Joe Turney won his first USPKS X30 Pro race since April 2023 (Photo: EKN)

The final day of action to the 2025 United States Pro Kart Series – the official IAME Series USA East – presented by MG Tires went into the books on Sunday with the completion of Indiana Grand Prix from the New Castle Motorsports Park. Weather was once again not an issue with the rain staying off to the west after thunderstorms rolled through New Castle, Indiana overnight. The warm-up and all seven main events were on a dry 1-mile circuit. The final laps of the 2025 season decided the seven championships, welcoming six new title winners along with six new main events winners of the year.

Jack Kotowski claimed his first career victory in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN)

First in the order was the Team Ferris Racing Micro Swift division, led to the green flag by Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart). He was part of a five driver lead pack that included Daytona winner Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic), Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik), Leo Simone (JHDD / Kart Republic) and Brody Stoffle (JHDD / Kart Republic). Howard, Simone and Stoffle were the drivers to lead much of the race with five different lead changes over the first 14 laps. Lap 15, Kotowski made a great three wide move at the ‘scoreboard’ corner to go from third to first. He took the white flag as the leader, and was able to fend off the group, including a drag race to the line to secure his first USPKS victory by eight thousandths at the line. Westbrook was second with Howard in third. Howard however was removed from the results following tech, thus promoting Simone to third, Stoffle to fourth with fast lap of the race and Road America winner Lenox Lockhart (Velocity / Sodi Kart) into the fifth position.

Lockhart entered the race as the championship leader, only having to avoid Slate Harrell (RPM / Sodi Kart) from winning the race in order to secure the championship. Harrell was part of the lead group early until getting shuffled out and losing the draft. Lockhart started eighth, stayed out of trouble and was able to run down Harrell on track. Lockhart clinched his first USPKS title, winning by 23 points over Harrell. Simone was third, Westbrook fourth and Stoffle fifth in the final standings.

First KA100 Junior win in USPKS competition for Isaac Malcuit (Photo: EKN)

It was a dramatic finish to the championship chase in the BBS Race Engines KA100 Junior division. Travis Pettit (SCR / CS55) entered the day as the championship leader, needing to finish third or better in the Final with five others still in the title chase. Pettit led the 46 driver field to the green flag for their 18 lap main event. Pettit was joined at the front by Isaac Malcuit (MDR / LN Racing Kart), Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) and Daytona winner Theo Salomao (Orsolon / Tony Kart) – who was in the title contention. Vanchev, Malcuit and Pettit all led in the first six laps as they were able to eventually get away from the rest of the field. Malcuit took over the point on lap seven with Pettit on his bumper. By lap 12, Pettit slipped back to fourth and was losing pace. Lap 13, he was given the meatball flag as his rear bumper had detached from the kart, ending his run at the championship. This put Salomao into the championship lead with no contenders in the lead pack with him. Malcuit was able to break away in the final lap as they battled behind him for second, reaching the checkered flag ahead by 1.6 seconds for his first USPKS victory in the category. Vanchev came across second with Salomao in third. Nathan Dupuis (Nash / EOS) was fourth with Julian Rivera (Orsolon / Tony Kart) in fifth.

Salomao secured his first USPKS championship in KA100 Junior by 128 points with Dupuis sliding up into second ahead of Pettit. Rivera and Malcuit completed the top five.

Zachary Claman DeMelo emerged victorious in KA100 Senior for his first career USPKS triumph (Photo: EKN)

The Brandon Jarsocrak Racing KA100 Senior category welcomed its fourth different winner on the season. It was a great battle to the very end that featured a large lead pack including several top drivers from the USA. Blake Nash (Nash / EOS) led the 36 driver field to the green flag, showing the way for two laps before championship leader Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Racing Kart) went to the front. His time was short lived as Zachary Claman DeMelo (Velocity / Sodi Kart) took a turn before Nash returned to the point. ZCD led for one circuit on lap 10 before Massimino became the leader once again. This time, he showed the way until the final lap. DeMelo was on the bumper, looking at turn four before retreating and then attacked at the ‘cell tower’ hairpin. He took over the lead with Alan Isambard (RRC / LN Racing Kart) slotting into second ahead of Massimino. As they exited the final corner, DeMelo ran the normal line, Massimino popped out inside of Isambard, but neither had the momentum to beat the leader to the line. At the checkered, DeMelo claimed his first USPKS victory by 20 thousandths of a second over Isambard and Massimino. Top qualifier Brandon Lemke (SCR / CS55) was fourth while Collin Lloyd (Velocity / Sodi Kart) moved up to fifth after starting 10th.

With the third place finish, Massimino was able to claim his first USPKS championship in the KA100 Senior division. Lemke moved up to second, back by 65 points, as James Overbeck (BJR / Tony Kart) slipped to third after finishing 11th on the day. Nash and Eli Warren (HDD / Tony Kart) completed the top five in the standings.

Liam Nachawati claimed his first USPKS victory in Mini Swift (Photo: EKN)

The Sodi Racing USA Mini Swift category also welcomed its fourth different winner on the season. Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin Motorsport USA) was seeking his first series win, and led the 25 driver field to the green flag for the Final. DiGennaro led a four driver lead pack that included Liam Nachawati (JHDD / Kart Republic), championship leader Jayden Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart). After leading the first 12 laps, DiGennaro was passed by Nachawati for the top spot. That ended up as the winning move as Nachawati fought off the pack over the final three laps to claim his first USPKS victory in the category. Francisco moved past DiGennaro for second with Manalio recording the fast lap of the race in fourth. Lawrence Peremen (BJR / LN Racing Kart) won the battle for fifth.

Maxwell Macha (Parolin Motorsport USA) could have stolen the title with a win or runner-up in the Final. Macha started third but was shuffled back early, including going off track on the exit of ‘green corner’. After falling back to 10th, Macha fought back to sixth at the checkered flag. It would not be enough as Canadian Francisco claimed the Mini Swift title. Macha finished 57 points back in second with DiGennaro in third. Road America winner Santiago Orioli (OKP / Kart Republic) was fourth with Manalio rounding out the top five.

Alexander Vanchev was named winner in X30 Junior (Photo: EKN)

The championship was all but wrapped up in the Speed Concepts Racing X30 Junior division. Two runner-up finishes in the opening two rounds put Alexander Vanchev (RPG / Kosmic) in the driver’s seat for the title, needing to finish 20th or better. He started the main event from the pole position after two heat race wins on Saturday, leading the 30 driver field to the green flag. The early stages of the race saw a large lead group that eventually dwindled down to four by the halfway points. Vanchev led the first four laps before Trackhouse winner and top qualifier Max Weiland (Magik Kart USA) took over. He led four laps before Royce Vega (RPG / Kosmic) led one circuit and Vanchev returned to the point. Vega returned to the point on lap 13 and Vanchev played wingman to his teammate over the final laps. Vega would lead the rest of the distance, reaching the line first for the provisional win. A blocking penalty however removed the victory, promoted Vanchev to the top of the podium for the first time on the season – becoming the fourth different winner. The second group closed up over the final few laps and thus John Antonino (MPG / Kart Republic) crossed the line third, but promoted to second. Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Racing Kart) recorded his best finish of the season in third, one spot ahead of Vega with Jude Thirumalaiswamy (SCR / CS55) placing fifth for his best result of 2025.

Vanchev celebrated the win and the championship in the same day, sitting at the top of the standings by 348 points. Antonino moved up to second, jumping ahead of Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55). Sarah Bradley (RPM / Sodi Kart) and Daytona winner Theo Salomao (Orsolon / Tony Kart) were fourth and fifth in the final standings.

Clay Settles escaped from the field to win in KA100 Masters (Photo: EKN)

The smallest class of the weekend – Nash Motorsportz KA100 Masters – provided the most drama on and off the track. Former series champion Laurentiu Mardan (Tecno Kart USA) led the 13 driver field to the green flag. At the tail of the field was top qualifier Tyler Prestel (A-Maxx / Kosmic) who did not race any of the heat races on Saturday after having his qualifying tires misplaced. Sitting out, he started shotgun on the field and advanced his way up fifth by lap six of the 18 lap Final. Up front, former series race winner Clay Settles (Top Kart USA) jumped out to the lead from the outside front row position and was under pressure from provisional champion Martin Stone (RPG / Kosmic). Stone grabbed the lead on lap 12, but relinquished the position on lap 14, slipping back to fourth behind Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) and now Prestel. As they completed lap 14, contact between Barrios and Prestel occurred on the long pond straight. It continued into turn two as they began lap 15, with Prestel getting turned sideways and Stone getting shoved off the track and into the wall, ending his race. Barrios continued on in second as Settles drove away to a near two second advantage to become the fourth different winner on the season. Barrios crossed the line for second but was disqualified for ‘swerving’. Mardan crossed the line in second, but a pushback bumper penalty put him third in the order. This promoted former series winner Adam Crepin (FMS / Gillard) up into second. Miguel Mier (Orsolon / Tony Kart) ended up fourth with Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) in fifth.

Stone had clinched the championship coming into the weekend and ended up taking home the title by 382 points over Falcone. Todd Shambo (BJR / LN Racing Kart) finished third in the standings ahead of Junaid Din (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and Crepin.

The last main event of the 2025 USPKS season was the Rolison Performance Group X30 Pro division. Alessandro de Tullio (RRC / LN Racing Kart) was impressive on Saturday in his return to karting since November 2024, winning two of the heat races to claim the pole position for Sunday. The 18 lap race began with de Tullio retaining the top spot over the opening two circuit before top qualifier Joe Turney (JHDD / Kart Republic) grabbed the lead. It was short lived as fellow British driver Gus Lawrence (RPG / Kosmic) advanced into the top spot for two laps before Road America winner Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Racing Kart) moved into the lead. After the halfway point, Turney reclaimed the top spot before Lawrence once again became the lead on lap 13. Lap 14 was the crucial moment of the race. Turney took over the top spot early in the lap, and as they made their way into turn four, de Tullio made contact with Lawrence attempting a pass for second. This bunched up the field, allowed Massimino to slot into second with Lawrence only losing that spot. The race came to an end for de Tullio, as he would pull off after damage to the front end of his machine. This contact however gave Turney enough breathing room and then even more when Lawrence battled Massimino for the second spot. At the line, Turney claimed victory by 1.6 seconds over Lawrence. At the scales, Lawrence was penalized for the contact with de Tullio, however, the penalty was overturned and retained the position ahead of Massimino. 2024 champion Austin Garrison (SCR / CS55) held off a charging Frankie Mossman (SCR / CS55) who went off track on the opening circuit, slipping back to 13th before ending up fifth.

Ryan Norberg (RPG / Kosmic) clinched his fourth USPKS title in X30 Pro prior to the weekend, electing to sit out at New Castle. His advantage was 234 points in the final standings with Massimino in second. Mossman ended up third ahead of Hayden Jones (RPG / Kosmic) with rookie Davin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart) completing the top five.

The 13th season is complete with another historic year in the books for the United States Pro Kart Series. Plans for the 2026 season are underway, in what will be another exciting four rounds of competition for the class championships.

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