WELD, manufacturers of WELD Wheels, has announced the addition of Keith Kern as general manger of the company’s new WELD CCW Forged Performance division, effective November 24, 2014. Kern joins WELD with a rich history in the performance wheel and accessory industry, most recently as the director of sales and marketing for Billet Specialties, Inc. since 2004.

WELD recently announced the acquisition of Complete Custom Wheels (CCW) of Holly Hill, Florida, a manufacturer of premium forged road race, sports car and luxury car wheels, creating CCW Forged Performance.

“We are extremely fortunate to recruit Keith to join our team, as he helps lead our CCW Forged Performance division,” said Norman Young, president and CEO. “We look forward to adding his leadership and experience to the WELD team.”

Kern has over 25 years of experience in the wheel industry. He worked in wheel production, wheel sales, accessories sales, sales management and implemented in-house advertising at Billet Specialties. Among his responsibilities as director of sales and marketing at the company, Kern managed the sales and customer service staff, directed the marketing department to maintain brand awareness and co-managed all post CNC production operations with the plant manager.

Kern, who currently resides in the Chicago area with his wife, Deanna, and daughter Gabby, plans to relocate to the Florida headquarters of CCW Forged Performance in early 2015.

John Force Racing announced a multi-year sponsorship with Lucas Oil Products on Saturday in Pomona, California. The announcement makes Lucas Oil the “Official Oil of John Force Racing” and the Corona, California-based company will have signage on all the John Force Racing Funny Cars and the Top Fuel dragster as well as driver uniforms and race transporters beginning in 2015.

“Forrest and Charlotte Lucas with their son Morgan and Lucas Oil Products are a perfect fit for John Force Racing," said John Force, 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion and CEO of John Force Racing. "This partnership between two strong American families and companies is what makes this sport and country so great. Our two families have grown up together in this sport and we will have a strong future together. I had a great partner for almost 30 years with Castrol and they will always be part of our history but Lucas Oil is our future. I am excited about the opportunity to grow my company and keep racing for many years with the backing of Lucas Oil.”

Force has almost 1200 round wins and 141 Funny Car race wins to his credit. The entire John Force Racing team has 237 Funny Car victories, the most by any NHRA racing organization in one class.

The sponsorship will help to keep Force and teammates Robert Hight and Courtney Force in Funny Cars next year and Brittany Force in a Top Fuel dragster.

“John Force is a guy I have admired for many, many years. In my opinion he made Castrol oil in this country," said Forrest Lucas, founder and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. "The fact that he became available was shocking to me. I see him partnering with us and it will be a huge economic boost for Lucas Oil around the world. It will be good for John Force Racing because it is more stability and I see this as a win-win situation. It will also be good for NHRA drag racing because it keeps John racing and we don’t have any intentions on leaving so it should be good for everybody. Hopefully all the fans will keep coming back and using Lucas Oil.

“There are not as many young people coming into NHRA as we would like to see but John has his beautiful daughters involved and they are doing a good job. He has given them good equipment and has good people working with them. Morgan grew up with the girls and they are all good friends. The fact that we are creating the second generation of drag racing leaders and we are not the only ones doing this but we have some of the top rising stars out there."

Lucas has long been directly involved in the American racing industry through multiple vehicle sponsorships and racing event promotions, at all levels.

This is the second major sponsorship announcement for John Force Racing. In Las Vegas JFR announced PEAK anti-freeze and Blue Def as a primary sponsor for John Force for the majority of the races in 2015. This announcement is another major step forward to financially strengthening the winningest Funny Car team in NHRA history. In the coming weeks John Force Racing plans a number of additional announcements leading up to the 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals.

In 2013, Motovicity Distribution hired Ryan Balicki as its sales manager. And, within one year, he has put his years of previous management experience to use with several initiatives, including the establishment of the performance aftermarket’s first ASE-certified WD sales team.

“Working with the caliber of shops and retailers that we do, it’s important to offer our customers service beyond order entry. With an ASE-certified sales team, we are able to do just that,” said Balicki.   

“I have personally known Ryan for many years and am happy to have him on board. He brings a personality that fits our team, along with a fresh perspective on leadership and sales,” said Motovicity VP of Sales and Marketing, Brian Lounsberry.

Like all of the members of his sales team, and much of the Motovicity staff, Balicki is a life-long enthusiast. In his role as Motovicity’s sales manager, he will continue to work with the newest members of his team to help them earn their ASE certifications and continue to implement additional improvements to the Motovicity customer experience.

In September, Balicki was also named one of SEMA’s 35 Under 35.

Competition is fierce, and smart performance racing professionals, owners and managers are equipping themselves with mindsets, methods and strategies to drive business growth and increase profitability.

Continuing its efforts to deliver top-level business experts and solutions, Performance Racing Industry is proud to announce the appearance of noted author, business columnist, and dynamic industry speaker Christine Corelli at this year's Trade Show.

Corelli, who owns and operates Christine Corelli & Associates in Chicago, Illinois, will present her highly interactive session, “Fueling High Performance In Your Business,” which examines five critical success factors for business growth and profitability.

Scheduled from 8-9 a.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2014, in Room 240 of the Indiana Convention Center, Corelli’s session will provide attendees with valuable information and ideas that can make the difference between success and mediocre performance in their business. She guarantees participants will leave her session with “how-to’s” they can immediately apply and manage.
 
In fact, attendees will discover why organizations such as SEMA, Goodyear, Chrysler, Harley-Davidson, Bridgestone, and numerous auto parts businesses and associations have repeatedly called upon Corelli to share her business savvy.

“We’re incredibly fortunate to have Christine Corelli as a featured presenter within this year’s business education program,” said Dan Schechner, PRI Magazine editor and Trade Show seminar organizer. “Our 2014 lineup is truly one of PRI’s best ever, and Christine is a big reason why. The knowledge and energy she brings is second-to-none. And racing professionals looking for practical, usable business solutions definitely shouldn’t miss this one.”

There is no cost for registered Trade Show attendees.

For more about Christine Corelli, visit christinespeaks.com or call 847/581-9968.

The National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA), along with series sponsor Keystone Automotive, announces the official schedule for the 2015 season.

This is the 17th year of NMRA all-Ford heads-up drag racing in classes like VP Racing Fuels Street Outlaw, plus giant UPR Products car shows, huge manufacturers' midways and more. 2015 will also feature the Aerospace Components Winner's Circle and special events at every race.
 
March 5-8, 2015
21st Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout presented by Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords - Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida
 
April 9-12, 2015
7th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Miller Welders
- Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia
 
May 1-3, 2015
15th Annual NMRA Ford Nationals featuring the 3rd Annual SVT Shootout presented by SVTPerformance.com - Maryland International Raceway in Budds Creek, Maryland
 
June 11-14, 2015
12th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford SUPER Nationals featuring the Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords All-Female Shootout - Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio
 
July 30-Aug. 2, 2015
10th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street Legal Drag Racing - Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois
 
October 1-4, 2015
17th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA All-Ford World Finals - Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky
 
Spectators and racers can look forward to competitive drag racing in over 15 racing classes that provide something for every level of racer. ACT Pure Street, Detroit Locker Truck & Lightning, Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords True Street and Exedy Racing Clutch Modular Muscle are just a few of the popular classes returning for the 2015 Keystone Automotive NMRA All-Ford drag racing season. For more information, please stay tuned to www.NMRAdigital.com.

Two new members will join the Sports Car Club of America Board of Directors, and two incumbent candidates remain for a second three-year term in office, after election results were announced on Monday.

Area 4 Director Stephen Harris, of Dayton, Ohio, and Area 9 Director Brian McCarthy, of Sacramento, Calif., ran unopposed to retain their positions on the 13-member Board of Directors.

Lee Hill, of Brandon, Fla., won the Area 3 election with 744 votes over John Zuccarelli, of Jupiter, Fla., with 598 votes. Hill replaces outgoing director Robin Langlotz.

In Area 11, KJ Christopher, of Redondo Beach, Calif., received 405 votes to win the seat. Jim Malone, of Wilcox, Ariz., garnered 194 votes, and Lois Petersen, of Mesa, Ariz., earned 151. Christopher fills the seat vacated by Mike Lewis.

“Congratulations to Lee and KJ on their elections to the SCCA Board of Directors,” Lisa Noble, SCCA President & CEO, said. “And thank you, to John, Jim and Lois, who were willing to put themselves out there and run for a volunteer position to make this Club even better. I’m looking forward to working with the 2015 version of the Board of Directors.”

“If Roger Penske was to call your driver five years from now to offer them a ride in a major series, what will you have to do between now and then to get that call?”

That’s the question that former F1 driver Derek Daly will address for parents of young drivers in a seminar Friday morning, December 12, at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, in Indianapolis. The seminar will be held from 8 to 9 a.m. in Room 212 of the Indiana Convention Center. Parents will leave this seminar knowing the critical steps to take to develop their driver.

Daly is the father of Conor Daly, a rising star who competed in GP2 in 2014. Conor won the Skip Barber National Championship and the Formula Star Mazda Championship.

Jeff Horton, director of engineering for the IndyCar series, whose son Chandler is also attempting to climb through the ranks to become a professional race car driver, will join Daly in sharing his insights on how to prepare a talented young driver for all the various demands on drivers at the top of the sport.

“We are very excited to have Derek and Jeff make this valuable young driver development seminar a part of this year’s PRI Trade Show,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “They really believe that racing should be doing all it can to develop the next generation of great drivers, so they’re giving their time, experience and expertise to share their best advice with parents who have talented young drivers in the family.”

The seminar will discuss a wide spectrum of necessary skills, from working with sponsors to dealing with the media. It is titled, “Developing My Driver For A Career As A Professional Race Car Driver.” There is no charge for admission to this seminar, but all attendees must have show credentials. The PRI Trade Show is not open to the public; it is for the racing trade only.

The Renegade Sprints series has hired Frankie Kerr, the NASCAR crew chief for a variety of drivers including Marcos Ambrose, as the series director.

Kerr drove to numerous sprint car series and track championships in Ohio along with five Ohio Speedweek titles before spending the past 15 years in the NASCAR industry.

"My love is still dirt racing," he said. "I've always wanted to get back to dirt and help racers. The heart of sprint car racing for the most part is in the central part of the United States—Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania. We're going to be a series that will grow."

Kerr will handle the competition director duties on race day along with other aspects of growing the series, such as scheduling races, enforcing rules, securing sponsorships, etc. Renegade Sprints President Shane Helms will remain as one of the series officers.

"All along the plan was to find the right guy for the job," Helms said. "I believe Frankie is that guy. He has a great reputation and a lot of contacts in racing. I'm happy to turn things over to him as the series continues to build momentum."

Kerr's most recent job has been as a crew chief for several top-notch drivers in NASCAR, including Ambrose, Robby Gordon and Bobby Labonte to name a few. That career path came on the heels of a standout sprint car career that ended abruptly following two decades behind the wheel.

"I won on a Tuesday night at Fremont Speedway (in Fremont, Ohio) and I retired the next day in the middle of Speedweek," he said. "Don't ask me why, but it just happened to turn out that way. I don't regret it because I've made a really good living for my family, but I still have that passion for dirt racing.

"I've stayed involved with a lot of people. I've stayed in contact with the sport. When the (Renegade Sprints) said they need someone to help with this I was glad to. Nothing compares to dirt racing. The series is going to grow and be profitable to the race tracks, promoters and the racers."

Cadillac’s 2015 motorsports plans are clear after the manufacturer on Friday revealed its all-new ATS-V.R GT3-spec race car.

Cadillac officials and drivers Andy Pilgrim and Johnny O’Connell were on hand at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas, for the unveiling to a small group of media. Both racers will return to drive for Cadillac Racing in the 2015 Pirelli World Challenge series following months of speculation that the manufacturer could take its racing effort elsewhere.

However, because the ATS-V.R is—as expected for some time—built to GT3 specifications, it is eligible for racing in no less than 30 various GT racing series around the world, giving Cadillac many options and much flexibility for an expanded competition future outside of World Challenge events. However, 2015 will serve as a development year for the ATS-V.R, so Cadillac officials do not plan to offer customer cars for sale next season, though they are evaluating such a program for the near future.

The race car’s unveiling came just days before Cadillac reveals the production model ATS-V coupe and sedan at this week’s Los Angeles Auto Show. The road cars go on sale next spring.

The ATS-V.R’s LF4.R engine will produce up to 600 hp when unrestricted, though it won’t make that much power in World Challenge trim. The V6 is the racing version of the LF3 twin-turbo 3.6-liter engine found already in Cadillac’s CTS Vsport production sedan. Upgrades for the GT3 car include larger, twin BorgWarner turbochargers, increased capacity intercoolers, competition engine management and a direct, side-exiting exhaust. The car features a weight distribution of 49 percent front, 51 percent rear, thanks in part to the Xtrac-built paddle-shift gearbox, a six-speed transaxle.

The steel unibody structure comes straight off the production assembly line at General Motor’s Lansing, Michigan, Grand River plant and then receives a full rollcage. The engine features several LF3 production parts, including cylinder heads, block, throttle bodies and some valvetrain parts that include the valves themselves, the cam drive and variable valve timing. The race car gets a second fuel pump; both of its dual fuel pumps come from GM’s family of turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Its carbon-fiber body panels are of course all race-car specific.

“The V-Series is the highest expression of Cadillac’s rising product substance,” said Johan de Nysschen, Cadillac president. “Elevating and expanding the V-Series is the next logical step in Cadillac’s growth, including this new race car developed in GT3-specification, enabling us to pursue racing on a more global scale.”

“This car sounds wicked and screams like it’s ripping holes in the air. I love it,” said Pilgrim, the 2005 World Challenge champion and fourth-place finisher in 2014. “We have paddle gear shifters for the first time, and I’m enjoying the new tools. The engine torque is remarkable, as always, pulling strongly out of the corners.”

To meet FIA GT3 specifications, Pratt & Miller Engineering, which runs Cadillac’s racing program, redesigned the ATS-V.R’s fenders to accommodate wide—315 mm front, 325 rear—FIA-mandated, 18-inch slick tires. Other modifications include an aggressive aero kit featuring a large rear wing and a carbon-fiber front splitter with corner-mounted dive planes. A full undertray directs air beneath the car to the rear diffuser.

O’Connell—the 2014 World Challenge champion—echoed teammate Pilgrim’s enthusiasm for the ATS-V.R, which despite the team also winning this year’s World Challenge manufacturers’ championship, will be much more suited to competing head to head with GT3 cars from McLaren, Bentley, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, Audi and BMW. Cadillac in 2014 at times struggled to keep its now-retired CTS-V.R on pace with its latest rivals.

“The Cadillac ATS-V.R is a 170-mph billboard for the next generation of Cadillac’s V-Series,” said O’Connell. “On top of its power, its aerodynamic package should pay off in the fast corners, and I’m looking forward to unleashing it.”

Following Cadillac’s reveal of the ATS-V coupe and sedan in Los Angeles, it will in January pull the wraps off of its next-generation CTS-V at the 2015 Detroit auto show.

David Cunliffe, managing director of Essex-based automotive specialist DC Electronics, has joined the executive committee of the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA).

Cunliffe was co-opted on to the committee at the MIA’s annual general meeting, which was held at the University of Warwick.

He is one of four new members to join the committee, with DC Electronics’ knowledge of the broader automotive, engineering and manufacturing sectors likely to prove valuable in helping to steer the association’s future endeavors.

Cunliffe said, “Being invited to be part of such a prestigious organization is a real honor. I am extremely passionate about the industry and delighted that I am now in the position to offer my skills and expertise to other members. The MIA is a vital organization within the motorsport industry.”

DC Electronics is one of the motorsport industry’s manufacturers of custom built electrical systems with nearly 20 years’ experience.

In addition to its main operating in Maldon, it also has a successful US production facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, and a worldwide distribution network for its products.

Products designed and built by the company have been used in championships worldwide, including NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, World Rally, Superbike and even F1 Powerboats.