Top Karting Series Headed To New Jersey Motorsports Park

Championship Karting International Makes Inaugural F1 New Jersey Visit June 26-28

Millville, N.J. (June 18, 2009) - Championship Karting International (CKI), a World Karting Association-sanctioned series and the top touring karting series in the United States, is set to make its East Coast debut at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s 1.1-mile F1 New Jersey karting track, June 26-28.

CKI, created by motorsports veterans RJ Valentine (also a principal of New Jersey Motorsports Park) and Phil DeLaO, made its debut with more than 100 competitors in New Castle, Ind. at the end of May, including a host of European drivers.

Formed around an experienced karting and motorsports staff, CKI was created with the goal of providing a professional operation for karters.  Those goals include significant prize money – the F1 New Jersey round features a cash and prize package worth over $25,000 – and live video coverage at www.speedcasttv.com. The prize money will be distributed through the top five finishers in several of the seven available CKI classes.

In a nod to the strong karting community in and around south Jersey, CKI will offer a Rotax Master class with a purse of $1,500 cash with the victor pocketing $500; 2nd place delivers $400 and 3rd place $300; 4th 200 and 5th $100.  Entry fees for the Rotax Masters class are at a reduce rate of $200.

“New Castle was a big success, and we’re keeping the momentum going at New Jersey Motorsports Park’s stellar F1 New Jersey kart facility,” Valentine said. “We learned a lot at the first race and will continue working to make CKI events the very best in the karting industry.

“One of the things we heard from teams, racers and families was they wanted drivers who earn top five results, not just the top three, to finish in the money,” Valentine continued. “That’s why we’ve tweaked the prizes packages. Our goal is to provide the best race experience possible: the best competition, prize money, live exposure on the internet as well as the opportunity to ‘rub shoulders’ with some biggest names in motorsports.”

In addition to the F1 New Jersey round, the CKI series will also race this summer at Southern California’s Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., and at Oklahoma Motorsports Complex in Norman, Okla., site of this year’s Rotax Grand Nationals.

“New Jersey Motorsports Park is proud to host the best kart racers in the United States and beyond,” said Kevin Wittman, General Manager at New Jersey Motorsports Park. “This CKI weekend is another chance for the karting industry to learn that F1 New Jersey and New Jersey Motorsports Park ranks with the best that karting has to offer in the United States.”

Spectators can watch the Championship Karting International race at F1 New Jersey by purchasing tickets for $15 at the gate. Children 12 and under receive free admission to all events at New Jersey Motorsports Park.

Entry forms and more information on Championship Karting International can be found at www.championshipkartracing.com. More information on F1 New Jersey is available at www.njmp.com.

Sitting on over 500 acres in Millville, N.J., New Jersey Motorsports Park is conveniently located to Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, New York and Baltimore, and offers diverse and dynamic motorsports attractions. The facility includes two world-class road courses (Thunderbolt and Lightning), an exclusive motorsports country club known as the Drivers Club, the Breighton Room Restaurant open to the general public, and F1 New Jersey, one of the top karting facilities in America. Opened in July 2008, New Jersey Motorsports Park hosts eight major motorsports events in 2009. The 2009 spectator schedule opened with the Verizon Wireless 250 presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 in May, and also includes the Formula X weekend featuring the Atlantic Championship powered by Mazda and a host of Mazda-powered race series, as well as All Revved Up; the debut of the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Pro Road Race Series, including the American Superbike class and the new Daytona Sportbike program; the return of the ARCA/ReMax Series as the only road course visit on the series schedule; a Ferrari Challenge event and the excitement of two separate Vintage race weekends.

For more information on New Jersey Motorsports Park, F1 New Jersey, Breighton Room, or to purchase tickets, visit www.njmp.com or call 856-327-7217. Children 12 and under are admitted free to every event at New Jersey Motorsports Park.