The second half of the 2025 Challenge of the Americas championship is set to make its annual trip to the Sonoma Raceway, hosting the third event of the season on April 25-27. The Sonoma, California facility is site of Round Five and Six for the six categories competing on the Shinko Racing Kart Tires.

Sonoma Raceway karting circuit (Photo: Sonoma Raceway)

This will be the 14th visit to the Sonoma Raceway for the Challenge, with the California facility part of the inaugural season in 2008. The 7/10-mile circuit will be utilized in the ‘National’ layout in the clockwise direction. Five rounds of practice on Friday officially kick off the event before Round Five and Round Six are contested on Saturday and Sunday. Each round features a warm-up, qualifying, Prefinal and Final.

eKartingNews.com is proud to continue with the 14th season of Trackside Live program for Challenge of the Americas. EKN’s own Rob Howden will be calling the action all weekend from Sonoma Raceway. Those unable to attend can listen in to the live broadcast. Bookmark www.ekartingnews.com/live and follow the EKN social media channels for more throughout the weekend in California.

Keagan Kaminski comes into Sonoma with two wins and the championship lead in 100cc Senior (Photo: EKN)

A solid field of 35 drivers are set to battle in the Forward Direction Motorsports 100cc Senior division. The class has seen 37 in the opening two weekends, with a new season high expected with walkups prior to the weekend. Two drivers doubled up in the opening two weekends. Veteran Oliver Hodgson (CompKart) led things in Tucson while Keagan Kaminski (FW / GFC) took over at the K1 Circuit with the British driver’s absence at the second round. Kaminski enters the Sonoma weekend leading the championship by just three points over teammate Johnie Stamps (FW / GFC). NorCal driver Stephen Eisert (SpeedSense / Exprit) is not on the entry list but is expected to compete this weekend, sitting third in the championship chase. Hodgson is fourth, but not expected to be in Sonoma, promoting Archer Eversman (FDM / Pantano) to the spot in the chase, sitting 178 points out of first. Many of the same drivers from the previous two events will be in the field, including another NorCal driver Chase Hand (GFC Karting), who won at Sonoma last year. Jesus Vasquez Jr. (GFC Karting) is making his series debut on the season, coming in as a former series race winner.

The Nash Motorsportz 100cc Junior division features 20 drivers for the Sonoma weekend, featuring two of the season’s race winners. Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) was able to win one race at Tucson and K1 Circuit to hold the championship lead at the halfway point. Round One winner Erik Doan (Nash / EOS) sits second in the standings, 103 points back after issues at K1. Xander Malatesta (Ruthless / Tony Kart) has one podium finish over the opening four rounds to sit third in the standings ahead of Round One podium finisher Luca Popescu (FW / GFC). Former Cadet champion Braydon Wagner (FW / GFC) is fifth in the standings; however, his status is unknown after suffering a broken thumb in Texas. Two drivers making their season debuts are Mateo Calderon (Axis Kartsport) and Nathan Dupuis (Nash / EOS). Calderon has won at Sonoma in Challenge competition in the past while the Canadian Dupuis is making his series debut, having raced many of the major programs in North America throughout the last few seasons.

Two-time race winner Jackson Gibson leads the title chase in 100cc Junior (Photo: EKN)

Only three drivers make up the entry list for the Swedetech Racing Engines Shifter Senior category. Four-time winner and defending champion Michael Avansino (RWR / CRG) looks to continue his streak at his home track over fellow NorCal driver Anthony Freese (WCM / Birelart) with Utah’s Evan Concepcion (Scuderia Littel / GFC) competing on the weekend. Joe Ruch (Shiftrz / Maranello) is also looking to extend his win streak in the Neliton Race Concepts Shifter Masters. The battle for second in the standings continues between Michael Faker (GFC Karting) and Michael Guasch (Shiftrz / Maranello). Former series winner Patrick O’Neill (RWR / CRG) and Arul Venkatesh (TKC / Sodi Kart) are locals seeking to land on the podium on the weekend in the category featuring seven drivers.

Scott Falcone (PW / Pantano) continues leading the way in the Ruthless Karting 100cc Masters championship chase. The two-time winner in Tucson holds a 140 point advantage over Luke Tracy (Vemme Kart) – who has two podium finishes over the first half of the season. Last year’s winner Dan Jones (RWR / CRG) returns for his first start of 2025 with K1 contenders Matthew Meech (PW / Tony Kart) and Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Exprit) returning for Sonoma.

The top three in The Karting Collective 60cc Cadet championship is within 95 points of each other. Three-time race winner Luis Martinez (Croc Promotion) holds a 47 points advantage over Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart). Hudson Hidalgo (KartNick / Parolin) sits third with Chase Riddering (Croc Promotion) and Round One winner Nathan Ramirez (KartNick / Parolin) make up the top five heading into the second half of the season.

Be sure to follow the EKN social media channels for coverage throughout the weekend at Challenge of the Americas weekend from Sonoma Raceway in Northern California.

Provisional 100cc Senior Entry List

Provisional 100cc Junior Entry List

Provisional 100cc Masters Entry List

Provisional Senior Shifter Entry List

Provisional Masters Shifter Entry List

Provisional 60cc Cadet Entry List

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