Motorsport Technology Group's #18 car at Lime Rock
(news outlets: contact Wes Duenkel for a high-resolution image)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RACE FOR HOPE KART CHALLENGE AT VIR OCTOBER 2ND

RICHMOND – SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 – Motorsport Technology Group has announced the RACE FOR HOPE KART CHALLENGE event for all Grand-Am drivers and teams, in conjunction with the Grand-Am KONI Challenge season finale at VIRginia International Raceway on Thursday, October 2, 2008.

Organized as a fundraiser to support the Morris Animal Foundation, team members and drivers can test their skills on the state-of-the-art 5/8 mile Plantation Valley Kart Track at VIR to win the “winner take all $1,000 cash prize.”  Winners of each heat will receive a gift prize.  The event will be a heat-run elimination beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.  A maximum of 35 entrants will participate.

Event organizer, Ashlei Newkirk of Newkirk Motorsport Events, assures all karts are equally built.  The Stratos karts have 9 hp Honda electric-start motors. Helmets and suits are available, or racers can bring their own.  Participants must be at least 18 years of age.  Long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes are required.  “We’ll be running the track in reverse which should make for some interesting twists and turns during the event,” stated Newkirk.

Cost to participate is $100 per person.  Pre-registration is available by sending name, team name and phone number in an e-mail to anewkirk@newkirkmotorsportevents.com. Pre-registrants will receive a Race for Hope tee shirt, compliments of Motorsport Technology Group.  The event is sponsored by Cru-Vin Dogs Wine Group, CDOC, Texas Steakhouse, Virginia International Raceway and Banfield-The Pet Hospital.

Steve Marcus of Motorsport Technology Group has brought racing and fund-raising together since the start of the 2008 season when his Siberian Husky, Tasha, died from a rare auto-immune disease.  All proceeds from the RACE FOR HOPE KART CHALLENGE will go to the Morris Animal Foundation, Meisha’s Hope Fund #338 to help find treatments and a cure for IMHA, an often fatal disease which attacks the blood system of dogs. 

For more information contact Ashlei Newkirk at: anewkirk@newkirkmotorsportevents.com.