"Sears Point Raceway chalks course, ready to break ground on new Karting Center" SONOMA, CA - Sears Point Raceway has completed surveying and chalking the course and other preliminary work and will break ground on its much-anticipated Sears Point Karting Center on Thursday, Dec. 20. The Center will feature a state-of-the-art 16-turn, three-quarter mile course that will be 28-feet wide and can be divided into six different configurations. Some of the track highlights include an 850-foot sweeping straightaway from Turn 15-1, and another 450-foot sweeping straightaway from Turn 1-2. The track, which was designed in part by the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School, will be built to CWFIA standards. The Jim Russell School will be the track operator. "We will have a mix of everything with this track, whether it's fast turns, slow turns or technical and challenging corners," said Mark Wolocatiuk, chief instructor at the Jim Russell School. "This karting facility will be one of the best in the country." The Sears Point Karting Center is expected to be operational in March, 2002, and is part of the $50 million Modernization Plan that will transform Sears Point Raceway into one of the premier motorsports and entertainment venues in the world. "I've seen the layout in person and this is going to be one of the best karting centers in the country," said Memo Gidley, who competes on the CART Champ Car circuit and is a resident of nearby San Rafael. The Jim Russell Racing Drivers School will offer a wide variety of racing programs as well as a racing series. Details on all programs can be found by contacting the school at (800) 733-0345 or by visiting their Website at www.russellracing.com. The Center will also offer kart sales, open track days, kart storage and maintenance and season passes. Click here to visit the Jim Russell Racing Schools website!