LANCASTER, Calif. – It is the ninth year for the Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix and with 193 drivers, it’s nearing capacity.

“It’s going to become one of those where you actually have to enter and we’re going to have to say, ‘no, we’re done,’ because we can’t grow anymore.  The last two years, a New Zealander is the champion here, so that’s how far they come.  We got people from Italy. We got people from Mexico. So I mean, it’s really, really cool," said Tom Kutscher, CEO of SuperKarts! USA, hosting the event with the City of Lancaster.

The competition also has people from not too far away.  Driver Darrell Tunnell is a member of Team Visalia and a racing veteran.

"I've raced every Lancaster Grand Prix race they’ve had, which is nine this year, so I’ve done them all. The first strategy is to stay out of the barriers, because they’re non-forgiving and it can do a lot of damage to your kart and/or body, if you hit them hard enough,” said Tunnell.

Delany Adamo, 11, of Yucaipa found out firsthand how punishing the Streets of Lancaster can be.

“I did a cartwheel, which is I flipped more than once and I was going through turn two and I hit the barriers and I cartwheeled,” said Adamo.

Adamo has been racing for four years, since she was seven. Though she said her cartwheel was “kinda” scary.

“I will keep racing this weekend, because I love racing and I’m not going to stop,” said Adamo.

At this race, and all races, a big part of what everybody seems to love about racing is the teamwork.

“We have a neighbor that’s actually racing in the same class as us that we just met today.  He has a little problem with his engine, so as sportsmanship goes, you work together and just get it done," said Teri Bixler, of San Jose-based Bixler Racing.

The Streets of Lancaster Grand Prix is the longest straightaway in all of North American karting. Typically, straightaways are 800 feet.  At the Lancaster Grand Prix, they're 1,000 feet. That long straightaway helps get the ProKart racers from zero to 100 mph in about five seconds, which might have something to do with why drivers love racing, and especially the Streets of Lancaster.

“There’s nothing like it anywhere.  It’s the speed, the adrenaline, especially on a track like this.  It’s a constant adrenaline high," said Levi Bennett, ProKart Racer on Team Visalia.