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ROCK ISLAND, IL -- Championship Karting International (CKI) and the Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, have announced plans to co-promote several races at this year’s Labor Day Weekend event in Rock Island.
CKI and the WSK North American Series is the premier kart racing series in North America. Its goal is to develop drivers and prepare them to advance up the ladder to a career in motorsports as well as promote the sport of karting to the masses.

The two groups will co-promote the CKI Rotax Street Championship at the Rock Island Grand Prix for both Rotax Senior and Junior as well as the CKI North American Street Championship at the Rock Island Grand Prix for KZ2 racers. The two will also promote the CKI Leopard Senior race.

This one-off, co-promoted Event allows Drivers to experience both CKI’s WSK North American Series with the atmosphere of the Rock Island Grand Prix at the same street-race.

“The Rock Island Gran Prix is one of the world’s biggest street racing events and we are happy to be associated with them,” expressed CKI Director of Operations Kevin Williams.
“Working with the staff at Rock Island has been pleasurable and will provide success.”

“We think it makes sense for organizations to work together for the good of the sport and to control expenses. The Rock Island Grand Prix has been working with a number of organizations in that regard,” said Roger Ruthhart, Rock Island Grand Prix president.

Ruthhart added, “CKI has demonstrated a willingness to work with us to the benefit of both organizations. We also like, and endorse, their programs to promote the sport as a whole and look forward to being a partner in that effort.”

“Rock Island has always been the one place in North America where all aspects of kart racing come together for one big event – 2-cycle, 4-cycle, gearbox and TAG racing. This partnership will allow us to enhance that experience,” said Ruthhart. “We will continue our long-time relationships with other sanctioning bodies and are discussing other programs for the 2010 event. We also support the CKI efforts to promote and expand the sport of karting in North America and create partnerships and friendships elsewhere in the world. That’s part of our organizational DNA as well.”

The partnership will expose other racers and race fans to CKI karting programs while also giving CKI members the unique opportunity to race on city streets in front of thousands of spectators, Ruthhart said.

“I have often wondered as I watched Graham Rahal race at St. Petersburg, Scott Speed at Monaco, or Nelson Phillippe on the streets of Long Beach, whether they didn’t have some slight edge because of the experience they gained racing karts in the streets at Rock Island. Hopefully we can provide that same edge to some of CKI’s up-and-coming young stars,” Ruthhart said.

Online registration will start soon through the RIGP Web site at rockislandgrandprix.com . Details about rules details and other exciting announcements about this year’s event, Sept. 4-5, will follow, Ruthhart said. Information will also be available from CKI at its Web site at championshipkartracing.com. Championship Karting International begins its six event 2010 National Schedule with its first event April 9-11, 2010 at New Castle Motorsports Park. For entry and more information, visit http://www.ChampionshipKartRacing.com.

This article posted by Rock Island Grand Prix. Click here for more track information.