(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)

eKartingNews.com, the Official Media Partner of Superkarts! USA, is proud to present the Preview Series for the SKUSA SuperNationals XIX. In the coming days, EKN will preview each of the nine categories that will compete outside the Las Vegas Convention Center and Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino from November 18-22.

For complete coverage of the SKUSA SuperNationals XIX, visit the EKN Event Page and head to eKartingNews.com/live for live audio and live timing throughout the five days of competition.

The largest category growing in the United States is TaG Cadet. Year after year, an influx of young competitors jump into the quickest category available for kids under the age of 13 to begin molding themselves as a true driver. This year’s field is sold out again, and will feature 85 drivers all vying to be part of the SuperSunday field and to make a little bit of history.

No driver has yet to win back-to-back events, and 2015 will be no different with defending winner Guiseppe Fusco not making the trip from Italy to compete. This will mark the sixth different winner in as many races since the class was introduced in 2010. The previous two victories have gone to non-North Americans, and with 35% of the field coming from another continent, the chances of that happening are not too far off.

2015 SuperNationals marks the first time the IAME Mini Swift engine package will perform for the TaG Cadet field under the bright lights of Las Vegas. Throughout the 2015 season, the engine has received rave reviews by competitors and teams throughout the industry. The event also marks the finale for the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour, and crowning of the first SKUSA champion with the IAME Mini Swift engine package.

Championship Chase: DeFrancesco and Welage Go Head-to-Head, Others Lurking

Lachlan DeFrancesco – Jason Welage

The top two drivers in the TaG Cadet championship standings are separated by just 15 when factoring in the drop race. Lachlan DeFrancesco (Benik) holds the top spot after clinching the Sunday victory at the SummerNationals. It propelled him to the top, eclipsing Jason Welage. The Top Kart USA pilot won Sunday at the SpringNationals, making it two in a row with Saturday’s victory at the SummerNationals. Experience goes on the side of DeFrancesco, who’s is on the track nearly every weekend somewhere around the world, however, lady luck has not been on the side of the Canadian/American. Lachlan was top-three in last year’s Pro Tour standings and had to use the provisional to get into the main event after troubles in qualifying and the heat races. This will be Welage’s first trip out to the SuperNationals, so the bright lights and just the sheer impression of his first Las Vegas trip may play a factor in his performance.

Six other drivers still remain in the mathematical hunt, within 100 to just under 195 points back from DeFrancesco, and thanks to the size of the field and the conditions of a LVCC temporary circuit, anything can happen. Ryan Schartau is the next driver in line, ready to step up to the challenge. A runner-up behind Welage at the SpringNationals is the best result in 2015 by the Ryan Perry Motorsports / Tony Kart driver, who is finishing up his first full year on the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour and making a return to the SuperNationals after missing last year’s. Jak Crawford (Energy) could have easily been closer to the top of the championship fight, had it not been for a DNF Sunday during the heat races at the SpringNationals after sweeping Saturday’s action at PKRA. The 2014 Texas ProKart Challenge had the best finish of all the championship contenders last year, ending up fourth, and could find himself once again among the top contenders on SuperSunday.

Ryan Schartau is among a group of drivers still in the championship chase entering the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour finale (Photo: EKN)

Oliver Calvo and Anthony Willis are among the top drivers coming from the California ProKart Challenge, still with a chance to fight for the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour crown. Calvo (PKS Supplies / Tony Kart) has been consistent on the big stage to put himself just 126 points out of first. Willis (Nash Motorsportz / Benik) is the recently crowned California PKC champion 22 points back of Calvo, looking for another achievement for his growing resume.

Deeper into the championship chase is Diego LaRoque and Jonny Edgar. LaRoque’s best result was third at his home track for the SpringNationals, with the BBR Karting / Benik driver needing more to fight for a championship podium spot. Edgar (Benik) missed the SpringNationals and racked up two runner-up results at the SummerNationals to put himself in a rare championship hunt, thanks to the craziness of the TaG Cadet results. The British driver ran fifth at last year’s SuperNationals, so the thought of him earning maximum points to move up the standings is not out of the question.

Who to Watch: Sell-Out Field to Challenge for Victory

Sam Mayer could be a driver in the hunt come SuperSunday (Photo: EKN)

Another solid field of drivers are set to compete at the SuperNationals in the TaG Cadet division. A number of them are looking to be in contention, including 23 drivers older than 11-years of age that could be competing in their final Cadet race. Among them is Franklin Motorsports / Merlin driver Sam Mayer. The Wisconsin driver is the top non-podium returning driver, having placed ninth in 2014. While championships eluded him this season, a big result in Las Vegas could be the cap on a great Cadet career. Nicholas d’Orlando was among the top contenders last year, until retiring early in the main event. Already with a national championship on his belt this season, the Koene USA / Tony Kart driver is making his first Superkarts! USA start of 2015.

The east coast is well represented once again in the TaG Cadet division. Names like Reece Gold (Benik), Luca Mars (CompKart) and Pauly Massimino (Top Kart) who finished 12th last year. Texas ProKart Challenge champion Enzo Scionti (Praga) is another to watch, along with Pacific Northwest driver Josh Pierson (Tony Kart).

Podium Predictions:

Nicholas d’Orlando is the outsider, not making a SKUSA start in 2015 (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

Rob Howden – EKN Editor-in-Chief
1. Jason Welage
2. Nicholas d’Orlando
3. Jonny Edgar
4. Lachlan DeFrancesco
5. Oliver Calvo

Predicting the finishing order in any of the TaG categories at the SKUSA SuperNationals is a tall order, simply because the international flavor of the field always throws wildcards into the mix.  Yes, we’re very familiar with all the domestic players, the guys and girls who’ve been fighting it out all year long, but last year, both David and I were blindsided by Guiseppe Fusco, who rolled in and topped Jack Doohan and Jagger Jones for the win.  The question is, which visitor will step up to fight with the likes of Jason Welage, Lachlan DeFrancesco and Jonny Edgar.  I think you need to throw Nicholas d’Orlando into the mix as well.  Even though he has run Rotax all year, he was as quick as his brother Michael in qualifying for the SuperNationals last year.  I think Welage is ready to break through and score a SKUSA championship, and this will be the final chapter of the battle that he had with DeFrancesco all year.  I’m going with Welage to win over d’Orlando.  The wildcards in the game, should they rise to the occasion, would be Anthony Willis and Ryan Schartau.

Two runner-up finishes by Jonny Edgar at the SummerNationals has him on the radar going into SuperNationals (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

David Cole – EKN Managing Editor
1. Jonny Edgar
2. Jak Crawford
3. Sam Mayer
4. Nicholas d’Orlando
5. Jason Welage

Last year’s podium prediction saw me guess just one driver in the top-five, including three international drivers. This year, I’m going with just one driver. Jonny Edgar will leave Vegas back for the UK with victory in hand. Edgar came and nearly won at the SummerNationals, and that success should propel him among the contenders and help with the outside chance in the championship chase, which could be determined by fast lap of the main event. Jak Crawford will carry the Red, White, and Blue for the USA, placing second as the two returning podium drivers from 2014 go 1-2. Sam Mayer closes out his Cadet career with podium in Las Vegas, as does Nicholas d’Orlando. Completing the podium is Welage, who will get the edge on DeFrancesco in the title chase, with the heat races deciding the driver to be crowned champion on SuperSunday.

TaG Cadet Provisional Entry List

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