WKA: IRL SoK: All-Stars Karting Classic news 2007-11-28

TAYLOR , JOHNSON AND SCHECKTER TO JOIN FIRSTKART.COM RACE TEAM AT ALL-STARS KARTING CLASSIC

Seattle, WA -- November 28, 2007 - The Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar Series and the FirstKart.com Race Team are pleased to announce the First Kart USA driver lineup for the 2007 Performance Racing Industry All-Stars Karting Classic to be held in Orlando, Florida. Competing in the Masters division will be IndyCar star Tomas Scheckter, NHRA Pro Stock Bike competitor Steve Johnson, and Daytona Prototype Team Owner and driver Wayne Taylor.

"With just over a week before the event, excitement is rising," exclaimed Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar Series Marketing Director Jeff Swoboda. "Two of these drivers competed in last year's event and had so much fun that they are back for more. I can't wait to get the event started."

Johnson, who competes in drag racing's elite series, will be back behind the wheel of a Parilla Leopard powered TaG kart at the second annual event. In 2007 Johnson competed and finished ninth in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category aboard his Snap-on tools sponsored Suzuki.

Daytona Prototype Team Owner and Driver Wayne Taylor will trade in his closed wheel DP car for an open wheeled 125cc machine in the hopes to better his result from last years PRI All-Stars Karting Classic. Taylor was fast right out of the box at last year's event and will look to again fight for victory in the Masters division.

Joining Johnson and Taylor will be All-Stars Karting Classis newcomer Tomas Scheckter. The South African driver currently drives for Vision Racing in the IndyCar Series and scored two fifth place finishes throughout the 2007 campaign on his way to tenth in the IndyCar Series points. Scheckter stopped by the First Kart USA shop earlier this week and is excited to get back in a kart.

"The entire FirstKart.com crew is excited to have these drivers in our program, stated First Kart North America President Tony Ventresca. "This is an event that we look forward to all year as it really caps off our season."

The PRI show takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from December 6 -- 8th with the All-Stars Karting Classic taking place on the evening of December 6th and will feature some of the top names in North American racing battling it out in the Masters Division, and the top drivers from the Snap-on Stars of Karting Series squaring off in the Karter Division. Drivers confirmed to be participating in the Masters Division of the event include Jamie McMurray (NASCAR), A.J. Allmendinger (NASCAR) John Andetti (NASCAR / IndyCar), Marco Andretti (IndyCar), Bryan Herta (ALMS), Joey Hand (Grand-Am), Buddy Rice (IndyCar), Eddie Lawson (MotoGP), Scott Speed (F-1 / Stock Car), Tomas Scheckter (IndyCar), Jan Heylen (ChampCar), Wayne Taylor (Grand-Am), Michael Valiante (Grand-Am), Steve Johnson (NHRA) and other to be announced soon. Admission to the event is free. The event will be filmed for two separate television broadcasts on SPEED Channel's Lucas Oil on the Edge program thanks to support from Snap-on and Bridgestone.

-credit: www.starsofkarting.com