EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.

NCMP Adds Pizza to the Menu

Pizza is now on the menu from the Racer’s Grill at NCMP (Photo: EKN)

One of the big assets of racing at the New Castle Motorsports Park is the Racer’s Grill. Not only does the main building the restaurant sits in provide a place for racers and their families to relax and watch the racing from the air conditioning, but the Racer’s Grill also pushes out a lot of food over the weekend. From breakfast in the morning to lunch and dinner, there are plenty of options available on the menu. The newest item is pizza. The facility expanded its kitchen to accompany its growing catering section of the business while also adding pizza oven and prep area in what was the former garage for the Lewis family. The EKN crew got to sample a full 12” pizza, with many different toppings available. Among the other changes to the facility is a new concrete rea that’s been poured at the end of the garages near the grid. For the SKUSA weekend, it means nothing with the opposite direction for the grid, but when it comes to the CKNA Grand Nationals 8 later this year, it will be a big help in the pre-grid area.

Formal Debut with Sodi Racing USA Cut Short

Formal suffered a rib injury Thursday, forcing him to withdraw from SummerNats (Photo: Flying Lap Media)

Heading into the weekend, the big news was the move of four-time SKUSA SuperNationals winner Danny Formal moving over to Sodi Racing USA, ending his two-year run with Rolison Performance Group. Formal traveled to New Castle after testing sportscar this week, arriving for Thursday practice. In the second session, Danny suffered a rib injury, taking him out of the event. Former SKUSA Winter Series champion Alan Isambard is going to replace him in the Pro Shifter category. EKN has also learned that Formal will not be able to compete for a record setting fifth SuperNationals triumph with his schedule taking him to the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals in Spain the same weekend. Formal’s former RPG teammate Marijn Kremers is traveling from Europe to the USA over Thursday and today, scheduled to arrive in time for the final session on the day as he will be racing alongside Cooper Becklin under the RPG tent.

IndyCar Starter Stays Rooted in Karting

Aaron Likens continues his duties with SKUSA while working for IndyCar (Photo: EKN)

With IndyCar on a break for the Olympics until the middle of August, SKUSA will once again have Aaron Likens waving the flags at start-finish. During his time as the flagman for the SKUSA Central States Challenge in the late 2000s, Likens was ‘discovered’ by Superkarts! USA’s Tom Kutscher and was quickly offered the prestigious role at the SuperNationals, and eventually the Pro Tour, by the company owner thanks to his dynamic style. This incredible opportunity to man the flags at the sport’s biggest event helped set in motion a career trail that would see Aaron rise to his current position as the chief starter for IndyCar, and the famed Indianapolis 500. Despite a busy travel schedule with IndyCar and his passionate work as an autism awareness spokesperson and speaker, Likens continues to work with Superkarts! USA when possible, remaining firmly rooted in the sport that he first entered back in 1995. His attendance at any SKUSA race provides ever driver in the paddock to receive the twin checkers from the same starter who showed those flags to Indy 500 winners like Josef Newgarden. Likens’ style and double-checkered moves have captivated millions of race fans, and it’s simply a privilege to have him remain as a core component of the SKUSA product.

Aaron’s also a published author, having just released his newest work; ‘Playing in Traffic’. The book expertly and passionately chronicles his journey through life, from his initial days as a kart racer, and then as a starter with SKUSA, USAC, and now IndyCar. Here’s the link to purchase the book on Amazon: Playing In Traffic

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