Pauly Massimino locked up his first X30 Pro victory at Trackhouse (Photo: Studio52.us)

The 2026 season for the United States Pro Kart Series kicked off with the running of the Carolina Grand Prix at the Trackhouse Motorplex on April 10-12. The Mooresville, North Carolina facility welcomed 219 entries over the 10 categories competing in ‘Race City USA’ for the opening round of the championship hosting its 14th season. Weather was perfect for racing all three days as the program introduced a new format that included two heat races and a Super Heat session to set the grids for the main events on Sunday.

The X30 Pro presented by Rolison Performance Group was led through qualifying by California driver Blake Nash (Nash / EOS). A 46.972 lap edged out top three of British drivers Sean Butcher (RPG / Kosmic) and Caden McQueen (Velocity / Sodikart) by only 79 thousandths. Qualifying fourth was Pauly Massmino (BJR / LN Kart) who was credited with the win in the opening heat race after Butcher – the provisional winner – was penalized five spots for avoidable contact. Massimino earned the win in the second round of heat races to earn the pole position for the Super Heat. Butcher dominated the 17 laps of the Super Heat over McQueen and Massimino to close out the action on Saturday. This put Butcher on the pole position with Massimino on the outside of the front row with McQueen and Nash in row two. Butcher led the opening two laps of the Final before McQueen took control. Massimino moved himself into second and into the lead by lap 14. He led six laps before McQueen retook the top spot. They ran that way until the last lap. McQueen went on the defensive with Massimino looking for a way past. Butcher took advantage to slip past for second spot in the first half of the lap. Going into the hairpin, Massimino was able to go from third to first slipping past both McQueen and Butcher. This allowed Massimino to claim the victory – his first at Trackhouse in X30 Pro. McQueen crossed the line in second however suffered a three-second pushback bumper penalty. This promoted Jake Drew (FW / GFC) to second, who slipped from 10th to 17th on the opening lap but drove up to slip past Butcher before the line. Davin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart) was classified fourth with Nash completing the top five.

Aiden Levy was named winner in KA100 Senior (Photo: Studio52.us)

A total of 57 drivers battled in KA100 Senior presented by Brandon Jarsocrak Racing. Qualifying on Friday was led by local drivers, including Aiden Levy (MPR / Tony Kart) making his return to the seat. Levy put down a 48.909 lap to edge out Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) and Daniel Perez (DPC / Exprit). The field was broken up into groups for the two rounds of heat races with Levy and Massimino claiming wins in both rounds of racing. The class was resorted again for the two separate Super Heat sessions. Caden McQueen (Velocity / Sodikart) got the better of Levy in the opening Super Heat before Massimino drove away in the second. Massimino and Levy led the way at the start of the 22-lap Final before Perez returned toward the front. After he and Levy each led, Massimino returned to the point on lap 13. From there, Massimino was able to hold off the field, including a challenge last lap to cross the line first as the provisional winner. Massimino was penalized 10 positions for ‘swerving’. McQueen crossed the line in second but a six-second pushback bumper penalty dropped him out of the top five. This promoted Levy to the top of the podium. Brandon Lemke (SCR / CS55) would have been on the podium in second for not a five-second avoidable contact penalty. This advanced Perez to second and Connor Ferris (TFR / Parolin) to second and third. James Overbeck (BJR / LN Kart) and Caleb Gafrarar (HDD / Tony Kart) were classified fourth and fifth.

Adrien Renaudin held on to secure his first Pro Shifter victory at USPKS (Photo: Studio52.us)

Shifterkart racing returned to USPKS for the first time since 2023. Pro Shifter presented by Velocity Racing was led in qualifying by Frenchman Adrien Renaudin (Velocity / Sodikart) with a lap of 45.153. Finishing second in the session was Justin White (Maranello USA), who was able to use holeshot in both heat races for the wins with Renaudin second in the opening heat and Gavin Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) runner-up in the second heat. From the outside of the front row for the 17-lap Super Heat, Renaudin grabbed the lead and went wire-to-wire holding off a charging Jay Urwin (TKG / Birelart) with White back to third. Renaudin was able to repeat a green-to-checkered performance in the 25-lap Final. The Frenchman was able to hold off the late advances by Urwin to secure his first USPKS victory. White was a close third with Matteo Papis (Orsolon / Birelart) and Finnegan Bayliff (TKG / Birelart) completing the top five.

Last lap move earned Nathan Golseth victory in X30 Junior (Photo: Studio52.us)

It was a near sweep in X30 Junior presented by Speed Concepts Racing. Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) led the way through the first two days. Murphy put in a 47.677 lap to set fast time in qualifying to clear the 18 driver field by over a tenth. He went on to win the opening heat by only 77 thousandths over Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic). The second heat was provisionally won by Pettit, who was penalized three seconds for avoidable contact to promote Murphy to the win. The Super Heat was a three driver battle that included Murphy, Pettit and Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55). Woon led the majority but Murphy came through on the final lap to win over Pettit. The 22-lap Final saw Pettit lead the first 19 laps before the fireworks began. Pettit was shuffled out of the top five with a large pack in the battle. Murphy took the point before Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) grabbed the lead at the white flag. Through the final lap, Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55) – who was sixth on lap 16 – manage to grab the lead and cross the line for his first USPKS victory. Woon came away in second ahead of Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart). Pettit recovered for fourth with Enzo DiGennaro (Parolin Motorsport USA) slipped up to fifth ahead of Murphy.

Travis Pettit claimed the victory in KA100 Junior (Photo: Studio52.us)

There was also a near sweep in KA100 Junior presented by BBS Race Engine Development. Travis Pettit (RPG / Kosmic) was the leader through qualifying with a lap of 49.373 to edge out the top four by only 64 thousandths, including Callen Berghoefer (BJR / LN Kart), Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) and Ashton Woon (SCR / CS55). Pettit beat out Lourenco Varela (Orsolon / Tony Kart) for the win in Heat #1 before Pettit ran away to a one-second advantage in Heat #2 over Woon. Pettit started from the pole position but was shuffled back outside the top 10 after lap two. Kotowski eventually took over the point and went on to win ahead of Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) and Woon. Pettit finished 10th and was classified sixth on the Final grid with Murphy and Woon starting from the front row. A large lead pack featured several lead changes over the 22 laps. Murphy, Woon, Varela, and Pettit all led over the first 18 laps. By lap 19, Pettit secure the lead and was able to hold through to the checkered flag for his second USPKS victory in the category. Kotowski came across in second with Murphy in third. Murphy was removed from the results following tech inspection, promoting Varela to third ahead of Valentino Santillan (HDD / Tony Kart) and Nathan Golseth (SCR / CS55).

Mike Rolison fought through the field to win in KA100 Master (Photo: Studio52.us)

The combined KA100 Master presented by Nash Motorsportz and KA100 Super Master presented by Trinity Karting Group featured 13 drivers. Tim Schutt (TimmyTech / Pantano) set fast time in qualifying and won both heat races. After leading the first 14 laps of the Super Heat, Shutt was overtaken by Byron Daley (Prodigy / Bestkart) – who went on to take the win. Shutt and Daley started on the front row for the Final but were joined quickly by Mike Rolison (RPG / Kosmic). Rolison took the lead early and drove away to a seven second advantage for the victory. Shutt was second ahead of Daley for the overall top three. Rolison and Shutt were 1-2 in Super Masters with Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) in third. Daley was the winner in Masters with Matthew Meech (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and Nick Landi (Orsolon / Tony Kart) completing the top three. Bradley Danoff (Maranello USA) was the inaugural winner for Master Shifter at USPKS. The class made its debut with two drivers. Yevhenii Panenko (KartFreedom / CKR) was the top qualifier and Heat #1 winner before Danoff took over for the rest of the weekend.

Dutch Westbrook drove from 14th to 1st in Mini Swift main event (Photo: Studio52.us)

A stacked field of 42 drivers battled in Mini Swift presented by Parolin Motorsport USA. Mason Brody (RPM / Nitro Kart) opened up the action with quick time in qualifying before going on to win both heat races, the first over Brody Stoffle (RPM / Nitro Kart) and the second ahead of Hudson Howard (JHDD / Kart Republic). Canadian Jayden Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) entered the battle in the Super Heat, coming up from fourth on the grid to take the lead on lap five. From there, Francisco earned the win over Brody and Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) – who came up from 26th. That result promoted Westbrook up to 14th for the grid with Brody and Francisco on the front row. The first half of the Final was Brody, Francisco and Stoffle fighting for the top spot. By lap nine, Westbrook was up to fourth and he would eventually join the fight for the lead. Taking the white flag, Brody reclaimed the top spot with Westbrook into third. On the final circuit, Westbrook was able to go from third to first, reaching the line first to claim his first USPKS Mini victory. Brody settled for second with Slate Harrell (Team Nitro Kart) able to get into third ahead of Stoffle. Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) was able to advance from 27th to fifth in 20 laps.

Tre Sanders advanced from seventh to score his first Micro Swift victory at USPKS (Photo: Studio52.us)

Micro Swift presented by Team Ferris Racing welcomed 26 drivers to Race City USA. Liam Compitiello (RPM / Nitro Kart) came out of qualifying with fast time to clear the field by over two tenths. Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) and Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) each took a heat race win to make up the front row for the Super Heat. Wyatt was able to grab the win in the Super Heat over Kotowski, Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart). Those results kept Wyatt and Kotowski on the front row and moved Sanders to P7 on the grid. Wyatt and Francisco led the field in the first half of the 20-lap Final before Sanders joined the fight. It wasn’t until the last lap that Sanders went from fourth to first, leading at the checkered flag for his first USPKS victory. Kotowski settled for second with Wyatt in third. Dusty Strayer (Parolin Motorsport USA) dropped from second to fourth on the final lap, and was removed from the results in tech. This promoted Franco Schiavo (CRG) to fourth and Jose Torres (TFR / Parolin) into fifth.

The United States Pro Kart Series will host the second round of the 2026 championship over the June 26-28 weekend with the Indiana Grand Prix at the New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana.

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