Three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regulars, a semi-retired short-track veteran and the underdog darling of last season's inaugural Mudsummer Classic are scheduled to be back for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series' second-ever race on dirt at Eldora Speedway next week.

Austin Dillon will be back to defend his golden shovel victory from 2013 in the second-annual event, scheduled next Wednesday (9 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1) at the historic half-mile dirt track that Tony Stewart owns in Rossburg, Ohio. He'll be joined by his brother, Ty Dillon, in a pair of Richard Childress Racing Chevrolets.

Ken Schrader, who won the Keystone Light Pole Award last year to become the oldest pole-winner in a NASCAR national series race, was also listed on the preliminary entry list released Wednesday. He'll be in solid equipment in the No. 00 Toyota owned by Gene Haas.

Sprint Cup rookie Kyle Larson, who dazzled the crowd with his dirt-track savvy in last year's running, will be back in the No. 32 Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet entry for Wednesday's race.

Sprint Cup rookie Michael Annett is scheduled to make his first truck series start since the 2008 season in a truck owned by NTS Motorsports. He'll be a teammate to NASCAR Next driver Gray Gaulding and Chase Pistone.

The part-time drivers will try to make progress against a steady cast of Camping World Truck Series regulars, including defending series champion and current points leader Matt Crafton. The list of full-time drivers also includes Norm Benning, who will return after his captivating drive into the main event through the last-chance qualifying race. Benning is listed with a new truck number—No. 6 instead of his traditional No. 57.

NASCAR Next driver Erik Jones, who posted his second career victory in the series' most recent race at Iowa Speedway, is also on the entry list in the No. 51 Toyota from Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Honda Performance Development has been named presenting sponsor of the Formula F 45th Anniversary, part of the SCCA Summer SpeedFest, August 9-10 at Barber Motorsports Park.

As a presenting sponsor of the event, HPD will have a large presence on site, including displays and giveaways, and will provide the weekend's pace car—a race-prepared Honda CRZ.

HPD will also post contingency payouts at the same level as the U.S. Majors Tour, offering $500 for a win, $300 for second-place, and $150 for a third-place finish in Formula F while running a Honda motor.

"We're thrilled to announce HPD's involvement with this Formula F birthday celebration, and especially for the true support that they're throwing behind the competitors for this milestone weekend," said Lisa Noble, SCCA President/CEO. "In addition to the support as presenting sponsor, HPD is helping us put the finishing touches on a celebrity appearance that we should be able to announce in the coming days. This event is shaping up as a 'can't miss' for those in the small formula car community."

The Formula F 45th anniversary event is the focal point of the SCCA Summer SpeedFest at Barber Motorsports Park. Highlighting the weekend is the Saturday night Formula F birthday celebration open to drivers, participants, workers and crew members of each class participating in the weekend, including dinner, at the track. The celebration will feature industry celebrities and legendary racers.

On the track, run groups will feature cars from each era of the Formula F timeline, ranging from vintage racers to what are now known as "Club Ford" through the current National Championship-eligible specs. Each class will race both on Saturday and Sunday, with a 45th celebration planned at the track for Saturday night featuring industry celebrities and legendary racers.

In addition to the Formula F and Formula Ford classes, Formula 500/600, Formula Vee and Spec: RaceAtom races are a part of the weekend. HPD will also post contingency to Honda-powered Formula 600s.

Registration is now open for the SCCA Summer SpeedFest, with schedule and supplemental regulations also posted at SCCA.com/FF45th.

The “Gasser” may be a race car from another era, but its image has transcended changing times to represent the spirit of competitive American drag racing from the 1960s. With this inspiration, the Automotive Driving Museum presents a “Tribute to Gassers” exhibit and show on Saturday, August 2, 2014. The ADM will be hosting the event to Gasser enthusiasts from all over Los Angeles County from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both Gasser Magazine and Gasser Wars Magazine with the Mid-America Willys Club will be sponsoring the event with a fantastic display of Gasser race cars.

Gassers were hot rods developed to compete in NHRA Gas Class events that began in the early 1950s and lasted through 1970. The 1956 NHRA Nationals program characterized Gas coupes and sedans as “…the classic hot rod of today. Cars running in this division are generally used for transportation, instead of being built for competition, and they feature hopped-up engines. Each must have a full complement of equipment essential for legal on-the-street transportation use, and MUST satisfy the eagle-eyed technical inspectors in action at NHRA-sanctioned drag strips. Four cubic-inch-to-weight divisions of this class attest to its popularity.”

As weight was the enemy to the racer, racers tended to gravitate to lighter cars and vehicles with short wheelbases. Willys was perhaps the quintessential Gasser choice, but racers also learned the charms of the late-1930s Studebaker Champion, British Ford Anglia, and even the occasional Fiat “Topolino.” Anything cheap and plentiful, like Fords and Tri-Five Chevys, did not escape the Gasser treatment either. Lights, horns, and windshield wipers were required to remain intact, but any other superfluous weight was promptly removed, with the windows often replaced with Plexiglass. Just about any top American brand has powered Gassers, often with a supercharger and mechanical fuel injection, but as expected small-block or big-block Chevys were popular.

Gassers’ trademark jacked-up front end was due to the truck beam axle utilized for better weight distribution on acceleration. The rules stipulated that wheelbases had to maintain stock, but a car could be built with an engine slightly relocated to assist with weight distribution.

Often painted in flamboyant metalflakes, pearls, and candy finishes that reflected the zeitgeist of the time, the paint scheme was usually complemented by wild lettering, pin-striping, and even lace.

But like many old race cars, the latest going thing—the faster thing—caught the attention of racers, and Gassers fell by the wayside. Some were reconfigured for other classes, while many others were simply junked because of the hard lives they led.

The ADM will present this important and radical segment of automotive history to its visitors on August 2, 2014, for a special day of Gassers at the Automobile Driving Museum. Come see these fabulous vehicles and hear from the “real Gasser” racers in a forum setting.  

Saturday, August 2, 2014
Cars start rolling in at 10 am
The Automobile Driving Museum
610 Lairport Street
El Segundo, CA 90245
310.909.0950

NHRA announced that Holiday Raceway, Woodstock, Alabama, has joined the NHRA Member Track Network.

“Holiday Raceway, known as ‘The Beach’ is a historical gem of the Southeast,” said Rich Schaefer, NHRA Southeast Division Director. “Chris Bateh along with Jason Beams and Jonathan Beams are now in the 47th consecutive season at the track originally opened by their fathers and grandfathers. It’s a track that helped introduce the drag racing world to a man that would eventually become one of the top 50 NHRA drivers of all time, David Rampy. It’s a track that will continue to produce racing greats.”

As an NHRA sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the track has the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge.

“We are very excited about becoming an NHRA sanctioned track,” said Chris Bateh, Holiday Raceway. “Holiday Raceway is dedicated to our Sportsman racers and want them to have a chance to become an NHRA Summit Racing Series world champion. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with NHRA.”

NASCAR has scheduled a test next month at Michigan International Speedway to test possible rule changes for the 2015 season.

The test is scheduled to be held August 18, the day after the Sprint Cup race there.

"We’re very pleased with the competition on the track so far in 2014,’’ said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president of innovation and racing development, in a statement to Motor Racing Network. “The evolution of the racing product continues as we look to 2015 and beyond.

“The test at Michigan International Speedway will be a great opportunity to gather more information, help us validate much of the great research done by engineers in our sport, and drive us one step closer to our 2015 race package."

NASCAR states that the number of teams testing hasn’t been finalized. NASCAR also states that no other tests have been scheduled, although indications in the garage are that a follow-up test could take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway later in the year.

The Michigan test is similar to what NASCAR did last year in setting the rules for the 2014 season—only much earlier in the season.

Six teams tested October 14 for NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Thirty teams participated in the NASCAR test Dec. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway that featured mock races. Series officials conducted three 30-lap mock races, a 20-lap mock race and a 15-lap mock race with different configurations to help finalize the rules package for this season. Those tests helped lead to eliminating the ride height requirement for this season. яндекс

A concept of a brand new LADA FIA World Touring Car Championship challenger, based on the LADA Vesta, will be unveiled at the Moscow International Motor Show in the Russian capital.

The 2015 LADA Vesta, previewed in July, is an all-new B-class sedan and a replacement for the LADA Priora, and is scheduled to go into production in September of next year.

AVTOVAZ is in the process of conducting production preparations and has begun building the initial Vesta prototypes, which will be based on a new LADA B platform and the first serial embodiment of the Russian manufacturer’s new design direction, having inherited DNA from the LADA XRAY concept car, unveiled at the 2012 Moscow Motor Show.

LADA Sport’s highly-skilled engineers believe the size and dimensions of LADA Vesta are ideal for building a competitive WTCC racer, development of which is already underway.

“Racing is the right approach for LADA,” said Mr Andersson in an interview with the Russian ITAR-TASS news agency. “We have a lot of fans and people who support this programme, so the company’s involvement in motorsport is important and we need to win. The visitors of the Moscow Motor Show will have a chance to see the new LADA Vesta racecar that has been designed for competition in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC).”

Two motorsports icons instrumental in the preservation and expansion of road racing in North America will be honored during the 26th Annual Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s Induction Ceremony on August 6 at The Fillmore Detroit.

Jim France (left) and Don Panoz (right) will receive the Bob Russo Heritage Award in recognition of their long-term support of sports car racing in North America and their effort to bring about the landmark merger of GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series. On September 5, 2012, it was announced the two series would merge to form the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship for the 2014 season with the unified series sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.

The award, named in honor of the long-time motorsports journalist and historian, is presented at the recommendation of the MSHFA Board of Directors in recognition of the recipient’s contributions to motorsports throughout their career.

“To recognize two sports car racing icons with the Bob Russo Heritage Award is a tremendous honor,” said Ron Watson, president of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America. “Their names are synonymous with sports car racing in North America. Through GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series they established a firm foundation and have assured the future with the merger into the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship.”

Holley is actively seeking two teams for participation in the 2014 Holley LS Fest Engine Swap Challenge. Car Craft magazine will be on hand to document the race and the winning team gets to keep the engine.
 


The 2014 Car Craft Engine Swap Challenge is taking place Saturday, September 6, 2014, at Holley’s LS Fest in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at Beech Bend Raceway.

Each team will consist of two members. Teams will bring their own hand tools (no air tools are permitted) and Holley will supply each team with an equally prepped running vehicle along with a GM LS engine and Holley LS swap components to make the swap possible. From there both teams face-off to see which one can install the GM LS engine in place of the older engine and get it running in the shortest duration of time.  The winning team gets to keep the engine, which is equipped with numerous bolt-on LS parts from Holley Performance, including an EFI system.
 


Those interested in competing in Holley’s 2014 Car Craft Engine Swap Challenge event should compose an email including contact information for each two person team and what makes you think you’re up to the challenge. Submissions should be sent to engineswap@holley.com.

DC Electronics' US Office, based in Mooresville, North Carolina, announces that it is now a distributor for Racepak in the USA.

Founded in 1984, Racepak is a leading force in the data acquisition industry and  has a facility in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Its product range includes Data Loggers, Digital Displays, Power Distribution Modules and Sensors. Racepak products can be found in circle track, drag, off-road, off-shore and road racing vehicles across the globe.

David Cunliffe, CEO of DCE Inc said “Racepak has some innovative and unique products including the V-Net plug and play data systems in their portfolio and we are extremely happy to be able to offer these components to DCE Inc’s customers.”

DCE Inc’s is one of the motorsport industry’s leading manufacturers of custom built electrical systems with production facilities in Mooresville, North Carolina and Maldon, Essex (UK). DCE Inc also has worldwide distributors for its products, ensuring it is at the forefront of innovation and technology on a global Products designed and built by the company have been used in championships worldwide, including NHRA, NASCAR, Formula 1, IndyCar, Global Rallycross, Superbike and F1 Powerboats.

For further information on DCE Inc visit www.wiringlooms.com or call +1 (704) 230 4649.

For further information on Racepak go to www.racepak.com.

Don Garlits will help British drag racing celebrate a half-century of history and achievement later this year when he crosses the Atlantic for the first time in nearly four decades to be inducted into the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

“Big Daddy” will be accompanied by members of his family when he receives the accolade at the BDRHoF’s grand Gala evening on November 22 at the Savill Court Hotel, near Windsor, west of London.

The Gala evening will mark the 50th anniversary of the British International Drag Festival, when Don Garlits first raced on British soil. The 1964 ‘Dragfest’ was a joint venture between British sports car manufacturer and entrepreneur Sydney Allard and Wally Parks, president of the National Hot Rod Association, and gave British audiences their first full taste of exciting new motorsports from America.

Garlits was already the most prominent member of an all-star US team shipped over to display their skills before astonished crowds on a selection of airfield sites around England. At the tour’s end, Garlits was awarded The People Challenge Cup, presented by a national newspaper for his performances. Garlits’ fellow US all-stars included TV Tommy Ivo, Tony Nancy, Bob Keith, Ohio George Montgomery, KS Pittman, Ronnie Sox & Buddy Martin, Bill Jenkins & Dave Strickler, Dante Duce, Doug Church and bike racers Bill Woods and Don Hyland.

In 1976, Garlits’ second UK appearance gave Santa Pod Raceway the greatest single weekend in the track’s history, and he raced there triumphantly again in 1977. The Gala evening in November sees him return to the country for the first time since then.

The Garlits family’s November trip will also include a visit to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire, on England’s south coast. It was a previous visit there in 1976 that inspired the foundation of the Don Garlits Museum Of Drag Racing at Ocala, Florida, the world’s first museum wholly dedicated to the sport. In turn, the International Drag Racing Hall Of Fame, based at the Museum, inspired the formation of the British Hall of Fame.

Garlits was named in May as the Gala evening’s guest-of-honor. His Hall of Fame induction could not be revealed until 2014’s new members were officially announced this past weekend. Another inductee will be Gerry Belton, whom Sydney Allard appointed as general manager 50 years ago to oversee the ‘Dragfest’ tour’s organisation. The remaining inductees are past British racers Russ Carpenter, Dennis Norman and John Whitmore.