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Brandon Jarsocrak scored his second straight victory at the SummerNationals (Photo: EKN)
The final event for the 2018 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour completed the opening day of racing at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The ninth edition of the SummerNationals ran without any weather issues, however, the day was along with LCQs and delays due to red flag during practice. The seven main events wrapped up just before 7pm with the sun setting over the pond straight, followed by the podiums. It was an exciting day as the fifth round of the championship chases were completed on Saturday.
The 78-driver field in the X30 Senior were split up in qualifying, while running two separate Prefinal for all the drivers. Former SuperNationals winner Marco Maestranzi (Top Kart) was able to end the fast group as the top qualifier with last year’s SummerNats winner Brandon Jarsocrak (KSNA / Kart Republic) in second. Ironically, the two made contact in a weird circumstances at the end of the session in turn 13. Both suffered mechanical issues, but were back on the grid for their Prefinals. Jarsocrak managed to score the win in the opening Prefinal, holding off championship contender Ryan Norberg (PSL / Birel ART). In the second Prefinal, former SuperNationals winner Jonny Edgar (Tony Kart) grabbed the win over SpringNats victor Dante Yu (CompKart). Maestranzi dropped down the order, placing 16th and forced into the LCQ. Leading the second chance race, Maestranzi suffered an engine failure, and did not transfer. The main event began with Edgar and Jarsocrak on the front row. Norberg and Luke Selliken (RPG / Kosmic) joined them at the front. Selliken moved himself into the lead and looked to have a handle on the race. Jarsocrak and Norberg slipped past him to settle the score. Jarsocrak was able to fend off Norberg in the final corners, scoring his second straight SummerNationals victory. Edgar was able to slip by Norberg for second at the line by four thousandths of a second. Selliken ended up fourth with Alex Bertagnoli (FMS / Kart Republic) in fifth. Read more on eKartingNews.com |
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Start of S3/S5 Main Event in 2017 (photo: DromoPhotos.com)
The 14th season of the California ProKart Challenge is set to begin February 2-3 at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Round one of the six-race championship series kicks off the flagship regional program for Superkarts! USA, coming off a successful inaugural SKUSA Winter Series event in Florida. The 2018 season for the California PKC program is a year of additions and changes based on the progression of the SKUSA organization and the sport itself. Among the changes include an expansion to 12 classes, a new numbering system to help both staff and spectators, and new trophies to be presented during the award ceremonies following each event.
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CRG Nordam driver Christian Brooks is the leader in the IAME Senior point standings (Photo: EKN)
The big story going into the SummerNationals will be the absence of X30 Senior point leader Jake Craig (RPM / Tony Kart). The 2014 Pro Tour champion was en route to a possible second title, however, the California driver is focused on building his resume in open wheel cars. Craig will be racing at the F1600 Super Series event in Trois-Riviers, Quebec, Canada, a series in which he sits tied in the championship standings with fellow karter Kellen Ritter.
The absence of Craig puts Christian Brooks at the top of the standings heading into New Castle. Brooks (CRG Nordam) is a long-time SKUSA competitor, however, he has never been a Pro Tour champion. The WinterNationals winner stood on the podium both days at NOLA, but missed out on the steps during a challenging weekend in Phoenix. In fact, the top three in the X30 Senior title chase have two podium finishes each. Canadian Samuel Lupien (RPG / Kosmic) was runner-up to Brooks in NOLA, and ran third in Phoenix before a mechanical issues put him on the sidelines on Sunday. Defending champion Ryan Norberg (PSL / Birel ART) started out the season with a DNF, but came back to battle in the top-five in NOLA on Sunday. A third straight victory at the SpringNationals back in May, paired with a third-place on Sunday in Phoenix, has helped put Norberg in contention for an unprecedented third straight Pro Tour championship. The trio is separated by just 15 points, with Norberg holding the advantage when factoring in the drop race. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Billy Musgrave has a chance to claim his first S1 title this weekend (Photo: EKN)
This could be one of the closest championship battles in S1 history at the SKUSA Pro Tour. The 2018 season has seen four different winners over the four rounds, putting five drivers in the hunt for the title. After winning the 2012 SuperNationals in S2, Billy Musgrave (MRC / Aluminos) has yet to finish at the top of the championship podium in S1. Musgrave has won a main event in four straight years, placing runner-up in the point standings twice in five years. The four-time California ProKart Challenge champion holds a 38-point advantage over S1 rookie Kyle Wick (RPG / CRG). Wick claimed his first S1 victory at the SpringNationals, standing on the podium both days to move himself into the lead challenger position of the title chase. Close behind in third is WinterNationals winner AJ Myers (TB Kart USA). Myers won both main events at the 2016 SummerNationals, and thus knows how to be successful at New Castle. Myers will be pulling double duty, running both IAME Senior and S1 on the weekend.
When you factor in the drop, Myers moves to the top with Musgrave and Wick sitting within nine points of each other. Still in the hunt includes Nic LeDuc (Sodikart) and Rory van der Steur (Tony Kart). The two privateers shined at the SpringNationals with LeDuc winning on Sunday and Rory placing runner-up both days. Each will need double podium finishes in New Castle to be in the hunt for the top step of the championship chase. Defending champion Jake French (DKC / Sodikart) is making his return to the seat, set to pit out the back of the pickup truck under an EZup on the weekend. Veteran karter and always fast Ron White (RWR / CRG) is also making a return to the SKUSA Pro Tour. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Back at the beginning of April, IAME Italy issued a press release stating that it was re-engineering its North American distribution program by clearing the slate, replacing its three existing importers with two new operations – IAME USA East and IAME USA West. GoPro Motorplex owners Justin Marks and Eric Jones were announced to head up the East Coast component, while Superkarts! USA’s Tom Kutscher was revealed as the owner of the West Coast effort. EKN sat down with Kutscher this past week to discuss his motivation for beginning an official connection with IAME, how it will play a role in the future of SKUSA, and how this move corresponds with other steps that he has taken to provide increased stability for his company and cost control for his racers.
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