GRAND-AM Road Racing has announced its 2013 schedules, highlighted by three new events and a unique combined weekend with the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

Both the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge schedules will feature inaugural races at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas; Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia; and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas. In addition, GRAND-AM will partner with the American Le Mans Series on a combination weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin; the two organizations are in the process of merging and will operate as one, new sports car entity beginning with the 2014 season.

GRAND-AM’s flagship race—the 51st running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona—opens the 2013 schedule January 26-27 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Rolex 24 also opens the second annual North American Endurance Championship presented by VISITFLORIDA.com, a special three-race Rolex Series competition that includes the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at Watkins Glen International on June 30 and the Brickyard Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26.

GRAND-AM will again lead off IMS’ “Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard” that also will include the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

GRAND-AM’s first races at the new Circuit of the Americas facility will be March 2. The Road Atlanta event is set for April 20, while the debut on the new 2.36-mile Kansas Speedway circuit will be August 17.

The combined GRAND-AM/ALMS weekend at Road America will be August 10-11, with GRAND-AM competition the first day. GRAND-AM will join the IZOD IndyCar Series at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, on April 6 and at Detroit Belle Isle on June 1.

Other returning events include Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, on June 15; Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, on September 8; and Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut, on September 27-28.

The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge will expand to 11 events in 2012. On nine of those weekends, the CTSCC will run on the same day as the Rolex Series, with the exceptions being Daytona (CTSCC on January 25) and Watkins Glen (June 29). Also, the CTSCC will have two days of competition at Lime Rock, with the Street Tuner class on September 27 and the Grand Sport class race joining the Rolex Series race on September 28.

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

Chris Economaki, the Dean of American Motorsports Journalism whose news writing, commentary and broadcasting career spanned more than seven decades, died Friday. He was 91.

The editor of National Speed Sport News for 60 years, Economaki began selling copies of the paper at age 14, and his famous Editor's Notebook started roughly at the same time, in 1934.

By the mid-1940s, he moved into announcing. At the track, Economaki served as one of the most prominent track announcers in history and was a legendary voice on TV broadcasts.

He spent much time on ABC's “Wide World of Sports,” and later on CBS and ESPN. Economaki was part of the first live TV broadcast of the Daytona 500, the memorable 1979 race that included the last-lap accident and ensuing fight between Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison.

Economaki was a mainstay at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Month of May, and his typewriter occupies a space in the main media room.

“The passing of Chris Economaki is a tough loss for me on both a personal and professional level, having known Chris throughout my life,” said NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France. “Many people consider Chris the greatest motorsports journalist of all time. He was, indeed, ‘the Dean.’ Chris was a fixture for years at NASCAR events, and played a huge role in growing NASCAR’s popularity. I’ll miss seeing him and of course, I’ll miss hearing that voice. Our thoughts and prayers are with his daughters Corinne and Tina and the rest of Chris’ family.”

Economaki was an analyst for the IMS Radio Network's coverage of the Indy 500 from 1995-2009 and its coverage of each US Grand Prix at the Speedway. He also worked worldwide Formula One telecasts for ESPN in 1987 and 1988.

"All of us at the IMS Radio Network are deeply saddened to hear the news of Chris Economaki’s passing," IMS Radio Network general manager Wally Leavitt said. "There never was and never will be anyone like Chris Economaki and the impact he had on motorsports journalism and all of us at the IMS Radio Network will miss him."

Through the years Economaki has received countless awards including the NASCAR Award of Excellence. He has been elected to numerous Halls of Fame, most notably the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame.

Economaki appeared as himself in the racing movies “Stroker Ace” and “Six Pack.” His voice was also used in “Winning.”

He was preceded in death by his wife Tommye and is survived by daughters Corinne and Tina and two grandchildren. Services are pending.

Level 5 Motorsports, a successful multi-car team in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, recently acquired leading sports prototype racers constructor West Race Cars of Atlanta.

The purchase was announced this week by officials of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).



West Race Cars builds the WR1000 and WX10 used in the L2 prototype class of IMSA's Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series.

Level 5 Motorsports is a leading team in prototype racing and is contending for the 2012 championship in the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón P2 class.



In 2013, West Race Cars is committed to significant investments in the series, with a goal of having at least eight cars in L2 competition at each event. West is currently building five brand new WX10 cars, which will be available for drivers looking to compete in the L2 division of the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series in 2013.



West is dedicated to developing prototype teams and drivers in IMSA's Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda series. For the 2013 season, a points fund has been designed to encourage L2 drivers to attend all events and vie for the championship. Any driver who competes in all 2013 races will get their IMSA race registration fees paid back at the conclusion of the season. West will also be offering a championship prize package. 



As an additional commitment to Cooper Tires Prototype Lites L2 competition, West Race Cars will ensure that a factory representative is in attendance at each event to assist teams with technical issues. A parts trailer will also be on hand during race weekends to ensure drivers and teams have the parts they need to succeed on track.



The 2012 Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda season concludes with the Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda on October 17-20 at Road Atlanta.

Mark Johnson has resigned as general manager of KV Racing Technology after a disappointing season for the IndyCar Series team.

Tony Kanaan's third-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 was one of the few highlights of a season that offered much hope after the preseason signing of former Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello.

Johnson, who was general manager since 2006, led the integration of the KV Racing from the Champ Car series into IndyCar during the unification of the series in 2008.

The team faces an offseason of uncertainty, as only Kanaan is under contract to return. Barrichello is rumored to be considering another team, and E.J. Viso is exploring options that include owning his own team. KV Racing also could go from a three-car team to a one-car team in 2013, or possibly merge with another small organization.

Kanaan, who had three podium finishes this season, said earlier this month the team got "extremely overwhelmed" by the preseason expectations.

Barrichello had a season-best finish of fourth at Sonoma, where he tested this year, and five top-10 finishes in 15 races. But, his 11th-place finish in the Indy 500 was best among race rookies.

Johnson worked with at least nine different drivers at KV, and had the team challenging for poles and podium finishes every season.

Simpson Performance Products, Inc. today announced the acquisition of HANS Performance Products.

This expands Simpson racing safety products to include the prestigious HANS Device Head & Neck Restraint System.

“Our total restraint system capabilities now include a comprehensive range of car restraints for all types of racing, including seatbelts, in-car nets, parachutes and the top models of head and neck restraints in the world today,” said Chuck Davies, CEO of Simpson.  

Jim Downing, co-founder of HANS Performance Products added, "We are thrilled that HANS has joined the Simpson family. Together, we look forward to bringing new and innovative products to the market."

HANS Performance Products, formed in 1991 by five-time IMSA driving champion Downing and Dr. Robert Hubbard, will be operated in Atlanta as a separate division of Simpson Performance Products. Downing and Dr. Hubbard, inventor of the HANS Device, will continue to provide engineering experience and support to Simpson and its HANS division (www.hansdevice.com).

Since 1959, Simpson Performance Products has been the leading manufacturer of safety equipment for the motorsports industry. Simpson is the first American company to manufacture an FIA 8860 helmet.

Details and information about Simpson Performance Products are available at www.teamsimpson.com or by calling 800/654-7223.

Robert “Bob” Newton, the visionary behind Hoosier Racing Tire, has died. He was 85.
 
Newton died peacefully at home, surrounded by family members. In recent years he had been dealing with the effects of a stroke suffered in 2011. His greatest love was for his wife, Joyce, and his family.

Bob Newton founded Hoosier Racing Tire in 1957 along with Joyce. They built the first and only manufacturing plant designed exclusively to make tires for motorsports applications. Industry experts called him a master innovator.
   
Newton began his career in motorsports as a race car driver in the 1950s, racing at small asphalt tracks in Northern Indiana. Unsatisfied with racing on street tires, Newton decided to design tires strictly for racing.

In 1957, along with Joyce, Newton began making his own racing tires by re-treading street tires with softer tire compounds. He quickly began selling tires to local racers.

In 1962, Newton inked a deal with Mohawk Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, that allowed him to design, engineer, compound and oversee production of racing tires. That arrangement lasted until Mohawk closed its doors in 1978.

Newton then built his own tire factory dedicated to producing racing tires. The company was named R & J Mfg. Corp. (Robert and Joyce).

Hoosier continued to expand throughout the 1980s, producing all tires in house by 1985 and breaking into NASCAR's Grand National ranks in the early 1990s. By 1994 it had moved up to Winston Cup, winning four races with Geoff Bodine.

Today, Hoosier Racing Tire is the world’s largest racing tire manufacturer.

Competitors who wish to use a head and neck restraint device purchased in 2008 or earlier will be required to seek recertification before the 2013 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season.

The Automobile Racing Club of America continues to require that head and neck restraints are certified every five years to receive the SFI Foundation's conformance sticker.

Devices passing the inspection will receive a new 38.1 conformance sticker marked with the inspection date. Devices rarely fail the recertification inspection, but regularly need replacement rubber on the legs or have tethers that are more than five years old and need to be replaced.

More information is available by contacting Jaymee Beard, Safety Initiative liaison for ARCA, at 734/847-6726 or jbeard@arcaracing.com.

It takes a lot of skill and the right equipment to win big at the drag strip—but a little luck doesn't hurt either.

Rick Morley of Allendale, Michigan, had luck on his side when he won a $20,000 race engine at the Fifth Annual Engine Pro/Dart/Performance Engineering Engine Giveaway, held during the recent Funny Car Nationals event at US 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.

Jim Sebright of Holland, Michigan, was the runner-up. Sebright won an intake manifold courtesy of Profiler Performance.

Kalamazoo driver Christine VanderSloot walked away with a six-switch panel with pig tails courtesy of R&R Wireloom.

Mark Boardman won valve covers powder coated from Pro Finish Powder Coating.

Participating sponsors of the engine giveaway include Engine Pro, Performance Engineering, Melling Engine Parts, Hastings Manufacturing, Pro-Finish and AERA.

In addition, many manufacturers contributed parts for the engine including Icon Forged Pistons, Comp Cams, Ferrea Racing Components, Oliver Connecting Rods, PRW Performance Products, and Victor Reinz Gaskets.

For more information on Engine Pro, visit www.engineproparts.com.

NASCAR has announced the Sprint Cup Series' 2013 schedule.

Though unveiled and tested throughout the 2012 season, the new models—the Chevrolet SS, Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry—will make their official entrance into competition on February 16 at the Shootout at Daytona International Speedway. Qualifying for the "Great American Race" will take place February 17, followed by the season-opening Daytona 500 on February 24.

The 2013 Cup schedule, marking the 65th season for NASCAR's premier series, will have a familiar feel, opening with the Daytona 500 before moving west to Phoenix (March 3) and Las Vegas (March 10). For the third consecutive season, the Chase for the Sprint Cup will start at Chicagoland. The Chase will conclude at the season finale on November 17 at Homestead-Miami.

With Kansas Speedway's repave project complete, next season's fall event at Talladega will return to its traditional spot on the calendar. Talladega's 2013 Chase race, the sixth of the 10-race playoff, will be run October 20. Kansas will host its 2013 Chase event on October 6.

For the complete schedule, visit www.nascar.com.

On October 1, Calico Coatings, a leading high-performance coatings applicator, will be moving their operations from two buildings (a total of 9000 square feet) in Denver Industrial Park to a newly constructed 20,000-square-foot location on Balsom Ridge Road in Denver, North Carolina.

“We have been planning this move for more than a year now,” said Calico Coatings president Tracy Trotter. “We’re having our best year since we’ve been in business, and it was crucial that we completed this expansion in order to keep up with current demand and accommodate future growth opportunities.”

Headquartered in the Denver area, Calico Coatings was recently honored by the Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) for 15 successful years in business in Lincoln County. A staple business in the Denver community, Calico currently has 24 employees and estimates adding nine more over the next three years.

They will also be purchasing new equipment and adding a third shift in Q4 of this year to meet the growing demands of their customers.

Calico Coatings is a performance coatings applicator that works with race teams, engine builders, the military, firearm and numerous other industries that have issues with friction, wear, heat, corrosion and fuel consumption. Calico Coatings specializes in ceramic thermal barrier, Teflon, DLC, dry film lubricants, phosphate, powder and PVD/PECVD coatings that increase performance by reducing friction, heat, drag, wear and corrosion.

The company's new contact information is:

Calico Coatings
5883 Balsom Ridge Road
Denver, North Carolina 28037
Tech Line: 704/483-2202

For more information, visit CalicoCoatings.com.