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FYI
07-25-04

X-KARTS, ROTAX & RED BULL AT ‘HOT AUGUST NIGHTS’ EVENT

Las Vegas, Nevada — The X-Karts Racing Series has announced that Red Bull will again have a presence at their upcoming race in Reno, Nevada at “Hot August Nights”. This will be the second consecutive year that Red Bull has attended this event. Howard Lipkint states “We are very pleased to have Red Bull return and add their professional touch to our race. As we continue to grow and enhance the exposure of this sport, it is our intention to build our relationships with industry and “outside of the box” sponsors, such as Red Bull”.

Digatron, a leading manufacturer of Data Acquisition Systems for Performance Engines and one of the new sponsors added this year to The X-Karts Racing Series, has announced that as part of their sponsor package, they are going to provide two “DT-54k Max Gauges” as prizes. This is one of their most popular pieces of equipment and has an approx. value of $500 each. More details on the DT-54k can be found on their web site at www.digatronusa.com.

ROTAX ADDED:
Due to the high demand, The X-Karts Racing Series has added the Rotax Class to their upcoming event at “Hot August Nights” in Reno, Nevada. Lipkint says “We have been receiving a tremendous amount of inquiries in regard to the Rotax class, so we decided that it was in everyone’s best interests to add the following classes to our lineup in Reno; Rotax International, Rotax Masters and Rotax Jr.” There will also be a $2,500 total purse payout for the Rotax class. Lipkint adds “The payouts are an important part in continuing to build the sport of Kart Racing and taking it to the next level. The racers need to know that they have an opportunity to recoup some of the expenses they incur traveling and maintaining their karts. While we strive to increase the exposure of the sport, it is in the driver’s best interests for themselves and their sponsors to take advantage of the added recognition we provide”. All purse payouts will be paid ON-SITE.

Additional sponsorships for this televised event are still available. Please contact sponsor@xkartsracing.com for more information.

The race dates are July 30 – August 1, 2004 and will again be held at Desert Raceway Park, home of the Northern Nevada Kart Club (www.nnkc.com), just outside of Reno.

Online registration is available through one of our marketing partners at www.speedreg.com and is a free service for all participants. Entry forms can also be downloaded from www.nnkc.com.

We have developed a special incentive program for Kart Shops and Team Owners to help increase their exposure as well as exposure of drivers’ sponsors. For more information or participation in the Incentive Program, please contact: sponsor@xkartsracing.com

IN OTHER X-KARTS NEWS:
The next X-Karts Racing Series event has been set and will be announced in the upcoming issue of Go Racing magazine. The dates for this event are the weekend of September 24th & 25th and will again be a “Cool Race in a Cool Place”. For more information, please contact, howard@xkartsracing.com

STARS OF KARTING ANNOUNCES TECH UPDATE – SPECIFIED CASTOR OIL CHANGE
Hilliard, OH - Snap-on Stars of Karting announced today the release of an update to their technical regulations. It is available for download on the website at www.starsofkarting.com.

National Technical Director, Scott G. Evans explains, “Continuous improvement and clarification of our rulebook is on-going. In this third update of our 2004 rulebook, competitors will find clarifications regarding the Cadet class, the ICC class and general clarifications and change regarding all classes. All changes are effective immediately and in force beginning with the east national at Charlotte.”

The most significant change involves the specified castor oil for all classes. Previously specified as VP Racing Fuels’ RC3 castor, the change to Burris HiRev castor is predicated by a recent change in the VP formulation. Evans expounds, “The RC3 castor has been a standard of the industry for years and our competitors are very familiar with its characteristics. In an effort to evolve and improve its product line, VP recently changed its formulation. While we are working with VP to better define the changes made to the oil, we feel it is in the best interest of our competitors to make the switch to the Burris oil, a formulation nearly identical to the previously specified product. Previous testing results and reliability will remain unchanged and minimize costs to our constituents.”

For those competitors preferring a blended oil, VP Racing Fuels’ C2 blend continues to be specified. Ample supply of both oils will be available for purchase at the track, however competitors are invited to bring their own oil – as specified and in sealed containers – for check-in to parc ferme.

STARS & SKIP BARBER RACING ANNOUNCE SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED RELATIONSHIP
Hilliard, Ohio — The Snap-On Stars of Karting and Skip Barber Racing have agreed to expand their existing relationship as part of an ongoing effort that will continue to build their respective racing series, significantly reward top competitors, and provide leadership and growth for the sport of karting as a whole. The new agreements are through 2006, with options for further extensions.

Of particular note in the new agreement is a guarantee that for each year's Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Run-off (first conducted in 1997), at least half the field of nominated karters will be Stars of Karting drivers. At the annual Run-off, more than $100,000 in cash racing-scholarships are awarded to karters to compete in various Formula Dodge racing series, including the professional Skip Barber National Championship Presented by RACER.

For the January 2005 Karting Run-off, 16 karters will be nominated candidates, which means at least eight will be coming from the Stars of Karting series. Four awards are up for grabs: A full-paid season in the 2005 Skip Barber National; a half-paid season in the National; a full-paid season in any of the four Skip Barber Regional Series (West/East/South/Midwest); and a half-paid season in one of the Regionals.

In addition to the karting scholarship awards, Stars of Karting and Skip Barber Racing have agreed to continue the award of a fully paid season in the professional Skip Barber National Championship Presented by RACER to one top Stars karter, chosen by a distinguished motorsports panel at the conclusion of each year's Stars of Karting season. The first Stars of
Karting driver to receive this award (in November 2003) was Robbie Pecorari, who is currently seventh in the 2004 Skip Barber National, with four top-5 finishes in eight races, including a second-place at Sebring.

Stars of Karting and Skip Barber Racing have also agreed to a cooperative marketing and promotional relationship that will provide exclusive benefits. With this, the Skip Barber Racing School becomes the Official Racing School of the Snap-On Stars of Karting, and includes Skip Barber trackside signage, event promotions, officials¹ uniforms and vehicles, and ID on competitor uniforms, karts, etc.

''This is a special day for everyone at the Snap-On Stars of Karting,'' said Bryan Herta, Stars principle and current IRL driver for Andretti-Green Racing. ''In our quest to further not only our series but the entire sport of karting, it is important to align ourselves with key, integral partners. We have done that with our title sponsor Snap-On, and now with Skip Barber
Racing. They are recognized worldwide as the industry leader in driver development and the promotion of aspiring pro drivers.

''We want our competitors to be exposed to Skip Barber's years of expertise,'' Herta added. ''In fact, after my own karting career, I joined the Skip Barber ladder system (School, then Western Race Series, then Barber Pro Series) for the first four years of my auto racing career. Since Stars of Karting's infancy, Skip Barber Racing has supported us, and now we look forward to a long and even more fruitful relationship over the many years to
come.''

Stu Upson, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Skip Barber Racing, said, ''This expansion and formalization between us is going to be a great asset to North American motorsport. Yes, Skip Barber Racing and Snap-On Stars of Karting will each benefit directly -- we both have a great opportunity to draw more competitors -- yet more importantly to the bigger picture of grassroots and beginning professional open-wheel competitors, this adds a particularly appealing rationalization to climbing the ladder from karts to racing's top ranks.''

The specific details, outlines and rewards of the new agreements and the Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Run-off will be announced shortly.

Based in Hilliard, Ohio, Snap-On Stars of Karting is sanctioned by the World Karting Association (WKA), the largest sanctioning body of kart racing in the United States. WKA is a membership-owned, non-profit organization that regulates and promotes the sport of competitive WKA kart racing. WKA establishes the rules and procedures to set standards by which to sanction tracks and conduct annual championships for various types of WKA karting. For more information, please visit www.worldkarting.com or contact WKA
Headquarters at 704-455-1606.

Headquartered in Lakeville, Conn., the Skip Barber Racing School is the world’s largest racing and driving school, operating at more than 20 race tracks across the U.S. and Canada. In addition to the Racing School and the Dodge/Skip Barber Driving School, it also owns and operates five prestigious open-wheel racing championships: The Skip Barber National Championship Presented by RACER, and the four Skip Barber Regional Formula Dodge championships (East, West, South and Midwest). Other components include the
Corporate Events department and an innovative Special Projects Group, which as part of its responsibilities is active in the emerging youth/tuner/drifting market. More information is available by calling 860.435.1300, and at www.skipbarber.com.

Snap-on Inc., is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of tool and equipment solutions for professional tool users. Product lines include hand tools, power tools, automotive diagnostics and shop equipment, tool storage products, automotive diagnostics software and other solutions for the transportation service, industrial, government, education, agricultural, and other commercial applications, including construction and electrical. Products are sold through its franchise dealer van, company
direct sales and distributor and internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $2+ billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wis., and employs approximately 14,000 worldwide. More information can be found at www.snap-on.com.

CHIAPETTA CONTROLS THE TOP OF THE POINTS STANDINGS AT THE BURRIS CIRCLE TOUR
Lisle, Illinois — Midway through the season, Nick Chiapetta holds a slim lead in the Overall Championship Series Points in the Burris Circle Tour, the Midwest's Premier Speedway Karting Series. In the Mid-Season Championships at Lake Geneva Raceway, Jeff Everts won his first feature of the year in Sr. Lite by a mere 3/100ths of a second over Ryan Rockhold in a final spurt of speed at the finish line. This was Everts’ first feature win of the year and moves him to
within 43 points of Nick Chiapetta, the current Sr. Light points leader and second in the overall points standings.

F200 Sr. driver, Brandon Eash owned the track in the F200 trophy class, winning by ¾ of the track over Chris Lishamer, Mikie Breiner, and Amanda Lishamer. Eash had mechanical problems in the F200 Pro race, leaving the track open for Amanda Lishamer and Mikie Breiner. The drivers ran side-by-side for most of the race, then, Lishamer extended her lead in the last lap to a kart length. Briener, not to be outdone, dived inside and almost pulled off the win. Lishamer did finish out in front with a margin of victory of 1/10th of a second. Breiner was second and Chris Lishamer rounded out the paying positions. Breiner is the current points leader in the F200 Sr. Class.

In other senior action, Ryan Rockhold and Brandon Eash took the top 2 spots in Sr. Medium while Stan Guess, Don Rado, Dave Terrafino and Rob Blake finished in the top 4 spots for Sr. Sportsman. Eric Freiberge leads the Sr. Medium points standing and Dave Terrafino moved in front of JJ Adams for sole possession of the points lead in Sr. Sportsman.

Damian Jenks continues his streak in Jr. 3 winning his 5th feature of the year and maintaining a solid points advantage over Tyler Peterson and Tommy Jones. Ben Stumpf finished second in the Mid-Season Championship race - just ahead of Tyler Peterson and Tommy Jones.

Andy Jones ran a great race making a strong bid for his first feature. In the last lap, Jones shut down Alex Stumpf but couldn't quite get by Corey Talaska. Talaska is currently the Jr. 2 points leader and is in third place in the Overall Burris Circle Tour points standings.

Ryan Marshall, Jimmy Sivia and Jason Cox ran right next to each other for 24 laps in the Champ F200 Jr. 3 feature. Coming around the last corner, Cox bumped Sivia, spinning himself out. Sivia put the pedal to the metal to take the win by 2/10th of a second. 2-time feature winner Ross Kenseth had a disappointing day as he lost his engine in the heat race. Marshall is atop the points standings in the most competitive class on the Tour.

Aaron Phillips and Brad Becker ran side by side in Sr. Champs for 10 laps. After an aggressive move in turn 3, Becker won by a nose coming down the final stretch. Nicole Phillips was third. Aaron Phillips maintains his first place position in the points midway through the season. George Bobolos is currently second in points.

Macenzie Piller won the feature to extend her lead in Champ F200 Jr. 1 points race. Jacob Zellmer and Brett Woeckener were second and third. Sean Clavey was in a great position for his first win in Jr. Sportsman Champ. He was drafting with Dylan Barbosa and was in a good position for the win but got wrapped up with slower traffic and settled for second.
Barbosa maintains his points lead in the class. Sean Clavey and Jamie Clos are second and third in the class points.

Kid Kart driver Elliot Prichett won by a large margin today. Brent Edmunds was second and Brennan Frisby was third in his first podium finish. In the points hunt, Prichett is in the lead over 15 other racers.

The Burris Circle Tour returns to Lake Geneva Raceway, August 1st. Check out all of the news at www.karts.net/burriscircle.

END

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