Category Archives: K1 Circuit

Number Reservation Now Open for 2026 Challenge of the Americas

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Race entry for opening weekend at K1 Circuit to launch on December 17

The start to the 2026 Challenge of the Americas program is one step closer. The four-event championship program set to host its 19th season is opening number reservations to the public today.

Competitors from the 2025 season were provided a one week head start for the number reservation process for 2026. With the week concluded, the general karting public wishing to compete at Challenge of the Americas can now reserve their specific number for the price of $50 through the Challenge Race Select Page.

“We had good response from our VIP drivers securing their 2026 COTA identities,” stated Challenge of the Americas promoter Andy Seesemann. “The first VIP reserved their number within minutes of the PR going out, a promising sign of good things to come in our 2-cycle categories. Now that the number reservation process is open to all, we will see who will be committed to the 2026 Challenge in all eight classes. I expect the Briggs racers will show the same enthusiasm as we get things kicked off for our 19th season.” Continue reading →

2026 CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS NUMBER RESERVATIONS NOW OPEN FOR RETURNING CUSTOMERS

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Start to 19th season of program closing in with February opening weekend at K1 Circuit

NAMPA, ID (December 3, 2025) – Less than 80 days before the 19th season for Challenge of the Americas program debuts in southern California. What began in that region back in 2008, the Challenge continues to be one of the longest tenured championship series in North America, reinventing itself with the ever-changing landscape that is the sport of karting.

One of the first steps toward the 2026 season for Challenge of the Americas is the number reservation process for competitors. The Challenge is once again working with Race Select for registration and utilizing their Race Select Live timing app during race weekends. This season we are allowing VIP access for our 2025 racers. Returning competitors from 2025 get a week’s head start on securing their 2026 identity. By scanning the QR or heading to the Challenge Race Select Page VIPs can select their class and reserve their 2026 Challenge racing number for $50. Those racers renewing their numbers for the 2026 will have until December 10 to complete the process. Once that period is completed, remaining numbers in all categories will become available for purchase and registration will open the week after that. Continue reading →

Locations Confirmed for 2026 Challenge of the the Americas

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2026 race dates logo

Four prominent tracks locked in for 19th season of program

Just over five months until the 19th season for Challenge of the Americas program begins. One of the longest tenured championship series will enjoy another expanded season in 2026, hosting four events for a second straight year, spanning the months of February to July. Following the release of the dates prior to the 2025 season finale, the tracks confirmed for the 2026 schedule feature four prominent locations.

“The 2025 season was a year of transition in all different aspects,” stated FTK Promotions owner Andy Seesemann. “We welcomed in the Shinko Racing Kart Tires while expanding to four race weekends and adding two new tracks to our series. The new year ahead keeps the four weekends of racing, returning to a former track on the schedule and welcoming another new state and circuit to our program.”

Challenge of the Americas opens the 2026 season at the new K1 Circuit in southern California. Visiting the facility for the first time in 2025, the Challenge is excited to begin the 19th championship year at one of the most stunning circuits in North America. The second stop takes the program back to the Phoenix Kart Racing Association facility in Arizona for the first time since 2023. The PKRA facility has been on the COTA schedule 13 times previously. Continue reading →

Challenge of the Americas Announces 2026 Dates

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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 17-19, 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

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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