In just over five months, the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will once again become the center of the karting universe when the 16th annual Superkarts! USA SuperNationals rocks Las Vegas on November 14-18. The Rio’s expansive Masquerade parking lot located alongside the busy I-15 highway will play host to over 500 drivers from around the world, as they all do battle for SuperNationals glory on the event’s challenging temporary circuit. Each driver will be looking to etch his or her name in karting history. The 2011 edition of the premier SKUSA event attracted a record number of drivers to the race, and a similar entry list is expected for this year’s five-day karting festival. Planning is well underway, and the SKUSA staff is now thrilled to announce the categories that will compete at the SuperNationals XVI, as well as the unbeatable deal they have arranged for drivers, teams and spectators for on-site stay at the Rio Hotel.
“When deciding on the classes that we would be running this year, we believed that it was important for us to focus on our core customers, those drivers on our Pro Tour and running in our regional programs,” commented Tom Kutscher, Superkarts! USA President. “Our sport and our class structure are both evolving, and we’re seeing growth in different areas. Our approach is to provide opportunities for all of our customers, maximizing track time while still shortening the days, if possible. Last year’s extended daily schedules were tough on everyone.”
A major player in the motorsports industry, Honda Performance Development (HPD) has announced that they will continue their support of the karting ranks. The popular Honda CR125 engine is the backbone of shifterkart racing in the United States and HPD is once again giving back to the karting community with a number of contingency programs for the 2012 season. HPD is working specifically with the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, California ProKart Challenge, Northwest Karting Challenge, the World Karting Association, the Rock Island Grand Prix and their ‘Spec Honda’ classes. In total, Honda Performance Development will award $17,000 in cash and ‘HPD Bucks’ to racers across the country.
Competitors in the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour Stock Honda categories - S1, S2, S4, and S5 - will have a chance at the $6,400 in cash awards from HPD toward the season championship standings. Each category will see the champion receive $750, vice-champion $500, and third $350. At the SKUSA SuperNationals XVI in Las Vegas, HPD will have an engine raffle for the S2 podium drivers, one to receive a new CR125 Engine Kit, worth $2,500. The California ProKart Challenge, the current longest running SKUSA regional program, will see all five Stock Honda categories (S1 through S5) earn HPD Bucks at the end of the season. The champion in each class will receive $200, runner-up $100, with third place $75. A Honda EU1000i Generator is to be raffled off at the banquet with a new CR125 Top End Kit raffled per event.
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:
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.
Skip Barber Racing School awarded two Three-Day Racing Schools to S2 winner Nick Neri and TaG Junior winner George Russell at the SKUSA SuperNationals XV in Las Vegas on November 20. Both Neri and Russell claimed their prizes by besting their respective fields on Super Sunday’s main events. The two drivers will be invited to attend one of Skip Barber Racing School’s instruction sessions at the track of their choice.
In addition, Skip Barber Racing School Staff was on hand for the event, discussing their programs and other opportunities. “We are honored that we could be a part of this event and proud to award 2 amazing drivers with an opportunity to move forward into cars and advance their careers. We look forward to seeing them at the track!” stated Kelly Pattison, Manager of Sales and Marketing for the Skip Barber Racing School.
The Skip Barber Racing School awards were part of over $120,000 in cash and prizes offered at the SKUSA SuperNationals XV.
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