At just eleven years old, Madison Foss is living the kind of story most young racers only imagine—one packed with speed, dirt, adrenaline, and a growing trophy shelf. From her hometown of Davenport, Iowa, she’s emerging as one of the most exciting young names in Midwest karting.
Madison first climbed into a kart in 2023 at Emma Indoor Raceway, racing in the junior amateur flat kart class. She still remembers that first time. “I was scared,” she admits. “But it ended fast—and I just wanted more.” Since then, she’s taken on bigger tracks, faster karts, and more ambitious goals, becoming a bold, fast, and fearless competitor who thrives in the heat of battle.
After moving up to the Junior 1 Flat Kart division, Madison began testing her skills in champ karts—larger, faster machines that demand more control and confidence. And while she’s still new to them, she’s already shown she has the instincts to go head-to-head with the best.
She even raced Daytona—yes, that Daytona—in her first year.
Now in 2025, Madison is a factory driver for Firewater Motorsports, the team that’s helped guide and shape her racing journey from the start. The team’s support, gear, and mentoring have been critical to her growth—and so has her connection to Firewater’s owner, who just happens to be the founder of the Champ Kart Series Madison will compete in this year.
Midwest Champ Kart Series (MCKS): Where Grit Meets Opportunity
The MCKS is a homegrown battleground—where racers sharpen their skills on dirt and asphalt, build community, and push the limits of what they can do behind the wheel. It’s not glitz and glamour—it’s raw, hands-on racing that builds the kind of champions you remember.
For Madison, this series holds extra weight. Not only is she driving a champ kart—she’s doing it under the mentorship of the very person who built the series. That direct connection gives her rare insight into how the series works, how to approach every track, and how to carry herself like a pro.
Her 2025 MCKS schedule:
- May 3 – Hawkeye Downs Speedway (Cedar Rapids, IA – Asphalt)
- June 7 – K3 Karting (Kankakee, IL – Dirt)
- August 2 – Route 66 Raceway (Pontiac, IL – Dirt)
- August 23 – Exit 7 Motorsports Park (Colona, IL – Dirt)
- October 3–4 – King of the Champs, K3 Karting (Kankakee, IL – Dirt Special)
FAT Karting League: High Tech Meets High Hopes
Alongside MCKS, Madison will compete in the FAT Karting League Regional Junior Series, a futuristic, electric-powered league created by Rob Smedley, a former Ferrari F1 engineer. Designed to lower the financial barrier to entry, the FAT League gives young racers an “arrive and drive” system with fully-prepped equipment and expert coaching.
Top performers are eligible for advancement into FIA F4, making it one of the few junior karting platforms with a built-in path to international open-wheel racing.
Madison’s 2025 FAT Karting League Schedule (New Castle Motorsports Park):
- May 17–18
- May 31–June 1
- June 28–29
- July 12–13
- August 2–3
- August 23–24
- September 6–7
- October 11–12
- October 25–26
The Firewater Factor
While her raw skill is undeniable, Madison is the first to acknowledge that her success isn’t solo. As a Firewater Motorsports factory driver, she receives top-tier equipment, behind-the-scenes support, and mentorship that’s shaped her both on and off the track. The team isn’t just a sponsor—it’s a family, one that’s invested in helping her grow into the racer she wants to be.
“Firewater helps me a lot,” she says. “I’m learning how to be more responsible, how to work on my kart, how to get better.”
Head Down, Eyes Forward
Madison’s not worried that some of her friends don’t quite understand the karting world. “They don’t like that I’m at the track so much,” she shrugs. “But I wish they knew—this isn’t easy. Not everyone can do it.”
She’s right. Between race prep, travel, gear, and the sheer pressure of performance, most kids her age couldn’t handle it.
But Madison’s not most kids.
She’s already dreaming big—Eldora Speedway, Eldora Millions, and sprint cars are in her sights. “I don’t race sprint cars… yet,” she says. “But I will.”
A Star on the Rise
With Firewater behind her, two elite series ahead of her, and a fire inside her, Madison Foss is ready for anything the racing world throws her way. She’s not just learning how to drive fast—she’s learning how to be great.
And one day soon, everyone else will know what Firewater, the Champ Kart Series, and the FAT League already do:
Madison Foss is built to win.