2025 Season In Review

The 2025 Season for the Gateway Kartplex Ignite Series presented by Skip Barber Racing School is complete, and I couldn't be more proud of the season we had this year. While there was some disappointment and hard times, the good times outweighed the bad. First off, I can't thank Gateway Kartplex and Keith Scharf for allowing me to race this year. It was difficult balancing that and announcing, but I was able to make it work. I also have to thank Zach Buchanan, Margay Racing, and all of the staff there for keeping me in great equipment and giving me a shot to be a contender this season.

Rain plagued our entire season of racing from start to finish. Our first race on April 6th was cancelled due to impending severe weather. I had to wait until April 26th, where our #81 Ascentix Innovation Labs kart had speed right off the truck. In the first doubleheader, we finished 3rd and 4th. This was my first podium since 2017, where I finished 2nd in a rain shortened Ignite Series double header event. Our next race on May 3rd unfortunately was delayed due to weather, and we did not make it past the final practice session. On May 24th, I finished 4th in race 1- by virtue of a quick time, I earned my first pole in race 2. Unfortunately, I got caught on a curb and fell back to 7th. We had to wait more than a month for our next race, as the May 3rd make-up event was scheduled for June 14th. Unfortunately, that race was also delayed due to rain. Our next scheduled race was made up on Sunday, July 13th, which unfortunately had weather play a factor as well. This was the closest our team came to victory. It started to sprinkle during our first feature race, and I made my way from 5th to 2nd. We made our way back out on the track, and I made the perfect pass for the lead on Buddy Dailey. Unfortunately, in the north end of the track I hit a slick spot, and I lost 7 positions and finished 8th. The second feature was a wash, and I finished 5th. Unfortunately the speed that was there in the first half of the season did not return during the hot summer months. Announcing and racing took a toll, as it became increasingly difficult to manage balancing both. Our next race was at night, scheduled on August 9th. I could not find the balance of the kart in that race, and I had to settle for disappointing finishes of 7th and 8th. Looking for redemption, September 20th was our next event. We came off the truck strong placing 3rd in practice, but with a bad practice 2 which led to a bad quali- we were behind in our first feature. Unfortunately, the day was cut short due to more rain in the area. Our final event was on October 11th, which thankfully there was not a cloud in the sky. We were slow in practice 1 and 2, but made up for a great qualifying effort to jump up to 5th. I made my way as high as 4th in race 1, but lost touch with the top 3 and fell back to 6th. In race 2, I could not keep up with the pack and had to settle for 8th. With all of that, I settled for 5th in the championship- which is exactly where I finished in my last full-time Ignite Series season in 2017. While it's easy to be disappointed to not finish on the podium more than once, I had the speed and I learned so much being behind the wheel more frequently. All in all, it was a fun season, and it couldn't have been possible without my partners- Ascentix Innovation Labs, RoundedCube, Kramer Angus, Illumination Poodles, Super Clean, BIG EVIL Designs, Morast.live, and Coast 2 Coast Sim Racing. I had a lot of fun, and proved to myself I have the ability to race up front and compete for wins. While I didn't capture the checkered flag this year, I am looking forward to doing that next year and proving I have what it takes to win races. While my schedule will look a little different- I won't compete for the championship at Gateway Kartplex in 2026- I will still have the same mentality, and will do whatever it takes to come across the line in the top spot. Thank you all for the support. It means the world to me.

Paul