Paddock Insider – eKartingNews: Recent Episodes
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Challenge of the Americas at the Burt Brothers Motorpark in Grantsville, Utah. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Challenge of the Americas Finale Gets Elevated
For the first time in the 18-year history of Challenge of the Americas, the championship visits the Burt Brothers Motorpark in Grantsville, Utah. Sitting at roughly 4,400 feet above sea level and 30-mile drive from Salt Lake City, the facility has hosted many major programs since opening in 2006. It marks the first time the series has hosted a fourth event with Round Seven and Eight to be contested on the weekend. The facility houses garages alongside the main road course track, which is hosting the Utah Sportbike Association. The Star-Trek layout features a very fast first half of the 1-mile course with a more technical section in the second half of the lap, featuring 19 turns and a very long front straight. Drafting will be key in all categories, including the Briggs 206 Shootout running this weekend.
Scuderia Littel Set to Defend Home Turf
Scuderia Littel is welcoming the Challenge to its home track this weekend (Photo: EKN)
GFC Karting dealer Scuderia Littel is welcoming the Challenge to their home track at Burt Brothers Motorpark. The operation that opened in 2019 had their headquarters in the shop area of the facility, at the western end of the paddock area. They moved adjacent to the kart track in 2022, setting up their service center, race shop and lounge in the nearby garage area that shares space with the main track. Ayrton Littel, team principle of Scuderia Littel, is welcoming the GFC race team and Formula Works drivers into their race shop area for the weekend, providing a home for the over 25 GFC karts competing on the weekend. Littel is behind the wheel himself, pulling triple duty by racing in Shifter Senior, 100cc Senior and the Briggs 206 Shootout. Speaking with Littel, he has enough trackside support to help keep the team drivers going as well as his three karts. For GFC and Formula Works, it’s less work without the tent buildup and teardown.
Challenge Briggs 206 Shootout Takes on Utah
Briggs 206 Shootout will be part of the 2025 Challenge of the Americas finale (Photo: EKN)
This weekend for the Challenge of the Americas finale at Burt Brothers Motorpark, the Briggs 206 Shootout was established. The grassroots category was brought in, welcoming racers to take part in a Challenge weekend that normally do not. They will run two practice sessions on Saturday before Qualifying and running Heat 1. Heat 2 and Heat 3 will run on Sunday to set the grid for the main event at the end of the day. The prize package has expanded to $750 for first, $500 to second with third place taking home $250. Briggs & Stratton is providing $100 in ‘Briggs Bucks’ as well. Today, they allowed for open practice for the category to give those racers who have never been to BBM the opportunity to get accustom to the track. The category has 17 entries and possibly more to sign up prior to the action starting on Saturday morning, with drivers coming from Minnesota, Wyoming, Idaho, California, and Washington.
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Circuit Updates at MCC
Revised runoff area for turn 1 at MCC (Photo: EKN)
The look of the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati has changed when you first look at the circuit. Following the 2024 season, the facility revised the runoff area on the outside of turn one, providing ample runoff room for the very fast section of the circuit. Last year, several incidents were caused by the outside wall too close to the racing surface, sending drivers back on the course after contact with the wall. Now, there is plenty of distance between the edge of the track and wall. MCC shifted the grid back with it, adjusting the pit out lane area as well to accommodate the runoff area. The section will still be fast, and still a somewhat blind corner, so accidents will still happen. However, the hope is none will be caused by how close the wall was. The surface is the same, and with the temperatures colder this year than last year, the challenging circuit may be a bit easier for those competing this weekend. Something we will monitor as the weekend goes on and the racing begins on Saturday.
Velocity Bringing International Stars
Kasper Schormans is making his USA debut in Pro X30 (Photo: EKN)
Throughout the 16 year history of the SKUSA Pro Tour, it has brought in many international drivers to compete in all different categories. Velocity Racing brought in French driver Adrien Ranaudin for the Pro Shifter category to carry the Sodikart brand in the class. His potential at a podium during the WinterNationals ended abruptly with a mechanical on the start. Ranaudin is back in Ohio for the SpringNationals. And joining him is Dutch driver Kasper Schormans. Rather than racing the KZ platform that he has over the last two seasons, he is racing in Pro X30. This is his first time back in a single speed since that move, where he was an international star in Rotax Junior competition. This is his first time racing in the USA, and first time at MCC. He’s excited about the opportunity to be racing here in the Pro X30 and feels they have the material to be competitive with the regular contenders here at the SKUSA Pro Tour.
Front Row of KA100 Junior Title Chase
The three drivers sitting tied for the KA100 Junior championship lead heading into the SpringNationals (Photo: EKN)
The 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 is the focus of the weekend in the world of motorsports. It is very rare to have major karting event happening over the Memorial Day weekend. The Indy 500 has the historic three driver rows to begin the race of 200 laps around the famed Brickyard. Here at the SKUSA SpringNationals, we have our own front row of drivers, particularly in the KA100 Junior division. For the first time possibly in the 16-year of the SKUSA Pro Tour, three drivers are tied for the top spot in a championship chase. Max Weiland (Magik Kart USA) holds the tie breaker with his two runner-up results at the WinterNationals. Tristan Murphy (Ryan Perry Motorsport) holds second thanks to one podium result in Texas while Nathan Dupuis (Nash Motorsportz) is third after two top six finishes. Speaking with them during our photo op, they are all really exited heading into the weekend, each looking to out pace the other to come out of the weekend as the sole championship leader.
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 United States Pro Kart Series Carolina Grand Prix at the Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Prize Package Amped Up for Carolina
One of the news items between rounds for the United States Pro Kart Series is the increase to the cash purse for the X30 Pro division. USPKS, MG Tires and IAME USA East have set up a full 100% payback system for the category based on entries. With the Carolina Grand Prix welcoming 27 drivers in the class, the total cash purse is at $17,550 with payback going down to sixth position. This weekend is an of eight over the 19 drivers in Daytona.
1st – $6,844.50
2nd – $3,510
3rd – $2,457
4th – $1,755
5th – $1,579.50
6th – $1,404
Video Marshalling System In Place for USPKS
USPKS debuting its video marshalling system this weekend at Trackhouse (Photo: EKN)
The Carolina Grand Prix weekend marks the debut of the new Video Marshalling System. Over the last few months, USPKS has worked with Josh Hotz to build the system to be implemented around the race track to have additional eyes everywhere watching the 248 entries at Trackhouse Motorplex. Race Director Blake Hunt will be the eyes on the video while Adam Crepin will oversee the track with at least four additional people watching the action. The video system will be used to help review calls as typically done at other programs in the USA. This weekend, they have 15 cameras around the circuit. Talking with USPKS owner Mark Coats, it’s the next step of the series evolution and one of the key requests by competitors. Certainly, once racing gets underway, we’ll review how and when the video marshalling system is utilized.
Mossman Moving Teams in Cars, Stays with JHDD in Karting
Frankie Mossman moving teams in USF Pro 2000, sticking with JHDD in karting (Photo: EKN)
Announced this week, X30 Pro driver Frankie Mossman is joining VRD Racing for the remainder of the 2025 USF Pro 2000 presented by Continental season. He began the year with Jay Howard Driver Development race team for the opening two events in St. Petersburg and New Orleans. Mossman is currently 15th in the championship standings with a best finish of seventh in Round Three. The move does not effect his karting program, still with JHDD here at Trackhouse and for the remainder of his karting schedule. Mossman told EKN there are no issues between he and Jay Howard along with the rest of JHDD, more of a racing business move. He has plans to compete in some European car events later in 2025 with the goal of continue progressing up the motorsports ladder. Frankie is third in the X30 Pro standings heading into this weekend at Trackhouse.
Pettit Moves to Speed Concepts Racing
Travis Pettit making his Speed Concepts Racing debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)
Silly Season 2025 continues heading into the month of May, with the latest involving Junior driver Travis Pettit moving to Speed Concepts Racing. The driver sitting fourth in the KA100 Junior division is transition from TB Kart to new CS55 OTK frames in both KA100 Junior and X30 Junior category. Speaking with Pettit, he said the move has been easy, quickly adapting to the new OTK rides. The Speed family presented them with a solid offer and took it, making his first start in X30 at USPKS in 2025 to run double duty this weekend. They said he’s been great over the last couple of days in terms of his feedback and they are looking forward to working with the family.
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Challenge of the Americas at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
No Other Place Like Sonoma
The Challenge of the Americas returns to Sonoma Raceway for the 14th time. The inaugural season in 2008 of the Challenge came to Sonoma, California, and for many years, was the site of the series finale. With the program expanding to four events in 2025, this weekend marks the start of the second half of the championship chase. The facility received upgrades around the paddock last year with new pavement and landscaping. The circuit however remains the same, including the surface. The tic-tac-toe remains rough, including the helipad section. This weekend is the ‘National’ layout in the clockwise direction, which produces amazing racing year after year. It also marks the first time for an event utilizing the Shinko Racing Kart Tires, which is something we’ll be following in terms of feedback for this specific circuit.
FTK Offering Test Rides in Motori Seven KZ80
The new Motori Seven KZ80 engine (Photo: EKN)
A new engine package has hit the USA market, aimed at shifterkart driver development. The Motori Seven KZ80 is the first purpose-built 80cc shifter engine specifically designed for Junior and Senior shifterkart racing. Motori Seven USA based in Indiana is the official distributor of the engine platform. Andy Seesemann at Full Throttle Karting brought a GFC SS31 TaG chassis with a KZ80 for test rides here at Sonoma. The engine platform is designed for karts without front brakes, and utilizes a paddle shifter rather than a bump shifter system found on shifterkart chassis.
Among those to take out the kart were Joey Hand, Kyle Wick, and Nathan Dupuis. Hand, a veteran of 80cc shifterkart, IMSA, and NASCAR competition, told EKN it is a great base platform engine wise, with a need for development to provide a little bit more torque out of the engine. The no front brakes and paddle shifter were a great focus. Speaking to Dupuis, he has experience driving and racing the new FZ85 package developed by Factory Karts. He told EKN the big difference was not being able to charge deep into the corner without the front brakes. The speed was very similar to what the FZ85 produces. Wick said the package is great to use for those not looking to upgrade to a full shifter package, including chassis. You can take a TaG kart and go shifterkart racing. The pace was similar to a KA100 Senior, with a little bit more speed.
Karters Racing on Big Track in Sonoma at Trans Am Racing Series
Multiple former karters racing at the Trans Am Racing Series this weekend in Sonoma (Photo: EKN)
One of the great added bonuses of coming to Sonoma Raceway for a karting event is seeing what’s racing down the hill on the iconic main track. This weekend, the Trans Am Racing Series is competing at Sonoma Raceway, running events for their National and West programs. Among the teams in the garage area is Nitro Motorsports, the parent company of Nitro Kart, owned by former SKUSA Pro Tour champion Nick Tucker. Included in his stable of Trans Am drivers are former karters Brent Crews, Thomas Annunziata, Gian Buffomante, Sam Corry, and Julian DaCosta, who have all made the transition from karts to cars. Nitro Motorsports also manages a Toyota GR Cup team that is running at Circuit of the Americas this weekend. In addition to their growing car racing program, exciting news emerged last week that Nitro Motorsports has added a new venture after acquiring the Venturini Motorsports ARCA Menards Series team, which is competing this weekend at Talladega Speedway. Speaking with Tucker, it’s been a wild decade, going from a kart driver to now a motorsports team owner. The logistics have been tough, but he’s been lucky to be able to hire the right people for the right positions to help things run smoothly for all programs. He’s excited about working with those coming from the karting ranks and continues to look at the driver development program of taking drivers from the Nitro Kart program into his car racing divisions.
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Largest Event Ever for SKUSA Pro Tour
The 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour is kicking off with a bang, hosting its largest event in history with the WinterNationals going to the Speedsportz Racing Park for the first time. A total of 305 entries makes this weekend the largest in the 16 year history of the championship. It also becomes the largest ever at the Speedsportz Racing Park facility. Neal Strickland with SKUSA told EKN it’s been great bringing back SKUSA Pro Tour to Texas, and the crew at Speedsportz has been very helpful in welcoming all the unique requests needed surrounding the event. Alan Rudolph of Speedsportz said he’s thrilled to get a SKUSA Pro Tour event to his facility. It’s been the goal since planning began for the circuit nearly a decade ago. The only negative thus far has been the weather. Wednesday unofficial practice was clear, however, heavy rain hit the region on Thursday. Friday official practice began with a damp track, but rain is in the forecast all day. Competitors are using the semi-dry conditions now to prepare for the rest of the weekend. As of 10am local time, there is only a 23% chance on Saturday and 24% on Sunday.
Formal Making GFC Debut
Danny Formal making his debut with GFC Karting (Photo: EKN – Mattia Marmo)
The big news heading into the weekend was the announcement for four-time SKUSA SuperNationals winner Danny Formal moving to GFC Karting. The Costa Rican living in Florida has cemented himself into the history books of karting at all levels during his tenure here in the USA and around the world. With a limited karting schedule due to his day job of racing IMSA and Super Trofeo Lamborghini programs, he spends time working with drivers at the kart track. Him and his father – based in Costa Rica – have become the importer for the GFC Karting brand. They race at a new facility – P1 Speedway in San Jose, Costa Rica – which is welcoming roughly 100 karters from Kid Karts to Shifter, with a focus on the ROK Cup engine platform. Speaking with Formal about his first ever laps on the GFC this week, he’s gotten up to speed with its nuances and feeling confident about the package, which includes the IAME KZ engine which is his first time utilizing that powerplant. He’s now working with #2 plateholder Jacob Gulick, former SKUSA Pro Tour champion Kyle Wick and veteran Hunter Pickett. On the wrenches for him this weekend is industry veteran Tim Lobaugh of Trackside Karting Services based here in Texas.
Burgess Under Speed Concepts Racing Tent in Texas
Zayne Burgess carrying the Speed Concepts Racing colors at WinterNationals (Photo: EKN)
Rookie Mini Swift driver Zayne Burgess is racing under a new tent at the SKUSA WinterNationals. The 2024 Micro Swift champion has moved from Velocity Racing for Speed Concepts Racing, still competing on the Sodi Kart chassis. Signed on to the Andretti Global Driver Development program at the start of the season, Burgess has a busy schedule that includes multiple events here in the United States along with the Champions of the Future Academy program. Talking with Zayne’s father Kevin, the support from Sodi Racing USA remains, just moving to a different tent for here in the USA. Speed Concepts Racing has a nearly sold out tent with 21 drivers this weekend, ranging from Pro X30 to Mini. The support of Austin Garrison, Brandon Lemke and others going over data and driver coaching, along with Mike and Alex Speed providing decades of knowledge, SCR sees room to grow even further.
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 United States Pro Kart Series Daytona Super Grand Prix at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
USPKS Visits World Center of Racing
The opener for the 2025 United States Pro Kart Series marks the first visit for the program to the Daytona International Speedway. The kart circuit inside the NASCAR Turns 3 and 4 was established in 2003, and began hosting annual karting events in combination with the WKA Daytona KartWeek events on the road race and dirt programs. The event continues on during the Christmas to New Years Eve time space. Now, Daytona is adding another event that hopes to be a multi-year deal with USPKS. Many of the race teams have been to Daytona either as a driver or in some other fashion. However, the vast majority of the drivers – especially Junior and Cadet – have not raced at Daytona.
The vibe on Thursday during unofficial practice is positive, with the cool factor of being inside the World Center of Racing among the big topics. What is different for the karting circuit is the surface, which was repaved last year. Talking with many drivers around the paddock, there is a lot of grip in the corners, thanks to a sealer they laid down. A track walk tonight or tomorrow morning will help give us more insight into that. The surface is smooth, however, off line is very dusty and dirty. One common comment was how tight and narrow the track is compared to other circuits in the USA. During practice today, a lot of karts are going off course on the exits with small to no exit curbing around the 0.55-mile course.
Of course, when in Florida, you have to talk about the weather. Typically for WKA Daytona KartWeek in December, its colder than the 70s to 80-degree weather forecasted here this weekend. One other difference from those races is the tire utilized. This is the first time MG Tires are hitting the Daytona International Speedway kart circuit.
Lemke to Speed Concepts Racing
Former USPKS champion Brandon Lemke joins Speed Concepts Racing for 2025 (Photo: EKN)
The Mark Harrison Memorial 200 at the end of last year at New Castle was the audition that Brandon Lemke did not know about. The Wisconsin driver partnered up with Speed Concepts Racing driver Jackson Wolny for the 200-lap team race. Their performance, along with that put in by Lemke, left an impression on the group at SCR. Talking with the Speeds – Mike and Alex – they are excited about Lemke racing under the tent, as he brings in addition knowledge to their team. Driver coach Austin Garrison can use the feedback from Lemke on track to help the other drivers under the team for setup advise and driver input. Speaking with Lemke, he’s happy with the performance of their ride for the weekend after the first day of practice, working with Tom Buckley for the first time. They have had many discussions about karting and set up during their stints with Franklin Motorsports. Now, they hope their debut together as a team with SCR produces a win here at Daytona.
Lloyd Joins Velocity Racing by Sodi USA
Collin Lloyd is making his debut with Velocity Racing by Sodi USA (Photo: EKN)
Florida driver Collin Lloyd is making his debut with Velocity Racing by Sodi USA. Running with Speed Concepts Racing over the last few seasons, including the SKUSA Winter Series, Lloyd was made an offer by the official team for Sodi Racing USA. He is back in the KA100 Senior division after contesting X30 Pro this winter. The 17-year-old was unable to attend Thursday practice due to a math test, in which he gained a 100% score, and thus is making his first laps ever at Daytona today after driving up from the Miami area. He tested the Sodi Kart prior to this weekend and was happy with the way it felt. Lloyd said he’s excited about joining Velocity Racing and the deal they were able to put together for the 2025 season.
Barnes Going Old School in Daytona
Skitchy Barnes making his USPKS the old school way, out of the pick up truck (Photo: EKN)
Bermuda driver Scott ‘Skitchy’ Barnes is taking to the USPKS just like every club racer does, out the back of the pickup truck. The multi-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion is making his first USPKS appearance, racing in the KA100 Masters division. With a Maranello kart and a rental engine, he’s set to take on the some of the top single speed Masters drivers in the country. Having raced at Daytona in Margay Ignite along with shifterkart on the big track, he sat out Thursday’s optional practice but set up his area outside Franklin Motorsports yesterday, driving up from his Florida home. Barnes is using this as a feeler for the end of the year, looking at running double duty at the SKUSA SuperNationals 28 in both Masters divisions.
British Invasion 2025 Led by McQueen
Caden McQueen making USPKS X30 Pro debut with Energy Corse Americas (Photo: EKN)
Over the last two decades, a steady stream of British drivers have made the move from the UK over to the USA. Jay Howard was among the first, starting with karting and making the move to open wheel racing, eventually reaching IndyCar. The last few seasons, we have seen Joe Turney and Harley Keeble come over for a full season of racing, putting themselves among the elite drivers in the country racing for wins and championships. The new name to add to that list is Caden McQueen. Joining the new Energy Corse Americas operation, McQueen is set for a full year of racing in the USA. The 21-year-old brought on a lot of attention with his performances during the winter programs in Orlando, gaining multiple podium results and wins. Now he’s making his USPKS debut in the X30 Pro division. McQueen comes to the USA with an impeccable record in the UK and in Europe competition. Caden told EKN he loves the atmosphere here in Daytona with the high banks surrounding the circuit. His work under the tent alongside team manager Dean Keeble help provide the data and information to help feed to the other drivers under the tent, with a goal of expanding the race team operation as the season continues. McQueen will be racing the full USPKS schedule in 2025.
The post Paddock Insider: 2025 United States Pro Kart Series – Daytona Super Grand Prix appeared first on eKartingNews.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Challenge of the Americas at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Welcome to K1 Circuit
Opening up in the second half of the 2024, the K1 Circuit has become the new home for karting in southern California. The Challenge is making its first visit to the facility in Winchester, California after a two-year construction and opening process. The 1-mile, 12-turn course has hosted a handful of karting events along with their daily rental kart program. An amazing lighting system surrounds the facility, making for future night racing and rental kart action. The elevation of 33 feet doesn’t do the visual justice. The northern part of the course is up on the hill that looks over facility with the southern part of the track at the lowest point of elevation. Having just been paved last year, the surface is super smooth, unlike any other course in the country. And the speed of the track is high. Talking with KA100 Senior and shifter drivers, the course flows like no other, without a lot of heavy breaking zones. The one hairpin in turn eight is the slowest part of the course.
Walking the course, the issue for officials is seeing the entire race track. Between turns 4 and 5 is the best viewing area of the course, able to see about 95% of the track. The Challenge has brought on additional staff to help officiate the event with key personal at different locations around the track. The runoff area in the final turn 12 section is also of emphasis with COTA officials set to call karts that leave the racing surface penalties. Those that extend four wheels beyond the white line that marks the edge of the racing surface will receive penalties.
EKN OnBoard with Nico Sarphati
The post Paddock Insider: 2025 Challenge of the Americas – K1 Circuit appeared first on eKartingNews.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Race Rotax RMC USA West held at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else.
Nearly 100 Drivers Battling for Six Rotax Grand Finals Tickets
Drivers from USA, Canada, Mexico and UAE competing this weekend at PKRA (Photo: EKN)
A beautiful day to start out the 2025 Race Rotax RMC USA West event at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association. The one-off style event features a full day of practice today, beginning at 2pm local time and running into the night hours. Saturday features the first round of racing before a second round is contested on Sunday. The combination of the two rounds will determine the overall event winner, with the six winners awarded tickets to the 2025 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals set for this December in Bahrain. Nearly 100 drivers will compete in the six categories, featuring 35 from Canada with a handful of other drivers representing Mexico and the UAE.
What is a DD2?
Rotax DD2 engine (Photo: EKN)
The headline division in the world of Rotax Max Challenge is the DD2 category. In countries around the world, and especially at the Rotax Grand Finals each year, the ‘best of the best’ drivers compete in the DD2 class. What is a DD2? The engine is a chainless, two-speed Rotax gearbox engine with shift paddles. It was originally launched around the spec RM1 package that included the Sodi Kart chassis. The category evolved into the DD2 class, welcoming all manufacturers. The unique chassis does not require a right rear cassette hanger, with the axle going through the engine. In the past here in the USA, shifterkart drivers would move over from the six speed categories to the two-speed Rotax power, in an attempt to win at the US Rotax Grand Nationals and race at the Rotax Grand Finals. USA has stood on the podium four times at the RMCGF, as best finish of runner-up by Joey Wimsett in 2013 at the NOLA Motorsports Park for the lone event held on USA soil.
Here is a description of the DD2 from the voice of Rotax Henry Beaudette and Team Canada member Matthew Taskinen.
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Double Duty for Macy Williams
Macy Williams running double duty this weekend at PKRA (Photo: EKN)
2021 Team USA member Macy Williams is the lone driver doing double duty at the 2025 RMC USA West event. The driver from Colorado is racing both DD2 and Senior MAX at PKRA. It’s not the first time racing both classes in the same weekend, having done so at the Max Karting Group events in Canada. Williams raced at the 2021 Rotax Grand Finals in Bahrain in the Senior MAX division. She’s nearly won a ticket back multiple times since, vying for both here this weekend. Talking with Williams, who has raced single speed, ROK Shifter and KZ platforms, says there is not much difference jumping from one to the other, aside from the full brake system on the DD2 machine. Macy said the jump from single-speed to a six-speed shifter is a bigger difference. Williams is coming off a near podium result at the recent Challenge of the Americas event in Tucson, and is working with former Rotax Grand Finals MOJO Tire Changing Champion Wesley Boswell this weekend under the CB Motorsports tent. Boswell – the 2003 SKUSA SuperNationals SuperPro winner – attended many RMCGF events as a mechanic for several drivers, earning five victories in the tire changing contest.
Factory Karts FZ Demos at PKRA
Five-time SuperNationals winner Billy Musgrave talking with Cadet driver before hitting the track in the FZ65 (Photo: EKN)
This weekend, Factory Karts is providing demo rids in their spec Factory Karts FZ packages during the RMC USA West event. Now located in the Phoenix, Arizona area, Factory Karts continues to introduce karters to their new grassroots shifterkart platform. The FZ65 for Cadets, FZ85 for Juniors and the FZ125 for Seniors were sampled over Friday and Saturday morning by racers, mechanics, dads and those in attendance. Many of the Micro and Mini drivers enjoyed both days, getting introduced to shifter around the same circuit they are racing the Rotax machines for a chance at the Rotax Grand Finals. The feedback was similar by all who sampled, fun, thrilling and fast. The platform will be offered as categories at the 2025 ProKart Challenge along the west coast as well as the new Southwest Super Series in southern California.
The post Paddock Insider: 2025 Race Rotax RMC USA West appeared first on eKartingNews.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 Challenge of the Americas at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
New Era with Shinko Racing Kart Tires
Shinko Racing Kart Tires making its debut at the Challenge (Photo: EKN)
The 2025 Challenge of the Americas is now underway, making its 12th visit to the Musselman Honda Circuit in its 18-year history. Not much has changed in Tucson, Arizona, as the technical circuit remains among the favorites for those in the western half of North America. What has changed for the Challenge is the tire brand utilized in each of the six categories. The Shinko Racing Kart Tires era has begun after Full Throttle Karting became the sole importer for the brand in late 2024. The FIA-CIK homologated tire is making its competition debut in North America this weekend. EKN spoke with many figures throughout the paddock, as the tire is unique from what everyone has been competing on over the last few years. From what we’ve been told, the tire has different characteristics and this week’s testing and today’s official session will provide competitors a better understanding of its performance. We’ll stay on top of the continuing insight from the racers and mechanics. The trackside weather needs to be considered as a factor as well, with cold temperatures in the morning (40s) before it warms up to the afternoon with a high projected at 67 degrees. Saturday and Sunday will be warmer as well, potentially 75-deg on Sunday, with more feedback on the tire expected. This will be a developing story as the series schedule continues, visiting different tracks in different climates.
Cadet Driver Cueto Making Race Weekend Debut After Leg Amputation Surgery
Pedro Cueto making his return behind the wheel after having his lower right leg amputated (Photo: EKN)
Late last year, the national karting community was introduced to an amazing story that continues with a new chapter of a young man’s inspirational journey. In 2022, Pedro Cueto lost his right femur to Ewing’s Sarcoma, but that didn’t stop his dream of becoming a race car driver. After getting his first kart and becoming a front runner in the Kid Kart category in Colorado, the next steps in his medical challenge included a limb salvage procedure, which again changed the dynamic. Soon after the SuperNats, Cueto underwent surgery to amputate his right leg from the knee down, and his only goal was to get back behind the wheel of his kart. The 10-year-old karter has been fitted with a prosthetic leg to help him walk around the paddock, but in his kart, a hand trigger has been installed on his Forward Direction Motorsports Pantano kart. This month at his home track of Colorado Karting Circuit at Centennial Airport, Pedro was able to get in his first sessions with the new trigger system. He spent time driving last weekend as well, getting accustomed to this new way for him to drive while making adjustments to the trigger system for the throttle. They are also testing out wither Pedro runs with his prosthetic leg or not, and how to keep that portion of the leg from bouncing around at the foot area. He was in a hard wreck during the early morning practice today, but has bounced back to continue practicing. It will be exciting to watch his progress, both on and off the track, for this young enthusiastic kid who simple loves karting.
Neliton Race Concepts Makes COTA Debut
Neliton Race Concepts is making its Challenge debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)
Neliton Race Concepts is making its Challenge debut here in Tucson this weekend and is front and center to kick off the 2025 season. Owner Aaron Neliton formed the operation full-time last year, focusing on his Pacific Northwest homebase. Aaron is among the veterans in the sport, racing for several years while working with numerous drivers as both a coach and a mechanic. Over the last few seasons at the Challenge, he’s worked for drivers under the Ruthless Karting tent. For 2025, NRC will venture down to the Challenge to participate in the full schedule, opening up with 11 drivers under the tent from Cadet up to Masters, all in the single-speed categories on OTK chassis. The team’s focus for the year will be the Challenge of the Americas, the regional and club racing in the Pacific Northwest, and traveling to hand-picked races based on their schedule.
Over 20 GFC Karts Competing This Weekend in Tucson
GFC has 20 drivers at the opening round of the Challenge (Photo: EKN)
Into their seventh season, the GFC Karting brand continues its expansion throughout North America and now around the world. The recent homologation with FIA-CIK has opened the door to more international competition, including a recent trip to Rotax International Trophy Asia in Thailand. Speaking with Gary Carlton of GFC, it was the first time they were able to put their kart on the Rotax MOJO tires, along with supporting his dealer in Thailand. The focus of the brand is to expand its dealer network into other countries, including Asia and South America. They landed a new dealership in Costa Rica, which adds a stronghold in the Central America region. Here in the USA, GFC continues its strong growth with new customers and dealers. This weekend in Tucson, they have 20 karts on track between the GFC race team and its two dealers on site – Formula Works and Scuderia Littel – with contenders in each of the six categories.
Idelson Supported by Karting Community to Race After Losing Everything in LA Fires
Karting community has rallied around Dane Idelson to race this weekend (Photo: EKN)
The karting community is always supporting those who need assistance. The latest is the support for karter Dane Idelson. The Idelson family suffered catastrophic losses in the recent Pacific Palisades fire that destroyed their home and racing operation, including karts, motors, tools, and sentimental items. Despite the overwhelming tragedy, the karting community has rallied together, ensuring Dane could compete here at the Challenge this weekend. Through the generosity of individuals such as Chris Wardle, Andy Seesemann, Seth Nash, and Jesus Vasquez, as well as countless others, everything needed for Dane to race—flights, entry fees, equipment, and ongoing support—was made possible. This selfless outpouring of support demonstrates the true spirit of the karting community, and serves as a reminder of the power of unity in the face of adversity.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA Winter Series at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida.
Burgess Joins Andretti Global Driver Development Program
Veloctiy Racing by SOdi USA driver Zayne Burgess is part of the Andretti Global Driver Development (Photo: Andretti)
The 2025 EKN Trackside season begins with a big announcement regarding rookie Mini Swift driver Zayne Burgess. The driver for Velocity Racing by Sodi USA is set to join the Andretti Global Driver Development program. Talking with Sodi Racing USA’s Thierry Germanovitch, Burgess is slated to compete in the majority of championships here in the United States, with the Champions of the Future program has his introduction into European competition for the 2025 season. As a Micro driver in 2024, Burgess won nearly every championship, including the SKUSA Pro Tour and United States Pro Kart Series, along with victory at the SKUSA SuperNationals 27. This will be his first full season in the Mini category.
Rolison Performance Group Adds Junior Rookie Jaxon Porter
Jaxon Porter joins Rolison Performance Group in his Junior debut (Photo: EKN)
One driver who has a lot of experience outside of karting is Jaxon Porter. The 12-year-old from Arizona is set to make his Junior debut after a stellar career in the Cadet ranks. He is also making the move over to the Rolison Performance Group tent for his first start in the X30 Junior division, having raced with other chassis brands and teams during his Cadet years. Porter got his 2025 season underway already, racing at the Tulsa Shootout last week. In his ‘Restricted A’ Micro Sprint category, Porter won the B-Main and transferred from the LCQ into the main event where he finished 7th. Straight from Tulsa to Orlando, Porter has moved into karting mode for his Junior debut. Also joining him under the tent is six-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Ryan Norberg. The Orlando driver was not schedule to compete, however, he is replacing Kai Hunter in the Pro X30 class while the British driver drops from the double duty status to focus on the KA100 Senior division. Hunter is set to be with RPG for much of the 2025 season, dependent on his schedule back home.
Brandon Jarsocrak Racing Driver Overbeck Jumps to Pro X30
BJR driver James Overbeck is making his Pro X30 debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)
While he teased the idea of moving up into the TaG 125 category in 2025, the plan for James Overbeck was not to do it at the opening event of the season. Unable to register into the KA100 Senior class, the Brandon Jarsocrak Racing driver was forced to move up to Pro X30 for the opening weekend of the SKUSA Winter Series. The positive, plenty of testing prior to today with the opening weekend of track time and the two days leading up to the official practice day to get Overbeck acquainted with the Pro division. The 2024 SKUSA Pro Tour KA100 Senior champion is using this weekend as a full test to measure where he is with the jump to determine the rest of his schedule for the 2025 season. He has the ability running alongside Pauly Massimino – who finished fifth in the SKUSA Pro Tour championship a year ago.
Big Driver Lineup for Speed Concepts Racing
Speed Concepts Racing is welcoming a number of new drivers in 2025 (Photo: EKN)
Just as is the case with many of the operations that have set up shop here at the Orlando Karting Center, Speed Concepts Racing is primed for six straight weekends of competition through the SKUSA Winter Series, Florida Winter Tour, and Rotax Winter Trophy programs. Mike and Alex Speed have a massive group of drivers under their tent to start the 2025 season, with many new drivers joining the team. SCR has added one of last year’s top Mini drivers in Ashton Woon, who is making his jump to Junior competition with the operation. They’re also welcoming Mateo Calderon and Jensen Mechelke to their new-look KA100 Junior line-up, which also features Tyrone Kemper Jr. and Felipe Benito. In the Pro X30 class, former SKUSA Winter Series KA100 Senior champion Collin Lloyd will make his category debut with SCR this weekend alongside USPKS champion Austin Garrison.
TKG Birelart USA Makes Debut at SKUSA Winter Series
TKG Birelart USA making its debut at the SKUSA Winter Series (Photo: EKN)
One of the biggest news items during the ‘off-season’ was the move by Trinity Karting Group from Kart Republic to the Birelart brand. TKG’s tent was fully KR at the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas last November, but EKN has learned that the discussions and eventual decision to join the Red Army occurred shortly after the event. After a tireless effort by the staff over the course of the following six weeks to swap over to new branding and new machinery, Trinity is making its official debut as a Birelart team this weekend in Orlando. Speaking with TKG Birelart USA owner Shawn Bayliff, he enthused that the transition has been extremely positive, both in terms of their new relationship with PSL Karting and the immediate performance of their drivers on the new material. TKG is planning to run the SKUSA national events in 2025 and they’ll also be attending the Stars Championship events, as well as the club program at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati and a smaller effort at the United States Pro Kart Series.
CRG Expands USA Squad’s Schedule
CRG Nordam welcoming international drivers this weekend at SKUSA Winter Series (Photo: EKN)
After debuting its American ‘works’ team on the regional level in Texas in 2024, CRG will expand its effort to run both the SKUSA Winter Series and the Pro Tour this season. EKN spoke with Team Manager Euan Jeffrey in the paddock and the current line-up of drivers is quite international, led by Brazilian Olin Galli who returns to the Winter Series for the first time since 2020. Former SKUSA Winter Series Masters race winner Luis Schiavo has both his sons – Franco and Lianny – racing under the CRG banner in Micro Swift this weekend. Aden Rudolph and Jason Toft are under the tent providing service for the Pro X30 drivers, looking to make an impact in the sold out category.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 27 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Another Turn on the Strip
The Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 27 is underway after another long year of planning and preparing by the organization based in California. The location remains the same, calling the Las Vegas Motor Speedway home for the week. However, it’s back on the Las Vegas Boulevard and the lot where the event was held in 2021. The track and paddock are revised, with ample space for the over 540 entries competing in the nine categories on the weekend. The track is something new, inspired by the Mont Tremblant circuit in Quebec, Canada. The VIP and main granstands are at the north end of the circuit, situated at turn one that ends the 850 foot straight. The track, featuring 16 turn track measures out to just under 3/4-mile distance. The feedback from Tuesday night’s track walk was positive from both single speed and gearbox drivers. The difference will be today when everyone gets their first four sessions of the event under their belt.
World Champion Palomba Scratched from Pro Shifter
Reigning KZ world champion Giuseppe Palomba will not be competing in SuperNationals 27 (Photo: FIAkarting.com)
News hit the paddock on Tuesday from the Sodi USA by Velocity Racing tent as 2024 FIA Karting KZ World Champion Giuseppe Palomba will not compete at SuperNationals 27. An issue with his documents to arrive in the United States kept him from attending. Theirry Germanovich from Sodi Racing USA confirmed to EKN that Emilien Denner will be flying in Wednesday night to Las Vegas and serve as his replacement driver. The Frenchman made his SuperNationals debut last year, recording a DNF after an opening lap incident after starting fourth. With three others under the tent in Pro Shifter, including Senna Van Walstijn, Denner will have a setup to work with come Thursday morning practice.
2025 Homologation Material in the USA
New KG bodywork for the CRG karts at SuperNationals 27 (Photo: EKN)
Every year in Las Vegas for the SuperNationals, we get a taste of what the looks and design will be for the following season from the many manufacturers who attend the SuperNationals. This year is a chassis / bodywork homologation year for the FIA / CIK. What stands out from the material is the new bodywork by OTK, Birel ART and CRG. The fairing on the OTK stands out, looking very ‘Batmobile’ look with its design. All the new karts for the many brands they have feature this new fairing with updated nose cone as well. The same for Birel ART and CRG, with shark gill style cut outs on the fairing and open cut out at the ends of the nose cone. Both brands utilizing the same KG FR509 fairing and the SA509 nose cone.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 United States Pro Kart Series at the Indiana Grand Prix held at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana.
Hurricane Helene Reaching Indiana
The northern edge of the weather system caused by Hurricane Helene that made landfall on the Florida panhandle last night has reached the state of Indiana. Rain and wind have greeted the over 200 entries here at the New Castle Motorsports Park, with a forecast of strong winds to reach the region this afternoon. With the forecast in hand, USPKS officials met with team owners/managers and the privateers on hand this weekend. Discussion was held with USPKS providing two options. The majority agreed with the two rounds of practice today and pushing qualifying to Saturday morning. This allows drivers to get wet weather session in before the worst of the weather rolls in, and practice could continue depending on the weather conditions. The schedule will change for Saturday, putting in qualifying after warm-up. They will now combine the KA100 Junior and KA100 Senior heat groups, so both classes will not follow the ABCD format. A revised schedule will be published on the USPKS Discord account.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final held at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else.
Henry Beaudette – The Voice of Rotax Competition
You know it’s a big Rotax event when Henry Beaudette is on the mic. For a second straight year, the voice of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals is calling the action from the US Trophy Final. A native of Wales, Beaudette began calling the Rotax Grand Finals back in 2014 and has called events in many different countries for Rotax and other karting events, including here in the USA. During the unofficial practice day on Thursday, Beaudette provided us a tour of the paddock with Race Rotax official photographer Norito Hagiike.
EXGEL Driver Exchange Program with Race Rotax for US Trophy Final
In 2024, Race Rotax partnered with EXGEL Motorsport to establish a Driver Exchange Program. Race Rotax sent two drivers to compete at the MAX Champ Series on August 11 in Japan, while they sent three drivers here to the USA for the US Trophy Final this weekend. Jaxon Porter and Griffin Dowler were selected from the US Trophy West program and enjoyed their trip (Read More HERE). Three drivers from Asia were selected to compete at the US Trophy Final this weekend – Itsuki Hayashi (Japan – Mini MAX), Ryusei Sawada (Japan – Junior MAX), and Quinten Lu (China – Senior MAX). Henry Beaudette talked with the three drivers along with EXGEL president Kaname Ogawa on Thursday.
MPG Motorsports – Operation of All Trades
MPG Motorsports continuing to service Rotax engines for drivers across the country (Photo: EKN)
One of the teams to hit nearly every program around the country – national and regional – is MPG Motorsports. Based out of the Whiteland Raceway Park, ‘My Parents Garage’ operation is focused on grooming drivers from the club to the regional level, while still assisting those moving on to the next step. MPG is servicing Rotax engines as they supported drivers at both the US Trophy West and US Trophy East programs under the MPG / Kart Republic tent. Gage Korn earned his fifth Rotax Grand Finals ticket, this year as a first time in Junior MAX after securing the West championship. Korn is here working as a driver coach under the tent this weekend. Landon Buher finished second in Junior MAX at the East program, and is among the four drivers competing here this weekend in Senior, Junior and Mini MAX. At the same time, the other half of the team is at Road America for the Route 66 Sprint Series event.
Members of Team USA 2024 at the US Trophy Final
Tickets for the 2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals have already been awarded on the year, with six more to be handed out on Sunday following the action here in New Castle. A total of 10 drivers who claimed a ticket to compete at the October 19-26 at the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno Italy are here this weekend. In total, four drivers already on Team USA are competing – Cooper O’Clair, Wesley Gundler, Jaxon Porter and John Bonanno. The first three, along with Gage Korn – the US Trophy West Junior Max Champion – joined Henry Beaudette for a Roundtable on Thursday.
Racelab Working with Midwest Dealer SpeedTech Racing
SpeedTech Racing hosting two drivers on the TB Kart brand this weekend (Photo: EKN)
Two entries on the TB Kart brand this weekend with North American distributor working alongside SpeedTech Racing. The Indiana dealer for TB Kart has been building up a local contingent competing regularly at the KRA championship at New Castle Motorsports Park. SpeedTech, alongside Racelab, is hosting two drivers – one from Bermuda and one who won a Rotax Grand Finals ticket here last year. Briah Bulhoes made the trek from his home island to Indiana to compete at his first US Trophy Final in Masters MAX. Dalton Hanes finished third in Senior MAX a year ago, but scheduling conflicts did not allow him to compete at the Rotax Grand Finals. Hanes is back, this time gunning for the victory after spending much of the season competing in Late Models. Next weekend, he will carry the TB Kart brand in the KA100 Senior division for the IAME USA Grand National Championships at Trackhouse Motorplex.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 United States Pro Kart Series at the Ohio Grand Prix held at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio.
McMurray Making Senior Debut
Carter McMurray is making his X30 Pro debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)
A last minute decision to travel to the MCC facility for the USPKS Ohio GP has laid the groundwork to put Carter McMurray into the X30 Pro category for the first time. In May, Carter competed in X30 Junior and KA100 Junior, placing third and second at his home track of Trackhouse Motorplex for the USPKS Carolina Grand Prix. The 13-year-old is turning 14 this November and was scheduled to race a Legends event in Virginia, however, the weather created by Hurricane Debby is currently sitting over the state, forcing the event to be postponed. With the race postponed, the McMurrays loaded up with TimmyTech and will be making their debut in the X30 Pro category for the first time. Talking with Carter and his father Jamie McMurray, it’s a weekend focused on learning and making progression. Also making his debut in the X30 Pro is MPG Motorsports driver Austin Olds. Haved moved to Senior this season, Olds is jumping into X30 for the first time in 2024.
Payton Westcott Returns After Injury in June
Payton Westcott returns from her injury here at MCC in June (Photo: EKN)
The SKUSA SpringNationals at MCC in June ended with a trip to the hospital for Rolison Performance Group driver Payton Westcott. She was competing for a podium position in the Sunday main event in KA100 Junior when contact resulted in a DNF. She was driven over, suffering two broken bones near her wrist on the left arm. A straightening attempt here in Ohio did not work and thus had a pin placed, along with a cast, to help with the healing of the fractures. Payton traveled to Italy for the last weekend of July to compete in the Champions of the Future Academy Program in OK-N, driving with the cast that was designed to be formed around a steering wheel. Westcott’s mom tailored some driving gloves to go over the hand and altered her suit to fit the cast. She’ll have a full EKN Driver Diary on that weekend in Italy later this month. After arriving back home this week, the cast was removed and now she’s wearing a splint to drive this weekend, back at the track where the injury was suffered. She’s pumped to be back and looking for strong weekend at near 100% strength to her wrist.
Truchot Jumps to Junior This Weekend
Alessandro Truchot is making his Junior debut this weekend with Parolin USA (Photo: EKN)
One of the top Cadet drivers in the USA is making the move up to the Junior ranks this weekend. Alessandro Truchot will be making his KA100 Junior debut at the Ohio Grand Prix, racing under the Parolin USA tent with Pole Position Motorsports. The Florida driver has been racing much of the season in Europe in the Mini category with Babyrace Driver Academy in many different championships, along with the recent Champions of the Future Academy Program where he finished third in Italy, now sitting fifth in the championship. He’s done a few sessions at AMR Motorplex in Homestead earlier this year, but not recently, and Alessandro is excited about competing against the older kids in Junior, and experience the quicker pace of the KA100 Junior class. Truchot is on the Le Mans chassis that Technical Director Ben Cruttenden and the rest of Parolin USA have been developing over the last few months. The goal is to improve Truchot behind the wheel in the full size kart while providing more feedback to the factory in Italy regarding chassis development.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
NCMP Adds Pizza to the Menu
Pizza is now on the menu from the Racer’s Grill at NCMP (Photo: EKN)
One of the big assets of racing at the New Castle Motorsports Park is the Racer’s Grill. Not only does the main building the restaurant sits in provide a place for racers and their families to relax and watch the racing from the air conditioning, but the Racer’s Grill also pushes out a lot of food over the weekend. From breakfast in the morning to lunch and dinner, there are plenty of options available on the menu. The newest item is pizza. The facility expanded its kitchen to accompany its growing catering section of the business while also adding pizza oven and prep area in what was the former garage for the Lewis family. The EKN got to sample a full 12” pizza, with many different toppings available. Among the other changes is new concrete poured at the end of the garages near the grid. For the SKUSA weekend, it means nothing with the opposite direction for the grid. When it comes to the CKNA Grand Nationals 8 later this year, it will be a big help in the pre-grid area.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 United States Pro Kart Series at the Wisconsin Grand Prix held at the Mill-Rite Raceway in Dousman, Wisconsin.
Back to Badger
One of the locations for the inaugural season of the United States Pro Kart Series was the home of Badger Kart Club. It was in 2013 that the USPKS made its only visit until this weekend to the Dousman, WI circuit, which is among the longest tenured facilities in North America, dating back to the early 1960s. The track has played host to many major events, including numerous WKA national and international competitions. For those in the Midwest, it is a regular stop on the season. For the many competitors from west of the Mississippi River and those international drivers, this is their first visit. Team owner Mike Rolison of Rolison Performance Group raced here back in 2001 for the WKA Grand Nationals. California’s Matt Johnson ran here a few times in the early 2000s as well, just missing out on a few wins. Alan Rudolph of the Alan Rudolph Racing Academy remembers shifterkarts here in the late 1990s. The consensus of those who have never been here are enjoying the ‘old school’ feel to the facility and the challenging layout it provides.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
New Upgrades to The Club
New scoring tower built in time for SKUSA SpringNationals (Photo: EKN)
Since taking over the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in 2020, the Bayliff family and its partners continue to add to this amazing gem of a karting circuit in southern Ohio. One of the key aspects to welcome SKUSA here for the first time was a timing booth large enough to hold their staff that includes the video marshalling system. MCC stepped up, expanding their second story booth which will now be a welcomed headquarters for race staff at future events. In addition, they’ve added 12 full RV hookups along the front straight, that includes power, water and sewage. The Club is becoming a great destination for regional and national events, with more programs set to visit this year still.
10 Years of CompKart Chassis
Peyton Phillips making his CompKart debut at the SpringNationals (Photo: EKN)
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the CompKart brand is back in SKUSA competition. Launched in 2014, the brand developed by J3 Competition is celebrating 10 years on the market. The squad is featuring four drivers this weekend, including last year’s SpringNationals winner in Utah Oliver Hodgson in Pro X30, along with Cooper O’Clair in KA100 Senior and Conner Lypka in Micro Swift. Making his CompKart debut is SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals winner Peyton Phillips. The Texan is making the move over for this weekend only as of now, looking to keep himself in the championship chase before heading to the SummerNationals in July.
New Format for SKUSA Pro Show
This weekend will be a change in the format for the Pro categories at the SKUSA Pro Tour. Pro Shifter and Pro X30 will run a full day of practice today, qualifying and Super Pole sessions Saturday morning and then two heat races on the day to set them up for the main event Sunday afternoon. This basically splits the Prefinal into two races, with the heats counting for half the value of a Prefinal in the championship. 50 points to win a heat race, 45 for second, 40 for third and so on. Taking an informal poll of the Pro drivers, many were happy to see the change, providing them with more racing. On the flip side, it does open the door for double the opportunities for an issue to arise. Either way, drivers will be focusing today on being fast for Saturday morning qualifying.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 United States Pro Kart Series at the Carolina Grand Prix held at the Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina.
The Return of Turney
Joe Turney returns to the USA (Photo: EKN)
The story coming into the weekend is the return of Joe Turney to the USA. The British driver claimed the 2023 SKUSA Pro Tour championship in X30 last year and won the USPKS Texas Grand Prix as well in his three series starts. After suffering a leg injury during the FIA Karting World Championships in October 2023, Turney has returned to his solid form behind the wheel. He’s currently leading the FIA Karting European Championship after two rounds, and this weekend marks his return to the USA for the first time since his incident. He told EKN the recovery has gone great, and feels nearly 100% from where he was before the incident. This time, he’s running under the Trinity Karting Group – still aboard the Kart Republic brand. He’s now teammates with fellow British driver Brandon Carr – who he coached years ago in the UK. Making it a British trio is former world champion Colin Brown joining the TKG staff.
New CS55 Debuts with Speed Concepts Racing
CS55 from OTK is making its USPKS debut with Speed Concepts Racing (Photo: EKN)
A new chassis is making its debut at the USPKS program as Speed Concepts Racing is among the first teams to carry the new CS55 Racing Kart. Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz has collaborated with OTK Kart Group to represent his first kart model – available in Junior/Senior single speed and shifter versions. OTK USA received the first shipment of the in early April with the karts now hitting the track. Junior drivers Jackson Wolny and Cash Perkins – a new addition to the team – are onboard the new CS55 featuring the new custom SCR graphic packages, with frames and rollers available for purchase through Speed Concepts Racing.
Second Weekend for New MG Tires at USPKS
The MG SM2 tire is making its second appearance at USPKS (Photo: EKN)
The 2024 season is a new homologation for MG Tires – the spec brand for the USPKS and other programs throughout the country. As we have outlined thus far throughout the year, the new MG SH2 Red compound has produced quicker lap times in its respective categories with overall more grip from the tire. The new MG SM2 Yellow after the Speedsportz did not equate to quicker times than the 2023 event at the same facility. With 12 years of racing on MG Tires for USPKS at Trackhouse Motorplex, a lot of data is available to pull and compare to the times turned on the weekend. In the seven categories on the weekend, six are recording faster lap times than last year’s qualifying sessions with Micro the only division to not be quicker. The MG Red tire is performing extremely well in the X30 Junior division with times almost a full second quicker compared to last year’s qualifying time. The last time USPKS was in Mooresville during the month of May was in 2022. Following the weekend, we’ll have a breakdown of times compared from all three years – 2022, 2023, and 2024.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Challenge of the Americas at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
New Look to Sonoma Raceway
Updated paddock area for the Sonoma Raceway (Photo: EKN)
Following last year’s Challenge of the Americas finale in April 2023, Sonoma Raceway began updates to the karting paddock and facility. The paddock is now completely paved along with landscaping done along the northern part of the pit lane, which has reduced some space to park trailers. A remodeled scoring building, which is still one of the biggest in karting for North America. The former kart shop was demolished with a new deck area constructed, including a permanent podium location. Outside the school building, they set up a new picnic table area with shade for families to watch from pit lane. No bathrooms were constructed, so that’s about the only negatives.
Return of GFC Shifter Contingent
Many GFC drivers are back in the Shifter category this weekend (Photo: EKN)
Missing from the Tucson 2 weekend in March was the large shfiterkart contingent from GFC Karting. Many of the drivers were testing in Orlando for the SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals. Among them was Round Two winner Kyle Wick, last year’s champion Jacob Gulick and former Challenge champion Hunter Pickett. All three are back to battle for wins at Sonoma, where Pickett has won the five of the last six Challenge main events here. In addition to the Formula Works drivers returning under the tent, GFC is welcoming Turner Brown for a one-off race here at his home track. He’s driven the chassis a few times during the winter months – providing him with a chance to drive something different from an OTK that he typically races. Also back is Chase Hand in the KA100 Senior category – where he was a winner in 2023.
Cameron Back in Karts after USF Juniors Debut
Christian Cameron made his USF Juniors debut last weekend at NOLA Motorsports (Photo: Gavin Baker)
It’s been just five days since former Challenge of the Americas 100cc Junior champion Christian Cameron made his debut in the USF Juniors program at NOLA Motorsports Park, and he’s back at his home track of Sonoma Raceway for take in the COTA finale. The 14-year-old was impressive in his debut in the first level of the USF Pro Championships Presented by Continental Tire, finishing 13th out of 26 in the first two races of the tripleheader, and a super strong 10th in the third race. This consistency has put him in a tie for 11th in the standings, just two points outside the top-10. Cameron is running with the VRD Racing team with support from veteran engineer Kent Stacy. Christian is competing in the 100cc Junior category again this weekend, battling with the 26 other drivers on the grid. While the multi-time ROK Sonoma club champion’s focus for 2024 is the USF Juniors program, he told EKN that he may run some club and national karting events this year.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 United States Pro Kart Series at the Texas Grand Prix held at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas.
USPKS Back in Action for the 12th Season
The start of the 2024 United States Pro Kart Series is upon us, and the second ever visit to the Speedsportz Racing Park welcomes the first round of this season’s championship chase. The new championship format will count all five events this season, putting the emphasis on drivers competing at their best, at all five circuits on the year. Speedsportz hosted the second stop last year, with many making their first ever visit to the facility. Aside from the Micro drivers, a lot are returning for a second time if not more, and thus there are no new aspects to the circuit. The facility is packed, and the Food Zone that was under construction next door is open, providing many food options in and around the facility. A walk through the paddock and its all business, with a lot of focused faces inside the tents and around the pit lane.
Meza Returns with Trinity Karting Group
Helio Meza making his 2024 debut under Trinity Karting Group (Photo: EKN)
The 2023 USPKS KA100 Senior champion Helio Meza did not have karting on the calendar for 2024. After an invite to the Norberg Pro-Kart Invitational with Trinity Karting Group, the Texan is back on a Kart Republic at his home track of Speedsportz. Meza was the star at last year’s event, driving away to victory in what would help him clinch the 2023 championship. Now racing the Spec MX-5 as a factory Mazda driver in 2024, Helio is making only his second karting start of the 2024 season. He’s adapting to the Kart Republic after spending a lot of years racing on OTK product and making his first weekend on the newer MG SH2 compound that has a lot more grip compared to the last model he is familiar with. Keep an eye on him throughout the weekend and of course in his car program throughout the season.
CRG Nordam Adding New Names Under Tent
Aden Rudolph helping to lead the CRG Nordam race team this weekend at Speedsportz (Photo: EKN)
One of the focuses for the 2024 season was to establish a race team under the CRG Nordam banner. Euan Jeffery has done that for the club and regional level drivers through their network of dealers in the southern region, competing in the Texas Sprint Racing Series program over their opening two events, including two weeks ago at Speedsportz. A handful of drivers are under the tent in a home track weekend for the USPKS opener, including TSRS winner Aden Rudolph. The second generation karter won in his CRG debut in NOLA, set to take on the large KA100 Senior field at his home track. Joining the squad is Pasha Ali in the Mini Swift division along with Vincent Cossard moving over from shifter to KA100 Master. CRG Nordam is fielding six drivers in five categories, including Challenge of the Americas race winner David Ybarra in KA100 Junior.
Tillett Racing Seats Trackside with Franklin Motorsports
Tillett Racing Seats on location for the USPKS Texas Grand Prix (Photo: EKN)
One of the key components to a USPKS weekend is the Franklin Motorsports parts trailer trackside for competitors and teams to purchase needed supplies during the events. Adding to it this weekend is representatives from Tillett Racing Seats. Making their way from the United Kingdom, Tillett is providing seat fittings with their many different models and sizes, along with their rib protector. The Tillett P1 is customizable with different color graphics, including the optional chest plate with the P1 Defender model. Those trackside can sample the many different options or see them online through the Franklin Motorsports online store.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2024 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
15 Years of the SKUSA Pro Tour
The SKUSA staff for 2024 (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)
It was April 2010, and a gathering of karters took place at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. It was the start of the inaugural Superkarts! USA Pro Tour. Roughly 100 racers took part in the first SpringNationals event that launched the new championship program before heading to Shawano, Wisconsin for the first SummerNationals. The 2010 SuperNationals concluded the series that year, as it was not until 2017 that the WinterNationals began with its first trip to the NOLA Motorsports Park.
Speaking with Superkarts! USA Tony Leone, who has been part of SKUSA prior to the start of the Pro Tour, he mentions how different the landscape of the sport is. At the beginning of the SKUSA Pro Tour, the focus was on the Senior and Master categories. Now, the youth movement has taken over with the large numbers in Cadet and Junior competition. Leone – who started as a part-time employee for SKUSA then, is among the nearly 10 full-time staff members that help operate the day-to-day business. Technology is a big part and been his focus throughout the 15 years, including the scoring, registration, and of course the video marshal system that was implemented years ago.
For us at EKN, it’s been an exciting 15 years of racing across the country, featuring a number of karting stars, motorsports stars, and more. To see where the organization itself has grown, with the professionalism of our sport beginning with the SKUSA Pro Tour and continues today. A lot has changed in 15 years, but SKUSA is committed to the sport of karting.
Sodi Racing USA Looking Long Term
Zayne Burgess with Thierry Germanovich of Sodi Racing USA (Photo: Sodi Racing USA)
Announced this week, Zayne Burgess has signed on to a long term contract with Sodi Racing USA and Sodikart Group. The seven-year-old Jamaican driver born in the USA is coming off three win championship performance at the SKUSA Winter Series in the Micro Swift class. Burgess began karting back at the end of 2020 and was quickly out of the kid kart to the cadet size, making his debut last season at many of the major championship programs.
Thierry Germanovich speaks very highly of the young driver. “I really believe this kid is a special talent behind the wheel, even though he is still extremely young. But it reminds me some kids I managed with Sodi many years ago like Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Alex Baron. Zayne is perhaps an even more natural talent for now.”
As we are seeing in Europe, factory teams and manufacturers are looking at the younger categories to lock in potential talent that will bring them wins and championships in the future. This could be one of those as we see Burgess as one of the top Micro drivers to start off the 2024 season.
Kremers in Rolison Performance Group Colors
Marijn Kremers making his OTK RPG debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)
Two-time defending SKUSA Pro Tour Pro Shifter champion Marijn Kremers is in new colors for 2024. Following his stint with Birel ART and PSL Karting here in the United States, the Dutch driver moved to Tony Kart factory team in Europe. He’s enjoyed his new home in the first few months of the season, feeling out the different structure within the team and the company itself. A deal just weeks ago came together to come to the SKUSA Pro Tour and compete under the Rolison Performance Group. He’s teammates now with four-time SuperNationals winner Danny Formal, and RPG new drivers Cooper Becklin and Anthony Martella. The foursome is already breaking down data together after the opening practice sessions.
Speed Concepts Racing Preparing for Move to CS55
Confirmed this weekend, Speed Concepts Racing will be moving their chassis brand to the new CS55 that recently launched from OTK. The Carlos Sainz inspired kart features different colors from the standard OTK karts, something team owner Mike Speed is looking forward to. They are set to debut the new karts and colors at the USPKS Texas Grand Prix event in April. Mike and Alex Speed along with top X30 Pro driver Austin Garrison continue working with their Senior and Junior drivers providing sound and experienced coaching. The tent is busy this weekend as well, welcoming GFC Karting team under the drivers. Their four Pro Shifter pilots along with KA100 Junior driver Jaxon Young.
Expanded Roster for Trinity Karting Group
Josh Bergman joins Trinity Karting Group (Photo: EKN)
The tent has grown since the SKUSA Winter Series for Trinity Karting Group. Among the new drivers is Mini pilot Josh Bergman, moving over to the Kart Republic brand for the first time in 2024. Cameron Marsha joins TKG and making his first Kart Republic start in his first outing for the KA100 Junior division. Add in Gabe Bellanca and Cooper Lisle from Australia in the X30 Pro division and the TKG tent is back full for the 2024 SKUSA Pro Tour. This sets up well for the Ohio based team, as the SpringNationals will make its debut at TKG’s own Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati this June.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Challenge of the Americas at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Back to Normal in Tucson
For the series’ second visit to the Musselman Honda Circuit, the Challenge of the Americas is switching back to running in the counter-clockwise direction. Last month, the Challenge went with the clockwise layout, which was greeted with so-so feedback. Logistically, it was different for both the staff and the competitors. Now that it’s back to normal, the flow of the grid, the entry to the track, and the exit off it, are a familiar path. What is not normal are the numbers, with the entry reaching only 77 for the six categories after surpassing the 110 mark in February. It’s noticeable in the paddock, and with more and more races being added to the national and regional schedule, the second trip to Tucson is not as successful as had been hoped. The fields are still solid with multiple championship contenders and what should be good fights for the wins each day. However, the attention now turns on getting the numbers back up for the series finale in April at Sonoma Raceway.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA Winter Series finale weekend at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires in Homestead, Florida. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
Week Five from Many Industry Members
This weekend marks the fifth straight weekend of karting in Florida for many of the karting industry members and competitors. Following the SKUSA Winter Series opener in January, many stayed at the AMR Motorplex for the ROK Cup USA Florida Winter Tour event. It was then onto Orlando Kart Center for two straight weekends at the Rotax Winter Trophy program before returning here to close out the SKUSA Winter Series. For many, the concept of racing six straight weekends – when adding the next round of the FWT next weekend – works. It does drain the early part of the calendar, keeping people away from their homes and families. With the United States Pro Kart Series not starting until April, it does help to not crowd the early quarter of 2024 with the SKUSA Pro Tour starting in March. By the time we get to May, we’ll know if the schedule was a plus, or a negative for the sport and the industry.
Ben Cruttenden Working with Parolin USA, Dupuis Making Chassis Debut
Nathan Dupuis making his debut aboard a Parolin (Photo: EKN)
Announced this week in a press release, Ben Cruttenden is now the Technical and Operations Director for Parolin USA. The British native has been working within the karting industry here in the USA for nearly 20 years. Starting the Supertune USA race team a few years ago, he will now step away from that full time with Billy McLaughlin taking over as Team Manager. He will be working alongside former SuperNationals winner Marco Maestranzi as driver coach. The focus for Cruttenden is working with new and current Parolin drivers and teams, along with developing the full size ‘Le Mans’ chassis for the USA market. Maestranzi competed on the kart at the Florida Winter Tour race here last month. And now, Junior driver Nathan Dupuis is making his debut on the Parolin chassis, racing with Supertune this weekend in both categories.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Challenge of the Americas at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
A New Era at The Challenge
Vega Tires makes its debut with Challenge of the Americas this weekend (Photo: EKN)
The 2024 Challenge opens this weekend at the Musselman Honda Circuit entering a new era. The series has become an independent program for the first time in its 17 years, not running under the Rotax Max Challenge nor ROK Cup USA program. As noted during the last few months, both ROK and IAME engines continue to be permitted in the 100cc divisions, and now welcomed in the Cadet division. The Shifter divisions have expanded to welcome the KZ platform alongside the ROK engine to make up the six classes.
With the independence, this opened the door for the Challenge to move to the Vega Tires for 2024 season. The new XH4 (Green) for all the classes except Cadet running on the VAH (Red). We’ll be getting feedback on the tires throughout the weekend. The other update is the rule structure the Challenge follows. They will be using the NKA rulebook as the basis. Staff officials have been reviewing over the last few months, making supplementals to better conform to what the series has done or will be doing in 2024. Tech procedures are very similar, with ROK and IAME rule sets utilized.
Musselman Honda Circuit in Reverse
The Challenge is welcoming a few firsts in the 2024 opener, clockwise direction and rain (Photo: EKN)
In the near 20-year history, there have not been many times the Musselman Honda Circuit has been run in the clockwise direction. Some club events, and a race last year for the US Trophy West program and in the past for the Stars of Karting. Since the Challenge has been coming to Tucson, it has always run in the counterclockwise direction. The feedback from drivers already contesting unofficial practice and testing has been positive. The difficulty level is a bit diminished, however, there are bumps on entry in certain corners and exit spots that drivers are finding that you would not normally feel in the ‘normal’ direction. Because of the way the pavement is laid out for drifting, temporary tire barriers have been put in place to mark the outside of the track in certain spots.
On the other side of it, Friday practice was greeting with hail and rain for the first time in Challenge history. In the past, there have been cold temperatures but never precipitation on the circuit. So cold in fact some of the water-cooled engines were frozen inside. The track was wet this morning and was just starting to dry out before a cell of hail and rain came through the area just before lunch. It appears rain will be done for the day, however, heading into Pre-Qualifying the track continues to be wet.
Debut for Pantano Racing Karts at FDM
Pantano Racing Karts making its USA debut with Forward Direction Motorsports (Photo: ChallengeKarting.com)
Announced in late January, Forward Direction Motorsports has become the US Distributor for Pantano Racing Karts. FDM owner Greg Welch is among those under the tent running the new chassis along with others. The Pantano name comes from Giorgio Pantano – a 1994 FIA Karting Junior World Champion. The Italian made his way up the motorsports ranks, racing one season in Formula One along with selected time in IndyCar. The homologated chassis is built in house with unique characteristics. The most notable is the non-tube brackets for the seat struts and other sections of the chassis. FDM worked with Pantano to make sure the chassis would be usable for 4-cycle engines, adjusting the rear design of the chassis utilized in the 100cc 2-cycle divisions here in the US market.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA Winter Series at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires in Homestead, Florida. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.
New Homologation for MG Tires in 2024
The new SW2 rain tire and SH2 from MG Tires will make their debut in the USA here this weekend (Photo: EKN)
The FIA accepted new homologation for tires entering the 2024 season. MG Tires, the official tire manufacturer for Superkarts! USA, has issued new compounds for the 2024-2026 racing seasons. The MG SH2 Hard ‘Red’ tires is the focus of the weekend, which is utilized in all categories except for Pro Shifter, Pro X30 and Master Shifter. Those divisions will still use the Evinco SKM ‘Red’, which was the softer version of the previous MG Tires homologation.
Also debuting is the new MG SW2 rain tire. Due to supply, one set of new SW2 will be available for purchase for each driver/entry on the weekend. Should excessive wear become an issue over Saturday or Sunday, a second set may be utilized for the remainder of the weekend. The previous homologation MG SW is also allowed for competition all weekend.
As the weekend progresses, we’ll get feedback from drivers and teams on the tire’s performance.
Trinity Karting Group Welcomes Kotyk and New Drivers in 2024
Jonathan Kotyk joins Trinity Karting Group staff for 2024 season (Photo: EKN)
One of the top teams over the last few seasons has been Trinity Karting Group. Their focus on serving as the official Kart Republic race team for the United States has brought on new drivers and new personal. Brandon Carr is their big off-season signing in the Pro X30 category along with Finnegan Bayliff and Canadian Thomas Nepveu returning. Enzo Vidmontiene joined the team for Junior competition at the SuperNationals and returns for double duty action in 2024. Cadet drivers Travis Pettit, Max Cristea and Kai Mars are moving up to KA100 Junior class. Rocco Simone joins the team for 2024 in Mini Swift after a solid rookie campaign in 2023. Along with the full TKG staff, Daniel Tate continues his commitment to the Kart Republic brand while Jonathan Kotyk comes on full time with Trinity Karting Group after working with Keelan Harvick the last two seasons.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 26 outside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
The Big One
The 26th running of the SKUSA SuperNationals is underway as karts are now hitting the racing circuit for the first time this morning. A dusty race track, combined with strong winds in the area, is not making for a smooth opening first session for the morning categories including KA100 Junior, Senior, Master and Micro Swift. The winds are wreaking havoc on the many tents in the area, with teams seeking concrete barriers to hold down the tents.
With the new location of the event on the outside of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway to the west, the layout is a bit of a challenge for those in the secondary paddock. It’s an easy five-minute walk around the track to the front of the grid entrance. SKUSA is already working to fix this issue, bringing them in right at the crosswalk area to make it an easier path from the pits to the fuel/grid area.
On-track, the early categories are testing the limits of the track, with several drivers pushing the end of the long 1400 foot straight into the turn one region. Of course, the dust and the lack of grip in the morning, are making it more of a challenge than normal conditions. The track is fast, with the word ‘unique’ and ‘different’ used a lot by the drivers in the morning sessions. We’ll have a full on-board video later today – one from the morning and another from the afternoon session.
Leading Edge Motorsports Unveils New Livery and Branding
Leading Edge Motorsports debuting their new logo and colors at SKUSA SuperNationals 26 (Photo: EKN)
The history of Leading Edge Motorsports is as long as that of the SKUSA SuperNationals, so this year’s race was the ideal location for Greg Bell to unveil his operation’s new livery and branding. The new look continues Bell’s trend of evolving his program, which began with his move to the the OTK brand and the iconic Tony Kart line. A brand new ‘LEM’ logo is paired with new red, white, and blue colors, and this rebrand will take the team into the 2024 season, in which the squad will start the year campaigning the Challenge of the Americas in the West. Bell also has programs in place for racers looking at the SKUSA Winter Series and ROK Cup Florida Winter Tour. Once the summer season gets underway, Leading Edge’s truck and hauler will remain on the East Coast to run for titles in the SKUSA Pro Tour, United States Pro Kart Series, and the Stars Championship Series.
GFC Introducing 2024 GT14 Shifter
GFC with the 2024 GT14 Shifter at the SuperNationals (Photo: EKN)
GFC Karting is celebrating its five-year anniversary since launching back in 2018. It has been non-stop development since with owner Gary Carlton working with his design and utilizing the input of his two drivers – Jacob Gulick and Kyle Wick. The focus was on making it more stable. The hard work and passion put into the development since led to the first production run making its debut at the ROK Vegas event where Wick secured the victory. Now, the entire roster under the GFC tent at the SuperNationals are on the new 2024 GT14 Shifter chassis, including Pro and Master. More news is on the horizon for GFC in the coming weeks as they look to the 2024 season.
Bonnie Moulton Ends Streak at 25
Bonnier Moulton’s streak of SuperNationals ends at 25 (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)
For the first time in SKUSA SuperNationals history, Bonnier Moulton will not make an official race lap. The lone driver to start at all 25 editions of the SuperNats, dating back to 1998, is not competing this year. The three-time SuperNationals winner and SKUSA Hall of Fame member elected not to race but is here working as driver coach and mentor for Pro Shifter driver Hannah Greenemeier. It goes without saying that Moulton has been a fixture at the SuperNationals and the sport in general since starting back in 1992. Speaking with him trackside today, he’s not upset about sitting this event out, and happy to have ended the streak at the 25th, outside the Rio. For us at EKN, it is bittersweet not seeing him race for a record-tying fourth victory at the SuperNationals.
Track Revision
Track revision completed midway through the afternoon sessions on Wednesday (Photo: EKN)
About midway through the afternoon sessions on Wednesday, Superkarts! USA officials put in a sunset break. The sun was beaming into the sight line of the drivers down the near 95mph straight for the shifterkarts. During that time, officials took extra steps to adjust the section entering the turn one complex. The apex was moved in, to move away from one of the light poles on the outside of the track that was in the impact zone. The adjustment was welcomed by the paddock but pushed the end of the day to roughly 7:30-8pm to close out the day. The morning sessions today used the first session to adjust, and now were are closing in on the first official laps with qualifying on the horizon.
Likens Hits 15-Year Milestone as SuperNationals Starter
Aaron Likens is celebrating the 15th year as the SuperNationals starter (Photo: On Track Promotions – otp.ca)
One of the great stories of the SKUSA SuperNationals is the discovery of flagman Aaron Likens at the SKUSA Central States Challenge in 2008. SKUSA’s Tom Kutscher was visiting his regional series and was blown away by the skills of their starter. At the drivers meeting that weekend, Kutscher invited Aaron to flag at the SuperNationals and he’s occupied that role for the last 15 years. Likens’ story has taken him to the top of the sport, as he not only continues as the starter for SKUSA but he’s also the lead flagman for INDYCAR and the Indianapolis 500. Aaron’s flare and style have caught the eyes of the world’s race fans and he’s become a core part of the INDYCAR family. Aaron is also the Autism Ambassador for Easter Seals Arkansas, and autism trainer for police and fire departments, consultant for Mattel’s ‘Thomas the Train’ and a new character, Bruno, who is autistic, the author of ‘Finding Kansas’ and his new book to be released in 2024, ‘Playing in Traffic: Living in the fast lane with autism’. SKUSA is blessed to have such a talented individual manning the flags again this year.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 United States Pro Kart Series at the Carolina Grand Prix held at the Trackhouse Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
New Name, Same Track
First visit for USPKS to the rebranded Trackhouse Motorplex (Photo: EKN)
The United States Pro Kart Series is making its 11th trip to what is now the Trackhouse Motorplex. What began as the Mooresville Motorplex back in 2013 when the inaugural event for USPKS, the Mooresville, North Carolina facility became GoPro Motorplex for a number of years. This season, it was rebranded as Trackhouse Motorplex after the motorsports and entertainment brand that facility owner Justin Marks launched in 2020. The facility itself hasn’t changed, just the branding, however they have been able to pack in the trailers with the expansion of the paddock that was completed. This weekend, 271 entries make up the eight categories racing the final round of the 2023 championship program.
Kremers Drops Six Gears for One
Marijn Kremers is moving from Pro Shifter to X30 Pro this weekend in last minute ride (Photo: Studio52.us)
As we mentioned in the OutLap podcast and preview podcast, the name Marijn Kremers was missing from the entry list. Instagram showed the Dutchman and 2019 FIA Karting KZ World Champion was in Mooresville for the weekend. Originally, he was slated to serve as data and driver coach for Senior rookie Anthony Martella. When they arrived, the group decided he should be racing. Together with PSL Karting and Marc Stehle Racing, Kremers put together a ride for the X30 Senior class – his first start of the season. The problem, his safety gear is not here. Thus, he’s sporting a Marc Stehle suit with Henry Wheeler helmet. The two-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion is coming off a near top-10 performance at this year’s world championship in Germany until contact took him out of the race.
Graduating Early
Ernesto Rivera and Max Taylor moving up to Senior class this weekend (Photo: EKN)
The end of the year brings about the graduation for drivers up to the next category. Same stay back until the season is over, others move up to try and get a jump start on the next season. This weekend at USPKS Carolina GP from Trackhouse Motorplex, a handful are doing the early jump. Under the Rolison Performance Group tent is Ernesto Rivera and Max Taylor, advancing from Junior to compete in X30 Pro this weekend. Rivera already locked up the championships in both X30 Junior and KA100 Junior with three wins in four rounds in each category. Rivera made his Senior debut at the US Trophy Final last month, while Taylor has been racing selected Senior classes. On the younger side, Ohio Grand Prix Micro Swift winner Enzo DiGennario has elected to move up to the Mini Swift category despite sitting fourth in the championship chase.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final held at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
Triple Digit Entries for Second Year Event
The second edition of the Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final is welcome a big growth from the inaugural event last year. Entries have surpassed the 110-driver mark for the five categories, giving an average class total over 20. The over 40% growth for the event helps to solidify the foundation by event promoter Race Rotax and J3 Competition with their US Trophy West and US Trophy East programs. There was growth from 2022 to 2023 with those series and it has transitioned into the US Trophy Final. For this weekend, the growth is in the new entrants to the event, including some major names and teams returning to Rotax competition. Rolison Performance Group, Speed Concepts Racing, PSL Karting and others have returned trackside for the ‘big one’ for Rotax racing here in the USA.
10 Years Later: First Rotax Grand Finals for Ryan Norberg
Ryan Norberg – 2013 Rotax Grand Finals to now
It was 10 years ago that a young Ryan Norberg made his first start at the Rotax Grand Finals, which were held at the NOLA Motorsports Park. The Florida driver was a late entry into the 2013 event, after a Malaysian driver pulled out. This allowed Norberg, who finished fourth at the US Rotax Grand Nationals, to join Team USA on its home soil. Norberg was unable to qualify for the main event, along with the following year in Spain in the Junior division. It wasn’t until 2019 that he shined at the Rotax Grand Finals. Norberg started third and was among the leaders until contact early dropped him down the order.
Speaking with Norberg about those initial Rotax Grand Finals events, he remembers how it was his introduction to international competition. How tight the fields were, and the level of competition is what he remembers about both. Returning to Rotax competition, the Rolison Performance Group driver utilizes Rotax power at his Norberg Karting Academy down in Orlando.
Cleavelin Looking for Return to Rotax Grand Finals
Billy Cleavelin is attempt to return to the Rotax Grand Finals for a second time (Photo: EKN)
One of the eldest drivers here at the Rotax Max Challenge US Trophy Final is Billy Cleavelin. The 66-year-old legend in USA karting was a member of Team USA at the Rotax Grand Finals back in 2016. His goal from the start of this season was to be able to contend for the ticket in Masters MAX. Cleavelin came away with the top spot in the US Trophy West program, and is among the seven drivers in the ‘Reserved’ list for one of the two tickets available. The Californian is claiming that this is his last year of karting, with Cleavelin’s career spanning multiple decades.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 United States Pro Kart Series at the Indiana Grand Prix held at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana.. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 United States Pro Kart Series at the Indiana Grand Prix held at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, and provides EKN Nation with notes, updates and breaking news, as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 SKUSA Pro Tour SpringNationals at the Utah Motorsports Campus in Grantville, UT. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 United States Pro Kart Series at the Texas Grand Prix held at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, TX. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
God Bless Texas And the Speedsportz Racing Park
(Photo: Studio52.us)
This weekend marks many firsts in the sport of karting. The United States Pro Kart Series is making its first trip to the Speedsportz Racing Park, and the first trip west of the Mississippi River in its 11-year history. The New Caney, Texas facility is becoming the crown jewel of Texas karting, featuring both a performance circuit and rental kart track. For many of the 285 entries in attendance over the eight categories competing here this weekend, it is their first event at Speedsportz. Of those here for the first time, the praises on the circuit and facility could not be more positive. Alan and Jessica Rudolph have been planning for months for this weekend. Now with last weekend’s testing, the set-up and Thursday practice completed, they now can relax and enjoy the first major karting event in the state of Texas in nearly a decade.
CRG Nordam Welcomes Customers to Texas BBQ
CRG Nordam hosted a Texas BBQ for CRG teams in attendance Thursday night (Photo: EKN)
The Houston area is home to CRG Nordam, located roughly 20 minutes from the Speedsportz Racing Park. Thursday night, drivers, mechanics and family members from the Tesoro Raceworx, Arcane Motorsports, and Alessandros Racing gathered at the Conroe, Texas facility for a Texas BBQ dinner. Roughly 70 people were in attendance to get a first-hand view of the warehouse, kart assembly area along with the showroom and offices. CRG Nordam’s Euan Jeffrey was excited to welcome everyone to the facility and be able to speak with everyone before the weekend began. A strong contingent of drivers are racing this weekend on the CRG brand.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 Challenge of the Americas, with the final two rounds held on April 14-16 at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
Grass is Always Greener in Sonoma
The grass is green in Sonoma (Photo: EKN)
Not typically, but it is nice to see green grass surrounding the karting circuit at Sonoma Raceway with the sun shining to close out the 16th season for Challenge of the Americas. Coming this late into ‘Wine Country’ the agriculture surrounding the track is burnt out, but with the ample amount of rain in the region, the grass is green for the mid-April weekend. Walk up entries showed up and have brought the total up to 117, matching that of the PKRA weekend last month. With six championships on the line, and the weather to be perfect all three days, it is setting up for a special series finale for the Challenge.
OK-N Third Event Updates
65-year-old Billy Cleavelin racing OK-N this weekend (Photo: EKN)
This weekend marks the third event for the new OK-N engine package introduced by FIA Karting. TM engine continues to be the trend despite the Modena and now the Vortex engine coming into the USA. All eight drivers on the grid this weekend are on the TM engine. Blake Nash tested the Vortex on Thursday, however, the limited time with the engine and the $500 to win, and $500 bounty on him for the weekend he has elected to race with the TM engine. What is new will be the format for the weekend. Qualifying and three heats on Saturday with a Prefinal and Final for Sunday.
Added to the class this weekend are karting veterans Derek Wang and Billy Cleavelin, both Masters champions at the Challenge and making their OK-N debut. They commented on how the engine has power, but the range of that power is narrow before it hits the rev limiter. Carburation is a key aspect to eliminate the lag on exit of the corner, so that is something both are experimenting with throughout the two days of testing here in Sonoma.
Sodi Racing USA in Full Support of The Karting Collective
(Photo: EKN)
It has been a busy three months since the launch of Sodi Racing USA. The resurgence of the Sodikart brand in the United States is the focus for Thierry Germanovitch. His partnership with Piquet Sports in Florida is helping to build on the eastern front, while connecting with longtime Sodi driver and team owner Nic LeDuc on the west has been a key component. Germanovitch stated that continuing the relationship with LeDuc’s The Karting Collective was first on the list when Sodi Racing USA began. A full tent this weekend with drivers in multiple categories, including British driver Harley Keeble racing in the Senior 100cc. Keeble made his USA debut at the SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals two weeks ago, and Thierry brought him to California to help with the Sodikart drivers here in Sonoma.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, and provides EKN Nation with notes, updates and breaking news, as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, FL. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
Sodi Racing USA and Piquet Sports has a quintet of drivers at OKC ready to help grow the brand here in the United States
(Photo: EKN)
Sodi Kart Makes SKUSA Return
The Sodi Kart brand is making its return to national-level Superkarts! USA competition this weekend through the partnership of importer / distributor The Karting Distribution and Florida-based Piquet Sports. The team has five drivers entered for this weekend’s SKUSA Pro Tour opener, including British driver Harley Keeble in X30 Senior. Keeble was one of the top OK-Junior drivers in Europe in 2021, and is racing KZ2 with the Sodi Kart factory this season. Harley’s father works at the factory and is on the wrenches for his son this weekend. The team’s stable also includes Jakub Kolar, Patrick Ronveaux, Joshua Bergman, and Noah Jackson. Sodi Racing USA has brought in a number of factory mechanics for the WinterNationals, which is all part of the plan to re-establish the brand here in the United States. They are focused on consistent growth through their racing efforts and establishing their dealer network.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 United States Pro Kart Series at the Southern Grand Prix held at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, FL. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
Another Big One
The paddock is fully paved now to at the Orlando Kart Center (Photo: USPKS)
The 2023 opener for the United States Pro Kart Series is making its second visit to the Orlando Kart Center right in the heart of Orlando, Florida. The entry total is near the 300 mark, making it the third largest event in USPKS history behind last year’s Orlando weekend and the second event at GoPro Motorplex, with both surpassing that 300 threshold. The track and the amenities surrounding the facility remain the same, however, the paddock has been completely paved, allowing for a new north-south path/fire lane, allowing the trailers and tents to span more area. The struggle of course is parking all the passenger vehicles around the facility, utilizing again the nearby asphalt headquarter property. Nothing however can beat the weather in terms of the stuff up north. Temps are into the 70s early and a nice breeze is keeping everyone comfortable as the practice sessions are underway in Orlando.
Karting Still a Family Sport
Tommy and Tim Andersen are back on the grid at USPKS (Photo: EKN)
The sport of karting can be what you make it. We say that all the time, from the club level all the way up to the national level. It can be something you do once a month, every weekend or for some, when the chance arises. One consistent from the top down to the bottom, karting is a family sport. There are a number of father/son, father/daughter or mom/son, mom/daughter combinations of driver and mechanic – from Cadet all the way to the Master ranks. The KA100 Master class is welcoming a new driver to the class, but not to the series with Tommy Andersen returning behind the wheel. Tommy has been a racer from the beginning of the series, and worked as tuner/mechanic as well over the last 11 seasons. After time away from the seat, Tommy is back behind the wheel for his debut in the class after reaching the age of 30 recently. The best part about his return, is having his dad – Tim Andersen on the wrenches. The two were a dynamic duo in the past, winning multiple races at the national and regional level. Tim was part of the USPKS for last several seasons working as a tech official. With Tommy back behind the wheel, Tim switched out the USPKS apron and pulled out the old mechanic one out of the closet for a great father/son weekend in the ‘Sunshine State’.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 Challenge of the Americas, with the opening rounds held on March 3-5 at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
OK-N Second Event Updates
Odenthal Racing Products motor mount for the OK-N engine making its track debut (Photo: EKN)
This weekend marks the second event for the OK-N category at the Challenge, and the world. Nine drivers were in Tucson for the inaugural outing for the class, with one more set to battle in Phoenix. Walking the grid for the opening practice session, new driver Aaron Farhadi (Nash / Kart Republic) is sitting out today due to an illness, helping to get him ready for race day on Saturday and Sunday. Also, not all the engines are TM. Dustin Salaverria (The Karting Collective / Sodikart) is sporting the Modena engine this morning. We will continue to monitor engine selection as the day goes on.
Helping to connect that Modena engine to Salaverria’s Sodikart along with the TM on Chris Martin is the new Odenthal Racing Products OK-N mount. Announced through their social media channels, the mount fits both the TM and Modena engines. Speaking with competitors in Tucson, the motor mount is a different pattern compared to the other engine products for karting. The TM made mount was utilized for all entries in Tucson. Now, a ‘Made In the USA’ product is part of the OK-N package with the Odenthal mount.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the final rounds of the 2023 Superkarts! USA Winter Series on February 10-12 at AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
Kart Republic factory driver Joe Turney has swapped colors this weekend
(Photo: EKN)
Solid Walk-up Numbers
In our OutLap preview podcast, we were working with a pre-registration spreadsheet that showed 190 entries for this event. We expected to see a few walk-up registrations and we’d already got a number of comfirmations after we sent out messages. However, once we got set-up trackside, SKUSA let us know that they received an impressive 27 walk-up entries to push the total to 217. A few of those entries came in KA100 Master, pushing the class to 15 drivers.
Turney Running DAP Colors in Florida
Factory Kart Republic driver Joe Turney is running the DAP colors this weekend. The British driver leads the X30 Senior points coming into the weekend following his strong US debut in January, one that included a win on Saturday and a fifth on Sunday. Turney drove the Kart Republic colors and brand to the top of the box in Round 1, so the team elected to switch the KR’s alternate brand for this weekend. DAP is a legendary brand that was recently revived and is being produced by KR, as is the Alonso Kart.
Nash Motorsportz has focused its Cadet program on the Energy Storm chassis
(Photo: EKN)
Nash Motorsportz Focused on Energy Chassis for Cadet Program
Nash Motorsportz is one of the sport’s primary national teams, running both East Coast and West Coast programs through the winter months. We spoke with team owner Seth Nash today and he’s still stoked with the success that the team had at the Challenge of the Americas in Tucson last weekend. Nash has a smaller squad here in Homestead, including a pair of Cadet drivers on the Energy Storm chassis. Nash told us that he’s fully-committed to the Energy Cadet program, which he’ll put all of his Micro and Mini drivers on. With his full-size chassis, they are extremely pleased with the OTK product line, and they utilize the EOS brand, although he does expect to have a number of factory Energy drivers under the tent this summer, including SuperNationals KA100 Senior winner Tomass Stolcermanis.
RPG owner Mike Rolison will hit the track this weekend to race alongside his driver Mario Barrios in KA100 Master
(Photo: EKN)
Rolison Entered for KA100 Master
Among the 27 walk-ups is a new contender of the race win in KA100 Master. Rolison Performance Group owner Mike Rolison has donned his race suit for the weekend, jumping into the growing support for the air-cooled single-speed Master class, which was a highlight of the 2022 SKUSA SuperNationals last December. Part of Rolison’s motivation is to run with his RPG team driver Mario Barrios, who is also entered this weekend, but he also just loves getting out every so often to stay sharp. As part of RPG’s driver development program, Rolison regularly hits the track with his racers to push them, working on their racecraft.
Industry Paddock Rumor – Florida Team / New International Chassis Brand?
We spoke with a couple of individuals in the paddock today after hearing a rumor that a well-known South Florida race team would be making the switch to a major international chassis very shortly. Keep an eye on EKN next week for breaking news.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2023 Challenge of the Americas, with the opening rounds held on February 3-5 at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below.
OK-N Worldwide Debut
OK-N engine making its worldwide debut (Photo: EKN)
This weekend marks to the worldwide debut for the new OK-N engine platform, right here at the Challenge. The OK-N was developed by the FIA to provide an engine package that was reliable, accessible and still provide the performance element with roughly 35 horsepower and limited to 15,000 rpm. WSK Promotions was originally going to be the first series in the world to host the OK-N class, however, postponed the program. The Challenge was originally slated to allow only the Vortex engine. Thanks to the support of manufacturers and importers, the class was opened up to any of the homologated engines. This weekend, there are nine drivers that will make the class debut, with two rounds of racing to provide us with the stepping stone of the new OK-N engine platform.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 25, which is being held November 16-20 outside the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. This is insider info will not […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 United States Pro Kart Series Heartland Grand Prix from the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. This is insider info will not be seen […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park over the July 29-31 weekend. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 United States Pro Kart Series Badger State Grand Prix from the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This is insider info […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals at the Utah Motorsports Campus in Erda, Utah over the June 9-12 weekend. This is insider info will not be seen […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 United States Pro Kart Series Carolina Grand Prix from the GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Challenge of the Americas at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Challenge of the Americas at the Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 United States Pro Kart Series Southern Grand Prix from the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Challenge of the Americas at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Superkarts! USA Winter Series, with the final two rounds held on February 11-13 at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires in Homestead, Florida. This […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Challenge of the Americas at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2022 Superkarts! USA Winter Series, with the opening rounds held on January 7-9 at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires in Homestead, Florida. This is […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 24, which is being held December 1-5 outside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV. This is insider info will not be […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from the paddock at the 2021 United States Pro Kart Series Carolina Grand Prix from the GoPro Motorplex during the October 15-17 weekend. EKN Managing Editor David Cole is trackside in […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2021 United States Pro Kart Series Badger State Grand Prix from the CTECH Manufacturing Motorplex at Road America during the July 9-11 weekend. EKN Managing Editor David […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2021 United States Pro Kart Series Heartland Grand Prix from the New Castle Motorsports Park facility during the April 30-May 2 weekend. EKN Managing Editor David Cole […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2021 Challenge of the Americas presented by Royce & Baxter at the CalSpeed Karting facility during the February 26-28 weekend. EKN Managing Editor David Cole is trackside […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2021 Superkarts! USA Winter Series at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex during the February 12-14 weekend. EKN Managing Editor David Cole is trackside in Homestead, Florida to provide […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2020 United States Pro Kart Series Badger State Grand Prix from the CTECH Manufacturing Motorplex at Road America. EKN Managing Editor David Cole is trackside in Elkhart […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2020 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals, which is being held this week at the NOLA Motorsports in New Orleans, LA. This is insider info will not be […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 23, which is being held this week at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. This is insider info will not […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2019 ROK Cup USA ROK the RIO, which is being held this week at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. This is insider […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2019 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals, which is being held this weekend at New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, IN. This is insider info will not […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of the Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be notes from trackside at the 2019 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals held at the Utah Motorsports Campus in Erda, Utah. The information will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to […]
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of the Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2018 World Karting Association Daytona KartWeek from the Daytona International Speedway in Florida. The information will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below. Make sure to tune in all weekend long to the live audio and live timing at eKartingNews.com/live
Trinity Karting Group Goes Full Green for 2019
Trinity gearing up for a solid 2019 season (Photo: EKN)
Based out of Ohio, Trinity Karting Group is primed for another full season of racing in 2019. The driver development operation is back in Daytona with seven drivers under their tent here this weekend. Following the action here, they travel down to Miami to enjoy a few days at the beach before preparing on the opening event of the year, the SKUSA Winter Series at AMR Motorplex. TKG is set to for both events in Homestead-Miami in January and February along with the full SKUSA Pro Tour. They are among the many teams to purchase one of the new IAME SSE shifterkart engine for the 2019 season. Team driver Gavin Bayliff is set for the Pro Shifter category in Florida and on the Pro Tour. But first, the team is focused on this weekend with all seven drivers in IAME categories aboard Tony Kart.
Road Racing Growing with New Engine Platforms
The IAME KA100 engine platform is making its debut in road racing at Daytona (Photo: EKN)
The first event in 1974 at the Daytona International Speedway was road racing. Karts hit the high banks that year for the first ever KartWeek, running the 24 Hour circuit. Aside from a few years where there has not been an event, road racing has always made a home at Daytona between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Over the last decade, the genre has suffered some lower numbers due to the lack of interest of running on the big car tracks. Thanks to the Briggs & Stratton 206 engine, new faces have hit the road racing series and as the event here in 2018 is showing, they brought more new people. The IAME Senior and Briggs 206 classes seem to be the largest. Another new class is bringing in KA100 engine package. Roughly 15 Senior and Junior drivers are jumping on the high banks for the first time with the IAME engine. Another great part of the Road Racing community is the unity throughout the country for going fast. A number of drivers from the west coast through the NCK Road Racing organization made the trek east to take on Daytona. The only way to continue to grow Road racing is bringing new people into the sport and working together with other series. 2019 could be a year of growth for the program.
Nitro Kart Introduces Junior/Senior Chassis in Daytona
Nitro Kart is launching their Junior/Senior chassis here in Daytona (Photo: EKN)
This weekend in Daytona marks the launch of the new Nitro Kart Junior/Senior chassis. The ‘no name’ model is manufactured by Parolin, who does the Cadet model that has been so successful throughout the last two seasons, earning the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series Chassis Trophy in 2018. Nitro Kart’s Nick Tucker says the chassis was based more around certain components rather than changing the 30/32 tubing. There are four here competing, one in each category (IAME Senior, IAME Junior, KA100 Senior and KA100 Junior). Tucker is more confident in the KA100 division with the chassis, having won at New Castle in Yamaha competition with team coach Ashley Rogero. However, he is seeing the chassis working well in the IAME categories after a few sessions working with Edward and Jonathan Portz from the west coast. The chassis is ready for purchase directly from the North Carolina headquarters.
Crews to KartSport North America / Kart Republic for 2019
IAME International Final winner Brent Crews has joined KartSport North America and Kart Republic for 2019
(Photo: David Cole – EKN)
Released the day of practice, KartSport North America confirmed Brent Crews racing under the tent aboard the Kart Republic. The 10-year-old is coming off an amazing 2018 season, including a repeat win at the IAME International Final and winning the 2018 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Brazil. Moving up to the Junior ranks, Crews is competing in both IAME and KA100 Junior divisions this weekend. This is not the first time aboard the Kart Republic, having utilized the chassis in France this October. Read more about his move in the official press release.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of the Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2018 SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. The information will not be seen anywhere else. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below. Make sure to tune in all weekend long to the live audio and live timing at eKartingNews.com/live
Solo Kart Makes Its SKUSA Pro Tour Debut
The Solo Kart program has been making steady strides through its recent introduction into the US karting community, having debuted in the F Series Gearup Challenge in 2017. Adam Pettit and his partner Salvo Sparacio have worked tirelessly to develop their chassis, partnering with Righetti Ridolfi to produce their design, and they are thrilled with their consistency and build quality. Pettit and Sparacio are both racing in the X30 Master class, and they’re also fielding a Solo Kart SK-2 chassis for former SummerNationals double-winner Jesus Rios Jr.
Three Drivers Looking for Third Ring
Norberg, Wang and Musser going for third SKUSA title (Photo: EKN)
This weekend, three drivers have a chance to earn a third career Superkarts! USA Pro Tour title. For two, there is a chance for a three-peat in their respective categories. Two-time X30 Senior champion Ryan Norberg (PSL / Birel ART) is gunning for a third straight in one of the most competitive categories in the series. Norberg won in 2016 as a privateer, following up with a four-point advantage in 2017 with PSL Karting. This year, Norberg is trailing by entering the weekend but factoring the drop, is the driver at the top by a slim margin. Derek Wang (RPM / FA Kart) has the toughest road to a three-peat in the X30 Master division. Wang is third in the standings entering the weekend, trailing by 175 points and thus needing a lot of help to claim the crown. Jordon Musser is the only driver of the three leading entering the SummerNationals, holding the top spot in the S4 Master Stock Honda class. Musser is the defending champion, and won the crown in 2013. If the 3G Kart Racing / Birel ART driver does leave New Castle with the championship, it will be his third SKUSA title, making it seven national championships since 2002 with his four Rotax crowns.
Lemke and Franklin Motorsports Back Together
Brandon Lemke is back with Merlin USA and Jamie Sieracki (Photo: EKN)
It is a reunion at the Franklin Motorsports tent this weekend with the return of Brandon Lemke aboard the Merlin. Lemke was a longtime Merlin driver, winning at the Cadet, Junior and Senior level before moving his focus toward stock car racing. The Wisconsin driver is spending time in North Carolina, racing at the Hickory Speedway and selected events around the country. Not only is Lemke racing aboard a Merlin, he has Team FMS owner Jamie Sieracki turning the wrenches for him this weekend. It is a solid tent for Team FMS with over 10 drivers on a mixture of chassis brands including Merlin, Kart Republic, Kosmic, and Exprit.
Brooks Moves to FA Kart
Christian Brooks is back on OTK for the SKUSA Pro Tour series finale (Photo: EKN)
Championship leader in the X30 Senior division Christian Brooks has moved back to the OTK chassis for the series finale. Brooks has run the CRG all season, including the SKUSA Winter Series under the CRG Nordam banner and the two Pro Tour events with Nash Motorsportz. The Californian remains with Nash, moving to the FA Kart model for this weekend. Brooks won at the WinterNationals aboard the CRG but struggled to find pace in Phoenix. This is the second time Brooks began a season aboard the CRG and moved back to OTK (2016). Christian is enjoying his third season in RallyCross, sitting second in the new ARX2 Championship, set to close out in Texas this September.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is a new Trackside coverage addition, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2017 SKUSA Pro Tour SummerNationals at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. The information will not be seen anywhere else, including interviews and photos. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below: For complete coverage head to the EKN Event Page. Also, tune in all weekend long to the live audio and live timing at eKartingNews.com/live
20 Cameras for Video Marshaling
Video marshaling system amped up for New Castle (Photo: EKN)
With the size and length of the New Castle Motorsports Park, the SKUSA officials stepped up the strength of the on-track and video marshaling system. SKUSA Director of Competition Joe Janowski has increased the number of marshals on the track to eight, up from three at the beginning of the year, alongside eight corner workers to provide 16 pairs of eyes watching the action around the 1-mile course. To help back that help, there are now 20 cameras around different locations of the track, all connected via a wireless system set up by SKUSA admin Tony Leone, to give Janowski and his crew a live back up system to review possible issues on the track. They have been busy from the opening session, with penalties already being given out for drivers passing under yellow, non-complaint with numbers, and rough driving – especially in the younger categories. Drivers are missing out on a session, losing valuable track time for their actions on-track. Now at his third event, Janowski has an understanding of how to take the SKUSA Pro Tour to the next level in terms of policing the on-track action.
Not Measuring Up
Scales are showing 7-10lbs heavier than normal for a number of drivers (Photo: EKN)
Through the first half of the day here for the practice sessions, the only complaint has been the scales. About 75% of the people we spoke with said the scales were coming in about 7-10lbs heavier than normal. Myself on the scale is 200lbs. standing in the middle of the in-ground platform, my usual weight at the track. Sitting inside the CRG FS4 last night, it weighed 160lbs alone and then 360lbs with me inside the seat in the driving position. Drivers from S1, S4, X30 Senior have all stated the scales are coming in heavy with a smaller percentage not having any issues out of the normal. It is something we will follow as the event goes on.
Record Attendance
This edition of the SummerNationals is the largest in SKUSA Pro Tour history. A record number of 256 entries is the largest for the eighth edition of the race, just one short of the overall record for events outside the SuperNationals. In 2015 for the first time the event came to New Castle, we were just over the 230-mark, advancing to the 240 range last year. The numbers are boosted because of the entry expansion in the X30 Senior and Mini Swift categories, as we are seeing the number of Stock Honda diminish outside of the S2 and S4 Super Master. This year, the SummerNationals is also acting as the series finale, with the nine championships to be decided this weekend for the first time in SKUSA Pro Tour history. The question today is when is the rain going to come. There is a chance of rain to hit the area around 1pm with a 20% chance for the remainder of the weekend. Will racers take to the track for wet conditions today. We will have to see.
'Nitro' Nick Tucker not only designed the @nitro_kart chassis but helps to coach team drivers during race weekends #eknatskusa #summernats2017
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One of the fastest Cadet karts on the market – @parolinracing available from @russellkarting #EKNatSKUSA #SKUSAProTour #SummerNats2017
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SKUSAProTour #SummerNats2017 is underway #EKNatSKUSA
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David Klaus from @briggsstratton speaking with @crgnordam_official Euan Jeffery. EKN is testing the @crgspa FS4 tonight with a full write-up in the coming weeks #eknatskusa #summernats2017
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@dallaskartingcomplex @sodikartofficial here at #skusaprotour #summernats2017 to take home victories and championships in the Stock Honda categories #eknatskusa
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EKN’s Paddock Insider is added Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2017 United States Pro Kart Series Hoosier State Grand Prix at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. The information will not be seen anywhere else, including interviews and photos. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below: For complete coverage head to the EKN Event Page. Also, tune in all weekend long to the live audio and live timing at eKartingNews.com/live
Everyone’s Here
It is the summer time and with nothing to do, everyone is at the race track. This weekend is a busy one for the third stop of the USPKS program. Nearly 150 entries are here, making this the largest race of the season. Thanks to the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SummerNationals here in two weeks, teams and drivers are getting a leg up on the rest of the competition, racing against the USPKS regulars. The largest is in the IAME Pro division, pushing the number back up to the 30-driver mark. And the rest of the IAME classes (Junior, Mini and Micro) gearing up for the August 11-13 program.
Top Drivers in the Country
EKN Driver Rankings #1 Ryan Norberg is back at the USPKS (Photo: EKN)
The top three drivers in the EKN TaG Driver Rankings are in attendance here in the IAME Pro category. Current #1 Ryan Norberg (Birel ART) is making his return to the USPKS program where he earned his first major Senior victory in 2015 at South Bend. The full PSL Karting hauler is not here this weekend, but Norberg is getting a much needed return behind the wheel. Sitting second in the standings is Jake Craig. The Californian was here at the USPKS event a year ago aboard a Praga. Shortly after that event, he switched over to OTK and shined during the second half. Craig just returned from the CIK Academy Trophy event wrenching and coaching Jace Denmark-Gessel. As did Ryan Perry of RPM, who jumped in a truck just after getting off the plane at LAX, driving across country to Indiana for this weekend. Third in the standings is KartSport North America driver Brandon Jarsocrak (Praga). The ‘Shillington Slingshot’ is on a roll, winning at three of the last three races. First was Battle of the Brickyard, second was two wins here for the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series, and last weekend at Pittsburgh International Race Complex with three heat race wins at the Gearup F-Series. This will help up the rankings score with these three here, giving them an opportunity to increase their score.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is a new Trackside coverage addition, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2017 United States Pro Kart Series Liberty Grand Prix at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, PA. The information will not be seen anywhere else, including interviews and photos. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below: For complete coverage head to the EKN Event Page. Also, tune in all weekend long to the live audio and live timing at eKartingNews.com/live
Double Time for Championship Leaders
Bertagnoli and Jarsocrak double dipping again this weekend (Photo: EKN)
Alex Bertagnoli and Brandon Jarsocrak have a busy weekend ahead of them, similar to what they did in GoPro. Both are running the KA100 and IAME Pro divisions, with Bertagnoli leading the KA100 standings and Jarsocrak on top in IAME Pro. The categories utilized two different compounds, with the MG Yellows for the 125cc powerplant and MG Reds for the new 100cc engine. Bertagnoli is running two different chassis sizes – LM30 and MR29 – for the two different categories under the Franklin Motorsports tent. Jarsocrak is running both on the Praga Dark brand. Both fathers – Alan and Eddie – have their hands full keeping their drivers at the front this weekend with a stacked KA100 field and talented drivers in IAME Pro.
Autobahn Finale on the Horizon
Now into the fifth season, the United States Pro Kart Series is expanding its track list. From Shawano in Wisconsin down to the GoPro Motorplex in North Carolina, the USPKS is adding the Autobahn Country Club outside Chicago to the list of facilities. The Joliet, Illinois facility is located close to the Chicagoland Speedway, and hosts a 3.4-mile road course along with a skid pad. Along side that is a small karting course that USPKS and the Route 66 Sprint Series is going to visit in August and September, putting together a half temporary circuit. The Autobahn facility is behind it 100%, with curbing to be put in place for the course along with the temporary portions of the layout. USPKS officials have visited the facility, with more meetings planned along with a test that will include non-series competing drivers taking part to give their feedback.
Pushback Bumper In Person
Pushback bumper making its second event with the USPKS program (Photo: EKN)
For this half of the eKartingNews.com staff, this is the first time I am seeing the ‘pushback’ bumper in use. Throughout the weekend, it will be a key factor as the event unfolds, especially at the starts. The opening event in Mooresville saw a total of 41 time penalties throughout the weekend for the front nose cone pushed back. We continue to evaluate the product with the USPKS and now the Can-Am Karting Challenge the only two programs in the United States implementing the system. With just under 100 entries in the seven categories, my projection is 25 for this weekend. Racers have done a better job understanding how it works, and better ways to lock the nerf bars down better.
EKN’s Paddock Insider is a new Trackside coverage addition, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will be a timeline of events as they happen during the 2017 WKA Manufacturers Cup Series at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, PA. The information will not be seen anywhere else, including interviews and photos. Please feel free to comment and discuss our coverage and today’s action in the EKN Global Members Discussion area below: For complete coverage head to the EKN Event Page. Also, tune in all weekend long to the live audio and live timing at eKartingNews.com/live
Small Screen Footage for TB Kart USA
TB Kart USA with Focal Perspective Media this weekend (Photo: EKN)
The TB Kart brand continues to branch out in the United States, now reaching from coast to coast. TB Kart USA is headquartered in Florida, with a growing customer reach developing up the east coast, and now along the west coast in California – including its rental kart program being introduced at new and old tracks. Lead team driver AJ Myers has been hard at work, developing the AJ5 chassis, and enters this weekend leading the championship with a victory in Daytona. Myers is here along with local driver Ryan Raffa jumping on-board the mean green machine with support from Checkered Flag Motorsports. Christian Marsh from Focal Perspective Media is here filming a promotional video for TB Kart USA. Something we look forward to seeing and sharing.
Bridgestone Tire Marking
The new ‘Bridgestone’ stamp on the tires (Photo: EKN)
Away with the ‘tape on’ bar code, and back with the stamping of Bridgestone tires. Issues arose during the WKA Winter Cup program with issues of bar code swapping – along with an issue of different ‘Bridgestone’ labels. Drivers were taking their used tires and switching them out for new between qualifying / Prefinal or Prefinal / Final. With that, WKA Tech Officials have implemented the stamp procedure until bar codes return in the manufacturing process of the tire. In addition, Margay Racing – a distributor for Bridgestone tires – is handling the trade program for racers to ensure they are on the new ‘Bridgestone’ labeled tires. During the Winter Cup, competitors noted differences between the two styles of labeled tires and thus, Bridgestone is providing a 1 for 1 exchange. Here is the statement from WKA and Bridgestone.
Added to the championship program is prizes offered by Bridgestone. The new Bridgestone Mid-Season Shootout will be a mini-series between Pittsburgh, New Castle and Dousman. Those who accumulate the most points over those six rounds of racing will earn a ticket to the Rok Cup International Final in Lonato, Italy. Bridgestone will send the top point earner in Pro IAME Senior, Pro IAME Junior, Pro Swift Sportsman, and Mini Swift a full ticket to the October event. It will be interesting to have a championship within a championship.
Trinity Karting Group Makes WKA Debut with Birel ART
Trinity Karting Group drivers preparing for practice session aboard their Birel ART machines (Photo: EKN)
This weekend marks the debut for the Trinity Karting Group supporting the Birel ART chassis. For years, the Birel line was among the top chassis brands in the series with the MRP Motorsport operation. Trinity has been working over the last two months testing the product both at its home circuit and at KRA races at New Castle. The Bayliff brothers Finnegan and Gavin are racing in the Pro IAME Junior with other customers competing in other categories on the weekend. The partnership with open wheel team Team Pelfrey continues to thrive, with a number of drivers from the Trinity Karting Group development program moving up the motorsports ranks. The Cincinnati-based operation continues to welcome a strong number of competitors at the KRA program, looking to take more customers to the bigger events like WKA Manufacturers Cup and the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour.