LOADED KARTS; STARS TURN OUT FOR CLASSIC.(NEWS)

Byline: STEVEN COLE SMITH

WEATHER PREdictions were diretorrential rain, possible tornadoessuggesting there might be a repeat of the first All Stars Karting Classic in 2006, held in a downpour. There were plenty of rain tires mounted on wheels and ready to go, but they weren't needed. The rain came and went early, so the third-annual Classic was run under clear skies and a full moon on Dec. 11.

It may not boast the international prestige of the Race of Champions (see page 52), but the star-studded Classic is a new tradition at the Performance Racing Industry trade show in Orlando, Fla., held on a tough, tight quarter-mile track carved out of the Orange County Conven-tion Center parking lot. It's run by the Snap-on Stars of Karting, co-owned by Indy-Car veterans Bobby Rahal and Bryan Herta and promoter Paul Zalud.

NHRA Funny Car racer Ron Capps has been a part of all three events, "and it just keeps getting bigger, he said. "Just looking around at the drivers' meeting gave me chills.

Besides the Masters race, populated by professional drivers from major series, there was a Karters race, with up-and-coming drivers such as Conor Daly (son of former Formula One and CART driver Derek), Bobby Wilson and feature winner Joel Miller. The top six tagged the back of the Masters feature, wearing little flashing red lights on their helmets, the equivalent of rookie stripes.

But a big name did not win the 40-lap Masters race. Indy Racing League part-timer Jay Howard led from flag to flag, winning by three seconds over American Le Mans Series driver Joey Hand. Howard won the 2006 Indy Lights (known then as the Pro Series) title and started karting ...