Homestead-Miami Speedway today announced a new long-term deal with karting company Vantage Karting Group Entertainment that will see the latter take over operations and management of HMS' kart track. VKG, founded in part by NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Justin Marks, will take over and refurbish the less-than-a-mile sprint course located on the ISC-owned venue’s grounds. VKG, which has secured a title sponsor for the venue that it will announce in the coming weeks, currently operates the GoPro Motorplex outside Charlotte that has become a popular destination for racing-industry events and outings. VKG plans to add a second track for rental racers and a corporate hospitality area, among other upgrades. HMS President Matt Becherer said that the current majority of customers at the venue’s karting track are closer to professionals but that he hopes this will add more “retail and recreational kinds of opportunities.” Becherer: “This will also bring out the guy who just wants to run around the track on a Saturday afternoon with his buddies or maybe an amateur league or corporate team building -- things that anyone can get involved in without going all in.”
