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California ProKart Challenge
| California ProKart Challenge Announces Driver Scholarship Program |
| Monday, 25 February 2013 20:09 |
 The second round of the Superkarts! USA California ProKart Challenge is set for the upcoming weekend (March 1-2) at the Willow Springs International Raceway. Heading to its second stop of six for 2013, SKUSA is happy to announce an additional prize that has been included to the already $70,000+ season prize purse. New for 2013 is the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix Driver Scholarship, worth over $11,000.“We are always looking to find a way to give back to the racers, whether it's money, product or anything we can do,” commented Superkarts! USA’s Tom Kutscher. “The folks at the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix are excited about karting, and want to be part of it beyond the one weekend they host our race. They are stepping up to support a driver’s racing program for a full season, something that is unheard of in our sport. I can’t thank them enough for this opportunity that we can present to our racers.” The Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix Driver Scholarship program will reward the performance of a driver on and off the track, providing a full season of sponsorship in 2014 for the ProKart Challenge, the SKUSA Pro Tour and the SKUSA SuperNationals. This award is open to competitors in the TaG Junior, TaG Senior, S5 Junior, S2 Semi-Pro, and S1 Pro divisions.  Included in the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix Driver Scholarship are the following:
“This will be our fifth year hosting the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, and the city and the community could not be happier in giving back to the sport of karting,” stated Ronda Perez, Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts for the City of Lancaster. “Our relationship with Superkarts! USA, along with our many sponsors and partners who help this festival come to life, keep making each year bigger and better. The Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix Driver Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for us to award one driver and their family a unique opportunity while demonstrating the City of Lancaster is completely behind the sport of karting. This driver will help spread the word about the event as we work to bring more and more racers to our city.” Kutscher added, “The chosen driver will be someone who is a professional, both on and off the track, and represent the city the right way. We will announce the winner during the podium presentations at the conclusion of the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix this September.” The chase for a 2013 California ProKart Challenge championship is setting up to be a hotly contested competition, judging by the opening round held at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park. Billy Musgrave pulled off a near perfect score in his Extreme Karting/Vemme S1 Pro Stock Moto debut at Buttonwillow. Aside from qualifying, the 2012 S2 SuperNats winner led the way and leads the early standings over defending champ Jimmy McNeil and Ryon Beachner. Robert Marks was the S4 title winner a year ago in the series, and won in his debut moving up to the Buddy Rice Karting S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto class. Battling with Texan Connor Wagner, Marks outlasted the young driver to score the opening round win. Colorado pilot Christian Schureman sits second, with Wagner third in the points. The first event of the 2013 season welcomed 31 drivers in the Pure Karting TaG Senior division, all chasing Senior rookie Alex Keyes. The NorCal transplant via Michigan made his series debut with a stunning performance, winning both heat races and the main event. Last year’s rookie standout Austin Elliott finished second, with Missouri’s Mason Daughters in third. Another Billy was almost perfect in the Mike Manning Karting TaG Master class, as three-time SuperNationals winner Billy Cleavelin showed the way most of the day at round one. He was at the front in all sessions, except heat two, but found his way back to the lead as the checkers waved in the Final. Kevin Manning won the lone heat race from Cleavelin, placing second in the feature, with Ethan Wilson rounding out the podium. The Leading Edge Motorsports S4 Master Stock Moto division also welcomed a first-time winner, as Mike Mantel climbed his way from 13th in qualifying to standing on the top spot of the podium at the end of the day. Rob Logan recovered from contact in heat one, driving up to second, with NorCal’s Jim Kidd in third, sitting second in the points behind Mantel. Luke Bianco swept the Leading Edge Motorsports S4 Magnum Stock Moto class in round one, with Will Vogel scoring the win in the 2 Wild Karting S3 Novice Stock Moto division. Brendan Baker was able to fend off the challengers in the Phil Giebler Racing TaG Junior class, earning a near perfect score in Buttonwillow. He held back Christian Brooks and Willy Axton for the victory to lead the standings after the opening event. Jarred Campbell was victorious in S5 Junior Stock Moto, sponsored by SwedeTech Racing Engines. He edged out defending champion Carter Williams for his first series win, with Garrett Dixon earning a podium trip in his first class start. The Sunshine Daydream Creations TaG Cadet class welcomed a record-breaking 22 drivers in the opening round, led by series newcomer Jonathan Shone. The class rookie scored the feature race over Trenton Sparks, who enters Willow Springs as the point leader by just five points. Pre-entry for Round 2 of the California ProKart Challenge is available now at www.skusastore.com until midnight on Wednesday, February 27. Racers will hit the track Friday, March 1 as the California PKC will host a full day of practice, run from 9am to 5pm. No reserved pit spots will be provided on the weekend, with move-in scheduled to start Thursday afternoon. Overnight camping is available at the track at no charge, and discounts are available at local hotels as listed at the SKUSA event page. See all event details HERE. SKUSA would like to remind competitors of the $10 gate fee due to the track for all attendees, which does not include the PKC spectator passes. Superkarts! USA would like the thank the following companies, in addition to the support of the class sponsors, for their aid toward the 2013 season: MG Tires, Mothers Polish, Honda/HPD, VP Racing Fuels, Motul, MIR, and AiM. Stayed tuned for any late breaking news on the event, as well as updates on Twitter at @SuperKartsUSA and at Facebook.com/SKUSA. |