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| November 13, 2005 News |
| EKN Trackside: SKUSA SuperNationals IX - Predictions |
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Rob Howden
Super Kart Illustrated Editor-in-Chief
After laying a beating on the SuperPro class through the first three days of competition, it would be impossible to pick anyone other than Ron White as the favorite to win today. White has fine-tuned his TopKart/SwedeTech Pavesi package all year and he peaking at exactly the right time. The chassis looks incredibly balanced in terms of grip and White is certainly on his game. Essentially, this is a fight for second.
Should anything happen to White, the lead will likely fall to Gary Carlton. The factory Trackmagic driver is handling his chassis set-up decisions himself this weekend and he has been fast all week. I expect to see Carlton run to second after a battle with Lorenzo Mandarino, Ryan Phinny, Jan Velez and Jason Bowles.
Rob’s Picks:
1. Ron White
2. Gary Carlton
3. Lorenzo Mandarino
4. Ryan Phinny
5. Jason Bowles
Tim Blaney
Super Kart Illustrated Editor
Having watched all the sessions over the past two days, I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying that Ron White will win the 2005 SKUSA SuperNationals. White has been as good this year as he was a couple years ago when he won at the Rio. Should White falter a couple drivers have stood out. Lorenzo Mandarino has been quick every session and will be in the fight as will Gary Carlton. Phil Carlson has looked good and if he can get through the field quickly, he will be on the podium by the end of the race. My sleeper for the day is Jonathan Branam. Coming to Vegas having not raced a kart all season long, he’s been fast and were it not for the incident with Carlson in heat three, he’s like be on the front row and in the fight for the win.
Tim’s Picks:
1. Ron White
2. Lorenzo Mandarino
3. Gary Carlton
4. Phil Carlson
5. Jonathan Branam
David Cole
eKartingnews.com News Manager
With White taking commanding victories in his three heat races, White has the best Vegas odds at winning this year’s SuperNationals. After talking with him last night on the ‘Happy Hour with Howden’ show, he seems very confident, as he normally is, on earning his second SuperNationals victory. If his TopKart can stay together, I see a possible flag-to-flag win for the Mirage Motorsports owner.
My sleeper pick of the weekend is Jan Velez. With two seconds and a fourth place finish in the heats, he has been the quiet one lurking around the front of the field. One of the most impressive passes this weekend was the turn one pass on Bowles yesterday. Another driver who has been impressive this weekend is Lorenzo Mandarino. With the win under the lights on Friday, he showed he was going to be a contender all weekend long and proved it. Gary Carlton has tasted victory this weekend as well and should be in the hunt for the podium. Taking the final spot on the podium will be the track designer himself, Alan Rudolph. The shifter karting veteran seems to step up at the big events and he will work his way to the front of the field.
David’s Picks:
1. Ron White
2. Jan Velez
3. Lorenzo Mandarino
4. Gary Carlton
5. Alan Rudolph |
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