SKUSA SuperNationals XVIII: A Vast Number of Senior Drivers Looking for Glory in Sin City

It’s SKUSA SuperNationals week in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the biggest karting race in North America. Check it out as we breakdown the classes on track this weekend with some notables and a rundown of the Canadian contingent who have made their way to sin city.

S1

S1 is the top Stock Moto shifter category in Las Vegas this weekend. The premier class at the SKUSA Pro Tour in 2014 has been beefed up this weekend as it has drawn stars from various racing disciplines.

CRG Factory drivers Jordan Lennox and Davide Fore both entered the championship with PSL Karting and CRG USA, respectively. Lennox currently leads the championship and looks to be on his way to the title as he has won every race this year. Behind Lennox are the Ocala Gran Prix super duo of Nick Neri (TonyKart) and Oliver Askew (TonyKart). The SuperNational is the start of a busy two weeks for the two as they are will be flying to Spain for the Rotax Max Grand Finals as soon as the event is over.

American shifter standout Gary Carlton (TB Kart) is pulling gears in both S1 and KZ2 this weekend and looks to spoil Lennox’s perfect season in the class, while racing against his protege Askew from his days at OGP. NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger (Aluminos) and Indycar driver Marco Andretti (PSL Karting/CRG) return to their roots in Vegas and should fair well in this stout field. Milan Dontje (CRG) is looking for his first in of the year after teaming up with PSL Karting, and surely he would love to get it done in Sin City.

Matthew Di Leo (Praga North America/Praga) will carry the Canadian Flag in the category after having an up and down year in the Pro Tour championship. He surely will look to end the season with a strong performance at the Rio. Di Leo is joined by fellow Canadian Scott Hargrove (Italian Motors/Italkart) who has been tearing it up in both open wheel and sports cars in 2014 winning in Porsche Cup Canada and the Star Mazda Championship.

Jordan Lennox is the Championship Leader in S1 heading into the Weekend (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

Tag Senior

The most intense category when it comes to on track action at the SuperNats is TAG Senior, as so many drivers on the entry list have a chance to take the win come SuperSunday.

This year, there will be only one driver who has won the race previously and that is Andre Nicastro as he brings the Brazilian brand Techspeed to it’s first SuperNationals.  Nicastro’s rival from that event, David Sera (Kartsport North America/Deadly Kart) will be racing this year trying to add a SuperNationals win to his CV after coming so close, so many times before. Canadian Remo Ruscitti (Italian Motors/Italkart) will be another favourite as both himself and the IM squad will be coming in with their guns loaded ready to add the to teams SuperNationals win total.

In the championship Jake Craig (TonyKart) has a sizable lead in the points meaning if he can stay out of trouble he could lock up the championship before heading to the Rotsax Grand Finals in Spain. Louie Pagano (Sodi Kart) is second in the points table ahead of Andrick Zeen (Praga) who has been stellar after moving to Praga North America.

Beside’s Ruscitti there are four other Canadians racing in TAG Senior. One of them is ECKC front runner Kevin Monteith (Praga) as he returns to Vegas after his years with FirstKart. Jordan Redlin (PSL West/CRG) comes to the SuperNats fresh from his trip to the ROK Cup Final in Italy and was one of the top runners in Modesto for the SummerNationals. Also from the west coast, Jamie McAllister (Italian Motors/ItalKart) and Kale Kunichi (Extreme Motorsports/Vemme) are looking to make the finals come Sunday while racing some very experienced drivers.

Jordan Redlin looks to end 2014 with a strong SuperNationals Performance (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

S2

In the Semi Pro Stock Honda category OGP’s Austin Garrison (TonyKart) and Jonathon Koytyk (TonyKart) are the top two drivers in the standings and add Kyle Kirkwood (TonyKart) to the mix you have three drivers who will be favourites to take the win on Super Sunday. Dominic Legrand (CRG) is the only Canadian on the entry list as the 2014 Coupe du Quebec DD2 champion will be under the PSL tent this weekend. Legrand raced in the Formula Shifter category at the Le Monaco in Trois Rivieres this summer and has competed in the FWT Open Shifter Category in the past as well.

S4

Elvis Stojko (Maranello North America/ Maranello), Don McGregor (Italian Motors/ItalKart) and Michel Legrand (PSL Karting/CRG) are the sole Canadians in the S4 Stock Moto Heavy category. This year marks the second SuperNationals for Stojko as well as his second race with Maranello North America where he has been able to improve so much under the guidance of Trevor Wickens. Stojko will also have added guidance this weekend with DTM driver Robert Wickens under the tent to help Stojko adjust to the shifter category. McGregor is a veteran when it comes to Racing in Las Vegas as he has done so in numerous occasions in the past. Look for McGregor to be a favourite to battle for the class win on Sunday. Legrand will be one of the oldest competitors in the class but the man who is young in spirit loves to race shifter karts and can still put down some impressive performances.

Elvis Stojko looks to improve on his past SuperNationals Performance in 2014 (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

Tag Masters

Dave Kunicki (Extreme Motorsport/Vemme) and Ron Hyde (Italian Motors/ItalKart) will represent Canada in the Tag Master Category. Hyde has competed at the SuperNationals before where as Kunicki will be making his first start. The two Canadians will be joined on the grid by 2014 Indycar Champion Will Power (Arrow) return to Vegas with Kartsport North America.