Ayden Ingratta completed the weekend sweep in Senior MAX (Photo: EKN)

The final day of action was completed on Sunday for the inaugural event for the 2026 RMC America’s Trophy program, hosted by Race Rotax and Karting Solutions Group, as the Musselman Honda Circuit. The Tucson, Arizona region experienced an ‘Extreme Heat Warning’ all weekend, with temps finally staying out of the triple digit range on the final day of action with strong winds and even cloud cover as the main events completed. The story however was the same in the headline Senior MAX category with Canadian Ayden Ingratta completing the weekend sweep.

Ingratta (REM / Kosmic) was a bit slower in qualifying session on Sunday, still clearing the 23 driver field by over a tenth with a 50.066 laptime. He was challenged early in the Prefinal by Alexis Baillargeon (Premier / CS55) and Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart). Ingratta was able to get away with Massimino finishing second and Macy Williams (CB / CS55) up to third. It was Massimino that was under attack at the start of the 20-lap main event, as he was shuffled back to the fourth spot over the opening lap with Williams and Oliver Hodgson (Factory Karts) working past. By lap five, Massimino was back into second position but by then, Ingratta had the gap. The Canadian maintain the advantage and even increased it as the laps completed with Ingratta taking a second victory on the weekend, this time by 4.4 seconds. Massimino broke away alone in second as Hodgson came under heavy attack from a charging Isaac Malcuit (MDR / Tony Kart). Malcuit – who wrecked hard in Saturday’s Prefinal that required a new chassis – drove up from ninth on the grid and tried to find a way past the 2013 Rotax Grand Finals champion. Hodgson held him off and earned the final step on the podium with Malcuit finishing as the top rookie ahead of Baillargeon.

Travis Pettit went wire-to-wire for the Junior MAX victory (Photo: EKN)

It was a tight qualifying session at the top of the order in Junior MAX as Saturday winner Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55) led the way over the 32 driver field. Woon put down a 50.221 lap to edge out Colton Schniegenberg (RPM / Tony Kart) by 95 thousandths. Third in the order was Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) who had fast lap in the Final on Saturday after charging back from a wreck in the Prefinal to finish third. Woon led early in the Prefinal before Leo Da Silva (REM / Kosmic) picked up the pace to lead for one lap before Woon returned to the point. On the final lap, Pettit was able to grab the position and the win for the pole position in the Final. The 20-lap main event was paced by Pettit for all 20 laps. Pettit posted the only sub 51-second lap time late in the race to extend his margin of victory to 2.3 seconds. Woon ran solo in second as Da Silva won the battle for third over Brandon Ng (Factory Karts) with February EKN Driver of the Month driver Nico Orbezo (IRM / Tony Kart) with his best finish on the weekend of fifth.

Yousef Adi was named winner in Mini MAX following penalties (Photo: EKN)

The Mini MAX victory was decided after the checkered flag, naming Yousef Adi (JHDD / Kart Republic) as the winner. Saturday winner Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic) set the pace in qualifying over the 23 driver field, edging out Adi and Aidan Go (Parolin USA) by 61 thousandths. Unfortunately for Go, he suffered another DNF early in the Prefinal with a flat tire. Adi would go on to grab the Prefinal win over Howard with Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart) right there in third. Adi used the pole position to get out to the lead as Howard was pushed back to fourth early. He worked his way up into the second spot and ran down Adi. It was not until lap 16 that Howard made his move for the lead. Running a defensive line through the final two laps, Howard held on to cross the line as the provisional winner. Howard would however be penalized for contact, dropping him five seconds down and into the third position. This promoted Adi to the top step of the podium for his second Rotax victory of 2026. The drive of the race was Go, as he drove up through the field with fast laps of the race, into the third spot but unable to close in on the top two. After the penalty to Howard, he was promoted to second, completing the hard charge of 20 positions. 2025 US Trophy Final winner Samuel Chaverri (SCR / Birelart) won the battle for fourth with Brody completing fifth.

Last lap moves put Tre Sanders on top of the podium in Micro MAX (Photo: EKN)

Great racing by the 12 drivers in the Micro MAX all weekend, including on Sunday. Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart) rebounded from the last lap off in the Final on Saturday to set fast time in qualifying for Round Two, with the top five drivers all within 97 thousandths. Saturday winner Alessio Tosti (MPG / Kart Republic) took the lead early and led until the final lap when Sanders took the lead and the win. The start of the 18-lap Final saw the top positions shuffle around until Zackary Losier (Premier / Parolin) retire with a mechanical issue on lap six. This allowed Tosti to get out in front until a group of three reeled him in by the halfway point. Sanders went on the attack and grabbed the lead. He showed the way until Dusty Strayer (Parolin USA) grabbed the spot with two laps remaining. On the final circuit, Sanders was third at the white flag and was able to work by both Tosti and Strayer, reaching the checkered flag for his first career Rotax victory. Strayer settled for second with Tosti back to third. Canadian Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) was fourth with Jett Fisher (REM / CRG) completing the top five.

Billy Cleavelin completed the weekend sweep in Masters MAX (Photo: EKN)

Billy Cleavelin (REM / Kosmic) proved to be a machine on the day as the 68-year-old put in a dominating performance in Masters MAX. A 51.742 in qualifying – three tenths quicker than Saturday. After winning the Prefinal by eight seconds, Cleavelin set it on cruise control in the 20-lap main event to put in a time only four tenths off his qualifying time. Due to contact in the race in the battle for second, his margin of victory ended up at 24 seconds ahead of Ken Simonelic (CB / CompKart). Chapman Ducote (Ruthless / Exprit) and Jose Delagarza (RPG / Kosmic) retired on lap 10 after contact in turn five-six combination.

Gage Korn drove away for the inaugural win in FZ125 Senior (Photo: EKN)

The FZ Shifter categories held their Prefinal and Final sessions on Sunday. The grid for the Prefinals was based on the heat points tabulation. FZ125 had Gage Korn (Maranello USA) started on the pole position but was slow off the line to allow Theo Kekati (Factory Karts) to take the lead over the opening lap. Korn returned to the point and grabbed the win. The 20-lap Final began with a clean start for Korn as Kekati came under attack off the line. It was Ziming Wang (BBR / Falcon) and Daniel Fellows (FDM / Pantano) challenging in the early portion. This allowed Korn to get away and continued to pull away as Kekati and Wang continued fighting for second. At the checkered, Korn secured the victory by over six seconds with Kekati earning second over Wang. Fellows drove to fourth with Sebastian Cortes (Factory Karts) completing the top five.

Ashton Woon won for a second time on the weekend, taking inaugural victory in FZ85 Junior (Photo: EKN)

The FZ85 Junior division was led by Ashton Woon (SCR / Factory Karts) over the two heat races on Saturday and started the Prefinal from the pole position. Brandon Ng (Factory Karts) jumped out to the lead at the start with he and Woon battling back and forth. Ng crossed the line as the provisional winner but a jump start penalty dropped him down to fourth in the order, promoting Woon to the win. Once again at the start of the Final, Ng grabbed the holeshot to lead the opening lap before Woon reclaimed the top spot. That would be the winning move as Woon pulled away to a five second advantage for the inaugural victory. Ng was able to hold off Wyatt Kroeger (Factory Karts) for runner-up. Mati Dragan (Factory Karts) was fourth with RJ Brown (Factory Karts) up to fifth after stalling on the grid.

The inaugural event for the 2026 RMC America’s Trophy is complete, and the halfway point of the first ever championship program. The attention now turns to the series finale, which is scheduled for June 5-7 at the Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Batavia, Ohio.

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