(Photo: EKN)

EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2026 Challenge of the Americas at the K1 Circuit in Winchester, California. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.

19 Years of the Challenge

The chicane section at the end of the long straight at K1 Circuit is being utilized this weekend for Challenge of the Americas (Photo: EKN)

The 2026 Challenge of the Americas is the 19th season of the championship program, which began as a winter Rotax series for the western half of North America. That was until 2018 when the engine platform moved to the ROK Cup USA format. In 2024, the Challenge became an open program, welcoming multiple engine platforms, including the shifterkart ranks. Now into its second year with the Shinko Kart Racing Tires, the Challenge is into its second season with an expanded schedule, hosting events from February to July, and making the trek once again to the Rocky Mountains with a trip to the Colorado Karting Circuit at Centennial Airport in May. Trips to Phoenix Kart Racing Association and Sonoma Raceway for the series finale follow this weekend’s event at K1 Circuit.

This year, the Challenge elected to go with the 1-mile ‘Pro Track’ with the addition of the chicane as the final corners to replace the 90 degree corner at the end of the long straight. This will help to eliminate the track limits issue that plagued the first ever trip for the Challenge to K1 Circuit. For those who have not made it to K1 Circuit, the track’s main building is completed compared to last year when construction was still underway. It houses rooms for their rental kart activities, along with a full restaurant and bar on the second level. New to the facility is the bleachers section set up at the top of the highest point of the paddock, just to the left of turns two and three. With this viewer area, you can see much more of the track then before. There is however still not a place where you can see 100% of the race track.

Briggs Making Challenge Debut as Championship Categories

Four Briggs 206 categories make their official debut as Challenge championship classes (Photo: EKN)

Part of the change for the 2026 Challenge of the Americas is the addition of Briggs & Stratton 206 categories as part of the championship program. Due to the decrease and lack of entries in the shifterkart divisions, the Challenge brought on four Briggs 206 divisions to compete in all four rounds this year. Last year, Briggs 206 Shootout was held at the Utah round, and previously one-off races for the Briggs classes were held at the Challenge in the past. Senior, Junior, Masters, and Cadet will compete here this weekend. The unfortunate part is the lack of numbers. The combined Senior, Junior, Masters race group will have only six drivers while the Briggs Cadet division is welcoming six drivers in total. Entries hail from Minnesota, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and California. Unfortunately, the numbers are just not there overall with very little local support of the categories.

Jake Craig Returns to The Challenge

Jake Craig making his return back to the Challenge (Photo: EKN)

A name familiar with Challenge and karting in the USA is Jake Craig. A multi-time Challenge winner but never a series champion, the Californian has been away from the sport since running at the SuperNationals in 2021. The 28-year-old is enjoying his family life with three kids and focused on his real estate. He was asked by Greg Welch of Forward Direction Motorsports last weekend to work with his team during a test weekend. Welch, who worked with Craig during his younger years in karting, also competed with Tru Tech Racing Engines – owned by Jake’s brother Blake Craig. Jake was invited by Welch to compete this weekend at the Challenge opener in 100cc Senior. It will be a one off event for Craig, but speaking with him, he does hope to come back for more races in the future.

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