TrackMagic Team ready to debut new chassis in opening Stars of Tomorrow race SAN FRANCISCO, CA - As the 2003 Snap-on.com Champ Car "Stars of Tomorrow" presented by RACER national karting series prepares to open on April 25-27, many of the nation's top karting operations have gone on an all-out assault for the coveted national championships. One of the North America's top karting efforts - Trackmagic Racing from San Francisco - will bring a stellar lineup to the season opener in Buttonwillow, Calif., next week with top drivers Kyle Martin and Ben Petter handling the controls of the team's all-new "Diablo 2004" kart, considered one of the sport's most innovative chassis. Led by former racer George Barros, Trackmagic Racing has produced one of karting's best records in the past decade including national championships and victories at the Super Nationals, World Finals and Stars national events. Barros, who serves as team manager and head of research and development, has designed the latest chassis in the long line of Trackmagic racing karts and Barros believes the new "Diablo" is the best yet. "We have made some big changes from our previous design," said Barros, who has led his team to national titles for drivers Memo Gidley and Jason LaPoint in recent years. "We have continued to develop our chassis with a lot of testing and development. I think we'll have a top kart in the Stars ICC (125cc shifters) division with Kyle and Ben. They are very talent drivers and continue Trackmagic tradition of great karters like Memo, Jason and Bobby Wilson." Martin, the 24-year-old veteran racer from Dallas, won the World Finals in 2001 and finished second in 2002 but now seeks the coveted Stars national title. Martin, a former motocross rider, is excited about the ICC division and his new "Diablo" chassis. "The Stars ICC class will be very competitive and the racing should be spectacular," said Martin, who owns a well-known motorcycle exhaust company when he isn't racing. "We have tested the new Diablo and it is much improved over the last couple of years. It's a new frame with a big axle, better brakes and bigger hubs. I can't wait to race this new chassis in the new ICC class." Petter, a 20-year-old business major at the University of Washington in Seattle, is a relative newcomer to karting after racing motocross as a youngster. Petter, in his second karting season, finished second in last year's SKUSA Pro Moto national standings and comes to Trackmagic Racing as one of the top young stars. "I started in 2001 and won the Cascade Regional title," said Petter, who'll race in ICC for the first time at Buttonwillow. "Last year, I drove for APD and we were second at the World Finals and third at the SuperNationals. But now to move to Trackmagic, it is a big step for my racing career. It's a thrill to race with a proven and championship-winning operation. I tuned my own kart the last few years. Now I just have to drive." A Champ Car racer like Gidley has seen a lot of racing organizations throughout his racing career and still ranks a karting team like Trackmagic as one of the best organized and competitive squads. "It is just their attitude towards success and winning that is so important," said Gidley, a two-time SuperNationals champion and driver for Chip Ganassi in Champ Cars previously. "I have been with a lot of teams and Trackmagic just has a great commitment to win. They do a lot of testing and development and I have really enjoyed working with the team and company." Gidley has even designed his own (MG) kart through the Trackmagic manufacturing plant in San Francisco and he is now marketing his brand throughout North America. "Coming to a team like Trackmagic and working with drivers like Memo and Kyle is a terrific chance for a young racer like me," said Petter. "I can learn so much from these guys both on and off the track. Now I want to win races and championships just like they did. It's going to be a great season for me and I hope for the team too." Trackmagic Racing - with Martin and Petter - will be one of the favored teams in the "Stars of Tomorrow" Western Division opener on April 25-27 at Buttonwillow Raceway near Bakersfield, Calif., but some of the other challenging efforts will include Paul Tracy Karts, Italian Motors, Team True North and KLS Racing. "We have had some good tight racing in the past," said Martin. "But this year should be as competitive as karting has ever been." The Champ Car 'Stars of Tomorrow' presenting by RACER karting series is the official first level in CART's driver development system and an officially sanctioned series of WKA/SCCA Pro Racing. Founded by racing star Bryan Herta and now owned in conjunction with a group of racing veterans, including three-time CART champion and Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, the Stars of Tomorrow serves as the first step for the CART driver development ladder. Stars focuses on recognizing the skills of the drivers rather than the technology development within the machines, using FIA/CIK International standards. More information can be found at www.cartstars.com. Snap-on Incorporated is a leading global developer, manufacturer and marketer of tool and equipment solutions for professional tool users. Product lines include hand tools, power tools, automotive diagnostics and shop equipment, tool storage products, automotive diagnostics software and other solutions for the transportation service, industrial, government, education, agricultural, and other commercial applications, including construction and electrical. Products are sold through its franchise dealer van, company direct sales and distributor and Internet channels. Founded in 1920, Snap-on is a $2+ billion, S&P 500 company headquartered in Kenosha, Wisconsin and employs approximately 14,000 worldwide. More information can be found at www.snap-on.com.