Nick Tucker and Nitro Kart returning with four-cycle focused race team in 2024 (Photo: EKN)

One of the more successful chassis brands in Cup Karts North America competition is returning with a full race team in 2024. Nitro Kart is launching an official race team for the remaining CKNA South Division events in addition to the organization’s special events this season – including the Spring Nationals, Summer Nationals and CKNA Grand Nationals 8.

Nitro Kart has eight CKNA Grand Nationals, including Holden Harder in 2023 (Photo: Nate Dean – EKN)

Nitro Kart is owned and developed by Nick Tucker. The Washington native is a lifelong karting and racing diehard. Tucker won at the SKUSA ProMoto Tour in his youth and returned in 2015 to claim the SKUSA Pro Tour championship in X30 Master. At the end of 2016, he launched the Nitro Kart cadet chassis and race team. Tucker and the Nitro Kart brand took the USA market by storm, earning multiple victories and championships at all levels, developing some of today’s current stars in karting and other forms of motorsport.

At the start of last year, Ryan Perry Motorsport took over as the home for Nitro Kart drivers at the national and regional level. RPM will remain as the official two-cycle race team operation in 2024. The new Nitro Kart four-cycle race team will be led by Cody Johnson – who was a vital part of the growth and success of the brand and operation, including working with drivers such as Brent Crews and Keelan Harvick. The Nitro Kart race team for four-cycle racing will include full Arrive and Drive options, along with tent space, transport, and coaching. Johnson will lead the four-cycle operation while also managing the two-cycle Nitro Kart customers under the RPM tent. Joining Johnson will be veteran four-cycle driver Eric Fagan, serving as Nitro Kart driver coach. Fagan has two CKNA Grand National victories along with three wins at the CKNA Spring Nationals.

“Nitro Kart has had a tremendous amount of success in four-cycle racing with the Cup Karts North America program and it makes sense to support our large and loyal customer base,” commented Tucker. “We’ve been able to earn a total of eight CKNA Grand National victories alone, in addition to many divisional wins and championships. Re-establishing a race team for the four-cycle customers will help to provide better service and support for the current and future Nitro Kart racers.”

Nitro Motorsports celebrated the TA2 championship with former Nitro Kart driver Brent Crews in 2023 (Photo: Nitro Motorsports)

Driver development is a big part of the Nitro Kart operation and with Tucker on the whole. Since launching Nitro Kart, Tucker has put a focus on developing drivers under the tent. For racers of all ages, driver development at Team Nitro Kart is a major focus. Not only is there room for growth within the Nitro Kart tent from Cadet to Junior and to Senior, but also the opportunity to enjoy a true ‘karts to cars’ development ladder within the same operation. In 2021, Tucker launched Nitro Motorsports beginning with TransAm TA2 machinery before adding the Toyota GR86 Racing program in 2023. Over the last two seasons, Nitro Motorsports has fielded cars in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. The team has earned multiple wins and, in 2023, won the series championship with Brent Crews behind the wheel.

“Our driver development is a true internal ‘karts to cars’ program,” Tucker added. “We can take a driver from the Cadet level and groom them into a top karter before moving them up to our Nitro Motorsports operation. In addition to Brent Crews, we’ve worked with a number of other top karting talent to help transition them into car racing. It’s a full driver development program with a great staff dedicated to each and every driver.”

To learn more about Nitro Kart, head to their website or contact Nick Tucker via email. Make sure to visit racenitro.com for information on Nitro Motorsports.

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