A major player in the motorsports industry, Honda Performance Development (HPD) has announced that they will continue their support of the karting ranks. The popular Honda CR125 engine is the backbone of shifterkart racing in the United States and HPD is once again giving back to the karting community with a number of contingency programs for the 2012 season. HPD is working specifically with the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, California ProKart Challenge, Northwest Karting Challenge, the World Karting Association, the Rock Island Grand Prix and their ‘Spec Honda’ classes. In total, Honda Performance Development will award $17,000 in cash and ‘HPD Bucks’ to racers across the country.
Competitors in the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour Stock Honda categories - S1, S2, S4, and S5 - will have a chance at the $6,400 in cash awards from HPD toward the season championship standings. Each category will see the champion receive $750, vice-champion $500, and third $350. At the SKUSA SuperNationals XVI in Las Vegas, HPD will have an engine raffle for the S2 podium drivers, one to receive a new CR125 Engine Kit, worth $2,500. The California ProKart Challenge, the current longest running SKUSA regional program, will see all five Stock Honda categories (S1 through S5) earn HPD Bucks at the end of the season. The champion in each class will receive $200, runner-up $100, with third place $75. A Honda EU1000i Generator is to be raffled off at the banquet with a new CR125 Top End Kit raffled per event.
It has always been considered difficult to capture on video the true speed and excitement of competitive karting, especially considering the size and stature of these ultra-quick machines. Many have tried, but few have been able to accomplish this task to its fullest extent. That said, a new high-quality production has been released by Superkarts! USA, one that truly portrays the sights, sounds, colors and thrills from this past year’s SuperNationals. The race is the largest karting event in North America, attracting over 500 racers to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, including IZOD IndyCar drivers Raphael Matos, EJ Viso, Jay Howard and Martin Plowman. SKUSA is extremely pleased with the new creation, which was shot and edited by Wyatt Lloyd, a karting enthusiast and aspiring motorsports video-journalist. The following is a link to the video, which is being presented on YouTube:
Oakley continued their long standing partnership with SKUSA and their direct support of the SuperNationals by providing eyewear for podium finishers on SuperSunday. Winners and runners up in all eleven of the contested classes received a pair of the Oakley HALF JACKET sunglasses. In addition to Oakley prizes for the podium, a full array of Oakley products were onsite and available in vendor row throughout the event.
As a lifestyle brand, Oakley has long supported kart racing, in particular SKUSA, with everything from exhibiting the “Hanger” in 2009 to the coveted TIME BOMB watch award. “The SuperNationals is the Indy 500 of karting, and we’re proud to continue our relationship with SKUSA and be involved for years to come,” stated Sheldon O’Connell, Motorsports Marketing Manager for Oakley.
From driving suits to footwear, Oakley’s partnership penetrates all aspects of the kart racing lifestyle. The Oakley prizes were part of the over $120,000 in prizes and purses offered at this year’s SuperNationals XV.
Skip Barber Racing School awarded two Three-Day Racing Schools to S2 winner Nick Neri and TaG Junior winner George Russell at the SKUSA SuperNationals XV in Las Vegas on November 20. Both Neri and Russell claimed their prizes by besting their respective fields on Super Sunday’s main events. The two drivers will be invited to attend one of Skip Barber Racing School’s instruction sessions at the track of their choice.
In addition, Skip Barber Racing School Staff was on hand for the event, discussing their programs and other opportunities. “We are honored that we could be a part of this event and proud to award 2 amazing drivers with an opportunity to move forward into cars and advance their careers. We look forward to seeing them at the track!” stated Kelly Pattison, Manager of Sales and Marketing for the Skip Barber Racing School.
The Skip Barber Racing School awards were part of over $120,000 in cash and prizes offered at the SKUSA SuperNationals XV.
World Speed Motorsports, continuing their long association with the SKUSA SuperNationals, selected two S4 drivers to complete tests of the Formula Speed 2.0 at the team’s headquarters in Sonoma, California.
The first test was awarded to S4 Winner Bonner Moulton, who was the clear veteran of the field competing in his 15th SuperNationals and having a near perfect weekend qualifying P2 and scoring three heat wins in addition to the main.
The at-large pick, for his performance both on and off the track, was Robert Marks hailing from Visalia, California. Marks, capping off a season competing in SKUSA’s ProKart Challenge and Pro Tour Events, showed speed throughout -- with a consistent battle to overcome adversity finishing 11th in the main. “I’m really excited and appreciative to receive the award. I’d really like to thank SKUSA for all they do and the series they run. Looking forward to the opportunity and representing SKUSA well,” explained Marks.
The two S4 drivers will be scheduled to complete the test with World Speed Motorsports at their headquarters which is based at Infineon Raceway. The two tests are part of over $120,000 awarded at SuperNationals XV.
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