CONCORD, NC - World Karting Association Officials are proud to announce the official venues and dates for the 2016 edition of the Bridgestone Manufacturers Series. With steady and consistent participation, as well as a renewed energy in the entire program and organization, WKA is pleased to announce the continuation of relationships with some of the greatest 2 cycle facilities in the country Headlined by the World Center of Racing, Daytona International Speedway, for the annual edition of Daytona KartWeek in December, WKA will also be venturing back to the ultra modern Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina for an April event, giving fans a chance to visit some NASCAR Race Shops during their visit, as well as the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Also on the schedule will be 2 stops at Mark Dismore’s New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana, the crown jewel of the Midwest, along with a return to the northeast at the always challenging and competitive Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Pennsylvania, a track with high-speed straight-aways and awesome elevation changes
Adding to the excitement of the 2016 schedule will be the first ever edition of The WKA Winter Cup, a three race series, kicking off at Daytona International Speedway, the same week as Daytona Kartweek, giving competitors an opportunity to not only run nationally, but also begin the quest for the Winter Cup title, all at the same time
Stop #2 for the series will take place at the legendary 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida in February, with the third and final run for the title ending up at Go Pro Motorplex, thus crowning the 2016 inaugural Winter Cup Champions For many running both the Winter Cup AND the Manufacturers Cup Series, the final date for the Winter Cup at Go Pro will afford competitors returning for the April Mfg Cup nationals the opportunity to leave their trailers on the property, should they choose to.
“ We are extremely pleased to be able to present our Mfg Cup national schedule to the karting public as early as we can, thus giving them the opportunity to make their plans for all the series they compete in, well in advance” stated WKA President John Ferris.
While still working on class structure for both series, WKA Officials, as well as the respective Competition Committees, are finalizing proposals that will be announced shortly. While the bulk of the Mfg Cup National Classes will clearly remain in place, the Winter Cup will be a strong mix of IAME Classes, as well as LO206 Junior and Senior Classes, providing an awesome mix of 2 and 4 cycle competition, taking many back to the days of old, before the 2 series became independent of one another.
The level of energy has not been measured this high in quite some time in both 2 and 4 Cycle racing, as WKA continues to provide their racers the best venues and class options available in their quest for the ultimate national title!!!!
In the coming weeks, plans for the 2016 dates and venues for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series, as well as the National Road Race series will be announced.
Here’s a look at the 2016 Mfg Cup and Winter Cup Schedules.
Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series:
Dec 28-30: Daytona International Speedway
April 1-3: Go Pro Motorplex
July 15-17: New Castle Motorsports Park
August 19-21: Pittsburgh International Race Complex
September: New Castle Motorsports Park
Note: While the final date for Race #5 has not been finalized, the venue will indeed be New Castle Motorsports Park
2016 WKA Winter Cup
Dec 28-30: Daytona International Speedway
Feb 5-7 103rd Street Sports Complex
March 4-6: Go Pro Motorplex
CONCORD, NC - There is a recurring theme in the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series this year. When a driver is on a roll at a specific event, there is no stopping them. And it hasn’t always been the same dominant face this year. Such was the case at the Michigan Kart Supply Nationals at G and J Kartway in Camden, Ohio, stop #3 for the 4 race series.
While 4 wins in a weekend was fantastic for some, Matt Miller wasn’t far behind in the win total category, notching 3 wins himself for the weekend. Starting with the Van K Wheels Junior Pro Gas Lite class, Miller had another quality field of competitors to fend off, taking the top honors over Jason Alder, with Joshua Stark, Cody Hall, and Brian Van Cleve chasing the Mikim Motorsports Fast Time winner across the stripe. Later in the day, Miller came back with an LO206 motor strapped on the kart, scored the Mikim Motorsports Fast time honors, then proceeded to top Jimmy Cole Jackson, Cody Hall, Talia Moffet, and Alex Vrabel in the Thor Oil sponsored class. Part of Millers wins would include a weekend sweep of the class as the Maryland driver returned Sunday to take the win, again over Jackson, with Jason Alder, Hall, and Vrabel completing the top 5.
21 karts lined up for the Senior Pro Gas Money race, rounding out the Friday on track activities. And for the second race in a row, Zach Linsell found himself not only taking the Money Race win, but again fending off the efforts of yet another Heavlow, this time Jimmy Heavlow. With younger brother Jake, the runnerup in Jacksonville, enjoying a graduation trip in the Dominican Republic, older brother Jimmy took behind the wheel, and thus made the battle a good one between the two northeast stalwarts. Linsells win netted just under $400 for the victory, with his win streak bringing back memories of the dominance of Gary Lawson in the Friday Night Shootout. Following the top 2 were Mike Greiner, Corey Towles, and Sean Meier.
Kershaw was somewhat like Old Home Week with the return of Skyler Locklear, Chris Wells, Jimmy Heavlow, Travis Manning, Ryan Bennett, AND Ben Wagenhals!! Jumping on to a Jim Lipari Coyote Chassis, Wagenhals returned to Gold Cup victory lane in fine fashion, taking the Briggs and Stratton Racing LO206 Heavy Final on Saturday. Austin Queen, the runnerup twice in Jacksonville, again stole the bridesmaid spot, with JT Swygert, Patrick O’Neal, and Matt Skaggs completing the top 5.
For Rice, his acceptance of the Manufacturers Championship Trophy marked the second such award he has earned from 2014. The other award of this nature was a result of MGM’s major victory on the Vega Tire/TS Racing National Road Racing Series, ending a long run of dominance by Road Race chassis giant CKI. On the Gold Cup side, MGM came away with 22 wins on the season, followed closely by Coyote with 15 wins. Right on Coyote’s heels were Razor and Margay, both with 13 wins, while Bandit Chassis took 11 wins on the season.
The final class to be honored was the CKI/Power Plus Lubricants Animal Heavy Mix class where Paul Headley laid claim to the title. Tyler Sandmeyer, Patrick O’Neil, Tanner Lee, and Joshua Stiefel were the top 5 for 2014.
