<img src="http://www.nitromater.com/gallery/files/5/R_Capps.jpg" alt="R_Capps" align="left"borders="0"/>
INDIANAPOLIS - NHRA drag-racing star Ron Capps, famous for his willingness and desire to drive just about anything on wheels if given the chance, will compete in the invitational Stars of Karting presented by the IRL All-Star Kart Race in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 14 against a star-studded list of professional kart racers and other celebrity racing pros.
Capps, of Carlsbad, Calif., who drives the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for Don Schumacher Racing, will compete against established kart racers as well as celebrity guest drivers such as Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, Indy 500 runner-up Marco Andretti, IndyCar standouts Tomas Scheckter and Bryan Herta, Champ Car's Alex Tagliani, fellow NHRA Top Fuel star Larry Dixon, and sports-car aces Patrick Long, Wayne Taylor and Memo Gidley, among others to be announced.
The drivers will compete in spec-engine 125cc 2-cycle, electric-start karts for the first time on a specially-designed track next to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the site of the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.
"It's fun to do these off-season events," said Capps, five-time Funny Car winner in 2006. "It's great for keeping your reactions sharp. What started out as a celebrity go-kart race at the PRI show has turned into a pretty serious race, with drivers such as Marco Andretti, Bryan Herta and some road-racing guys as well. There's even a rumor that Juan Pablo Montoya might be there. (Top Fuel racer) Larry Dixon was invited as well, so it will be nice to have another drag racer there.
"All the top open-wheel guys started out in go-karting, and I did as well, when I was a kid.
"I'm going there to win this thing and it's not going to be just for fun," Capps declared. "Every year, (DSR teammate) Gary Scelzi and I do the Speedway Charities go-kart race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and every year it turns into an all-out war on the race track, so I'm excited about racing in Orlando against some of these guys who do it for a living.
"I'll be there representing Mopar, so not only do I want to do well for our sponsor, but I'll be doing it for bragging rights. Every time I show up for one of these events, I learn that no oval or road-racing driver wants to get beat by a drag racer."
Racing action will start at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, on a temporary track constructed adjacent to the Convention Center. Show attendees will be able to progress straight from the PRI Trade Show's Happy Hour directly out to the racing action. Admission will be free to anyone with a PRI Trade Show badge.
The 19th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show (Dec. 14-16 at the Orange County Convention Center) is the world's largest racing trade show, and attracts approximately 42,000 racing industry members worldwide from over 40 countries. This annual trade show provides a professional atmosphere for racing industry buyers to meet with manufacturers of hardcore racing components and shop machinery to see the products up close.
More information may be found at:
Performance Racing Industry -- All-Star Kart Race
CAPPS IN ALL-STAR KART RACE AT PRI SHOW
INDIANAPOLIS - NHRA drag-racing star Ron Capps, famous for his willingness and desire to drive just about anything on wheels if given the chance, will compete in the invitational Stars of Karting presented by the IRL All-Star Kart Race in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 14 against a star-studded list of professional kart racers and other celebrity racing pros.
Capps, of Carlsbad, Calif., who drives the Brut Revolution Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car in the NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series for Don Schumacher Racing, will compete against established kart racers as well as celebrity guest drivers such as Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice, Indy 500 runner-up Marco Andretti, IndyCar standouts Tomas Scheckter and Bryan Herta, Champ Car's Alex Tagliani, fellow NHRA Top Fuel star Larry Dixon, and sports-car aces Patrick Long, Wayne Taylor and Memo Gidley, among others to be announced.
The drivers will compete in spec-engine 125cc 2-cycle, electric-start karts for the first time on a specially-designed track next to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, the site of the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.
"It's fun to do these off-season events," said Capps, five-time Funny Car winner in 2006. "It's great for keeping your reactions sharp. What started out as a celebrity go-kart race at the PRI show has turned into a pretty serious race, with drivers such as Marco Andretti, Bryan Herta and some road-racing guys as well. There's even a rumor that Juan Pablo Montoya might be there. (Top Fuel racer) Larry Dixon was invited as well, so it will be nice to have another drag racer there.
"All the top open-wheel guys started out in go-karting, and I did as well, when I was a kid.
"I'm going there to win this thing and it's not going to be just for fun," Capps declared. "Every year, (DSR teammate) Gary Scelzi and I do the Speedway Charities go-kart race at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., and every year it turns into an all-out war on the race track, so I'm excited about racing in Orlando against some of these guys who do it for a living.
"I'll be there representing Mopar, so not only do I want to do well for our sponsor, but I'll be doing it for bragging rights. Every time I show up for one of these events, I learn that no oval or road-racing driver wants to get beat by a drag racer."
Racing action will start at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, on a temporary track constructed adjacent to the Convention Center. Show attendees will be able to progress straight from the PRI Trade Show's Happy Hour directly out to the racing action. Admission will be free to anyone with a PRI Trade Show badge.
The 19th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show (Dec. 14-16 at the Orange County Convention Center) is the world's largest racing trade show, and attracts approximately 42,000 racing industry members worldwide from over 40 countries. This annual trade show provides a professional atmosphere for racing industry buyers to meet with manufacturers of hardcore racing components and shop machinery to see the products up close.
More information may be found at:
Performance Racing Industry -- All-Star Kart Race
