Toyo Tire North America OE Sales (TNOE) in Cypress, California, has promoted John Ferguson to director of sales. Ferguson has worked with TNOE since June 2012, first serving as a sales account manager.
 
A graduate of The University of Findlay (Ohio), Ferguson has extensive sales experience with international organizations.

“John brings a solid track record to this position, and has been a valuable asset to our organization as we grow our business with domestic OE vehicle manufacturers including Ford, Dodge and Ram,” said James Hawk, president, Toyo Tire North America OE Sales.

After getting the track surface ready, Aaron Norman has turned his first-year promotional efforts to publicizing events and drivers at Roadrunner Speedway.

A chemical compound added to the high alkaline dirt that makes up the ¼-mile oval already helped produce a successful test and tune session at the Carlsbad, New Mexico, track.

Saturday race programs start on March 21 and continue through September 19 for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Southern SportMods and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks.

“For a track promoter, especially an obsessive compulsive promoter, your goal is to have that perfect race program,” said Norman, the 2014 Hobby Stock champion at Carlsbad. “You’re always trying to do better than the last time you raced.”

“We’re going to put an emphasis on technology and use that to our advantage to promote Roadrunner,” he added. “We’ve invested a lot of money and will use the Internet and Youtube.”

Permanent restroom facilities also will be in place this season.

Roadrunner will be part of IMCA’s Razor Chassis South Central Region for Modifieds, the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region for Stock Cars and the Charger Chassis Southern Region for Hobby Stocks.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. has released new details for the Porsche Rennsport Reunion V being held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, September 25–27.

This year's Reunion, the fifth installment of what has become a Porsche tradition in North America, will highlight Porsche at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the most successful marque in the history of the famed 8.47 mile Le Sarthe Circuit, with sixteen overall race victories between 1970 and 1998 and 100 class victories, Porsche returned to the top level of Sports Car competition with the 919 Hybrid LMP1 Sports-Prototype in 2014.

On the official Porsche Rennsport Reunion V website, www.porscherennsportreunion.com, Porsche fans have access to up-to-date information on the drivers and cars that are scheduled to attend, along with photos and videos from past Reunions.  Links to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca's website for tickets, registration and track information are also available on the official website.

Building upon the theme from Rennsport Reunion IV, the Porsche Design Studio in Zell am See, Austria rejuvenated the familiar logo for Rennsport Reunion V. The logo will appear on official communications, strategic locations around the track, and on select merchandise.

For followers of Social Media, #PorscheRRV has been chosen to be used for tagging photos, video and social media content. It is welcomed for fans and enthusiasts to use the new hashtag on any Porsche Rennsport Reunion related subject matter.

Future details will be published on Porsche's press website (www.press.porsche.com) and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca's website (www.mazdaraceway.com), as they become available.

Erica Enders-Stevens, 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock world champion, has been named Racer of the Year and Drag Racer of the Year by the readers of Racer magazine. This is the first time that either award has been presented to a female racer.

The magazine also announced that NHRA Top Fuel driver Richie Crampton was voted Rookie of the Year by its readers.

Enders-Stevens claimed nearly half of the votes (48.9 percent) from fans for the Racer of the Year title, compared with 6.2 percent for NASCAR’s Kevin Harvick and 5.4 percent for F1’s Lewis Hamilton. She earned 66 percent of the fan vote to win the highly competitive Drag Racer of the Year title. Funny Car series runner-up John Force received the second-most votes in the Drag Racer of the Year voting at 14.6 percent.

Enders-Stevens is the second NHRA driver to ever be named Racer of the Year. Force won the award in 2010 and 2013.

“Erica Enders-Stevens’ championship victory in Pro Stock grabbed headlines for NHRA far beyond drag racing, and her victory in Racer of the Year voting really ticked the boxes for all those of us who love that category for its sexy cars,” said David Malsher, Racer’s editor.

The 2014 season was a breakthrough one for veteran Enders-Stevens, who was in her first season at the controls of her 200-mph Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro. Enders-Stevens clinched her first championship when she defeated rival Jason Line, her nearest competitor in the points, in a winner-take-all final round at the season-ending event in Pomona.

“The Racer of the Year award has been won by a drag racer only twice before—both times John Force—and Mrs. Enders-Stevens just blew aside Mr. 16-Time Champ in the voting this year,” Malsher said. “To do that for the Drag Racer of the Year award was one thing. But in winning the overall award, she also defeated NASCAR champ Kevin Harvick, Formula 1 champ Lewis Hamilton, and IndyCar champ Will Power. Just like in NHRA Pro Stock, where she had to beat a driver as tough as double-champ Jason Line, she’s beaten the best of the best to earn this award. And this time, it’s through people power rather than horsepower.”

Enders-Stevens' team raced to six victories and one runner-up finish. She also became the first female winner of the K&N Horsepower Challenge, an NHRA Pro Stock specialty race in Las Vegas. She also set both ends of the Pro Stock national record with an elapsed time of 6.464 seconds and a speed of 215.55 mph last season in Englishtown.

“I am truly honored to receive this award, and I have to thank my team and all my fans for voting,” Enders-Stevens said. “I have always said my fans are the best, and they proved it one more time. Thank you all so much. I'm so thankful for my team owner, Richard Freeman, my crew chiefs, Rick and Rickie Jones, and everyone at Elite for making 2014 so special. We were fast all year, thanks to our tremendous horsepower from Jake Hairston and Nick Ferri, and we were fortunate to win six races. What an honor, and I am so humbled and thankful to represent drag racing and all the women racers out there. To young aspiring people out there struggling and being told you can't reach your dreams, please remember me, a regular 8-year-old kid with big dreams who never quit trying and believing. If I did it, so can you! Do your best, and let God do the rest.”

Crampton is the third NHRA driver to earn Racer’s Rookie of the Year award, following Funny Car driver Courtney Force in 2012 and Top Fuel driver Brittany Force in 2013.

Crampton raced to two victories in 2014, at the Toyota NHRA Summernationals in New Jersey and the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. He also was named NHRA’s Auto Club Road to the Future Award winner.

“Richie Crampton as our Rookie of the Year is a great feel-good story,” Malsher said. “The kid from Adelaide, Australia, has followed the wheel tracks of stars like Medlen, Dunn, Hight, and Neff, who went from respected crewmen to the cockpit of a 300-mph-plus car and became winners.”

Crampton joins a distinguished list of past winners of the award, including the Force sisters, Hamilton, Joey Logano, James Hinchcliffe, and Ryan Dungey.

“I am ecstatic that I won the 2014 Racer Rookie of the Year award,” Crampton said. “It really just puts the cherry on top of an already amazing rookie season. I couldn't be more blessed that I got the opportunity to drive for Morgan Lucas Racing and work with such a great group of guys. Without them, my sponsors, and my family, I would have never been in this position to begin with.”

They drove Johnny Greaves to his third PRO 4WD championship in four years and C.J. Greaves to his first PRO 2WD title and now, Maxxis has announced they have renewed its commitment to TORC: The Off-Road Championship Presented by AMSOIL as an official series partner.

Maxxis, also the title sponsor for C.J.’s full-time PRO 4WD schedule in 2015, delivers high-quality products to more than 180 countries and employs more than 30,000 people. Founded in 1967, Maxxis has become known for its customer service and commitment to excellence.

“Along with putting together a great TV package, TORC will be bringing short course racing to some exciting venues in 2015,” said Brad Williams from Maxxis Tires. “We value our partnership with the TORC series and are happy to be along for the ride.”

In 2015, Maxxis will be increasing their level of commitment to the TORC Series as they focus more intently on growing their share of the light-truck segment. TORC President B.J. Birtwell said that Maxxis renewed partnership demonstrates that brands believe in the Series’ vision and are onboard to support its growth.

“All of us at TORC are looking forward to working alongside Maxxis and being a part of their growth plan in 2015,” said Birtwell. “TORC is the largest off road truck racing series in the US boasting events as large as 60,000 people in attendance. Add our TV package and best-in-class social media and content marketing efforts, and we feel we’re a strong platform for brands like Maxxis that are looking to connect with this audience. “

Remember the last time you had one of those days at the race track where, if it could go wrong, it did?

The day starts out great. The car is ready and looking good. You’ve spent the last three weeks tweaking and adjusting, and, man, she is right.

You’re loaded up and headed to the track when it begins. The AC in the truck cab quits. Then, from the back seat comes, “Hey what’s that smell?” and everyone is suddenly on the edge of their seat. Then shotgun says, “Oh crap! What was that noise?” Next thing you know you’re on the side of the road with a broken belt, and the practice clock is ticking.

You make it to the track, but then, three laps into the race your car is on pit road. You’ve got a flat. You grab the impact gun. Bubba hits the jack and you’re on those lugs. One, two, three—and the gun quits. So you take off into the hauler, grab the spare battery from the charger and…it’s dead. That loose connector on the charger you meant to fix just got you. 

Total chaos ensues.

Now you’re four laps down, your driver is livid, and you’re a total wreck and aggravated the rest of the night.

You just got “bit,” and for no good reason.

Well, we all know the real reason: You spent the offseason focused on getting the car ready and nothing else.

Don’t make this mistake!

Take advantage of the time you have left before the season starts and focus on repair, replace, and reorganize. When the car is on the jack stands and the shop is quiet, take a slow walk through the shop with a notepad and a pencil and start writing. Look at everything but the car—and overlook nothing.

The list is going to be long, especially if this is your first time, so don’t be alarmed. Write down everything that needs to be looked at as you see it. And don’t forget the stuff you can’t see that needs to be inspected. Then, go back and arrange the items into categories like race shop, grounds, truck, hauler, and RV.

Next, break down the categories into components like tools, lift equipment, parts inventory, electronics, and HVAC system.

From there, break your list down further into individual tasks such as “change generator oil,” “check hauler brake pads,” “replace HVAC filters” and “replace old radio batteries.”

Once the list is complete, you can delegate each task to people you trust to do the job right. Then, you can check tasks off the list as they are completed.

We all know racing on a good day is hard enough without having to stop and devote time, money, and resources to untimely repairs and hardware failures. Take the time to repair, replace, and reorganize, and watch your race team and hardware rise to a whole new level of reliability and performance.
 
 
Hammer Time Racing, LLC is a father and son race team with 10 years of experience building and racing dirt and asphalt cars in upstate South Carolina. Bryan and Daniel Alvarez are presently competing in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series LMS Division. Driver Daniel Alvarez also is founder of The Hammer Motorsports Foundation, a non-profit that helps other charities raise funds and promote their causes through motorsports.

2015 is a year of major change in Formula One, so to ensure you’re contacting the most relevant individual or company you’re going to need the most accurate information available.
 
For the last 26 years the "Who Works in Formula One" guides have provided the up-to-date, detailed information about teams, drivers, team owners, key people, crew members, car technical specs, circuits, sponsors, suppliers, engineers, photographers, journalists and many more hard to find facts.
 
If you want the telephone number of a team or its history, contact details for a sponsor or a supplier, the technical specification of a car, an engine, or information on a key person, "Who Works in Formula One" has it.
 
There are more than 550 pages to answer all your questions in one book : biographies, contact names and details, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, Facebook, Twitter, and much more.
 
"Who Works in Formula One" is the reference tool for both professionals and fans to use throughout the year and keep for future reference.

Each new edition is 100 percent researched and updated.
 
Order the 26th Edition from : www.whoworksin.com or call +44 207 1930 686.

The Trans Am Race Company and Pitboxes.com have announced an agreement that will see yet another addition to the growing list of contingency packages available to drivers and teams competing in the Trans Am Series in 2015.

The agreement sees Pixboxes.com named an official contingency partner of the Trans Am Series and sees the creation of two new awards, the Crew of the Race and the Crew of the Year awards. The Crew of the Race award will be given to the team, as selected by Trans Am staff, that has exhibited extreme composure and hard work, resulting in success for the driver and car of that team. Winning crews will be awarded a $200 product certificate to Pitboxes.com.

The Crew of the Year will be awarded to the team selected by Trans Am staff that has exhibited extraordinary work ethic while rising to challenges numerous times throughout the year—the Crew of the Year will be awarded a $2000 product certificate by Pitboxes.com.

“It’s great to have a contingency program that recognizes crews within Trans Am,” said John Clagett, president of The Trans Am Race Company. “Drivers constantly get the attention and reward, and in many ways rightly so, but racing is a team sport; and I’m pleased that Pitboxes.com is working to recognize those who work so hard in the paddock and the pits to keep their cars and their team going.”

“We have a strong history with the Trans Am Series,” said Ricky Sanders, owner of Pitboxes.com. “The Series has made great strides forward over the past year, and its future is looking brighter and brighter with more teams coming forth all the time. At Pitboxes.com we want to be a part of that.”

The first Crew of the Race contingency prize was awarded at Sebring to the crew of the No. 57 Kryderacing Chevrolet Corvette, who worked to repair the No. 57 for the FOAMETIX Trans Am 100 after it caught ablaze during the morning warm up with only hours to go.

A new era for GT class racing in the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will debut alongside a new state-of-the-art motorsports stadium at Daytona International Speedway, adding to the excitement and fan experience of the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona scheduled for January 30-31, 2016.

Beginning with the 2016 Rolex 24, the TUDOR Championship GT Le Mans (GTLM) class will compete under the new GTE specifications established by the ACO, while the GT Daytona (GTD) class will welcome full FIA GT3 specifications for all of its cars. The adoption of new GT class specifications is expected to increase all GT cars’ performance and attract more manufacturer and team involvement while maintaining the close competition associated with the TUDOR Championship.

Meanwhile, Daytona Rising, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the Rolex 24, is a $400 million redevelopment project of Daytona Int’l Speedway. Five expanded and redesigned entrances, or “injectors,” will lead fans to a series of escalators and elevators, transporting them to three different concourse levels. Each level features spacious social areas, or “neighborhoods,” along the nearly mile-long frontstretch and provides a fantastic view of the track’s infield road course. When completed, Daytona International Speedway will be the world’s first true “stadium” motorsports venue featuring all of the amenities found in modern sports stadiums along with unprecedented connectivity and breathtaking views of the entire facility.

“The debut of new cars in the GTLM and GTD classes, along with the first event in Daytona International Speedway’s motorsports stadium, will add even more anticipation for one of the most prestigious events on the international motorsports calendar,” said IMSA President Scott Atherton. “The Rolex 24 At Daytona is more than a race, it’s an event where fans can enjoy world-class sports car competition and witness the latest and greatest from some of the most prestigious high performance car manufacturers in the world. New GT cars and the addition of a completed Daytona Rising project will make next year’s Rolex 24 a must-see spectacle.”

The Rolex 24 also will kick off the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup. The Patrón Endurance Cup is a four-race competition encompassing 52 hours of endurance racing in the TUDOR Championship and includes the Rolex 24, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida at Sebring International Raceway, Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International, and closes with the 10-hour Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta.

Testing dates for the Rolex 24 also have been finalized. The Roar Before the Rolex 24, a three-day test in preparation for the Rolex 24, will be held January 8-10.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels returns to the NMRA racing scene this year as an official 2015 series sponsor for all national NMRA events. The company will also be posting contingency awards in all Pro and Sportsman classes as well as special-event classes.
 
“We look forward to this all Ford Mustang series every year,” stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson. “Our continued support of the series and the racers on the ground is means a lot to us, and we’re looking forward to another great season.”
 
The NMRA launches its 2015 season at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fla., March 5-8. For more information about this series, visit http://www.nmradigital.com/.