Story By Tom Baker  Photo Credit ONIKC

BATESVILLE, Miss. -- The 33rd Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts National Indoor Kart Championship takes the green this Friday and Saturday, November 24 and 25 at the Batesville Civic Center in Batesville, Mississippi with over 1150 entries already confirmed.  

The record for total entries for this event, 1542 (achieved in Tunica almost 20 years ago), may be at risk with racers traveling from as far away as New York to compete this weekend. 

Event Coordinator Scotty Reed said several new sponsors have been added, a full slate of 22 divisions will compete each day for prize money and the coveted "bronze slot" trophy, and that the track surface looks to be one of the finest in years.  

From Thursday, when race teams roll onto the Civic Center grounds to park in their pit spots, until Sunday morning, the population of Batesville, Mississippi will be nearly double.  This is the premier event for karters who compete on dirt, and it is the only one with a title sponsor from outside the industry - O'Reilly Auto Parts came on board nearly 20 years ago and has been an outstanding partner for the event. 

"Their involvement started with Bobby Waltrip and JAM Promotions co-founder Lanier James putting a video together that talked about the benefits of karting and explaining the type of racers involved, said Reed.  "That convinced Tom Conquergood of O'Reilly and his team to get involved, and they've helped us to really put the polish on our event with things like our livestream and our TV coverage that we have on MAVtv each year.  Bobby and Tom were both huge supporters of the event and we remember them fondly each year we hold it."

It's hard to point to one single thing that has built this event, but it could be opined that it is the extraordinary length to which James and his staff go to every year to give back to the racers who support it that may be key to its success.  

Every racer gets a gift bag when they sign into registration.  Each day at the driver's meeting, thousands of dollars in door prizes are given away through raffle tickets to the racers, and it's the only event that is both livestreamed and featured in two one-hour showcases on MAVtv.  Past TV for the event has included being featured on ESPN 2, Speed Channel, and other cable networks.

It has always been Lanier James' intent to give back to karting.  He is a former racer, and his son Shane was very successful both in and out of the driver's seat, building engines and providing at-track support for numerous racers for many years.  Shane currently co-promotes the event and heads up the track preparation and maintenance crew, ensuring that each year the track is the best it can be for the event. 

A staff of over 50 employees is assembled each year from around the nation to work the event. I was asked to join the team as announcer in 2001 when the race moved from Memphis to the brand new arena in Tunica, Mississippi, and I am as excited to call my 23rd ONIKC weekend as I was for that first one way back when.  

Coverage of the race will be featured on Steering Wheel Nation through the weekend and after it's over.  A special podcast will take place Thursday afternoon from the Batesville Civic Center featuring present racers and special guests as the staff from F.I.D. Media and CJG Media combine to bring the passion and spirit of the event to Thanksgiving Day.  

I'm excited to be part of that broadcast, which will be available on both Steering Wheel Nation and the ONIKC Facebook Page.  

May we all stop and pray a prayer of thanks for all that God has blessed us with on Thanksgiving Day, and then it is time to go racing for another year at the most exciting indoor karting event on the planet - The O'Reilly Auto Parts National Indoor Kart Championship!

If you cannot be there in person, go to www.pitrow.tv and purchase the livestream so you don't miss out on any of the 44 divisions worth of racing action on Friday and Saturday.