Old School Karting

ROB MASON AND WILL POWER RACE

OF TEAM INDIANA

RACE THE MAZDA ROBOPONG 200 PRESENTED BY BRIDGESTONE

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September 26, 2008 News
EKN Trackside: Mazda RoboPong 200 - Preview

 

70 teams took to the track in 2007 with a full fence line of spectators (Photo: davidleephoto.com)
70 teams took to the track in 2007 with a full fence line of spectators
(Photo: davidleephoto.com)

This weekend will mark the fifth running of New Castle Motorsports Park’s 200-lap team endurance event dubbed the Mazda RoboPong 200 presented by Bridgestone. Teams made up of two, three, or four drivers will try to make Sunday’s 200 mile race, set to run as many as 80 teams. Spectators will be lining the fences to watch many of karting’s best compete alongside some of their favorite IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights drivers at the 1-mile New Castle, IN facility.

The original event in October 2004 was a fixed-time event with three hours as the event length, won by Adam Rovazzini and Mark Dismore Jr. In 2005, the race distance went to 200 laps with Dismore teaming up with and IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon to take the checkered flag and the $2,000 first place prize. NASCAR took its turn at the top for 2006 as Paulie Harraka and Ricky Rudd went the distance. That year also saw the first place check increase to $5,000 and Speed channel cameras around the course to tape a 30-minute broadcast, thanks in part to title sponsor RoboPong.com. Last year’s event saw Mazda and Bridgestone show their support in what was the biggest event yet. The duo of Chris Larson and Tony Loniewski led nearly green to checkered for a dominant performance and the $5k to win with the Speed cameras rolling again.

An estimated $25,000 purse is expected again this year with a payback through to the 20th position and the winning team taking in a minimum of $5k. Average Joe’s Sports Pub has put up an additional $250 for the top qualifying team with ImageWorks paying a $100 bonus to the team leading at the halfway mark.
 

Chris Larson and Tony Loniewski won in 2007, but will defend their title this year (Photo: davidleephoto.com)
Chris Larson and Tony Loniewski won in 2007, but will defend their title this year
(Photo: davidleephoto.com)

The event will begin with testing practice on Friday from 10am to 7pm, which is optional to all teams. Saturday will continue with non-qualifying practice from 9am-1pm with fast times by each team to set up their Qualifying group. Each team will have one driver qualify their kart with three timed laps available to each group. The top 70 teams in Qualifying will earn a spot in the main event. Currently, the entry list has just under that but if more teams register, a 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier will be run to transfer the top-ten to start 80 teams for Sunday’s main event. A one hour warm-up will get the teams adjusted to the new day’s weather with pre-race entertainment and activities beginning at 9:30am. Teams will then present their entry for impound at that time. The green flag will be set to fall at 12:30pm - rain or shine.

The 200-mile event is scheduled to last roughly four hours in length with the teams able to pit anytime at their choice for either a driver change, add fuel, or repair work. NCMP will issue refueling jugs to all teams for safety concerns. Weight will be determined by the type of engine the team will use, ranging from Rotax Max to the Motori Seven. The winning engine in the first four events has been the Parilla Leopard.

Looking at the entry list you can pick out many celebrity drivers that will be competing in the event with a good handful from the IndyCar Series. New Panther Racing driver Dan Wheldon has supported the event since the beginning and will again return this year, teamed with Dismore Jr. They will be the only returning champions with both Larson and Loniewski unable to defend their crown. Track owner Mark Dismore Sr., a former IndyCar Series driver, will team with another Indy legend - the two-time Indy 500 runner-up Scott Goodyear. Both have years of karting experience on their side and will be trying to gun down the younger teams.

Vision Racing teammates AJ Foyt IV and Ed Carpenter are set to team up this weekend. Will Power, Tomas Scheckter, and Vitor Meira will join karting regulars on the weekend while Jay Howard and 2007 Indy 500 Rookie of the Year Phil Giebler will be piloting their respective kart shop machines. Stars of Karting co-owner and former IRL driver Bryan Herta will be teamed up with Indiana’s own Kyle Wiegand. Firestone Indy Lights Series will also be represented well with 2007 champion Alex Lloyd teamed with current Indy Lights pilot Logan Gomez while drivers Robbie Pecorari and Cyndie Allemann are also set to compete. New HVM Racing Firestone Indy Lights general manager Michael Crawford will strap on the helmet for some racing action this weekend, no stranger to karting with a 125cc Moto shifter sitting in his garage.

eKartingNews.com will be providing their ‘Trackside Live’ coverage beginning with some updates in the Official Discussion Thread Friday night along with updates during Saturday’s Qualifying sessions. Sunday will be updates throughout the 200 laps as well as daily reports, photos, and results. EKN will also be working in part with RaceFanRadio.com and their live internet radio broadcast to provide them with any inside news from pit lane and around the paddock.

2008 Mazda RoboPong 200 presented by Bridgestone Entry List

No.TeamDriver 1Driver 2Driver 3Driver 4
0Screaming TalentJay HowardNicky Boulle

00CKS/MRPCJ LintnerZach Beard

1Racer of TomorrowJosef NewgardenBrandon Newey

001Otte Motorsports GroupCR CrewsPablo DonosoJohn Spickelmier
2H PowerSpencer PigotCyndie Allemann

02Wagner/Ballinger RacingRandy BallingerBrandon Wagner

3Newtyp.comKen IchikawaJared KrinskyWill Sandoval
4CometKartSales.comMark Dismore Jr.Dan Wheldon

5Zanardi USAEric BattMichael Bayden

6ChopperMike PielTony PielGeoff HowardBud Nollman
7JtB2Jon LaskiPeirce WilliamsShaun BayliffKim Gregory
07MKP/MKPowerJohn DixonMarshall Vortriede

8Team ShippsDavid ShippsRandy Wells

9Clark MotorsportsNed ClarkAndy ClarkMichael CrawfordChris Mullett
09Screaming Talent/H PowerVitor MeiraCody Jolly

10Zanardi/KartKey/TKM MotorsportsAdam RovazziniBrett BuckwalterTomas Scheckter
11Lewis/CKS RacingBilly LewisJeremy Warren

12Wheeler Motorsports/First Kart USALogan GomezAlex Lloyd

13Franklin/VKPJamie SierackiBrian Jacobsen

14Arrow Dream TeamSam BeasleyBrandon Adkins

15MKP/NKNMike BurrellJoe JanowskiMarshall VortriedeJohn Dixon
16Hyperco/Carbontech/Burris RacingKelly FallsJohn LaRue

17Merlin USAJason FoleyBJ Anderson

17Stafford RacingJoel StaffordAdam Risner

18SpeedcastTV.comClark CambernSteven Arens

19Team SpaldingAdam BerningChristopher Zeigler

20Team Top Kart USA 2AJ Foyt IVEd Carpenter

22Racer of Tomorrow TooConor DalyBrandon Newey

23Tuffy Auto ServiceDavid ScottMike Burton

25La Sonadora RacingAntonio Giraldi Jr.Michael Tejeda

26Team Ketch-Up/Top Kart USAChris WehrheimJohn Zartarian

27DB MotorsportsCaleb LoniewskiRyan Paul Miller

28J3 CompetitionJim GiacomelliRobbie Pecorari

29Margay/Cook RacingTravis FiringEric MorrowJosh Call
30DL RacingSean MeierKeith Spicer

32Conlin SpeedSportsTracy ConlinDana MeesLynsey Tilton
33HAAS/P.O.C. IndustriesTroy PewBrandon CrossJoe Huffman
40MEM RacingJeremy McHoneJason EwersGary McHone
42RBE/JDY RacingJosh LaneDave YourdJon Evans
44Team Caribbean CreamShane WaltersChristian Vogel

46Team Appco RacingDan StempfleyCody GardnerDoug Cook
47Sekey RacingJacob SekeyKyle Demeter

51Comet Kart SalesMark Dismore Sr.Scott Goodyear

57Irish ItaliansAlex KishArann O’BrienRyan O’Connell
58Team IndianaWill PowerRob Mason

59International Motorsport/G PhactoryMimmo FerraraFrank Ronco

60International Motorsport 2Sandro SoaresKlinton Carbal

65Scuderia DominicanaNico MunneAntonio ImbertFernando Arredondo
68Team KartliftT.J. KoyenShinya Michimi

71Team 4 CycleJohn FloorZach Linsell

72PM KartingPaul MillemanAustin Queen

73M&M RacingMike MelottJeff Morone

77International MotorsportCarlos CrespoSandro Soares

81Greenflag.netDan MonahanAlex Conlin

85Lewis/CKS Racing 2Michael LewisMichael Busse

86Team Top Kart USAKyle WiegandBryan Herta

88JN/CLJenifer NealChris Livengood

89Sharing SuccessGrant SchillingAlain Giraldi

90Team SpaldingTony SpaldingAlan Jenkins

91NTB KartingAaron TelitzNevin NelsonJessica Brannam
92Margay/Cook Racing 2Michele BumgarnerJosh Call

93Capitol StrategiesRuss KempleJeff GreenTim Strawkas
95WagnerRaceProducts.com/FirstKart.comDerek WagnerKevin Monteith

98Average Joe's RacingNick BurrowBrian GosleeMatt Dove
99JD ByriderRon PetersenColton Aldridge

113Team MacAllisterAlex MacAllisterChris MacAllister

150Stone-Taylor RacingEddie StoneDan TaylorCraig Stone
199Martz RacingKevin MartzDustin Kessinger

400G Phactory/Politis MotorsportsMichael PolitisPhil Giebler

421Simpson RacingJimmy SimpsonEvan BattJohn Andretti

Pacific Mountain Central Eastern International Western Canada

 

 

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