A major change is happening for the 2026 SKUSA Pro Tour – removal of the pushback bumper system in a number of key classes.
Superkarts! USA implemented push-back bumpers for all IAME categories in 2018. For 2026, Pro X30 Senior, X30 Junior and KA100 Master divisions will not be required to use them. SKUSA had already removed the controversial front fairings from Pro and Master Shifter.
“This change in removing the pushback bumper from the selected classes was a group effort by our staff,” commented Tom Kutscher of Superkarts! USA.
“Our race officials have the capacity to call races without the pushback bumpers and we feel these categories are at the level to hold themselves to a higher standard.
“Our goal with the removal of the pushback bumper system is to help eliminate the time spent by competitors dealing with a protest for a situation that is deemed not to be a penalty and to help both officials and competitors alike focus on situations that better serves their time.”
The organisation states that at national and regional level, a large percentage of pushback bumper penalties are protested, and that nearly all penalties that were protested are overturned.
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SKUSA ran its ProKart Challenge last year without pushback bumpers and claims the feedback from competitors was positive. The governing body had previously attempted the move in 2022.
“The removal this time around will test our theory with these limited categories in an effort to wean the competitors away from the pushback bumpers” Kutscher added.
The full announcement can be read on the SKUSA website.
The opening Pro Tour round, the SKUSA ‘WinterNationals’, is at the Musselman Honda Circuit (Tucson, Arizona) on March 27-29.
2026 Superkarts! USA Pro Tour Schedule
- March 27-29: SKUSA WinterNationals – Musselman Honda Circuit – Tucson, Arizona
- June 12-14: SKUSA SpringNationals – Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati – Batavia, Ohio
- July 24-26: SKUSA SummerNationals – New Castle Motorsports Park – New Castle, Indiana
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