Chip Ganassi Racing Teams (CGRT) is hosting an invitation-only social media concert featuring Republic Nashville recording artist and former winner of The Voice Cassadee Pope at the team’s Concord, N.C. headquarters on Sept. 8. The concert for 300 social media and millennial influencers called Ganassi Sound Garage: a Digi Bash, will be hosted by the team’s lineup of young NASCAR drivers Kyle Larson (22, @KyleLarsonRacin) and Dylan Kwasniewski (19, @dylankracing) and INDYCAR driver Sage Karam (19, @sagekaram).

The event, which will be emceed by FOX Sports 1 television personality Kaitlyn Vincie, will be streamed live beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET on www.nascar.com, www.indycar.com and www.chipganassiracing.com for all fans to enjoy.

NOTES OF INTEREST

What a Bash: A limited number of tickets are being given away by the drivers on Twitter and on the team’s social media outlets (Twitter - @cgrteams and Instagram - @chipganassiracing) for fans to come walk the red carpet and show off their style, mix and mingle like a VIP and take selfies with Cassadee, Kyle, Dylan and Sage. Fans will also have the opportunity to show their social influence to the world with #soundgarage posts being displayed on duel screens flanking the stage during the event.

About the Drivers: Karam was signed to CGRT earlier this year and scored the team’s highest finish in the Indianapolis 500 as a rookie (ninth). He is the latest to be added to a growing lineup of development drivers that includes 22-year-old graduate Kyle Larson (No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series) and 19-year-old Dylan Kwasniewski (No. 31 RockStar Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Nationwide Series).

Cassadee Behind the Music: Cassadee Pope is the 2014 CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year winner. Her Republic Nashville album Frame by Frame debuted at #1 on the Top Country Album charts, and she was the first country female vocalist in over five years to sell over one million copies of a debut single with “Wasting all These Tears.” Pope’s unique vocals and powerful performances stole the national spotlight during Season 3 of “The Voice.” Excelling throughout the competition, Pope displayed diverse musical tastes and talents, covering such songs as “Stupid Boy” (Keith Urban) and “I’m With You” (Avril Lavigne). Her version of the Country hit “Over You” (Miranda Lambert) was one of three Voice performances that catapulted to the #1 spot on the iTunes All-Genre Chart, further proving Pope’s wide consumer appeal and vocal prowess. The talented singer/songwriter has already appeared on TODAY, Live! with Kelly & Michael, The Tonight Show and performed with Train on NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH CARSON DALY.

The Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon was delayed at the request of the buyer, NeXovation, and Dover Motorsports has issued an Oct. 25 deadline to close the deal.

The Nashville Business Journal reported the development last week, and it was confirmed Monday by NeXovation public relations director Chris Goodrich.

It is unclear what happens if the deadline is not met, but it is assumed the sale will be voided and Dover will retain ownership of the troubled Gladeville facility that has sat idle for three years.

The Business Journal reported, “The would-be buyer of the Nashville Superspeedway has been given more time to complete the deal.”

Citing a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the report said the $45.8 million deal between track owner Dover Motorsports Inc. and Nashville-based NeXovation was announced in May. Under the deal, NeXovation is to pay Dover Motorsports $27 million in cash and assume $18.8 million in outstanding bond obligations owned to Wilson County.

According to the Business Journal, NeXovation could choose to back out of the deal before the Dover deadline. “NeXovation has until Oct. 7 to terminate the agreement and still retain its deposit should certain closing conditions go unsatisfied.”

Hendersonville resident Robb Sexton, founder and CEO of NeXovation, declined comment on the situation.

Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn on Monday indicated he is not concerned by the delay.

“They asked for 30 more days to complete due diligence re-surveys, county rights of way and a small family cemetery that remains on the site,” McGlynn said. “No issues with the title or environmental, so everything seems on track.”

There was no mention of any such potential snags when Sexton announced May 28 he was buying the track.

At that time Sexton said he had big plans for its future. He said the facility would operate year-round and hold a variety of events in addition to motorsports. He promised to reveal more details at a July press conference.

July came and went, with no press conference and no explanation, fueling speculation that something was amiss.

“I suspect that the checkered flag has been waved on the last race at Nashville Superspeedway,” said Terrell Davis, editor of Middle Tennessee Racing News who broke the story about the track coming to Gladeville 15 years ago.

“Mr. Sexton’s reluctance to disclose any basic details of a business plans sends signals that this deal, if there ever was a deal, was more wistful thinking than anything else – on his part, as well as Dover’s. I hope I’m wrong and the deal does close, but I’m highly skeptical.”

Dover’s original plan called for a dirt track, short track and drag strip in addition to the 1.3-mile superspeedway and an infield road course. But only the latter two were completed.

The track struggled with poor attendance from its opening in 2001. Although there is a large area fan following for NASCAR’s premier Sprint Cup Series, the second- and third-tier Nationwide and truck races failed to draw.

Despite stirring fans’ hopes, the track never had a realistic chance of landing a Cup race.
The Indy Racing League raced at the Superspeedway for eight seasons, but drew only slightly better than the minor league NASCAR races.

At the end of the 2011 season, Dover suspended racing operations. Since then, the track has sat idle, except for occasional use by some NASCAR teams for test sessions.

IRG Sports + Entertainment (IRG) President & CEO, Jason Rittenberry, announced that the company has entered into a finance agreement with TPG Specialty Lending (NYSE:TSLX), the publicly traded affiliate of TSSP, the credit and special situations investment platform of TPG. The new credit facility is replacing IRG's existing debt facilities on all companies, make capital improvements to existing assets owned by the company and to close on the acquisition of Cordova Dragway Park in Cordova, Illinois (to be rebranded as Cordova International Raceway (CIR)), that was announced in late 2013. The TPG facility also provides the company with funds to purchase an additional major motorsports venue, which the company will announce in the coming weeks.
 
The addition of Cordova adds to the existing stable of motorsports assets owned by IRG, which includes the 44-year old sanctioning body, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), previously purchased from Feld Motorsports, and venues Palm Beach International Raceway in Jupiter, FL, Memphis International Raceway in Memphis, TN, and Southwestern International Raceway (SWIR) in Tucson, AZ .
 
A new division in the IRG portfolio for 2014, IRGSE Productions, with subsidiary IHRA Productions was launched this year to produce the Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series television show for MAVTV. This new show will debut on the popular automotive network on November 6, 2014, as a 13-week series.
 
"The ability to access additional capital allows us to fund and accelerate our growth plans for IRG. We have been aggressive with acquisitions in the past few years," noted Rittenberry. "This funding will allow us to improve those venues—and complete our planned acquisitions of Cordova and one additional major motorsports venue, in addition to improving our IHRA national tours and introducing new content."
 
The company is now sufficiently capitalized to begin the $10 million in capital improvements with the majority scheduled to be completed in time for the 2015 racing season. The planned capital improvements include:

• Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR) - a clubhouse with pit garages and operations tower on the Road Course, concession and restroom buildings, ingress and egress improvements, additional grandstands for the Road Course, new LED monument signage at entrance
• Memphis International Raceway (MIR) - the addition of a 3/8-mile dirt track, restroom and concession remodeling
• Southwestern International Raceway (SWIR) - new restroom building and office building, renovated restaurant and pit repairs
• Cordova International Raceway (CIR) - new fiber optic timing and LED scoreboards, additional grandstands, resurfacing of the Drag Strip
• IHRA Motorsports (IHRA) - additional track preparation equipment and rigs; new lighting, sound and stage equipment; development of new show content and a national touring series; growth of IHRA Productions and new media content.
 
"TPG Specialty Lending looks forward to working with IRG to grow its business over the next few years," said TPG Specialty Lending Managing Director Thomas Steiglehner.
 
IRG was represented in the financing by a team of lawyers led by Matthew Pace at Arent Fox LLP in New York, who has been working with the company for several years in developing the plan for IRG and introduced existing client, TPG, to IRG. TPG Specialty Lending was represented by Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP in New York. Murray Schwartz, Esq. of Karlinsky, LLC in New York and Steve Parson of Shutts Bowen in west Palm Beach, FL, represented IRG in the acquisitions of the venues.  
 
In addition to providing financing to the Company, TPG Specialty Lending will join IRG principals Joseph Lubeck, Michael Dezer and the DeBartolo family, along with Rittenberry and Schwartz, on the Board of IRG.

ARCA has announced the enhanced structure of its Competition Department, including the addition of industry veteran Grayling Call and alignment of the responsibilities of longtime department leaders Joe Wells and Bobby Thomsen.

The moves are designed to best position ARCA for efficient management of its on-track product while introducing innovations to address cost containment, safety and maintaining the quality level of competition, with a focus on its flagship tour the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Call joins ARCA as Director of Competition and Race Technology and will be instrumental in developing and implementing the platform for current and future race car technology, including the ARCA Ilmor 396 engine. He is an Ohio native and former sprint car driver who, after working as an ARCA Racing Series official, further developed his skills as a race official and technical inspector in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series for nearly 15 years.

Call will work alongside Wells, ARCA’s director of Race Operations and Administration. Wells is a second-generation ARCA official whose tenure with the company began in the 1980s and whose experience in race organization and administration complement his network of relationships with race teams, track personnel and sanctioning body officials. Both will report to Jeff Brehmer, ARCA Executive Vice President. Thomsen’s responsibilities as Manager of Technical and Operations Services will see him continue to be hands-on in key Competition Department areas including race car technical inspection, development and training of racing officials, logistics and equipment management. He will report to Call.

“Bringing Grayling Call aboard provides us with the ability to best distribute the increasing responsibilities of the Competition Department across key team members with a focus on utilizing their respective strengths,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “In Joe Wells and Bobby Thomsen, ARCA has two proven professionals and seasoned leaders who are integral members of our team. ARCA’s core product is quality on-track racing, and our goal is to continue to make our core product better. We are proud of ARCA’s rich history of over six decades in motorsports, and we look forward to Grayling, Joe and Bobby each playing a key role in ARCA’s continued growth and development.”

ZOOM Motorsports announced that George Dennis has been hired as president of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. Dennis will replace Rick Humphrey and will oversee all races and events at Barber Motorsports Park, along with Five Star Event Catering, the catering division of ZOOM Motorsports.

Dennis spent the last two years serving as general manager for the Blazer IMG Sports Network and area sales for the Auburn IMG Sports Network. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at Talladega Superspeedway, home to two annual races on the NASCAR circuit, as the senior director of sales and marketing. Also holding sales and marketing positions within the Birmingham Barons Baseball Club, The Birmingham News and Kimberly Clark Corporation, Dennis comes to Bruno Event Team with a wide range of experience in sales and marketing.

“George has an excellent background in the sports industry, and he is a natural fit as the leader of ZOOM Motorsports,” stated Gene Hallman, CEO of ZOOM Motorsports. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him join our team and oversee our event management of this world-class facility at Barber Motorsports Park.”

Among the many events at Barber Motorsports Park that Dennis will oversee is the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, an event that has been named “Alabama Event of the Year” by the Alabama Tourism Department. With more than 80,000 fans traveling from all fifty states for the three-day race weekend, it has become a fan-favorite race on the Verizon IndyCar Series circuit.

Another popular race held at Barber Motorsports Park is the Barber Vintage Festival presented by Triumph Dealers of North America. In what has become the largest vintage motorcycle festival in North America, the 2014 event will take place October 10–12, and will welcome motorcycle collectors and enthusiasts from all around the world at the world-famous Barber Motorsports Park.

“I am extremely excited to join the team at ZOOM Motorsports and return to the motorsports industry,” Dennis stated. “Barber Motorsports Park is one of the finest road courses in North America, and I look forward to enhancing its great reputation during the 2015 season and beyond.”

Dennis will begin his role at ZOOM Motorsports on Oct. 13.

WC Vision announced a five-year partnership with VP Racing Fuels as the Official Fuel Supplier of Pirelli World Challenge. Starting with the 2015 season, all series race cars across all classes will run on VP Racing Fuels.
 
The agreement, which runs through the 2019 season, includes a number of partner marketing elements including the VP Racing Fuels "Hard Charger" Award to be presented to the driver who gains the most positions during each race and the VP Racing Fuels "Acceleration Cone," an element that will be mentioned by series commentators during each race broadcast. Additionally, VP Racing Fuels branded checkered flags will be used at all series races.
 
"After working with Scott Bove over the last couple of years to accomplish this, we're thrilled to begin a five-year partnership with such a fast-growing, progressive series," said Bruce Hendel, Director-Consumer Product Sales for VP Racing Fuels. "With production-based cars running VP's street performance fuels, the Pirelli World Challenge Championship Series provides a great platform for promoting our retail VP-branded gas stations and convenience stores, as well as our Madditives line of performance chemicals. And no one is more excited about our partnership than our founder, Steve Burns, a passionate road racer who plans to compete in the series starting in 2015."
 
"We are excited to sign this partnership with VP Racing Fuels," said WC Vision President and CEO Scott Bove. "I've been talking with Steve and Bruce now for a couple of years about an agreement that would be a true partnership, with us pulling together to promote both of our brands and not just a supplier arrangement.  I'm happy to say we got it done and I look forward to working with them."
 

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series announces that the 2015 schedule has been released. The premier national touring dirt late model series has 49 confirmed dates on the schedule in 2015. Traveling to 34 venues in 20 states during 2015, the series will see the largest number of events in its existence. Series officials have worked hard to complete the schedule and release it to the public, so that racers, promoters, and all of the great fans of the series can start making plans to attend LOLMDS races in 2015.
 
The series returns to Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, GA for the "Super Bowl of Racing" to kick off the 2015 season. The stars and cars of the LOLMDS are set to invade the 4/10 mile South Georgia speed-plant for two action packed nights of racing on Friday and Saturday, February 6th and 7th.  There will also be an open practice night on Thursday, February 5th for all divisions.

After two nights of racing at the Super Bowl of Racing is complete in South Georgia, the series will then head even further south to the famed "Clay by the Bay" - for the running of the 39th Annual East Bay Winternationals at East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, FL. There will be a practice session on Sunday night, February 8th - before the racing action begins on Monday night, February 9th - followed by six straight nights of racing, concluding on Saturday night, February 14th.
 
The 2015 series schedule will include eleven races that will pay $20,000 to win (or more). The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is proud to sanction some of the sport's biggest super dirt late model events of the year, including:  the Bad Boy 98 ($20,000 to win);  Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 ($30,000 to win);  Clash at the Mag ($20,000 to win), Silver Dollar Nationals ($32,000 to win), North/South 100 ($50,000 to win), Topless 100 ($40,000 to win), Hillbilly Hundred ($25,000 to win), Pittsburgher 100 ($20,000 to win), Jackson 100 ($20,000 to win), Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals ($40,000 to win) and the season finale - Dirt Track World Championship ($50,000 to win).
 
"We are thrilled to release our 2015 schedule. We're extremely honored to have such great relationships with our promoters, from all over the country, that worked so diligently to help us get the schedule to completion. We feel that we have the best show in Dirt Late Model Racing, and I can't thank our promoters, my staff, our drivers, car owners, sponsors, and of course, our many great fans enough for their continued support. Lucas Oil Products and our Team Lucas partners have put together a great infrastructure for making the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series the best national late model touring series in the country," stated Ritchie Lewis, Director, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

2015 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Tour Schedule
 
February 6, Golden Isles Speedway, Super Bowl of Racing, Brunswick, GA, $10,000

February 7, Golden Isles Speedway, Super Bowl of Racing, Brunswick, GA, $10,000

February 9, East Bay Raceway Park, 39th Annual Winternationals, Tampa, FL, $5,000

February 10, East Bay Raceway Park, 39th Annual Winternationals, Tampa, FL, $5,000

February 11, East Bay Raceway Park, 39th Annual Winternationals, Tampa, FL, $7,000

February 12, East Bay Raceway Park, 39th Annual Winternationals, Tampa, FL, $7,000

February 13, East Bay Raceway Park, 39th Annual Winternationals, Tampa, FL, $10,000

February 14, East Bay Raceway Park, 39th Annual Winternationals, Tampa, FL, $10,000

March 20, Atomic Speedway, Chillicothe, OH, $10,000

March 21, Brownstown Speedway, 18th Annual Indiana Icebreaker, Brownstowm, IN, $10,000

March 27, Jackson Motor Speedway, Byram, MS, $10,000

March 28, Ark-La-Tex Speedway, Vivian, LA, $10,000

April 17 & 18, Batesville Motor Speedway, Bad Boy 98, Batesville, AR, $20,000

April 24, Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex, Markleysburg, PA, $10,000

April 25, Hagerstown Speedway, 34th Annual Stanley Schetrompf Classic, Hagerstown, MD, $10,000

April 30, Macon Speedway, Macon, IL, $10,000

May 1, Tri-City Speedway, Spring Classic 50, Granite City, IL, $10,000

May 2, Paducah International Raceway, Spring Showdown, Paducah, KY, $10,000

May 15, Oshkosh Speedzone Raceway, Oshkosh, WI, $10,000

May 16, LaSalle Speedway, Spring Shootout, LaSalle, IL, $10,000

May 22 & 23, Lucas Oil Speedway, 23rd Annual Show-Me 100, Wheatland, MO, $30,000

May 29, Tazewell Speedway, Tazewell, TN, $10,000

May 30, Florence Speedway, 29th Annual Ralph Latham Memorial, Union, KY, $10,000

June 11, 12 & 13, Magnolia Motor Speedway, Clash at the Mag, Columbus, MS, $20,000

June 18, Fayetteville Motor Speedway, Fayetteville, NC, $10,000

June 19, Cherokee Speedway, 17th Annual Grassy Smith Memorial, Gaffney, SC, $10,000

June 20, Smoky Mountain Speedway, Maryville, TN, $10,000

July 2, 201 Speedway, 3rd Annual Hatfield/McCoy Feuding 50, Sitka, KY, $10,000

July 3, Muskingum County Speedway, Zanesville, OH, $10,000

July 4, Portsmouth Raceway Park, Independence 50, Portsmouth, OH, $10,000

July 10, Tri-City Speedway, Battle at the Beach 50, Granite City, IL, $10,000

July 11, Lucas Oil Speedway, Diamond Nationals, Wheatland, MO, $10,000

July 14, Lakeside Speedway, Kansas City, KS, $10,000

July 16, 17, 18, I-80 Speedway, 5th Annual Silver Dollar Nationals, Greenwood, NE, $32,000

August 6, 7, 8, Florence Speedway, 33rd Annual Sunoco North/South 100, Union, KY, $50,000

August 13, 14, 15, Batesville Motor Speedway, 23rd Annual COMP Cams Topless 100, Batesville, AR, $40,000

August 20, Volunteer Speedway, 12th Annual Scorcher, Bulls Gap, TN, $10,000

August 22, Lawrenceburg Speedway, Whiskey City 50, Lawrenceburg, IN, $10,000

August 28, 29, Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway, 27th Annual Pittsburgher 100, Imperial, PA, $20,000

September 4, Attica Raceway Park, Attica, OH, $10,000

September 5, Portsmouth Raceway Park, River Days Rumble, Portsmouth, OH, $10,000

September 6, I-77 Raceway Park, 47th Annual Hillbilly Hundred, Ripley, WV, $25,000

September 18, 19, Brownstown Speedway, 36th Annual Jackson 100, Brownstown, IN, $20,000

September 24, Knoxville Raceway, 12th Annual Late Model Nationals, Knoxville, IA, $7,000

September 25, Knoxville Raceway, 12th Annual Late Model Nationals, Knoxville, IA, $7,000

September 26, Knoxville Raceway, 12th Annual Late Model Nationals, Knoxville, IA, $40,000

October 3, Dixie Speedway, "Dixie Shootout", Woodstock, GA, $10,000

October 4, Rome Speedway, "Rome Showdown", Rome, GA, $10,000

October 16, 17, Portsmouth Raceway Park, 35th Annual Dirt Track World, Championship, Portsmouth, OH, $50,000

Pacific Raceways (PR), one of the Northwest's premier motorsports facilitis, has been listed for sale for the first time in 54 years. It is being marketed by CBRE and Corporate Finance Associates (CFA).

Located in King County, Washington, and featuring 320 acres, a road track, drag strip, motocross track, karting facility, and 22,500 permanent seats, PR is the state's fifth largest outdoor spectator venue.
 
“I'm really pleased to offer this historic property with all of its advantages. As things stand now, the project is situated to become an incredibly successful automotive and design technology campus, which is something that this region needs and deserves," said Jason Fiorito, President.
 
Setting the stage for development of a commercial, racing and testing facility, the spectacular property has secured county legislation and a master planned development that calls for 1.2 million square feet of commercial space for technology-based and racing related industry. Boasting a dedicated interchange to SR-18 between Kent and Auburn, the property represents one of the last large parcels available for commercial development in King County.
 
“The City of Auburn is greatly appreciative of the Fiorito family and the presence of a top-tier racetrack in the greater Auburn area," said Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus. “We have been the longtime beneficiary of its economic impact and look forward to future opportunities for expansion. Auburn is ready to work with a new ownership group, preserving both the legacy of the past with anticipation of what is ahead."
 
In April 2014, the planned development known as Pacific Innovation Center (PIC) received the Washington State Department of Commerce's designation as a “Project of Statewide Significance” (PSS). In the history of the state, only two other projects have been cited as so important: Boeings 777 composite wing project in Everett and BMW's composite body manufacturing facility in Moses Lake. The automotive based tech campus seeks to utilize the road course as a testing ground, and partnerships with state research facilities and neighboring cities to attract global leaders in the renewable energy driven vehicle industry.
 
“PIC will create hundreds of clean-tech jobs, and produce accelerated automotive innovation, while establishing Washington State as the international hub in this arena," said Fiorito.
 
The motorsports park east of Kent was built in 1959 by Dan Fiorito Sr. who owned a heavy highway construction company with the idea of having a safer venue for racers and local youth to push the limits. The track opened on July 4th, 1960 with drag racing legend and local racer Dick Kalivoda winning the inaugural race with his B-Modified roadster. The track has hosted thousands of drag race, road race and motocross events. The 2.25-mile road course was a staple on the USAC circuit in the 1960s and ‘70s hosting a who’s who of American and international sports car racing stars. Team Penske won it’s very first professional race at Pacific Raceways, and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. won one of the track’s last professionally sanctioned road course events under the Winston West banner in 1985.
 
The family leased the track to various promoters beginning in the 1970’s, who operated the track under the name Seattle International Raceway. The family took operation of the track back in January 2002, and changed the name back to Pacific Raceways. It has hosted an NHRA National event for 27 straight years. Pacific Raceways has been an economic engine in south King County for more than half a century, and neighboring cities are hopeful that potential buyers will continue that tradition.
 
“While I am saddened to learn the Fiorito family will no longer have ownership of Pacific Raceways, it is my hope that the new buyers will follow their predecessor by continuing a strong partnership with neighboring cities like Kent," said Suzette Cooke, Mayor of Kent.  

“Jason Fiorito has consistently kept the City of Kent informed of potential changes at the track and major events that they have hosted over the years. Kent hoteliers and restaurateurs have benefited from events at Pacific Raceways for many years as people from all over the United States choose to stay and eat in Kent,” she added. “Best wishes to the Fiorito family in all future endeavors, and thank you for being a friend to Kent.”
 
“Because of the location, approvals to develop 1.2 million square feet of commercial space, the designation of Project of Statewide Significance and the sheer size of 320 acres with existing race courses, this is one of the most unique properties in Western Washington, if not the West Coast,” added Milt Reimers, First Vice President, CBRE. “There is not another opportunity in the country to own a professionally sanctioned track with such incredible development potential, nor will there be any time soon.”

Comprised of the premier national Chevrolet, Ford and Mopar branded competitive automotive events, the Manufacturers Series welcomes Tucson’s Southwestern International Raceway (SWIR) as the latest host track to join the Series schedule in 2015. The 110-acre drag racing facility located at the Pima County Fairgrounds will feature a spectacular car show, lightning-fast drag racing, manufacturers’ midway and swap meet for each of the “Big Three” American brands.

“Southwest International Raceway is proud to join the Manufacturers Series and we are looking forward to bringing the historic and popular Chevrolet event back to the state of Arizona after a long three-year absence. We are also excited to bring the national Fun Ford and Mega Mopar events to the state for the first time, giving Blue Oval and Mopar fans in the Southwest a venue to race and show-off their favorite brand vehicles,” said Alan Miller, SWIR General Manager.

Southwestern International Raceway joins sister-tracks Palm Beach (March 27 – 29) and Memphis International Raceways (April 10 – 12) in kicking-off the season as the third stop on the Manufacturers Chevy Series tour in 2015,  on May 1 – 3. In addition, SWIR will also host for the first time in Arizona, Fun Ford on Saturday, October 10, and Mega Mopar on Sunday, October 11, to round out their first season of Manufacturers Series events.

“The Manufacturers Chevy, Fun Ford and Mega Mopar Series have been successful events for our Memphis and Palm Beach facilities for years. With the acquisition of Southwestern International Raceway last year, we knew we wanted to add these events to the lineup of events in Tucson.  We look forward to bringing all three Series events to the race fans in Arizona,” said Jason Rittenberry, President & CEO, IRG Sports + Entertainment.

 Rockingham Dragway will usher in the 2015 Manufacturers Fun Ford season, May 2 – 3, while Texas Motorplex will lead the way for Mega Mopar Series March 28. On October 17, Palm Beach Int’l Raceway will make history by hosting the first head-to-head Fun Ford vs. Mega Mopar showdown on October 17, giving fans a chance to cheer-on and represent their favorite brand in a family-friendly environment.

On May 16 – 17, Chevy fans will take over Texas Motorplex and Virginia Motorsports Park with a double-header event weekend, while Auto Club Famoso Raceway wraps up the 2015 season, November 7 – 8.

2015 SCHEDULES

 MANUFACTURERS CHEVY SERIES
Palm Beach Int’l Raceway, March 27 – 29
Memphis Int’l Raceway, April 10 – 12
Southwestern Int’l Raceway, May 1 – 3
Texas Motorplex, May 16 – 17
Virginia Motorsports Park, May 15 – 17
US 131 Motorsports Park, May 29 – 31
Maple Grove Raceway, July 17 – 19
Bandimere Speedway, August 14 – 15
Bristol Dragway, September 25 – 27
Rockingham Dragway, October 9 – 11
Gateway Motorsports Park, October 9 – 11
Auto Club Famoso Raceway, November 7 – 8
 
MANUFACTURERS FUN FORD SERIES
Rockingham Dragway, May 2 – 3
Virginia Motorsports Park, June 13 – 14
Bandimere Speedway, June 14
US 131 Motorsports Park, July 12
Gateway Motorsports Park, July 24 – 25
Memphis Int’l Raceway, August 28 – 29
Bristol Dragway, September 5
Maple Grove Raceway, September 13
Auto Club Famoso Raceway, September 19 – 20
Southwestern Int’l Raceway, October 10
Palm Beach Int’l Raceway, October 17
Texas Motorplex, November 7
 
MANUFACTURERS MEGA MOPAR SERIES
Texas Motorplex, March 28
Rockingham Dragway, May 4
US 131 Motorsports Park, May 17
Maple Grove Raceway, May 30
Bandimere Speedway, May 31
Auto Club Famoso Raceway, June 27 – 28
Memphis Int’l Raceway, July 31 – August 1
Virginia Motorsports Park, September 19 – 20
Southwestern Int’l Raceway, October 11
Palm Beach Int’l Raceway, October 17

Schedules are subject to change. Visit www.mfgseries.com for the most current list.

Richard Childress Racing has named Slugger Labbe to a leading role in their research and development efforts, which will be effective following the NASCAR race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway later this month. Justin Alexander, currently a race engineer on the No. 27 Menards Chevrolet team, will take over as the crew chief role with Paul Menard as the driver.

Alexander, 33, is a native of Charlotte and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering at North Carolina State University.

He started his NASCAR career at Hendrick Motorsports as the shock specialist for the No. 24 and No. 48 teams in 2003, became lead engineer on the No. 48 team in 2005, moved to a R&D engineer in 2006 and then was named lead engineer for the No. 24 team in 2009.

During his tenure there, Alexander was part of five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. He joined RCR in January of this year.

“I appreciate the opportunity RCR is giving me to lead the No. 27 team and Paul,” Alexander said. “Working with Slugger has been a great learning experience and I appreciate him helping me make the transition into this new role.

“I’m really excited to work with Paul and all the guys on this Menards team. Paul is a great driver and I’m looking forward to what this team can accomplish in 2015.”


Labbe has been with RCR since 2010 as crew chief for Menard. Together, they earned a victory in the 2011 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 13 top-five and 43 top-10 finishes.

A native of Saco, Maine, Labbe has been in NASCAR since 1986 and in the crew chief capacity since 1998. During that time, Labbe worked at Robert Yates Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. It was at DEI when Labbe led Michael Waltrip to the 2003 Daytona 500 victory.

“I’m looking forward to slowing down in my NASCAR career a little bit and spending more time with my family,” Labbe said. “This is a good move for RCR, Paul and the No. 27 team, and I’m going to be there to help Justin with the upcoming transition.

“With NASCAR’s new rules for 2015, this is a great opportunity for me to help RCR grow and be successful by helping out with their R&D efforts.”     
       
Menard, the 33-year old native of Eau Claire, Wisconsin is currently 21st in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver Points standings.

“Slugger is a great leader and will be a huge asset in making RCR stronger in his new role with the team,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with Justin. Throughout this season, he has shown the qualities and potential to be a great crew chief.”