|
Connor Zilisch scored his first X30 Senior victory in SKUSA competition (Photo: EKN)
The final round of the Superkarts! USA Winter Series went into the books on Sunday at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires. Nearly 180 entries took part in the fourth and final round of the ‘best of three’ championship program at the Homestead, Florida facility with sunny and warm conditions all day. Most of the championships were either locked or near clinched with the X30 Senior up for grabs. The final class in the order would not disappoint with several story lines coming out of the last race of the program for 2021.
The Rolison Performance Group X30 Senior category victory and championship went down to the wire. Two-time defending series champion Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) and two-time race winner Arias Deukmedjian (KSNA / Kart Republic) came into the final day separated by just two points. Neither were able to claim the 10 bonus points for setting fast time in qualifying with Diego Ramos (REM / Kosmic) posting a 47.157-lap. Hannah Greenenmeier (RPG / Kosmic) was P2 with Deukmedjian third and Norberg fifth. Greenemeier pulled off nine laps into the Prefinal with a rib injury. Out front, Norberg was able to advance his way to the point, taking the spot from Senior rookie Connor Zilisch (Nitro / Tony Kart). They would run 1-2 to the finish of the 12-lap race with Thomas Annunziata (MDR / Tony Kart) third and Deukmedjian fourth. As the final race of the day and the weekend, the intensity seemed to be increased as the green flag waved. Several changes for position took place until Norberg and Zilisch sat 1-2 with Annunziata trailing. Behind him, Deukmedjian was shuffled back to eight on the opening circuit, but found himself up to fourth the following circuit. Zilisch spent 10 laps on the bumper of Norberg until a door opened up on lap 17. Annunziata was able to strike the following corner, dropping Norberg to third before Deukmedjian took the third spot away the next circuit. Zilisch maintain enough of a gap to go unchallenged to the victory. Annunziata made it Senior rookies 1-2 with Deukmedjian beating Norberg for third, thus securing the provisional championship. Officials however penalized Deukmedjian, along with Ramos three seconds for ‘track limit/shortcut’ on the track. That promoted Norberg to the third step of the podium, and handed him the championship. Sebastian Montoya (Tony Kart) advanced up to fourth with Deukmedjian dropped to fifth and Ramos to sixth.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
The California ProKart Challenge 2022 series finale this weekend is set to be the final major event in CalSpeed Karting history (Photo: DromoPhotos.com)
History will be made this weekend during the 2022 California ProKart Challenge event at CalSpeed Karting. The event slated for October 1-2 is set to be the last major karting event at the Fontana, California circuit that resides outside the Auto Club Speedway. CalSpeed announced the closure of the facility coming this December, and thus, the California PKC event will be the final Superkarts! USA event in its long history.
On the other side of history will be the championships decided with the sixth and final round of the 2022 California ProKart Challenge. The ‘best five of six’ championship format will take the title chases to the very end, with drivers searching for additional points in the quest for the crown while others fight to remain at the top when the final checkered flag is waved following the main events on Sunday afternoon.
The tightest battle going into the finale weekend is in the KA100 Junior class presented by Nash Motorsportz. Only two points separate Keagan Kaminski and Charlie Smith with the one round remaining. Smith has one victory while Kaminski has gone winless through the first five rounds, earning four top-five results. Round One winner William Rasmussen is close behind in third with Alex Mercado fourth. Round Four winner Kane Martin still has a mathematical chance as well, sitting fifth. Ethan Lampe is the point leader heading into the final round in the HRT Driver Development KA100 Senior class. Lampe has three podium finishes on the season and leads by 60 points over two-time winner Blake Nash – who already has a drop by missing the opening round. Aiden Kempf is third with two-time winner Frankie Mossman in fourth, another driver with a drop already after missing Round Two. All that sets up for what should be an interesting run to the championship.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Ryan Norberg clinched his fifth SKUSA Pro Tour title in X30 Senior with win four on the season (Photo: EKN)
The Superkarts! USA Pro Tour is reaching the end of the 2022 season with the fifth round of the championship program contested on Saturday at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The first day of racing was held at the SKUSA SummerNationals with warm weather greeting the over 200 competitors at the New Castle, Indiana facility. The racing action was just as hot, with all eight categories featuring close racing and excitement from start to the very end. In the process, eight drivers stood at the top of the podium in their respective categories, including six earning their first along with four championships decided early following the penultimate round of racing.
Championship was certainly on the mind of Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) in the X30 Senior presented by Speedlab Racing Engines. Norberg was classified eighth as Hayden Jones (RPG / Kosmic) was looking to grab his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory. Jones held on through the Prefinal and Norberg worked up to second but was penalized for moving positions after the commitment cone prior to the green flag. That put him fourth on the grid behind Paul Bocuse (RPG / Kosmic) and Louie Westover (Solo Kart USA). A wild opening couple of laps featured a handful of drivers at the point until Norberg took over on lap five. From there, it was smooth sailing as they continued to fight for position behind him. Norberg drove away to over a seven-second advantage, however, it was reduced to four seconds with a partial pushback bumper penalty. In the wild closing laps, Diego Ramos (PSL / Birel ART) was able to grab second ahead of Jones with Edward Portz (RPG / Kosmic) up 13 spots to fourth in his first race after several months away. Rounding out the top-five was Round One winner Jeremy Fletcher (RPM / Tony Kart), who retired early in the Prefinal. He was up to second at one point in the race, ending up fifth to earn the hard charger by advancing 25 spots. For Norberg, it was a clinching day, earning his fifth SKUSA Pro Tour unofficially.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Two one of a kind watches will be awarded by BRM Chronographs
Fresh off the momentum of the 2024 SKUSA ProTour revamp and event structure, SKUSA is pleased to confirm the prize and purse breakdown for their season finale — SuperNationals 26 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
SKUSA will be offering an unprecedented cash and prize package for the event, including two (2) custom BRM Chronograph timepieces, valued at $4500 USD each.
With a total cash purse of $37,750, the breakdown is as follows:
|
|
PRO SHIFTER |
X30 SENIOR |
KA100 SENIOR |
KA100 JUNIOR |
MINI SWIFT |
|
1st |
$10,000 |
$3,000 |
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
$2,500 |
|
2nd |
$2,500 |
$2,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
|
3rd |
$1,250 |
$1,000 |
$750 |
$750 |
$750 |
|
4th |
$750 |
$500 |
$500 |
$500 |
$500 |
|
5th |
$500 |
$500 |
$500 |
$500 |
$500 |
|
TOTAL |
$15,000 |
$7,000 |
$5,250 |
$5,250 |
$5,250 |
|
|
Read more...
|
|
