For the first time ever, Performance Racing Industry will offer PRI Gear apparel for sale at the PRI Trade Show when it makes its big return to Indianapolis this year.

“It’s something new and fun for us,” said John Kilroy, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “There’s a real community feel inside the PRI Trade Show, and we’ve always wanted to provide a way for attendees to take a little bit of that sense of identity with them. We’re working with Tim Sousamian, of Piston Driven, and we’re going to have some terrific PRI Gear clothing items for sale at the Trade Show.”

Attendees of the PRI Trade Show will be able to purchase PRI Gear at two locations at the Show. There will be a store at the entrance to the Show floor just inside the main door on Capitol Avenue. There will be another store further into the main lobby area in the yellow hall on the PRI Trade Show Floor Plan.

Sousamian is a car guy, with a long history of involvement in racing, said Kilroy, and is skilled at creating quality apparel for folks who share a love of fast cars that win races. “There’s a fashion that fits in perfectly at race tracks and race shops, and Tim is the rare individual who gets it,” Kilroy continued. Sousamian also organizes apparel sales for the SEMA Show.

PRI’s proceeds from the sale of apparel will go to the Charlie Dean Leffler Discretionary Trust. It was established in honor of racer Jason Leffler, who lost his life in a sprint car accident this year. All monies in the trust go directly to help the needs of Jason’s young son, Charlie Dean Leffler.

Attendees of the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show and the general public can support two important charities while having a great time by attending the "Evening of Giving" Benefit Presented by KECO Coatings on Thursday, December 12 at Bartini's nightclub in Union Station, 39 W. Jackson Place, Indianapolis.

The benefit, which includes live music and a live auction, will start at 6:30 p.m. and run until 10 p.m.

The event will raise money for the Indiana Children's Wish Fund and Racing for Corey, which are both 501(c)3 not-for-profit organizations.

It will feature live music by the Souled Out Band, which is recognized as one of the best dance, party and variety bands in the Midwest. Its four lead singers and seven other musicians, including an energetic horn section, perform a wide variety of music.

A live auction featuring a limited number of special items, several of which are related to motorsports, will also be on tap. Some of the auction items confirmed at press time include an Urban 49 cc scooter; the opportunity for two people to be a crewmember for a day with Sam Schmidt Motorsports; an IndyCar Experience two-seater ride around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and a "Play and Stay" vacation for two to Tucson, Ariz., including four nights of accommodations and three rounds of golf.  Music fans will also get the chance to bid on a guitar autographed by Jimmy Buffet and another one autographed by a rock band such as the Eagles, the Rolling Stones or Aerosmith.

Appetizers will be complimentary and a cash bar will be available.  The event is open only to adults 21 and older.

General admission tickets cost $60 each and include two drink tickets. Attendees are encouraged to purchase them in advance by calling (520) 906-8106 or e-mailing info@racingforcorey.org. Tickets will also be available at the door. The organizers will accept VISA and MasterCard in addition to cash.

Although KECO Coatings has already signed up to be the event's presenting sponsor, several other VIP sponsorship packages are available for $1500 each. For more information on those opportunities, contact Mike Klinge at (520) 906-8106 or e-mail him at mike@kecocatings.com.

Bartini's is a high-energy dance club with three full-service bars, an expansive dance floor and a large outdoor patio with a fire pit. Seating in the 10,000-square-foot facility is limited to its VIP sections.

The money raised by the event will help grant wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. For more information on the charities, see indianachildrenswishfund.org and racingforcorey.org.

Honda has unveiled the Civic WTCC with which it will take on Citroen, Chevrolet and Lada in next year's World Touring Car Championship.

The new Civic boasts increased engine power and improved aerodynamics in accordance with the new regulations, which are expected to make the cars between three and five seconds faster per lap.

2009 world champion Gabriele Tarquini will once again spearhead the attack alongside fellow works driver Tiago Monteiro.

They will be joined by privateers Norbert Michelisz - who won for Honda at Suzuka this year - and Mehdi Bennani, who confirmed his switch from BMW to Honda machinery in October.

The team aims to run the car for the first time in January.

Honda enters 2014 as the defending manufacturers' champion, following a breakthrough season that featured four victories and 20 podiums.

A statement released by the team said it was targeting both drivers' and manufacturers' title success with the new Civic.

"The windtunnel testing is finished and we have frozen the aero on the car," Honda's motorsport manager William de Braekeleer said. "Next year, unlike this year, we will also have a test car."

Citroen unveiled its C-Elysee in July and has already tested the car several times, while RML confirmed on Monday that it will build a minimum of four 2014-specification Chevrolet Cruzes next season.

Lime Rock Park’s 2014 spectator-event schedule opens with its traditional Memorial Day weekend, this year featuring the IMSA-sanctioned Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series Friday and Saturday, May 23-24, along with the fifth annual Sunday Royals Car Show on May 25.

The Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) divisions will each have separate races on Saturday. Supporting the weekend is the popular IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama championship, plus VSCCA “handicap” races.

The Sunday Royals Car Show, which draws 200-400 prime vehicles of every kind—from rare sports cars and contemporary supercars to hundreds of muscle cars from the 60s and 70s—benefits local charities.

Historic Festival F32 begins Thursday, August 28, with the Vintage Race Car Parade and Falls Village Street Fair, now in its fourth year: More than 120 cars bellow their way through a 17-mile rally route lined with spectators, ending in the fun, food and music—and impromptu car show—of the Street Fair in Falls Village.

On Friday, August 29, 300 historic race cars practice and qualify, then Saturday (Aug. 30) sees 20 races. Aug. 31 is the Sunday in the Park concours d’elegance – 200-plus exceptional, invited entrants displayed on Sam Posey Straight—in concert with 600 collector cars deployed along the rest of Lime Rock’s 1.5 mile circuit that makes up the Gathering of the Marques element.

On Labor Day Monday (Sept. 1), it’s back to racing, with 20 more races.

Special guests, demo laps and noted collectors and their cars are also part of this historic racing extravaganza.

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 19-20, will see the return of SCCA Pro Racing’s Trans-Am Championship., a series that’s seen steady and impressive increases in car-count. Support races for the Trans-Am weekend will be announced as confirmed.

In addition, Lime Rock will host a summer SCCA Regional race weekend and, of course, the traditional early fall NARRC Run-offs, dates TBA.

Though not a spectator event, Lime Rock Park will also host, for the first time, the Optima Batteries/ChumpCar World Series, date TBA

Irwindale Speedway, one of the great family of fan attractions available at Irwindale Event Center, has announced its 2014 schedule for NASCAR competition on the track that's rightfully been called: "LA's Half-Mile Superspeedway".
 
The 2014 season will see 14 nights of action-packed Whelen All-American NASCAR racing punctuated by three wild and crazy nights when the emphasis will be more on the lighter side of motorsports. 
 
The  green flag will fly high over the Speedway on Saturday, April 5, 2014 when Irwindale begins its 15th season of hyper-competitive professional short track racing.
 
And by popular demand, for 2014, a special NASCAR season ticket package is available which gives fans all 17 above events below for the very attractive price of only $99.  There's also a companion VIP (close-in) parking deal for all of the above events at $99.  And fans can save even more by buying the "combo": A 2014 season ticket and VIP parking for every Irwindale NASCAR race for only $189!

March 15: Open Practice
 
March 29: Open Practice /Fans Invited
 
April 5: Opening Night 2014: Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Super Stocks, Skid Plate Cars
 
April 19: Late Model Twins, Legends Cars, Bandoleros (Fri/Sat), Southwest Tour Trucks, Spears S2 Touring Series, Trailer Race
 
May 3: Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Skid Plate Cars
 
May 17: Night of Thrills Round 1 Trailer Race, Skid Plate Cars, Compact Derby, Enduro, NASCAR Open Comp
 
May 31: Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Southwest Tour Trucks, Open Comp
 
June 7: Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Super Stocks, Bandoleros (Fri/Sat), Legends Cars
 
June 21: Late Model Twins,Super Late Models, Mini-Stocks, Super Stocks,Southwest Tour Trucks, Skid Plate Cars
 
July 5: Late Model Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Super Stocks, & Special Independence Day Fireworks Show!
 
July 19: Late Model Twins, Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Bandoleros (Fri/Sat), Legends Cars
 
August 2: Late Model Twins, Super Late Models, Mini-Stocks, Skid Plate Cars, Spears S2 Touring Series
 
August 16: Lucas Oil Modifieds, Spears SRL 100, Bandoleros (Fri/Sat), Legends Cars
 
August 30: Night of Thrills Round 2 Auto Soccer, Enduro, Skid Plate Cars, Compact Derby, Trailer Race, NASCAR Open Comp
 
September 13: Late Model Twins, Super Late Models, Super Stocks, Southwest Tour Trucks, Legends Cars, Skid Plate Cars
 
September 27: Late Models Twins, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Super Stocks, Legends Cars, Bandoleros (Fri/Sat)
 
October 4: Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Super Stocks, Southwest Tour Trucks, Skid Plate Cars
 
October 18: Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Legends Cars, Bandoleros (Fri/Sat)
 
November 1: Night of Destruction Skid Plate Cars, Trailer Race, Destruction Derby, Auto Soccer, NASCAR Open Comp

The schedule includes a total of 12 events with nine championship point counting events and three popular special events on the calendar.

The traditional event to open the 2014 campaign on April 12-13 will once again be at the Lee (New Hampshire) USA Speedway. The ACT has been visiting the third-mile oval since Red and Judy MacDonald purchased the speed plant in 1987.

“It is just one of those relationships that have endured throughout the past 25 years,” said Tom Curley, president of the American Canadian Tour. “We tried to help Red and Judy when they first started, and they have been there for us whenever we needed help over the years. This kind of relationship, in this type of business, is generally very rare, but greatly appreciated.”

The home of the ACT, Thunder Road International Speedbowl, will host its only point counting event with the Merchants Bank 150 on opening weekend April 26-27. Next up will be the historic Spring Green 114 to be held at the Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Fair Haven, Vermont, on May 4. This will be the fourth opening day Spring Green event at the superfast half-mile oval.

The teams will take a couple weeks off before returning to action at what has become a favorite track of many ACT teams, Airborne Speedway. The first of two points counting events will be held on Saturday, May 17 at the Plattsburgh, New York, oval. The final point event of the season, and second at Airborne, will be the Fall Foliage 200 on Saturday, September 27.

The month of June will see two events in the Granite State. Riverside Speedway in Groveton, N.H., will hold a 150 lap race on Saturday, June 7.  A regular stop on the ACT Late Model Tour since 1998, the scenic White Mountain Motorsports Park (WMMP) is scheduled for an annual 150 lap event on Saturday, June 21.

One of New England’s premiere race tracks, Beech Ridge Motor Speedway, will again present an ACT event on Saturday, August 9. The very competitive third-mile seacoast speedway has become one of the most exciting events on the annual schedule for both teams and fans.

Teams will get two weeks to re-group and then head to the only US-Canadian event of the year. The fifth annual Can-Am 200 will take place at Circuit Riverside Speedway in St. Croix, Quebec. The scenic five-eighths-mile speedway sits next to the St. Lawrence River and always guarantees a competitive event as the best of the Serie ACT and US teams square off for bragging rights. This event will take place on Saturday, August 23.

The US ACT competitors will also compete throughout the summer race season at three ACT sanctioned ‘special non-point events’. Three popular events will post combined purses of over a quarter million dollars.

The International 500 at the Airborne Speedway will take place the weekend of July 20. The best of all ACT teams from both the US and Canada will be invited to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway during the NASCAR Cup Chase weekend in September for the 6th annual Bond Auto ACT Invitational. The 55th run for the Milk Bowl will be held at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl in Barre, Vt., and will close out the 2014 season the weekend of October 4-5.

2014 American Canadian Tour Schedule


Date – Track – Location

April 12-13 – Lee USA Speedway – Lee, N.H.

April 26-27 – Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, Vt.

May 4 – Devil’s Bowl Speedway – West Haven, Vt.

May 17 – Airborne Speedway – Plattsburgh, N.Y.

June 7 – Riverside Speedway – Groveton, N.H.

June 21 – White Mountain Motorsports Park – North Woodstock, N.H.

July 20 – Airborne Speedway – Plattsburgh, N.Y. (non-point)

Aug. 9 – Beech Ridge Motor Speedway – Scarborough, Maine

Aug. 23 – Circuit Riverside Speedway – St. Croix, Quebec

Sept. 20 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, N.H. (non-point)

Sept. 27 – Airborne Speedway – Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Oct. 4-5 – Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl – Barre, Vt. (non-point)

Mahindra Racing, the motorsports division of the $16.2 billion Mahindra Group, Thursday signed an agreement with series promoters Formula E holdings to become the eighth team to join the first ever fully electric racing series beginning September 2014.

Already a major force in the development and production of electric vehicles through its Reva brand, joining the new zero emission series was a natural step for the Mahindra Group.

"We strongly believe that Formula E can provide an excellent global showcase for our electric vehicle technology," said Anand Mahindra, chairman and managing director of Mahindra Group.

"With advanced operations and expertise in electronics, IT, automotive technologies and manufacturing, we are already seeing the fusion of this technology into our electric vehicle operations. Racing will further accelerate that trend while Formula E is set to raise awareness globally about the benefits of electric vehicles."

Mahindra is no stranger to international motor sport, having a team in the two-wheeler Moto3 Championship.

Mahindra Racing Formula E Team will now be put forward to the sport's apex body FIA for final approval as the eighth team to enter the championship. They join IndyCar outfits Andretti Autosport and Dragon Racing, Asia's China Racing and Super Aguri and European squads Drayson Racing, e.dams and Audi Sport ABT.

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag added: "We are very proud to have a major global company like Mahindra join the Championship. Adding a manufacturer from India to what is already a real global mix of teams is fantastic news for the series. Everything is coming together very well and we look forward to presenting all ten teams to the FIA World Motor Sport Council next month."

The Winged Outlaw Figure 8 Series was announced Thursday along with details of the direction that the new series will be heading.

The series will be operated by Steve ‘Chicken’ Little and David Sink will manage and run the day-to-day operations for the traveling tour that has several dates already secured for next season.

Little is the former flagman for the now defunct USA Modified Series. The veteran flagman has flagged at weekly tracks including Anderson Speedway, Mt. Lawn Raceway and Plymouth Speedway.

Sink is a veteran motorsports photographer who was a managing partner for the International Outlaw Figure 8 Series since its inception in 2008 until resigning recently.

“We’ve got several guys who haven’t competed regularly in this type of racing in a few years. They’re telling us they plan on running the whole season full time,” explained Little. “Once we get a few more commitments we’ll release a roster of the drivers who plan on competing with us. The timing is right for the new series and guys are just looking to do something different.”

Driver input will be key to the success of the new series.

“We’re listening to what drivers and car owners are telling us,” Sink said. ”We want to see full fields at all the races on a regular basis like days of old. The current economy hasn’t helped lately so we have to get creative as a sanctioning body to do things to generate excitement and help bring cars to the track. One of the things that the WOFS plans on doing, is paying the drivers in cash at the end of the night to help with expenses occurred on that particular weekend. It’s one of the many little things we want to do to help our teams.”

The new series will feature late model figure-8 cars with wings.

For additional information and sponsorship opportunities contact Steve Little (765) 623-8586 or David Sink (765) 278-8231.

In a strategic move designed to expand its commitment to enhancing event experiences and fan engagement, as well as solidify the future of one of the premier racing and entertainment facilities in the Midwest, NASCAR announced that it has purchased Iowa Speedway. The agreement, finalized today under a wholly-owned subsidiary, Iowa Speedway, LLC, is effective immediately.
 
“Iowa Speedway is a great entertainment facility with a very bright future,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR vice president, strategic development. “The facility has the support of the region, it’s positioned well in the heart of the Midwest, and year in and year out it provides great short-track racing action for motorsports fans.
 
“NASCAR ownership will allow us to draw on the entire resources of our company. It also provides us with the opportunity to execute first-hand a number of entertainment ideas and engagement opportunities with fans—much of which we have outlined repeatedly as the core of our Industry Action Plan.”
 
The facility, located 30 miles east of Des Moines in Newton, features a fast, .875-mile asphalt paved tri-oval designed by NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace. The Speedway released its 2014 schedule earlier this month, encompassing three weekends, one each in May, July and August. The schedule will include two NASCAR Nationwide Series races, a combination NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and IndyCar Series weekend, plus two additional NASCAR K&N Pro Series support races. NASCAR has no plans for Iowa Speedway to host a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race next year or in the immediate future.
 
NASCAR will host a special event in Des Moines on Thursday, Dec. 12, to outline additional details on the purchase and plans for the future. Information on this event will be announced soon.
 
The 2014 Iowa Speedway season opens May 17-18, with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West Challenge on Saturday night. The stars and cars of the NASCAR Nationwide Series then will battle on Sunday in a 250-lap, high-speed contest. The race marks the only Sunday afternoon event of the season at Iowa Speedway.
 
The new NASCAR Camping World Truck Series / IndyCar Series race weekend at Iowa Speedway is slated for July 11-12. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race Friday night and feature short-track racing action that has become synonymous with the series in the American Ethanol 200. The first-ever Iowa Corn Indy 300 will follow on Saturday night.
 
On Friday, Aug. 1, a second NASCAR K&N Pro Series East versus West challenge race will be held followed by a second NASCAR Nationwide Series 250-lap event on Saturday under the lights.
 
Season ticket holders may renew their tickets for the 2014 season, and will have an exclusive right to secure their current seats until Dec. 14. All other seats are available for purchase immediately, with season ticket prices starting at $95. All season tickets 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).
 
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.
 
2014 IOWA SPEEDWAY EVENT SCHEDULE
 
Saturday, May 17 – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East vs. West Challenge
Sunday, May 18 – NASCAR Nationwide Series
 
Friday, July 11 – American Ethanol 200, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Saturday, July 12 – Iowa Corn Indy 300, IndyCar Series
 
Friday, August 1 – NASCAR K&N Pro Series East vs. West Challenge
Saturday, August 2 – NASCAR Nationwide Series
 

Officials from the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) and Sunoco Race Fuels together announced the extension of a contract under which Sunoco will remain the “Official Fuel of ARCA” through 2019.

Sunoco, a brand known worldwide, has long been, and continues to be, an industry leader. ARCA’s partnership with Sunoco reaches back to 2004.

“Our well established relationship with Sunoco, the largest manufacturer of racing gasoline in the world, is something we’re very proud of,” said ARCA President Ron Drager. “Maintaining long term partnerships is extremely important to all of us at ARCA, and knowing that Sunoco will continue as the Official Fuel of ARCA through 2019 adds stability, reliability and credibility to our program.”

The series will continue to exclusively utilize Sunoco’s 260 GTX Unleaded fuel, at all ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards events.

Sunoco, as it’s been from the start, will continue to provide resources and support for ARCA’s year end contingency programs.

Ten-time ARCA Racing Series champion Frank Kimmel (ThorSport Racing) will receive the lion’s share of the Sunoco cash bonus at the 2013 championship awards ceremony at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis on December 14. Other Sunoco cash prize award recipients include runner-up championship driver Mason Mingus (Win-Tron Racing) and third in points, Justin Boston (Venturini Motorsports).

Sunoco, as it has since 2004, will also sponsor the reception party for the championship awards banquet.