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FYI
09-04-04

WALT DISNEY WORLD® TO HOST “STARS” NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Hilliard, Ohio — The “magic” of winning a Snap-On Tools Stars of Karting National title will be even greater this year as the series proudly announced today a partnership with Walt Disney World® Resort and its property, Disney’s Wide World Of Sports® Complex, to host the 2004 Stars National Finals at the Lake Buena Vista, FL facility from September 23rd-26th. National Championships in each of six Stars classes - ICC, ICA, 80cc Junior, JICA, EasyKart and Cadet - will be up for contention, as top karters from the Eastern and Western Divisions come together and vie for the recognition as the best in North America within the gates of the world-famous Magic Kingdom®.

The weekend format will see karters and their teams move in to the temporary track facility on Thursday, September 23rd. That evening, the season champions and other top competitors in the Eastern and Western Stars’ Divisions will be honored at the season banquet. On Friday, competitors will practice all day in preparation for Saturday morning qualifying, to be followed in the afternoon by Pre-Final heat races. The finals in all six classes will be held on Sunday.

In addition to posted awards, multiple driver development awards will be contended for, including seats in the Skip Barber Formula Dodge National Championship Scholarship Run-off at Sebring, Florida, the Formula BMWUSA Scholarship Run-off in Valencia, Spain and a test in the Team Rahal Toyota Atlantic racecar. One skilled karter will bypass the scholarship process and earn a guaranteed ride in the 2005 Skip Barber National Championship. In total, Stars’ competitors have the opportunity to compete for over $500,000 in awards and prizes this season.

“Anytime you can bring the best in the sport together under one event, it promises to big,” said Stars’ principal Bryan Herta, a longtime karter himself and current Indy Racing League driver with Andretti-Green Racing. “Combine that with racing in the shadow of the renowned Walt Disney World Resort complex and it doesn’t get any better than this. It is going to be fun. Those fans interested in seeing some of the best racing anywhere in world should plan on being in Orlando during that last weekend in September.”

Snap-On Stars of Karting, based at Team Rahal headquarters in Hilliard, Ohio, is sanctioned by the World Karting Association (WKA), the largest sanctioning body of kart racing in the United States. Owned and operated by 1986 Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal, IRL driver Bryan Herta and veteran karting promoter Paul Zalud, the series currently runs six classes of competition under the WKA sanction, consisting of ICC, ICA, 80cc Junior, JICA, EasyKart and Cadet. More information on the series can be found at www.starsofkarting.com.

KARTS IN LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas, Nevada — The X-Karts Racing Series has officially announced that their next event will be held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in association with the Las Vegas Kart Club on September 24th & 25th. This event will be called “A Day (& Night) at the Races”. The 24th date will feature an evening practice session which is a new variance to the X-Karts Racing Series. In addition, on the evening of the 25th, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be hosting a Champ Car Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race as well. Additional information on these races can be found at www.lvms.com

As has become a custom at X-Karts races, a “Celebrity/Media” race has been scheduled for Friday afternoon with further details forthcoming. Howard Lipkint, President of The X-Karts Racing Series stated, “We are very excited about promoting an event right in the backyard of our home base. The Speedway and the Las Vegas Kart Club have been extremely supportive of our efforts and are looking forward to a great event. The dates of this race will also be extremely advantageous to IKF members as that the Las Vegas Kart Club will be hosting the popular “OKTOBERFAST IV” event the following week and our race will offer those participants an opportunity to practice in real race conditions on the same course layout.” Arrangements have also been made that “OKTOBERFAST IV” participants who attend the X-Karts Race, can leave their transporters on-site for the week leading up to that event. For additional information on making those arrangements, please contact racedirectorlv@xkartsracing.com.

Lipkint added that they have also secured Free Shuttle Service following their schedule on Saturday for transportation from the Kart track to the main track for the Champ Car and Craftsman Truck Series races.

The X-Karts Racing Series is pleased to announce that DIGATRON, a leading manufacturer of Data Acquisition Systems for Performance Engines (www.digatronusa.com), YAMAHA and the producers of an upcoming film called “KART ATTACK”, (www.kartattackdvd.com) and Snapline Racing Imports, exclusive Importer for the Jesolo Technology Kart, which can be found at: (www.snapkart.com) will again be participating sponsors.

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

Further information on the track, rules and regulations can be found on the web site for The Las Vegas Kart Club (www.lvkc.com) or by contacting racedirectorlv@xkartsracing.com.

Online registration is available through one of our marketing partners at www.speedreg.com and is a free service for all participants. Entry forms are available in this month’s Go Racing magazine, can be downloaded from www.lvkc.com or by contacting howard@xkartsracing.com

LIUZZI STORMS TO TITLE
Circuit of Spa Francorchamps, Belgium — Sutton Motorsport Images supported Vitantonio (Tonio) Liuzzi has captured the 2004 International Formula 3000 Championship Title in the most dominant fashion seen in the twenty years of the formulae at Spa on August 28.

A Red Bull Junior Team member, Tonio has driven a near flawless season with the Arden International team, breaking the record for the most number of wins in a season with six victories. Furthermore, Liuzzi’s eight pole positions this season also serve to demonstrate the young Italian’s prodigious pace and talent.

That Tonio Liuzzi is said to be touted by Ferrari as the possible successor to the legendary Michael Schumacher comes as no surprise to Keith Sutton, CEO of Sutton Motorsport Images, who has charted Tonio’s mesmeric rise to the brink of F1.

“Sutton Motorsport Images has supported Tonio since 2001 when he won the World Karting Championship. He won that title in grand style, beating no less than Michael Schumacher at the German’s home circuit at the final round of the season.

“Tonio’s abundant natural talent was clear for all to see when he finished fourth overall in the 2003 International Formula 3000 Championship in only his second full season of single-seater racing. His stranglehold of the Championship this year has been as impressive as any driver I have seen outside of Formula One.” Continued Keith.

Sutton Motorsport Images have provided the media hub for Vitantonio Liuzzi throughout his single-seater career, providing images and press releases for every race he has competed in all available on the Sutton Motorsport Images hosted website www.liuzzi.com. Twenty-five years of motorsport industry experience, supporting the likes of Ayrton Senna, Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen, have undoubtedly helped to raise the profile of Liuzzi in a sport where talent alone does not guarantee attention from those who matter in motorsport.
Keith Sutton and the entire Sutton Motorsport Images team offer their wholehearted congratulations to Tonio and the Arden team on their fantastic achievements this season.

BACKGROUND:
Tonio Liuzzi is one of the brightest talents to emerge from International Karting in recent years. Tonio was a resounding winner of the prestigious 2001 FIA/CIK Karting World Championship series.

At the same time that he was successfully pursuing the ultimate prize in Karting, Tonio also finished second in the 2001 German Formula Renault Championship. His performance in his first season of car racing together with his Karting World title marked the young Italian as a future star with the talent to take him to the top of the sport.

During 2002 Tonio contested the German Formula 3 Championship and established his reputation as one of the quickest drivers in the Championship. Three pole positions, three podiums and a dominant pole to flag victory in the San Marino International Formula 3 race at Imola, displayed his true potential. Even so 2002 did not meet expectation as friction within the team was a new problem for Tonio to deal with. In 2003 Tonio contested the FIA F3000 International Championship with Coloni Motorsport, emerging as the top rookie. He took pole in Hungary after only nine laps on the circuit, with a margin of 0.471 over the second qualifier, but victory eluded him with a pit stop problem when a wheel nut jammed. He finished fourth in the championship. His 2003 performances earned him the lead drive with 2003 F3000 Champion team Arden International. "We looked long and hard before we chose our drivers," said Christian Horner. "We expect Vitantonio to perform strongly as our lead driver.”

The start of the 2004 F3000 International Championship has proven Tonio’s potential. Pole position at Imola by 0.572 seconds and victory by 8.853 seconds. Qualified second in Barcelona, 0.29 seconds behind pole (on his third lap of the weekend before it rained), victory by 11.664 seconds and fastest race lap 0.597 faster than the next quickest drivers lap. This form continued at Monaco where he qualified on pole by 0.265 seconds and won the race by a comfortable 2.85 second margin. He currently leads the championship with a perfect score of 30 points from the three races held.

FIRST KART SCORES FOUR VICTORIES AT SRFKC MOSPORT
Guelph, Ontario, Canada — The First Kart North America race team had another set of tremendous results this past weekend at the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championships (SRFKC) held at the Mosport Driver Development Center. Victories came in both the two and four cycle divisions including a 1-2 finish in the ultra competitive Formula Senior division.

Mastering the ten turn course and taking victories were Kevin Montieth (World Formula Junior) Michael Vincec (Rotax-Max Junior, Formula Junior) and Mike Roth (Formula Senior) First Kart tuner Trevor Daley stepped behind the wheel for the weekend’s competition and with the help of First Kart’s Mike Maurini and ’02 Shifter Kart Illustrated’s Tuner of the Year Terry Ventresca came home with a strong second place result.

The First Kart chassis’ proved to be great in any conditions by taking three victories in dry conditions on Saturday and a stellar 1-2 finish in Sunday’s wet action. Along with the podium results, strong runs were also put fourth by Eric Barrett (Rotax Junior), Eric Gerrits (Sr. Lite, Sr. Heavy and Rotax Senior), Jason Keen (Rotax Senior), Mike Gayowski (Rotax Senior) and Reid Alford (Rotax Senior). Michael Vincec also had a strong run in Junior Heavy division.

Heading into the final round of the SRFKC Championship First Kart pilot Mike Roth sits atop the Formula Senior point standings by a slim margin as he looks to secure the overall championship.

For more information on the First Kart North America, visit them online at www.firstkart.com.

VINCEC SCORES DOUBLE IN MOSPORT
Guelph, Ontario, Canada — 13-year-old Mike Vincec climbed to the top of the podium twice this past weekend in the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship (SRFKC) this past weekend at Mosport International Raceway. Held on the Driver Development circuit, Vincec mastered the ten turn course in fine form as he went on to a pole, a track record and two victories.

ROTAX-MAX
In the competitive Rotax-Max Junior division, Vincec scored the pole with lap time of 42.540 just .020 ahead of his nearest rival. Thought rumors were circulating that this was a new track record, series officials could not confirm before the end of the weekend. As the green flag flew for the start of the pre-final, Vincec was looking to pull away from the field. Working and drafting together with a fellow competitor, the duo managed to increase their lead as they finished in the same positions that they started in. Preparing for the finals and watching the weather the BIG Racing crew decided to make minor changes to his First Kart chassis.

With the same idea in mind, Vincec and second place finisher Evan Hayden hooked up and began to pull away from the field. With an epic battle forming, Hayden passed Vincec just past the half way point. Biding his time to the end, Vincec set up his fellow competitor and made a gutsy pass at the end of the straight away on the last lap to secure his second victory of the season. “I went to the outside and Evan started to push me up the track,” explained an excited Vincec. “I dove for the apex of the corner and managed to hang on.”

FORMULA JUNIOR
With the skies threatening rain all day, Vincec knew that he would have to put his Hi-Tech powered First Kart up front to stay out of trouble. Tuned by First Kart’s Mike Maurini, Vincec secured the outside of row two and the fourth starting position. With a lightning quick start in the pre-final the Stouffville, Ontario resident jumped to P2 and began to chase down the leader. As the positions remained static for the rest of the race, Vincec crossed the line in second place.

Looking to get the same sort of start for the final, Vincec lined up beside newly crowned series champion Daniel Morad for the start. With a good start by both drivers Morad edged out Vincec entering turn one. As the field spread out through out the event the only battle on the track was for the lead. Vincec began pressuring Morad and tried a risky move on the inside of turn two but was unable to make it stick and fell behind approaching the half way point. Vincec closed the gap on the leader and again tried the same move and to the elation of the crowd, completed the pass and went on to claim his second victory of the season.

“It is good to finally get the monkey of our back,” stated Vincec after the event. I would like to thank First Kart North America, my tuner Mike Maurini, Hi-Tech race Engines, Basement Imagaing Group, Pilot Race Gear and my parents.”

Mike Vincec’s next event will be in two weeks time at the final round of the SRFKC in Innisfil, ON. For more information on the Mike Vincec and the BIG Racing Team please contact Mary Vincec from the information on www.mikev.ca.

WHEELER HEADLINES NMPA'S 2004 HALL OF FAME CLASS
Darlington, South Carolina — H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, the president of Lowe's Motor Speedway and perhaps the best known racing promoter of his generation, headlines
this year's list of inductees into the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame.

Wheeler is joined by noted driver Tim Richmond as well as longtime crew chief Harry Hyde. The Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 13 in Darlington, S.C.

Over the years, Wheeler has staged circuses along pit road, arranged for military "invasions" of his frontstretch, had daredevils make jumps in everything from motorcycles to school buses and tackled projects that nobody, including himself, was sure could even be done. He began his career as a promoter at Robinwood Speedway in Gastonia, N.C., where he did just about everything from selling tickets to working with media, from enforcing the rules to cleaning the bathrooms and preparing the surface for a night of racing. In 1975, Wheeler was hired by Bruton Smith to help run Charlotte Motor Speedway, beginning a partnership that would change the face of stock-car racing.

Richmond, who died in 1989, finished his NASCAR career with 13 victories and 14 poles in 185 career Cup starts. He was the series' rookie of the year in 1981, and a threat to win the championship soon after.

Paired with Hyde, Richmond won seven of the final 17 races in 1986 to finish third in points behind Dale Earnhardt and Darrell Waltrip while driving for Hendrick Motorsports.

Hyde, who passed away in 1996, worked with some of the sport's legendary figures, including Bobby Issac, Bobby Allison, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Neil Bonnett and Richmond. A mechanic before turning his attention to racing, Hyde joined Issac to win 17 races in 1969, then came back to win 11 races and 13 poles the following season en route to winning the series championship.

In 1971, Hyde and Issac set 28 speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in a specially prepared Dodge Charger Daytona.

Also receiving votes this year were Butch Lindley and Louise Smith.

Each year, members of the NMPA seek to recognize and honor those who have played key roles in the sport of auto racing through induction into the group's Hall of Fame. To date, more than 70 figures from various areas in the sport have been recognized. Darrell Sitarz, editor of e-KMI.com is a member of the NMPA,

END

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