The journey to bring Challenge of the Americas back to southern California ends this weekend with the second stop of the 2025 program heading to the K1 Circuit. The series promoted by Andy Seesemann and FTK Promotions has not hosted an event in the region since 2020 at the now demolished CalSpeed Karting facility. Following the opening event of the year in Tucson, the Challenge heads to the Winchester, California facility to host Rounds Three and Four on March 7-9.

The K1 Circuit broke ground in August 2022, opening just under two years later to become one of the newest and most unique karting facilities in North America. The ‘Pro Track’ main circuit is a 1-mile, 12 turn course designed by Rocky Moran Jr. features 33 feet of elevation and contested in the clockwise direction. Five rounds of practice on Friday officially kick off the event before Rounds Three and Four are contested on Saturday and Sunday. Each round features a warm-up, qualifying, Prefinal and Final.

eKartingNews.com is proud to continue with the 14th season of Trackside Live program for Challenge of the Americas. EKN’s own Rob Howden will be calling the action all weekend from K1 Circuit. 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 California.

Jackson Gibson and Erik Doan come in as the drivers to beat in 100cc Junior (Photo: EKN)

The pre-entry total for Forward Direction Motorsports 100cc Senior matches the total from Tucson with 37 entries set to battle at K1. Double Tucson winner Oliver Hodgson (CompKart) is not chasing the championship after dominating the action for the opening two rounds. This moves Senior rookie Johnie Stamps (FW / GFC) as the championship leader heading into the second weekend of the series with a 10 point lead over NorCal driver Stephen Eisert (SpeedSense / Exprit). Both gained one runner-up result in Tucson. Last year’s championship runner-up Keagan Kaminski (FW / GFC) is third now in the standings with two fifth-place finishes. Kaminski is coming off two wins last weekend at K1 for the PKC event. The absence of Hodgson moves Dylan Archer (FDM / Pantano) and Senior rookie Nixx Eggleston (Ruthless / Exprit) closer in the chase. Archer was P6 both days while Eggleston was runner-up in the opening round in Tucson. Making their 2025 debut at the Challenge for the K1 weekend are Chase Hand (GFC Karting) and 2024 100cc Junior champion Nico Sarphati (GFC Karting).

Two drivers stood out in Tucson for the Nash Motorsportz 100cc Junior class. Erik Doan – who recently moved to Nash Motorsportz – and Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) split the wins over the opening weekend. Doan gathered the most points over the two rounds and leads Gibson by six points entering K1 event. Xander Malatesta (Ruthless / Tony Kart) stood on the podium once last month, sitting third in the championship standings ahead of Sergei Karamseili (Axis / Gillard) and Matthew Cagle (FW / GFC). Cagle is coming off a win last weekend for the PKC event at K1. Among the young drivers in the field is Troy Ferguson (Team KartNick / Tony Kart), making his Challenge Junior debut.

Michael Avansino (RWR / CRG) was head of the class in the Swedetech Racing Engines Shifter Senior division. Avansino scored maximum points over the opening weekend to hold a sizable lead in the championship. Massimo Valiante (Nash / Italkart) and Nic LeDuc (TKC / Sodi Kart) are second and third in the standings, however, are not on the entry list. Nolan Gagnon (Nash / Italkart) and Anthony Freese (WCM / Birelart) become the top title challengers, sitting 74 and 80 points back from Avansino. TJ Madonna (GFC Karting) and Bryce Stevens (FW / GFC) are making their Challenge debuts for 2025.

Michael Avansino swept the Tucson weekend in Shifter Senior (Photo: EKN)

It is the same scenario in the Neliton Race Concepts Shifter Masters division with Indiana driver Joe Ruch (Shifterz / Maranello) dominating the action in Tucson. His perfect score puts him 51 points ahead of Michael Faker (GFC Karting) with Michael Guasch (Shifterz / Maranello) in third. Marcin Kloda (Shifterz / Maranello) and Chris Muecke (Italcorse Americas) are returning with Bryan Devert (TKC / Sodi Kart) set to make his 2025 series debut.

The Ruthless Karting 100cc Masters division is getting the ‘K1 bump’, set to welcome at least 13 drivers on the weekend. Scott Falcone (PW / Pantano) left Tucson with a perfect score after two wins, holding off the field in Tucson. Luke Tracy (Vemme Kart) sits 55 points back with Bruce Norman (Scuderia Littel / GFC) and Chad Wallace (NRC / Redspeed) returning for the second weekend. Making their season debut at the Challenge is former series champion Paul Bonilla (PGR / LN Racing Kart), Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Exprit) and Ed Quinn (PGR / LN Racing Kart), adding to the competition level of the class.

Several drivers were in contention in Tucson for The Karting Collective 60cc Cadet division. Nathan Ramirez (Team KartNick / Parolin) and Luis Martinez (Croc Promotion) each took a win, however, Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) enters K1 Circuit as the championship leader. He holds a seven point advantage over Ramirez with Martinez only 13 points out in third. Koa Saito (Sanner / GFC) returns along with Chase Riddering (Croc Promotion) while a handful of new drivers will make their first Challenge start of 2025.

Be sure to follow the EKN social media channels for coverage throughout the weekend at Challenge of the Americas weekend from K1 Circuit in Winchester, California.

Provisional 100cc Senior Entry List

Provisional 100cc Junior Entry List

Provisional Shifter Senior Entry List

Provisional Shifter Masters Entry List

Provisional 100cc Masters Entry List

Provisional 60cc Cadet Entry List

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