Thursday, 09 August 2018 00:00 |
![](/images/stories/thumbnails/images-stories-18-protour-SKUSA-2018-SummerNats-P-Billy-Musgrave-768x512-700x467.jpg)
Billy Musgrave has a chance to claim his first S1 title this weekend (Photo: EKN)
This could be one of the closest championship battles in S1 history at the SKUSA Pro Tour. The 2018 season has seen four different winners over the four rounds, putting five drivers in the hunt for the title. After winning the 2012 SuperNationals in S2, Billy Musgrave (MRC / Aluminos) has yet to finish at the top of the championship podium in S1. Musgrave has won a main event in four straight years, placing runner-up in the point standings twice in five years. The four-time California ProKart Challenge champion holds a 38-point advantage over S1 rookie Kyle Wick (RPG / CRG). Wick claimed his first S1 victory at the SpringNationals, standing on the podium both days to move himself into the lead challenger position of the title chase. Close behind in third is WinterNationals winner AJ Myers (TB Kart USA). Myers won both main events at the 2016 SummerNationals, and thus knows how to be successful at New Castle. Myers will be pulling double duty, running both IAME Senior and S1 on the weekend.
When you factor in the drop, Myers moves to the top with Musgrave and Wick sitting within nine points of each other. Still in the hunt includes Nic LeDuc (Sodikart) and Rory van der Steur (Tony Kart). The two privateers shined at the SpringNationals with LeDuc winning on Sunday and Rory placing runner-up both days. Each will need double podium finishes in New Castle to be in the hunt for the top step of the championship chase. Defending champion Jake French (DKC / Sodikart) is making his return to the seat, set to pit out the back of the pickup truck under an EZup on the weekend. Veteran karter and always fast Ron White (RWR / CRG) is also making a return to the SKUSA Pro Tour. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
Wednesday, 08 August 2018 00:00 |
![](/images/stories/thumbnails/images-stories-18-protour-SKUSA-2018-SummerNats-P-Christian-Brooks-768x512-700x467.jpg)
CRG Nordam driver Christian Brooks is the leader in the IAME Senior point standings (Photo: EKN)
The big story going into the SummerNationals will be the absence of X30 Senior point leader Jake Craig (RPM / Tony Kart). The 2014 Pro Tour champion was en route to a possible second title, however, the California driver is focused on building his resume in open wheel cars. Craig will be racing at the F1600 Super Series event in Trois-Riviers, Quebec, Canada, a series in which he sits tied in the championship standings with fellow karter Kellen Ritter.
The absence of Craig puts Christian Brooks at the top of the standings heading into New Castle. Brooks (CRG Nordam) is a long-time SKUSA competitor, however, he has never been a Pro Tour champion. The WinterNationals winner stood on the podium both days at NOLA, but missed out on the steps during a challenging weekend in Phoenix. In fact, the top three in the X30 Senior title chase have two podium finishes each. Canadian Samuel Lupien (RPG / Kosmic) was runner-up to Brooks in NOLA, and ran third in Phoenix before a mechanical issues put him on the sidelines on Sunday. Defending champion Ryan Norberg (PSL / Birel ART) started out the season with a DNF, but came back to battle in the top-five in NOLA on Sunday. A third straight victory at the SpringNationals back in May, paired with a third-place on Sunday in Phoenix, has helped put Norberg in contention for an unprecedented third straight Pro Tour championship. The trio is separated by just 15 points, with Norberg holding the advantage when factoring in the drop race. Read full story on eKartingNews.com |
Saturday, 04 August 2018 10:24 |
This exciting championship event happens next weekend, August 10-12, at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana, and the most important DEADLINES are upon us! If you have not yet registered to race at this event, or purchased your SKUSA membership, go to the SKUSA MotorsportReg.com (MSR) page. Online registration CLOSES this Sunday night 8/5 at MIDNIGHT, and it will cost you an EXTRA $250 to register at the track!
If you still need a pit or camping spot, go to the Pit Spot Reservations page, and follow the directions to submit a request via email. Hope we can fit you in!
Team managers, if you have not yet ordered team practice tires, you also have only 1 more day – that deadline is Sunday night as well! Drivers can add practice tires to their entries thru their MSR account up until Sunday night, too.
Hope to see YOU in New Castle! |
Written by John Motley - National Tech Director
|
Friday, 18 May 2018 21:44 |
At our recent SpringNationals, SKUSA exercised its option to claim a competitor’s engine. We have done so periodically to insure that there are no special or outstanding engines, or any unauthorized modifications that require additional inspection not available at the race. IAME engines used in SKUSA competition are remarkably identical, reflecting the high quality and manufacturing ability of IAME. However, the perception exists of special or significantly better performing engines. To refute this, we intend to exercise our option to claim engines from time to time. Note that the engine claimed met all applicable SKUSA rules and was replaced at the event with a complete new engine package as well as a check for $500, as SKUSA rules provide. |
Monday, 07 May 2018 08:45 |
![](/images/stories/thumbnails/images-stories-18-protour-SKUSA-2018-SpringNats-Sun-Dante-Yu-700x467.jpg)
Dante Yu scored his first X30 Senior victory on the SKUSA Pro Tour (Photo: EKN)
It is the end of a long, hot and busy weekend at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association facility for all the competitors at the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals. It reached record highs in the Glendale, Arizona area, topping out at 106 degrees, making it a challenge for the officials, racers, team members and family in attendance. No dust devils hit the paddock, and clouds actually covered the track, however, the conditions were some of the toughest in SKUSA Pro Tour history. Emerging from the battles on the day included Dante Yu and Nic LeDuc as victors in the headline categories.
It was a near perfect day for Dante Yu in the X30 Senior division. Yu began as the driver to beat on the day, setting fast lap in qualifying. The CompKart driver posted a 46.404-lap to secure fast time, with the top-four separated by just 59 thousandths of a second. Yu remained at the front, leading all 15 laps for the Prefinal win ahead. Pulling away on the opening laps of the Final, Yu went unchallenged in the 25-lap Final for his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory. Jake Craig (RPM / Tony Kart) crossed the line in second for his third podium of the season, ahead of Saturday winner and two-time defending champion Ryan Norberg (PSL / Birel ART). Brenden Baker (CRG Nordam) had his best result of the season in fourth with Canadian Ryan MacDermid (Prime / Birel ART) winning the fight for fifth. Sonny Cervelli (Tony Kart) grabbed the hard charger award, up 27 spots to seventh, right behind Senior rookie Trey Brown (Nash / FA Kart). Read full story on eKartingNews.com
|
|
|