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| November 07, 2006 News |
| Event Preview: SKUSA SuperNats X - Support Classes |
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With the SuperKarts! USA SuperNationals X presented by BC Ethic just around the corner, EKN was able to get a hold of the entry list for the upcoming event. In this section, we examine the six support classes that will run throughout the weekend, highlighting just a few drivers expected to be at the front of the pack in each category.
For the Official Discussion Thread, visit HERE
For the Event Page, visit HERE
 | Brett Smrz will make his debut in the shifter category this weekend in S1
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
Formula S1 - Oakley
Originally the top level in SKUSA competition before the SuperPro division was created, the Formula S1 division has become the semi-pro rung for the shifter kart category. Previous FS1 winners at the SuperNats include Alex Speed, Tad Funakoshi and Logan Gomez to name a few. This year, a new driver could emerge as the next rising star of the 28 entries.
A few young guns to watch include three-time Stars of Karting JICA divisional champion Brett Smrz. The Idaho pilot will be making his first shifter kart start of his career. Joining Smrz in his gearbox debut will be James Kennedy. The ICA hotshoe and racewinner was very impressive in the final two Stars events of the season, winning in Shawano. Other young drivers to watch this week include Indy’s Cole Mathewson and ProKart Challenge champion Slava Prikhodko.
Along with the young pilots, a few Formula G1 drivers will be pulling double duty, including PP Mastro, Voytek Burdzy, and Joseph Sturm. The entry list also has an international feel with Judith Van Der Linde (Netherlands) and Scott Barnes (Bermuda) trekking to Las Vegas to run the tenth edition of this great race.
TaG Senior - MG Tires
Taking the crown for the most drivers entered is the TaG Senior division. Filling up the 80 available spots a month before the event, many of the top drivers in North America who are not running a shifter kart this weekend will head into battle aboard a TaG package. With an average age of just under 21 and only six drivers over the age of 30, many of the up-and-coming drivers will make this class a fun one to watch.
Making up the 80 drivers is a mixture of veterans, ICA standouts, TaG regulars, and JICA pilots making the jump up to the senior level. Adam Johnson, Stars champion Brandon Adkins, Brendan Langlois, Colby Jenn, Daniel Morad, Dusty Davis, Eric Gerrits, Grant Hebner, Howie Idelson, Jess Peterson, Joel Miller, Johnny Johnson, Kevin Glover, Matt Johnson, Michael Hogg, Mitch Cobb, Rocky Moran Jr., and Tyler Dueck highlight the list and any of them could start this time out.
Qualifying will be vital as the class will be split into four groups for round-robin heat races. The top finishers will earn a bid to the main event while others will have to go through the Last Chance Qualifiers.
 | Darren Elliott will make his return to karting at the November SKUSA SuperNationals in the G1
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
Formula G1 - KLS Racing
One group that will be exciting to watch all weekend will be the 125cc Shifter Masters division or Formula G1 as they are known in SKUSA land. Even though many of these guys have to be at work on Monday morning, they still put on a tough race every time they hit the track. This year is probably one of the deepest fields in the seven-year history of the class being offered at the SuperNats.
Highlighting the entry list is the return of shifter kart legend Darren Elliott to the SuperNationals. Elliott, who hung up the helmet just before last year’s event, is making his return to the driver’s seat this weekend in his debut run in the G1 division. After years of questioning, the karting world can now confirm the exact of for the 1998 S1 winner, 41, according to the entry list.
Elliott's return will not be an easy one as most anyone could walk away with the $5,000 to win. Last year’s winner Jaime Zuleta will look to make it two in a row while 2004 winner Bonnier Moulton will be focused on redeeming his performance from last year. The two battled all race long before contact put Moulton into the TechPros, allowing Shane Shipley to take second. Shipley will be back again, this time working under the same tent with Moulton and Select Shifter, forming ‘The Karting Collective’.
Zuleta and Moulton will not be the only former winners in the field as 2001 winner Eduardo Martins will make his return to the SuperNationals as well. Other drivers to watch for include PKC V1 champion PP Mastro, Texan Collin Lynn, and Great Lakes standouts Voytek Burdzy and Kurt Mathewson.
S3 - Stock Honda - RCE Racing
Over 60 drivers will be competing in the Stock Honda division over the weekend, tripling the number of drivers that competed at last year’s SuperNats. Last year’s winner Nick Halen will be running just the SuperPro division, leaving room for a first time SuperNats winner.
A couple of the favorites going into the weekend include last year’s SuperNats star Connor DePhillippi. The 14-year old swept both Junior categories last year (80cc Junior and JICA) and began this year running JICA before moving up to the Stock Honda package in the ProKart Challenge. In just three races, he scored two poles and three top five finishes.
One driver who will be quick is Port Orchard, WA pilot Kyle Krueger. The 17-year old won this year’s 125cc Moto division at the Rock Island Grand Prix in spectacular fashion. After stalling on the start, he drove through the field in a rain-soaked event, able to take the lead on the final lap to take the big win. Krueger will lead the Cascade Regional Series contingent with a big group of their Spec drivers are making their way to Vegas.
ProKart Challenge Spec 2 champion Bobby Legate and Spec 1 runner-up Randy McKee will join the fight as well, leading the PKC contingent made up of at least 10 pilots. Another story of note is Acceleration Karting’s Curtis Cooksey, winner of the Miller Motorsports Park Summer Shootout, who will compete in S3 and quick jump on a plane to Portugal for the Rotax Grand Finals, set to begin the Monday after the SuperNats main events.
 | Connor DePhillippi will look to add a third SuperNats victory to his CV, running S3 this weekend
(Photo: Super Kart Illustrated) |
S4 - Stock Honda Heavy - RLV Products
With the popularity of the Stock Honda package growing, a second Stock Honda class was added to support the over-35 drivers, along with allowing drivers over 200 lbs. into the category. 36 drivers are slated to battle for the win with many of the drivers from the popular West Coast programs, the ProKart Challenge and the Cascade Regional Series. Some of the top PKC drivers include, Doug Hayashi, Fernando Diaz, Jeff Littrell, Marc Segal, and Mike McClaran. the Pacific Northwest's Craig Sender, Kelly Baker, Raman Sarin, Randy Small, Scott Officer and Wyatt King will be representing the Cascade region. When the karts hit the track on Thursday, the top contenders will emerge during the opening practice sessions.
TaG Masters - Zoombang
Also making a huge jump in entries this year is the TaG Masters division. Up 20 drivers from last year’s 18 entries, the class is getting some younger pilots joining the fight. With the rules set for drivers over 200 lbs. allowed to compete in the division as well, some younger, but heavier, drivers will join the fight.
Last year’s winner John Crow will be back again this year to defend his proud victory at the end of SuperNats IX under the sunset skies of Las Vegas. With the added drivers compared to last year, it will be a very competitive field with another driver possible earning their first SuperNats victory.
One of them is 2000 SKUSA ProMoto Tour S2 champion Travis Irving. The 21-year old Californian will look to add a SuperNats victory to his impressive CV, filled with multiple IKF Grand National victories and many other big wins. Last year’s second and third place finishers Mel Snow and Wayne Enright, both from the Leopard Challenge in British Columbia, will be back with both looking to move up on the podium steps. Another driver to watch will be Californian Jerry Henderson. The provisional winner in 2004 was quick at last year’s event before making contact with the TechPro but will be quick again this year as well.
Tomorrow, EKN will look at the main event for this year’s SuperNationals, the SuperPro division.
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