Stars to honour kart racers at awards.

IndyCar drivers and Rahal Letterman Racing co-owner Bobby Rahal will be among the notables attending the Snap-on Stars of Karting awards banquet tonight [11 November], kicking off the national championship finals weekend in Orlando.

Twelve drivers who won their respective divisional class championships will be recognised at the ceremony, while the Jim Trueman Career Enhancement Award - named in honour of the late Indianapolis 500-winning team owner - will be presented to one deserving competitor. Trueman was an avid supporter of aspiring race car drivers, including Rahal - the 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner.

Bobby Wilson, who last month tested an Infiniti Pro Series car for Sam Schmidt Motorsports, will present the $25,000 cheque to help the winner's career move to the next level. Wilson, the 2003 Trueman award winner, recently won the USF2000 championship.

"I had a blast and the MIPS car is pretty quick," Wilson admitted of his recent test at Kentucky Speedway, "I'm pumped to go to the next level."

A specially designed temporary road racing circuit will greet competitors in six classes at Walt Disney World this weekend, boasting a lap of 0.72miles and a 710-foot frontstretch.

"It is always challenging to design a temporary facility and even more difficult to ensure it tests the skill level of your karters," said Paul Zalud, track designer for the Snap-on series, which is presented by the Indy Racing League, "When you have the best of the best coming together from East and West, it becomes even more crucial to provide a course that demonstrates the superior skill level in each driver."

The Kosmic Racing ICC Class is one of two classes with eight contenders remaining. Western champion Alan Sciuto takes a narrow lead into the Nationals over Eastern winner, and fellow Californian, Alex Speed. Lurking right behind Sciuto and Speed is perennial threat Ron White, while Josh Schreiber also finds himself within easy striking distance of the leaders. The other four contenders - Jonathan Branam, Kevin LaCroix, Kyle Wiegand and Wesley Boswell - need a little help to make it happen but are all within reach of the championship.

In the Snap-on ICA Class, the list of final contenders may be small, but it is tight. Jordy Vorrath looks to show his Western Championship was no fluke as he takes on Eastern champion Michael Giessen, who trails by just four points. Both drivers appear to be evenly matched with five victories and six podiums each during the season, albeit on separate coasts. While Johnny Johnson will need some misfortune by both leaders, his 99-point total still leaves him in contention if he can win and see both Vorrath and Giessen finish the event outside of the points.

The Kart Racing Technologies JICA class joins the ICC with eight competitors within reach of the Stars National Championship, as Western champion Nicolas Johnston leads the way with 136 points. Eastern champion Thomas Hartensveld Jr sits 13 points back, while Cole Whitt and Matthew Lee are also knocking on the leaders' door, although Lee has to wonder where he would be if not for missing the Eastern finale at Road America due to injury. Antoine Genest and Ryan Phinny look to make up some ground, while homestate favourite Gustavo Yacaman is just behind them. Anthony Llopiz, meanwhile, needs everything to go his way, being 50 points off the lead.

JICA contender Whitt finds himself comfortably out front for the PC Motorsports 80 Junior Championship, where his Western Championship and 150 points lead the way. Eastern champion Daniel Morad. Race Johnson is hot on Morad's heels, while Florida driver Keith Spicer is fourth in points, ahead of Lee and Phinny, who join Whitt as contenders in both JICA and 80 Junior.

A tight battle ensues in the Grand Products Cadet Class, as Sergio Pena, the Eastern champion, leads Western champion Mile Maroney by just ten points. Brendan Phinny, Ryan's younger brother, takes up third, ahead of Sage Karem and Sebastian Ordonez.

Cory Pollock, the Western champion with four victories and seven podiums, leads the way in EasyKart. Eastern champion Carlos Duenas, himself a three-time winner and six-time visitor to the podium, takes up a close second place, while Johnny Johnson makes a second appearance on the contender list, ahead of brother Adam on the list of EasyKart contenders.