BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — AEM Karting is ready for the big second annual Cup Karts North America LO206 Spring Nationals at Charlotte Motor Speedway March 4-6 with a formidable 12-driver lineup including racers from across North America.

AEM will have at least one driver in each of the seven divisions on the card, not counting Kid Kart. All drivers will compete out of the AEM Karting camp on AEM Engines-powered OTK-manufactured EOS and Tony Kart chassis.

Heading to Charlotte, Mick Gabriel is fresh off a successful winter of racing throughout Florida including a WKA win at Daytona KartWeekWKA win at Daytona KartWeek in December, Florida Winter Tour win at Pompano Beach in January, regional victories at Homestead and Andersen, and four pole awards and three podiums a little over a week ago at Cup Karts South at Monticello. The Illinois racer and team co-owner will lead a five-driver AEM lineup in the Senior Light and Medium divisions on a new No. 323 EOS Typhoon chassis.

Gabriel, a four-time Cup Karts North Division champion, will be in search of his first Spring Nationals triumph after last year’s finishes of P6 in Light and a DNF in Medium after contact in the final laps while battling for the win.

Mick talked about the upcoming Spring Nationals and his chances.

“Charlotte is tough, and the Spring Nationals is clearly one of the biggest races of the year next to the Grands (New Castle),” Gabriel said. “Last year, we were in position but it didn’t work out. The track is fast and there are plenty of opportunities to pass if you’re in the right spot and have speed. I’m sure it’ll come down to the last lap in most classes, and I’ll be working as hard as I can to try and be in the mix in both Light and Medium, along with helping all our AEM teammates have the best events possible. We have a great team and an outstanding lineup of drivers.”

Senior Light and Medium

Washington state brothers Gabe and Jake Sessler will be back on AEM machines at Charlotte after joining the team for the first time at Daytona this past December. Both Sesslers will join Gabriel in the Senior Light and Medium divisions. Gabe will be looking for his second career win on an AEM Karting entry after triumphing in the Senior Heavy final on day one at Daytona.

Jerry Fandrey will make it four AEM entries in both Light and Medium. The Illinois driver will compete in both divisions on his No. 77 EOS kart. Fandrey had a solid 2021 including regional wins and podium finishes and he’ll be looking to challenge many of the best LO206 racers in the country after a couple DNFs at last year’s Spring Nationals.

Blade Fountain will race with AEM for the first time since the CKNA Grands in October. The Michigan driver will race in Light on an AEM-powered EOS, giving the team five entries in the 340# senior category.

Cadet

Missouri’s Race Beckman is another driver who raced with AEM at Daytona and he’ll do it again at Charlotte. Beckman grabbed a P3 podium on his AEM / Tony Kart in Micro Swift at Daytona and will be working hard for another podium in Cadet at the Spring Nats.

Senior Heavy

Cup Karts veteran Dan Seaman and Canadian Will Lowther will give AEM two racers in the Senior Heavy class. Seaman finished P18 in the Heavy final at the 2021 Spring Nationals; this will be Lowther’s first attempt at Charlotte.

Junior

Will Lowther’s brother, Ethan, will be AEM’s only entry in Junior. Ethan is a regular 206 competitor in Canada and like Will, he’ll be making his first start at Charlotte.

Masters

Illinois racer Jakab Nyiri will be one of the favorites in the 206 Masters division. Nyiri nearly scored the Masters win at the Grands in October but would settle for P3. He’ll be looking to improve a couple spots at Charlotte, where he’ll be making his first ever start.

Veteran Ryan Otterman out of Indiana will join Nyiri in Masters to give AEM two entrants in the over-35 category.

Legends

Illinois’ Randy Raridon will make his first start in the Spring Nationals and he’ll do it on an AEM / EOS Chassis machine in the Legends class. The 63-year-old veteran is fresh off a P12 finish in Legends with the AEM team at the Winter Nationals last month in Jacksonville.

CKNA Spring Nationals on-track action starts Friday, March 4 with at least five rounds of practice before qualifying and two heat race rounds Saturday and LCQs and finals Sunday.

Following the event AEM Karting will have (4) 2022 EOS’s for sale with one weekend of racing on them by our senior team drivers.

If you are looking for Vega tires for the event please reach out to us asap to fill your order. The team will also have OTK & Briggs parts on hand!

For more information on AEM Karting, visit their official website at aemkarting.com.