Mazda Summer Cash Dash

BP Motorsports Group the promoter of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties is proud to announce our Summer Promotion....

The Mazda Summer Cash Dash 
with 
The IZOD IndyCar Series
 

This promotion will take place over the next three races of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" (July, August, & September) and will reward the driver who can accumulate the highest number of points in those three races.  Here's how the program will work for the specific classes:

TAG SENIOR:  Attention all Tag Senior Drivers.  How fast are you?  One of our drivers will be going to the IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship Race in Las Vegas on October 16th.  Are you fast enough to win the tickets?  If you think you are then come race the next three races of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" and prove it.  If you accumulate the largest number of points, over the next three races (July, August, & September), then you win the following from The IZOD IndyCar Series, MAZDA and BP Motorsports Group:

- Two (2) Grandstand tickets to the IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship Race in Las Vegas on Sunday October 16, 2011.

- Two (2) Pit / Paddock credentials for the entire IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship Race weekend in Las Vegas.

- A photo with the IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship Race winner in Victory Circle, immediately following the event.

- $500.00 in Cash from The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series.

*For details about the IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship race: Click Here

Tag Senior Drivers get those karts ready because there is a lot on the line for the next three races.  Are you fast enough to go to Vegas for the IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship race?  If you think you are then get signed up for the final three races of "The Heartland Sprint Series" now. 

The Mazda Summer Cash Dash doesn't end there...  There's much more in store for the final three races of the season.

TAG 60 and TAG JR.  Attention all Tag 60 and Tag Jr. drivers.  The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series has put up a $250.00 bonus in each class for the driver who gets the most points over the next three races (July, August & September).  One driver, in each class, will get a $250.00 bonus for getting the most points over the next three races.  All drivers are eligible to win, just get the most points in the next three races and you win.  Even if you haven't raced in "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties at all this year you're still eligible to win the $250.00 Mazda Summer Cash Dash bonus if you race in the next three races (July, August & September).

All Classes (excluding Kid Kart Class)  Attention all Drivers...  The Mazda Summer Cash Dash applies to EVERYONE.  There is now a 50% payout for all classes (excluding Kid Kart Class) if your class reaches 10 karts or more.  If your class has a minimum of 10 karts take to the track for qualifying then there will be a 50% payout in that class.  The prize money will be divided between the top three drivers with the 1st place driver getting 50% of the purse 2nd place getting 25% of the purse and 3rd place getting 25% of the purse. 

Example:

- 10 karts x $55.00 entry fee = $550.00

- $550.00 / 2 = $275.00

The top three drivers would split $275.00 in cash in the following way.

1st place gets 50% of the $275.00 purse = $137.50

2nd place gets 25% of the $275.00 purse = $68.75

3rd place gets 25% of the $275.00 purse = $68.75

This holds true for all classes (excluding Kid Kart Class) for the next three races (July, August & September) so if you have buddies you race with that haven't come to race with you at "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" yet, now is the time to convince them to come race with you.  You could win CASH in the Mazda Summer Cash Dash and if you're in the Tag Senior Class you have a shot at going to the IZOD IndyCar Series World Championship Race in Las Vegas on October 16th plus $500.00 CASH!!!

Good luck to everyone and we'll see you at the races on July 9th and 10th!

Best of luck!

Mazda Heartland Sprint Series on RADIO!

BP Motorsports Group Director of Operations Brit Phillips and Director of Sales & Marketing, Chris Hagan have been invited to be part of the KC Sports & Fitness Show on Hot Talk 1510AM on Saturday morning with Steve Fisch and Jim Potoski.  The show can be heard live on 1510AM as well as online at Listen Live

Brit and Chris are scheduled to be part of the show at roughly 8:40am on Saturday morning June 18th.

Brit and Chris were invited to discuss the sport of Karting in Kansas City and how it relates to Fitness.  The host of the show, Steve Fisch, is also the Publisher of Kansas City Sports & Fitness Magazine which is a Free publication and can be found at a wide range of Kansas City locations.  You can learn more about the publication at their website.  Click here for details: Kansas City Sports & Fitness Magazine

The goal of Brit Phillips when he first started BP Motorsports Group, which is the promoter of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties, was to grow the sport of karting here in the Heartland and attract more drivers from surrounding states.  In just four short years BP Motorsports Group has gone from a small operation to one with both regional and now National focus.  This year BP Motorsports Group has secured sponsorship from national companies such as automotive manufacturer MAZDA, and Karting giant Russell Karting Specialties as well as contingency sponsorship programs from tire manufactures like Maxxis, Dunlop and Bridgestone.  Local companies such as Bike Stop in Blue Springs have also joined in to help the younger kids get excited about the sport of karting.   

Perhaps the biggest thing to happen to BP Motorsports Group this year is their partnership with the IZOD IndyCar Series!  BP Motorsports Group was selected as the first regional karting partner for the IZOD IndyCar Series to help promote the first ever Scouting Combine as part of The Mazda Road to Indy.  This program helps kart racers get their shot at making their way up the racing ladder to get to the IZOD IndyCar Series.  BP Motorsports Group will send their champion in the Tag Senior Class to Anderson Raceway Park in Palmetto, Florida this Fall to compete against eleven other drivers from across the country in a "Top Gun" style shoot out to see who's got what it takes to make the next step.  The winner will get the chance to race a USF2000 car at St. Petersburg in early 2012.


Details about The Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine can be found by clicking here: Scouting Combine

Big Announcement Monday 6-20!

BP Motorsports Group to make a big announcement about the final three races of the season on Monday 6-20, and we'd like to thank our sponsors for making it possible! 

There are 5 Million Reasons to Race "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties this Summer and we'll tell you why on Monday....

Start tuning those karts now....  The big announcement comes on Monday!

Meet The Tag Senior Pilots!

As you all know BP Motosports Group is the promoter of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties and the 1st IZOD IndyCar Series Regional Karting Partner.  It is our great privilege to be sending our 2011 Tag Senior Champion to the first ever Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine at Anderson Raceway Park in Palmetto, Florida this November.  Our driver will compete against some of the best kart racers from all across the country in a "Top Gun" style shoot out in USF2000 cars.  They will be evaluated on not only their on track performance but on everything else that makes a good racer.  Those who qualify and get the chance to go to Florida will be the best of the best.  There will only be twelve drivers total and the Tag Senior Champion from "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" will be one of them.  We thought it would be fun to introduce you to some of the drivers competing for that opportunity, and because we know our manners at BP Motorsports Group it's "Ladies first"....

It would seem fitting to first introduce you to last years Tag Senior Champion in "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series".

1) Kaylee Granberg:  
"Defending Tag Senior Champion Mazda Heartland Sprint Series"

This young lady is the defending champion in the Tag Senior Champion in "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" and has an impressive list of accomplishments which include the following:

2010 - Champion Tag Senior Class Mazda Heartland Sprint Series.

2010 - 2nd place Shifter S2 Class Mazda Heartland Sprint Series.
2010 - 19th place finish at Supernats XIV Las Vegas.
2010 - Selected as a Member of Team USA for the race in France.  Kaylee had a successful race as she finished 19th out of 33 drivers in her first year at this event.

Kaylee holds several track records at the historic Liberty Kart Track and she's won countless races and several championships on her pathway to the Tag Senior Class.  It doesn't matter what you put Kaylee in, if it has a motor and wheels she'll find a way to be fast! 

Kaylee Racing with TEAM USA in France

Kaylee is a local girl from Raytown, Missouri and her favorite drivers are Mark Martin, Danica Patrick,  Ashley Force, Mike Neff, and John Force.  Her favorite kart tracks are Delmar and New Castle and she's currently acting as the driving coach for her younger brother Zach Granberg who just started this year in the Kid Kart class.  Zach is now hitting speeds of 40mph so it's safe to say he's now "The Fastest 5 Year Old in Kansas City" and with big sister Kaylee as a driving coach Zach is sure to see some success.  

Kaylee was hand picked by 8 time National Karting Champion Jim Russell Jr. of Russell Karting Specialties to be a part of TEAM USA and race in France in 2010.  Kaylee said it was a tremendous honor to be selected by Jim Russell Jr. and the chance to represent TEAM USA was an amazing thrill.  Kaylee finished 19th out of 33 drivers in the X30 Final in her first overseas race.

Kaylee said her goals are, "To learn all I can about go karting and my ultimate goal is to become and IZOD IndyCar Driver."  Her first step to that goal could be at the conclusion of this years "Mazda Heartland Sprint Series"  If she wins the Championship she'll be headed to the first ever Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine.  However there is another young lady with a lead foot and several driving credits under her belt that is looking to win that Championship as well.  That brings us to another Tag Senior Driver....


2)  Natalie Fenaroli

Natalie at the Texas Proving Grounds

At the time of this article Natalie was in 5th place in the Tag Senior Championship points battle, just 53 points behind Kaylee who currently sits in 2nd place.  Natalie is threat to win at any time and is currently racing karts in the Tag Senior Class with "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" but she's also racing a Spec Mazda Miata in the COMMA Series as well.  

Natalie is another local Kansas City girl who grew up in Raytown, Missouri.  She started racing in the Kid Kart class 10 years ago when she was only 5 years old, and she is now working her way up the racing ladder with her eyes on the ultimate goal, the IZOD IndyCar Series!  Her favorite drivers include:  Danica Patrick, Dan Wheldon, and Sarah Fisher and she said her favorite car is the 2004 Lotus Elise because it's much like being in a go kart.

Natalie has impressed several people in the racing community and she's caught the eye of some people in high places and as a result she will be traveling to New Zealand in the near future and spending a week and a half with an engineer from Formula One.  Quite the accomplishment for a young lady who is only 15 years old.

Some of Natalie's accomplishments include the following:

2003 - Participated in the Kid Kart National Championship in St. Louis in 2003 at the age of 7 years old.  Natalie finished in 1st place in Group 2.

2008 - Central States Super Series champion in the TAG Junior class.

2010 - Granted a competition license to race COMMA at Hallett race track.
  

Natalie is also part of Henry Ford History of Women in Motorsports and the information below is taken directly from her website.

 

Natalie is honored to be included in a 5 year traveling exhibit on the History of Women in Motorsports. The exhibit was put together by The Henry Ford and the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and opened at the end of January at the Daytona Experience in Daytona Beach, FL. Natalie attended an event celebrating the opening of the exhibit and a VIP meet and greet with many racing leaders and executives from ISC and NASCAR.  One of the pictures is Natalie with Indy diver Lyn St. James who was the major force getting the exhibit put together. 
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These are just two of the extremely talented drivers that make up the Tag Senior Class in "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties in Kansas City.  Attention IndyCar...  If you're looking for some potential future drivers you might just strike gold here in Kansas City.  These two ladies have an impressive resume of accomplishments already and their barely old enough to drive legally.  Keep your eye on these two because my bet is you'll see Kaylee Granberg and Natalie Fenaroli on the podium in the near future thanking their sponsors and signing autographs at tracks like Long Beach, Sao Paulo, and Indianapolis.

IZOD IndyCar Race at Iowa Speedway

Thanks to all who showed up for the Mazda Speed3 Cup race this weekend as part of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties.  Despite the forecast of some rain we had perfect racing weather on both Saturday and Sunday.  

If you were at the Driver's meeting you heard us ask you about the coming IZOD IndyCar Series race at Iowa Speedway.  The folks at IndyCar have been and continued to be impressed with "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" and they're curious to see if any of our racers are planning to attend the upcoming IZOD IndyCar Series race at Iowa Speedway June 24th and 25th.

If you are planning to go to that race please let me know as IndyCar is attempting to put together a possible meet and greet session with their drivers and our drivers.  It would be an opportunity for our drivers to get the chance to meet some of the drivers from the IZOD IndyCar Series.  Nothing has been confirmed as of yet but there is a possibility this could happen.  If you are already planning on attending that race please let me know so I can let the people at IndyCar know how many of our drivers might be in attendance for the race.

Nothing is official yet but the folks at IndyCar would like to make the race a memorable experience for the drivers of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" so please let me know if you are planning to attend the IZOD IndyCar Series race in Iowa on June 24 and 25th.

I would like to provide them with an estimated head count on Friday 6-17 or Monday 6-20 so please feel free to e-mail me if you're planning to go to the race.

CONTACT:  Chagan26@comcast.net

Thanks everyone and we'll see you at the next race on July 11 - 12th

IMPORTANT UPDATE! Mazda Heartland Sprint Series

Everyone:

The following is an important update that BP Motorsports Group received from MCC Blue River College and The Precision Driving Center. This is an update the everyone needs to comply with and it will be strictly enforced by the security staff of the College who are official Police Officers.

MCC Blue River Campus and The Precision Driving Center are alcohol free facilities. No alcohol of any kind is allowed on the MCC Blue River Campus or The Precision Driving Center at any time.

This is an official policy of MCC Blue River Campus and The Precision Driving Center and if you are found in violation of this policy we've been told it will be grounds for your removal from the facility.

This message isn't intended to sound mean or harsh but rather to point out the facts of an official policy of the College. Please keep in mind The Precision Driving Center is used as a practice facility for the Police Department. Their security personnel are typically fully licensed Police Officers with the authority to enforce official policy.

Good luck to everyone this coming weekend and we're looking forward to seeing you all at the races.

Up Next... Mazda Speed3 Race... ZOOM ZOOM!!!

Ok, everyone it's a short break between races from May to June.  Next up is the Mazda Speed3 Race and it's just a few days away.  Believe it or not this will mark the half way point of the season for "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" presented by Russell Karting Specialties.

Which Tag Senior driver will take home the big cash purse and make their way to Florida as part of the first ever Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine with the IZOD IndyCar Series?  Which driver will take that first step on the Mazda Road to Indy and get the chance to go up against some of the best kart racers in the country in a "Top Gun" style shoot out in Florida in November?  Tune your karts and get ready because the battle continues on June 11 - 12!!!

 
The final touches are being put on the track layout and it will be posted very soon.  It will combine high speed runs with technical turns and put the driver to the test.  Will we see more first time winners or will we see repeat winners looking to solidify their quest for the Championship?  The pressure is on it's GO TIME!  

Tag Senior Drivers take the Green Flag in Round 2 of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series"

Luke Waller took the win in Round 2 of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" and with that he maintains an 80 point lead over Kaylee Granberg, who finished on the podium in third place in the Mazda2 Cup.  Alex Nowyse rounded out the podium by finishing in 2nd place on the day and it was a tight battle between these three drivers all day long. David Piel, Natalie Fenaroli, Chris Koster, and Gregory Gerst rounded out positions four through seven on the day. Luke Waller is the driver eligible to pick up an extra $1,000 in bonus cash if he can also win race #3 and race #6 which will be a lofty task based on the competition he faces.  Rumor has it that Jim Russell Jr. will be back for round 3 as well.  The Tag Senior battle looks to heat up again in June!  One thing is for certain, the representative from "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" in the first ever Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine will be fierce competition for the other eleven drivers from across the country who will make their way to Palmetto, Florida later this year.