is extremely high and there is always a lot of good people to race with,” he added.
 | | Louie Pagano |
Louie Pagano
Age: 18
Hometown: Camarillo, CA
Eighteen-year-old Californian Louie Pagano made his first trip to the Grand Finals in 2010 when the race was held in Italy in the Junior category. This year, he returns to Team USA to take on the karting world in Portugal thanks to his runner-up at the Rotax Pan American Challenge event. Louie has been competing in Rotax competition for five years and says it’s extremely satisfying because the level playing field rewards the driver that does the best.
Although his first love is racing, Louie has many interests that include surfing, snow skiing and snow boarding. He says he has a goal of becoming a professional racing driver but is also interested in criminology. Currently he is an undecided freshman at Moorpark College so for a while his options are open.
Louie says he became interested in karting 14 years ago when his father, who owns a construction company, was remodeling a kart shop in Southern California (Pitts). His karting career has spanned 14 years and his success has allowed him to venture into ASA Speed Truck competition. He says he has no racing heros, but the people he admires most are his parents, brother and two sisters.
 | | Andrew Palmer |
Andrew Palmer
Age: 18
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Andrew Palmer started racing karts at the age of 10. His original plan was to race motocross, but his mother objected. About that time his father found an indoor kart track in Chicago which Andrew really enjoyed. Not long after, a deal for him to race in a safer sport was reached and Andrew was on his way.
This year’s appearance with Team USA will be Andrew’s second after competing on the 2010 squad in Italy after clinching the Junior Max title in the United States. In preparation for the event, Andrew traveled to the Algarve Circuit in Portimao ahead of time to test for three days on the Sodi Kart. Andrew feels this level of preparation is what he needs to succeed and credits his racing mentors, Justin Stefani and David Dodson for instilling in him those values.
Outside of racing, Andrew is attending Pomona College in Claremont, California. Although he’s undeclared at the moment, he says he leaning towards math and/or economics. After he completes his education, he says he would like to pursue a career racing in the ALMS series.
He says he gets his strength and motivation from his family. “My great-grandparents came here from Italy with nothing. My family has proven that you can become successful from humble beginnings and I’m thankful for my parents and grandparents for teaching me those principles,” he said. With that sort of attitude, we’re sure Andrew will be very successful himself. |
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