(Photo: EKN)

EKN’s Paddock Insider is part of our Trackside coverage, bringing you notes, updates and breaking news as it happens. The article will feature notes from trackside at the 2025 United States Pro Kart Series Wisconsin Grand Prix at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. This is insider info will not be seen anywhere else. Be sure to follow the EKN Social Media channels – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for more coverage throughout the weekend.

USPKS Back to Road America

The third event of the 2025 United States Pro Kart Series takes the program back to the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex at Road America. This marks the fourth visit for the series to ‘America’s National Park of Speed’ with visits from 2020 to 2022. After a two year break, over 200 entries are back to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Road America continues to make upgrades to the facility, not just the historic 4.1-mile course but also at the karting circuit. A new scale building has been constructed that will also house the tech area. This weekend, Road America has a number of events happening on and off the grounds, including the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli along with the Formula Race Promotions program that includes F1600, F2000, F1000, the Atlantic Championship Series, and the Prototype Sprint Series Association. There will be a OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Challenge as well, making this weekend a very busy weekend. The goal, speaking with Erick Heling from Road America, is to provide the spectators with many different options throughout the weekend. This means spectators here for the big track activities will be able to catch the action all weekend from the kart circuit.

McQueen to Velocity Racing / Sodi Kart USA

Caden McQueen making his debut with Velocity Racing and Sodi Kart (Photo: EKN)

Silly Season 2025 is underway in June with the big news of Caden McQueen joining Velocity Racing aboard the Sodi Kart. The British driver who is racing here in the USA for 2025 was competing with Energy Corse Americas from January to the beginning of June, ending his run with them following the SKUSA Pro Tour SpringNationals in Ohio. Making his announcement at the start of the month from Energy Corse Americas, he went back home to regroup. During that time, he was contacted by multiple teams here in the USA. This week, he announced he joined Velocity Racing. This weekend, he is racing just in KA100 Senior for only his second time after one weekend during the SKUSA Winter Series. Later this year, he will return to the X30 category where Zachary Claman DeMelo is competing in this weekend. McQueen said this weekend the focus is to help develop further the engine program with Velocity Racing. He’ll continue racing here in the USA and competing in the Vegas events, going back home in between to possible compete at the British championships in KZ.

Turney Back to the USA

Joe Turney returns to the USA for his first USPKS event of the season (Photo: EKN)

Former SKUSA Pro Tour champion and two-time USPKS race winner Joe Turney is back in the USA, making his 2025 USPKS debut. The schedule for the 2025 SKUSA Winter Series champion has not allowed the British driver to return with the European schedule conflicting. Now with time, he came across with KartSport North America and Jay Howard Driver Development to jump in two new Alonso Kart machines to run both KA100 Senior and X30 Pro with Daniel Tate back on the wrenches. Speaking with Eric Jones at KSNA, the Alonso brand is in stock here for the USA, based off the same Kart Republic models. Turney is visiting the Road America facility for the first time, and is enjoying the circuit. He mentioned how the elevation is very different from all the other tracks he’s competed on, while each corner has its own characteristics which allow for different ways to drive the race track. He’s uncertain of his schedule for the rest of the season here in the USA, stating he will be back to defend his two wins at the SKUSA SuperNationals.

Franklin Motorsports Opened Karting School at Road America

One of the new competitors to USPKS weekend in KA100 Senior is veteran karter Steve Welk. The Wisconsin driver was among the top competitors in the late 1990s to early 2000s before advancing to car racing. Over the last 20 years, Welk has been working as a driver coach and spotter for several drivers in different disciplines, including on the big track here at Road America. He along with Jamie Sieracki at Franklin Motorsports are helping to guide the new Road America Karting School. The program is an arrive-and-drive opportunity for groups of about 7-10 drivers with specified dates at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex. It can be for all different levels, from new to karting to club or regional racers looking to get a bit more development behind the wheel. The kart packages are Merlin karts with Briggs & Stratton power. EKN will have more on this new opportunity from Franklin Motorsports and Road America in an upcoming article. For now, head to the following webpage: https://franklinkart.com/karting-academy/

Palacio Family Competing on Both Tracks at Road America

Nick and Lucas Palacio are both racing this weekend at Road America on the two different circuits (Photo: EKN)

It is not unique to have a father and son racing at the track during the weekend. It is rare that you have one racing in karts and another on a road racing circuit at the same facility. The Palacio family is getting to experience that this weekend at Road America. Lucas Palacio is racing in both the KA100 Junior and X30 Junior categories for the USPKS Wisconsin Grand Prix while his father Nick Palacio is part of the Formula Race Promotions F2000 category on the 4.1-mile historic circuit. Nick has not been in a car since 2023, and in this particular car since 2022. Lucas has been busy with his international schedule, racing OK-N Junior in Europe while making starts here in the USA. This is his second USPKS start for 2025 as the former Mini Swift champion is competing in double duty this weekend with Sean Scott on the spanners for both karts while Nick is helping between car sessions.

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