The Miami-Dade Board of County Supervisors will conduct a street co-designation ceremony at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, July 12, at 10:30 a.m. EST recognizing track founder Ralph Sánchez.
 
A nearly six-mile stretch of SW 137 Avenue/Speedway Boulevard from Palm Drive to U.S. 1 in Homestead will be co-designated “Ralph Sánchez Speedway Boulevard,” in recognition of Sánchez, who passed away April 1.
 
Scheduled to participate in the ceremony will be members of Sánchez’ immediate family, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez and the Board Supervisors, City of Homestead officials, track President Matthew Becherer. Homestead-Miami Speedway Vice President of Operations and former Sánchez colleague Albert Garcia will serve as Master of Ceremonies.
 
The event itself takes place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway Champions Club (via Gate 4), 1 Speedway Boulevard, Homestead, FL 33035.

“Homestead-Miami Speedway stands today because of Ralph Sánchez,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “His vision continues to pay dividends for this region, as the track hosts more than 280 events a year highlighted by NASCAR’s championship races and a worldwide audience.

"Ralph’s life story from his roots in Cuba, his childhood in an orphanage to a successful developer and racing promoter is legendary. I commend Miami-Dade County and the City of Homestead for acting promptly to create this honor that Ralph clearly deserves.”

Sánchez, who founded and managed the Grand Prix of Miami starting in 1983, led efforts to bring the motorsports facility to Homestead. He worked with City of Homestead and Miami-Dade County officials to make the track a reality.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the track took place on August 24, 1993—exactly one year after Hurricane Andrew wiped out much of Homestead. The track is credited with being a major catalyst for redevelopment following the category-five hurricane that leveled large portions of Miami-Dade County.

Businessman H. Wayne Huizenga joined Sánchez as a track partner before the facility opened two years after construction began with a NASCAR Busch (now Nationwide) Series race in November 1995.

In 1997, Penske Motorsports (PMI) and International Speedway Corporation (ISC) became partners with Sánchez and Huizenga. Less than one year later, PMI and ISC purchased Sánchez’ remaining interest in Homestead-Miami Speedway. ISC became the sole operator in 1999.

For more information, visit www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com.
 

Edelbrock has announced its "End of Summer Carburetor Deal" consumer promotion, in which participating consumers can receive a free limited edition T-shirt and Visa prepaid card when they purchase a new Edelbrock carburetor.

Customers who purchase any new Edelbrock Performer Series, Thunder Series AVS, 94 Series carburetor or one of Edelbrock's popular manifold and carburetor kits, will receive a free limited edition T-shirt and $20 Visa prepaid card.

The End of Summer Carburetor Deal will run for 90 days, beginning on August 1 and ending on October 31, 2013. For a complete list of eligible purchases by part number, promotion details and to download a redemption form, visit the official Edelbrock promotions website at www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/promo.

"We think this a great way to reward our loyal customers as part of our 75th year celebration. Who wouldn't appreciate $20 and a T-shirt that has been exclusively designed for this promotion and will not be available anywhere else," states Edelbrock's VP of Sales and Marketing, Steve Whipple.

For complete promotion details and restrictions, visit www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/promo.

The NAPA Auto Parts Show & Go has been a Fourth of July tradition at Brainerd International Raceway for the last 27 years, and this year’s event, July 5-7, will feature drag racing, Superbike racing, a classic car show, fireworks, live music, kids activities, on-site camping and more.

At center stage, the second leg of the three-race Muscle Car Series will be on the drag strip for three days of intense racing by drivers battling for series championships. Fans will be treated to cars showing off huge horsepower and mind-blowing speeds, especially the cars competing in the Heads-Up Classes: Pro Outlaw, Outlaw, Real Street, True Street and the new 660 Outlaw Street Class. Fans can expect to see speeds over 200 mph and 6-second runs.

BIR shortens the quarter-mile drag strip to one-eighth mile for the new 660 Outlaw Street Class. Equipment requirements level the playing field for this class, which was evident in the times during the Street Car Showdown.

In addition to the Heads-Up Classes, the Muscle Car Series includes three Strip Eliminator Classes, Truck Eliminator, Manual Transmission and 10 Index Classes. The winners of the Index Classes get paired up to determine the Index Class Champion.

Time trials and qualifying are Friday and Saturday. Elimination rounds are Sunday. Racing starts at 9 a.m. daily.

There will be plenty to see and do off the track as well. Saturday’s schedule includes activities for kids from noon to 3 p.m., a classic car show from 1-4 p.m., a fireworks display and live music by Junk FM starting at 9 p.m. in BIR’s Wheelie Bar & Grille.

Tickets are available at the gate. Daily admission is $25; kids 12 and under are free. On-site camping is free with the purchase of a multi-day ticket.

For more information, visit brainerdraceway.com.

NASCAR has announced a new multi-year official agreement with Eaton, a leader in developing global solutions for today’s most critical electrical power management challenges.

The new alliance makes Eaton an Official NASCAR Green Partner, with the designation "Official EV Charging Solution Provider of NASCAR" bolstering the growing roster of companies utilizing the NASCAR Green platform to validate technologies that positively impact the environment.
 
The new collaboration includes the installation of 20 Eaton Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at NASCAR offices in Daytona Beach, Charlotte and Concord. The stations will power electric and plug-in hybrid EVs of NASCAR employees and guests. 

Eaton is a leading provider of EV charging infrastructure in the United States.
 
According to a 2012 study commissioned by NASCAR and conducted by Toluna, NASCAR fans are twice as likely as non-fans to view their household as very green—always looking for new ways to positively impact the environment. The same research shows that NASCAR fans are multiple times more likely than non-fans to closely associate NASCAR with being environmentally responsible.
 
NASCAR’s transformative efforts in Green have established it as the leader in sustainability across all of sports. Through strategic partnerships with teams, tracks and Official Partners, NASCAR Green continues to set new benchmarks.

NASCAR features the world’s largest solar-powered sports facility (by more than two times), a tree planting program capturing 100 percent of the emissions produced by on-track racing, and the largest recycling program in sports. Its corporate headquarters in Daytona Beach, the International Motorsports Center, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Additionally, NASCAR launched a long term biofuels program to reduce emissions in all its racing series with partners Sunoco, American Ethanol and the National Corn Growers Association. NASCAR recently surpassed four million miles driven across its three national series on Sunoco Green E15.
 
As part of this collaboration, Eaton joins the NASCAR Fuel for Business Council, which brings together an exclusive group of more than 60 Official NASCAR Partners four times per year to buy and sell products and services from one another. This exclusive business-to-business environment offers unique opportunities for many FORTUNE 500 companies to bypass the time and layers of corporate coordination that may exist and construct customized deals to help address specific business needs.

In honor of the 4th Annual National Collector Car Appreciation Day on July 12, 2013, MSD Performance will be hosting a drive-in movie at their headquarters in El Paso, Texas. 
 
It is an exciting day for everyone at MSD when employees and customers get to cruise their vehicles into the MSD parking lot, eat some popcorn and watch an American Classic, American Graffiti.

The cruise-in starts at 7 p.m., while the movie begins at dusk.

Most of the MSD employees are avid car enthusiasts who own some of the coolest street rods in the city. Interested parties are invite to come and enjoy a night at the drive-in.

MSD headquarters is located at 1490 Henry Brennan Drive, El Paso, Texas, 79936. For more, visit www.msdperformance.com.

The head of GM's Motorsports operations and a world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon are the keynote speakers for a new multi-day educational program at the 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.

Jim Campbell, vice president of General Motors Performance Vehicles & Motorsports, and Dr. Terry Trammell, who has treated some of the biggest names in auto racing over a decades-long career with CART, IRL and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, will headline the inaugural Race Safety and Technology Center (RSTC) during the 26th Annual PRI Show, December 12-14, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Campbell is pictured above at left; Trammell is at right.

Campbell, whose keynote will take place from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 13, is scheduled to address racing technology in NASCAR's Gen-6 cars, United SportsCar Racing and IndyCar, among other topics. Trammell is slated to discuss the latest in racing safety, motorsports science and medical research during his hour-long address at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 14.

Both addresses will be held at the RSTC in Rooms 116-117, located adjacent to the exhibit hall in the main lobby of the Indiana Convention Center.

Developed by John Waraniak, vice president of Vehicle Technology at SEMA, the RSTC includes a series of educational seminars and forums over the three-day span of PRI. Seminar topics range from Vehicle Dynamics Simulation Technology to Track Management Response To Major Incidents to Racing Safety In Youth Motorsports—featuring Jeff Horton, director of Engineering at IndyCar.

RSTC programming is geared toward a broad audience, including motorsports organizations; race track promoters, executives, officials and employees; track safety and rescue teams; race track builders, safety equipment manufacturers and retailers; undergraduate and graduate students; racers, crews, team owners and managers; motorsports marketers; and those interested in the business, safety and technology of racing.

"The RSTC keynotes and forum panel sessions are must-attend educational programs for serious safety and racing technology performance professionals and enthusiasts," said Waraniak. "We are offering an innovative interactive platform designed to provide in-depth forum information as well as hands-on individual contacts and networking opportunities with leading industry experts."

"This year's roster of keynotes and forum panelists includes a wide range and depth of speakers representing a who's who in the racing technology and safety community, as well as experts in the vehicle technologies, trends and opportunities that are driving the performance racing industry," he added.

All sessions—including both keynote addresses—are offered at no charge to registered Trade Show attendees. Additional schedule and speaker information will be released shortly.

For more information on the 2013 PRI Trade Show, visit www.pri2013.com.

IndyCar has updated the aerodynamic specifications for the July 7 IZOD IndyCar Series race at Pocono Raceway.

After seeking feedback from drivers, engineers and teams on various configurations during testing, IndyCar officials updated Rule 14.6.5.5 as listed in the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series rulebook, adding the underwing strake to the list of optional parts for the Pocono aerodynamic specification to create more downforce.

Rule 14.6.5.5 Pocono now reads as follows:

Mandatory Parts
    •       Rear Mainplane, 0 > -10.5 degrees
    •       Rear Mainplane Profile
    •       Rear Indy Wheel Guard

Optional Parts
    •       Side Wall
    •       Trimmed Side Wall
    •       Rear Wheel Backing Plate
    •       Sidepod Top Infill
    •       2/3 Radiator Inlet Shutter
    •       Rear Wing Wicker
    •       Underwing Strake

Federal-Mogul Corp.'s Powertrain Segment has entered a definitive agreement to sell its connecting rod and camshaft business to JD Norman Industries Inc., effective June 28, 2013.
 
JD Norman Industries is a diversified manufacturer of metal components and systems with operations in the United States, Mexico, Canada and the UK. The company serves major OEMs of automotive, industrial and transportation products.  
 
The sale involves Federal-Mogul's sole connecting rod machining plant, located in Windsor, Canada, and only camshaft foundry, located in Lydney, UK. As part of the agreement, JD Norman Industries will continue to employ Federal-Mogul's current 230 associates working in these two facilities.
 
"The Windsor and Lydney plants are respected for their experience and high-quality operations by their customers, including General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Linamar, Jaguar, Land Rover, PSA and others. However, the connecting rod and camshaft business is not core to Federal-Mogul Powertrain's long-term portfolio strategy," said Rainer Jueckstock, Federal Mogul's co-CEO and CEO of Federal-Mogul Powertrain.

"These plants will benefit from the industrial experience, business strategy and respected relationships with key customers offered by the JD Norman management team. We will work with them to ensure a smooth transition for customers, employees and other stakeholders."

Formula One racing’s governing body, the FIA, has announced a number of measures aimed at seeking an urgent solution to the tire failures seen in the 2013 Formula 1 Santander British Grand Prix.

Race drivers will now be allowed to take part in this month’s upcoming young driver test, provided it is clear they are testing tires for Pirelli. The Silverstone session, scheduled for July 17-19, may also be extended by a day.

“Our priority is to ensure safety for all in Formula One and we believe the incidents at Silverstone represent a genuine safety concern for the drivers,” said FIA President Jean Todt, who has asked Pirelli for assurance that there will be no repetition of the problems at the German round, or at subsequent Grands Prix.

“We have thus taken the decision to alter the young driver test to allow teams to use drivers they deem fit to carry out tire development work in a bid to solve the problems we saw at the British Grand Prix. I believe it is fitting to carry out this work at the circuit upon which the issues were manifested.”

To provide for this, the FIA has informed the Formula One teams that the approval of its World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) will be immediately sought for a change to Article 22 of the sporting regulations, which currently outlaws in-season circuit testing with experienced race drivers.

To allow the FIA to take all necessary actions to ensure safety, approval will also be sought for a change to the technical regulations to allow in-season modifications to tire specifications to be made without the unanimous agreement of all teams.

Despite the announced changes, Mercedes have accepted to not participate in the Silverstone test, as per the recent decision of the FIA’s International Tribunal, which suspended the team from the young driver session as penalty for an illegal tire test with Pirelli earlier in the year.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton was one of four drivers to suffer high-speed, left-rear tire failures at Silverstone on Sunday, the others being Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne and McLaren's Sergio Perez. Pirelli are currently investigating the cause.

Longtime NASCAR sponsor Whelen, which makes safety lights for police cars, fire trucks and other safety vehicles, has signed a seven-year agreement to title sponsor the Euro-Racecar Touring Series.



It is the largest sponsorship that NASCAR has brought to Euro-Racecar since it struck a licensing deal last year to lend its name and logo to the stock car series.

Whelen’s deal is with both NASCAR, which sold the deal, and Team FJ, which owns and operates the European series. Financial terms weren’t available.



The Connecticut-based company plans to use the series to boost its business in Europe. Phil Kurze, Whelen vice president, said its sales representatives will attend events and take government officials to races in Spain, Germany, France and England. It took a similar approach with its sponsorships of NASCAR’s Mexican and Canadian series and saw it boost sales in those markets, Kurze said.



Kurze said Whelen opted to sponsor Europe’s stock car series rather than a road racing series, which is more popular in Europe, because it wanted to highlight the fact that it’s an American company.



“Being an American manufacturer and associating with American-style racing is more appealing for us than being with F1 or another series,” Kurze said.



The deal highlights NASCAR’s increasing involvement with the Euro-Racecar Touring Series. When it cut its licensing agreement with the series last year, NASCAR did little promotion of the deal and press coverage was muted. But since then it has raised the possibility of holding an exhibition race in Europe to promote the Euro-Racecar series and American stock car racing overseas.

For more information, visit www.nascar.com.