The 2026 season for the Route 66 Sprint Series was the first year of a new era for the regional championship program. Purchased one year ago by industry veteran Tim Koyen, the series experienced one of its highest attended seasons in many years, continuing with the family fun atmosphere established by former owner Chris Kardashian while elevating the competitive status of the events. The program welcomed 190 or more entries at three of the four events, hosting races in Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

“This was a great season for our program, our sponsors, supporters, competitors and teams,” stated Route 66 Sprint Series owner Tim Koyen. “Each event were three days of the karting community coming together for ‘Good Family Fun’, competitive racing, and many memories made.”

One aspect that new owner Tim Koyen is welcoming back is the Championship Awards Banquet. For many years under the ownership of Mark Coats, the series hosted an event to hand out the year-end trophies and prizes. The event returns to help celebrate those drivers who secured a top five position in their respective categories.

Koyen continued, “Back in the day, Route 66 had the best banquet in the sport, and I was blessed to be asked to emcee a number of them. I want to do my best to bring back that same prestige, excitement, and fun, as we celebrate our racer families and their accomplishments. We continue to listen to the racers on what they want in the series. We hope that continues going into the 2027 season.”

The 2026 Route 66 Sprint Series Championship Awards Banquet is scheduled for January 23, 2027, at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in Lake Delton, Wisconsin.

The championships for the 2026 Route 66 Sprint Series was a best three of four format, featuring events at the New Castle Motorsports Park, Norway Motorsports Park, Mill-Rite Raceway and Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America.

Two categories averaged over 30 entries on the season with 206 Senior and KA100 Senior. The KA100 Senior presented by BBS Race Engines division welcomed 60 different drivers over the four rounds of racing with Mick Gabriel earning the championship off one victory on the season. He beat out rookie and two-time winner Brady Schad by 28 points with Charles Ropke in third with two podium results. Alexander Kardashian finished fourth with one podium while two-time podium finisher Shane Ready was fifth in the standings. Three podiums, including one victory helped Cale Zimmermann secure the title in 206 Senior presented by Lawson Speed Shop. The advantage was 68 points over Brady Schad, who stood on the podium twice including a victory. Shane Ready was among the double duty drivers, finishing third as one of four winners. Jack Fieber was the only non-winning driver in the top five, with one podium result while Round One winner Marc Stehle finished fifth in the standings. The new Senior Shifter presented by Factory Karts category made its debut at the Route 66 Sprint Series with 17 different drivers taking in the new class. Chase Pflughaupt became the inaugural champion with two victories. Max Gal was second ahead of Cole Pflughaupt with Szymon Kusper and Jerry Lyon completing the championship top five.

E for effort in the two Junior categories that averaged over 20 entries on the season. Easton Kubinski used his one victory on the year to claim the KA100 Junior presented by P1 Engines class title, earning the championship by 63 points over two-time winner Jackson Baldus. Tucker Trieb was one of three winners on the season, placing third ahead of Isaac Payn and Ezekiel Haight. It was Haight who won three straight main events to open the season in 206 Junior presented by Bobby Krug Racing Services, securing the championship by 110 points ahead of Round Four winner Giana Lunski. Isaac Payn, Jude Lunski and Elijah Matson-Vigus made up the top five of the championship.

Adam Crepin was able to repeat as champion in KA100 Masters presented by Mill-Rite Inc. As one of four different winners on the season, Crepin won the title by 45 points over Round Two winner TJ Koyen. Thomas Shereck finished third ahead of Kyle Kraus with Sterling Layman completing the championship top five. The new Master Shifter presented by Factory Karts division welcomed Laurentiu Mardan as the inaugural champion. His advantage was only four points over James Pettke with Lance Lane in third. Maciej Kusper was fourth with Gary Osterholt in fifth. Lucas Rennick stood on the podium all four rounds, including one win to claim this year’s 206 Masters presented by Greyhound Racing Seats championship. Round Two winner Troy Toney was 67 points back with Buddy Daily in third. Round One winner Matt Lyda is fourth with Matt Zigaitis placing fifth in the final standings.

Off two weekend sweeps to open the 2026 championship, Michael Tsyupka earned the title in Mini Swift presented by BBS Race Engines. The advantage was just 73 points ahead of fellow two-time winner Evan Liesch. Darius Zaremba and Dylan Braun had one podium on the year to finish third and fourth in the standings with Yakov Shirieav in the fifth position. Harrison Apel won the final three rounds of the season to claim the championship in Micro Swift presented by Top Kart USA. The margin was 170 points with Lukas Kopko in second thanks to three straight podium results. James Lamanna was third, Rhett Blue fourth and Blake Learman in fifth. Evan Liesch was able to record four podium finishes, including three wins to close out the season for the championship in 206 Sportsman presented by MAC Paving. The margin of the championship is 152 points over Liam Fohr, who finished the season with four podium results. Martinas Karosas had two podium results to end the year third in the standings ahead of Cameron Apel and Jackson McNeely.

Route 66 Sprint Series would like to thank MG Tires, Franklin Motorsports, KartLift and Mill-Rite for their season sponsorship support throughout the 2026 season.

2026 Route 66 Sprint Series Champions

KA100 Senior: Mick Gabriel
206 Senior: Cale Zimmermann
Senior Shifter: Chase Pflughaupt
KA100 Junior: Easton Kubinski
206 Junior: Ezekiel Haight
KA100 Masters: Adam Crepin
206 Masters: Lucas Rennick
Master Shifter: Laurentiu Mardan
206 Sportsman: Evan Liesch
Mini Swift: Michael Tsyupka
Micro Swift: Harrison Apel

Be sure to visit Route66SprintSeries.com for more details regarding the 2026 Championship Awards Banquet along with on their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

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