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Ryan Norberg fought off Austin Garrison to claim the Round One victory (Photo: EKN)
The first day of racing at the 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals was completed on Saturday at the Speedsportz Racing Park. Weather improved at the New Caney, Texas facility following the heavy rains to end the final practice sessions on Friday. A drying track with clouds in the area was the start to day. Eventually, the clouds broke and the sun came out, with conditions on the track improving each session. Qualifying, Prefinal and Final were contested for the seven categories running the two Final format while qualifying, Super Pole and two heat races were held for the Pro Shifter division. The day went further than scheduled with multiple red flags, along with multiple winners decided after the checkered flag had waved.
There was no question about six-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) earning his victory in the Pro X30 division presented by Kart CRG USA. It was not an easy path to the top of the podium for only his third WinterNationals triumph. Norberg claimed fast time in qualifying with a 52.585 lap to edge out British driver Caden McQueen (Energy Corse Americas) by 61 thousandths while Austin Garrison (SCR / CS55) was off a bit in third. Garrison was able to charge up to Norberg in the Prefinal, stealing the win in the closing laps. Starting on the pole position, Garrison held off Norberg’s early attempts as the 20-lap Final began. The two were able to pull away early after McQueen fought off challengers for the third spot over the opening circuits. Eventually Jesus Vasquez Jr. (GFC Karting) slotted into the position, however the top two were able to get away. Despite their gap, the two leaders exchanged the top spot five times over the 20 laps. It was coming to the white flag that Norberg was able to slip by Garrison in turn 14. Garrison slotted right behind on the rear bumper of Norberg, but a small slipup in turn four and five gave Norberg enough breathing room to the checkered flag. At the line, Norberg claimed the victory by nearly two tenths. Vasquez drove to his first Pro X30 podium in third. Senior rookie Ty Fisher (Racelab / TB Kart) had an impressive debut, advancing up to fourth over McQueen.
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Starting immediately, the named organizations and their affiliated series will be working together to raise the level of professionalism in the sport of karting in the United States, both on the track and in the paddock.
We will be working together closely to develop a system which honors the disciplinary actions taken by one organization or series, across all named organizations and affiliated series. Our series will no longer be a place for bad behavior, to include, but not limited to both acts and threats of violence. No competitor or attendee should have to worry about their physical safety at karting events in the United States and no longer will these bad actors be able to simply take that behavior to another series. |
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SKUSA SuperNationals 27 is the sixth edition for KA100 Senior at the event, which made its debut in 2018. The class quickly expanded to reach a massive total entry of 93 in 2021. This year’s field surpasses that benchmark by one with 94 pre-registered drivers. The overall event record is 95 for TaG Senior in 2008 as this year’s KA100 Senior total matches the 2017 total for X30 Senior for second largest field ever at the SuperNationals. Defending KA100 Senior champion Ernesto Rivera has been racing cars in Europe throughout the 2024 season and, as a new Red Bull Junior driver, and will not return to the SuperNationals this year.
Six of the top-10 from last year are returning, including three podium finishers. The top returning driver from 2023 is also one of four former SuperNationals winners in the field. Pauly Massimino (BJR/MDR) won the category in 2019 and finished third a year ago. Massimino won in United States Pro Kart Series competition and was the IAME USA Grand National Championship Shootout in KA after spending much of the season focused on X30 and OK-N. The North Carolina driver won the Stars Championship Series title in OK-N. Fellow SuperNationals winner Brandon Lemke (BJR/MDR) has been on the podium in his last three starts. He was the provisional winner in 2019 before a pushback bumper penalty dropped him to fifth. Redemption was his in 2021 when he secured that elusive victory before finishing fourth last year. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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KA100 Junior championship podium (Photo: Spencer Russell – photosbysmr1)
Two decades of racing completed in September for the California ProKart Challenge. The Superkarts! USA regional program hosted five events, featuring six rounds of competition throughout southern California. It was another successful year, experiencing tight racing in every category, while the organization awarded over $50,000 in prizes over the course of the season, including weekend and championship awards.
The 2024 California ProKart Challenge was a best five of six championship format, visiting four facilities over five weekends. Buttonwillow Raceway Park hosted the opening two rounds in March and April before the series traveled to the Santa Maria Karting Association facility in May. A double-header weekend in August ushered in the new K1 Circuit before returning to the Winchester, CA facility in September for the sixth and final round of the championship program.
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Matheus Morgatto seeks to defend his Pro Shifter title (Photo: EKN)
The 2025 Superkarts! USA Winter Series opener kicks off the new season for EKN Trackside coverage, heading to the Orlando Kart Center over the January 10-12 weekend. This marks the first trip to the 8/10-mile for the winter championship, the third visit for the organization after hosting the past two SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals at the Orlando, Florida facility. It will be a record setting event with the first ever race weekend for the series to surpass the 300-entry mark, going into the practice day with 308 over the nine categories.
The format for the opening weekend of the 2025 SKUSA Winter Series featured unofficial practice on Wednesday and Thursday with Friday hosting five official sessions for testing. Round 1 is set for Saturday, including qualifying, Prefinal and Final. Round 2 is a repeat format on Sunday. The KA100 Junior division was expanded past the cap and will run a split Prefinal with the top 22 finishers from each moving into the Final. The rest of the field will be moved into the B-Main. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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