They all won championships at Irwindale in 2011. They raced on two race tracks and in fourteen different divisions, from Mini-stocks to motorcycles and from Super Trucks to Super Late Models.

They all worked hard, raced hard and then ended up with nothing to show for it when the former track operators signed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Feb 10, 2012.

Hopefully, Saturday night April 6, 2013, will make things right for those driving champions.

The Speedway's new operators—Team 211 Entertainment—has invited all thirteen (one of them won two divisions!) of the facility's uncrowned champions back for 2013's grand re-opening night and will honor them in a pre-race ceremony on the race track before the national anthem.

"We'll try to have all of these racers right down on the starting line that night. And, we've set up one of our skybox suites for them for the evening," said Irwindale Event Center President/CEO Jim Cohan. "Each of our winners has also been invited to bring a guest along."
 
"These drivers all deserve our recognition. On opening night 2013 they'll stand in for all of the drivers who raced here during 2011 without any post-season recognition for their efforts."
 
As most fans know, there were no NASCAR races at Irwindale Speedway in 2012, but the 2013 racing season promises to be a very good one.

"Many of the top ten drivers from our 2011 season will be back along with a number of new drivers many of whom are destined to be fan favorites before the 2013 season is in the books," assured Event Center GM Bob Klein.
 
In addition, there were three Irwindale Dragstrip champions who didn't receive their honors for competing in the track's 2011 NHRA Summit Series. They'll be honored on April 6 as well.
 
The 2011 Irwindale Speedway oval track Champion drivers are: Rod Johnson, Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Super Late Models); Brandon Davis, Huntersville, NC (Late Models); Curtis White, Norwalk, CA (Super Stock); Andrew Anderson, Lancaster, CA (S2); Daryl Scoggins, Sunland, CA (Mini-Stock); Chad Schug, Hemet, CA (Legends Cars); Christian McGhee, LaVerne, CA (Bandoleros); Jay Hansen, Oak Hills, CA (Figure 8); Conner Cantrell, Valencia,CA (Super Trucks); Jeff Williams, Newbury Park, CA (West Coast Pro Trucks).
 
The 2011 Irwindale Dragstrip racing Champion drivers are: Branko Sindicich, Lomita, CA (Super Pro); Chad Cline, Orange, CA (Pro Bike); and double-division winner Gary Hairfeild, San Diego, CA (Pro and Sportsman).

This year, the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving will be celebrating twice.

During the weekend of Monterey Car Week, including the focal-point Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the school will celebrate its 45th anniversary at Laguna Seca Raceway with various commemorative events August 15 & 16.

“I can remember the day we started in 1968 at Orange County International Raceway in Santa Ana, Calif., with our first three cars,” says the school’s founder and CEO, Bob Bondurant. “We started small but with the same vision we have today: Offer professional and everyday drivers the best track-intensive training in the world.”

But first, on April 27, Bob’s wife Pat, their family, Bondurant School employees and friends will honor the legendary racecar driver on his 80th birthday in Phoenix.

After competing with dirt bikes in Southern California in his teens, Bob raced Corvettes in the mid-‘50s, winning the west coast SCCA B Production National Championship in 1959 with a stunning 18 of 20 wins.

He followed this with USSRC success for the great Carroll Shelby. For his Shelby American team, Bob participated in the 1965 World Manufacturers Championship, besting Ferrari —almost a half-century later still the only American team to achieve this title.

The only purpose-built facility of its kind in the world, the Bondurant School has trained more than 400,000 people—professional racers, executives, performance enthusiasts and day-to-day drivers—to become safer and more proficient at handling the challenges of track, street and highway driving.

The school has been in its current Valley of the Sun location since 1990. For more information, visit www.bondurant.com.

Owensboro, Kentucky-based Valor Oil, LLC and its Renegade brand of proprietary race fuels and lubricants is gearing up for national market expansion.

Renegade is preparing for a nationwide push that includes the launch of a new refined brand image and expansion of its distribution network.

The original purple and green will endure as Renegade’s signature colors, with the new purple Renegade logo now representing race fuel and the green version reserved for race lubricants.

Renegade is one of the preferred race fuels of professional engine builders, race teams and competitors across all forms of motor racing.

For more information about Renegade Race and Performance Fuels and Lubricants, visit www.renegadepro1.com.

American Canadian Tour officials have announced that the Inaugural ACT International 500 to be held at Airborne Speedway on the weekend of July 20-21 will exceed a total purse of $140,000, making it the richest event in ACT’s 28-year history.  

“It will be without a doubt the biggest event ever held at Airborne Speedway,” said Speedway Promoter Mike Perrotte. “It’s a big boost to our community. Fans from all over will get to watch more than 500 laps of exciting short track racing from teams all over New England, New York, Rhode Island, Quebec and Ontario.”

American Canadian Tour teams on both sides of the border are fired up for a chance at the enormous payday. Eight-time American Canadian Tour Champion Brian Hoar and his team see it as a shot at history.  

“I love the long distance races, they really suit my style,” said Hoar. “I don’t change my goals week to week whether it’s point racing or not. We will definitely be going for it.”

Runner-up on the Série ACT Castrol Jean-Francois Déry expects to fly the Canadian flag high at the summer’s marquee event.  

“I am most excited about the International 500 this season,” said Dery. “Without hesitation, the International 500 is the race of the year!”

For more information on the International 500, visit www.acttour.com/staticpages/index.php/INT500.

ProMedia Events has announced that the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series is back for 2013.

The racing series for street-based vehicles powered by Chevrolet’s LS and LSX engines takes place at four select events around the US.

The four-race LSX Challenge Series for 2013 includes stops in Bradenton, Florida, Commerce, Georgia, and Bowling Green, Kentucky, with the championship again to be decided at the 7th Annual LSX Shootout, held in conjunction with the NMCA World Street Finals, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The race dates and locations include:

¥    11th Annual Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Season Opener - Bradenton Motorsports Park - Bradenton, Florida - March 21-24, 2013
¥    2nd Annual Chevy High Performance Nationals Presented by Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center Atlanta Dragway - Atlanta, Georgia - May 31 - June 2, 2013
¥    4th Annual Holley LS-Fest - Beech Bend Raceway - Bowling Green, Kentucky - September 6-8, 2013
¥    12th Annual Flowmaster NMCA World Street Finals - Featuring the 7th Annual Chevrolet Performance LSX Shootout - Lucas Oil Raceway - Indianapolis, Indiana - October 10-13, 2013

The third event will be the Holley LS Fest, Sept. 6-8, 2013, in Bowling Green, at Beech Bend Raceway. As in the past, LS Fest organizers will allow racers to follow the rules and classes of the LSX Challenge Series, with points & contingency awarded during it applying to the championship.

Racers competing for the championship must participate in three of the four races, including the LSX Shootout. The results of each race will be tracked throughout the season in NMCA’s Fastest Street Car.

The LSX Challenge Series features six racing classes each season:

¥    JE Pistons Drag Radial
¥    ERL Performance All Motor
¥    Holley EFI Real Street
¥    Proform LSX Rumble
¥    DiabloSport 5th Gen Camaro Presented by Camaro Performers
¥    TREMEC True Street

Along with supporting the LSX Shootout series, Chevrolet Performance enables racers to compete and win with a growing range of LSX maximum-performance crate engines and engine parts. 

Chevrolet Performance and NMCA’s family of sponsors will be posting valuable racer contingencies for all LSX race classes in 2013. 

Chevrolet Performance will be well represented by its host dealer, Scoggin-Dickey Parts Center, at all LSX Challenge Series events.

For more information on the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series, including class rules and car show information, log on to www.nmcadigital.com/lsx or call 714/444-2426.

Mooresville Motorplex (MMX), Mooresville, North Carolina’s newest karting attraction, plans to highlight their first race of their inaugural race season with a ribbon cutting by the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce on March 13.



Even though MMX opened their doors to the public in October 2012, they will officially kick off their 2013 and first-ever race season during the first race of the RACERSITES Cup. The RACERSITES Cup will feature four classes of professional kart racing.



The ribbon cutting is scheduled for 7 p.m. during the RACERSITES Cup opening ceremonies. The ribbon cutting will release the first feature race of the night onto the track. 



MMX invites the community to witness history as they begin what will be an action-packed season of racing excitement. Admission to the event for spectators will be $10 and includes not only the ribbon cutting, but also a full night of practice, qualifying and feature racing under the lights. 



For more information, contact the Mooresville Motorplex office at 704/696-2926 or visit the website at www.mooresvillemotorplex.com.

Lavonia (Ga.) Speedway & Entertainment Complex is back after a three-year slumber, and this weekend the track returns with Late Model Mania.

Max King and Stan Lester along with Track Manager/Race Director Brad York have joined forces and will breathe life back into the once prominent racing facility beginning this weekend.

"Late Model Mania is truly a fragment of the dirt track Americana," said King, co-owner of the Lavonia Speedway with FASTRAK Founder/CEO Stan Lester.

"Max and I want to put Lavonia Speedway back on the map again. I drive by that place twice a day and I can't help but think what a waste it is for it to be sitting there closed—but not anymore. Max and I finally got together and the rest, as they say, is history," said Lester. 



Late Model Mania takes place this weekend, March 8-10. And visitors will notice the new Lavonia Speedway and Entertainment Complex has received a total facelift: better concessions, painted pits and retaining walls, bigger pit areas with easy entrance, newly painted grandstand seating, a new state-of-the-art PA system and the list goes on.

The Triple Header Late Model portion will feature three premier touring series—two that can't wait for the reunion this weekend and another series that's excited to make its debut there. 



The FASTRAK Racing Series City Chevrolet Touring Division will be returning to Late Model Mania and Lavonia Speedway since their last race in 2010. The same applies for the Southeastern Limited Late Model Sportsman Series. FASTRAK'S best will battle for $3000 to win, and will also get the points season underway since the Gordon Park 100 was postponed due to weather over the weekend.

Randy McCoy's Southeastern Late Model Sportsman Series will compete for $2000 to win, bringing in an excited group of Limited Late Model contenders ready to tame the 3/8th mile again.

The Ultimate Super Late Model Series will be entering their consecutive year "branching off" as the sister series of the FASTRAK Racing Series, which is celebrating 10 years in 2013.

The "region's" best in Super Late Model racing will be taking on the 3/8th mile Lavonia Speedway under sanctioning of the Ultimate Super Late Model Series, battling it out for $5000 to win on a Sunday afternoon show only.

Plus, Lavonia Speedway racing classes Modified Street $500 to win ("NO" Entry Fee) / Stock Four Cylinder $500 to win ("NO" Entry Fee) / Stock V-8 $300 to win ("NO" Entry Fee), plus there will be a Race Car Car Show on Friday afternoon before "Open Practice under the lights."
 


Stay tuned to www.fastrakracing.com as well as the FASTRAK Racing Series Fan Page on Facebook and/or follow @FASTRAK_Racing on Twitter for updated series news and details.

DeltaWing Racing Cars has revealed the livery for the DeltaWing powered by Elan, before its first on-track test scheduled this week (3/6) at Road Atlanta.
 
After running a fully black livery with some yellow, then red trim on the roll hoop accents in 2012, the 2013 DeltaWing livery marks a radical departure.

The DeltaWing will take the grid in 2013 with a striking chrome paint scheme, now highlighted with red accents on the roll hoop and just behind the front tires, from new tire partner Bridgestone.
 


The chrome is a natural evolution for the car that has made its mark on the sports car racing world simply by being different. It’s the latest new element for the DeltaWing’s 2013 season.
 


“It just ties into the DeltaWing being such a unique, revolutionary car,” said Don Panoz, managing partner, DeltaWing Racing Cars. “I wanted something that represented that image. A shining, aggressive metal was what I thought of, and that was the chrome.”
 


The design went through several possible design ideas before settling on the chrome and red.

“I think this became apparent once we would be using Bridgestone tires,” said Panoz. “The only color they have outside of black is red. We wanted to keep it consistent. Before deciding on the chrome, I looked at brilliant reds or brilliant greens. We decided the chrome was the thing to keep it in line with Bridgestone and their colors.”

This is not the first time a Panoz race car has had this type color. The Panoz Esperante GTR-1 that raced in the late 1990s had a primarily silver background, as did the LMP1 Panoz Roadster-S run that premiered in 1999.
 
The DeltaWing is scheduled to test this Wednesday and Thursday at Road Atlanta in preparation for the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh from Florida, the opening round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series season.

Olivier Pla and Andy Meyrick have been confirmed as drivers for the LMP1 class entry, with Meyrick set to turn his first laps in the car this week.

SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, is now accepting nominations for its Hall of Fame.
 
Created in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame is the most prestigious award presented to an individual by the association. It is designed to honor outstanding persons in the industry who have enhanced the stature of, or significantly contributed to, the industry and/or association's growth.
 
The elite group currently includes nearly 140 individuals who have made significant impacts on the industry and/or the association.
 
To submit a nomination, fill out the form here before the deadline on March 22, 2013.
 
To learn more about the SEMA Hall of Fame and for a list of inductees, visit www.semahof.com.

National Performance Warehouse Companies, with five operations in California, has announced it is opening a larger, 80,000-square-foot facility in San Jose.
 


“Our business in California continues to grow,” said Larry Pacey, company president and CEO. “As we add new lines and widen and optimize our coverage on current ones, we knew we had to have a larger building that would see us through at least the next three to six years. We feel that providing a large inventory with San Jose as the base, we can service our customers better and quicker.”
 


Current Speed Warehouse operations will continue into the near future as is, NPW says. The company added that it is alert to the needs of its customers and has taken steps to ensure no disruptions in service occur.
 


The National Performance Warehouse Companies has nine locations across the US and has hinted that it could be making three additional acquisitions in 2013.