8/8/2025
Cardinal Speedway
Prelude to the Thunder in the Wetlands Kart Nationals Brings Two Nights of Racing to Hoisington August 15-16
HOISINGTON, Kan. — The hum of high-revving kart engines will take over Bicentennial Park this Friday and Saturday as Cardinal Speedway hosts the Prelude to the Thunder in the Wetlands Kart Nationals.
The two-night event is the tune-up before the big one — the Thunder in the Wetlands Kart Nationals on August 29-30 — which will feature a potential $8,000 payday and the annual Labor Day Firework Show. The Prelude gives drivers a chance to get valuable seat time, test setups, and size up the competition before the money’s on the line.
This year’s program includes all the familiar classes — Adult Open, Adult Clone, Adult Predator, Rookie, Jr 1, and Jr 2 — plus four newly added divisions for 2025: Rookie Cage, Jr 1-2 Cage, Jr 3 Outlaw, and Adult Cage. The additions mean more racers on the track, more laps for the fans, and even more chances for close-quarters racing under the lights.
Last year’s Thunder in the Wetlands produced some memorable moments:
Adult Open: Paxton Dody held off David Goertz in a blistering 15-lap main event.
Adult Clone: Troy Kingsbury topped Kyle Bingaman in a hard-fought battle.
Adult Predator: Jacob Bofink outran Tyler Strickler and Troy Kingsbury.
Jr 1: Luke Degenhardt edged out Tate Hutchison.
Jr 2: Jaxson Goetz held off Jayden Wiegert for the win.
Rookie: Coltyn Ukele swept the night, winning both heats and the feature.
“With the new classes we’ve added, there’s going to be more racing and more excitement for everyone,” said TeeJay Janousek. “The Prelude sets the tone for Nationals, and we expect some drivers to make a big statement this weekend.”
Schedule and Admission:
Pits open at 3 p.m., grandstands open at 5 p.m., and racing begins at 7 p.m. both nights. Grandstand tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and under. Pit passes are $25.
The Prelude is the first part of two big weekends in Hoisington, with the Thunder in the Wetlands Kart Nationals taking center stage on August 29-30.
Article Credit: Dalton Janousek
Submitted By: Dalton Janousek