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SuperNationals VII Preview
"Clash of the Titans"
Who will rule ? |
Photo courtesy SKUSA Press Release |
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The seventh annual SKUSA SuperNationals is just a few days away held
again at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. Winding up the close of
another long year, the SuperNationals has become more of a preview of
what is coming for the following year. New classes for the
following year are often introduced at the SuperNationals. Drivers
that have competed in a class during the year often choose the
SuperNationals as where they make their debut into their class of choice
for the following year. New 2004 classes introduced at the SuperNationals this year include TAG Sr, TAG Masters, and 80cc Novice. The traditional Moto based SuperPro class has been dropped in favor of the new Pro-ICC class. The popular S1 class now combines Moto's and ICC power. With the Stars series having duplicated the SKUSA series as a shifter kart national championship series the SuperNationals now stands as the pinnacle event where the "US Shifter Kart King is crowned".
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2003 SuperNational Classes; |
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SKUSA SuperNationals Predictions So far this year the results of our predictions have earned us the bragging rights among the media. It's rumored that Murley threw the TAG classes in just to give us a curveball to swing at. Challenge accepted.
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| SuperPro ICC |
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Bobby Wilson - 3:1 Through 2003 it's almost looked like Bobby Wilson was unstoppable. Just a short list of his 2003 achievements;
Bobby was leading the Dallas GP when he was knocked off the track in the closing laps, damaging his ability to win the ProMoto title. He skipped round 3 of the ProMoto tour to compete in the Dodge Freedom GP in Windsor where he easily won. Bobby held a commanding lead at the World Finals when a water hose let go. This man is on a roll. Ron White - 3:1 Ron has had a good year, not exceptional. Taking final Moto SP ProMoto title this year was a cakewalk, but the Pro-ICC and King of the Streets Gold Medals aren't resting on his mantle this year. Reviewing the final SP race coverage on the spectacular HDNet broadcast tape (available from SKUSA), Ron and Bobby were the class of the field, indeed the best racing of the weekend. Bobby had just a little bit more top end where Ron had the exit speed. Ron simply wants the win more then anyone else, and that puts his odds even with Bobby in my book. Alex Speed - 4:1 Really now how can you discount a guy with the name of Speed? Alex won the ProMoto Pro-ICC title this year pulling off 2 wins, and 2 places among the 7 chances to score championship points. A victory at the SuperNationals would seal his year as the best for 2003. Kyle Martin - 6:1 Kyle hasn't exactly had lady luck with him this year. Very fast in Dallas and at the World Finals, well, stuff happens. Also hungry for a win, Kyle needs to pull this off to keep that old "Trackmagic" alive. He has the right stuff. David Jurca 8:1 David has been fast this year and would have won the Pro-ICC ProMoto title with just a 20th position finish if he would have been there. Having a conflict with another racing series he had to skip the World Finals. Obviously there are several others that came to mind - Darren Elliot, AJ Noud, Preston Peebles, Matt Jaskol, and more.
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Formula S1 |
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Formula S1 now running a
combination of ICC motors and Moto's makes for quite a stir on the odds. Will the track favor the bottom end grunt of a Moto, or the top end howl of an ICC? Who will step up to Pro-ICC rather then run S1? Wade Van Hooser 4:1 Wade has shown the talent and certainly has the package to get to the front. Pulling double duty in the TAG class may help, as Wade has always done well when he runs multiple classes. Finishing 4th in the Pro-ICC championship he would be expected to move into SuperPro except he is still running with an age waiver for the "A" license class. Finishing 5th on points in the S1 ProMoto tour, Wade had a few DNF's along the way. With a Champion built TM ICC tucked under his right wing, Wade has the best odds in our book. Graham Rahal 5:1 Graham spent most of the year running in the Stars series and really proved he perform under pressure at the Stars Championship with a 3rd place finish, besting Alex Speed and David Jurca. Considering the pressure will be on to show the SKUSA regulars what a top Stars racer can do gives Graham the most ambition to win. Alan Sciuto 7:1 Friend and rival to fellow Californian Wade VanHooser, this is Alan's chance to race and beat Wade. Friendly rivalry at legendary levels, Alan will be gunning for Wade and that means he will have to be up front to run with him. Another very talented racer who "skipped" a grade running an "A" License with a waiver. Brandon Scarberry 8:1 The Scarberry's seem to like Vegas, and Vegas seems to like them. Brandon won FMX in 2002, and finished 4th in the PM this year. The highest rated Moto driver. Wesley Boswell 8:1 Wesley took the Formula S1 ProMoto title this year by 110 points. Always showing a strong finish, he may not have the motivation the others do.
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Formula G1 |
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G1 like S1 now allows ICC power that could be the spoiler
to the predictions. Howie Idelson 3:1 A good driver, teamed with Bobby Wilson. The question is, will he choose a Moto or an ICC? My bet is he will try both and run what's fastest. Howie has been fast just doesn't always finish. Coming off a very tough year both on track and with the loss of a family member, look to Howie to dominate the G1 class this year. John Kindhart 5:1 Winning the ProMoto championship, John seems to have finally achieved an inner peace after meeting his goal of earning a ProMoto championship. He has the package and the talent, but not sure about the ambition. Tom Kutscher 6:1 Tom has the package and on the right day the talent. Vegas could be just what the doctor ordered for the festive Kutscher, not to mention he owes us a victory..... Joe Viega 8:1 With Jeff Carter sitting this one out, Joe Viega takes Jeff's ride to the SuperNationals. Joe is pretty good having won his first comeback race, the S1 class at the Amateur Nationals. This time he won't be tuning dated equipment for himself. |
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| Formula FMX |
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Without a clue who was going in FMX, we got out the KW
dartboard for this one; Tyler Walls 4:1 Scott Betts 5:1 |
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| Formula K1 |
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Just like the FMX class its not known who is coming.
I have to admit, when I sat down to write this sentence, I got up,
walked out in the shop an looked at the 80 we ran once in Jr, and turned
around and came back in. Someone from California 2:1 Looking through the results archives, it looks like about the only people racing K1 anymore is California.
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Formula 80 Jr |
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With many 80Jrs graduating this year, its not certain how
many will be running as 80Jr or S1. Robert Wickens 4:1 Robert certainly has the talent and given consistent emphasis could have gained him the ProMoto title this year. Derek Sabol 4:1 Derek put on a surprising performance at the World Finals, and chances are he can repeat. Chad Bryant 6:1 Chad has been moving forward with his results while Ross his father and tuner has been making progress with reading the track. Jonathon Beason 8:1 This little juggernaut just plain wins about everything he races in. He may decide to move up to S1 but chances are he will finish out the season.
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60cc Novice |
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The "Mighty Mites" Dylan Postier 3:1 Kyle Wall 4:1 Albert Flores 5:1 |
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TAG Sr. |
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This could be the hoedown, not to mention one of the most
entertaining classes of racing to watch. Which will it be? Italsistem, Leopard, Rotax, Biland, Sonik or the Rok? All of them are entered. Wade Van Hooser 3:1 Best driver among the pack, riding the Leopard powered Intrepid that holds the OMC track record. Wade is fast, and so is the chassis, what else can be said? (See below) Matt Champaign 5:1 Matt proved his stuff in TAG at Rock Island. Matt has Biland power. Prediction being Wade and Matt just pull away from the pack while dicing - this is gonna be a barn burner! Matt has the bottom end coming off the turns, and Wade has the top end at the end of the straights. Wade has a sixth sense for passing on the outside in the "gray zone". Greg Den Herder 6:1 Greg can be just plain fast. Driving a Margay Brava powered by Rotax, Greg could challenge for third rather easily. But with the fierce battle up front, he may be waving as he drives past two stationary but once leaders too..... Jay Jacobellis 8:1 Driving the factory Biland ride mounted on the Fittipaldi chassis Jay has pretty good chances at running up front. The chassis & motors has proven to be very capable in the right hands, having won the first TAGUSA championship outright beating the same chassis Wade is driving. (Both karts had different drivers). |
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| TAG Sr. |
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Michael Brookes 3:1 Intrepid Chassis Parilla Leopard. Greg Yocum 4:1 Intrepid Chassis Parilla Leopard. Gary Butler 8:1 Intrepid Chassis Biland.
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Watch some of the action from the 2002 Supernationals!
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