Tyler Kolshorn won Final 2 of the Margay Ignite Dash at Daytona during the WKA Daytona KartWeek event (Photo: Mark Schwigen)

In a continued effort to highlight the many outstanding performances by drivers around the country, eKartingNews.com is proud to introduce the ‘Driver of the Month’ program. Each month, the staff at EKN will determine the one driver who stood out above the rest and give the viewers a chance to know exactly what they accomplished and who they are.

Kolshorn completed a last lap, last corner pass on Final 1 winner Gavin Bayliff to take the victory (Photo: Mark Schwigen)

The month of December equates to thinking about Daytona. Since the 1970s, karting events have taken place at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. During the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve each season, the World Karting Association hosts the annual WKA Daytona KartWeek event that features sprint, road racing and dirt oval programs all competing at the ‘World Center of Racing’ facility.

On the sprint track inside the NASCAR Turn 3 and 4 was 11 categories competing over the three days. 12 different drivers came out of the tunnel as a winner at Daytona, including two different drivers in the Margay Racing Ignite Dash at Daytona program that held two main events over two days of racing for the program.

The format for the Margay Racing Ignite Dash at Daytona was unique from the other categories at the WKA Daytona KartWeek. On Day One, Ignite drivers were given two rounds of practice before running qualifying and two heat races. On Day Two, they ran two separate main events to wrap up the two-day program.

One of the drivers to pick up victory in the Ignite Dash at Daytona for the first time in the eight year history of the program was Pennsylvania driver Tyler Kolshorn. He was making his second start was making his second start in the Ignite Dash at Daytona and fourth overall racing at WKA Daytona KartWeek. Kolshorn was a member of Team USA at the 2025 T4 Nations Cup in Spain where he placed 19th against 103 drivers from around the world.

Qualifying for the 29 drivers was led by EKN Shifterkart Driver Rankings #3 ranked pilot Gavin Bayliff. The driver from Ohio was a former Ignite Dash at Daytona winner from 2020. His lap of 46.726 cleared the 29-driver field by over a tenth, with Isaac Wells in second and Kart Chaser’s own Xander Clements in third. Kolshorn was sixth in the time session. After getting shuffled back to seventh on the opening lap of Heat One, Kolshorn worked his way forward. He reached second by lap 11 of the 12 lap race, finishing behind Bayliff by four seconds. With the progressive format for the heat races. Kolshorn started on the outside of the front row. He was able to grab the lead on the opening lap before Bayliff took over. They ran 1-2 the rest of the distance, securing the front row for the opening Final on Day Two.

The opening main event for the Ignite Dash at Daytona was led by Bayliff. He jumped out to the lead, with Kolshorn holding second place. The two ran near identical fast laps of the race, however, Bayliff held the advantage for all 16 laps to secure his second Ignite Dash at Daytona victory while Kolshorn was runner-up.

The second Final on the day was a fierce battle between Bayliff and Kolshorn. Bayliff led the first half of the race before the two battle lap after lap for the top spot in the second half of the race. Bayliff led at the white flag however Kolshorn set him up for the final corner, getting the draft and reaching the corner first. On the exit, Kolshorn stopped Bayliff from pulling the over/under, winning the race to the checkered flag for his first Ignite Dash at Daytona victory.

Kolshorn became the 11th different driver to win a Final at the Ignite Dash at Daytona over 18 races since 2017. The 2026 plans for Kolshorn include racing at the CKNA Summer Nationals at MCC along with the CKNA East race at New Jersey Motorsports Park. The ultimate goal is to return back to the T4 Nations Cup in Spain for a second straight year.

December 2025 EKN Driver of the Month – Tyler Kolshorn

(Photo: Mark Schwigen)

Bio

Born: January 5, 2009
Hometown: Honesdale, PA
Parents: Leo and Kristen Kolshorn
Siblings: None
Height/Weight: 6’2” / 135lbs
Education: Junior – Honesdale High School
Job: Driver instructor at Oakland Valley Race Park

Racing Resume

Chassis: Solo Kart / Margay Ignite
Engine/Engine Builder: Briggs 206 / Ghost Racing Engines
Sponsors: None (would love if someone would change that)
Series You Compete In: Cup Karts North America, Tillotson T4 Series
Years Karting: 7
How did you get started in karting? When I was 10, me and my dad went to an oval short track in New York called Bethel Motor Speedway, and there were these junior bandolero cars that had kids my age at the time race in them. I wanted to do that, but we didn’t even know how to even get into the sport. So my dad then searched the internet and instead found a karting track called Oakland Valley Race Park, we both did their beginner program that they had, and the rest is history…and now I work there.
What has been the high point in your racing career? Definitely winning at WKA Daytona KartWeek this year by making a last lap, final corner pass on Gavin Bayliff.
What are your goals in racing? Make it pro, whether it’s IMSA, INDYCAR, NASCAR
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style?  I race others cleanly, or so I think I do. I try to keep my moves calculated. My steering wheel hand position is weird but it gets the job done.
Funniest moment at the race track? When me and the people I work with go racing after hours, or even during our driver camps, we always practice racing each other hard and that’s always funny with one time one of us spun entering the pit lane while celebrating during one of our camps.

Likes

Favorite Track: Daytona International Speedway
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula 1
Favorite karting driver: Me
Favorite professional driver: Lando Norris
Favorite website: YouTube.com
Favorite movie: The Greatest Showman
Favorite actor/actress: None
Favorite music/group: Coldplay
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Anywhere with a race track
Favorite food: BBQ chicken

The Real Deal

What do you do when not at the track? I go to school, I do track & field, I specialize in the 400m. And when I’m not doing that I just relax and play games.
What are your goals outside of karting? To try and break my school record in the 400m dash.
What type of street car do you drive? 2004 Subaru Impreza
What type of street car would you like to drive? Toyota Supra
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? I don’t like when something in my routine gets thrown off, even in the slightest, like when I get up in the morning, a different show is playing on the channel I watch, or when I go to Wawa or Sheetz, I get the same thing and when they don’t the option I usually have it makes me irritated.
What do you think could be done to improve the sport of karting? Make the tires harder, we don’t need super soft tires, especially in 206 racing, and it would help newer drivers develop the skills they need quicker, and it would spread the fields out a bit more making the best driver be at the front and not 50 of them being within 3 tenths of each other.
What are your favorite aspects about the sport of karting? The adrenaline I get, the friends I make, and those moments of doing great that make you truly appreciate the sport.

December 2025 Driver of the Month – Honorable Mention:

– Gavin Bayliff: WKA Daytona KartWeek – Ignite Final 1

– Mason Brody: WKA Daytona KartWeek – Mini Swift

– Oliver Hodgson: Rotax Grand Finals – 10th (Senior MAX)

– Jack Kotowski: WKA Daytona KartWeek – Micro Swift

– Evan Liesch: WKA Daytona KartWeek – 206 Cadet Red

– Isaac Malcuit: WKA Daytona KartWeek – KA100 Junior Winner

– Pauly Massimino: Rotax Grand Finals – 7th (DD2)

– Danny O’Gara: WKA Daytona KartWeek – 206 Cadet Green

– Daniel Perez: WKA Daytona KartWeek – KA100 Senior Winner

– Rolands Sprude: WKA Daytona KartWeek – Blue Shock

– Lucas Thek: WKA Daytona KartWeek – 206 Senior #370

– Hudson Urlin: WKA Daytona KartWeek – 206 Junior

– Colin Warren: WKA Daytona KartWeek – 206 Senior #350

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