Category Archives: Challenge of the Americas

CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS CONFIRMS TRACK LOCATIONS FOR 15TH SEASON

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Both international winter program and California ROK Championship program tracks announced for 2022

ORANGE, CA (September 27, 2021) – The 15th season of FTK Promotions’ Challenge of the Americas series is just around the corner as the 2022 winter season is drawing closer. When the international west coast winter series begins this coming January, it will be celebrating not only the 15th year of the program, but the fifth season under the ROK Cup USA banner as well. Dates for the 2022 season were announced in July, and now, the tracks for all three events are confirmed.

The 2022 Challenge of the Americas season begins with a return to the Musselman Honda Circuit on January 28-30. The Challenge first visited the Tucson, Arizona in 2012 and has made seven visits in total since. The program’s February round (Feb 25-27) will bring the teams back to Arizona for a stop at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association track in Glendale. This season will mark the 11th time that COTA has visited the popular and challenging PKRA track. For a 10th time in series history, Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California will host the series finale, scheduled for March 25-27, 2022. Continue reading →

CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS PREPARES FOR 15TH SEASON

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International winter series to reach milestone mark
ORANGE, CA (July 9, 2021) – The 2022 season marks the 15th anniversary of the inaugural year of the premier west coast winter series – the Challenge of the Americas. The international program began in 2008, then under the Rotax Max Challenge banner, which was the engine platform until 2018 when COTA transitioned to the ROK Cup format. Over the last 14 years, the series has welcomed hundreds of karters from the United States, Canada, Mexico and select countries from around the world. 

The series began back in 2008 with promoter Andy Seesemann having to overcome several obstacles, including the location for the first event, having to move one month before the scheduled debut. Moran Raceway in Beaumont, California was scheduled to be the location for the inaugural event, however, the facility owners sold the property prior to the race, forcing Seesemann to re-position the race at Willow Springs Raceway. The second Challenge event in Sonoma was plagued by torrential rainstorms that caused the cancellation of Sunday’s races, which would eventually be made up on the Friday of the series finale. That event at the X-Plex in Las Vegas was the last official race at that facility. Continue reading →

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GREEN-GREEN-GREEN – Wednesday practice is BACK ON. Enough people called texted or emailed The Track directly yesterday after our announcement went out and complained, so they have now flip-flopped on their decision and The Track will be open for practice next Wednesday I repeat the track will be open for practice on Wednesday. We are so sorry for this but the office people at the track don’t seem to know what’s actually happening at the track and what is possible. Let’s Rok Wednesday practice – Andy
 
Official practice begins on Friday and here is the event schedule. https://www.challengekarting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Sonoma-2021-Schedule.pdf

ROYCE & BAXTER BECOMES PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS AND CALIFORNIA ROK CHAMPIONSHIP

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Premium hand sanitizer company provides support to ROK Cup USA west coast programs for 2021

ORANGE, CA (January 14, 2021) – The 14th season for Challenge of the Americas is set to begin in just days with the 2021 opener scheduled for January 22-24 at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association. ROKKERS from all over the western half of North America will gather at the Glendale, Arizona facility to begin the three weekend, six-round championship. The very highly anticipated fourth season under the ROK Cup USA program is set to see record numbers once again after setting new series benchmarks in February last year.

This year’s Challenge of the Americas and the upcoming California ROK Championship this summer will have a new presenting sponsor – Royce & Baxter Premium Hand Sanitizer. Founded in early 2020, Royce & Baxter products are formulated to exceed CDC and FDA minimum guidelines for those who wish to live clean and stay safe. Their Premium Hand Sanitizer spray, currently available in four scents, kills germs on the skin in seconds plus offers long-lasting antimicrobial benefits. Royce & Baxter President Mike Guasch is a racer for over 40 years, having raced dirt track, jet skis, motocross and formula cars in the United States and most recently GT and Prototype endurance racing in the U.S. and Europe. Continue reading →

Challenge of the Americas Ruling on Engines Permitted for 2021

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Challenge of the Americas is moving forward with the same class structure for the 2021 season as the series contested in 2020. The ROK Cup USA and the ROK Promotions announced on December 16 a move to Vortex-only engines for their events in 2021, including the upcoming Florida Winter Tour. FTK Promotions owner Andy Seesemann confirmed with eKartingNews that the engines allowed for the 2021 Challenge of the Americas will not be changed from what has been published, more specifically the 100cc divisions.

“Our class structure is moving forward unchanged,” stated Seesemann. “The 100cc categories will include both the VLR engine and KA100, with the remainder of our categories following the ROK Cup ruleset. Of course, we have adapted to the new LeVanto KRT as the spec tire for all categories in 2021 and I look forward to its debut at our opening event in roughly one month.”

Seesemann added the many teams and competitors have received their first shipment of LeVanto tires, hitting the track for initial tests. Reviews have been very positive about the new tire for all divisions. The spec fuel will be Sonoco Supreme with Motul Kart Gran Prix as the spec oil for 2021.

Registration is now open for the first two rounds of the 2021 Challenge of the Americas on January 22-24 at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona. Head to challengekarting.comfor the registration link and all the information regarding the series and this summer’s California ROK Championship program.