SKUSA SuperNationals XVI - Saturday Report

Published on 18 November 2012 by Niels Hendrix

Another beautiful day welcomed the competitors and fans of the SKUSA SuperNationals XVI outside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. With weather a non-factor, the conditions were perfect for some solid racing in the nine categories taking part of the Pro Tour season finale. Both under the sun and the night lights, the racing was exciting and got the fans excited for the big show - SuperSunday main events. With grid places for the main events up for grabs, day three at the SuperNationals featured two more Heat races for all the classes.

First up were the morning classes (S4, S5, KZ2, and TaG Senior). Heat 2 for the KZ2 contingent featured a familiar story line, as Max Verstappen (CRG) emerged with another win. It was not totally straight forward though, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart) initially led the way, but the former SuperNats champion was not able to hold off the hard charging second generation racer. Behind the eventually winner, the order shuffled multiple times, before Anthony Abbasse (Sodi Kart) came home second. Patrik Hajek (Praga) initially crossed the stripe in fourth, but was moved up one spot, after Ardigo was penalized for a jumped start. Completing the top-five was reigning CIK-FIA European Champion Jorrit Pex (CRG).

With the final grid order yet to be determined for the $10,000 Feature race on SuperSunday, all the KZ2 racers were looking for a strong result in the third and final Heat race. Verstappen yet again was the driver to watch, never putting a wheel wrong en route to yet another win. Hajek initially looked like he was going to come home second, but he was unable to hold back two-time winner Ardigo, eventually coming home in third. Pex and Rick Dreezen (Tony Kart) in addition showed well, completing the top-five. Completing the sweep over the last two days awarded the pole position for the young Verstappen on SuperSunday. Hajek will move one spot, to outside the front row as Ardigo moves back to third. Pex jumps to fourth to start the feature while American Gary Carlton (Energy) will go from P5 after three straight sixth place finishes.

Niels Hendrix