(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 RMC Trophy Final at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana.

Fifth Year of RMC Trophy Final

For the fifth straight year, the RMC Trophy Final is visiting the New Castle Motorsports Park as the host for their national finale. This year’s event features an updated name, with the ‘RMC Trophy Final’ now presented as the official title after being known as the ‘US Trophy Final’ for the frist four editions. There is quite a bit of history within the US for this event approach. In the early years of the Rotax Max Challenge, the ‘one-off’ event in the USA was called the US Rotax Grand Nationals. The first edition of the event was held in 2001 at the XPlex facility in Las Vegas. Up until 2016, the race held this title before evolving to different brands and different locations. The 2020 season brought back the name, as the race visited the Charlotte Motor Speedway after the COVID pandemic, but the RMC Grand Finals were canceled that year so the tickets were not realized.

After no official event in 2021, the RMC Trophy Final began in October 2022 and has been held at different times on the year. The 2023 version brought the race forward in the calendar to September, and then even earlier in the summer in 2024 with an August date. Last year, the race returned to October. Now with the organization’s new relationship with TPK Promotions and Superkarts! USA, the event will return on this same weekend in 2027 for the sixth edition of the RMC Trophy Final.

First Event Under KSG / TPK Promotions Partnership

RMC Trophy Final marks first official event with KSG / TPK Promotions partnership (Photo: EKN)

As an entity, Race Rotax is run under the Karting Solutions Group umbrella, which also includes the new American Kart Manufacturers Inc. and FZ Shifter program. Race Rotax is the distributor for the Rotax brand and products, and has been putting on the major Rotax events here in the United States, including the RMC Trophy Final. New for 2026 is the partnership between KSG and TPK Promotions, the company that puts on the Superkarts! USA events across the USA. Since the RMC Winter Trophy program at Speedsportz and throughout the RMC America’s Trophy, there has been cooperation between the two programs with more and more staff from TPK joining the events for Race Rotax. Now that the partnership became official a month ago, the staff for the RMC Trophy Final includes many of the same people who were here for the SKUSA SummerNationals last weekend.

The new partnership includes a change in how the on-track event is produced and officiated. The on-track regulations follow that of the SKUSA rulebooks, including how the race is officiated and penalties are issued, etc. The technical side of the regulations still follow that of Rotax Max Challenge with SKUSA staff handling that side in the tech barn. Along with Lynn Haddock helping to oversee the activities in tech, a team including veteran Rick Jump is conducting the tech inspections on the weekend.

One big difference from the RMC weekends from this past year to this weekend will be the review of pushback bumpers. Previously, pushback bumpers were not reviewable. Now, under the SKUSA rule structure, they will be reviewable along with onboard videos.

Hodgson Going for Five Straight

Oliver Hodgson going for a fifth victory in Senior MAX (Photo: EKN)

One for the thumb. That’s the goal for Oliver Hodgson in Senior MAX as he attempts for a record setting fifth straight win at the RMC Trophy Final. Hodgson’s first four were on the CompKart brand with last year the unofficial debut of the ‘CompKart/Factory Kart’ chassis. It was a Factory Kart painted in ‘Fluo’ colors. Now an official driver under the Factory Karts banner, Hodgson is coming off victory on Sunday here at New Castle in Pro X30. Hodgson is not alone under the tent with Factory Karts as Blake Nash is making his second start with the team. The California driver who was a winner at the RMC USA West event in 2025 made his debut at the RMC America’s Trophy event at MCC.

Their goal is to sweep the podium with Factory Karts this weekend. Speaking with both, they confirmed with EKN that they will not take the RMC Grand Finals ticket depending on the results here. Hodgson is committed to Factory Karts program here in the USA, and will be a big part of the SuperNationals 29 experience. Nash is the same with Nash Motorsportz, and his ultimate goal in karting is to win at the SuperNationals.

FZ65 Mini Makes Debut at RMC

12 drivers are the Class of 2026 for FZ65 Mini (Photo: EKN)

The FZ Shifter platform has been welcomed to the national stage through the RMC America’s Trophy and this weekend’s RMC Trophy Final. Through the two events in Tucson and Cincinnati, FZ125 Senior and FZ85 Junior were on the docket. Now, the FZ65 Mini program is making its RMC debut. The New Castle weekend features 12 drivers from seven states competing on Arrive and Driver Factory Karts with FZ power. Billy Musgrave of Factory Karts and FZ Shifter is helping to oversee the program on the weekend, along with staff members from both companies. They are pitted all together, in a very Rotax Grand Finals feel.

Speaking with Musgrave and Justin Stefani of Factory Karts, they want this weekend for the FZ program to feel like the big one, similar to what the US Grand Nationals were like, the IKF Grand Nationals or the old SKUSA World Finals. One big event for the FZ Shifter platform on the year at the RMC Trophy Final.

After running on track during unofficial practice, the drivers who are new to the category and gearbox karts are learning each time how to launch from a standing start, with Musgrave working with them after this morning’s first session to do practice starts prior to the scale line.

Other Notes:

Sieracki Back to Rotax – 20 Years Since 2006 Rotax Grand Finals

Jamie Sieracki with son Brandon Sieracki, making his first Senior MAX start of his career this weekend (Photo: EKN)

20 years ago, Jamie Sieracki of Franklin Motorsports was working with Jamaica driver Timothy Stewart at the 2006 Rotax Grand Finals in Viana do Castelo, Portugal. Stewart finished sixth in the Last Chance Qualifier to make the Prefinal grid. Coming from last, Stewart drove to the victory in a track that went wet to dry. Sieracki made the gamble to put Stewart on dry tires. He zoomed past everyone to the win and pole position for the Final. Unfortunately, Stewart’s race ended with a DNF, but for a brief moment, the Jamaican was the star.

Fast forward 20 years and Sieracki is back at a Rotax race. Sieracki is fielding three drivers under the tent, including his son Brandon Sieracki, who is making his first ever Rotax start this weekend, competing in Senior MAX.

Rory van der Steur Back to His Roots

IMSA driver and former SKUSA Pro Tour driver Rory van der Steur is back behind the wheel of kart. For the first time since 2020 SKUSA Summer Festival, the Maryland driver is back behind the of a kart. Driving in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, his family team of Van der Steur Racing was sold recently. Rory saw the opportunity to jump back to his roots and compete this weekend, joining the FZ125 Senior field with Factory Karts.

Father and Son ‘Crow Show’

Karting is a family sport. It is very rare to see a father and son competing at a major karting event. This weekend at New Castle features the father and son ‘Crow Show’. Veteran karter and former Team USA member John Crow is competing in the FZ125 Senior category while his son Ryan Crow is set to make his FZ65 Mini debut. The Crow family calls Indianapolis home, and race at the KRA championship at New Castle. One of John’s old karts is running the FZ85 Junior program with NCMP regular Christopher Youtsey making his shifterkart debut.

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