Pontiac brand may move to ‘niche’ status

With Congress asking major concessions from the Big Three automakers, one of the ideas from GM is the move of the Pontiac brand to a niche market, possibly with a single model.

GTO? GXP? Gee whiz! (Billy Glidden photo by Jeff Burk) [12/9/2008]

Drag racers line up for Karting Classic at PRI

For the third straight year, Funny Car driver Ron Capps (shown) will be competing in the All-Stars Karting Classic during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on Thursday, Dec. 11. Capps will again drive for the Motorama Kart Parts-Birel team.

NHRA star Antron Brown will trade in his 300-mph Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster and try his racing skills on a road course when he joins team FirstKart.com at the All-Stars Karting Classic. The 18-time NHRA winner will team with IndyCar Series standouts Marco Andretti and Will Power.

Brown, who recently completed his first season in the Top Fuel division with two wins and three poles, will pilot a 125cc Parilla-powered First Kart in his karting debut. He will compete in the Masters division. Brown has tested in a First Kart at New Castle (Ind.) Motorsports Park.

“I can’t wait to get out there and race,” Brown said. “I’m not going to make any bold predictions about winning or setting records, but I do know I’m going to have a lot of fun. I have two awesome teammates in Marco (Andretti) and Will (Power) and I can learn a lot from the both of them. It should be a great time.”

The third annual event, organized by the Stars Of Karting in conjunction with the PRI show, will be held on a newly redesigned seven-turn purpose-built track adjacent to the convention center and will be covered by Fox Sports for 2009 airing. Lap times are expected to be in the 19-to-22-second range. Admission is free to anyone with a PRI show credential.  (DRO file photo) [12/9/2008]

Race your car at zMAX

zMAX Dragway @ Concord will open its doors on Thursday, Dec. 11, for the VAULT Assault Street Racing Challenge. The public is invited to bring their personal vehicles for an evening of heads-up drag racing.
      
All vehicles entered must be street legal and certified by the
Department of Transportation. Participants must have a current driver's
license and matching registration. No race tires (slicks), nitrous bottles, or convertibles will be allowed. Also, there will be no passengers permitted on track.
      
Registration for the event will open at 3 p.m. at the zMAX Dragway ticket booth located outside The Dirt Track. Racing will begin at 5 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. [12/9/2008]