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SKUSA Pro Tour
| EKN Trackside: 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals – Saturday Report |
| Sunday, 30 March 2025 05:29 |
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Ryan Norberg fought off Austin Garrison to claim the Round One victory (Photo: EKN) The first day of racing at the 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals was completed on Saturday at the Speedsportz Racing Park. Weather improved at the New Caney, Texas facility following the heavy rains to end the final practice sessions on Friday. A drying track with clouds in the area was the start to day. Eventually, the clouds broke and the sun came out, with conditions on the track improving each session. Qualifying, Prefinal and Final were contested for the seven categories running the two Final format while qualifying, Super Pole and two heat races were held for the Pro Shifter division. The day went further than scheduled with multiple red flags, along with multiple winners decided after the checkered flag had waved.There was no question about six-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) earning his victory in the Pro X30 division presented by Kart CRG USA. It was not an easy path to the top of the podium for only his third WinterNationals triumph. Norberg claimed fast time in qualifying with a 52.585 lap to edge out British driver Caden McQueen (Energy Corse Americas) by 61 thousandths while Austin Garrison (SCR / CS55) was off a bit in third. Garrison was able to charge up to Norberg in the Prefinal, stealing the win in the closing laps. Starting on the pole position, Garrison held off Norberg’s early attempts as the 20-lap Final began. The two were able to pull away early after McQueen fought off challengers for the third spot over the opening circuits. Eventually Jesus Vasquez Jr. (GFC Karting) slotted into the position, however the top two were able to get away. Despite their gap, the two leaders exchanged the top spot five times over the 20 laps. It was coming to the white flag that Norberg was able to slip by Garrison in turn 14. Garrison slotted right behind on the rear bumper of Norberg, but a small slipup in turn four and five gave Norberg enough breathing room to the checkered flag. At the line, Norberg claimed the victory by nearly two tenths. Vasquez drove to his first Pro X30 podium in third. Senior rookie Ty Fisher (Racelab / TB Kart) had an impressive debut, advancing up to fourth over McQueen.
A holeshot win in Heat #2 to end the day in Pro Shifter for Gavin Bayliff (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca) The first day of action for the PSL Karting Pro Shifter division was exciting with new and unexpected names at the top. The largest field in SKUSA Pro Tour history of 43 drivers were split into two groups based on Final Practice. The two drivers to lead the way in each group was Adrien Renaudin (Velocity / Sodi Kart) and Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart). The top six from each group was put together for the Super Pole session, where Indiana driver Charlie Stines (Fury / GP Kart) laid down the quickest lap of 50.117 with Bayliff in second. The two launched off the line with Stines getting the holeshot to begin Heat #1. A spin in turn 14 caused a pileup for a lot of the second half of the field, bringing out a full course caution due to a blocked track. Once restarted, Stines was able to lead the way with former SKUSA Pro Tour champion Kyle Wick (GFC Karting) trailing. By the final lap, Wick was able to slip past for the lead and win with five-time SKUSA SuperNationals winner Billy Musgrave (Factory Kart) in third. The second heat race began with Bayliff grabbing the holeshot as Stines was shuffled down the order over the opening couple of laps. That was all Bayliff needed to run away to a three second advantage in the 10-lap race with Musgrave second and defending SKUSA Pro Tour champion Matheus Morgatto (PSL / Birelart) advancing up to third.
Oliver Hodgson ran away with the victory in KA100 Senior (Photo: EKN) The sold out KA100 Senior presented by Nash Motorsportz began with former SKUSA Winter Series champion Peyton Phillips (Arcane / Tony Kart) setting fast time in qualifying with a 54.754 lap to edge out Oliver Hodgson (CompKart) by 91 thousandths. The two battled early until Hodgson was able to break away for the Prefinal win. The Final was all Hodgson, breaking away early from the P2 fight behind him. Hodgson posted fast lap of the race, leading all 20 laps for his first SKUSA WinterNationals victory. Phillips, SKUSA Winter Series champion Frankie Mossman (JHDD / Kart Republic) and Donovan Bonilla (RPG / Kosmic) in the mix. Lap 11, Bonilla was spun around in turn 12, putting him on the sideline for the remainder of the race. By then, Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart) was among the drivers in the mix for the second spot. He and Mossman swapped the spot multiple times before Ramos secured the spot at the checkered flag, ahead of Mossman, Phillips and defending SKUSA Pro Tour champion James Overbeck (BJR / Tony Kart). Phillips came across the scales underweight, and Overbeck was penalized for contact with Bonilla. This promoted Alex Machado (Velocity / Sodi Kart) to fourth and Cooper O’Clair (CompKart) into fifth, up from 13th on the grid.
Scott Presti was promoted to the top spot in Master Shifter after tech inspection (Photo: EKN) It goes into the books as a sweep in the Rocket Racing Company Master Shifter category for Scott Presti (Croc Promotion). Presti was quickest in qualifying with a 50.700 lap to clear the 12 driver field by three tenths. Presti was able to get away from the field in the Prefinal for the win, and jumped out to the lead in the Final. Victor Jimenez (RPG / Tony Kart) charged from sixth and was able to get into second. He ran down Presti and moved into the lead on lap 16. Jimenez went on to take the provisional victory, however, was removed from the day’s results following tech inspection. This promoted Presti to the top of the podium for his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory. Scott Hargrove (Catalyst / Italkart) moved up to second with Luis Gautier (PSL / Birelart) on the podium in third. Larry Pegram (TKG / Birelart) and Jeff Mills (RWR / CRG) completed the top five.
Alexander Vanchev moved to P1 in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN) The sold out KA100 Junior presented by TKG Birelart USA had their action cut short on the day. Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) led the way in qualifying with a 56.127 lap but it was Nathan Dupuis (Nash / EOS) coming through with the win in the Prefinal. The Final saw Dupuis lead the first three laps before fellow Canadian Cole Medeiros (REM / Kosmic) take over the top spot. On lap nine, a red flag was brought out for Felipe Benito (SCR / CS55) after he hit a dead kart and flipped over hard. He was taken to the hospital with leg injuries. The race was restarted and another flip, this one much softer, occurred and the driver required to medical attention. The race was once again stopped and officials called the race due to the time allotted. This put Medeiros on top of the podium however he was unable to pass tech inspection, this promoted SKUSA Winter Series champion Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) to the victory. Max Weiland (Magik Kart USA) and Murphy completed the podium with Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) and Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) rounding out the top five.
A dominating win in X30 Junior by Alexander Vanchev (Photo: EKN) The X30 Junior presented by Rolison Performance Group was another strange conclusion with the sold out 46-driver field. Sarah Bradley (SCR / Sodi Kart) put in the top performance in qualifying with a lap of 53.900 to leading the way. SKUSA Winter Series winner Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) was fourth in the session, but was able to grab the win away from Bradley on the final lap of the Prefinal. The main event was all Vanchev, as he jumped out to the lead and the rest of the field bunched up behind Nathan Dupuis (Nash / EOS), who began running a defensive line on lap five. Vanchev ran the second half of the race at a much slower pace, but eventually laid down fast time to gain the bonus points en route to a 19 second advantage after 20 laps. The field was finally able to demote Dupuis on lap 17 and then contact between he and Jackson Gibson (RPM / Tony Kart) put Dupuis out of the race. The battle for second ended up with Erik Doan (Nash / EOS) coming up from 14th to end up second with Travis Pettit (TB Kart USA) in third. Both had pushback bumper penalties, which moved Luca Popescu (RPG / Kosmic) to second and Murphy up to third. Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) and Bradley completed the top five.
The provisional winner in Mini Swift is Jayden Francisco (Photo: EKN) It was a battle on the track and now off the track for the Speed Concepts Racing Mini Swift class. Maxwell Macha (Velocity / Sodi Kart) came away from qualifying with a fast time of 58.630 to secure the top spot. The story was Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin Motorsport USA) coming up from 10th in the Prefinal to score the race win and lead the field to the green flag. DiGennaro led the way with Macha in the second spot early. By lap eight, Jayden Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) was up into the second spot and began running down DiGennaro. The two were nose to the tail for the final few laps. On the last circuit, Francisco made his move on DiGennaro in the turn 14 with an over under. The two were side by side through turn 15, however, DiGennaro had enough momentum on the outside to reach the line first. Officials however penalized DiGennaro three seconds for blocking, promoted Francisco to the top of the podium. The call was protested and is under appeal with Fransico first, DiGennaro second and Macha in third. Alex Chandler (IRM / Tony Kart) and Aston Wyatt (RPM / Nitro Kart) were fourth and fifth respectively.
Lennox Lockhart claimed his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN) It was an emotional victory for Lennox Lockhart (Velocity / Sodi Kart) in the Micro Swift class presented by Velocity Racing by Sodi USA. Texas driver Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) secured fast time in qualifying with a 1:00.120 where Lockhart was 10th in the session. Westbrook held off Hudson Howard for the win in the Prefinal while Lockhart fell down to 21st in the order. Westbrook led the first seven laps of the Final before Brody Stoffle (JHDD / Kart Republic) took over. A group of four drivers were battling with Lockhart climbing his way up to the lead group by the halfway point. Westbrook took back the lead on lap 12 and a few laps later, Lockhart put himself into the lead. Lockhart held off the field for the remainder of the 18-lap race, reaching the line first to claim his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory. Westbrook was second with Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) jumping up to third late over Stoffle with Zev Godschalk (Team Benik) in fifth.Round Two of action for all the categories will take place on Sunday with a full day of qualifying, Prefinal and Final action while the Pro Shifter division holds their Prefinal and Final sessions to close out the 2025 SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals. |
