ASA STARS National Tour officials have announced that veteran short track racer Freddie Query will join the series as the competition director. An accomplished racer on pavement and dirt, Query will help the tour shore up its rules and procedures heading into 2024.

"We've been looking to add to our staff in key areas since we announced the tour," said ASA STARS and Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent. "We all know the challenges of finding good people, and I'm confident we've found a good one in Freddie Query.

Sargent announced the formation of the ASA STARS National Tour in the fall of 2022, which included plans to merge the CRA Super Series, Midwest Tour and Southern Super Series. 

"Blending the three tours' rules packages has been challenging, from technical rules to procedures. Sargent and the ASA STARS National Tour team will look to Query to take a leading role in setting the baseline for the upcoming 2024 season," the series said.

"It's my goal to take a look at what we have and come up with a combination that works for everyone," said Query.

Query previously served as the general manager for Hank Parker Racing in 2000. He also assisted several drivers, including Johanna Long, Kyle Benjamin and current NASCAR Cup Series driver Harrison Burton. Additionally, he has hosted numerous chassis seminars for Super Late Model racers.

For more information, visit starsnationaltour.com.

Speedway Motorsports has unveiled new renderings of the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway renovation, including immediate upgrades like track and pit area resurfacing, rebuilding and expanding the track's barrier and catch fence, and installing a modern SAFER barrier system. Upgrades to hospitality and patron experiences, such as restrooms, concessions and ADA-compliance facilities, are also in the works.

"We will take a facility with history and charm and restore it and give it new modern amenities that the city and the citizens will be proud of," said a track official. 

The project is expected to bring in over $200 million in revenue to the city while generating millions of dollars for businesses in the industry.

In addition, the renovation also includes community upgrades, such as a new expo center, a new major league soccer stadium, Fair Park improvements and more.

For more information, visit the Restore Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway social media page.

Porsche and Formula E have announced the sports car manufacturer has extended its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship through Season 12 in 2025-2026. 

The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will continue to compete in the premier, all-electric motorsports championship through the GEN3 era racing the Porsche 99X Electric car. Porsche also confirmed it will continue to play an active role in shaping the successful future of Formula E and is already involved in the design of the fourth generation of race car, which will enter the championship from Season 13.

Porsche first entered Formula E in 2019 with an initial five-year commitment until the end of the forthcoming Season 10, which will conclude in July 2024.

"We remain convinced that our presence and successes in Formula E will lay the foundation for future mobility solutions. It provides the most competitive environment to accelerate the development of high-performance vehicles with a focus on environmental friendliness and energy efficiency," said Michael Steiner, member of the executive board for R&D, Porsche AG.

For more information, visit Porsche's Formula E webpage or the Formula E website.

Image courtesy of NEAR

The New England Auto Racing (NEAR) president April May Preston-Elms has announced the organization's 2023 Hall of Fame class.

Brad Leighton, Ted Marsh, Mike Ordway Sr., Andy Santerre, John Stygar and Mike Weeden will join over 275 members currently enshrined in the Hall of Fame. In addition, Veterans Committee inductees include Al Hammond and Joe Howard.

The landmark 25th class for one of the region's most highly regarded motorsports shrine will be formally inducted into the NEAR Hall of Fame on Sunday, November 5, at the Log Cabin-Delaney House in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

For more information, visit the NEAR website.

Atco Dragway, the NHRA-sanctioned 1/4-mile drag strip in Atco, New Jersey, has shuttered its doors. 

The following was posted to atcodragway.com:

Effective immediately, Atco Dragway is permanently closed. Thank you for your valued business and support [over] the last 63 years. Special thank you to our 29th annual Pan American Nationals racers and crowd for making Atco Dragway's last event the biggest and best one ever. This isn't the end for import racing in the Northeast! To all of our staff, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sticking it out with us and being the best in the business!

The facility opened on Memorial Day in 1960 and was the oldest drag strip in New Jersey. At one point, the track held the title of one of the busiest in the country, hosting over 265 events in one year.

The track most recently hosted the 29th annual Pan American Nationals, July 13-16, which wrapped early after finishing the third round of eliminations on Sunday due to rain.

For more information, visit atcodragway.com.

General Motors (GM) has announced that it has acquired substantially all the assets of Israel-based battery software startup ALGOLiON Ltd. for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition was led by the newly formed Technology Acceleration and Commercialization (TAC) organization, a group within GM that works to identify emerging technology that can support GM through investments, acquisitions or partnerships.

ALGOLiON, which received early support from the Israeli Innovation Authority, was founded in 2014 by Niles Fleischer, Ph.D., and Alex Nimberger, Ph.D. The company has developed sophisticated software that uses data streams from electric vehicle (EV) battery management systems to help identify anomalies in cell performance to ensure proper vehicle health management and provide early detection of battery hazards, including thermal runaway propagation events.

In related news, GM has named Norm de Greve as senior vice president and chief marketing officer. De Greve joins GM from CVS Health, where he has served as chief marketing officer since 2015.

For more information, visit gm.com.

Mustang Week has announced a "FUN RUN" autocross event as a part of its week-long festivities honoring the ever-popular Pony car, September 4-9 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

The FUN RUN, sponsored by BFGoodrich and Steeda, will be hosted at the legendary Darlington Dragway in Hartsville, South Carolina, on September 7.

Mustang Week has collaborated with the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) to design and help oversee the autocross event--including managing timing, tech inspection, the course layout and more. South Carolina Region Members of SCCA will be on site to support the participants with access to instructors.

Event sponsor BFGoodrich will offer a 50% rebate on a set of four tires to the fastest female driver, while Steeda will feature ride-alongs and product exhibitions, along with a $250 gift card prize for the fastest woman driver.

A $30 cash entry fee is required to enter Darling Dragway. For more details, visit  MustangWeek.com/2023-Mustang-Week.

Image courtesy of Speedway Motorsports, Sonoma Raceway

Distinguished motorsports business veteran Brian Flynn has been named the new executive vice president and general manager at Sonoma Raceway, the road course and 1/4-mile drag strip in Sonoma, California.

With 30 years of senior motorsports and business management experience, Flynn will serve for the first time as a sports venue executive after consulting for 18 months with Sonoma Raceway on its high-performance driving, karting and hospitality experiences.

"Brian Flynn is an expert in so many aspects of the motorsports entertainment business," said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. "His familiarity with Sonoma Raceway and relationships across race teams, sponsors and industry executives make him the perfect fit to continue building on what Jill (Gregory) and the Sonoma team have created in the past two-and-a-half years."

Since 2018, Flynn has served as CEO of Marty Snider and Associates, a video production company based in Charlotte. During the past four years, he has also served as a management consultant with Thorsport Racing, Zero1 Off Road and Speedway Motorsports.

From 2009 until 2018, Flynn served as CEO of Petty Holdings LLC, which included RPDE and Petty Enterprises where Flynn served as president of the NASCAR race team from 2000-2005. As CEO, Flynn also managed private investment partnership opportunities for the company as well as Richard Petty's intellectual property rights. He served for 15 years as a founding board member of the Victory Junction Gang Camp, the 84-acre complex that provides camp experiences for children with serious medical conditions.

For more information, visit the track announcement or visit sonomaraceway.com.

QualCast, the Nashville, Tennessee-based worldwide distributor of engine valves, valve seat inserts, valve guides, valve springs and related components, has announced the appointment of Kimberley Douglas as business development manager. She will help lead business growth and marketing strategies promoting QualCast's commitment to being the best global distributor of aftermarket engine components.

Douglas is based out of Nashville and brings over 15 years of global distribution, logistics operations and transportation account management experience to QualCast.

For more information, visit qualcast.net.

Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) has announced Michael Printup will join the company as the president of the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). 

Printup will oversee the day-to-day operations of one of the oldest and largest national vintage racing organizations. Printup brings nearly three decades of motorsports experience to the role and is best known for his work as president of Watkins Glen International (WGI), where he has spent the last 15 years.

"When I heard that Michael was retiring from Watkins Glen, I couldn't call him fast enough," said Tony Parella, CEO of PMH.

Printup will begin transitioning into his new role later this month.

For the complete details, visit the SCRA announcement here or visit svra.com.