eKartingNews.com is proud to present our Preview Series for the SKUSA SuperNationals 26. Leading up to the on-track action of the 2023 edition of the marquee SKUSA event, EKN will preview each of the nine categories that will compete on the temporary circuit located outside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas from November 8-12.

Trackside coverage is set to begin on Tuesday, November 7 as the EKN crew sets up our SuperNationals 26 home, roaming the LVMS grounds with Paddock Insider and social media content. Coverage continues into Wednesday as karts hit the track for the first time. EKN Live begins on Thursday, November 9 as qualifying is conducted for both the morning classes and the afternoon divisions. Listen LIVE to the heat races throughout Friday, November 10 and into Situation Saturday, November 11, including the five Last Chance Qualifiers held on the day. That sets everything up for SuperSunday, with the main events for SuperNationals 26 audio streamed live on eKartingNews.com/live and eKartingNews.com/radio.

Complete coverage of the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 26 can be found at the EKN EVENT PAGE.

Mini Swift

Michael McGaughy attempting to become the first two-time winner in Mini Swift SuperNationals history (Photo: Studio52.us)

One of the most competitive categories throughout the season and every year at the SuperNationals is Mini Swift. A total of 12 different drivers have been able to hoist the trophy on SuperSunday over the 12 times the division has been offered at the SuperNationals. Among them include a current IndyCar driver (Pato O’Ward – 2010), Formula One driver (Logan Sargeant – 2011), University of Houston football player (Anthony Gangi Jr. – 2012), F4 champion (Jonny Edgar – 2015), Canadian NASCAR Pinty’s Rookie of the Year (Thomas Nepveu – 2016), and a pair of Trans Am race winners (Connor Zilisch – 2017, Brent Crews – 2018).

No driver has been able to repeat victory in the category. That is different this year as defending race winner Michael McGaughy (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Parolin) will be trying for a second straight SuperNationals victory. The Utah driver – making his third start at the SuperNationals – finished the season sixth in the SKUSA Pro Tour standings with a best result of runner-up, however, grabbed a victory in USPKS competition thanks to victory at New Castle and ended the year second in the standings.

SKUSA Pro Tour champion Lucas Palacio comes in as one of the favorites (Photo: Studio52.us)

Only one other podium finisher from last year’s SuperNationals is in the field with Lucas Palacio (Trinity Karting Group / Kart Republic) seeking to better his fourth-place result. The driver from Virginia comes into the event as one of the favorites, earning three wins at the SKUSA Winter Series, two on the SKUSA Pro Tour to earn this year’s title and three in USPKS competition toward that series championship.

Nine of the top-10 drivers on the SKUSA Pro Tour will be in the field with race winners Marco Romero (Team Benik), Travis Pettit (Trinity Karting Group / Kart Republic), and Tristan Murphy (Ryan Perry Motorsport / Nitro Kart). Romero and Pettit ended the season on the championship podium second and third with Murphy finishing up seventh. Add in Mini rookies Asthon Woon (Supertune USA / Parolin), Royce Vega (Team Benik), and Troy Ferguson (Team Benik) along with Fion Shi (Rolison Performance Group / Kosmic) all finished this season in the top-10 of the SKUSA rankings.

Rocco Simone among the many Mini rookies searching for SuperNationals glory (Photo: Studio52.us)

Several of the top contenders are making their first Mini start at the SuperNationals. Rocco Simone (MottazSport / Parolin), Matheus Ramalho (Sodi Racing USA), Antonio Pizzonia Neto (Pizzonia Racing / Parolin), Cameron Marsha (Nitro Kart), Matthew Cagle (Sanner Racing / Tony Kart), and Nicolas Orbezo (Iron Rock Motorsports / Tony Kart) all finished inside the top-10 a year ago in Micro. Also making his first SuperNats start is Marco Sammut (MDR – BJR / LN Racing Kart) – who was part of Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals a year ago in Micro.

Drivers to watch include Max Cristea (MottazSport / Parolin) – who finished third in the USPKS standings, Jaxon Porter (Trinity Karting Group / Kart Republic), Luca Popescu (Nash Motorsportz / Energy), Challenge of the Americas champion Braydon Wagner (Formula Works / GFC), and Canadian Gabriel Balog (Checkered Motorsports / Magik Kart).

SKUSA Winter Series champion Alessandro Truchot (Parolin USA) returns to the USA after competing all season in Europe for his second Mini start at the SuperNationals. International drivers to watch include Dutch driver Didier Kreeft (Fusion Motorsport) and Noah Baglin (iKART / Kart Republic).

SuperNats Stats

1 – Former winners in the field

12 – Different winners at SuperNationals in this category

11 – Different countries represented in the field

19 – Drivers from outside of the USA

24 – First time SuperNationals competitors

Provisional Entry List – Mini Swift

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