SKUSA: Gustavo Menezes SuperNationals preview

MENEZES SEEKS VICTORY AT UPCOMING SKUSA SUPERNATIONALS
Red Bull driver to contest two categories under Tony Kart West banner

COTO DE CAZA, CA (November 16, 2009) -- American karting star Gustavo Menezes will attempt to make history at next week's Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XIII at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The November 18-22 event will be the Californians chance at victory number three and four at the prestigious spectacle of kart racing in North America. A former winner in 2003 and 2004, the Tony Kart driver will attempt to become the second driver in the event's history to win a total of four main events as well as two features in the same year.

Menezes warmed up for the event in Vegas with a trip to nearby Phoenix, Arizona for the IKF Region 7 event at the PKRA facility. Menezes walked away with two victories in the two Junior divisions he contested. Getting to the event the morning of, Menezes was limited to very few practice laps on an unfamiliar circuit. With the lack of track time, his qualifying result did not match his abilities however Menezes came up to fifth in the heat race. In the feature, Menezes knifed through to the point to take the victory. On day two, Menezes posted the fast lap in the qualifying session en route to wire to wire wins in both the heat and feature race.

Following the event, Menezes stayed with the Phoenix-based Tony Kart West squad for testing in the KF2 and TaG Senior machines he will pilot at the SuperNationals. This year's race will be his first in the Senior categories after competing the last six years in the Cadet and Junior divisions.

"The IKF weekend was a great warm-up for the SuperNationals and the testing session that followed went great," commented Menezes. "I am excited to be competing against some of the best drivers in the country and around the world, along with racing on the same track as three Formula 1 drivers (Schumacher, Buemi, Piquet Jr.). I hope that all the effort we have put into our racing program will be rewarded with two victories next week in Vegas."

Menezes spent most of the season racing in Europe, where he contested the WSK International Series and the CIK-FIA European Championship in the KF3 division with the Tony Kart Junior Racing Team. Despite missing the finale, Menezes ended the season 16th in the WSK standings and recorded a top-15 finish at the European Championship back in July. State-side, Menezes has recorded a number of regional victories and double wins (KF3 and IAME Junior) at his Championship Karting International series debut in August.

-credit: www.gustavomenezes.com