Pit Board 2010-11-02

Year-end awards presentations in the planning stages

11.02.2010 - The beginning of a new racing season also marks, in the WKA world, the beginning of the banquet circuit, or in the case for this season, year-end awards presentations. The difference in the two statements is a result of research done with many competitors in all series, as well as keeping a sharp eye on what has been a challenging economy to say the least. The general consensus is most drivers would prefer to be honored in the midst of ALL their peers, not just the ones who are able to make it to the ceremony.

With that said, starting at Daytona, competitors from the Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series will be honored on the biggest stage possible in the motorsports world, the podium on the infield of the famed Daytona quarter-mile dirt track.

With the new Daytona format set to be unveiled Thursday, not to mention a new dirt program, champions and top 10 finishers in the 2010 season will be honored each evening, prior to the beginning of that night's feature events. Drivers will be honored based on the classes that will be in action that evening, thus allowing them to be honored in front of not only the people they competed against all year long, but also many other heavyweights in the sport that will be there for the largest karting event in the history of the sport.

Moving to the Vega Speedway Pavement and Russell Karting Gold Cup Series, the more traditional type awards presentation will be taking place Saturday, January 15 at the Cabarrus Events Arena in Concord, North Carolina, in conjunction with The Karting Show, being put on by Allen Redman and Onsite Productions.

Once again the awards presentations will be intertwined between the two series. While details are yet to be finalized, the awards presentation will be placed between the morning practice session for the Indoor Race and those evenings scheduled races. Placing the awards presentation at the arena allows people to see the best of all worlds, a major off-season trade show with all having the opportunity to view the newest, hottest items in racing, not to mention see some actual racing, helping to appease the onslaught of cabin fever.

For the Dunlop Tire National Road Race and George Kugler / Bridgestone Manufacturer's Cup Series, both driven by Mazda, plans call for an awards presentation the weekend of March 11-13 at the Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, site of the second national event for both series in 2011. Details on which night each series will have their awards presentations will be announced shortly.

Specific times for all awards presentations will be available shortly. WKA officials wanted to release the details of all the upcoming awards presentations, affording competitors, sponsors and fans the opportunity to make necessary hotel arrangements for the respective awards ceremonies.

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WKA / SFI Technical Seminar on tap Nov. 20 at Parts Peddler Show in Syracuse

11.02.2010 - WKA will be heading north later this month for the first SFI / WKA Certified Technical Inspector Program of the season Nov. 20 at the Parts Peddler Trade Show in Syracuse, N.Y.

The seminar is open to all WKA members in good standing. It will feature both 4-cycle and 2-cycle programs, provided there is enough participation for each. Registration is at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and the seminar(s) starts at 1.

To register, contact WKA's Marie Borsuk at 704-455-1606 ext. 11. The cost of the seminar and certification examination is $125. The registration fee must be paid in advance.

In addition to being trained and certified to conduct technical inspection, there are added benefits to becoming certified. Contact information for all SFI / WKA Certified Technical Inspectors is available to all WKA divisional series and master track officials. This helps series and track officials identify inspectors for their events.

Members who wish to become certified as WKA Technical Inspectors will take the SFI / WKA Certification Examination at the conclusion of each seminar. Those passing the open book examination will receive a two-year WKA / SFI Technical Inspector certification. (Those not passing the examination will have one additional opportunity to take the test.) Based on their technical inspector experience, those who pass the exam will be assigned a certification level.

Level 3 - Certified to lead technical inspection at WKA national, divisional and local events

Level 2 - Certified to lead technical inspection at WKA divisional and local events

Level 1 - Certified to lead technical inspection at WKA local events

This is the first year the SFI / WKA Certified Technical Inspector Program has been held at the Parts Peddler Show, a staple Northeast motorsports event held each year at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

After the Parts Peddler, a 2-cycle seminar / program will take place Dec. 11 at the PRI Show in Orlando, Fla., and a 4-cycle program January 15 at The Karting Show in Concord, N.C.

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CKI crowns national champions at Las Vegas Mandalay Bay finale

11.02.2010 (TEMPE, Ariz.) - Championship Karting International, North America's premier national kart racing series, completed their 2010 national calendar with the awarding of six national champions after a long and eventful season of action.

Along with the six champions there were several special awards presented during the prize giving ceremony. One of the most talked about prizes was an award presented to the top Karting's Got Talent recipient. Mariah McGriff, one of 12 drivers in the program, received a $3,000 Bondurant High Performance School certificate along with 2011 Entry into the East or West events and the Grand Championships with a top North American karting team. This huge $5,000 prize giving opportunity was in addition to the KGT prize package and will surely boosts Mariah's program to a new level in 2011.

"Karting's Got Talent along with our other program The Race Lives Near You are important to everyone here at CKI," commented Series Manager Kevin Williams. "Mariah is a great racer and a great ambassador for the sport. We are proud to award her this amazing prize package for 2011."

KF2 sponsored by Bondurant School of High Performance Driving was the premier class with this internationally recognized CIK category has seen inroads in North American karting. A season long battle between SSC East pilot Arie Ouimet (CRG), Grand Products driver Phil DeLaO (Top Kart) and SSC East racer Joey Wimsett (CRG) came down to the final weekend of action. After eight races it was Ouimet taking the title over DeLaO by just three markers with Wimsett not far behind. Ouimet started the season on a tear taking the first three rounds to set himself up as the man to beat. DeLaO then made his presence known by taking two wins. In the final round Leading Edge driver Brett Felkins (Intrepid) jumped into the fray looking to play spoiler taking the final two event wins. Up for grabs for the champion was a nice piece of hardware and $5,000 in Bondurant Certificates to jumpstart their racing program. Second place earned a $2,000 prize package that includes entry to either the 2011 East or West and the Grand Championships. The third place driver was handed a Free 2011 East or West entry.

In KF3, sponsored by DFR and Supertune USA, it was Raquel Martinez (Top Kart) with a strong season on US soil to compliment her racing in Europe. The talented young lady from California took five wins in the six races she competed to best the hard charging Teaxan Mason Chelootz (Top Kart). Chelootz, for his part, took two wins in a great first season for the 14-year-old pilot. Team USA member Alessandra Madrigal (Kosmic) took third in the final points tally. The KF3 class winner was awarded $1,500 in Bondurant Certificates to jump start their racing program and earned a $2,000 prize package that includes entry to either the 2011 East or West and the Grand Championships.

RDD Motorsports supported the TaG Senior class, which came down to the final weekend with Kartel Motorsports driver Neil Alberico (Wild Kart) looking to best fellow California driver Taylor Miinch (Top Kart). The battle got tight as Top Kart factory driver Antonio Giovinazzi took the two feature wins in the final weekend of action. After the final tally it was Alberico with the class title and Miinch taking home second spot on the box. Third was secured by veteran pilot Kyle Wiegand (Top Kart). Like in the KF2 program, up for grabs for the champion was a nice piece of hardware and $5,000 in Bondurant Certificates to jump-start their racing program. Second place driver Miinch earned a $2,000 prize package that includes entry to either the 2011 East or West and the Grand Championships. Third place driver Wiegand was handed a Free 2011 East or West entry.

Adding to the excitement to the TaG Senior class, CKI handed out a prize package that any driver can appreciate with payouts of $1,000 to win, $500 for second and $250 for third for the weekend results. Italian driver Giovinazzi took the check for $1,000 while Alberico scored $500 and Miinch collected $250.

In the Vicci Apparel sponsored Leopard Junior class, it was Kiel Spaulding (Top Kart) showing the way taking the title by a huge 155 point margin over second place Raquel Martinez (Top Kart). Spaulding was able to take five wins in the six races he competed to take the title. Rounding out the top three in the points chase was Camden Geise (CRG) who took the opening two wins to start the season off. During the prize giving presentations Spaulding was awarded a $3,500 prize pack that included $1,500 in Bondurant Certificates and entry to either the 2011 East or West plus the Grand Championships.

Also looking for a national title was the Rotax Mini Max class supported by DFR and Supertune USA. Putting on a solid run at the Grand Championships it was Davey Manthei Jr. taking the title as the first CKI Mini National Champion. In second was Canadian Parker Thompson (Tony Kart) who was a double race winner in New Jersey. Third would go to Florida resident Patrico O'Ward (Alonso Kart) with four straight podiums to start the 2010 season. Manthei Jr. was presented a prize package valued at $2,000 that includes entry to either the 2011 East or West plus the Grand Championships.

The final class on the champions list was the always-tough Comer Cadet program sponsored by Grand Products. Zane Smith (Top Kart) and Davey Manthei Jr. (Wild Kart) each came into the Grand Championships with two wins and a dropped weekend leaving it down to the final event to decide the title. Each would do their part, splitting the wins and swapping spots in the prefinals to make too close to call. After the final adding it was Smith by a mere 11 points over Manthei Jr. with Parker Thompson taking third place finish. 2010 Comer Cadet Champ Smith was presented a prize package valued at $2,000 that includes entry to either the 2011 East or West plus the Grand Championships.

"The Grand Championship was a great event and those that attended were treated to a fantastic venue," comments Williams. "It was great to crown six deserving national champions."

And there was more to come. Open wheel racing team AcceleRace from Louisville, KY was on hand to show off their USF200 car and talk to drivers looking to make the next step in racing. Team owner Ardie Greenmayer awarded give certificates toward testing valued at $1,000. Winners included Neil Alberico from TaG Sr., KF2 Champion Arie Ouimet and PRD Driver Matt Johnson.

The final award of the year was the coveted Manufacturers Cup. All the makes were scored through the season long campaign the winner brand was Top Kart of Italy. Mike Tetrault of Grand Products, the North American importer of the WSK wining chassis was there to accept the award along with Comer Spa, makers of the Top Kart chassis, Manager Antonio Pena. The unique fluted trophy will be on display for one year until the next Manufactuers Cup will be decided.

The Grand Championships at Mandalay Bay completed the inaugural 2010 season. Plans are well underway for the 2011 season with more information to come shortly. Stay tuned to www.ChampionshipKartRacing.com for more information in the coming weeks.

About Championship Karting International

Championship Karting International (CKI) offers North America's highest level of kart racing available today. Through a partnership with WSK Promotions, the leading international karting competition series, and sanctioning by the World Karting Association, CKI promotes and operates the national WSK North American Round of the WSK World Series. In addition, CKI's outreach programs provide young karters the opportunity to build a kart-oriented racing career or climb the ladder to professional auto racing for more aspiring drivers. Through safety, fairness, and sportsmanship, CKI maintains the utmost level of professionalism available in karting. For more information, visit www.championshipkartracing.com.

-source: wka