(Photo: EKN)

EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the Superkarts! USA Winter Series at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida.

Burgess Joins Andretti Global Driver Development Program

Veloctiy Racing by SOdi USA driver Zayne Burgess is part of the Andretti Global Driver Development (Photo: Andretti)

The 2025 EKN Trackside season begins with a big announcement regarding rookie Mini Swift driver Zayne Burgess. The driver for Velocity Racing by Sodi USA is set to join the Andretti Global Driver Development program. Talking with Sodi Racing USA’s Thierry Germanovitch, Burgess is slated to compete in the majority of championships here in the United States, with the Champions of the Future program has his introduction into European competition for the 2025 season. As a Micro driver in 2024, Burgess won nearly every championship, including the SKUSA Pro Tour and United States Pro Kart Series, along with victory at the SKUSA SuperNationals 27. This will be his first full season in the Mini category.

Rolison Performance Group Adds Junior Rookie Jaxon Porter

Jaxon Porter joins Rolison Performance Group in his Junior debut (Photo: EKN)

One driver who has a lot of experience outside of karting is Jaxon Porter. The 12-year-old from Arizona is set to make his Junior debut after a stellar career in the Cadet ranks. He is also making the move over to the Rolison Performance Group tent for his first start in the X30 Junior division, having raced with other chassis brands and teams during his Cadet years. Porter got his 2025 season underway already, racing at the Tulsa Shootout last week. In his ‘Restricted A’ Micro Sprint category, Porter won the B-Main and transferred from the LCQ into the main event where he finished 7th. Straight from Tulsa to Orlando, Porter has moved into karting mode for his Junior debut. Also joining him under the tent is six-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Ryan Norberg. The Orlando driver was not schedule to compete, however, he is replacing Kai Hunter in the Pro X30 class while the British driver drops from the double duty status to focus on the KA100 Senior division. Hunter is set to be with RPG for much of the 2025 season, dependent on his schedule back home.

Brandon Jarsocrak Racing Driver Overbeck Jumps to Pro X30

BJR driver James Overbeck is making his Pro X30 debut this weekend (Photo: EKN)

While he teased the idea of moving up into the TaG 125 category in 2025, the plan for James Overbeck was not to do it at the opening event of the season. Unable to register into the KA100 Senior class, the Brandon Jarsocrak Racing driver was forced to move up to Pro X30 for the opening weekend of the SKUSA Winter Series. The positive, plenty of testing prior to today with the opening weekend of track time and the two days leading up to the official practice day to get Overbeck acquainted with the Pro division. The 2024 SKUSA Pro Tour KA100 Senior champion is using this weekend as a full test to measure where he is with the jump to determine the rest of his schedule for the 2025 season. He has the ability running alongside Pauly Massimino – who finished fifth in the SKUSA Pro Tour championship a year ago.

Big Driver Lineup for Speed Concepts Racing

Speed Concepts Racing is welcoming a number of new drivers in 2025 (Photo: EKN)

Just as is the case with many of the operations that have set up shop here at the Orlando Karting Center, Speed Concepts Racing is primed for six straight weekends of competition through the SKUSA Winter Series, Florida Winter Tour, and Rotax Winter Trophy programs. Mike and Alex Speed have a massive group of drivers under their tent to start the 2025 season, with many new drivers joining the team. SCR has added one of last year’s top Mini drivers in Ashton Woon, who is making his jump to Junior competition with the operation. They’re also welcoming Mateo Calderon and Jensen Mechelke to their new-look KA100 Junior line-up, which also features Tyrone Kemper Jr. and Felipe Benito. In the Pro X30 class, former SKUSA Winter Series KA100 Senior champion Collin Lloyd will make his category debut with SCR this weekend alongside USPKS champion Austin Garrison.

TKG Birelart USA Makes Debut at SKUSA Winter Series

TKG Birelart USA making its debut at the SKUSA Winter Series (Photo: EKN)

One of the biggest news items during the ‘off-season’ was the move by Trinity Karting Group from Kart Republic to the Birelart brand. TKG’s tent was fully KR at the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas last November, but EKN has learned that the discussions and eventual decision to join the Red Army occurred shortly after the event. After a tireless effort by the staff over the course of the following six weeks to swap over to new branding and new machinery, Trinity is making its official debut as a Birelart team this weekend in Orlando. Speaking with TKG Birelart USA owner Shawn Bayliff, he enthused that the transition has been extremely positive, both in terms of their new relationship with PSL Karting and the immediate performance of their drivers on the new material. TKG is planning to run the SKUSA national events in 2025 and they’ll also be attending the Stars Championship events, as well as the club program at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati and a smaller effort at the United States Pro Kart Series.

CRG Expands USA Squad’s Schedule

CRG Nordam welcoming international drivers this weekend at SKUSA Winter Series (Photo: EKN)

After debuting its American ‘works’ team on the regional level in Texas in 2024, CRG will expand its effort to run both the SKUSA Winter Series and the Pro Tour this season. EKN spoke with Team Manager Euan Jeffrey in the paddock and the current line-up of drivers is quite international, led by Brazilian Olin Galli who returns to the Winter Series for the first time since 2020. Former SKUSA Winter Series Masters race winner Luis Schiavo has both his sons – Franco and Lianny – racing under the CRG banner in Micro Swift this weekend. Aden Rudolph and Jason Toft are under the tent providing service for the Pro X30 drivers, looking to make an impact in the sold out category.

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