The 2025 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour WinterNationals kicks off the 16th season for the championship, visiting the Speedsportz Racing Park for the first time ever. The New Caney, Texas facility is welcoming the largest event in SKUSA Pro Tour history, with 306 pre-entries for the March 28-30 event.

Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas

Momentum is on the side of Superkarts! USA, welcoming record turnouts of at the SKUSA Winter Series in Orlando with totals of 316 and 288 – the two largest events ever outside the SKUSA SuperNationals. The total of 306 heading into the WinterNationals surpasses the previous SKUSA Pro Tour series record of 261 from the SKUSA SummerNationals in 2017 from New Castle.

The SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals is making its first visit to the Speedsportz. The facility is the creation of karting Hall of Famer Alan Rudolph, with the main karting circuit at 8/10-mile long with 15 turns in the clockwise direction. He and his wife Jessica have built a premier motorsports facility featuring a performance kart track and rental track, while being the official home of the Alan Rudolph Racing Academy. Construction began in 2015 and wrapped up in 2016, hosting several regional and national events since.

Event schedule begins with unofficial practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Official sessions begin on Friday with four, seven-minute sessions with a fifth and final 12-minute run for all eight categories to close out the day. Seven of the divisions will follow the two round format on the weekend, including Pro X30 moving away from the Pro Show format. Warm-up, qualifying, Prefinal (10 laps) and Final (20 laps) make up Saturday with the same lineup for Sunday. The SKUSA Pro Show features only the Pro Shifter division. Qualifying, Super Pole, Heat 1 and Heat 2 on Saturday set the stage for the 14-lap Prefinal and the 25-lap Final to decide the SKUSA WinterNationals winner.

Matheus Morgatto begins his Pro Shifter title defense at the WinterNationals (Photo: EKN)

The biggest boost in of the event is in Pro Shifter presented by PSL Karting. The category grew from 26 to 35 in 2024, and now features 43 set to battle in Texas at the WinterNationals. All of the top 15 from last year’s championship standings are returning, including defending champion Matheus Morgatto (PSL Karting / Birelart). The Brazilian and 2022 FIA Karting world champion returns, coming off two wins last year and defending his SKUSA Winter Series title over January and February. Jacob Gulick (GFC Karting) and AJ Myers (Magik Kart USA) came up short in their championship bids last year. Former champion Kyle Wick (GFC Karting) returns along with PSL Karting / Birelart drivers Jay Urwin, Ian Quinn and Filip Niemkiewicz. Veteran Hunter Pickett (GFC Karting) and now five-time SuperNationals winner Billy Musgrave (Factory Karts) is back, carrying the SummerNationals victory for last year. Former privateer Tahlon Yockel finished fifth in the championship, and now joins Catalyst Driver Development on the Italkart.

One of the big news items going into the WinterNationals is the move for four-time SuperNationals winner and former SKUSA Pro Tour champion Danny Formal moving to GFC Karting. He opened up the season with two wins at the SKUSA Winter Series with PSL Karting on a Birelart, running last year with Rolison Performance Group and Sodi Racing USA. Among the leaders on the international side of the entry list is 2018 European Champion Adrien Ranaudin joining Velocity Racing by Sodi USA for his first SKUSA Pro Tour start. Also making their first SKUSA Pro Tour start in Pro Shifter are notable names. Aden Rudolph (Kart CRG USA) calls Speedsportz home, and has been testing KZ for months. 14-year-old Gage Korn (Maranello USA) is jumping up from the Junior ranks to Pro Shifter, having Micro Sprint background over the last two years. Mexico driver Ivanna Richards (HRI Mexico / Birelart) is also making her Pro Shifter debut.

2024 Pro X30 champion Ryan Norberg is going for a seventh career title this year (Photo: EKN)

A nearly sold out Pro X30 presented by Kart CRG USA is returning back to two Finals on the weekend after a SKUSA Pro Show format in 2024. Now six-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) is gunning for a record seventh title in 2025, coming off runner-up at the SKUSA Winter Series. He is among five drivers returning from last year’s top 10 in the standings. Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart) will carry the #3 plate in 2025, with Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Racing Kart) holding the #5 this season. 2024 USPKS champion Austin Garrison (SCR / CS55) was sixth last year while former SuperNationals winner Donovan Bonilla (RPG / Kosmic) was eighth in the standings.

The SKUSA Pro Tour always welcomes drivers from around the world, with the UK and Brazil among the more popular to venture to the USA. British driver Caden McQueen (Energy Corse Americas) put his name into the hat as a contender in 2025 with a third-place result at the SKUSA Winter Series, planning a full schedule in the states. Spainard Ruben Moya (FDM / Pantano) returns to the USA after setting fast time at the SuperNationals 27, finishing on the podium in third behind Joe Turney and Norberg. From Brazil are two notable names, Olin Galli (Kart CRG USA) who continues to be a threat each time in the USA, and Enzo Beltrao Nienkotter (InterMS / Tony Kart) making his SKUSA Pro Tour debut. Enzo is the son of former SKUSA Pro Tour champion and three-time SuperNationals winner Leonardo Nienkotter. Among the 14 international entries of the 38 drivers, five come from Canada. Among them is veteran Remo Ruscitti (Catalyst / Italkart), making the jump back from Pro Shifter. Canadian rookie Ty Fisher (Racelab / TB Kart) is among the young drivers in the field, including Florida driver Chace Gassiot-Lee (Nash / EOS) and Victor de Alencar (AM / Tony Kart). Notables to watch include the GFC trio of Jake Drew, Chase Hand and Jesus Vasquez Jr. Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) is coming off a championship at the Florida Winter Tour, Canadian Aiden Ingratta returns to Rolison Performance Group, and Finnegan Bayliff (TKG Birelart USA) is among the seven drivers racing both X30 and KA100 Senior.

James Overbeck set to defend the KA100 Senior championship in 2025 (Photo: eKartingNews.com)

The Nash Motorsportz KA100 Senior is sold out at 46 drivers set to battle. James Overbeck (BJR / LN Racing Kart) comes into the weekend with hopes of defending his SKUSA Pro Tour championship from 2024. He began the year with victory at the USPKS Daytona weekend after spending the SKUSA Winter Series in Pro X30. Last year’s runner-up and two-time winner Finnegan Bayliff (TKG Birelart USA) is returning along with #3 plate holder Henry Wheeler (PSL / Birelart). Former privateer Eli Warren was fourth in the 2024 standings, joining Hotz Driver Development for the SKUSA Pro Tour.

A number of veterans are in the field, beginning with Oliver Hodgson (CompKart). The 2013 Rotax Grand Finals winner already has two wins on the season at Challenge of the Americas in Tucson. Former SKUSA Pro Tour champion Brandon Lemke made his debut with Speed Concepts Racing at USPKS Daytona, teaming up with Oliver Calvo. Donovan Bonilla (RPG / Kosmic), Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) and Diego Ramos (PSL / Birelart) are among the seven racing both X30 and KA100. Two rookies to watch for on the weekend include Ty Fisher (Racelab / TB Kart) and Nico Sarphati (FW / GFC).

Both Junior categories are sold out on the weekend, including the Rolison Performance Group X30 Junior class. Many of last year’s top Junior pilots have graduated on, leaving the door open for new names to control the fields this year. Among the top names is EKN February Driver of the Month Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic). The double Junior champion from the SKUSA Winter Series is among four returning drivers from last year’s standings. Sarah Bradley (SCR / Sodi Kart) was fourth last year, Vanchev seventh, Max Weiland (Magik Kart USA) eighth and Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) in 10th. Murphy won at the opening weekend of the SKUSA Winter Series. Among the rookies in the field is 2024 Mini champion Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55), coming off a podium result at USPKS Daytona. Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Racing Kart) and Nico Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA) join him in making the jump to X30. West coast drivers Jackson Gibson (RPM / Tony Kart), Luca Popescu (RPG / Kosmic), Jaxon Porter (RPG / Kosmic), and Erik Doan (Nash / EOS) are among the contenders heading into the weekend. Travis Pettit (TB Kart USA) and Fion Shi (RPG / Kosmic) have shown good pace during the winter months and David Ybarra (Kart CRG USA) is among the Texans looking to defend the home turf.

Alexander Vanchev enters the weekend among the top Junior drivers in both categories (Photo: EKN)

The TKG Birelart USA KA100 Junior field is very similar with the same names set to be contenders with 15 drivers also racing in X30. Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) and Pettit (TB Kart USA) are among top returning drivers from 2024 in the category along with Isaac Malcuit (PSL / Birelart), who is the top returning driver from the championship in sixth. Nathan Dupuis (Nash / EOS) is among the double duty drivers and a contender in both. Texas Sprint Racing Series champion Tyrone Kemper Jr. (SCR / CS55) is on the top challenger list, along with Texan Ybarra (Kart CRG USA). Rookies in this field include JohnJohn McLellan (Nash / EOS), Braydon Wagner (FW / GFC) and Nico Kotowski (TKG Birelart USA).

Two-time SKUSA Pro Tour champion Scott ‘Skitchy’ Barnes (Maranello USA) is set to defend his 2024 title in the Rocket Racing Company Master Shifter division. Barnes comes in with the SKUSA Winter Series title already for 2025. A new list of names will be among the challengers for Barnes in 2025, including 30-year-old drivers Pierce Baldus (Kart CRG USA) and Scott Hargrove (Catalyst / Italkart). Baldus is a Texas Sprint Racing Series champion in KA100 Master last year, while Hargrove has a strong CV in open wheel competition. Scott Presti (PR / Croc Promotion) was among the top-10 contenders at the FIA Karting KZ2 Masters World Cup last year and raced with the Pro Shifter division at the SKUSA Winter Series. Justin Kelly (Maranello USA) returns to the SKUSA Pro Tour for 2025, a winner at the 2022 SummerNationals in his debut. Victor Jimenez (RPG / Tony Kart) is a SKUSA veteran and the lone Texas driver in the field.

Scott Barnes is gunning for a third career championship in Master Shifter (Photo: EKN)

Several of the 2024 contenders in Mini Swift presented by Speed Concepts Racing have moved on with four in last year’s top 10 standings returning. Race winner Royce Vega (Team Benik) and #3 plate holder Troy Ferguson (Team Benik) are among the Mini veterans in the field. Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin Motorsport USA) and Brandon Ng (SB / Parolin) are young guns that have had strong winter programs to begin 2025 after finishing in the top 10 last year. Several of the top Micro drivers in 2024 are moving up in 2025. SKUSA Pro Tour champion Zayne Burgess is making headlines before heading to Texas, moving to the Speed Concepts Racing tent, still aboard the Sodi Kart chassis. Wynn Godschalk (Team Benik) has been traveling the world already. Jayden Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Cameron Johnson (FMS / Merlin) are picking up wins already in 2025. Lawrence Peremen (BJR / LN Racing Kart) is another picking up top five results, finishing on the podium at USPKS Daytona. Santiago Orioli was another top Micro driver in 2024, making moves this season along with finding a new home with Velocity Racing by Sodi USA, bringing last year’s teammate Danny O’Gara with him. Aston Wyatt (RPM / Nitro Kart) has the local advantage, already winning at the SKUSA Winter Series along with Liam Nachawati (JHDD / Kart Republic). Colton Schniegenberg (GWR / Tony Kart), Alex Chandler (IRM / Gillard) and Tanner Barsch (Kart CRG USA) are on the list of top challengers on the weekend.

The Velocity Racing by Sodi USA Micro Swift division is a cast of new characters. Only one driver from the top 10 in 2024 standings is returning, SKUSA Winter Series winner Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik). Marcelo Flores (JHDD / Kart Republic) is coming off two wins and the championship at the SKUSA Winter Series. Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic) won at the USPKS Daytona. Lenox Lockhart (Velocity / Sodi Kart) has been a contender all winter season. Aidan Go (Team Solo / Parolin) is among the west coast contingent, including Mason Brody (Nash / Energy) and others.

Be sure to follow EKN Trackside coverage all weekend long on the website, and of course on Social Media at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to the live action on Saturday and Sunday from Houston on the EKN Radio Network and at ekartingnews.com/live.

Provisional Pro Shifter Entry List

Provisional Pro X30 Entry List

Provisional KA100 Senior Entry List

Provisional X30 Junior Entry List

Provisional KA100 Junior Entry List

Provisional Master Shifter Entry List

Provisional Mini Swift Entry List

Provisional Micro Swift Entry List

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