LAGUNA BEACH, CA -- With the success of the inaugural All-Stars Karting Classic race last year, which saw former Indy 500 Champion Buddy Rice take the win, the Snap-On Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar Series is bringing its popular race back to the world’s largest racing trade show. It will be held Thursday night, Dec. 6, 2007, which is the first day of the 20th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. The event will again feature high-profile drivers from all forms of motorsports racing in the Masters Division and the top pilots from the Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar Series racing in the Karter Division.
ALMS racing star Bryan Herta, one of the co-owners of the Snap-on Stars of Karting series, will again work with the teams from PRI and the Stars of Karting to round up guest drivers from a wide array of high-profile series. A significant number of high-profile drivers participated last year in the Masters Division of the event, including Rice and Herta, Champ Car's Alex Tagliani, NHRA Funny Car star Ron Capps, NHRA Top Fuel stars Larry Dixon and Doug Herbert, IndyCar pilot AJ Foyt IV, Sun Trust Racing's Wayne Taylor, Finlay Motorsports driver Memo Gidley, and NHRA two-wheel star Steve Johnson.
“We were very impressed with the professionalism and the high level of excitement the Stars of Karting brought to Orlando last year,” stated Steve Lewis, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “Based on the success and tremendous positive word-of-mouth within the motorsports community, we can anticipate a similar or even larger contingent of pro drivers who will compete, along with the best young stars of karting.”
Paul Zalud, president of the Snap-on Stars of Karting, is equally excited, “The PRI event allowed us to accomplish many of our objectives of exposing the sport of karting, and the businesses within it, to the larger motorsports community. The enthusiasm and professionalism that the whole PRI team brought to not only this event, but on other projects in which we have worked together since then, is second to none. We look forward to having an even bigger race event this year and being able to follow that up by having a great show that will help all of our businesses to grow.”
A sudden downpour reduced attendance and dampened the track – located directly outside the Orange County Convention Center, which houses the PRI Trade show – but not the enthusiasm of both the competitors and spectators. The racing action
was outstanding! “If the weather works with us this year, we anticipate a strong SRO audience,” said Lewis.
The race was part of an expanded effort to raise the profile of the exploding karting segment of the racing industry at the world’s largest racing trade show. The number of karting companies exhibiting in last year’s PRI Trade Show more than tripled. Exhibiting kart companies included Tony Kart, Top Kart, SSC East-CRG, Trackmagic, Sodi Kart, BTK-Arrow, First Kart North America, Douglas Wheel, Briggs & Stratton, Dill Fabrication, and many more.
Last year’s event was televised in two separate one-hour broadcasts on the Versus (formerly known as OLN) network thanks to advertising support from series title sponsor Snap-on Tools. Plans to have this year’s event televised are currently in progress and will be announced later this summer.
“Karting represents enormous business opportunities for racing entrepreneurs worldwide, from selling parts to engines. Kart racers also represent the next generation of auto racers,” said Lewis. “With the race on Thursday night, karting definitely took the main stage at the PRI Trade Show, and we expect even more karting exhibitors will bring their new product lines for the 2008 race sales season.”
With more than 45,000 attendees present for the 19th Annual PRI Trade Show last year, setting a new attendance record for the show’s second year at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, additional events and exhibitors promise to make the 20th Annual event bigger and better. The PRI Trade Show will return to Orlando on Dec. 6-8, 2007, when racing entrepreneurs from 45 countries will gather in Orlando for this all-important “gateway to the worldwide racing marketplace.”
The Performance Racing Industry Trade Show has been recognized as one of the largest 50 trade shows in North America, according to Tradeshow Week magazine.
Reaching more than 45,000 show attendees at the 2006 show in Orlando, the three-day PRI Trade Show is timed so that racing retailers, engine and car builders, wholesaler/distributors, professional race teams and other industry participants can shop the latest new product introductions and have them in inventory for the next racing season.
Snap-on Stars of Karting presented by IndyCar Series is based out of Seattle, Washington, sanctioned by the World Karting Association (WKA) and owned and operated by 1986 Indianapolis 500 champion and IRL IndyCar Series team owner Bobby Rahal, IndyCar Series driver Bryan Herta and veteran karting promoter Paul Zalud. www.starsofkarting.com , www.worldkarting.com.
Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global innovator, manufacturer and marketer of tools, diagnostics and equipment solutions for professional users. Product lines include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle manufacturers, dealerships and repair centers, as well as customers in industry, government, agriculture and construction. Products are sold through its franchisees, company-direct sales and distributor channels, as well as over the Internet. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $2.5 billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin. For additional information on Snap-on, visit www.snapon.com.
The Indy Racing League was formed in 1994 to preserve the heritage and excitement of the Indianapolis 500 in U.S. open-wheel racing. The Indy Racing League is the sanctioning body of the IndyCar Series, the premier open-wheel racing series in the United States, and the Indy Pro Series, which serves as an essential stepping stone for drivers striving to reach the IndyCar Series. Indy Racing League events are available to a worldwide audience through a variety of multimedia platforms, highlighted by a long-term and broad-reaching partnership with ABC Sports/ESPN. The Indy Racing League is continually at the forefront of motorsports innovation with drivers, teams and tracks benefiting from major safety and technological improvements such as the SAFER Barrier, SWEMS wheel tethers, chassis enhancements, ethanol fuel and Delphi IRL Safety Team. www.indycar.com
For more information, please contact:
Pete Evanow
pevanow@performanceracing.com
714.289.2242 office
714.305.8083 cell
Jeff Swoboda
jeff@starsofkarting.com
949-916-2055 office
