Superkarts! USA Preparing for 2013 Pro Tour and SpringNationals

In less than 30 days, racers from across North America will converge on the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona for the opening rounds of the 2013 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour. The fourth annual SKUSA SpringNationals is set for the April 12-14 weekend on the 8/10-mile course. Registration has opened at skusastore.com, and by early numbers, many of the categories are likely going to see a full grid. Fields for the 2013 SKUSA Pro Tour, and especially the SpringNationals, are expected to reach the 40-driver cap mark as entry numbers are already higher than in previous years. The competition level is expected to increase to the next level compared to before, with a number of the SKUSA #1 plate holders returning to defend that honor.

Looking at the eight categories offered, all eight champions will be returning – with many of them defending their titles in 2013. S1 Pro Stock Moto champion Fritz Leesmann earned his second title in just three years, and will have a number of drivers looking to stop him from gaining a third. Those include class rookies Billy Musgrave, the 2012 SKUSA SuperNationals S2 Semi-Pro winner, and last year’s S2 series champion Sabré Cook, in addition to a number of returning drivers. That will leave the S2 category open for a new champion, with a number of young pilots looking to add it to their resume. Phil DeLaO is projected to return to defend his TaG Senior championship with what could be a capped field of 40 racers fighting it out at the SpringNationals.

The TaG Master group is once again working together to form a large field in 2013. Many of the same contenders, including champion Paul Bonilla, have confirmed their intentions to fight for the crown, with a number of new names scheduled to compete. The S4 Masters Stock Moto category will see many of the familiar front runners as Eddie Olpin defends his 2012 championship. Luke Selliken and Jim McKinney are returning in the TaG Junior and S5 Junior Stock Moto divisions as champions, with increased fields projected in both categories. TaG Cadet continues to grow under the SKUSA banner at the regional level, and the Pro Tour will benefit as well with a number of new drivers expected to be in Tucson for the SpringNationals, all trying to dethrone 2012 champion Hunter Kelly.

Registration for the 2013 SKUSA SpringNationals is open at the skusastore.com webpage, and will be open until midnight on April 7 to receive entries at the pre-entry pricing ($395 for S1 and TaG Senior, $350 for other classes). Those unable to register prior to that date are allowed to enter trackside, beginning Thursday of the event weekend, at an increased price of $150 –contingent upon sufficient room in the class.

SKUSA has arranged for two host hotels to accommodate attendees and guests with special pricing for this event. The first is the Four Points by Sheraton, next to the Tucson Airport. Located just 18 minutes from the track, the facility provides great amenities – including in-room refrigerator, microwave, high speed internet access, bottled water, flat screen TV and weekday newspaper for free. The R&R Grill is open all day, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner – including a sports bar section with happy hour and food/drink specials opened until 11pm each night. The special room rate is just $85 per night plus tax for 1 king or 2 queens (up to four people per room). The SKUSA special rate is extremely limited and the deadline is March 15, so you are encouraged to book right away with the Group ID 826 or code word KARTS at 888-627-7099 or the following link: (https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/StarGroupsWeb/booking/reservation?id=1302264785&key=DFA0D).

The second host hotel – the Hampton Inn – is also located just outside of the Tucson airport. The same $85 per night is offered with Group Code SUP or code name SUPERKARTS by calling 520-918-9000 or following this link (http://www.hampton-inn.com/hi/tucson-airport).

Teams and drivers are now welcome to make pit spot reservations and tent arrangements by following the directions listed on the SKUSA website event page (http://www.superkartsusa.com/national/skusa-pro-tour/event-calendar/springnationals.html). Move-in will officially begin Thursday, April 11, starting at 7am. Competitors will be able to pick up their registration packets from 10am-5pm.  A tentative schedule for the full event can also be found on the SKUSA website event page.

This year’s edition of the SKUSA Pro Tour will begin at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona on April 12-14 for the SpringNationals, and is followed up by the SummerNationals, set for a return to the Grand Junction Motor Speedway on July 19-21 in Colorado. The season will wrap up once again at the SKUSA SuperNationals XVII on November 20-24. To follow updates on Superkarts! USA, the SuperNationals XVII, and the 2013 SKUSA Pro Tour, be sure to visit www.superkartsusa.com, as well as on Twitter at @SuperKartsUSA and at Facebook.com/SKUSA.

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About Superkarts! USA:

Established in 1995, Superkarts! USA is dedicated to shifterkart and TaG racing, and is the leader in the field, promoting six regional racing series. Racing programs are currently running in Arizona, California, Canada, Colorado, Hawaii, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Wisconsin, in cooperation and support from official tire supplier MG Tires. In 2013, the organization will be promoting the fourth edition of the SKUSA Pro Tour, which features a pair of major events in Arizona and Colorado, all leading up to the annual SKUSA SuperNationals – the biggest kart race in the world – held every November in Las Vegas, NV.  For more information on SKUSA, please visit www.superkartsusa.com.