Indy 500 & Hot Wheels!

Have you seen what IZOD IndyCar Series sponsor "Hot Wheels" is going to do at the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 this May?  They're going to attempt a world record jump and the track they'll be attempting this jump on looks much like the old orange track that we all use to play with when we were kids.

Remember way back when you use to affix the trademark "Hot Wheels" track to the back of your bedroom door and race the cars the track to see how far they could jump.  You jump them over your little sister's goofy Barbie Dolls or her little tea sets or something.  We'll now imagine that exact same thing in real life, with a real driver, a real track, and a real jump!  It's called "Fearless at the 500" and "Hot Wheels" is going for a World Record... 

This is certainly something worth watching.  Check out the promo video they have about the event below.

You can read even more about this world record attempt from "Hot Wheels" at IndyCar.com via this link: Hot Wheels Fearless at the 500!

BP Joins 2011 Jim Russell Memorial IAME Championship Cup

This years 2011 Jim Russell Memorial IAME Championship Cup set for May 13 - 15 at New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana will have a familiar face to many of those who race in "The Heartland Sprint Series".  Brit Phillips, the Director of Operations and the "BP" in BP Motorsports Group, will serve as the official Race Director for the 2011 Jim Russell Memorial IAME Championship Cup.  

 Brit Phillips has been around the sport of Karting for over two decades and it was he who started BP Motorsports Group over four years ago.  Brit currently serves as the Director of Operations for BP Motorsports Group, the promoter of "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series presented by Russell Karting Specialties".  When asked about this opportunity Brit had this to say, "Well, to tell you the truth it's really a tremendous honor to be asked to be part of this event.  I've known Jim Russell Jr. for many years now and he's tremendously well respected in the sport of Karting.  Having the opportunity to partner with him for "The Mazda Heartland Sprint Series" has been very rewarding and now having the chance to work with him for the Jim Russell Memorial IAME Championship Cup is very exciting.  It's something I'm really looking forward to.

You can find more specific information about the 2011 Jim Russell Memorial IAME Championship Cup at the link below

2011 Jim Russell Memorial IAME Championship Cup

Kid Karters Meet Your New Sponsor!

Hey Kid Kart Racers...   I thought it might be kind of cool for you to meet your new sponsor.  You've seen him at the races before and he won the first Clone Class race of the season.  John Pennington is the owner of Bike Stop in Blue Springs and below is his photo and some information about Bike Stop in Blue Springs.  Remember one of you will win a brand new kids bike at the end of the season from Bike Stop.  You'll get your name entered in the drawing for every race and if you race all six races of "The Heartland Sprint Series presented by Russell Karing Specialties" you'll get three (3) additional entries.

John and Bike Stop in Blue Springs also support local BMX racing and there was a great article in The Examiner last week written by Jeff Martin and you can read it here, just click on this link:   Bike Stop Story

If you haven't met John Pennington yet he's a great guy and all of us at BP Motorsports Group are thrilled to welcome Bike Stop in Blue Springs on board as the official sponsor of the Kid Kart Class for 2011.  We'll make sure we introduce all you Kid Kart Racers to him at our next race on May 21 - 22.  Good luck to everyone and get those karts ready!

Chris Hagan

Director of Sales & Marketing

BP Motorsports Group

www.bpmotorsportsgroup.com

Mazda Heartland Sprint Series gets in First Round

 

Mazda Heartland Sprint Series gets in First Round

            Despite a foreboding forecast early in the week, the weather was perfect for the first round of the Mazda Heartland Sprint Series presented by Russell Karting Specialties.  The first round took place April 9-10 at the series home, the Precision Driving Center, in Independence, Mo.

            There was a lot of excitement surrounding the opening of the 2011 season.  BP Motorsports Group, the promoter of the series, has been working hard during the off-season to make the things better for the racer.  New partners like Mazda, and the IZOD Indycar Series through the Mazda Road to Indy program have increased the stakes for each racer.

            As part of the Road to Indy program, the MHSSR TaG Sr. champion will head down to Florida to take part in the Mazda Road to Indy Scouting Combine.  Aside from that, TaG Sr. competitors are also fighting for a $4,000 purse that will be split up between the top three in the class at the end of the year.

            Jim Russell Jr. stuck first blood in the TaG Sr. class leading the way from flag-to-flag.  Broc Yocom drove hard, and came in second behind Russell.  Luke Waller rounded out the top three.  With everything at stake in the TaG Sr. class, it is no wonder that the class was one of the largest all weekend.  As the season progresses, the number of racers in this class is expected to grow.

            In the TaG 60 class, series veteran Jacob Winslow was able to bring home the win.  He beat second place finisher Caden Bolz to the line by a mere .232 of a second.  Michael Quigley captured the last step on the podium.  James Yates and Garret Daughters rounded out the field.  Every point will matter this year as these drivers look to get their part of the $500 purse to be divided among the top three point earners.

           

            TaG Jr. is another of the ultra-competitive classes in the series.  With a $500 prize to be divided among the top three, these drivers have incentive to drive fast and make each session count.  Wyatt Manness certainly made his day count, beating out Cole Hannah and Troy Walsh for the win.  Charlie Williams and Kyle Potts completed the top-5.

            The S2 class is the last money class with $750 up for grabs amongst the top 3 finishers.  Chris Thomasson took the victory with Dennis Brandon and Joe Carlson taking the last two podium positions.  Lee Szydlosk also took home some hardware as the sole G1 on track.

The Clone class saw another very close race, as John Pennington was the first to the stripe, with Brian Carter and Andrew Pennington close behind.  During the final, positions were being swapped at just about every corner.  Russell Karting has put an entire clone package, including an engine and new chassis, up for a season end raffle.  Each participant in the class will have the opportunity to have their name drawn to win the new package.

In the TaG Masters class Mike Knefel took the checkers by taking advantage of some bad luck on the part of his competition.  Angela Hannah broke a chain heading to take the white flag, after she had built up more than a one-lap lead over Knefel.

Faith Yates dominated the Kid Kart class leading all twelve laps, finishing 17 seconds ahead of second place Henry Williams.  Luke Howard, Dakota Earls, Zach Granberg and Tyler Hagan rounded out the field in that order.

There is still plenty of racing left in the season.  Those drivers who had difficulties in the first race still have plenty of time to make up the gap.  Come out and enjoy the great hospitality and excellent racing offered by the Mazda Heartland Sprint Series presented by Russell Karting Specialties.