The World of Outlaws unveiled a new look for the start of 2015 season as STP departs as title sponsor of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

The new look is reminiscent of the logo last used by the series during the 2007 season with what was then a bright red replaced with a darker cardinal red. New transporter wraps, websites, advertising and souvenir merchandise are all in the works featuring the cardinal, along with a heavy dose of black and white with a dirt inspired tan as an accent color.

“STP was an amazing partner and we loved carrying the red, white and blue of one of the most famous brands in motorsports, but in racing everything is constantly evolving and we are excited about our new World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series look for the start of the 2015 season,” World of Outlaws CMO Ben Geisler said. “We thank them for their involvement and will continue our pursuit of a new partner that will help us bring The Greatest Show on Dirt to the greatest fans in motorsports from coast to coast.”

The World of Outlaws also confirmed the Sprint Car Series point funds for the 2015 season would remain the same as 2014 and continue to be the richest in all of grassroots motorsports. The 2015 champion will cash a check for $150,000 with a total cash payout of $650,000 at the World of Outlaws banquet in November.

The 90-race season begins Friday, Feb. 13, during the 12-day DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park, and after racing in 24 different states and three Canadian provinces, concludes with the championship-deciding Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals Nov. 5-6-7 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

The British motorsport industry celebrated another successful year in 2014, with the Motorsport Industry Association’s (MIA) annual Business Excellence Awards.

The event, which took place in Birmingham, on January 8, as part of the renowned Autosport International Show, saw more than 500 guests from across the globe come together to recognize the achievements of the motorsport industry over the past 12 months.

The MIA Business of the Year Award, sponsored by Xtrac, was presented to lightweight castings engineering company, Grainger and Worrall, for its outstanding business growth over the past 12 months. The family-run company now has sales exceeding £40 million, with exports above £20 million, and employs more than 500 people in rural Shropshire.


MIA CEO, Chris Aylett said, “Grainger & Worrall is a superb example of how successful a company can be if the true potential of motorsport engineering is harnessed wholeheartedly.

“Grainger & Worrall has focusses on the future, innovating and embracing new technology. They excel in both quality and service and drive both the business and its skilled team of engineers to be the best. This approach is evidenced by their phenomenal success over recent years.”

The MIA Business Excellence Awards Dinner in association with Dell, was attended by an audience of over 500 senior executives from the international motorsport business community.

First presented in 1995, the MIA Business Excellence Awards recognize excellence at all levels within the motorsport and high performance engineering industry.

The 2014 winners, in the seven categories, were:

Service to the Industry Award – sponsored by Goodridge
• Donington Park

New Markets Award – sponsored by Dell
• Forward Composites

Export Achievement Award – sponsored by Performance Racing Industry (PRI)
• SS Tube Technology

Technology and Innovation Award – sponsored by Ricardo
• Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains

Teamwork Award – sponsored by Grainger & Worrall
• Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team

Business of the Year Award for companies with annual sales below £5m – sponsored by Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership
• Quentor

Business of the Year Award for companies with annual sales exceeding £5m – sponsored by Xtrac
• Grainger & Worrall

Formula One team McLaren and CNN International announced a multi-year partnership deal.

CNN branding will appear on the front wing of the car that is powered by Honda, and will be driven by Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button this season.

CNN was a sponsor of Caterham, which was troubled by financial difficulties at the end of last year, and still has doubts on its future.

Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman and chief executive, says the "shared love of technology has united us."

The deal's financial details were not revealed.

Gregg McKarns, who was recently introduced as the owner of the ARCA Midwest Tour, has also completed a purchase agreement to become the new owner of Madison International Speedway in Oregon, Wisconsin.

"This will fulfill one of my lifelong goals of owning and operating a weekly race track," McKarns said. "I'm grateful to Terry Kunes for allowing me this opportunity."

Kunes purchased "Wisconsin's Fastest Half-Mile Oval" in 2003 and has operated the track for the past 11 years. One thing that McKarns plans to keep is the "Friday Night Tradition."

"This track has a great history and part of that history is that the weekly racing program is on Friday night," McKarns explained. "Race fans are familiar with that night and now we will do everything we can to have more fans make Madison their place to go on Friday nights during the spring and summer."

As far as weekly divisions, McKarns indicated that his top weekly division will follow Big 8 Late Model rules with monthly Super Late Model events. He also plans on a Sportsman division and will announce other additional divisions at a later date.

For McKarns, becoming the new owner of Madison International Speedway has a special personal meaning.

"My parents, John and Sue McKarns, ran Madison back in 1980-81 when it was known at Capital Super Speedway. I was just an infant back then, but recall looking through the memories of great ARTGO events and other specials the track hosted as I was growing up. Now, my wife, Angie and I, will now have an incredible opportunity to add more to the great history of this place."

Sam Bartus built the half-mile oval in 1969 and he ran the facility until selling the track to Fred Nielsen in 1980. Bob and Tony Zider took over the ownership reigns in 1983. They made improvements like the concrete grandstands and the backstretch scoreboard. In 1987, Craig Henmen bought the track and turned it into a dirt oval renaming it "Impact Speedway." The track shuttered in 1989 until Wayne Erickson purchased the facility in 1992 and re-opened it with the current name of the track. The Fillner family bought the track in 1996 and ran it until 2002. Kunes took over the facility in 2003.

Allen Miller, a 21-year veteran with Honda Performance Development, has been named Race Team Leader for the company, heading up all on-track activities for HPD's pinnacle motorsports programs. The appointment was announced by Art St. Cyr, president of HPD.

"Allen has been a vital part of HPD, virtually from the start of the company," St. Cyr said of Miller's selection. "His management skills, diverse racing background and extensive experience will be a huge benefit for HPD and our racing efforts in the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Pirelli World Challenge, and endurance sports car series."

"This is an exciting time in HPD's history," said Miller. "We're carrying on a multitude of new programs, including aero kits in IndyCar, the new ARX-04b Honda prototype sports car, and the exciting Pirelli World Challenge program for the Acura TLX GT.  Each presents its own challenges and opportunities for the company, and I'm looking forward to contributing to our future success."

After four years with Nissan Performance Technology, Miller joined HPD as an engine builder in 1994, in the first full year of competition for the company, American Honda's  North American motorsports arm. At HPD, Miller played several key roles during Honda's highly successful Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) years, becoming supervisor of the engine shop in 1997, and serving as assistant manager from 2000 to 2002. During his years with HPD's CART effort, Honda power earned four manufacturers' championships and 65 race victories from 164 events, with Honda-powered drivers winning six consecutive titles.

In 2006, Miller was named project manager for HPD's prototype sports car program, originally competing under the Acura banner, and in 2008 Miller was named project leader of the program. In eight years of American Le Mans Series, World Endurance Championship and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship competition, HPD has recorded 74 race victories, including two class victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and multiple manufacturer championships in the American Le Mans Series from 2008 to 2013.
  
In 2012, HPD became the first American racing organization in nearly forty years to win an FIA World Championship, taking the LMP2 title in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Miller will be assisted in his new role by three veteran Honda engineers. Troy Hanson assumes the role of Manager for HPD's IndyCar Series effort; Matt Niles succeeds Miller as Manager for prototype sports car racing programs; and Lee Niffenegger manages the Acura Motorsports effort in the Pirelli World Challenge.

The Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series released its 2015 schedule of events, featuring a possible 17 races.

There are 13 scheduled races at 10 different tracks in four different states over eight weekends.
The schedule for the series’ third season has three new tracks, three returning tracks from 2014, and four returning tracks from the 2013 inaugural season.

The 2015 Chevy Super Series season will open on Friday night, March 20 at a new track for the series, I-75 Raceway in Sweetwater, Tenn., with a 50-lap, $3,000-to-win race. The next night on Saturday night, March 21, the action and excitement moves to 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn., where the Chevy Super Series performed in front of an appreciative record crowd.

A pair of tracks from the inaugural 2013 season that will return with 2015 Chevy Super Series events are Magnolia Motor Speedway in Columbus, Miss., with a 40-lap, $2000-to-win race on April 24 and Whynot Motorsports Park in Meridian, Miss., with a 50-lap, $3000-to-win race on April 25.

Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway is another track from the 2013 inaugural season that returns to the Chevy Super Series 2015 schedule with the fifth round of the season with a 50-lap, $3000-to-win race on May 30.

Penton (Ala.) Raceway who presented the first-ever Chevy Super Series race in 2013, returns to the Chevy Super Series schedule in 2015 with a 40-lap $2000-to-win race on June 12. Talladega (Ala.) Short Track is on the Chevy Super Series schedule for the third straight season with its first of two 2015 races, a 50-lap $3000-to-win race on June 13.

The Chevy Super Series will make its first-ever visit to Senoia (Ga.) Raceway on July 18 with a 50-lap $3000-to-win race.

I-75 Raceway will team up with Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tenn., for Volunteer State double header. I-75 Raceway will present a 50-lap, $3000-to-win race on Aug. 14, and Duck River Raceway Park will host a 50-lap, $3000-to-win event on Aug. 15. It will be the first ever visit for the Chevy Super Series at Duck River Raceway Park.

For the second straight year, the Chevy Super Series will be a part of the 37th Annual Alabama State Championship Races at East Alabama Motor Speedway in Phenix City, Ala., who will also host the Chevy Super Series for the third straight season.

The Chevy Super Series portion of the 37th Annual Alabama State Championship Races will consist of a 40-lap, $2000-to-win race on Sept. 25 and a 50-lap, $3000-to-win race on Sept. 26.

Talladega Short Track will host its second event of the 2015 Chevy Super Series season with the grand finale on Oct. 3 with the $6000-to-win third annual Dega 100. After the Dega 100, it will be known who will have the opportunity to collect from the $30,000 Chevy Super Series point fund, with $10,000 going to the 2015 Chevy Super Series National Champion.

Chevy Super Series officials are currently in negotiations with other tracks to fill four Open Dates on the 2015 schedule of events. The Open Dates that are currently on the 2015 schedule of event are June 12, June 13, July 31 and Aug. 1. If those dates are filled, the number of races on the 2015 Chevy Super Series schedule would grow to 17 races.

2015 Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series Schedule

Date – Venue – Location

March 20 – I-75 Raceway – Sweetwater, Tenn.

March 21 – 411 Motor Speedway – Seymour, Tenn.

April 24 – Magnolia Motor Speedway – Columbus, Miss.

April 25 – Whynot Motorsports Park – Meridian, Miss.

May 30 – Clarksville Speedway – Clarksville, Tenn.

June 12 – Penton Raceway – Penton, Ala.

June 13 – Talladega Short Track – Talladega, Ala.

June 26-27 – TBA – TBA

July 18 – Senoia Raceway – Senoia, Ga.

July 31-Aug. 1 – TBA – TBA

Aug. 14 – I-75 Raceway – Sweetwater, Tenn.

Aug. 15 – Duck River Speedway – Wheel, Tenn.

Sept. 25-26 – East Alabama Motor Speedway – Phenix City, Ala.

Oct. 3 – Talladega Short Track – Talladega, Ala.

A motorsports country club that will feature a road course designed by Formula One and Indy 500 champion Jacques Villeneuve has been given the green light on construction.

The site for Area 27, a complex based in the South Okanagan region of Canada’s British Columbia province, has been designated for motorsports for the next 110 years as part of final approval from the Osoyoos Indian Band on January 9.

Villeneuve is part of the main group behind the complex along with president Bill Drossos, Trevor Seibert, and David King.

The first phase of their project involves creation of the Villeneuve-penned three-mile road course, which is being constructed to FIA Grade 2 standards so it can potentially host major motorsports events in the future.

Also part of the first phase is a driving academy, karting center, access roads, fencing, and other infrastructure.

From there, Villeneuve and Co. will move into other phases that include construction of commercial buildings such as a members’ clubhouse, condominium-style suites for arrive and drive days, and event-related infrastructure (grandstands, pit garages, media center, etc.).

Drossos told the Penticton (B.C.) Western News that construction is planned to begin this spring.

“For the South Okanagan, it’s of huge significance in terms of potential revenue and tourism,” he said. “It’s a unique draw. Not competing with anything else. This will be the only thing of its kind in western Canada.”

On Area 27’s website, Villeneuve himself provides an idea of what kind of course he hopes to produce.

“I have been lucky to race all over the globe on a diversity of tracks over the years,” he says. “Some tracks were amazing for that single [qualifying] lap excitement of driving on the edge and pushing the limit. Other tracks provided for great races with incredible overtaking opportunities. With all these options for rushes of adrenaline, there were also the tracks that seemed to lack soul or excitement.

“I have always relished the challenge of designing an exciting track, taking into account the single lap excitement, combined with wheel-to-wheel racing opportunities, all while avoiding the pitfalls of the uninteresting tracks. The goal is to design a track I would be proud of getting pole position on, where the fans would also enjoy watching an exciting race.”

After an intensive winter of development, the Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team will officially get back to work with the public unveiling of the F1 W06 Hybrid on February 1 at the Circuito de Jerez in Spain.

The next generation of Silver Arrows racing car will make its first appearance in front of assembled media on the opening day of winter testing.

Nico Rosberg will then take the wheel for day one of the test, returning to action again on day three. Lewis Hamilton will drive on days two and four. This driver allocation is the reverse of that which was used at the opening test of 2014.

“The workload this winter has been as great as ever,” said Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport. “Where last year we were preparing for an all-new formula of racing, we are now faced with the big challenge of making the next step in our development.

“We know that we went into the winter with a target on our backs for the other teams—and we are certain that our rivals will be competitive from the opening race in Melbourne. So we have to focus on every detail if we want to build any advantage this year and that is what we have done. This is an exciting time of year as our collective efforts all come together in the new car. Everybody in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has put a great amount of effort into creating the latest Silver Arrow and I thank them for their efforts so far. We are excited to see how the car performs when it begins running.”

The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets have planned an exciting 2015 season for their 50th year of competition.

In announcing their schedule, President Ken Lorenz said, “Our 50th Anniversary year will include three ‘Twin 25′s’ races at three different tracks throughout the season. Grand Bend, Sunset and Flamboro Speedways will present this special show to thank our fans, old and new, for all their support over the past 50 years. I am also proud to announce the return of Lucas Oil as series sponsor for the 11th consecutive year. It is an honor to again be included in the Lucas Oil ‘Family’. The added recognition we receive running under the Lucas Oil banner puts us in an elite group of ‘open-wheel’ racers supported by not only a premier company but one that truly understands the racers needs with quality products and a helping hand.”

The 50th Anniversary year begins at Sunset Speedway on Saturday, May 16th, at the ‘Spring Velocity’ show, and ends there at the ‘Fall Velocity’ event on Saturday, September 26th. Mark Dilley, general manager, said, “Sunset Speedway is very pleased to have the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets back for multiple times in 2015. They always put on some of the best racing of the season with their 3 wide battles. Sunset loves the Can-Am Midgets and can’t wait for 2015!” 

The ‘Twin 25′s’ race is scheduled at Sunset Speedway for Saturday, July 11th and the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets return on Saturday, August 15th making four visits to this speedway.  Flamboro Speedway will host the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets on May 23rd, June 20, July 25, and August 8th, the date for the ‘Twin 25′s’ special race. The final race at Flamboro Speedway for 2015 will be on September 19th.

The Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets again travel north to Sauble Speedway for the long Canadian Holiday weekend on August 1st and 2nd. They return to Sauble Speedway for one more event on Saturday, September 5th. “The Bullring” at Grand Bend Speedway will host the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets for a special ‘Twin 25′s’ race on July 4th, and Peterborough Speedway, Barrie Speedway and Full Throttle Speedway in Varney will each have one visit from the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets.

The 2015 Lucas Oil Can-Am Midget Schedule

May 16….Sunset Speedway, Stroud, ON, ‘Spring Velocity’
May 23….Flamboro Speedway, Flamborough, ON
June 13…Peterborough Speedway, Peterborough, ON
June 20…Flamboro Speedway
July 4……Grand Bend Speedway, Grand Bend, ON  “Twin 25′s” RAIN DATE, July 5th
July 11….Sunset Speedway,  ”Twin 25′s”
July 18….Barrie Speedway, Barrie, ON
July 25….Flamboro Speedway
Aug 1……Sauble Speedway, Sauble Beach, ON
Aug 2……Sauble Speedway
Aug 8……Flamboro Speedway,   “Twin 25′s”
Aug 15….Sunset Speedway
Sept 5…..Sauble Speedway
Sept 12…Full Throttle Speedway, Varney, ON
Sept 19…Flamboro Speedway
Sept 26…Sunset Speedway  ‘Fall Velocity’

For more information on the Lucas Oil Can-Am Midgets, such as their ’50 Year History’ and a list of the ’49 Years of Champions’, go to www.canammidgets.com.

The Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway has unveiled the 2015 schedule for its stock car and drag racing programs, as well as the rule books for the weekly divisions for both.

The weekly plan for the 2015 season at Lancaster has a familiar feel with Tuesday test & tune nights for drag racers, the popular Wednesday Cruise Nights, weekly Friday night bracket drag racing, and Saturday nights under the lights with the stock cars on the 1/2-mile oval.

The 2015 racing season begins the weekend of April 18-19 with a doubleheader weekend of drag and stock car racing. The drag racers kick off the year on Saturday, April 18, with a full day of side-by-side competition on the 1/8-mile dragstrip. On Sunday, April 19, the oval track action gets going with the first of four visits in 2015 by the Race of Champions Modified Tour.

The traditional weekly schedule begins in early May with four nights of action at the historic Western New York racing facility. Racers planning on making Lancaster their home in 2015 can find rule books for both the drag racing and stock car programs. Stock cars will run weekly during the season with the 4-Cylinders, Street Stocks, "Open" TQ Midgets and Sportsman Modifieds competing on a regular basis. The Late Models will also make several appearances throughout the 2015 campaign.

Racers and fans are urged to stay tuned to the track's website (www.lancasternationalspeedway.com) in the coming weeks as more sections are launched. More information about Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway can be found on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/lancasterspeedway) and on Twitter (@LancasterSpdwy).