01.19.2016 - David Cole Joins WKA as District 6 Trustee

CONCORD, NC - The World Karting Association is proud to announce the addition of David Cole as the newest member to the Board of Trustees, following the most recent election. Cole, a resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan his entire life, will be serving as Trustee in District 6, covering the states of Michigan and Ohio. Coles background in karting has been very extensive. From being a fan at a very early age, to getting behind the wheel at the age of 10, Cole’s experience that he brings to the board spans many avenues of the karting industry, helping to not only provide knowledge from a competitors standpoint, but also from the aspect of clubs and regional touring series, as the Michigan native also volunteered his time in the nineties and early 2000’s, working with the Michigan Kart Club and Mid State Super Series.

Since 2005, Cole has managed the largest karting website in the country, ekartingnews, thus adding yet another angle from which to help and promote the sport. Attending numerous events in the US and Europe, Coles vast travel schedule allows him to also bring the many different perspectives from a track promoter and owners standpoint to the table as well, further making him a well rounded choice for a Board seat.

Like many in the industry, Cole is hoping to find a way to help the sport where it is lagging the most, the grass roots level, local racing specifically, as well as club and regional levels of the sport, hoping to re-stabilize the true foundation of the karting industry, assuring the top levels of the sport, the national events, remain healthy as well.

Joining Cole on his team are his 4 Cycle Representative David Kalb from Cleveland, Ohio, as well as Bob Cole, his 2 Cycle rep. Kalb also brings a ton of experience with him, with a son, David Jr, who is currently successfully competing in both the WKA Mfg Cup and Gold Cup programs, as well as many other programs in karting, and who also recently came away with one of the LO206 Junior wins at Daytona in Round 1 of the all new WKA Winter Cup program. A graduate of Ohio State University, David also is no stranger to operating a facility, having been the president of Thompson Kartway in 2011, wearing all the hats that go with the title, including that of Race Director.

Bob Cole also brings a wealth of years and experience to the table, serving as the 2 Cycle Rep. With roughly 42 years under his belt in the racing industry, Bob’s focus will include the Road Race program, as the recently retired motorsports veteran has plenty of time to chat with the people in the industry, as well as continue to attend many races in the midwest.

WKA welcomes the 3 newest members to its Board of Trustees Table, and looks forward to working with each of them, as the momentum in the karting industry continues to get stronger as of late.

Additionally, WKA would like to also extend its sincerest thanks and appreciation to Jerry Cole, the most recent Trustee in District 6 the past several years. Through his business, Michigan Kart Supply, Cole has served as sponsor, racer, Director of the Great Lakes Sprint Series, and has spent countless hours working with both the Gold Cup and Road Race programs, helping to enhance them year after year.

01.19.2016 - 2 time Daytona Winner Bertagnoli Heads Jax Winter Cup Entry List

CONCORD, NC - As entries begin to pour into the WKA Office for the second stop of three for the all new WKA Winter Cup Series Feb 5-7 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, the list is a virtual Who’s Who in 2 and 4 cycle competition. Headlining the entry list on the 2 cycle side is 2 time Daytona KartWeek winner Alex Bertagnoli, winner of both the Franklinkart.com Yamaha Junior, and Woltjer Racing Engines Pro IAME Junior classes. Bertagnoli leads the Merlin Chassis Camp, fresh off of 3 wins at Daytona, while fellow Merlin driver and defending Pro IAME Class champion Brandon Lemke has also filed his entry for the weekends activities. The Top Kart camp will be lead into battle with additional Daytona KartWeek winners as Dakota Pesek and Connor Ferris have filed their respective early entries. Pesek, the 2015 Yamaha Senior Pipe winner on the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, continued his winning ways, taking one of the two Fullerton Karts USA Yamaha Senior wins at Daytona, while Ferris impressively took down the field in the IAME USA East Pro Swift Sportsman class. Other Top Kart drivers already filing early entries include 3 time 2015 champion Jason Welage, Kaden Wharff, Karsyn Walters, Austin and Emil Schulz, not to mention defending Kid Kart Champion Ben Maier, as well as 2015 5^th place points driver Danny Dyszelski, both drivers now moving up into the CRPRACING.COM Mini Swift class this season.

A couple of the top Tony Kart drivers to be on the watch for include Ty Gibbs, fresh off of top 10 runs at Daytona. Gibbs will be running the Pro IAME Junior class, while chassis teammate Rylee Engel will be another young gun to be aware of, running both Yamaha Sportsman and Pro Swift Sportsman.

A top five run at Daytona will make Nicholas Terlecki one of the heavyweights on a Birel chassis, while Checkered Motorsports will be out in full force, lead by one of the top young female racers in Annie Rhule. A top 10 performer last year in the Swift Cup, Rhule will be challenging all in the Yamaha and Pro Swift Sportsman classes.

But while this will mark a welcomed return to Jacksonville for 2 cycle competition, the Winter Cup isn’t confined to just the 2 cycle racers. Following a more than impressive event at Daytona, the Briggs and Stratton LO 206 Junior and Senior classes will be loaded for bear, with Daytona winner Corey Towles leading the charge. Also joining Towles in the Senior ranks includes Coyote racers Sean Meier and Matt Mayes, with drivers such as Jimmy Cole Jackson, Cale and Cody Hall, and many others trying their hand at both 2 and 4 cycle competition.

Entry information for the Jax Winter Cup is online, as is the entry blank for the series third and final event March 4-6 at Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Competitors should be reminded there is very little difference in the Class Structure from the Daytona event to Jacksonville. With Daytona serving a dual purpose, as the first race for both the Winter Cup and the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, with the exception of the Yamaha Junior and Senior classes, all other classes will be running, making a grand total of 8 classes per day, with the top 3 receiving awards each day, and an overall weekends champion per class recognized with special awards, courtesy of Checkered Motorsports. Prior to the heats and mains, drivers will go through the qualifying effort, with Fast Time awards being sponsored by Comet Kart Sales. Here’s a list of the Winter Cup classes at Jacksonville.

CRPRACING.COM: Mini Swift

Woltjer Racing Engines: Pro IAME Junior

Allison Racing Engines: Yamaha Sportsman

Briggs and Stratton: LO206 Senior

KARTSPORT North America: Pro IAME Senior

IAME USA East: Pro Swift Sportsman

Water for a Cause: Kid Kart

Briggs and Stratton: LO 206 Junior   

01.18.2016 - Go Pro Winter Cup Entry Blank Now Online

CONCORD, NC - With stop #2 for the all new WKA Winter Cup Series just a few weeks away at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, in no time, the rigs will be quickly heading to Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina for the third and final stop for the series inaugural season. And for competitors trying to stay on top of things, the entry blank for the championship race of the Winter Cup Series is now online. With the Winter Cup events 1 month apart, combined with a tiered fee system, WKA has extended the Tier 1 deadline for the Go Pro Winter Cup event to February 11, giving racers a chance to get home following the Jacksonville event, and catch their breath, instead of having the deadline the weekend OF the Jacksonville event. The Tier 2 deadline is Feb 24, 1 week and 2 days before the events final race.

In addition to honoring the winners of the final race of the 3 race Winter swing, the Champions, as well as Top 3 finishers in each class will also be honored on the spot that Sunday as well, etching their names in the history books as the first ever WKA Winter Cup Champions.

To view the Go Pro Winter Cup Entry Blank, click here.

01.18.2016 -2015 National Road Race Banquet Form Now Online

CONCORD, NC - As the second national event for the 2016 Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting continues to take shape March 11-13 at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Georgia, additional preparations are continuing in an effort to honor the national champions, as well as many other deserving recipients, as the annual awards presentation for the 2015 VEGA/TSRACING National Road Race Series  will also take place that same weekend on Friday March 11 at the nearby Bloomingdale Community Center. Following a full day of practice on Friday, ending at 5pm, competitors will have the chance to make their way to the Center, as doors will open at 7pm, dinner at 7:30, and the awards presentation at 8pm.

In addition to crowning 29 national champions and other top honorees, many other special awards will be presented, including the latest induction into the World Karting Hall of Fame, always a crowd favorite. Other Special Awards include Family of the Year, Sportsmanship, the coveted Manufacturers Championship Trophy, and much more!!!!!

Tons of Door Prizes and the always entertaining version of Let’s Make Deal will help highlight what should be a fun night for our champions and all involved.

To view the Banquet form, which includes menu and pricing, click Racing Series on the WKA Home Page, then click Road Race, and you will see a link to the Banquet File.

01.18.2016 - Winter Cup Sealing Procedure

CONCORD, NC - Beginning at the next Winter Cup event and for all WKA events in the future (including Gold Cup),  all Briggs LO206 engines will need to be sealed as shown in the photo.  The sealing wire must go thru one of the carburator attachment bolts and one of the valve cover bolts.  The holes should be a minimum of 5/64" (.078") and should be free of sharp edges that could cut the sealing wire.  Please insure that your engine bolts are drilled before coming to the track.

01.15.2016 - National Road Race Series Replaces VIR Venue with All New Dominion Raceway

CONCORD, NC - The second full week in January has clearly been a tale of two cities with regards to the 2016 schedule for the Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting. After announcing the 5-race schedule Monday evening, an unforeseen circumstance occurred with Virginia International Raceway, as the facility announced it would be shutting down the entire month of July to repave the facility. The end result was the cancellation of many events for the key summer month for many programs, including the 4th event for the Road Race Series, the event run by the Woodbridge Kart Club. Following a few days of negotiating dates with other groups, Dominion Raceway, WKA, and the WKC have agreed to the weekend of July 29-31 to host Race #4 for the series. The track, located right on I-95 in Thornburg, Virginia, will serve as a multi purpose facility, becoming a part of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series, as well as hosting a NASCAR K and N Pro Series East race later this year. While much construction has yet to be finalized at the facility, visited by World Karting Officials last weekend, the initial layer of asphalt has been laid down, with Road Course activities set to commence in April, along with the April 9 opening night on the NASCAR oval.

The national event will take place just 1 week beyond the original date set for VIR, and hopefully will not serve as too much of a challenge for those competitors who had made their vacation plans for the VIR weekend. Plans call for a normal weekend schedule of load in on Thursday July 28, with a full day of practice on the new ultra modern track Friday July 29, and 2 full days of racing action July 30 and 31.

Tentative plans in 2017 are to return to VIR, as well as place Dominion on the schedule as well. The addition of Dominion gives WKA Road Racers 2 brand new facilities to the 5 races 2016 schedule, with the announcement earlier in the week of WKA also going to Atlanta Motorsports Park in September for the season finale. While Atlanta has been a round a few short years, it is still brand new to the bulk of the WKA competitors.

WKA welcomes Steve Britt, Edwin Pardue, and the entire staff of the new 2-mile road course to the WKA and WKC schedules for the New Year. More information regarding the facility, as well as updates on the progress of the track will be provided in the coming weeks. Here’s a look at the updated 2016 National Schedule.

Dec 28-30: Daytona International Speedway

March 11-13: Roebling Road Raceway

June 4,5: Summit Point Motorsports Park

July 29-31: Dominion Raceway

Sept 16-18: Atlanta Motorsports Park, Grand National

01.15.2016 - Mfg Cup Chassis Standings Indicate Awesome Start to 2016 Season

CONCORD, NC - While the numbers at the latest edition of the Margay Sprint Championships for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series during Daytona KartWeek at Daytona International Speedway were well up from the previous season, there are many other things to break down when you look a little deeper into the numbers. While the addition of the Briggs LO206 Junior and Senior classes aided the overall number quite a bit, breaking out the 2 cycle numbers alone showed a tremendous increase from last years event to now, indicating things are heading in a solid direction, as a result of solid officiating, not to mention a tremendous upgrade to the customer service program that had been severely lacking within the organization the last couple years.

2 Cycle numbers exceeded the 200-entry mark, up from the 162 entries 1 season ago, a modest increase, with the addition of the LO206 classes the icing on the cake in many ways, numbers and excitement.

Going deeper into the numbers was also another key element to Race #1, that being parity. Of the 20 races run over the 2-day period, the series enjoyed seeing 11 different chassis’s find their way to victory lane, a truly phenomenal statistic.

Leading the way after Race #1 is Tony Kart, boasting 4 wins during KartWeek, including a sweep by Jeremy Fletcher in the CRPRACING.COM Mini Swift Class? Also enjoying wins on the Tony Kart were Lance Fenderson in the Woltjer Racing Engines Pro IAME Junior class, as well as Elliott Finlayson in the KARTSPORT North America Pro IAME Senior category.

Merlin Chassis pretty much has picked up where they left off last year, taking 3 wins at KartWeek, led by Alex Bertagnoli’s 2 wins in the Franklinkart.com Yamaha Junior class, as well as Day 2 of the Pro IAME Junior class. Robert Noaker III was also able to check in with a Merlin win, taking the Allison Racing Engines Yamaha Sportsman win on Day 2.

Hoping to defend their Manufacturers Championship title from a season ago, Top Kart checked in for 2 wins, with Dakota Pesek in the Fullerton Karts USA Yamaha Senior class, and Connor Ferris taking down the IAME USA East Pro Swift Sportsman Division.

Margay made history in both 2 AND 4 Cycle, with Spike Kohlbecker notching the win in the Yamaha Junior class, while Hunter Fox gave Margay the distinction of winning in the 4 Cycle category as well, taking Day 2 of the Briggs and Stratton LO206 Junior class.

Comet notched a pair of wins as well, with Corey Towles showing the way both days in the Briggs and Stratton LO206 Senior classes, topping a 40-kart field both days. Here’s a look at the rest of the KartWeek winners, and their respective chassis.

Day 1:

Water for a Cause-Kid Karts: Indy Ragan: Praga

Allison Racing Engines- Yamaha Sportsman: Luca Mars: Comp Kart

Briggs and Stratton LO206 Junior: David Kalb Jr: Arrow

Day 2:

Water for a Cause- Kid Kart: Austin Olds: Emmick

Fullerton Karts USA- Yamaha Senior: Nick Landi: F/A

IAME USA East- Pro Swift Sportsman: Ugo Ugochukwa: Energy

KARTSPORT North America- Pro IAME Senior: Brandon Jarsocrak: Praga

With those results for Race #1, here are the updated standings heading to the April event at Go Pro Motorplex.

Tony Kart: 4

Merlin: 3

Top Kart: 2

Praga: 2

FA:1

Comp Kart:1

Emmick: 1

Margay: 1

Energy: 1

While Comet, Margay, and Arrow all scored wins on chassis’s at Daytona as well, it should be noted that those were LO206 Classes, part of the 2016 Winter Cup Series, that will not be a part of the remaining Mfg Cup events, as the series will break out into its own 2 remaining events Feb 5-7 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as the finale March 4-6 at Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina.

The next Mfg Cup event is also at Go Pro Motorplex. WKA is proud to announce that Praga Chassis has come on board as the title sponsor for the event, which will be run April 1-3. Entry information is currently being processed, with the Entry Blank due out next week.

On behalf of the staff at WKA, Thank You to everyone for making the latest edition of Daytona KartWeek, not to mention the beginning of the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, a huge success!!!

01.15.2016 - Tier 2 Deadline for Jax Winter Cup Approaching

CONCORD, NC - With the hangover from Daytona in the books, competitors have little time to prepare for the 2^nd round of the all new WKA Winter Cup Series, combining many of the top 2 and 4 cycle competitors in the country, with stop #2 fittingly at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida February 5-7. Following a stellar field of karts in their first appearance of the season at the World Center of Racing in Daytona, the high speed backstretch and very technical turns of 103^rd Street will have people on the fence for every lap of competition. Led by the Briggs and Stratton Racing LO206 Senior class, as well as the Pro IAME Seniors, both sporting 40+ entries on the track in round 1, both the 2 and 4 cycle groups will be coming loaded for bear in the 2^nd s top of the 3 race series, which will wrap up March 4-6 at Go Pro Motorplex in Mooresville, North Carolina.

For competitors who have not yet entered for the event, the tier 2 deadline is fast approaching, that being January 20, less than a week away. Joining the LO206 Senior and Pro IAME Senior classes will be Mini Swift, Pro IAME Junior, Yamaha Sportsman, Pro Swift Sportsman, Kid Karts, and the popular LO206 Junior classes.

Be sure and get your entry and parking information straight, as Round 2 will be one for the books.

Activities begin Friday Feb 5 with a full day of practice, followed by 2 consecutive days of qualifying, 2 heat races per class, and the main event to top off the days activities.

To view the info regarding the Jax Winter Cup event, click the Racing Series link on the WKA website, then go to Winter Cup, and click entry blank.

01.14.2016 - Kid Kart Engine Seal

CONCORD, NC - Starting at the next event, the Winter-Cup in Jacksonville, the Kid kart engines will need to be sealed as shown in the photo. The sealing wire will go thru one muffler bolt, the inner fan housing tab, and one of the fuel tank bracket bolts. This procedure will be in effect for all Winter Cup and Man Cup races going forward.  

01.11.2016 - John Strauser Passes

CONCORD, NC - The karting world was saddened to learn of the passing of John Strauser on Thursday January 7. John, a resident of Bloomfield, Indiana, served as past president of IKF, the International Kart Federation, and was a well known friend to many in the karting industry for his many years, attending karting events in the Indianapolis area right up until the past few years. Mr Strauser, 81, who had been a recent resident of the Morning Point Assisted Living Center in nearby Franklin, Indiana, spent the bulk of his career as an Air Traffic Controller, spanning some 60 years.

Among his many interests and clubs, Mr Strauser was a member of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association.

Services for Mr Strauser will be Monday Jan 11 from 4-8pm at Stillinger Family Funeral Home in Greenfield, Indiana, with funeral services set for Tuesday January 12 at 10am. Internment will take place at Grandview Cemetery in Bloomfield. Memorial contributions may be sent to:

Great Lakes Caring Hospice

9102 North Meridian Street

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46260

OR

Alzheimer’s Association

50 E 91^st Street

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46209

The World Karting Association extends its deepest sympathies to the family of John Strauser.

01.11.2016 - 2016 NRRS Schedule Is Set

CONCORD, NC - 1 national is in the books, and there are now 4 nationals to go for the 2016 Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting. With Daytona KartWeek now in the rearview mirror, competitors can now dig in for the balance of the season, making a run for their titles in their respective classes, as the balance of the 2016 national schedule has been released. As many have known for months, Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Georgia is the site for stop #2 for the series. And while many figured there would be events for the Woodbridge Kart Club, the question was just where on the schedule. That question has been answered as the series third stop will be a return to Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia June 4 and 5. As was the case in 2015, the Summit event will be a 2-day show, with no practice being run on Friday.

Stop #4 on the tour will be a return to Virginia International Raceway July 22-24, while the fifth and final stop will again be at a new venue in 2016, as the series will head to the Atlanta Motorsports Park in Georgia the weekend of September 16-18 for the coveted Grand National event.

In difference to the 2015 national program, competitors will gain bonus points if they run all 5 national events in 2016, as there will be no counting best 4 out of 5 or anything of that nature. While the Grand National is positioned as the series finale, there will be no bonus points awarded specifically to that event, just to competitors who have run all 5 national events in 2016. However, drivers who have not competed in all the events leading up to this race will still have the opportunity to run for the coveted WKA Eagle.

The culmination of this years schedule already places huge excitement on 2017 as a number of new and different venues have been contacted, and plans have been discussed, which may conceivably make the following years national schedule a blockbuster, with a potential increase in events, as well as plans to return to the midwest.

Information on the series next event, the Roebling Road Nationals, is listed on the WKA webpage. More information of the remaining 2016 national events will be forthcoming as the dates get closer.

Here’s a look at the 2016 national schedule.

Dec 28-30: Daytona International Speedway

March 11-13: Roebling Road Raceway

June 4,5: Summit Point Motorsports Park

July 22-24: Virginia International Raceway

Sept 16-18: Atlanta Motorsports Park GN

01.11.2016 - Tom Speaks Appointed Lead NRRS Tech Official

CONCORD, NC - WKA Officials are proud to announce the appointment of Alabama’s Tom Speaks as the lead tech official for the 2016 season on the Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting. Speaks, a mainstay in the tech barn for WKA National Road Race events for many years, has also been a familiar face for competitors in the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series this past year, joining Bobby Gettys and Randall Lyles as a very solid 3 man Tech Team for the top 4 Cycle Sprint program in the country. While Speaks will now attend all the Road Race Series national events this season, he will again be on the Gold Cup Series, as well as join Gettys and Lynn Haddock for the remaining 2 events for the inaugural Winter Cup Series at Jacksonville, Florida and Mooresville, North Carolina.

The move falls in accordance with the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup and RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series, in which Gettys and Haddock have been the lead tech inspectors for, thus giving Road Race the same consistency the other series have with the same lead tech official now at all the events.

Speaks and Haddock wrapped up the 2015 season in fine fashion in the Tech Barn in October in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Speaks led the team back to Daytona with Dave Armstrong and Scott Sanders, netting very positive results. Speaks next event for Road Race will be the March 11-13 event at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Georgia, where he will be fully involved in tech, as well as render the final decisions on all karts in tech for the balance of the year.

01.11.2016 - National Road Race Series Awards Presentation March 11

CONCORD, NC - With 1 race already in the books for the 2016 season at Daytona for the Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series, presented by Russell Karting, WKA Officials are quickly preparing not only for national event #2 this season, but also putting the finishing touches on the 2015 season with the annual awards presentation, honoring the years champions, as well as many other special recipients from the season. As competitors prepare for the seasons second national event of the year March 11-13 at Roebling Road Raceway in Savannah, Georgia, the past years champions will also be honored following a full day of practice activity on Friday March 11.

Racers will have the chance to gather at the Bloomingdale Community Center to be honored for the season’s efforts. The addition of the year-end awards presentation in Savannah has been a common theme over the years, with past champions being honored at the series second race in Georgia.

Complete banquet details will be forthcoming in the next few days, including the menu for the evening, as well as pricing information for the awards presentation. The facility allows alcoholic beverages on property, but does not provide sales of any product. It is asked that everyone enjoy themselves, but please be responsible

To view the entry blank for the Roebling Road Nationals, click here.

01.05.2015 - Update on Road Racer Matt Michel

CONCORD, NC - Following a nasty last lap crash in turn 3 of the Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series national event, presented by Russell Karting at Daytona International Speedway, competitor Matt Michel is well on his way to a full recovery. After suffering 6 broken ribs and swelling in his left lung, the Perry, Georgia driver is on the mend, eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to get back behind the wheel. Michel was racing in the Yamaha Sportsman Heavy final on Day 2 of the Daytona Road Race Championships when contact with another kart sent Michel up the banking, and in the wall. The impact was so significant, that people viewing the action on the turn 3 and 4 infield Road Course for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series heard the contact.

The end result of the crash was also of major concern to many competitors, the most notable being that of race leader Tim Linthicum, who literally stopped on the track, making sure Michel was okay. Since the race was red flagged at that point, and the rules revert back to the last fully completed lap, Linthicum was still awarded the victory, feeling more motivated about his desire to stop and check on a fellow competitor than worry about a victory at the World Center of Racing, a genuine sportsmanship move.

While Michel has some recovering to do, words of encouragement will certainly go a long way in getting the Georgia driver back on track. Well wishers can either reach out to Matt via Facebook under the name Matt Michel, or email him at pmkartracer21@aol.com.

The entire staff of WKA, as well as the racing community, wish Matt Michel a very speedway recovery.

01.04.2016 - Rules prior to Winter Cup Events still apply

CONCORD, NC - With the 1^st event in the books for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup and Winter Cup Series, the focus shifts to Race #2 for both series respectively. While Daytona will serve as the only joint venue for the 2 programs, it is important to note that the all-new Winter Cup program will adhere to the same guidelines as all other national series programs. With many drivers looking to gain an edge going into race #2 for the Winter Cup Feb 5-7 at 103^rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville, Florida, teams and competitors must adhere to the same policies with regards to practice on track prior to a national event.

Keeping in accordance with the other national series mandates, there will be no on track activity the Monday through Thursday prior to a national event. With that being said, realizing that 103^rd Street is a public facility, WKA cannot forbid competitors from taking laps on the course, provided they run a different configuration than what the national layout will be. Any competitor, planning on running the second Winter Cup event at Jacksonville, will be automatically disqualified from the series second event if they are found to have taken laps on the nationally selected course.

This rule will be administered collectively between the World Karting Association and the North Florida Kart Club, in an ongoing effort to not only maintain the integrity and fairness of the national event, but also prevent the club and city from a disruption in any revenue to their normal program.

01.04.2016 - Info on new Daytona Photographers

CONCORD, NC - A new season at Daytona also brought a couple new faces to the staffing for both the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, as well as the Dunlop/Xeramic National Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting. For those interested in obtaining individual shots or a cd of the racing events at the respective facilities, here is the contact information for our 2016 Daytona photographers.

Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series:

Heather Trull:  ttrull@gmail.com

Dunlop/Xeramic Road Race Series presented by Russell Karting:

Jennifer Edens Henry: jedens1@cox.net

Unilli Dirt World Championship:

Carl Barnes, Double Vision Photography: doublevision137@hotmail.com

WKA welcomes Heather Trull, the official photographer of the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series, as well as the Winter Cup Series, this year. Heather also has photos from the year-end awards presentation.

A big thank you also goes to Jennifer Edens from Kansas for shooting the Road Race event.

And a Welcome back to Carl Barnes of Double Vision Photography for shooting this years Unilli Dirt World Championship. Carl will also be returning in 2016 to shoot the years action for the RLV Tuned Exhaust Products Gold Cup Series.

01.04.2016 - Thanks for a great KartWeek!!!!

CONCORD, NC - The World Karting Association would like to extend its sincerest thanks and appreciation to all the competitors, families, teams, sponsors, and many individuals for their participation in the latest edition of Daytona KartWeek. While running 3 major racing events at one time is no easy task, getting the time off and spending it in Daytona with family, on the heels of the most expensive time of year, as well as the middle of the week, is tough, and very much appreciated by the WKA Staff. The effort by the more than 1300 competitors in the Speedway Dirt, Manufacturer’s Cup, and Road Race Series provided one of the most exciting KartWeeks on record, thus placing a smile on the

Face of Daytona executives, realizing the pride and professionalism is indeed back with WKA.

We hope everyone made the return home safely, many via Disney World in Orlando,

12.23.2015 - Speed to speak at Mfg Cup Awards Presentation--

CONCORD, NC - World Karting Association Officials are proud to announce a very special guest to an added lineup December 27 at the annual awards presentation for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series at the Daytona Beach Resort, as 1978 World Champion Lake Speed will address this years champions and special award recipients. Speed, also a former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competitor, has remained close to his ties to karting, while also running in the big leagues of NASCAR. For those new to the sport of Karting, as well as NASCAR, many will recognize Speeds face on the cover of the 2016 WKA Tech Manual. Joining Logan Sargeant, this years winner of the FIA Worlds in his class, the accomplishments of these 2 drivers span 37 years of World Championship titles between the 2 American competitors.

Speed will have the chance to regail the crowd on his years running in karting, comparing that to the industry in its present day. It’s a true honor to have a World Champion on stage at Daytona.

Activities for this years awards presentation will get underway with doors opening at 7pm, dinner at 7:30, and awards beginning at 8pm.

For those who still wish to attend, be sure and touch base with Marie Borsuk at Sprint Track Registration for availability, as seating is limited.

12.22.2015 - Daytona Man Cup Tire Rules

CONCORD, NC - Because we are running a mixed selection of classes at our Man-Cup event this year, we have had several calls asking about tires rules.Just as a point of clarification, all tires, all classes -- the tires must be run as manufactured. No alteration or treating of any type is allowed.

12.17.2015 - New Faces in Mfg Cup Sponsorship for 2016

The new season for the karting world also brings some new faces to the fold on the sponsorship front for the Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series. With title sponsor Bridgestone returning again as the title sponsor, they will be joined by Franklinkart.com, another longtime Manufacturers Cup Series sponsor, this year sponsoring the Yamaha Junior Class. Also returning from last season are CRPRACING.COM, sponsor of the Mini Swift Class, IAME EAST USA, sponsoring the Pro Swift Sportsman contingent, Woltjer Racing Engines returning to sponsor the Pro IAME Junior class, and KartSport North America also returning as sponsor of the Pro IAME Senior class. Additionally, Comet Kart Sales will be the official sponsor of the Fast Time awards this year.

While many faces have returned on the sponsorship front, many new, and somewhat familiar faces have jumped on board, including Briggs and Stratton, sponsoring the LO206 Junior and Senior classes as part of the first race of the 2016 WKA Winter Cup. Allison Racing Engines has also jumped on board as sponsor of the Yamaha Sportsman class, while the Yamaha Senior division will be taken care of by Fullerton Karts USA. Water For A Cause also joins the Mfg Cup fold this year as sponsor of the Kid Karts this season.

And rounding out the new sponsorship to this point in the new season is Checkered Motorsports, as they will sponsor the Event Champion Trophy which will be awarded to the driver who fares the best throughout the entire event, including Qualifying, Heat Races, and Final events both days.

WKA welcomes back these fines companies, and extends a warm welcome to the newest lineup of sponsors for the 2016 Bridgestone Manufacturers Cup Series.