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Tuesday, 30 November 2021 11:18 |
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Five-time Pro Tour champion Jordon Musser looking for that first SuperNats win (Photo: EKN)
Shifterkart racing is the foundation of Superkarts! USA, and of course the SuperNationals. It was in 2000 that Master Shifter made its debut at the SuperNats with the G1 category, running until 2011. Stock Moto made its way into the SuperNats in 2006 with the S4 division, reserved for the Heavy drivers and then Master only later. That ran until 2019 when G1 returned with the IAME powerplant. Now, Master Shifter has opened up to both KZ and IAME SSE 175 powerplants, welcoming 17 drivers.
What is notable about this year’s field is the battle that has raged on over the last seven seasons. Jordon Musser (PSL / Birel ART) has the honor of the only driver with five SKUSA Pro Tour championships. His first came back in 2013 before going three-straight from 2016 to 2019. He returned to the Semi-Pro category for half of the SummerFestival before coming back to Master Shifter in 2021. He won three of the six main events for a fifth career title. One name that has been his lead rival is Ryan Kinnear (PGR / Ricciardo). Kinnear is the 2016 Pro Tour champ, who kept Musser from winning that year. Kinnear is also the only driver in the field to win at the SuperNationals in the Master Shifter category, something Musser has not been able to do. In fact, he has been on the podium the last four SuperNationals, as has Musser. Kinnear stole the show at the SummerNationals in August, winning both main events. Yet, this October, it was Musser who came through for a second ROK Vegas victory in the last four years. The other winner, Kinnear in 2019 and 2020. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 30 November 2021 11:16 |
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Kai Sorensen to make his X30 Junior debut at the SuperNats, having won Mini in 2019 (Photo: K. Sorensen)
The list of former winners in the X30 Junior (formerly TaG Junior) division is very much like an all-star roster in motorsports. It includes two current Formula One drivers (George Russell-2011, Lance Stroll-2012), F3 drivers Logan Sargeant (2014) and Jak Crawford (2017), Brazilian stars Felipe Fraga (2008), Joao Vieira (2010) and Arthur Leist (2015), and more. Over the 12 years of the category, a new driver has emerged as victor on SuperSunday, with a 13th name set to be added to those historic names on December 5 with no former winner in the 48-driver field. Defending winner James Wharton is set to be racing Italian F4 in 2022 under the eyes of the Ferrari Driver Academy.
While there may be no former Junior winners in the field for X30 Junior, there are two former SuperNationals winners competing in the class. SuperNationals 23 Mini Swift winner Kai Sorensen (Supertune / Exprit) returns to the USA after competing all season long in Europe. His 2021 began with a championship at the SKUSA Winter Series program to open up his first season in the Junior ranks. The other is British driver Vinnie Phillips (Tony Kart), set to make his fourth start at the SuperNationals. His debut in 2017 ended with victory in the Micro Swift class, before moving to Mini the last two SuperNationals with a best finish of fourth in 2019. Both drivers have been busy competing throughout Europe in 2021. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 30 November 2021 11:14 |
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Noah Baker comes in as the top driver from the SKUSA Pro Tour in 2021 (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)
The KA100 Junior class was introduced at the SuperNationals in 2018, producing two amazing races on SuperSunday. The previous winners include Ferrari Driver Academy pilot James Wharton from Australia who will be racing Italian F4 in 2022, and 2019 victor Brent Crews – already moved to Senior level racing this season. This makes the 2021 field unique with no former SuperNationals winner in the field, including the lower levels, for the sold-out 46-driver field.
Three different drivers won in 2021 at the SKUSA Pro Tour, including series champion Carson Morgan three times in six rounds, who is moving up to the Senior level ranks at SuperNationals 24. Noah Baker (Supertune / Tony Kart) doubled up at the WinterNationals in the win column, however, ended up as vice-champion despite never returning to the podium. Austin Jurs (FMS / Redspeed) is the other winner on the season, taking his first SKUSA Pro Tour triumph at the SpringNationals. Jurs ended up P3 in the final standings, adding a Route 66 Sprint Series title to his 2021 CV. The Illinois driver finished on the podium at the SuperNationals in 2019, placing third in Mini. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 30 November 2021 11:11 |
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Enzo Vidmontiene has put in a solid 2021 season with both SKUSA and USPKS championships (Photo: EKN)
Like the Micro Swift category, the Mini Swift division will welcome a first-time winner at the SuperNationals on SuperSunday. The 66-driver field is full of young talent, many we have seen over the course of the 2021 season compete at the front to provide a full slate of contenders for this year’s SuperNationals. Less than half of the field has competed at the SuperNats in the past, making this a rookie filled roster that is one-third international drivers.
One name that has stood out throughout the season in Enzo Vidmontiene (Benik). Three wins in the first four rounds of the SKUSA Pro Tour helped the Florida driver secure enough points on the season to claim his first series championship. Enzo also secured the title at the United States Pro Kart Series, and vice-champion of the Florida Winter Tour. Vidmontiene is among the more experienced Mini drivers, having competed in Vegas twice in the Micro division, finishing 8th in 2019. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 30 November 2021 11:08 |
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2021 Pro Tour champion Gianmatteo Rousseau leads the top contenders for victory at SuperNats 24 (Photo: EKN)
A fifth name will be added to the history books on SuperSunday when the final checkered flag waves for the Micro Swift main event. The sold out 48-driver field features no former winner, with all but three drivers making their SuperNationals debut. In the past, the Micro drivers have kept their heads on over the course of the event with no major issues. We hope to see the same for the international field, including six different countries with 16 drivers from outside the USA.
Of the three drivers returning, one includes the 2021 SKUSA Pro Tour champion Gianmatteo Rousseau (Nitro Kart). Rousseau came away with the series championship based off the two wins from the WinterNationals. He went podium-less the remainder of the season. Third in the standings for 2021 was Tristan Murphy (Nitro Kart). Murphy picked up his first Pro Tour victory at the SpringNationals, landing on the podium two more times and also won the California ProKart Challenge championship. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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