(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 2026 Superkarts! USA Winter Series at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas.

Speedsportz Welcomes SKUSA For Winter Series

For the first time in the nine year history of the Superkarts! USA Winter Series, the program is hosting an event outside the state of Florida. The organization moved its program to the Lone Star State, and the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas. The circuit north of Houston hosted the SKUSA Pro Tour WinterNationals last year, welcoming a record setting 305 entries. The mood through the paddock Thursday evening was positive, as is the start to every new year and season. No one said anything negative about the move here to Speedsportz from Florida for the program, the big question was where will be the WinterNationals. Speaking with SKUSA officials, they hope to make an announcement this weekend confirming the location of the March event that will kick off the 17th season of the championship. The other question is the status of the Speedsportz facility that went up for sale toward the end of 2025. Up to now, no offers have been accepted and it continues to operate normal, including welcoming the Rotax Winter Trophy program and hosting two Texas Sprint Racing Series events in 2026.

New Homes for 2026 Season

Oliver Hodgson carrying the Factory Karts colors for the first time (Photo: EKN)

The start of a new season marks the beginning of new relationships and new homes for drivers to begin 2026. The big news was Oliver Hodgson moving over to Factory Karts. The longtime CompKart driver is making the transition officially this weekend but has already competed with the Factory Karts chassis in different colors at the end of 2025. The move brings two powerhouse names to lead the Factory Karts stable with Hodgson alongside 2025 SKUSA Pro Tour Pro Shifter champion and brand ‘godfather’ Billy Musgrave. Factory Karts is all in moving forward with their 2.0 chassis models for 2026.

Two other drivers in the Pro X30 will be making their debuts with new teams. Former SuperNationals winner Donovan Bonilla has moved from Rolison Performance Group to Speed Concepts Racing. The driver from Mexico will be double duty, also racing the KA100 Senior division as well. Bonilla told EKN he was looking for a new home and got the offer to race with SCR. He is racing the Winter Series and likely the SKUSA Pro Tour with them. After bouncing around from a few teams in the 2025 season, Canadian Ayden Ingratta is joining the Racing Edge Motorsports team in Texas. He is set to do the full Winter slate here with REM along with the SKUSA Pro Tour.

The lone rookie in the field of the Pro Shifter category is Arizona driver Kyle Drysdale, making the jump from X30 Junior. Along with the transition from Junior to Senior, he’s also joining Trinity Karting Group aboard the Birelart package. Speaking with Drysdale, he liked the challenge of moving to shifter and enjoys the speed. He has limited sessions in a shifter at the club level but is looking to make vast improvements here this weekend.

Kyle Drysdale making his Pro Shifter debut with TKG Birelart USA (Photo: EKN)

One of the Senior rookies on the single speed side is double duty driver Max Weiland. The Ohio driver has spent many seasons with Magik Kart USA, however, is making the move over to MPG Motorsports and Kart Republic. His 2026 schedule is going to include racing with the Kart Republic factory team in Europe for selected WSK and FIA events in OK Senior.

A part-time move for a Junior rookie is Enzo DiGennaro at Brandon Jarsocrak Racing. The 2025 SKUSA Winter Series and Pro Tour Mini Swift champion made the jump to Junior at the SuperNationals, and will be competing this weekend in X30 Junior. His normal team is Parolin Motorsport USA, however, they did not attend this weekend so DiGennaro joined BJR for a one-off race. DiGennaro told EKN they will be back on the Parolin brand for the upcoming RMC Winter Trophy event here at Speedsportz.

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