WKA: Pit Board 2009-08-13

WKA's Pit Board - 08.13.2009

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Gold Cup Money Race one of the highlights of big doubleheader at New Castle Aug. 20-23

08.13.2009 -- The Coyote Motorsports Nationals -- Round 3 of the 2009 Bully Clutches Gold Cup Series -- will go off next weekend, Aug. 20-23, as one half of a doubleheader with the Rage Karts Speedway Pavement Series at the popular New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Ind. The Coyote Motorsports Nationals and Speedway Pavement's Jammer Clutches Grand Nationals mark the third doubleheader of the 2009 WKA season and first for these two series. The Dunlop Tire Road Racing and George Kugler / Bridgestone Manufacturer's Cup series, both driven by Mazda, shared facilities in December at Daytona and in July at Road America. Both events were considered successful with solid entry counts and competitive racing at the two world-class motorsports facilities.

One of the highlights to WKA's 2009 season has been the Gold Cup Money Races at the Lowe's Motor Speedway opener in March and Round 2 last month at Ohio's G & J Kartway. Both Money Races produced high entry counts, standing-room only crowds and outstanding races, won by Gary Lawson at Lowe's and Brett Farmer at G & J.

The Gold Cup Money Race will again take center stage Friday evening following a full day of practice at New Castle's one-mile road course. Briggs Animal Heavy rules will apply. Supporters of the third '09 version of this terrific event include Thor Oil, Bully Clutches, Robertson Torque, Briggs & Stratton, eKartingNews.com, Beasley Motorsports / Arrow Karts, American Power Sports, Absolute Auto/Wells Motorsports and Baker Racing Engines.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for next weekend's Money Race. Interested parties may contact WKA's Buddy Long at 704-455-1606 Ext. 19 or e-mail buddy@worldkarting.com or Steve Baker at 419-217-3881.

Gold Cup competitors again will have ample practice time at New Castle. The track will be open Thursday, Aug. 20, for pit pass sales, parking and practice from noon to 6 p.m. Pre-entered racers will be able to pick up their entries from 4 to 6 p.m.

Registration will be open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, which also features the aforementioned practice session from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday feature a full slate of qualifying, heat races and National main events, beginning with Briggs Lite Saturday and ending with the weekend's final race, Briggs Super Heavy, on Sunday afternoon. Performance North Kid Karts will run at breaks on both days.

Gold Cup and Pavement racers will be eager to get to New Castle next week. The landmark doubleheader event is the first of its kind for the Gold Cup and Speedway Pavement tours and the first ever event for both series at the beautiful central Indiana facility.

To view the Coyote Motorsports Nationals entry blank, visit www.worldkarting.com/downloads/eb-2009/0821_newcastle_gc.pdf. To view the Jammer Clutches Grand Nationals entry blank, visit www.worldkarting.com/downloads/eb-2009/0821_newcastle_pave_GN.pdf. Pre-registration is now closed, but as always competitors will be able to register at the track.

Look for a Jammer Clutches Grand Nationals Speedway Pavement preview in a Pit Board early next week.

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Daytona Dirt World Championships progressing

08.13.2009 -- Following up on a story that was posted by a Daytona-area newspaper two weeks ago, plans for a new dirt track at Daytona International Speedway are moving forward. A new synthetic turf currently being installed at Daytona Municipal Stadium prompted speedway officials to look at other options for the future, including WKA KartWeek, as well as a very lucrative Bike Week in March.

With the final few permits being acquired, and surveying being finalized, construction of a new track will begin September 1 with the excitement of dirt flying in Daytona this December becoming a reality once again.

Plans call for Briggs & Stratton Speedway Dirt Series competitors to utilize December 27 as the official parking day, with a full day of practice slated for December 28, giving all competitors plenty of time to get acclimated to the new surface. Two full days of racing will follow December 29 and 30.

Sponsorship packages are now available for the 2009 Speedway Dirt season. For sponsorship information, contact WKA's Marie Borsuk at 704-455-1606 Ext. 11 or e-mail marie@worldkarting.com.

In the coming weeks, the new entry blanks for Daytona KartWeek will be assembled and online, providing competitors the necessary information for a return to the World Center of Racing.

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Carolina Motorsports Park becomes Birel and Rotax dealer and service center

KERSHAW, S.C. (08.13.2009) -- After their recent announcement of adding a state-of-the-art kart track to their racing facility, Carolina Motorsports Park has teamed up with MRP Motorsport, importer for Birel Racing Karts and Rotax Kart Engines, to become a Birel and Rotax dealer and service center.

In addition to the Birel Racing Karts and Rotax Karting Engines, CMP also will be able to service the Monza Racing Kart line as well as be an official Freeline accessories dealer.

"We are extremely excited to make this announcement and to be working with MRP to be trained and certified in service of both Birel and Rotax products," said Jochen Tartak, CMP track manager. "We opted to work with a leader in the industry and a company that could provide us the best possible training to satisfy the needs of our growing customer base."

Carolina Motorsports Park fits very well into the MRP dealer group, according to Marc Miller, director of brand development for MRP Motorsport.

"CMP and their staff are no strangers to motorsports and the new kart track promises to be an amazing addition to a region that is in need of such an outlet to help the growth of karting," he said. "We look forward to working with them as they develop a top-notch service program for the entire Birel and Rotax product lines."

For more information on CMP, please call 803-475-2448 or e-mail: info@carolinamotorsportspark.com. For further information on Birel and Rotax products, visit www.GoBirel.com or www.GoRotax.com or contact MRP at 269-756-9133.

About Carolina Motorsports Park

Located just an hour from Charlotte in Kershaw, S.C., Carolina Motorsports Park is the only purpose-built road racing facility in the Carolinas. Sanctioned by The Sports Car Club of America and designed by famed track designer, Alan Wilson, the track offers a challenging 2.23-mile, 14-turn road course. It was built in 1999 by a small group of investors, led by driving enthusiasts Joe Hooker and Bob Humphreys.

Carolina Motorsports Park's clientele includes organizations such as the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), National Auto Sport Association (NASA), Porsche Club of America (PCA), BMW Car Club of America (BMWCCA), WERA, NESBA, CCS, and Historic Sportscar Racing. Teams competing in NASCAR, AMA Superbike, American Le Mans Series, Grand AM, Koni Challenge and World Challenge also utilize the track for testing.

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Championship Karting International unveils 2010 schedule on live video

PHOENIX (08.13.2009) -- In yet another ground-breaking move in the karting community, Sunday at the CKI Grand Prix of California, Championship Karting International officially unveiled its 2010 schedule, live on-air as part of the SpeedCastTV video race coverage -- a first of it's kind live announcement. The 2010 line-up features a new CKI format highlighted by East and West Divisional contests, plus national shootouts that showcase the racing skills and talent from both divisions for North American bragging rights. Six events in all, the slate features some of the country's hottest tracks, and best locations -- making the 2010 CKI season a world class experience.

The schedule features two showdowns for both the East and West National Divisions at premier tracks in both regions, plus two national events held at centrally located facilities that will pit competitors from both divisions against each other -- giving racers a chance to go head-to-head with the best from all over America.

"Establishing two divisions will make it easier for our competitors to get not only the best race experiences at top notch racing facilities, but also the convenience of not having to travel great distances for these world-class events. Plus, having centrally located national contests bring all the racers together on a national stage," states CKI Co-Founder Phil DeLaO. "With the help of some of the best locations across North America, we've put together a schedule that is second to none."

CKI 2010 Schedule

East National Division
Grand Prix of Florida, Palm Beach International Raceway March 26-28
Grand Prix of New Jersey, New Jersey Motorsports Park July 23-25

West National Division
Grand Prix of Reno, Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, NV May 14-16
Grand Prix of Colorado, Grand Junction Motor Speedway Sept 10-12

East/West Nationals
Grand Prix of New Castle East/West Challenge, New Castle Motorsports Park June 18-20
CKI 2010 CKI Grand Championship (Location TBA) October 22-24

With three of four 2009 events in the books, here's perspective from CKI Co-Founder RJ Valentine: "CKI is having an outstanding inaugural season. With the support of our competitors and sponsors, we've had terrific competition and big prizes at some of America's greatest tracks. We'll keep building on that momentum in 2010. We've learned a lot this year and will continue to work hard to deliver on the promise to bring kart racing in America to a new level -- enhancing it as the ideal ladder system to professional motorsports; training aspiring drivers in all facets of motorsports. I look forward to the rest of this season and another memorable campaign in 2010."

Next up on the 2009 CKI schedule is the season finale, CKI Grand National Championship at Oklahoma Motorsports Complex, Norman, Okla., on October 9-11. CKI then goes to the annual PRI Trade Show for the PRI/CKI Karting All-Star Classic in Orlando, Fla., on December 10. Entries are now being accepted at the CKI website event page, offering racers an easy to use, one-stop portal to register for races. Check it out at www.championshipkartracing.com.

For more information about CKI sponsors, go to www.bridgestone.com; www.formulabmwusa.com; www.ssceast.com; www.italianmotors.com, www.decalmx.com; www.leadingedgemotorsports.com and www.russellkarting.com.

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-credit: wka