The Route 66 Sprint Series is a well-established regional karting championship with vast history of providing competitive racing around the Midwest while helping to groom some of the top champions in the sport. The regional program is embarking on its fourth decade with a four round championship program scheduled for the 2026 season. One consistent since the launch of the Route 66 Sprint Series began in the 1990s is the continued focus on family fun and grassroots development for drivers.

Tim Koyen is a former announcer, competitor, and sponsor for Route 66 Sprint Series (Photo: Kathy Churchill)

The 2026 season marks the first year under new ownership with Tim Koyen at the helm. Koyen is a karting industry veteran as a former series and business owner along with announcer. He was part of the Midwest Sprint Series and launched KartLift Kart Stands. Most recently, he worked as the operations manager and former announcer for the United States Pro Kart Series. The Wisconsin native worked alongside former owner Chris Kardashian during the 2025 season at the Route 66 Sprint Series before announcing the change in ownership in September.

The 2026 schedule for the Route 66 Sprint Series is similar to last year’s program which will visit three states and four marquee facilities. The chase toward the championship begins in April at the New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana. After taking the month of May off, the series resumes in June with a trip to the newly repaved Norway Motorsports Park in Illinois. July opens the second half of the season with a trip to the historic Mill-Rite Raceway – home of the Badger Kart Club. The series finale remains in Wisconsin with an August trip to the iconic Road America facility and the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex to decide the 2026 title winners.

When asked about his new role as a series owner, and specifically what his expectations were for the Route 66 Sprint Series in 2026, Koyen said, “I have been behind planning and executing some very prestigious events and series in the past, but I can honestly say that this one is the most important one I’ve ever been involved with. Ever since my son TJ and I came to compete at our first Route 66 event in the late 2000s, I’ve dreamed of operating my own series and doing things the ‘right’ way.  Every iteration of a race series makes it better, and my job is to make Route 66 better, and that’s what I intend to do.  We have all our major partners back for 2026 as well as some new ones.  I think there is an excitement and buzz around the Series, and I plan to do my best to make sure everyone one of our families and racers has a fun and enjoyable weekend, because that’s why we do this.”

Family Fun Zone will continue at the Route 66 Sprint Series under Koyen’s ownership (Photo: Nate Dean Photography)

Route 66 Sprint Series continues as a four event, four-round championship in a best three of four format. Each weekend consists of Friday practice, additional practice Saturday morning followed by qualifying and Heat 1. Sunday hosts Heat 2 before running the main events. For 2026, Friday practice will be extended with an earlier Noon starting time to allow competitors the advantage of more track time.

Family fun will continue to be a focus for the Route 66 Sprint Series, which was a big factor under the Kardashian banner. Koyen confirmed that the Fun Zone returns in 2026, this time with a narrowed focus on the young kids in the karting families with a variety of activities planned for all four weekends.

Koyen added, “The Fun Zone was a great diversion for the kids each weekend, with the bounce house being a primary focus.  But we recognized that the younger kids, our future racers, needed a little entertainment to keep them occupied during the weekend.  Our plan is to create a space with the kiddies and whomever is keeping on eye on them can visit to do some fun activities, which will vary from event to event.”

The class structure expands for the 2026 Route 66 Sprint Series, growing from nine classes to 11. The same nine from the 2025 season return, including five 2-cycle divisions and four Briggs & Stratton categories. IAME KA100 Senior, Junior and Masters/Heavy return along with Mini Swift and Micro Swift. Senior, Junior, Masters/Heavy, and Sportsman for Briggs & Stratton 206 engine platform return as well.

Route 66 Sprint Series is set to open its 2026 program at the New Castle Motorsports Park (Photo: Nate Dean – EKN)

New for Route 66 Sprint Series is the addition to Shifter Senior and Shifter Masters, marking the first time in series history shifterkart categories have been offered in the championship program. Both divisions will be open to multiple engine platforms, including the worldwide KZ, the USA-based IAME SSE 175, ROK Shifter, and 125cc Moto package. Each engine features specific rules and weights, with the addition of shifterkarts to Route 66 Sprint Series based on request by regional racers.

MG Tires returns as the spec tire for the Route 66 Sprint Series program. The 2026 ruleset allows two sets of tires for practice each weekend along with all 2-cycle categories required to qualify on new tires. One change from 2025 is the Briggs 206 Senior, Junior and Masters/Heavy classes will be limited to 7.1 sized rear tires. The MG SH2 tire is utilized for all categories except shifter classes, which will mandate SM2 compound for both Shifter Senior and Shifter Masters.

“Bringing shifters into a regional program like Route 66 is risky, but necessary,” commented Koyen. “You can’t cut your teeth at SKUSA or USPKS.  Shifters needed a place to grow and learn, as well as a place for the more ‘experienced’ drivers who just want to have fun and not break the bank.  We think we’re giving them that place.  We have already had very positive industry response to this series, now we just need the racers to do their part and get entered.”

Koyen confirmed with EKN that the majority of the Route 66 Sprint Series staff are returning from registration, to on track staff, grid, scales and tech. New to the staff is series announcer Jeremy Scott. All major sponsors are back for the 2026 season, including MG Tires, IAME, Franklin Motorsports, KartLift Kart Stands, Mill-Rite and Mills Pallet along with A-Maxx Racing as the wristband sponsor as well as several other new class sponsors for the season.

Registration for the Route 66 Sprint Series Season Pass and Number Reservations is currently open on the Race Select page. Visit Route66kartracing.com to learn more about the series, schedule and classes.

Route 66 Sprint Series 2026 Schedule

April 24-26: New Castle Motorsports Park – New Castle, Indiana
June 5-7: Norway Motorsports Park – Sheridan, Illinois
July 17-19: Mill-Rite Raceway – Dousman, Wisconsin
August 14-16: Briggs & Stratton Motorplex – Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

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