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K-Gene Racing K-Gene Racing is a family based race team lead by Driver Karson Elkins.

10/18/2026

🏁 WHAT A GREAT RACE DAY YESTERDAY! 🏁

Your Jr Lighting Track Champion! Karson took his S-10 to the track for its first-ever race with the replacement front end and absolutely ZERO data to work with. We single-entered the $3K No Box race, and what a debut it turned out to be!

Three rounds. Three wins. ZERO losses. 🔥

Time Run: Things started off rough. During the burnout, the truck got stuck in high gear. Karson thought he had it fixed before pulling up to the tree, but as soon as he launched, the truck stayed in high gear again. He had to lift, resulting in an 8.47-second pass in the 1/8 mile. Good new! Truck went straight 😃

After some troubleshooting, we discovered the Powerglide spring was too tight, keeping the transmission in high gear. Did some adjustments and Matt Nolan giving advice and pep talk to Karson, he was ready for first round. With no clean time run to go off of, we had to pick a random dial-in. Knowing this truck had run in the low 7s, we took a shot with a 7.05 dial-in and hoped for the best!

Round 1: 💥
Karson pulled up, and this time the burnout and launch were perfect! His opponent went red with a -0.065 reaction time, handing Karson his first-ever truck race and round win! Karson never lifted and ripped off a 6.85-second pass in the 1/8 mile! His FIRST-EVER 6-second pass! 🔥

Round 2: 🏁
Karson lined up against another S-10 and cut an impressive 0.018 reaction time against his opponent’s 0.045. He did a little pedaling at the finish line and took home his second round win with a 7.88 on a 7.87 dial-in! That’s how you race the number!

Round 3: 💪
Next up was a 5-second car! Karson’s opponent went red with a -0.041 reaction time, giving Karson another win and punching his ticket into the SEMIFINALS of No Box! To make it even better, the truck ran another personal best at 6.81 seconds in the 1/8 mile! 🚀

Unfortunately, after about another 20 minutes, a car made a pass and spilled oil all the way down the track. After assessing the situation, officials made the decision to cancel the race and split the remaining purse. Track needed scrapped and prepped. With Sun going down and track temps, it would be to dangerous to continue.

Karson still walked away with $420 from the $3,000 race, three round wins, two new personal-best passes, and a truck that is getting quicker with every trip down the track!

Technically, Karson never lost a round or a race in his first time out with the truck! 🏆 😂

We still have plenty to learn about this S-10, but the truck is running well, and Karson is getting more comfortable behind the wheel every pass.

Not a bad debut for a truck we’re still figuring out! 😎🔥

10/09/2026

🏁 MIDWEST NATIONALS RECAP! 🏁

First and foremost, what a great year and another incredible experience racing at a national event alongside some of the best drivers in the world! Unfortunately, this chapter has come to an end. The next time we attend the Midwest Nationals, we’ll be there as spectators. ❤️

Three competitive seasons have given us memories, friendships, lessons, and experiences we will never forget. We couldn’t be prouder of how far Karson has come!

🏎️ FRIDAY – TIME TRIALS

Friday brought time runs for both the High School and Jr. Dragster classes. In High School, Karson was behind the wheel of a loaner Chevy Camaro, laying down a 0.004 reaction time and running 12.86 seconds!

🏁 SATURDAY – RACE DAY

In Jr. Dragster, Karson was paired against the 2026 NHRA Jr. Thunder Champion. Karson pulled off the win when his opponent went red, advancing himself into the semifinals! 💪

Next up was High School, where he lined up against none other than High School Champion Cohen Hale. Karson got the advantage on the starting line with a 0.014 reaction time compared to Cohen’s 0.026! Unfortunately, the loaner Camaro decided to pick up 20 numbers, costing us the round.

Congratulations to Cohen Hale on earning back-to-back national titles! 🏆

Karson, lined up to newcomer Logan Bonney. Karson went -0.019 Red, losing his last chance at a national title. Congratulations to Logan for not only picking up his first win, he won the national championship.

Although our run at a national title was over, the weekend wasn’t. Karson spent time signing autographs, hanging out, and taking in every moment of his final invitation to the Midwest Nationals.

I’m incredibly proud of this kid. Earning his way to a national event three years in a row is an accomplishment that will always mean something special to us. We’ve watched him grow as a driver, compete against some amazing talent, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

This may be the end of his Jr. Dragster national event journey, but it will always be a chapter we look back on with pride.

Thank you to everyone who has supported Karson, cheered him on, and been part of this journey. The friendships, the memories, and the racing family we’ve gained along the way mean more than words can say.

Three years. Countless memories. One incredible journey. ❤️🏁

10/03/2026

🏁 IT’S RACE DAY! 🏁

The day we’ve been waiting for is finally here — Midwest Nationals! 🔥

Karson will be competing today in both the High School Class and Jr. Dragster as we get closer to the end of his Jr. Dragster career.

If you’re here at the track, come say hi! 👋 We’ll be doing autograph sessions throughout the day, except when we’re on the track racing.

Come find us, grab a picture, get an autograph, and cheer Karson on! 🏁🔥

K-Gene Racing #1423
#1423

STORY TIME:The Midwest Nationals was me and Karsons boys’ trip. This is where it all began. ❤️🏁When Karson was little, h...
09/27/2026

STORY TIME:

The Midwest Nationals was me and Karsons boys’ trip. This is where it all began. ❤️🏁

When Karson was little, he and I would go every year. He used to tell me, “Dad, I’m going to be a racer one day.”

I would always tell him, “Yes, buddy. You can do anything you put your mind to.”

But honestly, I never really thought I would see that dream come true.

Back then, we would sit in the stands and bet on which lane would win. We didn’t even understand what all the numbers on the scoreboard meant besides MPH. 😂 We were just two guys enjoying the races together.

Fast-forward several years, and Karson came to me and asked if he could drag race.

I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or what any of it meant. So I started researching. The more I learned, the more I realized how serious the sport was about safety and how much safety equipment was required. That helped sway his mom and me into starting the search for a car.

We eventually found one in Columbus, Ohio and made the trip.

That trip changed everything.

The junior dragster dad we bought the car from spent time explaining what to do and how to drive the car. I took pages of notes and recorded videos of him explaining how everything worked.

When we left Ohio, I’m not going to lie I still had no idea what I was doing.

But I knew one thing…

We were going to figure it out together.

I reached out to an old high school friend who had grown up racing junior dragsters. She told me to call Cameron Thomas.

So I called him, not really knowing what to expect.

He instantly became a friend, a mentor, and someone who helped guide us through those early days. I learned a tremendous amount in a very short time.

Then the years started flying by.

And now, here we are.

I can proudly sit here and say that Karson has qualified to race at the NHRA Midwest Nationals three years in a row.

And this year, during his final season before aging out of Junior Dragster, he can proudly hold his head high as the NHRA Jr. Lightning Champion. 🏆

The amount of work, dedication, sacrifice, late nights, early mornings, victories, losses, broken parts, lessons learned, and memories that went into making this happen is something I will cherish forever.

I am proud beyond words of the young man I have watched grow up right in front of me.

I watched him find his passion.

I watched him chase it.

And most importantly, I watched him exceed his own expectations and shine.

Karson, I am truly proud of you.

I will always be your biggest fan, no matter what you do or where this road takes you. ❤️

I’m going to miss the Junior Dragster days more than I can probably put into words. The little car, the trailer, the long weekends, the pits, the friendships, the wins, the losses -all of it.

But as hard as it is to see this chapter coming to an end, I’m even more excited to see what the next chapter brings.

From a little boy sitting beside his dad in the stands, dreaming about becoming a racer…

To the NHRA Jr. Lightning Champion.

What a ride it has been.

And the best part?

We’re not done yet.

🏁❤️🏆

🏁 7 DAYS UNTIL MIDWEST NATIONALS! We are officially one week away from the biggest event of the year! Karson has worked ...
09/24/2026

🏁 7 DAYS UNTIL MIDWEST NATIONALS!

We are officially one week away from the biggest event of the year!

Karson has worked incredibly hard all season to qualify for the opportunity to race with some of the best in the world at the NHRA Midwest Nationals. This will be his second-to-last race in a Jr. Dragster, as he is quickly approaching the age-out.

We were also invited to run the High School class at this event, which makes this weekend even more special.

It’s crazy to think about where this all started. Midwest Nationals is where Karson and I saw our very first Jr. Dragster. At the time, we never could have imagined that years later, we would actually be part of the show, racing alongside some of the best racers in the world. It’s still surreal.

This journey has given us so many incredible experiences, friendships, memories, wins, losses, and lessons that we will carry with us forever. ❤️🏁

Next year, we’ll be on the other side of the fence watching the races instead of being part of the Jr. Dragster show. Karson is ready for the next adventure in his S-10, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where that takes him.

October is going to be a busy month!

➡️ Midwest Nationals
➡️ Karson starts college
➡️ He’s chasing the final TRG Motorsports 7.90 Heads-Up Championship
He is currently tied for 1st place with his girlfriend, Tori. Karson has decided he wants to run the 7.0 class on the final weekend of the racing season!

A lot is happening, and we’re going to enjoy every second of it.

For now, here’s a photo dump from the last few races that I never got around to posting. The last few weeks have been absolutely crazy busy, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.

7 days… and we’ll be back at Midwest Nationals.

From watching our first Jr. Dragster there to now getting the opportunity to race on that same stage — what a ride it has been. 🏁❤️

LET’S GO, KARSON! #1423
K-Gene Racing 🏁🔥

09/12/2026

🏁 IT’S RACE WEEKEND! 🏁

We’re headed to Sikeston Dragway for another weekend of racing! 🔥

After this weekend, there will be just TWO WEEKEND RACES LEFT in Karson’s final Junior Dragster season. It’s definitely bittersweet watching this chapter of his racing career come to an end. So many memories, friendships, wins, losses, late nights, early mornings, and countless hours at the track have brought us to this point. ❤️🏁

But before we close the book on Junior Dragsters, there’s still plenty of racing left!

🔥 NEXT UP — NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS
📅 October 2–4
📍 World Wide Technology Raceway

Karson has worked all season long to earn the opportunity to qualify and race at the NHRA Midwest Nationals—in front of tens of thousands of fans, surrounded by some of the best racers in the world. 🤘🔥

Getting to experience the atmosphere of an NHRA national event and compete alongside the top names in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and more is something we’ll never forget.

From a kid starting out in a Junior Dragster to now preparing to race on one of the biggest stages in drag racing…

What a journey it has been. 🏁❤️

Two Junior Dragster races left.
One incredible chapter coming to an end.
And a whole new chapter waiting around the corner.

Let’s go racing! 🔥🏁

#1423

08/29/2026

🏁 IT’S RACE DAY! 🏁

After today, we’ll have just 3 races left until Karson’s final Jr. Dragster season comes to an end! 🏆🔥(Video from final bracket points race)

What a season it has been. From the highs and lows, tough rounds, broken parts, close points battles, and championship pressure we’ve made memories that will last a lifetime.

Now it’s time to enjoy these final races and make every pass count. 💪🏼

The bracket racing championship may be locked in, but we’re not done yet! 😈🏁 We have one more points championship to win.

Let’s go, Karson! Get up there, stay focused, make clean passes, and let’s go racing!

K-Gene Racing Team #1423
🏆 2026 NHRA Jr. Lightning Champion
🏆 2026 No Box Nationals Champion
🏁 6 Wins on season

3 races left in the Jr. Dragster journey.

4 FINAL JR RACES BEFORE RETIREMENT. 2 MORE GOALS LEFT- WIN MIDWEST NATIONALS AND THE TRG HEADS UP CHAMPIONSHIP POINT SER...
08/25/2026

4 FINAL JR RACES BEFORE RETIREMENT. 2 MORE GOALS LEFT- WIN MIDWEST NATIONALS AND THE TRG HEADS UP CHAMPIONSHIP POINT SERIES.

Saturday August 29th -TGR Motorsports 7.90 Heads Up Mafia Index Points Race

Saturday, September 12-Sunday September 14th Skelton Raceway Jr Race

Friday, October 2-Sunday October 4th - NHRA Midwest Nationals Final

Friday, October 23-Saturday October 24th-Championship Finals for TGR Motorsports 7.90 Heads Up Mafia Index Points Race

08/24/2026

🏆 2026 JR LIGHTING CHAMPIONS! 🏆

KARSON DID IT! He is officially the 2026 Jr Lighting Champion! 🏆🏁

It wasn’t easy. Not even close. This video is one to remember. The very moment we 💯 secured the championship.

Saturday started with our time runs being cut short by what we thought was a coil malfunction. We managed to make it through a few rounds, putting ourselves in a great position to potentially secure the championship by winning two rounds.

But the current 3rd-place points leader had other plans. He went on to win the entire event, leaving only a handful of points between him and Karson heading into Sunday.

Sunday morning, we knew exactly what we had to do is stay a few rounds ahead and keep our focus.

Time runs went perfectly. Then came 1st round.

The car sputtered all the way down the track, and Karson lost.

Suddenly, the stress level went through the roof.

We went over the entire car and couldn’t find the problem. Then, during the first call for 2nd round, the car wouldn’t even start.

I decided to check the coil one more time.

And there it was.

The coil we put on Saturday was BAD. That was the problem all along.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have another high-performance coil with us. But giving up has never been an option.

I had a new coil that wasn’t even designed for a high-performance go-kart motor. I threw it on anyway.

The car fired.

We had no RPM reading, so Karson had to go strictly by the sound of the motor.

We made it to the 2nd round chip draw and saw something that immediately caught our attention—the 2nd and 3rd place points leaders were racing each other.

Karson pulled up to the starting line and did what he had to do.

WIN. 🏁

Then our biggest threat went down the track against the other points contender—and LOST.

That was an emotional moment.

We knew one more round would officially clinch the championship.

Karson went back up and WON AGAIN. 🔥

And then came the moment that makes a dad incredibly proud…

Karson drove himself into the Jr Lighting final.

Under all the pressure, with a championship on the line, a car that had fought us all weekend, no RPM reading, and everything riding on every pass—he kept his composure and executed.

He finished with 2nd place points for the day, securing the 2026 JR LIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP! 🏆🏆🏆

What a way to finish it.

This one is definitely bittersweet. This was Karson’s final season in the Jr Lighting division, and what a way to close the chapter.

He didn’t just win a championship.

He showed us what he is made of when everything went wrong.

He stayed calm. He trusted his car. He trusted himself. And most importantly HE NEVER GAVE UP.

I couldn’t be more proud of you, Karson. ❤️

🏆 2026 JR LIGHTING CHAMPION 🏆

One division down.

ONE MORE TO GO. (TRG 7.90 HEADS UP INDEX)

And in about 5 weeks, we’ll be heading to the NHRA Midwest Nationals to chase that next goal. 🏁🔥

Thank you to everyone who has supported or helped out Karson, K-Gene Racing Team, and our family throughout this journey. We couldn’t do it without you.

THE KING HAS BEEN CROWNED. 👑🏆

I present to you, the Jr Lighting 2026 Champion Karson Elkins. What an emotional day!
08/23/2026

I present to you, the Jr Lighting 2026 Champion Karson Elkins. What an emotional day!

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Alton, IL
62002

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