The United States Pro Kart Series presented by IAME USA East and MG Tires continues its 12th season with the second event of 2024, traveling to the Trackhouse Motorplex for the May 17-19 weekend. The Carolina Grand Prix at the Mooresville, North Carolina will host Round Two of the 2024 championship program with over 250 entries set to battle in the seven categories.

Trackhouse Motorplex

Coming off the Texas Grand Prix at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, TX, the United States Pro Kart Series heads to the Trackhouse Motorplex for the 12th time in its 12-year history. The inaugural USPKS event in April 2013 took place at the then ‘Mooresville Motorplex’ in ‘Race City USA’, with the program returning every year since to be the unofficial home of the series. The Trackhouse Motorplex last summer transferred its name from ‘GoPro Motorplex’ with its connection to owner Justin Marks. The 11-turn, 7/10-mile circuit is a replica of the famous Kartdromo Parma circuit in Italy – which no longer exists. It is among the most populated karting tracks in North America, ready to host the USPKS for the 12th time.

Four practice sessions will be held on Friday before diving into qualifying to close out the day. Three rounds of heat races will be contested at 10 laps each, including the A-B-C-D format for the KA100 Junior and KA100 Senior categories. Heat points will be calculated at the end of Saturday to set the grids for the main events, with the top-47 transferring in the two KA divisions. The remainder move to the B-Main for their feature race of the weekend, contested Sunday morning. The top three finishers will be added to the Final. The remaining classes will have the warm-up and main events on Sunday. This year’s championship format will count all five weekends, with no drop race and includes points available through qualifying, all heat races and the main events.

Ryan Norberg began his title defense with a sweep at Speedsportz (Photo: EKN)

The Rolison Performance Group X30 Pro division is set to entertain the paddock all weekend as it did in 2023 with the 22 drivers entered to compete. Among them is three-time defending champion Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic), who picked up the sweep victory in Texas for his first USPKS win since July 2022. Norberg was among those battling to the final inch of last year’s main event, coming up short to Hayden Jones (RPG / Kosmic) taking the victory. Jones will be making his 2024 USPKS debut this weekend, as well as 2023 SKUSA Pro Tour champion and current FIA Karting European OK Championship leader Joe Turney (Trinity / Kart Republic). The British driver is making his first USA start since his injury at the FIA Karting World Championship event in October. Austin Garrison (SCR / Redspeed), Alessandro de Tullio (Inter MS / Kart Republic), Brandon Carr (Trinity / Kart Republic) and Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Racing Kart) are those in the championship hunt looking to make up ground on Norberg over the weekend.

EKN Driver of the Month for April 2024 was the winner in the Brandon Jarsocrak Racing KA100 Senior division – Alan Isambard. The Sodi Racing USA driver came from 12th on the grid to score the race win in Texas. He will look to carry the momentum into Mooresville, entering third in the championship behind Helio Meza (Trinity / Kart Republic) and Cooper Shipman (IRM / Tony Kart). Meza is not scheduled to compete, thus putting fellow Texan Shipman in the driver’s seat of the championship against a field of 51 drivers. Among them are Aden Rudolph (CRG Nordam) and Jesus Vasquez Jr. (GFC Karting) – who are in the top-five of the championship chase. Many of the same contenders are in the field once again, including Speedsportz top qualifier Jake Drew (GFC Karting), AJ Myers (Magik Kart USA), Finnegan Bayliff (Trinity / Kart Republic), and Connor Ferris (TFR / Kart Republic). New to the field and running double duty, is Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Racing Kart) – who will be among those defending home turf in Mooresville.

Enzo Vidmontiene comes into Mooresville with a two-race win streak in KA100 Junior (Photo: EKN)

An increase in numbers for the Speed Concepts Racing X30 Junior category has 29 drivers set to battle at the Carolina Grand Prix. Carrying a two-race win streak dating back to last year’s finale at Trackhouse is Diego Ardiles (RPG / Kosmic). The Florida driver won in a photo finish at Speedsportz to begin the season as the championship leader, just ahead of Jackson Wolny (SCR / Redspeed). A number of penalties shuffled up the order that sees Victor de Alencar (RPG / Kosmic) third, Alexander Vanchev (Sodi Racing USA) fourth and Michael McGaughy (RPM / Tony Kart) fifth in the championship chase. Turner Brown (RPG / Kosmic), Enzo Vidmontiene (Trinity / Kart Republic) and Sarah Bradley (SCR / Redspeed) are looking to bounce back from issues in the main event at Speedsportz. Carter McMurray (TimmyTech / CompKart) is among those new to field looking to be among the contenders on the weekend.

The same in the BBS Race Engines KA100 Junior division as Enzo Vidmontiene (Trinity / Kart Republic) comes in with a two-race winning streak after victory at last year’s finale at Trackhouse and winning the opening round at Speedsportz. He holds a 25-point lead over Sebastian Garzon (Orsolon / Tony Kart) with Turner Brown (RPG / Kosmic) third, Diego Ardiles (RPG / Kosmic) in fourth and Ty Fisher (Racelab / TB Kart) completing the top-five in the championship chase. The large field of 65 drivers feature a number of others that have potential to be contenders – including TSRS race winner David Ybarra (CRG Nordam), Jackson Wolny (SCR / Redspeed), Payton Westcott (RPG / Kosmic), Carson Weinberg (CDR / Kart Republic), Challenge of the Americas champion Nico Sarphati (GFC Karting), Max Cristea (Trinity / Kart Republic), Isaac Malcuit (PSL / Birel ART), Carter McMurray (TimmyTech / CompKart) and more.

Numbers are down in the Nash Motorsportz KA100 Masters division with only seven drivers entered. Speedsportz winner Adam Crepin (FMS / Gillard) and Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart) are not on the list along with Pierce Baldus (Hi5 / Redspeed). This puts Martin Stone (RPM / Tony Kart) as the championship leader by five points over Niki Coello (FMS / Merlin). Former series champion Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA) is in the field along with new to the series Ryan Casner (Prodigy / Maranello).

Ashton Woon set to defend his home track as championship leader in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN)

Ashton Woon (Supertune / Parolin) secured his first Sodi Racing USA Mini Swift victory at the opening round in Texas. He will be defending the championship lead, attempting to win a second straight by defending his home track of Trackhouse Motorplex. The championship lead is only 16 points over Valentino Santillan (Sodi Racing USA). Speedsportz top qualifier Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Racing Kart) sits third in the standings over Nicolas Orbezo (RPG / Kosmic) and Julian Rivera (RPG / Kosmic). Last year’s winner Royce Vega (Team Benik) is in the field along with other contenders – Parker Ives (RPM / Nitro Kart), Josh Bergman (Trinity / Kart Republic), Challenge of the Americas champion Braydon Wagner (GFC Karting), Troy Ferguson (Team Benik) and local driver Cade Wolfe (TimmyTech / CompKart).

New names at the front of the field was the story at Speedsportz for the Team Ferris Racing Micro Swift division. Miguel Suarez (RPG / Kosmic) from Mexico was able to claim his first series victory in Texas. He leads the championship chase by 38 points over Wynn Godschalk (Team Benik). EKN Driver of the Month for March – Santiago Orioli (MPG / Kart Republic) sits third in the standings with Marcelo Flores (SLA / Kart Republic) and Jake Manalio (TFR / Kart Republic) completing the top-five. A field of 35 drivers will be battling in Mooresville.

Follow the coverage all weekend long on the EKN Social Media accounts for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news, updates, photos, videos and more, including the top-10 results after each session beginning with qualifying on Friday. Listen to the racing action by heading to the EKN Live page or tune in on the EKN Radio Network.

Provisional X30 Pro Entry List

Provisional KA100 Senior Entry List

Provisional X30 Junior Entry List

Provisional KA100 Junior Entry List

Provisional KA100 Masters Entry List

Provisional Mini Swift Entry List

Provisional Micro Swift Entry List

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