March 10, 2026 – Kicking off the 2026 Radical Cup North America season at the legendary, yet bumpy Sebring International Raceway, history was made with the youngest driver to ever earn a podium result in Radical Cup North America competition, while a pair of drivers went three for three on the weekend. Some weather threw a wrench into everyone’s plans in Race 1, but on Sunday, it was hot and humid in the Sunshine State for Races 2 and 3.
When the dust had finally settled, and the final checkered flag had flown, Chris Huhn earned a trio of victories in the Gold 1500 class while Mike D’Ambrose matched those results in Pro 1340. Robert Rossi earned a pair of victories in the Platinum class, putting everyone on notice that he is here to win, with Scott Wagner neglecting a perfect weekend for Rossi by taking the third and final race victory. Ryan Persing scored his first career Radical Cup North America win while Jonas Axboe rebounded from some misfortune in Race 1, to stand atop the podium in both races on Sunday.
Qualifying
Platinum Class
Robert Rossi – Giant Racing
Wayne Williams – ONE Motorsports
Chip Romer – ONE Motorsports
Ben Blander – Team Stradale
Scott Wagner – Curb Strike
Pro 1500
Jonas Axboe – Cameron Racing – Radical Northwest
Ryan Persing – ONE Motorsports
Jack Yang – Valour Racing
Matt Romer – ONE Motorsports
Luke Kendall – Valour Racing
Gold Class
Chris Huhn – Primal Motorsports
Dennis Kelly – Group A Racing – Radical New York
David Mason – Radical Indianapolis GRP
Pro 1340
Mike D’Ambrose – Team Stradale
Decklan Deonarine – Ryspec Racing
Evan Wolf – Crown with Radical Arizona
Nico Balkissoon – Giant Racing
Kenny Naill – Radical Indianapolis GRP
Wheel-to-Wheel Races
It was a drama-filled Race 1 as the skies opened, and officials were forced to throw the red flag to allow competitors to change to wet-weather tires. In the end, it was the right decision as drivers were able to complete 12 laps to score the first wheel-to-wheel results of the weekend. Robert Rossi, who returned to the Radical Cup paddock after a few years away, delivered a commanding performance for Giant Racing to win the Platinum class in Race 1 at Sebring International Raceway, setting the fastest lap of the race with a 2:04.031, and surviving the downpour. The battle behind him was tight with Ben Blander, who finished just 1.412 seconds behind in second place, and was followed closely by ONE Motorsports pilot Chip Romer in third. Wayne Williams and Scott Wagner completed the top-five. Williams rebounded from setting the fastest lap in practice one, to crashing on the cool down lap, to ending the first wheel-to-wheel action of the weekend in fourth.
In the Pro 1500 class, Jonas Axboe converted his pole position to an early lead before a mishap in the rain dropped him to fourth. After a red flag to change from slick to wet weather tires, his day got worse. Luke Kendall misjudged the accordion effect heading into Turn 7 after the restart, punching into the back of Jim Booth, who, in turn, left Axboe with nowhere to go. Ryan Persing survived the changing and challenging conditions and went on to claim victory for ONE Motorsports, his first career Radical Cup win, while teammate Matt Romer made it a strong result for the team by finishing second in a solid one–two finish. Luke Kendall secured the third position on track but was penalized post-race for causing a collision, elevating teammate Jack Yang to the final step on the podium. It may have been newcomer Josh Holtz’s birthday on Saturday, but it wasn’t the present he wanted, spinning under the Turn 17 bridge.
Chris Huhn reminded everyone why he was crowned the 2025 Radical Cup World Champion in Gold 1500 as his speed at Sebring immediately impressed all. Huhn captured the Gold class victory for Primal Motorsports in commanding fashion on route to the fastest lap of the class at 2:10.203. Dennis Kelly finished second for Group-A Radical New York, 8.417 seconds behind the winner, while David Mason rounded out the podium in third for Radical Indianapolis GRP after completing the full race distance.
14-year-old Decklan Deonarine and 13-year-old Nico Balkisson made their debuts in the series. However, it was the seasoned veteran, Mike D’Ambrose, who was the class of the field. D’Ambrose led Team Stradale to victory in the Pro 1340 category, taking the win and went on to set the class’s fastest lap of 2:14.390. Evan Wolf finished second for Crown with Radical Arizona just 1.728 seconds behind, while Decklin Deonarine secured third for RySpec Racing. Aaron Zeigler and Nico Balkissoon rounded out the top-five in a competitive field.
Returning to the track Sunday morning for the second wheel-to-wheel race of the season, Rossi continued his dominant weekend at the Sebring International Raceway by securing the Platinum class victory for Giant Racing, his second of the weekend. Rossi completed 19 laps in total time of 41:19.919 and set the fastest lap of the race with a 2:03.386. Williams finished second for ONE Motorsports, 5.670 seconds behind, while Wagner completed the podium for Curb Strike after a late race issue for Chip Romer, who was classified fourth on the results sheets, while Ben Blander rounded out the top-five.
Jack Yang ran into the back of Axboe on the opening lap in turn three causing issues for both early on, but Romer was able to storm through the field to claw his way back and earn some valuable championship points. Axboe made amends for Race 1 and went on to earn the Pro 1500 class victory for Cameron Racing RNW in Race 2 with Luke Kendall crossing the line in the second position, albeit 16.837 seconds in arrears. Matt Romer secured the third position after the opening lap incident forced him to drive through the field in impressive fashion to stand on the box, adding another podium for ONE Motorsports on the weekend. Sam McDougall and Race 1 winner Ryan Persing rounded out the top-five.
Chris Huhn astonished the paddock in Race 2, starting from deep on the grid, but ended up one of the fastest 1500cc SR3 machines. Proven with his Sunoco Hard Charger Award for gaining the most positions throughout the race, Huhn easily went on to earn his second victory in as many races, topping the charts in the Gold class weekend for Primal Motorsports with another strong performance in Race 2. Dennis Kelly finished second, with David Mason completing the podium with all three drivers scoring the same results in both races one and two.
Team Stradale and Mike D’Ambrose once again led the Pro 1340 category, scoring another class victory, his second in as many days. Nico Balkissoon finished second for Giant Racing and made history in doing so, becoming the youngest ever driver to score a Radical Cup North America podium result. Aaron Zeigler secured third to give Team Stradale two drivers on the podium, with Deonarine suffering a mechanical failure to be classified in fourth and Wolf rounding out the top-five.
During Race 3 on Sunday afternoon, Wagner dethroned Rossi to secure the Platinum class victory, just ahead of Williams, who finished second for ONE Motorsports, 16.815 seconds behind the leader. Ben Blander completed the podium for Team Stradale. Early incidents affected several contenders, including Race 1 and 2 winner Robert Rossi and perennial front-runner Chip Romer, who were both forced to retire early after completing only two laps.
Axboe delivered another victory for Cameron Racing in the Pro 1500 category, as he edged Matt Romer for the top step of the podium. Jack Yang found his way back to the box for Valour Racing to finish third with young guns Luke Kendall and Ryan Persing finishing fourth and fifth, respectively, in the talent-filled Pro 1500 category.
Huhn capped off a perfect weekend in the Gold class with another victory for Primal Motorsports, going three-for-three in Sebring. In the class of the field, Huhn often ran faster than his Pro 1500 counterparts and continued to show why he is one of the best 1500 drivers worldwide. Dennis Kelly finished second for Group-A Radical New York, while David Mason completed the podium.
Just as Huhn did in Gold 1500, D’Ambrose continued his strong weekend performance by taking his third victory in as many races to have a terrific start to his 2026 race season. Deonarine had his strongest result of the weekend, crossing the line second behind the triple race winner, with Zeigler completing the podium and Balkissoon and Wolf rounding out the top-five.
Next up for Radical Cup North America will be a trip out west to the famed Sonoma Raceway for Races 4 through 6 of the 2026 season over the April 9-12 weekend.
Stay tuned to the Radical Cup website (www.radicalcupnorthamerica.com) and social media pages for news, information, photos, and more throughout the 2026 season.