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| November 03, 2005 News |
| EKN Trackside: USSC Nationals – Preview |
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 | J.R. Osborne (83) will look to stay ahead of Derek Eastty (79) and the rest of the FE field this weekend
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
This weekend is host to the season finale for the United States Superkart Championship at the famed Road Atlanta facility where two National Champions will be crowned Sunday afternoon with a winner-take-all format. The 12 turn, 2.54 mile course was host to last year’s opening round in March with the Big South Road Racing Series. This time around, BSRRS is promoting the World Karting Association National Road Racing Series season finale with the USSC invited to run the Nationals in conjunction with the WKA event. Nearly 40 drivers are expected to be competing this weekend with the USSC program.
The weekend format will be similar to the opening round at Barber and the Road America event for the Eastern Division. Friday will be practice and qualifying day with the drivers set to run for the pole position on the last session of the day. Saturday will feature a few warm-up sessions with the 30 minute Prefinal to take place with the WKA Unlimited race group. Sunday will also include a couple morning warm-up session with the 30 minute Final to take place later in the day, again with the WKA Unlimited race group.
 | Eastern Division ICE Champion is looking to be crowned National Champion
(Photo: Russell Fulmer - photobama.com) |
Leading the Vegas odds to take the National Championship in the Formula E category is current FE Eastern Division champion J.R. Osborne (Stockman/BRC). Osborne has been the quickest driver all year with three victories to help him earn the divisional championship. He made the chassis/engine switch at the last round of the Eastern schedule at the Motorsport Ranch a month ago. There, he was able to hold off Nemesis Superkart team driver Derek Eastty. After picking up a win in the ICE division opener at Barber, Eastty made the switch to the French-built FPE power plant to battle for the FE title. Unfortunately, they encountered problems the next two rounds. At the Ranch event, they switched to the BRC engine for a one-race deal as their FPE was still being worked on in France. Eastty and the Nemesis squad have reacquired the FPE and have had successful tests in the past month and should be a factor all weekend.
Looking to mix up the front of the FE field will be Eastern Division runner-up Johnny West (MSR/Honda RS) and Chris Taylor (Turfrey/Yamaha TZ). West finished on the podium in the first three rounds this year and won the FE race at Road Atlanta last year. Johnny “Superkart” would like nothing better than to run his best race of the year and take the National Championship crown. Also looking to be in the hunt is Taylor. His best finish of the year was a second place at the third round at Barber where he showed a vast improvement from the first two events. After missing the final round due to family issues, Taylor has had more time to fine-tune his machine to battle for the win. One driver leading the West Coast competitors is Reggie Brown Jr. (P-1/BRC). Brown competed at the Road America and the second Barber round, where he qualified fourth but succumbed to mechanical problems at both events. One key driver who will not be able to make the Nationals is Western Division FE Champion Chris Hegar. The 2004 Super Kart Illustrated Road Racer of the Year will be attending the Fontana Road Race Festival next weekend instead to race his 125cc shifter.
 | Ryen Miller is having an outstanding Superkart rookie year
(Photo: Mark Relibas) |
The Intercontinental E will put the two divisional champions against each other as well as a deep field. Eastern Division champion Andy Kiker (Anderson/Honda CR) will try to defend his National Championship against Western Division champion Ryen Miller (PVP/Honda CRF450). Kiker dominated the last three Eastern events while Miller has made his rookie Superkart year one to remember with two wins in three events in the West. The road hasn’t been easy for Kiker though as he was challenged all year long by Jim Ingram (PVP/GasGas). The Texan showed a lot of speed and battled Kiker with mechanical problems taking him out of contention at all four Eastern events. The three drivers will look to battle against the rest of the ICE field for the National Championship.
Along with the cash prizes for the weekend, West Racing is offering a week’s vacation at one of his time shares while P-1 racing is giving away a full set of bodywork as well. EKN will be on hand to bring you are Trackside Coverage all weekend as well as updates on the WKA NRRS as they wrap up their nine race championship this weekend. |
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