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| EKN Trackside: SKUSA SuperNationals XIV – Thursday Review |
| Written by ekartingnews.com |
| Thursday, 18 November 2010 01:00 |
|
The first two days of the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XIV went into the books at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Practice took place over the two-days with the nearly 500 entries getting accustom to the 6/10-mile course. The excitement level continues to remain high as the event is running well and on time, keeping things moving and allowing everyone to enjoy their time here in Vegas. Following practice, some are enjoying the event more than others as a select few find themselves at the top of the time charts in their respective categories.
TaG Junior The large field of TaG Junior drivers is a mix of young international talent and North American stars. Aussie driver Joseph Mawson (Arrow) led the final session of the day with a 43.401 lap to put himself three-tenths clear of anyone else. Last year’s runner up was Kiel Spaulding (Top Kart) was second in the order with Norwegian Dennis Olsen (Energy), Jake Craig (CRG) and Joao Ricardo Queiroz Vieira (Tony Kart) posting a fast lap similar to his. Sixth through tenth was a list of rising young karting stars – Alec Udell (Top Kart), Enzo Mestre (Tony Kart), Tristan DeGrand (Kosmic), Austin Self (Arrow) and Mason Chelootz (Top Kart). G1 Defending race winner Antonio Dettori (Energy) appears to be the driver everyone is still chasing following practice. The Italian’s 41.481-lap was best in the final G1 session of the day and was clear by nearly four-tenths to Troy Butts (CRG) – who put in a solid lap to sit second in the order with Dettori’s Energy teammate Fabrizio Nannini in the third spot. Fernando Diaz (GP) was fourth with last year’s runner-up Kelly Baker (Italkart) posting the fifth quickest lap. KF2 No stranger to the SuperNats track and the Rio circuit, 2008 TaG Senior winner Italian Emanuele Pagani (Tony Kart) was best in the final KF2 session of the day. Just above the 42-second mark, Pagani’s best lap was a 42.091. Californian Brett Felkins (Intrepid) was second followed by Canadian Phillip Orcic (Zanardi) in third. Joey Wimsett (CRG) and Mason Marotta (Intrepid) made it four North American drivers into the fast-five. Last year’s winner Nicolaj Moller-Madsen (Energy) was only 13th in the order while KF2 rookies Nick Johnston (Maddox) and Trent Hindman (CRG) shined – sitting seventh and ninth respectively. S2 Things are tight in the S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto division with a mix of young stars and the SKUSA Pro Tour championship contenders showing the way. Cameron Egger (Vemme) sat at the top of the third and fourth sessions of the day, posting a 41.824 in the final run. Derek Crockett (GP), Matt Alcorn (Energy) and Ryon Beachner (Tony Kart) were within a tenth of Egger’s time. King of the Streets runner-up Jake French (Birel) completed the fast-five in the final session. TaG Cadet A number of drivers sat at the top of the order throughout the day in TaG Cadet but in the final session, Flinn Lazier (Merlin) held the fast lap of the group. A 48.819 was his best at the time with other drivers able to run 48.6 laps in the earlier sessions, including Colton Herta (Nevoso BA-1) - both second generation drivers (Buddy Lazier and Bryan Herta of the IndyCar Series). Ohio’s Emerson Reed (Merlin) was third in the final run with Justice Lepe (Nevoso BA-1) and Tate Holleran (FA Kart) capping off the fast-five. KZ2 Each of the four KZ2 practice sessions were busy with the 40 drivers all preparing for a chance at the $20,000 podium purse. The big names were at the top of the order in the final session of the day with 2007 winner Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart) posting a 40.391. Beitske Visser (Intrepid) was second in the session, making her first start at the SKUSA SuperNationals. One of the fast drivers in last year’s field was Fritz Leesmann (CRG), who is back near the front once again to sit third at the end of the day. Frenchman Anthony Abasse (SodiKart) was a contender in 2008 and looks to be again this year, sitting fourth while Rick Dreezen (Tony Kart) looks comfortable in fifth. Looking to secure his first KZ2 victory at the SuperNats, Alex Speed (GP) sits sixth after the final practice runs ahead of Thomas Mich (Birel), IndyCar driver Raphael Matos (Zanardi), Vegas native and former SuperNats winner Matt Jaskol (Intrepid) and Ken Alleman (Birel). TaG Master First group on the order for the afternoon sessions was the 45 kart field of TaG Master. A host of familiar names were near the top of the order on the day including a few SuperNats rookies. In the final run of the day, SKUSA Pro Tour point leader Ehtan Wilson (Tony Kart) led the way with a 44.011-lap. Just 34-thousandths behind him was fellow NorCal driver Larry Fraser. Road Racing champion Chuck Gafrarar (Parolin), making his first SuperNats start, was among the top of the leader board over the two days and was third in the final session. David Harwin (Tony Kart) and JP Cadoux (MBA) completed an almost NorCal sweep of the fast-five. S5 With the largest field in the categories four-year history at 27-entries, the S5 Junior Stock Moto category is continuing to grow. This year’s field is like no other with a number of talented young drivers. Defending race winner Kiel Spaulding (Top Kart) is still the driver to beat, as he posted the fast lap of the final session (42.594). Texan Miguel Lopez (GP) was a solid second over SKUSA PT race winner Daniel Langon (GP). PKC South driver Scott Phillips (Italkart) was fourth in the order with Bristol Gunderson – the only female in the class – running the fifth fastest lap in the run. S1 If practice is a preview of what is to come in the S1 Pro Stock Moto action over the weekend, it will be one to watch. Filled with the best shifterkart drivers around, the entire 23-kart field was within a second of each other. In that session, SKUSA Pro Tour point leader Fritz Leesmann (CRG) was at the top of the order as the only driver into the 40-second mark (40.942). Former S3 main event polesitter Mike Beeny (Tony Kart) was second in session and was among the top drivers in the early runs. Dutch driver Indy Dontje (Energy) has been impressive thus far, competing in the Stock Moto category for the first time. The quickest driver in the early sessions, Dontje was third in the final round ahead of Kiwi Daniel Bray (GP) and SKUSA PT championship chaser Clinton Schoombee (DR Kart). Alex Speed (GP) was sixth in the order followed by Jason Toft (GP), Tyler Bennett (Tony Kart), two-time winner Tom Dyer (GP) and Ryan Phinny (Wild Kart). TaG Senior Big names filled the top of the charts all day in the TaG Senior sessions. In the final round, Canadian Phillip Orcic (Zanardi) was at the top of the charts with a 42.576. IndyCar champion Dan Wheldon (Arrow) was second quickest along with fellow contenders from last year – Gustavo Menezes (Tony Kart) and Andre Nicastro (Italkart). With the field split into two groups for practice, 2008 winner Emanuele Pagani (Tony Kart) ended up fifth overall. Brazilian Joao Camara (Tony Kart) was another driver into the 42s from the first group with Neil Alberico (Wild Kart) and Aussie David Sera (Arrow) matching that pace in the second group. S4 The S4 Master Stock Moto division wrapped up the day’s action with their two groups for the largest field in the class’s history. One driver was able to dip below the 42-second mark in the last session of the day. Rob Logan (Tony Kart) put down a 41.933 to be the target come qualifying Friday afternoon. S4 newcomer Jimmy McNeil (CRG) was second in the order, just 74-thousandths back. Ken Schilling (GP) was third in the order with Mexican drivers Adolfo Anguiano (Italkart) and Carlos Fernandez (Intrepid). Three-time class winner Jeff Littrell (Tony Kart) was seventh in the order behind a third Mexican pilot – Eduardo Pena (GP). Randy McKee (Intrepid), Doug Hayashi (Tony Kart) and Ryan Pool (Tony Kart) completing the top-10. |