The 2023 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show returns to Indianapolis, Indiana on December 7-9. The PRI Show is held both at the Indiana Convention Center and inside the Lucas Oil Stadium, welcoming over 1,100 exhibiting companies in 3,300 booths with thousands of racing professionals from 72 countries attending. As part of the opening day activities on Thursday, December 7, the new PRI Ekarting Classic presented by Top Kart USA is set to welcome professional drivers competing during the PRI Happy Hour program inside the Lucas Oil Stadium.

Top Kart USA will field their MSTEM3 package at the PRI Ekarting Classic (Photo: Top Kart USA)

The first-ever kart race during the PRI Trade Show took place was back in 2006 in Orlando with the All-Stars Karting Classic, which was a collaborative effort between the World Karting Association and Stars of Karting programs. This partnership hosted an evening race under the lights during the ‘Happy Hour’ period outside the Orlando Convention Center in Florida, and it packed the grandstands around a tight track set-up in the parking lot. Rain dampened the inaugural event, however, the roster of karting and motorsports all-stars put on a show with Matt Jaskol winning the karting division and Buddy Rice taking victory in the All-Stars main event. The 2007 edition was a massive success with karting hitting the trade show floor room with big efforts from chassis manufacturers, importers, and other karting related companies. The second edition of the race brought in thousands of spectators, all to see Gary Carlton win the karting division and then Grand-Am Rolex Series driver Michael Valiante earn the All-Stars victory. The event continued for two more years with Jay Howard and Jan Haylen taking the top step of the podium in 2008 and 2009. Karting remained at the PRI Show in Orlando, but the race was absent in 2010. It returned the following year in 2011, as Haylen stood once again on the top step of the podium in the final race at the event.

Indoor karting is nothing new to Indianapolis and trade shows. The Indy Karting Classic was held in 2011, hosted inside the then-named Conseco Fieldhouse – now Gainbridge Fieldhouse – in downtown Indianapolis. It ran in conjunction with the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) that was taking place at the Indiana Convention Center. The one-day karting event brought in five regular karting classes including TaG, Yamaha Senior, Yamaha Junior, Yamaha Sportsman and Kid Karts. The Pro category featured several stars from IndyCar and NASCAR stars, which was won by Tony Stewart over Alex Tagliani and John Andretti.

Karts will be running throughout the PRI Trade Show inside Lucas Oil Stadium on December 7-9 (Photo: Top Kart USA)

Among the promoters of the Indy Karting Classic was Bill McLaughlin of then Motorama Kart Parts – based in Indianapolis. McLaughlin is now part of Top Kart USA, helping with their MSTEM3 project that works with high school and collegiate levels. The evGrand Prix program through Purdue University hosts several events throughout the year, including a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The MSTEM3 Top Kart package will be the spec kart for the 2023 PRI Ekarting Classic presented by Top Kart USA. Karts will be on display and in action all three days of the show. Thursday will be the All-Star show, with professional drivers from various top racing series competing during the PRI Happy Hour program inside Lucas Oil Stadium. On Friday, media members and racing influencers will have a chance to lay down laps for a chance to earn the fastest time throughout the day. Saturday’s on-track action will spotlight the top youth kart racers in the EVGP program.

Head to the Performance Racing Industry website for more details on the show itself and Top Kart USA for the MSTEM3 program.

Continue to follow PRI social media for the driver’s that are confirmed to take place in the PRI Ekarting Classic presented by Top Kart USA that will include IndyCar, Indy NXT, NASCAR, AMA, World of Outlaws, NHRA and more.

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