Whelen Engineering has named Wisconsin native and race track safety leader Scott Finco as the 2024 Whelen Everyday Champion.

Each year, Whelen's Everyday Champion program celebrates and recognizes outstanding emergency service departments, individuals or groups by honoring demonstrations of bravery during an act of exceptional valor or tireless efforts in making a community a better or safer place to live.

Finco has dedicated more than three decades to serving others. His career began in firefighting, including time as a lieutenant with the Menomonee Falls Fire Department in Wisconsin. Over the last 20 years, Finco has brought his expertise to race track safety teams at some of the nation's most iconic motorsports venues, including Daytona International Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Road America.

Finco will be honored in February 2025 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he will receive an award of distinction in the Whelen Hall of Champions. This special exhibit celebrates the stories of individuals who demonstrate heroism, bravery, honor and exceptional community service.

For more information, visit whelen.com.

Cook Out, a restaurant chain based in North Carolina, has agreed to become the entitlement partner for the upcoming Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Sunday, February 2.

In addition to the annual exhibition race, Cook Out will also serve as the title sponsor for the Cook Out Madhouse Classic on Saturday, February 1, an invitation-only event featuring the stars of Bowman Gray Stadium's modified division. The field will include NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte, driving the No. 18 Cook Out modified.

The Cook Out Clash on will be the first NASCAR Cup Series race at the venue since 1971.

For more information, visit nascarclash.com.

Green Savoree Racing Promotions, the owner and operator of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, recently completed a series of improvements to the Lexington, Ohio, facility.

Updates to the facility include the repaving of interior roads, modifications to the runoff area at one corner of the track and the replacement of safety barriers and fencing in multiple sections of the track.  

This latest investment brings the first track modification to the natural terrain road course in Lexington, Ohio since 1989 when the entire racing surface was repaved and widened to 40 feet.

For more information, visit midohio.com.

The Great Lakes Super Sprints has released its 2025 event schedule.

The schedule features 43 dates across five states and Ontario, Canada, and includes stops at 16 different tracks.

On-track action for the winged sprint car series begins on April 4 at Greenville Speedway in Mississippi, and concludes on September 19 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, during the 4-Crown Nationals.

See the full schedule below:

Visit greatlakessupersprints.com for more information.

The Mid-West Drag Racing Series (MWDRS) has named John Sears its rules director for the 2025 season and beyond, replacing former director Lonnie Grimm.

Sears has previous experience overseeing rule sets with classes and events similar to the Mid-West Drag Racing Series, the series said. In his new role, Sears will review the MWDRS rule set and create a simplified rules package.

The 2025 rule set will be announced at a later date.

For more information, visit midwestdragracingseries.com.

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is bringing back the Nitro Jam Drag Racing series with a 10-race schedule in 2025.

Featured classes will include Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Mod, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, as well as 500-in. Pro Stock, Nitro Harley, Top Fuel Motorcycle and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

Sportsman classes featured at all IHRA Nitro Jam events include Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Quick Rod, Super Rod, Hot Rod, Super Stock and Stock.

As previously announced, all IHRA content will be broadcast on SPEED SPORT.

For more information, visit ihra.com.

Gentex, the Zeeland, Michigan-based provider of automotive electronics products, has promoted Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Neil Boehm to chief operations officer (COO).

Boehm joined Gentex in 2001 as a program manager and served in various roles with increased responsibilities in product development and engineering, including vice president of engineering. In 2018, he was promoted to CTO and has been central to the development of the company's expanding product and technology portfolio, the company said in a statement announcing the promotion. As part of his new role, Boehm will also continue to operate as CTO.

For more information, visit gentex.com.

Darryl Cuttell--the owner-operator of Darana Hybrid, the provider of comprehensive electro-mechanical solutions for the supply chain sector--has purchased the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) from Larry Jeffers. With the announcement, IHRA is now headquartered in Fairfield, Ohio.

The news follows the announcement of Darana Hybrid entering a multi-year title sponsorship of the IHRA sanctioning body. 

The agreement allows the IHRA to significantly increase purses in the IHRA SuperSeries, as well as the return to Nitro Jam and the Pro-Am events. 

Cuttell is a hands-on business owner, a master electrician and a member of the Tuscarora Native American Nation. He operates Darana Hybrid by the Native American Code of Ethics and tradition that says all people who work together will make the world stronger by generously sharing their collective knowledge with others. He's also a passionate drag racer, piloting a '70 Pro Mod Camaro. He operates his companies with the motto, "Make It Happen."

Hot Shot's Secret has entered into a multi-year agreement to serve as title sponsor and official oil, fuel and additives of the Pro Pulling League (PPL).

The partnership unites the two brands as PPL celebrates its 20th anniversary in the sport of pulling with its robust calendar of more than 280 events.

"Hot Shot's Secret's dedication to innovation and performance makes them an ideal partner for the Pro Pulling League," said Johnathan Mears, chief competition officer of PPL. "As we celebrate two decades of pulling excellence, this collaboration will not only enhance the experience for our pullers and fans but also propel the sport to new heights in terms of visibility and growth."

For more information, visit propulling.tv or hotshotsecret.com.

 
PRI has announced that, for the first time ever, PRI Magazine is now available to everyone at no cost in a digital format. While previously only available in print to Champion-level PRI members, the publication is now available digitally across the globe. Whether you're an industry member staying on top of trends or a racing enthusiast interested in learning more about the industry, the digital magazine is available in current and past issues.

Below is a step-by-step guide to claiming your free digital subscription to PRI Magazine on your phone.

Visit the link below or scan the QR code to claim your coupon voucher:

Claim your free PRI Magazine digital subscription here.

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Once you sign up, you'll have full access to a year's worth of valuable industry knowledge and insights. Get to reading! Be sure to sign up for notifications on the latest issue coming in January, featuring highlights you might have missed from the 2024 PRI Show and so much more.

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