The second of three events for the 2024 Challenge of the Americas program is taking place this weekend at the Musselman Honda Circuit. The Tucson, Arizona facility will welcome back the winter west coast series for a second time in four weeks, having hosted the series opener during the first weekend of February. Rounds Three and Four contested this weekend will be on the normal ‘counter-clockwise’ direction, opposite of the last event. The event will also mark the halfway point of the 17th season for the Challenge.

(Photo: Musselman Honda Circuit)

The Challenge first visited the Tucson facility in 2012, making its 11th visit in total. Five rounds of practice on Friday officially kick off the event before Round Three and Four are contested on Saturday and Sunday. Each round features a warm-up, qualifying, Prefinal and Final.

eKartingNews.com is proud to be entering the 13th season of Trackside Live program with Challenge of the Americas. EKN’s own Rob Howden will be calling the action all weekend from Tucson. Those unable to attend can listen in to the live broadcast. Bookmark www.ekartingnews.com/live and follow the EKN social media channels for more throughout the weekend in Arizona.

Numbers have fallen off for the second event of The Challenge, none more so than in Shifter Senior presented by SwedeTech Racing Engines. After celebrating 17 drivers as one of the largest shifterkart fields of the season, the total for pre-entry is down to eight. Missing from the field is race winners Daniel Vasile (IM USA / Italkart) and Kyle Wick (GFC Karting). The Romanian is back in Europe competing while Wick is among those testing on the east coast. Their absence along with others promote Michael Avansino (RWR / CRG) as the lead driver in the championship standings over David Williams (RWR / CRG) by 14 points. Former Challenge winner Keawn Tandon (GFC Karting) returns looking for better results to put himself back into the championship hunt along with Alan Sciuto (GFC Karting) and Anthony Freese (WCM / Birel ART).

Kane Martin enters the second event as the 100cc Senior championship leader (Photo: EKN)

The 100cc Senior class presented by Forward Direction Motorsports will see a dip as well, but still strong at 20 drivers all with a chance to compete for a podium result. Keagan Kaminski (FW / GFC) and Chris Martin (TKC / Sodi Kart) celebrated their first victories at the Challenge in the class, however Kaminski is the only one returning. He currently sits fourth in the championship chase as Kane Martin (Nash / EOS) and Ryan Persing (Nash / EOS) has more consistent results over the two rounds, sitting 1-2 in the standings separated by just seven points. Dylan Archer (FDM / CompKart) is a close third ahead of Kaminski with Josh Campbell (RPM / OTK) right there in fifth. Former series champion Liam Letzsch (GFC Karting) is returning to make his 2024 debut and should be a wildcard mixing in with the championship contenders. The opening two rounds did produce six different podium finishers over the two main events.

The largest class heading into the weekend is 100cc Junior presented by Nash Motorsportz – welcoming two new class winners at the series opener. Nico Sarphati (FW / GFC) and David Ybarra (Precision / CRG) celebrated victories in the opening two rounds, with Ybarra leading Sarphati by five points in the championship chase. Archer Eversman (FDM / Pantano) sits third with Zoquan Holbrook (SpeedSense / Exprit) fourth – both with strong opening weekend performances. 2023 series champion Nixx Eggleston (Ruthless / Exprit) is fifth in the standings, needing a better two rounds this weekend to elevate him into a chance for a repeat title. Payton Westcott (PWR / EOS) and Johnie Stamps (FW / GFC) are sixth and seventh, both among the contenders all weekend at the series opener.

Round Two winner David Ybarra enters weekend leading 100cc Junior standings (Photo: EKN)

Both winners in the 100cc Masters presented by Ruthless Karting were decided after the checkered flag. KC Cook (KartNick / Tony Kart) and Travis Irving (FW / GFC) claimed wins at the opening weekend with both drivers tied at the top of the championship standings. Matthew Ostiguy (DMG / Kosmic) had two podium results and is only seven points back with provisional Round One winner Greg Welch (FDM / Pantano) back by 64 points after a DQ taking his victory away. Add in Timothy Meyer (Atomic / Gillard) into the mix, and the fight at the front will be amped up once again.

The two winners from the opening weekend in the Shifter Masters class presented by Ron White Racing continue their battle. Cody Hodgson (Aluminos) and Bud Grossenbacher (TB Kart) each took a win, but it is Grossenbacher leading in the championship by 20 points. Michael Faker (Birel ART) came on toward the end of the opening weekend and could be a factor this time around along with Rob Kozakowski (RWR / CRG) with Colin Livingston (RWR / CRG) making his series debut.

Another strong showing for the 60cc Cadet class with 11 set to battle on the weekend. Defending series champion Braydon Wagner (FW/ GFC) is riding off the two wins at the opener to lead the championship standings by 16 points over Drew Jensen (Sanner / Parolin) – who was quick and in the hunt all weekend. Aidan Go (SpeedSense / Exprit) was another contender who enters the weekend third in the standings with Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) coming off a solid runner-up performance at the recent US Trophy West event in Phoenix. The one new entry to the field is Daniel Ramirez (KartNick / Nitro Kart).

Be sure to catch the action on Saturday and Sunday with LIVE audio at www.ekartingnew.com/live or www.ekartingnews.com/radio and be sure to follow the EKN social media channels for updates, photos, videos and more!

Provisional Shifter Senior Entry List

Provisional 10cc Senior Entry List

Provisional 1oocc Junior Entry List

Provisional 100cc Masters Entry List

Provisional Shifter Masters Entry List

Provisional 60cc Cadet Entry List

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