GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón have unveiled the initial concept for the organizations' unified competition class structure that will debut in January 2014 at the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The lineup—in effect for the 2014 and 2015 seasons—is based on a philosophy of inclusion. The majority of classes from both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and the ALMS will be retained with the exception of the ALMS’ P1 prototype class. Individual class names have yet to be determined.

The planned structure:

- GRAND-AM’s DP and the ALMS’ P2 classes will combine into one, headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary DeltaWing prototype, with performance of the cars balanced to maintain close competition.

- The ALMS’ Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class.

- Both of the organizations’ production-based GT classes will continue as separate, distinct categories based on performance, preserving each class’ proud history and loyal fan following. As part of this plan, the ALMS’ GTC cars will join the GRAND-AM GTs.

- GRAND-AM’s new GX class, which is debuting at this year’s Rolex 24 later this month, is being explored as a possible addition to the GRAND-AM half of the GT mix in 2014-15. There also is the possibility that GX will run separately as a fifth class.

Specifications for all classes still are being determined and will be announced later this year. In addition, there will be continued discussion regarding the increasing inclusion of green technologies in the new unified series.

For more information, visit www.grand-am.com.

The Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series is officially over, but before the teams pack up and head home there's still one race to run.

The Challenge cup is the most anticipated race of the year, as the PRO 2's face off against the PRO 4's in hopes of winning $30,000.

Catch the action this Saturday, January 5 at 1 p.m. EST and 10 a.m. PST on CBS.

The 2013 Tire Rack SCCA National Solo Series and Tire Rack ProSolo Series schedules have been announced, with 27 total events spanning seven months, covering 16 states and featuring three unique event formats.

Included on the 2013 calendar is the introduction of the Match Tour format, featuring the Evolution Super Shootout, following a trial run at the conclusion of last season. In addition to nine Match Tours, the series will feature 10 ProSolo Rounds, seven Championship Tour rounds and the 41st Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championship.

The Tire Rack ProSolo Series kicks off in Irvine, Calif. on the weekend of April 6th at the El Toro Air Base. The series features nine regular season rounds with the traditional Finale event once again opening the Tire Rack Solo National Champoinship week in Lincoln, Neb. Tire Rack ProSolo Stops include return engagements in Mineral Wells, Texas, East Rutherford, N.J., Washington, D.C., Farmington, N.M., Packwood, Wash., and Toledo, Ohio, on stand-alone weekends.

In addition, ProSolo events will return to the double event weekends in Lincoln, Neb. For the Spring Nationals and the Fourth of July weekend’s Summer Nationals in Blytheville, Ark.

Officially, the Tire Rack National Tour program is being split into two formats. In addition to the new Match Tour weekends, the traditional Tour format will become the Championship Tour, reflective of its tie to Solo National’s format.

Including the two weekends combined with ProSolo, the seven-event Championship Tour schedule includes College Station, Texas, San Diego, Calif., Dover, Del., Packwood, Wash. and Wilmington, Ohio.

The inaugural Match Tour will be held at South Georgia Motorsports Park on the weekend of March 16th. The Match Tour format features class competition on Saturday and the Evolution Super Shootout on Sunday. The Shootout format allows the forty-eight fastest drivers to mix with the top four ladies, as well as twelve random drawn drivers in a four-ladder tournament to see who can take home the weekend’s top prize. Held on a traditional, championship style course, Match Tours are the best of both Solo elements, blending long, fast flowing courses with the excitement of elimination competition.

Match Tour dates are scheduled for Wilmington, Ohio, Peru, Ind., Mineral Wells, Texas, Fountain, Colo., Milwaukee, Wisc., Ayer, Mass., Blytheville, Ark. and St. George, Utah.

The season’s crown jewel, the 41st Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals, is on the schedule for September 3-6, with the ProSolo Finale on the Labor Day weekend. The season ender is part of the triple crown of holiday weekends, with the Spring Nationals once again on Memorial Day Weekend and the move of Summer Nationals to Fourth of July Weekend.

For the complete Tire Rack Solo Schedule, visit www.scca.com.

NASCAR is returning to Irwindale.

The sanctioning body has announced it is bringing its Home Tracks program back to Irwindale Speedway, as the 2013 racing season will begin on April 6 with a "Grand Re-Opening Night" of racing featuring NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks and an evening-ending fun-for-all Demolition Derby.

"We met with Bob Duvall (NASCAR's Senior Director of Business Development) yesterday at our offices in Irwindale," said Irwindale Event Center President and CEO Jim Cohan on January 4. "He really understands our mission to bring great short track stock car racing back to southern California and he's very supportive of that goal. Bob made his presentation, answered all of our questions, we signed the sanction agreement, and he got back on a plane and took the papers back to Daytona Beach."

"This facility hasn't changed physically in any way; it's the same great race track," Duvall said. "What has changed is the management group and spirit of teamwork that Jim Cohan's people bring to the effort. They're all top pros, and I'm really looking forward to working with them."

On December 14, 2012, 211 Entertainment Company was awarded a full operational lease on the complete facility, and planning was immediately begun to bring the track property back into full use, including oval track racing, which had not taken place at the track since November 2011.

In fact, when the former track operators filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2012, 211's Jim Cohan and his staff at the track's LA Racing Experience Stock Car School (part of 211) worked closely with the property owners Nu-Way Industries to keep the track's doors open and operating, as well as hiring key track personnel.


"There were a few doubts out there that this day might not come, not on our part of course," Cohan added. "Our team has worked very hard for this day, and to finally be able to tell the world that Saturday night stock car racing is back at Irwindale."


Late last year, Speedway management announced an alliance with Kern County Raceway Park, the new half-mile oval racetrack that's just completing construction near Bakersfield, California. Both tracks are working together to coordinate schedules and competition rules to allow teams in a number of divisions to compete at both tracks during the upcoming season.

Irwindale Competition Director Mike Atkinson will soon be announcing divisional meetings at the track for car owners and drivers.

Applications for 2013 NASCAR licenses for drivers and crewpersons are now available at the Speedway office during regular business hours (500 Speedway Drive, Irwindale, California 91706; 626/358-1100).


In related news, it was announced recently that LoanMart has become one of the first sponsors to sign on with the newly rejuvenated Irwindale Event Center. The fast-growing Los Angeles-based loan company's corporate presence will be seen on both the Irwindale Speedway oval track and the facility's NHRA-sanctioned Irwindale Dragstrip.

IRWINDALE 2013 NASCAR RACING EVENT SCHEDULE:
 
APRIL 6: Re-Opening Night 2013: NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Demolition Derby
APRIL 27: NASCAR Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Legends Cars, Trailer Race
MAY 4: NASCAR Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Figure Eight
MAY 25: NASCAR Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Super Stock, Legends Cars, Skid Plate Cars
JUNE 15: NASCAR Late Models, Super Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Legends Cars, Figure Eight
JUNE 22: NASCAR Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Skid Plate Cars, Demolition Derby
JULY 6: FIREWORKS! NASCAR Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Skid Plate Cars
JULY 20: NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Figure Eight, Trailer Race
AUGUST 17: NASCAR Late Models, Super Stocks, Legends Cars, Lucas Oil Modifieds
AUGUST 31: NASCAR Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Figure Eight
SEPTEMBER 21: NASCAR Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Mini-Stocks, Skid Plate Cars
SEPTEMBER 28: NASCAR Super Late Models, Late Models, Super Stocks, Figure Eight
OCTOBER 5: NASCAR Late Models, Mini-Stocks, Legends Cars, Skid Plate Cars
OCTOBER 19: NASCAR Super Late Models, Irwindale Race Trucks, Super Stock

OCTOBER 26: Annual Night of Destruction! Skid Plate Cars, Trailer Race, Demolition Derby, Figure Eight


* Irwindale Race Trucks include: Super Trucks, ASA, and SWTT
2; all dates and lineups are subject to change.

For more information on Irwindale Speedway, visit www.irwindalespeedway.com. For information on NASCAR Home Tracks, visit www.nascarhometracks.com.





 

The Sports Car Club of America Board of Directors recently named Lisa Noble, of Manhattan, Kansas, as its chairman for 2013. The Board also approved appointments for various committees and board liaisons that will oversee the organization this year.

Noble, a longtime Kansas Region SCCA member, also begins her sixth year as the Area Six Director.

As a Formula Vee driver, Noble was the first female in the class to earn a National race win, in 1995 at Heartland Park Topeka. Noble was also the 1999 Kimberly Cup award winner for most improved driver. She has spent the past three years serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

The torch passes to Noble from outgoing Chairman Jerry Wannarka, who did not seek reappointment for a fourth year as Chairman.

Also selected as Board Officers are Dick Patullo (Vice Chairman), Todd Butler (Secretary), Michael Lewis (Treasurer), John Walsh (Assistant Treasurer) and Jerry Wannarka (Fifth Member Executive Committee).

Board committees and liaisons were also appointed. Those are as follows:

Budget and Finance:

Michael Lewis, Chair

Bill Kephart

Brian McCarthy

Phil Creighton

John Walsh

Compensation Committee: 

Dick Patullo, Chair

Steve Harris

Michael Lewis

Bill Kephart

R. David Jones

Jerry Wannarka

Planning Committee:

Bill Kephart, Chair

Todd Butler, Secretary

John Walsh

Robin Langlotz

Michael Lewis

Steve Harris

SCCA Board Liaisons:

Solo Event Board: Phil Creighton/Bruce Lindstrand

Club Racing Board: Todd Butler/John Walsh

TTAC: John Walsh/Brian McCarthy

Stewards: Bill Kephart

Court of Appeals: John Walsh

REs & Operations Liaison: R. David Jones/Jerry Wannarka

RoadRally Board: R. David Jones/Bruce Lindstrand

RallyCross Board: Brian McCarthy/Steve Harris

SCCA Foundation Jerry Wannarka

SCCA Enterprises Board: Jerry Wannarka

SCCA Pro Racing: Lisa Noble

More information on the Sports Car Club of America is available at www.scca.com.

Holley has announced that its HP EFI engine control unit (ECU) will come as standard equipment on all of Chevrolet Performance’s COPO Camaro factory-built race cars in 2013. This is the third Holley brand product to make it onto the COPO Camaro. 

Holley’s Hi-Ram intake manifold was standard equipment on all 2012 naturally aspirated COPO Camaros, and Earl’s brand transmission coolers were on all 2012 COPO Camaros as well. All three products will be used on 2013 COPO Camaros.



The modern-day COPO is the fastest Camaro ever to come out of Chevrolet, and the Holley EFI ECU will have the important task of managing both the fuel delivery and ignition timing. 



Holley’s HP EFI was selected to power the COPO Camaro for its robust control features and racer-friendly tuning capabilities supported by Holley’s longstanding involvement in racing through organizations like the NHRA and NASCAR.

For more information on Holley EFI, go to www.holleyefi.com.

The American Motor Racing Association's ownership has been transferred to DRIVE—a group of investors from various aspects of the racing community.

DRIVE is an acronym for Driver, Race Promoter, Investment, Vision, Equitable, and the mission of DRIVE is to promote dirt track racing in an effective, economical, and simplistic fashion that insures a safe, level playing field for dirt modified and dirt late model racers. 

Through the AMRA, DRIVE will strive to keep costs for racers at an affordable level, improve and equalize competition, unite area promoters under one uniform set of rules, and energize the foundation of dirt track racing fans throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia.

The AMRA will build upon the strong foundation established during the previous 19 years that the organization has been in existence.

Under new leadership, the organization will take the lead in restructuring and enforcing its rules package, while at the same time working to reduce costs, increase participation and fan involvement, and help to promote AMRA sanctioned tracks.


Scott Wolfe, Director of Racing Operations for the AMRA the past three years, will remain in that position, and will be the point of contact for the new organization. Wolfe can be reached at 740/992-1490, via email at swolfe1490@suddenlink.net, or by mail at Scott Wolfe, AMRA, Box 872, Racine, Ohio 45771. 


What will remain is the lucrative National AMRA Points Fund, which has paid out several hundred thousand dollars in cash awards over the past 19 seasons, most recently paying out over $40,000 at its 2012 awards dinner and banquet.

It is the AMRA's intention to restore the weekly points to pay back 35 spots in 2013 in the open wheel modified division, and to maintain the point funding commitment to the AMRA Late Model division. 

It is also AMRA's intention to once again offer a "parts and equipment package" valued at well over $10,000 for member competitors.
 The revised rules package will be available in print and on the AMRA website no later than January 15.

AMRA is updating contacts with speedways in the region, and the organization hopes to announce a technical director soon, and announce the site and date for a tech seminar tentatively set for late January.


The AMRA will once again be racing on Hoosier Tires in its modified division for 2013, as Hoosier will contribute significantly to the season's point fund.
               

Drivers and fans can find updates on www.amramodified.com.

GRAND-AM Road Racing announced this week that veteran road racing official Paul Walter has been named as the organization’s race director, effective immediately.

Walter, who will report to GRAND-AM Managing Director of Competition Richard Buck, also will continue to serve as race director for the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, a job he has held since January 2012.

His dual roles will become one in 2014, when the recently merged organizations present a unified series aimed at redefining sports car racing in North America.

Concurrent with his ongoing stint at the ALMS, Walter has been the race director for the USF2000 open-wheel series since January 2010. He will act as Competition Director for USF2000 and the Pro Mazda Championship at non-conflicting events in the upcoming season.

He also served as operations manager for Tasman Motorsports Group/Forsythe Racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series from 1996-2001. And he was race director of the Formula BMW Series from 2005-2009; operating steward of the ALMS from 2008-2010; chief steward at Historic Motorsports Productions for the 2011 season; clerk of the course for the inaugural U.S. round of the World Touring Car Championship at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway last September; and deputy clerk of the course for the inaugural Formula One event last November at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

GRAND-AM Managing Director of Racing Operations Mark Raffauf, who formerly also served as GRAND-AM’s race director, will now focus on operational and logistical aspects. He will continue to report to Buck.

Racing Promotion Monthly has honored Bruce Rogers, promoter of the NASCAR sanctioned Grandview Speedway, with the Eastern Region Promoter of the Year award.
 
This is the fourth time that Rogers has earned the honor, which puts him in the running for the prestigious Auto Racing Promoter of the Year award to be announced at the RPM Promoter’s Workshops in Daytona Beach, Florida, February 18-20, 2013.

The one-third-mile, banked clay Grandview Speedway is coming off its 50th anniversary season, which was topped by the highly successful $50,000 to win BPG Racing Freedom 76 race, won by nine-time track champion Jeff Strunk.

The track in Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania, was built by Forrest Rogers, Bruce’s father, and opened for its first racing event back in August 1963. It has been continually operated by the Rogers family ever since.

Much attention has also been brought to the Grandview oval by the Bob Miller/Bruce Rogers-promoted Thunder on the Hill Series, which offers fans the opportunity to see a variety of different types of racing action.

Racing for 2013 will kick off with the annual free-to-the-public practice session for all divisions of racing on Saturday, March 30, at noon.

Officially the chase for the lucrative NASCAR Whelen All American Series point titles (modifieds, late models and sportsman) will get the green flag on April 6 at 7 p.m.

Fans and racers can keep up with information on the 2013 activities being planned at Grandview Speedway at www.grandviewspeedway.com or by calling 610/754-7688.

Beginning next season, the IHRA will be narrowing the field of the 2013 Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL.

The tournament will include only the top drivers on the prestigious Summit Pro-Am Tour, making its field a true cross-section of the best IHRA racers from across North America.
 
While past versions of the IHRA’s year-end championship tournament have included a collection of special event and big race winners in addition to Summit Pro-Am Tour regulars, beginning in 2013 the Summit Tournament of Champions will only be made up of drivers competing on the Pro-Am Tour, recognizing year-round success at a multitude of different tracks.
 
And the entire program will be highlighted by a renewed commitment to sportsman drag racing, as sponsor Summit Racing Equipment recently signed a multi-year deal to return as sponsor of the program.
 
Beginning next season the only way a driver can earn a spot in the Tournament of Champions is by finishing in the top three in their respective division on the Summit Pro-Am Tour. Single race winners will no longer earn an automatic tournament bid, instead focusing all championship aspirations on those racers that chase points on the Pro-Am Tour and enjoy season-long success.
 
To further reward drivers that compete on the Summit Pro-Am Tour, Pro-Am champions will receive an increased payout, and payouts will be expanded to include drivers that finish in third place in their respective division.
 
While automatic, one-race bids have been eliminated, competition at Nitro Jams will continue to be an important part of the formula, as most all Nitro Jams in 2013 will double as a Summit Pro-Am weekend. But instead of one race qualifiers, essentially all Pro-Am races will act as a chance to qualify for the Tournament of Champions. Sportsman competitors that win on the final night of Nitro Jam will also receive an increased payout, contingency and a national event Ironman.
 
The narrowed tournament field, which determines the World Champion through 10th place in each of the IHRA’s seven touring classes, will award $10,000 to the World Champion in addition to a special edition Ironman and more, and will be contested at the Summit Racing Equipment World Finals at Memphis International Raceway. Championship runners-up through fifth place will continue to receive a cash prize, while drivers finishing sixth through 10th in the world will receive a gift card courtesy of Summit Racing Equipment. Visit www.ihra.com for complete Tournament of Champions payout information.
 
The new Tournament of Champions structure will continue to generate a first round ladder based on drivers that show up to compete at the IHRA World Finals, and each class ladder will be generated via reaction time from the final qualifying time prior to the race.
 
A driver may compete in the Summit Tournament of Champions in a maximum of two different classes, but may not drive the same car in two classes during the race.
 
Once the field is set, the best drivers in Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Super Stock, Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod will go head-to-head against their peers, with the final seven drivers left standing being named an IHRA World Champion.
 
For more information on the 2013 Summit Racing Equipment Tournament of Champions presented by AMSOIL visit www.ihra.com/TournamentofChampions.