The ESPN family of networks will once again deliver NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series to fans this season.

ESPN and ESPN2 are set to bring the sights and sounds of the NHRA to fans across the country for the coming season.

The air dates and times have been announced for the first three events of the season, including the opening event, the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Calif. Feb. 6-9. ESPN will air the conclusion of the event in a three-hour broadcast, Feb. 9 from 8-11 p.m. ET.

Each telecast with offer insight into the racers of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series and bring the viewers behind the scenes footage from the races. Head-to-head matchups, technical segments and in-depth statistics will dominate event coverage. with ESPN and the NHRA also making  use of social media platforms during the telecasts.

Dave Reiff and Mike Dunn return to the broadcast booth and will once again bring the sights, sounds and stories to viewers during the course of a race weekend. Reiff, a part of the ESPN coverage since 2001, begins his second season as telecast anchor.

Dunn offers his unique insight as a former NHRA Top Fuel pilot and now with 13 years as a color analyst for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

In all, ESPN will dedicate more than 115 hours of original programming to the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 27-Sept. 1, will feature 11 hours of wall-to-wall coverage, including complete coverage of final eliminations on Monday, Sept. 1.

All telecasts will feature competition from all four professional classes in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series: Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

A seven-weekend schedule has been released for the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda.

It will be the ninth season for the IMSA-sanctioned series featuring seven doubleheader events for a total of 14 races.

New to the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites schedule are visits to Kansas Speedway and Watkins Glen (NY) International. The IMSA development series will also return to the rolling hills of Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, Virgina, for the first time since 2012.

For the first time the series will racing alongside the Prototype Challenge class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship during the events at Kansas and VIR.

“As the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series enters a new era of IMSA sports car racing in North America, it is only fitting that the series introduces new venues and challenges to its unique mix of rising star and veteran competitors,” said IMSA Development Series Director Steven Sewell. “With the largest fields in series history last season, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites is pleased to showcase its signature brand of prototype racing excitement at some of the best venues IMSA has to offer.”

The series opens at Sebring (FL) International Raceway March 13-14 as part of the 62nd annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

From Sebring, the series moves to Kansas Speedway for its next pair of races on June 7 followed by for the inaugural visit to Watkins Glen Int’l as part of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen weekend on June 27-28.

The series make its lone visit to Canada on the weekend of July 12-13, returning to the popular Canadian Tire Motorsport Park circuit in Bowmanville, Ontario. Another popular venue hosts the series’ ninth and 10th rounds as Cooper Tires Prototype Lites returns August 9-10 to Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

The weekend of August 23-24 marks the series’ return to VIR for the 11th and 12th rounds. The season concludes October 2-3 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, during the 17th annual Petit Le Mans.

2014 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Schedule:

March 13-14 – Sebring International Raceway – Sebring. Fla.

June 7 – Kansas Speedway – Kansas City, Kan.

June 27-28 –  Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

July 12-13 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario

Aug. 9-10 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Aug. 23-24 – Virginia International Raceway – Alton, Va.

Oct. 2-3 – Road Atlanta – Braselton, Ga.

Gallatin Speedway has become the most recent track in Montana to sanction with IMCA.

IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds will run Friday nights at Belgrade beginning this season.

The three-tenths-mile semi-banked dirt oval is promoted by David Weisz and had previously sanctioned its modifieds with WISSOTA.

The three dirt ovals in the state will run IMCA Modifieds this season: Billings Motorsports Park and Electric City Speedway in Great Falls became the first two tracks in Montana to announce their plans to sanction with IMCA last November.

“It’s good for these tracks to be on the same program. Making the move collectively benefits them and their Modified drivers,” IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root said. “We’re grateful for their faith in our rules and in this organization as a whole.”

Gallatin Speedway will be part of IMCA’s Larry Shaw Racing Western Region but will be considered a border track, meaning drivers from North Dakota, South Dakota and Saskatchewan can race there for North Central Region points.

Both Billings and Great Falls will also be designated as border tracks.

The UARA-STARS Late Model Stock Tour has suspended the 2014 season so that series owners Kerry and Wink Bodenhamer could focus on helping sick family members.

“We regret having to make this decision because it affects so many teams, sponsors and officials,” the Bodenhamers said in a statement late Tuesday evening. “We are very sorry for the inconveniences this may cause teams. You all are very important to us, but duty calls.”

The statement indicated that the series would return in 2015. Any teams or competitors that have bought a 2014 license will be refunded the total amount.

The series was founded in 2002 and has served as a developmental series for several young drivers, including Danny O’Quinn Jr., Matt McCall, Jake Crum, Brennan Poole and Coleman Pressley. Dillon Bassett captured the 2013 series championship, becoming the youngest champion in series history at 16 years old.

As the 2014 racing season for the FASTRAK Racing Series approaches, it's been announced that FASTRAK will have its new driver representative program.

"It's really a great way to communicate," said FASTRAK GM Brian Haynes. "Stan (Lester) wants to stay in touch with people to first solve any issues as quickly as possible and secondly create a great avenue of communication."

As any company grows, the issue becomes how to communicate, and FASTRAK has invested in a system whereby it can do that and be in touch with what's going on from week to week and track to track.



The drivers will fill out a form and send it back to FASTRAK. They will choose who they prefer to represent them from their track. Two people per track will be chosen as reps. The first Tuesday of every month they will meet with the staff via video conference.

This program will also be implemented with FASTRAK's Regional directors, weekly tracks, engine builders, tech inspectors and sponsors as well. Up to 250 people can be video conferenced at a time, although officials never anticipate that many.

"We have been experimenting all of 2013 with this system and it is working very well," said Lester, owner/promoter of FASTRAK. "This is just one more way we want to do a better job, and we think this is the tool to do that with."

Tom Marx, president and CEO of The Marx Group, has announced the addition of Tim Sayers as an account executive/product and market specialist. Based in the Knoxville, Tennessee, area, Sayers will support clients in the automotive, heavy duty and high performance/specialty segments of the aftermarket.

Most recently, Sayers was the operations and marketing manager for IMCO and Cherry Bomb Exhaust in Loudon, Tennessee, where he was responsible for product management and marketing in the US and Canada.

"The geographic location of our client base has greatly expanded in the last five years," explained Marx. "The addition of Tim to our team provides us with greater access to our clients in the Southeast, Midwest and East Coast regions. The Southeast has experienced substantial growth in the automotive industry over the last decade and we expect that growth to continue.”

Sayers has over 30 years of diverse automotive experience working in the O.E. replacement, O.E. service, high performance, emission control, heavy duty and specialty segments. He has worked with all levels of individuals in the automotive aftermarket from repair shop owners and technicians to wholesale and retail parts distributors and manufacturers.

Marx said Sayers possesses a unique blend of knowledge and experience with successful marketing, advertising and PR strategies and tactics that will benefit clients. “He’s a ‘car guy’ who thoroughly understands the products and markets we serve in the aftermarket,” explained Marx.

The Marx Group is a full-service marketing communications firm that provides business development, marketing strategy and marketing communications services to the automotive, heavy duty and specialty/high performance aftermarkets.  For more information on The Marx Group, phone 415-453-0844, or visit www.themarxgrp.com.

The Wingless Auto Racing series has released an ambitious schedule for the 2014 season, with 19 races at 11 different tracks in three states. Included are four returning tracks and seven new tracks including two trips outside the state of Missouri.

“I’m really excited to get things kicked off for 2014. I think it’s going to be a great season. We’re visiting lots of new tracks this year, so I can’t wait to see what kind of races we put on,” said Series Director Andy Korte. “We’re going to a couple of different facilities this year that I always wanted to race a non-winged car on as a driver So, I’m pretty excited to see what the guys will do.”

The season kicks off on Saturday, March 28 at Lebanon-Midway Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri, marking the third consecutive year that WAR will compete at the quarter-mile oval.  Additional Saturday dates at the track will be August 1 and October 3.

For the second time in series history, WAR will make a trip to a track in the Sunflower State.  In its inaugural season of 2012, WAR visited Atchison (Kansas) County Raceway.  For the first time, WAR will head to southeastern Kansas and visit the Humboldt (Kansas) Speedway on Friday, April 25.

On Friday, April 18 the destination will be Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Missouri This will be the first sprint car show scheduled in nearly a decade at the quarter-mile oval.

On Saturday, April 26 WAR will head to the recently reopened Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg, Missouri, to do battle on the three-eighths mile oval.

Memorial Day weekend will see WAR visit two more new tracks in two states. The weekend opens on Saturday, May 24.  WAR will make a first appearance at the Montgomery Motorsports Park in New Florence, Missouri. The three-eighths mile oval is under new promotion in 2014 as it is headed by UMP late model driver Jim Moon.

A trip to the “Land of Lincoln” will be made to Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois, on Sunday, May 25 as WAR crosses the Mississippi River for the first time.

“We’re looking forward to our trips outside the state as well,” says Korte. “As we continue to grow the series, our reach keeps expanding further."

Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Missouri, hosts WAR on Saturday, July 5.  The high-banked speed plant was reopened late last year and will host WAR for the first time.

One final track making a WAR debut will be Dallas County Speedway in Urbana, Missouri. The quarter-mile oval is scheduled for Saturday, September 6.

Continuing its association with WAR in 2014 will be the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, with four races planned. The first is on Saturday, May 3 as part of the Impact Signs, Awnings, and Wraps Open Wheel Showdown.  The second will be on June 21 as part of the ASCS Sizzlin Speedweek Finale. WAR will also participate in the fourth annual Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial on September 26-27.

For the second straight year, Springfield Raceway in Springfield, Missouri, will host a couple of dates. Two Saturday dates are planned on June 7 and October 25 at the high-banked quarter-mile oval.

Making a return to the schedule in 2014 will be the Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Missouri. Two Friday night dates are scheduled for May 9 and September 12. A special Independence Day race is scheduled for July 3.

2014 Wingless Auto Racing Schedule:

March 28 – Lebanon Midway Speedway – Lebanon, Mo.

April 18 – Callaway Raceway – Fulton, Mo.

April 25 – Humboldt Speedway – Humboldt, Kan.

April 26 – Central Missouri  Speedway – Warrensburg, Mo.

May 3 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Mo.

May 9 – Valley Speedway – Grain Valley, Mo.

May 24 – Montgomery Motorsports Park – New Florence, Missouri

May 25 – Quincy Raceway – Quincy, Ill.

June 7 – Springfield Raceway – Springfield, Mo.

June 21 –  Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Mo.

July 3 – Valley Speedway – Grain Valley, Mo.

July 5 – Randolph County Raceway – Moberly, Mo.

Aug 1 – Lebanon Midway Speedway – Lebanon, Mo.

Sept. 6 – Dallas County Speedway – Urbana, Mo.

Sept. 12 – Valley Speedway – Grain Valley, Mo.

Sept.26 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Mo.

Sept. 27 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Mo.

Oct. 3 – Lebanon Midway Speedway – Lebanon, Mo.

Oct. 25 – Springfield Raceway – Springfield, Mo.


*Schedule subject to change

Stock car racing’s renowned Jarrett family was recognized Monday night during the 8th annual North Carolina Motorsports Industry Award Ceremony presented by Fifth Third Bank at the Embassy Suites Hotel.

With more than 300 members of the motorsports community in attendance, the North Carolina Motorsports Association hosted the gala event, which concluded with the presentation of the group’s traditional Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award to the Jarretts.

Family patriarch and former NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett, his wife Martha, their sons Dale, who will join his dad in the NASCAR Hall of Fame next week, and Glenn, daughter Patti and grandson Jason were honored for the family’s accomplishments on and off the race track.

After a video presentation, Ned, Dale, Glenn and Jason Jarrett took part in the annual fireside chat, which was moderated by longtime family friend and noted racing announcer Jerry Punch.
Interesting stories were shared by the family and about the family by racing celebrities including Bobby Allison, Kenny Wallace and Andy Petree.

Also part of the ceremony were the presentation of seven Motorsports Industry Awards.

NASCAR President Mike Helton took the stage to present the NCMA’s Motorsports Media Recognition Award to the late Jim Hunter, a former sports writer, public relations representative and longtime NASCAR executive. Helton revealed that the award will also be rebadged the Jim Hunter Motorsports Media Recognition Award.

Other Motorsports Industry Awards went to Stocks for Tots, Rev Racing, The World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Motorsports Authentics and Carolina Speedway.

Mazak invites manufacturers to its DISCOVER MORE WITH MAZAK Midwest event, taking place March 25–27 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the company’s Technology Center in Schaumburg, Ill. The event will focus on ways to boost production efficiency through total manufacturing solutions, highlighting advancements in machine tool technology, automation systems, cutting tools and more. Plus, special presentations on the use of Mazak technology in the racing industry and the growth of US manufacturing will round out the event.

Attendees will experience real-world metalworking demonstrations on 20 different Mazak machines, witnessing the latest advancements in milling, turning, 5-axis and multi-tasking technology. Applications experts will also be available during the demonstrations to discuss part-processing optimization.

Technology in action will include: the VERTICAL CENTER UNIVERSAL 400 5X with a 5-axis rotary/tilt table for high-value small parts production; HYPER QUADREX 250 MSY twin-spindle, twin-turret machine for medium to high volume bar and/or chuck work; MEGATURN NEXUS 900M vertical turning center with multi-tasking functionality for cutting large, low to medium profile parts; and the INTEGREX e-420H II Multi-Tasking machine for processing heavy, large-diameter shaft-type parts in single setups.

Attendees will also experience advanced automation solutions working in conjuction with several Mazak machines, including a gantry loader on the INTEGREX i-300 Multi-Tasking machine to demonstrate a quick, turnkey system with high productivity levels. Furthermore, Mazak will integrate its ORBITEC 20, which generates turned features on large, odd-shaped parts, with its HORIZONTAL CENTER NEXUS 6800 horizontal machining center and pre-engineered PALLETECH System to demonstrate how a fully automated manufacturing cell can shorten product life cycles, reduce in-process inventory and allow for just-in-time production.   

In addition to the demonstrations, attendees can participate in technical seminars on how to improve factory utilization using the MTConnect open-source royalty-free manufacturing protocol as well as how Sandvik Coromant cutting tools can enhance gear production on Mazak Multi-Tasking machines.

A special presentation given Matt Gimbel, Nationwide Series crew chief for Penske Racing, will discuss how Mazak technology has played a vital role in the team’s success. With Mazak machine tools and its in-house manufacturing staff, Penske Racing is able to push the envelope with its part production, which includes engine cylinder heads, intake manifolds and suspension components.

Another special presentation by Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, will discuss the benefits of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States as well as how manufacturers can objectively decide if reshoring or offshoring is the right decision for their operations.   

Additional event details and registration for the DISCOVER MORE WITH MAZAK Midwest event in Schaumburg, Ill. will soon be available on www.mazakusa.com. 

Michael Shank Racing will partner with AERO in the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship this season.

The team first partnered with AERO Advanced Paint Technologies prior to last season. Launching at the fabled Rolex 24 At Daytona, AERO deployed an entirely new paint technology on the Columbus, Ohio-based team’s Daytona Prototype machines.

Michael Shank Racing’s Daytona Prototypes were not only good to look at with the AERO applications, but they also enjoyed a range of other benefits, from weight savings to added protection for the carbon fiber that lies underneath the skin of the race car.

The partnership with Michael Shank Racing helped fuel growth for AERO, which also has established a customer base in aerospace applications.

“Our ongoing partnership with Michael Shank Racing highlights the quest for a meaningful competitive edge through truly disruptive innovation,” said entrotech CEO Jim McGuire. “Michael Shank Racing has been one of the earliest adopters of AERO advanced paint technology, and while it’s great seeing how fantastic their cars look live and on TV, the true value of what our partnership has brought to bear is in weight savings, aerodynamic gains, maintenance flexibility, and ultimately, performance on the track. Furthermore, Mike and his team have been an instrumental launch pad for our technology within the motorsports community by showcasing exactly what our product offers in terms of on-track capability.”

“We started this partnership last year and there was a big focus on how good the cars looked, but as we went through the season we kept discovering new advantages so I’m really excited to have AERO back with us again in 2014,” said team owner Mike Shank.