Mike Blackmer, the former promoter of Berlin Raceway in Marne, Michigan, and more recently a car owner in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, purchased Merritt Speedway in time for the 2015 racing season. Blackmer, who owns the Pines Sports Bar & Bowling Center in Cadillac, Michigan, and is a partner at Boyne Machine Company as well as owning several businesses throughout Michigan, will now call the shots at the Lake City, Michigan, speed plant and plans on continuing the tradition of Saturday night dirt track racing in northern Michigan.  

“This is an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” stated Blackmer, 52. “When I promoted Berlin, it was so different because I didn’t actually own the facility. With this purchase, it’s a complete turn-key operation as I will own everything associated with Merritt Speedway. Plus it’ll be completely paid for. There will be no worries about a monthly payment on the track, I own it completely and 100% and that is huge, which in turn means I can focus more on the drivers in terms of purses as well as facility upgrades.”

In 2014, Blackmer and his Boyne Machine Racing Team raced in the ARCA/CRA Super Series with Ross Kenseth, the son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion, Matt Kenseth. At the end of the season, Blackmer sold the entire racing operation to Boris Jurkovic, which allowed Blackmer to make an offer on the race track.

Known as Northern Michigan’s Premier Dirt Track, Merritt Speedway is a fast 3/8s (0.375) semi-banked dirt oval located west of Houghton Lake on Houghton Lake Road off of US 127 and just 30 minutes east of Cadillac in Lake City, Michigan. The track was built in 1968 by Gene and Mary Ann Kregear, who turned their ‘back 40′ into a race track to have some fun with during the summer. In 1979, Gene and Mary Ann sold the track to Phil Fuller who ran it for two years.

It was in 1981 when Ed and Carmen VanDuinen bought Merritt Speedway and began the process of bringing the track to prominence in the world of dirt track racing in Michigan. In 2006, the VanDuinen’s leased the track to brothers; Rod and Ricky Ancel and the Ancel’s would become the promoters in 2009 and stayed at the track until the 2012 season. In 2013, the track came back to the family as Steve and Potter, the son-in-law and daughter of Ed and Carmen VanDuinen were the new promoters. At the end of 2014, the Potter’s stepped back from their roles and Carmen VanDuinen put the track up for sale.

Merritt Speedway has hosted such major events as the World of Outlaw Late Model Series, Sprints on Dirt and more, along with the traditional Wood Tic 100 Weekend. During the 2014 racing season, the Track Champions were; David Hilliker – Late Models, Andrew Terrill – Modifieds, Tom Hunt Jr. – Lightning Sprints, Mike Nelson Jr. – Pro Trucks, T.J. Erickson – Pro Stocks, Rick Stewart – Factory Stocks and Brendan Powell – Four-Cylinders.

“The Wood Tic 100 is the one event I’m really looking forward to hosting. I hope to continue that tradition and keep it growing to make it one of the premier race weekends in the state of Michigan,” added Blackmer. “We have some big plans for the upcoming season and I can’t wait to get started.”

Some of the innovations Blackmer spearheaded at Berlin Raceway while he was there from 2008-2011, that are still in use today, include the  Template Super Late Model Series, which boasts 25-30 cars a week, the Modified division, double-file restarts, the Rowdy 251, now the Battle at Berlin 251 and several modifications within the infield of the Marne, Michigan, oval.

As for the 2015 season at Merritt, rules, schedule and divisions that will be racing and much more will all be announced at a later date. There will be a Meet and Greet at the Pines Sports Bar & Bowling Alley with a targeted date in February, which will be announced soon.

For more information about Merritt Speedway, go to the soon to be revamped website located at: www.merrittspeedwaymi.com.

Turn 14 Distribution, a performance warehouse distributor, announced the opening of a new distribution center in Reno, Nevada, to better meet the needs of its customers throughout the US

Plans to develop operations in Reno were initiated by customer and supplier demand for increased distribution and market penetration in the Western US The new Reno distribution center will be the company’s second 52,000 sq. ft. location. With the addition of the Reno distribution center, Turn 14 Distribution will now be able to service 33 percent of the US with next day Ground shipping including Southern and Northern California, 83 percent of the US in two days or less and 100 percent of the Continental United States in three days or less.                

“The opening of Turn 14 Distribution’s new Reno distribution center is an important step towards realizing our goal of offering nationwide Ground shipping in one day or less to all of our customers,” said Jon Pulli, CEO.  “It will also dramatically reduce outbound freight costs for our customers and inbound freight costs for our suppliers. Additionally it offers the opportunity to increase sales which previously would have been lost.”

The new Reno distribution center will be used to warehouse inventory only, while the Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania, location will continue to serve as the company’s headquarters and only call center.

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRG) has named John Bisci as its new public and media relations director.
 
With more than 30 years of media relations experience, Bisci will serve as the public and media relations director for IHRA Motorsports and will be the gatekeeper for all communication both internally and externally. Bisci will be responsible for all advance and on-site media relations for IHRA, Nitro Jam, Sonic Rush Tour and various other IHRA events in addition to many other responsibilities.
 
"I'm very happy we found John as he has a massive amount of experience in working with the media, generating promotional programs and social media experience," said Scott Gardner. "He will be hitting the ground running as we gear up for a very busy season."    
                                
"I am both pleased and proud to accept this challenging position," Bisci said. "I am looking forward to representing this company and its thrilling style of motorsports entertainment. It will be my job to tell the IHRA's story to the world and work with all forms of media."
 
Bisci spent the past year at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa., as Director of Communications.
 
Bisci's experience in media relations includes nearly 14 years (2000-2014) as Public Relations Manager for Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Prior to working in Las Vegas, Bisci spent six years working as a media specialist for NASCAR teams and sponsors in the Charlotte, N.C., area. Bisci launched his motorsports media career in 1988 and served as public relations director for three short tracks in the Northeast.
 
Bisci will work alongside the staff at the IHRA's offices in Norwalk, Ohio, and will report for duty in February.
 
The IHRA's 2015 Nitro Jam season will open Feb. 6-7 at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, Ariz.
 
 For more information, please contact the IHRA at (419) 663-6666 or visit www.IHRA.com.

More than 400 North Carolina motorsports industry members and enthusiasts gathered Wednesday night at the Embassy Suites Hotel & Resort to honor NASCAR President Mike Helton.

Before a crowd that was a who’s who of the stock car racing community for the 9th annual North Carolina Motorsports Industry Awards presented by Fifth Third Bank, Helton became the ninth recipient of the Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award, which is given annually by the North Carolina Motorsports Association.

Team owner Richard Childress, who received the Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award in 2010, presented the award to Helton, who was clearly humbled in the role of honoree.

“I’ve made a lot of these presentations in my life, but I really got nervous being on this end of it,” Helton said. “I won’t accept this award only personally, but I will accept it on behalf of our whole staff at NASCAR and in particular those at the R&D Center.”

Helton talked about the importance of organizations like the NCMA looking out for the best interests of motorsports companies before concluding his remarks in typical Helton style.

“I am very grateful for this recognition and I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart,” Helton said.

Helton was then joined on stage by Childress, Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer with the group swapping stories about Helton’s career as NASCAR’s top official.

Other former winners of the Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award have been Bill France Jr., Benny Parsons, Dale Earnhardt, Bruton Smith, Junior Johnson, H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler and the Jarrett family.

Earlier in the evening longtime Charlotte Observer reporter Tom Higgins received the Jim Hunter Memorial Media Award.

The annual NCMA Motorsports Industry Awards went to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s STEM program, GoPro Motorplex, the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma, the Safer Racer Tour and deBotech.

Among the other attendees were Bobby Allison, Richard Petty, Larry McReynolds, Ray Evernham, Ned Jarrett, Wheeler, John Darby, Jimmy Makar, Lake Speed, Doug Herbert and Austin Dillon.

NASCAR and Ingersoll Rand, a manufacturer of power tools, announced a multi-year partnership designating Ingersoll Rand as the “Official Power Tools of NASCAR.” An innovator in tool technology, Ingersoll Rand products have been a staple in NASCAR garages for more than 50 years.
 
The multi-faceted agreement also designates Ingersoll Rand as an Official Partner of the International Motorsports Association (IMSA) and as a contingency sponsor of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Touring & Weekly Series.
 
“Ingersoll Rand has been rooted in racing for decades and this renewed relationship celebrates the tireless work of pit crew mechanics and passionate race fans across all levels of racing,” said John Evans, president of power tools at Ingersoll Rand. “We know how important tool performance is in racing—if your tools perform, your vehicle performs. We are now putting high-performance Ingersoll Rand tools into the hands of the best auto technicians in the world while engaging fans who have a passion for cars.”
 
NASCAR technicians are recognized as being among the most qualified in the automotive industry, and they demand high performance tools. According to a recent study commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Research Now, more than half (52 percent) of automotive professionals (i.e. technicians, service managers, etc.) are NASCAR fans. The same study also revealed that more than half (52 percent) of automotive professionals associate NASCAR products with high performance.

As part of this integrated partnership, Ingersoll Rand will be at the track each weekend providing expert tool support, service, new tool demonstrations for pit crews and will offer fans the opportunity to try tools first hand. Additionally, Ingersoll Rand will launch its Home Tracks Text-to-Win contest for fans at tracks throughout the season. Fans will have opportunities to win an Ingersoll Rand prize pack and meet-and-greets with pit crews and other high-profile racing and automotive personalities.

“Ingersoll Rand, a global brand that has a rich history in NASCAR, understands how to utilize our sport to effectively connect with the racing community,” said Jim O’Connell, chief sales officer, NASCAR. “The new partnership reinforces their desire to engage fans across all levels of our sport and we are proud to welcome them to our family of Official NASCAR Partners.”

The NASCAR contingency programs foster strong relationships between competitors and the high-quality, performance-driven brands in the program, by providing prize money for each race and at the end of each racing season. Competitors become eligible for the money by displaying partner decals on their race vehicles. As a sponsor of the contingency program, Ingersoll Rand will celebrate and reward the work of pit crew mechanics each week during the NASCAR Sprint Cup season and at select Home Tracks throughout the year with prize money and tools.

One of the great things about the culture of auto racing is that the past is so respected. Throughout the U.S. and the world, there is hallowed ground in racing not because of a big current event, but because of the accumulation of everything that came before. I remember vividly the last race at the Agajanian family’s Ascot Park, the storied half-mile dirt track in Southern California. When the 1990 Turkey Night was over (won by Stan Fox in Steve Lewis’ number 9 midget), fans walked onto the track with jars and scooped the dirt into them reverently. You could imagine the decades of racing thrills these fans experienced there, and all the great racers they saw at their best. There was going to be a hole in their lives after this grand temple of racing closed down. I’ve had people tell me stories about racers that had retired or races they had witnessed years ago with a freshness in the tale and an energy in the voice as if it all happened last weekend. When we were working with Smokey Yunick on events for the PRI Trade Show, Smokey could call any current star of the time and ask a favor, and he’d get a pretty quick “Yes” because of all he had accomplished in the sport years earlier.

I was reminded of this when Don ‘Snake’ Prudhomme answered MavTV’s Dave Despain’s question at the Grand Opening Breakfast, “What are you most proud of?” Prudhomme said he was proud of helping to establish this racing industry. Like so many of those who created this business, he said he never imagined it would grow so big, citing the sizable PRI Trade Show as just one example of the continued success of the racing industry. Tom ‘Mongoose’ McEwen added his own sentiments in this same vein. And it reminded me once more how much we owe those who came before.

For racing industry founders reading this note, and to all the industry innovators who helped get us where we are today, “Thank you.” The Kilroy family thanks you. The PRI team thanks you. You made more than a difference in the sport and in the industry. You had a huge effect on our lives, creating opportunities that we are able to seize upon. We can never forget the contributions of those who created an industry from this primal need for speed. Sometimes, we don’t know how you did it. We remain amazed at the flashes of genius, and still wonder today where it came from.  We hope that we can demonstrate the perseverance and guts we saw in the birth of this industry decades ago.

Thank you.

Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion, will compete in his 23rd and final full-time Sprint Cup Series season in 2015.

He announced his decision Thursday morning to the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team he has driven for since November of 1992.

“As a race car driver, much of what I’ve done throughout my life has been based on following my instincts and trying to make good decisions,” Gordon said. “I thought long and hard about my future this past year and during the offseason, and I’ve decided 2015 will be the last time I compete for a championship. I won’t use the ‘R-word’ because I plan to stay extremely busy in the years ahead, and there’s always the possibility I’ll compete in selected events, although I currently have no plans to do that.

“I don’t foresee a day when I’ll ever step away from racing. I’m a fan of all forms of motor sports, but particularly NASCAR. We have a tremendous product, and I’m passionate about the business and its future success. As an equity owner in Hendrick Motorsports, I’m a partner with Rick (Hendrick) and will remain heavily involved with the company for many years to come. It means so much to have the chance to continue working with the owner who took a chance on me and the incredible team that’s stood behind me every step of the way.

“Racing has provided a tremendous amount of opportunity that’s been extraordinarily rewarding and fulfilling in my life. The work we’re doing with the Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation will continue to be extremely important to me. Outside the race car, my passion is pediatric cancer research, and my efforts will remain focused there when I’m no longer driving.

“I’ll explore opportunities for the next phase of my career, but my primary focus now and throughout 2015 will be my performance in the No. 24 Chevrolet. I’m going to pour everything I have into this season and look forward to the challenge of competing for one last championship.

“To everyone at NASCAR, my teammates, sponsors, competitors, friends, family, members of the media and especially our incredible fans, all I can say is thank you.”

Gordon, 43, has earned four career Sprint Cup championships, 92 points-paying race wins and 77 pole positions, all for longtime car owner Rick Hendrick. He is third in all-time victories behind only NASCAR Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty (200) and David Pearson (105).

One of the most versatile drivers of his era in any auto racing discipline, Gordon’s résumé includes three Daytona 500 victories and a record five Brickyard 400 wins. He is the sport’s winningest road course driver with nine victories, stands alone as the all-time leader with 12 restrictor plate wins and has won at every track on the Sprint Cup circuit with the exception of Kentucky Speedway.

“There’s simply no way to quantify Jeff’s impact,” said Hendrick, who first noticed Gordon during a race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March 1992. “He’s one of the biggest sports stars of a generation, and his contributions to the success and growth of NASCAR are unsurpassed. There’s been no better ambassador for stock car racing and no greater representation of what a champion should be. I will never be able to properly express the respect and admiration I have for Jeff and how meaningful our relationship is to me. I’m so grateful for everything he’s done for our company and my family, and I look forward to many more years together as friends and business partners.”

“Jeff Gordon transcends NASCAR and will be celebrated as one of the greatest drivers to ever race,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “We have all enjoyed watching his legend grow for more than two decades, and will continue to do so during his final full-time season. His prolonged excellence and unmatched class continue to earn him the admiration of fans across the globe. Today’s announcement is a bittersweet one. I’ll miss his competitive fire on a weekly basis, but I am also happy for Jeff and his family as they start a new chapter. On behalf of the entire NASCAR family, I thank Jeff for his years of dedication and genuine love for this sport, and wish him the very best in his final season.”

It may be a week’s worth of racing, but work on the Chili Bowl is never ending as the office prepares for the 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals presented by General Tire.

Scheduled for January 12-16, 2016, inside the River Spirit Expo Center, reserved seat ticket renewals will begin on Tuesday, March 3, 2015. Flyers will be mailed to the previous year’s ticket holders. Tickets are sold in four-day (Wednesday-Saturday), or five-day (Tuesday-Saturday) only. Leading up to the event, Tuesday’s opening night is the only individual night that can be purchased for reserved seating.

Ticket holders receiving information packets by mail will be able to submit their renewal by mail, fax, or by phone. Ticket prices will be included on the information packets. We are still working to finalize other details. Further information will be provided at a later date. No orders will be accepted before March 3, 2015.

Anyone who is not a ticket holder is encouraged to call and submit their order. Ticket orders will be filled with renewals first, then in order from earliest to latest received, new orders will be filled. All orders are hand filled, so the process does take a few months to accomplish.

This is simply to give notice of when the office will begin accepting orders.

For more information regarding the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire, log onto www.chilibowl.com or call 918-838-3777.

Vic Elford, considered one of the fastest race-car drivers of the 60s and 70s, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2015 Phil Hill Award. RRDC president Bobby Rahal made the presentation at a dinner prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

The Phil Hill Award has been presented annually since 1993 to the person who the RRDC feels has rendered outstanding service to road racing. The recipient may be a driver, entrant or outstanding member of a sanctioning body.

It is named in honor of America’s first Formula 1 World Champion (in 1961), and is not only a tribute to his masterful accomplishments on the race track, it also recognizes his contributions as a great ambassador for the sport. Hill passed away in 2008.

Born in London and now a Florida resident, Elford was nicknamed "Quick Vic" by his peers, and is highly regarded for his versatility as a driver. He is one of only four drivers to record six major victories at the Classic Nurburgring (the others were Rudolf Caracciolo, John Surtees and Stirling Moss).

He also excelled in international rallies and was the last British driver to win the Monte Carlo rally (1968) and the European Rally Championship (1967). His 1968 season also included a win at the Daytona 24 Hours, a second at the Sebring 12 Hours, and victories at the Targa Florio and the Nurburgring 1000.

His first drive in Formula 1 resulted in a fourth-place finish at the French GP driving the slowest car in the field. Elford also competed with outstanding results in Can-Am, Trans-Am, off-road events in Africa, and even NASCAR.

Well known as a "Porsche hero," he was the only driver to race every version of the Porsche 917 in his five years with Porsche. His career included being hired by Steve McQueen to drive the 917 at high speed for the movie, "Le Mans," and narrating Michael Keyser's film, "The Speed Merchants."

He also raced for Ford, Triumph, Lancia, Alfa-Romeo, Ferrari, Chaparral, Shadow, Cooper, Lola, Chevron, Subaru, and drove a McLaren in Formula 1 and Can-Am, and a Chevrolet in Trans-Am.

Elford has garnered numerous lap records, and was the first driver to lap the LeMans circuit at over 150 mph in the Porsche long-tail 917 in 1970. He was a Formula 1 team manager, and, in the U.S., managed the Porsche Owners Driving School and the Porsche Driving Experience. He also authored three books: two versions of the "The Porsche High Performance Driving Handbook," and "Reflections on a Golden Era in Motorsport."

"Phil Hill represented everything that was great about the American spirit internationally," said Rahal. "He was the first U.S. Formula 1 champion and multi-time winner of Le Mans. He was a gentleman in the finest sense of the word. Vic Elford is indeed a worthy recipient of the Phil Hill Award.

"In the early Sixties, late Seventies, if you wanted to get it done, Vic Elford was the guy you called," said Rahal. "When nobody wanted anything to do with the Porsche 917 Vic was the guy who raised his hand and said, 'I'm there,' and nearly won the Le Mans 24-Hour in 1969 in that car.

"He was the Renaissance Man of racing because he started in rallying and he converted his success in rallying to great success in sports-car racing, and also scored points in Formula 1. He was one of those guys you may not have heard too much about, but if you studied the sport, you'd know this guy was a titan, and he is a titan."

After a spirited "interrogation" of Elford by Rahal on stage, Elford said he was humbled by receiving the award. "Phil HIll was a great friend, competitor, of course, and I'm speechless," he said. "I'm just honored and thrilled to have received this award in his name."

Past RRDC Phil Hill Award Winners include:

1993 John Bishop
1994 Juan Manuel Fangio II
1995 Leo Mehl
1996 Charlie Slater
1997 Danny Sullivan
1998 Rob Dyson
1999 Bob Fergus
2000 Elliott Forbes Robinson
2001 Bill France
2002 Jim Downing
2003 Derek Bell
2004 Brian Redman
2005 Jim France
2006 Roger Werner
2007 Skip Barber
2008 Roger Penske
2009 Bob Bondurant
2010 Nick Craw
2011 Rick Mears
2012 George Follmer
2013 Peter Brock
2014 Hurley Haywood

NHRA Funny Car king John Force has also built a legacy of creating a brain-trust of crew chiefs over the past decade.

The brain-trust will continue to be led by Mike Neff in 2015, who will remain as crew chief for Robert Hight’s Auto Club Camaro SS Funny Car, but the team has announced promotions that will expand the youth and depth at the crew chief position throughout the John Force Racing organization.

Jon Schaffer has been promoted to crew chief of John Force’s Funny Car. Previously Schaffer worked with Neff as his assistant crew chief, but the 27-year-old Californian will be making the calls on Force’s PEAK Camaro SS Funny Car beginning with testing in Phoenix. Long-time crewman Tim Fabrisi will be stepping up to assist Neff on the Auto Club Camaro SS Funny Car.

“We have developed the next generation of drivers and now I want to do the same thing with our crew chiefs. We have so much young talent I want to start giving these guys a chance to grow and develop their talents. Mike Neff, Ron Douglas, Dean Antonelli, Todd Smith and Dan Hood have a lot of experience and we want to continue to grow and be competitive at a championship level. Guys like Jon Schaffer and Tim Fabrisi as well as new hires Ronnie Thompson and Nick Casertano will keep us young and on the cutting edge,” said Force.

In addition to Schaffer’s promotion, John Force Racing has added car chief Nick Casertano (pictured left) to the PEAK Camaro SS Funny Car team. On the Top Fuel team led by Todd Smith, JFR has hired Ronnie Thompson to assist Smith on the John Force Racing Top Fuel dragster piloted by Brittany Force. Thompson was previously with Al-Anabi Racing working on Khalid alBalooshi’s Top Fuel dragster. The Traxxas Camaro SS Funny Car will continue to be led by Ron Douglas and Dan Hood.

Long-time crew chief Dean “Guido” Antonelli has been promoted to General Manager of the JFR shop in Brownsburg, Ind. Antonelli will continue to be an integral part of the John Force Racing crew chief brain-trust and will see his duties grow to oversee the rapidly expanding parts manufacturing operation in Brownsburg. Antonelli’s vast experience with both Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars will be critical to the expansion of this profit center for John Force Racing.

“We will always have a brain-trust and our lead man will be Mike Neff. You have to have stability and that is one thing that we have had over the past couple of decades. You don’t win as many championships as we have with as many different guys without a great core group. I know crew chiefs will move around. That is the nature of this business. I want to continue to develop talent inside John Force Racing and continue to keep winning,” added Force.