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The California ProKart Challenge hosts Rounds Two and Three on June 7-9 at the CalSpeed Karting facility in Fontana, California (Photo: DromoPhotos.com)
The California ProKart Challenge is preparing for a return to the track after two months off following the 2019 opening event at Buttonwillow. The flagship regional program for Superkarts! USA returns to the site of the 2019 SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals with a unique and first ever dual-round weekend, as Rounds Two and Three will be contested on the June 7-9 weekend at the CalSpeed Karting facility. Competitors will compete in a similar format to the Pro Tour, with optional practice on Friday, and then two separate race days on Saturday and Sunday. The track layout will be different from the March weekend, with competitors set to battle around the ‘Tecnico’ circuit. The weather is forecasted to be perfect racing weather, and the turnout is expected to be the biggest of the season.
The 2019 California ProKart Challenge kicked off its season at Buttonwillow Raceway Park on March 30-31. A number of drivers swept the action for the opening round, including reigning SKUSA SuperNationals winner Billy Musgrave. The five-time California PKC champion went unchallenged in the Croc Promotion USA/Mad Old Nut Pro Shifter category. Add in Micah Hendricks in the Musgrave Racing Company Pro Shifter 2 division, John Crow in the Alpinestars G1 Gladiator class, Nick George in S4 Master Stock Moto, Brett Harrelson in Bell Helmets S4 Super Master Stock Moto, Stuart Hayner in AiM Sports X30 Super Master, and defending IAME USA West Micro Swift champion Graham Trammell. All seven will attempt to continue their streak in the P1 position through the double race weekend in Fontana.
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NOLA Motorsports Park
The 2020 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour begins this weekend as the program hosts the fourth edition of the SKUSA WinterNationals at the NOLA Motorsports complex in Avondale, LA. This year is the 11th season for the national championship, which started back in Sonoma 2010 with the first edition of the SpringNationals. The WinterNationals event was not added until 2017, contested at NOLA the first two years before it was run at CalSpeed Karting in California a year ago. The return to the 1.1-mile, 17-turn circuit brings a similar total of entries as last year’s WinterNats with the pre-entry list growing up to 204 heading into the weekend, all vying to begin their chance at a SKUSA Pro Tour crown in 2020.
eKartingNews.com has been broadcasting the SKUSA Pro Tour since the program began in 2010. EKN is happy to provide full Trackside Live coverage throughout the 2020 season. Xander Clements takes over the announcing duties for Rob Howden, who is in St. Pete for the IndyCar / Road to Indy weekend. Those unable to attend can listen in to the live broadcast – presented this weekend by Leading Edge Motorsports, Kart Republic and the Lockhart Grand Prix by P1 Promotions. Bookmark www.ekartingnews.com/live and follow the EKN social media channels for more throughout the weekend at NOLA.
The focus of the X30 Senior division is going to be all on Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic). The four-time defending series champion begins his ‘Drive for Five’ this weekend, coming off a second straight SKUSA Winter Series crown. At 39 total entries, there are 38 other drivers looking to earn victories on the weekend and end the title streak of Norberg. Brandon Jarsocrak (MDR / Kosmic) has been one of the top challengers over the last four years, ending 2019 second in the SKUSA standings and EKN Driver Rankings to Norberg. Canadian Samuel Lupien (RPG / Kosmic) and Dante Yu (PSL / Birel ART) were second and third to Norberg in 2018, both making a return to the SKUSA Pro Tour this weekend. Read full story on eKartingNews.com
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X30 Senior winner Ryan Norberg (Photo: DromoPhotos.com)
The 2019 California ProKart Challenge began its season with the opening round held at the Buttonwillow Raceway Park in Buttonwillow, California under welcome sunny skies. The March 30-31 event was the first of the 15-year celebration for the Superkarts! USA regional program, and marked a new change in format that also seemed to be a big hit with both new and seasoned California PKC racers. The action was held on Saturday-Sunday and featured the new Qualifying-Prefinal-Final structure. Portions of the $120,000, the largest prize package in series history, were handed out on the weekend as 120 competitors contested the first of six rounds toward the championships in the 16 categories.
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2019 winner Zachary Claman-DeMelo returns to defend his crown (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)
The TaG (Touch and Go) concept was introduced in the early 2000s here in the United States, and brought into the SuperNationals in 2003. It wasn’t until the 2008 edition outside the RIO that the TaG Senior division really became a headline category, welcoming 95 entries. Since then, the class has been open up to the 88-max drivers and welcomed a number of experienced, successful pilots from all across the world. In fact, USA drivers have only won six of the last 17 main events on SuperSunday with eight different countries represented over that time. At 86 drivers, this year’s SuperNationals field is among the deepest in terms of talent, experience, and the among those who could be in contention.
In the 17-year history of the X30 Senior (TaG Senior) category at the SuperNationals, no driver has been able to repeat or win for a second time. There are three drivers who have that opportunity. Defending race winner Zachary Claman-Demelo comes in with a solid resume at the SuperNationals. A runner-up in 2016 and 11th in 2018, ZCD pulled off a third to first move on the final circuit to claim his first SuperNationals victory in 2019. The Canadian is coming in with a new team and different chassis, running under the history Genesis Racing name aboard their Atomica chassis brand. Jake Craig and Marco Maestranzi are the other two race winners in the field. Craig (RPM / Tony Kart) has not missed a SuperNationals since 2011 with five top-10 results, including a dramatic win in 2016 and ninth in 2019. In the last five SuperNats, the winner has come from starting inside the top-10. In 2014, Italian Maestranzi started 24th and knifed his way forward to a 3.2-second margin of victory. He has two other podium results, with his last race coming in 2018 with a 13th position. He now joins PSL Karting aboard the Birel ART chassis, different from the Top Kart colors we are used to seeing. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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2019 SuperNats winner Pauly Massimino back for another trip to the top of the podium (Photo: EKN)
The KA100 Senior category will boast a record turnout for its third year t the SuperNationals, welcoming 92 drivers. During the first two years of the category at the SuperNats, the class was sold out at the capped number of 44. For 2021, the class was opened to provide two time slots in the schedule and the KA100 driver community has not disappointed with the turnout. This year’s field is a great mix of talent, including 13 drivers returning from 2019, 20 drivers who ran Junior that year, six Pro Tour champions, and over half the field with zero SuperNationals starts.
Of course, defending race winner Pauly Massimino is the opening highlight of the class roster. The 2019 edition was decided after the final checkered flag. Brandon Lemke (FMS / Merlin) put on a show, after getting wrecked on the opening lap to drive forward and grab the checkered flag. A pushback bumper penalty dropped him down to fifth on the podium, moving Massimino up to the #1 spot. A lot has changed over the past two years. Massimino has matured even more as a driver, running now with Ryan Perry Motorsport, and he has become a consistent threat in both KA and X30 competition. Lemke is now among the older veteran drivers at 21, but is still showing like a championship driver. It was six years ago that he won the SKUSA Pro Tour TaG Junior crown at the SuperNationals. For both, it will be about earning what is theirs. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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