Back in 1978, The Blues Brothers took the world by storm with a skit on Saturday Night Live. A movie followed in 1980, then a sequel and some albums as Dan Aykroyd (Elwood) and John Belushi (Joliet Jake) rose to fame and stardom. The back story is that Jake and Elwood were raised in a Catholic orphanage in Rock Island and learned the blues in the basement from the janitor, Curtis, who wore sunglasses, a thin black tie, and porkpie hat. The brothers went on “a mission from God” to raise money (and create mayhem) so the orphanage could pay its taxes.

Texan Jeff Dolian notched three wins and Quad-Cities native Tony Neilson grabbed his 26th Rock trophy at this year’s Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix presented by The Hemp Doctor.

Rock Island - Lots of exciting changes are in store for competitors at this year's Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix Presented by The Hemp Doctor, the world's largest and most prestigious karting street race. That's especially true for drivers winning a number of classes this Labor Day weekend, August 31-Sept 1. 

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, is excited to announce a new national level partnership with The Hemp Doctor, based in Mooresville, N.C., as Presenting Sponsor of the race. The Hemp Doctor is a major national manufacturer and distributor of legal hemp/CBD products and Rock Island is The Doctor’s first house call into motorsports.

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, will run for the 29^th time this August 31-September 1. In response to a number of racers, an adjustment has been made to the race’s spec tire rules.

The crew of KartXpress.com wishes you Happy Holidays and a lot of success in 2024!

Planning is underway for the 29^th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix kart races, the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2024.

History was once again made in the streets of the city during the 28^th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race. The event has a rich history of foreign competitors. This year, Scott “Skitchy” Barnes of Bermuda won his seventh and eighth Rock trophy and Erik Gasparovich of Latvia became the 20th foreign winner at Rock Island and first from his country. History was also made when Andrew Bujdoso of Ohio won his third consecutive King of the Streets shifter title, tying Alan Rudolph for the three-peat but becoming the only racer to be crowned King 3 consecutive times at Rock Island.

Registration is now open for the 28^th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2-3.

It’s been almost 30 years since planning began for the first Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest and most prestigious karting street race. This will be the 28^th year. The sport has changed a lot in that time and sometimes it’s hard to notice changes when you host one race a year. Rock Island organizers have taken a look at how they are doing and what might need to change. There are 2 major challenges and, in a sense, they go hand in hand: the racing needs to be safer; more support is needed from karters and sponsors due to growing costs to keep the event thriving.

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the karting street race that national driver Race Liberante once called “the baddest-ass go-kart race in the world,” once again put on quite a show. This year, the largest crowd since pre-Covid years lined the course and was treated to some great action by some of the nation’s top drivers. Heavy rain late Saturday forced 3 heat races to be moved to Sunday morning, but the rest of the program was right on schedule.

The 27^th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, this year will feature 18 racing classes. Admission is free to this family-oriented event. Racing is schedule for 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with morning practice and afternoon qualifying heat races on Saturday, followed by practice, opening ceremonies and 18 feature races Sunday.

Registration is now open for the 27^th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s most prestigious karting street race, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 3-4.

As the Covid pandemic hopefully moves into the rear-view mirror, the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest go-kart street race, is preparing for its 27^th year by inviting kart racers to “Return To The Rock.”

Organizers of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix have announced a wide-ranging class lineup for the 27^th running of the world’s largest karting street race on Sept. 3-4, 2022. The race lineup remains essentially unchanged from last year with one exception. A driver survey conducted last Fall, and subsequent discussions with racers, urged race organizers to bring back a senior Yamaha can class in 2022.

Rock Island, Illinois - Dates have been set for the 27^th running of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, on Sept 3-4, 2022. The race lineup and rules are expected to be similar to 2021, with some changes under discussion. Organizers say, after hopefully moving out of the Covid era, racers can expect race details to be announced much earlier in 2022.  Racer organizers will once again be working with local partners to provide a full and fun weekend of activities for both racers and spectators.

After shutting down for a year due to the Coronavirus, organizers of the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix, the world’s largest karting street race, have announced plans for the race to return to its usual Labor Day weekend dates, Sept. 4-5, this year. It will be the 26^th year for this popular motorsport event, run through the downtown streets of the city’s Arts & Entertainment District.

Having just completed its 25th year in 2019, the Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix kart race has announced a new partnership designed to ensure this great event continues for another 25 years. It was announced earlier this year that the race has been suspended for 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions but will return in 2021.

Two giants of North American street racing faced off again during the 25^th annual Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom, world’s largest karting street race. After a five-year absence raising a family, Gary Lawson of Indiana returned to “The Rock” for the 25^th edition in hopes of adding to his 28 wins at the prestigious event. Meanwhile, Tony Neilson entered 10 of the 17 classes offered hoping to add to his 20 careers wins at Rock Island and closing the gap on Lawson. Lawson won three of the four races he entered – one at the expense of Neilson – while Neilson added three more wins to run his total to 23 including Yamaha Heavy 1. Another local Quad-Cities driver, Tim Goettsch, added a 12th career win in Yamaha Medium to move to third place in overall wins. Gage Rucker won the Yamaha Heavy 2 race.

The Xtream Rock Island Grand Prix powered by Mediacom has announced its race staff for 2019, the event’s 25^th anniversary. Rock Island is the only time each year that this all-star team of officials work together.