06.02.2016 - Tier 1 Deadline for Carolina Nationals June 8

CONCORD, NC - The brief pause of the WKA National event season has just about come to an end, as the month of June presents 2 National Events, one of those being the Carolina Summer Nationals at Carolina Motorsports Park June 24-26 for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series. Competitors running the event later this month are reminded that the initial Tier deadline for entries is Tuesday June 8. Entries have been rolling in at a steady pace as competitors who ran the series first event back in April in Jacksonville, Florida have embraced the new fee and purse structure, affording many competitors to recoup the bulk, if not all of their entry money back, provided they are the in the top 3 as far as overall results for the weekend per class, netting the overall winner $500, 2^nd place $250, with $150 going to 3^rd.

Extended track time will also be a part of the series second event, with laps being increased in the mains for the Sportsman, Junior, and Senior classes, giving competitors the additional track time they are seeking.

6 of the 11 classes that took part in the new program will again be in the spotlight in June. Those classes include”

Senior Pro Gas Medium, sponsored by Coyote Motorsports and Jim’s Marine

Senior Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply

Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Brads Heating and Cooling

Junior Pro Gas Lite

Junior Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing

Senior LO206, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing and Inferno Racing Clutches

Other classes in action will include the Sportsman Pro Gas Lite class, sponsored by MattMillerRacing.com and Spooner General Contractor, LO206 Kid Karts, sponsored by Boon and Sons, Junior LO206, sponsored by Water Medic, Sportsman LO206, sponsored by LA South Tire, and the all new Masters Senior LO206, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing

Additionally, the heat will get turned up even more Friday evening, as the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas classes will run their 10 lap Shootout Races, sponsored by Brad’s Heating and Cooling, with $200 going to the winner, $100 for 2^nd, and $50 for 3^rd, with the top 3 receiving awards as well.

The Senior Pro Gas veterans will then take to the track for their Money Race, always a crowd pleaser, setting the stage for a spectacular weekend of racing!!!!!!

Parking reservations are currently being accepted. Competitors can contact Buddy Long at (704) 455-1606, ext 112, or buddy@worldkarting.com.

To view the weekend schedule and entry information for the Carolina Summer Nationals, click here.

05.26.2016 - Parking Reservations Now Open for Carolina Summer Nationals at Kershaw

CONCORD, NC - As entries begin to make their way into the WKA Office for the Carolina Nationals, the second event for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series June 24-26 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, competitors wishing to reserve parking can now finalize their reservations for the summer event. Parking for the Carolina Nationals will begin Thursday June 23 for sponsors at 11am, with competitor parking following at noon. Cost for reserved parking is $50. Pre Entry Pickup will take place later in the day from 3-6pm.

On Friday, the track will entertain a full day of practice, beginning at 8:30am, running till 4:30pm. At 4:45, the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas competitors will begin their qualifying runs for their respective 10 lap Shootout Races, sponsored by Brads Heating and Cooling. The winner of the 10 lap Shootouts will receive $200, with $100 going to second, and the third place finisher getting $50. Trophies will also be awarded to the top 3. Following the Shootout events, the Senior Pro Gas competitors will take to the track for their Money race, with drivers drawing for their initial starting positions. At the halfway mark, the leader will draw a pill to determine how many in the field fill be inverted. At Jacksonville, Jake Heavlow drew the #1 pill, maintaining his spot, and cruising on to the win. The event carries a $50 entry fee with 75% payback to the top 5, based on entry count.

Saturday and Sunday events will feature 11 classes both days, 6 of those classes running for an overall purse of $500 to the weekends overall best finisher, with $250 to second, and $150 to third. Those classes include the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy Class, Junior Pro Gas Lite, the Briggs & Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Heavy Class, Senior Pro Gas Medium, sponsored by Coyote Motorsports and Jims Marine, Senior Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply, and Senior LO206, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing and Inferno Racing Clutches.

Adding to the purses for the Kershaw event will be added laps for competitors as well. Drivers in the Sportsman, Junior, and Senior classes will run the same amount of laps in their heats as in the past, which has been 8, with the Sportsman and Junior drivers having their laps in the final extended from 12 to 15 laps, while the seniors will run 20 lap main events, up from 12 laps as well.

Recouping a large part of your entry money and additional track time, two of the major items competitors are looking for, are both on the menu at Kershaw.

Be sure and lock in your parking reservations today. Contact Buddy Long at the WKA Office at (704) 455-1606, ext. 112, or buddy@worldkarting.com.

To view the weekend schedule of events and finalize your details for the Carolina Summer Nationals, click here.

05.12.2016 - Kershaw Gold Cup Entry Blank Now Online

CONCORD, NC - The momentum of the top 4 Cycle Sprint Series in America heads into the heat of the summer months as the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series prepares for stop #2 of the 4 race national program June 24-26 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina for the latest edition of the Carolina Nationals. Competitors wishing to get a jump on the second race of the season, the first of 2 stops in 2016 at the immaculate Palmetto State facility, can now view the race weekends information online.

Keeping in line with the series first event of the season in April at Jacksonville, Florida, 6 of the 11 national points classes will have a shot at a $500 payday, provided they are the top overall finisher in the weekends events per national class. The 2^nd highest overall finisher will receive $250, with 3^rd place receiving $150. The classes that are eligible for this payout are:

Senior Pro Gas Medium, sponsored by Coyote Motorsports and Jims Marine

Senior Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply

Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Brads Heating and Cooling

Junior Pro Gas Lite

Junior Pro Gas Heavy, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing

Senior LO206, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing and Inferno Racing Clutches

Additionally, laps have been increased for national competitors in the Sportsman, Junior, and Senior classes. With 11 national classes, the timeframe doesn’t afford ample time to get 2 rounds of heat races in the books. So laps in the mains for Sportsman’s and Juniors will increase from 12 to 15, with Senior competitors being increased from 12 to 20 for their main event, providing competitors the all- important track time they desire.

Action kicks off Friday with a full day of practice, culminating with the Brads Heating and Cooling Shootout Races for the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas competitors, paying $200 to win, with $100 for second, and $50 going to third in the 10 lap shootout affairs. Trophies will also be awarded to the top 3. Additionally, the Senior Pro Gas Money Race will also take place, with drivers running for a 75% payback in their class, based on participation.

Deadline for the first Tier of entry fees is June 8, giving drivers plenty of time to get their entries in. Anyone wishing to reserve parking should contact Buddy Long at the WKA Office at (704) 455-1606 ext. 112.

To view the Carolina Nationals weekend schedule, click here.

05.11.2016 - Additional Track Time Highlights Additions to Kershaw Gold Cup Weekend

CONCORD, NC - As competitors on the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series busily prepare for the programs second event of the 2016 season June 24-26 at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, WKA Officials are also busy at work, enhancing the structure of the 2016 program, based on feedback from the membership. One of the key areas of concern was the amount of track time competitors were getting at the series’ first event in April in Jacksonville, Florida. After assessing the first event, combined with the layout of the Kershaw track, as well as the hour of traditional Quiet Time on Sunday at Kershaw, it was determined that a second round of heat races would be tough to pull off, with 11 classes. Instead, the laps in the finals for competitors in the Sportsman, Junior, and Senior ranks would be increased, satisfying not only the need for more track time, but also preventing the thrashing of crewmembers and drivers who are entered in 3 classes from constantly going to and from the grid between practice, qualifying, conceivably 2 rounds of heat races, and a main.

That being said, competitors in the Sportsman and Junior classes will run an 8 lap heat race, same as last year at Kershaw, with laps in the Final for Sportsman and Junior competitors increased to 15 from 12, with Seniors being extended to 20 laps in their final. Seniors will also run an 8 lap Heat Race.

Additionally, the purse structure will also remain the same for the series second event, with 6 points classes running for a $500 to win payday, based off of overall weekend performance. Runner-ups in the respective Pro classes will get $250 with $150 going to third. The Pro Classes for Kershaw will be Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy, Junior Pro Gas Lite and Heavy, Senior Pro Gas Medium and Heavy, as well as Senior LO206.

The traditional Friday Night Shootout races, sponsored by Brad’s Heating and Cooling, will again be in place as well, with $200 on the line to win for the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas competitors, while second will run for $100, third place receiving $50.

The Senior Pro Gas Class will again have their Friday night Money race, always a fan favorite, with that event following the shootout events.

It’s a packed weekend of action from beginning to end!! To view the weekends schedule, click here.

05.03.2016 - Gold Cup Points from Jax now available

CONCORD, NC - With the first race in the books for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series, the official 2016 points following the season opening event at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida are now available. Leading the way by virtue of his sweep in the Boon and Sons LO206 Kid Kart Class is Brently Miller, holding the edge over Gold Cup newcomer Rachel Richter.

After sweeping the entire weekend in Sportsman competition, defending champion Aiden Baker Crouse is atop the standings in 3 classes. Crouse leads Cale Hall in the Sportsman Gas Lite class, with Landen Lewis, former Kid Kart competitor Blake Boon, and Elmer Edmonson completing the top 5. In the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy class, Crouse leads Lewis in the standings, with Tanner Carter, Cale Hall, and Elmer Edmonson completing the top 5, while Crouse completes the trifecta in Race #1, leading former Kid Kart competitor Caleb Gafrarar, Edmonson, Kevin Lanyi, and Blake Boon in the LA South Tire Sportsman LO206 class.

In Junior competition, Matt Miller, a 2-time champion in 2015, again leads 2 of the 3 Junior categories, holding the edge over Brian Van Cleve and Jimmy Cole Jackson, who are currently tied for second in the Junior Pro Gas Lite class, while Miller leads Cade Frazier, Jackson, Hunter Fox, and Andrew Willis in the Water Medic Junior LO206 group. Cody Hall holds the edge over Miller in the Briggs & Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Heavy class, with Van Cleve, Jackson, and Alex Vrabel completing the top 5.

Jacob Heavlow has broken out of the gate in both the Senior Pro Gas Medium class, sponsored by Coyote Motorsports and Jims Marine, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Heavy class, sponsored respectively by Briggs & Stratton Racing and Inferno Racing Clutches. Heavlow leads older brother Jimmy, along with Sean Meier, Mike Greiner, and Matthew Lewis in the Medium category, while the Heavlow brother tandem also leads the Senior Pro Gas Heavy class, sponsored by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply. Matt Mayes, Matt Travis, and Matthew Lewis complete the top 5 in the standings.

In the Senior LO206 Heavy class, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing and Inferno Racing Clutches, Michael Clark has bolted out to the early lead, with the slightest of leads over Jax weekend winner Corey Towles. While just 5 points separate the top 2, Jason Yarbrough, Patrick O’Neal, and Sean Meier are in the hunt.

And finally in the Briggs & Stratton Racing Masters Senior LO206, a new class for 2016, Joey Miller also holds a slim 5-point advantage over Brad Farmer, with Tim Stiefel, Jerry Yarbrough, and Vernon Sparks making up the top 5.

Whether the points see a shakeup, or they get extended by the current points leaders will be determined June 24-26 when the series hits the track at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina for the Series second stop, the Carolina Summer Nationals.

To view the current series points standings, click here.

04.21.2016 - Gold Cup Awards Presentation Helps Highlight Opening Weekend

CONCORD, NC -  While weather played a big part on the front end of the season opening event for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, Mother Nature couldn’t deter the smiles on the faces of countless recipients of Year End Points and Special Awards, as the World Karting Association hosted the annual awards presentation at the track Friday evening, following the wet weather practice day. Among the many honorees was Aiden Baker Crouse, as the young competitor from North Carolina was recognized for his 3 titles from the 2015 season in the Sportsman Gas Lite, Heavy, and LO206 classes. And as soon as the 2015 awards were laid in the trailer, Crouse immediately went after more hardware, sweeping 7 wins on the race weekend.

Paul Headley also made history, going down as the champion in the last 2 Methanol classes that the series offered in 2015, taking the top honors in the Animal Medium and Animal Heavy Mix classes.

Matt Miller was also honored for his multiple championship efforts for the season, as the Maryland driver was recognized for his titles in the Brads Heating and Cooling Junior Pro Gas Animal Heavy and Junior LO206 Classes.

Fellow Maryland campaigner Jason Alder, now heading to the next level of his racing career in Legend Car racing, was also honored for his title in the Van K Wheels Junior Pro Gas Lite Class.

Jax Walker, one of many drivers graduating to the Sportsman ranks this year, was honored for his second consecutive Kid Kart Title, sponsored by Tyler Sandmeyer Racing.

In the Senior ranks, Floridian Sean Meier was recognized as the champion in the Coyote Motorsports Senior Pro Gas Class for 2015.

Austin Queen took down the Senior LO206 Class in 2015 as the final champion for the season.

All champions received their ceremonial Championship rings Friday evening, a big hit for all in attendance, as well as kart stands from RLV Tuned Exhaust Products, and a set of tires from Bridgestone, in addition to a variety of additional products and prizes.

Other Special Awards went to Bandit Racing Chassis of Winchester, Virginia, recipient of one of the most coveted awards in karting, the Manufacturers Championship Trophy, presented to the Chassis Manufacturer with the most wins in a season. This past year, Bandit edged past champion Razor Chassis by 4 wins, 26-22, with Arrow Chassis just 1 win behind Razor. Congratulations to Tommy Triplett and Bandit for their return to the top of the heap.

Maryland competitor Jacob Connors was honored for his efforts in his first full season of Senior competition, begin recognized as the Senior Rookie of the Year, while Riley Kelley received the Most Improved Junior Driver award for his improvement in the Sportsman ranks from 2014. Kelley has now moved to the Junior ranks this season, and will again be one to be reckoned with.

Another very special award to the Gold Cup Family went to the Talia Moffett Family, one of many very special families in the series, while Jimmy Cole Jackson received the Sportsmanship Award for his great attitude no matter what the circumstance.

Special recognition also went out to Art and Rod Verliengre of RLV Tuned Exhaust Products for their title sponsorship, as well as the following race sponsors:

Ionic Edge Chassis: Kyle Luttrell

Kart City Performance: Rob Smith

Michigan Kart Supply: Jerry Cole

GT Machine: Dave and Sue Koehler

Other sponsors recognized for their great contributions included:

Coyote Motorsports: Mark and Jim Lipari

Van K Wheels: Brian and Natalie Bass

Miller Welders: Andy Weyenburg

Briggs & Stratton Racing: Dave Klaus

Brads Heating and Cooling: Brad Farmer

Tyler Sandmeyer

Mikim Motorsports: Mike Greiner

Here’s a look at the final 2015 standings per class.

Animal Medium:

1 Paul Headley

2 Jim Lipari

3 Cayla Chapman

Junior Pro Gas Lite: Van K Wheels

1 Jason Alder

2 Matt Miller

3 Joshua Stark

4 Cody Hall

5 Brian Van Cleve

6 Alex Vrabel

7 Jimmy Cole Jackson

8 Talia Moffett

9 Austin Williamson

Sportsman Gas Lite:

1 Aiden Baker Crouse

2 Riley Kelley

3 Tanner Carter

4 Cale Hall

5 Macon Moore

6 Mark Steube

Senior Pro Gas: Coyote Motorsports

1 Sean Meier

2 Jacob Heavlow

3 Zach Linsell

4 Tyler Smith

5 Dustin Demattia

6 Aren Smith

7 Eric Fagan

8 Patrick O’Neal

9 Mike Greiner

LO206 Kid Kart: Tyler Sandmeyer

1 Jax Walker

2 Owen Lloyd

3 Blake Boon

4 Caleb Gafrarar

Senior LO206 Heavy

1 Austin Queen

2 Ben Wagenhals

3 Haley Kummer

4 No Award

5 Eric Fagan

6 Michael Clark

7 Brandon Murzynski

8 Patrick O’Neal

9 No Award

10 Chris Osgood

Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy:

1 Aiden Baker Crouse

2 Riley Kelley

3 Macon Moore

4 Mark Steube

Animal Heavy Mix:

1 Paul Headley

2 Josh Stiefel

3 Case Hall

4 No Award

5 Jacob Connors

6 Tim Stiefel

7 Andy Jones

Junior Pro Gas Heavy: Brads Heating and Cooling

1 Matt Miller

2 Alex Vrabel

3 Jason Alder

4 Joshua Stark

5 Jimmy Cole Jackson

6 Cody Hall

7 Brian Van Cleve

8 Talia Moffett

9 David Kalb Jr

Sportsman LO206: Miller Welders

1 Aiden Baker Crouse

2 Tanner Carter

3 Riley Kelley

4 Cale Hall

5 Mark Steube

6 Elijah Skaggs

Junior LO206:

1 Matt Miller

2 Cody Hall

3 Jimmy Cole Jackson

4 Jason Alder

5 Talia Moffett

6 Brian Van Cleve

On behalf of the World Karting Association, our sincerest congratulations and thanks to all for a great 2015 season, and an awesome start to the 2016 racing year. We look forward to seeing you all at Kershaw in June.

04.21.2016 - Ionic has the Edge Following Round 1 of Gold Cup Competition

CONCORD, NC -Much like the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, the chassis battle on the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series could indeed be a tight one come October. That’s if Round 1 of action this past weekend at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida is any indication, as Ionic Edge Chassis holds a 1 win lead over Razor Chassis, with the rest of the competition close behind. Led by the 1 man band they call Aiden Baker Crouse, the Vale, North Carolina drivers sweep of the Sportsman competition both days in Jacksonville have Ionic Edge Chassis pacing the field with 3 national events to go.

Razor Chassis also enjoyed a successful first weekend in the new season with 5 wins, led by Brently Miller in the Boon and Sons Kid Kart class. Cody Hall also contributed 2 wins on the weekend for Razor in the Brads Heating and Cooling Junior Pro Gas Heavy class, with Joey Miller checking in for the win in the Masters Senior class.

Defending Manufacturers Champion Bandit Chassis checked in for 4 wins on the weekend, along with Arrow, while Coyote registered 2 wins, and Comet Eagle tallied 1 victory for the weekend.

Bandit was led by Matt Millers 4 wins in the Junior Pro Gas Lite class, as well as the Water Medic Junior LO206 Class, while Jacob Heavlow scored the 4 wins for Arrow in the Senior Pro Gas Medium class, sponsored by Coyote Motorsports and Jims Marine, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Heavy class, sponsored by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply.

The wins for Coyote were provided by Brad Farmer in the Masters Senior class, as well as Jason Yarbrough in the Inferno Racing Clutches Senior LO206 Heavy division, while Corey Towles took the LO206 class on Saturday on a Comet Eagle, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton Racing.

Round 2 of the Chassis battle will continue at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina June 24-26.

04.19.2016 - ABC Bats 1.000 in Gold Cup Season Opener

CONCORD, NC - Letters converted quickly to numbers for Aiden Baker Crouse in the season opener for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series this past weekend at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, as the World Karting Association began a new era for 6 of their 11 national classes, offering purse payouts to the top 3 overall finishers of the respective Pro Classes. While the good fun has been finding new and creative ways to denote Crouse’s 3 names utilizing the first 3 letters of the alphabet, the North Carolina youngster is chuckling all the way to the bank by virtue of his 7 national event wins over the weekend, 6 of those for national points classes, the other in the form of the Friday evening Shootout Race. All in all, Crouse left Jacksonville with $700, the beneficiary of being the overall winner in the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy class, as well as the winner in the Sportsman Pro Gas Shootout, netting $500 and $200 respectively.

While Crouse was busy winning the most races, Maryland veteran Jacob Heavlow netted the highest total of purse money, taking home $1,000 for his overall efforts in the Coyote Motorsports Senior Pro Gas Medium and Bordeaux Dyno Cams Senior Pro Gas Heavy main events. Other big winners were Matt Miller, the 2 time defending Junior champion. Miller took the high honors in the Junior Pro Gas Lite class, as well as second overall in the Briggs & Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Heavy group, taking home $750 for his efforts.

Cody Hall wasn’t far behind, netting $700 for his win in the Junior Pro Gas Shootout, sponsored by Brads Heating and Cooling, as well as the overall win in the Junior Pro Gas Heavy class, while Corey Towles took home $500 as the overall winner in the Briggs & Stratton Senior LO206 Class.

Other winners over the weekend included Brently Miller, sweeping the Boon and Sons LO206 Kid Karts, while Brad Farmer and Joey Miller shared the all new Masters LO206 Senior class wins, which showed quite a bit of promise for its initial voyage, netting 8 national entries. And While Corey Towles snared one of the Briggs & Stratton Racing Senior LO206 main events, Jason Yarbrough claimed the second event on Sunday.

For Crouse, his march towards weekend perfection began with the MattMillerRacing.com Sportsman Gas Lite Class, where he fended off the efforts of Cale Hall, Elmer Edmonson, Kid Kart graduate Blake Boon, and Hunter Burns to claim the first win. Later in the day, Crouse returned to victory lane, this time in the LA South Tire Sportsman LO206 Class, again finding Elmer Edmonson chasing him, with Kevin Lanyi, Caleb Gafrarar, another Kid Kart graduate, as well as Blake Boon rounding out the top 5. With his 2 Trophy class wins secured, Crouse began his quest for the Money Payout, this time taking the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy Main. With all 3 victories came the Fast Time top honors as well, with Crouse taking the Mikim Motorsports Medallions for all 3 classes. With less than favorable weather conditions the evening prior, the usual Friday evening Shootout Races were moved to Saturday evening, with Crouse snaring his 4^th win of the day, topping Landen Lewis, Tanner Carter, Cale Hall, and Elmer Edmonson.

While fans thought they were seeing double in the Senior ranks, they weren’t, as the pair of practically identical bright yellow and blue Jims Marine sponsored karts of Jacob and Jimmy Heavlow took their place at the front of the field this past weekend, with Jacob besting Jimmy in the Coyote Motorsports Senior Pro Gas Medium main. Sean Meier, the defending class champion, came home third, followed by Mike Greiner and Matthew Lewis.

The duo returned to take the same places later in the day in the Bordeaux Dyno Cams Senior Pro Gas Heavy main, with Jacksonville area product, and national competitor Matt Mayes taking down third, followed by fellow Floridian Matt Travis and Jacob Connors. Jacob Heavlow also took the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time awards for both classes as well.

Matt Millers 2 win day began with the top honors in the Junior Pro Gas Lite main, as Miller had to fend off the efforts of Jimmy Cole Jackson, Brian Van Cleve, former Sportsman racer Riley Kelley, and Alex Vrabel. Cody Hall, 8^th in the main event, claimed the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award.

Miller returned a few classes later to claim the Water Medic sponsored Junior LO206 class, again fending off Jackson, with Cade Frazier, Hunter Fox, and Andrew Willis completing the top 5. Miller also claimed the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award.

Corey Towles confined his efforts for the weekend to the Briggs & Stratton Racing Senior LO206 Class, and for good reason, taking down the Day 1 win over Michael Clark, Brandon Murzynski, Patrick O’Neal, and Jacob Heavlow. Towles also claimed the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time Award.

Brently Millers 2 win effort pretty much went with the flow of the weekend success, shared by many, as the youngster claimed both days of action in the Boon and Sons Kid Kart class, as well as the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award on Day 1. Miller was followed by newcomers Rachel Richter and Carlos Willis both days, while Richter also claimed her first ever Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award on Sunday.

The first day of points action was not totally dominated by repeat winners, as Cody Hall broke up the party in the Briggs & Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Heavy main, besting 2 time winner Matt Miller, with Jimmy Cole Jackson, Brian Van Cleve, and Riley Kelley completing the top 5. Hall also snared the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time top honors.

Hall returned at the end of the day to claim the $200 top prize in the Brads Heating and Cooling Junior Pro Gas Shootout. Jackson, Miller, Van Cleve, and Vrabel completed the top 5.

And the debut of the new Masters LO206 Senior class was a big hit, with a strong turnout for the opener, as well as tight racing from green to checkered. In the end, Brad Farmer took down the win, with Joey Milller right on his heels in second, followed by Tim Stiefel, Jerry Yarbrough, and Alan Strihafka.

The Senior Pro Gas drivers had one last shot for a chance to win some money Saturday with their rescheduled Money Race from Friday night, scheduled as the last race of the day. And the 11 drivers in the field did not disappoint, with the first 10 lap segment going down in history as one of the best 10 laps ever, with 2 by 2 racing into the tight first turn at the end of the long 1,000 foot backstretch, as well as 3 wide racing going into the tight right hander that is turn 6, just beyond the grid exit. In the end, Jacob Heavlow again prevailed, taking the win over Mike Griener, with Matt Mayes, Matt Travis, and Jimmy Heavlow completing the top 5.

Day 2 action found Jacob and Jimmy Heavlow again atop the Jims Marine Senior Pro Gas Medium class, with Mike Greiner, Sean Meier, and Jacob Connors completing the top 5, with Heavlow again claiming the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time Award. The same result was found in the Trackside Kart Supply Senior Pro Gas Heavy event, with the Heavlows a 1,2 punch, followed by Matt Mayes, Matthew Lewis, and Matt Travis completing the top 5. Heavlow again took the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award.

Not to be outdone, Matt Miller again returned to victory lane twice on Sunday, taking the Junior Pro Gas Lite and Water Medic Junior LO206 mains. Brian Van Cleve, Jimmy Cole Jackson, Riley Kelley, and Talia Moffett chased Miller in the Pro Gas main, with Miller taking the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time honors, while Cade Frazier, Hunter Fox, Jackson, and Brian Collins made up the top 5 in the LO206 Main event, with Jackson taking the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award.

Crouse was next up for the day, and hit 3 more homers, first taking the Spooner General Contractor Sportsman Gas Lite main, topping Landen Lewis, Cale Hall, Tanner Carter, and Blake Boon. Crouse then took the Sportsman LO206 main, topping Caleb Gafrarar, Kevin Lanyi, Elmer Edmonson, and defending Kid Kart Champ Jax Walker. For the nightcap, Crouse bested Lewis, Carter, Cale Hall, and Edmonson in the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy finale. And once again, Crouse also laid claim to all 3 Mikim Motorsports Fast Time awards.

Jason Yarbrough roared back from a 6^th place finish on Day 1 to claim the Inferno Racing Clutches Senior LO206 Heavy main, taking his first national event win of the season. Michael Clark rode home second with Sean Meier, day 1 winner Corey Towles, and Eric Fagan completing the top 5. Yarbrough also claimed the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award.

Cody Hall placed his name in the weekend record books as a sweeper as well, taking the Briggs & Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Heavy main for the second day in a row, topping Matt Miller, Brian Van Cleve, Alex Vrabel, and Talia Moffett, while also taking the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time award.

And, saving one of the best races of the weekend for last, Joey Miller led the Briggs & Stratton Racing Masters Senior class across the stripe for his first win of the weekend, edging Day 1 winner Brad Farmer, with Matt Skaggs, Tim Stiefel, and Jerry Yarbrough completing the top 5. Miller also took the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time Top Honors.

With the first race of a new, successful season in the books, the series will next head to Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina for the Series Summer Nationals June 24-26. The weekends festivities will be kicked off by the Shootout Races for the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas Classes, again sponsored by Brads Heating and Cooling, along with the Senior Pro Gas Money race.

The updated Entry Blank for the Kershaw event will be online later this week.

Here’s a look at the breakdown of the Top 3 finishers in the Shootout Races, as well as the overall Top 3 finishers in the respective Pro Classes.

Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Shootout:

1 Aiden Baker Crouse: $200

2 Landen Lewis: $100

3 Tanner Carter: $50

Brads Heating and Cooling Junior Pro Gas Shootout:

1: Cody Hall: $200

2: Jimmy Cole Jackson: $100

3 Matt Miller: $50

Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy:

1 Aiden Baker Crouse: $500

2 Landen Lewis: $250

3 Tanner Carter: $150

Junior Pro Gas Lite:

1 Matt Miller: $500

2 Brian Van Cleve: $250

3 Jimmy Cole Jackson: $150

Briggs & Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Heavy:

1 Cody Hall: $500

2 Matt Miller: $250

3 Brian Van Cleve: $150

Coyote Motorsports/Jims Marine Senior Pro Gas Medium:

1 Jacob Heavlow: $500

2 Jimmy Heavlow: $250

3 Sean Meier: $150

Bordeaux Dyno Cams/Trackside Kart Supply Senior Pro Gas Heavy:

1 Jacob Heavlow: $500

2 Jimmy Heavlow: $250

3 Matt Mayes: $150

Briggs & Stratton Racing/Inferno Racing Clutches Senior LO206:

1 Corey Towles: $500

2 Michael Clark: $250

3 Jason Yarbrough: $150

04.12.2016 - Solid Entries Prepare for Gold Cup Season Opener at Jax

CONCORD, NC - On the heels of an awesome turnaround season in 2015, the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series is prepared for yet another successful campaign, with a strong entry count waiting for the gates to open for the series season opener April 15-17 at 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. The Boon and Sons Kid Kart class may have Brently Miller licking his chops early, as the young driver swept both days of action in 2015 in Jacksonville. And with a couple drivers moving up age wise, this could be a good season in one regard, and a tough season for others in another, given Millers early season success last year.

One of the many items of interest from year to year is the transition of drivers to the next competitive age category. As mentioned with the Kid Kart Group, the graduating class to the Sportsman ranks includes both Blake Boon and Caleb Gafrarar. Boon will dive right into the MattMillerRacing.com Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Lite and LA South Tire Sportsman LO206 categories, as well the Friday evening shootout race paying $200 to win. For Gafrarar, his adjustment to the next level has already occurred, as the multi series competitor has already scored wins in the Mini Swift class nationally on the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, and is prepared for an assault on the Sportsman LO206 class this season.

Another driver who enjoyed the most success in 2015 in Gold Cup, and has also done some 2 cycle racing early this year is 3-time and defending Sportsman Champion Aiden Baker Crouse, the top dog in the Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Lite and LO206 classes, not to mention the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Heavy class. Crouse will be back to begin defense of those titles, as well as participate in the Friday Night Shootout Race. Also set to improve a notch in the order is Riley Kelley, a runner-up in 2 of the 3 classes that Crouse scored titles in last season. Kelley came on strong late last year, notching several national event wins. Adding Cale Hall to the mix will make the front end of this field very tough to break into for the many newcomers to the program this season, of which there are many. Other drivers looking for early season success include Brady Atwood, Elmer Edmonson Jr, Kevin Lanyi, Landon Lewis, and many more.

The Junior ranks will again be loaded, led by 2015 Junior Pro Gas and Junior LO206 Champion Matt Miller returning to defend his title. With the likes of Cody Hall, Brian Van Cleve, Alex Vrabel, Jimmy Cole Jackson, Talia Moffett, and Austin Williamson returning as well, the battle for the top shelf of the podium will again be a tough one.  Cade Frazier will be another driver in the hunt for a Junior title, as well as Cody Hall. Briggs & Stratton will sponsor the Junior Pro Gas Animal Heavy class this season, while Water Medic comes on board this season as sponsor of the Junior LO206 Class.

The Senior ranks, namely the Coyote Motorsports Senior Pro Gas Medium class, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Heavy classes, sponsored respectively by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply, will add even more talent to the field, with the addition of 2015 Animal Medium and Heavy Mix Champion Paul Headley, as well as Cayla Chapman, one of the top female racers in the 4 Cycle ranks, moving over to compete for the title. Returning this season are Jacob and Jimmy Heavlow, not to mention Patrick O’Neal and Mike Greiner to name a few. Joining these ranks again will be Jacob Connors, a very accomplished racer last year in his first full season of Senior action. Also joining the class will be Matt Darden, Matthew Lewis, Jim Lipari, Matt Mayes, Chris Osgood, James VanDerZee, as well as Josh Stiefel, another former competitor in the Animal Medium and Heavy Mix ranks, and many more.

Some of these drivers will also be venturing into the Senior LO206 ranks, sponsored this year by Briggs & Stratton Racing and Inferno Racing Clutches. Led by 2015 Senior Pro Gas Champion Sean Meier, the field also will include Jason Yarbrough, Justin VanDerZee, Brad Farmer, Matt Tortorell, Tim Stiefel, Patrick O’Neal, Michael Clark, Brandon Myrzinski, Dustin Demattia, Caylyn Brown, to mention a few.

The all new Masters Senior LO206 class, sponsored by Briggs & Stratton, will now afford many some of the veteran drivers a chance to run in their own class for drivers 35 and over, in addition to the Senior Pro Gas and LO206 classes they run. Tim Stiefel, Matt Skaggs, and Jerry Yarbrough are some of the familiar names that will christen the new class, as drivers will run both days for a shot at the points lead coming out of Jacksonville.

The quest for the 2016 championships begin with honoring the 2015 champions Friday evening at the track in the series annual awards presentation, following the Shootout races for the Sportsman, Junior, and Senior Pro Gas classes. With the bulk of last years champions and top honorees returning this season, the Shootout races are prepped to be a great kickoff to the 2016 season, with 6 of the 11 classes paying $500 to the weekends overall winner, with 2^nd receiving $250 and the 3^rd place overall finisher for the weekend netting $150.

Shootout races, Year End Awards Presentation, 11 national classes locked and loaded for a new season at 103^rd Street Sports Complex, home of the North Florida Kart Club, and 6 classes running for a chance to recoup some, or all of their entry money for the weekend. It all equals a great start to the season for the top 4 Cycle Sprint Series in America. The latest edition of the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series starts this weekend!!!!

To view the weekends activities, click here.

04.07.2016 - LA South Tire Joins Gold Cup Series as Class Sponsor

CONCORD, NC - World Karting Officials are proud to announce the addition of LA South Tire as the latest sponsor to the continuing list of new faces to the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series. Beginning with the upcoming Spring Nationals April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, LA South Tire will be the official sponsor of the Sportsman LO206 Class on Saturday. The addition of Jonathan Lewis and the LA South Tire sponsorship continues the success of several new sponsors to the Gold Cup Series this season, including MattMillerRacing.com, Boon and Sons, Water Medic, Bordeaux Dyno Cams, Jims Marine, Spooner General Contractor, Inferno Racing Clutches, Trackside Kart Supply, and Noram Clutches, not to mention existing sponsorship with Coyote Motorsports, Briggs and Stratton, Brads Heating and Cooling, Mikim Motorsports, Kart City Performance, and GT Machine.

WKA welcomes Jonathan Lewis and LA South Tire to Gold Cup Series for 2016.

04.07.2016 - Reminder of Gold Cup Year End Awards Presentation

CONCORD, NC - The beginning of the 2016 season for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup season is just days away, April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. But before the tabulating of points begins for the new season, champions, top ten eligible drivers, and many other special award recipients form 2015 will be honored at the series annual awards presentation slated for Friday evening at the track, following the Shootout races for the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas competitors, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Money race. Time is running out. So be sure and reserve your tickets for the awards presentation, which also includes a buffet dinner consisting of Smokehouse Chicken, Smoked Beef Brisket, Baked Beans, Mac and Cheese, Garlic Toast, Banana Pudding, Cookies and Brownies, and much more.

Tickets are $16 per person, and can be obtained by calling the office at (704) 455-1606. Or you can email, fax, or scan the form to:

WKA

6051 Victory Lane

Concord, North Carolina 28027

Fax: (704) 455-1609

Scan: members@worldkarting.com

Doors Open at 6:45pm, with Dinner at 7:15pm and awards slated for a 7:45pm start.

The beginning of the 2016 season for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup season is just days away, April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. But before the tabulating of points begins for the new season, champions, top ten eligible drivers, and many other special award recipients form 2015 will be honored at the series annual awards presentation slated for Friday evening at the track, following the Shootout races for the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas competitors, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Money race.

Time is running out. So be sure and reserve your tickets for the awards presentation, which also includes a buffet dinner consisting of Smokehouse Chicken, Smoked Beef Brisket, Baked Beans, Mac and Cheese, Garlic Toast, Banana Pudding, Cookies and Brownies, and much more.

Tickets are $16 per person, and can be obtained by calling the office at (704) 455-1606. Or you can email, fax, or scan the form to:

WKA

6051 Victory Lane

Concord, North Carolina 28027

Fax: (704) 455-1609

Scan: members@worldkarting.com

Doors Open at 6:45pm, with Dinner at 7:15pm and awards slated for a 7:45pm start.

03.30.2016 - Deadline for Jax Gold Cup Pre Entries April 5, Clarification on Fees

CONCORD, NC - Competitors running the 2016 edition of the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida have until Tuesday April 5 to catch the pre entry fee pricing. While there have been a number of changes to the Gold Cup fee structure for the new year, there still appears to be a bit of uncertainty with regards to how the new program works this season. The fee for a per class entry covers that class for the entire weekend of racing, practice included.  Competitors are NOT paying a Saturday fee for a class, and a Sunday fee for the same class. Tier 1 fees of $215 or $265, depending on what classes you enter, cover that class for both days, practice included.

If a competitor elects to run more than 1 class for the weekend, then they will pay an entry fee which covers that class for both days, practice included. Any fees paid cover the class you enter for the weekend, practice included.

While there has been an increase in fees this year, the purpose was to offset the additional expense of the purses being paid out to the Top 3 overall finishers in 6 Pro Classes, including Senior Pro Gas Animal Medium and Heavy, Senior LO206 Heavy, Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy, and Junior Pro Gas Lite and Heavy. The top 3 overall finishers in those classes will receive $500 to the winner, $250 for 2^nd, and $150 for 3^rd, giving drivers the opportunity to recoup some of their entry money from the weekend, something competitors have never been able to do in the past.

To view the information pertaining to the Spring Nationals, click here.

03.25.2016 - Kart City Performance to sponsor August Gold Cup Nationals at NCMP

CONCORD, NC - WKA Officials are pleased to announce the continuing relationship with Rob Smith and Kart City Performance for 2016 as the official race sponsor of the August 5-7 national event for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series at New Castle Motorsports Park. The news is positive in a two-fold sense, as Kart City Performance’s return, after sponsoring the Kershaw Gold Cup event last year, takes place at a track that the Gold Cup Series have been absent from in a few years, the ultra modern New Castle Motorsports Park.

The return of Mark Dismore’s crown jewel in the Midwest to the Gold Cup program, further enhances another quality schedule for the top 4 cycle competitors in the country, with the traditional stops at the 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida with its famed 1,000 foot backstretch, not to mention the immaculate Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina, which will comprise differing track configurations from the June race to the  season ending GT Machine Grand Nationals in early October.

As for Smith, his continued involvement with sponsorship through his Kart City Performance business is  just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to his dedication and involvement in the sport. For years, Smith has been a member of the Gold Cup Competition Committee, as well as being a noted and respected engine builder in the industry.

For more on Kart City Performance, click the Racing Series on the WKA site, then go to the RLV Gold Cup logo. From there click 2016 schedule. Scroll to the Kart City logo and click on, and learn more about another of the many fine contributors to the world of kart racing.

03.24.2016 - Gold Cup Competitors Embracing New Fees for 2016

CONCORD, NC - As the winds of change have arrived on the scene for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series for the new year, it’s a wind that has blown through the pits in recent years with amazing results to show for it, on another series, that being the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series. In recent years, tiered fee systems have been set in place, giving drivers opportunities to take advantage of the best available entry price, well in advance of the event. Even more recently, the pricing structure changed for the Manufacturers Cup Series, which included the cost of their practice fee built in to the overall charge. The creation of certain Pro Classes afforded many to run for a set purse, helping them to recoup some of the money they placed into the event, or at least have a chance to get a set of Bridgestone Tires, thus saving a little going to the next venue. While the initial reaction may have been met with a certain amount of apprehension by some, the end result has yet to totally be seen. However, pre entry numbers for the April 1-3 Praga North America Nationals at GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina have already well exceeded those of last year’s event, run in the precise same race rotation as that of last year, indicating the program is heading in the right direction, with still some tweaks to be made to help enhance the experience for the customer even better.

While that same apprehension may be prevalent on the Gold Cup Series to a degree, entry numbers are picking up, as drivers begin to embrace a change in their own series, one that will provide twice the amount of classes that will run for purses for 2016, giving many drivers a chance to recoup some of their entry money, with $500 going to the weekends overall top finisher in the Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Heavy class, the Junior Pro Gas Animal Lite and Heavy Classes, the Senior Pro Gas Medium and Heavy classes, as well as the Senior LO206 class. Second will $250 with the third place finisher overall per class receiving $150. For the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas Drivers, their opportunity to get money back begins Friday afternoon with their respective shootout races paying $200 to win in 10 laps, with $100 going to 2^nd and $50 for third.

Sponsorships have picked up immensely as new and existing faces in the sport buy into the concept, those being Jims Marine, Coyote Motorsports, MattMillerRacing.com, Briggs and Stratton, Boon and Sons, Water Medic, Bordeaux Dyno Cams, Brads Heating and Cooling, Spooner General Contractor, Inferno Racing Clutches, Trackside Kart Supply, Mikim Motorsports, Noram Clutches, Kart City Performance, and GT Machine, not to mention the title sponsor RLV.

While the number looks intimidating, it really isn’t once the math is one. With a host of competitors agreeing to an increase in fees late last year, to help advance the program, the program has responded, providing an opportunity for those who bought in, a chance to get back.

Trophy Class competitors are paying $15 more per class entered, practice included, racing at some of the best karting facilities in the country against the best competition. Pro Classes are paying $65 more per class entered, but with the opportunity to get anywhere from $150 to $500 if they are in the top 3 overall for the weekend, easily making up for the difference in the increase they paid, and then some, lighting up the eyes of many competitors looking for the top prize at the end of the weekend.

Whether it be running for a Trophy or Money, the prestige has not changed at all. The desire to be on the top shelf of the podium excites each driver just as much today as ever, whether it be hoisting a trophy or a check. And for many in the top 4 cycle series in the country, the opportunity to take it to the next level has arrived, as the April 15-17 Spring Nationals at 103^rd Street Sports Complex will attest to.

To view the Weekend schedule and entry information for the Spring Nationals in Jacksonville, click here.

03.21.2016 - Briggs & Stratton to provide Major Product to 2016 Year End Gold Cup Champions

CONCORD, NC - As competitors for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series busily prepare for the season opening Spring Nationals April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as the 2015 Year End Awards Presentation, also being held in Jacksonville, future 2016 champions can rest assured that the Year End merchandise for the following season will only be enhanced, as Briggs and Stratton will be providing major product to the 11 champions of the top 4 Cycle series in the country. With Awards, Tires, and Product from RLV, not to mention the return of the Championship Rings to the series this year, Dave Klaus of Briggs and Stratton will be providing top of the line PowerSmart P2200 Inverter Generators to each class champion for 2016. With a retail value of $650, the PowerSmart P2200 is clearly the top shelf brand of generator, capable of handling any strain a customer wants to place on it, with absolute whisper quiet power. This generator serves as the perfect item for competitors to bring to the track on race weekends.

The addition of the Briggs product continues to enhance the year end awards package for the Gold Cup competitors, not to mention the race season, as WKA Officials recently announced the addition of guaranteed purses to the weekends overall top 3 finishers in the Brad’s Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Lite, Junior Pro Gas Animal Lite,and the Briggs and Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Animal Heavy classes, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Medium classes, sponsored respectively by Coyote Motorsports and Jims Marine, and the Senior LO206 classes sponsored by Briggs and Stratton and Inferno Racing Clutches. Additionally, Briggs is also sponsoring the all new Masters Senior class on Sunday, featuring drivers 35 and older. Overall weekend winners will receive $500, with $250 going to second and $150 going to the third place overall finisher.

The involvement of Briggs in 4 national classes, as well as the major giveaway of generators to the 2016 Year End Champions signifies a great relationship with Briggs and its karting competitors.

WKA Thanks Dave Klaus and the folks at Briggs & Stratton Motorsports for their continued involvement in the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series.

Anyone wishing to obtain additional info regarding the PowerSmart P220 Generator are welcome to visit the Briggs& Stratton site at www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/generators/portablegenerators/powersmart.

03.16.2016 - Correction on March 15 Gold Cup Pit Board

CONCORD, NC - There is an addition that needs to be made to the Pit Board that ran yesterday with regards to Brads Heating and Cooling sponsoring the Friday Night Shootout Races this season on the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series. When listing the classes that were guaranteed purses for the weekends top overall finisher, as well as 2^nd and third, 1 class was mistakenly omitted, that being the Senior Pro Gas Animal Heavy class, sponsored respectively by Bordeaux Dyno Cams and Trackside Kart Supply. The Senior Pro Gas Heavy joins Senior Pro Gas Medium, Senior LO 206, Junior Pro Gas Lite and Heavy, as well as the Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy classes. The overall top finisher for the weekend in these classes will receive $500 for first, $250 for 2^nd, and $150 for 3^rd.

Our sincerest apologies for missing the Senior Pro Gas Animal Heavy Class in yesterdays story.

To view the Spring Nationals event info for Jacksonville, click here.

03.15.2016 - Brads Heating and Cooling to again sponsor payouts in Friday Night Shootout Races

CONCORD, NC - For the second consecutive season, Brad Farmer of Brads Heating and Cooling will be sponsoring the Friday Night Shootout races for the Sportsman Pro Gas and Junior Pro Gas Classes on the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series, starting with the Spring Nationals event Friday April 15 at 103^RD Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida. In keeping with last years structure, the winner of the 10 lap shootout races will receive a $200 payday, with $100 going to second and $50 going to the third place finisher. Additionally, the top 5 in each class will receive trophies as part of their participation, a great reward for quick work in a 10 lap event.

Friday’s shootout events will be the middle portion of a very busy day of activity, as competitors will have a full days practice from 8:30am-4:30pm, then the 2015 Year End Awards Ceremony, also taking place at the track following the Shootout races, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Money Race, always a crowd pleaser.

The Friday action kicks off what should not only be a great racing weekend, but a great season on the Gold Cup program with the insertion of Guaranteed Purses to 6 of the 11 national classes overall weekends top 3. Drivers in the Brads Heating and Cooling Sportsman Pro Gas Heavy, Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Lite, Junior Pro Gas Animal Lite, Briggs and Stratton Racing Junior Pro Gas Animal Heavy classes, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Animal Medium classes, sponsored by Coyote Motorsports and Jims Marine, and the Senior LO206 classes, sponsored by Briggs, as well as Inferno Racing Clutches, will fight for a $500 to win payday as the weekends top overall competitor in each class, with the second place overall finisher in each class receiving $250, and third netting $150.

Already working hard this season, ensuring a successful weekend of racing for all competitors in the inaugural WKA Winter Cup program with his North Florida Kart Club crew, Farmer continues his passion for the sport and its future with the Shootout and Sportsman Pro Gas Animal Heavy sponsorship through his Brad’s Heating and Cooling business.

Sponsorship is available for just a scant few classes left on the program, as well as races. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Marie Borsuk at the WKA Office at (704) 455-1606, ext 111.

On behalf of WKA, thanks to Brad Farmer, one of many dedicated individuals to the Gold Cup program and the sport of kart racing, and its future.

To check out the weekends action for the Spring Nationals, click here. Be sure and get your entry in for the best 4 cycle racing in the country.

03.10.2016 - Fenderson, Linsell, Lemke, Welage, and Kalb Sweep GoPro WKA Winter Cup Finale

CONCORD, NC - With Springtime knocking on the door in the Carolinas, a strong contingent of 2 and 4 Cycle competitors converged on GoPro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina for the third and final round of WKA Winter Cup action, as the inaugural season for the newest program of the WKA fold successfully came to a conclusion, with 5 drivers taking a seat twice on the top shelf of the podium. Leading the way was Lance Fenderson, taking both days of action in the Allison Racing Engines Pro IAME Junior class. Other double up winners were fellow 2 cycle competitor Brandon Lemke in the KartSport North America Pro IAME Senior category, while both Zach Linsell and David Kalb Jr swept the Briggs and Stratton LO206 Senior and Junior classes respectively. Jason Welage was also a 2 time winner for the weekend, but was the only driver to win in 2 separate classes, the IAME USA East Pro Swift Sportsman, and Woltjer Racing Engines Yamaha Sportsman classes.

Other weekend winners included:

Caleb Gafrarar, Eli Trull: crpracing.com Mini Swift

Kaden Wharf, Jason Welage: Woltjer Racing Engines Yamaha Sportsman

Zane Maloney, Jason Welage: IAME USA East Pro Swift Sportsman

Ayrton Grim, Karsyn Walters: Water for a Cause Kid Karts

For Fenderson, the sweep in the Allison Racing Engines Pro IAME Junior class began Saturday with a victory over Alex Bertagnoli, with Pauly Massimino, Brooke Nachtman, and Stephen Dial making up the top 5. Not to be forgotten on Sunday was Ty Gibbs, one of Fenderson’s staunchest rivals all winter long. Gibbs shadowed Fenderson home in second for the Sunday finale, with Gage Rodgers, Maks Kowalski, and Drew Lindley completing the top 5. Fenderson and Sam Mayer were recipients of the Comet Kart Sales Fast Time Awards.

Lemke was clearly the class of the field for the weekend in the KartSport North America Pro IAME Senior ranks, taking a convincing win on Saturday over Braden Eves, Jonathan Kotyk, Brandon Jarsocrak, and Mike Giessen. On Sunday, Lemke had to rebound from a miscue in the heat, starting a little further back, but eventually snaring the lead and the victory for the weekend sweep. David Ilavia came home second on Day #2 with Eves, Jarsocrak, and Nick Landi completing the top 5. Jarsocrak and Lemke took the Comet Kart Sales Fast Time honors.

In the 4 cycle ranks, Zach Linsell had to stave off some pretty stiff competition in LO206 Senior action during the weekend, first topping Corey Towles in day 1 of racing, then Eric Fagan on day 2. Following Linsell and Towles on Day 1 were Comet Kart Sales Fast Time winner Dustin Demattia, Fagan, and Mike Greiner, with Towles, Demattia, and Greiner chasing Linsell and Fagan on Day 2.

For David Kalb, one of the few drivers doing double duty in both 2 and 4 cycle competition, the Midwest speedster turned back the competition both days in the Briggs and Stratton LO206 Junior category, topping Comet Kart Sales Fast Timer Cade Frazier, Seth Gentry, Matthew Miller, and Jimmy Cole Jackson in day 1 action, while Jackson, Miller, Frazier, and Nash Duyn completed the top 5 on day 2. Kalb took Fast time honors on the second day of action, while also competing in the Pro IAME Junior class for the weekend as well.

For the better part of the weekend, Jason Welage and Kaden Wharff appeared to be joined at the hip, running either side by side or nose to tail in the Woltjer Racing Engines Yamaha Sportsman class, with Wharff winning on day 1 over Welage, with Comet Kart Sales Fast Timer Robert Noaker III, Rylee Engels, and Garrett Adams making up the top 5. On day 2, Welage returned the favor, edging out a win over Wharff, with 2015 Gold Cup Champion Aiden Baker Crouse coming home in third, followed by Zane Maloney and Lucas Smalec. Maloney was Fast Timer on Day 2.

Welage also found his way to victory lane in the IAME USA East Pro Swift Sportsman Class, this time trading Wharff for Zane Maloney as his chief rival for the weekend in this class. Maloney took the Day 1 win over Welage, with Leland Honeymann, Will Robusto, and Gray Leadbetter taking the top 5. Connor Ferris was the Comet Kart Sales Fast Time winner, finishing 8^th in race #1. On Sunday, Welage returned the favor, collecting his second win of the weekend, topping Maloney, Honeymann, Crouse, and Wharff. Honeymann was the Comet Kart Sales Fast time winner on Sunday.

As usual, the Water for a Cause Kid Karts did not disappoint, with great competition each day. Taking the top honors on Day 1 was Ayrton Grim with Preveil Perkins rebounding from an early spin to claim second. Rounding out the top 5 were James Newell, Ava “Ice Cream” Dutton, and Hoyt Mohr. Dutton also took the Fast Time Award on Saturday. Day 2 action saw a battle right down to the wire with a pair of top future female competitors in Karsyn Walters and Dutton battle to the end, with Walters collecting the win.   Dutton topped off a great weekend with a second place run, followed by Grimm, Newell, and Perkins. Walters was the Comet Kart Sales Fast Time winner on Sunday.

From Kid Karts a season ago to the crpracing.com Mini Swift class, Caleb Gafrarar has not skipped a beat at all. On Saturday, Gafrarar, the Comet Kart Sales Fast Time winner, topped Brent Crews, Eli Trull, Danny Dyszelski, and Adam Maxwell. Sunday was a little different with contact between Gafrarar and Crews changing the fortunes for both teams, while Trull, fresh off a 3^rd place finish the day before, took full advantage, taking a huge win, with Nicholas Terlecki, Crews, Dyszelski, and Ben Maier completing the top 5.  Adam Maxwell was the Comet Kart Sales Fast Time winner on Sunday.

With the third race of the Winter Cup program in the books, the final tabulation on the season points will be forthcoming soon, as discussion took place the following Monday at the most recent WKA Board of Trustees Meeting regarding an outcome of one of the classes events this season that could have an impact on the final top 3 in the point standings. Once the competitors involved have been formally contacted, and the points calculated, the final standings will be released on the WKA website.

World Karting would like to thank all competitors, sponsors, tracks, crewmembers, and family members, for adding yet another series to their schedule, and in the process, turning the first edition of the WKA Winter Cup into a great success.

The next event will be the respective 2 and 4 cycle national events for both the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series April 1-3 at GoPro Motorplex, and the season opener for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series April 15-17 at 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, also site of the 2015 National Awards presentation.

For more information on these events, click here.

03.08.2016 - Update to New Gold Cup Masters Senior Class

CONCORD, NC - With the new season for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series a little over a month away April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, WKA Officials, in continuing efforts to listen to the needs of their customers, have made some modifications to the new Briggs and Stratton Masters Senior Class for the upcoming season. When the new class was originally announced several months ago, the Masters Senior class was for competitors age 40 and older, with a minimum weight of 390 lbs. Since then, many competitors wishing to run the class, have voiced their opinion with regards to weight and age. As a result, here are the adjustments that have been made for the class.

Competitors age 40 and older will still run at 390 lbs. The class will now also allow competitors from the attained age of 35-39 to run, but with a minimum weight of 405 lbs.

With the addition of the new age and minimum weight requirement, Officials have also elected to extend the Tier 1 Deadline for Entry Fees by 1 week, giving competitors who wish to run this class with the new age and weight requirements until Tuesday March 15 to take advantage of the Tier 1 fees. The original deadline date for Tier 1 was March 8, not giving drivers a chance to sign up for the new class, given the changes made.

To view the entry blank info for the Spring Nationals at Jacksonville, click here.

03.01.2016 - Gold Cup Banquet Form Now Online

Before the first checkered drops on the 2016 season for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series April 15-17 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, champions and many other recipients of special awards will be honored, as the 2015 Awards Presentation will be held at the track Friday evening April 15, following the Shootout races for the Sportsman and Junior Pro Gas Animal classes, as well as the Senior Pro Gas Money Race. Competitors wishing to attend the Year End Awards Presentation can now view, download, and submit their reservation requests for the annual function, available at worldkarting.com. Go to Racing Series, click the RLV Gold Cup logo, then click Banquet Form. With the 2015 season one of the more memorable and remarkable seasons in Gold Cup history, the kickoff to the 2016 season is loaded with great anticipation.

Festivities for the Awards Presentation get underway with doors opening at 6:45, dinner at 7:15, and awards beginning at 7:45. A buffet dinner catered by Monroe’s Smokehouse Barbecue and Catering of Jacksonville will kick off what should be great evening of entertainment with champions receiving their awards and merchandise, highlighted by their 2015 National Championship Ring.

To view the Gold Cup Awards Presentation Form, click here.