Jonathan Portz opened up the season with the 100cc Senior victory (Photo: EKN)

The 2026 Challenge of the Americas kicked off on Saturday with the opening round of action contested at the K1 Circuit. Perfect weather hit the Winchester, California facility, providing a great day for racing for the six race groups and eight categories competing on the weekend. Neliton Race Concepts driver Jonathan Portz used his experience to outlast the young drivers battling at the front to claim the 100cc Senior victory.

The Forward Direction Motorsports 100cc Senior class began with Senior rookie Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) setting fast time in qualifying with a 1:05.621 lap over Archer Eversman (Axis / Redspeed) and Dillon Dransfeldt (NRC / Gillard). Gibson led 11 of the 12 laps after holding off the field, including a big defensive move on Eversman that sent him off course and to the tial of the 25-driver field. The defensive moves allowed for the second group to close up as Portz – who qualified 10th – to grab second with Xander Malatesta (Ruthless / Tony Kart) to third. Gibson and Benjamin Hyland (Rylance / Tony Kart) – who was fourth in the Prefinal – were able to break away early. Portz ran them back down by the halfway point of the 18-lap race, grabbing the lead on lap nine. Portz kept the young drivers in check the remainder of the race, taking the victory by 1.2 seconds. Gibson was second with quick lap of the race with Hyland earning his first Challenge podium. Johnie Stamps (Scuderia Littel / GFC) was fourth with last year’s Junior champion Erik Doan (WCM / Bireart) completing the top five.

Cole Anderson beat out the field for victory in 100cc Junior (Photo: EKN)

It was a very competitive day in the Nash Motorsportz 100cc Junior category. Wisconsin driver Cameron Johnson (Nash / EOS) set fast time in qualifying with a 1:06.224 lap time over teammates Payton Anderson (Nash / EOS) and Hudson Hidalgo (Nash / EOS). Johnson and Hidalgo were able to break away from the field in the 12-lap Prefinal with the top qualifier leading every lap. Cole Anderson (Scuderia Littel / GFC) was able to put himself up into the second spot behind Johnson as they broke away early. The second group did include Hidalgo until he spun in turn four on lap eight. Eventually, the second group led by Braydon Wagner (Scuderia Littel / GFC) caught the two leaders. Wagner went to the lead right away but both Johnson and Anderson fought back. Leading at the white flag, Cole Anderson held on through the final circuit, beating out Payton Anderson by 76 thousandths at the line. Johnson was third with quick driver Mason Moses (PW / CRG) fourth and Wagner back to fifth at the checkered.

Greg Welch swept the Round One action for 100cc Masters (Photo: EKN)

It was a sweep on the day for Greg Welch (FDM / Pantano) in the Ruthless Karting 100cc Masters class. Welch posted a 1:07.388 lap in qualifying before leading all 12 laps in the Prefinal, pressured by Scott Falcone (FDM / Pantano) with Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Kosmic) in third, posting fast lap. Mann became the top challenger in the Final with Falcone dropping off the pace to the top two. Welch was able to get away from Mann late, taking the victory by 1.4 seconds with Falcone solo in third. Ed Quinn (PGR / LN Kart) was fourth with Jeffery Bays (Axis / Redspeed) in fifth.

Forrest Blair picked up his first Challenge victory in 60cc Cadet (Photo: EKN)

Forrest Blair (Scuderia Littel / GFC) completed the sweep in P1 Engines 60cc Cadet for his first series victory. Blair set fast time in qualifying with a 1:12.474 lap, edging out Maddax Carlucci (Nash / Energy) by only 54 thousandths. Carlucci was shuffled back in the Prefinal as Blair drove away to a near four second advantage over Braxton Shiflett (Scuderia Littel / GFC) and Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart). Blair and Shiflett locked up to get away from Tarango in the Final. Leading all 15 laps, Blair scored his first series victory. Despite a five-second penalty for jumping the start, Shiflett kept the second spot over Tarango. Emiliano Hernandez (Scuderia Littel / GFC) and Michael Dean (PW / CRG) completed the top five.

Lucas Tarango became the inaugural winner in Briggs Cadet (Photo: EKN)

Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) was the first winner of the 2026 season, taking the top spot in the Acceleration Kart Racing Briggs Cadet division. Tarango was able to sweep the action on the day, setting fast time of 1:15.972 in qualifying and winning the Prefinal by just 55 thousandths over Michael Dean (PW / CompKart). The lead group of four drivers in the Final saw Tarango lead the first seven laps before Dean took a turn at the point. Tarango returned to the lead as Forrest Blair (Scuderia Littel / GFC) moved to second. They would run that way to the checkered flag with Tarango edging out Blair by 66 thousandths for the inaugural class victory. Dean settled for third with Matteo Gomez (Position One) and Jack Watkins (MSquared / Exprit) completing the top five.

London Zarkos took the overall Briggs Combined victory, including Briggs Junior win (Photo: EKN)

The Neliton Race Concepts Briggs Combined race group featured three categories. London Zarkos (Scuderia Littel / GFC) was able to win the overall victory and the top spot in Briggs Junior, beating out Mason Graff (Scuderia Littel / GFC) and Sawyer Auston (Rylance / LN Kart). The Briggs Senior category was a battle all day long with Horace Walker (Scuderia Littel / GFC) beating out Miles Harrison (Scuderia Littel / GFC) for the inaugural victory. Bruce Norman ran uncontested in the Briggs Masters division.

Round Two action will be held on Sunday to wrap up the opening weekend of the 2026 Challenge of the Americas.

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