McLaren Racing, the United Kingdom-based Formula 1, INDYCAR and Formula E Team, is expanding into the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) in the Hypercar prototype class beginning in 2027.

The British marque—which this year is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with the F1 GTR in 1995--joins the top class in sports car racing for the first time since 1998.

In partnership with United Autosports, McLaren Automotive entered FIA WEC's LMGT3 division in 2024, tallying a trio of top four finishes in the 720S LMGT3 Evo's maiden campaign in the series.

McLaren is the latest manufacturer to announce its intent to join the Hypercar grid in the coming years, alongside Hyundai's Genesis-branded prototype effort and Ford, which both confirmed new Hypercar programs earlier this year.

For more information, visit fiawec.com.

NASCAR, the Daytona Beach, Florida-based sanctioning body, has partnered with fintech-for-media company Recast to help expand viewership options for international markets.

By integrating RecastPay into its site, NASCAR can now offer international consumers pay-as-you-go access to NASCAR broadcasts in key global markets, ensuring that fans worldwide watch NASCAR races without the need for a subscription.

At launch, content will focus primarily on the NASCAR Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, NASCAR officials said.

The use of RecastPay will provide access to Xfinity and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races internationally, in territories where traditional broadcast is currently unavailable. Content will be accessible via nascar.com.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

The profile of today's high-performance camshaft market is one of growth and diversity. There's a surging demand for camshafts that can withstand the rigors of big boost, and in some cases that means a cam with a larger, harder, stronger tool-steel core. At the same time, manufacturers are filling holes in the market for more traditional cam applications, such as older small block Chevy-type engines.

With developments across such a broad spectrum, there's a lot to discuss in this latest look at camshafts.

'Boost' Sales

The popularity of nitrous oxide systems, superchargers, and turbochargers in motorsports has affected camshaft development for companies such as Cam Motion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "We're keeping cores on the shelf now that can accommodate the power-adder guys," said Bobby Biancaniello. "You're going to cam something completely different if someone has a turbo or twin turbos and they're trying to run 40 pounds of boost and make 2,500 to 3,000 horsepower than if it's the same motor naturally aspirated."

Guy Aguayo at Crower Cams in San Diego, California, also noted a demand for cams that will handle what power-adders throw at them. "The bigger the cubic inches, the wider the lobe separation. That's one thing," he said. "Turbo applications tend to fool around a little bit different with duration, and then [there's] the supercharger—it all depends on what kind of power band they want to run."

He said it's amazing that some boosted applications have 1-inch-plus lift at the valves. "And they're getting 50-, 55-, and 60-millimeter camshafts. They want that for strength with all the spring pressures they run," Aguayo said. "They don't want any core flex at all."

He noted how better cylinder head flow, big cubic inches, and a lot of fuel intake all...

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Once you download the "PRI Magazine" mobile app or are logged into PRI Magazine/Zinio on a desktop browser, you will gain immediate access to more than a year's worth of content, including "The Speed of Safety" here and more PRI Show coverage in the March/April 2025 issue here. 

Small Tire Pro Stock, a new drag-racing series, is coming to Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina, the facility announced.

The naturally aspirated class will debut at Rockingham Dragway during Sick at the Rock, April 10-12.

"When the NMCA ceased operations, NA 10.5 racers wanted to continue competing together and to welcome other naturally aspirated racers, so Joe Clemente, Robbie Blankenship, Dwight Ausmus, John Langer and I started talking about putting together a class," said David Theisen, whose Firebird features a new 500-c.i. DRCE engine by Uratchko Racing Engines. "We are happy to have racers coming from all over, including some who did not previously race with us, and we hope to grow this class with each of our six races."

The high-horsepower, heads-up class will feature racers using the full force of big-block and small-block engines to power various makes and models rolling on 10.5 slicks. In addition to showcasing their driving prowess, the class will highlight the skills of their engine builders, chassis builders, tuners and teams. 

Along with 10K Technology—which is sponsoring the payout for this debut event--class sponsors include Pen and Paper Strength App, Dolce and Clemente's Market, V & J Inc., BES Racing Engines, CFM Carburetors and Exstreme Fab and Beadlocks. Small Tire Pro Stock will continue to welcome sponsors and series who want to provide additional support, officials said.

After making its debut at Rockingham Dragway, Small Tire Pro Stock will host Sick on the Green, May 30-31, at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling, Green Kentucky; Heads-Up Series Races, July 4-5 and August 1-2, at Milan Dragway in Michigan; and the Outlaw Street Car Shootout, September 26-27, at Cecil County Dragway in Maryland. Additionally, racers will switch gears for a weekend of eighth-mile racing at the Eighth-Mile Race, August 29-30, at Jackson Dragway in Tennessee. 

For media inquiries and class sponsor opportunities, contact Mary Lendzion at xx98@sbcglobal.net.

Jeff Baldwin's engines are known for their unique sound. "Whether it's true or not, I don't know," said Baldwin, "but they say our engines sound different from our competitors."

Racers running rival engines hear the difference. "Everybody can tell what I'm running," said 52-year sprint car veteran P-Nut Campbell, whose Number 7c 410 winged sprint car is sponsored by Baldwin. "You hear mumblin,' and some are cussin' it, because it does run well."

Every year, Baldwin builds 85 to 100 turnkey engines in his 8,500-square-foot shop in Friedheim, Missouri, plus rebuilds, updates, and machine work for both racing and industrial customers. Most of his fresh builds are for circle track or demolition derby, what Baldwin calls "our heavy hitters, what we have in the shop all the time." Drag racing and street performance are also in the mix. Truck and tractor pulling, although "really big" 20–25 years ago, has rebounded in recent years.

How does Jeff Baldwin explain the unique Baldwin Racing Engines sound? "Attention to detail," he answered, plus attention paid to top experts in the field. Whether or not those things have enhanced the sonic quality of his engines, they have certainly contributed to his success.

GIVING AND GETTING

Baldwin built the 582-cid big block Chevrolet that was raffled at the 2024 PRI Show in the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA) booth, as well as the 565-cid supercharged BBC for the 2023 Show. The raffle raises money for the Engine Rebuilders Educational Foundation (EREF). Baldwin is first vice chair of the AERA, which established EREF in 1997 to help qualified applicants pay for training in engine building and rebuilding. "AERA came to us two years ago and asked if we'd be interested," said Baldwin, "and obviously we agreed."

The specific engine built for the annual EREF Engine Giveaway is...

To read the complete article for free, sign up for a digital subscription to PRI Magazine on Zinio here.    

Once you download the "PRI Magazine" mobile app or are logged into PRI Magazine/Zinio on a desktop browser, you will gain immediate access to more than a year's worth of content, including "The Speed of Safety" here and more PRI Show coverage in the March/April 2025 issue here. 

Formula DRIFT (FD) has entered into an agreement with PX Sports to provide a Spanish-language broadcast for the Main Event Top 16 competitions for each of the eight FD PRO rounds.

The broadcast will be available live across the PX Sports network, which reaches more than 25 million homes across Latin America, and is distributed through cable, satellite and streaming platforms.

"We have been looking for a solution for a number of years to give the Spanish-speaking world access to FD events and PX Sports has agreed to bring in their own commentators and broadcast our Main Event and Top 16s," said FD President Ryan Sage. "We're very aware of the popularity of drifting in LATAM and there's also been a huge push by our Spanish-speaking drivers to figure this out, so it's a huge win for us to work with a powerful partner such as PX Sports."

"We are thrilled to bring the electrifying competition of Formula DRIFT to the Spanish-speaking audience in Latin America," said Alejandro Mercado of PX Sports. "Drifting has a massive and growing fanbase across the region, and this partnership ensures they will now have front-row access to the action, expert commentary, and the passion that makes this sport so unique. At PX Sports, our mission has always been to elevate motorsports and action sports, and this is a perfect step in that direction."

For more information, visit formulad.com.

SEMA and PRI traveled to West Virginia to take part in the state's Motorsports and Adventure Travel Days on March 28-29, an annual event to educate policymakers, spark ideas and fuel discussions on expanding motorsports and adventure travel across the state.

More than 20 businesses showcased West Virginia's diverse motorsports landscape, highlighting its economic contributions and growing influence. From grassroots racing to off-road-adventure tourism, the industry brings more than $1.33 billion in economic output to the state and more than 5,300 jobs.

A SEMA and PRI delegation traveled to West Virginia for the state's annual Motorsports and Adventure Travel Days, pictured above (left to right): West Virginia. Delegate Gary Howell; Tom Deery, PRI; Tierra Hubbard, SEMA and PRI; Christian Robinson, SEMA and PRI; Jedediah Smith, Backroads of Appalachia; Greg Haas, Summit Point Motorsports Park; Tom Zielinksi, Z Performance; Maria Whatley, Chaos Off Road; AK Whatley, Chaos Off Road; West Virginia. State Del. Wayne Clark.

"Motorsports and Adventure Travel Days is an incredible opportunity for SEMA and PRI to increase industry awareness," said Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director of state government affairs. "It allows us to build relationships with key industry players. When we bring together a strong coalition of businesses and advocates, legislators see firsthand the vast reach of motorsports and the communities it impacts across West Virginia."

With momentum building, the future of motorsports in West Virginia is looking brighter than ever. Events like these ensure the industry remains on the fast track to success, driven by collaboration, innovation and advocacy.

Photos by Perry Bennet, courtesy of West Virginia Legislature

Veteran racing industry executive Kirk Dooley has been named director of INDY NXT, INDYCAR officials announced today.

As director, Dooley will oversee all operations and competition for INDY NXT, the developmental series of INDYCAR that prepares drivers, engineers and other team personnel for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Indiana native Dooley assumes his new role in a return to INDYCAR after serving as the chief of staff in 2015-2016, when he helped coordinate key series financial initiatives and evolve technical regulations. In 2016, Dooley was named director of event operations at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), where he was responsible for the management and execution of all IMS events, including the Indianapolis 500.

In 2020, Dooley became chief operating officer of the Skip Barber Racing School, where he supported and implemented efforts to expand business operations to include multiple training teams at simultaneous venues. While at Skip Barber, he also managed a four-car race team that won the 2021 SRO TC class championship and placed second in the TCA Class during the team's inaugural season.

"I could not be more thrilled to return to INDYCAR and assume this crucial developmental role with INDY NXT by Firestone," Dooley said. "With rising interest from drivers and teams and a new and powerful platform on FS1 and FS2 thanks to INDYCAR's new partnership with FOX, it is clear that this series is more relevant and important than ever. I look forward to leading this continued growth as INDY NXT looks to advance drivers, engineers and personnel to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES."

A 24-year Marine Corps Officer, Dooley most recently served as the owner of Indianapolis-based Torque Lab, LLC, which provides a wide range of engine management software and racing services to affiliated performance shops, race teams and personnel.

"Kirk's vast experience will be a tremendous asset for INDY NXT by Firestone," INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. "His important work developing talent with Skip Barber, combined with his history at INDYCAR and IMS, will prove invaluable for a series one step away from the premier open-wheel series in North America. We are delighted to welcome him back to the INDYCAR family."

For more information, visit indynxt.com.

Shigeaki Hattori, one of eight Japanese-born drivers to compete in the Indianapolis 500, died April 5 in a car accident in Huntersville, North Carolina. He was 61.

A native of Okayama in southern Japan, Hattori competed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway three times, earning a pair of starts. After serving as the first alternate to the 33-car field in 2001, he finished 20th in 2002 for Bradley Motorsports, completing 197 laps. The next year, he finished 30th driving for AJ Foyt Racing as the car's fuel system failed.

Those two races in the "500" were among Hattori's 34 career NTT INDYCAR SERIES starts in a four-year span that ended in 2003. His best series finish came at Texas Motor Speedway when he finished sixth in 2002.

At 32, Hattori moved to the U.S. in 1995, first embarking on an opportunity in Indy Lights, now known as INDY NXT by Firestone. He won races at Homestead-Miami Speedway and World Wide Technology Raceway, starting in the top three on both occasions for Indy Regency Racing.

Hattori made his INDYCAR SERIES debut in 1999, making eight Champ Car World Series starts for Bettenhausen Motorsports. In 2000, he moved to the Indy Racing League, scoring four top-10 finishes in five races for Treadway Racing.

Hattori's INDYCAR SERIES career featured rides with five teams using five different engine badging.

Hattori also had a significant career in NASCAR, driving and owning entries. He made 10 Truck Series starts before turning his attention to leading Hattori Racing Enterprises. The team fielded Johnny Sauter, Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain, among other notable drivers. Brett Moffitt won the 2018 Truck Series championship for the team.

For more information, visit ims.com.

An important deadline is approaching for 2025 PRI Show exhibitors. Friday, April 25, is the last chance for businesses to submit their applications and booth deposits to be included in PRI Show's priority booth space selection process. The exhibitor space rental agreement for the 2025 PRI Show, December 11-13, in downtown Indianapolis, is open online here.

Securing your booth space is the first step toward success at the PRI Show, which presents an unrivaled opportunity for racing industry professionals to drive sales, meet new clients and increase brand awareness.

"Beginnings of contracts happen at PRI, so that's why we really like the PRI Show and introducing new products here. The people that come here are serious about what they're going to do for next year," Dave Schardt, president of Forgeline, said to PRI News last year.

While space applications are accepted at any time leading up to the event in December, submitting an ESRA and deposit by Monday, April 25, will guarantee exhibitors will be included in the initial booth plotting process and the first release of the PRI Show floorplan.

Exhibiting at the PRI Show offers a myriad of benefits to your brand:

• Increase Your Brand Awareness: Whether you are an established brand or looking to break into the motorsports market, exhibiting at PRI is the best investment to advance your brand goals.
• Connect With Your Customers: See existing customers and connect with them on the Show floor. Determine their business needs and use this opportunity to strengthen relationships.
• Expand Your Sales Channels: Take your products to new markets, whether through retailers, distributors or other sales channels, expanding your brand's reach domestically and internationally.
• Introduce New Products: Ensure your latest and greatest products are seen by a large audience of potential customers at the PRI Show.

To reserve a booth at the 2025 PRI Show, visit here. For more information on why to exhibit, visit performanceracing.com/trade-show/exhibit.