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| November 13, 2005 News |
| EKN Trackside: SKUSA SuperNationals IX – Sunday Report |
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 | Lorenzo Mandarino - the 2005 SKUSA SuperNationals Winner
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
When SuperSunday began, the EKN staff was unanimous in our predications that the only thing that could stop Ron White (TopKart) was some form of trouble. As the SuperPro field assembled on the grid, all looked in order when, just before the green light came on, White’s kart lurched forward and then nearly stalled. Lorenzo Mandarino (CRG) pounced on the opening, taking the holeshot as the field worked to get around White, who was able to keep the fire going in his SwedeTech Pavesi. Slotting into second was Gary Carlton (Trackmagic) with Ryan Phinny (Birel) in third.
In the second corner, things got ugly as a big wreck collected several drivers including Kyle Martin (Tony Kart) Phil Carlson (Tony Kart), Kyle Ray (Maranello) and former S2 winner AJ Noud (GP).
Mandarino was fast and built a good lead over Carlton and Phinny with a big pack of drivers all looking to stay in the fight for the win. One early retiree was Alan Rudolph (RBI), who had a lower rod bearing let go on his Hi-Tech TM.
The group for the fourth position got a major shuffle when David Jurca (Italkart) and Jan Velez (CRG) finally got past Jon Allen (Kosmic) in turn ten. At the same time, Wesley Boswell (Birel) dove to the inside of the same turn. That pass attempt failed and sent he and Kyle Wiegand (GP) out of the race.
Up front, Carlton was slowly closing the gap to the leader with Phinny well back in third with no one close enough to challenge him for a spot in the top three. Jurca was in fourth and defending against White, who had worked to fifth. At the checker, Mandarino thrust his arms in the air as the winner while Carlton drove to an impressive second with rookie Ryan Phinny taking a stellar third.
Heading into turn eight on the final lap, White gave Jurca a hard shot in the rear bumper, signaling that he was going to come through sooner of later. ‘Later’ came quickly as in turn 11 he nailed Jurca, moving him out of the way. This contact allowed White to take fourth as Velez got past the sliding Italkart as well, advancing into fifth. It was the second year in a row that White and Jurca have gotten into each other in the race’s top class.
After the event, Mandarino celebrated with his father Vince in an emotional reunion in the tech line. It’s been a lean year for Mandarino, but he ends the season with the big win.
 | The DOUBLE sweep this weekend in the Junior divisions by Connor De Phillippi
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
JICA
After several failed attempts to get the JICA Final underway, race director Terry Riggins moved outside polesitter Brett Smrz (First Kart) to the back of the field for jumping ahead of Connor De Phillippi (KRT) during two aborted starts. On the first two attempts, Smrz was being being pushed from behind as he approached the start finish line ahead of polesitter De Phillippi on each occasion. Once underway, the race was effectively over when De Phillippi took the lead. After sweeping the heats, the KRT driver let everyone know he is destined to be the man to beat in next year’s JICA National Championship.
Behind De Phillippi, Scott Rossi (KRT), Brendan Langlois (Maranello) and Christian Stover (Tony Kart) scrapped for the second rung on the podium, going three wide into the 11th corner at one point. Rossi took control and rolled to second. Langlois was third with Stover finishing in fourth. Rounding out the top five was Michael Hogg (Italkart).
125 Stock
Running to his first SuperNationals victory was Nick Halen (MS Kart), who drove to the easy win in the Stock 125 class. Halen’s fight with Acceleration Karting’s Curtis Cooksey (Biesse) didn’t last long after Cooksey stuffed his Biesse on the second lap. Finishing behind Halen was Jonathan Wright (Tony Kart) with Greg Smith (GP) in third. Rounding out the top five were Fernando Diaz and Scott Barnes in his PG Racing Intrepid.
 | 125 Masters winner Jaime Zuleta
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
80 Junior
By the time the 80 Junior Final was set to roll off, De Phillippi was looking to make it six straight wins, a first for the SKUSA SuperNationals. Off the line at the green, De Phillippi took the lead with Billy Goshen (TopKart) and Laura Hayes (TopKart) falling in behind. As De Phillippi pulled away, Hayes slid into second and held off David Ostella (First Kart), who took third. Goshen ended in fourth while Christian Stover (TonyKart) finished fifth.
125 Masters
In the 125 Masters Final, the action came in the closing moments of the race. Off the line, Shayne Shipley (Arrow) took the lead but lost it when Jaime Zuleta (First Kart) pushed by. From the beginning, Zuleta went into defensive mode, much to the unhappiness of Shipley and Bonnier Moulton (Tony Kart), who were both trying to get by. Moulton had advanced quickly from tenth and looked set to attack for the win. As the race came to a close, Shipley had to check up in turn 11 when Zuleta took a slow inside line and this allowed Moulton to take up the chase from second.
The race officials were watching Moulton closely as fluid was leaking from his radiator. The Utah driver’s DDR Honda held on and on the last corner, he tried to go to the outside to set up the outside inside move. Zuleta moved over and the resultant contact with Moulton put the Tony Kart driver in the barriers. Zuleta took the win followed by Shipley and Chris Farrell (Tony Kart). APD Racing’s Kelly Baker (Tony Kart) was fourth while Doug Cox (Birel) rounded out the top five.
 | Italian Motors' David Jurca cruised to the TaG Senior victory
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
TaG Senior
Taking the lead off the green flag was Italian Motors’ David Jurca (Italkart), who was never seriously challenged for the lead. Slotting into second was Jess Peterson (Alpha), while Stars Easykart champion Cory Pollack was third. There was a lot of contact in the field that included flying noses, one-fingered salutes and ignored black flags. With Jurca, Peterson and Pollack going 1-2-3, Stars Western Division ICA champion Joel Miller (Tony Kart) finished fourth with Jerry Henderson (MMK) in fifth.
125 Semi Pro
Needing a clean start in the 125 Semi Pro, First Kart’s Logan Gomez had done well in the heats but was going to have to deal with CRG’s Michael Vincec off the line. In the early going, Vincec made it a fight but eventually he fell back. First Kart driver Zach Schiff made a strong run as after starting 18th, he powered through the field to score an impressive fifth in his first 125 event. Gomez scored the win with Vincec in second and Daniel Morad (First Kart) in third. Matt Pritiko’s fourth gave First Kart a stellar four drivers in the top five.
 | John Crow took the TaG Senior win at the end of the day
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
TaG Masters
On a picture perfect start, Ethan Wilson (Tony Kart) took the lead in the TaG Masters Final with John Crow (Margay) and Jerry Henderson (MMK) slotting behind in third. A few laps in, Crow dove under Wilson at the end of the backshute to take the lead. The entire race changed 100’ later when Wilson and Henderson made contact in the following corner, leaving Henderson in the TecPro and Wilson back in fourth. The Italkarts of Mel Snow and Wayne Enright pushed through to take second and third. Henderson was done for the day.
With no one to challenge him, Crow drove to the win with Snow and Enright in second and third. Wilson took fourth ahead and Daryle Redlin (First Kart), who rounded out the top five.
Novice Shifter
The youngest shifter drivers in the event completed their 15-lap Final with Dylan Kwasniewski (CRG), scoring the win after showing well in the heats. TopKart driver Branden Underwood finished second. Joining them on the podium were Colby Yardley (CRG) in third, Cole MacEwen (Birel) in fourth and Austin Farley (Intrepid).
Comer
After sweeping the heat races, Kyle Shriver (Tony Kart) drove away from the field in the Comer Final. Taking the lead off the line, he built up a 5.6-second advantage by the end. Running second was Dylan Kwasniewski while Dylan Nobile to third. Rounding out the top five were Branden Underwood and Joshua Goshen. |
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