WKA announces venue change for July Bridgestone Manufacturer's Cup event

With a Board of Trustees meeting held less than two weeks ago, one of the big items conveyed during that meeting by new President Kevin Williams was a return to growth through club, regional and national racing. The new World Karting Association (WKA) President, with support from the WKA Board of Trustees, has decided it is in the best interest of the membership and new direction to move the July 13-15 event scheduled at New Jersey Motorsports Park to Concept Haulers Motor Speedway, outside of Chicago (CHMS).

"First, I would like to thank New Jersey Motorsports Park for the opportunity to use their facility and I hope we can work together in the future," stated WKA President Kevin Williams. "With that said, we left a huge void with our membership in our 2018 schedule by not having a Midwest event this year and that needed to be fixed. For me, the Concept Haulers Motor Speedway decision was easy as they are a long time WKA Sanctioned Track under great management. I hope our current membership, long-time WKA supporters and non-members will see this as a positive move forward."

"I have been here 13 years now as the owner of the facility and I have enjoyed being supportive of WKA across the Mississippi River in its quest for westward movement," stated Les Fink, Owner of the historic facility. "We are thrilled to host a WKA National Event again this year. We now have a full-time Barbeque Shack at the track with food well above other racetrack standards. Come and join in the fun of racing against some of the best drivers in America in July."

WKA understands that changing schedules mid-season is not ideal, but was needed to better serve the WKA Family of racers. Many competitors participated in the historic Daytona Kartweek and chose to skip the second event weekend and utilize that as a drop race in their program but are reminded that attending the balance of the series they are still championship eligible. WKA invites everyone, existing and new participants, to race its events to experience the WKA atmosphere.

Williams continued, "Also, to attract more racers in the areas our events are being held, and starting at the Manufacturers Cup event in May at Pittsburgh, then for the balance of our 2018 season, anyone who has not been a WKA member or hasn't been a WKA member in the last 12 months will have the opportunity to purchase a $20.00 temporary membership to come and race with WKA. After racing with us and you would like to upgrade your membership to a full membership and get championship points and a WKA tech manual, the $20.00 would be credited towards the annual membership cost. We want to try and grow the Manufacturers Cup program and revive it to be the best program in the country, and this incentive to the racers is a way to do that."

Concept Haulers Motor Speedway replacing the New Jersey Motorsports Park event will now serve as the final round in the run for the very generous IAME USA East prize announced back in early March, of representing the USA and the World Karting Association at the IAME international Finals at Le Mans, France later this year.

Look for many more big announcements by WKA and please be reminded that paper and online entry blanks are now available online at www.worldkarting.com for the next Manufacturers Event, the Keystone Spring Nationals at Pitt Raceway May 18-20.