With the new karting season getting underway this coming weekend, we are expecting that 2015 will be one of the most intriguing years we’ve seen in recent memory. A number of organizations, series, and one-off events are going to be offered over the coming 12 months and over the last month, all the pairings have been coming together. Teams are putting the final pieces together for their attack on the year, with the first events coming this weekend in both the southwest and southeast.

EKN has been following the influx of driver and team announcements, so we’ve decided to package them all here to give our readership a look at this year’s ‘Silly Season’. This article will be updated over the next few weeks as we receive additional information from teams, drivers and kart shops.

Checkered Motorsports / PCR USA – updated 12.18.14
Checkered was a growing program in 2014 and will be expanding even more in 2015. The Ohio-based operation is ready to take on the winter programs, competing in the Florida Winter Tour Rok Cup weekend, as well as the new Florida Pro Kart Series. The team had a strong contingent of drivers at the United States Pro Kart Series – highlighted by a 2014 championship in Leopard Pro with AJ Myers.  They will continue running the USPKS series, along with the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series in 2015. The team will also expand further into the SKUSA Pro Tour this year.

Gone: John Paul Southern Jr.
Returning: AJ Myers (Senior), Ryan Norberg (Senior), Austin Jordan (Senior), Andrew Bujdoso (Senior), Evan Fritts (Senior), Robert Bujdoso (Senior), Sasha Brun-Wibaux (Senior), Nolan Ruocco (Senior), Kyle Smith (Senior), Francois Brun-Wibaux (Master)
New: Adam Petitt (Master), Trent Hancock (Junior), Olivia Bellinger (Junior), Josh Holland (Junior)

Franklin Motorsports
Merlin Nation is alive and kicking, ready to rack up more victories and championships in 2015. Many of the drivers that drive under the Franklin Motorsports tent are loyal to the Sieracki family and the Merlin name. 2013 USPKS champion Kyle Kalish is moving over to the six-speed, racing in the WKA and SKUSA Pro Tour this season. Armin Cavkusic drove under the Franklin tent last year, and is set to test out the latest chassis on Merlin while in Florida for the Florida Pro Kart Series. The team is focused on the FPKS program and the Rok Cup portion of the Florida Winter Tour before gearing up for the United States Pro Kart Series this summer along with stops at the SKUSA Pro Tour. You can find their parts trailer at all the Route 66 Sprint Series events in the Midwest, along with the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series. A couple drivers are moving up from the Sportsman ranks to join WKA champion Brandon Lemke in Junior divisions this season, with more young drivers moving up in the years to come.

Returning: Kyle Kalish (WKA Stock Moto), Austin Schaff (Junior), Alex Bertagnoli (Junior), Brandon Lemke (Junior), Darin Marcus (Senior), Armin Cavkusic (Merlin)

Italian Motors USA – updated 12.18.14
The Italkart marque has been one of the most successful karts in TaG competition for many years. At this time, the Italian Motors USA/Italkart program is focused on regional competition for 2015.  The IKF Region 6 Gold Cup Series and the SIMA Winter/Summer Series programs are on the docket for this season We’ll have more on their program in February when EKN provides an in-depth look at the SIMA facility and speaks with Italian Motors USA’s Michael Valiante.

Returning: Remo Ruscitti (Senior), David Jurca (Senior), Yurik Carvahlo (Senior), Jamie McAllister (Senior), Brandon Cusack (Senior), Christian Potolicchio (Senior), Ron Hyde (Master), Don McGregor (Shifter), Luiz Branquihno (Junior), Gabriel Patrule (Junior), David Raifalov (Junior).

Musgrave Racing Company – updated 12.22.14
The upcoming season will be one of expansion for MRC, as the program is adding the Praga chassis to its existing lineup of Tony Kart and CRG. S1 driver Billy Musgrave will be moving over to Praga, along with a driver to be named later. The operation is stepping up its trackside support and race team program next year, fielding drivers at the SKUSA Pro Tour, California ProKart Challenge, and Los Angeles Karting Championship with a large contingent in the S4 categories, including Darren Elliott and Rob Logan. MRC’s engine program with Musgrave at the helm suffered zero mechanical failures in 2014, and is looking to prove that MRC can win races with reliable packages.

Returning: Billy Musgrave (S1), Chandler Campbell (S2), Travis Nicklas (S2), Aaron Schmitt (S3), Dekota Fripp (S3), Robert Heck Jr. (S3), Alex King (S4), Cris Araujo (S4), Darren Elliott (S4), Howie Idelson (S4), Rob Logan (S4), Mark Juncosa (S4), Willy Musgrave (S4), Kalvin Chen (S4SM), Rick McAllister (S4SM), Ron Rossetti (S4SM), Sean Bond (S4SM), Venkat Reddy (S4SM)
New: Alan Michel (S2), Carter Williams (S2), Justin Bennett (S4)

Nash Motorsportz – updated 12.18.14
2014 was a growing year for the Nash Motorsportz program, and 2015 is expected to be just as big. Seth Nash is one of the most established figures in Southern California karting, and on the national scene as well, and his program is building from the local level and booming into the national scene. The outfit always has big numbers at the Los Angeles Karting Championship, So-Cal Rotax Challenge and the California ProKart Challenge. This winter, the team will be at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas, and will then gear up for the SKUSA Pro Tour. The operation is strong in its Cadet numbers as well.

Returning: Brenden Baker (Senior), Nathan Seegrist (Senior), Christian Brooks (Senior), Travis Lowe (Senior), Jonathan Eshom (Senior), Trevor Sumner (Senior) Justice Lepe (Junior), Anthony Sawyer (Tony Kart), Greg Osborne (Junior), Gary Iyles (Junior), Dante Yu (Junior), Zoey Edenholm (Junior), Dezel West (Junior), Larry Hayashigawa (Master)

Ocala Gran Prix – update 01.05.15
The always-stacked OGP tent has parted ways mutually with three top drivers from the past few seasons. All have grown and progressed under the tutelage of the OGP staff, which is right now committed to just the Florida Winter Tour Rotax and Rok Cup programs.

Gone: Nick Neri, Oliver Askew, Jonathan Kotyk
Returning: Kyle Kirkwood (Senior), Morgan Healey (Senior), Austin Garrison (Senior), Matias Ramirez (Junior)

PSL West – updated 01.05.15
The past month has been an interesting time for the main PSL Karting program, however, PSL West is committed to the CRG brand for the coming months. The operation is located in Western Canada and will evaluate its future, but right now, they remain committed to supporting their customers. The team is loaded and ready for the Rotax Challenge of the Americas program, bringing veteran Matt Jaskol on-board for 2015. The team will continue its support of the Rotax Can-Am ProKart Challenge, adding world champion driver Scott Campbell to their roster. Another big name under the tent in 2015 is Fritz Leesmann, who will be working with one of PSL West’s Mini Max drivers – Grant Langon.

Returning: Jordon Redlin (Senior), Jacob Astren (Junior)
New: Matt Jaskol (DD2), Scott Campbell (DD2 Master)

Sodi Kart USA / Dallas Karting Complex – update 12.17.14
The Sodi Kart brand is building a new foundation in the United States with the Dallas Karting Complex at its home base. Mike Jones and Kevin Adds continue to build a following for Sodi from Texas outward, and their 2015 campaign is featuring some big names. Factory drivers Anthony Abbasse and Arnaud Kozlinski are joining the team at the Florida Winter Tour, with another solid line-up ready for SKUSA Pro Tour and Texas ProKart Challenge competition. Jake French will replace Louie Pagano, who finished 2014 as the SKUSA Pro Tour vice-champion in TaG Senior. French will focus on the shifter side along with building back a Rotax CV.

Gone: Louie Pagano
Returning: Nathan Adds (Rotax/SKUSA), Austin Wilkins (Rotax/SKUSA), Mike Jones (Rotax), Trenton Estep (SKUSA)
New: Jake French (Rotax/SKUSA)

Top Kart USA – updated 01.05.15
Top Kart was very successful in 2014, and is looking for more this season. The Indy-based operation is set for another attack on the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series, United States Pro Kart Series and the SKUSA Pro Tour. The season begins with a full campaign of the Florida Pro Kart Series. They will welcome Top Kart factory drivers throughout the season. Matteo Vigano competed at Daytona KartWeek, winning the Pro IAME X30 Final, and is set for the opening round of the Florida Pro Kart Series, in addition to the SKUSA Pro Tour in S1 and TaG Senior. Marco Maestranzi, the 2014 SuperNationals TaG Senior winner, will join the team throughout the season at selected events.

Returning: Zach Holden (Junior), David Malukas (Junior), Abby McLaughlin (Junior), Alexander Kardashian (Junior), Jason Welage (Junior), Marco Maestranzi (Senior)
New: Jack W. Miller (Junior), John Paul Southern Jr. (Junior), Matteo Viganao (Senior)

2Wild Karting – updated 01.05.15
The So-Cal based operation enjoyed a championship season in 2014 with driver Jake Craig. The young driver has moved on, however, with an eye on racing in Europe, leaving the team with a void. This opening was quickly filled with veteran Louie Pagano moving over to the Tony Kart brand. 2Wild will contend the Rotax Challenge of the Americas with five drivers, including 2015 F3 European Championship driver Gustavo Menezes. The So-Cal Rotax Challenge and California ProKart Challenge will be the regional focus. The one win still eluding Pagano is the US Rotax Grand Nationals, which he will try to conquer in 2015. 2Wild will continue their support of the Los Angeles Karting Championship at CalSpeed Karting Center.

Gone: Jake Craig
Returning: Ryon Beachner (Senior), Carlee Taylor (Senior)
New: Louie Pagano (Senior), Gustavo Menezes (Senior), Max Fedler (Junior), Everest Fedler (Junior), Jonathan Shone (Junior)

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