The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has formalized a membership agreement with the SFI Foundation, Inc. (SFI) in which IMSA will adopt certain SFI Quality Assurance Specifications to enhance safety at IMSA events.
 
SFI is a non-profit organization established to issue and administer standards for the quality assurance of specialty performance and racing equipment. It works with approximately 100 sanctioning bodies worldwide to set minimum performance standards for safety-related product performance.
 
“IMSA stands to benefit greatly from the testing and research that SFI conducts to help ensure that the equipment used by our competitors meets a clear standard for safety,” said Scot Elkins, IMSA Managing Director, Technical Regulations. “IMSA and SFI have a common goal of providing a safer racing environment. SFI’s role within the motorsports industry is an important one and the establishment of its accepted industry-wide minimum standards will undoubtedly benefit the entire IMSA paddock.”  
 
“SFI is very pleased to welcome IMSA as a Member Sanctioning Body,” added Jennifer Faye, SFI Vice President. “Not only will IMSA benefit from the ability to use SFI’s long-established standards, but this relationship will give SFI the flexibility to provide other customized services to IMSA should that need ever arise. The exchange of data and information is a key component to advancing motorsport safety, and SFI looks forward to growing its working relationship with IMSA from that perspective.”

Daytona International Speedway (DIS) announced a new partnership with the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) naming the school the Official Educational Partner at the “World Center of Racing.” UNOH invented the first high-performance degree program in the country and in 2006, opened the largest U.S. facility dedicated to learning the science of high-performance vehicles—a seven-acre, 70,000-square-foot high performance motorsports complex.

The partnership with DIS provides UNOH with on-site marketing presence including event signage, display space, tickets and hospitality. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.


“We’re excited to grow our relationship with the University of Northwestern Ohio with this new partnership,” Track President Joie Chitwood III said. “UNOH is widely recognized throughout the country for their motorsports degree program and we’re looking forward to working with them on a number of new initiatives.”

“Everyone at the University of Northwestern Ohio is very excited and proud to continue our relationship with Daytona International Speedway as their ‘Official Educational Partner,’ ” said Dr. Jeffrey A. Jarvis, President of UNOH. “This partnership allows UNOH to reach out to the young men and women whose passion is high performance motorsports, and also provides the racing industry with highly skilled employees who graduate from UNOH.”

In 1992, UNOH invented the first high-performance degree program in the country and has since been training students with the latest technology available in the industry. Students receive first-hand motorsports mechanical training.

The Twin State Speedway in Claremont, New Hampshire, has a group of new owners who bought the 1940s-era track for nearly $519,000.

The four partners who make up Claremont Speedway LLC bought the track this week from Dennis Fleury, whose father originally opened the track. The purchase includes 64 acres.

The new owners plan to revamp and modernize the speedway.

The speedway has held a variety of races, including go-karts and stock cars.

The Lancaster Speedway is getting a new name and new ownership for the 2015 season.

The newly re-named Lancaster National Speedway & Dragway will be operated by the Lancaster National Speedway, LLC. Also, Melissa McGowan has been hired by the ownership group to be the general manager.

McGowan was part of the promotional team that hosted the season-ending 26th annual U.S. Open event at the facility.

“I grew an immense appreciation for the facility, its racers and fans very quickly,” said McGowan. “The staff that came together to help put on the event was absolutely outstanding. It’s my goal to move the facility forward using the resources that are provided to me as well as the experience of several key individuals who reside in Western New York and who have a great passion for the facility as well as an outlook for the future of the race track."

Drag racing will continue with a test and tune nights during summer weeks, as well as the traditional Friday night drag racing program. Stock cars will race on Saturday nights, with Cruise Nights and other entertainment events placed on the schedule throughout the season.

“Lancaster definitely has a bright future,” said McGowan, who added that with a focus on customer service and some “TLC,” management feels it can rebuild the passion and drive for the facility.

“We saw it this past fall and we’ll be working toward an electric atmosphere once again,” McGowan said. “The excitement is already building and we’ve got a lot of work to do to get the ball rolling in the right direction.”

Opening Day will be announced soon and will be scheduled for early to mid-May.

Meetings for racers will be scheduled and posted in the upcoming weeks as well as the entire 2015 schedule.

Lyn St. James announced the 2014 winner of the Women's Sports Foundation Project Podium Leadership Award is Lisa Noble, President of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), at the Race Track Business Conference hosted by the National Speedway Directory at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis.

"Leadership is described and demonstrated in so many ways,” said Lyn St. James. “Lisa's character, charisma, and commitment to support Cultural change without disrupting the core values of sports car racing is powerful. She is the perfect person to receive this year's award.”

“We are thrilled that Lyn St, James picked the Race Track Business Conference to announce this year's award and we look forward to a long relationship with the Women's Sport Foundation Project Podium,” said Tim Frost the organizer of the Race Track Business Conference.

The leadership award was established in 2008 to honor Paul Newman whose support helped Lyn St. James launch Project Podium. Past winners of the Leadership award include NASCAR President Mike Helton, USAC founder and former Indy 500 Chief Steward Tom Binford, and former Director of Ford Racing Dan Davis.

Josten's has graciously provided the beautiful trophy presented each year.

Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), Valvoline and TSMGI announced that Valvoline would become the official motor oil of the ARCA Racing Series beginning in 2015.
 
The announcement, which took place at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis, includes the news that Valvoline Pro-V Racing 0W30 motor oil will be the exclusive oil for use in the ARCA Ilmor 396 engine package.
 
"We are excited to be the official motor oil of the ARCA Racing Series, helping another generation of racers reach victory lane," said Jamal Muashsher, Valvoline's director of marketing. "Valvoline introduced our first motor oil specifically designed for racing in 1965, and we will be powering the ARCA Ilmor 396 engines in 2015 with our newest offering, Valvoline Pro-V Racing."
 
Ilmor engineers utilized the Pro-V Racing 0W30 motor oilextensively during the development, feasibility and durability testing of the ARCA Ilmor 396 this past fall, including extensive testing on the engine dyno, SpinTron, chassis dyno and on-track. Ilmor was convinced that the Pro-V Racing 0W30 was the right product to help Ilmor achieve the performance standards established.
 
"When ARCA informed us that they were negotiating with Valvoline to become the oil supplier for the ARCA Ilmor 396 engine program, we were enthused knowing full well that Valvoline products have been, and continue to be, very successful in many forms of motorsports," said Dave Dixon, Ilmor director of assembly operations. "This comes from Valvoline's passion for supporting the racing community and their commitment to formulating and producing great products. Together with the experienced staff at Valvoline, we chose to use their Pro-V Racing 0W30 formula for our rigorous development and durability testing. We have been extremely pleased with Valvoline's support and the test results to date. We have zero concerns with the ability of the engines to maintain rock-solid reliability and to withstand our extreme durability testing mode, which exceeds what the engines will experience in the hands of the racing teams. We can go forward into 2015 with confidence in the knowledge that Valvoline Pro-V Racing 0W30 oil is protecting the ARCA Ilmor 396 engines."
 
"Valvoline is a motorsports performance brand long synonymous with winning and on-track performance," said ARCA President Ron Drager. "So it was no surprise to us that the Valvoline Pro-V Racing product exceeded the high standards required to be featured as part of the ARCA Ilmor 396 engine package. We're especially pleased that Valvoline has elected to support the race teams and the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards with a special awards and marketing program."

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced an extension of its partnership with VP Racing Fuels, Inc. as the Official Fuel Supplier and a Proud Partner of IMSA and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.
 
VP Racing Fuels, Inc. fueled the inaugural season of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship in 2014. VP also is the Official Fuel Supplier of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, and will continue to serve as the exclusive provider of racing fuels for the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America.
 
“We’re proud and honored to continue as the Official Fuel Supplier for the preeminent sports car racing series in North America,” said Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels. “We look at this extension as a tribute to the hard work and dedication of VP’s employees who delivered exemplary products and service during the TUDOR Championship’s inaugural season. As VP continues to evolve into a consumer brand, the TUDOR Championship and IMSA’s other series will play an increasingly important role in our marketing and growth strategy.
 
“IMSA features some of the most sophisticated racing technology on the planet and its fan base has high expectations for quality and performance. That makes it a great platform to promote the VP-branded gas stations and convenience stores we’re rolling out across the U.S. along with our growing line of best-in-class consumer products including VP Small Engine Fuel, ‘Madditive’ performance chemicals, VP PowerWash and more. In conjunction with these programs, we’ll also be working hard to support IMSA’s efforts to grow its series. We’re looking forward to a strong and mutually beneficial partnership through 2017 and beyond.”
 
In addition to providing teams with high-quality racing fuel, VP Racing Fuels develops fuels that fit into the IMSA Green platform. Each of VP’s two fuel blends for use by TUDOR Championship teams, Motorsport 100 and E85, use ethanol which is cellulosic and derived from renewable, non-food chain feedstock.
 
Motorsport 100, or MS100, is an unleaded gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol—the “race fuel” counterpart to VP100, VP’s street-legal 100-octane unleaded blend. MS100 is the designated blend for the TUDOR Championship to satisfy race teams’ need for a fuel that remains consistent from race to race for tuning purposes. VP’s cellulosic E85 blend is an alternative fuel that is held to a similar standard for the TUDOR Championship in that it is also blended to remain 100 percent consistent from race to race. 
 
“We are honored to have a trusted and iconic brand like VP Racing Fuels aligned with IMSA and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship,” said David Pettit, IMSA Vice President, Marketing. “We are eager to see where the future takes us, both with developing the IMSA Green platform, as well as helping VP promote its expanded product line. We are also proud that VP Racing Fuels has chosen IMSA and the TUDOR Championship as a primary marketing platform for their expansion into the retail gas station segment with race-inspired consumer fuels. VP joins a long list of premium brands utilizing the IMSA platform to build their brands and expand their businesses”
 
The VP Racing Fuels Front Runner Award will continue in the TUDOR Championship and Continental Tire Challenge in 2015.
 
The 2015 TUDOR Championship season opens at Daytona International Speedway with the 53rd Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 24-25, 2014. 
 

Memphis International Raceway (MIR) announced that FocusFest and ST Fest will be joining next year's Fun Ford Series event on August 28 and 29, 2015. These one-of-a-kind festivals bring together Focus and Fiesta car owners from all over the country to celebrate their favorite manufacturer and take part in racing, car shows, an audio competition, a swap meet and much more.
 
FocusFest is the largest Ford Focus event in the country and since 2008, these dedicated car enthusiasts have gathered at various locations across the country. The ST Fest is a new festival which unites Focus ST and Fiesta ST owners from around the nation. In 2015, FocusFest and ST Fest will caravan to MIR on the same weekend as the annual Fun Ford Series event and take part in the two-day event.
 
"This will be the fifth FocusFest event we've hosted and next year will mark the third consecutive year for the event," stated Ben Richter, Event Manager of FocusFest and ST Fest. "2015 will also include the introduction of ST Fest. These events serve as a place for the Focus and Fiesta enthusiasts from all over the country to get together and show off their latest projects and meet with others who share their passion. We're looking forward to taking the show to Memphis next year and being a part of the Fun Ford Series."
 
"We are really excited to have both of these festivals join us for our Fun Ford Series event in 2015," stated Pam Kendrick, VP and GM of Memphis International Raceway. "The Fun Ford Series has been an annual tradition at MIR and it's a natural fit for FocusFest and ST Fest to join us on that weekend in celebrating all things Ford. We're looking forward to a long partnership with these organizations."
 
The Fun Ford Series will return to MIR for the fourth consecutive year and has something to offer every Ford enthusiast. From Ford-powered and Ford-bodied racers looking to make a pass on the historic MIR drag strip to Blue Oval restoration experts showing off their finished masterpiece or searching for that hard-to-find part at the swap meet. Ford fans are sure to enjoy all the action on the track and browse the car show or manufacturers midway.  
 
For more information about FocusFest, ST Fest and the Fun Ford Series, please visit the following websites - http://www.focusfest.com/, http://www.stfest.com/ and http://funfordweekend.com/. MIR will release schedules and pricing for the Fun Ford Series as soon as they become available. Please go to http://www.RaceMIR.com or a call (901)WOW-Race with any questions.

Citing a need to focus more directly on its core business priorities, Sprint announced it has informed NASCAR it will not extend the title sponsorship of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after the current agreement expires at the end of the 2016 season.

“We are proud of our association with NASCAR’s top series but have made the decision not to extend our sponsorship beyond the next two years,” said Steve Gaffney, vice president-Marketing, Sprint. “As we look to the future, Sprint is focused on investing in maintaining a competitive edge and providing consumers with the best value in wireless.

“Sprint has long benefitted from the unprecedented level of brand integration available in NASCAR, and the passionate fan base that is the most loyal in sports. Without question, the NASCAR sponsorship property has been a valuable investment for us and will be for our successor.”

Since the partnership began in 2004, Sprint has worked closely with NASCAR to bring many fan-friendly innovations to life, including the introduction of the FanView next generation scanner (2005), the creation of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Mobile wireless application (2008) and the debut of Miss Sprint Cup (2007), an ambassador program that now has more than 1.5 million social media followers. The constant evolution of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race pre-race show and the improvements to the Sprint Vision trackside programming also highlight Sprint’s portfolio of fan enhancements.

“We genuinely appreciate the fans, teams, drivers, tracks and media who have been so supportive and welcoming to us during these many race seasons,” said Gaffney. “We look forward to our remaining time as sponsor of the Sprint Cup Series and eventually assisting with the transition to NASCAR’s next title partner.”

The sponsorship extends back to 2004 when Nextel signed a 10-year partnership with NASCAR for the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The name changed to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2008 as a result of the Nextel/Sprint corporate merger. At the conclusion of the first 10 years, Sprint extended the partnership an additional three years, taking the contract through the end of the 2016 season.

“NASCAR and Sprint have enjoyed a long and productive partnership that has returned significant value to both parties. We understand significant changes within Sprint and the highly competitive business environment it is in has led to a decision not to extend its Cup Series entitlement position following the 2016 season. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series is a very unique, premium sports marketing platform with strong momentum, so we are very confident of moving forward in 2017 with an outstanding new partner. In the meantime, we look forward to Sprint’s partnership on the best racing series in the world for the next two seasons," added Brett Jewkes, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer.

International Speedway Corporation (ISC) announced it has named Dave Allen President of Auto Club Speedway (ACS) effective immediately.  Allen accepts the role from his most recent position as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for ACS.
 
Allen replaces Gillian Zucker who was recently named President of Business Operations for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers. Allen, 41, a 17-year veteran in the sports marketing industry, will report to ISC President, John R. Saunders and will be responsible for all operations of Auto Club Speedway and Auto Club Dragway.
 
“Dave is a proven leader with a strong background and knowledge of the motorsports industry, the Inland Empire/L.A. markets and Auto Club Speedway,” said Saunders.  “He brings experience and strong leadership skills needed to help continue to position Auto Club Speedway and motorsports for growth in Southern California.”
 
“I’m so excited to lead this incredible group of professionals here at Auto Club Speedway,” said Allen. “Southern California is known for its strong car culture and racing history and I look forward to building on those traditions with the help of our staff and amazing fans.”
 
Allen joined Penske Motorsports at previously-named California Speedway in April of 1999 after spending one year at Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca. From 2002-2006, Allen served as Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. He was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2006 with oversight of all sponsorship, hospitality, suite and consumer sales. In 2008 Allen, along with former track president Gillian Zucker, completed the Speedway’s groundbreaking naming rights partnership with Auto Club of Southern California. Allen, his wife and three children reside in Upland, CA.