The 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series marks a new era in the championship program, moving away from the state of Florida for the first time since it began in 2018. The ninth season of the championship heads to the Speedsportz Racing Park with the opening weekend of events set for January 9-11. The New Caney, Texas was site of the 2025 SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals, and is set to host over 230 entries in the nine categories for the opening weekend of the 2026 season.

Speedsportz Racing Park will host the SKUSA Winter Series for the first time in the nine year history of the program

The format for the opening weekend of the 2026 SKUSA Winter Series featured unofficial practice on Wednesday and Thursday with Friday hosting five official sessions for testing. Round 1 is set for Saturday, including qualifying, Prefinal and Final. Round 2 is a repeat format on Sunday.

The faces at the front of the Pro X30 presented by Kart CRG USA will be different from 2025. Defending champion Joe Turney along with the top five in the standings, including Ryan Norberg, Caden McQueen, 2025 SKUSA Pro Tour champion Austin Garrison and Collin Lloyd will not be competing in Texas. The most recent winner – SuperNationals 28 victor Gus Lawrence (RPG / Kosmic) will make his SKUSA Winter Series debut to jump start the 2026 season. The field is deep with six of the top 10 from the 2025 SKUSA Pro Tour standings in the field, including Lawrence. Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart), 2025 KA100 Senior Pro Tour champion Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart), Blake Nash (Nash / EOS), Jesus Vasquez Jr. (GFC Karting), and Ayden Ingratta (REM / Tony Kart). Two drivers will be making their debut in new colors, including Oliver Hodgson with Factory Karts along with former SuperNationals winner Donovan Bonilla competing with Speed Concepts Racing. The rookie class of 2026 includes Junior champion Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic), Erik Doan (PSL / Birelart), Max Weiland (MPG / Kart Republic) and Fion Shi (RPG / Kosmic).

SKUSA SuperNationals 28 Pro X30 winner Gus Lawrence is among those in the field at Speedsportz (Photo: EKN)

The Pro Shifter presented by PSL Karting features 14 drivers competing in Texas. Looking at the entry list, it could be a rematch of the ‘Bayliff vs Musgrave’ battle from the WinterNationals last year. SKUSA Pro Tour champion Billy Musgrave (Factory Karts) returns to the program carrying the SKUSA #1 plate, and is among three drivers from the top 10 of last year’s championship standings in the field. Gavin Bayliff (TKG Birelart USA) won the WinterNationals with the ‘bump and run’ on the final lap. He is set for his second season on the Birelart machine after placing third last year in the SKUSA Winter Series. Making his SKUSA Winter Series debut will be Kiwi Jay Urwin (PSL / Birelart) who was laps away from a possible SKUSA Pro Tour title last year. Justin White (Maranello USA) returns after earning his first SKUSA victory last year in Orlando. Diego Ardiles (PSL / Birelart) is set for his debut in Pro Shifter at the SKUSA Winter Series with a couple starts in 2025. A true rookie in the field is Kyle Drysdale (TKG / Birelart), making the jump from Junior competition in 2025.

The KA100 Senior class presented by Orsolon Racing is similar to that of Pro X30, with familiar names and a new crop of rookie drivers. The only returning winner from the SKUSA Winter Series last year is Anthony Rivera (Nash / Tony Kart) – who ended up fifth in the series standings. Former SKUSA Pro Tour race winner Finnegan Bayliff (TKG Birelart USA) is among the five drivers racing both X30 and KA100, including Bonilla (SCR / CS55) – who was fourth at the SKUSA Pro Tour standings – and Senior rookie Weiland (MPG / Kart Republic). Collin Lloyd (Velocity / Sodi Kart) is making the move back to KA after placing in the top five of Pro X30 with Cameron Weinberg (HDD / Tony Kart) making a return behind the wheel. Jared Clarke and Mateo Rubio Luengo are leading the Brandon Jarsocrak Racing contingent with Chace Gassiot-Lee (Team Benik) set for a second season in the Senior ranks. Among the rookies include Weiland, Derek Wargo (McCrone / CompKart), PKC champion Matthew Cagle (Formula Works / GFC) and Davis Henry (HDD / Tony Kart).

SKUSA Pro Tour Pro Shifter Champion  (Photo: EKN – Mattia Marmo)

The 2026 season will see a new driver at the front of the Junior fields with multiple champion Alexander Vanchev advance up to the Senior ranks. The question is, who will fill that position? There are a number of top contenders and winners from last year returning in the Junior ranks, with a number of Junior rookies filling up the entry list for X30 Junior presented by Rolison Performance Group. Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) was third at the SKUSA Pro Tour in 2025 in his rookie campaign. Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) enters as the veteran of the Junior ranks, finishing second in the SKUSA Winter Series last year. Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) comes off wins throughout 2025 with drivers like Parker Ives (RPM / Tony Kart), Nico Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA), Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) and Mateo Calderon (SCR / CS55) looking for their first Junior win. Among the list of Junior rookies includes Josh Bergman (MPG / Kart Republic), who spent the entire 2025 season racing in Europe. Liam Nachawati (RPG / Kosmic), last year’s Mini Swift champion Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin Motorsport USA), Asher Pavan (SCR / Tony Kart), Paxton Romero (RPG / Kosmic), Colton Schniegenberg (RPM / Tony Kart), and Aston Wyatt (RPM / Tony Kart).

KA100 Junior presented by TKG Birelart USA is the largest category of the weekend with 38 drivers set to battle. Murphy and Pettit are among the 11 drivers running both categories, including Kotowski, Nathan Golseth (SCR / Tony Kart), and Braydon Wagner (Formula Works / GFC). Junior rookie Schniegenberg is running both while other Junior rookies will be making their move up to the KA category, which include Santiago Orioli (Velocity / Sodi Kart) and Lawrence Peremen (BJR / LN Kart). Among those to be contenders on the weekend include two-time Texas Sprint Racing Series champion Tyrone Kemper Jr. (Hi5 / Tony Kart), Max Cristea (MPG / Kart Republic), and Nicolas Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart).

On the opposite side of the number spectrum is Master Shifter presented by PSL Karting. Nicholas Boulle (Kart CRG USA) is the lone entry in the category – which will not be contested on the SKUSA Pro Tour in 2026.

Wynn Godschalk is among the leaders of the Mini Swift field on the weekend (Photo: EKN)

The KA100 Master presented by IAME USA West however is the lone category to improve its entry total from last year, featuring 19 drivers in this weekend’s field. Seven of them are from the Lone Star State, including TSRS champion Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart), David Pergande (ARRA / Redspeed) and Arcane Motorsports USA owner Trevor McAlister. SKUSA champions Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) and Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) are in the field along with veteran Brent Harper (JHDD / Kart Republic) and recent SuperNationals 28 podium finisher Carlos Calderon (SCR / CS55).

A near sold out field for Mini Swift presented by Parazinho Chassis Jig will compete at Speedsportz. A total of 35 drivers will compete with a new champion to be crowned with last year’s title winner Enzo DiGennaro moving up to Junior, including many of the top drivers from last year. Leading the contender list is three-time SKUSA Pro Tour race winner Wynn Godschalk (Team Benik). Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) is entering his second season in Mini with US Trophy Final winner Samuel Chaverri (PSL / Birelart) also in the category. The majority of the field are drivers graduating from Micro. Among them are SKUSA Winter Series champion Marcelo Flores (TB Kart), SKUSA Pro Tour champion Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart), SuperNationals 28 winner Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik), Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic), Lucas Tarango (Team Nitro Kart), and Slate Harrell (Team Nitro Kart).

A total of 27 make up the field in Micro Swift presented by Evinco Tires. The vast majority graduating up to Mini make for a new crop of drivers to make a name for themselves in the youngest category in SKUSA competition. Returning as a top contender is Jack Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) who started from the pole position at SuperNationals 28. Shepp Sullivan (Team Benik) and handful of others look to be at the front this year, along with the vast number of Kid Kart graduates. Among them include TSRS champion Vettel Baker (Kart CRG USA), JJ DeShong (MSL / CRG) and others.

Be sure to follow EKN Trackside coverage all weekend long on the website, and of course on Social Media at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to the live action on Saturday and Sunday from Speedsportz on the EKN Radio Network and at ekartingnews.com/live.

Pro X30 Provisional Entry List

Pro Shifter Provisional Entry List

KA100 Senior Provisional Entry List

X30 Junior Provisional Entry List

KA100 Junior Provisional Entry List

KA100 Master Provisional Entry List

Master Shifter Provisional Entry List

Mini Swift Provisional Entry List

Micro Swift Provisional Entry List

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