Stormy Weather Passes, Allowing Exciting Action as Jan Heylan Takes the Win in the PRI/CKI All-Stars

Article by: Performance Racing Industry

Jan Heylan Despite dramatic downpours earlier in the day, the weather fortunately changed direction and skies cleared enough to allow for an exciting evening of karting action as PRI Trade Show attendees, Orlando residents and some of the top names in international motorsports gathered outside the Orange County Convention Center to take in the competition at the fourth annual Performance Racing Industry/Championship Karting International (PRI/CKI) All-Stars Karting Classic. Eighteen of the best motorsports drivers, representing a number of racing series from around the world, took to the specially constructed track for the All-Stars Division finale with Izod IndyCar competitor Jan Heylen taking the overall win, driving a CRG Kart for the SSC East-CRG team, followed by NASCAR star Scott Speed in second, running a Tony Kart, and Formula One driver Vitantonio Luizzi in a CRG Kart rounding out the podium.

The drivers ran on a specially configured road course set up immediately outside the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, where the PRI Trade Show is being held Dec. 10-12, 2009.

“I love it. They kept the same layout as last year, and I think everybody likes it so it’s good,” a clearly pleased Heylen said, following his triumph. “For me, it’s nice to come here because everybody’s here. It’s good to say hi to everybody and get a start on the new season.”

Gary Carlton of Marysville, CA, driving a CRG Kart took first in the Karter Division, while Chris Wehrheim in a Top Kart USA took second, and Kyle Wiegand, also in a Top Kart USA, placed third.

Among the pro drivers who fought valiantly to challenge Heylen in the All-Stars Division were: IZOD Indy Car drivers Jay Howard, who won the event last year and Buddy Rice, another former winner, NASCAR’s A.J. Allmendinger; along with current Force India Formula One driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, making his debut at the Karting Classic, but no stranger to karting as he won the 2001 World Karting Championship. He will be reunited with former F1 teammate Scott Speed. Also competing will by IndyCar’s Justin Wilson, Tomas Scheckter, Ed Carpenter, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Alex Tagliani, defending champ Jay Howard and Townsend Bell; NASCAR’s Colin Braun and Jamie McMurray, AMA star Kevin Windham; Monster Jam driver Joe Sylvester; and NHRA’s Matt Smith.

Heylen and the owner of the SSC East-CRG team, which had five entries in the All-Star Classic, each won a custom watch from associate sponsor B.R.M. Manufacture, each worth more than $5,000.

Practice began at 3:00 p.m. for the Pro Stars, Karter Division drivers and the selected media competitors who took part in a special race prior to the finale. Despite ongoing rainstorms, the track eventually dried, allowing for the drivers to familiarize themselves with the proper line for this special one-day event.

Reactions to the fourth event were all positive. “It's always fun to see the boys back in the racing paddock - guys like Justin Wilson, A.J. and Tomas Scheckter,” said Alex Tagliani. “It's great to catch up with them. Karting is where everybody started their racing career. It's a no-pressure type attitude in the paddock, so it's a lot different feeling. Everyone here's to see who's going to drive and who's going to do what, so in the beginning it's just a lot of fun, but once we get on the race track that all changes and everybody wants to win. I started karting when I was 10 years old and I've really never stopped. I'm still doing it today."

Added Buddy Rice, 2004 Indy 500 winner and 2009 Rolex 24 champion and the only driver to compete all five years in the karting event: “This is a good time and it's great for go-karting and it's great for all the manufacturers here who are trying to showcase their products. This is what PRI is all about - manufacturers bringing out their product and showing it off, so I think that's great. It's a bit like the 24 Hours of Daytona. With the way the schedule works out, everyone's allowed to show up and run. It's good that some of the professional guys can come out - both from over the other side of the pond and the guys here in the U.S.”

The PRI/CKI Karting All-Star Classic will be televised nationally on Fox Sports Net affiliation of cable networks. Both the Karter and All-Star Divisions of the race will have their own dedicated half-hour broadcasts that will air in a minimum of 86 million households. Last year’s PRI event, with re-air dates, was viewed in more than 700,000 households helping bring karting to the mainstream media. The Karter division from the 2009 event will air on Monday, January 11, 2010 at 4:30 p.m. local time while the All-Star division will be broadcast on Monday, January 18, 2010 at 4:30 p.m.