Challenge of the Americas Moves to Vega Tires

TS Racing owner Tod Spaude, Challenge of the Americas promoter Andy Seesemann and TS Racing General Manager Raymond Seaman locked in the Vega Tires partnership for 2024 and beyond

nternational winter west coast series shifts to world championship brand

The 2024 season for Challenge of the Americas marks a new era for the international winter west coast series. The 17th season for the Challenge will expand to a more open format moving forward, welcoming a new tire manufacturer into the series.

The Challenge of the Americas has signed on with Vega Tires for the 2024 season and beyond. The Vega Green XH4 tire will be utilized in all categories except for Cadet, which will compete on the Red VAH compound. Rain racing will utilize the Vega W6 rain tire. Full Throttle Karting, owned by FTK Promotions’ Andy Seesemann, has been named the Western United States Distributor for Vega Tires.

“To say this is an exciting time for the Challenge would be an understatement,” stated Andy Seesemann of FTK Promotions and Challenge of the Americas. “Over the last 17 years, we’ve had to adjust and move forward with the Challenge based on the current status of the sport. 2024 is one of those transition years as we move to welcome multiple engine formats and bring on Vega Tires as our spec tire. Bringing Vega to the Challenge puts the program on par with elite events around the globe and provides our racers with amazing products. Now with Vega under the Full Throttle Karting operation, it opens the door for us to work with many tracks, clubs and series here in the western half of the country to expand the Vega brand, including the best 4-cycle tire on the market with the Red VAH, now available to those on the west coast.” Continue reading

Important Tucson Hotel Room Block Information

HOTELS 2024
We were able to procure a couple of small blocks at the Double Tree Suites Tucson Airport and the Four Points Tucson Airport.   Both are offering us a very attractive rate of $189 per night, which is a significant discount over prevailing rates during that time, due to the large gem show in the Tucson area.

The DoubleTree block expires December 21st, 2023 and the Four Points Block expires January 2nd, 2024.

Doubletree Suites by Hilton Tucson Airport 7051 South Tucson Airport Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85756 Use code FTA online and by phone.
(520) 225-0800 or Website

 

Four Points by Sheraton Tucson Airport 7060 S Tucson Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85756
Call and ask for the Challenge of the Americas FTK Promotions Rate.
520-746-0271 or Website

Tracks Confirmed for 2024 Challenge of the Americas

Winter west coast series to visit Arizona with two events scheduled for California

The 2024 season is just around the corner and Challenge of the Americas is continuing the planning stages for the upcoming championship. The 17th edition of the winter west coast series is set for another three weekend events, featuring six rounds of racing between the months of February and April. The locations for the three race weekends have been confirmed for the 2024 Challenge of the Americas.

The opening weekend of the Challenge is set for February 2-4, beginning at the Musselman Honda Circuit. The Tucson, Arizona facility has been the opening location for the Challenge in now four of the last five seasons. What has changed for the first two rounds of the 2024 championship will be contesting the 3/4-mile circuit in the clockwise direction for the first time in series history. This will be a great new challenge for those opening up the 2024 championship.

“We will mix it up in Tucson by going the opposite direction to open up the season,” stated Andy Seesemann from Challenge of the Americas. “Many of our racers enjoy traveling to Tucson, and we’re able to fit everyone in the paddock as we continue to grow as we have in the last few seasons. It’s a perfect fit for who we are at the Challenge.”

The second location will be a new facility to the Challenge program, as the new K1 Circuit is scheduled to host the March 1-3 weekend. The Winchester, California facility is among the newest facilities for karting in North America, and one of the most anticipated tracks in many years. While K1 Circuit remains under construction, track officials recently announced a possible November 2023 opening period. The timetable allows for Challenge of the Americas to be the first major karting event at K1 Circuit.

“K1 Circuit has been on the radar since it began construction,” added Seesemann. “This facility is going to be state-of-the-art with an amazing track layout. Southern California needs a pinnacle location for karting and K1 Circuit will be providing that. We understand the delay in opening and are working with General Manager Mike Smith. We will re-evaluate their progress in early November to make the final call on taking the Challenge to K1 Circuit. There is a backup plan in place and if necessary, we will announce it at that time.”

Closing out the 2024 Challenge of the Americas schedule is the Sonoma Raceway on April 12-14. The Sonoma, California facility updated their paddock area during the spring and summer months, paving the surface and will be welcoming the Challenge for a 10th time in the last 11 years for the final two rounds of the championship.

“This is a great grouping of racetracks that provide their own uniqueness,” Seesemann continued. “Sonoma hosted our second ever event in 2008, and we are happy to have our series finale once again at this great facility. They have put in a lot of time and money into improving the facility, and will be a great place to once again crown our Challenge of the Americas champions.”

Challenge of the Americas continues its partnership with eKartingNews.com to provide Trackside Live coverage. Since 2012, EKN has covered each weekend of the Challenge, including daily reports, and streaming live play-by-play audio. EKN Publisher Rob Howden remains the voice of the Challenge, set to call the action from all three weekends in 2024.

Be sure to follow updates at challengekarting.com regarding the 2024 Challenge of the Americas program, in addition to following the Facebook and Instagram pages.

2024 Challenge of the Americas Schedule

February 2-4, 2024: Musselman Honda Circuit – Tucson, Arizona
March 1-3, 2024: K1 Circuit – Winchester, California
April 12-14, 2024: Sonoma Raceway – Sonoma, California

 

CHALLENGE OF THE AMERICAS ADJUSTS SERIES FINALE DATE FOR 2024

New weekend for final two rounds of winter west coast series

NAMPA, ID (August 31, 2023) – In the matter of five months, the 2024 Challenge of the Americas will be kicking off the 17th season for the international winter west coast series. February 2024 is the opening month of the three weekend, six-round championship program. Dates for the 2024 season were announced this past July, with February, March and April as the three months to host the three events. Series owner Andy Seesemann has reviewed the recent changes made by other promoters and has elected to move the date of the series finale to April 12-14 – which will be held at the Sonoma Raceway in northern California.

“We apologize for the change, as it was not our choice to do so,” commented Andy Seesemann of FTK Promotions. “We announced our schedule after corroborating with several series earlier in the summer. Unfortunately, the recent announcement by other programs that are focused on the eastern half of the country caught me by surprise, as it was the first that I heard about the changes.” Continue reading