As the final stretch of the ’25/’26 PKRA Winter Series came into focus, Next Level Karting closed the season the same way it approached it from the start — with speed, resilience, and strength throughout the lineup. Across the final three race weekends of the championship, the team continued to collect wins, fight for podiums, and show the depth that has become one of the clearest signs of the program’s growth.
From Kid Kart to the senior ranks, the closing rounds of the series reflected what Next Level Karting has been building all winter long. There were race wins, breakthrough drives, hard-fought podiums, and steady progress across nearly every category. Taken together, the final three races served as a fitting snapshot of a team that continues to grow in confidence, competitiveness, and championship presence.
Race No. 9: Speed Throughout the Paddock
PKRA Winter Series Race No. 9 on March 8,2026 gave NLK another packed day of strong performances.
In Kid Kart, Vincent B. continued his outstanding season with another 1st-place finish, once again setting the tone for the team. In Junior 1 Novice, Everly W. matched that effort with a win of her own, adding another top step to the NLK total.
Junior 1 saw Eli S. finish 3rd and Joe A. close just behind in 4th, continuing to show the consistency and front-running pace that group carried through much of the season. In Junior 2, Kennedy S. came home 7th, Maddie L. finished 12th, and Jack I. was forced out after an incident in Turn 9 that flipped his kart. Most importantly, Jack was okay, and the team was grateful to know he would be back racing soon.
In LO206 206 Senior, Gavin C. added another podium with a 3rd-place finish, while Isaac P. and Conner V. crossed the line 11th and 15th. Rotax Mini delivered another major highlight, with Jett F. taking the win, Maverick M. finishing 3rd, and Travis A. adding a solid 6th-place run. In Rotax Senior, Travis M. rounded out the day with a 9th-place result.
It was a weekend that showcased the breadth of the NLK program, with wins in multiple categories and podium pace spread across the paddock.
Race No. 10: Momentum Keeps Building
Two weeks later, on March 22nd, the team returned for Race No. 10 and kept the momentum going.
Vincent B. once again stood on the top step in Kid Kart, continuing one of the strongest closing stretches of any driver on the team. In Junior 1, Eli S. added another podium with 3rd, while Joe A. and Travis A. finished 8th and 9th. In Junior 2, Kennedy S. crossed the line 10th and Maddie L. finished 12th as both drivers continued to push through a demanding season.
The 206 Senior class gave NLK one of its strongest collective showings of the day. Nik H. led the way with an impressive 2nd-place finish, Gavin C. followed in 4th, Dean R. added 6th, Clara H. finished 10th, and Conner V. crossed the line 11th. Isaac P. was unable to finish, but the class once again highlighted the depth NLK has built in one of the most competitive categories in the paddock.
Race No. 10 may not have been defined by headline-grabbing totals alone, but it reinforced something just as important: this team kept showing up in the fight, class after class.
Race No. 3 Makeup: One Last Push
The final event of the stretch came on March 29th with the rain makeup date for Race No. 3, giving the team one more chance to close the season on a high note.
Vincent B. did exactly that in Kid Kart, taking yet another victory and further cementing what had already become a remarkable winter campaign. In Junior 1, Eli S. finished 5th and Travis A. came home 8th. Maddie L. delivered a strong 7th-place result in Junior 2 to wrap up her winter series.
In 206 Senior, the race was red flagged on the final lap after fellow racer Matthew Ruth was flipped in Turn 8. Thankfully, he was able to walk away from the incident on his own. Before the stoppage, NLK had again put together a strong class showing, led by Gavin C.’s 2nd-place finish. Dean R. followed in 4th, Isaac P. was 7th, Colin D. finished 10th, and Conner V. crossed the line 12th.
Rotax Mini Max saw Maverick M. finish 2nd to add another podium to the team’s total, while Rotax Senior Max closed with Eli L. in 2nd, and Travis M. 4th on track before a disqualification at scales changed the final result.
Even in a race shaped by interruptions and adversity, NLK remained competitive to the very end.
Final Winter Series Championship Standings
As the points were finalized, Next Level Karting had plenty to celebrate across the overall PKRA Winter Series Championship standings.
Vincent B. finished the season as Kid Kart Champion, while Everly W. secured 1st in Junior 1 Novice to give the team another championship title. In Junior 1, Eli S. finished 5th overall, with Travis A. in 8th and Joe A. in 9th, giving NLK a strong presence throughout the standings.
In Junior 2, Maddie L. closed the season 9th, Jack I. finished 10th, and Kennedy S. came home 13th. In 206 Senior, Gavin C. led the team with 4th overall, followed by Isaac P. in 6th, Colin D. in 7th, Dean R. in 11th, and Nik H. in 13th.
Rotax Mini Max was another standout category for the team, with Jett F. claiming the Mini Max championship and Maverick M. finishing 3rd overall. In Senior Max, Elijah L. ended the winter series 4th, while Travis M. finished 11th overall.
Those final standings tell the story of a team that was not only capable of winning races, but capable of sustaining that performance over the course of an entire championship.
A Winter Series That Meant More Than Results Alone
Looking across the final three rounds and the season as a whole, the story is bigger than any single trophy or finishing position. Vincent B.’s title run in Kid Kart, Everly W.’s championship in Junior 1 Novice, and Jett F.’s Rotax Mini Max crown gave the team major milestones to celebrate. Just as important, drivers across the lineup continued to build experience, fight through setbacks, and move the program forward.
There were also moments that reminded everyone what matters most. Jack I.’s flip in Race No. 9 and the red-flag incident in 206 Senior during the makeup round were serious reminders of how quickly things can change in racing, and the team was grateful to see both drivers walk away.
That balance is part of what made this final stretch such a meaningful end to the Winter Series. The wins mattered. The podiums mattered. But so did the steady growth, team support, and championship consistency shown throughout the paddock.
As the winter campaign came to a close, Next Level Karting left the series with championships, podium finishes, and plenty of momentum for what comes next. And with only two weeks until the Summer Series begins, there’s no time to waste while we gear up and prepare for another season of the hottest racing in America.
Let’s go!!
