This week marks a number of firsts for the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour. The inaugural Save Mart Supermarkets Modesto Grand Prix is set to host this year’s SKUSA SummerNationals over the August 1-3 weekend. A record 242 pre-registered drivers surpasses the record total of entries at the SpringNationals in May, making this year’s SummerNats the largest Pro Tour event in the five year history of the series. This weekend also marks the first street race outside the SuperNationals to be included as part of the Pro Tour. The City of Modesto has billed the event as the ‘Long Beach’ or ‘Monaco’ of karting, and the numbers going into the event are certainly measuring up.

eKartingNews.com will once again be on site – from Friday to Sunday of the race weekend – providing the ‘EKN Trackside Live’ broadcast. Live play-by-play action, live timing and all the information you need from California for the SummerNationals. Follow updates at the Official Discussion Thread, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

EKN, the official media partner of Superkarts! USA, is set to provide a three-day preview program leading up to the SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals highlighting each of the eight classes. Yesterday, the preview series began with a look at TaG Junior, S5 and TaG Cadet. Today, we review the big fields in S2 and S4 along with the TaG Master division.

Kolton Griffin looks to add to his win total in 2014 and extend his S2 point lead (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto
The biggest field of the SummerNationals is the S2 category with 43 drivers slated to take on the streets of Modesto, featuring a very young group with an average age of 20. At the SpringNationals, a number of drivers showed the speed to contend for the two feature wins throughout the weekend. When the final checkered flag waved however, Kolton Griffin was the most consistent throughout the weekend to retain the championship lead. The Pure Karting/Tony Kart driver scored the victory at Round One, placing runner-up the following day to secure a 85 point lead going into Modesto. Griffin recently added another win at the California ProKart Challenge, coming from the back of the field to the front.

Leading the chase is Ocala Gran Prix/Tony Kart driver Jonathan Kotyk. A pair of third place results for the S2 rookie placed him second in the championship standings. Dallas Karting Complex/Sodi Kart USA drivers Alex Tartaglia and Nathan Adds opened up the SpringNationals weekend with top-five performances. That has helped them to sit third and fourth in the standings going into the Modesto. Fellow Texan Luke Shanahan (Tony Kart) showed speed in Dallas, putting him top-five in the standings.

The other winner of the weekend was Florida driver Kyle Kirkwood. The Ocala Gran Prix/Tony Kart S2 rookie was fast both days, having trouble on Saturday but bounced back to stand on top of the podium Sunday. One of the favorites going into the SpringNationals was S2 rookie Jarred Campbell. Throughout the weekend, the Champion Racing/Intrepid driver had a mechanical take him out of Saturday’s feature, while trouble in the opening heat forced him to drive through the field, ending up in the fifth position. Now on his home turf, Campbell is looking to shine in front of the many spectators expected to be trackside.

With the youthfulness of the field, it will be interesting to see the weekend unfold as many of the drivers take part in their first street race. Speed will be a must but so will patience and the ability to reduce mistakes, as one move could end your race or weekend.

S2 Provisional Entry List

Jordon Musser defended his SKUSA #1 plate in Dallas, and looks for his first win of 2014 in Modesto (Photo: Dreams Captured Photography)

S4 Master Stock Moto
Next to the S2 category, the S4 division will be just as loud with 40 elder drivers banging the six-speed gearbox around the Modesto streets. Possible the one driver with the most successful street racing career in recent years is championship leader Jordon Musser. The 3G Kart Racing/Birel driver is a three-time King of the Streets winner at the Rock Island Grand Prix, including a victory in the last two years of the popular Labor Day weekend event. Musser was runner-up in both feature races of the SpringNationals, coming up short to Matt Hamilton on Saturday with returning veteran Darren Elliott edging out the Texan on Sunday. There is no doubt, Musser is going for victory in Modesto to help pad his title lead.

Aluminos driver Hamilton came over to Las Vegas in November to steal the S4 victory away from the American contingent. Now, the Kiwi driver is aiming to earn the Pro Tour title. The opening day in Dallas was his for the taking, and Sunday was shaping up to be the same until contact sent him off course early on in the feature. With ground to make up, Hamilton is looking to cut into the 140 point advantage Musser currently holds with two solid days of racing this weekend. Second place in last year’s championship standings – Brian Fisher – survived the weekend in Dallas after suffering a rib injury. The DRT Racing/DR Kart pilot is third in the title chase, and looking to display the speed of his Fisher Racing Engines powerplant. Fernando Diaz is currently fourth in the standings after his best weekend on the Pro Tour in S4. The 2010 G1 Pro Tour champion recorded a best finish of fourth in Dallas aboard his Aluminos chassis.

Sunday winner Elliott currently ranks fifth in the standings, following a disqualification in Saturday’s main event for a timing plate infraction. The Musgrave Racing Company/CRG pilot has continued to work during the down-time, and could be even more of a threat in Modesto compared to the Dallas weekend. Another threat to contend for podium finishes is another street race veteran – Chris Jennings (DR Kart). The DRT Racing/Pole Position Raceway driver is a former SuperNationals winner, a longtime podium finisher at the Rock Island Grand Prix, and 2014 winner at the Lone Star Grand Prix.

A number of other drivers in the field have the ability and speed to contend for victories this weekend in Modesto, including many returning from the SpringNationals along with former Pro Tour competitors making their first start in 2014. Those who are able to avoid mechanical issues and stay off the barriers will no doubt be in contention under the lights.

S4 Provisional Entry List

Two-time SuperNationals winner Billy Cleavelin assumes the TaG Master championship lead going into the SummerNationals (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

TaG Master
The complexion of the Pro Tour championship changes as the series heads to Modesto. Double SpringNationals winner Brian McHattie will miss the SummerNationals, as will second in points Scott Falcone. This promotes Billy Cleavelin into the championship lead and helps to put a number of drivers back in the chase. Cleavelin (CRG-USA) is a two-time SuperNationals winner, and overcame engine issues in Dallas to score a third place and runner-up finish in Dallas. His lead in the standing however is only 30 points to Oklahoma driver Anthony Honeywell. Recently making the move to Mike Manning Karting, Honeywell is looking to improve on his two top-five finishes to end up on the podium this weekend.

Ethan Wilson may have the edge on the field, as street racing has become one of his favorite past time. The Phil Giebler Racing/FA Kart driver scored an emotional win in at the 2012 Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix, and placing runner-up to Cleavelin at last year’s event. Just 100 points back of Cleavelin, the 2010 Pro Tour champion is back in contention. Ron Hyde (Italian Motors/Italkart) completes the championship contenders going into Modesto. The Canadian is looking to improve on his two seventh-place finishes in Dallas.

A number of possible contenders are making their 2014 Pro Tour debut. Aluminos is loaded with talent, including recent California ProKart Challenge winner Larry Fraser and Kiwi driver Aarron Cunningham making his Superkarts! USA debut. The rest of the field is made up of NorCal racers, increasing the chance of someone from California landing on the podium this weekend.

TaG Master Provisional Entry List

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