More than 350 go-kart racers from across the country will converge at U.S. Air Motorsports Raceway for the Route 66 Sprint Series this weekend.
The first two rounds of the 10-race championship chase (counting the best eight toward the point standings) began in April outside Springfield, Illinois, at the Mid-State Kart Club facility. Shawano is the second stop in the series.
Mark Coats, CEO of the Route 66 series, said U.S. Air Motorsports Raceway was selected for the race based on its reputation among other national circuits.
“We used to race here for another series and we liked this track, but we hardly ever come up this far north,” Coats said. “And it is a lot of drivers’ favorite track to come to; it is just hard to get to.”
Coats noted that while there are not many Wisconsinites competing, there will be representatives from at least 20 states, from Florida to California, at the weekend series.
The race has drawn a series record 340 drivers as of Friday, with Coats expecting more to arrive by Saturday. The previous record was 309.
Andrick Zeen said he has not raced at the track since 2008. The 22-year-old Californian noted US Air Motorsports is a unique track.
“The track is awesome. It’s longer than what we normally run. There is a lot of elevation to it,” Zeen said. “It is a challenge and a bit mysterious because we don’t come here too often.”
The series will make another stop in Wisconsin when it visits Dousman from Sept. 11-13 for the final race of the season. Up to $75,000 will be awarded to racers at a banquet in Springfield after the season concludes.
The series is divided into five age brackets: kid carts (5-8), rookies (8-10), sportsman (10-12), junior (12-15) and senior (15 and older).
Coats said the majority of participants are in the junior and senior classes. The carts have two-cycle engines, mostly manufactured by either Yamaha or IAME or Vortex.
Admission to the backside of the track is free; pit passes cost $20.
Officials with US Air Motorsports declined to comment.
