he demise of Amsoil Arenacross after the 2018 season set the stage for another series to step in and make some noise. In stepped Kicker Arenacross. The series spans 11 cities throughout the United States from New Mexico to New York. Races run from November through March, offering both pro and amateur classes at each stop. A $5,000 pro purse is offered for Saturday races, attracting local and national-caliber professional riders alike.

Three-time 250SX winner and Racer X contributor Blake Wharton raced a round in January on his TiLube Honda while preparing for East Region SX.

“I wanted to race the Kicker Arenacross in Guthrie, Oklahoma, because I’ve been off a starting line for over six months,” Wharton says. “Racing for me, at this point, is an absolute necessity in order to get back into tip-top shape for supercross. I also wanted to give it a shot because I’ve heard good things about the series and competition.”

And that competition isn’t lacking, either. Phoenix Racing’s Jace Owen, Isaac Teasdale, and Fredrik Noren have been staples in the series at points, and when Wharton competed, Owen topped the podium in 250 and Open Pro both Friday and Saturday nights. As with most forms of arenacross-style racing, the series has seen its share of excitement in the form of bar-banging and block passes too.

There’s more to come, as television coverage will debut on FS2 in February with a ten-episode commitment.

“We are very excited to be partnering with Fox Sports to broadcast our Kicker Pro National Series, showcasing the 250 Pro and Open Pro classes during the Kicker Arenacross events,” promoter Tod Hammock says of the new broadcast. “These classes are full of extremely talented riders . . . and our new show will give race fans across the nation an opportunity to watch some intense and exciting battles.” Veterans Robbie Floyd and Kevin Johnson will be in the booth, while Kristen Beat will report from the track.

Follow the series and check out the remaining dates at kickerarenacross.com.