NASCAR announced its national series schedules for the 2015 season, featuring date enhancements to races at some of its most storied tracks along with a pair of long-term broadcast partners that will provide the exciting action to the sport’s fans.

“The 2015 NASCAR national series schedules promise to provide our fans with the compelling competition and storylines they so richly deserve,” said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “These enhancements to our race dates, particularly in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will be of benefit to our fans and other stakeholders in our industry. From the start of the season at Speedweeks at Daytona culminated by our championship finales at Homestead-Miami, we’re looking forward to the great racing that will be delivered through our outstanding television network broadcast partners FOX, FOX Sports 1, NBC and NBCSN.”
 
Key date changes featuring Darlington Raceway, Bristol Motor Speedway and Daytona International Speedway, some of NASCAR’s most tradition-laden tracks, highlight the 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. Following the 57th running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 22 on FOX, Atlanta Motor Speedway will host the season’s second race weekend (March 1), while Darlington returns to its traditional Labor Day weekend date (Sept. 6). The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to Atlanta for the first time since 2012 as part of a unique doubleheader on Feb. 28 with the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Additionally, Daytona’s always-anticipated July race weekend takes on a different look as the Sunday, July 5 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race marks the return of broadcast partner NBC.
 
A big “west-coast swing” during the schedule’s early stages spotlights markets where NASCAR’s fan base is growing and sponsor opportunities are on the rise. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series run on three consecutive weekends, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 7-8, Phoenix International Raceway on March 14-15 and Auto Club Speedway on March 21-22.
 
Bristol’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series spring date moves deeper into the calendar from mid-March to April 19. Dates for the spring races at Phoenix and Texas Motor Speedway (April 11) step back one week from their 2014 schedule slots.
 
From the season-opening weekend at Daytona through June’s events, FOX and FOX Sports 1 will combine to serve as the broadcast home of all races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Starting in July at Daytona through the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, including each series’ championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC and NBCSN will carry the second-half action for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series. The entire 2015 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule will be broadcast exclusively on FOX and FOX Sports 1. On radio, programming surrounding the 2015 NASCAR season along with the exciting national series race calls can be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Motor Racing Network (MRN) and the Performance Racing Network (PRN). The Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s radio network will carry the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series events at IMS.
 
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will feature 36 events including two standout non-points races – the Sprint Unlimited on Feb. 14 at Daytona and the 31st annual NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 16. Soon to have a new entitlement partner, the NASCAR Nationwide Series once again contests 33 races, while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series increases to 23 events next season with the addition of the Atlanta date.
 
When running concurrently during NASCAR Sprint Cup Series companion weekends, the date changes are also reflected on the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedules. There are nine companion weekends on the 2015 schedule that feature all three national series along with 18 combination weekends between the NASCAR Sprint Cup and NASCAR Nationwide Series and seven dual events where the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series run together.
 
There are six “stand-alones” on next year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series calendar, starting May 17 at Iowa Speedway. Included among those are two road-course races, at Mid-Ohio on Aug. 15 and Road America on Aug. 29. The later Road America date takes the place of the former Atlanta date. There are seven NASCAR Camping World Truck Series stand-alone races and two Wednesday appearances – on the dirt at Eldora Speedway on July 22 and at Bristol on Aug. 19. Iowa hosts the trucks three weeks earlier in 2015, on June 19. And the series again runs internationally on Aug. 30 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.
 

 
2015 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

Date, Site, Network
2/14, Daytona International Speedway (Sprint Unlimited), FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

2/15, Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 500 Qualifying), FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

2/19, Daytona International Speedway (Duel), FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

2/22, Daytona 500, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

3/1, Atlanta Motor Speedway, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM

3/8, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM

3/15, Phoenix International Raceway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

3/22, Auto Club Speedway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

3/29, Martinsville Speedway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

4/11, Texas Motor Speedway, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM

4/19, Bristol Motor Speedway, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM

4/25, Richmond International Raceway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/3, Talladega Superspeedway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

5/9, Kansas Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/16, Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race), FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/24, Charlotte Motor Speedway, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM

5/31, Dover International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/7, Pocono Raceway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/14, Michigan International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/28, Sonoma Raceway, FOX Sports 1, PRN, SiriusXM

7/5, Daytona International Speedway,NBC, MRN, SiriusXM

7/11, Kentucky Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

7/19, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

7/26, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NBCSN, IMS, SiriusXM

8/2, Pocono Raceway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

8/9,Watkins Glen International, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

8/16, Michigan International Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

8/22, Bristol Motor Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

9/6, Darlington Raceway, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM

9/12, Richmond International Raceway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

9/20, Chicagoland Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

9/27, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

10/4, Dover International Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

10/10, Charlotte Motor Speedway, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM

10/18, Kansas Speedway, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM

10/25, Talladega Superspeedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

11/1, Martinsville Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

11/8, Texas Motor Speedway, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM

11/15, Phoenix International Raceway, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM

11/22, Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM
          
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 
 

2015 NASCAR NATIONWIDE SERIES SCHEDULE

Date, Site, Network
2/21, Daytona International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

2/28, Atlanta Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, PRN, SiriusXM

3/7, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, PRN, SiriusXM

3/14, Phoenix International Raceway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

3/21, Auto Club Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

4/10, Texas Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, PRN, SiriusXM

4/18, Bristol Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, PRN, SiriusXM

4/24, Richmond International Raceway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/2, Talladega Superspeedway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

5/17, Iowa Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/23, Charlotte Motor Speedway, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM

5/30, Dover International Speedway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

6/13, Michigan International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/20, Chicagoland Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

7/4, Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

7/10, Kentucky Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

7/18, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

7/25, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, NBC, IMS, SiriusXM

8/1, Iowa Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

8/8, Watkins Glen International, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

8/15, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

8/21, Bristol Motor Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

8/29, Road America, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

9/5, Darlington Raceway, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM

9/11, Richmond International Raceway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

9/19, Chicagoland Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

9/26, Kentucky Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

10/3, Dover International Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

10/9, Charlotte Motor Speedway, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM

10/17, Kansas Speedway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

11/7, Texas Motor Speedway, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM

11/14, Phoenix International Raceway, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM

11/21, Homestead-Miami Speedway, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM
 
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 

 
2015 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

Date, Site, Network
2/20, Daytona International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

2/28, Atlanta Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

3/28, Martinsville Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/8, Kansas Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/15, Charlotte Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

5/29, Dover International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/5, Texas Motor Superspeedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/13, Gateway Motorsports Park, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

6/19, Iowa Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

7/9, Kentucky Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

7/22, Eldora Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

8/1, Pocono Raceway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

8/15, Michigan International Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

8/19, Bristol Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

8/30, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

9/18, Chicagoland Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

9/26, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

10/3, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

10/24, Talladega Superspeedway, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM

10/31, Martinsville Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

11/6, Texas Motor Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

11/13, Phoenix International Raceway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM

11/20, Homestead-Miami Speedway, FOX Sports 1, MRN, SiriusXM
 
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 

MAHLE Aftermarket Inc., Service Solutions division, has named Terry Taylor to the position of head of sales. Taylor will report to Max Dull, general manager, and will be responsible for all sales for MAHLE Service Solutions, including what was the former MAHLE RTI division.

Taylor has more than 20 years of experience in the aftermarket, including 10 plus years serving in a variety of business development and sales roles at SPX Service Solutions. He also has experience in sales and marketing at Redline Detection, Auto Meter Products and Exide Corporation.

“Terry comes to us at an important time as our division continues to expand within MAHLE Aftermarket,” said Dull. “He will play a crucial role in helping lead our aftermarket strategy for tool and equipment sales.”

The former RTI Division of MAHLE Aftermarket has now been fully integrated into MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. and operates under the name MAHLE Service Solutions.

Gray Machine & Welding, Inc. in Rock Island, Illinois, announces the purchase of the E-Z Bend Tubing Benders and Sheet Metal Brake line. E-Z Bend metal fabrication products have been involved in the auto racing industry worldwide for nearly two decades.

Started by local racer and entrepreneur Bill Schwader in 1997, the E-Z Bend product line enjoyed success through 2009 when it was sold. Unfortunately, by 2014 the new owners had filed for bankruptcy.

The E-Z Bend metal fabrication product line includes the 90-Degree Tubing Bender, the 180-Degree Tubing Bender, and the Racer's Brake.

Gray Machine & Welding, Inc., which has done all of the machining on this product line from the very beginning, has now purchased the product line. And original designer/builder Schwader will oversee the product line and will also be developing new products.

Gray Machine & Welding, Inc. is in the process of re-stocking the shelves of distributors and working to get these popular products back in the hands of racers around the country.

Texas Motor Speedway has announced its full 2015 racing schedule, including the date for the Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone 600.

The Firestone 600 IndyCar/NASCAR doubleheader returns for its 19th season and will be held June 4-6. The Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone 600 will be held the evening of Saturday, June 6. This will be another all-evening weekend of races with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino & Resort 400 set for Friday, June 5.

Texas Motor Speedway will also play host to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series on April 9-11. The Sprint Cup Series returns to Texas Motor Speedway again on Nov. 8 and will be joined by the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Nov. 6 and the NASCAR Nationwide series on Nov. 7.

Sammy Swindell has decided to retire from professional racing effective immediately.

Swindell, who has driven for Big Game Motorsports the past four years of his 40-plus year career, isn't planning to race again outside of the Chili Bowl Nationals.

Here are his words to the fans:

"After the last two weeks of our break from racing I have decided to retire from racing. I would like to still drive my midget at the Chili Bowl. I have been thinking a lot about this for the last three months. It has been a hard decision to make. I always knew when the time came to retire it would be clear. I've had a long and very successful career. Part of the reason for the timing now is I've spent the last two weekends with my son, Kevin, racing. I haven't had any time to spend with his racing the last four years. He will drive a (NASCAR) Nationwide car for the rest of the year and I want to be there to support him. I was going to do a limited schedule next year or retire at the end of this year. I've had a long talk with (Big Game Treestands Founder) Tod Quiring and we both agreed that this is the best for me.

"Amy and I would like to thank Tod and everyone at Big Game Treestands for the last four seasons. We would also like to thank everyone who has helped or been a part of my career, my fans and the friends that I have met over the last 43 years."

Swindell has one of the most well-rounded racing careers at any level. While he had stints in NASCAR and IndyCar, Swindell made a name for himself on dirt race tracks across the country.

He earned three World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championships and he ranks second in career wins—294—with the premier sprint car series.

Swindell has also claimed almost every major sprint car event, including the Knoxville Nationals, Gold Cup Race of Champions, Kings Royal, Williams Grove National Open, Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup, Selinsgrove Open, Western World Championships and Syracuse Super Nationals to name a few.

Additionally, Swindell won an unprecedented two World of Outlaws features on the same day in 1991 and he picked up victories at Bristol Motor Speedway when it was covered in dirt in 2000-01.

Also, his five Chili Bowl victories are the most for any driver at the famed midget event.

Swindell, who was elected into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2006, started racing when he was 15-years-old. Two years later he began a sprint car career that has culminated in more than 600 feature victories and at least one win in every season.

His career during the past 40-plus years of chasing races from state to state and coast to coast is legendary. Now he will focus on another career - that of his son, Kevin, who is the youngest driver to win a World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series main event, is the only driver to win four consecutive Chili Bowl titles and is embarking on an opportunity in NASCAR.

The 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule has been announced by NHRA officials. The 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Series will make its traditional stops across the country and remains the most geographically dispersed U.S. touring series in all of motorsports, reaching fans with its unique brand of high-horsepower entertainment from New England to California, Washington to Florida, and all points between.

Highlighting the schedule once again in 2015 will be the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race, at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-7.

The season again will open and close at famed Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in Southern California. The season kicks off at Pomona with the NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 5-8, and closes at the historic dragstrip with the final race of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs, the Auto Club NHRA Finals, Nov. 12-15.

Following the season opener, the series returns to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Phoenix for the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, Feb. 20-22. NHRA teams will traverse the country to make it to the traditional East Coast opener at Florida’s Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville for the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 12-15.

Three traditional stops will follow: the popular NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte (March 27-29); the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (April 10-12); and the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston (April 24-26).

In May, the teams will travel to Atlanta for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals, May 15-17, and then on to Topeka for the NHRA Kansas Nationals at Heartland Park Topeka, May 22-24.

Teams will compete at three races in three weeks in June, starting with the Toyota NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown (June 4-7), followed by the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, June 12-14 at New England Dragway in Epping, and the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 19-21, at Bristol Dragway on Father’s Day weekend.

After a week off, the NHRA Mello Yello Series will make two more stops before the Western Swing. A massive Fourth of July celebration is guaranteed for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, July 2-5, in Norwalk. The summer racing parade will continue with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals, which will move to July 9-12 at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

The famed Western Swing will begin one week later in 2015 and kicks off with the Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals at scenic Bandimere Speedway in Denver, July 24-26. From there, the teams will trek farther west stopping in Northern California for the NHRA Sonoma Nationals (July 31-Aug. 2) at Sonoma Raceway before finishing the Western Swing in Seattle at Pacific Raceways with the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, Aug. 7-9. NHRA teams will then take another week off before heading to Brainerd for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Aug. 20-23.

The last race in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season at which the final positions for the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship can be secured will be the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Labor Day weekend, Sept. 2-7.

NHRA’s playoffs, the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, kicks off two weeks later with three consecutive weeks of racing: the NHRA Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, (Sept. 18-20); the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in St. Louis (Sept. 25-27); and the NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading (Oct. 1-4).

The AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas (Oct. 15-18) will set the stage for the final two Countdown playoff races. The season concludes out West with the NHRA Toyota Nationals in Las Vegas (Oct. 29-Nov. 1) and the Auto Club NHRA Finals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, where world champions will be crowned in Southern California Nov. 12-15.

The Pro Stock Motorcycle class will compete in a 16-race schedule, with six of those races in the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. The location of the 16th bike race will be announced at a later date.

ESPN2, a part of the ESPN network, will again provide exclusive television coverage on a same-day basis of all NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, featuring action from qualifying rounds Saturday and eliminations Sunday.


2015 NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES SCHEDULE

NHRA Mello Yello Series Regular Season
Feb. 5-8, NHRA Winternationals, Pomona
Feb. 20-22, CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals, Phoenix
March 12-15, Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals (PSM), Gainesville
March 27-29, NHRA Four-Wide Nationals (PSM), Charlotte
April 10-12, SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals, Las Vegas
April 24-26, O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals, Houston
May 15-17, Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals (PSM), Atlanta
May 22-24, NHRA Kansas Nationals, Topeka
June 4-7, Toyota NHRA Summernationals (PSM), Englishtown
June 12-14, Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals, Epping
June 19-21, NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol
July 2-5, Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals (PSM), Norwalk
July 9-12, O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals (PSM), Chicago
July 24-26, Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals (PSM), Denver
July 31-Aug. 2, NHRA Sonoma Nationals (PSM), Sonoma
Aug. 7-9, O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, Seattle
Aug. 20-23, Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd
Sept. 2-7, Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals (PSM), Indianapolis

NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship
Sept. 18-20, NHRA Carolina Nationals (PSM), Charlotte
Sept. 25-27, AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals (PSM), St. Louis
Oct. 1-4, NHRA Nationals (PSM), Reading
Oct. 15-18, AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals (PSM), Dallas
Oct. 29-Nov. 1, NHRA Toyota Nationals (PSM), Las Vegas
Nov. 12-15, Auto Club NHRA Finals (PSM), Pomona
 
 (PSM) - Event will include Pro Stock Motorcycle

IndyCar’s 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series testing regulations released Monday include no in-season on-track team activity but the re-introduction of open tests before selected races.

Provisions have been made in the rulebook for potential Firestone tire tests, new Verizon IndyCar Series teams and first-year drivers.

The regulations apply from Aug. 31 through Sept. 20, 2015. A team is permitted a total of 14 test days, comprised of engine manufacturer tests, team tests, open tests and full-size wind tunnel tests. Full-season entrants are allocated a maximum of 10,000 total miles for use in all on-track activity from the first race or open test of 2015 to the end of the race season.

“The reason for changing the testing regulations is about trying to contain the costs and fit into our new schedule,” INDYCAR president of competition Derrick Walker said. “Competition drives teams to test as much as they can because they’re trying to win races, but combined with the schedule it’s hard on the team members.

“Now we’re making provisions for race events to have promoter day tests, where the cars will be on the track and hopefully the promoter sees that as an opportunity to open up the stands for fans and sell race tickets.”

The first open test is scheduled for March 16-17, 2015, at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, Ala. It will be the initial opportunity for teams to test manufacturer road and street course aero kits to debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 27-29.

Other open test venues include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Sonoma Raceway. Open test days were incorporated in the 2013 testing regulations.

“Barber has a lot of fast, sweeping corners—areas where you’ll really see the aero kits perform,” Walker said. “The teams already have data and familiarity with Barber and Firestone has great tires for that circuit. The teams can compare and relate to what they’ve done in the past while getting a handle on the aero kit.”

The 2014-15 offseason on-track testing period opens Sept. 16. Six days of manufacturer aero kit testing with selected teams will be conducted from Oct. 6 to Jan. 18, 2015. Teams take delivery of the road and street course aero kit March 1.

Robert Bosch LLC has established an education scholarship and employment grant program through the Universal Technical Institute (UTI) Foundation with a gift of $50,000.  Scholarships will assist students by funding a portion of their technical education at the Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Lisle, IL, campus. Multiple $1000 scholarships and employment grants will be awarded.

“Bosch supports high quality, technical education as a key foundation for the next generation of automotive and diesel technicians,” said Odd Joergenrud, Regional President North America, Automotive Aftermarket Division, Robert Bosch LLC. “UTI is committed to excellence in all of its core programs and provides students with an outstanding education that will equip them for success in the aftermarket. Bosch applauds UTI for setting and maintaining the very highest standards in technical education and is proud to establish this scholarship.”

To be eligible for the Bosch Scholarship, students must meet all UTI admissions requirements, plus the specific Bosch Scholarship requirements that can be found at utifoundation.net/scholarships-and-grants. Not all applicants may be selected to receive a scholarship.

“The UTI Foundation is excited to partner with Bosch for this scholarship,” said Bob Bendotti, Interim Executive Director, UTI Foundation. “This scholarship will prove invaluable to students in following their passion and pursuing technical education and, ultimately, a successful career.”

For more information about the Bosch Scholarship and Bosch Employment Grant Programs, visit the UTI Foundation website: www.utifoundation.net

Chevrolet has clinched its third straight IndyCar manufacturers championship with two races left in the series' season.

Chevrolet has won all three manufacturers titles since returning to the series in 2012.

Its IndyCar V6 engine program has won 10 of the first 16 races of the season heading into the weekend's event at Sonoma Raceway.

Chevrolet supplies Team Penske, which has three of the top five drivers in the overall standings with Will Power, Helio Castroneves and Juan Pablo Montoya. The manufacturer also supplies a combined eight drivers with Chip Ganassi Racing, KV Racing Technology and Ed Carpenter Racing.

Chevrolet returned to IndyCar in 2012 after a six-year absence. The company competed in Indy-style racing from 1986-93 and from 2002-05.

The IndyCar season ends Aug. 30 in Fontana, California.

The Bosch Community Fund, along with the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Business Division, has established a $100,000 fund for the University of the Aftermarket Foundation to provide approximately 25 automotive scholarships each year over a three-year period. The fund is an important element in Bosch’s comprehensive strategy to help equip the automotive workforce of the future in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math or STEM education. Students enrolled in accredited automotive, heavy-duty or diesel programs, beginning in the 2015 school year, are eligible to apply for the scholarships.

The Bosch Automotive Aftermarket Business Division, composed of the Bosch Automotive Aftermarket and Bosch Automotive Service Solutions business units, has built relationships with a variety of technical schools. As part of these relationships, Bosch provides advice and counsel on curricula; encourages mentorships and apprenticeships; and donates a variety of diagnostic tools and automotive aftermarket products to support schools in their educational efforts. These efforts are part of a comprehensive initiative known as the Bosch Educational Services Program.

“The scholarship fund is a strong statement to the long-term commitment that Bosch has for supporting STEM education,” said Rusty Bishop, chairman, University of the Aftermarket Foundation. “Students who have a passion for automotive technology will benefit greatly from these scholarships and, for some, it may make the difference in their being able to pursue a career in this area. The scholarships clearly have the potential to be life changing.”
 
According to Odd Joergenrud, regional president, Bosch Automotive Aftermarket North America, the scholarship fund is an investment in the future: “The future of the automotive industry depends on equipping new talent to fill a wide array of positions, including automotive technicians.

“As the No. 1 global OEM and Aftermarket company for both domestic and imports, Bosch is actively involved in developing a variety of powertrains, including gasoline, diesel and hybrids. We naturally want to encourage students to pursue automotive technology careers,” Joergenrud added.

According to Rich Wolf, regional president, Bosch Automotive Service Solutions: “Today’s master technician addresses vehicle needs that would have required an engineering degree in the past.  

“As automotive technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, vehicles require more in-depth diagnostic techniques, tools, equipment and knowledge. The career opportunities for automotive technicians will continue to expand accordingly,” Wolf said.  

Students can apply for the Bosch Automotive scholarship beginning Sept. 15, 2014, thru March 31, 2015, for the 2015 school year. Information and applications are available at automotivescholarships.com or by contacting Michael Loth, project manager of training, Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, at Michael.loth@us.bosch.com.