EKN Radio Network

The 2018 edition of the United States Pro Kart Series closed out at the recent Hoosier Grand Prix. The New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana hosted Round Five and Six on the July 27-29 weekend under perfect racing conditions. The seven IAME categories decided the 2018 champions after two days of solid racing around the 1-mile circuit. Rob Howden and David Cole break down the entire event with the latest ‘EKN Debreif’ - thanks to IAME USA. The Rolison Performance Group Paddock Pass, TB Kart USA Race Report, and the EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by Precision Karting Technologies complete the podcast.

Each Labor Day weekend, karters flock to the Quad Cities area to take part in the annual Rock Island Grand Prix. The Illinois city along the Mississippi River will host the 24th edition of the RIGP with a host of volunteers putting on the three-day festival. The featured entertainment is the two days of racing through the city streets in a six-trun, 6/10-mile course. The event requires 365 days of preparation and execution, and the man leading the core group of volunteers is Roger Ruthart. EKN’s Rob Howden sits down with the RIGP director about how the event began, what makes this race so special and things racers this year can expect to see and experience.

The Texas ProKart Challenge completed its summer season with the second annual trip to the Amarillo Kart Circuit on July 20-22. The series hosted Round Four and Five of the 2018 championship program, welcoming high-profile drivers from the west and east coast venturing to the Lone Star State. Amarillo, Texas featured record high temps during the weekend, which featured some exciting racing on this rare and unique facility. Rob Howden and David Cole break down the entire event with the latest ‘EKN Debreif’ - thanks to the Acceleration Kart Racing. The VemmeKart USA Paddock Pass, IAME USA Race Report and the EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by 3G Kart Racing complete the podcast.

The World Karting Association resumed the 2018 season for the Manufacturers Cup Series on the July 13-15 weekend. The program visited the Concept Haulers Motor Speedway for the first time since 2012, taking on the challenging grassroots course. Rob Howden and David Cole break down the entire event with the latest ‘EKN Debreif’ - thanks to the Mazda Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires. The K1 RaceGear Paddock Pass, Alan Rudolph Racing Academy Race Report and the EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by Trinity Karting Group complete the podcast.

A new event is gaining momentum in only its second year. USAC Karting is providing karters with the bucket list opportunity to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a dream all racers have. The Battle at the Brickyard was established in 2017 with rave reviews, and exceeded those marks in 2018 with the second edition on July 6-8. Rob Howden and David Cole break down the entire event with the latest ‘EKN Debrief’ - presented by Franklin Motorsports. The CRG Nordam Paddock Pass, Trinity Karting Group Race Report and the EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by Streeter Super Stands complete the podcast.

The newest show to hit the EKN Radio Network is ‘Operation Grassroots’, 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.

Briggs racers make up a big part of the USAC Karting events in 2017 and will once again be in full force at their July and August events in 2018. The first is the second annual Battle at the Brickyard where karts compete at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 6-8. The second is the Elkhart Riverwalk Grand Prix on August 10-12. EKN’s Rob Howden sat down with USAC Karting Director of Operations Mike Burrell to discuss both events in the latest edition of the ‘Operation Grassroots’ powered by Briggs & Stratton Racing.

The United States Pro Kart Series reached the halfway point of the 2018 season with Round 3 and 4 contested at the GoPro Motorplex. The Mooresville, North Carolina facility hosted the Carolina Grand Prix on June 15-17 during what was a hot weekend for all seven IAME categories. Rob Howden and David Cole broke down the entire event with the latest ‘EKN Debrief’ - presented by KartLift. The Acceleration Kart Racing Paddock Pass, Alan Rudolph Racing Academy Race Report and the EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by Nitro Kart complete the podcast.

The 2018 season on the west coast begins with the Challenge of the Americas. Promoter Andy Seesemann hosted the 11th season of the program this winter, beginning a new era with the series under the Rok Cup USA banner. Each event improved in terms of numbers and is a great starting point for the expansion of the Rok Cup engine platform for the western half of the North America. With the program completed, EKN’s Rob Howden sits down with the FTK Promotions owner about this past year, what is on the horizon for the Challenge, and more about what Seesemann does for the other eight months out of the year with his Full Throttle Karting shop.

Club racing is the backbone of karting here in the United States of America. It is what makes kart racing the grassroots level of motorsports, based on families willing to put their time and effort into making the sport better. One of the hundreds of volunteers to put in his time is Greg Speed of North Texas Karters. EKN’s Rob Howden sits down to talk with him about the growth and sustainability of the Denton, Texas club and race track, along with being a father of a young karter.

The second event of the Texas ProKart Challenge was a special and unique experience. The Superkarts! USA regional program hosted a Thursday, Friday, Saturday event, featuring two rounds of competition, with the main events held under the lights of the North Texas Kartway in Denton, Texas. Rob Howden and David Cole broke down the entire event with the latest ‘EKN Debrief’ - presented by CRG Nordam. The 3G Kart Racing Paddock Pass, Trinity Karting Group Race Report and the EKN Trackside Live Race Calendar presented by K1 RaceGear complete the podcast.