Although Amarillo has had some go-kart racing hype in recent years, it isn’t known as a racing city. If you visit Amarillo you are likely traveling for the delicious steaks, beautiful art, and popular space exhibits.
However, just because the culture isn’t oiled up, doesn’t mean go-karting is impossible in the dry canyon. You just need to know where to look.
Amarillo Silver Dollar Speedway
The Amarillo Silver Dollar Speedway is a racing track built for professionals. It is the fastest and smallest dirt track in Texas gathering big crowds and big dreams.
State: Texas
City: Amarillo
Type: Professional
Track: Dirt
Karts: Open Wheel and Cage
Karts Top Speed: No Max
Requirements: Yes – Full Details Here
Onsite Food & Beverages: Food Trucks
Entertainment: No
Party & Group Booking: No
Merch Shop: Provided by drivers, but not expected
Price Range: from Free to $2000
Amarillo Silver Dollar Speedway Overview
All races at Silver Dollar Speedway start at 7:30 pm, and their gates open at 6 pm. This alone should tell you that the atmosphere you’ll experience edges on “evening hype”.
Mostly skilled children race in on this course, with their mechanic family members cheering them on. However, adult and senior races are the most popular. You can expect a race every week in the height of summer.
Race Track Overview
The dirt track is oval, and the stands surround the area, allowing you to see every moment of the race.
The corners are simple, making the course a speed race instead of a maneuvering one.
The lap expectancy changes depending on the type of karts racing, but the atmosphere is charged.
Track 1
Difficulty: Medium
Type: Outdoor Dirt
Type Of Go-Karts
In the Boxstock stock class, entry-level drivers must use a Harbor Freight Motor of 6.5 horsepower. It must also have a 212cc OHV horizontal shaft gas engine.
Approved motors are Harbor Freight lot# 69730, 60363, 68120, or current Harbor Freight motor.
The wheels have to be 5 inches or 6 inches, with an open tire rule and automotive gas only (87 to 2 octane).
In the Junior 1 Flat class, the engine must be NKA Clone with 1 hole at 0.425 inches. Mufflers are mandatory.
The wheels need to be 5 inches or 6 inches, there is an open tire rule and the octane gas has to be 87.
In the Junior 2 Flat class, the rules are the same as the Junior 1, however, the restrictor plate hole must be 0.55 inches.
In the Senior Flat Predator, all motors must be Motor Ducar 212 cc. Again, the open tire rule is used for this class, and the octane gas must be 87.
All details can be found here.
Food & Beverages
Food trucks are common at the Silver Dollar Speedway. Alcoholic beverages aren’t normally sold but you are allowed to bring your own.
Entertainment
Although local talent may show some entertainment between races, there isn’t a secondary show for you to watch or participate in.
Party Or Group Bookings
As this is a professional race course, there isn’t a special section for parties. However, you can buy your way into the races for $100.
Should a party wish to get involved, they need to pay this fee and bring their own approved kart.
Age & Height Restrictions
For the Senior Flat Predator race, drivers must be 14 years or older. The Junior 2 Flat race contains drivers between the ages of 11 and 15.
The Junior 1 Flat race is for drivers ages between 8 and 12. And the Boxstock age restriction is between 5 and 8.
Height is not restricted however licensing is required.
Merchandise Shop
Drivers may sell their own merchandise in the lead up to, and after the racing, however, this shouldn’t be relied upon.
If there is a specific racer you hope to get merchandise from, ask them about these details through their social media accounts.
Additional Information
Location:
205 SE 58th Ave, Amarillo, Texas
Hours:
Gates open at 6 pm, and races start at 7:30 pm.
Pricing & Sessions:
General admission is $5.00
Under 12s go free
Pit Passes are $35 per car.
Pit Spots are $50 each
Reserved Parking is $200 per season (this includes 2 general admission passes for the season)
Buying an entry into a championship race costs $100 for the season.
Contact:
Phone numbers – (806) 654-2606 and (806) 674-4127
The Amarillo Kart Circuit
The Amarillo Kart Circuit is another professional racing scene within Amarillo. The company that runs these races is called Texas Sprint Racing Series, and they use the Amarillo Kart Circuit in the fourth race of their series.
State: Texas
City: Amarillo (Panhandle)
Type: Professional
Track: Tigh Cornered
Karts: Race Dependant
Karts Top Speed: No Max
Requirements: Race Dependant
Onsite Food & Beverages: Food Trucks
Entertainment: No
Party & Group Booking: Race Dependant
Merch Shop: No
Price Range: Race Dependant
Amarillo Kart Circuit Overview
The Amarillo Kart Circuit is a private track course made of tarmac. Due to its private nature, you cannot book or view the area without a pre-approved event.
Amarillo Kart Circuit often only allows the Texas Sprint Racing Series to use its tracks.
Race Track Overview
The track itself is very difficult due to the hard corners, and quick bends. There are large areas of straight track, but this course is mostly about the maneuverability of the kart and the driver.
Track 1
Difficulty: Hard
Type: Tarmac Outdoor
Type Of Go-Karts
The types of go-karts allowed on this track are dependent on the event.
Food & Beverages
Trucks often flood to the Amarillo Kart Circuit when a race is on.
Entertainment
Additional entertainment isn’t always provided.
Party Or Group Bookings
As this is not a public area, you cannot enter the races. This means you cannot hire the race track for parties or groups.
Age & Height Restrictions
Dependent on the race and the event.
Merchandise Shop
Dependent on the race and the drivers.
Additional Information
Location:
275 FM2373, Panhandle, TX 79068
Hours:
Dependent on the series hiring the track.
Pricing & Sessions:
Dependent on the series hiring the track.
Contact:
Not Available
Tri-State Speedway
The Tri-State Speedway is a dirt track race course for professional and semi-professional racers. The area is considered family-orientated creating a fun environment for mechanics and kids alike.
State: Texas
City: Amarillo
Type: Professional
Track: Dirt
Karts: Race Dependant
Karts Top Speed: Race Dependant
Requirements: Race Dependant
Onsite Food & Beverages: Food Trucks
Entertainment: No
Party & Group Booking: No
Merch Shop: No
Price Range: Race Dependant
Tri-State Speedway Overview
Despite being filled with top-class racers, the shows and races on offer are often designed to help a charity.
For example, in February 2022, the First Annual Show and Shine Benefit held a Craniosynostosis fundraising event to help the Miller family.
Race Track Overview
The track is a dirt oval, making it a track based on speed rather than agility or maneuverability.
Lap times, racer allowances, and overall atmosphere all depends on the type of racing showcased on the day.
Track 1
Difficulty: Easy
Type: Dirt Outdoor
Type Of Go-Karts
The types of go-karts used are dependent on the type of race being shown.
Food & Beverages
The food trucks often vary, so don’t rely on availability.
Entertainment
Additional entertainment isn’t often given. However, some mid-race shows are displayed. Check out their Facebook page to see if any is on offer.
Party Or Group Bookings
As this is a professional racing arena, group and party bookings are not permitted.
Age & Height Restrictions
The youngest drivers allowed to race are aged 5.
Merchandise Shop
Dependent on the race and the drivers.
Additional Information
Location:
205 SE 58th Ave, Amarillo, TX 79118
Hours:
The races start at 7:30 pm.
Pricing & Sessions:
Dependent on the race.
Contact:
None available.
K1 Speed
If you were hoping for a more party-friendly go-karting experience, then K1 Speed is where you need to go.
5 hours away from Amarillo city center, we can’t really say that the track is in Amarillo, but sometimes you have to travel to get what you want.
State: Texas
City: Arlington
Type: Party
Track: Smooth Bends – Indoors
Karts: Single Seater Karts
Karts Top Speed: 45 MPH
Requirements: Junior’s Minimum height is 48 inches, and Adult’s 58 inches.
Onsite Food & Beverages: The Paddock Lounge
Entertainment: Arcade Games And Pool
Party & Group Booking: Yes
Merch Shop: Yes
Price Range: $25 – $100 per person
K1 Speed Overview
K1 Speed is an adult go-karting track that hosts celebrities such as One Direction, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Usain Bolt, and Christian Bale.
They have even hosted the world-famous Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
These celebrities would book out the whole venue, but us everyday racing fans can simply pay for a day pass.
Race Track Overview
The Arlington track can hold 6 drivers on its twisting turning course. There are two straights on the course, but they last for less than a second before the next turn comes your way.
This makes the track a drifting course, with sharp corners.
The atmosphere is fun and lively, like a club, but with less light of a show and more adrenaline.
Track 1
Difficulty: Hard
Type: Indoor
Type Of Go-Karts
The types of karts are reduced to two sizes, kids and adults. They are both Electric Karts with a top speed of 45 mph, which they can reach in seconds.
Each kart is considered high-performance, with flat torque curves to create easy acceleration and no delay.
Due to the fast speeds, all drivers must wear helmets, with no exceptions.
Food & Beverages
If you book a party event, you will receive beverages and pizza as part of your deal. However, if you are driving without a booking or with a small group, you can use the Paddock Lounge menu instead.
On the menu, you can expect appetizers, burgers, wings, chicken tenders, nachos, fries, pizza, quesadilla, cookies, and churro bites.
On the drinks side, there are beers, teas, energy drinks, coffee, and smoothies.
The menu doesn’t offer a lot of choice within each section. For example, the pizza options are either cheese, pepperoni, or sausage.
However, the food is delicious, with decent portion sizes and enough options to keep everyone satisfied.
Entertainment
If you are waiting for your turn to race, or simply want to spend more time in the K1 atmosphere, you can join in on their secondary entertainment – the arcane room.
This room has classic games, fighting games, punch bag games, and video driving games to keep the driving energy pumping.
Party Or Group Bookings
There are 6 types of group bookings you can make – Junior Birthdays, Adult and Teen Parties, Company Parties, Team Building Groups, Venue Hiring, and Holiday Parties.
The Company Parties, Team Building Groups, Venue Hiring, and Holiday Parties options all require talking to a party planner and don’t have a set price or group limit.
For the adult and teen parties, the price starts at $60 per person, giving you two races, food, and trophies.
And for the kid parties, the price starts at $55 per person, giving you two races, food, and trophies.
Age & Height Restrictions
There isn’t an age limit or restriction, however, the Junior package drivers need to be 48 inches or taller and the Adult package drivers need to be 58 inches or taller.
Adults and juniors cannot drive together.
Merchandise Shop
The K1’s Pro Shop has tons of merchandise for you to browse through. Including keychains, shirts, hoodies, hats, beanies, and head socks.
You can buy these branched items either at the track or online.
Additional Information
Location:
1801 E. Lamar Blvd, Arlington, Tx 76006
Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12:00pm – 10:00pm
Fri: 12:00pm – 12:00am
Sat: 10:00am – 12:00am
Sun: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Pricing & Sessions:
$25 – $100 per person
Contact:
Reservation – 1-855-906-5711 (8 or more racers)
Front Desk – 1-817-500-5095
Summary
Amarillo is a great location to watch professional kart racing. But, if you want to hire a track or play for fun, you need to fill up the tank and drive a little further.
If you enjoyed this article, you might enjoy our post on ‘The Best Place For Go Karting In Fort Lauderdale‘.
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