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| Features |
| eKartingNews.com Driver Rankings – October 29, 2012 |
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The final standings for the eKartingNews.com Driver Rankings prior to the ‘big one’ - the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XVI - set the stage heading into the November 14-18 event. The results from Las Vegas show will have the final say in who will be crowned the top driver for the 2012 season in both the TaG and Stock Moto categories. With not much racing taking place in October, the standings remain virtually unchanged with Mason Chelootz still holding the number one position in TaG and Fritz Leesmann in Stock Moto.
The Top Kart driver from Texas is having no such thing as a ‘sophomore slump’ during his second full season in the Senior ranks. He’s nearly won at every track he’s gone to, highlighted by the Parilla Leopard championship with top-three finishes in the TaG categories in WKA action. Just 52 points separate him and WKA TaG champ Robert Bujdoso (PCR). Earning his fifth championship in three seasons, Bujdoso has kept a spot within the top-10 for three straight years now. Phil DeLaO (Top Kart) rounds out the top three, back by 77 markers from Chelootz.
Focusing on the top three, each bring with them a solid resume on the season. DeLaO seems to edge out the other three with more titles to his credit. This winter, he won the Challenge of the Americas Senior Max championship, he’s the current point leader on the SKUSA Pro Tour in TaG Senior, and scored victory at the Pan American Challenge event in Colorado. Looking at their stats below, DeLaO has the better average finish, just below 2. Chelootz averages an even second place at his seven events toward the Driver Rankings, holding a lot more wins in other races on the season, while Bujdoso sits at 2.4 on his average.
Chelootz and DeLaO will be the top contenders to finish out the season as the number one driver, as Bujdoso will end the year working at the SuperNationals as a wrench, rather than driving. Number four in the standings - Daniel Formal (Tony Kart) - will look to improve his position from a year ago at the SuperNationals. The reigning 2011 Rotax Grand Nationals champ finished second last year in Las Vegas aboard an Intrepid, putting in a strong performance. Chris Wehrheim (Top Kart) is no stranger to the SuperNats podium, placing there in 2010. A front-runner in WKA competition all season, it’s not unlikely to see him with another podium run and move up the Driver Rankings standings.
Four of the top-10 drivers will be competing at the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal, including DeLaO and Formal. Sam Beasley (Arrow) and Louie Pagano (Birel) will pass on Vegas to concentrate their efforts on the Rotax world championship. They will have to see if they remain sixth and ninth after Vegas. New WKA TaG Champion Tommy Andersen has found a home aboard the Kosmic kart, and is possible the top privateer in the country. He and his father set out to claim a championship in WKA competition, and they did, along with the SKUSA Midwest ProKart Challenge title. Matt Johnson (Energy) has been fast all season long, but unable to translate that into consistent results on the SKUSA Pro Tour. The new California ProKart Challenge TaG Senior champion has always been a contender at the SuperNationals, finishing seventh last year. Jonathan Kotyk (Tony Kart) put in a solid season in WKA and Rotax competition during 2012. Not scheduled to race in Vegas, he will have to watch coverage from Florida to see if he’ll remain in the top-10.
Stock Moto has been Fritz Leesmann (CRG) at the top for the past few months. The current SKUSA Pro Tour S1 Pro Stock Moto championship leader will be the target for the 20+ drivers racing in Vegas. His number one competitor will be Joey Wimsett (CRG). The two are separated by just 57 points in the EKN Driver Rankings, around the same amount for the championship chase. Each have two victories going into the Vegas and aside from defending champ Daniel Bray, no one has been able to keep pace.
Nicky Freytag (FA Kart) began the year as the top driver in the standings, but fell down the order after losing his S2 results from a year ago. The S1 rookie is steadily improving, ending the ProKart season with a podium at the Streets of Lancaster GP. Lukas Johnson (GP) currently stands fourth, but will opt out of the SuperNationals this year following a challenging Pro Tour campaign. That could allow Jake French (Birel) to move further up in the top-five. The Texan battled to tenth last year in Vegas, and has been preparing for months to improve the result this year. 2011 S2 champion Kyle Hathcox (CRG) is sixth, and could enter the top-five with a strong result in Vegas.
Josh Lane (DR Kart) also ran S2 last year, finishing on the podium a second straight year. Now in S1, Lane’s put in hours upon hours gearing up for a third straight. Cory Milne (GP) also placed on the S2 podium a year ago, and like many of the graduates will make their first SuperNats start in the S1 category. The only change within the top-10 came from Tyler Bennett (Tony Kart) jumping Jimmy McNeil (CRG) for the ninth spot. Both have regional championships to their credit in 2012 - the Utah State Championship for Bennett and the California ProKart Challenge crown for McNeil.
TaG
TaG Driver Rankings Top-10
| Pos. | Sept. 24 | Plus/Minus | Driver | Races | Score| 1. | 1 | NC | Mason Chelootz | 29 | 7357 | | 2. | 2 | NC | Robert Bujdoso | 23 | 7305 | | 3. | 3 | NC | Phil DeLaO | 12 | 7280 | | 4. | 4 | NC | Daniel Formal | 13 | 7267 | | 5. | 5 | NC | Chris Wehrheim | 18 | 7256 | | 6. | 6 | NC | Sam Beasley | 11 | 7241 | | 7. | 7 | NC | Tommy Andersen | 17 | 7217 | | 8. | 8 | NC | Matt Johnson | 11 | 7159 | | 9. | 9 | NC | Louie Pagano | 14 | 7128 | | 10. | 10 | NC | Jonathan Kotyk | 21 | 7124 | |
For the full TaG Driver Rankings, Click Here
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 | Mason Chelootz
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
TaG #1 - Mason Chelootz
Spring, Texas
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Florida Winter Tour ’12 Rotax #1 | 9 | 1 | 1053 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - Kershaw - TaG 2 | 9 | 2 | 1045 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - PIRC - TaG 1 | 9 | 1 | 1041 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - PIRC - TaG 2 | 9 | 1 | 1049 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - Norway - TaG 2 | 9 | 1 | 1032 | | Rotax Grand Nationals 2012 - Senior Max | 10 | 6 | 1089 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - New Castle - TaG 1 | 9 | 2 | 1048 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 2.0
Average Points: 1051
Total Points: 7357
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 | Robert Bujdoso
(Photo: Sean Buur - Go Racing Magazine) |
TaG #2 - Robert Bujdoso
Canfield, Ohio
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - Daytona - TaG 2 | 9 | 2 | 1060 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - Kershaw - TaG 1 | 9 | 2 | 1032 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - Kershaw - TaG 2 | 9 | 1 | 1056 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - PIRC - TaG 1 | 9 | 2 | 1031 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - South Bend - TaG 2 | 9 | 5 | 1036 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - New Castle - TaG 1 | 9 | 3 | 1038 | | WKA Man. Cup Series ’12 - New Castle - TaG 1 | 9 | 2 | 1052 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 2.43
Average Points: 1043.6
Total Points: 7305
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 | Phil DeLaO
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
TaG #3 - Phil DeLaO
Phoenix, Arizona
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| Challenge of the Americas ’12 - PKRA #2 | 9 | 2 | 1029 | | Challenge of the Americas ’12 - CalSpeed #2 | 9 | 1 | 1035 | | SKUSA Pro Tour SpringNationals ’12 #1 | 9 | 1 | 1069 | | SKUSA Pro Tour SpringNationals ’12 #2 | 9 | 1 | 1058 | | SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals ’12 #1 | 9 | 4 | 1020 | | SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals ’12 #2 | 9 | 2 | 1043 | | Rotax Pan American Challenge ’12 | 9 | 1 | 1026 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 1.71
Average Points: 1040
Total Points: 7280
Stock Moto
Stock Moto Driver Rankings Top-10
| Pos | Sept. 24 | Plus/Minus | Driver | Races | Score| 1. | 1 | NC | Fritz Leesmann | 8 | 6492 | | 2. | 2 | NC | Joey Wimsett | 7 | 6445 | | 3. | 3 | NC | Nicky Freytag | 10 | 6210 | | 4. | 4 | NC | Lukas Johnson | 6 | 6154 | | 5. | 5 | NC | Jake French | 6 | 6132 | | 6. | 6 | NC | Kyle Hathcox | 8 | 6064 | | 7. | 7 | NC | Josh Lane | 9 | 6026 | | 8. | 8 | NC | Cory Milne | 12 | 5981 | | 9. | 10 | 1 | Tyler Bennett | 13 | 5967 | | 10. | 9 | -1 | Jimmy McNeil | 9 | 5960 | |
For the full Stock Moto Driver Rankings, Click Here
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 | Fritz Leesmann
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Stock Moto #1 - Fritz Leesmann
Elk Grove, California
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| SKUSA SuperNationals 2011 - S1 | 10 | 4 | 1094 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’12 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 2 | 1088 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’12 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 1 | 1105 | | SKUSA SummerNationals ’12 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 2 | 1107 | | SKUSA SummerNationals ’12 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 1 | 1118 | | SKUSA California PKC ’12 #6 - S1 | 8.5 | 1 | 980 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 1.83
Average Points: 1082
Total Points: 6492
**************
 | Joey Wimsett
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Stock Moto #2 - Joey Wimsett
Portland, Oregon
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| SKUSA SuperNationals 2011 - S1 | 10 | 5 | 1077 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’12 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 1 | 1105 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’12 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 2 | 1094 | | SKUSA Rocky Mountain PKC ’12 #4 | 8.5 | 2 | 955 | | SKUSA SummerNationals ’12 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 1 | 1118 | | SKUSA SummerNationals ’12 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 3 | 1096 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 2.33
Average Points: 1074.2
Total Points: 6445
**************
 | Nicky Freytag
(Photo: dromophotos.com) |
Stock Moto #3 - Nicky Freytag
Phoenix, Arizona
Point Breakdown
| Race | Rank | Finish | Points| SKUSA SuperNationals 2011 - S2 | 9.5 | 9 | 1014 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’12 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 10 | 1006 | | SKUSA SpringNationals ’12 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 4 | 1072 | | SKUSA California ProKart Challenge ’12 #3 | 8.5 | 1 | 971 | | SKUSA SummerNationals ’12 #1 - S1 | 9.5 | 6 | 1062 | | SKUSA SummerNationals ’12 #2 - S1 | 9.5 | 4 | 1085 | |
Inside the Stats
Average Finish: 5.67
Average Points: 1035
Total Points: 6210
EKN Driver Rankings Calculation Process
The EKN Driver Rankings are calculated using a driver’s best finishes in major North American races. Assembled using events from the previous 12 months from the current date, we use a driver’s best seven finishes in TaG and six in Stock Moto to determine their overall current point total. With each new release, results posted from more than one year ago are discarded. To deliver our ranking list, we tabulate the results of all the national programs and selected regional programs. We have included the results for the major one-off events such as the SKUSA SuperNationals, the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals, the Rock Island Grand Prix and the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix.
Each race is initially weighted based on the prestige and history of the event or series with a score of ten (10) being the highest attainable base ranking. For 2012, the SKUSA SuperNationals and US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals receive a score of 10 in their initial weighting in the TaG category while the SuperNationals is the lone event in the Stock Moto division. The SKUSA Pro Tour series events draw a base ranking of nine (9), while the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup, Florida Winter Tour, Challenge of the Americas, IKF 2-Cycle Sprint Grand Nationals, Rotax Pan American Challenge and other regional program races were given a base ranking of either eight (8) or nine (9).
The EKN staff reserves the right to adjust the rankings of each event throughout the year. A minimum entry total for any events considered for the Driver Rankings program is five (5). If an event does not have at least five (5) drivers starting the race, those results will not be tabulated toward the Driver Rankings.
Added to these initial rankings are two variables that help confirm the true importance of an event to the ranking process – field size and field strength. A percentage of one weighting point is added for the size of the field, while the number of existing top 50 drivers entered offers another full point or fraction of a point. The sum of these numbers becomes the overall ranking for any race. Following a race, drivers receive points based on their finishing positions with 100 points earned for a win. Each subsequent position drops by one point with 99 points given to the second place driver and so on throughout the field. These points are then multiplied by the overall ranking to produce a driver’s final point total from each event. Using a driver’s best seven races in TaG, six for Stock Moto, we calculate each driver’s overall score and subsequent ranking. |
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