The Manufacturers Series announces Gibtec Pistons as a new sponsor of the Super Chevy Show, Fun Ford Weekend, and Mega Mopar Action events. Gibtec’s involvement will focus on product awareness for bracket racers, car show participants, and automotive enthusiasts attending each national touring series.

Gibtec manufactures custom pistons for all different types of competition vehicles.  Opened for business just over one year ago, the company is based in Denver.  In addition to selling custom pistons, Gibtec also works with the Big 3 motor companies on research and development at its state-of-the-art facility.

“What makes our company different is we’re more personalized than the bigger companies; we work one-on-one with each customer. We offer a more unique experience for customers who want that competitive edge to win,” said Rob Giebas, Gibtec General Manager. “We look forward to growing our brand and meeting race fans through the Manufacturers Series events in 2014.”

Each of the three series—Super Chevy Show, Fun Ford Weekend, and Mega Mopar Action series—have combined to complete 6 of 33 total events this season, and have seen an increase in spectator and participant admissions.  

“The Manufacturers Series is off to a very positive start for the year, and we are excited to add Gibtec Pistons to the family of sponsors” said Lex Dudas, President of the Manufacturers Series. “Gibtec is going to jump right in and be involved at our shows in Virginia, Texas, and Michigan this weekend.”

The Super Chevy Show hosts two events on the weekend of May 17-18, at Virginia Motorsports Park and Texas Motorplex, as well as a one-day Mega Mopar Action series event at US 131 Dragway, on Sunday, May 18.

The source for race tracks hit the shelves in mid-May. The 2014 National Speedway Directory lists a total of 1325 auto racing facilities. It is the most comprehensive publication of active tracks in the United States and Canada available anywhere. This book lists detailed information on oval tracks, dragstrips and road courses. The phone numbers, addresses, exact directions, nights of operation and type of racing are included in this handy 592-page paper-back book.
 
Listings for approximately 300 sanctions, 50 racing publications, and 75 racing related museums, pushes the total to over 1750 motorsports related listings. The 2014 schedules for over 150 circuits are also included.
 
The new edition is essential for planning vacations and race outings. Race fans and industry professionals can depend on the National Speedway Directory for the most accurate and updated directory of race tracks in North America.
 
The price for one copy is $15.00 (includes postage) or two copies for $25.00. Orders can be placed online at www.speedwaysonline.com or emailing orders@speedwaysonline.com . Checks or money orders can be sent to: National Speedway Directory - 909 Seneca Road - Wilmette, IL - 60091.
 

First of all, thanks very much to our friends at PRI for offering this opportunity to talk a bit about the open wheel events set for the end of November out here on the lower part of the left coast.

We’re very excited to be the Los Angeles stop in a trio of action-packed winged sprint car events set for an ultra-fast, three-day weekend November 21 through 23, when the King of the Wing series invades California.

You’re right if you guessed that this event will be yet another “first” for Irwindale Speedway. If it has wheels and races, most likely it’s traversed “LA’s Half-Mile Superspeedway” at one time or another since we opened in March of 1999.

Over the years we’ve presented just about everything on wheels, from NASCAR stockers to Silver Crown cars, and from X Games skateboards to Global Rallycross. We’ve even seen our share of Formula One and Indy Cars, not racing, but here to train pit crews, and make TV shows, feature films and commercials.

And then there’s drifting, the sideways/tire-smoking sport that came of age at “The House of Drift” and still stages its sold-out series finale here every year.

There’ve been many other types and styles of racing machines on this progressively banked half-mile, but never in the 16 years of the track’s existence have we ever seen or experienced winged sprint cars. Needless to say we’re all looking forward to that.

The best part of the equation is that our race here at Irwindale is part of a “western swing” that brings the best of the best open-wheelers out West to run three consecutive days of winged sprint car races. It’ll be: Friday night, November 21st, in Madera, Saturday night, November 22nd, here at Irwindale, and Sunday afternoon, November 23rd, at the new Kern County Raceway in Bakersfield. There’ll be no time to catch one’s breath between these shows, and that’s just the way the racers (and the fans) like it.

Brilliant race driver, smart promoter, and honestly nice guy Davey Hamilton is the man behind the machines here. His enthusiasm, drive, and interest in putting on a great show (for the fans and the drivers) have made him a true joy to work with. He’s been there/done that from Winchester to Indy as a driver and now, with his King of the Wing Series, Hamilton is fully engaged with staging short-track races that simply crackle with excitement.

And the minute the final checkered flag flies on Sunday afternoon on the last “Wing” show in Bakersfield, all attention will turn southward to the fast clay of Perris Auto Speedway and the 74th running of one of the all-time classic motorsports events held anywhere in the world.

The Thanksgiving Night Grand Prix (also known far and wide as “Turkey Night”) will take center stage on Thursday night, November 27th, with all the history and tradition that comes with an event that boasts a winner’s list that reads like an honor roll of the greatest oval track drivers from each of the seven decades of the event’s existence.

From here it looks like November 21st through the 27th is going to be a wonderful time for fans and racers in California. Yes, it’s Thanksgiving week, but all the “other” reasons (in addition to the great racing) for heading out west will be going full-tilt boogie in Cali at that time.

Local shops that cater to open wheel teams should be aware of the opportunity to meet competitors as well as a whole bunch of dedicated fans that will be delighted with a week out west watching open wheel cars run.

See you at the Speedway(s)!

Brenton Productions producers of popular automotive how-to television shows, has announced the opening of their third location in Mooresville, North Carolina.
 
The new facility provides the Swansea, Massachusetts-based company with instant access to all the resources the Charlotte area has to offer, including interesting subject material and the ability to develop new programming for future use.
 
"The entire Charlotte region is rich in automotive and motorsports history and culture, and is fast becoming the center for all motorsports disciplines," says Brenton managing partner Jim Cozzie. "We already spend a considerable amount of time in the area with our production crews filming material for our current productions. So having an operation there just makes good strategic sense."
 
The latest Brenton facility is located in the Talbert Pointe Business Park. 
 
"It's very important to the future of our business to continually work on programming and delivery development," added managing partner Ron Winter. "As a standalone facility, our development team can focus on creating future products and delivery methods unencumbered by the day-to-day activities of the production team."
 
Brenton Productions began 22 years ago with Shadetree Mechanic, the first how-to automotive series, on TNN (now Spike TV.) 
 
For more information on Brenton Productions, call 800/572-7798.

All stock car drivers planning to travel into Canada to visit a WISSOTA member track are required to have the proper paperwork in order and in hand to be granted passage across the border.
 
The required documentation is as follows:
 
1. Canadian law requires that anyone entering Canada must carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. A valid United States passport, passport card or NEXUS card satisfies these requirements for US citizens.
 
2. If US citizen travellers to Canada do not have a passport, passport card or approved alternate document such as a NEXUS card, they must show a government-issued photo ID (for example a driver’s license) and proof of US citizenship (such as a US birth certificate, naturalization certificate or expired US passport).
 
3. Children under the age of 16 must only present proof of US citizenship.
 
4. As of June 1, all Americans re-entering the US by land need to present a US passport, passport card, NEXUS card, Enhanced Drivers License or other Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document.
 
5. The State Department is encouraging American travelers to obtain WHTI-compliant documents well in advance of their planned trip to Canada. Information about what will get you across the border and home again in a timely fashion is available at the www.travel.state.gov website.
 
6. First-time passport applications must be made in person, at sites that include post offices in larger communities, county recorder's offices and county clerk of court offices. Processing for routine applications takes approximately four to six weeks; expedited service, which takes two to three weeks, is available for an additional charge.
 
7. Anyone with a criminal record, including misdemeanors or Driving While Impaired (DWI) charges, may be barred from entering Canada and must obtain a special waiver. More information about possible admission is available at the Canadian immigration and citizenship website, www.cic.gc.ca.
 
The above information was obtained from Estevan Motor Speedway’s website and is provided for the convenience of drivers who wish to compete this year at their Blaine Brothers Challenge Series event, or those who wish to visit the other Canadian tracks.

For the 201, Smoky Mountain and Duck River swings, competing teams in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will be restricted to using Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1450, 1600 and 55-compound tires or American Racer 44-, 48-, 53- and 56-compound rubber.
 
All of the tires will be required to punch a minimum '40' reading when checked with a durometer.
 
For 201 Speedway only, the Hoosier 1425 compound will be allowed in addition to the above mentioned Hoosier compounds.
 
For more information, visit www.woolms.com.

The NHRA has signed a multiyear agreement with Chevrolet, designating the legendary US vehicle manufacturer as the Official Truck of NHRA.
 
As the Official Truck of NHRA, Chevrolet will have a major on-site presence at all NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events. Most notably, the all-new Chevrolet Silverados and Suburbans will be used by the legendary NHRA Safety Safari presented by AAA for emergency response and track preparation. The dependability and capability of these trucks are paramount to the legendary safety team performing its trackside duties.
 
“Chevrolet is proud to partner with the series as the Official Truck of NHRA and are honored that our Silverados and Suburbans will be utilized by the NHRA Safety Safari,” said Jim Campbell, vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Our involvement in NHRA allows us to showcase the most dependable, longest-lasting trucks in America to our customers and fans and to fans of NHRA Drag Racing.”
 
The sponsorship increases Chevrolet’s involvement in NHRA Drag Racing. The Chevrolet Performance brand is the title sponsor for the world’s most prestigious drag race, the Chevrolet Performance US Nationals, held each Labor Day weekend near Indianapolis.

Additionally, several drivers race Chevrolet Camaros in the Pro Stock class, including Greg Anderson, Dave Connolly, Erica Enders-Stevens, Shane Gray, and Jason Line, and Chevrolet is the preferred choice of many Sportsman racers.

With the total three-day posted payoff increased to $306,625, including Saturday’s record-setting $214,875, the Official Entry Form for Eldora Speedway’s 20th annual Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Mowers has been released.

The form, which is downloadable here, completely details each full day of UMP DIRTcar sanctioned racing for the June 5, 6 and 7 event, culminating with Saturday night’s payoff of $100,000 to the 100-lap victor, Dirt Late Model’s richest one-day jackpot.

Initiated last year, Thursday and Friday will each feature competitive action that includes a complete menu of Heat races, B-Features and twin 25-lap A-Features. Thursday’s A-Feature winners will each receive $2,500, while the payout is increased to $5,000 to each winner on Friday evening.

Special significance is placed on the Time Trial runs Thursday and Friday as a driver’s quickest lap from either of the two nights will be used to place them into Saturday’s traditional six Heat format. As has become Dirt Late Model Dream tradition, finishes from those Heat races will determine a driver’s advancement directly into the 100-lap finale or into one of the twin B-Features. Drivers not able to make the advancement cut will see an increase in their prize money this year.

Another popular twist to the format is the Saturday night B-Scramble concept. After 20 laps of B-Feature racing on Eldora’s high banks, the top three drivers advance to the Dirt Late Model Dream, while the remaining drivers are given a five-lap shootout Feature of their own, paying $1,000 to win and valuable UMP DIRTcar Late Model points.

Through the process of Heat races, B-Features and determination of provisional positions, 28 cars will start the Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Mowers century grind, with a total of $196,525 on the line.

For drivers and race teams, the three-day schedule relates to additional track time, increased opportunities to capture prize money, and seven chances to stand before the crowd on Eldora’s famed victory lane stage.

Six-time Dirt Late Model Dream winner Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, Tennessee, is the defending champion.

In addition to the downloadable Official Entry Form for the race teams, fans can purchase race tickets and campsites for the Dirt Late Model Dream presented by Ferris Mowers, or any other Eldora event, by going online to www.EldoraSpeedway.com.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a bill giving a state sales tax rebate of up to $2 million to the Knoxville Raceway in a ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the track.
 
The bill was recently approved by the Iowa Legislature.
 
Raceway officials plan to use the tax rebate to help pay for a major expansion project at the facility, which is located at the Marion County Fairgrounds.
 
The track, billed as the "Sprint Car Capital of the World," has about 200,000 admissions annually from all 50 states and from as far away as Australia and New Zealand.

Officials at Anderson Speedway have announced the addition of a new racing division to the 2014 season schedule.
 
A new Pro Compact division will join the other Anderson Speedway divisions in racing action. Rules and specifications for these cars will be added to the 2014 rule book and will mirror those of the Vores Compact Touring Series.
 
“I have been approached by a number of competitors for some time to consider this division," said Rick Dawson, President of Anderson Speedway. “I have had the good fortune to watch them race at a couple of tracks and feel our fans will be treated to some great racing.
 
The Pro Compacts will race a nine-race schedule in 2014 with two of the events being Vores Compact Touring Series events. The dates are: May 31, June 7 (VCTS Event), June 28, July 19, August 2, August 9, September 6, October 4 and October 18 (100 Lap VCTS Event).
 
Other than the series events the Pro Compacts are scheduled to run 10 Lap heat races and 20 Lap features at each event. The purse will be $175 to win and $20 to start. A special midseason membership price will be available for those competitors wishing to participate in the point fund.