CRG operation ready to tackle first round of Superkarts! USA Pro Tour in Phoenix
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO (April 17, 2012) – CRG-USA is primed for the start of the 2012 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, set to begin April 20 with the running of the MG Tires SpringNationals at the PKRA Formula K Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. The three-day event will feature two full rounds of a five-round championship series, with a number of prizes and prestige on the line. The Grand Junction, CO-based operation earned its first victories of the 2012 season at the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas at CalSpeed Karting facility. Returning to the Phoenix area for a second time already in 2012, the CRG-USA squad is searching for more with a solid driver roster for this weekend.
“The SKUSA Pro Tour is one of our main focuses as a race team in 2012,” commented CRG-USA owner Stacey Cook. “We had a solid start to the season at the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. Our hope is to improve our Rotax program as the season moves on and the US Grand Nationals come closer. For now, we are in SKUSA mode, and I feel our roster is going to be tough to beat from top to bottom. With drivers in seven of the eight categories, I can see CRG-USA on the podium in all of them at the SpringNationals. I hope a solid weekend by all our drivers put us in contention for championships down the road.”
One of the winning drivers from last month in California was Jake Craig. Scoring the Saturday Main Event victory in the Junior Max category in March, the defending TaG Junior Pro Tour champion is jumping up the ranks to race in the headline TaG Senior division for 2012. At the regional level, Craig has piloted his CRG Blackstar to his first podium finish in his class debut, currently sitting fourth in the championship standings after two events. With plenty of laps at the PKRA facility, Craig should be a contender from the opening laps.
S2 driver Sabré Cook and S5 front-runner Ryan Rudolph come into 2012 as possible championship contenders under the CRG-USA banner. Cook is coming off a solid debut season in the Semi-Pro Stock Moto division, finishing eighth in the title chase and nearly pulling off a podium at the SKUSA SuperNationals. Rudolph came inches away from SuperNationals glory in his debut with CRG-USA last November, and will carry the #3 plate in the S5 category in hopes of earning the season championship. Rounding out the CRG-USA shifterkart pilots are S4 Master Stock Moto drivers Jet Davis and Scott Allen, both looking to take their CRG Road Rebel’s to the front in the very competitive category.
CRG-USA tent will have a number of young guns piloting the CRG chassis. TaG Junior will see Brendan Baker alongside Mianna Wick flying the CRG-USA banner, both aboard the CRG Blackstar chassis. Baker has already started his 2012 season strong at the regional level, placing in the top-five. Wick gained lots of knowledge in her rookie season last year and is primed to move up the order in 2012. David Rafailov and Riley Cook will represent the squad in TaG Cadet, piloting the popular CRG ‘Big Al’ chassis. Rafailov scored victory in his CRG-USA debut last month in California and is looking for the same in his SKUSA Pro Tour debut. Cook is returning for his second season in the Pro Tour, searching for that first podium finish.
On the SKUSA Pro Tour schedule, CRG-USA will be providing technical support for Southern California squad - Team Visalia. Jimmy McNeil will represent Team Visalia/CRG-USA in the headline S1 Pro Stock Moto division. The defending S4 Pro Tour champion is moving back to the top level in the sport, already finding success at the regional level aboard his CRG Road Rebel. McNeil leads the California ProKart Challenge championship chase after two rounds, nearly sweeping the last event at Willow Springs. Robert Marks, Todd Scholta and Darrell Tunnell will represent the squad in the popular S4 Master Stock Moto class.
CRG-USA has now become an official K1 RaceGear team, as all the safety gear and assorted accessories available from the race gear company are now offered through the Grand Junction, Colorado shop. For any interested drivers looking to compete with CRG-USA for 2012, please contact Stacey Cook at
[email protected] or phone 855-TEAMCRG. The CRG-USA is currently in development and will be available at
www.crg-usa.com
04-17-2012, 08:39 AM
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