(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)

eKartingNews.com, the Official Media Partner of Superkarts! USA, is proud to present the Preview Series for the SKUSA SuperNationals XIX. In the coming days, EKN will preview each of the nine categories that will compete outside the Las Vegas Convention Center and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino from November 18-22.

For complete coverage of the SKUSA SuperNationals XIX, visit the EKN Event Page and head to eKartingNews.com/live for live audio and live timing throughout the five days of competition.

There is no sound, no smell, and no speed like it. The KZ powerplant is among the quickest machines in the sport of karting, zipping through the six-speed gearbox, slamming down the gears under intense braking, and amazing drivers behind the wheel showcasing just how awesome karting is. Every year, North America gets to enjoy the best the sport has to offer competing in the KZ2 division, the first of three headline divisions at the SuperNationals XIX.

The field this year is unique, and missing some regular names we have become accustom to seeing. No Abbasse, no Ardigo, no Lammers, no Thonon. These drivers have combined to win the last seven KZ2 victories prior to Paolo de Conto’s triumph a year ago. This makes Paolo and American Gary Carlton as the only previous winners in the field.

Paolo de Conto is looking to repeat as the KZ2 winner (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

The 2014 performance by the Italian de Conto was one of dominance. From the qualifying session to the main event, Paolo led the way aboard the new BirelART machine. He signed with the factory CRG event for the 2015 season, and enters the SuperNationals as the defending race winner carrying different colors. The 2011 KZ European Champion finished runner-up in this year’s CIK-FIA World Championships, carrying the momentum needed to repeat in Las Vegas.

Fun Fact #1: Scott Speed is the only driver to win back-to-back victories in the headline category, which included the S1 victory in 2000 and the SuperPro win in 2001.

Fun Fact #2: Michael Valiante won the first three SuperNationals in the ICC category before it became the engine selection of the headline division in 2003, and now under the KZ2 name.

Aside from de Conto, American driver AJ Myers is the only returning podium finisher from a year ago. It was an amazing performance by the Florida driver, who made his first start in the headline division, piloting his PCR machine to the fifth spot. After competing in Europe with the factory squad this summer, Myers has jumped over to American iKart operation to contest this year’s SuperNationals. The 2014 USPKS Leopard Pro champion is also contesting the S1 category.

Fun Fact #3: Six of the KZ2 drivers are also racing the S1 Pro Stock Moto category, including international drivers

AJ Myers will pilot the American-made iKart in an attempt for a second straight KZ2 podium (Photo: Focal Perspective Media)

When we talk KZ2, we need to look at the top international drivers. Familiar faces include 2011 Fikse Wheels Pro Tour champion Daniel Bray makes another return to the United States. The GP driver is racking up the frequent flier miles, competing at the Rotax Grand Finals before making his way to Las Vegas, looking to improve on a DNF in last year’s race. The 2014 S1 champion was British driver Jordon Lennox, as the former CRG driver came over and swept all five main events to earn the crown and become the second international pilot as champion. Lennox has moved over to BirelART, swapping roles with de Conto. This is Lennox’s first start in the KZ2 category at the SuperNationals. This year’s S1 Fikse Wheels Pro Tour championship leader Rick Dreezen is making a return to the KZ2 division. Dreezen’s last start in the category was back in 2012 when he was a Tony Kart factory driver. Now with the new expanding Ricciardo Kart brand, the Belgian driver is looking for the big pay day in Las Vegas. All three will be in the S1 category this year, driving double duty.

IndyCar’s Jack Hawksworth is making his first SuperNationals start (Photo: IndyCar.com)

Of the American contingent, Gary Carlton is set on making it the year to return back to the top of the podium. Now working as a factory driver for Formula K, Carlton continues to live and race in Europe. GFC is also racing in the S1 division. Other top North Americans include Augie Lerch (Tony Kart), Christian Schureman (CRG) Billy Musgrave (Praga) and Canadian Phillip Orcic making a return to the Mach 1 brand with a new USA program making its debut.

IndyCar driver Jack Hawksworth was among the top KZ drivers in Europe before moving to open wheel racing in 2010. The British driver’s rise up the motorsports ladder landed him an IndyCar ride in 2014, racing with AJ Foyt Enterprises in 2015. The 24-year-old will be working alongside Gary Carlton in his first SuperNationals start. Other drivers to watch include Simo Puhakka (CRG) and Lorenzo Camplese, working under the Russell Karting Specialties tent. Camplese was seventh last year, and has put in a solid 2015 season in Europe aboard the Parolin chassis.

Podium Predictions:

Rick Dreezen will try to give Ricciardo Kart its first SuperNationals victory (Photo: The Race Box)

Rob Howden – EKN Editor-in-Chief
1. Paulo De Conto
2. Rick Dreezen
3. Jordan Lennox
4. AJ Myers
5. Lorenzo Camplese

We’ve enjoyed some tremendous battles in the KZ category at past SuperNationals and I expect we’ll see another one this year.  Paulo De Conto scored his first SuperNats win last year and he’ll come into this race with loads of momentum and factory CRG support, so he gets my nod for the win.  PSL Karting’s Rick Dreezen has run the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour in the S1 class this year, so he’ll be doing double duty gunning for that title as well, and that might give him a little edge in terms of track time and chassis tuning.  Jordan Lennox ran the full Pro Tour last year en route to the S1 Pro Stock Moto title, and he was strong in the KZ European Championship in 2015.  I’ll slot him third in this year’s predictions.  Looking at the North American contingent, could this be the year that Gary Carlton grabs that big SuperNationals KZ victory? He’s run well in the event in year’s past, and has shown the speed to challenge only to run into issues or race-ending contact. AJ Myers was so impressive last year, and he now has more experience.  The Florida driver will run with iKart, and it would be huge for the American chassis manufacturer to gain a podium against some of the best in the world.  Canadian Philip Orcic will reunited with the Mach 1 chassis as part of the new Mach 1 USA squad, and I think he’ll be quick.  Of these three, I’d lean towards Myers has having the best shot at the top-five.   My final driver in the top-five is Parolin’s Lorenzo Camplese, who finished seventh last year.

American Gary Carlton will have his first SuperNats start with the Formula K brand

David Cole – EKN Managing Editor
1. Paolo de Conto
2. Lorenzo Camplese
3. Gary Carlton
4. Jordon Lennox
5. Rick Dreezen

The headling KZ2 division has yet to see a repeat winner in its current form. Marco Ardigo and Anthony Abbasse have multiple wins, just not in consecutive years. The performance of de Conto in last year’s SuperNationals was one of confidence and talent. With another year under his belt, I don’t believe he’s lost anything in either column, making the Italian harder to beat, and will repeat. Lorenzo Camplese is among the top talents in Europe, and his performance in Las Vegas will help give him some more American fans. GFC always has some type of trouble at the SuperNationals since moving across the pond. This year should fair much better, and finish as the top American. Lennox and Dreezen complete the podium, both taking advantage of the double duty time on the new circuit.

KZ2 Provisional Entry List

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