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Thursday, 14 November 2019 08:18 |
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Billy Musgrave comes into the SuperNationals as the two-time defending S1 winner (Photo: EKN)
The renamed ‘Pro Shifter’ category made its debut at the 2018 SuperNationals as the final outing for the Honda powerplant in the headline shifterkart position under the Superkarts! USA banner. The new name marked the end of the long-running CR125, and the beginning for the IAME SSE 175cc engine for the 2019 season and beyond. SKUSA ushered in the new engine package at the SKUSA Winter Series last January with 13 drivers in the new Pro Shifter division, and that grid grew to a total number of 32 at the SKUSA SummerNationals, with a split between the Pro and Pro2 categories. While the final Stock Honda race entry mark was 50 last year, a combined 37 entries will fight in the Pro / Pro2 combined race group this time around, showing the continuing growth of the platform.
In the history books, the final Stock Honda race at the SuperNationals was won by Billy Musgrave. In fairness, the last two in the S1 division were won by the now three-time SuperNationals victor. Musgrave’s opening act at the SuperNationals ended with a victory in the S2 class back in 2012. Since then, he’s become a six-time California ProKart Challenge champion and has won multiple times on the SKUSA Pro Tour. In his six SuperNats starts in the S1 class, Musgrave finished in the top-seven in five of the events. His last two victories were aboard the Aluminos brand, however, Musgrave has been running the Croc Promotion USA brand since June and will attempt to give them their first SuperNats victory next weekend. Read full story at eKartingNews.com |
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Wednesday, 13 November 2019 12:21 |
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2018 runner-up Marjin Kremmers secured his first KZ world title this year (Photo: EKN)
International racing has been a part of the SuperNationals since the very beginning. From the get go, Superkarts! USA based their headline division around the modified moto engine with brands like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki, while also offering up an ‘open’ class that allowed the international Formula C shifterkart package that was utilized around the world. Over the first three years, Canadian Michael Valiante grabbed the victory before the class was dropped from the organization’s program. The category, now in the ICC form, returned when the SuperNationals moved to the Rio in 2002, with then Valiante protégé David Jurca earning his first Vegas victory. The ICC division became the headline class of the 2003 edition of the SuperNationals. That event was marked by Wesley Boswell earning his breakthrough victory at the Rio. From that point, ICC grabbed the international attention and it was not until 2007 that the first non-North American driver earned victory – Tony Kart factory driver Marco Ardigo. The $10,000 prize for winning at the SuperNationals was an attractive carrot laid out to bring in the best from around the world, and it exactly did that. A solid list of world champions and international stars have added their names to the list of SuperNationals winners, including American superstar Gary Carlton, in what has transitioned into the KZ class. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 12 November 2019 10:34 |
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Three-time winner and defending champion Kip Foster vying to make history at SuperNationals 23 (Photo: EKN)
The TaG concept (Touch and Go) made waves in the early 2000s, beginning at the SuperNationals in 2003. A Senior and Master class was each offered and Michael Brookes was the inaugural winner in TaG Master. Only 10 different drivers has won the category at the SuperNationals over the next 15 years, with four drivers have earned multiple victories. Three of them, including the defending race winner, are among the 61 drivers who will be vying got 2019 SKUSA SuperNationals victory.
Everything begins with the defending winner – Kip Foster. The 2018 victory for the Aussie, aboard a kart carrying his name, was his third SuperNationals triumph, giving him a 33% win percentage having competed nine times in the category. In addition, Foster had the provisional victory on two occasions – in 2010 and 2011- until tech took them away. His overall score at the SuperNationals is six podiums in nine races. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 12 November 2019 10:33 |
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One spot on the checklist for the four-time SKUSA champion Jordon Musser remains void – the SuperNationals (Photo: EKN)
Shifterkart racing for Master-aged drivers has been part of the SuperNationals dating back to the 2000 edition when the G1 category provided a place for those competing with modified moto powerplants at the X-Plex facility, which was located south of the Las Vegas Strip. In 2006, outside Sam Boyd Stadium, the Stock Moto version of the category was introduced. Then, in 2016, a Super Master division for S4 became the third different class for the elder drivers of the sport. 2019 marks the debut of the IAME SSE engine into the SuperNationals, and the class name G1 returns to the event for the first time since 2011. The G2 category for drivers 45-years-of-age and older is replacing the S4 Super Master division, also utilizing the 175cc powerplant.
The first full season of the IAME SSE engine package in competition under the SKUSA banner has been about exposure and growth. The transition from the Stock Moto powerplant to the 175cc monster has been received with mixed reviews by competitors. Those who have made the move are in love with the power and torque that the new engine provides. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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Tuesday, 12 November 2019 10:31 |
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Among the top contenders is inaugural KA100 Senior Pro Tour champion Austin Osborne (Photo: EKN)
The 2018 edition of the SKUSA SuperNationals welcomed the inaugural 100cc category for Senior drivers. A number of the sport’s top drivers from the 1990s and 2000s developed their skills using the 100cc engine platform, running from Cadet through Junior and into their Senior careers. The IAME KA100 engine has brought back the basics, and the scenario of drivers and their chassis trying to out perform the others. We saw that last year at the KA100 Senior debut at the SuperNationals and throughout the 2019 season as the SKUSA Pro Tour welcomed the category to the national program.
Inaugural SuperNationals winner Steven Barros is ‘one and done’, having sold his winning package from last year and will not be returning for 2019. While the ‘dark horse’ selection from a year ago will be absent, this opens the door for another driver to claim the second ever KA100 Senior victory at the SuperNationals. A quartet of drivers led the way all season at the SKUSA Pro Tour. The title chase went down to the wire between these four, and it would not decided until after the final checkered flag. Texan Austin Osborne, despite having two main event DNFs for a flat tire over the six Finals, edged out the competition to become the inaugural series champion. Osborne (IRM / Tony Kart) won twice – one each at the WinterNats and SummerNats – and finished third in his two other finishes. Austin finished the 2018 SuperNats in eighth. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
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