The south entrance of New Hampshire Motor Speedway will begin to take on a new look once the snow melts. Speedway officials announced plans to break ground there for the future home of the 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art North East Motor Sports Museum.



The museum will be built in two phases. The first 10,000 square feet will begin in the spring of 2015, while an additional 10,000 square feet will be added at a later date.



“I can’t think of a better way to kick off our 25th anniversary celebration at New Hampshire Motor Speedway than with a groundbreaking for the North East Motor Sports Museum,” said Jerry Gappens, vice president and general manager of the speedway. “I feel our facility is the anchor for multi-forms of motorsports and its history here in New England. I couldn’t envision the museum in any other location. I can’t wait for opening day and to share motorsports history with the race fans of New England.”



NHMS will be celebrating a quarter century of racing in 2015. Tracing its roots back to the original 1/5-mile dirt oval at Bryar Motorsports Park, the more modernized 1.058-mile oval and 1.6-mile road course of today gives the affectionately known Magic Mile its own rich history of racing that makes it the perfect locale for such a project.


The speedway currently hosts everything from NASCAR’s three major touring series to regional series like the American-Canadian Tour, K&N Pro Series East, and Whelen Modified Tour to local racing series like the Granite State Legends Cars, Bandoleros, and Loudon Road Race Series (motorcycles). IndyCar and the Global RallyCross Championship have also held events at the speedway over the years, as well as various car clubs, racing schools, and driving experiences.



“The goal of the museum is top cover all aspects of motorsports from this area, not just NASCAR or drag racing but any and all racing that has taken place here in New England,” said Dick Berggren, president of the NEMSM. “Much of the racing history for the Northeast has been lost over time and we want to make sure that what we can find of the sport’s history is preserved for generations to come.”



The RHPG, the parent corporation for the NEMSM, is made up of local prominent motorsports personalities, including Berggren, Ricky Craven, Lew Boyd, Joe Freeman, Ken Smith, Russ Conway and Ric Mariscal to name a few.


The NEMSM will be used to house the history of motorsports from the Northeast area with a plethora of displays, vehicles and racing-related artifacts.



To learn more about the North East Motor Sports Museum or to donate, visit the museum website at www.nemsmuseum.com.

Kentucky Trailer announced Advanced Mobility & Shelter Technologies, LLC ("Advanced Mobility") and a complementary mobile medical and specialty vehicle field service operation as the newest forces in its diversified set of products and services. Kentucky Trailer is a manufacturer of custom trailers and truck bodies. The acquisitions of these two specialty vehicle, truck, and trailer operations add world-class mobile medical and specialty vehicle field service expertise to its focus on delivering exceptional custom design, build and service solutions. The company's leadership is dedicated to assuring customers that service to all product lines is delivered with excellence.
 
"Advanced Mobility and the field service operation provide Kentucky Trailer with an enhanced position in the mobile medical imaging category and expanded capabilities that we can provide to new and existing customers," commented Gary A. Smith, Sr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kentucky Trailer. "The relationship we formed with Alleghany Capital Corporation in August 2013 was instrumental in providing us the resources necessary to acquire these businesses."
 
Acquired on September 30, the field service operation engages in mobile medical and specialty vehicle field service and repair. This acquisition provides Kentucky Trailer with five additional field technicians who travel throughout North America, Europe, Asia, along with strong operational leadership.
 
"We are delighted to have the opportunity to join Kentucky Trailer," said Larry Brewer, Director of Aftermarket Sales and Service for the field service operation. "Our experienced group of field service personnel is an excellent fit for the Kentucky Trailer Specialty Vehicles division providing premium customer service to the specialty vehicles market."
 
Acquired on October 22, Advanced Mobility designs and builds custom trailers and specialty vehicles primarily for mobile medical and television/broadcast markets. Combining forces with Advanced Mobility provides Kentucky Trailer with an emerging market leadership position in the mobile medical imaging category. The transaction allows Kentucky Trailer to gain access to a global sales footprint, a 31,000-square-foot facility located at Advanced Mobility's Illinois-based headquarters, as well as a dedicated staff of 38 full-time service professionals and engineers. To date, Advanced Mobility has manufactured and refurbished hundreds of mobile units for all medical shared service providers as well as numerous broadcast customers. Advanced Mobility's strong and original equipment manufacturer relationships include Philips, GE, Toshiba, and Siemens which have been crucial in developing and mobilizing new products for the US and International markets. Advanced Mobility has exported mobile units to Israel, Canada and South Korea.
 
Bob Bachman, President of Advanced Mobility, added, "This is a natural next-step for Advanced Mobility as the scope of our operations has grown and allows us to continue our partnership with major medical equipment and television broadcast companies in providing highly valued products and services. Joining Kentucky Trailer, a company that believes in the strength of our people, will provide us with the resources to continue expanding our global business and the ability to enhance opportunities for our employees."
 
"Joining forces with these exceptionally talented medical and specialty trailer professionals allows Kentucky Trailer to deliver unparalleled product quality and quick response service anywhere in the world," said Charles Ducas, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing, & Business Development for Kentucky Trailer. "These combined forces represent our long-term investment in building products more quickly, meeting the demands of the industry and providing superior value to our customers. Kentucky Trailer's expanding aftermarket service capabilities are unique in the marketplace and we are confident that they will set the standard in the specialty trailer industry going forward."

VIRginia International Raceway, one of America’s premier road courses, announced the spectator race schedule for 2015. Kicking off in April, the 2015 schedule is one of VIR’s most prominent to date, featuring 10 exceptional events.

As just recently announced, pro motorcycle racing will return to VIR with the MotoAmerica Road Racing event in May. The race weekend will be the fourth stop in the nine-track series, and is expected to again be one of VIR’s largest spectator events.

Additionally, two major events will return to the southern Virginia track in late summer for back-to-back high-octane weekends. The TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will once again return to VIR Aug. 21 to 23 as one of 12 stops in the series. In addition to the GTLM/GTD race, the Oak Tree Grand Prix, the three days of racing will also feature several support series, including the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and Lamborghini Super Trofeo.

The following weekend, the Biscuitville 125 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, which features some of NASCAR’s most talented up-and-coming stars, will return to VIR for a third year.

“We’re thrilled to once again host the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Biscuitville 125 and welcome MotoAmerica to this year’s slate of amazing spectator events in what will undoubtedly be one of VIRginia International Raceway’s best seasons yet,” said Connie Nyholm, owner and CEO of VIR. “Attendance numbers continue to dramatically grow as a direct result of the ever-increasing caliber of races and fans really getting to know the beauty of all VIR has to offer. We look forward to continuing that tradition with huge crowds throughout 2015.”

VIR’s full spectator schedule for 2015 is as follows:

April 17-19, The Sports Car Club of America Majors Tour

May 15-17, MotoAmerica Road Racing Series

June 5-7, North American Road Racing Association

June 13-14, Championship Cup Series Motorcycle Road Racing

August 7-9, Chumpcar 24 Hour, Champ Truck

August 21-23, Oak Tree Grand Prix / TUDOR United Sports Car Championship, Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo

August 29, Biscuitville 125 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East

September 4-6, National Auto Sport Association Championships, presented by Toyo Tires

September 19-20, Championship Cup Series Motorcycle Road Racing

September 25-27, Heacock Classic Gold Cup, presented by the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association

Additional information on ticket availability, support series, hotel packages and more will be announced as they’re available.

The Indiana Racing Memorial Association (IRMA) invites the public to attend the dedication of a historical marker commemorating the life of Shelbyville native and three-time Indy 500 winner Wilbur Shaw Saturday at 10 a.m. near the grandstands of the Shelby County Fairgrounds, 500 Frank Street in Shelbyville.

The famous Shaw Maserati from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum will be on display at the marker's unveiling, which is free of charge.

Following the unveiling, the Shelby County Tourism and Visitors' Bureau will host a function in the Women's Building at the Fairgrounds that includes a luncheon for the nominal charge of $10. Films about Wilbur Shaw and IRMA will be available for viewing at 11 a.m., followed by the lunch at 11:30 a.m. That program also includes a talk about Shaw by Donald Davidson, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's historian.

Tickets to the luncheon can be reserved by calling the Visitors' Bureau at (317) 398-9623. All proceeds will support IRMA's mission of erecting historical markers to memorialize the people, places, and events that made Indiana the racing capital of the world.

Following the lunch, the public is encouraged to attend the opening of an exhibit on Shaw at the Grover Museum, 52 W. Broadway Street in Shelbyville. The family of 1932 AAA National Champion Bob Carey organized the exhibit in conjunction with the museum, which is operated by the Shelby County Historical Society. Carey was one of Shaw's contemporaries. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are accepted.

Although Shaw's accomplishments on the track were certainly impressive, his work to save the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was equally impressive.

"Without Wilbur Shaw, there is not a doubt in my mind that there would not be an Indianapolis Motor Speedway," said Brian Hasler, one of IRMA's founders. "His contributions to motorsports in Indiana are immeasurable.

"During the second World War, racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway came to a halt, and conditions at the Speedway deteriorated almost to the point of no return," Hasler continued.  "Developers were looking at the land to develop into housing. Wilbur Shaw talked Tony Hulman into purchasing the track from Eddie Rickenbacker in 1945 and restoring it. Hulman did just that, and with Hulman as the owner and Shaw as the president and general manager, they saved the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by putting on a highly successful race in 1946. In a nutshell, that explains Wilbur Shaw's significance in racing not only in Indiana, but across the world!"

Shaw was born in Shelbyville on Oct. 31, 1902, and raised there. He was 7 when he participated in his first race, which was a goat-cart race (not go-kart) at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. He didn't have the fastest goat that day but he went on to win the Indy 500 in 1937, 1939 and 1940. His victory in 1939 in a Maserati 8CTF marked the first time an Italian car had ever won America's most important race. He was president of IMS from 1945 until he died in an airplane crash near Decatur, Ind. on Oct. 30, 1954, one day before his 52nd birthday. He was survived by his wife, Cathleen (Boots), and his son, Warren Wilbur Shaw Jr., who goes by Bill. He was buried in Vernon, Ind.

IRMA is a not-for-profit organization organized in December 2013. This is its second marker.

Fans who aren't able to attend Saturday's dedication may still make a donation in any amount or join IRMA through the organization's Web site at IndianaRacing.org. All major credit cards and PayPal are accepted. A one-year's membership in IRMA costs $25.

Haas F1 Team has made a key hire in its executive ranks, naming Adam Jacobs chief marketing officer. Jacobs will lead brand strategy and partnership development for Haas F1 Team, which will make its debut in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in 2016, becoming the first American-led Formula One team in 30 years.
 
Jacobs comes to Haas F1 Team from Anheuser-Busch where he was the sports marketing manager for the company’s Budweiser brand in NASCAR and the Bud Light brand in the NFL and college sports. In that role, Jacobs oversaw sponsorship programs collectively valued in the billions, which included Budweiser’s sponsorship of Kevin Harvick in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Bud Light Hotel during Super Bowl XLVIII in New York City.
 
“Adam came highly recommended to Haas F1 Team and he brings a wealth of sports marketing experience to our organization,” said Joe Custer, chief operating officer, Haas F1 Team. “The projects Adam has overseen are global in scope, involving numerous partners and constituencies. He’s built great relationships during his career and we’re proud to have him at Haas F1 Team.”
 
Jacobs has amassed extensive experience in and around the sports industry within the corporate, property, agency and academic settings. Prior to his role at Anheuser-Busch, Jacobs joined the NFL’s St. Louis Rams in 2006 as director of marketing before becoming the team’s vice president in 2009. He has also held positions at the Indy Racing League, General Motors R*Works, Washington Mutual Bank and the Miami Fusion of Major League Soccer. Jacobs has been a member of the Sports Business Advisory Board at Saint Louis University since 2008 and has been an adjunct professor of sports business at the school since 2010.
 
“It’s a great opportunity to develop and launch a global brand in an organization led by someone as driven and accomplished as Gene Haas,” Jacobs said. “With strong support and leadership already in place, Haas F1 Team is clearly positioned for success. I look forward to helping shape the ways we achieve that success on and off the racetrack.”
 
Jacobs graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1998 and is a member of the university’s Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors awarded to students by the Division of Student Affairs.
 
Haas F1 Team is currently preparing for its on-track debut in 2016. Haas Automation, Inc., the CNC machine tool builder Haas F1 Team chairman Gene Haas founded in 1983, will serve as the team’s primary sponsor. However, Jacobs is positioning the team to partner with other high-profile brands that desire to reach a global audience.
 
“One of our key objectives as the only American F1 team is to help grow the sport domestically,” Jacobs said. “With the massive global reach of Formula One, Haas F1 Team is also uniquely positioned to provide a platform for brands seeking to grow their businesses in key markets abroad.”
 
While the 2016 Formula One season is more than a year out, preparation for Haas F1 Team’s debut is well underway. Work is nearing completion on an 11.600 square-meter (125,000 square-foot) facility adjacent to Haas’ NASCAR team in Kannapolis, North Carolina, that will house the Haas F1 Team. Construction is scheduled to be completed in late November.
 

Aeromotive Inc. announced the appointment of Kyle Fickler as its new Director of Business Development. Fickler will oversee all Sales Reps, Product Training and OE Business.

“We are excited to welcome Kyle back to our team,” said Aeromotive Founder and President, Steve Matusek. “I have known Kyle for quite some time and have a great deal of respect for him. We are looking for him to have a positive impact on our business and help us continue to mature as a company.”

Fickler was employed at Aeromotive Inc. for 8 years prior to leaving to serve as VP of Sales at Weld Racing, a position he held for 6 years. He currently sits on the SEMA Board of Directors after serving as the Chairman of the SEMA Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC), as well as serves on the NHRA Performance Aftermarket Advisory Council (PAAC).



Fickler is an active NHRA Super Comp racer, but loves all forms of motorsports. He can be found at an event almost every weekend or assisting his wife and daughter in their motorsports endeavors.

“It’s this level of passion, commitment and experience that we hope to take advantage of,” said Jack Hylton, Aeromotive CEO. “Kyle’s passion and technical capability allows him to step back in to help assure that Aeromotive distributors are fully up to speed with our ever expanding product depth.”



Fickler’s first active role as Aeromotive Director of Business Development will be at the 2014 SEMA Show where he will have the opportunity to sit down with the Aeromotive reps, distributors and enthusiasts.


Iowa Speedway announced the addition of the United States Auto Club (USAC) Silver Crown Series to its action-packed 2015 schedule. The legends of open wheel racing return to “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” on Saturday, June 20, 2015. The event will mark the first USAC Silver Crown Series event at Iowa Speedway since the 2012 Casey’s General Stores USAC Challenge race.

“The Silver Crown Series has a long, rich tradition in this region and we’re extremely pleased to have them back in central Iowa,” said Iowa Speedway President Jimmy Small. “We want longtime fans to reconnect with the excitement they experienced seeing former USAC racers such as Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Don White from Keokuk, Iowa as they raced in these beautiful machines. At the same time, we want to introduce new fans to this classic form of racing, one we are certain they’ll enjoy.”

When USAC last appeared at the 7/8-mile asphalt paved tri-oval, Bobby East thrilled fans when he took the checkered flag for the third time at Iowa Speedway.

In 2015, the 12-14 degree compound banking in the turns of Iowa Speedway will pose a tremendous challenge for the Silver Crown drivers. The cars will be capable of reaching speeds of 180 miles per hour. Kody Swanson set the Iowa Speedway Silver Crown track record with an average lap speed of 146.212 mph in 2012. The maximum speeds of 180 mph happen generally toward the end of the straightaways. Drivers accelerate all the way down the straight, reaching top speed just before braking to enter the turn. It’s anticipated that all-time USAC speed records will be shattered as the cars take on “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet.”

“Iowa Speedway is one of the premier facilities in motorsports and having it as part of our list of Silver Crown venues is the next step as we continue to elevate the series profile," said series coordinator Andy Hillenburg. "The past USAC races at Iowa Speedway are a big part of USAC's history in the Hawkeye State and the races there have always been competitive and memorable. We look forward to the anticipated speed records and great racing we plan to offer the Iowa race fans in 2015."

Hillenburg was named series coordinator for USAC last December. He remains a team owner in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. As a USAC Silver Crown Series driver in the late 1980s, he amassed more than 20 top-10 finishes. He also made several starts in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series.

The Silver Crown Series will cap a spectacular weekend of racing at Iowa Speedway that includes the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Friday, June 19, 2015. The 2014 American Ethanol 200 presented by Enogen saw rising NASCAR star Erik Jones pick up his first victory of the season, out racing championship contenders Ryan Blaney and Matt Crafton.

Once the 2015 Iowa Speedway schedule is completed; more details, including on-sale dates and season ticket holder renewal information, will be announced. Iowa Speedway will continue to focus on enhancing the fan experience, and will build upon successful improvements made in 2014.

Circle K, one of the nation’s premier convenience retailers, has renewed its title sponsorship of the NHRA Winternationals.

The tradition-rich season-opening event for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, scheduled for February 5-8 at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California, the Circle K NHRA Winternationals is always a fan-favorite event where NHRA race teams unveil their new cars, sponsors and paint schemes and begin their quest to win NHRA world championship titles.

The Circle K NHRA Winternationals, which will be televised to a national audience on ESPN2, is one of the most iconic NHRA events, having been contested annually at the Los Angeles County Fairplex dragstrip since 1961. Many of the greatest stars in NHRA drag racing have won the event, including Don “The Snake” Prudhomme, “Big Daddy” Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Bob Glidden, Kenny Bernstein, John Force and Tony Schumacher.

“The Circle K NHRA Winternationals is one of the most popular and highly anticipated races of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “Circle K has a great presence throughout Southern California and has proved to be a terrific partner in activating throughout the marketplace.”

This year, the Sixth Annual Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge Championships are split into a Dual Championship format, in which teams will compete at both the SEMA Show (Nov. 4-7, Las Vegas) and the PRI Show (Dec. 11-13, Indianapolis). From each Dual Championship two teams will emerge. These four teams will face off for the 2014 Engine Challenge Championship starting on Friday, December 12th at 5 p.m., and two additional rounds on Saturday at the 2014 PRI Show.

With the SEMA Show quickly approaching, teams are gearing up for the competition. To have a chance at being a championship finalist, teams will likely need to complete the high performance engine rebuild in less than 20 minutes.

Fifteen teams will compete at the SEMA Show beginning with the first heat on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Heats continue through Wednesday and Thursday. Each team will compete a total of four times with their slowest time being thrown out, and the other three runs averaged together. The top two teams with the best average times will move on to PRI Show to compete against the top two teams from PRI.

“The Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge is a great program fueled by the young men and woman that compete in it,” SEMA’s Zane Clark, elaborated. As the Director of Education he is looking forward to the Dual Championship being a part of the SEMA Show. “The new format of having the SEMA Show Champions compete again at the PRI Show against their Champs will be very exciting and showcase the tremendous skills of the these young builders, while offering a rewarding end to their hard work and dedication. The industry supported scholarships are a tremendous incentive for the qualifying participants and helps to offset the expenses of pursuing a career in the automotive industry.”

“Ohio Technical College is proud to have been a sponsor of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge since the first competition at SEMA,” OTC’s Director of Enrollment Management, Tom King said. “It’s a great opportunity to see young people learning and working as a team to prove themselves and we are excited to provide scholarship opportunities to these students again this year.”

Three million dollars in scholarship money is available to the 34 teams competing in the Dual Championship thanks to Hot Rodders of Tomorrow partners Ohio Technical College (OTC), School of Automotive Machinist (SAM) and the University of Northwest Ohio (UNOH).

“The University of Northwestern Ohio is proud to be an active sponsor of the Hot Rodders Of Tomorrow Competition at the 2014 SEMA Show,” added UNOH’s Donald Lowden. “We are offering scholarships to the talented students who place in the competition to help further their education in High Performance Technology. Good luck to all the participants.”

Each member of the winning team will receive $10,000 in scholarship opportunities from each college partner.

“The School of Automotive Machinists is happy to support high school students who are excited about the automotive industry,” said Kim Klevenhagen, Director of Development at SAM. “We hope these students will continue their automotive training and go on to work in the motorsport industry.”


Results from the SEMA Show will be posted at www.hotroddersoftomorrow.com.

With an eye to further promote and grow the Pirelli World Challenge GTS class for 2015 and beyond, WC Vision has announced some exciting changes for the class for next season.
 
Back in 2010 and the inaugural season of competition for the class, a total of four full season entrants competed for the overall drivers championship. Fast forward four years and the GTS class has been the fastest growing segment for the series with fields regularly topping 25 cars competing for the championship in 2014.
 
Starting in 2015, the GTS class will run separate of the GT classes with its own 50 minute races and receive its own exclusive TV coverage, and expanded social media and marketing focus. A forthcoming TV broadcast announcement will be made that will highlight expanded coverage dedicated to the GTS class.
 
"I believe that the separation of the classes (GT/GT-A/GT Cup and GTS) will help even further evolve the Pirelli World Challenge as we head into the 2015 season," said Jack Roush Jr., driver of the No. 60 Roush Road Racing Ford Mustang Boss 302R. "In any given race, there's always much more for the announcers to talk about than they could ever realistically cover. The separation of classes will allow them to give more coverage to both GT/GT-A/GT Cup and GTS. The benefit here is clear for both sponsors and fans.
 
"Being a driver in the series, I also look forward to the way that this will change the races themselves," added Roush Jr. "It's a simple fact that the more cars you have on track, the more yellow flag laps and chaos you are likely to have. With the new single class format, we should stand to see more green flag laps and less random chance affecting the race results."
 
"I think it's a good move by the series to separate the GTS class from the GT class to put it on a pedestal of its own with dedicated 50 minute races, TV broadcast and marketing and promotions," said Leo Capaldi, Team Owner, Capaldi Racing. "Plus I think the racing in the GTS class will only continue to improve now that we won't have GT cars slicing and dicing through the field. This past season, we had more than a few instances where GT and GTS cars unfortunately came together and it hurt some of the competitors on both sides of the fence, so the split will help.
 
"Capaldi Racing returned to PWC a few years ago after running with another series because of the better exposure it offers for our sponsors. With this new split format in 2015 for GTS it will just make it even more valuable to our partners and help our team to grow."
 
The 2015 Pirelli World Challenge schedule will feature 10 weekends, including five standalone events at North America's most challenging and legendary permanent road courses and temporary street circuits.
 
2015 Pirelli World Challenge Schedule

March 6-8 — Circuit of The Americas**

March 27-29 — St. Petersburg*

April 17-19 — Long Beach* (GT/GT-Cup Only)

April 24-26 — Barber Motorsports Park*

May 15-17 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park**

June 26-28 — Road America**

July 31-Aug. 2 — Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course*

Aug. 21-23 — Miller Motorsports Park**

Aug. 28-30 — Sonoma Raceway*

Sept. 11-13 — Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca**

*Events with IndyCar

**PWC Headline Events