November 16, 2023 – It was a head-turning performance for Team Benik at the annual Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) SuperNationals as up-and-coming driver Royce Vega earned his first career SuperNationals victory. In a week-long event that saw Team Benik drivers at the front of the field throughout, Super Sunday ended with a victory and a pair of drivers inside the top-ten after heat race wins and a pole position led up to the main event celebration.
The speed was shown by Team Benik drivers straightaway in qualifying as Troy Ferguson led the way earning the pole position followed closely by Royce Vega in second for an all-Team Benik front row. Marco Romero struggled slightly and found himself in 28th but was able to move forward when the heat races commenced.
Ferguson converted his pole position into heat race wins in heats one and three, but an eighth-place result in heat two saw him classified second after the heat race flight to start Super Sunday’s main event from the outside of the front row. To his inside was Team Benik teammate Royce Vega who was slightly more consistent in third, second, and second place finishes to nab the pole position and premier starting spot for the main event. Romero, who started each of the three heat races from the outside of row 14 was able to level up in each finishing 15th, 11th, and 14th to slot into the tenth position on the grid for Super Sunday.
It was Vega in the main event who started the final lap in third after methodically working his way back to catch the lead duo and as he entered the final corner on the final lap, was able to keep his momentum up and drag race to the win. Fist-pumping as he crossed the line, Vega scored his first SuperNationals victory and put Team Benik back on top of the Mini Swift class at the nation’s biggest karting event. Ferguson looked to have put a pair of Benik drivers inside the top-five as he finished fourth on track, but a pushback bumper penalty added six seconds to his time dropping him to 14th in the final results. Romero, a benefactor of Ferguson’s penalty crossed the finish line in P10 but was eventually classified in the ninth position when the dust had finally settled.
With a single entry in the Micro Swift class, Wynn Godschalk flew the Team Benik colors and did so proudly. Consistently finding himself in the front half of the grid, Wynn qualified in the sixth position Thursday afternoon. With some hard battles throughout the heat races, Wynn started the main event from the outside of row ten and closed his first SKUSA SuperNationals in the 22nd position.
“It was a great job in Vegas for our crew and drivers and a solid end to the 2023 season,” explained Nick Mitchell. “We are very happy to add another SKUSA SuperNats win to our resume and are already looking forward to the 2024 edition of the event.”
With the annual trip to Las Vegas now complete, Team Benik will be back in their shop prepping toward a busy winter karting program that will see them compete at the ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour, Superkarts! USA Winter Series, and Rotax Winter Trophy.
For more information on Team Benik, please visit them online by searching Team Benik on social media or their website at www.Benik-Kart.com.
