Donovan Bonilla led only the final lap to claim his first career USPKS victory in X30 Pro (Photo: EKN)

The 2026 United States Pro Kart Series Indiana Grand Prix came to a close on Sunday with the final laps of action being contested around the iconic 1-mile New Castle Motorsports Park. Weather continued to be a factor, with an almost damp track presenting itself after heavy rains rolled through the New Castle, Indiana area Saturday evening, once again damaging tents in the paddock. Conditions went from overcast to very sunny and humid by the final laps of the day and into the podium ceremonies, where the paddock celebrated the 10 winners on the day as the championship program reached the halfway point of the season. Round Two main events provided loads of drama, including five finishes under 38 thousandths of a second, with the first two races decided by just one thousandths at the line.

Tristan Francisco won in a photo finish to claim his first career USPKS victory in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN)

The first category on the track for the main event was Micro Swift presented by Team Ferris Racing. Front row starters Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) were able to break away from the field along with Dusty Strayer (SCR / Nitro Kart). Eventually, it was the top two as Strayer was reeled in by a large group that battled for the third over the closing laps. Kotowski led the majority of the race before Francisco pulled the trigger with two laps remaining. The duo battled through the final circuit, with Kotowski able to get a great run out of I-70. Francisco, however, kept up his momentum and was able to drag race his competition to the line. Kotowski looked back just a little bit, and that’s what could have been the difference as Francisco reached the line first by only one thousandth of a second to claim victory. Round One winner Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart) came from 11th on the grid to win the fight for third, bringing Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) up from 17th to fourth while pushing Strayer back to fifth.

Colton Schniegenberg held on by 0.001 at the line to claim his first USPKS KA100 Junior victory (Photo: EKN)

KA100 Junior presented by BBS Race Engines was another photo finish. The 18-lap race began with a three-driver breakaway including front row starters Nick Kotowski (TKG / Birelart), Round One winner Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart), and third place starter Colton Schniegenberg (RPM / Tony Kart). Kotowski led the first 10 laps before Pettit pulled the trigger. As he took the lead, an issue with his powerplant developed and his pace slowed significantly. Eventually, he lost the lead duo and slipped back to sixth at the checkered flag. Up front, Schniegenberg took over the point and led through to the final circuit as the two drag raced to the line. At the checkered flag, Schniegenberg secured his first Junior victory by only one thousandth of a second. Kotowski settled for second as Santiago Orioli (OKP / EOS) won the battle for third ahead of Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) and Lucas Palacio (RPG / Kosmic).

Pauly Massimino claimed his first USPKS KA100 Senior victory at New Castle (Photo: EKN)

It was a sweep of the racing action for BJR in the KA100 Senior presented by Brandon Jarsocrak Racing. Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) and James Overbeck (BJR / Tony Kart) started on the front row and were able to break away early from the 44-driver field as the rest of the grid fought for third behind them early and all race long. Overbeck led the opening five laps until Massimino took over the point and that was the winning move. Massimino held off Overbeck’s last lap challenge into I-70, and was then able hold him off at the checkered flag by 0.070 seconds. AJ Myers (MPG / Kart Republic) won the battle for third ahead of Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Kart) and Caden McQueen (Velocity / Sodikart) – who ended up with the fast lap of the race coming from 12th on the grid. Top qualifier Sebastian Garzon (Orsolon / Tony Kart) finished seventh in the fight just behind Max Weiland (MPG / Kart Republic).

Jake Manalio was named winner after penalties in Mini Swift (Photo: Studio52.us)

The final order in Mini Swift presented by Parolin Motorsport USA was decided after the checkered flag, including the race winner. Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Mason Brody (SCR / Nitro Kart) led the field to the green flag for their 16-lap Final. Multiple drivers were in the fight early and after the halfway point, the lead group included seven drivers with eight laps to go. Brody led the opening circuits before Round One winner Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) had his first laps at the point of the weekend. Brody returned to the lead only to have Stoffle take back the spot as they began the second half of the race. Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) started seventh and finally knifed his way up to the lead by lap 13. The following lap, Brody returned to the front, and from there, the rest of the pack fought for the second spot. This allowed Brody to escape the group and run unchallenged to the checkered flag. However, a three-position blocking penalty was handed to Brody, taking the win away and putting him back to fourth. This promoted Manalio to the race winner after he beat Lucas Tarango (RPM / Nitro Kart) to the line. Iker Alvarez (Team Benik) was classified third ahead of Brody with Westbrook completing the top-five. Pole position driver Stoffle was sixth ahead of Slate Harrell (MPG / Alonso Kart), who had the fast lap of the race.

Dan Chandler was the overall winner in Shifter Master race group (Photo: EKN)

The Shifter Master by Orsolon Racing and Shifter Super Master by Maranello Kart USA classes hit the track next for their 18-lap feature race with four drivers over the two categories. It was only three after the start as Brian Chatfield (Carblos / Maranello) suffered a mechanical issue that kept him from taking the green flag. The other three drivers ran nose-to-tail until about the halfway point. Brad Danoff (Carblos / Maranello) was leading until contact, as Dominic Moceri (TB Kart) climbed the right rear of Danoff under braking at the ‘Scoreboard’ corner. They both went off the track and Dan Chandler (Tony Kart) took over the lead. Danoff was done while Moceri got back on-track and just stayed on the lead lap as Chandler went on to take the overall win and the victory in Shifter Super Master over Danoff. Moceri was named winner in Shifter Master with Chatfield on the sideline.

Travis Pettit emerged as the victor in X30 Junior for his first USPKS New Castle triumph in the category (Photo: EKN)

The final in X30 Junior presented by Speed Concepts Racing was one to watch from start to finish. Pole sitter Lucas Palacio (RPG / Kosmic) led the field to the green flag with Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) fighting for the lead over the opening four laps. Palacio returned to the point on lap five, just after contact between Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) and Colton Schniegenberg (RPM / Tony Kart) took place in turn five. On lap six, Palacio began running the defensive ‘white line’ around the 1-mile circuit with lap times dropping nearly two-seconds off the normal pace. Not surprisingly, this bunched up the entire field again, including a charging Sammut who began working his way through the field. By lap 12, Murphy had taken over the lead but he continued the defensive line while everyone was watching Sammut drive up to the fifth position. On Lap 14, as Palacio took back the lead, his move triggered more shuffling and subequent contact between Sammut, Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) and Mateo Calderon (SCR / CS55) broke up the top-five and the group as a whole. This allowed Murphy, Pettit and Palacio to break away. Murphy led the trio until the final lap when Pettit was able to get a good run on the exit of I-70 and, with a push from Palacio, reach the line first by 23 thousandths for the victory. Murphy settled for second with Palacio in third with Round One winner Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) a close fourth. Grayson Walcott (RPG / Kosmic) completed the top-five.

Mario Barrios went wire-to-wire in KA100 Master (Photo: EKN)

Three drivers battled for the overall victory in KA100 Master presented by Nash Motorsportz. Round One winner Mike Rolison (RPG / Kosmic) led the field to the green flag but it was outside front row starter Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) who jumped out to the lead on the opening lap. Top qualifier Adam Crepin (FMS / Gillard) joined them up front as they ran that way until the final circuit. Crepin pulled the trigger on Rolison for the second spot going into I-70, allowing Barrios to go on and take the overall victory and win the KA100 Super Master by TKG Birelart USA trophy. Crepin was second at the line over Rolison with Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) fourth, second in Super Master, with Paul Elefonte (RRC / LN Kart) in fifth.

The race in X30 Pro presented by Rolison Performance Group was a two-driver fight until the last lap when contact changed everything. Pole sitter John Antonino (MPG / Kart Republic) was joined by Round One winner Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) – who started third – at the front. They were able to breakaway thanks to contact in the opening corners behind them, including top qualifier Jake Drew (RPG / Kosmic), who started fourth and ended up 12th after the opening lap. Antonino and Massimino each led, with five different lead changes over the first 19 of 20 laps, all while pushing away from the rest of the field to a sizable lead. On the final circuit, Massimino pulled an over-under move on the exit of ‘Cell Tower’ corner to get to the inside of Antonino as they went toward turn 11 kink. The two made contact through the corner, sending both off the race track with damage to both their machines. As they navigated the grass to get back onto the racing surface, the group fighting for third caught and passed both the damaged machines trying to get back up to pace. Donovan Bonilla (RPG / Kosmic) and Davin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart) emerged with the top two positions through the final corners. Roberts attempted a drag race to the checkered flag but came up 38 thousandths short as Bonilla took his first career USPKS victory. Max Weiland (MPG / Kart Republic) was third at the line ahead of Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) and Drew, who worked his way up into the fight with a few laps remaining. Massimino ended up crossing the line in eighth with Antonino in ninth.

Billy Musgrave outlasted the field to claim his first USPKS Pro Shifter victory (Photo: EKN)

Pro Shifter presented by Velocity Racing featured a hard fought battle through two thirds of the 20-lap main event. Round One winner Adrien Renaudin (Carblos / Sodikart) held the pole position but it was Markus Kajak (McCrone / Formula K) with the holeshot from the outside front row starting spot. Billy Musgrave (Carblos / Factory Kart) was able to jump ahead of Renaudin as well with Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) right there in fourth. Kajak led the first four laps before Musgrave was able to work past for the lead. Kajak responded by reclaiming the top spot on lap nine, which triggered multiple lead changes for the two drivers over the next five circuits. On lap 15, Renaudin took his turn at the point but both Kajak and Musgrave went on the attack as they began lap 16. Three-wide action bunched them all up in turn two, and Kajak went back to fourth. Shortly thereafter, Kajak gave a bump-and-run move to Bayliff into the double right corners of six and seven, with Bayliff going full send and slamming into the left rear corner of Kajak’s machine. The impact was so brutal it bent the left corner of the rear bumper assembly into the left rear tire. That forced Kajak to retire from the race. This allowed Musgrave to escape with the lead and go on to claim his first USPKS victory by over two seconds ahead of Renaudin. Bayliff crossed the line in third but was penalized three positions for the contact with Kajak. That promoted Justin White (Carblos / Maranello) to third, Eli Fox (Birelart) to fourth and Mathias Ramirez (McCrone / Formula K) to fifth.

The first half of the 2026 United States Pro Kart Series has now been completed with two more rounds ahead for the remainder of the schedule. Two stops in Ohio are on the docket, with the first taking the series back to the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio on August 7-9.

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