Archer Eversman won his first Challenge main event in 100cc Senior (Photo: EKN)

The first event of the 2026 Challenge of the Americas came to a close on Sunday with the Round Two action contested at the K1 Circuit. Beautiful weather greeted the teams and competitors at the Winchester, California to provide the perfect backdrop for the closing day on the weekend. The racing throughout the day was very competitive with unique scenarios taking place to decide the eight different class winners. No more than the last lap victory for a career first Challenge win for Axis Kartsport driver Archer Eversman in the 100cc Senior.

The second round in the Forward Direction Motorsports 100cc Senior category began as the first ended. Saturday winner Jonathan Portz (NRC / Gillard) posted the quick time of 1:05.006 to clear the 25-driver field in the session. It was not an easy Prefinal for Portz as he was shuffled to third in the closing laps as Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) and Johnie Stamps (Scuderia Littel / GFC) were able to take the top two positions. Archer Eversman (Axis / Redspeed) was placed 13th after penalties. He was the driver on the move after Portz and Gibson locked up and built a gap over the second pack. Eversman was eventually able to work his way to the third spot and break away from the second pack with only three laps remaining. That was when Portz took over the lead from Gibson and the two leaders pressured one another. On the final lap, the two made contact in the middle portion of the track. Gibson got the worst of it, falling down the order while Portz attempted to keep the lead. Eversman was able to close up and pull off the over under move at turn 11, winning the drag race to the checkered flag by 20 thousandths of a second for the victory. Stamps came across in third ahead of Erik Doan (WCM / Birelart) and fellow Senior rookie Xander Malatesta (Ruthless / Tony Kart). Gibson, runner-up on Saturday, was classified 18th.

Payton Anderson won her second career Challenge main event in 100cc Junior (Photo: EKN)

The Nash Motorsports 100cc Junior class also welcomed a different winner. It was the same driver at the top of the timed session as Wisconsin driver Cameron Johnson (Nash / EOS) earned his second fast time in qualifying on the weekend. After falling back to fifth at the midway point of the Prefinal, Johnson drove back to second, finishing behind Braydon Wagner (Scuderia Littel / GFC) who took the provisional win. Wagner was handed a three-second penalty, and placed fifth on the grid and put Johnson on the pole position alongside Payton Anderson (Nash / LN Kart). After both Johnson and fellow Junior rookie Hudson Hidalgo (Nash / EOS) each led, Anderson and Wagner were able to lead the way and break from the pack. Anderson took over the lead coming to the white flag and held on to the checkered flag for her second career Challenge victory. Wagner was short at the line by 27 thousandths with Johnson winning the battle for third over Taylor Noble (NRC / Gillard) and Hidalgo.

Greg Welch doubled up on the weekend in 100cc Masters (Photo: EKN)

It was a shift up front for much of the day in the Ruthless Karting 100cc Masters division. Former series champion Scott Falcone (FDM / Pantano) was able to set fast time in qualifying with a 1:07.033 lap. Saturday winner Greg Welch (FDM / Pantano) switched engines, moving from IAME KA100 to ROK VLR powerplant and took the penalty prior to the Prefinal to start last. He climbed up to the second spot after starting seventh in the Prefinal, finishing with fast lap and back of Falcone at the line by half a second. The main began with Welch jumping to the lead on the exit of the opening corner, however, Falcone kept on his bumper. Falcone took back the lead on lap four and Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Kosmic) made it three drivers in the lead pack – recovering from a flip at the end of qualifying. As they completed lap nine, Welch looked inside Falcone for the lead, but did not fully send it. Falcone gave him room, but as he did, got washed into the marbles. As they made their way through the chicane, contact was made and Falcone went spinning around to end his run at the victory. Mann took the lead but only for four laps before Welch took back the top spot. Mann kept the pressure on, but never made a move to allow Welch to secure a second victory on the weekend. Jeffery Bays (Axis / Kosmic) – who was part of the incident involving Mann in qualifying, was able to battle forward and finish third on the podium ahead of Ed Quinn (PGR / LN Kart) and Chad Wallace (NRC / Gillard).

Two wins for Lucas Tarango in the new Briggs Cadet division (Photo: EKN)

It was a two win day for Cadet driver Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart). The day began with a great battle in the Acceleration Kart Racing Briggs Cadet division. Forrest Blair (Scuderia Littel / GFC) set fast time in qualifying with Tarango in second. They swapped positions in the Prefinal with Tarango beating out Blair by three tenths. Blair led the first 10 laps of the 15-lap Prefinal before they began shuffling for position. An issue coming to the white flag for Blair gave Tarango the advantage he needed to cruise to his second victory in the category on the weekend, winning by half a second. Blair settled for second with Matteo Gomez (Position One / Kubica) taking the third spot over Michael Dean (PW / CompKart) as Jack Watkins (MSquared / Exprit) was unable to make the start.

Lucas Tarango won the battle in 60cc Cadet (Photo: EKN)

Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) swept the day in the P1 Engines 60cc Cadet division. He set fast time in qualifying and was able to get away in the Prefinal to win by seven seconds over Forrest Blair (Scuderia Littel / GFC). Blair battled with Tarango throughout the main event, coming down to a drag race. At the line, Tarango took the victory by four thousandths over Blair to complete the sweep. Maddax Carlucci (Nash / Energy) was third, beating out Emiliano Hernandez (GFC Karting) and Michael Dean (PW / CRG).

Miles Harrison secured victory in new Briggs Senior category (Photo: EKN)

Miles Harrison (Scuderia Littel / GFC) became the second different winner for the new Briggs Senior class as part of the Neliton Race Concepts Briggs Combined race group. Three drivers battled in Briggs Senior with the addition of Ayrton Littel (Scuderia Littel / GFC) on the day. He along with Saturday winner Horace Walker (Scuderia Littel / GFC) led for a time. In the end, Harrison was able to secure the lead with two laps remaining and held on at the line by just over a tenth. Walker settled for second with Littel in third. Briggs Junior also welcomed a second winner as Sawyer Auston (Rylance / LN Kart) went unchallenged to the victory. Saturday winner London Zarkos (Scuderia Littel / GFC) and Mason Graff (Scuderia Littel / GFC) made contact in the chicane section, ending both their races early on lap eight. This gave Auston the clear path to victory. Bruce Norman was the lone driver in Briggs Masters.

The second stop for the 2026 Challenge of the Americas is slated for April 17-19 as the program returns back to the Phoenix Kart Racing Association facility for the first time since 2023.

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