Rock Island - Lots of exciting changes are in store for competitors at this year's Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Presented by The Hemp Doctor, the world's largest and most prestigious karting street race. That's especially true for drivers winning a number of classes this Labor Day weekend, August 31-Sept 1.
Last year, Cory Simpson of Simpson Motorsports in St. Louis, paid for two drivers from the 100cc King of The Rock race to compete in the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas. Nevada. Those Scholarship winners ran at the top of the KA100 field all week in Vegas with Chase Jones on the podium in 2nd and Race Liberante running 3rd before retiring with only a few laps remaining. This year, Simpson Motorsports is raising the bar higher. In addition to his 5-year sponsor commitment to The Rock, this year the SKUSA SuperNats, Nov. 13-17 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, will welcome the winners of Rock Island's 100cc King of The Rock and the historic King of the Streets shifter race, with SuperNats entries funded by the Simpson Motorsports Scholarship.
In addition, Simpson Motorsports and Cup Karts North America have joined forces to offer two scholarship entries to 4-cycle’s biggest event of the year, the CKNA Grand Nationals, Oct. 10-13 at New Castle Motorsports Park. The winner of Rock Island's Briggs & Stratton 206 King of The Rock and the Briggs 206 Junior race will be awarded free CKNA entries.
SKUSA SuperNats Scholarships include Entry Fee, 2 sets of tires, oil and gas.
CKNA entrants will receive a package including Pit Passes, Practice, Race Entry and Tires for the 8th running of the CKNA Grand Nationals.
For shifter drivers competing to win the eKartingnews.com National Driver Rankings Shifter Title, sponsored by Skip Barber Racing School, the King of The Streets race is one of just 2 national races offering a 9.5 ranking.
That’s Not All!!
But there’s more. Also joining the Rock Island Scholarship Program this year is the Southern Indiana Racing Assn (SIRA). Drivers winning in other Rock Island classes that match up with those at SIRA, will receive a free entry to the CERA Grand Prix, Sept. 28-29, and Indianapolis Speedrome Showdown, Oct. 19-20. Eligible Rock Island classes are Briggs 206 Junior, Medium, Heavy and Masters; 100cc Senior; and Open Shifter.
SIRA Karting is one of the country's oldest kart racing series and has a long, rich history of promoting both street and track races across multiple states. 2024 marks a rebirth for the series with fresh new leadership focused on modernizing and improving it. SIRA entry awards include entry fee and driver pit pass. There is no parking charge and no mandatory new tire purchase. There is a list of approved tires.
These scholarship awards are on top of an earlier announcement by the Grand Prix that it will pay guaranteed purses of $1,000, $500 and $250 to first, second and third place finishers in all three King classes this year. Additional places may receive payment depending on the number of race entries. All drivers are eligible to enter the 3 King races if they have entered another race in the same engine class.
"Get your equipment together and come tame 'The Rock' and take home a Vegas Scholarship while you're here," said Cory Simpson, encouraging racers to mark their calendars for Labor Day weekend.
"We are excited to offer free entries to Rock Island Grand Prix winners to our corresponding classes for both the CERA Grand Prix and Speedrome Showdown. The CERA Grand Prix is a long-time favorite race of competitors that runs through the streets of CERA Sports Park and Campground in Columbus, Indiana. The Speedrome Showdown is a new race for 2024 that will take place at the Indianapolis Speedrome where we will build a full sprint track using the oval and infield. It's going to be big, fast and badass. We're making it the perfect SuperNats warmup track, " said Matthew Burpo, SIRA president.
"We are excited to be able to partner with these great events and offer drivers what, for many, is a unique experience," said Roger Ruthhart of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Presented by The Hemp Doctor. "These opportunities offered by Cory and Simpson Motorsports, Greg Jasperson and CKNA and Matthew Burpo and SIRA essentially offer Grand Prix winners the chance to compete at major national/international events for the low cost of entering at Rock Island. There are now potentially 10 other races that could find Rock Island winners on the top of the podium without having to pay to enter!"
Entries for this year's Rock Island race will be open soon. Please watch social media, racerockisland.info and your email for 2024 information. Sponsor inquiries and race questions can be sent to rockislandgrandprix@gmail.com.
A room block for racers has been set up at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island.