Norristown, Pennsylvania

Tom Auman comes to the Speedway Signature Event for the first time in 2024. From the suburbs of Pennsylvania, Mr. Auman is a staple in Pennsylvania robotics. A referee of eight years at the World Championships, he also boasts event credits at the Kalahari Signature Event, Mall of America Signature Event, and the Pennsylvania State Championships. He’s been a mentor in VEX Robotics for ten seasons. 

Montague, Michigan

Steve Clark returns to the Speedway, earning a place in the coveted four-timer club. In addition to his time at the Greatest Spectacle in Robotics, he served as a referee at Worlds in 2023 and 2024, as well as the Kalahari Signature Event. He boasts event credits at State Championships in the highly competitive states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Perhaps his most significant robotics accomplishment is being father to Ellie Clark, a member of the Battlebots. Coming from Montague, Michigan, Mr. Clark has spent 12 years involved with VEX Robotics. 

Jackson, Tennessee

KaBao McCarver is returning to the Speedway for the fourth time. This will be her third-straight Speedway event as a referee. Throughout her nine seasons as a referee, she’s been a Head Referee at the VEX Robotics World Championships, Indiana State Championships, Tennessee State Championships, and countless other Signature Events. Her motivation to become a Head Referee was sparked because, in her own words, “she was a terrible spectator and an annoying mom.” She hails from Central Tennessee.

Richwood, Ohio

John Queen will come back home again to the Speedway in 2024 for the second time. He last served as a Speedway referee in 2022. He’s been a referee at five World Championships and 26 different Signature Events, including the Kalahari Signature Event and the LAUNCH Signature Event — both hosted in his native Ohio. He’s also been a Head Referee at 14 different State Championships, including Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. When he’s not serving as a Head Referee, he is teaching himself Mandarin Chinese.

Elizabethtown, Kentucky

Spencer Yates will return to the Speedway as a member of our elite four-timer club. One of the most visible referees in the Midwest, he served as a Head Referee at State Championships in Kentucky, Indiana, and Tennessee. Other event credits include the Haunted, Kalahari, SCORE Showdown, Bristol, Hollywood Blockbuster, Gateway to the West, and Sugar Rush Signature Events. When he’s not serving as a referee, you can find him cheering on German football team Borussia Dortmund as a super fan. Mr. Yates, an Eagle Scout, is from Elizabethtown, Kentucky.