eKartingNews.com, the official online media partner of Superkarts! USA, is proud to present the SKUSA SuperNationals XVII Preview Program. Over the coming days leading up to the November 20-24 event, EKN will preview each of the 11 categories that will close out the 2013 SKUSA Pro Tour while competing for a share of the prize package, worth well over $100,000.

For complete coverage of the SKUSA SuperNationals XVII, visit the EKN Event Page

S5 Junior Stock Moto

Jarred Campbell will look to continue his Pro Tour streak for SuperNats victory and the Pro Tour title (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Hitting one more driver than last year’s total, the S5 Junior Stock Moto division continues to feed the SKUSA ladder system. A number of the drivers in S1 and S2 in Las Vegas, began in the S5 category just a few years ago. These young 26 drivers have the ambition to be where they are in the future, and that journey begins in S5. Last year was a solid performance by Patricio O’Ward, earning his first SuperNationals victory in class, second for his career. Teamed with Acceleration Karting this year aboard a CRG chassis, the Texan has been spending most of the season racing open wheel cars. The transition could either be a negative, or a positive as he could come back even stronger in hopes to earn a second straight SuperNats victory.

For two drivers, the race will be about earning points, as the SKUSA Pro Tour championship fight is down to Jarred Campbell and Carter Williams. The two drivers have been going head-to-head all season, including the California ProKart Challenge with Campbell earning the championship. The Pro Tour season began with Williams earning the first main event victory, before Campbell went on the three race streak including a sweep of SummerNationals. The Iron Rock Motorsports/Intrepid driver leads by 55 points when factoring in the drop. Williams however has the big race experience as the Phil Giebler Racing/FA Kart driver placed runner-up last year.

Podium Predictions: As a defending winner, O’Ward will be among the drivers to challenge for the podium in S5. Campbell and Williams have set the pace all season, with each looking for a shot at their first SuperNationals win. While it has not been the season he had hoped for carrying the SKUSA #1 plate, Jim McKinney (KGB) will end 2013 with hardware from the SuperNationals. Earning the Texas ProKart Challenge title, Nathan Adds (Sodi Kart) has put himself on the list of contenders this year.

Wildcards: One driver to watch is Jesse Woodyard, as the Champion Racing/Intrepid driver has been improving throughout the season. The Oklahoma driver finished second to Adds on the season in the Texas PKC program. New to S5 are Ocala Gran Prix drivers Austin Garrison and Kyle Kirkwood. The two have spent the year racing in Florida, preparing for their initial trip to Vegas. S5 will also see two drivers from New Zealand with Marcus Armstrong and Logan Brown, racing under the Aluminos tent. Armstrong raced a year ago for the first time aboard a shifterkart, with Brown making his first SuperNats start.

Entry List

TaG Cadet

The title in TaG Cadet is Chase Farley’s to win or lose (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

One of the largest classes on the week is the TaG Cadet category. It bodes well for karting in general, as these young 88 drivers get a taste the biggest karting event of the year, and fill the memory banks to feed their passion for the sport in the years to come. For the fourth time in the four year history of the class at the SuperNationals, a new winner will be crowned as last year’s victor Anthony Gangi Jr. graduated to TaG Junior early this year. That puts anyone of the drivers making their way to Vegas as the next possible winner.

The odds are heavily in the favor of Chase Farley to leave the event as the SKUSA Pro Tour champion. The double SpringNationals winner holds a 200 point advantage, including the drop, over Sting Ray Robb who has elected to move up to TaG Junior. This puts the Energy Corse America pilot out front by 281 points over Jonathan Shone (Top Kart). Trenton Sparks (FA Kart), Ryan Schartau (Top Kart), and double SummerNationals winner Dylan Tavella (Tony Kart) remain mathematically in the chase, so it’s up to Farley to lose. Locked into the main, he’ll need to produce a solid few finishes in the heat races to secure the title before we hit SuperSunday.

Podium Predictions: The TaG Cadet division has always gone to the hot hand. Patricio O’Ward won coming off a victory at the Rok Cup International Final. Gangi was the top Cadet throughout 2012. Looking to match that is Tavella, as the Iron Rock Motorsports/GT7 Motorsports pilot won the US Rotax Grand Nationals Micro Max title, and is highly regarded as the top Cadet driver. With two podium finishers from last year returning, there is no reason not to think they will return this time around. Canadian Antonio Serravalle (Tony Kart) was runner-up one year ago, and is coming off the Mini Max national championship. Swedish driver Rasmus Lindh (Praga) returns after finishing fifth in 2012. Carrying the SKUSA #1 plate has its privileges, and while 2013 was not the season defending champion Hunter Kelly hoped for, the Tecno driver will bounce back to end it on a high note. Farley’s speed at the SpringNationals should put him among the contenders at the fast layout of the Vegas circuit. A top-five will also be a great way to cap off the championship.

Wildcards: With the TaG Cadet category, there are a number of possible contenders throughout the field. Over 25% are from outside North America, so selected just who will be able to make it into SuperSunday, let alone compete for the race win is very difficult. One interesting data point is the number of brother pairings competing in the class. In total, 10 drivers will not only battle the field, but settle the family rivalries in Vegas: d’Orlando (Michael and Nicholas), Famularo (Anthony and Alessandro), Jones (Jace and Jagger), Verhagen (Neil and Alex), and Yu (Dante and Dick).

Entry List

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