SKI Excellence Awards Nominees Announced

February 10th, 2006:

As announced last week, the final tabulations for this year’s Super Kart Illustrated Excellence Awards have been completed. For those who have not listened to the latest ‘Happy Hour with Howden’ show, the staff at SKI is pleased to announce the five nominees for each of the SKI Awards’ six categories. Calculated from the votes cast by individuals who submitted lists either by e-mail to the EKN news desk or posted on the forums, the EKN and SKI staff would like to thank the readership for their support of the program.

This year’s winners will be announced during the Sodi Kart Expo International in St. Charles, IL at the Pheasant Run Resort and Convention Center. Instead of the traditionalevening party on Saturday night, the winners will be announced during the taping of ‘Happy Hour with Howden’ in the EKN/SKI booth in the main hall on Saturday, February 25.

The following distinguished members of the North American karting community are this year’s Super Kart Illustrated Awards nominees:

Driver of the Year
Phil Giebler – Ventura, CA – Champion Racing
David Jurca – Federal Way, WA – Italian Motors
Corey Reeves – Franklin, WI – Margay Racing
Alex Speed – Manteca, CA – Team Speed
Kyle Wiegand – Bargersville, IN – KLS Racing

Team of the Year
Champion Racing – Brett & Rodney Berryhill – Norman, OK
First Kart North America – Tony Ventresca – Guelph, ON, Canada
Italian Motors – Claudio Valiante – Vancouver, BC, Canada
J3 Competition – Justin Stefani – Erie, PA
Team Speed – Mike Speed – Manteca, CA

Road Racer of the Year
Chad Dokken – Clearwater, FL – MVG Motorsports
Randy Fulks – IL – TS Racing
Andy Kiker – Egg Harbor Township, NJ – Kiker Racing
Kevin Learnard – Hooksett, NH – Elite Karting
Adam Romito – Opelika, AL – MAR Racing

Mechanic of the Year
David Carpentier – Italian Motors
Everett Giebler – Champion Racing/G-Phactory
Seth Nash – CompCor
Mike Speed – Team Speed
Justin Stefani – J3 Competition

Rising Star
Stuart Marsell – Zellwood, FL – BTK Motorsports
Daniel Morad – Markham, ON, Canada – First Kart North America
Ryan Phinny – Carmel Valley, CA – Team Speed
Keith Spicer – Naples, FL – DL Racing
Cole Whitt – Alpine, CA – Italian Motors

Young Driver of the Year
Jessica Brannam – McHenry, IL – Brannam Racing
Eric Morrow – Indianapolis, IN – Margay Racing
Sebastian Saavedra – Columbia - Team Saavedra
Zachary Schiff – Dublin, OH – First Kart North America
Gustavo Yacaman – Cali, Columbia – First Kart North America