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SKUSA Pro Tour
| EKN Trackside: 2026 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals – Sunday Report |
| Thursday, 02 April 2026 13:14 |
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Brazilian Matheus Morgatto ran away with the victory in Pro Shifter (Photo: EKN) After getting the 2026 season of Superkarts! USA Pro Tour racing underway on Saturday, SKUSA capped this year’s WinterNationals on Sunday with another day of exciting competition at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. Velocity Racing’s Matheus Morgatto (Sodikart) emerged as the dominant driver in the extended 25-lap Pro Shifter main event, driving away from the field early to leave them to fight amongst themselves for runner-up. In Pro X30, British-born drivers dominated the battle for the win, and it was MPG Motorsports’ Joe Turney (Alonso Kart) who took control late in the main to back up his Saturday triumph. The racing in all the categories was tight, which multiple drivers in the hunt for the wins.Overall, the weather on Sunday was much better than what the drivers faced on Saturday. The high winds that affected the on-track action the day earlier had left the area, but this also delivered a return of the higher ambient temperatures that challenged the paddock on Thursday and Friday. The low-60s from Saturday morning was replaced by a quick rise into the high-60s and mid-70s, which changed the track significantly all day. The heat increased into the upper 80s before an overcast sky loamed around the facility with rain building south of the course following the Pro Shifter main event. Sprinkles of rain hit the paddock as everyone was packing for their trips home without significant precipitation recorded as the podiums were conducted to award the top three drivers in the eight categories on the day. The stacked 47-kart Pro Shifter class presented by PSL Karting knocked out qualifying and two heat races on Saturday, so they began the day with a 14-lap Prefinal to add more points to set the grid for the 25-lap main. Kiwi and SKUSA Winter Series champion Jay Urwin (PSL / Birelart) started on the outside of the front row thanks to a first and third in the heats. Dutch driver and two-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Marijn Kremers (Maranello USA) used his two runner-up results and better qualifying effort to earn the pole position. It was Urwin from the outside that grabbed the holeshot and led all 14 laps of the Prefinal. He pushed away on tires from Saturday to four-second advantage of the trio of Kremers, Daniel Formal (GFC Karting) and defending SKUSA Pro Tour champion Billy Musgrave (Factory Karts) fought for the position. Matheus Morgatto (Velocity / Sodikart) improved two positions to fifth. The win put Urwin on the pole positions for the 25-lap Final and Kremers outside the front row. Formal and Musgrave to row two with Kyle Wick (GFC Karting) and Morgatto in row three. At the drop of the green, Urwin nearly stalled his machine and received a nice slam from the back thanks to Formal while they watched Kremers and Musgrave jump out front. Urwin slipped back to ninth over the opening lap after a terrible run through turn one as well. This put Formal and Morgatto into the third and fourth spots completing lap one. By lap four, Morgatto began his charge to the front. It took just three laps to work by Formal, Musgrave and Kremers to take the lead. As he grabbed the top position, fighting for second took place as Kremers was under attack. The pace by Morgatto allowed for him to stretch out to a sizeable lead by the halfway point of the race. Eventually, EKN Shifterkart Driver Rankings #1 Adrien Renaudin (Velocity / Sodikart) made his way up from eighth, into the top five and taking over second by lap 14. That was the deciding factor with Velocity Racing grabbing a 1-2 finish with Morgatto earning his second career WinterNationals triumph while Renaudin celebrated his first career SKUSA Pro Tour podium. Urwin was able to charge back throughout the 25 laps by posting the fast laps of the race, reaching Formal for the position, however the four-time SKUSA SuperNationals winner held off the Kiwi. For Formal, it is a second straight podium after winning the 2025 SummerNationals, his last time in a shifterkart. Urwin settled for fourth with Musgrave ended up in fifth.
Joe Turney doubled up in Pro X30 (Photo: EKN) The action in the Nash Motorsportz Pro X30 division finished the same as Saturday with British drive Joe Turney (MPG / Alonso Kart) on top. The 2023 SKUSA Pro Tour champion was able to set fast time in qualifying with a 49.723 lap to edge out fellow UK drivers Gus Lawrence (RPG / Kosmic) and Sean Butcher (RPG / Kosmic). Fourth was Oliver Hodgson (Factory Karts) and fifth was Jake Drew (FW / GFC). A wild start to the Prefinal saw Drew jump to the lead before Turney retook the position on lap three. Hodgson then had his turn at the point while Turney battled for second. Turney reclaimed the top spot at the white flag and held on for the race win and the pole position with Hodgson on the outside of the front row. The 22-lap Final was led by the British contingent, including UK native Hodgson as the four drivers pulled away from the rest of the field. Butcher took the lead on lap three from Turney and the two continued to swap the position until Lawrence had his turn on lap 12. He led three laps before Turney returned to the point. It was then that began running quicker times and eventually ran his personal best on lap 21 to establish a big enough advantage to go unchallenged to the victory. Butcher took second to complete his SKUSA Pro Tour debut with Lawrence completing the podium. Hodgson settled for fourth with Macy Williams (SCR / CS55) recording an impressive run from 15th to fifth. Saturday runner-up Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) started 10th but was shuffled back to 22nd on the opening lap. He ran fast laps of the race to get himself up to eighth.
Late move helped Ruben Moya toward victory in KA100 Senior (Photo: EKN) The Kart CRG USA KA100 Senior division featured a first-time winner on Sunday. Saturday winner Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) grabbed the fast time in qualifying by 10 thousandths of a second over Ruben Moya (FDM / Pantano). The Spanish driver was penalized after actions on track Friday and benched for the remainder of the practice day and Saturday in both KA and X30 competition. Moya went on the attack early and led the majority of the Prefinal before British driver Caden McQueen (Velocity / Sodikart) went from fourth to first in a matter of two turns to earn the win. McQueen, Moya, and Massimino made up the lead pack early until Massimino was able to break away with Moya in the second half of the race. Prior to the white flag, Massimino went on the defensive and it not only allowed the second pack to close in, but it also gave Moya the opportunity to take the lead. Moya took the lead and held on over the final lap, holding off a final charge by McQueen to secure his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory by 72 thousandths of a second. Chase Hand (GFC Karting) was able to slip past Massimino for the third step on the podium while Senior rookie Matthew Cagle (FW / GFC) redeemed himself from a DQ on Saturday to finish fifth, posting fast lap of the race.
Travis Pettit powered away to victory in X30 Junior (Photo: EKN) Redemption was the story in the X30 Junior class presented by Rolison Performance Group. Saturday provisional winner Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) lost the win due to a jump start penalty. While he missed out on fast time in qualifying, Pettit won the Prefinal and Final to close out his weekend. Top qualifier Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) edged out Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) by 77 thousandths in the session. Pettit was third and got the better of the two in the Prefinal. In the Final, Pettit and Kotowski got away early from the rest of the field. Kotowski was quicker early and took the lead on lap four. He showed the way until Pettit reclaimed the top position on lap 15. From there, Kotowski lost the draft and Pettit improved his pace with fast times in the race, pulling away to a one-second advantage at the line for the victory. Woon won the battle for third over Royce Vega (RPG / Kosmic) and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart).
Ashton Woon emerged with the victory in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN) The action in the TKG Birelart USA KA100 Junior division was action packed all day. Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) was able to edge out Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) by only 72 thousandths in qualifying. It was Pettit and Kotowski that shuffled for the lead all 10 laps of the Prefinal. At the line, Pettit took the win with Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) sliding into the second spot ahead of Kotowski. The Final was 22 laps of uncertainty. Early in the race, Pettit and Kotowski were able to break away with multiple pairs of drivers stretched out among the top 10. Once Kotowski took the lead on lap 12, that was enough momentum for the trailing groups to close in one by one. Eventually it was about 10 drivers in the lead pack all jostling for position. Saturday winner Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) worked his way up into the lead by lap 15 until Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) shuffled him down the order on lap 19, coming to the white flag, Woon was able to make a great move around the outside of the defending drivers, taking over the lead. Woon held on through the final lap, securing his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory in the category by just 37 thousandths of a second. Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) was able to sneak onto the third step of the podium over the course of the final lap with Pettit crossing the line in fourth. A penalty for contact dropped Pettit down to 11th in the final results, promoting Cameron Johnson (Nash / EOS) to fourth. That would have moved Orbezo up to fifth however, he was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. This moved Alex Chandler (IRM / Tony Kart) who started 16th into fifth.
Phil DeLaO held on to score a second victory in KA100 Master (Photo: EKN) The KA100 Master presented by Evinco Tires featured a double winner on the weekend. Bailey Murphy (BJR / Tony Kart) was working to not make that happen as the Arizona driver set fast time in qualifying and won the Prefinal ahead of Saturday winner Phil DeLaO (Mach5 / LN Kart). Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) threw his name into the hat early as he slipped into second behind Murphy over the opening lap. It did not take long for DeLaO as he past Barrios for second and then Murphy for the lead the following circuit. DeLaO established a good lead through the middle portion of the race until Murphy closed in late. Over the final lap, Murphy was unable to get around for the lead as DeLaO celebrated his second victory on the weekend. Josh Sarchet (Mach5 / LN Kart) was able to work by Barrios for third while Pierce Baldus (Hi5 / Redspeed) found speed overnight to claim the fifth spot.
Mason Brody won in a photo finish in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN) Nitro Kart was able to sweep the Cadet divisions on the weekend. In Mega Power Engines Mini Swift division, Saturday winner Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart) put down a burner lap to clear the field by over four tenths of a second. He was shuffled down to seventh in the Prefinal as Team Benik drivers Max Santana and Dutch Westbrook went 1-2 in the race. Westbrook was able to break away from the field at the start of the Final until a charging Brody was able to catch up after four laps. He was on the bumper of Westbrook for a few laps before losing ground. Brody came back and with two laps remaining, they fought for the lead. On the final circuit, Westbrook ran a defensive line into turn 11 and Brody set up the over under for turn 12. A great run out of the final turn and Brody reached the finish line first by 60 thousandths of a second. Westbrook settled for second with Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart) holding off a charging Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) for the third step on the podium. Manalio came from 15th on the grid while Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA) came from 14th to finish fifth.
Tre Sanders was named winner in Micro Swift after penalties (Photo: EKN) The action in Micro Swift presented by Grupo Santana Vega was not as clean as we have seen throughout the last few seasons. Canadian Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) opened up the day with fast time in qualifying ahead of Benjamin Monroy (Position-One / Croc Promotion). Saturday winner Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart) charged from eight on the grid for the Prefinal to the race win with Andres M. Pena (Kart CRG USA) promoted to second after SKUSA Winter Series champion Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) was handed a penalty for blocking. Kotowski started the Final in 11th and was on the charge. He joined the lead group by the halfway point and was up into the lead on lap 13. The next lap, Dusty Strayer (Parolin Motorsport USA) was shuffled off the track. A few laps later Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) grabbed the lead and showed the way to the white flag. On the final circuit, Kotowski and Sanders were able to work past for the lead and with Jack taking the provisional win. A five-second penalty for contact dropped Kotowski out of the top five and promoted Sanders to the victory, his second on the weekend. Wyatt was given a penalty for contact as well, dropping him to seventh in the order and promoted Francisco up to second with Emmett Dalton (Velocity / Sodikart) into third for his first SKUSA Pro Tour podium. Carson Bishop (Nitro Kart) and Shepp Sullivan (Team Benik) completed the top five.The Superkarts! USA Pro Tour will now break until the 2026 edition of the SKUSA SpringNationals on June 12-14 at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio. |
