Karter Driver Scott Barnes has been declared the winner of the Masters Shifter Class Final at the SKUSA Spring Nationals, held at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio.
The event marked the halfway point of the prestigious 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour, attracting a field of around 250 drivers across eight categories, including Barnes.
Barnes had shown strong pace throughout the day. After qualifying well, he secured a second-place finish in the Pre-Final race, positioning himself on the front row for the all-important Final.
In the Final itself, Barnes made an excellent start, seizing the hole shot from his outside pole position. However, he briefly lost the lead in turn two before demonstrating his determination by making a decisive pass to reclaim the top spot on lap seven of the 20-lap race.
Barnes led the field for a further six laps, maintaining a strong pace at the front. A fierce battle for the lead then ensued with Scott Presti, which unfortunately involved contact, causing Barnes to lose the top spot. The Bermudian driver made a second determined push for the lead but ultimately came up just short at the chequered flag, initially finishing in second place with a time of 18 minutes and 10.354 seconds.
However, the drama didn't end there. Following the race, officials reviewed a protest. This resulted in the disqualification of Presti, who had initially been declared the winner with a time of 18 minutes and 8.950 seconds. The disqualification elevated Scott Barnes to the top step of the podium, handing him the hard-fought victory in the Masters Shifter Class at the SKUSA Spring Nationals.
|
