The PKRA Summer Championship Series rolled into Race No. 7 with another full night of competition for Next Level Karting. This round was highlighted by a huge result in the Senior class, where NLK drivers captured the top two steps of the podium, along with another runner-up finish in Rotax Junior Max.
Not every race went according to plan, but with drivers competing across five classes, Race No. 7 provided plenty of opportunities to battle, learn, and continue building toward the closing rounds of the summer championship.
Junior 1: Travis and Eli Finish Back-to-Back
Travis A. led the way for Next Level Karting in Junior 1, crossing the line in 8th after another competitive night in a class that continues to produce some of the closest racing at PKRA.
Eli S. finished directly behind his teammate in 9th, giving NLK back-to-back finishes inside the top 10. Both drivers continue to gain valuable experience racing in a tightly matched field where a few tenths can make a significant difference in the running order.
Unfortunately, Joe A. wasn’t able to make it to the checkered flag, recording a DNF and ending his night earlier than planned.
Junior 2: Four NLK Drivers Take on the Field
Next Level Karting fielded four drivers in Junior 2 for Race #7, led by Kennedy S. with a 7th-place finish.
Kennedy continues to put together a consistent summer campaign after earning her first Junior 2 podium earlier in the season. Even when the trophies haven’t followed, she has continued to gain experience and establish herself within the class.
Maddie L. finished 12th, while Jack I. came home 15th. The team’s newest driver Mason G. rounded out the NLK lineup in 18th, adding another driver to a Junior 2 group that continues to grow as the season progresses.
Senior: Isaac and Dean Give NLK a 1–2 Finish
The biggest story of Race #7 came from the Senior class.
Isaac P. put together the performance the team knew was coming, converting the speed he’s shown throughout the summer into a 1st-place victory. After recording fastest laps and fighting near the front in previous rounds, Isaac finally got the result to match his pace—and did it from the top step of the podium.
Right behind him was teammate Dean R., who crossed the line in 2nd place to complete an outstanding Next Level Karting 1–2 finish.
Gavin C. nearly made it three NLK drivers on the podium, finishing 4th and giving the team three of the top four positions in the final results.
With Isaac 1st, Dean 2nd, and Gavin 4th, it was easily one of the strongest collective performances of the summer for the team’s Senior lineup.
Further back, Colin D. finished 13th and Nik H. 14th after more challenging evenings. Both have shown plenty of pace throughout the season and will have opportunities to rebound as the championship moves into its final rounds.
Masters: An Early End for Austin
Austin R. represented Next Level Karting in the Masters class, another newcomer to the NLK squad, but unfortunately his night ended with a DNF.
Sometimes racing simply doesn’t cooperate. The result wasn’t the one anyone wanted, but there are still more opportunities ahead to put together a stronger finish.
Rotax Junior Max: Another Podium for Maverick
Maverick M. continued to be a consistent presence at the front of Rotax Junior Max, adding another trophy to his summer with a 2nd-place finish.
Maverick has repeatedly shown that he can hold his own in the growing Rotax fields at PKRA, including races that combine the Junior and more powerful Senior Max competitors. Another runner-up result adds to what has already been a strong summer campaign.
A Big Night for the Senior Squad
Race #7 may have produced mixed fortunes throughout the team, but there was no overlooking what happened in Senior.
Isaac P. broke through for the victory, Dean R. made it an NLK 1–2, and Gavin C. put three Next Level Karting drivers inside the top four. Add Maverick M.’s 2nd-place finish in Rotax Junior Max, and the team walked away with three trophies from another competitive night at PKRA.
With the summer championship moving deeper into its second half, every race—and every point—becomes increasingly important. Race #7 gave Next Level Karting another reason to celebrate while leaving plenty to fight for in the rounds ahead.
