The International Sport Compact Auto Racing Series (ISCARS) is moving forward with plans for a 2013 season while developing a long-term business plan to elevate the series featuring technologically savvy four-cylinder stock cars, according to Randy Claypoole, President & CEO of ISCARS.

Claypoole confirmed plans just days after it was announced by Grand American Series officials that their company, International Sports Car Auto Racing (ISCAR), would change its name to Grand American Holdings, LLC, a move designed to consolidate under the Grand American umbrella and clarify potential confusion regarding ISCARS, for which Claypoole owns a Federal Trademark.

Claypoole formed ISCARS in 2005 to carry on the DASH Series legacy after NASCAR sold the series following the 2003 season, and since that time ISCARS has continued a 38-year tradition of running four and six cylinder ‘Tuner-style’ stock cars on asphalt circle tracks in the Southeast.

“I am increasingly bullish on the future of sports compact stock car racing in the United States, as we work on expanding the ISCARS business model into multiple regions throughout the country,” said Claypoole. “The key component behind the ISCARS’ initiative is to provide drivers the opportunity to race at a high-profile, professional level in an economically stable environment.”

For more information, visit www.iscarsonline.com.

Oliver Racing Parts, manufacturers of connecting rods for motorsports and other high-performance vehicles, has hired automotive aftermarket sales executive Ted Keating as vice president of business development and sales.

Keating will be responsible for growing Oliver’s business at a time when the company has made significant infrastructure upgrades in order to expand its product lineup of aftermarket racing parts, including high-performance connecting rods. His start date at Oliver is May 1.

Keating joins Oliver from United Engine and Machine, where he has been national sales manager. Prior to 2012, Keating spent 15 years as general manager for Dart Machinery, where he oversaw all aspects of Dart’s operations, including production, quality management, R&D, customer service, marketing and advertising. He launched international sales of Dart products, and also maximized production resources by initiating Dart’s 24-hour/7 day production schedule.

Keating attended Eastern Michigan University on a track and field scholarship and earned his B.S. degree in business administration at EMU.

In addition, Keating has earned licenses from the National Hot Rod Association, American Motorcycle Association and American Power Boat Association. He also holds a private pilots’ license.

In January of this year, ACAT Global of Charlevoix, Michigan, which manufactures lightweight, efficient metallic catalytic converter substrates, purchased a significant stake in Oliver Racing Parts, including all of the company’s debt. ACAT is also investing in Oliver’s upcoming machinery and equipment upgrades.

Tony Bettenhausen, Tom Bigelow, Jack Hewitt and Johnny Rutherford emerged the winners in USAC’s recent social media poll to complete the 2013 list of inductees into the USAC Hall of Fame.

The four drivers received the most votes from a select list of 16 candidates and will join eight previously-announced inductees in the ceremony which accompanies USAC’s May 18 “Hall of Fame Classic” Traxxas Silver Crown Championship race at Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Ind.

Previously announced inductees include Earl Baltes, Henry Banks, Pancho Carter, Al Unser, Bobby Unser, A.J. Watson, Don White, and Bob Wilke.

Tony Bettenhausen of Tinley Park, Illinois, joins his son Gary, a 2012 USAC Hall of Fame inductee. The 1951 AAA and 1958 USAC National Driving Champion competed in 14 Indianapolis 500s and finished second to Bob Sweikert in 1955. He was also fourth in 1958 and 1959. Already a member of numerous motorsports Halls of Fame, Bettenhausen is a former winner of the prestigious “Turkey Night Grand Prix” and “Hut Hundred” Midget races. In 1961 he was fatally injured in a practice crash at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Tom Bigelow of Winchester, Indiana, owns 81 career USAC National feature victories. The winningest driver in USAC Sprint car history has 52 total wins, plus 23 Midget wins and six in the Silver Crown cars. He won the 1978 USAC National Sprint car title and added the 1984 USAC National Midget crown and in 1982 was USAC’s Indianapolis Speedrome Midget king. A member of both the National Sprint Car and Midget Halls of Fame, he started nine Indianapolis 500s and finished sixth in 1977. In 1969 he emerged as the overall champion of the inaugural USAC Midget event at the Houston Astrodome.

Troy, Ohio’s Jack Hewitt is the winningest driver in USAC Silver Crown history, with 23 total victories to his credit. He also owns 46 USAC Sprint wins and seven in the Midgets. The 1986 and 1987 USAC Silver Crown driving champion achieved a life-long goal in 1998 by competing in the Indianapolis 500 where he finished 12th. In 1998 he achieved what many believe to be one of motorsports’ most incredible feats—a clean sweep of the “4-Crown Nationals” at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. His wins in USAC Silver Crown, USAC Sprint, USAC Midget and modified competition came with four different teams.

 “Lone Star J.R.,” as Fort Worth, Texas, driver Johnny Rutherford is affectionately known, is a three-time Indianapolis 500 champion (1974, 1976 and 1980) and won USAC’s National Sprint Car title in 1965 and added the USAC Indy Car crown in 1980. A multiple Hall of Fame member, he also won three Indianapolis 500 poles and scored 20 Championship car wins and eight in USAC Sprints. In 1986 he added the Michigan 500 to his resume, and he’s also a five-time IROC veteran. USAC’s 2000 Roger McCluskey Award winner has had heavy involvement as a driver coach and pace car driver for Indy Car events, and in 1963 set a world qualifying record during NASCAR stock car competition at Daytona Beach, Fla. He followed that by winning his initial NASCAR start—a 100-miler at Daytona.

Stand 21 Racewear is holding a grand opening celebration for its new shop from 5-9 p.m. on April 24, 2013.

The shop is located at 3303 Harbor Blvd., Suite F-5 & F-6, Costa Mesa, California, 92626.

In addition to a look at the new showroom, Stand 21 owners will hold a racing car show and provide food and wine to mark the occasion.

Established in 1970, Stand 21 produces head-to-toe racing gear and equipment for drivers in Formula One, IndyCar, endurance, drag racing, rally and other forms of racing.   

Those interested in attending the open house are asked to RSVP by April 12, either by phone at 714/966-1007 or 404/405-2504, or by email at contact@stand21CA.com.

For more information, visit www.stand21ca.com.

McLeod Racing has announced a Killer Clutch Shootout, a special race within a race for the fastest manually shifted True Street competitors that will take place at the McLeod Racing NMRA Ford Nationals event at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, the weekend of June 14-16, 2013. 

This is the third stop of the NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals series.

The staging lanes at Summit Motorsports Park will be bursting as over 100 entrants battle in the TREMEC True Street class, which is presented by Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords. 

The top eight stick-shifted cars in True Street will each receive a product certificate ($250 for bottom six) and custom plaque from McLeod Racing. From there, the quickest two manual-equipped vehicles will compete heads-up on Sunday in a winner-take-all match race for a $1000 McLeod Racing product certificate ($500 for the runner-up) and the title of Stick Shift King of Ohio.

The McLeod Racing NMRA Ford Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, will feature multiple special events, including the Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords 25th anniversary celebration, a Granatelli Motor Sports 2011-2014 5.0L Mustang Shootout, and the Muscle Mustangs All-Female Shootout presented by Royal Purple.

For more information on the NMRA Norwalk, Ohio, event, or for True Street class rules, logon to www.nmradigital.com/OH or call 714/444-2426. For True Street class rules or questions, contact Gene Bergstrom at 714/460-3813 or email him at gbergstrom@promediapub.com.

Back On Track: Saturday night stock car racing's return to the San Gabriel Valley this April brings to a close a tumultuous year-and-a-half for Irwindale Speedway (PRI’s local paved short track).

In fact, November 2011 was the last time sanctioned races were held at the famous banked oval. And the situation didn’t look promising when the Southern California speedway’s former operators filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2012. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before 211 Entertainment’s Jim Cohan stepped in and pledged to keep the doors open and the track functioning, albeit on a scaled-down basis.

Less than a year later Cohan managed to secure a full operational lease on the facility, which was subsequently renamed Irwindale Event Center. The news then came in bunches—Irwindale had nabbed its first major sponsor (LoanMart); a NASCAR sanction agreement was signed; a schedule was released; a Saturday night announcer (Bruce Flanders) was, well, announced; an official race tire (Hoosier) was named; and so forth.

And now, beginning April 6, a full season of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series, with its Super Late Models, Late Models and more, is on tap for this historic hotbed of racing!

Attention Engine Builders: For several years now the PRI Trade Show has been honored to co-locate with the world’s premiere symposium on race engine development—the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference.

Year after year the AETC brings together leaders in the performance aftermarket to share their insights and provide unique perspectives for the benefit of attending engine builders, racers, engineers, media and more.

As the PRI Show returns to Indianapolis for 2013, the AETC is following suit. And this year’s conference, slated for December 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center, has already confirmed a number of top presenters, including Lee Carducci from Arrow Racing Engines; Cecil Stevens from Illusions Engine Development; Bill McKnight of Mahle; performance researcher and author Harold Bettes; Total Seal’s Keith Jones; and Dan Jesel of Jesel Valvetrain Innovation.

More announcements are on the way—including the AETC’s topic for 2013—so interested parties are encouraged to visit www.aetconline.com regularly for the latest updates and information, including discount rates on registration.

Where Business Happens: Sports fans may remember the NBA’s 2007 multimedia ad campaign, “Where Amazing Happens.” Well, a modified version of that slogan could apply to the PRI Trade Show: “Where Business Happens.”

I bring this up because not long ago, PRI Sales & Marketing Manager Andrea Brake shared the news that Motor State Distributing had recently added CHI Cylinder Heads to their selection of engine components, the SamcoSport product line to their selection of silicon hose components, and the Amalie Oil product line to their selection of motor oils and lubricants.

What struck a chord was the fact that all three partnerships were forged at the 2012 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Orlando, Florida. We’ve long maintained—as our exhibitors and attendees can attest—that there’s simply no place on earth like the PRI Show. And when this annual marketplace of cutting-edge motorsports parts and technology returns to the Circle City in 2013, the trade show aisles will be packed like never before with buyers from every corner of the globe, and nearly every form of racing, representing every link of the distribution pipeline.

A preliminary floor plan has been plotted (the 2013 Interactive PRI Trade Show Floor Plan will be launched in May), the official exhibitor kit has been completed, and the show’s programming is taking form. There’s something special in the air—PRI 2013 will be one powerful event. Don’t miss it!  

Online Housing for the 2013 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, is now open!
 
PRI Housing has secured unbeatable rates at a number of downtown Indianapolis hotels for the Show, which takes place December 12-14, 2013.
 
PRI Trade Show Official Host Hotels are very popular and typically sell out fast, so in order to secure PRI’s low contracted rates, attendees and exhibitors are encouraged to book today!
 
Quick and easy booking can be done online (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or by phone (949/499-2044 or 866/635-6600, Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PDT).
 
Click Here to download PRI's Host Hotel List, PRI Show Rates and Downtown Map PDF.
 
Among The Many Reasons To Book With PRI Housing:
•    Complimentary Wi-Fi In Each Room
•    No Booking Fees and No Deposit Required
•    Super Convenient Downtown Hotels
•    Short Walk From Indiana Convention Center
•    Climate-Controlled Skywalks
•    Stay Close To After-Hours Industry Fun
•    No Frustrating Shuttle Bus Delays

As always, PRI Housing is the ONLY accredited housing for the PRI Trade Show. Please be cautious if you are contacted by ANYONE other than PRI Housing regarding hotel accommodations in Indianapolis.
 
For any questions, please contact Michelle via email or by calling 949/499-2044 or 866/635-6600.

For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow.

The Auto Aftermarket Expo returns to Sydney, Australia, April 11-13, 2013, with an exhibition hall full of state-of-the-art vehicle repair and servicing equipment, replacement parts, tools and accessories, plus a busy program of industry events offered by supporting organizations and host, the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association (AAAA).

Held at the Sydney Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour, the trade-only show focuses on helping shop owners and managers boost their businesses.

What’s more, Performance Racing Industry team members will be on hand, at the US Pavilion, to promote international attendance at the 26th Annual PRI Trade Show, December 12-14, 2013, in Indianapolis, Indiana.  

Among the Auto Aftermarket Expo’s key exhibitors are Australian automotive cooling technologies manufacturer Davies Craig, which will launch the EWP150 (150 l/min) lightweight aluminium Electric Water Pump.

Sales and Marketing Manager John Benson said the EWP150 opens a new chapter in the 40-year history of Davies Craig: "Following the successful launch of our EWP115 nylon/glass and alloy models at the 2009 AAAA Expo, we have continued to research, test and develop a new high performance product that offers increased volume," he said. "The EWP150 is compact, weighs just over 1 kg, and is designed for remote engine fitment across a wide variety of engines."

The V8 Supercar series attracts high end technology companies, and the Aznew Injector Services business will promote its links with V8 Supercar Dunlop Series driver Andrew Jones, who will make guest appearances and sign posters. General manager Simon Richards said Aznew will launch a comprehensive diesel injector program at the Expo.

Officials said that as the show draws near, more Expo highlights are being finalized by exhibitors and the organizing committee.

The Expo has also become a hub for industry activity and events hosted by supporting associations and exhibitors include "by invitation" events:

•    Motor Traders Association of New Zealand Networking Function
•    Repco Training Day
•    Automotive Brands Networking Function
•    ABS Auto Networking Function
•    TJM Networking Function
•    Tenneco Networking Function

In addition, the AAAA is hosting a number of key events:

•    Welcome Reception for International visitors sponsored by New South Wales Trade and Investment
•    Best New Products Awards Breakfast
•    Awards to Industry Banquet
•    Performance Racing and Tuning Council Meeting

For more information on the Expo, visit www.aftermarketexpo.com.au/.

The NHRA, Aerospace Components, and ProMedia Events will once again combine forces and continue Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed in conjunction with the NMCA & NMCA WEST event series, including the Chevy High Performance Nationals.  

Outlined in a multi-year agreement reached between the NHRA and ProMedia, the Aerospace Components NHRA Unleashed Series will again be contested at all NHRA Member Tracks on the 2013 NMCA & NMCA WEST tour.  

These events include: Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA (April 5-7); Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA (April 11-14); Auto Club Raceway of Pomona in Pomona, CA (May 16-19); Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA (May 31-June 2); Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, IL (July 11-14); Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, KY (Aug. 2-4); Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH (Aug. 22-25); TBD Location (Sept. 6-8); Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, IN (Oct. 10-13); and Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, CA, (Oct. 25-27).  

Once again all official NMCA & NMCA WEST class winners will be eligible to receive an NHRA “Wally” at each of the Aerospace Components Unleashed events contested at NHRA-sanctioned facilities.  

For the first time, class winners at the Chevy High Performance Nationals event at Atlanta Dragway the weekend of May 31-June 2 will be eligible to race for Wallys.
 
Aerospace Components will continue to sponsor NHRA Unleashed, providing added benefits to both Flowmaster-sponsored NMCA and NMCA WEST event series and the Chevy High Performance Nationals, which include more than $3.5 million purse and cash contingencies for all 11 events.

By combining resources, NHRA, NMCA, NMCA WEST, and the Chevy High Performance Nationals will provide an opportunity for racers to take advantage of both organizations’ many benefits and services from coast to coast. The same opportunities can be extended to sponsors, providing the opportunity to reach out to a much broader group of participants and fans alike.

For more information, visit www.promediapub.com.

Peugeot has decided to contest the 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb on June 30 in Colorado.

Peugeot's bid to win the unique, Colorado Springs-based event with the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak has led to it joining forces with such key partners as Total, Red Bull, Michelin and Sébastien Loeb.

Exactly 100 years ago, Peugeot notched its first racing victory, at Indianapolis, the first of a long list of successes in some of motorsport's most mythical events. Its previous Pikes Peak Hill Climb triumphs not only marked the world of international motorsport but have become an integral part of Peugeot's DNA.

Ari Vatanen's unforgettable record-breaking victory on the 1988 event in the 405 T16 is documented by the celebrated film, 'Climb Dance'. Peugeot won the famous hill climb a second time in 1989, this time with Robby Unser behind the wheel.

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb's unique course was finally entirely asphalted last year and comprises 156 turns over a distance of 20 kilometres that take competitors from an altitude of 2,800 meters to 4,300 meters at its highest point. The event is famous, too, as the US's second-oldest motorsport competition after Indianapolis and, over the decades, it has earned a reputation as a notoriously difficult and complex challenge.

The Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak has been entered in the premier 'Unlimited' class and has been given the start number '208'.

Sébastien Loeb, the nine-time world rally champion, was able to accept Peugeot's proposal thanks to sister company Citroën, which has authorized its star driver to contest the American event for the first time in his career.