As the first step toward a bright future under new ownership, Iowa Speedway welcomed Jimmy Small, a rising talent within the industry, as its new track president. Small’s appointment at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines comes on the heels of NASCAR’s announcement that it purchased the Speedway.
 
Several of the sport’s top executives along with state and local dignitaries were present for the announcement.
 
“Jimmy’s tireless dedication, energy and experience make him the ideal candidate for leading Iowa Speedway into this new era,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR vice president, strategic development. “He has a strong background in identifying and creating fan experience improvements and defining best practices designed to help strengthen sponsor relations and ticket sales. In addition, he will have a great support structure at the Speedway and NASCAR.”
 
Small, 28, joins the Speedway after six years with NASCAR in various business-building capacities. Most recently, he served as senior manager for team marketing services within the NASCAR Industry Services department out of the Charlotte, North Carolina, office. In that role, he was the business and marketing liaison with teams and drivers in all three national series.
 
Additionally, he helped manage the implementation of the NASCAR Industry Action Plan (IAP), including several key initiatives targeting Event Management and Entertainment, Youth & Gen-Y Marketing and Driver Star Power.
 
When Small started in the sport in 2008, he worked out of NASCAR’s Daytona Beach, Florida, headquarters coordinating event weekends with tracks, television partners and teams.
 
“I’m honored to be presented with this opportunity to help guide Iowa Speedway in the next chapter of its life,” Small said. “We will continue fanning the intense passion for motorsports that is prevalent here, and do our best to showcase Iowa Speedway’s fast, exciting short-track racing in creative, fan-friendly ways.”
 
Small is a Detroit native and graduate of the University of Notre Dame. He was named as a member of Sports Pro Magazine’s The 10 NEXT Class of 2012, an honor recognizing 10 sports executives under the age of 30.
 
The track currently is gearing up for its slate of three NASCAR race weekends during the 2014 season. The Speedway’s season opens May 17-18, with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge on Saturday night followed by a 250-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series race on Sunday. The weekend of July 11-12, Iowa Speedway will host a Friday night NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event and an IndyCar Series race on Saturday. A second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge race is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 1 followed by another 250-lap NASCAR Nationwide Series event Saturday night.
 
Season ticket holders may renew their tickets for the 2014 season, and will have an exclusive right to secure their current seats until Sunday, Jan. 5.  All season tickets, with prices starting at $95, will include a guaranteed seat location, complimentary Casey’s Fan Walk pass and an opportunity to participate in pre-race ceremonies. Season tickets, parking passes and onsite camping options are available online at www.iowaspeedway.com, or by calling the toll-free ticketing hotline, 866-RUSTY-GO (787-8946). Single-event tickets and weekend packages will become available on Monday, Jan. 6.
 
Iowa Speedway’s ticketing office, located at 3333 Rusty Wallace Drive in Newton, also will be open to assist customers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, holidays excepted.

Andy Granatelli, the former CEO of STP motor oil company who made a mark on motorsports as a car owner, innovator and entrepreneur, has died. He was 90.

Granatelli's son, Vince, said his father died Sunday of congestive heart failure at a Santa Barbara hospital.

Granatelli is a member of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame.

"Everything he did was bigger than life," Vince Granatelli said. "The thing that gave him the most gratification in his life was what he did at the Indianapolis 500."

Granatelli's cars nearly won at Indianapolis in 1967 and `68 with turbine engines. He broke through in 1969 with Mario Andretti driving a car with a conventional engine. Granatelli kissing Andretti on the cheek in Victory Lane is one of the most famous images in Indy history.

In 1973, Gordon Johncock gave Granatelli another Indy 500 victory.

As chairman of STP, Granatelli struck the $250,000 deal with Richard Petty that changed the landscape of team sponsorship in NASCAR.

"Before Andy Granatelli and STP arrived on the scene, cars were sponsored by Joe's Garage and Abby's Fish Shack and lot of just local people," Dean Kruse, a friend of Granatelli's, remembered in 2011. "Sometimes when they'd go to a race track 100 miles away, they'd go visit people and put their restaurants and gas stations on the cars. But there was no major money. ... The STP deal inspired other drivers, and Bill France, to approach bigger companies. Andy was the one who thought of that. He's a great innovator."

"Andy Granatelli -- known appropriately as `Mr. 500' -- understood better than anyone the spirit and challenge of the Indianapolis 500 and had a remarkable ability to combine innovative technologies with talented race car drivers to make his cars a threat to win at Indianapolis every year," Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. "Andy leaves a legacy of historic moments that will live forever in Indianapolis 500 lore."

Granatelli was born in Dallas. He gained fame during World War II as a promoter of racing events, such as the Hurricane Racing Association.

He is survived by wife Dolly and sons Vince and Anthony.

F1 legend Michael Schumacher is in 'critical' condition in a coma after a skiing accident where he suffered suffered 'severe head trauma' when his head hit a rock. He was skiing in the French Alps.

Although initial reports stated that Schumacher's injuries were not life threatening, the Grenoble hospital treating Schumacher reported at 10pm on Sunday night that the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver's condition had worsened and is now regarded as 'critical'.

A statement from the University Hospital of Grenoble, distributed by Schumacher's management company on Sunday night, confirmed the 44-year-old was in a coma.

"Mr Schumacher was admitted to the University Hospital of Grenoble at 12:40pm, following a skiing accident which occurred in Meribel in the late morning," the statement said. "He suffered a severe head injury with coma on arrival, which required immediate neurosurgical intervention. He remains in a critical situation."

Carole Bouchard of L'Equipe newspaper reported, "It seems like his condition has deteriorated in the evening, because they are now saying he is in a coma because of maybe a brain hemorrhage so his condition is really critical and his life is in jeopardy.

"Professor Saillant who is a close personal friend of his and very well-known specialist and surgeon, attended to him. His family is there too, but people are getting more and more worried. They are still investigating exactly what happened as it is still not clear. The response was quick - six minutes, maybe ten at most - before they airlifted him to the nearest hospital. Then when it became clear he was deteriorating they moved him again."

The accident happened while the 44-year-old was skiing in the French resort of Meribel in the popular Three Valleys area.

He was wearing a helmet when he hit his head on a rock.

Schumacher's spokeswoman confirmed, "Michael fell on his head when he was on a private skiing trip in the French Alps.

"He was taken to hospital and is receiving professional medical attention. We ask for understanding that we cannot give out continuous information about his health. He was wearing a helmet and was not alone. No one else was involved in the fall."

Schumacher owns a chalet in Meribel and is said to be an excellent skier.

The German driver retired from Formula 1 for a second time in December last year.

I’m on the plane back from Indianapolis, with just enough time to make the deadline for my Publisher’s Page for the January 2014 issue. I’m excited to share with you the news that the 26th Annual Performance Racing Industry was a huge success in making its big return to Indianapolis! As so many people told us during that special week in December, “Indianapolis is the right place for this Show.” Yes, indeed. We experienced three days of packed exhibit aisles and brisk sales for exhibitors. Attendees saw the best the industry has to offer in new speed equipment and shop machinery all in one place, all at one time.

Over 1200 companies exhibited, offering an extraordinary array of racing technology creatively displayed. Plus, the personnel manning the exhibits had the technical expertise to solve technical challenges on the spot. In total, PRI printed up more credentials than ever before, with an increase of 30% over last year. The PRI block of show hotels with specially negotiated rates was expanded three times, ultimately selling out 33 hotels (We’re already working on more downtown hotel rooms for 2014). It was the busiest PRI Trade Show ever, and certainly the three biggest business days in racing.

Plus, we were able to enjoy Richard Petty’s appearance as the featured guest speaker at this year’s Grand Opening Breakfast, where an audience of nearly 3000 hung on his every word.

Just as importantly, there was a different mood down on the Show floor than in recent years—very positive. It’s amazing what a good trade show experience can do for an industry. We saw it at the SEMA Show in November, and were very happy to see it at this year’s PRI Trade Show. It sure seemed like business as usual, as if the economic darkness of 2009 has finally been put behind us in terms of conducting business on a daily basis. Also, the anxieties about two racing trade shows in two different cities was over. This also played an important role in the positive vibe on the Show floor. We thank SEMA for the leadership and resources to make this happen.

It was humbling and exciting to hear several times, “This is one of the best PRI Shows ever.” We’ll publish the full story on the PRI Trade Show, with plenty of photos, in the February issue. You can also view the 2013 PRI Trade Show Photo Galleries online.

We thank the exhibitors for the innovation they bring to Indy. That’s the star attraction! Thank you, too, to the tens of thousands of motorsports professionals who travelled in mid-December to the Show. It was a grand gathering, that also proved hugely productive in the racing industry’s ability to do business in an efficient, effective manner as we all look ahead to the 2014 racing season.

PRI is looking forward to a strong year for the racing industry in 2014.

Here are three of my favorite photos from the Show:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones and get ready for a stellar 2014 racing season!

World Racing Group and the World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series (WoO), working in conjunction with other 410 sprint car sanctioning bodies, 410 tracks and promoters, part manufacturers, suppliers and other entities involved in the 410 industry, have developed and adopted three significant rule changes for the 2014 racing season.

Much time, effort and research has gone into this endeavor, so it's encouraged for all 410 governing bodies to incorporate these rules. Review the provided Rules Bulletin closely and contact Carlton Reimers, WoO STP Sprint Series Director, or WoO Technical Director Mike Hess with any questions or concerns.

 These rules and products were released at the 2013 PRI Trade Show. Listed below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we received at the PRI Show:

1. The seat rule is mandatory and becomes effective Feb. 1, 2014. Any race car being presented for WoO competition must be equipped with one of the listed seats. There are no exceptions. Race cars not properly equipped will not be allowed to compete. The approved seat list may expand as new products are developed.

2. The front axle tether rule is mandatory and becomes effective April 1, 2014. Both the right and left side of the axle must be tethered. At this time the listed Butlerbuilt system is the only approved system. It is anticipated that other products will be approved as they are developed. Cars not properly equipped by April 1, 2014 will not be allowed to compete.

3. The torsion arm stop rule is mandatory and takes effect Feb 1, 2014. It is anticipated that other products will be approved for competition as long as they are similar in construction and quality to those listed. Approval will not be unrealistically withheld.

Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America and Fox Sports announced the FOX Sports broadcast schedule for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards for the upcoming 2014 season. The FOX sports family of networks will televise 10 ARCA Racing Series events as part of a multi-year agreement. The broadcast schedule kicks off with ARCA’s 51st consecutive visit to Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 15. The Lucas Oil 200 precedes the NASCAR Sprint Unlimited and will be held the day before qualifying for the Daytona 500.

The 2014 FOX Sports television schedule includes eight races that ARCA holds at tracks in conjunction with NASCAR events. The races will be:

2014 ARCA RACING SERIES PRESENTED BY MENARDS

Day, Date, Track
Saturday, Feb. 15, Daytona International Speedway
Saturady, May 3, Talladega Superspeedway
Sunday, May 18, Toledo Speedway
Saturday, June 7, Pocono Raceway
Friday, June 13, Michigan International Speedway
Saturday, July 19, Chicagoland Speedway
Friday, July 25, Lucas Oil Raceway
Friday, August 1, Pocono Raceway
Friday, Sept. 19, Kentucky Speedway
Friday, Oct. 3, Kansas Speedway

Eight of the races will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and two more on FOX Sports 2. All telecasts are scheduled for live broadcast.

ARCA’s relationship with FOX Sports 1 reaches back more than 15 years, to April 20, 1997, when the network (then called Speedvision) covered the ARCA Racing Series event at Salem Speedway. Since then, more than 200 races have been broadcast on Speedvision, SPEED and FOX Sports.

In 2013, five of the first eight ARCA Racing Series events were broadcast on SPEED. In August, SPEED made the transition to FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

2013 featured several milestone moments for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, many of which were captured on SPEED and FOX Sports 1.

Chase Elliott, 17, became the youngest superspeedway winner in ARCA history when he won at Pocono Raceway in June. Ken Schrader won at Toledo Speedway, which, at the time, made him the oldest winner in series history. He broke that mark later in the season.

Frank Kimmel won his 78th ARCA race at Talladega in May, and won his series-record 80th all-time race and clinched his 10th series championship in the season finale at Kansas Speedway. Along the way, Venturini Motorsports captured wins at Daytona with John Wes Townley and at Michigan International Speedway with Brennan Poole and Richard Petty Motorsports development driver Corey LaJoie won three times – at Chicagoland, Pocono Raceway and Kentucky Speedway.

ARCA and FOX SPORTS signed an extension of its multi-year contract in October, 2012.

The announcement came during a press conference held in conjunction with the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis.

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has named VP Racing Fuels the Official Fuel Provider and a Proud Partner of IMSA and the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship as well as Official Fuel Supplier of the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda in 2014.
 
VP Racing Fuels, Inc., based in San Antonio, Texas, also will be the exclusive provider of racing fuels for the IMSA-sanctioned Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama series and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series. VP Racing Fuels will provide two fuel blends for use by TUDOR Championship teams: Motorsport 100 and E85, with each supporting the IMSA Green platform. In particular, the ethanol used in blending both Motorsport 100 and VP’s E85 is cellulosic, which is derived from renewable, non-food chain feedstock. An additional announcement on a third fuel formulation will likely be made in the near future.
 
“The opportunity to partner with IMSA as the Official Fuel Provider for the preeminent sports car racing series in North America is a key component of our overall business strategy,” said Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels. “The TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and IMSA’s other series provide the perfect platform to promote not only race fuels but our expanded consumer product line including VP Small Engine Fuel and “Madditive” performance chemicals, as well as the growing number of VP-branded convenience stores opening across the U.S.
 
“VP’s roots in road racing are deep and broad, having fueled Trans Am, SCCA, Indy Lights, Atlantic, American Le Mans and many others over the years,” Cerwick continued. “Our products have fueled winners at Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen, Sebring and many other historic facilities. In 2014, fueling the podiums at Daytona, Indianapolis and many other venues will be especially fulfilling to the VP employees who have worked hard over the years to get us there.”
 
Motorsport 100, or MS100, is an unleaded gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol—the “race fuel” counterpart to VP100, VP’s street-legal 100-octane unleaded blend. MS100 is the designated blend for the TUDOR Championship to satisfy race teams’ need for a fuel that remains consistent from race to race for tuning purposes. VP’s E85 blend is an alternative fuel that is held to a similar standard for the TUDOR Championship in that it is also blended to remain 100% consistent from race to race.
 
“VP Racing Fuels has a long and successful history in motorsports and, in particular, sports car racing in North America,” said IMSA President and Chief Operating Officer Scott Atherton. “A key component with our partnership, in addition to the primary goal of providing our race teams with a consistent high quality racing fuel, is VP’s commitment to work with us in building upon our very important IMSA Green platform. We also see in VP a partner that can help our series grow with retail promotions through their branded stores and in conjunction with their rapidly growing consumer product lines. We’re honored to have such a trusted and iconic brand as an official partner for the inaugural season of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and multiple other IMSA-sanctioned series.”
 
The 2014 TUDOR Championship opens at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. with the 52nd Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 25-26, 2014.
 

Engine Parts Group, Inc. (Engine Pro) honored six top suppliers at its recent winter shareholders meeting. Companies recognized as Featured Suppliers were B & P Rods, Durabond Bearing Co., Ferrea Racing Components, Hastings Manufacturing Co., Melling Engine Parts and SA Gear Co.

Shareholders select the Featured Suppliers from more than 90 companies providing engine parts to the group. The suppliers are selected based on each company's ability to offer extraordinary value, exceptional programs and policies, and maintaining excellent working relationships. Companies chosen for the Featured Supplier Award also must be the primary source in their product category to at least 80 percent of Engine Pro’s members.

Founded 24 years ago, Engine Pro is the largest engine parts distribution network in the US. The group is made up of independent specialty engine parts distributors who warehouse a full line of internal engine components for domestic and import passenger car, light truck, heavy duty, industrial, marine, agricultural and performance applications. Engine Pro operates 35 distribution centers throughout the US and Australia.

Image Identification, from left to right:

Sal Abdallah, S.A. Gear Co.
Steve Tucker, S.A. Gear Co.
Oscar Romano, Ferrea Racing Components
John Verburg, Ferrea Racing Components
Marion Holt, Hastings Manufacturing Co.
Don Weber, Engine Parts Group, Inc.
Chuck Barnett, Melling Engine Parts and Dura Bond Bearings
Bob Kollar, Hastings Manufacturing Co.
Bill McCleskey, Melling Engine Parts and Dura Bond Bearings
Steve Arent, Melling Engine Parts and Dura Bond Bearings

Renowned motor racing broadcaster Dave Despain has signed a two-year contract with MAVTV American Real to host the network's five live events, beginning with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire on Jan. 18. He will also host a series of 30-minute, one-on-one programs titled "The Dave Despain Show" in which he'll interview drivers and other personalities from across the diverse American racing landscape.  
 
The announcement was made during the 2nd annual Lunch with Lucas, which took place December 13, 2013, at the Indiana Convention Center, home to the 2013 PRI Trade Show, before a full house of more than 240 motorsports and automotive industry movers and shakers.  

Despain, 67, said he was attracted to the burgeoning independent network owned by Forrest Lucas by the opportunity to return to working at the race track and hosting his own show.
 
"I'm really excited to get back to the grassroots of racing," Despain said. "And I'm also excited about being able to do a series of long-form interviews, the majority of which will feature the legends of grassroots racing. We'll try to mix it up and have an interesting variety of personalities from all over the racing world.

"When Lucas bought MAVTV, I thought maybe it would be a good place to be somewhere down the road," he added. "Did I want to retire or do another deal that was interesting, fun and exciting? MAVTV offered me an opportunity to kind of get back to where I started.
 
"People assume that if you're in the racing scene, you're at the track all the time," he concluded. "In reality, doing a Sunday night studio race show, you're not ever at the racetrack. I missed that. There's nothing like being face-to-face with a person. I like hosting a lot. It plays into what I consider my strength, being able to place an event in a larger picture context. There are stories I'm anxious to tell."
 
MAVTV American Real President Bob Patison, also the Executive Vice President of Lucas Oil, said he found the perfect fit for the network's racing expansion. "We brought in an icon," Patison said. "Dave is probably the best known face and voice in motor racing on television."
 
The Chili Bowl is an indoor event for midget race cars with about 275 entries in Tulsa, Okla. The network will also broadcast live the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series' East Bay Late Model Nationals from Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 15, the Show Me 100 (Late Models) from Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo., on May 24, the Late Model Nationals from Knoxville, Iowa, on Sept. 27, the Lucas Oil Challenge Cup (Short Course Off Road) from Lake Elsinore, Calif., on Oct. 18, and many more live events.

Master of ceremonies Ken Stout hosted the 60-minute long Lunch with Lucas program presented by Protect The Harvest. The program included video presentations with introductions to the leaders of the successful Team Lucas series highlighting Off Road Racing, ASCS, Drag Boats, Pro Pulling and Late Model Dirt, in addition to Lucas-owned motorsports properties. Stout followed the Team Lucas backgrounder with a detailed description of the explosive growth experienced by both Lucas Oil Studios and MAVTV during the past year.

Lucas Oil Products, Inc. founder and Chairman Forrest Lucas welcomed PRI back to the world center of motorsports and emphasized Lucas Oil, Lucas Oil Studios and MAVTV's commitment to continue to grow grassroots motorsports across the US.
 
"Motorsports marketing has been a key to the success and growth of Lucas Oil through the years," Lucas said. "For 2014, we will continue to expand our investments in the industry through more event, team and driver sponsorships, sanctioned series, new venues, new productions from Lucas Oil Studios and especially MAVTV."  

Patison thanked Forrest Lucas and Lucas Oil's continuing investment in the rapidly growing national network. "Using the principles and marketing strategy that built Lucas Oil into the powerhouse that it is today, we are building MAVTV into a major force in US television with its roots deep in the automotive world by offering an exciting slate of new shows and series hosted by top talent and high profile live events," Patison said.

For more on MAVTV, visit http://www.mavtv.com.