Teams Set for Second Annual DRIFT BigM
Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown
Racers, Military, Media and Fans to Kick Off BigM Weekend
TOOELE VALLEY, UTAH (May 23, 2012) “” The long wait is over, and the team line-ups for the Second Annual DRIFT BigM Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown at Miller Motorsports Park have been announced.
The Second Annual DRIFT BigM Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown is a celebrity go-kart race to kick off the BigM Weekend presented by Lucas Oil, the Memorial Day Weekend event featuring the Utah USA Round of the FIM Superbike World Championship and AMA Pro Road Racing. There will be 14 teams comprised of a racer from World Superbike or AMA Pro Road Racing, a military member from one of Utah’s military installations, a media celebrity and a fan. Fans were chosen from a drawing of all ticket-holders on May 10. There will also be an additional Wild Card team with special guests and executives that will race but will be ineligible to win any prizes or trophies.
The entrants will assemble at the Miller Kart Track at noon on Friday, May 25. Following practice, a drivers meeting and opening ceremonies, the big race is scheduled to take the green flag following opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. Following the race at 3 p.m., there will be an autograph session with the participating racers. The event is open to the public at no charge.
The race will be conducted in four five-lap heats, with each driver required to complete one heat. Lap times will be recorded, and each driver’s fastest lap will be the lap of record. Following the final heat race, each team’s four fastest lap times will be added up and the team with the lowest cumulative (four-) lap time will be declared the winner. The top three teams will receive trophies, and the winning team will also receive a high-definition DRIFT POV camera courtesy of DRIFT Innovation, the Official Onboard Camera of Miller Motorsports Park, as well as a watch from Tissot, the Official Timekeeper of the FIM Superbike World Championship. In addition, the fan participant on the winning team will receive a three-day grandstand pass to the 2013 BigM Weekend, plus a guaranteed seat in the 2013 BigM DRIFT Superbike Super Celebrity Mega Kart Showdown as defending champion.
The teams are as follows:
Team Checa:
Carlos Checa (No. 7 Althea Racing Ducati, World Superbike)
Lynae Myer Meteorologist, KSL-5 NBC
Tech Sgt. Chad Heffner, Morgan Hill, CA (Hill Air Force Base)
Kellen Birch Rexburg, ID (defending race winner)
Team Biaggi:
Max Biaggi (No. 3 Aprilia Racing Team, World Superbike)
Emerson Lotzia Sports Reporter, KTVX-4 ABC
David Eckles Salt Lake City, UT (Utah National Guard)
Patrick McDonell Denver, CO
Team Haslam:
Leon Haslam (No. 91 BMW Motorrad Motorsport, World Superbike)
Scott Taylor Co-host, “The Rock Show,” KHTB 94.9-FM Z-Rock
Sgt. Darnell Williams, Chester, VA (Dugway Proving Grounds)
Chris Brusson Sandy, UT
Team Rea:
Jonathan Rea (No. 65 Honda World Superbike Team, World Superbike)
Spence Checketts Co-host, “The Big Show,” KZNS 1280-AM The Zone
SSgt. Mac Wilkinson, Prescott, AZ (United States Marine Corps)
Mark Turner Colorado Springs, CO
Team Sykes:
Tom Sykes (No. 66 Kawasaki Racing Team, World Superbike
David Swarts Associate Editor, Roadracing World
Sgt. Dennis Grove, Waterloo, IL (United States Marine Corps)
Brock Carter Draper, UT
Team Guintoli:
Sylvain Guintoli (No. 50 Effenbert Liberty Racing Team Ducati, World Superbike)
Jonathan Green International World Superbike Announcer, SPEED Channel
TSgt. Mark Strauss, Cambridge, OH (Hill Air Force Base)
Roy Sweet Victoria, British Columbia
Team Camier:
Leon Camier (No. 2 FIXI Crescent Suzuki, World Superbike)
Jared Danielson Host, “The Banks Morning Show,” KUDD 107.9-FM The Mix
MSgt. Eric Ryals, Auburn, WA (Tooele Army Depot)
Jeff Robinson Salt Lake City, UT
Team Hayes:
Josh Hayes (No. 1 Monster Energy Graves Yamaha, AMA National Guard SuperBike)
Casey Scott Morning Show Talent, KUTV-2 CBS
Sgt. Michael Tredway, Eagle River, AK (Tooele Army Depot)
Jesse Schecter The Dalles, OR
Team Bostrom:
Ben Bostrom (No. 23 Jordan Suzuki, AMA National Guard SuperBike)
David Locke Utah Jazz Announcer, KJZZ-TV
PFC Thomas Hooley, Tooele, UT (Utah Army National Guard)
Matt Diehl Denver, CO
Team Hayden:
Roger Hayden (No. 54 National Guard Jordan Suzuki, AMA National Guard SuperBike)
Rick Aaron Sports Anchor, KSTU-13 FOX
PV2 Alex Trujillo, Tooele, UT (Utah Army National Guard)
Craig Goodenough Helper, UT
Team Eslick:
Danny Eslick (No. 69 Team Hero EBR, AMA National Guard SuperBike)
Tony Parks Co-host, “Jake and Tony Show,” 1280-AM The Zone
SSgt. Amanda Menlove, Sandy, UT (Utah Air National Guard)
Sab Jhooti London, England
Team Pietri:
Robertino Pietri (No. 3 Team Venezuela Suzuki, AMA National Guard SuperBike)
Matt Ramone Host, “In the Zone,” KUBL 93.3-FM K-BULL
PFC Juan Lopez, Miami, FL (Dugway Proving Grounds)
Adam Johnson Rochester Hills, MI
Team Myers:
Elena Myers (No. 21 Suzuki Scoop Fans Suzuki, AMA SuperSport)
Kevin Cruise Host, “Kevin Cruise Show,” KUUU 92.5-FM U92
SSgt. Kyle Perry, Salt Lake City, UT (Utah Air National Guard)
Ryan Bergeson Grand Junction, CO
Team Wyman:
Kyle Wyman (No. 33 KLR Group/Vesrah Harley-Davidson, AMA Vance & Hines XR1200)
Tyson Webb Co-Host, “Chunga and Tyson,” KENZ 101.9-FM The End
Spl. Anthony Angelos, Salt Lake City, UT (Veterans Administration)
Billy Licciardone – Tooele, UT
Team Russell (Wild Card):
Scott “Mr. Daytona” Russell, Conyers, GA (1993 Superbike World Champion, 1992 AMA Superbike Champion)
Robin Parker, London, England (President/CEO, Drift Innovation)
Paolo Ciabatti, Rome, Italy (Director, Superbike World Championship)
John Larson, Salt Lake City, UT (General Manager, Miller Motorsports Park)
The on-track activity for the BigM Weekend begins on Saturday morning. There will be five different series racing: The FIM Superbike World Championship, AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike, AMA Pro GoPro Daytona SportBike, AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200. There will be practice and qualifying on Saturday, then more qualifying and races for the AMA Pro Motorcycle-Superstore.com SuperSport and GoPro Daytona SportBike series on Sunday. The two feature races for the Superbike World Championship and single races for the AMA Pro National Guard American SuperBike and Vance & Hines XR1200 series will take place on Memorial Day Monday.
A big part of the weekend will be “The Quest for 200.” It is anticipated that, this year, a World Superbike rider will surpass 200 mph on Miller Motorsports Park’s 3,500-foot front straightaway for the first time. Should that happen, it will make Miller Motorsports Park the fastest natural-terrain road racing circuit in America. A contest has been established for fans to guess “Who Will Be First?” to 200 mph, and “Who Will Be Fastest?” overall during the weekend. The first person to provide the answer to “Who Will Be First?” (including the rider and his top speed) will receive a round-trip airline ticket to Salt Lake City from anywhere in the United States and three nights’ hotel accommodations, VIP tickets to the 2013 BigM Weekend including pit access, a set of motorcycle tires from Pirelli and a watch from Tissot. The first person to provide the answer to “Who Will Be Fastest?” (including the rider and his top speed of the weekend) will receive VIP tickets to the 2013 BigM Weekend including pit access, a set of motorcycle tires from Pirelli and a watch from Tissot. If no rider manages to break the 200-mph mark during the weekend, none of the prizes will be awarded. If there is a tie in either contest, the winner will be determined by a randomized software program. The contest ends this Friday, May 25. Fans can enter the contest by visiting www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com/200mph. Formal contest rules can be found there.
As is fitting on Memorial Day weekend, America’s armed forces will also be featured, with a Tribute Field of 2,012 American flags erected in the track’s infield and the Zions Bank Military Acre featuring interactive displays from all branches of the armed forces. The United States Marine Corps color guard will present the colors during the opening ceremonies on Monday, prior to a flyover of an F-16 Fighter Jet, a combined effort by the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base. Colonel Sarah Zabel, Commander of the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base, will offer comments during opening ceremonies and the National Anthem will be performed by the 23rd Army Band. All current and veteran military members are eligible for a 50-percent discount on event tickets, this weekend and every weekend.
In addition, there will be a myriad of activities for families to enjoy, including karting at the Miller Kart Track, rides on MMP’s Zip Line, 2-up rides on the racetrack from the Yamaha Champions Riding School, Ford Raptor rides on MMP’s off-road desert course, thrill rides in Dodge Chargers and Challengers, a fan party/autograph session on Saturday evening, pit walks, vendors, non-stop entertainment from local bands and performing groups in the paddock throughout the weekend, stunt bike demonstrations and plenty of good food.
Tickets for the event are priced at $35 for General Admission and $45 for Grandstand Seating on Saturday, and at $40 for General Admission and $50 for Grandstand Seating on Sunday and Monday. Tickets for kids aged 6-12 are priced at $5 for General Admission and $10 for Grandstand Seating all three days. Kids aged 5 and under are admitted free of charge.
To obtain tickets for or information about The BigM Weekend presented by Lucas Oil, visit the track’s website at www.MillerMotorsportsPark.com or call 435-277-RACE (7223).