Challenge of the Americas Announces 2026 Dates

COTA_Logo_nodate_blackFour event championship planned for 19th season of program

One more event remains for the 2025 Challenge of the Americas program, with the series set to conclude on Father’s Day weekend at the newly renamed Burt Brothers Motorpark in Grantsville, Utah. It will be the fourth event of the season, marking 2025 as the first year of the expansion from a three-event format.

“It has been a year of transition in 2025,” stated FTK Promotions owner Andy Seesemann. “Our expansion to a fourth event and welcoming the Shinko Racing Kart Tires has been met with positive momentum heading into the future. The Challenge is now THE major traveling series in the western half of North America. We are pulling drivers from multiple states, including drivers on the East coming this way and those from Canada continuing to support our program.”

Prior to this year’s champions crowned in Utah, FTK Promotions is happy to confirm the dates for the 2026 Challenge of the Americas. The Challenge will remain at four events, this time spread out between the months of February and July.

Seesemann continued, “Other programs have begun announcing their dates. Our goal once again is to do what’s best for karting by working with those willing to do so and try to schedule around other major events in North America. With that in mind, we’ve shifted our dates around to ensure optimal time for teams and competitors to have the opportunity to continue supporting our series while having the ability to race at other events.”

2026 Challenge of the Americas Dates

February 20-22, 2026
April 10-12, 2026
May 29-31, 2026
July 10-12, 2026

The series finale for the 18th season for Challenge of the Americas is slated for June 13-15, making the first visit in program history to the Burt Brothers Motorpark in Grantsville, Utah. Formerly known as Miller Motorsports Park and Utah Motorsports Campus, the 1-mile Alan Wilson designed circuit has hosted many major karting events since it was built in 2006. Round Seven and Round Eight of the Challenge championship will be contested over Father’s Day weekend. The event will also host the inaugural COTA Briggs 206 Shootout with a minimum $1,000 cash purse for the podium finishers.

Registration to the Challenge of the Americas series finale at Burt Brothers Motorpark is currently open at ChallengeKarting.com. Motorhome spots are available on the weekend with the standard $150 rate within the paddock. Those seeking electric hookups, the powered VIP Motorhome spots adjacent to the paddock are available for $500 for the event. No sewer hookups available.

Be sure to follow updates at challengekarting.com regarding the 2025 Challenge of the Americas program, in addition to following the Facebook and Instagram pages.

K1 Tires, Fuel, Fines

Thank you to everyone that came and raced our inaugural K1 event.  While the circuit does have some challenges from an organizational standpoint, it also has several rules that competitors are required to follow as well.

While some of these rules are unique to K1, they have a few that are pretty consistent with the other facilities we utilize, like Sonoma and Utah Motorsports Campus.  
 
Used tires and fuel cans are not to be left on the property.  They cannot be left in your spot when you leave, near a trash receptacle, nor hidden in the bottom of one.  
 
I am sure that everyone understands these rules, but to place emphasis on how serious K1 ownership is on this issue, we published these rules in several places on our website, sent an email prior to the event with the rules listed and finally, had a box to check that you understood and agreed to comply with these rules when you registered on the website.  
 
K1 rules page

YOU AGREED TO  THIS

K1 rules saying I read the rules

WHEN YOU CLICKED HERE

Unfortunately, with all of these reminders, announcements and consent agreements in place, some of our competitors chose to break the rules.  
 
More than 30 empty pails of fuel and almost 20 sets of tires were left at K1.  
 
pails of fuel left behind

MORE THAN 30 FUEL PAILS AND ALMOST 20 SETS OF TIRES WERE LEFT BEHIND AT K1

 
The facility rules highlight a $150 fine per occurrence if this happens.  With more than 100 items left at the track, this fine can be pretty large.
 
It is sad that some in our community fully understand the expectations, yet choose to not follow them.  
 
One of the more disappointing things was the fact there there were a couple of VP cans, an Aspen can and Hoosier and Evinco tires mixed in with the Sunoco Supreme cans and Shinko tires that were left behind. 
 
This means that some competitors chose the Challenge as the event that they were going to dispose of all of their trash from the 2 or 3 weeks they were at K1.  
 
After 20 plus years of organizing fair and professional events, 18 with the Challenge, I thought that I had earned a level of respect greater than this, but I guess I was wrong.  
 
Therefore, to hopefully remedy this situation moving forward, we will monitor it at Sonoma, where we cannot leave these items as well. 
 
If any items are left behind at Sonoma, pitspace fees will increase by $50 each to $150 for the Utah event to cover any fines or increased costs.  If any items are left at Utah, this increase will be permanent.  
 
Regards,
 
Andy

EKN Trackside: 2025 Challenge of the Americas – K1 Circuit – Sunday Report

Kaminski completes the double as does Avansino, Ruch, Bonilla and Martinez

 

Keagan Kaminski completed the double in 100cc Senior (Photo: EKN)

The final day of action for the 2025 Challenge of the Americas program at the K1 Circuit was completed on Sunday. Another perfect day of weather at the Winchester, California facility after the two days of rain showers dampening the practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. The massive 1-mile course proved to be a superspeedway for the six categories competing on the new Shinko Kart Racing Tires. The Round Four action on Sunday put the championship chase to the halfway point with the standouts showing well once again, including five drivers doubling up in the win column on the weekend.

Four straight in Shifter Senior for Michael Avansino (Photo: EKN)

With the majority of the Forward Direction Motorsports 100cc Senior field split up randomly for the two qualifying groups, the first half of the 44 driver field went out for qualifying led by Saturday winner Keagan Kaminski (FW / GFC Karting). His 1:05.396 was best over the two groups, however, he was hit with a track limits violation to lose his fast lap. That dropped him down to ninth overall with Nico Sarphati (GFC Karting) earning the pole position for the Prefinal. It took Kaminski only four laps before he returned to the point in the Prefinal, taking the lead from Sarphati to lead a GFC 1-2-3-4 with Chase Hand (GFC Karting) and Johnie Stamps (FW / GFC). The green flag to start the 18-lap Final was the only time anyone was near Kaminski. He jumped out to a solid lead early and never relinquished the spot, driving away to a 2.5-second advantage. The real show in the Prefinal and on the day was Macy Williams (CB / Tony Kart). The ‘Sunday Kid’ repeated her drive from the back to the front that she recorded in Tucson. Starting 44th in the Prefinal, Williams laid down fast laps of the race to move up to 10th. From there, she knifed her way through the pack racing for second. She got to the spot by lap 13 and never let anyone take it away. Williams celebrated her first podium of the season with the runner-up finish and fast lap of the race. Hand was third at the line, but had a track limit violation to put him back to fifth. That promoted Stephen Eisert (SpeedSense / Exprit) up to third step of the podium and Stamps into fourth.

Four perfect rounds for Joe Ruch in Shifter Masters (Photo: EKN)

For a fourth straight time, Michael Avansino (RWR / CRG) collected maximum points on the day in the Swedetech Racing Engines Shifter Senior. Avansino put down a 59.629 lap to clear the field by over two tenths of a second. Bryce Stevens (GFC Karting) led for a bit in the Prefinal before falling to third after Avansino broke away late. Stevens jumped up to second at the drop of the green for the Final as Avansino led the way. Throughout the race, Stevens kept close to Avansino, only to suffer a mechanical issue on the final lap, recording the DNF. Avansino went wire-to-wire for a fourth straight victory. Anthony Freese (WCM / Birelart) held off a charging Evan Concepcion (Scuderia Littel / GFC) for the runner-up finish. It was the best performance for Concepcion thus far in 2025. TJ Madonna (GFC Karting) was fourth with Stevens fifth after Nolan Gagnon (Nash / Italkart) retired early.

A perfect four for four thus far on the 2025 season in the Neliton Race Concepts Shifter Masters class for Joe Ruch (Shifterz / Maranello). The Indian driver went wire-to-wire on the day for both the Prefinal and Final. The main event was highlighted by a 12-second advantage over the battle for second. It was Michael Faker (GFC Karting) and Michael Guasch (Shifterz / Maranello) battling once again, this time with Guasch coming up from the back after a Prefinal DNF. In the end, Faker held on for the runner-up spot with Guasch settling for third. Chris Muecke (Italcorse Americas) and Marcin Kloda (Shifterz / Maranello) completed the top five.

Paul Bonilla completed the double win weekend in 100cc Masters (Photo: EKN)

The competition level went up one notch on Sunday in the Ruthless Karting 100cc Masters class. Greg Welch (FDM / Pantano) took over the position left by Steve Wiener sitting out Sunday following his flip at the start of the Saturday Final. He was fourth in the session as two-time Tucson winner Scott Falcone (Precision Works / Pantano) earned another fast time in qualifying, working with Matthew Meech (Precision Works / Tony Kart) to go 1-2 ahead of Saturday winner Paul Bonilla (PGR / LN Racing Kart). Falcone led the first three laps until Welch grabbed the spot, showing the way the rest of the distance. Welch and Bonilla fought for the top spot early on, including on lap nine. Bonilla took the lead and former series champion Erik Jackson (Vemme Kart) attempted a move on Welch, making contact. Jackson retired while Welch continued on outside the top five. Bonilla had enough space on the rest of the pack to led the remaining laps for a second straight victory. Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Exprit) was able to secure second in the final corner, crossing ahead of Meech and Damon Duckworth (Speed Factory / Gillard). Falcone was unable to challenge with the group, finishing fifth.

Daniel Ramirez picked up his first win in 100cc Junior (Photo: EKN)

The Nash Motorsportz 100cc Junior class welcomed another new winner. Junior rookie Daniel Ramirez (Team KartNick / Tony Kart) put in the fast lap in qualifying, a 1:05.297 lap to edge out Round One winner Erik Doan (Nash / EOS) and Luca Popescu (GFC Karting). Two-time winner Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) join in the mix, however, it was Doan taking the win in the Prefinal over Ramirez. The two went back and forth for the lead before Gibson worked himself to the point in the early laps of the Final. Eventually Doan and Gibson swapped the top spot multiple times with Ramirez right there as well. In the closing laps, with Ramirez leading, the lead group became over seven drivers. On the final circuit, two incidents occurred. In turn eight, Doan was caught up in contact. The following corner, more contact sent Cole Anderson (GFC Karting) and Matthew Cagle (FW / GFC) into the tire barriers. Thankfully, every driver was able to walk away. Up front, Ramirez was able to go unchallenged to the checkered flag for his first series victory, winning by over three seconds. Brayden Wagner (FW / GFC) was able to get up to second ahead of Gibson and Xander Malatesta (Ruthless / Tony Kart). Both Gibson and Malatesta had a track limit violation, dropping them to fourth and fifth, promoting Payton Anderson (Nash / LN Racing Kart) to her first career Challenge podium.

Luis Martinez won a third straight in 60cc Cadet (Photo: EKN)

Only 81 thousandths separated the top five drivers in The Karting Collective 60cc Cadet division. Brandon Ng (SG / Parolin) came out of the session with fast lap, a 1:10.842 time. It was Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) jumping out to the lead in the Prefinal, battling with Nathan Ramirez (Team KartNick / Parolin) for the lead. In the end, it was Hudson Hidalgo (Parolin) coming through on the final lap for the win. Hidalgo fell back to second at the start of the Final with Ng taking the point. Two-time winner Luis Martinez (Croc Promotion) was third, jumping to the lead on lap six. From there, Martinez was able to keep the top spot for the remaining nine laps to earn a third straight victory. Ng was second on the final lap, pushed back to fifth as Andrew Janus (HRT / Kosmic) worked up to second ahead of Arran Speirs (Nash / Italkart) and Hidalgo. Speirs had three track limit violations, thus, dropping him back to eighth, promoting Hidalgo to third, Ng to fourth and Tarango in fifth.

The Challenge of the Americas is slated to return to action, kicking off the second half of the season with a return to the Sonoma Raceway facility in northern California on the April 25-27 weekend.

EKN Trackside: 2025 Challenge of the Americas – K1 Circuit – Saturday Report

Kaminski sweeps first day at new home track

 

Keagan Kaminski drove away from the 100cc Senior field for his first Challenge victory of the season (Photo: EKN)

Round Three of the 2025 Challenge of the Americas was completed on Saturday at the new K1 Circuit in Winchester, California. The home for southern California based teams and drivers saw a perfect day of weather for racing with the six categories completing the third round of this year’s championship. Half of the categories were sweeps, including 100cc Senior victor Keagan Kaminski.

The rain session for Pre-Qualifying on Friday put the two qualifying groups for the 43 drivers in the Forward Direction Motorsports 100cc Senior class as a big mix with only 10 drivers hitting the wet track in the session, splitting up the rest randomly into their groups. Fast drivers were put in both B and A groups. Keagan Kaminski (FW / GFC) came off the Group B session with the provisional pole – a 1:05.282 lap – which held on through Group A. Kaminski went on to hold off Johnie Stamps (FW / GFC) and Stephen Eisert (SpeedSense / Exprit) in the Prefinal to retain the pole position for the Final. A great opening circuit allowed he and Nico Sarphati (GFC Karting) to drive away from the rest of the field as they battled for position behind them. Kaminski put in consistent lap times over the 18-lap main event, pulling away to a five-second advantage to complete the sweep and earn his first victory of the series in 2025. Sarphati would be caught late in the race by a group of four, as they fought for the runner-up spot to the checkered flag. Stamps was able to win that battle with Sarphati crossing the line in third. Chase Hand (GFC Karting) clinched fourth in the final corner as Max Saga (KartNick / Tony Kart) was fifth. Two track limit offenses against Saga dropped him down to ninth, putting Archer Eversman (FDM / Pantano) into the fifth spot.

A sweep of Round Three for Michael Avansino in Shifter Senior (Photo: EKN)

Michael Avansino (RWR / CRG) grabbed his third sweep of the season in the Swedetech Racing Engines Shifter Senior division. Avansino set fast time in qualifying with a 59.492 lap and led every lap of the Prefinal. The Final saw Bryce Stevens (GFC Karting) pressure early, but was not able to keep up with the pace of Avansino. At the line, Avansino took his third victory of the season by just over one second ahead of Stevens. Anthony Freese (WCM / Birelart) drove to third with Evan Concepicion (Scuderia Littel / GFC) up to fourth after TJ Madonna (GFC Karting) and Nolan Gagnon (Nash / Italkart) retired early.

Joe Ruch dominated the action in Shifter Masters (Photo: EKN)

Neliton Race Concepts Shifter Masters was the Joe Ruch show. Ruch (Shifterz / Maranello) swept the action on the day, beginning with a fast time of 1:00.997 in qualifying. Ruch led wire-to-wire in the Prefinal, and repeating the feat in the Final to win by over 11 seconds. Michael Guasch (Shifterz / Maranello) was able to work past Michael Faker (GFC Karting) toward the end of the race to secure the second spot. Chris Muecke (Italcorse Americas) was fourth with Bryan Devert (TKC / Sodi Kart) in fifth.

Former series champion Paul Bonilla won in his 100cc Masters 2025 debut (Photo: EKN)

It was a battle of former champions in the Ruthless Karting 100cc Masters class. Two-time Tucson winner Scott Falcone (Precision Works / Pantano) came out of qualifying with the fast time of 1:07.024. He held on through the Prefinal with former series champion Paul Bonilla (PGR / LN Racing Kart) up to second. Falcone led the first four laps of the main event before Christopher Mann (Ruthless / Exprit) shook things up by taking over the top spot. Bonilla took advantage of that opportunity, going from third to first the following lap. Falcone fell back to third but eventually got up to second. Bonilla kept a solid pace through the remainder of the Final to claim his first win of the season. Falcone settled for second with Matthew Meech (Precision Works / Tony Kart) crossing the line in third ahead of Mann. Erik Jackson (Vemme Kart) was solo in fifth.

A second straight win for Jackson Gibson in 100cc Junior (Photo: EKN)

The Nash Motorsportz 100cc Junior class welcomed its first two-time winner on the season. Round One winner Erik Doan (Nash / EOS) came out of qualifying with the fastest time of the session, a 1:05.532 lap to lead the field to the green flag in the Prefinal. A busy 12-lap race saw Matthew Cagle (FW / GFC) come up from 10th on the grid to reach the top spot by the checkered flag. It was Jackson Gibson (NRC / Gillard) who controlled the Final. Cagle fell back to third over the opening lap after Wes Witt (GFC Karting) led for two laps, all while Doan spun in the turn 2-3 section, dropping him all the way down to 25th. Gibson took control on lap four and paced lead trio until lap 16 when Luca Popescu (GFC Karting) grabbed the top spot. Gibson retook the position back and hold on to the checkered flag. Witt and Daniel Ramirez (Team KartNick / Tony Kart) were able to get past Popescu before the line as Cagle ended up fifth. Doan drove up to ninth by the end of the 18 laps.

Luis Martinez was named winner in the 60cc Cadet class (Photo: EKN)

The Karting Collective 60cc Cadet winner was decided after the checkered flag. Lucas Tarango (Ruthless / Nitro Kart) led the 18 kart field in qualifying with a 1:11.159 lap time. The Prefinal was like watching a NASCAR race at Talladega with the large draft pack shuffling all 10 laps. Taragno emerged with the win after Andrew Janus (HRT / Kosmic) crossed the line as the provisional winner with two others receiving penalties to promote Tarango to the pole position for the main event. Taragno led the first two laps before Brandon Ng (SB / Parolin) grabbed the lead for one lap. Janus then took control of the field and over the next couple of laps, was able to inch away as they battled for second behind them. The battle continued to the very end, and were unable to close back up with Janus taking the checkered flag by over one second for the provisional win. A track limit penalty dropped him off the top of the podium, finishing third and promoted Luis Martinez (Croc Promotion) to his second straight Challenge win. Hudson Hidalgo (Parolin) was moved to second after two track limit penalties to Mason Brody (Nash / Energy). Chase Riddering (Croc Promotion) was classified fourth with Brody back to fifth.

After a full day of racing at the new K1 Circuit, Round Four for the Challenge of the Americas will take place on Sunday.

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