The inaugural Superkarts! USA SuperNationals was run in November of 1997, although the event was truly the evolution of an existing race held during the previous years by shifter enthusiast and race promoter JR Clasen. SKUSA’s new manager Jim Murley assumed control of the event in ’97 . A total of 180+ entries turned up at Race Kart City Raceway,later renamed as the Las Vegas Karting Center.
The inaugural SuperNationals main event in 125 Moto was won by none other than Alex Barron, one of the most famous American karters to make good in professional motorsports winning kart events all over the country on a Tony Kart. Barron arrived in Las Vegas looking to put an exclamation point on his karting career before heading to CART with Dan Gurney’s All American Racers squad, and he did so with a bang, topping a star-studded field.
Alex Barron bested a tough 125cc Moto grid, edging Bobby Oergel, Curtis Cooksey, Bonnier Moulton and Joe Janowski for the win. Michael Valiante won the 125cc Open class
Info SKUSA / © Photo Rob Howden for eKartingnews.com