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| March 10, 2005 News |
| EKN Trackside: Stars Race of the Americas - Preview |
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The 2005 racing season will officially get underway this weekend with the much anticipated Snap-on.com Stars of Karting opener - the inaugural Race of the Americas - held at the Oklahoma Motorsports Complex in Norman. This race has become a must-attend event for even drivers not interested in chasing the national championship thanks to the inclusion of the event on the CIK calendar as it is the first time in several years that a race in the United States has enjoyed that distinction.
The Stars group is pulling out all the stops for this event and they are stepping up their game now that they are the only game in town at the national level. With that position comes an enormous responsibility, as Operations Chief Paul Zalud understands fully that if they do a solid job and make good on all their promises, they will be able to fend off any competition that might spring up in the coming year(s) from disgruntled teams or starry-eyed promoters.
When announcing the ’05 schedule, Zalud stated that their goal was to get as many of the races listed with the CIK as possible. He has already made inroads on this ambition as, including this weekend’s race, Stars recently announced that the second rounds of both the Eastern and Western Division Championships at New Castle and Moran will also be included on the CIK calendar.
 | Formula Super A 2004 World Champion Davide Foré
(Photo: Chris Walker) |
It was hoped that getting the races placed officially on the world body’s calendar would allow international drivers to compete in North America without fear of losing their licenses. This objective has worked in spades when it was announced that reigning World Champion Davide Fore would be making the trip to race with Tony Kart. Joining Fore will be Hironobu Yasuda, a Japanese pilot who is joining the Champion Racing Intrepid squad for the weekend.
While not everyone is pleased with the inclusion of drivers who may not be in the championship for the long haul, most are looking at this race as a great way to showcase the talents of the drivers from the United States and Canada. The biggest complaint heard thus far is that these ‘interlopers’ may negatively affect the points at the end of the year. On the flip side, those who favor the inclusion, see Fore and Yasuda as simply two more good drivers they need to beat this weekend.
Leading the way in Norman will be Stars’ dual headline classes - ICC and ICA. These pro-level categories feature fields that are large in numbers and very deep in talent. In ICA, beyond the World Champion, the grid will include reining National Champion Jordy Vorrath (Italkart), making an appearance along with his chief rival from the west last year, Orlado Racing’s Helmet Sanden (Mach 1). Eastern winner Mike Giessen (Birel) is back with MRP and is joined by new teammate Adam Johnson (Birel). Throw in last year’s emerging star Joel Miller (Birel) and rookie Cole Whitt (Topkart) and you have a very solid field. The inclusion of Phil Giebler to the action will only make the field that much better. Giebler is running ICA this year to keep his skills sharp as he pursues opportunities in formula cars and the veteran will be campaigning an Intrepid with factory TM power. With his considerable experience and pedigree, he instantly becomes one of the men to beat this year. After both the East and West divisions were dominated by Giessen and Vorrath, respectively, Giebler will add an important new dynamic to the overall points race.
 | Alex Speed looking to repeat in '05
(Photo: PKC-MLP) |
Over in ICC, the field is every bit as good as any we have seen recently. This group of top shifter studs looks an awful lot like a grid for the SuperNationals – it’s just that deep. Naturally, all eyes will be on a few drivers as they will likely lead the way. Last year’s ICC National Champion Alex Speed is back with Birel this year and will see challenges from Kyle Wiegand (GP), Darren Elliott (CRG) and Josh Schreiber (Biesse). The list gets longer when you throw in formula car refugees like David Jurca (Italkart), who will be re-united with tuner David Carpentier, Matt Jaskol (CRG) and Lorenzo Mandarino (CRG). Add in rookie sensation Daniel Morad (First Kart) and you have a recipe for great racing in Norman and throughout the season.
Joining the pro classes on the card this weekend with be support divisions that include JICA, 80 Junior, Easykart and Cadet. The two Junior classes should be wide open this year as many of the front runners from ‘04 have graduated to the senior ranks. One thing you can be sure of is that JICA has become one of the biggest and toughest classes in the series. Zalud admits that he held his breath before last season opened, not knowing for certain how JICA would be received. He was relieved to find a big field that steadily grew throughout the year. This season, it will be even bigger as the formula is being well accepted at the national level here in the United States.
The flow into JICA and 80cc Junior will continue with experienced drivers thanks to the continued growth of the Cadet category, which is expected to put a full field of 40 cars on the track at OMC.
Rounding out the structure is the Easykart program which offers tightly controlled spec racing, which in theory places the emphasis on the driver. The Easykart crowd is once again offering a solid prize structure for the winner of the Stars Championship that includes cash and Formula BMW scholarships. The field features some big talent with the likes of ’04 champ Carlos Duenas, Adam Johnson and Paulie Harraka.
Since the final checker flag flew in Orlando last year, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for - the start of another season of racing for the sport’s only true national championship in sprint racing. EKN will be on-site all weekend to provide full coverage with expert input from the staffs of EKN and Super Kart Illustrated. Stay tuned, you won’t want to miss any of the action.
Super Kart Illustrated - All Access Pits Notes:
Alan and AJ
RBI Racing will return to competition in 2005 with a line-up of lead drivers with first names Alan and AJ. However, there is a new AJ in the RBI seat this year as AJ Noud has left the team, replaced on recently by SKI Test Driver AJ Whisler. Along with competing for the Grand Junction Colorado-based team, Whisler has taken over as both the Race Team Manager and General Manager of RBI.
MIA
Several of the top 20 drivers from SKI’s ICC Driver Rankings will be missing-in-action this weekend due to a variety of reasons and this quick pit notes will highlight their whereabouts:
- As reported above, AJ Noud (14th) has left RBI with no word where he is due to surface. The SKI Team will be delving into the story as soon as they land in Norman to get the scoop.
Recently crowned SKI Driver of the Year Alan Sciuto (2nd) is now concentrating on his car career and will not suit up this weekend. Despite rumors that had him racing in Norman, Alan’s father Richard was adamant he would not be in attendance.
- Florida’s Jonathan Branam (8th) will be racing in the Formula Mazda series this year and has left MRP.
- Long-time Trackmagic factory pilot Kyle Martin (16th) will be in Daytona for AMA Bikeweek this weekend tending to his family’s M4 Exhaust business. Daytona marks the debut of the Team M4 EMGO Suzuki squad and Martin has decided that he needs to be there instead of Norman.
- Gary Carlton (19th), Martin’s Trackmagic teammate, will also be missing from the Norman ICC line-up. The Trackmagic squad has decided to skip the opening round after their new FTR chassis was not homologated by Stars until recently. Team boss Ryan Pfau says they will be at Moran for the second round of the West program.
- Ron White (3rd) has stepped out of the seat and will be running his RC-20 Racing team with lead driver Tad Funakoshi.
- Jordy Vorrath (5th) will be focusing all his energy on the ICA class this weekend and will not by performing double-duty in ICC, as he did in 2004..
New Teams
Several drivers will be running with new squads this year after a fairly active silly season.
- Josh Schreiber has left long-time partner MRP to join J&J Racing for 2005. Schreiber looked comfortable at the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup opener in Daytona and should hit the ground running.
- Joe White is back racing with, and for, his brother Ron after a long frustrating season with Mile High Karting in 2004.
- Tad Funakoshi, the surprise pole winner of the SKUSA SuperNationals last fall, has teamed with White’s RC20 operation and will be on a Top Kart with SwedeTech Pavesi power.
- Chris Wehrheim has left Swiss Hutless and its importer Eurokart and has returned to PCR. The Georgia driver will run with the Franklin Motorsports/C-G Racing team in ICA.
- Lorenzo Mandarino is now with Genesis Racing aboard a CRG Road Rebel in this year. The quick Canadian will focus on ICC but don’t be shocked to see him in ICA as well.
- Tom Dyer stays with Leading Edge Motorsports and Greg Bell but he will be aboard an Intrepid this season after running Trackmagic and Karit last year. Dyer sampled the Intrepid at the SuperNats but could not make the complete jump to the chassis at last fall’s Stars finale because he had already used up his single allowed chassis swap.
- Iowa’s Adam Johnson will be under the MRP tent after several years with J&J Racing and he will take to the track in ICA. Brother Johnny Johnson is also on the move and he and his partners recently announced that he will join the J3 team and will be campaigning a Kosmic in 2005. |
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