The Cup Karts North America Grand Nationals 10 is set for this week at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The New Castle, Indiana facility is set to welcome over 500 entries over the October 8-11 event in what will be the largest karting event in North American and around the world. A total of nine categories will take on the 1-mile circuit with over 400 drivers seeking to etch their names in the history books as a winner at the CKNA Grand Nationals 10.

The event begins on Thursday, October 8 with practice all day, providing four sessions for each category. The larger divisions – Senior Medium, Senior Light, and Junior – are broken up into two groups each all weekend long. Friday, October 9 begins with a warm up and ‘Happy Hour’ session before qualifying. The opening round of heat races will complete Friday action. Saturday hosts a full slate of racing with Heat 2 and Heat 3 contested. All races are set for eight laps each, and each heat is progressive, meaning drivers will start the next round where they finished in the previous session. When all three heat races are completed, points will be tabulated with the highest point total earning the main event pole position. The top-56 in Senior Light, Senior Medium and Junior transfer automatically. The top four from the LCQ races run on Sunday morning move on to the Finals Sunday afternoon – making those fields for the main events at 60 drivers taking the green flag.

For a third straight time, night racing will be part of the CKNA Grand Nationals. Friday and Saturday will split up the categories into groups. Cadet, Kid Kart, Senior Medium, Sportsman and Masters will run in the morning sessions on Friday before moving to the afternoon section on Saturday. Junior, Senior Heavy, Legends and Senior Light will compete during the Friday afternoon period and return Saturday morning – giving all categories a chance to race under the lights.

The Briggs & Stratton ‘Outta the Box’ Challenge returns for Cup Karts North America Grand Nationals 10. During the Saturday evening BBQ, teams will first be timed in the 20-minute ‘Buildoff’ of mounting a new engine to a kart out of the box. The teams will then go through scrutineering before hitting the track for a 5-minute session. Following a 10-minute pit session, the main event will be run at 8pm. Only Senior drivers will be permitted to compete this year.

The track layout for the CKNA Grand Nationals 10 adds a fourth different layout. The standard ‘National’ track will be utilized, with the standard Kid Kart layout for that division. Thursday, CKNA will host the Divisional Awards throughout the day and in the evening. CKNA will once again be providing live coverage of the GNX, working with Kart Chaser.

eKartingNews.com will be trackside throughout the event with Managing Editor David Cole providing full trackside coverage. Cole will oversee the social media, daily reports and top-10 updates during the event, along with streaming the live audio on the EKN Live page (www.ekartingnews.com/live) and on the EKN Radio Network (www.ekartingnews.com/radio). Double duty action returns as Cole is set for return with LSR Motorsports aboard the CRG chassis to compete in the Masters class after sitting out 2025.

Cale Zimmermann scored his first career CKNA Grand Nationals victory at GN9 (Photo: Mattia Marmo – EKN)

The headline Senior Medium category has hit triple entry total once again, with entry numbers for the preview series coming from the totals set as of October 1. For a third straight year, Senior Medium is in triple digits, hitting 101 drivers for GNX. Only one former winner of the category is in the field, featuring defending champ Cale Zimmermann (RLV / VLR). He is the only driver to win a CKNA major in Senior Medium in the field, coming off a win at the Spring Nationals. Zimmermann is among the seven former race winners in the field including Senior rookies Ayrton Grim (Mill-Rite / Coyote), Brady Schad (Mill-Rite / Coyote) and last year’s Junior winner Sam Tutwiler (Stehle / Birelart). Eli Warren (Stehle / Birelart), Adam Maxwell (A-Maxx / Coyote) and Owen Lloyd (South Georgia Karting / VLR) make up the list. The field also includes three of the divisional champions in North champ Nick Ksobiech (RLV / VLR), South champ Adriano Yannuzzi (KBR / Coyote), and Canada champ John Wade (Stehle / Birelart).

The Senior Light division is nearing the second highest event total at 87 drivers set to compete. None of the former winners in the last six years are in the field as the category will welcome a new winner. This category, despite no former class winners, has eight past CKNA winners with Grimm, Schad, Tutwiler, Warren, Maxwell, Lloyd and Zimmermann all doing double duty. Isaac Malcuit (Stehle / Birelart) is a former Junior winner, competing in just Light class. Lukas Thek (PPK / Coyote) and Major Makovskis (REM / Kosmic) are winners on the season at the Spring Nationals and Canadian Nationals while division champions in the field include Camryn Reed (Reed / CRG) from the South, Rian Kerl (RRD / Coyote) from the East and Sebastian Day (Stehle / Stealth) from Canada. Both Medium and Light categories have plenty of possible winners in each field, many racing both divisions.

Senior Heavy is above 50 drivers for a fourth straight year with again no defending winner in Christopher McKeithan. 2024 winner Owen Lloyd (South Georgia Karting / VLR) is back, seeking to become the first two-time winner in the class. Lloyd comes in as the Winter Nationals and Spring Nationals winner on the year, while racing all three classes. Justin Wishard (RRD / Gillard) and Marc Stehle (Stehle / Birelart) are two former winners in the field with three divisional champions set to battle – North driver Nick Ksobiech (RLV / VLR), Carson Bartlett (kartEparts / CKR) from Canada and East title winner Brady Atwood (MGM). Another of the major CKNA winners in the field is Summer Nationals victor Ben Lyda (S&WR / Birelart).

Ryan Cassity won both Masters and Legends last year (Photo: EKN)

Also, for a fourth straight year welcoming over 80 drivers is the Junior category. This year will welcome an 11th different winner with last year’s champ Sam Tutwiler moving up. There are three former winners in the field, including last year’s Sportsman winner Will Feitctinger (BA / MGM), 2024 Sportsman winner Daniel Draganov (RLV / VLR) and former Kid Kart winner Jacob Schaible (Coyote). All four major winners are in the field, including Winter Nationals champ Carter Barkis (EOS), Spring Nationals winner Draganov, Summer Nationals winner Isaac Payn (Stehle / Birelart) and Canadian Nationals champ Jackson Corbett (Prime / Birelart). The four divisional champions are in the field as well, with North champ Draganov, Ryder Thompson (KBR / Coyote) from the South, Will Crites (Gold Kart) from the East and Canada champion Kegan Irwin (Birelart).

The last three of four winners in the Masters class are back for more with 33 drivers pre-registered for this year’s CKNA GNX. Ryan Cassity (Coyote) scored the victory with two-time winner Marc Stehle (Stehle / Birelart) was third last year in his quest to three-peat. 2021 winner Michael Dittmer (RLV / VLR) returns as well. Former Legends winner Todd Baron (BFR / Tony Kart) is also in the field. AJ Roderick (RRD / Coyote) is making his first start in the category, winning the Summer Nationals. Eli Yanko (YPM / YPM) is the other major winner in the field, taking the top spot at the Canadian Nationals. Eric Lessard (RL / Intrepid) is the lone divisional champion in the field while fellow Canadian John Price (Coyote) is the second major winner in the field.

Only two drivers have won in the Legends class since it was introduced in 2001. Ryan Cassity (Coyote) has won the last four, seeking ‘one for the thumb’. He become the first driver to win both Masters and Legends in the same year. Todd Baron (BFR / Tony Kart) was the inaugural winner, finishing outside the top 10 a year ago. Nine of the top 10 from a year ago are in the field with Tim Shutt (TimmyTech / Pantano), James Inscoe (Lowkey / Sodikart), Scott Falcone (PPK / Coyote), Canadian Nationals winner and divisional champ Eli Yanko (YPM / YPM), Doug Cook (RRD / Coyote), Spring Nationals and Summer Nationals winner Todd Bolton (BBR / Coyote), John O’Keefe (BA / MGM) and JD Gunn (LSR / CRG). East champion Tim Stiefel (Coyote) is also among the top contenders.

The Sportsman division will welcome a 10th different winner of the category with no former CKNA Grand Nationals winners in the field. Three of the major winners are in the field, including Anderson Hemphill (MGM) who won Winter Nationals, Spring Nationals winner Austin Taylor (MPG / Kart Republic), and Canadian Nationals winner Nathan Stockwell (NewGen / Tony Kart). Mikey Todd (Reed / CRG) is the only divisional champion in the field. Aiden Harbaugh (PKC / Redspeed) is among the contenders in the field, coming off a runner-up at the T4 Nations Cup 2026 in Spain. On the list includes Drew Blehm (Reed / Nitro Kart), Liam Fohr (NewGen / Haase), Mace Lejsek (IRM / Exprit) and Evan Liesch (MPG / Kart Republic).

The Cadet division was introduced in 2023 and has seen three different winners. CKNA Grand Nationals 10 will welcome a fourth with defending winner Hudson Howard not racing this year. There are two former winners among the 41 drivers pre-registered – last year’s Kid Kart winner Matteo Romeo and 2024 Kid Kart winner Spencer Hite (PPK / Coyote). Hite was a winner at the Summer Nationals, while Grant Heckman (HBR / VLR) is coming in as the Winter Nationals winner. Weston Kolar (Parolin), Maddox Nieves (KBR / Coyote) and Cole Lamphere (B&L / MGM) are divisional winners in the field, taking titles in the North, South and East respectively.

A record setting total of 28 drivers will compete in the Kid Kart division, which is set to welcome a 10th different winner of the category. Only two are returning from last year’s top-10 – South champion and Summer Nationals winner Maverick Reddick (Kart CRG USA) and Spring Nationals winner William Heckman (HBR / VLR). They were third and fourth a year ago. Other divisional champions in the field are Charlie Meurer (Margay) from the North and Eli Haggard (Lowkey / Sodikart) from the East. Aubrey Babcock (Coyote) won the Winter Nationals, making the field very competitive for its record turnout.

Fun Stats by Race Select

• 498 entries from 419 drivers, and registration is open until October 9. Some interesting stats compiled by the RaceSelect race management system.
• The Triple-Digit Club. Senior Medium has four more drivers on the waitlist. If you’re number five, we admire the optimism.
• Dead Heat. Senior Light and Junior are tied at 88 entries apiece.
• Double Duty. 75 drivers are running two classes. The favorite combo is Senior Light plus Senior Medium, chosen by 43 of them. Add the two triple-duty drivers and more than half of the Senior Light field (45 of 88) is also in Senior Medium. Eight more double up in Masters and Legends, presumably because one set of bruises wasn’t enough.
• Triple Crown, Again. Owen Lloyd chased all three senior classes at GN8. He’s back for all three at 18, and this time 17-year-old Christopher Wakefield is coming with him. At the 2021 Grands, both were entered in Junior.
• The RaceSelect Era. Since 2021, RaceSelect has processed 2,963 Grand Nationals entries from about 1,270 different drivers. In 2026 alone, 1,045 unique drivers raced across 18 CKNA events.
• 60% of all entries arrived on two evenings, and 214 of the 498 were placed between 8 and 9 PM Eastern. Dinner was late in a lot of karting households.
• First in Line. The biggest 4 cycle race in the world, and a Kid Kart beat everyone to the grid.
• Cart to Checkered. The typical opening-hour racer went from first click to paid in 5 minutes. Most of us take longer to pick a gas station.
• Time Zones Are Hard. Thomas Batt entered at 1:27 AM Eastern. Before you judge, that’s 5:27 PM in Wellington, New Zealand.
• 31 US states plus Washington DC, two Canadian provinces and New Zealand. Twelve states send 10 or more drivers, and Indiana leads the US with 53.
• O Canada. 66 Canadian drivers are crossing the border, 60 of them from Ontario. Senior Light is 30% Canadian. Still putting the NORTH in Cup Karts North America.
• One Kiwi. New Zealand sent ten entries to GN8. This year it’s just Thomas Batt, more than 8,000 miles from Wellington. Airfare must have gone back up.
• No Pressure. California, Arkansas, New Hampshire and Nebraska each pin their hopes on a single driver.
• City Crown. Indianapolis and St. Petersburg, Florida tie at 6 drivers. Indy is under an hour from the track; St. Pete is 1,000 miles. This year the asterisk goes on Indianapolis. Mooresville, North Carolina is down to 3.
• The Battle of Lafayette. Lafayette, Louisiana 4, Lafayette, Indiana 2.
• New Castle to New Castle. Tristen Altman drives about 330 miles from New Castle, Pennsylvania. Declan Black comes about 530 miles from Newcastle, Ontario. Nobody in the field lists New Castle, Indiana as home.
• Small Town, Big Race. Zayden Alexander comes from Walnut Hill, Illinois, population 95. There are more karts in Senior Medium alone than people in his town.
• Center of Gravity. Average every driver’s home address and you land in the Cincinnati suburbs, about an hour from New Castle Motorsports Park. CKNA picked the right track.
• Drivers average 20 years old, down from 22 at GN9 and 23 at GN8. The midpoint of the field hasn’t turned 16, and 51% of drivers aren’t old enough for a license. They’ll run 60 mph on Thursday and ride home in the back seat.
• Age Span Extreme. Drew Galloway of Miamisburg, Ohio is the oldest driver at 71. He and John O’Keefe of Avon, Indiana are the two competitors over 70.
• Youth Injection. Hal Byrd of Spring Hill, Tennessee is the youngest at 5. Drew was 65 when Hal was born.
• Newer Than the Race. 33 drivers weren’t born yet when the first Grand Nationals ran in 2017.
• Combined Experience. The Legends grid adds up to more than 1,800 years. The entire Kid Kart grid adds up to just over 200.
• Happy Birthday. AJ Stoner turns 14 on Thursday, the first day of the event. Somebody bring a cake to the Junior grid.
• Birthday Twins. 14 pairs of drivers share the exact same birth date, and three pairs are actual twins. Our favorite pair is not: Jed Perkins and Jackson Shipley were born the same day in 2002, both live in St. Petersburg, Florida, and they’re in different households.
• 237 drivers are back from GN9, and 38 have entered every Grands since 2021. At the same time, 36% of the field has no earlier Grand Nationals on record.
• Seeing Double. Three sets of twins will race each other: Giana and Jude Lunski in Junior, Rhett and Toby Blue in Cadet, and Autumn and Aubrey Babcock in Kid Kart. It beats settling it in the back seat.
• Family Business. About 30 households have two or more drivers in the field, and at least nine are a parent racing alongside a kid. Michael Dittmer is in Masters while Kruze Dittmer runs Kid Kart.
• Full House. The Scotts of Quincy, Illinois are bringing three: Jeff in Legends, Avery in Senior Light and Riley in Senior Heavy.
• Bowen Is Back. Bowen, Illinois (population 464) sends two Boltons, Todd in Legends and Hunter in Senior Heavy, both on number 22. If Indianapolis turned out at that rate it would send about 3,800 drivers.
• All Grown Up. William Heckman was the youngest driver at GN8. He’s back in Kid Kart as a seasoned 7-year-old on kart 008, with Grant Heckman in Cadet.
• Perfect Attendance. Two of the six-for-six drivers, Liam Fohr and Elam Stoner, are 10 years old. Six Grands, and neither has reached middle school. Tim Stiefel (5), Logan Stephens (53) and Owen Lloyd (119) have never changed numbers.
• Moving Up. Since GN9: 6 Kid Kart drivers to Cadet, 9 Cadets to Sportsman, 14 Sportsman drivers to Junior and 23 Juniors to a senior class. Somebody is selling a lot of outgrown seats.
• Frequent Racers. Owen Lloyd has 83 CKNA race entries across 36 events since 2021, the most in the field. He’s 18. Second is Todd Baron with 68. He’s 66.
• 277 different first names, and the most popular kart number is 5. Add up every kart number in the field and you get 110,436. Useless, but true.
• Born for This. The entry list includes a Race, a Diesel, a Kruze, a Cruz, a Jett, a Maverick, two Ryders, two Chases and three drivers named Miles. Their parents knew exactly what they were doing.
• Paddock Homage. There’s also an Aryton, a Jenson, an Aston and a Mario. Mario is in Legends, which feels right.
• Hey, Ryan. Yell “Ryan!” in the paddock and six drivers turn around. Jackson, Eli, Max, Mason and Riley get five each.
• About 85 teams and 50 chassis brands, but privateers are 30% of the drivers. They have more entries than Stehle Motorsports and PPK combined. No tent, no problem.
• Dominant Duo. If the Stehle tent were a class, it would be the fifth largest at the event.
• Best Team Name. Sausage and Whisky Racing, with Dark Side Racing a close second. No further questions.
• Truth in Advertising. Lowkey Racing has nine entries across five classes. That is not very low key.
• Stacked flat, 2,604 tires would reach about 1,100 feet, a touch taller than the Eiffel Tower. As we noted at GN8, the stack would fall over long before that.
• Heavy Lifting. 164,310 pounds is 82 tons, or roughly a fully loaded Boeing 737.
• Weather Forecast. 92% of the tire order is betting on sunshine. In Indiana. In October.

Be sure to follow all the EKN Social Media outlets for updates, photos, videos and more from the Cup Karts North America Grand Nationals 10.

Provisional Senior Medium Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Senior Light Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Senior Heavy Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Junior Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Masters Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Legends Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Sportsman Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Cadet Entry List – as of October 1

Provisional Kid Kart Entry List – as of October 1

Share on Facebook

Tweet