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| EKN Trackside: 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series – Speedsportz 2 – Saturday Report |
| Thursday, 19 February 2026 13:21 |
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Alexander Vanchev claimed his first Pro X30 victory (Photo: EKN) The penultimate round of the 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series was completed on Saturday at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas. The day was full of changing weather conditions, with a wet track to start before it dried by the second Prefinal on the day. The same KA100 Senior category then experienced the return of rain, which kept the track dry for the remainder of the main events. Two drivers were able to double up on the day, featuring Alexander Vanchev grabbing both single speed Senior category victories while Nico Kotowski swept the Junior main events on the day.The Pro X30 presented by Kart CRG USA began on a wet track for qualifying with Brazilian Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart) the only driver to dip into the 1:03 lap time mark. He edged out Round One winner Oliver Hodgson (Factory Karts) – who rebuilt his machine after a Happy Hour wreck Friday afternoon. Canadian Ayden Ingratta (REM / Kosmic) – who was quickest in Happy Hour – was third with Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) in fourth. At the start of the 10-lap Prefinal on a dry track and new dry Evinco Tires, Ingratta was spun around and suffered front end damage to retire, forced to start the Final from 26th. Up front, Ramos was able to get away to a comfortable win ahead of Hodgson with Gus Lawrence (RPG / Kosmic) up to third over Vanchev. Ramos and Hodgson were the first two leaders in the early portion of the Final until Vanchev took over the top spot on lap seven. From there, the Senior rookie established over a two second advantage on the west track to claim his first career Pro X30 victory. Hodgson ran second with Ramos completing the podium in third. Ingratta had an amazing drive from the tail of the field on wet tires, knifing his way up to the fourth spot on track but suffered a cut track penalty, docking him five seconds and moving Lawrence above him to fourth. Hodgson remains the championship leader, holding a 70-point advantage now over Vanchev with Lawrence sitting third, 80 points back.
Matheus Morgatto picked up Round Three win in Pro Shifter, earning a third straight year of a win at the series (Photo: EKN) With a drying track for qualifying, the Pro Shifter presented by PSL Karting remained on wet MG Tires for qualifying, eliminating the chance at setting a new track record. Instead, reigning SKUSA Pro Tour champion Billy Musgrave (Factory Karts) rolled out a 1:00.545 to set the fast time in the session. Two-time SKUSA Winter Series champion Matheus Morgatto (Velocity / Sodi Kart) was second in his SKUSA 2026 debut while championship leader Jay Urwin (PSL / Birelart) was third. Musgrave, however, would not complete a lap as he was involved in contact with Justin White after just three corners to begin the Prefinal. Both retired and would start 15th and 14th. Morgatto went on to lead all 10 laps ahead of Urwin and Round Two winner Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart). Much like there was in X30, Pro Shifter saw a drive from the back, this time, nearly a last to first scenario. Morgatto grabbed the hole shot and led over Urwin and Bayliff. By lap three, Musgrave was into the fourth spot after starting 15th. Within two laps, he was up to the second spot and began inching his way closer to Morgatto lap after lap. The final few laps saw Musgrave make up a lot of ground and was on his bumper as they took the white flag. Morgatto ran a strong defensive line, keeping Musgrave from making a move. He attempted an over / under in the final hairpin, but Morgatto shut the door and was able to drive away to the checkered flag for his first victory of 2026. Musgrave settled for second with Urwin on the podium. Bayliff was fourth with White driving up to fifth from 14th. Urwin remains the championship leader, holding a 60-point lead over Bayliff.
Alexander Vanchev ran away from the KA100 Senior after it began to rain in the Final (Photo: EKN) Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) won two times on the day, picking up victory in his KA100 Senior presented by Orsolon Racing debut. Vanchev was fourth in the wet weather qualifying session with Texas driver Landon Skinner (Norberg / GFC) setting fast time with a 1:06.271 to edge out Chace Gassiot-Lee (Team Benik) and Round One winner Sebastian Garzon (Orsolon / Tony Kart). The track turned to dry conditions just before the Prefinal, as Vanchev took advantage of the new Evinco Tires, jumping out to the lead over the opening corners and leading all 10 laps for the win over Cash Perkins (SCR / CS55) and Donovan Bonilla (SCR / CS55). The 20-lap main event started with a dry track before sprinkles made for a challenging final second half of the race. The lead group was made up of Vanchev, Bonilla, Mateo Rubio Luengo (BJR / LN Kart) and Round Two winner Collin Lloyd (Velocity / Sodi Kart). Bonilla went off track at the end of the long straight at the halfway point when the rain hit, and Vanchev took advantage of the damp track on dry tire to reclaim the lead. Vanchev went on to lead the rest of race, securing his first class victory. Lloyd was second at the line, but was removed from the results for a tech infraction. This promoted Rubio Luengo to second, and would have put Finnegan Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) to third, but the Ohio driver had a five-second cut track penalty. Multiple drivers, including Juan Paramo (Orsolon / Tony Kart), Gassiot-Lee and Max Weiland (MPG / Kart Republic) all suffered penalties, promoting Derek Wargo (McCrone / CompKart) to the third step on the podium with Caleb Gafrarar (HDD / Tony Kart) fourth and Perkins fifth. Rubio Luengo now leads the championship by 29 points with Lloyd back in third.
Hard fought first win in KA100 Junior for Nico Kotowski (Photo: EKN) Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) was able to match the performance of Vanchev in the Junior ranks. Kotowski opened the day with fast time in qualifying for KA100 Junior presented by TKG Birelart USA. He cleared the 36 driver field by seven tenths on the wet track. He was shuffled back to fourth in the Prefinal as Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) jumped out to the lead and ran away with the 10-lap race win by over five seconds over Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) and Nathan Golseth (SCR / Tony Kart). For the 20-lap Final on dry Evinco Tires, Pettit was shuffled back at the start as Golseth, Orbezo, Kotowski and Round Two winner Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart). Eventually, Kotowski was able to work his way up into the lead and was able to fight off the pack for his first series victory. Golseth was a close second after falling to third before the white flag. Murphy was third at the line over Orbezo with Gabriel Balog (TB Kart) in fifth. Golseth is now the championship leader after three rounds, holding a 33-point advantage going into the final round over Pettit with Murphy third and Tyrone Kemper Jr. (Hi5 / Redspeed) fourth, all within 78 points.
Late pass for the lead helped Nico Kotowski earn the X30 Junior victory (Photo: EKN) The second win on the day for Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) came in X30 Junior presented by Rolison Performance Group. Championship leader Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) opened up qualifying with fast time, clearing the field by over two tenths with Kotowski in second. Pettit went on to lead all 10 laps of the Prefinal, only to be penalized 10 seconds for ‘manipulating the start’. This dropped him down to seventh in the results and gave Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) the win and pole position for the Final. Woon jumped out to the lead for the start of the Final with Kotowski coming up to second by lap three. Woon had a comfortable gap throughout the main until the final few laps when Kotowski inched his way closer. With two laps remaining, Kotowski caught and passed Woon for the lead. He was unable to respond as Kotowski went on to secure his first victory in the category, completing the main event sweep. Woon settled for second, earning fast lap of the race, while Pettit crossed the line in third. He suffered another penalty, three-second PBB, to move him to fifth, promoting Eli Steinbruch (Orsolon / Tony Kart) to third and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) to fourth. Pettit remains the championship leader with a 54-point advantage over Woon with Nathan Golseth (SCR / Tony Kart) back by 76 points in third.
Mario Barrios ran away with the victory in KA100 Master (Photo: EKN) Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) picked up his first win of the season in KA100 Master presented by IAME USA West. Two-time winner Brian Boly (RPG / Kosmic) set fast time in qualifying, clearing the 13-driver field by over two tenths before winning the Prefinal in dry conditions over Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart). Wet weather returned for the Final and Barrios took advantage. He grabbed the lead on the opening circuit and never looked back. It was a wire-to-wire performance for Barrios as Trevor McAlister (Arcane / Tony Kart) crossed the line in second. McAlister was handed a five-second penalty for contact, dropping him to third and promoting Boly to second. Mier ended up fourth with Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) recovering to fifth after trouble earlier in the day.
Mason Brody grabbed his first SKUSA victory in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN) Mini Swift presented by Parazinho Chassis Jig also welcomed a first time winner. Championship leader and Round One winner Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) was able to clear the 29-driver field by three tenths in qualifying but was second to Marcelo Flores (Parolin Motorsport USA) in the Prefinal with Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart) in third. Flores led the opening three laps before Brody took over the point. The top two were able to break away, and Brody established enough of a gap to keep Flores from challenging. Flores closed up in the end, but was not able to get close enough to make a move as Brody took the checkered flag to claim his first SKUSA victory. Flores was second at the line but smashed the rear bumper of Brody after the checkered flag, and was removed from the results on the day. This promoted Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic) to the second spot ahead of Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA) to complete the podium. Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) was fourth with Lucas Tarango (RPM / Nitro Kart) setting fast time in the race in fifth position. Championship leader Manalio slipped back to eighth in the order but enters the final round leading by 181 points over Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart).
Jack Kotowski won a third straight in Micro Swift (Photo; EKN) The championship in Mirco Swift presented by Team Benik has been decided as Jack Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) picked up his third straight victory. Kotowski was able to clear the 28-driver field by nearly a half second in the wet session for qualifying. His perfect score on the championship was broken up in the Prefinal as Dusty Strayer (Parolin Motorsport USA) was able to pull off a great last lap move for the win in dry conditions. The wet track for the Final proved to be Kotowski’s playground as once again he drove away with fast laps of the race, establishing a 3.4-second advantage for his third victory of the series and claim the class championship provisionally. Max Santana (Team Benik) was runner-up with Strayer in third ahead of Wiley Lee (Team Benik) and Andres M. Pena (Kart CRG USA).Podiums for Saturday were delayed until Sunday with severe thunderstorms and tornado watches in place following the on track action. Racing resumes on Sunday with Round Four action to complete the 2026 SKUSA Winter Series from Speedsportz. |
