Go-kart drivers zoom out of the starting line during a practice session in the parking lot of Tropicana Field during the ROK Cup USA Series 25th Annual Florida Winter Tour on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 in St. Petersburg.

Go-kart racing comes to Tropicana Field

The ROK Cup USA Series 25th Annual Florida Winter Tour races through the parking lot of Tropicana Field.
Go-kart drivers zoom out of the starting line during a practice session in the parking lot of Tropicana Field during the ROK Cup USA Series 25th Annual Florida Winter Tour on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 in St. Petersburg. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
The ROK Cup USA Series 25th Annual Florida Winter Tour races through the parking lot of Tropicana Field.
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Published Jan. 21|Updated Jan. 21

The go-karts hit the track for two practice sessions on Friday and the first of three heat races for all classes. Racing continued on Saturday with the main events set for Sunday. The race track is a .60-mile course and includes 12 corners.

ROK Junior Class driver Jordan Di Leo, 12, on left, and ROK Micro Class driver Jayden Francisco, 6, both from Ontario, Canada, carry their tires and fuel back from the fuel pick up area to their paddock before climbing behind the wheels of their karts as Go-Kart racing comes to the parking lot of Tropicana Field during the ROK Cup USA Series 25th Annual Florida Winter Tour on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 in St. Petersburg.
ROK Junior Class driver Jordan Di Leo, 12, on left, and ROK Micro Class driver Jayden Francisco, 6, both from Ontario, Canada, carry their tires and fuel back from the fuel pick up area to their paddock before climbing behind the wheels of their karts as Go-Kart racing comes to the parking lot of Tropicana Field during the ROK Cup USA Series 25th Annual Florida Winter Tour on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 in St. Petersburg.
“Honestly, this is like F1 go-karting,” said Keith Leonard, 46, from Bloomingburg, NY, as he warmed up the motor of a go-kart for his 12-year-old driver.
“Honestly, this is like F1 go-karting,” said Keith Leonard, 46, from Bloomingburg, NY, as he warmed up the motor of a go-kart for his 12-year-old driver.
Drivers wait in a line for the signal to start during a practice session.
Drivers wait in a line for the signal to start during a practice session.
Antonio Pizzeria Neto, 10, on left, cheers alongside with his mom, Barbara Balbeque, 35, from Brazil, while cars speed by.
Antonio Pizzeria Neto, 10, on left, cheers alongside with his mom, Barbara Balbeque, 35, from Brazil, while cars speed by.
Zayne Burgess, 6, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, watches while go-karts zoom by. Burgess, a ROK Micro Class driver, was waiting with his father for his division to get their turn on the course.
Zayne Burgess, 6, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, watches while go-karts zoom by. Burgess, a ROK Micro Class driver, was waiting with his father for his division to get their turn on the course.
Drivers speed along the track during a practice session.
Drivers speed along the track during a practice session.
Zayne Burgess, 6, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, gets a better look as the karts go by from on top his father's shoulders.
Zayne Burgess, 6, from Montego Bay, Jamaica, gets a better look as the karts go by from on top his father's shoulders.
Carlos Sasso, 14, from Quebec, Canada, watches from behind the fence as go-karts zoom by on of the 12 corners on the .60 mile track. Sasso, a ROK Junior Class driver, was waiting for his division to get their turn on the course.
Carlos Sasso, 14, from Quebec, Canada, watches from behind the fence as go-karts zoom by on of the 12 corners on the .60 mile track. Sasso, a ROK Junior Class driver, was waiting for his division to get their turn on the course.
The checkered flag is waived as cars speed by, signaling the end of a practice session.
The checkered flag is waived as cars speed by, signaling the end of a practice session.
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