KA100 Senior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

The second event of the 2026 Route 66 Sprint Series presented by MG Tires was contested on June 5-7 at the Norway Motorsports Park. The Sheridan, Illinois facility has been on the schedule for the program multiple times, welcoming larger fields in the last two seasons thanks to the new ownership and repaving of the over 3/4-mile circuit. Over 170 entries competed over the three days in the 11 categories, dodging wet weather to complete all the racing scheduled on the weekend.

Mick Gabriel swept the action on the weekend in the KA100 Senior presented by BBS Racing Engines. Gabriel edged out Brayden Zirves in qualifying by only 76 thousandths with a lap of 45.891. He went on to win the opening heat race by over two seconds before Shane Ready made it a close battle, missing out on the top spot by only 40 thousandths. Gabriel completed the sweep of the weekend with a wire-to-wire victory by seven tenths ahead of Ready – both drivers celebrating two straight podium finishes. Senior rookie Brady Schad improved from seventh to third ahead of Wyatt Leslie and Texas driver Peyton Phillips.

206 Senior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

206 Senior presented by Lawson Speed Shop matched the event high total of 37 drivers, featuring two of them at the front of the order on the weekend. Jack Fieber was the quickest driver in qualifying that saw six drivers within 87 thousandths for fast time. Round One runner-up Cale Zimmermann found himself without a lap in the session, starting the opening heat race from 37th. Fieber was able to edge out Brady Schad by 80 thousandths for Heat One win while Zimmermann worked up to 11th in 14 laps. The progressive format gave Zimmerman the opportunity to climb up the remaining 11 positions to win the second heat race, winning over Schad. Zimmermann started fifth in the Final with Schad and Fieber on the front row. The front row starters shuffled for the lead with Fieber leading early and Schad in the second half. Zimmermann joined the fight by lap seven and was sitting second behind Schad on the final circuit. A last lap pass for Zimmermann gave him the victory and his second straight podium finish. Fieber took second with Schad in third. Jerry Fandrey and Brayden Zirves completed the top five.

KA100 Junior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

A total of 21 drivers battled in the KA100 Junior presented by P1 Engines category. Easton Kubinski was the lone driver to dip into the 45-second range in qualifying, edging out Tucker Trieb by 12 thousandths. Kubinski went on to win both heat races to retain the pole position for the Final. He and Tucker Trieb battled for the top spot throughout the 18-lap race with Ezekiel Haight and Grayson Walcott getting into the fight in the final few laps. Trieb was able to take the lead at the white flag and hold on through the final lap for the victory. Haight was second at the line ahead of Walcott and Kubinski with Isaac Payn placing fifth ahead of Round One winner Jackson Baldus.

The same number of drivers competed in the 206 Junior presented by Bobby Krug Racing Services division. Isaac Payn led the way in qualifying with a 52.411 lap to edge out Teghan Schneider by only six thousandths. However, it was Gavin Dyer climbing up from 11th on the grid to claim the opening heat win over Schneider. Dyer was handed the win in Heat Two after Schneider won the race provisionally until a bumper penalty dropped him to third behind Round One winner Ezekiel Haight. Dyer and Schneider fought for the lead early with Schneider retiring on lap 11 while Dyer went on until he retired on lap 18. Haight took over the lead and led the final two laps for a second straight victory. Carson Benjamin earned his first podium of the season with runner-up ahead of Isaac Payn. Evan Benoit and Brian Thompson made up the top five.

206 Junior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

KA100 Masters presented by Mill-Rite Inc. welcomed a second different winner over the first two rounds of the season. Defending champion Adam Crepin set the pace in qualifying with the only sub-47 lap of the session. Missing a time in the session was TJ Koyen due to no transponder, starting the opening heat race from 11th. Crepin only made four laps in the opening heat before retiring with a mechanical as Corey Domenick took over with the win while Koyen drove up to third. Koyen was able to take the win in Heat Two while Crepin drove from the back to the runner-up spot. Koyen and Sterling Layman made up the front row in the Final with Koyen jumping out to the lead. Koyen went on to lead all 18 laps for a wire-to-wire performance in his first class victory. Randy Klimek drove to second with Crepin in third. A bumper penalty dropped Crepin back to fifth as Domenick was moved to third and Thomas Shereck into fourth.

Round One winner Matt Lyda in the 206 Masters presented by Greyhound Racing Seats class began the second event with fast time in qualifying. Lyda however slipped to second as Lucas Rennick pulled out the win in the opening heat race. Lyda returned to the top in Heat Two and retained the pole position for the Final. Rennick challenged Lyda for the lead early but it was Troy Toney who had the pace in the end. Toney took over the lead by coming to the white flag and was able to secure the victory by beating Lyda to the checkered flag with 59 thousandths. Rennick ended up third ahead of Matt Zigaitis and Buddy Dalley.

Shifter Senior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

The new Shifter Senior presented by FZ Shifter welcomed a second different winner in the first two rounds of the season. Round One podium finisher Kyle Kennedy set the pace in qualifying with a 43.661 to clear Chase Pflughaupt by over four tenths. Kennedy was involved in an opening corner incident, putting him on the sideline early as Cole Pflughaupt went on to win ahead of Chase. In Heat Two, it was Chase holding off Kennedy for the race win while Aaron Bromberek was third. Chase and Bromberek made up the front row for the Final. Bromberek grabbed the holeshot victory, leading all 18 laps for the top step of the podium. Chase Pflughaupt was second with Kennedy in third, posting fast lap of the race. Cole Pflughaupt was fourth with Max Gal in fifth.

Laurentiu Mardan was able to sweep the Shifter Master presented by FZ Shifter in his class debut. Mardan dominated the action, setting fast time in qualifying and winning both heat races before winning the main event. Maciej Kusper was second in his class debut ahead of Gary Osterholt with James Pettke fourth and Lance Lane a DNS.

Mini Swift podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

Michael Tsyupka was the third different driver on the weekend to sweep the racing action, taking top honors in Mini Swift presented by BBS Racing Engines. Tsyupka cleared the field by over four tenths in qualifying before winning the heat races by four seconds and seven seconds respectively. It was a wire-to-wire performance in the Final for Tsyupka, leading all 18 laps for a four-second margin of victory to complete a second straight sweep to stay perfect in 2026. Evan Liesch was second ahead of Yakov Shiriaev with Mark Shiriaev in fourth and Darius Zaremba placing fifth.

The 206 Sportsman presented by MAC Paving was nearly swept on the weekend. Cameron Apel was able to clearing the 18-driver field by only 93 thousandths of a second in qualifying with Liam Fohr in the second spot. Fourth in the session was Evan Liesch, who drove up to the win in the first heat bringing Jackson McNeely and Martinas Karosas. Liesch continued at the point in Heat Two, this time ahead of Apel and Fohr. The 18-lap was a wire-to-wire performance for Liesch, securing the victory in front of Fohr. Apel was third at the checkered flag with Karosas and McNeely making up the top five.

206 Sportsman podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

The Route 66 Sprint Series opens up the second half of the 2026 season over the July 17-19 weekend, traveling to the Mill-Rite Raceway – home of the Badger Kart Club – in Dousman, Wisconsin. More details can be found via the series website at route66kartracing.com and be sure to follow Route 66 Sprint Series on Facebook and Instagram for additional details.

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