The Route 66 Sprint Series has set the standard for regional racing in United States karting. Now entering its 16th season, the program is set for another successful season of racing in a five-weekend, three-state championship series spanning from April to October. Route 66 Sprint Series is set to follow its big-brother series – the United States Pro Kart Series – offering up IAME and Yamaha categories with the continuation of the popular Kid Kart divisions at some of the best circuits in North America. The series is happy to welcome MG Tires and FranklinKart.com as the title sponsors for the 2016 season.

“We are very proud to be part of this long term relationship and know that Route 66 and USPKS are both among the strongest series in the country,” stated Wagner Rossi of WR Motorsports – the exclusive importer of MG Tires in North America.

“I am excited to again be part of the Route 66 Sprint Series in 2016,” added Franklin Motorsports’ Jamie Sieracki. “It is a strong program that always boasts exciting racing.  With the new, solidified class structures I am looking forward to more years with Route 66.”

The 2016 Route 66 Sprint Series season visits the same five facilities as it did in 2015. The year opens up in the month of April at the popular New Castle Motorsports Park. The month of May will be idle for the series, before it heads back to the US Air Motorsports Raceway in northern Wisconsin. The facilities return to the series sparked one of the largest events of the season, and another large turnout is expected with the event placed the weekend before the USPKS round. The following month takes the series back into the state of Indiana, and the always exciting Michiana Raceway Park outside South Bend. August marks a second trip to Wisconsin and the very similar Briggs & Stratton Raceway Park – home of the Badger Kart Club. The series finale is set for the program’s home facility, the Mid-State Kart Club course in central Illinois. All series champions and year-end award winners will be honored at the banquet in December, also in Springfield.

Class structure for the 2016 Route 66 Sprint Series is very similar to that of last year, and will mimic that of the United States Pro Kart Series. Gone are the Komet categories and in is a full line-up of the IAME divisions to join the four Yamaha classes. Like USPKS, Route 66 is offering IAME Senior, Junior, Cadet and Rookie with the same four age groups for the Yamaha divisions. IAME Senior is open to X30 and Leopard engines, with X30 the lone powerplant for Junior. Cadet and Rookie is moving over to the IAME Mini Swift engine as well to align itself with the USPKS. Rounding out the class roster is the popular Kid Kart division, helping to welcome the future generations of karters.

“This is the class structure we are locking in for this season and next,” stated series promoter Mark Coats. “In 2017, the IAME Senior division will be X30 engine only. As a series, we feel it is important to listen to our customers and to work closely with our shops and sponsors to bring the best package possible. As a cost savings move for our racers, we are introducing a practice ban the week of all Route 66 Sprint Series events, just like we have in the USPKS. There will be no practice Monday through Thursday the week of each Route 66 Sprint Series event.”

The 2016 Route 66 Sprint Series is a 10-round championship chase, including two rounds per weekend. Friday serves as the practice day, with Saturday and Sunday each its own round toward the point standings. Each round features a warm-up, qualifying session, prefinal and main event. The official technical and sporting rules and regulations book will be published on March 1.

Route 66 Sprint Series competitors can take advantage of early registration for the full season to save money. At $875, you can register for all 10-rounds of racing for the 2016 season (Friday practice fee not included). Head over to the registration section of the series website to sign-up while the offer is available until March 1.

Among the first prizes to announce for the 2016 Route 66 Sprint Series include Deep Seat Kart Seats and Innovative Performance. ‘Taking It Deep’ Hard Charger Award of $50 per day presented by Deep Seat Kart Seats for the Yamaha Senior division to the driver who advances the most positions in the Final, while Innovative Performance Fast Time Award goes to the driver who finishes each qualifying session on top.

Follow them on Facebook or contact Mark Coats via email at mcoats.route66@gmail.com.

2016 Route 66 Sprint Series Schedule
April 22-24: New Castle Motorsports Park – New Castle, Indiana
June 10-12: US Air Motorsports Raceway – Shawano, Wisconsin
July 29-31: Michiana Raceway Park – North Liberty, Indiana
August 12-14: Briggs & Stratton Raceway Park – Dousman, Wisconsin
October 7-9: Mid-State Kart Club – Springfield, Illinois
December 3: Year-End Banquet – Springfield, Illinois

2016 Route 66 Sprint Series Class Structure
IAME Senior (X30 and Leopard) – sponsored by Merlin Kart
IAME Junior (X30 only) – sponsored by KartCraft
IAME Cadet (Mini Swift) – sponsored by Allison Racing Engines
IAME Rookie (Mini Swift w/16mm header) – sponsored by Express Karts & Parts
Yamaha Senior – sponsored by RLV
Yamaha Junior – sponsored by Woltjer Racing Engines
Yamaha Cadet – sponsored by Switch Racing Engines
Yamaha Rookie – sponsored by Kevin Williams Karting
Kid Kart – sponsored by Hollywood Crane Service