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 PRE ENTRY OPENS JUNE 22 at 12 NOON PDT |
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SKUSA Pro Tour
| EKN Trackside: 2026 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals – Saturday Report |
| Sunday, 14 June 2026 00:00 |
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Gus Lawrence returned to the top of the podium in Pro X30 (Photo: EKN) The opening day of wheel-to-wheel action at 2026 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals was characterized by close, frenetic racing. The Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati presents a supreme challenge across all the categories and the main events were extremely entertaining with veteran drivers coming out on top in the Senior categories. Rolison Performance Group’s Gus Lawrence (Kosmic) emerged from a massive lead group to score a crucial Pro X30 win, while PSL Karting’s Diego Ramos (Birelart) topped the KA100 Senior final. In Pro Shifter, Velocity Racing’s Matheus Morgatto (Sodikart) posted a pair of runner-up finishes in the two heat races to lock down the pole for Sunday’s Prefinal, setting up an epic battle as Carblos Racing’s Marijn Kremers (Maranello) and GFC Karting’s Kyle Wick (GFC) scored the race wins.It was a near sweep for a defending SpringNationals Pro X30 presented by Nash Motorsportz winner Gus Lawrence, coming up just 46 thousandths short in qualifying to end up third in the order behind Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) and double WinterNationals winner Joe Turney (MPG / Kart Republic) – who both posted a 55.476 lap time. Lawrence quickly went to the lead as he was able to hold off Turney for the win with Massimino in the third spot. The start to the 20-lap Final was chaotic with both Finnegan Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) and Oliver Hodgson (Factory Karts) getting spun sideway in front of the field, sending drivers scattering for a path around. The lead group was five drivers early but shuffling took place lap after lap, including Lawrence, Jesus Vasquez Jr. (GFC Karting) and Turney taking the lead. Massimino took the top spot on lap eight but was relieved of his position on lap 10 by Lawrence in the downhill turn 11. Massimino was under attack over the next two laps, dropping down to fourth with Vasquez and Keagan Kaminski (FW / GFC) working past. This allowed Lawrence to establish a lead over the group with Massimino eventually working back up into second with three laps to go. By then, Lawrence was able to cruise to victory, his second triumph at MCC winning by over two seconds. Massimino was second with Vasquez third on the podium, holding off a charging Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart) who started back in 25th after losing a chain guard in the Prefinal. Ruben Moya (FDM / Pantano) was able to come up from 17th on the grid to finish fifth.
Kyle Wick set fast time in Pro Shifter Super Pole and won Heat Two after engine issues in opening moto (Photo: EKN) The Pro Shifter presented by PSL Karting hosted qualifying, Super Pole, and two heat races on the day. It was Kyle Wick (GFC Karting) and WinterNationals winner Matheus Morgatto (Velocity / Sodikart) that were the top two in the qualifying groups, setting up the 12 drivers who moved into the Super Pole session. Morgatto was the last driver to cross the line with the quickest lap in the groups, but it was Wick that secured the pole position with a better time than he did in the group with a 51.917, the only driver below the 52 mark. Former two-time series champion Marijn Kremers (Carblos / Maranello) went from third to first in the opening lap, running away from the field to claim the win in the opening heat. The race saw both Wick and Jay Urwin (PSL / Birelart) retire early with engine issue along with Jacob Gulick (GFC Karting) falling down the order after contact. Heat Two was a holeshot win for Wick as he returned from his engine woes in the previous moto to win by over a second ahead of Morgatto. Kremers did not have as great of a start and was settled into fifth until contact from Urwin put the former FIA Karting World KZ Champion and himself on the sideline. Gulick improved to third to rebound from his poor result in the opening moto while defending SKUSA Pro Tour champion Billy Musgrave (Factory Karts) was fourth. Morgatto will start the Prefinal from the pole position with Musgrave on the outside of the front row with Daniel Formal (GFC Karting) and Massimo Valiante (IM / Italkart) on row two with their top seven results in the two heat races. Wick starts from P6 alongside defending race winner Josh Conquer (Carblos / Maranello) while Kremers goes from P7 next to Gulick.
Defending KA100 Senior champion Diego Ramos came on late to win his first feature of the season (Photo: EKN) It was a near sweep in KA100 Senior presented by Kart CRG USA as Round One winner Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) set fast time in qualifying by over two tenths and went wire-to-wire in the Prefinal ahead of defending series champion Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart). The Final was a three-driver breakaway that eventually turned into four. James Overbeck (BJR / Tony Kart) making his class debut on the season came from dead last after engine issues in qualifying up to 12th in the Prefinal. By lap 12 of the Final, he was into the fourth spot and was able to run down the top three including Massimino, Ramos and Chase Hand (GFC Karting). Ramos led the opening two laps before Massimino took control. Ramos made his move at the start of lap 18, into turn one and from there, held on through to the checkered flag. Massimino made a last push at the line, coming up short at the line by 19 thousandths. With fast lap of the race, Overbeck secured the third spot on the podium ahead of Hand while Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Kart) won the battle for fifth.
Marco Sammut claimed his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN) In his KA100 Junior presented by TKG Birelart USA class debut, Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) was able to secure his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory. Sammut was only 12th after qualifying as Darren Kidd (HDD / LN Kart) avoided the track position games to lay down a flayer to clear the field by over three tenths. He was shuffled back to fourth on lap three and then starting lap four, spun on the exit of turn one and fell down the order. Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) went on to win ahead of Valentino Santillan (HDD / Tony Kart) with Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) into third. Sammut was only ninth at the end of the 10 laps. The 20-lap Final was full of action, including Santillan dropping down the order after the opening lap. Murphy exchanged the lead with teammate Colton Schniegenberg (RPM / Tony Kart) through the first half of the race until Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) made his way to the front. Lap 17, Sammut was up to third and was able to get around both Murphy and Golseth for the lead. Eventually Pettit was able to get into second with two laps to go. Sammut got a little gap as they fought for second behind him, and celebrated the victory by over four tenths of a second to become the third different winner on the season. Schniegenberg was across the line in second ahead of Murphy but was removed in tech for carb issue. This promoted Murphy to second and Golseth onto the third step of the podium. Pettit finished fourth with Cameron Johnson (Nash / EOS) classified in fifth.
Two straight wins for Travis Pettit in X30 Junior (Photo: EKN) Travis Pettit celebrated his X30 Junior presented by Rolison Performance Group debut with Brandon Jarsocrak Racing with a sweep of Round Three. The Round Two winner piloted his LN Kart to the fast time of 56.622 in qualifying and led all 10 laps of the Prefinal, finishing just ahead of former teammate Ruben Gutierrez (RPG / Kosmic) with new teammate Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) in third. The main event however featured heavy fighting throughout the 20 laps, but Pettit led for 19 of them. Leading the first six circuits, Round One winner Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) took the lead after starting outside the top five. Pettit returned to the point and Woon fell down to 10th in just four laps. Pettit continued leading ahead of Murphy and Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) until lap 17 when contact involving multiple drivers took both them out. This gave Pettit a clean run to the checkered flag by 1.6 seconds over Gutierrez. Maxwell Macha (Parolin Motorsport USA) was across the line in third ahead of Woon, who was penalized five seconds for contact and classified seventh. This promoted Grayson Walcott (RPG / Kosmic) to fourth and Junior rookie Aston Wyatt (RPM / Tony Kart) into the fifth position.
Mario Barrios dominated the feature in KA100 Master (Photo: EKN) Rolison Performance Group’s Mario Barrios (Kosmic) scored the win in the Evinco KA100 Master main event, but it was not without issues. After qualifying on the pole, Barrios messed up the start of the Prefinal, both punching off early and moving out of the tram lines before the green flag, leading to a pair of penalties. Despite winning the race and being subsequently dropped to sixth with the penalties, the effect was minimized by the short seven-kart field. In the Final, Barrios quickly made his way back to the front and the drove away to win by 5.271 seconds over double WinterNationals winner and point leader Phil DeLaO (Mach 5/ LN Kart). Jon May (BJR / LN Kart) inherited the Prefinal win after Barrios’ penalties and led the Final early and would hold on for the final spot on the podium after a spirited battle with Junaid Din (SCR / CS55), who finished fourth ahead of Cristian Smith (PSL / Birelart).
Jayden Francisco claimed Mini Swift victory in his first start of the 2026 SKUSA Pro Tour campaign (Photo: EKN) In a textbook display of teamwork and racecraft, Ryan Perry Motorsport drivers Tristan Francisco (Nitro Kart) and Mason Brody (Nitro Kart) pulled away from the field early in the Mega Power Racing Mini Swift main event, saving the battle for themselves. After 18 laps of racing, Francisco held off his patient and equally quick teammate to post a tight 0.045-second victory. Brody topped the qualifying session to begin the day, securing the bonus points, and then swapped the lead with Francisco in the Prefinal to lock down the pole. Brody led early in the Final as he and Francisco stretched away from the rest of the competition, before the latter attacked to take the lead on lap three. Brody positioned himself on his teammates bumper and pushed the leader away, but despite showing patience and maturity all race, he just didn’t have pace to attack for the lead over the final laps. Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) and Hudson Howard (MPG / Kart Republic) paired up to separate from the field themselves, finished third and fourth, respectively. RPM drivers Lucas Tarango (Nitro Kart) and Jake Manalio (Nitro Kart) finished fifth and sixth, also teaming up to pull away from the rest of the field.
Beau Wyatt celebrated his first SKUSA Pro Tour victory in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN) In Grupo Santana Vega Micro Swift, TKG Birelart USA’s Jack Kotowski put his Birelart on the pole but was DQ’d in the Prefinal for his team utilizing tools on the grid. Team Benik’s Beau Wyatt emerged to score the Prefinal victory ahead of Round One winner Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart). Wyatt did the same in the Final to become the third different winner on the season, getting out away from the pack late in the 18-lap race to cruise to a 2.873-second victory over Round Two winner Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro). Francisco (RPM / Nitro) crossed the line second on the track, but a 6-second penalty for jumping the start dropped him off the podium to fifth. Liam Compitiello (RPM / Nitro Kart) finished third on track, but he too was penalized for incident responsibility and moved down to fourth. This advanced Kotowski to third, having driven from the tail of the 26-driver field.In total, there were six new winners on the season across the seven main events on the day. The teams and drivers will return to action on Sunday for Round Four and the weather forecast is looming with a high percentage chance of rain. This would change the complexion of the competition and give the chance to see which drivers excel in the wet to close out the 2026 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour SpringNationals at MCC. |
