Jimmy Kite Ready to Launch 2013 Must See Xtreme Sprints with Mike Blake Racing

Indy Car Veteran Returns South to Run Paved Winged Sprint Car Series

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 18, 2013 – Jimmy Kite made his name in open wheel racing by driving midgets, sprints and champ cars in the Midwest. While best known for his five Indianapolis 500 starts and dramatic 1997 USAC Silver Crown Copper World Classic victory, it is his passion for intense competition that draws Kite, who lives in Indianapolis but considers Stockbridge, Ga. his home, to racing. Nowhere is the competition more extreme than the TRUFUEL Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Car Series. The 34-time Indy car starter will run the No. 81 Mike Blake Racing winged sprint car at the Must See season-opening rounds of Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on Friday, March 22 and Mobile (Ala.) International Speedway on Saturday, March 23.

Kite pursued his open-wheel dreams which led him to the Midwest before taking him to national prominence in the Indy Racing League, ARCA and NASCAR. The pair of 30-lap races in Florida and Alabama, collectively known as the “Southern Shootout”, will be Kite’s first time in years to return to racing a sprint car in the traditionally stock car-focused South. Kite’s last open wheel start below the Mason-Dixon line was in a winged-sprint car on pavement nearly a decade ago.

While he has extensive experience in racing cars from quarter-midgets to 220-mph Indy cars, Kite has never been to either of the tracks making-up the Must-See opening rounds. Both tracks are a half-mile in length with Five Flags sporting 15-degree banking and Mobile International at 12 degrees in the corners. Both venues promise quick lap-times and rapid-fire competition.

Despite making his first official start in the Must See Xtreme Sprint Car Series in 2013, Kite is not completely new to the series which utilizes 410-cubic inch V8 engines and traditional winged sprint car chassis on racing slick tires. In 2012, Kite was scheduled to run the final three races of the year with Mike Blake Racing. However, events kept the former USAC Silver Crown Rookie of the Year from taking the green flag at any of the planned events.

Most often thought of as a dirt track specialty, on pavement winged sprint cars are as physically and mentally demanding as any vehicle in the world. The high speeds and g-forces generated by the massive wings – both overhead and on the nose - and wide racing slicks will require Kite to draw back on his experience of racing an Indy car. It will be the third series in which Kite has driven a winged-sprint car on asphalt in his career. However, the first two series were with smaller 360 cubic inch engines. The larger displacement generates more horsepower and increased challenges to the driver on the high-banked short tracks.

The TRUFUEL Must See Xtreme Sprint Car Series runs a 14-race schedule on paved ovals. The Series enjoys an impressive television package bringing 10 events to over 125 million households on FOX Sports Net (FSN) as well as online at MotorSportWorld.TV.

Quotes

Jimmy Kite:

On returning to the Must See Racing Xtreme Sprint Car Series with Mike Blake: “Mike is such a fun car owner. He puts all his heart and soul into his racecars. And I’m excited to be driving for him this year. I love sprint cars. And I love wings! And being in a 410, is just an added bonus of fun! Mike has won the championship before in this series. He’s used to having his cars upfront. So, I better do my job and give him some good finishes.”

On racing in the South again: “I always enjoy racing in the South. Those are the fans I grew up racing in front of. I have many great memories on those highways and racetracks in the South. I can’t wait to get back down there, enjoy some sweet tea and some really good racing.”

On learning two new tracks: “It’ll be fun to add two more tracks to my list, especially such historic Southern tracks as Five Flags and Mobile. I hope they pack the stands with fans! I know they’ll get a great show when the Must See Sprint Cars roll into town.”

Jimmy Kite can be found on Facebook at Jimmy Kite * and on Twitter at * @JimmyKite

To learn more about the Must See Xtreme Sprint Car Series, please see: www.MustSeeRacing.com and on Twitter by following @MustSeeRacing .

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