The 2011 season for the Superkarts! USA Central States Challenge will close up shop over the September 24-25 weekend at the I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri. The sixth and final round of the championship series returns to the site of round five with five titles on the line. Also, the winner of the Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine program will be announced.

 

The title in S1 has already been decided with Derek Crockett the lone driver in the category all season long. The 2010 S2 SKUSA Pro Tour champion is coming off his first King of the Streets victory at Rock Island Grand Prix and will provide a great measuring stick for those battling in the S2 category. Joe Ruch has been the driver to beat all season, scoring five straight feature wins on the year. Needing to compete in the final round to clinch the championship, Kyle Gnau and Nick Lougee will attempt to spoil his perfect score. In S4, Ron Petersen is on a four-race win streak. Round one winner Kris Dickson has kept the pressure on and will look to score his second of the year to close the season on a high note.

 

The championship in the competitive S5 Junior Stock Moto division is down to two drivers - Jenna Grillo and Joe Reed. Grillo’s season has been hit or miss, with two wins on the year while Reed has recorded three runner-up results to keep himself in the chase. Grillo will need a solid closing event to secure the title. Both will have to fend off a solid list of challengers for the weekend victory with two-time winner Erik Nelson, Collin Willis and Colt Masewich.

 

Kyle Koetters has wrapped up the TaG Senior title but will face another challenging field in Pevely as he did in round five where Mick Gabriel scored the win. Same for Ryan Joehl in TaG Cadet, as the championship trophy sits in waiting with the completion of the final event.

 

The event format will feature an unofficial practice on Friday. Official practice begins Saturday, September 24 and will lead into qualifying that afternoon. Sunday will host the racing action with two rounds of heat races to set up the main events. Saturday evening, the SKUSA Central States Challenge will announce the winner of the Mazda Road to Indy program. The regional karting ‘grassroots’ partnership will reward one driver from the series to the program’s Scouting Combine in November at Andersen Race Park in Palmetto, Florida. The one driver who will represent the SCSC program at the event will have a chance at driving a USF2000 car at one event in 2012.