TORC: The Off-Road Championship Presented by AMSOIL has announced a total purse of $550,000 at stake for drivers in the 2014 TORC season.

This season’s fund is the highest to date and represents an increase of nearly $100,000 more than last season. Winnings will be awarded to top contenders in the TORC PRO 4, PRO 2 and PRO Light classes as well as for Top Qualifier, Competition Caution Leader, Spring Cup and AMSOIL Cup winners. For example, the PRO Light class awards a payout of nearly $27,000 per event.

“We are very excited to be able to boost our purse fund for the 2014 TORC season,” said TORC President BJ Birtwell. “Not only do we expect this added incentive to spur even higher levels of competition, but also provide resources back to the teams for continued investment in their programs.”

The growth in purse funding is among several significant recent announcements from TORC, which have included numerous high-visibility Official Series Partners, a multi-year TV distribution deal with NBC Sports, and a partnership with Youtube’s largest automotive channel for Live Streaming of every round of racing in 2014.

With over 10,000 teenagers already having completed the acclaimed Teen Pro-Active Driving Schools offered by B.R.A.K.E.S. since this life-saving program was created in 2008, 2014 is quickly shaping up as one of the busiest on record for the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Dedicated to providing young motorists and their parents, free of charge, an intensive driver training program focused on increasing concentration, confidence, and control behind the wheel, B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) is now accepting registrants for two upcoming programs to be presented in Chandler, Arizona, in May and at the legendary Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, California, in June.

The Arizona sessions are scheduled for Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m..  

Then on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29, Teen Pro-Active Driving Schools will be conducted at the Pomona Fairplex during the same hours.

“These schools are challenging, demanding, but at the same time enjoyable and eye-opening,” says Doug Herbert, the championship-winning Top Fuel drag racer and B.R.A.K.E.S. founder who lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a 2008 highway accident, leading to the creation of this nationally-known program.
 
“The thing we see repeatedly at just about all of our schools is the change in attitude the kids go through from the time they arrive to when they complete the course. At first they question why they need this training since they already have their driver’s license, and when the course is over, they’re amazed at how much they’ve learned.”

Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving are donating time and resources to B.R.A.K.E.S. to help promote the Arizona event and reduce costs.  Holding the schools in the Phoenix area was made possible by Tom and Joan Kalimanis, residents of Scottsdale, Arizona, that have supported the organization for more than four years, David and Maggie Peace, a another major supporter of B.R.A.K.E.S.

Recently featured on The NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, B.R.A.K.E.S. and the Teen Pro-Active Driving Schools are expected to see 2014 as a year of continued expansion.

“We want to bring our program to every state in the country,” states Herbert. “Our goal is to help kids everywhere avoid making serious mistakes behind the wheel and we’re well on our way to doing that.”

The Teen Pro-Active Driving Schools offer both morning and afternoon classes and are free of charge. Attendees must be 15-19 years-old with a permit or driver’s license and 30+ hours of seat time. A parent is required to attend with their teen.

Please register online at www.putonthebrakes.org and a confirmation will be sent to you (requesting a $99 refundable check to hold your spot). Classes usually fill up fast so register now to insure a place for your teenager(s).

For more information on B.R.A.K.E.S. or to make a tax-deductible donation, please log on to www.putonthebrakes.org


 

CTEK Power, Inc. has announced the appointment of Andreas Naeslund as the company’s new president, Americas. Naeslund will oversee sales, marketing, customer service and distribution for the company’s leading brand of smart charging battery systems in the North and South America markets. He will report to Jon Lind, CEO, CTEK Group.

“I’m excited to join CTEK, a company that is a respected supplier of premium car manufacturers worldwide,” said Naeslund. “CTEK has a strong team of professionals and an innovative product lineup that is beloved by customers around the globe. I look forward to the challenge of expanding our technologically superior battery charging solutions into a broader number of market segments.”

Naeslund brings to CTEK a strong background in international technical sales. Most recently, Naeslund was the sales manager, North America for Polestar, Inc., a fully-owned subsidiary of Polestar AB, the official motorsports partner of Volvo Cars. Naeslund was responsible for establishing Polestar in North America.

Prior to Polestar, Naeslund held a variety of management positions in sales and technical support for FLIR Systems AB, Micronic Laser Systems AB and Spectra Physics Visiontech.

Naeslund earned a degree in mechanical engineering/production engineering from the University of Karlstad. He also attended the Swedish Army School of Engineering in Östersund. Naeslund holds dual citizenship in the US and Sweden.

As the North and South American branch of the company, CTEK Power, Inc. is an industry leader in the smart battery technology market. CTEK has since become the most trusted name in battery charging worldwide.

For more information about CTEK charging systems, phone 800-941-7611 or 330-963-0981, email info@smartercharger.com or visit www.smartercharger.com. 

NASCAR introduced an evolution in innovation—the results of which will continue to elevate a fan’s race-viewing experience to an even greater level.
 
The Toyota-hauled next generation of Air Titan, the cutting-edge track-drying technology, made its race weekend debut at Martinsville Speedway. Air Titan 2.0 is a more compact, more nimble and more environmentally friendly version of its innovative predecessor—one that since its introduction in February 2013 has rescued multiple races, including this year’s Daytona 500.
 
Air Titan 2.0 signals a major step forward in NASCAR’s innovation cycle. It replaces the bulky support vehicles required by Air Titan 1.0 with a single, self-contained unit that’s perched on the bed of a Toyota Tundra. By addressing the size of the power source, NASCAR now has the ability to deploy up to 21 units in Toyota Tundras at larger venues and operate more efficiently on smaller tracks.
 
The Air Titan 2.0 more than triples the blade capacity of the original version and deliver 2.6 times more air volume at a speed of 568 mph, while raising the air temperature by 70 degrees over ambient. With the combination of water removal and accelerated evaporation, the ultimate goal is to reduce track-drying time by 80 percent.
 
Air Titan 2.0 will consume nearly 80 percent less fuel and emit 80 percent less carbon dioxides. Air Titan 2.0 works in conjunction with the Eco-Infused Elgin Track Vacuum/Sweeper and existing jet dryers. In coordination with the roll out of the Air Titan 2.0, Elgin has now become the Official Sweeper of NASCAR Green. 
 
“Developed by our engineers at the NASCAR R&D Center, Air Titan 2.0 will help us more quickly return to racing, which serves our most important mission – the enjoyment of our fans,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “It’s faster, more agile and eco-friendly. The new Air Titan creates the ultimate win-win-win for our sport, our fans and our environment.”
 
In 2012, France challenged the NASCAR R&D Center to develop a system to significantly reduce track-drying time to enhance the fan experience. NASCAR R&D responded to France’s vision and rolled out the initial Air Titan configuration during Daytona Speedweeks in 2013.
 
“The first phase of the Air Titan system has been an overwhelming success,” said Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR vice president, innovation and racing development. “Based on our experience and learning, the staff at the NASCAR R&D Center has worked tirelessly to develop Air Titan 2.0. We will continue to innovate and develop the technology to further increase its efficiency and sustainability.”
 
Air Titan 2.0 aligns perfectly with NASCAR Green and will display its colors on the side of the Toyota Tundras and Eco-infused Elgin sweepers. Since its inception in 2008, NASCAR Green has become one of the most powerful environmental awareness platforms in the country. NASCAR has the largest recycling and tree planting programs in sports; has put more than five million miles on Sunoco Green E15, a biofuel blended with 15 percent American-made ethanol from American-grown corn; and has the largest renewable energy stadium projects in the world.
 
“The Air Titan 2.0 is the latest example of NASCAR making substantive changes to our operations and business practices to help reduce the environmental impact of our sport,” said Dr. Mike Lynch, NASCAR vice president of green innovation. “We welcome Elgin to the consortium of more than 20 Official NASCAR Green Partners that utilize the platform as a proving ground to validate its green technologies.” 
 

INDYCAR announced that longtime development and race engineer Tino Belli will join the sanctioning body’s technical group as Director of Aerodynamic Development in early April.

Belli, whose motorsports roots date to 1984 as chief aerodynamicist at March Engineering, will oversee implementation of the distinct aerodynamic bodywork kits supplied by Chevrolet and Honda for the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series season.

He also will provide INDYCAR data collection to determine track-specific configurations; provide direction and requirements for future regulations; support on-track, wind tunnel and straight line testing; and support the technical inspection process.

As part of its long-range focus on innovation, INDYCAR announced last June that aero kits would be introduced in 2015 and include separate specifications for superspeedways and road/street courses and short ovals. Beginning with 2016, additional engine manufacturers and/or third party vendors will be eligible to be an INDYCAR-approved supplier. Correspondingly, Chevrolet and Honda will be able to upgrade their aero kits, which will be approved through homologation.

“It’s a brave, new era that INDYCAR is moving into,” said Belli, who most recently was technical director at Panther Racing. “My original background in racing was aeronautical engineering so aerodynamics is my love in life. I’ve had a fairly successful career as a race engineering and technical director, and now this is a new chapter.

“It’s exciting to be involved now developing the new set of rules that will take INDYCAR into the future. I feel as though I’m giving something back to the series now because the series has always been giving to me in the past.”

During his 14 years with Andretti Autosport (1999-2013) as race engineer, senior development engineer and technical director, the team earned four Verizon IndyCar Series championships and 56 victories, including two in the Indianapolis 500. Previously, he was managing director of design, development and race engineering at Cyber Dynamics and also chief designer at Larousse F1.

“We’re fortunate to have Tino come on board at the advent of aero kits,” said Derrick Walker, President of Competition and Operations, INDYCAR. “Apart from being one of Indy car’s most experienced aero engineers, he comes from the team environment with a lot of current experience and knowledge, which is important.”

The bodywork components mated to the Dallara rolling chassis will provide INDYCAR a platform for performance and efficiency developments. The forward-thinking program is relevant to short- and long-term design and development objectives of the global automotive industry and aligns with research and development in multiple technology sectors. Additionally, an entrant’s aero kits will be aligned with its manufacturer, with the car incorporating the name given by the supplier.

“Aero kits will improve the diversity of the fan experience and renew technical engagement, while providing a controlled cost structure,” Walker added.

The 2014 Verizon IndyCar Series season opens with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 28-30.

Race officials announced Tuesday that TUDOR Watch U.S.A. is an Official Sponsor and the Official Timepiece for the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, set to run April 11-13.



As part of its sponsorship of the Grand Prix, TUDOR will also entitle the top-of-the-line hospitality suites available during race weekend, the TUDOR Pit Row Suites and TUDOR Pit Lane Club.



In addition, TUDOR is the Entitlement Partner of the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, a merger of the American Le Mans Series and Grand-Am Series, running under the auspices of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). The 13-race series makes its third stop of 2014 on the streets of Long Beach with the Tequila Patrón Sports Car Showcase, slated to take the green flag at 3:10 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. The series has already run at Daytona and Sebring.



"We're delighted to be able to host a round of the TUDOR Championship here at Long Beach as our fans will find the competition between these world-class sports cars very exciting," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. "And speaking of world-class, that certainly describes the TUDOR brand and its association with our event at our highest-level hospitality options couldn't be more appropriate."

"TUDOR is proud to support the prestigious 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach as the Official Timepiece of the event," said Russell Kelly, Brand Manager for Tudor Watch U.S.A. "Since its creation, this American version of the famous race at Monaco has lured many notable competitors to take on the challenges of this seaside road course. During its third stop of 2014, the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will make its debut as part of the 40th Annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. We are proud to be a part of the longest-running major street race in North America, which, like a TUDOR timepiece, continues to stand the test of time."



TUDOR is a premium Swiss watchmaking brand, its name first registered for Hans Wilsdorf, founder of Rolex, in 1926. TUDOR has benefitted from Rolex's outstanding watchmaking expertise, quality control and service.


TUDOR is also the World Timing Partner for both Ducati and the FIA World Endurance Championship.



In addition to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship race, the 40th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach will feature the Verizon IndyCar Series, Pro/Celebrity Race, Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, Pirelli World Challenge, Robby Gordon's SPEED Energy Formula Off-Road Series and Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge.

Fans can select and pay for their 2014 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach seats, parking and paddock passes online at gplb.com. Ticket orders can also be placed by calling the toll-free ticket hotline, (888) 82-SPEED. Also featured on gplb.com is the latest Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach news, downloadable ticket brochure and racetrack information, photos and ongoing announcements of special race week activities.



Ticket prices range from $28 for a Friday General Admission ticket to $135 for a three-day ticket that includes Saturday/Sunday reserved seating in grandstand upper levels. Pre-paid parking packages are also available, along with handicapped seating, IndyCar Paddock passes, Super Photo tickets and a wide variety of Hospitality Club packages.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series race at historic Macon Speedway has doubled in length and will now offer a bigger purse.

The May 1 event has been extended from 50 laps to 100 and is now sponsored by St. Louis U-Pic-A-Part. The race will offer $1000 to those who start and $12,000 to the winner of the feature.

The single-day event will include Miller Welders Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and the 100-lap feature event. Modifieds will run as a support class paying $1000 to win and $100 to start.

While Macon Speedway will race for the 69th consecutive season, this marks the first time the one-fifth mile high-banked oval will host the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.

Macon Speedway Co-Owner Bob Sargent is excited about the event.

“We are very excited to bring the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the national stars to the great fans of Central Illinois, right here in their backyard,” said Sargent. “Having the premier national touring series and all the stars of the LOLMDS come to our track and battle with all the great heroes from this area will make for a fantastic show. Macon Speedway and the state of Illinois has some great drivers and mixed with the national stars that will be here will have the fans on their feet for this huge event.”

“We are very excited to bring the series to Macon Speedway for the first time,” said Ritchie Lewis, series director, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. “That track has great history and the state of Illinois has some great talent that will be tough to beat. We’re looking forward to working with Bob Sargent and everyone involved. The entire weekend will be a great opportunity for fans wanting to see the stars of the LOLMDS battle some of the toughest competitors from anywhere in the country including the state of Illinois.”

NHRA announced today that it has signed a marketing partnership with SealMaster, a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of pavement maintenance products and equipment.

As part of the agreement, SealMaster will have a presence at all NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events in 2014, with an onsite promotional display at select events.

Through its onsite presence, SealMaster will receive promotional video spots on the track big screen, conduct hospitality for corporate guests and will have track bannering rights.

Another component of the marketing partnership designates SealMaster as the title sponsor of the popular NHRA Track Walks. SealMaster NHRA Track Walks will be held in the morning hours prior to eliminations or in the evening after eliminations are completed at most NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events. During the SealMaster NHRA Track Walk, an NHRA driver or legend of the sport will lead spectators in a roundtrip walk of the dragstrip, from the starting line to the finish line and back to the starting line.

“This is a great opportunity for SealMaster to increase its profile at NHRA Mello Yello Series events and we look forward to working with them to help identify new customers,” said Gary Darcy, NHRA senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We are certain the fans will look forward to participating in each SealMaster NHRA Track Walk with great enthusiasm.”

The sponsorship increases SealMaster’s involvement in NHRA. The company was also recently named an associate sponsor for the two Top Fuel dragsters fielded by Kalitta Motorsports, driven by current series points leader Doug Kalitta and three-time series winner David Grubnic.

“NHRA fans have total access to the teams and drivers, as well as the track,” said Rick Simon, SealMaster franchise director. “It’s a great opportunity for SealMaster to interact at that level. NHRA is the most thrilling, high-speed racing, and our customers really relate to the sport. The opportunity to invite fans to participate in the ‘SealMaster Track Walk’ at all of the 2014 races is a fun association for the people in our industry, and fans love it.”

When I first started at Performance Racing Industry magazine over two decades ago, there was a speech I often had to give to explain what PRI was. As I introduced myself in a phone conversation or at a race as being with Performance Racing Industry, chances were very good back then that silence would follow. We were new. We were small. We were just getting started. My first PRI Trade Show was the one held in Nashville in 1990, when 400 companies exhibited in 600 booths. The magazine’s frequency was upgraded that year from 6 times per year to 12. I would explain that we were not a race fan magazine or, really, a race tech magazine. We were a trade magazine—a business-to-business magazine for the racing industry. We were all about the business side of the sport.

At some point, I began using the metaphor of the racing market as a pie. I would tell people, “A lot of racing businesses view their objective as growing their share of the market by taking it away from another racing business. That’s certainly one way to make your slice of the pie bigger. At PRI, our ultimate goal is to make your slice of the pie bigger by helping to make the entire pie bigger.” I would say that the racing industry as a whole is in competition with other industries for discretionary dollars. If you take our target customer, there are a lot of other industries trying to convince him to buy a bass boat or a motorcoach or travel packages or hunting gear or a Harley Davidson and on and on. PRI would do everything we could to help bring the racing industry together to compete as a whole, as an industry, with these other industries by gathering information to help racing businesses sell more, be more efficient and make more money. It was our goal to do what we could to strengthen the industry. In this way, we would help to grow the pie. It’s the healthiest way for individual businesses in an industry to expand.

And as I explained the concept of growing the pie, I regularly got a very positive response. “Yes, we need to do this,” was the enthusiastic essence of how industry folks felt about the concept of growing the pie as one of the best ways to grow their individual businesses. There was almost a sense of relief sometimes as someone considered that, yes, indeed, this is a very positive way to grow sales.

When it came time to my Publisher’s Page for the April issue, I had been thinking about how the economic downturn put so much pressure on companies to focus on their slice of the market, and the reality that sales growth meant taking business away from another racing company. We’ve got some years now after the economic crash, and as a stronger sense of stability returns, it’s a good idea to think again of the size of the market as another powerful opportunity to grow sales. More fans. Increased car counts. A renewed effort—vigorous and creative—to navigate racing into the mainstream as one of life’s most thrilling pursuits. I know these are goals on everyone’s minds these days, but I thought I would also note it here. For everyone’s slice of the pie to grow, let’s grow the pie. Together.

National Speed Sport News, America’s trusted motorsports authority since 1934, together with its subsidiaries SPEED SPORT Productions and Loudpedal Productions, will partner with the Christian County Quarter Midget Association to promote and expand the 2014 QMA Dirt Grands with the objective of elevating the event to an unprecedented national scale. This new collaboration will foster awareness, growth and financial stability for supporters and stakeholders of fast-growing Quarter Midget racing, and youth racing in general.

The SPEED SPORT Dirt Grands, Presented by Larry’s Service Center, will be held July 27 to August 2, 2014 at the Taylorsville Speedway in Taylorsville, Illinois.

SPEED SPORT will leverage its tremendous media reach via print (SPEED SPORT Magazine), radio (Raceday on FOX Sports Radio), web (nationalspeedsportnews.com), television (SPEED SPORT Magazine on MAVTV), and social media to promote and broadcast the event on a national scale. Furthermore, SPEED SPORT will also work to garner promotional support through its extensive industry partnerships, advertisers, and event partners.

Loudpedal Productions, a division of SPEED SPORT, will play a huge role in creating video content for the event. Loudpedal will be the presenting sponsor of Wednesday Qualifying, and will shoot and produce video features of teams, drivers, families and the quarter midget racing lifestyle throughout the week.

SPEED SPORT Productions will be on-hand to produce content for its MAVTV show “SPEED SPORT Magazine” which premieres in May, and is pursuing support for a one-hour race show highlighting Saturday’s feature races.

“SPEED SPORT’s involvement with the CCQMA’s Dirt Grands will create unprecedented excitement for this year’s event,” said Brian Turner, CCQMA board member. “With their help, we’re talking about a lot of added activities, interviews, celebrity meet & greets and more with the objective of making the participants feel special and truly part of a huge, national-caliber event.”

“We’ve made the coverage of, and support for, youth racing a major priority for SPEED SPORT, “said SPEED SPORT President Ralph Sheheen. “All of us at National Speed Sport News and our subsidiaries look forward to working with the CCQMA, QMA, and its sponsors to work together to make the 2014 Dirt Grands the biggest and most successful event youth racing has ever seen.”