Caraway Speedway, the .455-mile asphalt short track located near Asheboro, North Carolina, will enter a new chapter following the 2026 season.
Racer and businessman Robert Tyler has acquired the short track from the Hackett family, according to published reports.
The ownership transition is expected to be completed in late October, allowing Tyler to assume operations before the annual North-South Shootout in November.
According to published reports, Tyler plans to continue operating Caraway as a NASCAR-sanctioned racing venue while investing in improvements for fans, competitors and sponsors. Proposed enhancements include upgraded amenities, a more efficient competitor check-in process and continued growth of the track's Late Model Stock program, along with additional marquee events.
The Hackett family, led by Russell and Valastra Hackett, has operated Caraway Speedway since purchasing the track in 1977. In 2010, Russell turned over operations to his son, Darren Hackett. In a statement posted on the track's social media channels, the speedway announced that Championship Night on October 17 will mark the family's final race as operators, thanking fans, competitors, sponsors and staff for nearly five decades of support.
The track opened as a dirt track in 1966 before being paved in 1972 and joining the NASCAR Weekly Series. Today, the facility hosts weekly stock car racing along with drifting and other motorsports events.
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Looking at the crankshaft in a conventional automotive internal combustion engine, consider that there isn’t a viable replacement design to convert linear piston motion into rotation more efficiently. There have been valiant attempts, such as the Scotch Yoke and Swing Beam. Also, numerous cam-based designs have been drawn up in CAD and even moved to the prototype stage. There have been opposed-piston engines and free-piston engines. Knowledgeable observers may suggest forgetting reciprocating and just go Wankel, but most rulebooks won’t allow that strategy.
Since the role of the crankshaft in racing engines hasn’t changed over time, then it’s no shock that that there haven’t been significant design leaps by the OEMs or leading aftermarket manufacturers. Progress, instead, comes in incremental upgrades, mostly to improve durability or reduce friction. You can also try an old trick in a new application. When the challenge is to build a crankshaft for 12,000-horsepower Top Fuel engines, many small details can share the spotlight with such a significant change.
Callies Performance Products in Fostoria, Ohio, teamed up with Kalitta Motorsports a few years ago to develop a new Top Fuel crankshaft that would have a much longer lifespan than the usual four to eight passes. Callies tried new heat treatments with the traditional billet cranks machined from 4330V steel and saw little improvement. The company then took a bold approach by dropping the billet cranks and investing in new tooling to forge the 4.500-in.-stroke crankshafts out of a strong but stubborn EN30B steel alloy. The work paid off, as teams are now enjoying 12 to 16 passes before the crankshaft is retired.
In addition to the new forgings, Callies implemented small changes like designing larger fillets to improve strength in a critical area. This move required working with bearing suppliers to provide slightly narrower bearings. Also, the heavy metal slugs used to balance the cranks are inserted before the final grinding, instead of after all the machining is finished.
“Heavy metal slugs can deform the crankshaft,” explained Nick Norris. “The part gets most of the way through the machining, but prior to grinding the mains and rod journals we press in the heavy metal. And then we get the crank into a rough, balanced state.”
This group of Callies Top Fuel crankshafts is ready for shipment. Note the extensive use of heavy-metal slugs to properly balance the crank for use in a nitro engine.
The theory is that the Top Fuel cranks can take upwards of 24 heavy-metal slugs filling up the front and rear two counterweights, and sometimes even a fifth counterweight is affected. The crank’s structure is heavily taxed when so many holes have to be drilled and reamed, and then the slugs press-fit into place.
“Everything changes when you press in so much heavy metal, so there’s a final stress-induced shape,” said Norris. “Now we can grind and polish the bearing surfaces, machine the splines, and go to the final balancing stage.”
Norris said the issue was discovered when bearing roundness was checked before and after the heavy metal was inserted, “Being that it was perfectly round when they ground the bearings. Then they put in the heavy metal and suddenly the perfect grind isn’t perfect anymore. Then it was taking more effort in the polishing stage to bring everything back to spec. At that point, we changed the sequence of operations.”
Serving nitro teams isn’t the most lucrative racing segment for the aftermarket, but it does help a company make an industry statement. At peak cylinder pressure, the crankshaft could likely be on the receiving end of more than 80,000 pounds of instantaneous force. At 8,000 rpm, that equates to more than 500 combustion-loading events every second. A crankshaft that survives that environment can be a standard bearer for strength and longevity and help promote a company’s entire line.
Recently, CP-Carrillo in Irvine, California, teamed with Brian Crower of Brian Crower Inc. in Santee, California, to launch a line of crankshafts for domestic applications. The new partnership is targeting dirt late models, 360 and 410 sprint cars, big block Chevy, LS, and Coyote.
“We’re also doing Pro Mod cranks for the 426 Hemi, and I’ve got Top Fuel cranks in the making,” said Crower. “I’m making them to see if I can compete in that market. It’s a spec project with one or two teams. CP pistons are really big in that market, and that’s how the partnership came about.”
Crower said he will work with both billet and forgings to serve these initial target markets. Applications above 2,000 horsepower will lean toward 4340 billet. The Top Fuel is EN30. High-horsepower Ford Coyote, Nissan VR38 and VR30, and Pro Mod applications will be EN40.
“Honestly, on Top Fuel, it won’t be a cheaper crank. It’s doesn’t work like that. Some teams did not run last year because they couldn’t get cranks. I’m filling a need, and it’s more to validate what we’re doing,” said Crower. “If I have a crank in a 12,000-hpTop Fuel engine, then your little 1,600-hp small block will be fine.”
Manufacturers, including Brian Crower Inc., are paying more attention to small details, like the shape and location of oil holes. Also, efforts are made to ensure there are no stress risers remaining after the machining operations.
One of Crower’s priority markets will be 4330V forging for the 4.500-in.-bore-center small block Chevys.
“The price isn’t so much the issue with teams; it’s the lead times. If I can offer a better forging and I can get the lead times down to eight to 10 weeks, then we can capture more of the market just by being able to deliver,” explained Crower, adding that the partnership will also work toward having complete and balanced rotating assemblies for popular applications in inventory. “CP is a big believer in carrying lots of inventory.”
Crower doesn’t ignore the small details in crank manufacturing. CNC machines with high-pressure capability are used to drill the oil holes and provide a smooth inner surface to improve oil flow. Heat-treats are specific to the metal alloy, and some may require a vacuum or cryogenic process.
Over at Howards Cams in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a different fillet radius is machined on forged vs. billet crankshafts. Forged cranks get a .125-inch radius while billet cranks receive a .135-inch radius fillet.
“The more radius you can put in, the more resistant it is to cracking at that point. When you get into stroker cranks, it’s even more important because you lose the cross-section overlap between the rod journal and the mains,” said Kirk Peters, adding that even though bigger is better, there is a limit. “It has to do with the balance between bearing size to hold the oil and strength.”
One trick sometimes used by seasoned engine builders on select crankshafts is to machine down the counterweights on a lathe, then put in heavy metal to make up for the lost weight. “The idea is to get the mass closer to the centerline of the crank to improve the rpm,” added Peters.
One of the most popular Howards cranks is the Reaper series for big block Chevys. “Those guys run 632s with nitrous or some other power adder. We’ve had great longevity—same thing with the LS. Some of those guys run extremely high boost,” said Peters. “So, if it’s not broke, we don’t try to fix it.”
The Reaper line of billet cranks at Howards Cams is machined from E4340 billet steel. This Chevy big block model features a 4.750-inch stroke.
Fact is, there are very few crankshaft failures in and within the product itself. Most failures can be traced to the wrong crank for the application.
“Yeah, I always have to ask the customer, ‘Do you want a racecar that you will drive on the street, or a street car that you want to take to the track? Everybody wants to go faster,” stated Peters.
That’s the reason many crankshaft companies have extended product lines so that the crankshaft can be properly matched to the intended use of the engine.
“Our Magnum line is the general-purpose crankshaft, and for the most part, they work fine just about anywhere,” explained Norris. “We do make the Ultra Boost where we add some additional material in the pin arms to give more support to the rod journal. And we have the Ultra Dirt in both forged and billet that’s primarily geared toward sprint cars.”
Otherwise, detonation and failed lubrication tend to be cause of crankshaft failures.
“Am I going to say that we’ve never seen any? No. But, we see very few broken cranks, mostly because we pay a lot of attention to the details,” said Tom Molnar of Molnar Technologies, Kentwood, Michigan, noting that one crank returned to him had obvious metal transfer between the snout and the damper. “It’s keyed and should be press fit. To have metal transfer you must have two things: heavy contact and movement. Why was the damper moving on the snout? And the crank broke near the snout. Something was going on with that engine that wasn’t right, like detonation. The tune and detonation are the major factors behind broken parts.”
Oiling Strategy
Manufacturers are paying more attention to oiling strategy these days.
“By shrinking the oil hole size and making it as small as possible in the mains, we’re seeing improved oil pressure and better bearings,” said Peter Harris of Crower Cams, San Diego, California. “Back in the day, everyone would drill quarter-inch holes. Now it’s three-sixteenths.”
Harris also cautioned against some engine builders who try to modify the oil holes on a crank, usually with a die grinder. “Then, on a microscopic level, you end up with tiny grains of steel sticking up and that’s where a crack can start,” he warned.
Regarding lead times, Harris said the industry hasn’t fully recovered since the pandemic, as more than half of the positions in his crank shop can’t be filled due to an inexperienced labor force. And the same problems are affecting outside sources that handle heat-treatments and nitriding. He added that the company’s best seller is a 4.500-inch-bore-center small block Chevy. “I have a customer in the Southeast who said he can take as many as I can send.”
Manley in Lakewood, New Jersey, recently expanded its line to include a fully counterweighted billet crank for the LT engine family. “When we designed the counterweights on the billet, we did a lot more testing,” said Jesse Vazquez. “On a high-horsepower engine, you get a lot of torsional vibration, so we tested different counterweights and cross-section thicknesses to resist that twisting motion.”
Manley’s 4340 billet crank for the Mitsubishi 4G63/4G67 engine features a 100-mm stroke and is designed to work with boosted setups. The extra stroke increases the engine’s displacement to 2.3-liter.
Vazquez echoed the attention being paid to fillet radius, adding that the “standard radius” has to be enlarged to a more “optimal radius, as much as the bearing will allow.” Engineers also conduct FEA analysis to study the effects of changing the fillet radius. “As technology advances, racers are pushing the limits with higher and higher horsepower numbers. Fifteen-hundred horsepower street cars are now common. So, we’re always redesigning to make a better part for the end user,” added Vazquez.
In the event of a failure, the postmortem analysis includes hardness of the materials, reviewing external factors that could contribute and investigating any issues with heat-treat.
“Most of the time we can always tell by checking the bearing surfaces and seeing oil starvation or the wrong bearing clearance or the wrong thrust clearance,” continued Vazquez. “Also, cranks do have a limit, and the engine was likely pushing way beyond that.”
Unified Agreement
One design element that most everyone seems to agree on is not to cross-drill the crankshaft. A couple decades ago, there was viewpoint that cross-drilling an additional hole straight from the mains to the rod journals would better lubricate the bearings. Cross-drilling used to be a huge selling point in some circles, until results simply didn’t back up the hype.
“People thought that with two entrance holes they’d get more oil to the rod journals,” explained Molnar. “At low rpm it could help, but at higher rpm it didn’t.”
This fully counterweighted billet LS crankshaft is from Molnar Technologies and can be ordered with either a 3.622- or 4.000-inch stroke.
Molnar said racers incorrectly determined they had sufficient oil pressure; when, in fact, there were unknown internal leaks due to the centrifugal forces at play. Oil can actually be thrown outward inside the drilling and interfere with consistent oil delivery. In other words, at high rpm the oil doesn’t behave like a calm, pressurized stream. Instead, aeration becomes a problem when the oil is biased toward the outside of the passage.
Today’s straight-line drilled crankshaft uses a more direct passage from the main oil feed to the rod journal. This strategy provides a shorter path with fewer direction changes and less centrifugal separation. Basically, oil delivery is more stable at high rpm.
“It’s actually pulling oil in and delivering it to the rod journal with a straight oil hole,” said Molnar. “You know, I’ve seen all kinds of crazy oiling deals, not just the cross drilling. I’ve seen holes where they drill straight parallel with the rod pins and then drill two holes in a rod pin to intersect with that. And there’s another intersecting hole that goes from the arm down to the main journal somewhere, just all kinds of crazy things. Some of that may be okay, but ultimately, they come back to the straight-shot oiling.”
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The three biggest business days in motorsports are calling! The world's largest gathering of racing professionals will roar back to downtown Indianapolis from December 10-12, and housing for the highly anticipated 2026PRI Show is open.
DOWNTOWN ROOMS ARE FILLING QUICKLY, so book your accommodations as soon as possible through Visit Indy, the official housing provider for the PRI Show.
Booking through the official PRI hotel block will also unlock exclusive discounted rates and offer a seamless, stress-free booking experience with guaranteed savings, prime hotel locations and added perks—all designed to make your trip easier and more affordable.
PRI Show Hotel Spotlight: Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites Indianapolis Downtown IUPUI
Whether you're traveling to the 2026 PRI Show for a few days or have a full week in Indianapolis on your itinerary, the Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hampton Inn by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown IUPUI offer convenient accommodations just minutes from the PRI Show, Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Located along the scenic Canal Walk near the IUPUI campus, the connected hotels provide easy access to downtown Indianapolis while putting guests within walking distance of many of the city's top attractions, restaurants and entertainment.
Homewood Suites is an ideal option for exhibitors or attendees planning a longer stay. Spacious studio and one-bedroom suites feature fully equipped kitchens, separate living areas and complimentary hot breakfast, giving guests the comforts of home throughout PRI Show week. Additional amenities include free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, fitness center and business center, along with complimentary evening receptions on select nights.
For travelers looking for a comfortable, simpler stay, Hampton Inn offers modern guest rooms equipped with mini-refrigerators and microwaves, plus complimentary hot breakfast and free Wi-Fi to help guests start each day ready for the Show. Guests also enjoy access to the shared indoor pool, fitness center and on-site Bistro on Canal, making it easy to relax or meet with colleagues after a full day on the Show floor.
With motorsports media from around the world looking for the latest racing trends, technology and cutting-edge products at the 2026 PRI Show––December 10-12 in Indianapolis––exhibitors can get a jump-start on connecting with journalists and creating brand awareness.
Below are tools and strategies available to PRI Show exhibitors at no cost:
Post press releases in the PRI Show Online Media Center: By posting news releases in the PRI Show Online Media Center, exhibitors ensure that reporters looking for Show-related news don't miss out on their story. Posting to the Online Media Center can also generate coverage from PRI's publications and social media outlets.Submit your press release in the "Marketing, Advertising, and Sponsorship" section of the Exhibitor Resource Center at performanceracing.com/trade-show/exhibit#marketing-ads.
Host a press conference: If your company is announcing a new product, service, or important news at the PRI Show, a press conference could generate additional media interest. Hosting a press conference in your booth offers media the opportunity to learn about your new product at a designated time. For more information, including how to get your company added to the official schedule, contact Marissa Guajardo at marissag@sema.org.
Downloads: Let your industry colleagues know you will be at the world's largest gathering of motorsports professionals with logos and graphics available at performanceracing.com/media/attendee/images-logos.
Create a press release or press kit: It's never too early to begin working on a press release or press kit to distribute at the PRI Show. In addition to having press kits available to reporters in your booth, exhibitors can place physical press kits and releases in the PRI Show Media Center, located in Rooms 116-117. More details are available at performanceracing.com/trade-show/media/media-center-information.
Registration for the 2026 International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress and Race Track Safety Program (RTSP)––held in conjunction with the PRI Show on December 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center––is now open.
The three-day program will feature motorsport medical and safety professionals, researchers, sanctioning bodies, race officials and industry leaders from around the world collaborating on hands-on learning focused on advancing motorsport medicine and safety.
Attendees also have convenient access to the 2026 PRI Show (December 10–12), with registration available directly through PRI, with no PRI membership required for qualified industry professionals.
Early bird pricing for the ICMS Annual Congress is available for a limited time.
Click here for more information or to register for the ICMS Annual Congress.
The latest issue of PRI Magazine is out now and the August 2026 edition features exclusive coverage on shop machinery, including an exclusive preview of the machinery and equipment suppliers that will fill Machinery Row at the 2026 PRI Show this December, plus a detailed guide on how to buy the correct equipment to elevate your race shop.
Also in this month's issue: tips on how to start planning now for the 2026 PRI Show, expert advice from cylinder head manufacturers on choosing the correct product, plus a deep-dive into application-specific trends in racing lubricants and the hidden engineering behind tiny refinements to today's racing crankshafts.
Already claimed your digital subscription? Click here to read the August 2026 issue.
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Registration is now open for the 2026 PRI Show, the premier trade event for the global motorsports industry. Taking place December 10-12 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the PRI Show brings together the companies, professionals, and decision-makers driving the future of racing.Register for the 2026 PRI Show.
Qualified motorsports industry professionals can now register for the PRI Show without a PRI membership. The PRI Show remains a trade-only event for qualified industry professionals. New for 2026, attendee registration follows a tiered pricing structure, starting at $45 through October 2, increasing to $55 through December 9, and $65 during the Show.
More than 920 exhibiting companies have already secured more than 360,000 net sq. ft. of exhibit space, creating a show floor packed with the latest racing technology, performance products, manufacturing equipment, simulation tools, trailers and business solutions. From grassroots racing to professional motorsports, the PRI Show remains the industry's most important marketplace for discovering new products, building relationships, and conducting business ahead of the racing season.
"The PRI Show is where the business of motorsports comes together," said PRI Managing Director Doug Bresnahan. "Every December, manufacturers, race teams, distributors, engine builders, fabricators, track operators, and industry leaders gather in one place to strengthen partnerships, discover new innovations, and create opportunities that move racing forward. We look forward to welcoming the industry back to Indianapolis."
The PRI Show continues to serve as a driving force behind an industry that generates more than $69.2 billion in annual economic activity, supports more than 318,000 American jobs, and produces more than $22.1 billion in wages and benefits, according to the PRI Motorsports Economic Impact Study. By bringing together every segment of the racing industry under one roof, the Show helps fuel innovation, investment, and long-term business growth.
New for 2026, the PRI Motorsports Engineering Symposium will debut during the Show, bringing together race engineers, manufacturers, technical leaders, and university engineering programs for a full day of education and collaboration focused on advancing motorsports technology and performance.
The 2026 PRI Show will feature a wide range of experiences and activations, from networking opportunities such as the Grand Opening Breakfast and PRI Full Throttle Social to education programming, specialty exhibit areas, and product discovery destinations including T.O.P.S. HQ, the Trailer and Motorcoach Exhibits, PRI Paddock, Machinery Row, NextGen Connect, and more.
"The PRI Show continues to evolve alongside the racing industry," said PRI Show Director Karin Davidson. "Whether attendees are sourcing products, learning from industry experts, exploring new technologies, or connecting with business partners, the 2026 Show is designed to deliver meaningful value at every stage of their business."
Each year, the PRI Show welcomes attendees from all 50 states and around the world, including race teams, retailers, engine builders, manufacturers, fabricators, distributors, media, sanctioning bodies, and track operators. Early registration allows attendees to receive their credentials in advance beginning in October, helping them save time and get straight to business when they arrive in Indianapolis.
To register, book hotel accommodations, and learn more about the 2026 PRI Show, visit PRI2026.com/Attend.
For additional information or questions regarding registration, please contact PRI Show Manager Nicole Harless, at nicoleh@performanceracing.com.
The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) has announced the launch of the Future Legends Scholarship Program, a new initiative designed to invest in the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of off-road motorsports.
The program will award five scholarships totaling $25,000 to individuals (and organizations) demonstrating excellence in media, advocacy and technical education.
The inaugural program includes two $5,000 Media Scholarships, two $5,000 Advocacy Scholarships and one $5,000 Fab School Scholarship. The scholarships are intended to support aspiring storytellers, public land advocates, fabricators, engineers, mechanics and related emerging leaders whose passion and dedication will help preserve and advance the sport for future generations.
Applications will be accepted August 1–31, 2026, with recipients notified by October 1st and recognized during the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Gala in November 2026. The Future Legends Scholarship Program reflects ORMHOF's ongoing commitment to honoring the pioneers of off-road while empowering those who will carry the industry forward.
"Off-road motorsports has always been built by people willing to innovate, create and give back," said ORMHOF Board Chairman and Hall of Fame Inductee Mark McMillin. "The Future Legends Scholarship Program is about recognizing that potential early, providing meaningful opportunities and ensuring the next generation has the tools to continue growing and protecting our sport."
For eligibility requirements, application information, or to learn more about the Future Legends Scholarship Program, visit ormhof.org.
Northwood University has unveiled the first renderings of a new academic facility to be named in honor of Dr. Alan Wildstein and constructed adjacent to the existing and remodeled N.A.D.A. Hotel and Conference Center.
The new academic facility will serve as a vibrant community hub and new gateway to Northwood's growing automotive, mobility and professional education ecosystem, according to the university.
The new academic facility is designed to integrate modern classrooms, collaborative learning environments and a premier conference venue supported by and named after Reynolds and Reynolds, a provider of software, services and forms in automotive retail space.
The conference center will accommodate up to 350 guests in a banquet-style setting, which will attract industry conferences, host events and add to Northwood's annual regional economic impact of more than $200 million, according to the university.
Additionally, the facility will feature second-floor suites to host guests and create unique opportunities for students to gain experience managing venues like a boutique hotel and conference center.
The new academic facility's main gallery will also serve as a dynamic hub for academic and professional development, says the university. Executive conference rooms will support both smaller events and flexible classroom use. An adjacent "Acta Lounge" will support the conference center and gallery by offering a welcoming space for social gatherings, visiting dignitaries and fundraising receptions.
Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) has announced that registration is now open for Women with Drive VI – Driven by Mobil 1, the annual leadership summit that will bring motorsports professionals together December 7-9 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, just days before the 2026 PRI Show, December 10-12.
Now in its sixth year, the event will again feature networking, education and industry conversations. Organizers have streamlined this year's format by hosting panel discussions in one central location while expanding opportunities for attendees to connect throughout the three-day schedule.
Among the featured sessions is "The Indy Nine," the first-ever gathering of the nine women who have competed in the Indianapolis 500. The panel will bring together the trailblazing drivers to reflect on their experiences competing in one of motorsports' most prestigious events.
Additional programming includes "Papaya Powered," an inside look at how McLaren Racing is creating career opportunities for women across engineering, strategy, mechanics, marketing, communications, partnerships and leadership. Other sessions will explore the growing role of artificial intelligence in motorsports, as well as workplace culture, mentorship and strategies for supporting the next generation of industry professionals.
Registration includes an opening reception at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, two full days of educational sessions, expanded networking opportunities, a networking luncheon, complimentary professional headshots, an exhibitor showcase and access to the event's networking app.
Members of WIMNA Nation are eligible for a $50 discount on Women with Drive registration when membership is active before registering.
Women with Drive attendees will also receive a $20 discount on registration for the PRI Show, creating an opportunity to spend the week in Indianapolis connecting with industry leaders before joining thousands of racing professionals at the racing industry's premier business event. Learn more at prishow.com.
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