(Photo: EKN)

The 2017 is a new era for the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour. The launch of the new WinterNationals event expanded the championship program to six rounds of racing spanning over three events, as well as a few event adjustments, highlighted the many changes the organization has made to transition into the future. The SKUSA Pro Tour has put itself on the pedestal as the premier championship series in North America, with many more improvements on the to-do list now into the eighth season.

The 2017 edition of the SpringNationals, set for May 5-7, takes the organization and its racers back to where it all began in Sonoma, California. In April 2010, the SKUSA Pro Tour launched at the Jim Russell International Karting Center with just over 100 entries. Fast forward seven years, and SKUSA returns to the now-branded Simraceway Performance Karting Center with 230 pre-entries to take on the 7/10-mile course. The 12-turn circuit in the counter-clockwise direction is among the most raceable tracks in North America. Off-camber corners, fast straights, and of course the Tic-Tac-Toe section make this a driver’s track, and one that will produce some exciting racing over the SpringNationals weekend.

eKartingNews is bringing all the action live to anyone and everyone with a laptop or mobile device. Bookmark www.ekartingnews.com/live and listen in to the live play-by-play provided by the official voice of SKUSA – EKN’s own Rob Howden. Updates, photos and videos will be available throughout the weekend on the EKN social media outlets – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

X30 Junior

Dylan Tavella leads the X30 Junior championship heading into the SpringNationals (Photo: EKN)

The X30 Junior came just one entry short of selling out for the SpringNationals with 43 drivers set to battle in Sonoma, and there are rumors that others plan to enter when trackside registration opens on Thursday morning. Two drivers exited the WinterNationals as the initial drivers to beat in the championship chase, splitting the two main events. SKUSA #2 plate holder Dylan Tavella (IRM / Tony Kart) scored the inaugural victory at NOLA, and 2016 SuperNationals victor Tyler Gonzalez (SCR / Tony Kart) came through for the win in Sunday in the Big Easy. Bother drivers left the event with a first and second place result, so the duo enters the SpringNationals as the top two drivers in the standings with Tavella holding a 20-point advantage. The last time Tavella visited Simraceway, the New York driver earned his third US Rotax Grand Nationals title, besting the Junior field.

Just 50 points back is Aiden Keel, as the Andersen Racing / Birel ART pilot recorded the fast lap both days in qualifying at NOLA, leaving with two fourth-place results. Keel finished third to Tavella last August at the US Rotax Grand Nationals, so he is no stranger to Simraceway. Another driver with success at the Sonoma circuit is Jak Crawford (Nash / FA Kart). The Junior rookie just clinched the Challenge of the Americas title in April at the track, winning in previous visits in the Cadet level. A podium Sunday in NOLA, including fast lap of the race, has helped put Crawford in title contention. Arias Deukmedjian (Kosmic) is another Junior rookie who found success at the WinterNats. The Florida pilot finished fifth in Saturday’s main event, and holds the same position in the point standings. Arias was a podium finisher at the US Rotax Grand Nationals last year in Mini.

Trey Brown (Nash / FA Kart) was just outside the top-five throughout the WinterNationals, but you can expect him to be in the hunt at Sonoma. Others who you could see fighting for victories include two drivers making their SKUSA Pro Tour 2017 debut. Hannah Greenemeier (RPG / Kosmic) is coming off victory at Simraceway at the Challenge of the Americas and the second-year Junior driver is searching for more success. Austin Torgerson is another driver who has seen strong results in the past in Sonoma, and he will be making his Pro Tour 2017 debut this weekend. Torgerson will be aboard the BBR / PDB combination that has found success already in the X30 Master division at the hands of Blake Choquer.

Provisional X30 Junior Entry List

Mini Swift

Two victories at the WinterNationals makes Luca Mars the driver to beat in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN)

Eight years ago at the inaugural SpringNationals, drivers like Colton Herta and Parker Thompson were fighting for victory in Sonoma. Today, both are in the Mazda Road to Indy program with Herta competing in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series and Thompson in his third season at the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship level. Many in the 41-driver Mini Swift field have the talent to progress up the karting ranks and possibly into the professional level of motorsports, following in the footsteps of these two SKUSA graduates.

Luca Mars put himself into the record books as the inaugural double winner at the WinterNationals. The Energy pilot triumphed both days to leave NOLA as the championship leader. It was a battle throughout the weekend, however, as a handful of drivers were within contention throughout the weekend. Benik drivers Santiago Trisini and Reece Gold each placed runner-up once during the weekend, and they trail Mars in the championship standings. Carson Morgan (Benik) was the fourth different driver on the podium in New Orleans, placing third on Sunday. Throw in 2016 United States Pro Kart Series Rookie champion Brent Crews on the new Nitro Kart, and a lot of talent is at the top of the standings at the 1/3 mark.

Keep your eyes on drivers looking to improve on their performances from the WinterNationals. SKUSA #2 plate holder and 2016 Rotax Grand Finals champion Diego LaRoque (PDB) was never a factor at NOLA, battling illness. LaRoque has had previous success at Sonoma, and will be vying for more. 2016 SKUSA Pro Tour Micro Swift champion Kai Sorenson made his Mini Pro Tour debut at the WinterNationals, but never really a factor all weekend. The NorCal driver is changing chassis to a new ‘blue’ for this weekend, switching from Praga to Energy, and is looking to defend his home turf with a solid debut outing.

Provisional Mini Swift Entry List

Micro Swift

Elliot Cox leads the Micro Swift championship chase (Photo: EKN)

The Micro Swift division is welcoming a bit of an increase in drivers from NOLA to Sonoma, increasing to 20 for the upcoming weekend. In New Orleans, it was four drivers who stood up on the podium over the two rounds of racing. The two victors were returning title contenders Brandon Carr and Elliot Cox. Carr triumphed on Saturday with Cox taking the victory Sunday, each earning their second career Pro Tour win. Cox is switching back to Benik after running Vemme in NOLA, where he was able to come away with the championship lead by 15 points over Carr (Benik). Florida driver Alex Powell (Tony Kart) and Frankie Iadevaia (Nitro Kart) made up the other two podium finishers on the weekend. Powell is electing to move up to the Mini Swift division for the SpringNats, and thus makes Iadevaia the lead challenger vying to knock Cox and Carr off the top of the podium. Making his 2017 SKUSA Pro Tour debut is Georgia driver Mateo Rubio-Luengo. The Kosmic pilot is among the top Micro drivers with wins at WKA and United States Pro Kart Series over the first four months of the season.

Provisional Micro Swift Entry List

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