eKartingNews.com is proud to present our Preview Series for the ROK Vegas 2025 presented by ROK Cup USA. Leading up to the on-track action scheduled for October 29-November 2 outside the Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, EKN will preview each of the 11 categories with four articles, including the provisional entry list for each division.

Trackside coverage is set to begin on Tuesday, October 28 with Paddock Insider and social media content. Coverage continues into Wednesday as karts hit the track for the first time. EKN Live begins Thursday, October 30 with qualifying. Listen LIVE to the four rounds of heat races and LCQs throughout Friday and Saturday. That sets the stage for the action on Sunday with nine main events for the 11 divisions. Listen at eKartingNews.com/live and eKartingNews.com/radio

Complete coverage of the ROK Vegas 2025 can be found at the EKN EVENT PAGE.

ROK VLR Masters

Ben Cooper and Renato Jader David finished 1-3 last year in VLR Masters (Photo: ROK Cup USA)

History is on the line in the ROK VLR Masters with two time defending champion Ben Cooper (RPG / Kosmic) attempting his third straight. No driver in the seven year history of ROK Vegas has one driver won three straight in a single category. Cooper will battle against the 12 driver field that includes the only three-time winner at ROK Vegas – Renato Jader David (Orsolon / Tony Kart). RJD won the ROK GP Master division three times (2018, 2020, 2022). He finished third last year in the VLR category. Other returning drivers from last year include Paul Elefonte (RRC / LN Racing Kart) and Ryan Molina (SLA Karting / OTK) who finished inside the top 15. SKUSA Winter Series winner Charlie Fonseca (RPG / Kosmic), Challenge of the Americas winner Matthew Meech (Orsolon / Tony Kart), and Ryan Casner (Best Kart) are among top contenders along with Mingnan Xu (RPG / Kosmic) – making his first Masters start.

ROK Vegas Stats

2 – Former ROK Vegas event winners

4 – Different countries represented

5 – Drivers returning from last year’s field

5 – Different chassis competing

ROK Vegas ROK VLR Masters Winners

Jonathan Silva (2018)
Tim Meyer (2019)
Miguel Mier (2020)
Martin Stone (2021)
Ian Koentges (2022)
Ben Cooper (2023-2024)

ROK VLR Super Masters

Scott Falcone is among the contenders in new VLR Super Masters class (Photo: EKN)

New for ROK Vegas 2025 is the ROK VLR Super Masters category. Reserved for drivers 45 years and older, the category is welcoming a solid 23 driver roster to compete for the inaugural title. The class origination was led by Colorado driver Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart), working all season to boost the numbers in the division. The Challenge of the Americas champion is among the top contenders, and the six drivers who were in the Masters class last year.

Alexander Dal Bon (LFB / Tony Kart) is the top returning driver from last year’s Masters class, finishing 14th. Craig Vasquez (MMK / CS55), Andrei Isac (Tecno Kart USA), Randy Rogers and Tim Meyer (Atomic / OTK) all competed last year. Meyer is one of two former ROK Vegas winners in the field. Meyer won the VLR Masters class in 2019, with Miguel Mier (Orsolon / OTK) a winner in 2020 part of this year’s Super Master field.

The class is full of champions and big event winners. Representing SoCal is Challenge of the Americas race winner and former champion Paul Bonilla. From Texas, former SuperNationals winner Mike Jones (DKC / Gillard). The Midwest, former USPKS champion Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA). NorCal is Eric Molinatti (SSM / Exprit), and the east is ‘Mad’ Max Papis (Orsolon / OTK). Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) from Peru is among the five international drivers in the field.

ROK Vegas Stats

2 – Former ROK Vegas event winners

6 – Different countries represented

6 – Drivers from last year’s Masters class

23 – Inaugural entry total for category

ROK Shifter Masters

The four drivers that make up the ROK Shifter Masters field are all returning drivers. Last year’s top finisher returning in 2025 was Hunter Hagenbuch (GFC Karting), who finished ninth. Luis Quinonez (LFB / Birelart) and Sergio Rodriguez (LFB / IPK) were among the top 15 last year. Jose Montalto (Orsolon / DR Kart) was a DNS last year.

ROK Vegas Stats

0 – Former ROK Vegas winners in the field

2 – Different countries represented

ROK Vegas ROK Shifter Masters Winners

Jordon Musser (2018, 2021)
Ryan Kinnear (2019-2020)
Antonio Pizzonia Jr. (2022-2023)
Brian Keck (2024)

ROK Shifter Super Masters

Patrick O’Neill seeking to become the first ROK Shifter Super Masters inaugural winner (Photo: EKN)

The new ROK Shifter Super Masters division will make its debut at this year’s ROK Vegas. A total of eight drivers will battle for the inaugural victory. Two drivers have vast experience in the Shifter category, representing NorCal – Patrick O’Neill (RWR / CRG) and Kevin Woods (RWR / CRG). O’Neill is the only driver that competed in last year’s Masters class, finishing 10th. Morne Van Taak (VTM / RS Kart) leads the east coast contingent with four others racing under his team tent.

ROK Vegas Stats

0 – Former ROK Vegas winners in the field

1 – Driver returning from last year’s Masters class

4 – Different countries represented

Provisional ROK VLR Masters Entry List

Provisional ROK VLR Super Masters Entry List

Provisional ROK Shifter Masters Entry List

Provisional ROK Shifter Super Masters Entry List

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