The United States Auto Club (USAC) has made the first deliveries of the Honda/HPD Midget Series engines to racers in the open-wheel category, marking the next milestone in Honda’s continuing partnership with the sanctioning body announced in 2013.

Utilizing chassis similar to those run in the National Midget Championship, but featuring sealed, performance-capped Honda engines, the Honda/HPD Midget Series is designed as an entry-level category, where drivers as young as 12 years old can compete.

Based on the production, four-cylinder Honda K24 engine from the Honda Civic Si and developed for racing by Honda Performance Development and USAC, the sealed engines are now available through USAC for an introductory price of $9,995.00, and can be raced alongside previous-generation engines in the series. USAC worked to produce a balance of performance between the different engine designs.

“HPD has long championed a logical development ladder system for young drivers in all forms of motorsports,” said Marc Sours, HPD senior manager and chief engineer. “The Honda/HPD Midget Series slots in perfectly, above our already popular Quarter Midgets and below the USAC National Midget program, where Honda engines can also be campaigned.”

USAC sanctions six regional series for the Honda/HPD Midgets, on both dirt and pavement. The first race win for the Honda/HPD Midget engine was recorded on July 2 by Ross Rankine at Toledo Speedway, as part of the USAC Midwest Pavement Series.

“USAC is extremely excited about the Honda K24 Midget engine and the Honda/HPD Midget Series,” said Kevin Miller, USAC CEO/president. “We believe this engine installation, in development for the past year, will be the basis for the next generation of Midget racing in the United States.”

The 2.4-liter Honda Civic Si crate engine is adapted by USAC for Honda/HPD Midget competition. The Indianapolis-based sanctioning body is the single source for purchasing new engines, which are tested and sealed by USAC prior to delivery. The engine internals are all Honda OEM, with competition modifications including a custom aluminum oil pan designed for dry-sump lubrication, a three-stage oil pump, competition alternator, intake manifold and custom air inlet system.

The wiring harness has been modified to allow ease of use, and all connectors are clearly marked for installation. The harness design also provides connections for USAC technical inspectors to maintain parity in the series.

Two of the IndyCar series' smaller teams are planning to merge in 2015.

Ed Carpenter Racing and Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing said Saturday they will unite to form CFH Racing. The teams that typically each just have one entry per race will form a multi-car organization.

A joint statement said that details about personnel, suppliers and sponsors would be announced soon. The Indianapolis-based teams will be headquartered at Fisher Hartman offices a few blocks from Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Carpenter's team has victories this season with driver Mike Conway at Long Beach and Toronto, and owner-driver Carpenter at Texas Motor Speedway.

Fisher Hartman driver Josef Newgarden is 16th in the driver standings going into Sunday's race at the Milwaukee Mile.

Conway is 22nd, while Carpenter is 23rd among drivers. Carpenter has started at the pole in the last two Indianapolis 500s.

Carpenter also raced for then-Sarah Fisher Racing in 2011, finishing first at Kentucky, before starting his own team the following year.

"There will be a lot of work to do this offseason to bring the two teams together to form one new team, but we feel that it is a great opportunity for all of us to grow and reach new heights of success," Carpenter said.

Fisher became the first female IndyCar team owner in 2008. A former driver, Fisher is the first woman to win a pole and place second in an IndyCar race.

She called the merger a "big-picture plan," with Carpenter's 2011 win representing a foothold.
Wink Hartman, who runs an oil company based in Wichita, Kansas, became a co-owner in Fisher's team in December 2011.

Nine former drivers, champions and supporters will be inducted into the Calistoga Speedway Hall of Fame on the eve of the track’s biggest event of the season, the Louie Vermeil Classic, over Labor Day weekend.

The third annual induction ceremony and dinner will be held in the Tubbs Building on the Napa County fairgrounds, Friday, Aug. 29, beginning at 5 pm. Tickets are available by calling HMC Promotions at (916) 773-7223.

“The people enshrined in the Hall of Fame are the story of Calistoga Speedway,” said Tommy Hunt, race promoter for the track. “It was their passion for racing, their driving talent and support for Calistoga as a special place to race that created Calistoga Speedway’s rich history and made it one of the most recognized and longest-operating tracks in the country.”

The nine new inductees include:

• Stan Vermeil: A driver and car owner who worked side by side with his father to establish racing at Calistoga Speedway and spearheaded the effort to create the Northern Auto Racing Club, a sanctioning body for sprint cars that claimed Calistoga Speedway as its home track for decades.

• Gary Gerould: Most well known as the radio voice of the Sacramento Kings of the NBA and motorsports reporter for ABC and ESPN, he has been a life-long supporter of sprint car racing and is a former announcer at West Capitol Speedway in Sacramento and Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico.

• Jimmy Boyd: Drove his first-ever sprint car race at Calistoga Speedway in 1967 and collected eight feature wins over eight years, placing him in a tie for 12th on the track’s all time winners’ list. Well known for winning the inaugural World of Outlaws race in Texas in 1978, he is also an inductee in the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Iowa.

• Jack Flaherty: A three time Northern Auto Racing Club champion (1949, ’52 and ’52) who visited victory lane at Calistoga Speedway many times during his career.

• Chuck Gurney: Drove his first race at Calistoga Speedway in 1969 and a 17-time winner, putting him third on the track’s all time winners’ list. A former USAC national champion, Gurney was enshrined in the Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 2004.

• Ron Horton: A six time feature winner at Calistoga between 1974-85. He won his final race driving for owners Gaye and Bill Deschamps, who are also enshrined in the Calistoga Speedway Hall of Fame.

• Bob Miller: One of the most successful car owners at Calistoga Speedway whose sprint cars found victory circle 10 times.

• George Rogge: a former hardtop driver, he competed regularly at Calistoga Speedway from the late 1960s to the mid-1970s and served as a director of the Northern Auto Racing Club for eight years.

• John Montelli: Widely recognized for his ever-present 10-gallon hat and yellow pickup truck, he was a strong behind-the-scenes supporter of Calistoga Speedway. A professional in the earth-moving business, he helped prepare the half-mile oval for racing. He also made financial contributions to racing purses and sponsored cars owned by the Wolleson family. He succumbed to cancer in 1988.

Ryan Hunter-Reay never seemed too worried about his future with Andretti Autosport. The Indianapolis 500 winner can focus on more pressing matters now that he has a three-year contract extension.

A smiling Hunter-Reay and team owner Michael Andretti formally signed the paperwork for the extension in front of cameras before Sunday's race at the Milwaukee Mile. DHL also announced it would remain the primary sponsor of Hunter-Reay's No. 28 car another three years.

"It's one thing off the mind. To go into the offseason knowing that I've got a three-year commitment is excellent," said Hunter-Reay, who has been with Andretti since 2010.

He last signed an extension in 2012.

"It's a really big day for Andretti Autosport," the owner said.

The race itself turned out to be a disappointment. Hunter-Reay's day ended after 168 laps because of suspension problems. He dropped one spot in the points race to fourth, but now trails leader and Mile winner Will Power by 108 points.

"I love this place. It wasn't exactly the balance we wanted and this is probably our championship hopes going up in smoke right now," Hunter-Reay said.

It has still been a momentous two years for the 33-year-old Hunter-Reay. After winning the 2012 championship, Hunter-Reay became a father for the first time that December.

This past May, Hunter-Reay became the first American in eight years to win at the Brickyard. DHL said that victory was a big factor in extending its sponsorship agreement.

"Life has changed a lot," Hunter-Reay said. "Certainly from the beginning of 2012 to the end of 2014, it has been a great run, and hopefully that will continue. You've got to ride the wave as much as you can, with the right people to do it, though."

With wins the previous two years at the Mile, Hunter-Reay already had fond memories of Milwaukee. On Sunday, he started in the second-to-last row in 19th position—the same spot from which he started before winning at Indy.

Hunter-Reay holds 14 wins in 166 IndyCar starts entering Sunday, including 81 top-10 finishes.

Also Sunday, Andretti said having NASCAR driver Kurt Busch return for next year's Indianapolis 500 remained a possibility. Busch's sixth-place finish this year for Andretti was impressive for his first Indy 500.

"I'd love to do it again if we can get things worked out," Andretti said.

Andretti was eager to see what walk-up ticket sales would be like for Sunday's race. He took over as promoter in a last-minute effort in 2012 after the race was initially left off that year's schedule because of financial difficulties. Andretti Autosport is running the event through 2015.

"I think we're going in the right direction," he said. "We're hoping that we can continue to build it and by next year to be able to say, `OK, we can continue this thing.' That's our goal."

Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis will transform into a showcase of NHRA Drag Racing history during the 60th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, August 27–September 1.

The most iconic moments in event history, the drivers who made them, classic cars, and more will be proudly celebrated during the weekend.

On the racetrack, the 60th anniversary Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will feature intense side-by-side racing at more than 320 mph as drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle compete for their share of the $2 million purse and battle for important world championship points. The race is the final regular-season stop for the circuit and will establish the top-10 fields for the NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship. Perhaps more important, drivers will compete to earn a permanent spot in NHRA history as a Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals winner.

During the weeks leading up to the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, NHRA unveiled six of the most iconic moments in the history of the event. During the event, the racers who created the memories will take part in official presentations to honor each of the moments in the Hot Rod Junction Friday through Sunday of the Indy race weekend.

Six separate presentations will occur, and at each of the presentations hosted by legendary NHRA announcer Bob Frey, NHRA will distribute a commemorative milestone hard card to the first 300 fans in attendance. These limited-edition keepsakes will be a very hot commodity at the event, and fans will want to make sure they attend each of the presentations to collect all six.

The Hot Rod Junction, a movie tent, and a special photography exhibit will serve as the epicenter for all the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals milestone events and will be in the concourse behind the grandstands on the east side of the track.

CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE US NATIONALS SPECIAL EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 29

Noon, Hot Rod Junction: Heart Like a Wheel will be featured in the movie tent

3 p.m., Hot Rod Junction: Snake & Mongoose film will be featured in the movie tent

5:30 p.m., 60th Main Event Tent: "The Snake" calls it quits, 1970 Top Fuel final between Jim Nicoll and Don Prudhomme. Both Nicoll and Prudhomme will relive the moment when Nicoll’s car exploded at the finish line; fearing the worst for Nicoll, Prudhomme was so shaken at the sight of the crash and resulting wreckage that he said he was through with the sport of drag racing. Upon hearing Nicoll was unscathed, he continued with his career.

Saturday, Aug. 30

9 a.m., Hot Rod Junction: Snake & Mongoose film will be featured in the movie tent

11:30 a.m., Hot Rod Junction: Heart Like a Wheel will be featured in the movie tent

1:45 p.m., 60th Main Event Tent: Bernstein double-up, 1983. Three-time Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals champion (one Top Fuel, two Funny Car) Kenny Bernstein will be recognized as the first double-up winner in Indy. Bernstein earned the double when he won the Big Bud Shootout, an all-star bonus race for the sport’s quickest Funny Car teams, and then raced to the win at Monday’s U.S. Nationals.

2:15 p.m., 60th Main Event Tent: Shirley Muldowney, the first lady of Indy. Muldowney will take center stage to look back at her Indy memories, including her 1982 victory, one she called the greatest victory of her outstanding Top Fuel career.

3:25 p.m., Return Road: 60th anniversary Cacklefest

5:30 p.m., 60th Main Event Tent: "Mongoose" beats "Snake," 1978. Fans can take part in a remembrance of the 1978 Funny Car final, in which Tom McEwen defeated Don Prudhomme just days after McEwen lost his son to leukemia.

Sunday, Aug. 31

8:30 a.m., Hot Rod Junction: Snake & Mongoose film will be featured in the movie tent

10:45 a.m., 60th Main Event Tent: Indy's winningest drivers. The greatest racers in the history of the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals will be honored for their performances at the event. Don Garlits, Tony Schumacher, and Bob Glidden, who account for 26 Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals victories, will be feted for the accomplishments.

11:55 a.m., Return Road: 60th anniversary Cacklefest

2 p.m., 60th Main Event Tent: "Big Daddy" Don Garlits breaks the six-second barrier, 1967. Garlits will also be honored for the most historical memory of the event, his 1967 Top Fuel win. Garlits, who vowed to not shave his beard until he posted a performance quicker than seven seconds, not only won the event but dipped into the six-second range for the first time in his career on his wining pass. True to his word, the legendary racer shaved his beard in the winner’s circle after the race. Garlits again made a vow this year to not shave until Indy, and fans across the country have followed in his #GrowLikeGarlits footsteps and put down their razors until Indy. During his presentation Sunday, the first 500 fans will get a wristband, and after the presentation, those with wristbands will be given special access to the starting-line area. Garlits, in the original Swamp Rat 11, will parade down the return road and will reenact his iconic shaving on the starting line in front of all the fans. Barbers will also be available during the course of the weekend to shave fans, with proceeds going to charity.

5 p.m., Hot Rod Junction: Heart Like a Wheel will be featured in the movie tent

Monday, Sept. 1

8 a.m., Hot Rod Junction: Snake & Mongoose film will be featured in the movie tent

9:30 a.m., Track/Staging Lanes: Legendary drivers Tom McEwen, Don Prudhomme, and racing dignitary Linda Vaughn will take part in a special Monday edition of the SealMaster NHRA Track Walk. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit the track and walk alongside the legends down the historic dragstrip that will later be center stage for thrilling racing action.

Synthetic lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple has announced Frank Daniels’ custom 2010 Chevrolet Camaro as the grand prize winner of the brand’s fourth annual "Show It Off at SEMA" contest. As this year’s winner, Daniels’ Camaro will be sponsored by Royal Purple as a featured vehicle on display at the 2014 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, November 4-7.
 
The Royal Purple Show It Off at SEMA contest was hosted online on Royal Purple’s Facebook fan page throughout July and August. Over the course of two separate seven-day periods, vehicle owners had the opportunity to submit a photo of their vehicle for the opportunity to display it as a featured vehicle at the SEMA Show. The top five finalists who received the most votes from more than 30 entries were chosen by Royal Purple, with the grand prize winner selected by an expert panel of five judges.
 
“I selected Frank Daniels 2010 Chevy Camaro because this is the prototypical SEMA vehicle,” said judge Mark Fields, who was last year’s contest winner. “With all the over-the-top modifications like wheels, engine, body modifications, electronics and rear spoiler, it would fit in perfectly in Las Vegas.”
 
Daniels’ Camaro was selected by Royal Purple’s panel of judges that included:
1. Townsend Bell – TV personality and professional IndyCar and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship racecar driver sponsored by Royal Purple
2. Tim "Skrape" Katz – Automotive enthusiast, Vice President and Co-Founder of Authentic Brands Group LLC, TAPOUT LLC
3. Jeff Thisted – TV personality from Discovery Channel’s hit new show “Rods ‘N Wheels”
4. Mark Fields – 2013 Show It Off at SEMA winner
5. Carrie Strange – 2013 Show It Off at SEMA winner, co-owner of Strange Motion Customs in Lewisburg, Tenn.

“It has been four years since Royal Purple started the contest, and we are continually amazed at the quality and scope of the entries we receive each year,” said Royal Purple Marketing Specialist Marlena Solomon. “Selecting just one winner from the finalist field is always tough. Daniels’ Camaro will be in good company with the other feature vehicles at the Las Vegas Convention Center at this year’s show.”
 
As part of the grand prize, Royal Purple will handle all SEMA feature vehicle fees and show registration for Daniels. He will also receive two SEMA Show credentials, five nights of hotel accommodations in Las Vegas, a variety of Royal Purple apparel to wear, and a seat at Royal Purple’s VIP dinner in Las Vegas.

Engine & Performance Warehouse (EPWI) has named its 2013 "Vendor Of The Year" and "Representative Of The Year" at the Awards Dinner during EPWI’s annual summer conference in Vail, Colorado on August 7.

EPWI named Topline Automotive as the EPWI 2013 Vendor of the Year. Chet Staron, CEO/President of Topline Automotive, was present to accept the award.

The annual Vendor of the Year award is presented to the supplier or manufacturer based on performance scores during the prior year in seven categories. Categories include distribution/sales policies, pricing policies, inventory, returns, labor claims, office support and shipping/packaging. Past recipients of this award include Federal Mogul, S.A. Gear, Total Seal, Pioneer, B&P Rods, COMP Cams, Cylinder Head Center, Clevite Engine Parts, Dura-Bond Bearing Co., Damper Doctor, Melling Engine Parts, Joe Gibbs Racing, Howard Enterprises, SB International & Hastings Piston rings.

EPWI also named Jesse Waddell of Mahle as the EPWI 2013 Representative of the Year. Jesse Waddell, Account Manager for the western region, was present to accept the award.

The Rep of the Year is selected annually, on a rotating basis by region, using combined votes based on performance scores during the prior year in three categories: sales support, distribution philosophies, and timely and accurate follow-through.

EPWI is a full-service warehouse distributor specializing in engine kits & parts, high performance parts, related components and shop supplies. Founded in 1972, EPWI serves customers from warehouses in Denver, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Oklahoma City, Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Anaheim, Oakland, Portland (OR), Tacoma and Anchorage.

NASCAR has announced that it will add a rule that addresses on-track incidents as part of its race procedures. The rule, listed as Section 9-16, will be an addendum to the NASCAR rule book and will apply to all of its racing series, effective immediately.
 
During an Event, if a racecar is involved in an on-track incident and/or is stopped on or near the racing surface and unable to continue to make forward progress, unless extenuating emergency conditions exist with the racecar (i.e. fire, smoke in cockpit, etc.) the driver should take the following steps:

· Shut off electrical power and, if driver is uninjured, lower window net
· Do not loosen, disconnect or remove any driver personal safety equipment until directed to do so by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official
· After being directed to exit the racecar, the driver should proceed to either the ambulance, other vehicle, or as otherwise directed by safety personnel or a NASCAR/Track Official
· At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron
· At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach another moving vehicle
 
All vehicles not involved in the incident or that are able to continue afterwards should slow down to a cautious speed as outlined in Section 10-4 (Yellow Flag), use extreme care as they approach an incident scene, and follow any directions given by safety personnel or NASCAR/Track Officials. Cars in line behind the safety car should not weave or otherwise stray from the line in the vicinity of the incident.

Robin Pemberton, NASCAR vice president of competition and racing development, says the rule is “part of the evolution of NASCAR’s rules and regulations.”

“Throughout the history of our sport, NASCAR has reviewed and analyzed situations and occurrences that take place not just in NASCAR racing but also throughout all motorsports and other sports,” said Pemberton. “When we believe we can do something to make our sport safer and better for the competitors and others involved in the competition environment, we react quickly. Safety always has been priority number one at NASCAR.”
 
As with other behavioral infractions, NASCAR will handle each instance separately when assessing potential penalties.

The Race Team Alliance’s bargaining power with NASCAR may have grown on Wednesday. Its membership certainly expanded.

The RTA upped its member total to 18 teams, adding most of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ single-car outfits and completing the set of every multi-car team in the sport’s premier series by adding Front Row Motorsports, BK Racing and Tommy Baldwin Racing, among others.

The RTA, formed in July, is a not-for-profit business league comprised of race teams participating in Sprint Cup. The group’s goal, according to an RTA release, is to create an open forum for the teams to explore areas of common interest and to work collaboratively on initiatives to help preserve, promote, and grow the sport of stock car racing.

“One of the early goals of the Race Team Alliance was to expand our membership, and after only a month in existence, we have accomplished that goal,” said Rob Kauffman, the RTA’s elected chairman and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing.

“We now have virtually all the full-time teams participating. I think the membership as a whole is enthusiastic to get to work on some of the other items on our agenda, in particular some of the cost areas and marketing opportunities we have already identified.”

The RTA membership now includes: BK Racing, Circle Sport, Front Row Motorsports, Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, Germain Racing, Go Green/FAS Lane Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, HScott Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, JTG Daugherty Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing, Phil Parsons Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, Team Penske and Tommy Baldwin Racing.

Thirty-seven full-time Sprint Cup teams comprise the RTA’s league in a series that has 43-46 cars attempting to race every weekend.

The highest-profile non-RTA team is Colorado-based Furniture Row Racing, which fields the No. 78 Chevrolet for Martin Truex Jr.

International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) executives have revealed a 10-race schedule for the 2015 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, which begins on January 23 at Daytona International Speedway.

Every race will be two and a half hours in length and will be televised on FOX Sports.

All 10 venues on the 2015 Continental Tire Challenge schedule hosted the series in 2014. One notable change sees the series’ visit to Lime Rock Park shift from Memorial Day Weekend in 2014 to July 25 for 2015. Every race will run as a companion to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.

“As we continue to build IMSA and the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, continuity and tradition are extremely valuable,” said IMSA President and COO Scott Atherton.

“In 2015, the Continental Tire Challenge will be part of 10 strong events at this continent’s very best road racing facilities. The biggest news is the fact that this schedule will enable us to provide television coverage of every race next season, which is also vitally important to the series—for our fans and stakeholders.”
 
2015 Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge schedule:

Date – Venue – Location
Jan. 23 – Daytona Int’l Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.
March 20 – Sebring Int’l Raceway – Sebring, Fla.
May 2 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Montery, Calif.
June 27 – Watkins Glen Int’l – Watkins Glen, N.Y.
July 11 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park – Bowmanville, Ontario
July 24-25 – Lime Rock Park – Salisbury, Conn.
Aug. 8 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wisc.
Aug. 22 – Virginia Int’l Raceway – Alton, Va.
Sept. 18 – Circuit of the Americas – Austin, Texas
Oct. 2 – Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.