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Recap: 2024 Teen & Adult K1 Speed US & E-World Championship

2024 Teen / Adult U.S. & World Champions Are Crowned!

On Saturday, June 29th, nearly 100 racers from 4 countries, over 20 states, and over 30 K1 Speed centers arrived in Winchester, California to compete at the 2024 K1 Speed Teen & Adult U.S. and World Championships, a private event at the world-class outdoor karting facility, K1 Circuit.

 

The U.S. Championship format was identical for both divisions: one 8-lap practice session, one 8-lap qualifying session, and one 8-lap race for position around the 1.1 mile Pro Layout at K1 Circuit.

 

Out of the 99 drivers, 88 were Americans who dreamed of becoming of the first teen and adult US Champion that wasn’t named Peyton Phillips (who took the titles in 2019 as a teen, and 2023 as an adult). At the end of the day, two young, talented drivers took over as our new defending champions.

 

Additionally, any international drivers competing in the World Championship were given three track sessions to make up for the time their American competitors would have prior to their event.

 

The World Championship was also equal in format for both division: one 8-lap qualifying session followed by one 8-lap race for position.

 

And while every driver had come with one target on their mind: to become the World Champion of their division at the end of the day, only two could become the ultimate K1 Speed champion.

 

Read on now for a brief summary of what transpired on that hot, 97-degree day in Riverside County.

The Teen Championships

2024 K1 Speed Teen U.S. Championship

teens race electric go karts during the k1 speed us championship at k1 circuit

The day was split into two different events: the teen event starting in the morning, and the adult event taking place in the afternoon.

 

The day started with a track walk session, which for most of the drivers was the first time they’d experience K1 Circuit, a track they’d get to race ahead of its opening to the general public. After the walk, all drivers were formed into a single line to draw one random ball, from 1 to 50, to determine which of the three practice groups they’d be a part of.

 

Drivers then took part in a Drivers’ Meeting by Mike Smith, the General Manager of K1 Circuit, who answered any questions and concerns the drivers may have about their competition. Then, it was go-time.

Teen U.S. Practice Session

 

Three different groups took to the track for their practice sessions.

 

The Top 10 from Practice were as follows:

 

  1. Logan Nealis | Addison, IL |  82.985
  2. Thatcher Loper | Orlando, FL | 83.129
  3. Jake Kriegisch | Thousand Oaks, CA | 83.200
  4. George Gaston | Portland, OR | 83.255
  5. Isaac Travers | Canton, OH | 83.328
  6. Andrew Bradbury | Concord, NC | 83.352
  7. Isaac Nelson | Portland, OR | 83.409
  8. Rodolfo Garcia Muriel | San Diego, CA | 83.834
  9. Sherod Charity | Richmond, VA | 83.969
  10. Evan Rivas | Salt Lake City, UT | 83.993
a teen races by on the main straight at k1 circuit during the us championships of k1 speed

Teen U.S. Qualifying Session

 

For qualifying, racers were grouped based on their best lap time achieved in practice, thus the fastest racers were in Group A, second-fastest racers in Group B, and third-fastest racers in Group C.

 

Qualifying determined not only the starting position for racers, but which race they’d be in as well. The fastest 25 racers would progress to the A-Main race which would decide which three racers were moving on to the World Championship as Team USA. While our B-Main race would set the rest of our final standings, from 26th position to 47th.

 

While the purpose of this was to aid faster drivers from possibly being held up by any slower drivers, thankfully thanks to the large track format and few drivers on track, drivers from all three qualifying groups – even Group C – were able to crack into the A-Main race.

 

Here are the final results from qualifying:

A-MAIN RACE QUALIFIERS:

 

  1. Henry Martin | Concord, NC |  81.749
  2. Logan Nealis | Addison, IL | 81.86
  3. Andrew Webster | Indianapolis, IN | 82.038
  4. Evan Rivas | Salt Lake City, UT | 82.077
  5. George Gaston | Portland, OR | 82.106
  6. Jake Kriegisch | Thousand Oaks, CA | 82.234
  7. Connor Wooten | Atlanta, GA | 82.287
  8. Sawyer Kidd | Concord, NC | 82.310
  9. Andrew Bradbury | Concord, NC | 82.691
  10. Rodolfo Garcia Muriel | San Diego, CA | 82.958
  11. Race Oliver | Atlanta, GA | 83.043
  12. Matthew Frago | Richmond, VA | 83.154
  13. Oliver Mockridge | Thousand Oaks, CA | 83.177
  14. Sherod Charity | Richmond, VA | 83.38
  15. Cayden Wysong | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 83.446
  16. Isaac Nelson | Portland, OR | 83.450
  17. Cody Hicks | Oxford, MI | 83.648
  18. Ryan Desanto | Horsham, PA | 83.718
  19. Ana Palestro | Seattle, WA | 83.752
  20. Charlie Ropke | Buffalo Grove, IL | 83.757
  21. Mason Farmer | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 83.757
  22. David Eldik | Las Vegas, NV | 83.800
  23. Ronon Gitman | Indianapolis, IN | 83.858
  24. Leyton Theiss | Canton, OH | 83.903
  25. Liam Moga | Denver, CO | 83.989

B-MAIN RACE QUALIFIERS:

 

  1. Billy Elwell | Cinnaminson, NJ | 84.049
  2. Kaitlyn Rains | Austin, TX | 84.183
  3. Isaac Travers | Canton, OH | 84.193
  4. Connor Johnson | Atlanta, GA | 84.205
  5. Zac Chaplinski | Boston, MA | 84.331
  6. Van Drugmand | Nashville, TN | 84.350
  7. Luke Hugen | Denver, CO | 84.700
  8. Brendan Boyd | Boston, MA | 85.020
  9. Savannah Weber | Canton, OH | 85.060
  10. Matthew Campbell Jr. | Boston, MA | 85.241
  11. Colin Torres | Addison, IL | 85.242
  12. Marcus Zhuk | Nashville, TN | 85.452
  13. Otoniel Figueroa | Cinnaminson, NJ | 85.541
  14. Amelia Suell | Las Vegas, NV | 85.731
  15. Matthew Zhuk | Nashville, TN | 85.938
  16. Nicholas Jones | Oxford, MI | 86.624
  17. Dillon Jones | Indianapolis, IN | 86.681
  18. Dennis Beerley | Horsham, PA | 87.004
  19. Nick Digironimo | Cinnaminson, NJ | 87.589
  20. Cooper Kolb | Horsham, PA | 87.952
  21. Nickolas Demattia | Portland, OR | 88.237
teens race up the straight during a race at k1 circuit

Teen U.S. Championship Races

After qualifying, the event moved in to the main US Championship races. First up was the A-Main Race to determine the US Champion and the top three drivers progressing to the World Championship. Then we ran the B-Main Race so to sort out the final standings for positions 26th on.

Concord’s Henry Martin Wins the Teen U.S. Championship!

 

In the A-Main race, Henry Martin of Concord, North Carolina became our Teen U.S. Champion, and won in style from pole position! Connor Wooten from Atlanta, Georgia had a tremendous race moving up from seventh on the grid to take the runner-up spot. And Logan Nealis of Addison, Illinois finished strong in third position to seal his progression to the World Championships.

 

Here are the final results from the two races:

the top 3 finishers of the 2024 k1 speed teen us championship hold up trophies on the podium at k1 circuit

A-MAIN RACE RESULTS:

 

  1. Henry Martin | Concord, NC
  2. Connor Wooten | Atlanta, GA
  3. Logan Nealis | Addison, IL 
  4. Jake Kriegisch | Thousand Oaks, CA
  5. Evan Rivas | Salt Lake City, UT
  6. George Gaston | Portland, OR
  7. Andrew Bradbury | Concord, NC
  8. Isaac Nelson | Portland, OR
  9. Charlie Ropke | Buffalo Grove, IL
  10. Matthew Frago | Richmond, VA
  11. Liam Moga | Denver, CO
  12. Rodolfo Garcia Muriel | San Diego, CA
  13. Cody Hicks | Oxford, MI
  14. Sawyer Kidd | Concord, NC
  15. Cayden Wysong | Fort Lauderdale, FL
  16. Mason Farmer | Fort Lauderdale, FL
  17. Ronon Gitman | Indianapolis, IN
  18. Ryan Desanto | Horsham, PA
  19. David Eldik | Las Vegas, NV
  20. Ana Palestro | Seattle, WA
  21. Sherod Charity | Seattle, WA
  22. Race Oliver | Atlanta, GA
  23. Oliver Mockridge | Thousand Oaks, CA
  24. Leyton Theiss | Canton, OH
  25. Andrew Webster | Indianapolis, IN

B-MAIN RACE RESULTS: 

 

  1. Luke Hugen | Denver, CO (26th)
  2. Isaac Travers | Canton, OH (27th)
  3. Zac Chaplinski | Boston, MA (28th)
  4. Billy Elwell | Cinnaminson, NJ (29th)
  5. Connor Johnson | Atlanta, GA (30th)
  6. Colin Torres | Addison, IL | (31st)
  7. Van Drugmand | Nashville, TN (32nd)
  8. Brendan Boyd | Boston, MA (33nd)
  9. Thatcher Loper | Orlando, FL (34th)
  10. Matthew Campbell Jr | Boston, MA (35th)
  11. Amelia Suell | Las Vegas, NV (36th)
  12. Kaitlyn Rains | Austin, TX (37th)
  13. Dillon Jones | Indianapolis, IN (38th)
  14. Marcus Zhuk | Nashville, TN (39th)
  15. Savannah Weber | Canton, OH (40th)
  16. Dennis Beerley | Horsham, PA (41st)
  17. Nick Digironimo | Cinnaminson, NJ (42nd)
  18. Matthew Zhuk | Nashville, TN (43rd)
  19. Nickolas Demattia | Portland, OR | (44th)
  20. Nicholas Jones | Oxford, MI (45th)
  21. Otoniel Figueroa | Cinnaminson, NJ (46th)
  22. Cooper Kolb | Horsham, PA (47th – Did Not Start)

Teen World Championship Races

 

Immediately after the Teen U.S. Championship, the action continued in the Teen World Championship. The top three Americans: US Champ Henry Martin, Connor Wooten and Logan Nealis joined Puerto Rico’s Hector Nevares and Christian Velez to see who would emerge champion and claim the $10,000 top prize.

a group of teens race through the first corner at k1 circuit during the us championship race

Teen World Championship Qualifying

The five teens went out on track for a 8-lap qualifying session. The three Americans were back on top again, yet this time, in reverse order: Nealis on pole, Wooten in second, and Martin in third place. But never discount Puerto Rico.

 

Here are the results from Qualifying and the starting grid for the Teen World Championship race:

 

  1. Logan Nealis, USA, 81.178
  2. Connor Wooten, USA, 81.295
  3. Henry Martin, USA, 81.384
  4. Hector Nevares, Puerto Rico, 81.771
  5. Christian Velez, Puerto Rico, 82.574
the top 3 finishers of the teen k1 speed world championship in 2024

USA’s Logan Nealis Wins the 2024 K1 Speed Teen E-World Championship!

 

He may have finished third in the Illinois State Championship and third in the U.S. Championship, but he finished first when it mattered most: Logan Nealis is our 2024 K1 Speed Teen E-World Champion! As a result, he’s not only walking away with the ultimate K1 Speed title, but will take home $10,000!

 

Finishing in a very strong second position after making moves on the track was Hector Nevares who put Puerto Rico back on the podium for the first time since Antonio Arias in 2019! He’ll bring some silverware and $5,000 back with him to the U.S. Territory.

 

And finally, our Teen U.S. Champion, Henry Martin, made sure he took home a second trophy and some money too with his third place finish, netting himself $2,500.

 

Here are the final results of the 2024 K1 Speed Teen E-World Championship:

 

  1. Logan Nealis, United States
  2. Hector Nevares, Puerto Rico
  3. Henry Martin, United States
  4. Christian Velez, Puerto Rico
  5. Connor Wooten, United States

The Adult Championships

2024 K1 Speed Adult U.S. Championship

adults race around k1 circuit during the us championship event of k1 speed

Just like our Teen event, the Adult Championships began with a track walk session before each racer drew a number to determine which race group they’d be a part of. Then, they also had their own Drivers’ Meeting before they took to the track for their 8-lap practice session.

Adult U.S. Practice Session

 

Two different groups took to the track for their practice sessions.

 

The Top 10 from Practice were as follows:

 

  1. Liam Mahon | Daytona Beach, FL | 80.069
  2. Garrett Manes | Richmond, VA | 80.079
  3. Jon Eric Mills | Houston, TX | 80.157
  4. Conner Greer | Nashville, TN | 80.676
  5. Marcus Patterson | Indianapolis, IN | 80.852
  6. David Haraldsen | Phoenix, AZ | 81.149
  7. Xander Powers | Boise, ID | 81.182
  8. Jack Lindner | Oxford, MI | 81.207
  9. Nick Nicklas | Nashville, TN | 81.224
  10. Roberto Soto Alberti | San Diego, CA | 81.235
go kart racers race up k1 circuit during a session]

Adult U.S. Qualifying Session

 

Like the teens’ qualifying session, adult racers were grouped based on their best lap time achieved in practice, thus the fastest racers were in Group A, and Group B.

 

And like in the teen qualifying session, racers’ best lap times determined not only their starting position, but which race they’d be in as well – A-Main or B-Main, with again, the fastest 25 racers would progress to the A-Main race which would decide which three racers were moving on to the World Championship as Team USA.

 

New Track Record Set By Liam Mahon!

 

Liam Mahon of Daytona Beach, FL took pole position, setting the fastest time of the event (and we believe the fastest time ever set at K1 Circuit in our OTL E-Pro Kart on that speed) with a blistering 78.915!

 

Here are the final results from qualifying:

racers head straight down the main straight of k1 circuit

A-MAIN RACE QUALIFIERS:

 

  1. Liam Mahon | Daytona Beach, FL | 78.915
  2. Jon Eric Mills | Houston, TX | 79.514
  3. Jack Lindner | Oxford, MI | 80.219
  4. Eric Sutcliffe | Addison, IL | 80.259
  5. Xander Powers | Boise, ID | 80.267
  6. Jayden Martinez | Carlsbad, CA | 80.874
  7. Nick Nicklas | Nashville, TN | 80.924
  8. Garrett Manes | Richmond, VA | 80.975
  9. Brennan Spencer | Orlando, FL | 80.976
  10. Marcus Patterson | Indianapolis, IN | 81.179
  11. Cody Snider | Orlando, FL | 81.320
  12. Roberto Soto Alberti | San Diego, CA | 81.329
  13. Armand Deligny | Canton, OH | 81.336
  14. Conner Greer | Nashville, TN | 81.431
  15. David Haraldsen | Phoenix, AZ | 81.435
  16. Willy Mulder | Portland, OR | 81.644
  17. Rachel Hart | Canton, OH | 81.756
  18. Jon Eichert | Nashville, TN | 81.841
  19. Andrew Crosson | Dallas, TX | 81.863
  20. Dustin White | Denver, CO | 81.878
  21. RJ Concepcion | Cinnaminson, NJ | 81.913
  22. Nathan Pokorny | Indianapolis, IN | 81.997
  23. Joshua Dillon | Denver, CO | 82.225
  24. Jeremy Brown | Atlanta, GA | 82.229
  25. Steven Orellana | Corona, CA | 82.232

B-MAIN RACE QUALIFIERS:

 

  1. Gabe Orlowitz | Boston, MA | 82.262
  2. Elan Nadelman | Horsham, PA | 82.273
  3. Ryan Dunn | Oxford, MI | 82.528
  4. David Pontz | Canton, OH | 82.592
  5. Hunter Herman | Las Vegas, NV | 82.692
  6. Alex Smith | Cinnaminson, NJ | 82.892
  7. Alexx Uranza | Austin, TX | 83.387
  8. Myles Braxton | Seattle, WA | 83.646
  9. lan Prehmus | Denver, CO | 83.673
  10. Scott Howatt | Buffalo Grove, IL | 83.725
  11. Riley Falkenberry | Indianapolis, IN | 83.781
  12. Benton Blakeman | Las Vegas, NV | 84.457
  13. Supannee Haraldsen | Phoenix, AZ | 84.766
  14. Michael Harbin Jr | Cinnaminson, NJ | 88.733

Adult U.S. Championship Races

Like the teen event, after qualifying, the adult event moved on to the main US Championship races. First up was the A-Main Race to determine the US Champion and the top three drivers progressing to the World Championship. Then we ran the B-Main Race so to sort out the final standings for positions 26th on.

the top three adult k1 speed us championship finishers from 2024 stand on the podium with their trophies

Daytona Beach’s Liam Mahon Becomes the 2024 K1 Speed Adult U.S. Champion!

 

In the A-Main race, Liam Mahon of Daytona Beach, Florida, controlled the race to win the Teen U.S. Championship from pole position, just like our Teen U.S. Champion! Finishing runner-up was Jon Eric Mills from Houston, Texas and rounding up the podium was Eric Sutcliffe from Addison, IL – the same centers as our third place finisher in the Teen US Championship! This meant Addison was the only center in the country to have two U.S. Championship podium finishers.

 

Here are the final results from the two races:

A-MAIN RACE RESULTS:

 

  1. Liam Mahon | Daytona Beach, FL
  2. Jon Eric Mills | Houston, TX
  3. Eric Sutcliffe  | Addison, IL
  4. Garrett Manes | Richmond, VA
  5. Conner Greer | Nashville, TN
  6. Jack Lindner | Oxford, MI
  7. Xander Powers | Boise, ID
  8. Brennan Spencer | Orlando, FL
  9. Jayden Martinez | Carlsbad, CA
  10. Marcus Patterson | Indianapolis, IN
  11. David Haraldsen | Phoenix, AZ
  12. Roberto Soto Alberti | San Diego, CA
  13. Armand Deligny | Canton, OH
  14. Rachel Hart | Canton, OH
  15. Nick Nicklas | Nashville, TN
  16. RJ Concepcion | Cinnaminson, NJ
  17. Joshua Dillon | Denver, CO
  18. Steven Orellana | Corona, CA
  19. Cody Snider | Orlando, FL
  20. Jeremy Brown | Atlanta, GA
  21. Nathan Pokorny | Indianapolis, IN
  22. Willy Mulder | Portland, OR
  23. Jon Eichert | Nashville, TN
  24. Dustin White | Denver, CO
  25. Andrew Crosson | Dallas, TX

B-MAIN RACE RESULTS: 

 

  1. Riley Falkenberry | Indianapolis, IN (26th)
  2. Alexx Uranza | Austin, TX (27th)
  3. Alex Smith | Cinnaminson, NJ (28th)
  4. Hunter Herman | Las Vegas, NV (29th)
  5. Elan Nadelman | Horsham, PA (30th)
  6. Gabe Orlowitz | Boston, MA (31st)
  7. Ian Prehmus | Denver, CO (32nd)
  8. David Pontz | Canton, OH (33nd)
  9. Myles Braxton | Seattle, WA (34th)
  10. Scott Howatt | Buffalo Grove, IL (35th)
  11. Benton Blakeman | Las Vegas, NV (36th)
  12. Ryan Dunn | Oxford, MI (37th)
  13. Supannee Haraldsen | Phoenix, AZ (38th)
  14. Michael Harbin, Jr. | Cinnaminson, NJ (39th)
a driver from mexico waits to race in the k1 speed world championship

Adult World Championship Races

 

Immediately after the Adult U.S. Championship, the action continued in the Adult E-World Championship. The top three Americans: US Champ Liam Mahon, Jon Eric Mills and Eric Sutcliffe joined their international competitors to see who would emerge champion and claim the $25,000 top prize. Their competitors were:

  • Eldy Gonzalez (Puerto Rico)
  • Ernesto Armstrong (Puerto Rico)
  • Elias Sostre (Puerto Rico)
  • Tyler Illidge (Canada)
  • Gobindar Sandhu (Canada)
  • Christian Tyler Dadula (Canada)
  • Sebastián Alvizar (Mexico)
  • Iñaki Velasco (Mexico)
  • Abraham Sanchez (Mexico)

Adult World Championship Qualifying

 

The dozen adult racers went out on track for a 8-lap qualifying session. And like the Teen event, the Americans led the way once again, with a slightly different order. This time Texan Jon Eric Mills claimed pole position followed by the US Champion Liam Mahon and Eric Sutcliffe starting where he finished the US Championship, in third position. Like the Teen World Championship, Puerto Rico had a driver in fourth waiting to pounce with the return of Eldy Gonzalez from last year’s competition. Canada’s Tyler Illidge gave his country’s best qualifying effort in fifth position, and Sebastián Alvizar gave Mexico it’s best starting place on the grid of seventh.

 

Here are the results from Qualifying and the starting grid for the Adult World Championship race:

 

  1. Jon Eric Mills, United States, 79.364
  2. Liam Mahon, United States, 79.569
  3. Eric Sutcliffe, United States, 79.719
  4. Eldy Gonzalez, Puerto Rico, 80.311
  5. Tyler Illidge, Canada, 80.353
  6. Ernesto Armstrong, Puerto Rico, 81.220
  7. Sebastián Alvizar, Mexico, 81.358
  8. Iñaki Velasco, Mexico, 81.590
  9. Gobindar Sandhu, Canada, 81.908
  10. Christian Tyler Dadula, Canada, 82.109
  11. Abraham Sanchez, Mexico, 83.763
  12. Elias Sostre, Puerto Rico, 84.151
the top three podium winners from the 2024 adult k1 speed e-world championship at k1 circuit

USA’s Liam Mahon Wins the 2024 K1 Speed Adult E-World Championship!

 

Liam Mahon and Jon Eric Mills fought hard nose-to-tail the entire 8 laps but at the end of the day, Liam Mahon’s pass for the lead stuck and fresh off his U.S. Championship victory, took the 2024 K1 Speed Adult E-World Championship title! As a result, Mahon took home $25,000 – our biggest cash prize yet! And the podium itself was swept by the United States for a second consecutive year, with a repeat podium from our US Championship. This means Jon Eric Mills took home the $15,000 cash prize and Eric Sutcliffe took home $7,500 after a tight battle with Eldy Gonzalez the entire race distance.

 

Here are the final results of the 2024 K1 Speed Adult E-World Championship:

 

  1. Liam Mahon, United States
  2. Jon Eric Mills, United States
  3. Eric Sutcliffe, United States
  4. Eldy Gonzalez, Puerto Rico
  5. Tyler Illidge, Canada
  6. Iñaki Velasco, Mexico
  7. Sebastián Alvizar, Mexico
  8. Christian Tyler Dadula, Canada
  9. Elias Sostre, Puerto Rico
  10. Gobindar Sandhu, Canada
  11. Abraham Sanchez, Mexico
  12. Ernesto Armstrong, Puerto Rico

Be A Part of Next Year’s Adult & Teen U.S. / World Championship!

 

If you think you have what it takes to compete against the country’s and world’s best drivers from K1 Speed, then make sure you enter our Challenge GP leagues as often as possible! Drivers who finish in the Top 3 in the final standings of their Challenge GP league will move on to the State Championship. If you finish in the Top 3 of that State Championship in the Teen or Adult division, you’ll be invited out to K1 Circuit too! So learn more now about how YOU can be a part of it next year!

Comments
  • Harlan Lendo

    Were the adults on a higher speed setting than the teens? Asking because the best time during adult event was a 78.9 and the best time during the teen event was an 81.1

    • Staff Writer

      Hello, Harlan! Yes, the adults were on a slightly higher speed setting, hence the difference in lap times.

  • Augusto

    Hey guys but it is very disappointing to know that the national championship does not have a minimum weight equalization, if we look at the top 3 on the podium, all light drifers, could we do this better in 2025? because it is very sad to travel to California knowing that I will race unequally, I have 200lb, all the rental leagues I run in have a ballast that equalizes all riders at 200lb

    • Staff Writer

      Hello, Augusto! We’re sorry for any disappointment, but K1 Speed has never utilized ballast in the past and we currently have no plans of changing that.

  • Harlan Lendo

    Will there be a practice day for next years national and world championship?

    • Staff Writer

      Hello, Harlan! The exact format for the 2025 championship is still to be determined.

  • Isaiah johnson

    Can anyone participate in the race

    • Staff Writer

      Hello, Isaiah! You have to finish in the Top 3 at the end of one of our Challenge GP league seasons and State Championship in order to advance to the National and World Championship. For more information, click the button at the bottom of this blog post!

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