(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.

They may not be the fastest, they may not be the best looking, but there is one thing you can’t take away from the TaG Master drivers at the SuperNationals – they have a passion for racing. Since 2008, the category has sold out with 40 or more drivers, including this year as the first class to reach the class cap in just 48 hours of opening registration. Each and every year, SuperSunday seems to be a dog fight among some of the best drivers from around the world over the age of 30. Nearly half of the 2015 field were competitors at last year’s event at the Rio with a good handful of the drivers making their first TaG Master start at the SuperNationals.

Championship Chase: Title Contenders Making SuperNationals Debut

Nick Tucker – Chris Giumarra

Among the new drivers to the field are this year’s Fikse Wheels Pro Tour championship contenders. Nick Tucker and Chris Giumarra are no strangers to big stage as former national level drivers in their early years in the sport. Both have experience and rejuvenation behind the wheel, finding success in their first TaG Master season. Tucker (Kart Worx / Tony Kart) was the top driver at the SpringNationals, coming away with nearly maximum points and two victories. Giumarra (Checkered Motorsports / PCR) had to work hard on getting his two wins, and finds himself trailing by 60 points heading into Las Vegas. Each are on the younger side of the TaG Master scale, making their first starts at the SuperNationals in the category.

The fight for P3 on the championship podium is down to Anthony Honeywell and Vatche Tatikian. Honeywell (Praga) has yet to land on the podium in 2015, but holds the third position over Tatikian (Phil Gielber Racing / FA Kart) by just 15 points. Both have finished fourth, which would put them on the SuperNationals podium, however each will have an eye on the other throughout the week in Vegas to help land one of the SKUSA championships plates for 2016.

Who to Watch: Defending Winners and Veterans Ready to Attack

Aussie Kip Foster will attempt to double up in the win column (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)

The last two winners of the SuperNationals TaG Master event are among the full field slated to compete this year. Aussie driver Kip Foster finally came through the grueling SuperSunday main event and the technical inspection to clinch his first SuperNats triumph. Foster was the top driver until the final heat race suffering a DNF and pushing him back to 13th on the grid for the main event. He knifed his KartSport North America Arrow machine to the front, beating out IndyCar champion Will Power for the victory. Jim Russell Jr. has been busy trading paint with the Senior level category drivers all season long, ready to make a return to the SuperNationals after taking much of 2014 off from driving. The Russell Karting Specialties owner won the 2013 edition, and is always a threat aboard his Parolin kart.

Two of last year’s podium finishers are returning for 2015. Brazilian Eduardo Dieter was quick one year ago in his third place performance, and is sure to be among the contenders aboard the always SuperNationals quick Italkart. Russell Francis was the top American driver, placing fourth in last year’s main event with a stellar drive aboard a Tony Kart. The 33-year-old from Oregon is making the move to the Top Kart for 2015, looking to repeat his podium performance.

Mario Barrios and Diego Pelosi finished inside the top-10 last year. Barrios (BBR Karting / Gillard) used that finish to help him enter the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour in 2015, placing on the podium at the SpringNationals. Pelosi (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) is always a threat in the Master category, posting a seventh one year ago. A new location could be an omen for defending champ Ethan Wilson. The two-time title winner had a victory taken away in 2013, and with a ‘bucket list’ schedule for 2015, victory at the SuperNationals would be a great way to cap off the year and the list.

2013 champion Scott Falcone has not enjoyed a title-type performance in 2015, however, the KartSport North America / Arrow driver continues to be among the top Master drivers in the United States and ready to make a return to the SuperNats after missing last year’s event. California ProKart Challenge champion Brian Phillipsen (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) is another driver to watch, coming off a victory at the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix.

Podium Predictions:

Ethan Wilson carries the #1 plate one final time in 2015 (Photo: EKN)

Rob Howden – EKN Editor-in-Chief
1. Kip Foster
2. Ethan Wilson
3. Nick Tucker
4. Chris Guimarra
5. Russell Francis

One of continually cool facets of the Master-level programs in karting is the regular arrival of new ‘young’ guns to the party. Every season, a bunch of new dudes turn 30 years of age.  This year on the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour, Nick Tucker and Chris Giumarra made their series debuts in the class and dominated the top rung of the podium, each sweeping a weekend.  Tucker went two-for-two at the SpringNationals, while Giumarra matched the feat at the SummerNationals. They will re-fire the battle for the title at the SuperNationals, but they’ll be up against some strong international competition and some top domestic talent that will be back in action at the SuperNationals.  Aussie Kip Foster has finished first on three occasions, last year being his first official ‘win’ after tech issues negated his first two triumphs.  Foster was a monster in the main event last year and will be the man to beat again this time around.  Anytime Ethan Wilson arrives at a temp circuit, you have to make him one of your top picks. I see them finishing 1-2…championship contenders Tucker and Giumarra will be in the top-five…and I’m going to give Russell Francis the respect he deserves after a stellar podium run in 2015.  I expect that he’ll be back there again next week.

2013 winner Jim Russell Jr. is among the contenders once again (Photo: EKN)

David Cole – EKN Managing Editor
1. Kip Foster
2. Jim Russell Jr.
3. Scott Falcone
4. Eduardo Dieter
5. Ethan Wilson

Kip Foster finally got his win, and I predicted that win. TaG Master has seen just four different winners in the last seven years. Billy Cleavelin doubled up, Brazilian Leonardo Nienkotter did the triple, and Russell slotted in before Foster triumphed last year. That pattern continues with Foster earning his second straight, beating the field handily. Russell grabs another SuperNats podium for the Parolin brand, beating out former champion Falcone. Dieter makes it two straight podiums at the SuperNationals, coming from behind to beat out Wilson for the fourth spot. Four of the five Fikse Wheels Pro Tour champions have failed to land on the SuperNationals podium, Paul Bonilla the only exception. I see the trend continuing with the two title contenders, while both are going to be in the hunt, neither reach the steps and the fight goes down to the wire to decide the 2015 champion.

TaG Master Provisional Entry List

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