The 2015 United States Pro Kart Series will commence on April 24-26 at the GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. This event begins the third season for the program, promoted by Mark Coats, aimed at providing an elite series for TaG and Yamaha competitors along the eastern half of the United States. The entry total for the weekend is reaching the record mark of 169 entries per day, set last year at the season opener at GoPro Motorplex.

This will be the third straight year the Mooresville, NC facility has hosted the opening rounds of the United States Pro Kart Series. The inaugural event saw torential rains greet the first event, which was followed up with perfect weather in 2014. Sticking with the month of April to begin the new season, the USPKS is back to GoPro Motorplex for another exciting weekend of racing. The 7/10-mile course is a replica of the Kartodromo Parma circuit in Italy – which hosted five world championships during its time. Updates have been made to the facility over the last 12 months, including run-off sections at certain points around the course, including an updated turn 2 complex.

eKartingNews.com is once again working with the USPKS to provide EKN Live coverage. Race fans and family members who are unable to attend can tune into ekartingnews.com/live for live audio with USPKS announcer Randy Kugler and live timing from Race-Monitor.com. Daily race reports will be published daily on the site’s home page, updates posted to the Official Discussion Thread, along with breaking news, photos and other links on the EKN Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Mini Rok Cadet

Nicholas d’Orlando enters the USPKS opener as a favorite in Mini Rok Cadet (Photo: Florida Karting Photos)

The Mini Rok Cadet division made its debut with the USPKS program last year, welcoming 27 drivers on the weekend. Pre-entries numbers have matched that, with a projected total to eclipse the 30 driver mark. The key story going into the season is the graduation of a handful of championship contenders and winners from a year ago. Included in that are the top-four from last year’s point standings, including defending champion Dylan Tavella.

Among those returning to compete for the championship is 2013 Yamaha Cadet champion Sam Mayer (Franklin Motorsport/Merlin). Mayer had the speed in his Mini Rok ride all last year, finishing fifth in the standings but was just unable to reach the top of the podium. The 11-year-old will look to end his Cadet career on top in what will likely be his last season in the youngest division. The only driver to win in 2014 and return in the class is Lachlan DeFrancesco. The Benik driver won in South Bend, finishing the year with mixed results and landed eighth in the standings.

The season, including the opening weekend, will be about those drivers who are going to step up and contend. Kart Life star Jason Welage is primed for contention, beginning his first full season with Top Kart USA after placing ninth last year as a privateer entrant. One name that stands out as a possible championship contender is Koene USA’s Nicholas d’Orlando. The New York driver is making his USPKS debut in Mooresville, ready to fight for this year’s title. He finished second in the Florida Winter Tour Rok Cup USA championship recently, and the Tony Kart driver is among the top Cadet drivers in the country.

USPKS is gaining prestige west of the Mississippi with drivers coming east to compete. Colorado driver Hannah Greenemeier (KartSport North America/Deadly Kart), Arizona’s Leland Honeyman (Expirit), and Texan Yusuf Moola (Birel) are among the drivers competing in this weekend. A lot of young pilots are making their Cadet debut, including last year’s Yamaha Rookie champion Luca Mars (KartWerks/CompKart).

Provisional Mini Rok Cadet Entry List

Yamaha Cadet

Sam Mayer looks to put Merlin Nation back on top in Yamaha Cadet for 2015 (Photo: EKN)

Six different drivers stood atop of the Yamaha Cadet podium in the eight races last year. What is among the most competitive categories of the series, another exciting season is in store. Inaugural series champion Sam Mayer was edged out in the title chase by Dylan Tavella. The defending champ is moving up to Junior, and leaves Mayer as the top returning driver. Mayer could give Franklin Motorsport/Merlin its second class championship in three years, but has a number of driver in the hunt entering the season opener.

Like Mini Rok, numbers are similar to last year’s total and could eclipse the record of 27 from the 2013 opener. About a dozen of drivers will compete in both the Mini Rok and Yamaha divisions, including Jason Welage. The Top Kart USA driver is among the contenders entering 2015. Welage finished last season eighth in the standings. Madison Campeau (KartWerks/Praga) and Aidan Harrington (Merlin) are a couple drivers that will move up the standings this year, with the graduation of a handful of drivers to Junior. Other names will rise up the order as the Mooresville weekend and the season moves on.

Provisional Yamaha Cadet Entry List

Yamaha Rookie

2014 belonged to Luca Mars, as the Pennsylvania driver won seven of the eight feature races. Eighteen drivers was the most seen in one weekend, the inaugural event in 2013. This year’s opening event has 18 drivers scheduled to compete for the wins in Mooresville, with hopes of racing toward a series championship. Donald Whorton II (Tony Kart) is the top returning driver, finishing fifth in last year’s standings. Others include Chester Brimer (Praga), Nico Montileone (Praga), Conner Churchill (Tony Kart) and Owen Mahle (Top Kart).

Provisional Yamaha Rookie Entry List

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