Las Vegan Matt Jaskol to compete against 7 time Formula One World
Champion Michael Schumacher in Sunday's 13th Annual SuperKarts USA
Supernationals at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino.
After being on hiatus most of the year from all forms of racing, Jaskol
is entered in the top Super-Pro category, the same one that four current
and former F1 drivers are now entered in. "The rumors are now
true" Jaskol says. After months of speculation it was confirmed last
week that Schumacher is in. His name was entered months ago, but nothing
was confirmed until a press release from SKUSA, the governing body for
shifter karts, appeared on its website (www.superkartsusa.com).
"This is an amazing opportunity and honor. The only thing better
would be to win!" said Jaskol. His aspirations are not unfounded.
Jaskol got a call "out of the blue" in September from Vince
Mandarino, father of kart racer Lorenzo Mandarino, (2005 Super-Pro
winner) that said "we have a ride for you for the SuperNats".
With that came a new chassis freshly imported from Italy. Although
skeptical that a newly designed chassis might not suit him or the track
at the time, he settled in with no problem even after a two year absence
from karting. After only a few hours testing at a track in Canada,
Jaskol came within a second of the track record. At that time "we
knew we had a real shot here" Jaskol remarked, "we can win this
thing". Jaskol will be driving a VemmeKart, designed by Vince and
his son Lorenzo (www.vemmekart.it) powered by a TM ICC 125cc motor.
The 25 year old Jaskol has a long resume in racing that includes many
notable wins in Formula BMW USA, Barber Dodge, Stars of Karting, World
Karting Association, ASA Speed Truck (Season Champion 2005 and Rookie of
the Year), and a Super Nationals win in 80cc Shifter Class back in 1998.
His racing career started when he raced the 1994 World Mini Motorcycle
race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway when he raced against James
'Bubba' Stewart. His last win came at the Bullring at the Las
Vegas Motor Speedway in the Super Late Model class when he stunned the
competition with a win at last year's 20th annual Fall Classic.
Jaskol has taken this year's SuperNats seriously and has tested on
three separate long weekends, two of them in Canada. The promise of
Formula One drivers coming to the SuperNationals has been around for
years but has never materialized. This year, with the FIA certification
of the track in the back of the Rio hotel, they have now made the trip. Also consider that Jaskol finished on the podium in the SuperPro Category
at the 2006 SKUSA SuperNationals and you have a race this Sunday that
won't soon be forgotten.
-credit: mattjaskol.com
