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| November 19, 2008 News |
| Allmendinger and Papis to Represent MRP/Birel at All-Stars Karting Classic |
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 | AJ Allmendinger
(Photo: Jill Woodruff-Getty Images-yahoo.com) |
The Snap-on Stars of Karting Series is pleased to announce that AJ Allmendinger and Max Papis will compete with MRP Motorsport / Birel in the Masters division at the 2008 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) All-Stars Karting Classic. Taking place on December 11th adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, the duo will join Karter division entrant, Wes Phillips, as the trio look to take the Birel product line to victory lane in the annual event.
“Allmendinger is another returning driver to the event while Max Papis will be a new face at the All-Stars Karting Classic,” stated Snap-on Stars of Karting Series President Paul Zalud. “The 2008 event continues to grow. We have a new track design, bigger pit area, pole position sponsors and more concessions. Several high caliber drivers have already been announced and the event is sure to be good. I am extremely excited!!”
Californian AJ Allmendinger is truly a definition of a ladder system graduate. The fierce competitor graduated from karting to claim the Barber Dodge Pro Series Championship in 2002. In 2003, Allmendinger claimed the Toyota Atlantic Championship before claiming Rookie-of-the-Year honors in the Champ Car World Series in 2004 as well as multiple race wins the following season. Allmendinger then made the switch to closed wheel competition where he competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, Nationwide Series and most recently, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with backing from Red Bull Racing and most recently the #10 Gillette Evernham Motorsports Valvoline Dodge.
Joining Allmendinger in the Masters division will be Mad Max Papis. Not unfamiliar to karting, Max has competed in everything from Rotax powered karts to several forms of professional motorsports including the Formula One World Championship, Grand Am Series, IndyCar Series, American Le Mans Series, Champ Car, International Race of Champions as well as the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Craftsman Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series. Papis, who is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi, has scored multiple strong runs in almost every series of competition and will look to do the same on December 11th.
Both Allmendinger and Papis will run Birel chassis with Rotax powerplants supported by MRP-Motorsport, the North American importer for Birel racing karts and American Distributor for Rotax karting engines.
In addition, Wes Phillips will compete in the karter division, thanks to an effort between Birel dealer, Turn 1 Prosports, MAZDA and MRP Motorsport. Phillips will utilize the Birel/Rotax package, which he has become very familiar with in the past few seasons. The driver will return from representing Team USA presented by MAZDA for the Rotax Max Challenge World Finals at the La Conca International Circuit at the beginning of December in time to do battle with the rest of North America’s finest karting stars. Also competing with Turn 1 Prosports will be female karter Jennifer Williams.
“Everyone at MRP Motorsport is looking forward to this event,” said Marc Miller, Director of Brand Development for MRP Motorsport. “I’d like to thank AJ and Max for their participation as well as Turn 1 Prosports and MAZDA for working with us to help field Wes Phillips in the karter division. Between these drivers, we have no doubt that the Birel and Rotax brands will be well represented.”
Allmendinger and Papis continue to add to the stellar driver line-up for the third annual All-Stars Karting Classic. These two drivers will join Cristiano Da Matta, Oswaldo Negri, Buddy Rice, Scott Speed, Townsend Bell, Jamie McMurray, Nelson Phillipe, Jan Heylan and Ryan Hunter-Reay in the Masters division. A series of further driver announcements are forthcoming for this prestigious event.
With a host of driver announcements and news forthcoming, please stay tuned to http://www.StarsofKarting.com for up-to-date information. The PRI show takes place at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida from December 11 – 13 with the All-Stars Karting Classic taking place on the evening of December 11. Admission to the event is free along with a PRI show credential. |
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