WKA: IRL SoK: Series PRI All-Star news 2008-11-26

MARCO ANDRETTI, WILL POWER AND ANTRON BROWN JOIN FIRSTKART.COM AT PRI ALL-STARS KARTING CLASSIC

"First Kart drivers look to fight for victory in third annual event"

The Snap-on Stars of Karting Series is pleased to announce that IndyCar stars Marco Andretti and Will Power as well as NHRA Top Fuel standout Antron Brown will compete with FirstKart.com in the Masters division at the 2008 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) All-Stars Karting Classic. Taking place on December 11th adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, the trio will join Karter division entries James Davison, Bobby Wilson and Spencer Pigot as they look to score victories in the annual event.

Andretti Green Racing pilot Marco Andretti will be back behind the wheel of a 125cc Leopard powered kart as he looks to take First Kart to victory lane. Andretti has scored one victory in the IndyCar Series and in 2008 had some very solid runs. Early in his car racing career, Andretti was a standout in Skip Barber claiming eight races in the 2008 National Championship. Progressing his way through the ranks, Andretti ran a limited Star Mazda schedule while he continued to focus his efforts in the IndyCar Program. Competing in the Indy Pro Series in 2005, Andretti went on to win three events and the next year became the youngest driver in IndyCar Series history.

Will Power will also compete under the First Kart banner as the Australian looks to bring the team to victory. Racing with the KV Technology Team in the 2008 IndyCar Series, Power scored the final Champ Car World Series event at the Long Beach Grand Prix, which also credited him for his first IndyCar Series victory. Power also went on to claim two other top five results in his IndyCar rookie year.

Top Fuel standout Antron Brown will trade in his rail car for a 125cc Parilla powered First Kart in his All-Stars Karting Classic debut as he will look to tear up the Masters division. Brown, who made the switch from Pro Stock Motorcycles to Top Fuel in 2008, scored several victories with David Powers Motorsports in his rookie season to claim a solid fifth in the series championship. Brown also made a few trips out to the New Castle Motorsports Park facility to get acquainted with the First Kart and will look to fight for the win in this year's edition of the All-Stars Karting Classic.

Joining the three Masters competitors will be a former Stars of Karting National Champion in Bobby Wilson. The talented Wisconsin native claimed the 2003 Intercontinental C (ICC) Stars of Karting national championship and has progressed his way through the ranks. Competing in the Firestone Indy Lights Series, Wilson has scored two series victories as well as holds the lap record for Indy Lights at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Australian pilot James Davison will also be behind the wheel of a First Kart on the night of December 11th as he looks to claim the victory in the Karter division. Davison has raced everything including Formula Ford, Formula Atlantic, Star Mazda, Formula BMW and in 2008, will focus his efforts with Sam Schmidt Motorsports in the Firestone Indy Lights Series

Joining Wilson and Davison will be current karting star Spencer Pigot. The Floridian pilot has scored one Stars of Karting victory in the Junior Intercontinental A (JICA) class and will likely be the youngest entrant at this years All-Stars Karting Classic.

Andretti, Power and Brown continue to add to the stellar driver line-up for the third annual All-Stars Karting Classic. These three drivers will join AJ Allmendinger, Max Papis, Cristiano Da Matta, Oswaldo Negri, Buddy Rice, Scott Speed, Townsend Bell, Jamie McMurray, Nelson Phillipe, Jan Heylen and Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Masters division. A series of further driver announcements are forthcoming for this prestigious event.

With a host of driver announcements and news forthcoming, please stay tuned to www.StarsofKarting.com for up-to-date information. The PRI show takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from December 11 - 13th with the All-Stars Karting Classic taking place on the evening of December 11h. Admission to the event is free along with a PRI show credential.

-credit: sok