ZOOM Motorsports announced that the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will feature a new event logo starting with the 2014 race. In the fifth year of hosting the IndyCar Series in Birmingham, this year’s event has several new additions to it, including a new, later date in April, as well as three new series racing during the weekend.
 
The Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama will take place three weeks later this year, April 25-27, right before the drivers compete in the Grand Prix of Indianapolis, and then the famous Indy 500. In addition to the traditional IndyCar Series and Indy Lights races, the 2014 weekend will also feature the Pirelli World Challenge Sports Car Series, Pro Mazda presented by Cooper Tires and USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda races at Barber Motorsports Park.
 
“With the additional series, we will now have eleven races throughout the three-day race weekend, meaning fans will have the opportunity to see more racing action than ever before,” stated Rick Humphrey, VP of ZOOM Motorsports, the exclusive event promoter of Barber Motorsports Park. “This new logo is just one of the many new, exciting changes for the race this year. In addition to the logo and on-track changes, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase an upgraded ticket to our new CM’s Trackside Tavern. This area will feature one of the best views at the park, along with delicious food from some of Birmingham’s top local restaurants.”
 
Throughout the three-day weekend, fans will enjoy seeing all of the big names in IndyCar racing as they take on the 2.38 mile, 17-turn circuit each day to prepare for the main event on Sunday, April 27. All of the stars of the IndyCar Series will compete, including 2013 series champion Scott Dixon, Helio Castroneves, Marco Andretti, Will Power, Graham Rahal and defending race winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. This year, Team Penske has added Indy 500 winner and former Formula One, Champ Car, and NASCAR veteran Juan Pablo Montoya to its team, where he will compete at Barber for the first time.
 
The popular Legacy Indy Lights 100 returns, offering a second race for fans during the weekend. Highlighting the brightest up and coming talent in the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires series, these drivers compete with an ultimate goal of one day securing a seat in the IndyCar Series.
 
Returning after a year’s absence, Pro Mazda brings the second step in the Mazda Road to Indy development series. These open-wheel, open cockpit racers are capable of 260 horsepower and top speeds of 170 MPH.
 
New to the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama weekend is the first stage of the Mazda Road to Indy Series, USF2000. Built as an entry-level open-wheel training ground, these cars produce up to 170 horsepower and top speeds of 150 MPH. Indy Lights, USF2000, as well as Pro Mazda, will feature double-header races and will compete on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Another exciting series heading to Barber for the first time is one of North America’s top production-based sports car championships, the Pirelli World Challenge Sports Car Series.  Featured classes will include Grand Touring (GT), Grand Touring Sport (GTS), as well as Touring Car (TC) and Touring Car B-Spec (TCB).  These series feature more everyday manufacturers that fans drive to and from work, including imports Honda, Audi, Volvo, Kia, and Porsche, as well as American-based Cadillac, Chevrolet and Ford.  Pirelli World Challenge will offer fans four races throughout the schedule-packed weekend.
 
“I can honestly say that this year’s race is setting up to be the most exciting IndyCar race weekend that we have hosted at Barber,” stated Humphrey. “Each year at the end of the race weekend, I think ‘how can we top that?’ But each year, we have managed to make it bigger and better.  We are really excited for our fans to experience this year’s Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama, and hope everyone enjoys seeing the new logo around town as we welcome IndyCar’s top drivers to Alabama.”
 
This year, fans will also have the opportunity to purchase a new, upgraded hospitality option called CM’s Trackside Tavern. CM’s will be located trackside in the Red Diamond Fan Zone with views of six different turns of the racing circuit. It will feature food from some of Birmingham’s most popular restaurants including La Paz, Ezell’s Fish Camp, Golden Rule Bar-B-Que, Michael’s Restaurant, Catfish Junction and G-dogs.  Along with one of the most exciting atmospheres at Barber Motorsports Park, CM’s Trackside Tavern ticket holders will receive breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks and three drink tickets to a full bar.
 
Tickets for the 5th annual event start as low as $15. Kids 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult for the exciting race weekend.
 
Fans can visit www.barbermotorsports.com to purchase tickets or upgrade to CM’s Trackside Tavern.
 

IndyCar has announced a new qualifying format to set the 33-car starting lineup for the 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Qualifying will now feature three sessions of time trials over two days during 2014 qualifying weekend on May 17-18.

“This new format includes two exciting days of on-track action, all culminating on Sunday with the Fast Nine Shootout,” said Mark Miles, CEO, Hulman Motorsports. “Fans get to watch their favorite drivers battle to make the field on Saturday, and then fight for a pole position on Sunday. It will be a great show for fans attending the race and watching the broadcast on ABC.”

The format is as follows:

• Saturday, May 17 (11 a.m.-5:50 p.m. ET)
- The fastest 33 cars compose the starting field (but not starting positions).
- All entries are guaranteed at least one four-lap attempt to qualify.
- The fastest nine entries advance to the Fast Nine Shootout.

• Sunday, May 18 (10:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. ET)
- Saturday times are erased and entries 10-33 must complete another four-lap attempt to determine their starting position in order of the slowest to fastest from Saturday times.

• Fast Nine Shootout, Sunday, May 18 (2-2:45 p.m. ET)
- Each entry will receive one four-lap attempt in the order of the slowest to the fastest from Saturday times. Aggregate times will determine the Verizon P1 Award winner and top three rows.

Qualifying results on Saturday and Sunday will include new points incentives to be announced at a later date. Practice sessions before time trials commence are scheduled both days.

“There is an enormous amount of talent in the field this year, which so far includes five former Indianapolis 500 champions,” said Derrick Walker, IndyCar President of Competition and Operations. “The new format presents an additional challenge to drivers who have one chance to make the field on Saturday, and start over again on Sunday to determine their starting position.”

Fans at home will be able to track their favorite drivers’ progress as they attempt to qualify for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” with extensive coverage on ABC. The network will televise qualifications live from 4-6 p.m. (ET) Saturday, May 17, and 1-3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, May 18, in addition to the 200-lap race Sunday, May 25, marking its 50th consecutive year of coverage of the race.

Additional hours of qualifying will be carried on ESPN3, ESPN’s multi-screen live sports network, with the full schedule to be announced at a later date.

“Down through history, qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 has made for many dramatic and compelling television moments, and we’re confident that the leadership of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar will continue that tradition with this new format. We look forward to bringing it all to our viewers in May,” said Rich Feinberg, ESPN vice president, motorsports, production.

Beginning today through April 15, fans may purchase a qualifying ticket package for Saturday and Sunday for $30 (single day tickets are $20).

The Fast Nine Shootout was introduced in 2010 as part of time trials. Ed Carpenter claimed the pole last May with a four-lap average speed of 228.762 mph, becoming the first team owner/driver since 1975 to earn the coveted No. 1 starting position.

“You have to take big risks when you’re taking a run at the pole or trying to get into the shootout,” said Carpenter, who recorded a fast lap of 229.347 mph during his final run. “We’re always at the limit of what our cars have and never more so than qualifying at Indianapolis. The driver has to be perfect to execute a pole-type run and doing it while the car is right on the edge of its capabilities. It’s extremely stressful and challenging and then rewarding when it goes well. It’s definitely one of the hardest things we do all year long if not the hardest.”

Eighteen drivers have won the historic race from the pole position – most recently Helio Castroneves in 2009. Rick Mears, who earned the pole six times at Indianapolis, won three of his four races from the top starting position.

Team Penske’s Castroneves, a four-time Indy 500 pole sitter, seeks to join Mears, A.J. Foyt and Al Unser as the only four-time winners of the race. Tony Kanaan, who won the 97th Indianapolis 500 after starting 12th, will drive the No. 10 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car in an attempt to successfully defend his title. Kanaan’s new teammate, reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon, will seek to win his second 500 Mile Race. He won from the pole in 2008.

Mears (1979, 1981) and Johnny Rutherford (1980) combined for the lone three-year stretches in which the pole sitter won the race.

Mario Andretti, one of the world’s most recognized race-car drivers, will be honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club at the RRDC Evening with Mario Andretti presented by Firestone in Long Beach, Calif., on April 10, prior to the running of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

This is the RRDC’s sixth consecutive annual banquet honoring auto racing’s most influential leaders. Previous honorees were Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, Roger Penske, Jim Hall and Brian Redman.

The Firestone brand will return as presenting sponsor of the RRDC banquet for the fifth straight year.

“Firestone has a long-standing relationship with Mario Andretti and is honored to be part of this year’s Road Racing Drivers Club banquet recognizing his unequaled achievements,” said Lisa Boggs, Director of Bridgestone Americas Motorsports. “He is certainly deserving of this recognition because it wasn’t just the winning that made him a champion, but the way he did it. His legacy represents the essence of racing.”

The dinner’s proceeds will help support the RRDC’s young driver initiatives, including its groundbreaking SAFEISFAST.com program and the Team USA Scholarship, which the RRDC has backed since 1997.

The RRDC Evening with Mario Andretti presented by Firestone will be held on Thursday, April 10, at the Hilton Hotel, 701 West Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, Calif., with cocktails at 6 p.m., and dinner at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $200 per person ($175 for RRDC members), if purchased in advance, and space is limited. Sponsor packages are also available. This event is expected to sell out quickly. Early reservations are recommended. Please contact Jeremy Shaw at rrdc2@cox.net.

Widely regarded as the greatest race car driver of all time, Mario Andretti was born in Montona, Italy, in 1940. When World War II ended, the Andretti family found themselves trapped inside a communist country. By 1948, the family was living in a refugee camp, where they remained for eight years. Once U.S. visas were granted, the family of five left to begin a new life in America. With $125 and virtually no English language skills, they set sail to New York Harbor in 1955. They soon settled in Nazareth, Pa., where an uncle lived.

By 1959, Andretti began racing stock cars in his adopted hometown. That was the start of an illustrious 36-year career that saw the versatile driver compete and win in every discipline he entered – midgets, sprint cars, dirt track cars, stock cars, Indy cars, Formula One, Formula 5000 and sports cars.

Over the years, he’s won 111 major events, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. Among his many titles, he captured four national Indy Car championships (1965, 1966, 1969 and 1984), the Formula One World Championship (1978), was named Driver of the Year in three different decades (the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s), Driver of the Quarter Century (in the ’90s) and was selected by both the media and fans as America’s Driver of the Century. He is also enshrined in the Indianapolis 500 Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame, the Sprint Car Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Sebring Hall of Fame and the Automotive Hall of Fame.

While Andretti retired from active competition in 1994, many of his records still stand. He is the all-time leader in Indy Car pole positions (67), all-time Indy Car lap leader (7,595), all-time leader in Indy Car race starts (407), all-time leader in wire-to-wire Indy Car victories (14) and the oldest race winner in Indy Car history at age 53. He is also the first driver to win both Indy Car and Formula One championships and the only driver to win Indy Car races in four decades.

Today, his legacy continues with the Andretti Winery in California, a petroleum distributorship and other business interests. In 2006 he received the title of Commendatore from the Republic of Italy, a result not only of his spectacular racing career, but also his epic life story as a classic example of the immigrant who made good in America. In 2008, the Library of Congress added him to its Living Legends list. The Living Legend award honors artists, writers, activists, filmmakers, physicians, entertainers, sports figures and public servants who have made significant contributions to America’s diverse cultural, scientific and social heritage.

“There is no question that the name Mario Andretti is a household word worldwide,” said Bobby Rahal, president of the RRDC. “He is truly the quintessential race-car driver with accomplishments that are legendary. It is a privilege for the RRDC to honor him.”

For the third year in a row, Optima Batteries based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will partner with Team Lucas in a grassroots motorsports advertising/marketing and sponsorship program that encompasses the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Lucas Oil Off Road Regional Series, Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League, Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series and the Lucas Oil Modified Series.  

For the 2014 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Optima Batteries will be a Presenting sponsor on one CBS telecast and four CBS Sports Network and MAVTV telecasts. They will also be an event Title sponsor on a NBC Sports Network telecast of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and a Presenting sponsor on both the NBC Sports Network and MAVTV telecasts for the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series. Additional on-air exposure will feature Optima Batteries as an on-board camera sponsor in select telecasts of the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League airing on CBS, NBC Sports Network and MAVTV.  
    
New in 2014 is the Optima Batteries Faceoff. This will be held at four different rounds of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and will pit two racers chosen by social media voting against each other in a three-lap Faceoff for cash and bragging rights.
 
The No: 18 race car of Corry Weller will again be carrying the Optima Batteries colors and logo in the PRO 4 championship.    
 
In the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Optima will sponsor Ray Cook's No. 56 race car and in the Lucas Oil Modified Series they will sponsor the No: 10 race car of Tim Morse.
 
They will also sponsor a Fast Lap Award in the four professional classes of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and the Optima Batteries Hard Charger Award in both the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and the Lucas Oil Modified Series.   
 
"Team Lucas' extremely successful program targets are the grass roots racing fans all across the heartland of America," said Optima Batteries Marketing Manager Ryan Hoffins. "We couldn't be more excited to increase our support of Team Lucas' expanded audience across America.  Since the trucks, cars and boats racing in these series actually use OPTIMA batteries, it's a genuine way to prove how our products hold up in extreme conditions."
 
Lucas Oil Executive Vice-President Bob Patison stated, "Optima Batteries will again be a very important partner in the Team Lucas marketing and advertising program in 2014.  Their approach to marketing dovetails with many of our Team Lucas programs designed to reach the greatest numbers of fans and viewers."

Tire rules will be in place for the next five events on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, officials announced.

The stretch of competition includes a doubleheader weekend on March 28 at Lonestar Speedway in Kilgore, Texas, and March 29 at I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas; the Illini 100 on April 4-5 at Farmer City (Illinois) Raceway; and a Volunteer State twin bill on April 11 at Duck River Raceway Park in Wheel, Tennessee, and April 12 at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway.

For the Lonestar/I-30 Speedway and Duck River/Tazewell swings, competing teams will be restricted to using Hoosier 1300, 1350, 1450, 1600 and 55-compound tires or American Racer 44-, 48- and 56-compound rubber. All of the tires will be required to punch a minimum '40' reading when checked with a durometer.

The prestigious Illini 100 at the quarter-mile Farmer City oval, meanwhile, will be contested under the traditional DIRTcar UMP Hoosier LM tire rule. Three Hoosier tire compounds—LM-20, LM-30 and LM-40—will be permitted.

"We're trying to make life easier for all the teams competing in the next five World of Outlaws Late Model Series events," said tour director Tim Christman. "By mandating specific tire rules for the upcoming events, hopefully we'll be able to lessen the burden on teams to carry so many tires on each trip and attract more participation from local and regional racers."

The 2014 WoO LMS campaign kicked off this month with five events in the Sunshine State. There was not a single repeat winner during the season-opening swing; Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wisconsin, Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., and Darrell Lanigan of Union, Kentucky, reached Victory Lane during the Feb. 14-16 Bubba Army Dirt Late Model Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida, and Casey Roberts of Toccoa, Georgia, and Kyle Bronson of Tampa, Fla., scored upset triumphs on Feb. 20 and 22, respectively, during the DIRTcar Nationals by Summit at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Fla.

Lanigan, a two-time WoO LMS champion, will head to Texas and Arkansas leading the circuit's points standings by 10 points over Sheppard and 22 points over Smith.

The Illini 100 carries a first-place prize of $20,000, while the events at Lonestar, I-30, Duck River and Tazewell will feature 50-lap A-Mains paying $10,000 to win.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels is returning to the NMRA racing scene as an official 2014 series sponsor for all national NMRA events. The company will also be posting contingency awards in all Pro and Sportsman classes as well as special-event classes, and Mickey Thompson Motorsports will be on site at most events offering trackside support.  

“Supporting the Sportsman racers in this all Ford Mustang series is something we look forward to every year,” stated Tom Kundrik, Motorsports Manager, Mickey Thompson. “With the series kick off at the 20th annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout, this season is already shaping up to be one of the best yet.”

The NMRA launches its 2014 season at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fla., March 6-9, 2014. For more information about this exciting series, visit http://www.nmradigital.com/. For the NMRA schedule, visit http://www.nmradigital.com/2014_event_schedule/.

CV Products Consolidated LLC, located in Thomasville, North Carolina is looking for a Sales Manager to lead diverse sales staff.  With over 350 manufacturers in our extensive inventory, CV Products is your one-stop supplier of the finest quality racing components available today.  Industry-leading customer service/tech support is just one reason why many manufacturers have chosen CV Products to be their exclusive distributor and customers the world over continue to chose CV Products for all their racing needs.

If you are highly motivated and passionate about customer service, join a team of dedicated employees who serve a diverse range of customers in the racing and performance industries, both domestically and overseas, including asphalt oval, dirt, drag, road racing, marine and other performance markets.  The company services wholesale and retail engine builders, chassis shops, drivers, and race teams at all levels of racing, from the professional level to sportsman competitors.


Duties include but are not limited to:
• Able to create and assist with the implementation of strategic sales strategies for CV Products to increase overall revenue and gross profit. This includes creating sales action plans, sales forecasts, execution to plan and measuring results to plan.
• Manages a team of Technical Sales Representatives, Outside Sales Representatives, Trackside Sales Representative and Customer Service Representatives.
• Ability to acquire and cultivate client relationships as well as achieving profit and revenue objectives using telephonic and personal visits.
• Proven ability to lead team in building and developing processes that drive client satisfaction.
• Ability to administer and manage discount levels and strive to improve company margins.
• Execute sales programs based on marketing initiatives and stimulus activities.
• Able to control expenses per agreed upon budget.
• Able to educate customers on products, service, warranties, and technical support.
• Ability to demonstrate proper techniques of prospecting, telemarketing, closing techniques, and quotation and specification writing to Technical Sales Reps.
• Receives feedback on existing products and services, as well as changes, enhancements and new products and communicates to staff and other departments opportunities for improvements.
• Responsible for new account development, retaining sales, product upgrades, problem resolution, sales campaign. programs, and business controls to maximize results.
• Ensures that products, services and solutions recommended to clients will fulfill their needs.
• Able to gain penetration into difficult accounts.
• Identifies opportunities market trends and opportunities.
• Demonstrates team building and leadership experience.
• Ability to work through and with cross-functional teams to achieve company goals is essential.

Required skills/experience:
• Bachelor's degree (B.A.) from four-year college or university; and a minimum of 5+ years of related experience in Performance/Racing Sales, Business Development, Marketing or other related fields and/or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to develop and foster strong relationships with current and potential customers.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Ideal candidate is an outgoing, positive, self-starter who excels in a team environment, negotiation, and people management.  
• Strong interpersonal communications skills are a must.  
• 30% travel required including weekends

For more information or to apply, contact Terri Scannell, Director of Human Resources at CV Products: tscannell@cvproducts.com or 336/472-2242. Fax: 336/472-2204.

Edelbrock announces its 9th Annual Car Show, which will be held on Saturday May 3, 2014, benefiting the Rev'ved Up 4 Kids charity.

On Friday, May 2, 2014, Edelbrock will once again be opening the doors of its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility to the public for free shop tours. Participants will get the opportunity to take a guided tour of Edelbrock's research & development, manufacturing and quality control departments. This is a unique opportunity for automotive enthusiasts to see what it takes to design and manufacture high-quality performance products.

Shop tours begin at 10:00 a.m. and will end at 2:00 p.m. Limited spots are available and are going fast. Interested parties can register online at www.edelbrock.com/carshow.

On Saturday, May 3, 2014, over 300 cars will fill the streets around Vic's Garage for the 9th Annual Edelbrock Car Show. Automotive enthusiasts are invited to come out and enjoy a day of hot rods, great food, live entertainment and everything else that encompasses car culture.

Various popular gourmet food trucks will be attending to satisfy your appetite.

The show will also host the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, where teams of high school students from all over Southern California race to tear down and rebuild an engine in a timed and judged competition.

Additionally, the ever so popular Kids Corner will return with tons of activities for children of all ages. Many aftermarket manufacturers will be in attendance to exhibit their products.

Show hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Spectator entry is free, however, the Rev'ved Up 4 Kids charity will be accepting any donations. Visit www.edelbrockfamilyfoundation.org to learn more about the charities they support.

All makes and models of vehicles are welcome and interested car show participants can register online at www.edelbrock.com/carshow. Standard registration is available from now until April 30th at $30.00 per vehicle. Day of show registration is also available at $40.00 per vehicle. Finally, a limited number of VIP spaces are also available for a $75.00 per vehicle. Special arrangements can be made to accommodate small and large car clubs.

Event Details:
• Friday May 2, 2014 Edelbrock will be hosting free shop tours from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
• Saturday May 3, 2014, the Car show from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Vic's Garage, 510 Madrid Ave., Torrance, CA 90501
• The car show will feature the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge, food and refreshments, displays from popular aftermarket manufacturers and a Kids Corner with activities for all ages and much more
• All of the event proceeds will benefit the Rev'ved Up 4 Kids charity

For more information please visit www.edelbrock.com/carshow.

The top Sprint Car drivers in the world of auto racing are geared up to invade the Stockton (California) Dirt Track at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 22. Just prior to that however, the greatest Sprint Car driver of all-time will be honored at City Hall in Stockton during a special ceremony on Thursday, March 20 at 11:30 a.m.


Bloomington, Indiana native Steve Kinser, a 20-time World of Outlaw Sprint Car Series champion and a past starter of the Indianapolis 500 will be presented with a key to the city, in commemoration of his final full-time season of competition. The country’s premier Sprint Car tour in fact, has dubbed this year as a “Salute to the King” in honor of the man known quite simply as the “King of the Outlaws.”



Media members are invited to attend and cover the special ceremony on March 20.



Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva said, "I am very excited about these events coming to Stockton. We do have positive events in our City and we definitely need to support them. Please help promote these great events in March." 



“This is a really exciting event for the city of Stockton and what we’re trying to do more and more is showcase just how large motorsports is in the town,” said Tony Noceti of the Stockton Dirt Track. “When it comes to Sprint Car racing across the world there is nobody bigger than Steve Kinser, so awarding him with the key to the city on March 20 at City Hall is going to be pretty special. We are looking to have as much media as possible come cover the presentation and showcase some of the great things we’re doing down here in Stockton.” 



As noted Kinser is considered to be the greatest Sprint Car driver of all-time and possesses the most World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series championships in the history of the tour, having claimed the title on 20 occasions. The Indiana driver is the all-time winningest competitor in World of Outlaws history with 576 career triumphs with the series.



Kinser has captured all of Sprint Car racing’s biggest events, including 12 titles at the prestigious Knoxville Nationals in Iowa and 12 victories at California’s biggest showcase—the Gold Cup Race of Champions in Chico. He also finished 14th in the 1997 Indianapolis 500 and even had a stint in the NASCAR Cup Series during his storied career. Kinser is a fourteen-time National 410 Sprint Car Driver of the Year and a nineteen-time American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association All-American honoree. 



Kinser also happens to drive a race car owned by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, who said: “I never missed a World of Outlaw show in the area when I was growing up. We waited for those nights like they were holidays. A few years ago, when we had the chance to get Steve Kinser to drive for Tony Stewart Racing, it was like a dream come true. When we got him on board, my goal was for him to drive for us during the remainder of his career. I’m really excited for him to go out and have a great season. He’s the best ever and I couldn’t be more proud.” 



The public is also welcome to come and attend the ceremony to witness Kinser be presented with the key to the city. 



The World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series event at the Stockton Dirt Track on March 22 is part of a two-night open wheel event, which includes Winged 360 Sprint Cars & BCRA Midgets on Friday March 21. A car show and live band will also be featured on Saturday afternoon at the track. Tickets for both nights can be acquired by logging onto http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/ordertickets.asp?p=447 or by calling (877) 395-8606. 


Don Schumacher Racing's Make-A-Wish Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car team will have a distinct Iowa flavor when it arrives at Gainesville, Florida, next week for the NHRA Gatornationals.

John Collins, in his seventh season with DSR and fifth as an assistant crew chief to Rahn Tobler, has been promoted to crew chief for the Make-A-Wish team with driver Tommy Johnson Jr.

"I sold my (auto repair) shop in 2000 to move here for the opportunity to succeed," Collins said. "And DSR is the organization where you can succeed."

Collins has worked with Tobler the past five seasons, including the last two as the assistant crew chief on the NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge team.

"John is one of the most intelligent, creative people we have in our shop," said DSR owner Don Schumacher, whose teams have won 220 NHRA event titles and 11 world championships. "Rahn and I both have believed that John has been ready to step up to crew chief for a couple years, and this is the right time for him.

"I'm excited for John and our Make-A-Wish team. They've already done a great job this year but they need to have one leader who will be with them 100 percent of the time."

Replacing Collins on the NAPA team will be Eric Lane, who has been with John Force Racing since 2001. Lane most recently was the assistant crew chief on the Top Fuel dragster driven by Brittany Force, who advanced to her first Top Fuel championship round on Feb. 23 near Phoenix where she lost to DSR's Antron Brown and the Matco Tools team.

"We wouldn't have been able to promote John to the Make-A-Wish car unless I could get Eric," Tobler said. "I needed a good, experienced crew chief to come in here and help me. Eric can give me input into how to improve the car. I know Eric on a personal level and he'll come here and fit in well with our team. He won't be a John Collins right away but he has the potential to be one."

Lane, 40, is a native of Baldwin Park, California, and currently lives with his family in Avon, Indiana. He graduated from Mt. San Antonio College and Universal Technical Institute before working for three years on Gary Densham's Funny Car team.

The ties between Collins, 51, and Johnson, 45, are long. They are natives of Ottumwa, Iowa, and Collins' wife Kelly graduated with Johnson in the same class from Ottumwa High School. In 1999, Collins helped on Johnson's family-owned Top Fuel dragster.

Collins lives in Plainfield, Indiana, and Johnson in nearby Avon.

"I'm very proud of what John has accomplished, and we all think he's ready," Tobler said.

"I've told him when he's ready I wouldn't hold him back from doing what he's always wanted to do," Tobler said. "This is why he moved here from Iowa. He sold a successful body shop and repair shop to move here with his wife and two kids 14 years ago because he wanted to be a drag racer."

While Collins and Tobler have led DSR's NAPA AUTO PARTS Dodge driven by Ron Capps for nearly three years, they also have helped run Johnson's Funny Car through this year's first two NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events.

"We've basically been running that car for the last two race weekends, and that car ran very well with the structure of how we do things," Tobler said.

Despite competing at the first two events without a full-time crew chief, Johnson advanced to the semifinals last weekend near Phoenix and is ranked fourth in points heading to Florida next week for the Gatornationals.

Collins' first full-time job on a Top Fuel team was in 2000 when he worked on Joe Gibbs Racing's dragster driven by Cory McClenathan. Collins joined Don Prudhomme Racing the following year and was reunited with Johnson on Prudhomme's Skoal Funny Car. In 2003, Collins was moved to Prudhomme's Top Fuel dragster driven by Larry Dixon and the team won the NHRA world championship that year.