HOUSTON, TX, (November 13, 2026) – RAFA Racing Team and leading kart team Velocity Racing have joined forces to launch Fast Track, a driver development program designed to help young racers progress from karting into cars, with $210,000 in scholarships supporting their next steps.
Launching at the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas, Fast Track will combine racing and evaluation throughout the 2027 season with driver camps, fitness and nutrition support, media training and sponsorship education for drivers and parents.
Scholarships awarded in 2027 for the 2028 season will include $150,000 toward RAFA Racing Team car racing programs and $60,000 in karting support with Velocity Racing.
The partnership addresses one of the biggest challenges facing karting families: preparing for everything required to progress beyond winning races. Fast Track brings driver training, physical preparation and commercial education into one program, helping families build a sustainable foundation before the transition into cars.
“Moving into cars takes more than a quick lap time,” said Kevin Conway, RAFA Racing Team Principal and Partner.
“We want drivers to arrive ready to learn, ready to represent their partners and ready to handle the physical and mental demands of the next level. Fast Track gives us the opportunity to build those habits while they are still in karting, with their families involved from the beginning.”
Fast Track combines RAFA Racing Team’s professional racing and performance resources with Velocity Racing’s karting operation. Participants will compete with Velocity Racing on Sodi chassis using team engines while developing the skills needed for the next stage of their careers.
RAFA-led camps at the RAFA Racing Club headquarters in Houston and Velocity Racing camps in Orlando will provide focused development opportunities. Fitness, nutrition and physical training will draw on the approach used by RAFA’s professional drivers, with access to RAFA’s driver training app between events.
“The partnership is to provide a progression from karting into cars and also support parents in understanding the business side of it,” said Kris Kenific, founder of Velocity Racing.
“We want to provide a ladder and the infrastructure here in the U.S. to give kids an understanding of how to grow—both the business side, their marketing and brand awareness, while also developing their skills.”
Dedicated education for parents will cover sponsorship, media and the business of motorsport, helping families understand the resources and responsibilities involved in advancing through the sport.
For Kenific, building that understanding early is essential. Families need time to develop sponsorship relationships and a financial plan alongside their driver’s racing skills, rather than confronting those demands only when a car racing opportunity becomes available.
“We want mature drivers with a business model behind them, where they’re not having to pull out because they can’t come up with the money 30 days before the season starts,” Kenific said.
“They need to understand those responsibilities and grow that over time. You don’t have to build all of that in a year when, all of a sudden, you want to progress into cars.”
Drivers will gain content and exposure to support their sponsorship efforts, alongside practical guidance on building their profiles and representing commercial partners.
Evaluation will take place throughout the 2027 season, with scholarships awarded that year to support racing in 2028. Fast Track connects Velocity Racing’s karting program with RAFA Racing Team’s car racing opportunities and a wider sports car pathway encompassing GR Cup, GT4 America and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.
“The scholarships give drivers meaningful support for their next step, but the work throughout the season is just as important,” Conway said.
“We’re looking to help young racers become complete drivers who understand preparation, teamwork and the value they bring to a partner. Those are skills they can carry with them throughout their careers.”
Kenific’s vision for the partnership also extends beyond success behind the wheel. Exposure to engineering, data, physical training and the business of racing can help participants discover opportunities throughout motorsport.
“If they learn the business side, become good engineers, good athletes and good young people, that is a great outcome,” Kenific said. “It’s really important for people who have made it in the sport to provide that counsel and education to the parents. I think that’s crucial.”
Families interested in Fast Track can meet representatives from both teams at the Velocity Racing paddock during the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas. For eligibility, pricing and the 2027 program schedule, contact support@velocityracing.com.
