eKartingNews.com is proud to present our Preview Series for the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 28. Leading up to the on-track action of the 2025 edition of the marquee SKUSA event, EKN will preview each of the nine categories that will compete on the temporary circuit located outside the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas from November 12-16.

Trackside coverage is set to begin on Tuesday, November 11 as the EKN crew sets up our SuperNationals 28 home, roaming the LVMS grounds with Paddock Insider and social media content. Coverage continues into Wednesday as karts hit the track for the first time. EKN Live begins on Thursday, November 13 as qualifying is conducted for both the morning classes and the afternoon divisions. Listen LIVE to the heat races throughout Friday, November 14 and into Situation Saturday, November 15, including the five Last Chance Qualifiers held on the day. That sets everything up for SuperSunday, with the main events for SuperNationals 28 audio streamed live on eKartingNews.com/live and eKartingNews.com/radio.

Complete coverage of the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals 28 can be found at the EKN EVENT PAGE.

KA100 Junior

John Antonino is among the top returning drivers in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN)

SuperNationals 28 is the seventh edition at which they’ll offer the popular KA100 Junior category. Former winners include a solid list of karters who have moved on into the upper levels of motorsports, including James Wharton (2018), Brent Crews (2019), and Jeremy Fletcher (2021). Three times has a driver won both Junior divisions, hitting the double in Las Vegas, including Turner Brown (2023), Fletcher in 2022 and Colombian Sebastian Garzon last year. Garzon has graduated to cars and has also moved to the Senior level when karting. This opens the door for a seventh different driver for score victory in the category.

Missing on the entry list is SKUSA Pro Tour champion Alexander Vanchev, who is already making the move to the Senior level. Three of the top-five in the 2025 KA100 Junior championship standings are in the field: vice-champion Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic), Max Weiland (Magik Kart USA), and Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Racing Kart). Pettit will be making his second start at the SuperNationals, placing 22nd a year ago. Weiland is in his third year of the Junior ranks, but he was unfortunately unable to reach the checkered flag in both of his KA100 Junior outings in Vegas. Malcuit is also making his third SuperNationals start in KA100 Junior, placing a career-best 27th last year. The driver from Ohio is coming off two big victories, winning the RMC US Trophy Final and ROK Vegas, so his sights will certainly be set much higher this time around.

Last year’s Mini Swift winner Benja Fernandez makes his SuperNats debut in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN)

None of the podium finishers from last year are in the field, all having moved up to the Senior ranks. The top returning driver is John Antonino (MPG / Kart Republic). The Californian was the top qualifier and finished sixth in the main event last year, and he is entering this year as the Stars Championship OK-N Junior title winner. Luca Popescu (RPG / Kosmic) is another top-10 finisher returning for another shot at gold, coming in with a first career win at Challenge of the Americas in Utah. David Ybarra (Kart CRG USA), recent ROK Vegas Junior GP winner Erik Doan (PSL / Birelart), and Easton Cox (Hi5 / Redspeed) are other top finishers from last year returning.

A total of three former SuperNationals winners are in the field. The most recent was last year’s Mini Swift victor Benja Fernandez (SLA / Kart Republic). The driver from Florida moved up to the Junior ranks prior to the summer season. Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) is now into his third season at the Junior level, but he’s been unable to finish a race at the SuperNationals since winning the Micro Swift category in 2022. Also winning in 2022 at the SuperNats was Michael McGaughy (RPM / Kart Republic). The Utah driver was runner-up in Mini during the 2023 event and did not complete in Las Vegas last year. 2025 has been a successful campaign in Europe, including multiple wins and podiums.

Australian champion Braxton Regan is seeking to become the second from his country to win in KA100 Junior

There are 16 drivers from outside the USA in the field, including a strong contingent from Canada – a country yet to win in the category. Among them are Leonardo Serravalle (REM / Kosmic) and Cole Medeiros (REM / Kosmic), both making their first starts in the category at the SuperNationals. Edward Kennedy (SCR / CS55) was 28th a year ago with Alexis Baillargeon (SCR / CS55) making his second start in the category. Australia was the first country to win the category at the SuperNationals with James Wharton. Braxton Regan (TWM / Kart Republic) and Mason Lucchitti (TWM / Kart Republic) are looking to give a second title to their country. Regan comes in as the defending Australian champion.

The eyes of the international contingent may be exclusively focused on two drivers – UK’s Noah Baglin (Prema / Kart Republic) and Dutch driver Dean Hoogendoorn (Prema / Kart Republic). Baglin and Hoogendoorn finished first and third at the FIA Karting World Championship in OK-Junior category. Baglin finished third in Mini Swift back in 2023, while Hoogendoorn is making his first SuperNationals start as they are among the 35 drivers racing both KA100 Junior and X30 Junior.

USPKS champion Theo Salomao is among the top contenders (Photo: Studio52.us)

Over a dozen drivers are making the move up from Mini last year at the SuperNationals to Junior in 2025 alongside last year’s winner Fernandez. Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) and Valentino Santillan (Parolin Motorsport USA) were second and third a year ago, and are set for their Junior debut in Vegas. Other Junior rookies to watch include Braydon Wagner (FW / GFC), Jaxon Porter (SCR / CS55), Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart), and Cason Hodge (SpeedSense / Exprit).

Notables in the field include USPKS champion Theo Salomao (Orsolon / Tony Kart), ProKart Challenge champion Matthew Cagle (FW / GFC), two-time Texas Sprint Racing Series champion Tyrone Kemper Jr. (SCR / CS55), Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart), Nico Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart), and David Ybarra (Kart CRG USA).

SuperNats Stats

3 – Former winners in the field

8 – Different countries represented in the field

13 – Drivers making first KA100 Junior start from Mini last year

16 – Drivers from outside the USA

22 – Drivers returning from 2024

35 – Driver racing both KA100 and X30 Junior

Provisional Entry List – KA100 Junior

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