Alton, Va. (August 16) What may well be the most-anticipated race during this weekend’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals, featuring the AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, at VIRginia International Raceway will take place on VIR’s state-of-the-art Plantation Valley Kart Track on Thursday afternoon. The field has been set for the second annual Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge, which will pit 12 of the best motorcycle racers in the sport against media personalities, staff members from VIR, AMA, event promoter M1 Entertainment and event sponsors and 12 lucky fans in equally-prepared racing karts. Twelve teams, each consisting of a Superbike racer, a media celebrity, a staffer and a fan, will take the green flag at 4:30 pm on Thursday. Each driver will get seven laps of the 5/8-mile, 24-foot-wide circuit that features 30 feet of elevation change and electronic timing and scoring before handing off to a teammate. Each driver’s fastest lap will be recorded, and the team with the lowest combined elapsed time will be declared the winner. The winning team will receive trophies and a guaranteed entry in next year’s race, and the winning fan will receive a three-day pass to next year’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. The racing stars signed up to compete include Ben Spies (Yoshimura Suzuki); Miguel Duhamel (Honda Racing); Tommy Hayden (Team Kawasaki); Roger Lee Hayden (Team Kawasaki); Eric Bostrom (Graves Yamaha); Ben Bostrom (Parts Unlimited Ducati); Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki); Jamie Hacking (Graves Yamaha); Neil Hodgson (Parts Unlimited Ducati); Jason DiSalvo (Team Yamaha); Josh Hayes (Erion Honda); and defending event winner Jessica Zalusky (Kawasaki Team Green). The media contingent includes Speed Channel personalities Ralph Sheheen and Greg White; RoadRacing World associate editor David Swarts; Todd Lamb, publisher of 2Wheel Tuner; Mark Mitchell, director of speedtv.com; Lindsay West, representing Cycle News; Laurel Allen, representing Road Racer X; Bill King, representing motorsport.com; Jeff Manhart, producer for Chet Burks Productions/Speed Channel; Jack Carbone, director for Chet Burks Productions/Speed Channel; and event announcer Danny Walker. Staff members competing include Mike “Rooster” Cassada, Bert Howerton and Mike Allen, representing VIR; Cameron Gray, Dave Monseu and Cali Matthews, representing M1 Entertainment; Ron Barrick and Ken Rogers, representing AMA Pro Racing; Kevin Schwantz, representing Suzuki; Jamie James, representing Ohlins; and event announcers Scott Russell and Dave Sadowski. The lucky fans who will compete include last year’s winner, Matt Boike of Charlotte, N.C.; plus Debbie Ulrich of Tampa, Fla.; Darren Combs of Clemmons, N.C.; David Eanes of Mebane, N.C.; Randy Iculey of Pamplin, Va.; Dereck Martin of Shipers, Ky.; Joshua Powell of Lynchburg, Va.; Donald Raynor of Cumberland, Va.; Jason Reed of Woodbridge, Va.; Mark Atwood of Sparta, N.C.; Doug Wiese of Virginia Beach, Va.; and Laura Dicello of Hardy, Va. The competing fans were chosen from all those who purchased event tickets by August 7. “We have an awesome field of competitors for this year’s Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge,” said race promoter Cameron Gray of M1 Entertainment. “Last year’s event was such a big hit, all of the sport’s superstars wanted in on the fun this year. Some of the ‘staff’ competitors look suspiciously like former motorcycle racing champions, but that just makes it better for those of us who will be standing on the podium at the end of the race. We expect a very hotly contested race, and it will be nice to have bragging rights over the best in the business for a whole year. There has been a lot of trash-talking about the race, but it’s time to stop talking and start racing!” “The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge is one of the most fun parts of a fun-filled weekend,” said VIR general manager Josh Lief. “Everyone jokes around before the green flag drops, but once the race starts it’s all business. It’s a great opportunity for the average fan to race with and against the biggest names in professional motorcycle racing, and the 12 fans competing in the race will go home with the memory of a lifetime. We’re very proud of our VIR contingent, who earned the right to race through a series of intra-company qualifying races, and we expect to see them on the podium. We always enjoy the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge, and plan on it being a long-standing tradition here at VIR.” The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals offers a variety of ticket packages designed to fit every budget, including standard general-admissions tickets, Big Kahuna Super Tickets, Big Dog Hospitality Passes, Little Dog Hospitality Passes, Pit Walk Passes, car parking passes and camping passes. Tickets will be available at the gate. All current military personnel will receive a 30-percent discount and free parking by presenting their ID card at the gate. Similarly, college students will be eligible for a 15-percent discount by presenting their ID card at the gate. Groups of 20 or more will also be eligible for a 15-percent discount, providing the order is paid for with one credit card. Discounts do not apply to Trackside VIP Suite and Big Kahuna Super Tickets, or to Big Dog Hospitality Passes or Pit Walk Passes. Children aged 12 and under will receive free admission, provided they are accompanied by a paid adult, but must have a Little Dog Hospitality Pass to enter the Big Dog Hospitality area. VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; the new VIR Paddock Suites and Garages, with 18 dual-purpose hospitality/ lodging units and garages; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse. For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.m1event.com or contact them via telephone at 303-377-3278. For more information on the AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, visit their website at www.amasuperbike.com.