NHRA announced that CARQUEST Auto Parts has signed an agreement to become title rights sponsor of the second stop in the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park near Phoenix.

“We are excited to return to NHRA Drag Racing by sponsoring the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at the new Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park,” said Ken Bush, senior vice president of merchandising and marketing, CARQUEST Auto Parts. “Phoenix is a great market for us and we are looking forward to working with the new management team at the facility and hosting a great NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event.”

Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, formerly named Firebird International Raceway, is managed by Copper Train Development Partners, which is headed by Paul Clayton and Darren Smith. Dick Hahne has been hired by the group to oversee operations. The multi-purpose facility is owned by the Gila River Indian Community.

“Bringing on CARQUEST Auto Parts to help promote our first NHRA Mello Yello event as the management team of Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park is great news,” said Hahne, track president, Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. “We look forward to working together to develop strong activation programs through Arizona and make the stop here in Phoenix among the best on the circuit.”

The CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals will take place February 21–23, 2014, and is the second stop in the 24-race NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. The event features Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock categories, as well as competitors in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series.

As title sponsor, CARQUEST will have extensive on-site visibility as well as commercial inventory in the ESPN2 telecasts of the event.

“We are thrilled to welcome CARQUEST Auto Parts back to NHRA as a title rights sponsor of this long-running event in Phoenix,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “They were very involved in NHRA Drag Racing for many years and we believe their return to the sport is a sign of the value associated with NHRA sponsorship. We look forward to working with them in the future to build and grow their relationship with NHRA Drag Racing.”

NASCAR and Nationwide Insurance have finalized a new agreement to extend Nationwide’s position as the official auto, home, life and business insurance partner of NASCAR through 2017. As part of the new contract, Nationwide Insurance also will become the presenting sponsor of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award.
 
The insurer, in its sixth year of a seven-year agreement as title sponsor of the NASCAR Nationwide Series, will pivot from its series entitlement sponsorship and focus its NASCAR marketing programs on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning in 2015.
 
“As a series entitlement sponsor and savvy marketer, Nationwide Insurance has been an ideal partner to our sport and we’re proud to have them continue to be part of our family of Official NASCAR Partners,” said Steve Phelps, NASCAR chief marketing officer. “The company has been highly successful in using our sport as a platform to enhance its brand and drive its business and has stated publicly how much value they glean as a series sponsor. The fact that Nationwide will continue its investment across our sport—in a variety of ways and for many years to come—is encouraging and speaks to the power of NASCAR as a marketing platform.”
 
The insurer began its 15-year motorsports history as a hospitality sponsor with targeted race tracks and progressed to the Official Insurance Partner of NASCAR and the title sponsor for the US’s No. 2 motorsports series. Nationwide Insurance will look to build a more consistent presence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series enabling its message to reach an even larger NASCAR audience.
 
“The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a great proving ground not only for drivers and crew members, but for sponsors too,” said Nationwide chief marketing officer, Matt Jauchius. “We’re proud of the success Nationwide Insurance has attained through our relationships with NASCAR and the Nationwide Series. It’s a natural evolution for Nationwide Insurance to move our marketing investment to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we’ll continue to put tremendous effort behind all of our NASCAR marketing platforms in the years to come.”
 
Nationwide Insurance also will sponsor the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award. The NASCAR Foundation presents the award to a NASCAR fan who embodies the ideals of charity and community that Mrs. France has championed throughout her life. Nominees for the award honor the spirit of NASCAR, demonstrating goodwill and generosity in the interest of helping children in need. One winner receives a $100,000 donation to direct to the children’s charity of their choice along with a NASCAR experience of a lifetime. The top three remaining finalists receive $25,000 to direct to their children's charity of choice.
 
“We approached NASCAR about sponsoring the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award because it embodies the spirit and culture of giving that Nationwide Insurance values,” added Jauchius. “The Nationwide Children’s Hospital 200 race is a good example of the collaboration among sponsors, teams and the NASCAR Foundation pulling together to shine the national spotlight on a deserving organization. We look forward to working with Betty Jane and the Foundation to highlight other unique charitable efforts that NASCAR fans support all across the country.”
 
“Nationwide Insurance is a long-standing partner to NASCAR, and more importantly a strong advocate for children, and we are excited to welcome them as presenting sponsor of the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award,” said Betty Jane France, NASCAR Foundation Chairwoman. “At The NASCAR Foundation, we seek to align ourselves with brands and organizations that share our same mission of enhancing the lives of children in this country. For these reasons, Nationwide Insurance is a perfect fit to help us present this special award.”
 

An outstanding panel of presenters, led by the head of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway parent company Hulman & Co., is being assembled for the second annual Race Track Business Conference-2013.

Mark Miles will headline the daylong conference featuring several expert presenters from across the world of racing on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, site of the 26th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.

“The RTBC-2013 will focus on issues facing motorsports professionals on and off the track,” said Tim Frost, publisher of National Speedway Directory, which is presenting the RTBC-2013. “From track operations to safety to legal to museums, we expect to present a wide variety of sessions.”

Miles will highlight future plans for open wheel racing and development at the motorsports capital of the world. As a seasoned sports executive, he is exploring various options to address the challenges facing motorsports industry professionals today.

The event will be held just prior and in conjunction with the PRI Show, the centerpiece event for Race Industry Week 2013. The PRI Show, which runs from Thursday, December 12, to Saturday, December 14, 2013, will feature over 1100 hardcore racing companies exhibiting in more than 3300 booths. Known as “The Epicenter Of New Racing Technology,” it annually attracts 40,000-plus motorsports professionals from across the US and 72 countries.   

Expert presenters scheduled to participate in the RTBC-2013 include:

•    Joie Chitwood, president, Daytona International Speedway
•    Doug Boles, president, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
•    Roger Curtis, president, Michigan International Speedway
•    Scott Paddock, president, Chicagoland Speedway
•    Randy LaJoie, president, The Joie of Seating
•    Chris Paulsen, president, C&R Racing
•    Carl Olson, motorsports manager, SFI Foundation
•    Mark Richards, partner, Ice Miller
•    Wes Zirkle, general counsel, Just Marketing Inc.
•    Bob Baker, executive director, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
•    Wendell Strode, executive director, National Corvette Museum

In December 2012, Miles was named CEO of Hulman & Co, which is comprised of IndyCar, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IMS Productions, Clabber Girl, Georgetown Realty and various other business entities. Prior to joining Hulman, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Inc. He was also Chairman of the Board of the 2012 Super Bowl Host Committee when Super Bowl XLVI was held at Lucas Oil Stadium. Beginning in 1990, Miles was Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Tennis Professionals for nearly 15 years.                          

The cost to attend the RTBC-2013 is $250, which includes lunch.

Note that the list of speakers and agenda items is tentative and subject to change.

Additional information can be found at www.racetrackbusinessconference.com or by contacting Tim Frost at twfrost@speedwaysonline.com or 847/853-0294.

After a hard-fought shootout among six talented candidates, young Americans Joey Bickers and Jake Eidson have been selected to carry the patriotic red-white-and-blue colors of the Team USA Scholarship in two prestigious end-of-season Formula Ford events in England.

The pair will follow in the footsteps of an illustrious group of former scholarship winners including Jimmy Vasser, who was the inaugural recipient in 1990, Bryan Herta, Buddy Rice, Andy Lally, Joey Hand, A.J. Allmendinger, Charlie Kimball, J.R. Hildebrand, Conor Daly, Josef Newgarden, Spencer Pigot and Matthew Brabham.

Bickers, 21, from Moorpark, California, a front-runner in this year’s Pacific F1600 Series in his very first season of racing, and Eidson (pronounced “EDD-sun”), 18, from Littleton, Colorado, who was recently crowned champion of the East Coast-based F1600 Championship Series, will travel to England in October to begin preparations for the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch on October 26–27 and the following weekend’s Walter Hayes Trophy at Silverstone on November 2–3. The pair will drive race-winning Ray GR08 Formula Ford cars prepared by Cliff Dempsey Racing.

“Words cannot explain how honored I am to be given this opportunity,” said Bickers. “Since the start of my racing career, my number one goal has been to learn as quickly as I can. Going to England as a part of the Team USA Scholarship, I am sure that I will continue to learn many valuable lessons about professional racing both on and off the track.

“It means so much to join a long list of successful graduates such as Jimmy Vasser and Bryan Herta. I am very excited, and ready to give my maximum effort on and off track, and carry on the prestige of the Team USA Scholarship.”

“Being selected as a Team USA Scholarship driver is a dream come true, especially knowing the number of successful drivers who have come through this program in the past,” added Eidson, a proven winner who also has three Skip Barber Racing Championships under his belt. “Having the opportunity to be in the same position as they were in their early racing careers is an incredible honor. Last year I was able to compete in England with Cliff Dempsey Racing where I gained a great amount of additional knowledge and plan to apply that to the Team USA Scholarship. I want to thank Jeremy Shaw, the RRDC, SAFEisFAST, all the supporters of the Team USA Scholarship, and everyone involved in the selection process for making this possible.”

Coming off a successful race weekend that drew competitors from 24 states and six foreign countries, Rockingham Dragway owner Steve Earwood announced the hiring of Fayetteville native Billy Weeks as Operations Manager.

“We’ve already had one of our best seasons ever,” Earwood said, “and we have several major events still ahead in October and November. We’ve been very fortunate. We have a very loyal fan and racer base that continues to support our efforts to remain viable in a changing motorsports landscape.

“Sunday’s American Drag Racing League event was the biggest of the year and with so many racers and fans from outside the Carolinas, we certainly feel like we’re making a major contribution to the economic well-being of Richmond and Moore counties as well as Rockingham itself.”

Weeks, 46, will supervise day-to-day operations at The Rock, which under Earwood’s stewardship has become one of the most active race tracks in the country, hosting more than 80 events each year. The track also is a preferred destination for testing, regularly playing host to teams from the NHRA, IHRA and ADRL.

A graduate of Rockingham’s Richmond High School, Weeks studied commercial arts and advertising design at Fayetteville Technical Community College before economics compelled him to enter the workforce before getting his degree.

He worked for SOFFE Sportswear as a graphic designer and later was coaxed back to the company in the Marketing and Design Department where he worked on the Hooter’s and Tommy Hilfiger accounts, among others.

Although he has a design and marketing background, Weeks always has been involved in racing. He was a race photographer in NASCAR’s Winston Series, has worked for Bobby Taylor Motorsports, was a track official for five years at Lake View Speedway, was a tire specialist and general mechanic on open wheel modified and limited late model stock cars and was a sales rep for VP Racing Fuels.

“Billy’s versatility is amazing,” Earwood said. “He has worked for us on a part time basis doing a little of everything so finding a permanent position for him within the Rockingham Dragway family was a logical progression.”

Among the remaining events with which Weeks will be involved are the All-Harley Nitro Nationals, October 11–13, the 3rd annual Super Chevy Show, October 18–-20, the Holcomb Fall Civil Wars, October 25–27 and the finale in the MIRock Superbike Series, November 1–3.

Pre-entry information, including a $90 savings, for the most aggressive and richest UMP DIRTcar Modified event in Eldora Speedway’s storied 60-year history has been released. The Modified portion of the three-day UMP DIRTcar National Championships (Thursday–Saturday, October 3–5) will see over $63,000 in posted prize money, including four $1000-to-win feature events on both Thursday and Friday and an alphabet of features on Saturday that will be topped by the $5000-to-win A-Feature.

Joining the doubleheader on Saturday will be the UMP DIRTcar Late Models in a full program climaxed by a $5000-to-win A-Feature. Entry information for the Late Models is forthcoming.

For each division, it will be their final points racing of the season and the 2013 divisional championships will be determined.

With full UMP points on the line each night in the uniquely designed format, the Modified chase will be hotly contested.

Thursday and Friday will each be separate programs with multi-car time trials, eight heat races and four B-Features leading up to the four $1000-to-win A-Features. Saturday’s alphabet features (H, G, F, E, D, C, B and A) through rankings established by a driver’s best finish from either the Thursday or Friday program. In the event of a tie, the first tiebreaker is a driver’s average finish from Thursday and Friday while the second tiebreaker will be the driver’s fastest time trial lap.

A $75 pre-entry deadline of September 25 includes a three-day pit pass for the driver ($65 value), while entries filed beyond September 25 and at the event will be $100 and will not include the pit pass offer.

Entry forms may be downloaded from www.eldoraspeedway.com where teams can find complete information on the UMP National Championships and race fans can purchase event tickets.

September 16–22 will mark the 50th running of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, the Sports Car Club of America's pinnacle amateur road racing event. Consequently, the SCCA has organized a few can't-miss events, which take place in and around the famed Road America racing circuit during the Runoffs week.

On Wednesday, September 18, all 700 Runoffs competitors will make their way to the front straight for a unique photo opportunity. “We are going to take an all-driver photo on the front straight,” says Terry Ozment, SCCA's Vice President of Club Racing. In addition, Ozment says that group photos will also take place during the week for all of the worker specialties.

On Thursday, September 19, once all qualifying is complete, the 50th Runoffs celebration will kick into high gear with a celebratory banquet. The event will feature images from past Runoffs, displays, trophies, and speeches from the likes of SCCA President and CEO Jeff Dahnert and the Chairman of the Board of Directors Lisa Noble.

“We will also be doing pole awards for the pole sitters for this year's races and will acknowledge the 2013 Workers of the Year,” notes Ozment. “The evening will provide lots of time for remembering, and the night will be capped off with music by First Rush—they are a band led by Formula F driver Mike Sauce and were the band that closed out our run at Mid-Ohio.”

Several historically significant cars will also be on display during the Thursday banquet, and there will also be a presentation of the top 10 moments in Runoffs history.

• For detailed coverage of the 50th SCCA National Runoffs, go to scca.com/runoffs.  The races can also be seen live September 20-22, on www.SpeedcastTV.com.

The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony returns to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles’ posh Westside on Monday, Nov. 11, it was announced by officials from the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning organization.

NHRA also announced that the entire NHRA Mello Yello Awards Ceremony will be broadcast on the Web at NHRA.com and via NHRA’s YouTube channel on Wednesday, November 13 at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT). It marks the fifth year that the full event will be available to fans via the internet.

The invitation-only black-tie event, where NHRA will crown its Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world champions in all four categories, will feature a pre-event cocktail reception at 5 p.m., followed by a formal sit-down banquet, and an after party.

ESPN2 lead anchor Dave Rieff will host the awards ceremony for the second year.

Perfectly situated on the fashionable Westside, adjacent to Beverly Hills, the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza sits on seven acres with 726 spacious and recently renovated guestrooms and a world-class spa and fitness center that has been the luxury hotel of choice for luminaries and dignitaries worldwide for more than 45 years.

The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza features three restaurants and bars and the Equinox Fitness Club + Spa, offering exclusive fitness equipment, elite personal coaches and cutting edge group fitness classes. The Spa features 20 treatment rooms, three outdoor cabanas, a manicure/pedicure suite, and a full menu of massage and facial treatments and products. The outdoor pool and whirlpool includes six furnished poolside cabanas.

The property also will play host to the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Awards Ceremony, scheduled earlier in the day.

IndyCar announced today that it will not return to Baltimore in 2014.

"After a successful visit to Baltimore, which included record attendance, we are disappointed that our schedules will not align to host an event in 2014," said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Co., the parent of IndyCar. "This was simply a matter of trying to find the best date that worked for all parties, since Labor Day weekend was not an option in 2014. We are thankful to the city of Baltimore, Race On and Andretti Sports Marketing for their support and enthusiasm for the event over the years."

On September 1, Simon Pagenaud won the third IZOD IndyCar Series race on the temporary street circuit that incorporated Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Ryan Hunter-Reay and Will Power won the previous races.

"On behalf of all of us at Andretti Sports Marketing, we want to thank the many sponsors of our racing companies who rallied behind the Grand Prix of Baltimore," said company CEO Michael Andretti. "It has been our pleasure to work with Race On, the City of Baltimore, the IndyCar Series and the American Le Mans Series. We thank all of our friends at SRT and Chrysler Group for their support of the Baltimore event as its presenting sponsor.

"It was a great experience working with the fans in Baltimore and the community and hopefully one day we will be back."

Miles said the 2014 schedule will be announced "prior to the end of our 2013 season."

NASCAR officials announced during Sunday’s drivers’ meeting prior to the GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway that the series would be changing its restart rules.

The restart zone will remain in place and the leader will still control the start within the zone. Once the leader accelerates, the green flag will fly (within the restart zone). The flagman will wave the green if the leaders get to the end of the restart zone and the cars have not accelerated.

However, once the leader goes (or the green flag flies), the leader can be passed by the second place car before the start/finish line. Drivers are still not allowed to change lanes before the start. If the second place driver jumps the restart, they will be black flagged.

NASCAR’s restart rules came into question last weekend when Carl Edwards beat race leader Paul Menard to the start-finish line by a wide margin during a late-race restart at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia.