K1 Speed’s 100+ locations and 2 K1 Circuit locations are full of employees who represent what it means to be part of the K1 family. For their work these past few months, we recognize six stand-out K1 employees. We also want to recognize the incredible work done by Florida team members at two pop-up activations (see pictures below).
Daizhon Fisher
MANAGER – NASHVILLE
Daizhon brings a profound sense of loyalty and a passion for community to his managerial role. A Nashville native, his history with the track spans an impressive nine years, beginning back when the location was Music City Karting. Before stepping into the world of motorsports, he worked nearby at GameStop. After a friend mentioned an opening just a five-minute walk from his house, he applied and was hired on the spot. Regional Manager Nichole Sarno proudly describes his long-standing dedication to the K1 Speed brand as “unmatched.”
At his core, Daizhon is driven by the pure joy he sees on the faces of junior racers experiencing the track for the first time, taking pride in actively introducing them to Nashville’s Junior Challenge GP. Outside of work, he spends his time taking care of his five-year-old nephew, playing video games, and sim racing. Looking toward the future, he plans to leverage his college education in Business Management to launch his own namesake brand of custom-tailored suits.
Andrea Semanova
PADDOCK COOK – ANAHEIM
Andrea’s journey to K1 Speed Anaheim began just over three years ago when she moved to the United States to work as an au pair. Originally, Andrea is from Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic. Funny enough, “Karlovy Vary” translates to “Carlsbad” in English… as in the home of our very first center! Although she grew up around motorsport thanks to her father’s passion for dirt bikes, she didn’t get deeply involved in the racing world until discovering the Anaheim track.
Seeking a new opportunity, she joined the team roughly six months ago and immediately appreciated the center’s close-knit, family-like culture. She notes that this welcoming atmosphere has been a wonderful and refreshing improvement from her previous jobs overseas. Off the track, Andrea is highly motivated by the life she is building in Southern California with her husband, and she looks forward to starting a family of her own in the next few years. In her downtime, she loves tapping into her creative side through art and puzzles, or spending weekends exploring the area, from local beaches to the Long Beach Aquarium.
Zion Benjamin
SHIFT SUPERVISOR – REDMOND
Zion Benjamin embodies adaptability and a self-starting spirit, both of which help in his supervisory role at K1 Speed Redmond. Originally from the small town of Ellensburg in central Washington, Zion joined the K1 Speed team roughly two and a half years ago. Despite having no prior background in the racing world (save for a single childhood birthday party), Zion hit the ground running… or racing, we should say. He has since become an incredibly versatile team member who seamlessly floats between the track, the Paddock Lounge, and the front desk, thriving in the dynamic, fast-paced environment of the Redmond center.
Zion is motivated by a desire to continuously grow and create a fulfilling life for himself. This personal drive is a major reason he values the strong camaraderie and teamwork, he has found at K1 Speed. Outside of his time at the track, Zion is an avid fan of story-rich video games. Looking toward the future, Zion remains ready to tackle whatever new challenges and operational changes come his way.
Kinsie Fischer
SHIFT SUPERVISOR – LAS VEGAS
Leaving behind the small-town charm of Brazil, Indiana, Kinsie headed to Las Vegas a few years ago to be closer to family. Since joining K1 Speed over two years ago, her upward trajectory has been nothing short of impressive. Her natural hospitality and attentiveness quickly propelled her from a cashier to a track operator, and eventually into her current leadership role as Shift Supervisor.
While she thrives in the high-energy environment of the track, her personal time is decidedly more low-key. A self-proclaimed “open book,” she loves getting lost in sci-fi and other novels or exploring hiking trails. Ambitious and forward-thinking, she is currently tackling real estate courses. In the near future, she hopes to either sell homes as a licensed agent or continue her successful management climb right here at K1 Speed.
Mario Pennetti
CASHIER SUPERVISOR – DAYTONA
From the Pennsylvania Poconos to the Sunshine State, Mario’s journey has always been fueled by sports. His passion for racing kicked into high gear at age ten when his father introduced him to Tony Stewart and the Daytona 500. Years later, while pursuing a Sports Business degree at Stetson University, he joined the K1 Speed team. Today, he is widely celebrated as the Daytona center’s “ultimate morale booster” — a reputation he credits to the tireless work ethic and unwavering support modeled by his parents.
When he steps away from the track, you’ll likely find him managing the staff’s fantasy football league, tuning into Formula 1, or acting as the unofficial, official Team Principal for his friends’ iRacing squad – happily contributing to their virtual fleet and approving liveries. Long-term, he has his sights set on the front office of a major professional sports franchise, hoping to leverage his degree in marketing or ticket sales.
Eduardo Lagunes
HEAD MECHANIC – BUFFALO GROVE
Eduardo is an extremely important member of the Buffalo Grove team and is responsible for maintaining the kart fleet. Growing up, Eduardo became interested in racing by watching NASCAR and Formula 1 on TV. Eduardo’s dad, despite having no interest in cars himself, fully supported his son’s passion and regularly took him to local car meets. When Eduardo was around 14 or 15 years old, his dad took him to his very first race, which was at a pop-up circuit in Joliet. Eduardo’s automotive passion is exactly what makes him such a magnetic presence at K1 Speed.
Known around the track for his authentic, “tell it like it is” honesty, Eduardo thrives on genuine connections with his team. He takes inspiration from his hero, Formula 1 driver Sebastian Vettel, deeply admiring the champion’s grit and ability to silence critics. Ultimately, he wants to take his mechanical prowess to the big leagues, dreaming of spinning wrenches in a professional motorsport paddock.
Florida Pop-Up Activations
“I want to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who helped build and break down our two outdoor karting tracks here in Florida,” said Regional Manager Marko Petronijevic. “Efforts like this take real teamwork, long hours, and a willingness to step up, and I truly appreciate the collaboration across all our centers. A special thank you to Rob Negri, General Manager from Daytona, Andres Bolivar, Regional Manager from Orlando, Alex Higgins, General Manager from Fort Lauderdale, and Charlie Fernandez, General Manager from Miami, for their leadership and support throughout the process. I’d also like to recognize the team members who stepped in to make this happen:
Daytona: Brinton Gambrell, Coy Rhinehart, Dylan Williams, Cooper Thacker & Juliana Tersigni
Orlando: Malik Glover, Junior Gutierrez, Mike Castoro & Chance Swearengin
Miami: Hector Arguedas, Eduardo Arrechavaleta, Josh Jimenez & Johann Arroyo
Fort Lauderdale: Austin Lima, Cliff Pierre, Fabrice Gauthier, Joshua Urbina & Devin Grimes
Thank you as well to Regional Technician Hilbert Osborne and Senior Director of Operations Drew Percival for their support. Finally, a very special thank you to our Senior Regional Technician, Angel Martinez, for organizing the entire effort and being there from beginning to end. Your leadership and commitment made this possible. I truly appreciate everyone’s hard work and the way our teams came together to get it done.”