Jake Drew starts the X30 Pro main event from the pole position (Photo: EKN)

The inaugural United States Pro Kart Series Lake Erie Grand Prix completed the first day of racing at the Lorain Ohio KartPlex on Saturday. The Lorain, Ohio facility saw rain weather linger throughout the day until halfway through the Super Heat action when the track dried enough for dry tires to close out the day. Two rounds of heats along with the Super Heat were completed for the seven categories, setting the grids for the seven main events to be run on Sunday.

X30 Pro presented by Rolison Performance Group saw multiple drivers at the front throughout the day. Top qualifier Jake Drew (RPG / Kosmic) was solid in the opening heat in the wet, taking the win ahead of Senior rookie Michael McGaughy (RPM / Tony Kart) and Davin Roberts (RPM / Tony Kart). McGaughy however would be able to take the win over John Antonino (MPG / Kart Republic) and Drew in Heat Two. Grabbing the lead early in the Super Heat, Antonino was able to run away to the provisional win before a pushback bumper penalty dropped him to second, promoting Drew to the win. That awarded Drew with the pole position for the Final with Antonino on the outside of the front row. Newly crowned champion Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) improved as the day went on and will start the Final in third alongside McGaughy.

Henry Wheeler won two of the three races on Saturday in KA100 Senior (Photo: EKN)

Only two drivers took the checkered flag on the day over the three sessions on track in the KA100 Senior presented by Brandon Jarsocrak Racing. Top qualifier Henry Wheeler (Redspeed) ran away with the opening heat win in the wet with Mateo Rubio-Luengo (BJR / LN Kart) up to second ahead of Round Three winner James Overbeck (BJR / Tony Kart). Round Two winner Pauly Massimino (BJR / LN Kart) took advantage of Wheeler getting shuffled back at the start to win Heat Two ahead of Overbeck with Austin Olds (MPG / Kart Republic) in third. The track began drying during the Super Heat, with the field on wet tires and the surface nearly clear of moisture by the end. Wheeler ran away to the win as Overbeck beat out Massimino for the runner-up spot. Wheeler and Overbeck make up the front row with Massimino and Rubio-Luengo in the second row. Row three is Shane Ready (HDD / Tony Kart) and Donovan Bonilla (RPG / Kosmic). Between Overbeck and Massimino, the on track position will decide who wins the title. If Overbeck is able to win, Massimino will need to finish second to claim the crown. If Overbeck is second, third or fourth, Massimino needs to be one position behind to earn the title. If Overbeck is fifth or worse, Massimino will just need to be ahead of him in the final order to secure the championship.

Travis Pettit start on the pole position in his bid for the KA100 Junior title (Photo: EKN)

It was a sweep on the day for Brandon Jarsocrak Racing with a combo of two drivers in KA100 Junior presented by BBS Race Engines. Top qualifier Marco Sammut (BJR / LN Kart) came away with the win in the opening heat before Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) grabbed the win in the second heat. Pettit was able to get away in the Super Heat to take the win over Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) up to second over Sammut. The results put Pettit and Sammut on the front row for the Final on Sunday with Kotowski and Round Three winner Lucas Palacio (RPG / Kosmic) in row two. Pettit will need to finish third or better to lock in the championship on Sunday.

The Super Heat win puts Tristan Murphy on the pole position in X30 Junior, still in the title chase (Photo: EKN)

The day in X30 Junior presented by Speed Concepts Racing was based on the weather. In the wet, Lucas Palacio (RPG / Kosmic) was able to get away from the field for the win in both heat races. Top qualifier Tristan Murphy (RPM / Tony Kart) was second and then slipped down the order in the second heat. The Super Heat however was dry, and defensive driving was back in the mix. Travis Pettit (BJR / LN Kart) crossed the line as the provisional winner, however, was penalized three positions for blocking. Other penalties shaped the result with Murphy taking the win over Ashton Woon (SCR / Charles Leclerc) and Parker Ives (RPM / Tony Kart). Murphy will start from the pole position with Palacio on the outside of the front row. Woon and Pettit go from row two with Ives and Nico Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) in row three. The championship still remains a two driver fight between Murphy and Pettit with the position on track ahead of the other during the Final as the deciding factor in who wins the title.

Mike Rolison won two of the three races on Saturday in KA100 Masters (Photo: EKN)

The 10-driver KA100 Masters presented by Nash Motorsportz / Trinity Karting Group was led by the duo at RPG. Mike Rolison (RPG / Kosmic) won the opening heat race before teammate Mario Barrios (RPG / Kosmic) took the second heat win. The dry Super Heat was dominated by Rolison, securing the pole position for the Final. Barrios will start on the outside of the front row with Enrique Baca (BJR / LN Kart) and Scot Carapellatti (Kosmic) in row two. Scott Falcone (Orsolon / Tony Kart) and Christian Vega (BJR / LN Kart) go from row three.

Vicente Santino Aguilar was good in the wet and the dry in Mini Swift action (Photo: EKN)

New names were at the front of the field in Mini Swift presented by Parolin Motorsport USA. Vicente Santino Aguilar (Orsolon / Tony Kart) drove up from seventh on the grid to the win in the opening heat race. The second heat saw Tyler Blackwood (Team Benik) – in his season debut – come up from 13th after a wild first few laps to win the second heat. Aguilar however came back to dominate the Super Heat that was the first session on dry tires, winning by a big margin over Dutch Westbrook (Team Benik) and top qualifier Aidan Go (Parolin Motorsport USA). Aguilar starts from the pole position with Westbrook on the outside. Hudson Howard (MPG / Kart Republic) and Go start from row two with Jake Manalio (RPM / Nitro Kart) and Enzo Ramos (Parolin Motorsport USA) in row three.

Dominating day on Saturday for Tristan Francisco in Micro Swift (Photo: EKN)

The perfect score is intact over the first two days in Micro Swift presented by Team Ferris Racing by Tristan Francisco (RPM / Nitro Kart). The two-time winner set fast time in qualifying on Friday and won all three races on Saturday. Beau Wyatt (Team Benik) and Jack Kotowski (TKG / Birelart) were runner-up in the first two heats while they went second and third to Francisco in the Super Heat. Wyatt starts on the front row with Francisco for the Final with Kotowski on the inside of row two with Tre Sanders (RPM / Nitro Kart). Franco Schiavo (MSL / CRG) and Braxton Shiflett (Parolin Motorsport USA) start from row three. Francisco now needs to finish fifth or better in order to lock in the championship on Sunday.

The seven main events are all that remain for the 2026 United States Pro Kart Series with the first ever Finals to be held at the Lorain Ohio KartPlex to close out the inaugural Lake Erie Grand Prix.

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