Which Road America Racing School Is Right for You?
The right Road America racing school depends on what you want to drive and where you want it to lead. If you want to drive your own car with more skill on the track, begin with Performance Driving 1 and Performance Driving 2. And if you want to start racing soon, at almost any age, the Kart Racing School is the entry point to club racing at the Briggs & Stratton Motorplex, where one eligible club driver each season earns a funded seat at Level Up Racing School.
Start with your goal, not the car
“Racing school” covers programs with very different end points. Some lead to competition. Others lead to track days, which at Road America are non-competitive, untimed events built around education. Before comparing programs, answer three questions:
- Do you want to compete, or build skill and confidence on track?
- Do you have a car you want to use, or would you rather drive something provided?
- How old is the driver?
Those answers usually point to one program.
Road America’s racing and performance schools at a glance
| Program | Best for | What you drive | Where it leads | 2026 price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kart Racing School | Beginners 8 and older who want to race | A Briggs & Stratton-powered racing kart prepared by Franklin Motorsports | Road America Karting Club racing | $495 |
| Performance Driving 1 | Drivers with little or no performance driving experience | Your own car | Performance Driving 2 and Track Days | $385 |
| Performance Driving 2 | Drivers 16 and older who finished Performance Driving 1 or have equivalent experience | Your own car, including lead/follow laps on the 4-mile road course | Track Days | $385 |
Prices are from the 2026 season. Check each program page for current dates and pricing.
Kart Racing School: the most direct route to racing
Karting is where many drivers first learn racecraft, and Road America’s Kart Racing School, powered by Franklin Motorsports, is designed for beginners. It is a half-day program for drivers 8 and older who have outgrown rental karts or want a structured start in competitive driving.
Students are paired with a racing kart prepared by Franklin Motorsports and receive coaching from experienced staff on safe practices, competitive driving lines and braking. The session starts in a group of seven to ten drivers, then splits into smaller groups of four to six based on early performance, so instruction matches each driver’s pace.
What makes this school a true racing path is what comes next. The Road America Karting Club runs competitive kart races on select weeknight and weekend dates from May to September, with classes for drivers from age 5 through adults. Graduates of the Kart Racing School can enter the club’s Weeknight Series through the Arrive and Drive program, which supplies a race-ready kart so you do not have to buy one first.
Choose this if: you want to race soon, the driver is young, or you want the lowest-commitment way to find out whether competition is for you.
Performance Driving 1 and 2: for drivers who want to use their own car
The Performance Driving Program, presented by Kohler Credit Union, is for drivers who want better car control in their own vehicle. It is not a racing license program. Its natural next step is a Road America Track Day.
Performance Driving 1 is a one-day class for drivers with little or no performance driving experience. You bring your own vehicle (a high-performance car is recommended) and a valid driver’s license. The day combines classroom instruction with hands-on braking, cornering and acceleration drills plus autocross-style challenges, along with a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the property. It does not take place on the 4-mile road course.
Performance Driving 2 builds on those fundamentals for drivers 16 and older who have completed Performance Driving 1 or have equivalent experience. After classroom time and focused car-control drills, the day ends with professional lead/follow sessions on Road America’s 4-mile road course. You will need proof of insurance and registration, and your vehicle is subject to a safety inspection by an instructor.
Road America strongly recommends the Performance Driving schools before a first track day, and notes that drivers who complete both classes tend to move up from the Novice run group to Intermediate more quickly.
Choose this if: you own a car you enjoy driving, want to learn how to use it properly, and are interested in track days rather than wheel-to-wheel competition.
Level Up Racing School: from karts to cars
For drivers who want to move from karts into car racing, Road America links its karting program to Level Up Racing School at Road America. Through the Road America Karting Club’s Level Up Driver Championship, one eligible club driver each season earns a fully funded seat at the school, a scholarship package valued at more than $6,000. For current race school availability, check with Road America Schools.
What about Teen Driving and Winter Driving?
Road America also runs driving schools for teen drivers and winter conditions. These are valuable programs, but they focus on everyday driving safety rather than racing or track driving. Riders can explore Road America’s separate motorcycle schools.
A sensible path for each type of driver
- A young driver curious about racing: Kart Racing School, then Arrive and Drive in the Karting Club Weeknight Series.
- An adult with a performance car: Performance Driving 1, then Performance Driving 2, then Track Days.
- An adult who wants to race: Kart Racing School, then the Karting Club, which has adult classes and a path to a funded Level Up Racing School seat. Performance Driving and Track Days build seat time in your own car.
- A driver with no suitable car who wants time on the 4-mile course: a Track Day in a rented RUSH SR, a single-seat track car offered through Diversion Motorsports with limited availability.
Find your starting line
Every program above is taught in a controlled environment by experienced instructors, so there is no wrong place to start, only a better fit for your goals. Explore Road America Schools to see current dates, requirements and registration for each program.