05-18-05

STARS OF KARTING DRIVERS GEAR UP FOR THE EAST DIVISION OPENER WITH AN APPEARANCE AT THE BRICKYARD

Seattle, Washington — A select group of front running drivers from the IRL supported Snap-on Stars of Karting Series will appear at the Andretti-Green Garage with race series founder and IRL driver Bryan Herta from 6:15 to 6:45 PM on Thursday May 19. Herta will give an overview on how the series is serving to create a premier platform for young American driving talent and then introduce the individual drivers who will then be available for one-on-one interviews.

The series heads to Mark Dismore’s New Castle Motorsports Park for races on Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22 in what will open the East division of the series.

The two headlining classes see strong packs of front-runners that will be jockeying for the points lead. Race of the Americas pole winner Wesley Boswell will be on hand running for MRP Motorsport. He’ll square off against 2004 Rock Island Grand Prix King of the Streets champ (and hometown favorite) Kyle Wiegand aboard his GP/Maxxter. North American karting star Ron White will also make a return to the driver’s seat in ICC.

In ICA three of the front-runners from the last West Series race in Beaumont, CA make the trip to Indiana to square off in the East with Italian Giacomo Patrono, and Californians Phil Giebler and Joel Miller all running in New Castle. This will be the first race for Miller with his new Tony Kart ride. The brothers Johnson (Adam and Johnny) from Marshalltown, IA will figure into the equation as will Chris Keller and Mike Giessen.

The series boasts 40 entries in the PCH Motorsports JICA Class where Norman winner Xavier Coupal will take on his compadres on the Norman podium, Anthony Llopiz and Sebastien Saavedra. The King Taco Junior Shifter category will have Norman winner Cody Jolly squaring off against Levi Roberts who finished second in the Sunday West division round at Moran. The Grand Products Cadet Class always produces great racing and Pennsylvanian Sage Karam will have a snarling pack of cadets trying to knock him from the top of the standings including rivals Oscar Tunjo Sanchez and Spencer Pigot. In addition to ICA, Dominic Scheer will be racing in the Easykart class in New Castle where Paulie Harraka also looks to be a factor. The two fastest Easykart qualifiers will also advance to the Alpinestars Dash for Cash presented by North American Race Parts where they will face off against the two fastest ICC and ICA qualifiers in equally prepared Easykarts for a $1000 prize.

Those with any media or promotional inquiries should contact Jeff Swoboda (Cell #: 310-570-8869) jeff@starsofkarting.com or Rob Cleveland (Cell #: 317-432-3597) Rob.Cleveland@andrettigreenracing.com.

Drivers who will appear at Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 19:

Wesley Boswell: (21 years old, Alameda, CA)

· Factory Birel Driver
· Sat on pole for the prestigious “Race of the Americas” in Norman, OK in March, fastest of 66 entrants
· Has competed in the Formula Russell race series
· Enrolled at the College of Alameda

Jason Bowles: (21 years old, Ontario, CA)
· Factory Tony Kart driver, won the last Stars ICC race in Beaumont, CA on April 24
· Race winner in the Formula Ford 2000 series in 2004
· Has also raced for the Lexus factory Grand-Am cup team

Phil Giebler (24 years old, Oxnard, CA)
· Factory Intrepid driver, pole sitter at the ICA race in Beaumont, CA April 23
· Winner of the Homestead Infiniti Pro Series event in 2004 for Duesenberg Racing
· Champion of the 2000 Formula Palmer Audi Winter series
· Winner of the 2000 Valvoline Team USA Scholarship
· Runner-up in the 2000 French Formula 3 (B) Series for the Elf LaFiliere’ team

Adam Johnson (19 years old, Marshalltown, IA)
· Factory Birel driver
· Finished fourth in the 2004 Stars of Karting ICA East Championship
· Former Red Bull Driver Search Semi-Finalist
· Currently enrolled at the University of Iowa in Ames

Johnny Johnson (19 years old, Marshalltown, IA)
· Factory Biese Driver
· Runner-up in the 2004 Stars of Karting ICA East Championship
· Was invited to Spain for the Formula BMW Scholarship Shootout in 2004
· Currently enrolled in the University of Iowa in Ames with his twin brother Johnny

Kyle Wiegand (18 years old, Indianapolis, IN)
· Factory GP driver in the ICC class
· 2004 King of the Streets Champion, Rock Island Grand Prix
· Invited to the 2004 Skip Barber Karting Scholarship Runoff


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