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November 19, 2008 News
EKN Trackside: SKUSA SuperNationals XII Preview - SuperPro and TaG
 




History is in the making this week at the 12th annual National Guard Superkarts! USA SuperNationals. Along with the return to the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, the total entry counts are over 400, the most ever for the event. Along with just the location and sheer numbers making history, the driver line-ups are making this one of the most anticipated events in karting history.

Over the next three days, eKartingNews.com will preview all ten classes, split up accordingly. The first day, the three Junior divisions will be under the microscope to point out the early favorites heading into Vegas. The second day will be the Senior support classes, from S1 to TaG Masters. The headline SuperPro division and the TaG Senior class, boasting 100 entries, will be examined thoroughly to point out the big names returning to their karting roots and those making the long journey across the pond from Europe.

To discuss the event, visit the SKUSA SuperNationals XII Official Discussion Thread.



 

Marco Ardigo will defend his 2007 SuperNationals title (Photo: Go Racing Magazine)
Marco Ardigo will defend his 2007 SuperNationals title
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine)

SuperPro
Barron, Elliott, Gidley, Speed, White, Boswell, Bowles, Mandarino, Carlton, Aridgo…

Those names will forever be famous and associated with the word ‘SuperNationals’. The ‘Top Gun’ club, if you will, for karting will either remain the same or gain one more to the prestigious guild following SuperSunday when 28 of the best shifter kart pilots from around the world will battle for the $10,000 first place prize at the 12th annual SKUSA SuperNationals.

With the success of last year’s circuit approved by the CIK-FIA, Superkarts! USA was able to lock that in again for 2008, which has helped boost the level of competition for the SuperPro category. Bringing in former and reigning world and European champions, the best of the North American shifter pilots will look to regain the title.

Last year seemed to be a dominant performance for two-time KZ1 World Champion Jonathan Thonon (CRG). An unfortunate shifter lever breakage cost him the title, handing the win and cash to the reigning and two-time KF1 World Karting Champion Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart). Both are set to return to Vegas this week, Ardigo to defend his SuperNats crown and Thonon to redeem himself.

Hot on his heals and with another year of Euro experience in his pocket, American Gary Carlton (CRG) is set to regain what once was his, the SuperNats title. Carlton impressed again in the European Championship, moving up from the KZ2 to KZ1 division, while coming up just one point short of a third straight national crown here in the States. The new reigning national champion, Michael Vincec (CRG), did some fine driving of his own throughout the 2008 season. Traveling to Europe as well to replace Carlton’s spot in the KZ2 category, he overcame multiple gremlins to score championship points. Back home, he never finished outside the top-five, earning a big win at the mid-season point and earning his first national championship.
 

Gary Carlton will lead the North American contingent to regain the SuperNats crown (Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)
Gary Carlton will lead the North American contingent to regain the SuperNats crown
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)

With nearly a victory at nearly every large event across the country, one victory still remains blank on Alex Speed’s karting resume - a headline SuperNats win. The former S1 and K2 (80cc Junior shifter) SuperNats winner has not beat the best of the best in Vegas. His brother won back to back (2000 and 2001), thus the Speed name stands with the rest however Alex, a true karting enthusiast and perfectionist would like nothing more than to add his name to the list above. His brother won aboard a Tony Kart in ’01, thus the mojo could be in Alex’s favor in his second national race on the green machine.

Not much was known about Jeremy Iglesias (Intrepid) heading into the 2007 event, however with an impressive drive to a third place finish last year have the stop watches on him this year. Same for his Intrepid teammate and former ICA national champion Jordy Vorrath. The Canadian has the speed to sit on pole - and earn the new ‘Oakley Lead Foot’ pole award including a new Minute Machine titanium watch - just needs to put the pieces together to be there at the end of SuperSunday.

No stranger to winning at the SuperNats, Ron White and David Jurca would like to add one more to their win totals. White, the 2002 SuperPro winner, is always fast in Vegas. After spending the past two years in open wheel cars, he’s return to karting and slowly gained back the swagger that is often seen with White behind the wheel. Jurca has two victories to his credit, winning the Formula IC division in ’02 as the class was being introduced to North America at the time and a dominate performance in TaG in ’05. The new look Italkart will be in full force in Vegas, with Jurca looking to gain a win in its debut. Other Euros to watch will be Gian Cavaciuti (GP), who was third in 2006, Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG) - fourth at the KZ1 World Cup - making his first SuperNats start, and another first timer Anthony Abbasse, the French KZ2 vice-champion.

SuperPro Provisional Entry List
No.NameChassisEngineCountryAgeNotes
1Jonathan ThononCRGMaxterBelgian22Two-time KZ1 World Champion
5rMichael VincecCRGMaxterCanada17Reigning ICC National Champion
10Gian CavaciutiGPTMItaly27Factory GP Driver / SuperNats podium 2006
21Tony LavanantEnergyTMFrance23Reigning European KZ2 Champion
23Lorenzo MandarinoVemme KartTMCanada222005 SuperNats SuperPro Winner
24Michael AndersenGPTMDenmark20Dannish GP Driver
26Phil GieblerSodiTMUSA292007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year / 2005 ICA National Champion
28Danilo DiraniTony KartVortex Brazil25Former Champ Car Atlantic Driver / Florida Winter Tour Vice-Champion
30yBryan EadyIntrepidMaxterUSA21Reigning TaG ICC National Champion / Former SKUSA K1 National Champion
40Roberto ToninelliIntrepidTMItaly29Factory Intrepid Driver
42Simo PuhakkaPCRTMFinland202007 Finnish ICC Champion
43Jeremy IglesiasIntrepidTMFrance21Factory Intrepid Driver / SuperNats podium 2007
46Arnaud KozlinskiCRGMaxterFrance272006 Formula A World Cup
47Anthony AbbasseSodiTMFrance19French KZ2 Championship Runner-up
48Norman NatoIntrepidTMItaly16Factory Intrepid Driver
49Yannick SavardCRGMaxterFrance28French CRG Driver
51Marco ArdigoTony KartVortex Italy25Reigning World Champion and SuperNats Winner
71yRon WhiteGPMaxterUSA272002 SuperNats SuperPro Winner
92David JurcaItalkartTMUSA232002 Formula IC Winner, 2005 TaG Winner
100Adolfo AnguianoItalkartTMMexico39Mexican Italkart Driver
110Curtis FoxCRGTMCanada18No. 15 in EKN ICC Driver Rankings / 2007 Grand Prix of Barrie Winner
119yRyan YopSodiTMUSA21No. 8 in EKN ICC Driver Rankings
127Josh SchreiberCRGMaxterUSA251999 SKI Awards Rising Star Winner
141Alex SpeedTony KartMaxterUSA22SuperNats S1 & K2 Winner / Former ICC and 80cc Jr. National Champion
147Jordy VorrathIntrepidTMCanada262004 ICA National Champion
151yGary CarltonCRGMaxterUSA222006 SuperNats SuperPro Winner, Former National Champion
161yFritz LeesmannCRGMaxterUSA212008 Florida Winter Tour Champion / 2008 Canadian National Champion
169Cody JollyIntrepidMaxterUSA17Top ICC Rookie in 2008


 

Defending SuperNationals winner Joel Miller returns to TaG to fend off 99 others looking to take his crown (Photo: Go Racing Magazine)
Defending SuperNationals winner Joel Miller returns to TaG to fend off 99 others looking to take his crown
(Photo: Go Racing Magazine)

TaG
Before even hitting the track, the TaG division has made history with the largest field ever for the event with 100 entries. What is more exciting is the fact that nearly the entire field has a legitimate chance at winning in Vegas. However, a good number of drivers who ran up front at last year’s event will be returning to compete at this year’s race, including some new special guests from karting’s past looking to mix it up with the new generation of karting’s best. With that, eKartingNews.com will look at their projected top-ten in no particular order.

What better place to start than beginning with the defending champion, Joel Miller. The 2007 Skip Barber National champion and 2008 Star Mazda Championship runner-up has enjoyed a lot of success over the past three years. In 2006, the ICA National Championship propelled his progression up the motorsports ladder, now part of the MAZDASPEED Driver Development Program. Back aboard the familiar Tony Kart machine, Miller will be among the front runners from the time they hit the track.

Victor Cabrera used his third place last year at the SuperNats to begin what would eventually lead to a national championship in TaG. The Puerto Rican at times throughout the year seemed to be untouchable in his Kosmic package. Only a couple hiccups cost him a perfect season and he would like nothing more than a SuperNats title added to his CV for 2008. Second in ’07 was John Zartarian. A factor in the past two SuperNats in TaG, ‘Zar’ will most definitely be among the lead group this year aboard the same Tony Kart entry.

Ranked second to Cabrera in the EKN TaG Driver Rankings is Indiana’s Kyle Wiegand. The former number one ICC driver ran a limited TaG schedule in 2008, and the big events with podium finishes put him near the top of the rankings. Wiegand is among a solid Top Kart contingent that also includes Chris Scribner and Chris Wehrheim. Finishing eighth and ninth respectively in 2007, both had strong 2008 seasons. Scribner was the Western Division TaG champion while Wehrheim battled in the East. Both challenged for the national crown, ending the year in the top-five along with Wiegand.
 

Victor Cabrera would like to add a SuperNats win to his TaG national championship (Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)
Victor Cabrera would like to add a SuperNats win to his TaG national championship
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca)

Joey Licata Jr. and Joey Wimsett each held the number one spot in the EKN Driver Rankings at one point this season. Licata (CRG) was out for a brief stint during the season after a nasty wreck in Utah during the month of April. An impressive IKF Grand Nationals and national finale in Vegas brought Licata back on the map, looking to improve on his fourth place from last year. Wimsett overtook Licata’s spot at the top before Cabrera relinquished the position. Wimsett has been a rising star and could have been crowned national champion had not been for questionable disqualifications early in the season. Wimsett has put that behind him and now is focused on a SuperNats victory.

Two drivers to keep an eye on will be Brett Buckwalter and Tony Loniewski. Buckwalter (Italkart) spent the summer running regional programs in NorCal, putting in good results. The SuperNats veteran ran 14th last year however he should be able to improve on that this weekend. Loniewski is another with loads of knowledge in karting and is fast on temporary circuits. The 2007 Mazda RoboPong 200 co-winner and Ironman 150 runner-up loves the ‘sin city’ and would like nothing better than to give Energy its first big North American victory.

Six entries are ‘drivers of interest’ but want no special treatment as they want their results to speak for themselves. NASCAR’s Jamie McMurray, IRL drivers Dan Wheldon and Buddy Rice, Indy Lights pilot Bobby Wilson, Rolex Grand-Am driver Michael Valiante and track designer Rocky Moran Jr. will be aboard TaG machines to compete for the win.

McMurray (CRG), found karting during his off-weekends from NASCAR, will compete in both the TaG and S3 division. He’s been seen competing at WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series events over the past two years and other regional events. Rice returns to the SuperNats after running up front at last year’s event while Wheldon, a big supporter and former co-winner of the Mazda RoboPong 200, will be making his first SuperNats start. Wilson, a former ICC national champion, never won at the SuperNats and will make his first start in TaG. Valiante was once the all-time win leader with three victories at the Vegas event and would like to move up to the top with a fourth win. Moran, owner of the now-deceased Moran Raceway in Southern California, designed the circuit for the SuperNats the last two years and enjoys competing against the best karting has to offer.

TaG Provisional Entry List
No.NameChassisEngineCityStateCountry
1Joel MillerTony KartRok TTHesperiaCAUSA
01Cameron HoggCRGLeopardAncasterCACanada
2Ayla AgrenTony KartRok TTSlemmestadNorway
04Dan WheldonTop KartLeopardSt. PetersburgFLEngland
4Johnny BlairIntrepidPRD FireballTacomaWAUSA
5Buddy RiceTony KartRok TTPhoenixAZUSA
05Kristopher WallFirst KartLeopardCedar ValeAustralia
06Andy LeeBirelRok TTMaricopaAZUSA
6Jordon MusserBirelMotori 7CoppellTXUSA
7Brandon AdkinsTony KartLeopardPort WashingtonOHUSA
8Richard BenitezKosmicRok TTCarolinaPuerto Rico
9Scott SaundersCRGLeopardAncasterONAustralia
11Miles MaroneyCRGLeopardTopangaCAUSA
14Cy SchumacherKosmicRok TTCantonOHUSA
16Chris WehrheimTop KartLeopardNorcrossGAUSA
17Chris ScribnerTop KartLeopardRancho CordovaCAUSA
19Steven BarrosTop KartComerRedlandsCAUSA
21Nate ScherlingCRGLeopardColorado SpringsCOUSA
22Victor CabreraKosmicRok TTSan JuanPuerto Rico
23AJ WhislerFirst KartLeopardPhoenixAZUSA
26Jamie McMurrayCRGLeopardMooresvilleNCUSA
27Angel CabanKosmicRok TTSan JuanPuerto Rico
28Alexandre HumbertSodiKartRok TTEckwersheimFrance
29James KovacicMMKMotori 7Forresters BeachAustralia
31Luis Martinez, Jr.AvantiMotori 7Baldwin ParkCAUSA
33Juan Pablo DelgadoTony KartRok TTMonterreyMexico
42Michael LewisMMKMotori 7Laguna BeachCAUSA
43John ZartarianTony KartRok TTCarlsbadCAUSA
44Bobby WilsonFirst KartLeopardBrownsburgINUSA
46Emanuele PaganiTony KartRok TTSanremoItaly
48Lucas ForestiTony KartRok TTJupiterFLBrazil
58Sergio PenaAvantiMotori 7CatharpinVAUSA
63Travis LoweKosmicRok TTPasadenaCAUSA
67Michael BotelhoCRGLeopardRenoNVUSA
71Dusty DavisCRGLeopardLas VegasNVUSA
72James BeanFirst KartLeopardBeverleyEngland
77Blake TeeterIntrepidLeopardWichitaKSUSA
88Shane VaillantArrowLeopardSurreyBCCanada
94Michael HoggItalkartLeopardNorth VancouverBCCanada
95Michael ValianteItalkartLeopardVancouverBCCanada
96Tim BachmanIntrepidLeopardBakersfieldCAUSA
98Chris GloverArrowLeopardSurreyBCCanada
99Eric LichtensteinPCRLeopardBuenos AiresArgentina
116Ryan GreenFirst KartLeopardNorth Salt LakeUTUSA
123Adam JohnsonEnergyLeopardIowa CityIAUSA
128Denis DiraniTony KartRok TTJupiterFLUSA
182Chris GomezEnergyLeopardWest SacramentoCAUSA
247Michael HerdaBirelRotaxLas VegasNVUSA
354Mason MarottaIntrepidRok TTBakersfieldCAUSA
401Tony LoniewskiEnergyLeopardMichigan CityINUSA
416Rebecca MitchellFirst KartLeopardNorth Salt LakeUTUSA
425Edward FortierMaranelloLeopardToa AltaPuerto Rico
432David ZippieBirelLeopardAuroraCOUSA
444Eddy TininiCRGLeopardDesenzanoItaly
446Max RiddleEnergyLeopardVancouverBCCanada
471Cody TracyFirst KartLeopardNorth Salt LakeUTUSA
482Pat IannucciSodiKartLeopardBoca RatonFLUSA
722Cory PollockBirelRotaxCanyon LakeCAUSA
10yBryan StephensonTony KartLeopardReddingCAUSA
14dDale Kistler-CollinsGPMotori 7ThorntonCOUSA
17cJoey Licata, Jr.CRGLeopardVan NuysCAUSA
17yAnthony SnowEnergyLeopardSan JoseCAUSA
18yNeil AlbericoTop KartRok TTMonte SerenoCAUSA
19yBrett BuckwalterItalkartLeopardPetalumaCAUSA
1rDevon SandeenIntrepidLeopardChilliwackBCCanada
22rBrayden BulgerFirst KartLeopardSookeBCCanada
22zStepanova NekeelCRGLeopardSeattleWAUSA
26jPedro JacobsenTony KartRok TTJupiterFLUSA
27zJoey WimsettIntrepidLeopardBeavercreekORUSA
29xAirel JimenezAvantiMotori 7Canyon CountryCAUSA
32yZach DericcoGPLeopardSan Luis ObispoCAUSA
37zBenjamin NaemuraBirelLeopardPortlandORUSA
3yNic LeDucTony KartLeopardNovatoCAUSA
408yWill MartindaleTony KartLeopardVacavilleCAUSA
40xAdam ZeenSodiKartRok TTHuntington BeachCAUSA
412uMichael SelfSodiKartLeopardPark CityUTUSA
413yCody DiedeIntrepidLeopardLodiCAUSA
428yAmber FriedbergSKMLeopardSalidaCAUSA
435yBrett FelkinsIntrepidLeopardLodiCAUSA
441yTroy DiedeIntrepidRok TTLodiCAUSA
4rColin WallIntrepidLeopardChilliwackBCCanada
4yJason ToftGPLeopardPetalumaCAUSA
55cChad BrassfieldBirelRotaxScottsdaleAZUSA
5cRyon BeachnerTony KartRok TTLake ForestCAUSA
65oBryce CornetIntrepidLeopardNormanOKUSA
66bLucas BarnettTony KartRok TTGlendaleAZUSA
67xAndrick ZeenSodiKartRok TTHuntington BeachCAUSA
71cRocky Moran, JrTony KartLeopardCoto de CazaCAUSA
77kNicola GalloniGPRotaxMarina Del ReyCAUSA
81yCraig DiGraziaRosso KorsaLeopardSan RafaelCAUSA
86cErik JacksonCRGLeopardLong BeachCAUSA
86jKyle WiegandTop KartLeopardBargersvilleINUSA
8kAlex AkersTony KartLeopardGlendaleAZUSA
90xJustin MillerBirelRok TTScottsdaleAZUSA
96rBob WakelingCRGRok TTNorth VancouverBCCanada
99xErik von ZeipelBirelRotaxLos AngelesCAUSA
Pacific Mountain Central Eastern International Western Canada



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