New Castle, IN -In what has to be called Team MKP's home round of the WKA Manufacture's Cup series, expectations were high for a number of wins among the Birel drivers.  However, at the end of the weekend, Team MKP only scored three wins: James Bennett in HPV Jr. Sportsman, John Dixon in TAG Masters, and Gary Monnett in Yamaha Masters.

Twenty-seven karts would post times in HPV Junior Sportsman led by the “Flyin Farmer” Karl Weber (MKP customer) who took advantage of his home track advantage.  Joining the Birel of Weber on the front row was defending class champion MKP/Birel driver James Bennett. Bennett would take the Pre-final over another local hot-shoe Kyle Tilley.  Bennett would hold off a charging Jared Thomas for the win with Santio Ferucci finishing third.

Going for his third win in a row and having clinched the divisional transfers from GLSS in TAG Masters, MKP driver and engine builder John Dixon was looking to clinch the inaugural championship in this class. Dixon switched from his familiar Rotax to a Sonik for the long straights of NCMP.  Local Michael Busse would take the pole with a Leopard, and was hungry for his first ever national win.  But Dixon would not be denied; after starting fifth in the Pre-final the MKP Birel driver moved to the lead to take the win.  And after falling back to fourth on the start of the final, Dixon would again use the power of his Sonik to retake the lead and bring it home for the win and championship!

Yamaha Masters boasted tied their largest field of the year with nine entries.  Steve Rumsey would set fast time and look to be hard to catch out qualifying his nearest competitor by over .4second. Rumsey would hold off Missy Nelson Tate for the Pre-final victory with Team MKP's Mike Burrell and Jeff Jewell finishing third and fourth.  Following contact in the first corner of the final, local Team MKP driver Gary Monnett would take the lead and hold on for his first WKA Man Cup win over Burrell and Jewell.

Other Team MKP drivers on the podium included Collin Campbell scoring a fourth and third in Cadet on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.  On Sunday, Campbell was joined by Team MKP's James Bennett (2nd) and Austin Osborne making it a 2, 3, 4 finish for the team.

The final race of the WKA Man Cup series is in November at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC.