NASCAR announced several personnel moves designed to position NASCAR Digital Media (NDM) for continued growth and success.
 
Colin Smith, managing director, NASCAR Digital Media, assumes responsibility of managing day-to-day operations for the sanctioning body’s digital platform. Smith, who joined NASCAR in 2012 after a 17-year career at Raycom Sports, will be responsible for the entire digital platform which includes NASCAR.com as well as the tablet and mobile experience. Under Smith’s purview will be e-commerce, subscription products, site optimization and content development.
 
Smith will report to Steve Phelps, NASCAR executive vice president and chief marketing officer.
 
John Martin, managing director, Digital and Business Operations for NDM and an eight-year veteran of NASCAR, will also take on additional responsibilities as NASCAR continues to innovate across the entire digital platform. Martin will report to Smith.
 
“Since re-launching the platform in 2013, Colin and John have been major contributors to the growth and development of NASCAR.com as well as the platform’s robust portfolio of digital products and offerings,” Phelps said. “Under their leadership we’re confident that NASCAR’s digital platform will continue to evolve and innovate, providing our fans with the most immersive online experience in all of sports.”
 
In addition to Smith and Martin, NASCAR also announced the promotions of three other key executives.
 
- Brian Herbst, a nine-year veteran of NASCAR and one of NDM’s first employees, has been promoted to senior director, Content Rights and Partnerships. Herbst will oversee all aspects of NDM’s growing distribution business as well as all digital content and partnership agreements.
 
- Mike Sales has been promoted to director of Design for NDM, reporting to Tim Clark, senior director, Optimization and Programming.
 
- Donald Baal has been promoted to senior manager, Database Marketing and will expand his role to include digital marketing initiatives across NDM.
 
NASCAR’s digital platform was re-launched on Jan. 3, 2013, when the sanctioning body flipped the switch on a brand-new digital experience and suite of mobile apps. In its first full season in 2013, the platform registered an 11 percent year-over-year increase in monthly unique visitors, highlighted by the platform’s mobile capabilities. NDM continues to see gains in 2014, including engagement across its broad portfolio of second screen products and mobile apps.

Formula 1 will introduce standing restarts after safety car periods from next season, after the FIA ratified a number of rule changes for 2015.

Teams have recently been working on a number of proposals to improve F1's spectacle, and standing restarts gained approval at Thursday's meeting of the FIA's World Motor Sport Council.

Proposals to effectively ban the current controversial nose designs on F1 cars by rewriting the technical regulations have also been approved.

F1 is also set to adopt 'sparking' titanium skid planks for next season, which were trialled successfully by Nico Rosberg and Kimi Raikkonen during the recent Austrian Grand Prix.

Amid the ongoing debate over how to cut costs in Formula 1, the FIA has also ratified proposals to further restrict teams' use of windtunnels and CFD, reduce the number of engines allowed to each driver across the season (from five to four unless the calendar expands beyond 20 races), and cut down testing.

The FIA has also confirmed that pre-season testing will return exclusively to Europe next season, after holding two tests in Bahrain this year.

Pre-season testing will also be reduced from three, four-day tests in 2015 to two tests of four days each in 2016.

In-season testing will also be cut from four tests to two from next year, with teams required to reserve half of the allocated running for young drivers.

A proposed ban on tire blankets for 2015 has been rescinded, but will be reviewed if wheel and tyre sizes increase in the future.

Parc ferme rules have been extended for next year, starting from the beginning of final free practice rather than qualifying, while F1's Friday night curfew will also increase—from six hours to seven in 2015, and up to eight hours in 2016.

Caterpillar has renewed its primary sponsorship of the Richard Childress Racing No. 31 car driven by Ryan Newman.

Newman, in the first year of a three-year contract with RCR, is eighth in the standings. Caterpillar, which is on the car for about two-thirds of the season with Quicken Loans on for the other third, has extended its deal at least through Newman’s contract.

Caterpillar has been with RCR for the last six years. Newman, who has 17 career wins in 456 career Cup starts, replaced Jeff Burton as driver of the car after last season.

NASCAR announced transitions within three key business areas, highlighting the company’s commitment to talent development.
 
Patrick Rogers has been promoted to senior director of Driver Marketing Services, Evan Parker becomes senior director of Brand Platforms and Scott Warfield has been promoted to senior director of Social Media and Broadcast Communications.
 
“NASCAR is committed to the development of our team throughout all areas of the organization,” said Brent Dewar, Chief Operating Officer of NASCAR. “Each of these moves highlights our goal of growing our talented professionals, and thereby strengthening our company. Patrick, Evan and Scott have added incredible value in their current roles. They now have an opportunity to showcase their talent in other critical areas of our business.”
 
Rogers most recently served as director of Brand Platforms, Marketing. He was instrumental in the renewal of series entitlement partner Camping World. His new role will give Rogers oversight of NASCAR’s Driver Services team, which works closely with the industry in order to develop, nurture and maximize the integration of the sport’s drivers. Rogers will report to Jill Gregory, NASCAR vice president of Industry Services.
 
“Patrick has extensive experience working with the industry and will be a valuable resource immediately to those key stakeholders,” Gregory said. “The collaboration with teams and drivers is at an all-time high and Patrick will work closely with internal and external groups to further develop driver brands and increase driver star power. His experience working with drivers will add power to an already strong Driver Services team and allow successful initiatives such as the NASCAR Next program to continue to grow.”
 
Parker will transition from NASCAR’s Los Angeles office to its Charlotte office. He served as senior director of Entertainment Marketing and helped lead the sport’s integration efforts into several entertainment properties. In his new role, Parker will lead the development of NASCAR’s marketing efforts around platforms that occur throughout the year. He will report to Kim Brink, NASCAR vice president of Marketing.
 
“We’re glad to have Evan bring his leadership and fresh perspective into the brand platforms role,” Brink said. “He’s very familiar with the successful programs we’ve worked hard to establish over the last several seasons. We have an aggressive strategy in place to continue reaching current and prospective fans and Evan will play a key role in leading those efforts.”
 
Warfield’s new responsibilities include guiding NASCAR’s overall social media strategy and its cross-departmental integration as NASCAR implements programs across a number of social media channels. He also will continue to work closely with the company’s digital, entertainment and broadcasting teams.
 
“NASCAR’s social media presence and impact continues to grow and serve as a key communications channel for us with our fans,” said Brett Jewkes, NASCAR vice president and chief communications officer. “Scott’s experience working with broadcasting, digital and entertainment coupled with his strong knowledge of the sport will be invaluable in his new role.”

NASCAR and Daytona International Speedway announced that Preseason Thunder will take place one week later in 2015. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams will hit the track on January 15-16 as they prepare for the 57th running of the Daytona 500 on February 22, 2015. In the event of rain, additional track time will be added on Saturday, January 17.
 
This year’s Daytona testing was scheduled for Jan. 9-10, but rain washed out the planned first day of testing, forcing all on-track activity to Jan. 10.
 
“Each year, Preseason Thunder gives fans a sneak peek into the upcoming season, and specifically, NASCAR’s crown jewel, the Daytona 500,” said Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition and racing development. “In 2015, the date will change. The anticipation, and the thrill of cars returning to the race track, will not.”
 
“A later starting date for January testing will be more convenient for both teams and fans,” Chitwood said. “Both testing sessions are important opportunities for teams as they prepare for their season-opening events … It’s also an exciting time for fans as they get gear up for the start of the new season.”
 
The new date will be part of an action packed January for Daytona International Speedway. The IMSA Roar Before The Rolex 24 will be held on January 9-11. IMSA teams will have only one weekend off between the Roar and the prestigious Rolex 24 in 2015.
 
The Preseason Thunder Fan Fest, the companion event to NASCAR Sprint Cup Series testing, is scheduled on Thursday night, Jan. 15. Tickets for Preseason Thunder Fan Fest as well as a schedule of driver question-and-answer and autograph sessions will be available at a later date.

Chip Ganassi, who fields teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Verizon IndyCar Series and TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, will be honored on August 7 by the International Motor Racing Research Center at the Corning (N.Y.) Museum of Glass.

Ganassi will receive the inaugural Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for his outstanding contributions to motorsports. Often referred to as the father of American road racing, Argetsinger was a visionary who, in 1948, conceived, organized, and drove in the first post-war road race in America through the roads of Watkins Glen. He brought Formula One to Watkins Glen Int’l in 1961 and the circuit hosted the United States Grand Prix for 20 years. He was president of the IMRRC for five years, until his death in 2008.

NASCAR, International Speedway Corp. (parent company of Watkins Glen Int’l), and WGI are the presenting sponsors of the first IMRRC Award Dinner, the proceeds of which will benefit the IMRRC, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to be the world-class leader in the collection of materials representing the documentary heritage of amateur and professional motor racing.

“We are privileged to have NASCAR, ISC and WGI support the IMRRC Award Dinner honoring Chip Ganassi,” said IMRRC President J.C. Argetsinger. “NASCAR and its partners have done a tremendous job in promoting world-wide awareness of the sport we’ve loved for so long. And Chip himself has put his heart and soul into the success of every team he owns, and it shows.”

IndyCar and Dallara will allow modifications to create air flow in to the cars to help drivers deal with the heat during this weekend's doubleheader in Houston.

The modification came after drivers requested a provision for additional cooling of the cockpit and footbox in anticipation of temperatures expected to hit the 90s.

IndyCar authorized a modification that will allow air to flow into the footbox through an opening in the nosebox cap. Dallara in turn built two trimming templates that teams can pick up at the temporary street course.

TMS Titanium and Hendrick Motorsports have entered into a partnership as part of TMS Titanium’s commitment to providing continued support in the auto racing industry. Through the relationship, TMS will be a product sponsor of the 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions for the remainder of the 2014 season and the 2015 season to come.

Through the new partnership, TMS will provide Hendrick Motorsports access to its products and knowledge base. Titanium is a highly sought after material in the auto racing industry due to its strength, light weight and durability with outstanding heat and corrosion resistance.

“We are excited to be partnering with Hendrick Motorsports, one of the top teams in NASCAR,” said James Hostetler, Senior Vice President at TMS Titanium. “They have been customers of ours for a long time, and we have been huge fans for even longer. We hope our titanium can continue to provide a competitive edge for the Hendrick Motorsports teams. TMS has a passion for racing and will continue to show its support and commitment to moving the industry forward.”

Hendrick Motorsports, which currently leads the Sprint Cup Series with six race wins in 2014, utilizes titanium in the manufacturing of its race cars and engines.

“We’ve enjoyed a terrific relationship with TMS Titanium for many years,” said Doug Duchardt, General Manager of Hendrick Motorsports. “It’s exciting that they’ve recognized the opportunities our industry provides and see significant value in growing the relationship. The products and services offered by the TMS team directly impact the cars and engines we put on the racetrack, and we look forward to working together even more closely to build a winning program.”

The four Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet teams will be competing in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this Saturday, June 28 at Kentucky Speedway.

An estimated 2000 tons of salt were successfully deposited on the mud surface at the end of the access road to the Bonneville Salt Flats. It was graded and then dried to a hard concrete-like racing surface. Although modest in scope, the project demonstrates that it should be possible to deposit dry salt in targeted areas so as to help preserve our national treasure, the site where land speed records have been set over the past 100 years.

The project took place over several days in mid-June. It was organized by the Save the Salt Coalition in coordination with the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Shelton Construction deposited the salt over the mud, an area once covered by salt. The company has decades of experience working in and around Bonneville.

“The dry salt laydown project marks a milestone event as we celebrate a century of racing at the Bonneville Salt Flats,” said Doug Evans, Chairman of the Save the Salt Coalition. “There has been a significant loss of salt in the area since the 1940s. While millions of tons of salt brine have been pumped back in recent years, a supplemental dry salt program will focus on targeted areas such as the race tracks.”  

The Bonneville Salt Flats is a National Landmark and a geologic phenomenon of international significance. For motorsports enthusiasts world-wide, it is hallowed ground. From the first speed record attempts in 1914 and through the present day, hundreds of records have been set and broken in a variety of automotive and motorcycle classes.

The Save the Salt Coalition is comprised of a number of organizations and companies within the land speed racing community with the mission of restoring the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Coalition has been fundraising to pay for equipment and transportation costs associated with the dry salt program.

“The Coalition is now eager to take the next step this summer by laying down a 2-mile strip of salt the width of a race track,” said Ron Main with the Speed Demon team (the world’s fastest piston-driven vehicle). “Pending BLM approval, the test project will confirm that we can repair areas where it’s needed and help preserve and protect our national treasure – the Bonneville Salt Flats – for our future generations.”

For more information about the Coalition, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org

QA1, a manufacturer of high-performance suspension components, recently completed its expanded and remodeled Research and Development facility that allows more space to bring in vehicles for test fitments and installations, as well as new for product development.

This 38’ x 60’ R&D area houses two 2-post lifts and a 4-post drive-on lift and alignment system. An adjacent engineering room includes a shock dyno, shock building station, FaroArm and welding station for research and adjustments.

“As QA1 continues to grow and expand its product lines, even more time is being spent on research and development,” said Karl Hacken, VP of Engineering at QA1. “The R&D expansion and remodel gives our engineering team even more equipment and space for product development, so keep an eye out for many exciting new products from QA1 in the next year.”

This addition is part of the expansion project that increased QA1’s manufacturing space to over 83,000 square feet in Lakeville, Minnesota, to accommodate the company’s growth over the past couple of years. QA1 now has more manufacturing, assembly and distribution space, allowing QA1 to add to its long line of American-made products and continue pushing into the future as a leader in innovation for the performance automotive and industrial markets.