Brandon Frank recently competed at the SuperNationals XIX International Karting event at the 0.8400 miles Las Vegas Convention Center Track.
The sun rose and set for the final time on this year’s Superkarts! USA SuperNationals, and for the 19th time, history was made in the Las Vegas desert.
Over 500 of the best drivers from around the world took part in the five-day event outside the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Westgate Resort & Casino.
The stands were packed for all nine main events, with perfect racing weather throughout the entire event.
During the S2 Semi-Pro Stock Moto Main race polesitter Jorge Pescador (Praga) was able to get the holeshot with Austin Wilkins (Sodi Kart) slotting in behind from the outside of row one.
Dario Capitano (Italcorse), top qualifier Frank (Praga) and Kyle Smith (PCR) held their positions inside the top-five. The lead was half a second for Pescador over Wilkins with the rest of the field pretty spread out. Smith was the first driver to change position, drafting past Frank for the fourth position on lap seven.
Capitano moved to second on lap eight, as they still remained about six tenths back of the Argentinean. Up front, Pescador laid down a bad lap, allowing Capitano to close within three kart lengths of the leader with Wilkins and Smith trailing to make it a four driver lead pack.
Lap 14, it became three with Smith slowing on the course with a power plant issue. That moved his Checkered Motorsports / PCR teammate Robert Bujdoso to fourth and fast lap driver Will Preston (Aluminos) to fifth.
Lap 16, Capitano was able to make a move around Pescador to lead for the first time with Wilkins coming through to move into the second spot. Capitano established a solid lead, pulling out about seven kart lengths with Pescador looking for a way back around Wilkins. Capitano held on to the end, scoring the big win for Italcorse, earning the brand its first SuperNationals victory.
Wilkins earned a big first SuperNats podium as well with the runner-up finish with Pescador in third. Bujodoso held off a charging Preston to close out the podium.
Championship leader Carter Williams (FA Kart) started 11th, and battled hard all 20 laps to come away with the 14th position. With Lopez in the seventh spot, the gap shrunk down to just 17 points, handing the Phil Giebler Racing pilot the Fikse Wheels Pro Tour championship. Bermuda driver Frank joined them on the championship podium, finishing a strong year in the third spot.