Billy Musgrave (Photo: EKN)

Only a few more weeks remain in the 2018 karting schedule and chances for drivers to improve their position in the eKartingNews.com Stock Honda Driver Rankings Powered by Bell Racing USA. Of course, the big one – Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 22 – is the event everyone near the top of the standings is anticipating. Only three events remain, and the big one in Las Vegas will define the final standings for the 2018 season.

Looking to remain at the top and end where he began is Billy Musgrave. The SKUSA SuperNationals 21 winner did not lose many points in the latest release, as the MRC / Aluminos driver still holds a 102-point advantage over 2017 Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix winner Nic LeDuc. Of course, LeDuc (TKC / Sodikart) was on the other side of the fence at this year’s race and as of now, is not entered to compete at SuperNats 22 with the class sold out. Jumping up to third is the new SKUSA #3 plate holder for 2019 Kyle Wick (RPG / CRG). He advances one spot thanks to 2017 SKUSA Pro Tour champion Jake French (Sodikart) losing two results from last year’s Texas ProKart Challenge finale. French has confirmed he will be in Vegas during the week of the SuperNationals, however, we will have to see what, if anything, he will be racing. Rounding out the top-five is the newest King of the Streets winner Rory van der Steur. The Maryland driver scored the big victory at the Rock Island Grand Prix (non EKN Driver Rankings event) and then traveled west to take on the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix. While his runner-up finish behind Musgrave did not help his current point total, it should come in handy when the calendar turns over to 2019.

The ‘On the Move’ driver this month is new SKUSA Pro Tour champion AJ Myers. The Florida driver added his name to the list of champions with a stellar performance aboard the TB Kart in 2018 and at the SummerNationals. Recently, Myers announced a move to the Mad Old Nut racing team to compete aboard a Mad Croc chassis. Myers made his debut at the SOLGP, and will race both Pro Shifter and X30 Senior at the SuperNationals, similar to his counterpart Musgrave. The two will be teammates in the X30 Senior class.

Remaining in the seventh position is Jamaican Collin Daley (DRT / DR Kart). The S1 rookie in 2018 did not get that breakthrough performance during the year, but remain consistent to keep himself inside the top-10 of the standings. Down two spots to eighth is Hunter Pickett (Sodikart). Now a two-time winner at the SKUSA Pro Tour, Pickett came up just short of the SKUSA #3 plate, ending the season fourth in the standings. Pickett was ill during last year’s SuperNationals in his Pro Shifter debut. Sitting ninth is the highest S2 driver from 2018 – Blair Hosie. The Texan made the switch from Alpha to Aluminos under the MRC tent, scoring his first career SKUSA Pro Tour victory at the SummerNationals. Rounding out the top-10 is the newest SKUSA Pro Tour champion Pedro Lopes. The Brazilian took his rookie S2 season by storm, winning the first four rounds. Two more podiums at New Castle secured the title. Lopes will not be in Vegas, so Hosie – along with #11 Cameron Egger (RPG / Kosmic) and #12 Max Hewitt (CRG Nordam) – will lead the charge for S2 drivers to compete against the S1 drivers in the new combined Pro Shifter category at the SuperNationals.

Upcoming EKN Stock Honda Driver Rankings Schedule

Stock Moto #1 – Billy Musgrave
Norco, California

(Photo: DromoPhotos.com)

For the fifth time in six years, Billy Musgrave has earned the California ProKart Challenge championship. The 2018 season was special, as Musgrave swept all six rounds on the season, including the tough Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix that closes out the season. With his first SOLGP victory on the mantel, what’s missing is the SKUSA Pro Tour title. Musgrave led the championship going into the SummerNationals, only to lose the title with two tough days. Looking ahead, Musgrave has the ability to join a list of three-time winners – something only nine other drivers have been able to do – if he is to defend his SuperNationals 21 victory in the Pro Shifter category.

Point Breakdown
Race,Rank,Finish,Points
SKUSA SuperNationals 2017 – S1,10,1,1177
SKUSA WinterNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,3,998
SKUSA WinterNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,2,1008
SKUSA SpringNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,4,990
SKUSA SpringNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,6,965
SKUSA SummerNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,4,971
SKUSA SummerNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,8,931

Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 4.00
Average Points: 1005.7
Total Points: 7040

**************************************

Stock Moto #2 – Nic LeDuc
Novato, California

(Photo: EKN)

The numbers show a solid 2018 season for Nic LeDuc. Three podium finishes, including a victory at the SpringNationals, in six rounds of racing all out the back of a pick-up truck. It shows the true passion, determination and talent LeDuc possesses. Unfortunately, as we have seen in recent years, you need to be on your game all six rounds to battle for the SKUSA Pro Tour championship. Nic finished sixth in the standings, however, remains in the second spot of the EKN Driver Rankings. It may be the highest he will go as LeDuc is not registered for SuperNationals 22 and SKUSA just announced the cap of the Pro Shifter category. EKN attempted to reach LeDuc for comment, with no return.

Point Breakdown
Race,Rank,Finish,Points
SKUSA SuperNationals 2017 – S1,9.5,7,1106
SKUSA WinterNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,9,937
SKUSA WinterNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,3,998
SKUSA SpringNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,3,1000
SKUSA SpringNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,1,1015
SKUSA SummerNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,9,921
SKUSA SummerNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,5,961

Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 5.29
Average Points: 991.1
Total Points: 6938

**************************************

Stock Moto #3 – Kyle Wick
Auburn, Washington

(Photo: EKN)

One of the emerging stars in shifterkart racing today in North America is Kyle Wick. The 19-year-old completed his first season in the S1 division, picking up a first career SKUSA Pro Tour victory at the SpringNationals and finished the season with the SKUSA #3 plate for 2019. The top rookie of 2018 has been part of the Rolison Performance Group driver development program, dating back to 2011, and truly shined once moving over to the Stock Honda division. Wick carried his RPG / CRG machine to five top-five finishes in six rounds at the SKUSA Pro Tour. In his S1 debut last year at the SuperNationals, Wick started P7 with USA legend Gary Carlton in front and Kiwi standout Matt Hamilton behind him. Contact with world champion Paulo de Conto ended his bid at a podium, hoping to land on the steps in 2018.

Point Breakdown
Race,Rank,Finish,Points
SKUSA SuperNationals 2017 – S1,10,20,953
SKUSA WinterNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,4,988
SKUSA WinterNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,7,958
SKUSA SpringNationals ‘18 #1 – S1,9.5,1,1021
SKUSA SpringNationals ‘18 #2 – S1,9.5,3,995
SKUSA SummerNationals ’18 #1 – S1,9.5,5,961
SKUSA SummerNationals ’18 #2 – S1,9.5,3,981

Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 6.43
Average Points: 979.6
Total Points: 6857

EKN Driver Rankings Calculation Process
The EKN Driver Rankings are calculated using a driver’s best finishes in major North American races. Assembled using events from the previous 12 months from the current date, we use a driver’s best seven finishes in TaG and Stock Honda to determine their overall current point total. With each new release, results posted from more than one year ago are discarded. To deliver our ranking list, we tabulate the results of all the national programs and selected regional programs. We have included the results for the major one-off events such as the SKUSA SuperNationals, the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals, the Rock Island Grand Prix, and the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix.

Each race is initially weighted based on the prestige and history of the event or series with a score of ten (10) being the highest attainable base ranking. For 2018, the SKUSA SuperNationals will receive a score of 10 in its initial weighting in the TaG and Stock Honda categories. A base ranking of 9.5 is set for the SKUSA Pro Tour, while a base ranking of 9 goes to the SKUSA Winter Series, United States Pro Kart Series, Florida Winter Tour, Challenge of the Americas, Rok the Rio, Rock Island Grand Prix, US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals, and California ProKart Challenge. Other national and regional program races were given a base ranking of either 8.5 or 8.0.

The EKN staff reserves the right to adjust the rankings of each event throughout the year. A minimum entry total for any event to be considered for the Driver Rankings program is five (5). If an event does not have at least five (5) drivers starting the race, those results will not be tabulated toward the Driver Rankings.

Added to these initial rankings are two variables that help confirm the true importance of an event to the ranking process – field size and field strength. A percentage of one weighting point is added for the size of the field, while the number of existing top 50 drivers entered offers another full point or fraction of a point. The sum of these numbers becomes the overall ranking for any race.

Following a race, drivers receive points based on their finishing positions with 100 points earned for a win. Each subsequent position drops by one point with 99 points given to the second-place driver and so on throughout the field. These points are then multiplied by the overall ranking to produce a driver’s final point total from each event. Using a driver’s best seven races, we calculate each driver’s overall score and subsequent ranking.

eKartingNews.com Stock Honda Driver Rankings Powered by Bell Racing USA – as of October 15, 2018

Share on Facebook

Tweet