4-26-13 Round Three of California Prokart Challenge Hits Riverside Next Weekend

Superkarts! USA regional program returns to action at Adams Motorsports Park

Following a month off, the California ProKart Challenge returns trackside as round three will be contested at the historic Adams Motorsports Park in Riverside on May 3-4. The Superkarts! USA flagship regional program welcomed record numbers in the opening two rounds of the series, and is expecting another strong turnout. The tight confines of the older-style facility presents its own type of challenge to the California PKC racers, as they look to complete the first half of their championship chase.

The Extreme Karting/Vemme S1 Pro Stock Moto has seen rookie Billy Musgrave score the opening two round victories, controlling the point lead. Defending champ Jimmy McNeil has kept it close, placing runner-up in both events. Returning California PKC driver Cody Hodgson sits third. It’s been a battle of the young guns in the Pure Karting TaG Senior division that has seen over 30 drivers in the opening two rounds. Alex Keyes, Jake Craig and Austin Elliott are at the top of the standings thus far in the title chase. Keyes and Craig have split the victories, with rookie Keyes at the top in the standings after coming close to sweeping the opener. Craig, the 2011 Pro Tour TaG Junior champion, nearly swept the Willow Springs round. Elliott, a second year driver, has two top-four finishes thus far, and could be the third different winner on the season.

Texan Connor Wagner is the driver to beat in the Buddy Rice Karting S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto class. An engine issue kept him from scoring the victory in Buttonwillow, but he rebounded to sweep round two and take the point lead. The 2012 S4 champion Robert Marks won his debut in S2, running fourth at round two to be second in the standings. The Diede brothers of Cody and Troy trail them both, each looking to claim their first wins of the 2013 season. The Leading Edge Motorsports S4 Master Stock Moto has round one winner Mike Mantel leading Brad Dhesi and Darrell Tunnell. Billy Cleavelin has been near perfect in the 2013 California PKC season for the Mike Manning Karting TaG Master class. Two wins have Cleavelin holding a comfortable lead over Kevin Manning and Ethan Wilson. Luke Bianco has a perfect score, leading the Leading Edge Motorsports S4 Magnum Stock Moto standings heading into round three, while Will Vogel has set the bar in the 2 Wild Karting S3 Novice Stock Moto division.

Jarred Campbell took his two wins at the California PKC in the SwedeTech Racing Engines S5 Junior Stock Moto category and went on to earn his first Pro Tour victory on Sunday of the SpringNationals. He returns, leading defending series champ and fellow Pro Tour winner Carter Williams, with S5 rookie Garrett Dixon third in the standings. Brendan Baker is hoping to turn things around at Riverside in the Phil Giebler Racing TaG Junior class, following a challenging Pro Tour SpringNats. After his solid opening round victory at Buttonwillow, Baker ran second in round two and sits tied with 2012 champ Carter Williams, the Willow Springs winner. Willy Axton sits third, but needs to make up a 100 point deficit already. California PKC newcomer Ryan Schartau scored his first series victory at round two and leads the title chase in the Sunshine Daydream Creations TaG Cadet class. Jackson Logsdon and Myles Farhan trail him in the standings, but the season looks to be very unpredictable as they head to complete the first half of the season.

Pre-entry for Round 3 of the California ProKart Challenge is available now at www.skusastore.com until midnight on Wednesday, May 1. Racers will hit the track Friday, May 3 as the California PKC will host a full day of practice. No reserved pit spots will be provided on the weekend, with move-in scheduled to start Friday morning due to track commitments Thursday evening. Gates will open at 6:30am to provide ample time for teams to set up. Overnight camping is available at the track at no charge, and discounts are available at local hotels as listed at the SKUSA event page. See all event details at the following link (http://www.superkartsusa.com/regional/california-pkc/event-calendar/round-3-2013.html).

Superkarts! USA would like the thank the following companies, in addition to the support of the class sponsors, for their aid toward the 2013 season: MG Tires, Mothers Polish, Honda/HPD, VP Racing Fuels, Motul, MIR, and AiM. Stayed tuned to www.superkartsusa.com for any late breaking news on the event, as well as updates on Twitter at @SuperKartsUSA and at Facebook.com/SKUSA.