Minnesota-based team earned nine podium finishes en route to third and fourth in the title fightMINNEAPOLIS, MN - Italian Motors USA/Italkart USA Kart Racing Team entered its 12th SKUSA Supernationals event this year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The IMUSA squad fielded 18 drivers in 5 different classes over the course of the 5 day event. Since competing in past Supernational events, the team has captured three titles in various categories and they were hoping to add to that number with their strong line-up up drivers.
IMUSA/Italkart USA Kart Racing Team fielded 8 drivers in one of the most competitive classes of the weekend, TaG Senior. Brazilian Andre Nicastro led the team by qualifying second with Canadians Remo Ruscitti in third and team leader Michael Valiante in sixth with Fellow Brazilian Bruno Ferreira just outside the top 10. Three other Canadians would also have strong showings: Scott Hargrove, Adam Isman and Taylor Haquard. Most notably, Scott Hargrove put on an impressive drive in the rain winning one of the heat races. Washington State driver Johnny Blair represented the United States well, continually fighting in the top ten in one of the deepest fields.
When the field was set for the final, the four top spots were drivers piloting Italkart chassis powered by IM Tuned Parilla Leopard engines. Andre Nicastro took the checkered flag with Valiante in third, Ferreira in fourth and Ruscitti in sixth. It was one of the most impressive team performances of the weekend. ?It is hard to explain how much effort goes in to an event like this from the testing, preparation and organization. You really don?t know where you stand until the end of the event, so I was more than pleased? said Scott Cowell of IMUSA/Italkart USA Racing Team.
In the shifter classes Kelly Baker, Jim Kidd and Bobby Kim were entered in G1 while Donny Mcgregor was in KZ2. Kidd was fresh off his Lancaster win while Baker has podium at the Supernats for the last four years - narrowly missing the win last season. When it was all said and done, Baker had another solid finish in fourth with Kidd just outside the top ten in eleventh and Kim suffering a DNF. In KZ2 Mcgregor lined up against some of the best drivers in the world and fought for a top ten spot. Unfortunately, a stuck throttle took him out of the main event.
In Tag Masters, Brazilian Fernando Guzzi, along with Canadians Jayson Clunie, Jim Hargrove and Mike Haquard line up for the over 30 class. Guzzi lead the way in fourth with Clunie in eleventh, Hargrove twenty eighth and Hauqard dropping out before the finish.
The youngest group of the IM Team Drivers were Yuric Carvelo, Jamie Mcallister and Keegan Laithwaite representing IMUSA/ Italkart USA in the TAG Jr. Category. New to the event this year was Laithwaite and Mcallister. Unfortunately bad luck prevented Mcallister from making the final while Laithwaite placed twentieth respectively. Carvelo piloting his Italkart Rapido V led the first five laps of the event and while battling for the lead he was put in the wall by another driver. It was disappointing as the young Carvelo had a shot at capturing his first Supernats title.
?All in all it was a great weekend for the team. I am very pleased with the results and the effort from the entire team?, said Team Principal Claudio Valiante.
For more information, visit www.italianmotors.com
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