Officials with the X-TREME DRAG RACING LEAGUE have issued a statement in response to recent inquiries about its operational status and 2013 schedule. It reads:

The X-DRL would like to address some of the questions on operational status—we have not closed down or cancelled the season. We have confirmed our schedule with both ZMax and Montgomery Motorsports Park and they are holding our dates and are great track partners to work with. As for Indy, without evidence of secured finance this event is on hold, not a scratch as of yet on our schedule. We continue to work with our partners at Blue o4 to complete the necessary funding to pay all current obligations and be able to move forward in a positive manner. We hope to have this resolved soon and will update everyone as soon as we have a definitive plan moving forward.

Based in Kerrville, Texas, the X-treme Drag Racing League is a sanctioning body for eighth-mile drag racing. Professional categories featured in the X-DRL are Pro Junior Dragster, SuperCar Showdown, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, X-treme Pro Mod, Pro Turbo, X-treme Pro Stock, Pro Nitrous and Pro X-treme, billed as the world’s quickest and fastest doorslammer class.

For more information, visit x-drl.com.

Sports car racing fans in North America will have a “one-stop shop” for news and information on all series sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) in 2014, as officials announced that IMSA.com will be its new online hub.

The newly acquired domain will be the online home of United SportsCar Racing, which debuts next year as a result of the merger between the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) presented by Tequila Patrón.

IMSA.com also will include content for all IMSA-sanctioned development series, including the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and Cooper Tires Prototype Lites powered by Mazda, as well as access to four IMSA-sanctioned single-make series: Ferrari Challenge, Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin.

IMSA.com will offer dynamic video and news content, social media interaction, photography and live event coverage such as live timing and scoring for every on-track session. The website’s “IMSA TV” feature will offer selected live video streams and full-race replays 24 hours after FOX Sports’ initial telecast of each event.

The new website is currently under construction and will launch in full later this year. Current visitors to IMSA.com will arrive at a landing page providing options to visit GRAND-AM.com, ALMS.com or UnitedSportsCar.com.

The site is being built and will be maintained by New York-headquartered McMurry/TMG, the country’s largest content marketing agency. McMurry/TMG previously built and maintains ALMS.com as part of an overall digital partnership with the ALMS. NASCAR Digital Media, which manages NASCAR.com, has been a strategic partner throughout the process.

Gov. Mike Pence has named multiple appointees to the Indiana Motorsports Commission, which is tasked with working with the Indiana Finance Authority to create a sound, commercially viable investment for motorsports in Indiana.

“Indiana’s motorsports industry contributes to the fiscal and economic health of our state, employing approximately 23,000 Hoosiers,” said “The individuals named today to the new Motorsports Commission bring first-hand experience in the industry and expertise in financial management."

Tom Kelley, of Fort Wayne, has been named to the Commission. Kelley, who began his career in the automobile sales industry in 1974, is Dealer Operator and President of five dealerships in Allen and Adams counties. In 1998, Kelley founded Kelley Racing, an Indy Racing League team that ran from 1998 to 2004. During that time, the team captured nine wins under drivers Scott Sharp, Mark Dismore and Al Unser, Jr.

Involved in motorsports since the age of five, Tim Clauson, of Noblesville, will join the Indiana Motorsport Commission. Currently the Regional Vice President of Sales for the Rotary Corporation, where he has worked for 19 years, Clauson has held a variety of roles in the motorsports industry, including driver and mechanic. He also has been involved in team management and ownership.

Along with his son Bryan Clauson, who was a 2012 Indianapolis 500 starter and is a six-time USAC national champion, he co-owns and manages a professional race team that competes in the USAC National Series.
 
Former chairman of the Indiana Sports Corporation from 2001 to 2005, Earl Goode has been named to the Commission. Most recently, Goode served as Governor Daniels’ Chief of Staff from 2006 to 2013 and, earlier, as Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration.

Ryan Kitchell, of Zionsville, will join the Commission, offering extensive experience in finance management. Currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Indiana University Health, Kitchell previously served in state government as Public Finance Director and later Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Governor Mitch Daniels.

Chris Atkins, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, will serve as Chairman of the Indiana Motorsports Commission.

 

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) has partnered with Pit Crew U, a division of Performance Instruction & Training, on a pit crew development program.

"We're excited to partner with Pit Crew U now to make sure we have a consistent flow of over-the-wall talent coming to JGR in the years to come,"  said J.D. Gibbs, President of JGR.   

JGR will work with Pit Crew U to identify 10 talented athletes to form a development squad for their racing programs, with the intent to eventually fill the organization's needs in their Nationwide Series programs and ultimately the Sprint Cup Series.

Since 2000, Mooresville, North Carolina-based Pit Crew U has produced some of the top over-the-wall talent in NASCAR, with several of JGR's current Sprint Cup Series pit crew members having come out of the program.

For more information, visit www.visitpit.com.

Just returned at press time from the Knoxville Nationals, and we have to remark on Donnie Schatz’ incredible string of winged sprint car victories here. He’s won seven out of the last eight Knoxville Nationals, storming to the front from a 21st starting position this year to take the win for team owner Tony Stewart. Wow. Congratulations on a great race, and an extraordinary run.

We also wish to thank all the racing industry folks who made it over to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) at Knoxville Raceway for a lunch organized by PRI and the NSCHoF. It was great catching up, and sharing the good news that the big return of the PRI Trade Show to Indianapolis is going very well. We received many generous comments of appreciation that there’s only one trade show this year, and it’s in Indianapolis. It was fun to share the news of the exciting events that we have planned, and the fact that hotel room reservations have already surpassed all of last year, and will likely exceed the figure logged for PRI’s last show in Indianapolis in 2004. Downtown Indianapolis is going to be a lot of fun the nights of the PRI Trade Show, as racers take over.

We’d like to thank Bob Baker and his fine team at the NSCHoF for working with PRI to produce this industry lunch. And the team at The Rib Shack (next to the Raceway) deserves recognition, too, for their terrific BBQ. It’s so good, we even ate dinner there the night before the luncheon.

We’re scheduled to leave for another event in just a few days. We’re working with the Indiana Motorsports Association (IMA) for a ‘racers appreciation’ BBQ dinner at the big Test N Tune for the Chevrolet US Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway on August 21. We’re working with Tom Weisenbach, executive director of the IMA, on an event that will give us another opportunity to share the progress of this year’s PRI Trade Show. PRI magazine does the ‘heavy lifting’ for us as we promote buyer attendance, but there’s nothing like getting face to face with folks. It’s fun, and it’s the best way to get new suggestions for the Show. We wish to thank Tom and his IMA team for co-promoting this event.


Gentleman Joe Schubeck: We applaud Joe Schubeck again for his terrific speech at the SEMA Hall of Fame Banquet this past summer. Schubeck has a sly way with a story, and his own unique and flawless timing. We were with him every step of the way as he unfolded the tale of how he got the name, Gentleman Joe Schubeck. A promoter told Schubeck he needed a colorful nickname to help grab attention for his appearances in top fuel drag race events. So he turned to one of the industry’s founding fathers, Ed Iskenderian, for help. Iskenderian pulled a disk-shaped object from a well-stocked closet and handed it to Schubeck, saying it was a good start. At this point, Schubeck reached underneath the podium and showed the audience the object. He slapped it against his wrist, and a shiny top hat snapped into form. The crowd loved it. Schubeck went on to found Lakewood Industries. He reminded us all over again of the savvy, the fun, and the creativity of these earlier times.


Gentleman Joe Schubeck with Linda Vaughn.

Gil de Ferran, a two-time IndyCar National Champion and Indianapolis 500 race winner, has joined the FIA Formula E Championship as an Official Ambassador.

Debuting in September 2014, Formula E is the world’s first fully-electric racing Championship competing in city-center circuits worldwide.

The 45-year-old Brazilian, who boasts more than two decades of top-level motorsports experience gained both on and off the track in Formula 1, IndyCar and the American Le Mans Series, will act as an advisor to the new Championship, focusing on further enhancing the race format.

In addition, de Ferran will also be an official spokesman for Formula E, particularly in North America, where interest in the series remains high following the recent announcement that leading IndyCar outfit Andretti Autosport will field a two-car team.

Residing in the US for nearly two decades, de Ferran began racing in 1980 in his native Brazil, quickly establishing himself as a leading driver by winning the British Formula 3 Championship before becoming the fourth driver ever to win consecutive titles (2000 and 2001) in the US-based IndyCar Series and going on to win the 2003 Indianapolis 500.

Adding to his diverse motorsports résumé, post-retirement de Ferran became Honda Racing F1 Team Sporting Director and also contributes as an ABC/ESPN expert on-air analyst for IndyCar. He subsequently founded his own team—De Ferran Motorsports—which he ran and helped develop the innovative ACURA ARX2a.

For more, visit www.fiaformulae.com.

Engine & Performance Warehouse (EPWI) recently named its 2012 "Vendor Of The Year" and "Representative Of The Year" at an Awards Dinner during EPWI’s annual summer conference in Vail, Colorado.
 
Federal Mogul was named the EPWI 2012 Vendor of the Year. Daniel DiTommaso, Director of Branded Sales, Brent Fletcher, Regional Sales Manager, and Dan Molde, Regional Sales Manager, accepted the award for Federal Mogul, EPWI's largest engine parts supplier.

The annual Vendor of the Year award is presented to the supplier or manufacturer based on performance scores during the prior year in seven categories: distribution/sales policies, pricing policies, inventory, returns, labor claims, office support and shipping/packaging.

Past recipients of this award include S.A. Gear, Total Seal, Pioneer, B&P Rods, COMP Cams, Cylinder Head Center, Clevite Engine Parts, Dura-Bond Bearing Co., Damper Doctor, Melling Engine Parts, Joe Gibbs Racing, Howard Enterprises, SB International & Hastings Piston rings.
 
In addition, EPWI named Jerry Nunez of Innovative Marketing Services as the 2012 Representative of the Year.

Nunez, founder of Innovative Marketing Services, is EPWI's only repeat winner for this award. Jerry sadly passed away in November. His wife, Lynne Trimble, now heads IMS & accepted the award on his behalf.

The Rep of the Year is selected annually, on a rotating basis by region, using combined votes based on performance scores during the prior year in three categories: sales support, distribution philosophies, and timely and accurate follow-through.
 
Founded in 1972, EPWI is a full-service warehouse distributor specializing in engine kits & parts, high performance parts, related components and shop supplies.

John Godfrey, the owner of Brownsburg, Indiana-based Spike Products and a legendary car builder in midget racing, was inducted this month into the Belleville High Banks Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Belleville, Kansas.

Godrey's fellow inductees in the class of 2013 include Jerry Coons Jr, Howard House, James Oliver "Ollie" Jennings, Charlie Lutkie, Rex Mays, Johnny Parsons Jr., Jerry Wilson, Doug Wolfgang, and Don Brown.

Godfrey moved to the United States from New Zealand in 1986. After working for various motorsports companies, he founded Stealth Chassis in 1992. 

Godfrey sold Stealth in 1999, but stayed close to open-wheel racing. In 2005 he founded Spike Chassis. While primarily known for midgets, Spike also builds sprint cars (pavement and dirt) and quarter midgets, and has produced Daytona Prototypes (under the Coyote brand) and land speed record cars as well. 

Additionally, Spike produces a full line of radiators and oil tanks for a wide variety of racing machinery.

PRI Sales & Marketing Manager Eric Jurado joined more than 120 representatives from various nations throughout the Americas at the XV Congreso Americano FIA, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 1–3, 2013.

The Congress's theme centered on ensuring driver safety—not only on race tracks but on the streets of North and South America as well. It was headed by FIA president Jean Todt.

The FIA's Action for Road Safety is a global campaign leveraging the federation's resources to help its member organizations around the globe educate and advocate for safer roads on and off the track.
 
In addition to exhibiting, Jurado delivered a presentation before the FIA on the benefits of the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, which takes place December 12–14, 2013, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also met with Fundacion Exportar, which organizes the Argentinean Motorsports Group.  

Applications for the second annual Performance Engine Builder of the Year Award, presented by Engine Builder and Driven Racing Oil, are now being accepted at topperformanceshop.com.
 


The winner will be announced at a special presentation during the 2013 Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) December 8-11, in Indianapolis, Indiana, just prior to the 26th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, December 12-14.

The winner will receive a $1000 prize, an Apple iPad, three nights’ lodging at the Indianapolis Hyatt during AETC, admission for two to AETC, the Performance Engine Builder of the Year Award Plaque, a feature article about the business in a 2014 issue of Engine Builder, as well as numerous other prizes from Engine Builder and Driven Racing Oil. 
 


Entrants will be judged on creativity and innovation, training and education, merchandising and promotion, professional standards and conduct, appearance, solid business management, community involvement, business growth, achievement and victories, according to Engine Builder.
 


The entry process starts with those making the nomination providing basic information about the engine builder or shop being nominated at www.topperformanceshop.com and writing a short essay explaining why that operation should be considered.
 


For complete entry rules and more information about the contest, visit www.topperformanceshop.com; about AETC, visit aetconline.com; or about the title sponsor, visit drivenracingoil.com.

For more information on the PRI Trade Show, visit www.pri2013.com.