EKN Radio Network

The 2018 karting season is now fully underway with the west coast welcoming its first major event of the year after the east coast has enjoyed all the spoils. For the 11th year, the Challenge of the Americas opened up the international karting scene along the western half of North America, holding its first event of 2018. A new era began for the Challenge, hosting Round 1 and 2 of the championship chase at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona on January 26-28. Providing the EKN Live coverage throughout the weekend were Rob Howden and David Cole as they were trackside all three days. Following their flights back to the cold weather, the two discussed the weekend in the latest edition of the EKN Debrief - presented by Rok Cup USA. The two discuss the topics, including the Nitro Kart Paddock Pass, review the Rok and Briggs 206 categories and talk about the upcoming events in the Streeter Super Stands Racing Calendar.

One of the original audio shows that had a home on the old eKartingNews.com site was the ‘Happy Hour with Howden’. Many of the shows were recorded actually on the racetrack at day’s end, in the paddock or in the lobby of the host hotel.  We discussed the event and the sport, and enjoyed the participation of many great guests.

The show is making a return this year, and is primed for the busy 2018 season. The ‘Happy Hour’ will allow EKN Publisher Rob Howden to sit down and talk about the sport with key people during the final practice session of our EKN Live events. The first show of 2018 took place at the Challenge of the Americas opener at the Phoenix Kart Racing Association in Glendale, Arizona on January 26. Rob sat down with COTA promoter Andy Seesemann, Rok Cup USA’s Garett Potter, former Indy 500 Rookie of the Year on now kart team owner Phil Giebler, and Senior driver Jim McKinney.

Superkarts! USA got its earliest start to a season with the inaugural running of the SKUSA Winter Series event at the AMR Homestead-Miami Motorplex presented by MG Tires. Over 200 drivers contested the event around the southern Florida facility, with it all broadcasted via the EKN Live page. EKN’s own Rob Howden was trackside, calling the action and breaks down the weekend talking with EKN Managing Editor David Cole in the newest EKN Debrief - presented by IAME USA. The two discuss the topics surrounding the paddock, break down who shined on-track, and talk about the upcoming events on the Comet Kart Sales Racing Calendar.

The EKN Radio Network continues to expand with another new podcast program that will join the line-up to start the 2018 season. The ‘Industry Insider’ podcast provides EKN with the opportunity to sit down with key personal within the karting industry - from shop owners and race team managers to importers and series directors.

The first episode of our ‘Industry Insider’ podcast features a discussion with Challenge of the Americas promoter and Full Throttle Karting owner Andy Seesemann. A long-time fixture in the sport of karting, Seesemann is opening up the 2018 Challenge with a new sound, moving to the Rok engine platform while continuing to support the Briggs & Stratton categories. EKN’s Rob Howden covers a number of topics with Seesemann in this inaugural ‘Industry Insider’.

2018 is here, and the new racing season is underway. The 2017 calendar year closed out and the 2018 season began with the same event, the annual WKA Daytona KartWeek. A unique event, combining three separate races at one facility. The Manufacturers Cup Series takes to the sprint track inside the NASCAR oval, the National Road Racing Series hits the high banks and the famed road course, while dirt racers from all over hit the flat track just outside NASCAR 1-2 for the Dirt World Championships. The focus of the first EKN Debrief of 2018 - presented by KartLift - examines the event overall and the action that took place at the Margay Sprint Nationals for the three days of competition. EKN’s David Cole gives us his insights and discusses the event alongside Rob Howden. At the end, check out the upcoming EKN Trackside Live events with the 3G Kart Racing Calendar.

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.

The first episode of our ‘Operation Grassroots’ podcast features an interview with KPX Karting Championship co-director Chris Rossi. The KPX program has been a catalyst of growth and newfound cooperation in the Northern California area. EKN’s Rob Howden talks with Rossi about the birth of the KPX program, the past seasons, the future of the series and, of course, the sport in general.

After a week in Las Vegas and returning for the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s back to work for everyone, including the eKartingNews.com staff. The month of December will be about reflecting on the 2017 season and preparing for the upcoming 2018 schedule that is sure to be busy and jam packed full of karting weekend after weekend. But first, the duo of Rob Howden and David Cole debrief on the 21st edition of the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals, held outside the Las Vegas Convention Center | Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. Ten drivers were able to walk away as winners, with 40 others standing on the podium leaving over 450 others hoping and wishing for better luck and results in 2018. The EKN duo talk about the event, some highlights, some issues, and breakdown the 10 races from SuperSunday. Special thanks to Cooper Tires as the presenting sponsor for the EKN Live broadcast along with Acceleration Kart Racing, Alpha Kart USA, Aluminos, TB Kart USA, Rolison Performance Group, Courtney Concepts, Trinity Karting Group, and Alan Rudolph Racing Academy.

Teams and drivers are arriving to Las Vegas for the 21st running of the Superkarts! USA SuperNationals. It has been an amazing 2017 season, and it all concludes with the annual trek to ‘Sin City’. This year’s event outside the Las Vegas Convention Center | Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is projected to welcome over 500 drivers with nearly 40 different countries represented. The busy days leading up to the week in Vegas has kept the EKN duo busy review the exclusive entry lists provided by SKUSA. On November 3, Rob Howden and David Cole sat down to discuss the 10 categories, the new track, and what to expect from SuperNationals 21.

The 2017 season is in the home stretch with some major events to close out the season already in the books and ahead of us. The eKartingNews.com tandem of Rob Howden and David Cole are back with the 10th episode of the EKN Debrief presented by CRG Nordam. October has been a busy month thanks to the many finales for the WKA Manufacturers Cup Series and the Texas ProKart Challenge, along with two international events on the same weekend. Howden and Cole discuss all four events in the KartSport North America Racing Recap and the Operation Grassroots presented by Briggs & Stratton Racing. The show closes out with the Trinity Karting Group Racing Calendar. Don’t forget the sit-down with EKN’s selection for the #MRTI USF2000 $200K Scholarship selection Jake Craig.

Guess who's back!!!! It's been a busy two months for the duo at eKartingNews.com, and now they are back with the latest episode of the EKN Debrief. The ninth episode - presented by Briggs & Stratton Racing - covers the many news topics that has hit the industry over the last eight weeks. The Ocala Gran Prix Race Report hits all the major events during that time, while the K1 RaceGear Racing Calendar sets us up for what's to come in the coming weeks.