206 Senior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

The final event of the 2026 Route 66 Sprint Series presented by MG Tires featured the largest turnout of the season over the August 14-16 weekend at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex inside the historic Road America facility. Entry total of 206 marked the largest Route 66 event in several years that gathered in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin to compete in the 11 categories that were completing the fourth and final round of the championship season.

The two largest categories of the weekend were won by the same driver as Brady Schad doubled up at his home track. 206 Senior presented by Lawson Speed Shop once again was the largest class, this time reaching 41 drivers battling inside Road America. Round Two winner Cale Zimmermann was the driver to beat through much of the weekend. After he edged out Mason Rick by only 59 thousandths in qualifying with a time of 54.425, Zimmermann won both heat races by just over three tenths. The first over Rick with Schad up to second in Heat Two. Zimmermann and Schad led the field to the green flag in the 18-lap Final. Schad jumped to the lead before Zimmermann took back the top spot on lap four, dropping Schad to fourth behind Round Three winner Shane Ready and Brayden Zirves. The middle portion of the race was a battle for the lead with Ready and Zimmermann. Lap 11, Schad was back up to second behind Zimmermann and reclaimed the lead on lap 15. From there, Schad led the remaining laps, earning the checkered flag by half a second to become the fourth different winner on the season. Ready was second with Zirves third on podium. Zimmerman was fourth while Round One winner Marc Stehle completed the top five, all finishing within one second.

KA100 Senior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

Multiple drivers were in the mix for the top spot in KA100 Senior presented by BBS Racing Engines. Shane Ready was the driver to lead the 34 driver field in qualifying with a time of 48.700. He edged Cale Zimmermann by 42 thousandths for the fast time. Qualifying fifth was Charles Ropke who led the final two laps of the 14-lap opening heat race for the win. Round Two winner Mick Gabriel advanced himself up from outside the top-five in qualifying and the opening heat race to the win in Heat Two. Gabriel led the final six laps for the win with Ropke in second after Ready retired following the opening lap. After qualifying forth, Round Three winner Brady Schad was 10th and sixth in the heat races. He was into the top five after the opening laps of the 18-lap Final as Ropke led the first six circuits. Brayden Zirves took the lead for one circuit before Ropke went back to the lead. Two laps later Schad had worked his way to the front. Gabriel challenged Schad for the spot, taking the lead for one lap until Schad secured the position. Leading the final five laps, Schad scored a second straight victory. One second back, Zirves won the battle for second over Ropke with Acen Dramaliev up to fourth and Zimmermann placing fifth.

KA100 Junior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

KA100 Junior presented by P1 Engines welcomed a repeat winner on the season to close out the year. Round Three winner Easton Kubinski set the pace in qualifying with a 49.464, a mere six thousandths quicker than Isaac Payn to lead the 27-driver field in the timed session. Kubinski held off Payn for the win in Heat One while they swapped positions in Heat Two as Payn took the win by only 83 thousandths at the line. Kubinski jumped out to the lead in the 18-lap Final before Round Two winner Tucker Trieb grabbed the spot on lap five. He paced the field until lap 15 when Payn returned to the point. Leading to the white flag, Round One winner Jackson Baldus was able to go from third to first on the final circuit, reaching the line first by 84 thousandths ahead of Payn to claim the victory. Trieb rolled across in third ahead of Kubinski with Ezekiel Haight in fifth, recording fast lap of the race.

206 Junior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

The win streak for Ezekiel Haight in the 206 Junior presented by Bobby Krug Racing Services class came to an end in Road America. Haight was second in qualifying for the 26-driver field, as Isaac Payn posted a 55.978 lap to edge him out by 17 thousandths for fast time. Sixth in the order was Slaton Baldock, who led the majority of the opening heat race after Payn was shuffled back over the opening lap. After Baldock won Heat One, Giana Lunski added her name to the chat in Heat Two. Qualifying fifth, she was second to Baldock in the opening moto and led most of the second half of the second moto to earn the race win. Baldock and Lunski were the top two for much of the 18-lap Final. Baldock led the first five laps before Lunski paced the field for three laps. Baldock returned to the lead for five laps as Lunski returned to the top spot for the final time. Lunski led the final five laps to claim her first series victory, holding off Elijah Matson-Vigus at the line by 95 thousandths. Baldock slipped to third with Haight ending up fourth ahead of Theodore Gaffer, who recorded fast lap of the race.

206 Sportsman podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

Evan Liesch was able to record a third straight victory in 206 Sportsman presented by MAC Paving. Liam Fohr kept Liesch from recording a sweep on the weekend, setting fast time in qualifying to lead the 21-driver field in the timed session. Liesch went on to hold off Fohr by 57 thousandths in the opening heat race before winning by over a half second ahead of Martinas Karosas in the second heat. Fohr returned to challenge Liesch in the 18-lap Final. Liesch led the first 10 laps before Fohr took over the point. He led five laps before Liesch reclaimed the position, leading to the checkered flag for the third victory of the season. Karosas was third behind Fohr with Jaxson Reinholz in fourth and fast lap driver Cameron Apel placing fifth.

Mini Swift podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

It was a double win weekend for Evan Liesch, securing a second straight victory in Mini Swift presented by BBS Racing Engines. Liesch was one of four drivers to sweep a category on the weekend. He began with clearing the field by four tenths in qualifying and winning the opening heat race by four seconds. The gap closed up in Heat Two with Dylan Braun in second. Two-time winner Michael Tsyupka led the opening circuit before Liesch returned to the point, leading the remaining 17 laps for the victory. Braun was second with Tsyupka in third. Mark Shiriaev and Liam Astalus capped off the top five.

Micro Swift podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

Micro Swift presented by Top Kart USA was a sweep as well, performed by Harrison Apel. Apel cleared the field by seven tenths in qualifying before winning the heat races with a seven-second advantage and two-second margin. Harrison led all 18 laps of the Final, driving away to a two-second victory for a third straight triumph. Lukas Kopko was second with Blake Klimek in third. Rafa Drankiewicz and Maas Kavchak completed the top five.

KA100 Masters podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

KA100 Masters presented by Mill-Rite Inc. welcomed a fourth different winner over the four rounds on the season. Round Three winner Adam Crepin cleared the 14-driver field by over three tenths in qualifying before winning the opening heat race ahead of Niki Coello. Dylan North drove up to the win in Heat Two ahead of both Crepin and Coello in his first start of the season. The Final was controlled by North in the first half before Crepin took over for the second. He led until the final lap when Coello took the spot and the victory. Crepin settled for second as TJ Koyen rebounded from a DQ in qualifying to finish third, recording the fast lap of the race. Kyle Kraus had his best finish of the season in fourth with Cristian Vomir in fifth.

206 Masters podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

The 206 Masters presented by Greyhound Racing Seats class also welcomed a fourth different winner on the season with the finale at Road America. Round Three winner Lucas Rennick set fast time in qualifying and won the opening heat before Payton Kline stepped up pace. Making his first season start, Kline was able to beat out Rennick for the win in Heat Two before leading all 18 laps of the Final for the victory. Rennick ran second with Michael Smith landing on the podium in third. Round One winner Troy Toney was fourth with Matt Peterson in fifth.

Shifter Senior podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

Chase Pflughaupt finished the inaugural Shifter Senior presented by FZ Shifter season with a weekend sweep. A lap of 46.611 led the way in qualifying before Pflughaupt won both heat races and led all 18 laps in the Final for his second victory of the season. Max Gal drove to second ahead of Szymon Kusper to complete the podium. Laurentiu Mardan swept the action in Shifter Master presented by FZ Shifter. Mardan finished first in ever session, winning the Final by 11 seconds over Lance Lan and Maciej Kusper.

Shifter Masters podium (Photo: Route 66 Sprint Series)

A full breakdown of the 2026 Route 66 Sprint Series presented by MG Tires champions and the final standings for all 11 categories will be published in the coming weeks. More details can be found via the series website at route66kartracing.com and be sure to follow Route 66 Sprint Series on Facebook and Instagram for additional details.

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