EKN Radio Network

One of the breakthrough drivers of the 2019 season has been Race Liberante. The California native now calling Pennsylvania home has retriggered his role behind the wheel. A former SKUSA SuperNationals podium finisher, Liberante stepped away from the sport to focus on stock car racing. The last few years, Liberante has been sliding back into karting, working with a number of teams and drivers. In 2019, Race went full-time as a driver, taking on the SKUSA Pro Tour in Pro Shifter 2. Four wins locked up the title for the CompKart driver. Add in wins at the USAC Karting Battle at the Brickyard and the Rock Island Grand Prix King of the Streets. He talks with EKN Publisher Rob Howden about the successful return to karting, along with what the future holds.

The Texas ProKart Challenge closed out its season with the third event 2019. The Superkarts! USA regional program held Rounds Five and Six at the Speedsportz Racing Park in New Caney, Texas on September 13-15, deciding this year’s series champions and guaranteed SuperSunday starters at the SKUSA SuperNationals 23 in Las Vegas. Rob Howden leads the break down of the event with David Cole in this edition of the ‘EKN Debrief’ - thanks to Acceleration Kart Racing. They cover the Cometic Gaskets Paddock Pass, followed by the Race Report presented by Streeter Super Stands. The EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by Comet Racing Engines completes the podcast.

The ‘Operation Grassroots’ is a podcast geared solely on the foundation of the sport. The hub of the show will be discussion centered on the grassroots level of karting, from club racing to regional racing, all focused around the Briggs & Stratton 206 engine platform. Our #OperationGrassroots movement has been based around the Briggs powerplant, with the ultimate goals of bringing new people into the sport and igniting the spark of former racers to come back into what is the most economical form of karting.

The 2019 season for the Cup Karts North America Champions Cup program closed out in August following one of its most successful years to date. The large travel series in the Midwest is now set to host the largest 4-Cycle event in North America, with the CKNA Grand Nationals 3 at the New Castle Motorsports Park. Drivers from all over the continent are traveling to central Indiana for what should be a record-breaking event. EKN’s Rob Howden spoke with Greg Jasperson of CKNA to discuss the Champions Cup program and the upcoming Grand Nationals 3 in this edition of the ‘Operation Grassroots’ powered by Briggs & Stratton Racing.

One of the longest running events in North American karting is the Rock Island Grand Prix. The world-famous street race in Rock Island, Illinois hosted the 25th edition on August 31-September 1 with racers from all over converging on the Quad Cities area for fun on and off the track. Two action-packed days fill up this edition of the ‘EKN Debrief’ - thanks to Croc Promotion USA. David Cole leads the break down of the event with host Rob Howden, as they cover the Kart Republic Paddock Pass, followed by the Race Report presented by PSL Karting. The EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by the Nitro Kart completes the podcast.

eKartingNews.com is the hub of the karting world, providing you with all the latest news, insider information and race reports from events around the globe. ‘This Week In Karting’ helps to tie everything together in one weekly podcast, bringing our listeners up to speed on the most recent news in the sport.

Episode 13 with Rob Howden and David Cole discuss a number of topics in this one hour, 30 minutes show. Industry notes along with more news regarding the 2020 season, and events set to close out 2019.

One of the most iconic names in the sport of karting is International Kart Federation. The sanctioning body dates back to the early years of the sport, created in the state of California and oversaw much of the sport in North America from the 60s until present. EKN’s Rob Howden sat down with Neal Strickland to discuss the upcoming IKF Sprint GrandNationals, set for the Pat’s Acres Racing Complex in Canby, Oregon.

Team USA for the upcoming Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals is set, thanks to the third #RaceRotax event of the season with J3 Competition hosting the Stars & Stripes Open event at Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Justin Stefani of J3 joins EKN’s Rob Howden to discuss Team USA, heading to the 20th edition of the event, set for Sarno, Italy in October. They also discuss the growth of Rotax racing over the past season and what the future holds for local and regional racing.

The third and final event of the Superkarts! USA Pro Tour took place on the August 9-11 weekend at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The 10th edition of the SummerNationals welcomed a near-record paddock to the New Castle, Indiana facility with the 12 different championships decided after Rounds Five and Six were contested. Rob Howden and David Cole break down the event in the latest edition of the ‘EKN Debreif’ - thanks to Franklin Motorsports. The MG Tires Paddock Pass is followed by the Race Report presented by Trinity Karting Group. The EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by the Road to Indy completes the podcast.

The Rock Island Grand Prix has become the largest street race in the world, and the longest running at the same time. Every Labor Day weekend, karters from all over converge on the Quad Cities area to compete for two days in the city streets, ready to celebrate the 25th edition on August 31-September 1. EKN’s Rob Howden was able to discuss the event with RIGP chairman Roger Ruthhart.

The United States Pro Kart Series completed its 2019 season on the July 26-28 weekend at the New Castle Motorsports Park. The New Castle, Indiana facility hosted the Hoosier State Grand Prix, which served as the fifth and sixth rounds of the USPKS championship program. Rob Howden and David Cole break down the event in the latest edition of the ‘EKN Debreif’ - thanks to CompKart. The Bell Racing Paddock Pass is followed by the Race Report presented by Precision Karting Technologies. The EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by IAME USA East completes the podcast.