Registration is now open for the 28th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3.
Information on this year’s race along with links to Registration, Supplemental Rules and Video can be found here:
https://issuu.com/bakerstreetnc/docs/rigp_2023_drivers_packet?fr=sMWIyYzU1NTExNDA
Or Registration only at:
https://nkaforms.formstack.com/forms/rigp_pre_entry_2023
Three new classes have been added, along with the old favorites, for this year’s race. New races are:
- A Briggs & Stratton Novice class, not open to drivers who have won at Rock Island before
- A Rok Shifter class where Rokers and Hondas will run along with Open Shifter and can place in either or both classes
- The return of TAG Senior.
A lineup of classes for Briggs & Stratton, Ignite, 100cc, Yamaha Can, shifter and vintage karts is being offered. King of the Streets open shifter and King of The Rock for Briggs 206 and 100cc racers will compete for cash payout and a Rock trophy based on the number of entries in the class. To enter these races a driver must also enter a corresponding non-King class. Supplemental Rules are posted at racerockisland.info.
Also returning this year is the popular team competition where drivers from the same track can collect team points even if they are racing in different classes. There are no additional entry fees and few rules, just the chance to win glory and bragging rights as the 2023 Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Track Team of The Year. To be eligible, drivers must list their track on the registration form. The winning team will receive a large banner to display at their home track or club. Last year’s winner was Gateway Kartplex near St. Louis.
Efforts announced earlier to work with the city, racers and race officials to make the racing safer, has been taken one step further. Speedway Fire & Rescue Quad-Cities has joined the Grand Prix family and will provide two EMS staffed crews for race weekend. “These people bring a background experience in racing safety and service,” said Roger Ruthhart of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix. Speedway Fire & Rescue was formed in 2018 to provide fire rescue and safety services at race tracks, especially go karts, and now brings more than 100 years of experience to Rock Island. “We hope, as has often been the case, that’s we won’t need their help. But they are committed to providing safety to spectators, pit crews, sponsors, promotors, drivers, and race staff. We know that if they are needed, they have the training and experience needed to deal with racing injuries. This is just another step in making sure that racing at The Rock is as safe as it can possibly be,” said Ruthhart.
This year the Grand Prix is also excited to welcome some new sponsors to the event. New this year are:
- Group O, providing packaging, supply chain marketing and retail fulfillment support. Named One of the 50 Most Powerful Hispanic Businesses in the country.
- Moon Print Shop, based in Mooresville, NC, provides wraps, signs, apparel and embroidery products for a variety of businesses including motorsports.
- Baker Street Creations, with offices in Mooresville, NC and Blue Grass, Iowa, does branding, package design, marketing and product imagery for the growing cannabis industry.
- Eagle Construction Concrete Contractors, located in Delmar, Iowa, is one of the area’s premier construction companies.
- Illinois Casualty Co., located in Rock Island, was founded in 1950 and provides insurance products and claims defense exclusively for the food and beverage industry. Coverage options include liquor liability, property, general liability, umbrella, and workers compensation. ICC does business in 13 states from Pennsylvania to Utah and Arizona
- Halligan, McCabe, Devries Funeral Home, in Davenport, Iowa is a strong family-owned business that has been proudly serving the community since 1889
- Shaw Electric in Davenport, Iowa, is one of the leading electrical contractors in the region and has been serving the Quad Cities and greater Midwest with industry-leading value for over seven decades.
Returning partners include:
National Karting Alliance, Mediacom, Briggs & Stratton Racing, Bally’s Quad-Cities Casino & Hotel, Hoosier Kartsport/ Margay Racing, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Gett Industries, Modern Woodmen Financial/ Joe Schurr agent, Miller/Coors, RLV Tuned Exhaust, CBS TV4 / Fox 18 and CW, the local iHeart radio stations: Q106, Fox Sports QC, WOC and WLLR, Schurr Power Racing Engines, C & W Trucking, Sunbelt Rentals, Johannes Bus Service, Holiday Inn Rock Island, eKartingNews.com, Courtesy Car City, Gas & Electric Credit Union, Rogan Scale, Triple E Sales, Brenny’s Motorcycle Center, Hakuna Matata Charters, Transmission Plus, Hiland Toyota, Duncalf Karting and Duncalf Chiropractic Center.
“Rock Island is a truly unique experience that doesn’t happen anywhere else in the world in karting. At a time when NASCAR is adding a street race in Chicago and Formula 1 in Las Vegas, Rock Island already has a street race with an almost 30-year history. We invite everyone to sign up now and bring their family, friends and sponsors with them to experience this one-of-a-kind event,” said Ruthhart. “Maybe you’ll even take home a piece of The Rock.”
A room block has been set up at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island, just a one-block walk from the pits,
The Grand Prix is the biggest weekend event of the year in Rock Island. Rock Island is located in an area known as the Quad-Cities, straddling the Mississippi River equally divided between Illinois and Iowa, with a metropolitan population of 400,000. It is home to the Rock Island Arsenal military base and corporate headquarters for John Deere in Moline, Ill. It is served by the Quad-City International Airport and is at the intersection of Interstate highways 80, 74, 88 and 280.
For more information on the race, please visit racerockisland.info