Michael McGaughy was named winner in the X30 Pro main event after penalties (Photo: EKN)

The final day of action at the 2026 United States Pro Kart Series Lake Erie Grand Prix was a wet one all day with the last main events of the season taking place around the Lorain Ohio KartPlex. The series inaugural trip to the Lorain, Ohio facility saw the final laps of the 2026 championship season for seven categories in competition over the weekend. Many of the races on the day saw one driver pull away in the wet conditions to dominate the action while the final race including the X30 Pro drivers provided some drama to close out the 2026 season for USPKS.

Jake Drew (RPG / Kosmic) and John Antonino (MPG / Kart Republic) started on the front row for the X30 Pro presented by Rolison Performance Group main event. The two made contact through the first three corners before hard contact between them going into turn four took Drew out of the race, while collecting Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart), Michael McGaughy (RPM / Tony Kart) and others. The scuffle mixed up the order of the field and by the time they came around to complete lap one, Harley Keeble (McCrone / Formula K) was leading the race after starting dead last in 14th. Keeble established a solid lead as they fought for second behind him. Eventually, Antonino and McGaughy worked up the order into second and third and began challenging Keeble for the top spot. Antonino made several attempts at the lead before McGaughy had his shot at the top spot. Keeble fought them off lap after lap, leading all 20 circuits to cross the line as the provisional winner. Officials penalized Keeble for blocking, dropping him three positions. Antonino crossed the line in second however two penalties were given to him. A three second pushback bumper penalty that was overturned but a three position penalty for avoidable contact dropped him down to fifth in the order. This all promoted McGaughy to the top of the podium, winning in his USA Senior debut. Max Weiland (MPG / Kart Republic) was moved to second with Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) fighting back to end up third ahead of Keeble and Antonino.

Massimino had already clinched the championship prior to the race weekend, thanks to his two wins over the first three rounds. Drew ended up second in the standings, holding off Antonino with Davin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart) in fourth and Weiland finishing fifth by just two points over Donovan Bonilla (RPG / Kosmic).

Henry Wheeler dominated the KA100 Senior main event for his first series victory (Photo: EKN)

Two stories were followed in the 18-lap main event for KA100 Senior presented by Brandon Jarsocrak Racing. One was for the win on the day and the other the championship battle between James Overbeck and Pauly Massimino. The race was decided after the opening lap as pole position driver Henry Wheeler (Redspeed) put on a clinic in his first start in the category on the season. Jumping out to a lead, Wheeler pulled away lap after lap ahead of fellow front row starter Overbeck (BJR / Tony Kart). After 18 laps, the gap was just over six seconds as Wheeler became the fourth different winner on the season. Overbeck ran solo in second, securing near maximum points on the day in the championship chase. The fight for third included Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) early on but a charging Victor de Alencar (Evolution / Tony Kart) coming up from eighth on the grid took over the third spot. Massimino continued falling down the order with AJ Myers (MPG / Kart Republic) up from 14th in fourth and Derek Wargo (McCrone / Formula K) climbing up from 19th to fifth. Austin Olds (MPG / Kart Republic) and Mateo Rubio-Luengo (BJR / LN Kart) would both finish ahead of Massimino, however, penalties to both moved Massimino to sixth in the final order.

With his runner-up result, Overbeck claimed the series championship by 53 points over Massimino, becoming the 10th different champion over the 10 years of the category at USPKS. Myers finished third in the standings ahead of Edgar Rodriguez (BJR / LN Kart) with Isaac Malcuit (Orsolon / Tony Kart) finishing fifth, just 11 points over Connor Ferris (TFR / Parolin).

Travis Pettit secured the KA100 Junior championship with victory on Sunday (Photo: EKN)

Travis Pettit was able to celebrate clinching the KA100 Junior presented by BBS Race Engines championship with a victory in the final round. Pettit (BJR/ LN Kart) started on the pole position and jumped out to a solid lead over the opening laps ahead of fellow front row starter Lucas Palacio (RPG / Kosmic). The gap grew to just over five seconds over 18 laps as Pettit earned his second victory on the season. Palacio settled for second as Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) ran third ahead of Benja Fernandez (MPG / Kart Republic) while Ashton Woon (SCR / Charles Leclerc) moved up to fifth on the final lap.

Pettit secured his first career USPKS championship by 251 points over Palacio, who only competed in third rounds of racing. Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) moved down to third in the order with Sammut fourth and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) finishing fifth in the standings.

Lucas Palacio ran away with the victory in X30 Junior (Photo: EKN)

The action in X30 Junior presented by Speed Concepts Racing was more about the championship chase than the race winner. Lucas Palacio (RPG / Kosmic) decided the race win over the opening laps, pulling away from the field from the outside of the front row and extending out to a five-second margin of victory after 18 laps. The win was Palacio’s first on the year in the category, becoming the fourth different victor in 2026. Ashton Woon (SCR / Charles Leclerc) made his second start on the season in the category, coming from third to second for another runner-up result to match his finish from Round One at Trackhouse. The fight on the track was for third place, and the championship. Pole position driver Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) was fighting with Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) and Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) for the position all race long. For Murphy and Pettit, their position decided who would win the championship between the two drivers. Murphy first fought off Pettit and then had to fight with Sammut through the final few laps. On the last lap, Sammut pushed Murphy wide through turn eight, allowing Pettit to slip past both and cross the line provisionally in the third position. A pushback bumper penalty however was handed to Pettit, along with Sammut, promoting Murphy to the third position. Pettit ending up fourth and Nathan Golseth (SCR / Charles Leclerc) in fifth.

The final standings put Murphy at the top of the championship podium for his first career title, taking the top spot by just nine points over Pettit. Murphy is now the 13th different champion in the 13 years of the category at USPKS. Golseth finished third in the standings ahead of Palacio with Sammut in the fifth position.

Mario Barrios earned a second victory on the season in KA100 Masters (Photo: EKN)

The action in KA100 Masters presented by Nash Motorsportz / Trinity Karting Group was a two driver battle. Pole position driver Mike Rolison (RPG / Kosmic) saw outside front row starter Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) jump out into the lead over the opening circuit. The two were able to pull away from the field, with Barrios gapping Rolison during the middle portion of the race. Despite Rolison posting the fast lap of the race, Barrios went on to lead all 18 laps for his second victory of the season. Scot Carapellatti (Kosmic) had an impressive run in third with Enrique Baca (BJR / LN Kart) in fourth and Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) in fifth. Rolison secured the championship for both Masters and Super Masters with Falcone in second and Carapellatti in third for both as well.

Dutch Westbrook won for a second time on the season in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN)

It was a wire-to-wire performance in Mini Swift presented by Parolin Motorsport USA. Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) used his outside front row starting spot to grab the lead over the opening corners and established a solid lead. Pole position driver Vicente Santino Aguilar (Orsolon / Tony Kart) slipped to fourth over the opening lap behind Hudson Howard and Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart). Both Westbrook and Howard were able to pull away as a group of drivers battled for the third position all race long. At the checkered, Westbrook scored his second victory of the season, winning by 1.8 seconds over Howard. Tyler Blackwood (Team Benik) was able to come from 11th on the grid to third with Aguilar in fourth, recording the fast lap of the race, while Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart) finished fifth.

Mason Brody (SCR / Nitro Kart) secured the championship prior to the race weekend, moving up to compete in the Junior categories over the weekend. He is the 11th different champion in 11 years of the category at USPKS. Westbrook finished back by 105 points with Stoffle in third, Manalio in fourth and Slate Harrell (MPG / Alonso Kart) in fifth.

Tristan Francisco earned a third straight victory in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN)

Micro Swift presented by Team Ferris Racing was the first class on the track each day and the first main event on Sunday. Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) started from the pole position with championship rival Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) starting third. The two were able to get away from the field early with Kotowski leading the opening circuit. Francisco took over the top spot on the second lap and never looked back. The Canadian drove away over the remaining laps of the 16-lap Final, extending his lead to just under eight seconds to secure his third straight victory. Kotowski settled for second with Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart) running alone in third. Darisu Zaremba (FMS / Merlin) drove up from 10th to fourth with Franco Schiavo (MSL / CRG) placing fifth.

Francisco was able to secure the championship by 110 points, becoming the 11th different class champion in 11 years of the category at USPKS. Kotowski was second in the standings with Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) in third. Sanders and Schiavo completed the championship podium.

The 14th season is now complete for the United States Pro Kart Series with a new era for the program coming in 2027. A four-race championship schedule along with a one-off event in Las Vegas will extend the calendar year from March to October next season.

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