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FYI
08-01-04

2004 RED BULL DRIVER SEARCH ENTERS SECOND PHASE WITH RUN OFFS

New York City, New York — The Red Bull Driver Search enters its second phase next week in Boston with the first of two Run Offs, as 222 young racers will take part in a comprehensive comparison as part of Red Bull’s long term goal of finding the next American Formula 1 Champion.

The selected drivers earned this opportunity by performing well in the Open Qualifying phase of the Driver Search, which allowed any racer between the ages of 13 and 17 to set a fast time at one of 56 go-kart centers nationwide. The first Run Off will take place for 112 drivers based east of the Mississippi at the F1 Outdoors facility in East Bridgewater, MA on August 3-5, and another 110 drivers hailing from the west will participate in the West Coast Run Off August 24-26 at Infineon Raceway.

The Run Offs will utilize identically prepared Rotax RM-1 Superkarts, providing a fast platform for the drivers to demonstrate their talents as they compete for the opportunity of a lifetime.

Former Formula 1 racer and Indianapolis 500 champion Danny Sullivan will lead a panel of judges who will make some difficult decisions at the Run Offs, as it takes more than merely fast lap times to reach the pinnacle of motorsport. Speed is of course important, but the judges will also take into consideration the progress, willingness to learn, composure, behavior and fitness level of the Formula 1 aspirants.

The winners from this event will move forward to the Semi Final, one step closer to a Red Bull Racing scholarship worth upwards of $500,000 per chosen winner. Again, they will have to prove that they have what it takes to make it to the top and earn a spot on the Red Bull Junior Team, to represent America in a Junior Formula in Europe or the US.

The 2004 Red Bull Driver Search program aims to discover and support the "diamond in the rough," lacking the knowledge and contacts needed to embark on a career in racing, as well as talented young drivers already in racing. The long-term goal is to have a steady group of three to six American drivers racing in Europe, groomed to break into Formula 1 and compete for the World Championship.

For a list of Run Off participants, please visit: www.redbulldriversearch.com/standings.php

AMERICAN RED BULL JUNIOR TEAM SPEEDS TO 1-2 FINISH AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
New York, New York — To pack your bags for Formula 1, championships are requisite luggage, and Scott Speed continues to prepare for his trip up the ladder as he moves in on the Formula Renault Eurocup championship. Speed extended his points lead with another win as he led fellow American Colin Fleming across the line for yet another Red Bull Junior Team 1-2 finish at the Grand Prix circuit of Spa-Francorchamps on July 30.

"A perfect day - pole position, a start-finish-victory, the fastest lap, and I am further ahead of Pagenaud in the championship,” said Speed. “A big thanks to my Red Bull Junior team mates!"

Fleming had a strong start, catapulting from fourth on the grid to move ahead of Speeds’ championship rival Pagenaud and come home second, with Dominique Claessens just missing out on a podium spot with a fourth-place finish.

“What a day for the Red Bull Junior Team!” exclaimed Fleming. “First, second, and fourth for the American drivers is outstanding. I would have liked to had more of a battle with Scott, but he was just too quick today.”

All three drivers have progressed through the Red Bull Driver Search; a program that aims to discover and support the "diamond in the rough," lacking the knowledge and contacts needed to embark on a career in racing, as well as talented young drivers already in racing. The long-term goal is to have a steady group of three to six American drivers racing in Europe, on the Red Bull Junior Team, groomed to break into Formula 1 and compete for the World Championship.

Round 13, Formula Renault Eurocup Championship, Spa:
Speed - Qual 1st - Race 1st

Fleming - Qual 3rd - Race 2nd
Claessens - Qual 6th - Race 4th

JICA DROPS ITS MINIMUM AGE LIMIT BY ONE YEAR
London, England — On Wednesday (28th July) the Kart Committee approved the age limit change for the JICA Class from 13 to 12 years old. The revised age limit will now quote 12th birthday to 31st December of year of 16th birthday.

The only proviso is that the minimum license must be a Kart National ‘A’ and for those who have not yet reached the age of 13, evidence must be provided to verify that they have held a National A license for at least 12 months before competing in the JICA class. This rule change – which now puts the UK in line with many other countries - will be effective from 01/01/05, subject to ratification by the Motor Sports Council in their September meeting.

The rationale behind this rule change is that as JICA is the category that introduces drivers to the European and CIK stage (where the minimum age is 13), this extra year in the domestic market allows young karters to spend a season preparing for a European campaign should they choose this route.

“This rule change will bring certain benefits, “said Kart Committee Chairman, Rod Taylor. “We are keen to encourage UK karters to compete at international level and this allows UK cadets to prepare for CIK events, it should also result in stronger MSA Junior British Championship grids in 2005; the recent drop in numbers has certainly been a catalyst behind making this decision.”

For more info, contact MSA at e-mail: msa@mpamedia.co.uk.

QUAD CITIES ‘SPEED WEEK’ FEEDS THE NEED FOR SPEED
Quad Cities, Illinois — Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines and hold on to your seats to get ready for an intense week of sound-breaking speeds, incredibly fast cars and motorcycles, and non-stop racing!

Quad Cities Speed Week, Aug. 26 - Sept. 5, is a week of racing events and speed-related activities. The Putnam Museum and IMAX® Theatre in Davenport will be showing “NASCAR 3-D: The IMAX Experience” throughout Quad Cities Speed Week. Fans can take advantage of admission discounts at each Speed Week event by showing a free Quad Cities Speed Week “Speed Pass” at the entrances. Pick up dates and locations for Speed Passes will be announced later. The Quad Cities Speed Week will showcase the following motorsports events, which are explained below.

World Series of Drag Racing at Cordova Dragway Park
IMCA Season Championship at Davenport Speedway
Quad City Speedway Championship
The Antique Motorcycle Swap Meet
Antique and Vintage Flat Track Motorcycle Races
Midnight Mayhem Street Drags
AMA Flat Track Motorcycle Races
Rock Island Grand Prix

World Series of Drag Racing:
The kick off to this first-of-its-kind event begins Aug. 26-29 with the 51st Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing presented by Ford Mustang at Cordova Dragway Park. Featured will be a first time ever 32 Funny Car field, along with Outlaw Pro-Mods, Nostalgia Top Fuel, Jet Dragsters, Wheelstanders, Fireworks, and the first Midwest appearance of “The Dragonator” The Mutant, Bionic Dragon with Jaws of Steel during the Friday “Night of Thrills” starting at 7 p.m. Scheduled to make an appearance on Saturday night are Tony Pedregon, the 2003 NHRA Champion, and Tim Wilkerson, the 2003 World Series and U.S. Nationals Champion. The “World Series of Pro Finale” is Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. with racing throughout the day. For more information and a schedule, call CDP at 309-654-2110 or visit their website at www.cordovadrag.com.

IMCA Season Championship:
The Quad Cities Speed Week races ever forward with the IMCA Season Championship at Davenport Speedway, located at the Mississippi Valley Fair in Davenport, Iowa on Aug. 27. This stock car race will feature Late Models, Modifieds, B-Mods, Street Stocks and Legends on the quarter-mile dirt track. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 p.m., and racing action begins at 7 p.m. Call Bob Wagener at 563-652-5302 for more information. The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds can be contacted at 563-326-5338 or information can be found on their website at www.mvfair.com

Quad City Speedway Championship:
The Quad City Speedway Championship on Aug. 29, located at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds in East Moline, Illinois, is the final point race of the season where local season point champions will race for the final championship title. For more information, call Kevin Feller at 309-737-5204.

The Antique Motorcycle Swap Meet:
The Antique Motorcycle Swap Meet and Motorcycle Races Sept. 2-4 at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa will feature about 500 motorcycle vendors from around the world. The swap meet, which is the largest antique motorcycle swap meet in the world, is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 2-4 and a motorcycle show displaying motorcycles 35 years of age and older will be open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 2-4 in the Expo Building. For more information, call Del Schumacher at 309-788-2025 or visit their website at www.chiefblackhawk.org.

Annual Antique and Vintage Flat Track Motorcycle Races:
Unlimited Promotions Racing will present the 16th Annual Antique and Vintage Flat Track Motorcycle Races on Sept. 3 at the Davenport Speedway. The race will feature antique and vintage motorcycles on the half-mile dirt track. The grandstand opens at 2 p.m., heat races start at 4:30 p.m., and opening ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. Call Matt George at 515-265-8388 for more information.

Midnight Mayhem Street Drags:
NGK Spark Plugs Midnight Mayhem Street Drags at Cordova Dragway Park Sept. 3 will attract licensed drivers and street legal cars for a late night of intense streetcar racing from midnight to 4 a.m.

The American Motorcycle Association Flat Track Motorcycle Races:
The American Motorcycle Association Flat Track Motorcycle Races on Saturday Sept. 4 will be at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds Quad City Speedway. The gate opens at 6 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m. For more information, call Harv Whipple at 309-792-8776 or visit their website at www.wfopromotions.com.

Rock Island Grand Prix:
Quad Cities Speed Week will end in grandeur Sept 4-5 with the Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race. There are 15 races including Superkarts! USA King of the Streets featuring karts with a 6-speed motorcycle transmission; Briggs & Stratton Motorsports Rumble at the Rock and the Tom Argy Jr. Animal Roundup, and two TAG international races for electric-start karts. All events feature the top drivers in the sport, some of which will become future NASCAR, IRL and Champ Car drivers.

Saturday will feature practice laps beginning at 8:15 a.m. and timed qualifying from 1-4 p.m. Sunday will feature practice and last chance qualifier races beginning at 8:15 a.m. Opening ceremonies start at noon and 15 feature races run from 12:30-6 p.m. There will be nightly outdoor concerts Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the Great River Plaza. For more information on the Rock Island Grand Prix, contact Roger Ruthhart at 309-292-8133 or visit their website at www.rockislandgrandprix.com.

For more information on the Quad Cities area or lodging assistance, call the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau at 800-747-7800 or visit their website at www.visitquadcities.com.

The Quad Cities is located on the Mississippi River and is made up of the riverfront cities of Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Moline, East Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. The area is just a 2-½ hour drive from Des Moines, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. It is easily accessible via I-80, I-74, I-88 and several major state highways.

24 HOUR KARTING EVENT IN PORTUGAL
It was a close race again this year for EnduranceKarting.com Team USA at the Portugal 24 Hours Kart Race. After a victory last year, Team USA had something to prove as the defending champions.

Two teams represented the United States this year, Team Eagle and Team Spirit. Team Eagle consisted of many returning drivers from last year - team captains Yury Lyalko of Massachusetts and Florida’s Jim Machul; team organizer and Endurance Karting founder Johan Schwartz from North Carolina, Jack Beaulieu from Connecticut, new drivers Kevin Bligan and Kevin Bateman from Pennsylvania and Mike Circe from Maryland.

A slim 47 seconds was the margin needed by EnduranceKarting.com’s Team Eagle to take the last place on the podium in the GT-30 class over a professionally-loaded international field in the 10th edition of the 24 Horas Evora Galpenergia/Skoda 2004, held July 10-11 in Portugal.

Team Spirit consisted of three returning drivers on an otherwise brand-new team that has obtained most of its experience on the EnduranceKarting.com national circuit. The team consisted of Michael Patterson from California; South Carolina's Frank Warren; Jay Simmons, Kip VanSteenburg and Scott Beers from Massachusetts; Ed Oberholtzer and Paulo Vieira from Connecticut; and Russell Strate from New York. Team Spirit lived up to its moniker. Despite not having a podium finish, each member was positive and enthusiastic about the team’s accomplishments, finishing 13th in class and 30th overall.

Team Eagle encountered mechanical problems that had it in the 32nd and final position for the first two hours of the very competitive race. Good teamwork and skillfully-executed strategy helped move Team USA Eagle up the board. During the night, it moved to eighth in class, only with only two laps behind third place and three laps behind the second position held by Siemens security, which Team USA beat for the class win in 2003. Team USA Eagle had the kart handling superbly and all the drivers accustomed to the highly-technical track. It began catching the third-place team Star.pt by 0.5 seconds per lap. At 11 a.m. Sunday, two hours before the checkered flag, Team USA moved into third place and won the position by 47 seconds. It was a thriller of a race and a perfect example of how to persevere and maintain focus. The winning team was Clube BCP from Portugal.

Thirty-two teams were entered from Brazil, Cuba, Holland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Spain and the U.S. Celebrity drivers included Pedro Lamy, Clay Regazzoni, Stefano Modena, and LeMans winner Jan Lammers, who also raced with EduranceKarting.com in February at Las Vegas.

EnduranceKarting.com provides karts for hire for its racing events ranging from two hours to 24 hours in length and karting school across the eastern and western half of the U. S.

END

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