The 20th season of the California ProKart Challenge will continue on the April 20-21 weekend with a return to the Buttonwillow Raceway Park. The Superkarts! USA flagship regional series kicked off the 2024 season in March with its first visit to the Buttonwillow, California facility and will make another trip for the second round of the championship. This time, competitors will contest the 11-turn, 7/10-mile circuit in the clockwise direction.
Over 30 drivers battled in the KA100 Senior by P1 Engines division as 2023 series champion Ethan Lampe was able to go from last to first in an amazing performance to grab the victory. Despite the run, he sits seventh in the points after the opening round – with Jackson Menchu leading the standings ahead of 2023 Junior champion Keagan Kaminski and Alexander Gonzalez. Payton Westcott enjoyed her first series victory in the KA100 Junior by SuperSpeed Bearings class. She leads the standings ahead of Dean Pedersen and Matthew Cagle after 23 drivers contested the opening round.
JohnJohn McLellan also recorded his first series win in the Mini Swift by Formula Works class at the series opener. McLellan also recorded the fast time in the main event, helping to establish a 40-point lead after one round over Braydon Wagner, with Daniel Ramirez in the third spot after his runner-up finish in the opening 2024 Final. The Micro Swift by Sanner Racing division saw another opening round win by Aidan Go at Buttonwillow. The 2023 vice champion was able to win the Prefinal and Final to establish a 35-point lead over Byron Borneman to start off his championship run. Hudson Hidalgo, who finished third in the first main event, sits third in the standings.
SKUSA veteran Alan Sciuto began the 2024 season with victory in the Pro Shifter by HRT Driver Development division. A Prefinal and Final win performance puts him 30 points ahead of Round One top qualifier Lucas Weisenberg, while Anthony Freese begins the year third in the standings. David Jones survived the rain that hit the facility as the event was wrapping up in March, sweeping the action in Master Shifter by Mike Manning Karting. Jones leads in the championship standings over Scott Carvalho and Darrell Tunnell. Three different drivers finished at the top of the results in the three sessions for X30 Master by Nash Motorsportz. Prefinal winner Scott Nealon leads the overall championship by 35 points over top qualifier Tony Rossetti, with Phil Mishaga in third. Round One winner Robert Switzler did not score points in the Prefinal and finds himself in fifth place.
The best five of six championship chase continues with the April 20-21 event at Buttonwillow. The total prize package for the 2024 California ProKart Challenge is worth nearly $84,000 – including prizes to the top 3 podium finishers for each round. Each class winner receives a free 2024 PKC race entry with tires, the runner-up receives a free PKC race entry, and third place is awarded a $50 race entry credit.
Race Pre-Entry remains open for the second stop of the 2024 California ProKart Challenge until the online registration deadline of Tuesday, April 16 at 11:59pm PST. As always, a 2024 SKUSA membership is mandatory to register and compete. Complete race and venue information, along with a tentative weekend schedule, can be found at the PKC Event Page. Reserved pit spots and camping reservations are highly recommended prior to the pre-entry cutoff and can also be found online.
Due to the rain hitting the facility at the end of the opening weekend, podiums for the Round One results will take place at this event. For more information on anything related to Superkarts! USA, please visit the website – www.superkartsusa.com and be sure to follow the Superkarts! USA Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts.