2023 ROCK ISLAND GRAND PRIX DRIVERS DECK

Since 1994, Labor Day weekend has always meant the top kart racers in the country will be coming to Rock Island, Illinois for the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix. So many former racers have moved on to successful careers in motorsports that the Quad-Cities is well known to many in the upper echelon of the sport too. The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix is simply the most prestigious karting street race in the world and has been for decades.

“It’s been a wild ride,” admitted Roger Ruthhart, president of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix’s steering committee. “A lot has happened over that time. There have been a lot of great events, a lot of great racers and racing, a lot of great sponsors supporting what we do, and, most of all, a lot of great volunteers that come back year after year to keep these races running.”

The goal always has been to offer the most fun anyone will have in karting, on and off the track. As hundreds of drivers and spectators have attested, the races in Rock Island have delivered just that with a carnival-like atmosphere among the most-popular refrains.

Rock Island has always been a bucket list event for karters. Each driver comes with their own expectations but leaves having competed in a race like no other. It’s one of the few major races in North America where 4 cycle, 2 cycle, shifters and vintage karts all share the spotlight. Be a part of history!!

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix will again be run on a 7/10ths of a mile race course using the downtown city streets of Rock Island, Illinois. It’s like an IndyCar or Formula 1 street race except on a much smaller scale. It features 2 cycle and 4 cycle engine classes, six-speed gearbox karts hitting speeds of 80 MPH or more, and vintage karts from prior to 1985. Over the years, the race has attracted racers from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, Costa Rica, England, France, Italy, the Philippines and Poland.

Each Labor Day weekend racers come from coast to coast and beyond to tackle the simple yet challenging street course in front of thousands of spectators and enjoy the off-track fun that Rock Island and the Quad-Cities has to offer. For many it’s the one race a year where sponsors, family, and friends join the trip.

“I am impressed that a karting event can be this big. It’s a credit to the people that put it together and the city for supporting it. The industry should use events like this as its flagship. They need to pepper the year with more events like this one.” – Derek Daly, former Formula One driver and veteran TV broadcaster who was in town watching his son and now IndyCar driver Conor Daly race.

Among the high-profile professionals who have raced at Rock Island are Scott Speed, one of the last American Formula 1 drivers who also raced with NASCAR as well as Global and American Rallycross and Formula E; IndyCar drivers Graham Rahal, Conor Daly, Nelson Philippe and Philipe Giebler; sports car racer and NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Hand; Anna Chatten, long-time IndyCar mechanic who was the first woman over the wall in Pit Lane at the Indianapolis 500; Cal Stewart, a shock technician for Hendrick Motorsports; Michelle Bumgarner, the Asian Karting Queen from the Philippines, who became the first female winner at Rock Island (winning twice), the 7th foreign-born winner, and later raced in Indy Lights and Pro Mazda, and another foreign driver, Alexander Sims, came from England to race at Rock Island only to crash in the last lap. He later won the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award. He has raced around the world in Formula 3, GP3, IMSA Sports Car Challenge and is now competing in Formula E.

“There’s nothing the size of this race for karting in Europe. Not even close. The racing is bold and aggressive, but it’s more fun. Everyone’s happy. When the racing is over, everyone gets together for one big party. That’s a real sport.” – Stefano Pozza, owner, Wildkart factory in Italy.

“Street races are something totally unique and so much fun. It’s just real racing. (Karting) is the purest form of motorsports. Man and machine against man and machine. You just go out there and race.” Morgan Healy, Bradenton, Fl. in her first visit to Rock Island.

TEAM RACING

A TEAM THAT RACES TOGETHER, WINS TOGETHER

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, attracts racers of many abilities and classes. To help encourage you and other racers from your home track or club to participate, we offer an annual Track Team of the Year Award.

In this team racing event, drivers from the same track can collect team points even if they are racing in different classes. There are no additional entry fees and few rules, just the chance to win glory and bragging rights as the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Track Team of The Year. The winner will receive a large banner to display at their home track or club.

A track must have a minimum of 4 registered drivers to participate. Points will then be assigned for these declared drivers for finishing position in feature races in the classes they have entered. At the end, points are totaled and divided by the number of race entries from that club to get an average finishing position. The club with the lowest average finishing position wins and takes home the banner. The number of racers on teams might vary greatly, but competition is balanced by finding an average. Call your racing friends and join the fun and add your home track’s name to the list of winners.

Rock Island GRAND PRIX RACE COURSE MAP

*Pedestrian crossings will open only between races

Unable to get your kart to The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, no worries, our friends at Margay Racing have you covered. Margay Racing has been leading the pack when it comes to karting since 1964, and they are not looking to stop anytime soon.

This year, contact Margay to take advantage of their top tier karts, knowledge, mechanics and performace with their exclusive Arrive and Drive program. Racer meet kart, kart meet racer; now go get a rock! Contact Margay Racing at (800) 562-7429 or email sales@margay.com

WE HAVE MORE

THE RIGP IS PART OF THE MARGAY

IGNITE MASTER SERIES

ARRIVE & DRIVE PACKAGE

• Fully prepared racing chassis

• Seat sized & kart weighted for each driver

• Sealed LO206 engine package

• Tent space

• Shared mechanic / no mechanic

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Race entry

• Safety Gear

• Transponder rental

• MyChron Rental

• Travel Expenses

HOME OF THE PROS

WE RACE WITH THE BEST OF THE BEST

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix brings in top racers from all across the country, and from around the world. Every turn will bring challenges and excitement that every racer dreams about all year long.

Will this be your year for a crown?

KING

OF THE OPEN SHIFTER • 206 HEAVY • 100CC 2 CYCLE

KING OF THE STREETS

ARE YOU GOING TO BE A KING

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix will host the 26th running of the exciting King of the Streets shifter kart race this September 2-3. King of the Streets is one of the most coveted titles that can be won in North America karting and is always one of the headline races at the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix.

WINNERS

1998- Joe Janowski, Indiana

1999- Alan Rudolph, Missouri

2000- Alan Rudolph, Arizona

2001- Alan Rudolph, Arizona

2002- Scott Speed, California

2003- Bobby Wilson, Wisconsin

2004- Kyle Wiegand, Indiana

2005- Kye Wiegand, Indiana

2006- Alan Rudolph, Arizona

2007- Alan Rudolph, Arizona

2008- Alex Speed, Florida

2009- Jordon Musser, Texas

2010- Jordon Musser, Texas

2011- Jordon Musser, Texas

WINNERS

2012- Derek Crockett, Missouri

2013- Jordon Musser, Texas

2014- Connor Iseli, Texas

2015- Josh Lane, Illinois

2016- Remo Ruscitti, British Columbia, Canada

2017- Austin Wilkins, Texas (track record)

2018- Rory Van der Steur, Maryland

2019- Race Liberante, Pennsylvania

2020- No race, Covid

2021- Andrew Bujdoso, Ohio

2022- Andrew Bujdoso, Ohio

KING OF THE STREETS

King of the Streets competitors will also have the opportunity to run in a second Open Shifter class at the same weights as King of the Streets. There will also be a 125cc Master Shifter class for drivers over age 35 and a Rok/Honda class run with the Open Shifter with a chance to win both.

VINTAGE RACING WITH STYLE

“Racing at “The Rock” is the highlight of our season. Since we run in the Vintage class it is not about winning. We are there to put on a show, so others get to see what the karts of yesterday were all about.” -

Steve Welte of Welte Racing

“It’s very competitive and if you win here, you’re really accomplished something. A lot of people from all over the country want to come and take home a piece of The Rock. We’re excited to bring a lot of new people to the sport and the city of Rock Island,” Keith Freber, president Margay Racing, St. Louis, Mo.

RIGP RACINGCLASSES

IN 2023

*NEW* Briggs & Stratton Novice

Briggs & Stratton 206 Heavy 1 & 2

Briggs & Stratton Medium 1 & 2

Briggs & Stratton Masters

Ignite Shootout Heavy 1 & 2

Ignite Shootout Masters

Open Shifter

*NEW * ROK/Honda Shifter

Open Shifter Masters

*NEW* TAG Senior

100cc Senior

Vintage Open

Vintage Yamaha

Vintage Mac

PRO CLASSES

King of the Streets Open Shifter

King of the Streets 206 Heavy

King of the Streets 100cc 2 Cycle

”It’s awesome out there. I’ve been doing this since I was 12 years old. I’m 75 years old, and a couple of my buddies out there in the Yamaha race are 78. Old guys rock!” – Kris Porter, a 2022 inductee into the Vintage Karting Hall of Fame.

”Winning here ranks right up there with winning national and grandnational titles. I love this race so much.”

-- King of The Streets champion Kyle Wiegand of Indiana

“You’re not going to find any more fun in a kart. It’s prestigious. It’s like going to Indy for us. The quality of good drivers, it’s fun racing and a fun weekend. It isn’t easy. Nothing about this race is easy.” --

Tony Nielson, Dewitt, Iowa

GET OUT & RACE

Rock Island Grand Prix Partner Events

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix is a single event but has partnered with a number of series to commit to bringing more safety and fun to North American kart racing. “I’m happy to encourage racers to support the races and series that are trying to make an important change to the sport. You can't look forward to a fun weekend if you are concerned about your kart and body being damaged. All of us will be working together, in our own ways, to bring safety and fun back to sprint kart racing. We welcome others to join the effort," said Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix's Roger Ruthhart.

The following races and series are ones that we recommend:

* Cup Karts North America - North, South, Northeast and Canada

* The Route 66 Series

* Ohio Sprint Series (former Buckeye Karting Challenge)

* ROK Cup USA

* Sertoma Club Mayor’s Cup Grand Prix, Anderson, Ind.

“Rock Island is the baddest-ass go kart race in the world … I love it that much. I am so, so happy that I came to this event. This is what ka rt ing needs. If you are interested in go kart ing after this, and I don’t kn ow why you wouldn’t be, get in touch with your local kart shop and get out here next year and have some fun. Nothing can replace this...The whole Rock Island staff is phenomenal here. I can’t be happier.” – Kart ing superstar, King of The Streets winner Race Liberante

61 KARTWAY LOCAL TRACK PREP DAYS

If you are looking to get in a few laps while you are in the area, we encourage you to visit the iconic 61 Kartway.

61 Kartway is part of the Margay Ignite Challenge tour for 2023. This track never disappoints as it offers full excitement on and off the track, extreme elevation changes and will challenge even the best of drivers.

At 61 Kartway, you will never have a perfect lap, but it dares you try. Are you up for the challenge?

MORE RACING

THE ONLY PLACE TO RACE THROUGH A MONEY MAKER AND A TOILET BOWL IN UNDER A MINUTE

“This race brings out the best of the best when it comes to street racing in the USA, so it’s very tough competition across the board in every class. It’s very hard to win it and lot of fast guys are at this event, so anytime you can come away with a win it’s definitely great.” - Scott “Skitchy” Barnes, five-time winner from Bermuda