Aluminos, Inc.

In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are. Before you even think it, yes…we are well past November and already into 2010. A busy December with PRI Trade Show, the Holiday season, and Daytona KartWeek kept us from releasing the driver awarded the honor, and thus, here is the announcement.

The ‘crown jewel’ for North American karting has grown to become the SKUSA SuperNationals. When you win at the SuperNats, you’ve accomplished something. Not many can say they have won multiple times at the yearly event held in Las Vegas - this year held at the Rio Hotel and Casino, however, Tom Dyer can add that to his growing resume. The NorCal driver put in a solid performance over the four day-event to secure his second S3 title in three years, also earning him the title of the EKN Driver of the Month for November 2009.

The veteran entered the 13th running of the SKUSA SuperNationals as one of the favorites in the competitive S3 category. Some of the top shifter pilots contested the event and starting with the first official session, Dyer led them all as he scored the pole position.

Beginning the heat races with a flag-to-flag win in his opening heat race, Dyer would be challenged in the second round. Sitting third, Dyer performed an amazing double pass on Grand-Am driver Memo Gidley and former PKC champion Jason Toft to go on to take the win. The third heat, Dyer was challenged once again, this time however getting beat to the line as he settled for the second position.

Getting a clean launch from the pole position for the 40-car main event, Dyer held the lead through the often treacherous first turn hairpin. With the top few drivers running nose-to-tail, Dyer and Gidley swapped the lead on back-to-back laps. Entertaining the fans on hand, Dyer and Gidley continued their dice for the win lap after lap. Following contact between Gidley and Kyle Wiegand, Dyer was able to break away from the battle for second to extend his lead to roughly three-seconds. Unchallenged, the Aluminos driver took the checkered flag for his second career SuperNationals win.

Dyer’s accomplishments in karting and racing in general are no surprise as the second-generation racer has tons of natural talent. Beginning with a successful beginning in karting, Dyer moved to car - both open-wheel and stock cars where he has also earned more accomplishments. When not looking to progress his own driving career, Dyer works as the lead driver coach for Team Aluminos. Dyer’s expertise has been a solid addition to the Northern California operation, helping drivers reach their own personal goals whether it’s becoming just a better driver or earn more victories.  Read Full Story with Interview on eKartingNews.com

Victory is always sweet but when it comes at the largest karting event to ever take place in North American karting, it tastes even sweeter. The Team Aluminos squad celebrated the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XIII in victory lane following the final day of action on the November 18-22 event outside the Rio Hotel and Casino. Lead driver and team coach Tom Dyer piloted an Aluminos entry to the top of the podium in the competitive S3 category to help celebrate the two year anniversary for the Northern California-based operation. Along with Dyer, the rest of the Aluminos squad was on top of their game and nearly took home additional victories and podium celebrations.

The S3 division saw fifty four entries in the class with three Aluminos drivers in the hunt for the SuperNats title. Dyer led the way for the squad in qualifying as he posted the quickest lap of the timed session - 42.194 and earning the Oakley sponsored “Bomb” pole award. Brad Dunford was next in the Aluminos lineup as he was seventh overall. Last year’s race leader Steven Reasoner ended the session in 25th after a tough session. Needing to post solid results in the heat races to secure a strong starting spot for the main, Dyer went on to post two wins and a second place in the three heat races to secure the pole position in the final. Contact in Dunford’s second heat cost him a possible top-five starting position after running fourth and fifth in the other heat races, slotting into the 13th starting spot on the grid for the final. Reasoner recovered nicely as he increased his speed and finishing position each time on track to score results of 13th, 11th and 11th in the heats to improve up to the 19th grid position to start the main.

The 2009 season will come to an end for the Team Aluminos squad at the upcoming Superkarts! USA SuperNationals XIII outside the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino on November 18-22. The past 11-months have been a successful one for the Aluminos drivers with many victories and a couple championship trophies earned. The hard work and dedication of the experienced Aluminos staff and its drivers now lead into what can be considered as the biggest karting event of the season. Thirteen drivers will strap on the helmet under the Aluminos banner in five respective classes in hopes of taking home the gold from Vegas.

Aluminos was on top in the S3 division just two years ago with lead driver coach Tom Dyer. The karting veteran took home the big victory in 2007 and returns to the driver’s seat this year in hopes of scoring a second SuperNationals victory. Alongside representing Aluminos will be Steven Reasoner and Brad Dunford. Reasoner currently sits 12th in the eKartingNews.com Stock Moto Driver Rankings thanks in part to his campaign in the ProKart Challenge North program where he finished third in the season standings. At last year’s event, Reasoner was fighting it out for the win until contact put him further back in the field and eventually out of the race. Dunford is 17th in the EKN Driver Rankings with his core results coming from the ProKart Challenge South series, where he ended up fifth in the point chase. Dunford over came a poor qualifying effort in the ’08 SuperNats edition to challenge near a top-10 position.