Alan Isambard went green-to-checkered in ROK SV Senior (Photo: EKN)

ROK Vegas 2026 presented by ROK Cup USA ended on Sunday outside the Rio Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, wrapping up five days of activities for the ninth edition of the event. The near record-setting event featuring over 350 entries not only battled the tight temporary circuit, but weather changes throughout the week. In the end, 12 names were etched in the history books after taking the checkered flag.

Blake Nash dominated the ROK VLR Senior main event (Photo: EKN)

The headline ROK SV Senior category featuring 38 drivers took to the temporary circuit outside the Rio led by Rocket Racing Company teammates Alan Isambard and Alessandro de Tullio, Winners of four heat races and the Super Heat. Isambard (LN Kart) got the jump from the pole position and de Tullio (LN Kart) slipped to fourth over the opening lap behind Morgan Porter (RPM / Tony Kart) and Ruben Moya (FDM / Pantano). The top five, including last year’s winner Caden McQueen (Velocity / Sodi Kart) were able to break away from the field. Isambard continued to increase his lead, recording fast lap of the race on lap 10 to never be pressured. The fight for second amped up over the second half of the race with Moya eventually reaching the spot and pressured by McQueen lap after lap. A defensive line by Moya made a move difficult for McQueen and allowed other drivers to close in on the group late. Their fight helped to pad the advantage for Isambard, who took the checkered flag by more than nine seconds after 20 laps to record his first event victory. Moya held on for second over McQueen with Porter in fourth and Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) up to fifth late, dropping de Tullio to sixth.

Matheus Morgatto won a second career ROK Vegas main event, becoming the inaugural Pro KZ winner (Photo: EKN)

It was a similar performance in ROK VLR Senior as the final race of the day. This time it was Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) who swept the action over the week, including a wire-to-wire victory in the Final. Nash established a solid lead over the first few laps as outside front row starter Chase Hand (GFC Karting) slipped to fourth behind Canadian Ayden Ingratta (REM / Kosmic) and Archer Eversman (Axis / Redspeed). Lap two, Eversman moved to second. He and Ingratta ran nose to tail for the entire 20-lap race, however, could not keep pace with Nash, who recorded a fast lap two tenths quicker than the other leaders. At the checkered flag, Nash celebrated his second victory in the category since 2021 by over three seconds. Eversman and Ingratta finished second and third with last year’s Junior winner Isaac Malcuit (Orsolon / Tony Kart) working his way up from 13th to fourth ahead of Juan Paramo (Orsolon / Tony Kart). Hard charger of the race was last year’s winner Jeremy Fletcher (MMK / CS55). The Florida driver won the LCQ on Saturday, coming from 31st to 11th.

Brody McQuarrie won ROK Shifter category (Photo: EKN)

All four Senior categories featured sweeps on the week. Matheus Morgatto (Velocity / Sodi Kart) became the inaugural winner in the Pro KZ category. Morgatto was perfect on the weekend, setting fast time in qualifying, winning three heat races, taking the Super Heat and then going wire-to-wire in the 21-lap Final. Morgatto grabbed the holeshot while Cooper Becklin (WCM / Birelart), Harley Keeble (Kart Republic) and Jacob Gulick (GFC Karting) slotted into position. By lap eight, Morgatto recorded the fast lap of the race – a 44.705 time – helping to establish the 2.7-second advantage at the checkered flag for the victory. Becklin kept Keeble back while battling for second with Gulick running solo in fourth. Last year’s Junior GP winner Erik Doan (WCM / Birelart) joined them on the podium in fifth.

Brody McQuarrie (Scuderia Littel / GFC) led all 21 laps the ROK Shifter division for the victory, taking the checkered flag ahead of Nolan Bishop (MS Kart) and Jack McGuire (Kosmic).

Travis Pettit led every lap of the ROK SV Junior main event (Photo: EKN)

The inaugural ROK SV Junior category featured 53 drivers on the weekend, narrowing down to 40 for the main event on Sunday. Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) led the field to the green flag for the opening main event of the day. Teammate Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) started on the outside but was shuffled down the order allowing third place starter Wynn Godschalk (MPG / Kart Republic) to move into second. On lap two, Godschalk went for the lead in the second hairpin. The two made contact and Godschalk ended up in the wall, out of the race. This move Maxwell Macha (Parolin Motorsport USA) into the second spot after starting sixth. Pettit however was able to put down strong laps, establishing a comfortable lead. Eventually, Macha would be run down by a group led by Lawrence Peremen (BJR / LN Kart), who started ninth. That would be the battle to watch as Pettit went on to take the victory by over six seconds, earning his first career ROK Vegas triumph. The battle for second went down to the final laps with Peremen securing the position ahead of Orioli. Ruben Gutierrez (RPG / Kosmic) crossed the line in fourth, however a 10-second penalty for passing under yellow, dropping him to 17th. That promoted Macha up to fourth and Cason Hodge (SpeedSense / Exprit) to fifth, coming up from 12th.

Ruben Gutierrez held on to claim the ROK VLR Junior victory (Photo: EKN)

The race for the victory in ROK VLR Junior came down to the front row drivers. Pole position driver Ruben Gutierrez (RPG / Kosmic) and Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) led the field to the green flag, but it was third place starter Julian Rivera (Orsolon / Tony Kart) to lead the opening lap. It was the three drivers in the battle early until Rivera suffered a mechanical failure on lap nine, putting him on the sidelines. This left the front row starters to battle themselves. Both led at one point with each running defensive in the closing laps. Gutierrez grabbed the lead with two laps remaining and was able to hold on through the final corners, reaching the checkered flag first by 29 thousandths as the Mexico driver secured his first ROK Vegas victory. Pettit settled for second with Brayden Wagner (FW / GFC) winning the battle for third over Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart). Kotowski however was penalized four positions for avoidable contact, promoting Cason Hodge (SpeedSense / Exprit) and Nicolas Mendoza (Velocity / Sodi Kart) to fifth, up from 15th.

Wire-to-wire victory for Brian Keck, his second in ROK Shifter Masters (Photo: EKN)

It was a near sweep on the week for Brian Keck (GFC Karting) in ROK Shifter Masters. Aside from the rain/hail session in Heat One where Keck was second, he went on to win the next two heats and the Super Heat to earn the pole position for the Final. Keck got the holeshot as the lights went out for the 14-minute plus two laps session as Mirko Mizzoni (Italcorse America) slipped into second ahead of Heat One winner Cole Mathewson (RRC / LN Kart). Mizzoni kept he pressure on Keck for the first 11 laps, running the fast lap of the race on the 11th circuit. It was lap 12 when Mizzoni slowed, suffering a broken spark plug cable to end his race. From there, Keck completed the wire-to-wire performance, taking the checkered flag first by eight seconds for a second career triumph since 2024. Mathewson was able to hold off Scott ‘Skitchy’ Barnes (VTM / Maranello) for the second spot with last year’s Super Masters winner Kevin Woods (RWR / CRG) edging out last year’s Masters winner Hunter Hagenbuch (GFC Karting) for fourth.

A career first ROK Vegas triumph for Rene Martinelli in ROK Shifter Super Masters (Photo: EKN)

Rene Martinelli (RRC / TB Kart) used a great start to secure the victory in ROK Shifter Super Masters. Martinelli started sixth overall and was able to put multiple karts between he and the rest of the Super Masters field. Martinelli ended up finishing fourth overall, securing his first career ROK Vegas victory. John Crow (VTM / RS Kart) had an amazing start to go from 18th to 10th in the opening circuit overall, second in class. He made up ground to Martinelli, but would not close in at the end, finishing second. Top qualifier Patrick O’Neill (RWR / CRG) was third in the order ahead of Morne Van Taak (VTM / RS Kart) and Paul Elefonte (RRC / LN Kart).

Rentao Jader David led every lap for the ROK VLR Masters victory (Photo: EKN)

Renato Jader David (Orsolon / Tony Kart) secured his fourth victory at ROK Vegas, a first in ROK VLR Masters. RJD started from the pole position, however as they were completing their first lap, a massive windstorm hit the facility. Barries began sliding around on the track, fences blew down and a few staff tents blown apart. Renato made hard contact with the moving barriers as they were attempting to complete the opening lap. The race was quickly red flagged, and competitors were sent back to the paddock for a track repair and kart repair time. RJD’s crew rebuilt his kart in time to make the grid, and the package was nearly perfect. When the lights went out, RJD jumped out to the lead with Super Masters driver Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) moving to second ahead of Danillo Ramalho (D2 / Kart Republic). That lasted one lap with Ramalho moving back to second. The gap, however, was already established for RJD, maintaining about a one-second advantage over the 19 laps of the Final. Ramalho recorded the fast lap of the race on the final circuit, but Renato took the checkered flag first for the victory. Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA) won the battle for third in class over Enrique Baca (BJR / LN Kart) with last year’s winner Charlie Fonseca (RPG / Kosmic) in fifth.

Dominating performance on the week for Scott Falcone in ROK VLR Super Masters (Photo: EKN)

Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) became the second ever winner in the ROK VLR Super Masters category. Falcone started third overall with the next Super Masters driver back in ninth. Falcone went on to finish third overall in the 19-lap race, securing the class victory. Chad Wallace (NRC / Gillard) drove to second in class with Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart), Alex Dal Bon (LFB / OTK) and Kyle Kraus (HDD / Merlin) completing the top five.

Alfie Mair ran away with the victory in ROK Mini (Photo: EKN)

Alfie Mair (OKP / Tony Kart) was able to become the ninth different winner in the ROK Mini category. Vicente Santino Aguilar (Orsolon / Tony Kart) led the field to the green flag and led the opening circuit before Mair – who started second – took over the position. That was the winning move as Mair put on a clinic over the 14-lap race with consistent lap times. He established a 4.7-second advantage by the checkered flag to secure the victory. Aguilar was caught by a group of drivers by the midway point, which included Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA) and last year’s Micro winner Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik), and the pole position driver fell back to sixth at one time. With two laps remaining, Go made contact with the barriers and dropped down the order while Westbrook got into the marbles in the last corner, sending him into the wall and out of the race. Aguilar was then able to get past Alvaro Medeiros (Orsolon / Tony Kart) to retake second place. Iver Spence (Parolin Motorsport USA) ended up fourth with Samuel Chaverri (Parolin Motorsport USA) in fifth.

Tristan Francisco won the battle in ROK Micro to celebrate his 10th birthday (Photo: EKN)

The ROK Micro division also welcomed a ninth different winner at ROK Vegas. Top qualifier Braxton Shiflett (SpeedSense / Exprit) led the 34-driver field to the green flag and was joined at the front by Super Heat winner Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart). Francisco took the lead on lap and led the majority of the race. Shiflett retook the top spot on lap 10 but Francisco fought back the following circuit. Their fighting allowed the second group to close in late, however Francisco was able to hold off the challenge to record his first career ROK Vegas victory on his 10th birthday. Emmett Dalton (KidiX / Kart Republic) led the second group and was able to move into second over Shiflett. Leandro Ramirez (OKP / OTK) was fourth with Beau Wyatt (LEM / Nitro Kart) in fifth.

Twelve names were entered into the record books following the action at ROK Vegas 2026. Plans now begin for the upcoming 2027 Florida Winter Tour, beginning with an inaugural event at Sebring International Raceway in January. And the planning begins for the 10th edition of ROK Vegas in just one year.

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