CONCORD, NC - WKA Officials are pleased to announce the dates and venues for the 2017 national schedule for both the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup, WKA Winter Cup Series and the start of the RLV Tuned Exhaust Gold Cup Series, allowing competitors and their families a wealth of advanced time to lay out their 2017 plans. Leading the charge as always on the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series is the December visit to Daytona International Speedway for the latest edition of KartWeek Dec 27-30. From there, the schedule takes competitors to Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania May 19-21, a change from the August date the facility has hosted the last few years. From there it’s a return to Mark Dinmore’s New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana July 14-16 for a mid-summer classis. Following a 1year hiatus, the series returns back to Briggs & Stratton Raceway Park in Dousman, Wisconsin August 25-27, with the finale for the series this year at GoPro Motorplex October 13-15 for the series Grand National event.
The schedule allows fans and competitors to once again enjoy the beaches of Daytona, a little cooler weather in Pittsburgh in May, a possible monster summer clash prior to the SKUSA Summer Nat’s at New Castle in July, a dip into the late summer Wisconsin weather at Badger, and the chance to hoist a Grand National Eagle in the shadows of the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Race Shops at GoPro Motorplex.
While the Manufacturers Cup Series has enjoyed success for quite some time, the all new WKA Winter Cup Series enjoyed a strong response and great attendance for all 3 of their inaugural events immediately. The series will shift gears somewhat in 2017, entertaining 2 new venues to their schedule, and also starting at a later date than last season. The series will kick off its season opener at Ocala Gran Prix in Ocala, Florida February 3-5. From there, the series will head to the NOLA Motorsports Complex in Louisiana for the series first ever run in the Bayou State March 3-5, with the season finale once again wrapping up at GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Discussions are also underway with various facilities for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series but we can confirm working with the great people at North Florida Kart Club and President Brad Farmer a return to Jacksonville for Round 1 of the 2017 Gold Cup March 24-26, and we will be finalizing the balance of the Gold Cup schedule, as well as the Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting shortly.
Additionally, the respective Competition and Tech Committees are holding meetings to discuss class structure and rules for the upcoming season, in preparation for the upcoming Tech Manual Meeting with the WKA Board of Trustees, being held 1 month earlier this year, following the July Manufacturers Cup event at New Castle Motorsports Park.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2017 National Schedule for Manufacturers Cup, Winter Cup and the 1st of the Gold Cup Events.
2017 Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series:
Dec 27-30: Daytona International Speedway, Florida
May 19-21: Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Pennsylvania
July 14-16: New Castle Motorsports Park, Indiana
Aug 25-27: Briggs & Stratton Raceway Park, Wisconsin
Oct 13-15: GoPro Motorplex, North Carolina, Grand National
2017 WKA Winter Cup Series:
Feb 3-5: Ocala Gran Prix, Florida
March 3-5: Nola Motorsports Complex, Louisiana
April 7-9: GoPro Motorplex, North Carolina
2017 RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series:
March 24-26 Jacksonville, Florida