Turner Brown won in his X30 Junior debut at the SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

Teams and drivers for OTK USA put the 2023 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour into the books with the running of the SKUSA SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The New Castle, Indiana facility welcomed a star-studded lineup over the July 28-30 weekend, featuring lots of excitement on the track and off with the final points gathered toward the 2023 championships. Five victories were earned by drivers aboard OTK chassis brands, gaining one class title when the final checkered flag was waved on the weekend.

Isaac Malcuit became a first time winner in the KA100 Junior division (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

It was a near sweep of the weekend with top-five finishes in the X30 Junior category as OTK brands won both main events. Saturday welcomed the career first victory for Turner Brown (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) in his class debut. Brown was able to fend off Oliver Wheldon (JC Karting / LN Racing Kart) to the checkered flag first, as Wheldon recorded his first podium finish of the season. Jackson Wolny (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) finished third ahead of Max Taylor (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) with Sarah Bradley (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) earning her best career finish of fifth. Sunday was a fight to the end featuring the top-six drivers together. Two-time race winner Ernesto Rivera (Rolison Performance Group) managed to hold off the pack in the final corners to claim his third triumph of the season. Brown was a close third along with Taylor and Wheldon right there at the finish line.

Two wins on the weekend for OTK brands in the KA100 Junior division as well. Privateer Isaac Malcuit (Gillard) claimed his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory in the category, making a last lap pass work on Oliver Wheldon (JC Karting / LN Racing Kart). Max Taylor (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) joined them on the podium with teammate Ernesto Rivera (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) in fourth. Sunday was a race decided by penalties after the on-track action with Diego Ardiles (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) promoted to the top step of the podium to claim his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory. Taylor joined him on the podium for a 1-2 finish.

Diego Ardiles earned his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory in KA100 Junior (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

Veteran driver Pete Vetter (Rolison Performance Group) added to his CV with a victory in the KA100 Master division. Vetter was named winner following the on-track action and penalties handed out, putting him at the top of the podium for Saturday’s main event. On Sunday, Vetter grabbed more hardware, placing third. SKUSA series announcer Rob Howden jumped into the action over the weekend, piloting his Rolison Performance Group Kosmic to two top-five results in his SKUSA Pro Tour debut.

Five-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Ryan Norberg (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) put in a valiant effort over the two rounds in New Castle, searching for that elusive victory in 2023. Norberg fought in a battle for second in Saturday’s main event, landing in the runner-up position with fast lap of the main event. Sunday was a fight for victory as the race went down to the final few corners of the last lap with Norberg ending up in second place. Blake Nash (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) had his best result of the 2023 SKUSA campaign in fifth in Round Five while Senior rookie Brandon Carr (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Tony Kart) matching that finish in the Sunday main event.

Ernesto Rivera capped off his championship season in X30 Junior with victory in the final round (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

A total of three podium finishes and six top-five results highlighted the OTK contingent in KA100 Senior. Last year’s two-time winner Oliver Calvo (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) returned for his first outing of the 2023 season, placing third in the Saturday Final. One spot behind was privateer Eli Warren (Redspeed), one of the top Senior rookies of 2023. Henry Wheeler (Brandon Jarsocrak Racing / LN Racing Kart) has been improving with each outing and had his best performance in the last round of the season with a runner-up finish. Former race winner Collin Lloyd (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) joined him on the podium in third while Kane Martin (Nash Motorsportz / EOS) and Mick Gabriel (AEM Karting / Kosmic) completed the top-five.

In total, OTK USA drivers and teams gained eight podium results in the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour championship standings for 2023. Ernesto Rivera led a Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic sweep in the X30 Junior division championship. The new champion was joined by Max Taylor and Jackson Wolny on the steps of the of the championship podium. It was Taylor and Rivera to add to their hardware for 2023, finishing the season second and third respectively in the KA100 Junior final standings. Five-time champ Ryan Norberg (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) climbed his way up to the second spot in the final standings for X30 Senior following a rough start to 2023. Collin Lloyd (Speed Concepts Racing / Redspeed) and Henry Wheeler (Brandon Jarsocrak Racing / LN Racing Kart) ended 2023 in KA100 Senior title chase in second and third.

Pete Vetter added a SKUSA Pro Tour victory to his CV with the Saturday win in KA100 Master (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

Teams are already preparing for the next and final Superkarts! USA major event of the 2023 – the SKUSA SuperNationals 26. The race is scheduled for November 8-12 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway just outside Las Vegas, Nevada.

Drivers looking to compete with the most popular kart brand in the world or purchase OTK karts and components can contact their local OTK USA dealer. Head to www.otkusa.com for a complete list of dealers and details on the entire brand roster.

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