I've added the basic infrastructure for spell casting-it's all a bit clunky, but now I'm starting to see how I can make the interface work.
Ultimately my goal is to make the power-ups as customizable as the racers will be- you'll be able to tweak the effects before the race and choose three spells to use during the actual race.
Try the demo out at my development blog! And leave a message here or at the blog with any criticism, encouragement or suggestions.