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SKUSA Winter Series
| EKN Trackside: 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series – Speedsportz 1 – Saturday Report |
| Wednesday, 14 January 2026 13:42 |
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Oliver Hodgson scored the Pro X30 victory in his Factory Karts debut (Photo: EKN) The first round of the 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series was completed on Saturday at the Speedsportz Racing Park. The New Caney, Texas facility saw colder weather on the day after a warm, humid and wet day on Friday for practice. The sun was shining on and off throughout the qualifying, Prefinal and Final action for the eight categories and the over 230 entries. Eight drivers celebrated opening up the 2026 season with victories, including Oliver Hodgson in Pro X30 in his debut with Factory Karts while Kiwi Jay Urwin won in his first SKUSA main event in Pro Shifter.The Kart CRG USA Pro X30 category began with Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) edging out the 30 driver field in qualifying with a 52.897 lap time. The Californian beat out the British contingent of Gus Lawrence (RPG / Kosmic) and Oliver Hodgson, making his debut with Factory Karts. Lawrence jumped out to the lead in the 10-lap Prefinal with Nash back to third early. Hodgson and Nash both worked past Lawrence after the halfway point and with two laps to go, Nash reclaimed the top spot, going on to take the win. Nash maintained the lead at the start of the 20-lap Final before Hodgson claimed the position on lap four. The two were able to breakaway from the field as Lawrence was eventually joined by another group and battled throughout the race for the third position. Nash made a late charge at Hodgson, however, the now USA resident was able to hold on, giving Factory Karts its first victory in the single-speed category in SKUSA competition. Nash ended up second with Davin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart) emerging from the battle to cross the line in third. Tech inspection, however removed both from the results, reeds for Nash and cylinder for Roberts. This promoted Canadian Ayden Ingratta to runner-up in his debut with Racing Edge Motorsports / Kosmic while Senior rookie Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) ended up on the podium in third. His race began caught up in incident at the start, falling to 23rd after starting inside the top eight. Fast laps of the race put him on the podium ahead of Lawrence with Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart) classified fifth. *Nash was reinstated to second place on Sunday.
Dominant victory in the SKUSA Winter Series debut for Jay Urwin in Pro Shifter (Photo: EKN) New Zealand driver Jay Urwin (PSL / Birelart) secured his first SKUSA victory in his SKUSA Winter Series debut in the PSL Karting Pro Shifter division. The only blemish on the day was in qualifying where former SKUSA Winter Series winner Justin White (Maranello USA) put down a flier of 50.142 to put himself on the pole position, clearing the 15 driver field by over two tenths. Urwin was second and was able to get the holeshot win in the Prefinal. White slotted into second with WinterNationals winner Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) finishing ahead of SKUSA Pro Tour champion Billy Musgrave (Factory Karts). Urwin once again got the holeshot and used that to pace the field for all 20 laps in the Final. Musgrave jumped up to second as White slipped to third and Bayliff back to fifth. By lap nine, White was able to work by Musgrave with Bayliff doing the same on lap 11. Bayliff, who had the fast lap of the race, quickly moved into second as they began gapping Musgrave. Eventually, the Californian retired with a broken king pin bolt. Up front, Urwin drove away to four-second advantage over Bayliff and White. Cooper Becklin (NRC / LN Kart) was fourth with Ashton Henckel (PSL / Birelart) recording his career best finish in fifth.
Sebastian Garzon won the battle in KA100 Senior (Photo: EKN) The Orsolon Racing KA100 Senior category was busy with action all day until the last few laps. Mateo Rubio Luengo (BJR / LN Kart) set the fast time in qualifying with a lap of 54.990, edging out the 36 driver field. He along with Collin Lloyd (Velocity), Cash Perkins (SCR / CS55) and Juan Paramo (Orsolon / Tony Kart) battled at the front in the Prefinal. Contact between Luengo and Paramo allowed Lloyd to go on to the win in the Prefinal, with Perkins and Jared Clarke (BJR / LN Kart) moving up to second and third. Back in 10th was two-time SuperNationals winner Sebastian Garzon (Orsolon / Tony Kart). Garzon moved into the top-five by lap six of the Final as Perkins and Lloyd broke away. They were eventually run down to make it an eight driver lead pack. This gave Garzon the opportunity to move his way forward, going from fourth to first in three laps. Fighting for second behind him allowed breathing room as Garzon led the remainder of the race, winning by just over seven tenths. Rubeo Luengo was able to move up into second with Lloyd placing third. Donovan Bonilla (SCR / CS55) at the line but penalized three seconds for contact. This dropped him down to sixth behind Perkins and Clarke.
Easton Cox locked up his first SKUSA victory in KA100 Junior with a last lap move (Photo: EKN) The TKG Birelart USA KA100 Junior category welcomed a first time winner. Texas driver Easton Cox (Hi5 / Redspeed) used the track knowledge to pull off fast time in qualifying with a 56.035 lap to edge out Max Cristea (MPG / Kart Republic) and TSRS champion Tyrone Kemper Jr. (Hi5 / Redspeed). Cristea retired after lap five in the Prefinal with Kemper beating out Cox for the win. Finishing fourth was Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) as he and Cox worked together to pull away in the Final. They ran 1-2 from lap two until the final circuit. Cox was able to slip past Pettit through the turn eight and nine complex, and held on through to take the checkered flag for his first career SKUSA victory. Pettit settled for second with Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) moving up to third with Nico Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) fourth and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) fifth, dropping Kemper to sixth.
Nathan Golseth was named winner in X30 Junior (Photo: EKN) Another category to welcome a new SKUSA winner was in the Rolison Performance Group X30 Junior class, except it was decided after the checkered flag. Royce Vega (RPG / Kosmic) looked to be the driver to beat on the day, setting fast time in qualifying and winning the Prefinal. After a lead group of five drivers fought at the early portion of the race, Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) and Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) established themselves as the top two and broke away. Each led at a time but it was Pettit leading the majority of the race. Golseth took the lead on lap 17, only to have Pettit reclaim the spot and lead the final two laps for the provisional victory. Pettit would have the victory taken away for a penalty due to scrubbing the tires after the commitment cone. The three-second penalty moved Golseth to the top of the podium in his debut with Speed Concepts Racing. Pettit was classified second with Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) winning the battle for third after running sixth for much of the race. Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) was classified fourth with Mateo Calderon (SCR / CS55) in fifth after penalties.
Brian Boly claimed his first SKUSA victory in KA100 Master (Photo: EKN) All eight categories welcomed a first time winner in their respective division, including IAME USA West KA100 Master. Junaid Din (Orsolon / Tony Kart) set the fast time in qualifying over the 19 driver field however suffered a DNF in the Prefinal after contact while fighting for the lead. Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) took advantage of the contact, escaping with the lead and the win over Trevor McAlister (Arcane / Redspeed) and Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart). Barrios led the opening nine laps of the Final with McAlister and eventually Brian Boly (RPG / Kosmic) on his bumper. Boly moved to second on lap seven and into the lead on lap 10. Barrios stayed on his bumper until lap 13 when his throttle cable broke, forcing him to retire. This put McAlister to second and eventually pressured by Mier and a charging Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart), who started 18th and was fourth by lap 10. Falcone moved to third when Barrios retired and was pressuring McAlister for second. Lap 18, going into the boot section, McAlister slowed, causing Falcone to spin while trying to avoid contact. He then got ran over while trying to rejoin the field, dropping to 12th. Up front, Boly went on to score the victory by over five seconds with McAlister second and Mier third. Mier however received a penalty for advancing after the commitment cone. This dropped him to fifth in the order and promoted Carlos Calderon (SCR / CS55) up to third on the podium. Jose Eduard Delagarza Elizondo (RPG / Kosmic) was classified fourth.
Jake Manalio locked up the Mini Swift victory with an outside move on the final lap (Photo: EKN) It was a great battle all day long in the 35-driver field for Evinco Tires Mini Swift category. Mini rookie Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart) opened up the action with fast time in qualifying, edging out Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Lorenzo Lopez (Kart CRG USA). Five lead changes in the nine lap Prefinal saw Manalio come away with the win over Wynn Godschalk (Team Benik) and Lopez with Stoffle back to fourth. It was a three driver breakaway in the Final including Manalio, Lopez and Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic). Lopez showed the way until they started battling late in the race, bringing the second group in for a large lead pack to battle. On the final circuit, Manalio was able to grab the lead with an outside move at the end of the straight after Lopez went defensive. That sealed the deal as the rest of the group fought for second behind him and Manalio claimed his first SKUSA victory. Godschalk crossed the line in second ahead of Mini rookie Lucas Tarango (RPM / Nitro Kart). Godschalk however was penalized for contact, dropping him to 11th in the order and moved Tarango to second. Nico Salazar (Orsolon / Parolin) placed third on the podium ahead of Howard and Stoffle – who had fast lap of the race.
Perfect day for Jack Kotowski in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN) The only sweep of the day came in Parazinho Chassis Jig Micro Swift class. Jack Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) went perfect on the day, setting fast time in qualifying with a 1:00.622 lap to clear the 26-driver field by three tenths. He led all nine laps of the Prefinal to win by 1.2 seconds before leading all 18 laps of the Final, pulling away to a 15-second advantage at the checkered flag. Max Santana (CRG Kart Guero) was second early until Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) took over the position. Santana ended up on the podium in third with Dusty Strayer (Parolin USA) placing fourth and Romeo Ferrante (Orsolon / Tony Kart) finishing in the fifth spot.The second round of the 2026 SKUSA Winter Series will be conducted on Sunday at the Speedsportz Racing Park with drivers looking to repeat and other seeking improvement on the first day of racing on the season. |
