NEW SKUSA online store COMING SOON! Keep an eye on this site for more info and some exciting changes for 2012! Target date to begin registering for the 1st Pro Kart Challenge race at Buttonwillow: Monday, January 16.
It has always been considered difficult to capture on video the true speed and excitement of competitive karting, especially considering the size and stature of these ultra-quick machines. Many have tried, but few have been able to accomplish this task to its fullest extent. That said, a new high-quality production has been released by Superkarts! USA, one that truly portrays the sights, sounds, colors and thrills from this past year’s SuperNationals. The race is the largest karting event in North America, attracting over 500 racers to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, including IZOD IndyCar drivers Raphael Matos, EJ Viso, Jay Howard and Martin Plowman. SKUSA is extremely pleased with the new creation, which was shot and edited by Wyatt Lloyd, a karting enthusiast and aspiring motorsports video-journalist. The following is a link to the video, which is being presented on YouTube:
The second season of the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour completed last month with the running of the SuperNationals XV in Las Vegas outside the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino. Following a record-breaking event that witnessed over 500 drivers competing, the eight championship categories closed out the final stop of the five round title chase - and decided just who would be part of the SKUSA ‘Circle of Champions.’ In each of the eight divisions, the top three drivers earned the coveted national number plates for the 2012 season in addition to the championship purse.
The two headline categories -- S1 Pro Stock Moto and TaG Senior -- were awarded roughly $18,000 in cash and prizes to split toward their championship fund. Superkarts! USA welcomed its first international driver to its champion alumni in S1. New Zealand’s Daniel Bray locked up the class title at the SuperNationals following a successful 2011 season. The 24-year old was the event winner at the SKUSA SpringNationals with two wins, and while the feature results were not as high as he had hoped, Bray scored the second highest total at the SummerNationals to lead the standings heading into the SuperNationals. Overcoming a mechanical issue in qualifying, Bray fought strong through the heat races and the main event to land third in the main event to secure the title. California driver Tom Dyer was his closest rival throughout the season. The veteran was the top performer at the SummerNationals, but come up just short in the end thanks to an upsetting finish at the SuperNationals to close the year second in the standings. S1 rookie Lukas Johnson was impressive in his first season, standing on the podium in three of the five feature races to earn the #3 plate for the 2012 season.
Oakley continued their long standing partnership with SKUSA and their direct support of the SuperNationals by providing eyewear for podium finishers on SuperSunday. Winners and runners up in all eleven of the contested classes received a pair of the Oakley HALF JACKET sunglasses. In addition to Oakley prizes for the podium, a full array of Oakley products were onsite and available in vendor row throughout the event.
As a lifestyle brand, Oakley has long supported kart racing, in particular SKUSA, with everything from exhibiting the “Hanger” in 2009 to the coveted TIME BOMB watch award. “The SuperNationals is the Indy 500 of karting, and we’re proud to continue our relationship with SKUSA and be involved for years to come,” stated Sheldon O’Connell, Motorsports Marketing Manager for Oakley.
From driving suits to footwear, Oakley’s partnership penetrates all aspects of the kart racing lifestyle. The Oakley prizes were part of the over $120,000 in prizes and purses offered at this year’s SuperNationals XV.
Fresh off its record-breaking SuperNationals in Las Vegas, Superkarts! USA is now gearing toward the 2012 season with full steam. Among the first tasks to be completed is finalizing the schedule for the regional programs that SKUSA sanctions throughout the country. With the Pro Tour dates now set, SKUSA is happy to announce the rejoining of the two California regional programs back into one schedule -- the 2012 ProKart Challenge series.
After four years of offering separate regional programs for the state of California, Superkarts! USA officials have elected to slim down the number of races for the upcoming season and offer just one regional for the ‘Golden State.’ The ProKart Challenge series began in 2005 as an eight-race program, featuring many of the same tracks as those on the schedule for 2012. The program was split into two separate schedules in 2008 when Superkarts! USA created a Northern California-based series. After four seasons, the two programs will reunite into one for the upcoming year.
