National QUICK LINKS
Winter Series Menu
Winter Series Sponsors
SEARCH
SKUSA Winter Series
| EKN Trackside: 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series – Speedsportz 2 – Sunday Report |
| Thursday, 19 February 2026 13:27 |
|
Jay Urwin celebrated his Pro Shifter championship with victory in Round Four (Photo: EKN) The 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series came to an end on Sunday at the Speedsportz Racing Park. The New Caney, Texas facility has been busy with activity over the last month, including two weekends and four rounds of racing for the SKUSA organization. Weather for the final day of action was comfortable, opening up with a drying track after the heavy storms rolled through the area Saturday evening. One area at the end of the front straight, going into turn one stayed wet through qualifying and dissipated by the time racing began. Sunday was the fourth and final round of the championship program to help kick start the new year, and eight drivers secured the first titles of the season. Among them was Kiwi Jay Urwin as the PSL Karting driver used a string of podium finishes, including two wins to become the new Pro Shifter champion.The drying track and wet spot in qualifying for the PSL Karting Pro Shifter did not allow for a new track record. However, Factory Karts driver Billy Musgrave put down the only sub 50-second lap time to secure the pole position by over two tenths on Urwin (PSL / Birelart). It was a holeshot win for Musgrave in the Prefinal winning by just over two tenths to Urwin, who put in the fast lap of the race. The Final flipped around as Urwin got the jump at the wave of the green flag and never looked back. Urwin had the quicker pace once again and was the only driver into the sub 50-second lap times over the course of the 20-lap main event. The driver from New Zealand stretched away to a four-second advantage by the checkered flag to celebrate his first SKUSA Winer Series title. Musgrave rolled across in second with Saturday winner Matheus Morgatto (Velocity / Sodi Kart) recovering to third after getting shuffled back in the Prefinal ahead of Justin White (Maranello USA) in fourth. Round Two winner Gavin Bayliff (TKG Birelart USA) retired after working his way back up to fifth after a botched start, that was until his exhaust came loose and he was forced to retire. This promoted Ashton Henckel (PSL / Birelart) to fifth. Urwin took the championship by 86 points over Musgrave with Bayliff finishing third.
Ayden Ingratta dominated the Pro X30 main event, becoming the fourth different winner (Photo: EKN) The Kart CRG USA Pro X30 class welcomed a fourth different winner over the course of four rounds. SuperNationals 28 winner Gus Lawrence (RPG / Kosmic) started out the day as the driver to beat with a fast time of 52.787 in qualifying and would lead all 10 laps of the Prefinal to win over Ayden Ingratta (REM / Kosmic), who put down fast lap of the race in his run up from sixth on the grid. Ingratta was shuffled back to third at the start as Lawrence and Sean Butcher (RPG / Kosmic) led the way through the opening couple of laps. Ingratta went on the attack early, picking off both Butcher and Lawrence for the lead. Lawrence fell back to fourth as Round One winner Oliver Hodgson (Factory Karts) made his way up into third. The top two of Ingratta and Butcher pulled away. Ingratta had a comfortable lead but Butcher cut into the advantage checkered flag drew closer. The gap was too large, and Ingratta kept it manageable to take the victory unchallenged, winning by eight tenths at the line. Butcher settled for second, rebounding from a flat tire in Saturday’s main event. Lawrence was able to beat out Hodgson for third to break up his podium streak with former SuperNationals winner Donovan Bonilla (SCR / CS55) a close fifth. Despite the podium streak ending, Hodgson was able to celebrate his first SKUSA Winter Series championship, taking the title by 30 points over Lawrence with Ingratta moving himself up to third on the championship podium.
Last lap pass earned Collin Lloyd a second victory in KA100 Senior and the series title (Photo: EKN) Collin Lloyd (Velocity / Sodi Kart) used a last lap pass to secure a second victory in the Orsolon Racing KA100 Senior category and celebrate the series championship. Lloyd was fourth in the order after qualifying as Mateo Rubio Luengo (BJR / LN Kart) was first in the session with a 54.373 lap. He fought off Round One winner Sebastian Garzon (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and large pack of drivers for the provisional win in the Prefinal, however, two separate penalties – one for a jump start and the other for incident responsibility – dropped him back to 12th in the order. Garzon ended up back in sixth as Round Two winner Collin Lloyd (Velocity / Sodi Kart) was named the Prefinal winner. Lloyd, Round Three winner Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) and Cash Perkins (SCR / CS55) were able to break away from the field. Lloyd led the first 13 laps before Perkins took over the point. By that time, Vanchev had lost the draft and was fighting a group for the third position. Perkins led through the white flag and up to turn 14 and the final hairpin. Perkins went defensive, and Lloyd pulled the perfect over under move to get the momentum and take the lead through the final turn 15 kink. Lloyd crossed the line first for the victory winning by only 76 thousandths over Perkins. John Burke (TB Kart) ended up winning the battle for third, including earning fast lap of the race, but a pushback bumper penalty dropped him sixth. Garzon was fourth until a penalty for blocking took him off the podium. All that promoted Edgar Rodriguez (BJR / LN Kart) onto the podium for his first time in his debut with Brandon Jarsocrak Racing. Vanchev ended up fourth with Caleb Gafrarar (HDD / Tony Kart) fifth in his 2026 debut. Lloyd’s victory gave him the title by 105 points over Perkins, who beat out Rubio Luengo by one point for second place in the championship.
Nicolas Orbezo drove to victory in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN) The championship in the TKG Birelart USA KA100 Junior category went down to the wire. Round Four began with Nathan Golseth (SCR / Tony Kart) setting fast time in qualifying, edging out Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) by 24 thousandths of a second. After getting shuffled back to third at the start of the Prefinal, Orbezo worked his way back to the point by lap three and went on to win the race ahead of the battle for second won by Golseth. At the start of the Final, Golseth went off course, falling back to 31st. This allowed Round Two winner Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) to move into second as he helped to push Orbezo away from the field. It looked as if Murphy was waiting for the later part of the race to make his move, needing to score the win to take over the championship lead. Orbezo, however, was able to gap him in the closing laps. Orbezo went unchallenged to the checkered flag, becoming the fourth different winner in the four rounds of racing. Murphy settled for second for his third straight podium result while Mason Barry (GWR / Gillard) won the battle for third over Benja Fernandez (MPG / Kart Republic) and Eli Steinbruch (Orsolon / Tony Kart). Golseth eventually finished 11th in his drive forward, gaining 20 spots over 20 laps. It would be his drop race, and with his three podium results over the first three rounds, Golseth secured the SKUSA Winter Series championship by 15 points over Murphy with Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) placing third in the standings.
Travis Pettit locked up the X30 Junior championship with a second class victory (Photo: EKN) Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) left no doubt about the championship in the Rolison Performance Group X30 Junior class, securing a second win to lock up the title. Pettit was third in qualifying behind Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart). By lap two of the Prefinal, Pettit was into the lead and went on to win with Woon right there in the second spot. Woon’s chances at fighting for the win and title in the Final came to an end early with a DNF on the warm-up lap due to a mechanical issue. Pettit jumped out to the lead with Royce Vega (RPG / Kosmic) slotting into second. Murphy was in a battle for the third spot, which allowed the top two to pull away. Pettit went on to lead all 20 laps to secure his second victory by 1.2 seconds over Vega. The battle for third went down to the wire with Saturday winner Nico Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) slipping by with a last lap move to take the final step on the podium over Nathan Golseth (SCR / Tony Kart) and Canadian Leo Da Silva (REM / Kosmic). Pettit finished the championship with a 135-point advantage as Golseth ended up second, nine points ahead of Woon finishing the standings in third.
Last lap, last corner move put Scott Falcone on top of the podium in KA100 Master (Photo: EKN) IAME USA West KA100 Master main event went down to the wire. Saturday winner Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) was the driver beat, setting fast time in qualifying and winning the Prefinal. He was handed a three-second penalty for jumping the start, which put him back to third for the main event grid behind Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart). After falling to fifth on the opening lap, Barrios went to work climbing back to the lead. By lap four, he returned to the point and put some distance between he and the rest of the pack. Eventually, the pack was able to reel him in for the closing lap. Starting the white flag lap in third, Falcone was able to slip past Mier for the second spot at the end of the long straight. He then used the over under move on Barrios, who went too deep in his defensive move for turn 14. Falcone powered through the corner and was able to beat out the pack to the line for his first victory of the season. Barrios settled for second with Mier third, Carlos Calderon (SCR / CS55) up to fourth in the final few corners and two-time winner Brian Boly (RPG / Kosmic) back to fifth. Boly gained the championship, winning by 60 points over Barrios with Mier finishing third in the standings.
Brody Stoffle was named winner in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN) The racing was tight in the Evinco Tires Mini Swift category. The day began with five drivers within one tenth after qualifying, led by Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA). Saturday winner Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart), Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic), Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Nathan Ramirez (Team Benik) were the quick drivers in the session. Brody and Stoffle locked up in the Prefinal to take over the top two positions. In the end, Stoffle came away with the win over Brody with Howard winning the battle for third. Joining the top two at the front in the Final was Marcelo Flores (Parolin Motorsport USA). Flores was the one trying to remain at the front, taking over the lead on lap 12 from Brody. They exchanged the lead multiple times with Stoffle taking a turn with two laps remaining. Flores put himself into the lead with Brody losing the top two. Through the final lap, Flores held off Stoffle to take the provisional victory. A five-second penalty for cutting the track took the win away from Flores, promoting Stoffle to the top of the podium for his first win in Mini Swift. Brody crossed the line in third but a penalty for scrubbing the tires knocked him off the podium and back to sixth. This elevated Round One winner Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) to second with Go into third, recording fast lap of the race. Lorenzo Lopez (Kart CRG USA) was classified fourth over Flores. Manalio used the podium result to help secure his first SKUSA Winter Series championship, taking the title by 47 points over Stoffle with Howard ending up third in the standings.
Jack Kotowski was named winner in Micro Swift, making it four straight (Photo: EKN) The action in Team Benik Micro Swift was also decided after the checkered flag. Provisional champion and three-time winner Jack Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) set fast time in qualifying but was challenged in the Prefinal. Kotowski led all 10 laps but was pressured by Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) all race long. In the Final, they were joined by Dusty Strayer (Parolin Motorsport USA). All three took a turn at the lead throughout the 18-lap Final. On lap 17, exiting turn 14 contact between Strayer and Francisco was made. Francisco got the worse, spinning off by the grid area and fell down the order. Strayer regrouped and challenged Kotowski. As they exited turn 11, the two banged wheels side by side. Strayer was able to come away with the lead, and cross the line as the provisional winner. A penalty for the contact with Francisco took the win away, placing him third in the result and promoted Kotowski to the top of the podium to complete the sweep of four straight wins. Max Santana (Team Benik) was promoted to second over Strayer with Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) and Wiley Lee (Team Benik) completing the podium. Kotowski took the championship by 160 points over Strayer with Francisco placing third, 18 points back.The ninth season of the Superkarts! USA Winter Series is complete with eight names added to the record books as champions. The focus for the organization now turns to the 17th season of the SKUSA Pro Tour, which begins on the March 27-29 weekend at the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona. |
