Local kart race features F1 stars

Formula One racing fans around here dream that one day the world's best road-course racers will return to the desert, like in 1981 and 1982 when the series raced in the Caesars Palace parking lot.

Their ears perk up at every rumor that F1 stars will race down the Strip or on a yet-to-be-constructed road course nearby.

Well, those lovers of international racing superstars can wake up today and almost see their visions materialize.

Unfortunately, it won't be an F1 event with the world's most exotic cars, but they will have a chance to watch a few F1 drivers -- including the greatest of all time, Michael Schumacher -- race exotic go-karts for three days on a 0.66-mile track constructed outside the Rio.

Admission each day is $15. In Europe, you couldn't buy a used tissue discarded by Schumacher for that price, let alone watch him race.

And Matt Jaskol of North Las Vegas will get to live one of his dreams in the 13th annual SKUSA SuperNationals that begins today and runs through Sunday.

"I never thought I'd get to race against Schumacher," the 25-year-old Jaskol said. "The opportunity to race against Michael is one of the biggest opportunities in any driver's career."

Schumacher remains racing's uber star. The 39-year-old German won 91 of 250 F1 races en route to an unprecedented seven world titles before retiring three years ago.

In the United States, he's not frequently recognized -- unlike in Europe, where he still has rock-star status. Doesn't say much about how sophisticated Americans -- myself included -- are as race fans.

In addition to Schumacher, F1 drivers Sebastien Buemi and Nelson Piquet Jr., IndyCar driver Raphael Matos and Jaskol will compete in the premier SuperPro class. The 42-kart field includes 14 Americans and drivers from 14 countries.

"This event is big, easily the biggest karting event in the world -- not just America," Jaskol said.

These rocket sleds produce 65 horsepower and weigh only 375 pounds, including the driver. The best driver/machine combinations will reach 90 mph along the 582- and 714-foot straightaways on a circuit that features 16 turns, Jaskol said.

Like Jaskol, Schumacher and most of the world's top open-wheel drivers started their careers in kart racing.

Jaskol was one of the country's best go-kart racers as a teenager and just missed edging NASCAR driver Scott Speed for a chance to compete in an F1 training series in Europe.

Jaskol has won in everything he's raced: go-karts, an IndyCar developmental series and a regional truck racing series in which he won the championship as a rookie a few years ago when racing in something with fenders for the first time.

In October of last year, Jaskol won the prestigious Fall Classic for Super Late Models at Las Vegas Motor Speedway's Bullring.

This weekend he'll be wheel to wheel with some of the world's best.

A few young racers from Southern Nevada could succeed on a national stage with the right financial backing. Kurt and Kyle Busch have done that in NASCAR.

But if opportunities and sponsorships were equal for all, they all would be chasing Jaskol.

Jeff Wolf's motor sports column is published Friday. He can be reached at jwolf@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0247. Visit Wolf's motor sports blog at lvrj.com/blogs/heavypedal/ throughout the week.