EKN Trackside: 2013 United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals – Preview Nearly 200 drivers set to compete at GoPro Motorplex for seven national titles

GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina

This is the week United States ‘Rotaxians’ dream about for nearly 364 days of the year. The 2013 United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals officially gets underway July 31 as the four-day event is contested at the new GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. Drivers in seven Rotax Max Challenge categories will be competing for a chance to claim a national championship.

The GoPro Motorplex was opened in October 2012, and has become a pristine center for karting in North America. Located in the heart of NASCAR country, the facility is growing the sport and in its inaugural season, hosting major events including the US Rotax Grand Nationals. The circuit at the GoPro facility is based on the famous Kartdromo Parma in Italy. At 7/10-mile, Justin Marks and his entire team developed a course that provides for some great racing and challenges the drivers.

Competitors began traveling to the Mooresville area over the weekend, setting up for unofficial practice held Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday begins the official practice for the nearly 200 competitors, setting the stage for the remaining three days. Qualifying and the first round of heat races are held on Thursday. Friday is the final two rounds of heat races to set the stage for Championship Saturday. The final day will host a Prefinal, which will provide the lineup for the main events.

On the line, aside from national titles, will be tickets to the 2013 Rotax Grand Finals, held in the United States for the first time. In November, the top Rotaxians from around the world will converge on the NOLAMotorsportsPark facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. The top two drivers in the Senior Max, DD2, DD2 Masters and Junior Max categories will be awarded spots at the event, while the top Masters Max pilot will earn a ticket as well. The top-three drivers in Mini Max and Micro Max will be provided a spot to compete at the event, as part of the North American invitational event.

EKN will once again be providing our popular Trackside coverage. Be sure to follow the Official Discussion Thread for updates as the event unfolds and follow all the coverage through the EKN Event Page. Also, follow EKN on Facebook and Twitter for live updates along with Instagram

SENIOR MAX

The 2012 edition of the US Rotax Grand Nationals saw a dominant performance by Daniel Formal in South Bend. With his absence to the Senior Max roster, the title is up for grabs once again. The last two winners before Formal lead a 36-driver field battling for the crown.

2011 winner Nick Neri (Tony Kart) returns, seeking his second in the Senior category, and fourth overall to tie Jordon Musser’s record of four. The Ocala Gran Prix driver missed out on Team USA and the Rotax Grand Finals, placing fourth in South Bend, and redemption is on his mind. Neri is also the EKN Driver Diary feature for the event, with updates directly from the Florida driver each night in the EKN Event Page. 2010 champ Stepanova Nekeel (FA Kart) bought the chassis at the event, found the sweet-spot and avoided trouble to score the big victory. He finished fifth behind Neri last year, missing out on his chance at a return to the Rotax Grand Finals.

Next to Formal on the podium were Sam Beasley and Andrew Palmer. Beasley is a three-time runner-up, from year’s 2010 to 2012. Each time, he’s come just short of winning. A move to the Ocala Gran Prix operation, piloting a Tony Kart could be the change needed to put the Ohio driver on the top step. Palmer (Kosmic) drove a stellar race to edge out Neri for the final podium position. Numerous tests and a victory at the Rotax Summer Shootout puts Palmer on the short list of top contenders. Among the young guns making their first Senior start is 2012 Team USA member Oliver Askew (Tony Kart). The Florida driver showed his talents against the Florida Winter Tour competition, and looks to transfer that to the Rotax Grand Nationals for his first title.

Senior Max Provisional Entry List

No. Last Name First Name Chassis Team City State 322 Aiken Porter Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Alpharetta Georgia 338 Askew Oliver Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 306 Bearden Logan Haase Mike Doty Racing Leander Texas 304 Beasley Sam Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 300 Criscione Joe ART GP ART GP West Linn Oregon 342 Dignan Derek FA Kart Kartsport Rochester Hills Michigan 358 Doll Jeremy Tony Kart ChiChi Racing West Creek New Jersey Donald Jacob Arrow Kartsport NA Jeannette Pennsylvania 326 Fernandez Alejandro Energy Buddy Rice Karting San Bernardino California 359 Finlayson Elliot Birel Jet Karting Yorkville Illinois 314 Hayden Ann Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Cape Coral Florida 316 Healey Morgan Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 333 Howard Jay Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Carmel Indiana 332 Jordan Austin Tony Kart Speed Energy of Florida Seminole Florida 384 Kotyk Jonathan Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 320 Landi Nick Tony Kart CHIC Racing Old Bridge New Jersey 364 Losito Nick Tony Kart Ultra Pro Kart Sales Charlotte North Carolina 309 Mc Cusker John Haase Mike Doty Racing Glen Head New York 317 Mehan Evan Tony Kart Jay Howard Motorsport Deerfield Beach Florida 319 Mutagaana Ayrton CRG Drive19 Motorsports Freedom Pennsylvania 328 Myers AJ Tony Kart Palm Harbor Florida 396 Nagel Chaz Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Azle Texas 302 Nekeel Stepanova FA Kart Seattle Washington 388 Neri Nicholas Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 323 Owen Will FA Kart Kartsport North America Castle Rock Colorado 325 Pagano Daley FA Kart Privateer East Hampton New York 327 Pagano Louie Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Camarillo California 355 Pagano Michael FA Kart Privateer East Hampton New York 321 Palmer Andrew Kosmic J3 Competition Chicago Illinois 301 Ralston Jr Roger FA Kart Ralston Motorsport Boca Raton Florida 361 Roeper Dan Orsolon / BN Racing Delray Beach Florida 366 Roth Thomas CRG Rolison Performance Group Old Lyme Connecticut 331 Selbach Lee Birel JAM Motorsports Charlotte North Carolina 318 Stross Dustin Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix N Fort Myers Florida 329 Tesoro Dominic AM Racing Kart Chase Racing Plant City Florida 311 Watson Sam FA Kart Belmont North Carolina

DD2/DD2 MASTERS

Among the eight registered in DD2, all but one will be making their first start in the category which will lead to a new Grand Nationals champion. The one driver making his return, and has been close multiple times before is Nathan Mauel (CRG). The Oklahoma driver is among the original ‘Rotaxians’ in the United States, having been a member of Team USA five times, but never a victor at the Grand Nationals. One driver familiar with that achievement is defending Senior Max champion Daniel Formal (Kosmic). He is one of two drivers to win at three different categories (Mini Max, Junior Max, Senior Max), and is attempting to be the first to win at all four levels, and tie Jordon Musser with four total US Rotax Grand Nationals victories. They will be chased by a swarm of Sodi Kart entries, all from the LoneStarState. Alex Tartaglia is a three-time Texas ProKart Challenge winner this season, and will be joined under the Dallas Karting Complex stable by Sean Owens and Michael Ilavia with CJ Cramm rounding out the Texans. Evan Polisky is second in the EKN Rotax Driver Rankings thus far on the season, coming out of the F1 New Jersey USRMC, and will make his first Grand Nationals start in DD2.

The DD2 Masters division is also full of veterans, looking to make a return to Team USA. 2012 champion Alan Rudolph (CRG) is set to defend his crown, already locked in on Team USA with his championship at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas program. Last year’s runner-up Rene Martinelli (CRG) and fourth place finisher John Crow (Kosmic) were Rudolph’s teammate last year in Portugal, representing the United States at the Rotax Grand Finals. They would much like to duplicate that, with either a podium finish or a victory. Mike Jones (Sodi Kart) made his DD2 debut last year, only to retire after two laps. Back for redemption, the Texan will be a factor all weekend. Another contender, switching from Masters to DD2 Masters is Paul Bonilla (Arrow). A multi-time podium finisher at the Grand Nationals, Bonilla could be one of the two drivers to earn a spot on Team USA. Current EKN US Rotax Driver Rankings number one driver Lance Lehrman (Sodi Kart) will make his Grand Nationals debut.

DD2 Provisional Entry List

No. Last Name First Name Chassis Team City State 464 Carey Mitch CRG Directlink Team Parker Colorado 444 Cramm CJ Sodi Kart Kart Nation Spring Texas 437 Formal Daniel Kosmic Advanced Karting / 37 Racing Engines Orlando Florida 403 Ilavia Michael Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Houston Texas 416 Mauel Nathan CRG PSL Karting Broken Arrow Oklahoma 420 Owens Sean Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Richardson Texas 472 Polisky Evan Intrepid Polisky Racing Beverly Massachusetts 410 Tartaglia Alex Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Colleyville Texas

DD2 Masters Provisional Entry List

No. Last Name First Name Chassis Team City State 520 Bonilla Paul Arrow Full Throttle Karting Cypress California 556 Carey Jim Zanardi Directlink Team Parker Colorado 531 Crow John Kosmic Anaheim California 504 Jones Mike Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Sachse Texas 526 Lehrman Lance Sodi Kart Woodpecker Motorsports Mesquite Texas 500 Martinelli Rene CRG PSL Karting Tampa Florida 518 Park Conrad CRG Dallas Karting Complex Corinth Texas 577 Rudolph Alan CRG PSL Atlantic Gilbert Arizona

JUNIOR MAX

The largest group of the 2013 US Rotax Grand Nationals is the Junior Max with 53 drivers. With recent and former winners moved on, this year will crown a new champion in the category. Three of the top-five from last year return, all gunning for the first step of the podium. Thomas Issa (Kosmic) was solid a year ago in South Bend to place runner-up, representing Jamaica at the Rotax Grand Finals. This winter, Issa already gained a spot at this year’s event in New Orleans with the Florida Winter Tour championship. Placing fourth a year ago, Juan Manuel Correa (Tony Kart) earned a spot on Team USA, and made it count by placing 22nd in Portugal. Fellow Floridian Austin Garrison (Tony Kart) placed fifth a year ago, a returns for a better finish in 2013.

Among the list of contenders includes Ocala Gran Prix driver Ashley Rogero (Tony Kart). The 2012 Pan Am Challenge champion has been racing part of the season in Senior categories, outside of the USRMC, and faired well. Back in May, she won $5,000 at the GoPro Be a HERO Karting Challenge in Mooresville, beating out a talented field. Antoni Ptak (Birel) and Jack Weprin (FA Kart) have been competing overseas at the Rotax Euro Challenge, and will take their experiences to good work this week.

Six of the top-10 in the EKN US Rotax Driver Rankings will be onsite in Mooresville for the Grand Nationals. Number one driver McKay Snow (Kosmic) is part of the stellar Junior roster that the Rolison Performance Group is fielding. The Utah driver is joined by Challenge of the Americas title winner Blaine Rocha, provisional Can-Am Karting Challenge champion, each who has a ticket locked for the Rotax Grand Finals. Colorado driver Grant Copple, EKN’s May 2013 GoRotax.com Driver of the Month award winner, rounds out the team’s Junior drivers.

Two former champions are in the field, that is Mini Max title winners. 2011 winner Christian Brooks (ART GP) is making his return to the US Rotax Grand Nationals, for his first start in the Junior Max category. Jordan Perry (Tony Kart) won at New Castle, Indiana, and is also back at the nationals after a year away.

Junior Max Provisional Entry List

No. Last Name First Name Chassis Team City State 218 Acklam Chase FA Kart Kartsport Indian Trail North Carolina 201 Auriemma Benjamin Tony Kart Orsolon Racing Aventura Florida 230 Bellanger Olivier Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Sarasota Florida 244 Bilyy Michael Tony Kart Canton Georgia 206 Brockman Spencer Haase MDR Westport Connecticut 233 Brooks Christian ART GP Nash Motorsports Santa Clarita California 221 Carneiro Bruno Kosmic Rodizio Grill / Legree Motorsports Riverton Utah 261 Cavkusic Armin FA Kart Chicago Illinois 226 Copple Grant Kosmic Gambler Motorsports Golden Colorado 208 Cordova Jared Birel High Velocity Racing Waterford Virginia 268 Correa Juan Manuel Tony Kart V Motorsports Miami Florida 216 De Boever Quentin Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Melbourne Florida 271 DeFrancesco Devlin Tony Kart DFR Fort Lauderdale Florida 298 Denes Phillippe ART GP ART USA Carmel California 231 Essma Joey Birel JAM Motorsports Browns Summit North Carolina 200 Estep Trenton Tony Kart HR Racing San Antonio Texas 211 Forteza Luis Jose Kosmic J3 Competition Dorado Puerto Rico 292 Garrison Austin Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 213 Glasson Cole Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Corinth Texas 248 Goldfarb Mitch Birel Jam Motorsports Weddington North Carolina 224 Grey Noah Kosmic Phil Giebler Dana Point California 238 Hancock Zachary Tony Kart Sarasota Florida 232 Ilavia David Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Houston Texas 294 Issa Thomas Kosmic J3 Competition Fort Lauderdale Florida 234 Jevens Connor Birel Just DriveIt Simpsonville South Carolina 297 Jordan Tyler Tony Kart Speed Energy of Florida Seminole Florida 228 Kirkwood Kyle Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 242 Lockwood Brian Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Tallahassee Florida 207 Mc Carthy Michael Birel Anderson Racing Clearwater Florida 220 Mc Cusker Austin Haase Mike Doty Racing Glen Head New York 229 Mc Ginty Mason Birel Wheaton Illinois 299 Megennis Robert Birel McAleer Motorsports Amawalk New York 210 Munoz Christian Tony Kart V Motorsport Deerfield Beach Florida 288 Perry Jordan Tony Kart P1 Racing / Keane Racing Miami Florida 251 Preston Jake FA Kart Phil Giebler Racer Renton Washington 225 Prevost Enzo Trackmagic Jet Connection Novato California 267 Ptak Antoni Birel Andersen Racing Team Palmetto Florida 282 Reichelt Gavin CRG PSL Karting Rhinebeck New York 209 Rocha Blaine Kosmic Rolison Performance Group Oakdale California 270 Rogero Ashley Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 223 Ruocco Nolan Haase Mike Doty Racing Newfield New York 203 Selliken Luke Kosmic Rolison Performance Group Porltand Oregon 214 Smith Brian Birel White Nose Simpsonville South Carolina 263 Snow McKay Kosmic Rolison Performance Group Pleasant Grove Utah 205 Sobel Derek James Tony Kart Team Koene USA Naples Florida 212 Solarczyk Matt Birel High Velocity Racing / MRP Ashburn Virginia 219 Sullivan Alex Arrow Charlotte North Carolina 222 Tams Adam Birel MRP Motorsport Huntley Illinois 287 Thomas Matthew Tony Kart TNT Racing Miami Florida 280 Tyler Ethan Kosmic J3 Competition River Forest Illinois 277 Versteeg Austin Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Salt Lake City Utah 217 Weprin Jack FA Kart SLV Motorsports Chappaqua New York 273 Zilisch Bradley Birel Carolina Motorsports Park Matthews North Carolina

MASTERS MAX

The 2013 Masters Max action will possible crown a new champion, with no current returning champions in the field. Despite that fact, six of the top-10 from last year are set to contend for the championship. Runner-up last year, Andy Seesemann (Arrow) will continue his streak of competing at every US Rotax Grand Nationals, and the Full Throttl Karting owner/driver hopes for a second title to add to his 2004 achievement. Diego Pelosi (FA Kart) was third in 2012, and certainly has shown the speed to be a contender. The Californian was a double winner at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas.

Chris McGinley (Kosmic) is the highest ranked EKN US Rotax Driver Rankings driver competing at the Nationals, entering second. The New Jersey driver finished eighth last year, behind Bobby Greene (Maranello) and Rob Maier (Tony Kart) who are also returning. Utah driver Justin Peck (Tony Kart) earned his first major victory of his career at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas. Another driver to watch will be Tyler Brooks (Tony Kart), another double winner at the Challenge program out west.

Adding some flavor to the event, motorsports driver Max Papis (Tony Kart) will be competing in the category. A Mooresville resident and frequent customer at the GoPro Motorplex, the Italian may have the slight advantage on the field this week.

Masters Max Provisional Entry List

No. Last Name First Name Chassis Team City State 623 Auriemma Michael Tony Kart Orsolon Racing Aventura Florida 610 Boyd Dean Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Double Oak Texas 627 Brooks Tyler Tony Kart Ryan Perry Motorsport Riverside California 600 Brown Jerry Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Saint Cloud Florida 675 Clyde Jeffrey Arrow Marlton New Jersey 637 Costa Raul Tony Kart Legree Motorsports Miami Florida 685 Greene Bobby Maranello SKLTN Fernandina Beach Florida 620 Leslie Jason Kosmic J3 Competition Greenville South Carolina 629 Maier Rob Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Oakland Florida 671 Mc Ginley Chris Kosmic Sewell New Jersey 677 Papis Max Tony Kart Orsolon Racing Mooresville North Carolina 625 Patton George Arrow Full Throttle Karting Anaheim California 649 Peck Justin Tony Kart Msquared Sandy Utah 622 Pelosi Diego FA Kart Ryan Perry San Diego California 608 Pergande David Arrox Full Throttle Karting Katy Texas 614 Pettit Adam DR Kart DRT Racing Mullica Hill New Jersey 628 Roberts Scott Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Winter Park Florida 604 Sampson Randy Arrow Custom Air Brown Summit North Carolina 651 Seesemann Andy Arrow Full Throttle Karting Orange California 611 Sparacio Antonio Tony Kart Shamong NJ 612 Sparacio Salvatore CRG Shamong NJ 617 Zamora Jacob Arrow Full Throttle Karting Manhattan Beach California

MINI MAX

A solid 34 drivers fill out the Mini Max entry list for this year’s US Rotax Grand Nationals. 2012 champion Anthony Gangi Jr. will not defend his title this year, leaving the top spot on the podium open to any one of the drivers making the trek to Mooresville. The only returning podium finisher who will be in North Carolina, looking for the number one position, is Mathias Ramirez (Tony Kart). Second last year, the Florida driver faired well this winter placing third in the Florida Winter Tour.

Those drivers who looked great this winter included Sting Ray Robb and Nick Brueckner. Robb (Tony Kart) was the Rotax Challenge of the Americas champion with Brueckner (Birel) – the 2012 Micro Max US champion – besting the Florida Winter Tour fields.

Mini Max Provisional Entry List

No. Last Name First Name Chassis Team City State 100 Benyahia Michael Tecno Tecno Kart Racing Team Doral Florida 108 Boutot Devin Tony Kart Dad and Mom Naples Florida 124 Brooks Jason Kosmic Chasing Jason Racing Boynton Beach Florida 162 Brown Braden Tony Kart GT7 Marvin North Carolina 174 Brueckner Nick Birel MRP Motorsport / Birel America Hockley Texas 199 Chase Parker CRG Chase Racing New Braunfels Texas 156 Chick Theo Kosmic J3 Competition Fairfax Virginia 129 Dawlett Pierce GP G.P. Austin Texas 115 d'Orlando Michael Tony Kart Team Koene USA Hartsdale New Mexico 172 Fittipaldi da Cruz Enzo Kosmic V Motorsports Davidson North Carolina 188 Frederick KRex Kosmic J3 Competition Potomac Maryland 111 Groenstein Sean CRG Rolison Performance Group Jackson Wyoming 122 Hewitt Max AM Racing Kart AM Engines Houston Texas 142 Hunt Blake Arrow Mooresville North Carolina 180 Jaramillo Alejandro Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex / Sodi Dallas Texas 155 Keel Aiden Birel Anderson Racing Plant City Florida 148 Lamberth Joseph Birel JAM Motorsports Statesville North Carolina 141 Lyda Emory Top Kart Concord North Carolina 140 Miller Jack Birel Jack William Motorsport Westfield Indiana 195 Nagel Lawson Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Azle Texas 127 Owens Collin Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Frisco Texas 189 Rafailov David CRG PSL Karting Aurora Colorado 151 Ramirez Mathias Tony Kart Ocala Gran Prix Ocala Florida 131 Robb Sting Ray Tony Kart Rolison Performance Group Boise Idaho 101 Schwab Wyatt Haase LumiCases Lincoln University Pennsylvania 139 Sirgany Joshua CRG PSL Karting Pembroke Pines Florida 170 Sirgany Justin AM Racing Kart AM Engines Racing Team Miami Florida 130 Skiba Dhyllan Tony Kart Jayna RaceWorks Leesburg Virginia 104 Stretch Matthew Sodi Kart Dallas Karting Complex Arlington Texas 121 Stuart Kollin Birel MRP at Palm Beach Parkland Florida 118 Tetlow Pierce CRG Team Tetlow Racing Landenberg Pennsylvania 117 Tisdale Sam Birel JAM Motorsports Mayesville South Carolina 184 Varner Philip CRG Largo Florida 191 Verhagen Neil FA Kart Kartsport NA Ridgefield Connecticut

MICRO MAX

It will be some familiar names in contention for the Micro Max title. Many of the top drivers from a year ago are returning, while it’s expected to be a battle all week long. It could be a battle of West vs. East between the two Rotax Challenge of the Americas and Florida Winter Tour champions. Utah driver Payton Durrant (Birel) won four of the six races out west, while Giovanni Bromante (Top Kart) scored four podium finishes to win the title in Florida. Other drivers to watch include SKUSA SummerNationals double winner Dylan Tavella (Tony Kart), Harry Coulton (Birel), Filip Niemkiewicz (Energy), Nicholas d’Orlando (Tony Kart) and Alex Verhagen (FA Kart).

Micro Max Provisional Entry List