CSOT: CART Stars of Tomorrow sets classes for 2002

PALM SPRINGS, CA - The North American Karting Association, administrators of the CART Stars of Tomorrow series, released more details of the 2002 program today to assist the competitors to prepare for next season. In an effort to expand the series and control the expenses for the competitors, the CART Stars of Tomorrow National Championships will take on a new look.

The CART Stars of Tomorrow is a driver development series to assist in identifying the leading young kart drivers in America to move up into the CART `ladder system' through the CART Skip Barber Formula Dodge, the CART Toyota Atlantic and the CART FedEx Championship series. The focus of the CART Stars of Tomorrow is on driver development rather than technical development.

Fred Marik, Executive Director of NAKA said, " With Bryan Herta now joining the Board of Directors of NAKA, we have the additional personal experience and understanding of the karting to CART `ladder system'. Bryan and Hollis Brown have created a wonderful program that parents and youngsters can understand and experience together. In looking forward to a career in motor racing that potentially leads to the Fed Ex CART Championship series. Motor racing can now be on an equal level with `Little League Baseball' or `Pop Warner Football' in family discussions about career path opportunities for young boys and girls."

In 2002, the CART Stars Championship will be based on 6 to 8 regional championship events at selected tracks across the United States. These tracks will all be NAKA approved based on CIK/FIA specifications and regulations. Each track will run a series of six events in their championship (with the competitors dropping two of their races) and the top three finishers receiving an invitation to the CART Stars National Championships at the Las Vegas Karting Center in November of 2002. In addition, three National Championship races will be held across the country allowing competitors to race against racers from other regions, with additional invitations to Las Vegas being awarded to these winning karters.

The classes to be contested for the CART Stars National Championships beginning in 2002 are the following:

125cc ICC (CIK/FIA) Shifter

125cc ROTAX MAX International

80cc Junior Shifter

In addition, while the regional series will encourage local option classes, all will include the new CIK/FIA World Formula consisting of a spec 4-cycle engine and a spec chassis. This entry-level CIK World Formula class will be mandatory for regional and national qualifying events and a featured class of the events. The schedule will be open for local option classes to race on Friday and Saturday, however, only the three CART Stars of Tomorrow Championship classes will run on Sunday to ensure sufficient track time and focus on these three CART Stars of Tomorrow National Championship categories.

The North American Karting Association will appoint an independent Competition Committee to oversee the CART Stars of Tomorrow series consisting of members with racing experience without any connection to the karting business community. This Competition Committee will independently make and resolve all decisions pertaining to the development and running of the CART Stars of Tomorrow racing series.

The CART Stars of Tomorrow series will again provide several awards including cash, tow money, test drives with an Indy Car team, and scholarships to Skip Barber programs. Regional and National Championship locations, specific rules, and awards for 2002 will be announced by December 15th.

www.nakarting.com

-NAKA -