MAVTV, the automotive media platform, is adding coverage of the Dakar Rally and Trans Am Series to its programming lineup for 2024.

Beginning January 5, MAVTV will broadcast same-day, one-hour highlight shows from the 2024 Dakar Rally until the final stage on January 19. The network has secured the broadcast rights for the annual off-road race through 2026.

Additionally, MAVTV will have expanded coverage of the Trans Am Series and its TA and TA2 events throughout 2024.

For more information, visit MAVTV.com.

Radford Racing School has named motorsports veteran and professional drag racing instructor Chuck Sundstrom as its new general manager.

Beginning January 1, 2024, Sundstrom will manage the Radford Racing School team and operations on the seven-track campus and will be tasked with optimizing the automotive experience for students and guests of all levels, school representatives said.

Sundstrom has competed when 16 years old and has pursued his drag racing passion as a full-time driver, mechanic, track manager and as the race director at Firebird International Raceway and Spokane County Raceway. Most recently, Sundstrom led an events business and security company that created events at automotive venues throughout the country.

"This is an exciting time to be a performance enthusiast," said Sundstrom. "Radford Racing School is the ultimate motorsports destination offering a full complement of world-class instruction on legendary tracks. I look forward to taking the next steps toward growth with the team."

For more information, visit radfordracingschool.com.
 

The United States Auto Club (USAC) has revealed its national event schedule for 2024.

Featuring races in 15 different states, the 2024 schedule consists of 98 total events for its Silver Crown, sprint car and midget series.

The slate includes 54 sprint car, 30 midget and 14 USAC Silver Crown National Championship races.

For the full schedule, visit usacracing.com.

Hoosier Racing Tire was recently named the "Coolest Thing Made in Indiana" by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.

"We are very honored and humbled to receive the award for the Coolest Thing Made in Indiana contest," said Joerg Burfien, president and CEO of Hoosier Racing Tire. "Thank you to all that have supported us and thank you to our employees. Our dedicated employees go above and beyond to ensure our customers get the tires they need and want. I am proud of our workforce and the efforts they put forth on a daily basis."

Celebrating the state's manufacturing history, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce set out to find and recognize the "Coolest Thing Made in Indiana." Hoosier Racing Tire was selected from a pool of 47 businesses by public voters, the Chamber of Commerce said.

"It really is a special honor to receive this award," said Mark Spence, VP of technology and manufacturing. "It was great to see the support we have received from the community. We do make a cool product. There is a lot more that goes into a racing tire than most people realize. It is somewhat of an art and a skill that we teach our employees. Now everyone knows how cool our tires are."

For more information, visit hoosiertire.com.

Circle D Specialties, a manufacturer of high-performance torque converters and driveline components, has acquired Reid Racing, a provider of performance transmission cases and heavy-duty axle components for off-road vehicles.

Reid Racing offers a lineup of driveline products, such as transmission cases, bellhousings, steering knuckles and more for drag racing, off-road racing and circle track applications.

With the acquisition of Reid Racing, Circle D Specialties now offers a comprehensive range of drivetrain and undercarriage performance products, the company said, providing enthusiasts and racers with a single source for performance transmission needs.

Reid Racing's Concord, California, operations will be consolidated into Circle D's existing facility in Houston, Texas.

For more information, visit circledspecialties.com.
 

Lucas Oil Products has announced two appointments to its executive and leadership teams, hiring Joel Feldman as vice president of product development and promoting Brandon Greene to vice president of customer solutions. 

Feldman, with 26 years of experience in fluid systems, chemical engineering and product development, will lead the creation and development of new products, overseeing all phases from conception to manufacturing. His responsibilities include defining long-range strategies, enhancing product development processes and maintaining up-to-date industry knowledge to guide product engineering and manufacturing decisions. Feldman will work closely with R&D, sales, marketing, and the executive team, ensuring products meet market needs and customer expectations.

Greene has spent 17 years at Lucas Oil in the company's customer service department, recruiting and training staff and working closely with the sales team in the field. In his new role, Greene will lead efforts to improve order processing and fulfillment, implementing new technology to enhance customer interactions and expedite shipping. He will also use customer feedback to help drive new product development and expand product diversity.

For more information, visit lucasoil.com. 
 

There was no better display of the racing industry's capacity to innovate than the Featured Products Showcase at the 2023 PRI Show. Ranging from engine blocks to race suits, the annual display highlights the latest and greatest products the motorsports industry has to offer.

According to Brian Havins, director of editorial and consumer marketing at Power Automedia and a judge for this year's Featured Product Awards, the showcase does more than just highlight products: it demonstrates the racing world's ability to tackle new and complex problems.

"[The industry] is stronger than ever. I was talking to a company, and as these cars and technology keep evolving, new issues keep coming up," Havins said. "Now, noise and electrical interference are a huge issue, so people are working on spark plug wires and plugs and fixing these things that we might see in a modern-day hot rod.

"There's always a problem that starts," he added, "and these companies figure out what that issue is, how to fix it and how to make it better."

Havins, as well as the other 12 Featured Product Awards judges, submitted a selection for best Featured Product. Additionally, the top vote-getters in each of eight categories received a 2023 Featured Product Award.

The results are listed below:

Judge's Picks

J.A. Ackley - Grassroots Motorsports 

Speedway Motors WheelWise 5-Lug Wheel Fitment Tool with Tire Size Attachment

This patent-pending attachment simulates tires up to 12-in. wide and up to 12-inch sidewall height. It can be used to verify a specific tire size or determine maximum tire size fitment and is made from laser cut and press bent 12-gauge steel with laser etched measurements in both SAE and metric tire sizes.

Nathan Buchanan - SICK Cars & Trucks

Brembo Ford Mustang Dark Horse R Front Brake Package

Brembo is the braking supplier to The Mustang Challenge Series, supplying the brakes for the Ford Mustang Dark Horse R. The front disc is 390-by-35mm Type 5 slot pattern with directional vanes for maximum cooling. The stopping power will come directly from Brembo's new forged six-piston monobloc caliper housing Brembo’s own race compound, RB340.

Craig Cook - Drag Illustrated

ProCharger Supercharger Systems F-4X-136 Centrifugal Supercharger with CrankDrive

The F4X-136 with CrankDrive is available for all F-series models and is available for BBC, SBC, LT, LS, BBF, SBF, Coyote, Godzilla, AJPE, Noonan, BAE and Visner engines.

Josh Dillon - Sleeperdude

Turbosmart StraightGate76

The StraightGate76 from Turbosmart is a high-flowing external wastegate with a zero-offset butterfly style valve, full electronic actuation and enormous flow.

Brian Havins - Power Automedia

ProCharger Supercharger Systems 2023-20 Corvette C8 HTC HO and Stage II Intercooled Supercharger Systems

Building on the success of the C8 Coupe systems, ProCharger has turned its attention to the hardtop convertible Corvettes now offering HTC C8 systems with 5psi/170hp gain on the HO and 7.5psi/45% hp gain on the Stage II just like the coupes. These new HTC kits feature a new intake design that allows the top to be fully retracted into the engine bay

KJ Jones - HOT ROD Magazine

Garmin USA Garmin Catalyst

Garmin Catalyst is a racing coach and driving performance optimizer that mounts in the cockpit to gather your performance data and provide real-time audible coaching. Immediate session analysis helps drivers of all levels achieve their full track driving potential.

David Kennedy - NHRA

AWA Forged Composites Composite Rocker

These patent-pending carbon composite rockers are 1.5-times stiffer than 4130 steel, guarantee precise valve displacement and substantial weight reduction, thereby enhancing power output and efficiency. These rockers ensure smooth operation in high-performance valvetrains by effectively negating harmful harmonic vibrations.

Mike Kojima - MotoIQ

Race Winning Brands Dart Machinery Toyota 2JZ Engine Block

The Dart Iron 2JZ Engine Block features 220 BHN Cast Iron, four-bolt billet steel caps, max 88mm bore, .750 in. deck thickness, revised water jackets for strength, increased crankcase thickness, relocated oil passages for 94mm stroke, screw-in freeze plugs and factory mounting points.

Guillermo Moeller - Performance Customs

Speedway Motors SoloSwap Ford 5.0 Coyote Mock Up Engine Swap Dummy Block Kits

The patent-pending SoloSwap is compatible with all 5.0L and 5.2L Coyote engine bolt-ons, such as intake manifolds, headers and oil pan. The dummy block weighs 22 lbs. for the short block or 40 lbs. for the long block and can be lifted in and out of the vehicle without an engine hoist.

Garrett Reed - American Muscle HD

Garrett Advancing Motion Garrett G-Smart Bluetooth Turbo Speed and Boost Module

The G-Smart Module transmits turbo speed and boost via Bluetooth directly to your mobile device and comes with a plug-and-play wiring harness for Garrett speed sensors, and other non-Garrett manufacturer sensors.

Chad Reynolds - BangShift

The Bangshift Billy Digital Clutch Controller

The BangShift Billy Digital Clutch Controller allows your diaphragm clutch to operate like a slipper clutch at the drag strip with all adjustments made through a phone app.

Joe Skotnicki - Race of Champions

Flagtronics by Ballenger Motorsports Flagtronics FT200 Kit

The Flagtronics FT200 features in-car flagging notification for full and local course conditions, improved track condition awareness, auto-dimming LED display and no subscription fees.

Mitchell Stapleton - Stapleton42

QA1 '07-'18 Silverado 1500 Lowering Kits

The QA1 lowering kit for Silverado 1500 or Sierra 1500 offers suspension upgrades with cast steel, stamped steel or aluminum arms and provides maximum adjustability and significant improvements to ride quality and performance.

Category Winners (results are listed alphabetically)

Best Accessory Product

• OPTIMA Batteries Digital 400+ Performance Maintainer with 4 AMP HYPERCORE LITHIUM Charger
• RedTide Canopies Custom SFI Race Suits
• United Race Parts Greaves 3D Tire Scraper

Best Chassis Product

• QA1 '05-'14 S197 Mustang Proma Star Struts and Caster Camber Plates
• Radium Engineering Fuel Cell Surge Tank (FCST-X)
• Ultimate Awning Patented Cam-Loc Billet Quick Connects

Best Drivetrain Product

• The Bangshift Billy Digital Clutch Controller
• Quick Performance Nodular Iron Dropout Case for Ford 8 in.
• Strange Engineering Dynamic Drive Mount Evolution Stainless Steel Brakes

Best Electronic/Telemetry Product

• Garmin USA Garmin Catalyst
• Race Winning Brands Haltech - uC-10 Dash
• ECUMaster Wireless Wheel Panel

Best Engine Product

• Garrett Advancing Motion G-Smart Bluetooth Turbo Speed and Boost Module
• Intercooler Chiller System for Turbo and Supercharged Applications
• Late Model Engines C8 LT2 Billet Block Wet

Best Lubricant Product

• AMSOIL DOMINATOR 10W-40 100% Synthetic Racing Oil
• AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Hybrid Motor Oil
• Hot Shot’s Secret Adrenaline R82+ Diesel Race Fuel additive

Best Shop Equipment Product

• AFCO Performance Group Elite Pro Wireless Racing Scales from Longacre
• Speedway Motors WheelWise 5-Lug Wheel Fitment Tool with Tire Size Attachment
• Speedway Motors SoloSwap GM 4L80E Swap Mock Up Transmission

Best Suspension Product

• QA1 '79-'93 Fox Body Mustang Suspension Kits
• QA1 '07-'18 Silverado 1500 Lowering Kits
• Slade Precision Shocks Threaded Body Copperhead Double Adjustable

The Performance Racing PAC is thrilled to share the incredible success of the political action committee's event held inside Lucas Oil Stadium during the eKarting Classic at the PRI Show. Your enthusiasm and support truly made it a night to remember.

With more than 100 passionate attendees, the event was a gathering of racing enthusiasts, industry professionals and racers, all committed to securing our beloved industry's future. Thanks to your generosity, we raised nearly $20,000 for the Performance Racing PAC.

Where does this money go? PRI is prohibited from using association funds to directly support political candidates aligned with the industry's goals. Voluntary contributions from PRI members, however, can be used. These funds will go directly to supporting lawmakers, candidates and legislation essential to the racing community.

Your commitment and support have set the stage for a promising year ahead. Stay tuned for more updates on PRI PAC initiatives and future events. Together, we are making a difference.

For more information on how you can support PRI's government affairs efforts, please contact Alicia Steger at alicias@sema.org.
 

Image courtesy of Pro Pulling League and Larry Richwine

David P. Schreier, who led World Pulling International (WPI) and the National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) for more than four decades, passed away on December 2 at the age of 84, the NTPA announced.

Schreier served as NTPA executive director and later as WPI president and CEO, from 1986 until his retirement in 2019.

Prior to serving as an organization executive, Schreier won the NTPA 1980 Grand National 7,000-lb. Super Stock Championship and helped start two NTPA events: the Norwalk Lions Club Pull and the Budweiser Dairyland Super Nationals.

He was inducted into the Pulling Hall of Fame in 2014 for both his on- and off-track achievements.

For more information, visit the NTPA announcement at ntpapull.com.
 

The FIA has selected Hoosier Racing Tire, based in Plymouth, Indiana, as its exclusive tire supplier for the FIA World and European Rallycross Championship.

Hoosier and the FIA have entered into a three-year agreement. The deal extends from 2024 to 2026.

"This is the right step forward for us to continue the growth of our brand internationally," said Joerg Burfien, president and CEO of Hoosier Racing Tire. "It is a great opportunity allowing us to showcase our product performance."

For more information, visit hoosiertire.com.