SKUSA SuperNationals

The Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) SuperNationals was inaugurated in November 1997.^[2] While 1997 is recognized as the official start of the SuperNationals, the event evolved from a prior race organized by shifter kart enthusiast JR Clasen.^[2] In 1997, the manager of SKUSA, Jim Murley, took control of the event with the aim of growing the sport in the United States.^[3]

The inaugural event was held at Race Kart City Raceway, later known as the Las Vegas Karting Center, and attracted over 180 entries across multiple categories.^[4] Alex Barron emerged as the winner of the highly competitive 125cc Moto class, one of the event’s premier divisions.^[5][4]

Over the years, the SuperNationals has been hosted at five different venues across Las Vegas:

• Las Vegas Karting Complex (formally known as the Race Kart City Raceway)
• Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino
• Sam Boyd Stadium
• Las Vegas Convention Center
• Las Vegas Motor Speedway

The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino hosted the most SuperNationals with 12.^[6] The SuperNationals are now hosted at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where SKUSA signed a three-year agreement to host the event through 2025.^[7]

The SKUSA SuperNationals has grown into an internationally recognized event, attracting top karting talent and professional drivers from various disciplines,^[8] including Formula One, IndyCar, NASCAR, and rallying:

• Formula One drivers: Michael Schumacher (2009),^[9] Max Verstappen (2012),^[10] Sergio Pérez (2016),^[11] Charles Leclerc (2012),^[12] George Russell (2011),^[13] Lance Stroll (2012),^[14] and Logan Sargeant (2011).^[15]
• Other notable entrants: Will Power (2022),^[16] Sébastien Bourdais (2013),^[17] Dan Wheldon (2009),^[18] Alexander Rossi (2016),^[19] and Josef Newgarden (2021).^[20]

The 2023 edition featured over 500 competitors across seven categories.^[8] SKUSA SuperNationals XXVII, the 2024 edition, featured over US$44,000 in cash prizes.^[21]

• Kart racing
• List of kart racing championships