Photo of Summit Point Motorsports Park, in Summit, West Virginia, by Mike Adaskaveg

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has signed the SEMA- and PRI-supported Motorsport Responsibility Act into law, which defines areas of responsibility and assumed risks for participants and recreational and commercial motorsports facilities. The key legislation was spearheaded by State Automotive Enthusiast Caucus members, including Del. Paul Espinosa and Sen. Mark Maynard. Caucus Chairman Emeritus Del. Gary Howell also served as a co-sponsor of the bill.

In February, representatives from PRI and SEMA and other members of West Virginia’s motorsports community traveled to Charleston to raise awareness and advocate for the bill with state lawmakers.

Motorsports venues and recreational areas are major contributors to the West Virginia economy. Clearly defining the obligations and responsibilities—for both participants and race tracks—will reduce liability insurance premiums and make the state more enticing for racers, promoters, and future facilities.

For more information, contact Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford and Concord, North Carolina-based RTR Vehicles have revealed the newest Formula DRIFT Spec 5-FD competition Mustang based on the all-new, seventh-generation 2024 Ford Mustang. The unveiling was in conjunction with two-time FD champion Vaughn Gittin Jr. announcing his return to the sport after a year’s absence. He will compete in select events behind the wheel of the all-new Monster Energy Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD, sharing driving duties in 2023 with teammate Adam LZ.

Working in parallel with Ford, RTR has developed three Mustang RTR Spec 5-FDs with new exteriors based on the Mustang production car. Additional competition enhancements include more than 1,300hp and enhanced suspension development. 

Ford and RTR have also announced the segment-first electronic drift brake for the 2024 Mustang. The track-only brake is designed to unlock the rear-wheel-drive drifting capability with the functionality of a traditional hand break. More details can be seen on Giffin Jr’s YouTube video here. 

For more information, visit ford.com and rtrvehicles.com. 

Gerflor USA, the designer and manufacturer of specialized flooring for several applications, has announced the acquisition of SnapLock Industries, the parent company of RaceDeck modular garage flooring and related sports surface brands. Gerflor USA is the Bolingbrook, Illinois-based subsidiary of the Gerflor company in France. 

Kerry and Jorgen Moller—co-founders of Salt Lake City, Utah-based SnapLock—will continue working at the company: Kerry as a consultant and Jorgen as managing director. 

“With SnapLock’s commitment to US-manufactured solutions and continual product improvements through in-house engineering expertise, this reconfirms Gerflor’s focus on value-added solutions in growing segments while expanding our operational footprint in the US,” said Benjamin Bachman, CEO of Gerflor USA.

For more information, visit gerflorusa.com or racedeck.com. 

The Martelli Brothers—organizers of the BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the California 300 in Barstow, California—have acquired the historic Parker 400 off-road racing series based in Parker, Arizona. As part of the acquisition, officials announced the structuring of a brand-new desert off-road racing organization called Unlimited Off-Road Racing, which will include the Mint 400, the California 300, and now the Parker 400.  

Spanning across classes including youth, UTV, motorcycles, cars, and trucks, Unlimited Off-Road Racing will allow teams to compete for cash, prizes, and a points championship across some of the most challenging and distinguished desert races in the sport. 

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be announcing this new league and championship points series,” said Unlimited Off-Road Racing CEO and Co-Owner Matt Martelli. “The Parker 400 is one of the oldest and most historic races in our sport, and we’re excited to have that become part of our calendar as we take yet another massive step forward in our league’s development.”

The Parker 400 was formed in 1971 as the Dam 500. In 2003, Las Vegas-based Best In The Desert Racing Association took over operations of the iconic race. The event was canceled in 2023, however, after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) failed to issue permits for the race over “spectator management concerns,” according to reports. 

“We’re excited to work with the BLM, the city officials, and the people of Parker and La Paz county to restore this race and transform it into a massive event for the entire industry to rally around,” said Josh Martelli, COO of Unlimited Off-Road Racing. 

The Parker 400 will take place in January 2024, followed by the Mint 400 in March and the California 300 in October. More details are expected at a later date.

In related news, BLM has two off-road racing permits available in Parker and has issued the second permit to Legacy Racing of Las Vegas. The date for the Legacy Racing edition of the off-road race is slated for February 24, 2024.

For more information, visit themint400.com and thecalifornia300.com.

Officials with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota and the POWRi National Midget League have announced both series will co-sanction 11 races in 2023 to form the Xtreme Outlaw-POWRi Challenge Series, a separate points championship with a $2,500 grand prize.

The new miniseries will begin with the I-55 Outlaw Showdown weekend at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 (Pevley, Missouri) on April 14–15 and conclude at I-44 Riverside Speedway (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) on October 14.

For every Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi co-sanctioned race on the 2023 schedule, all competing drivers will earn points toward the Xtreme Outlaw and POWRi National standings as normal. In addition, drivers will also earn points toward the Challenge Series standings, which will tally points across each of the co-sanctioned races on the calendar.

A $2,500 check will be paid to the driver with the most points in the Challenge Series standings after the final race of the Xtreme Outlaw season. The champion does not have to compete full-time on either national tour, opening the Challenge Series up to a broader array of drivers.

“Giving back to the racers that support both tours is the basis for this new miniseries,” said Xtreme Outlaw Series Director Tyler Bachman. “We want to encourage more drivers to compete with both tours at the national level, and the Challenge Series is a great opportunity for our full-timers and for those that aren’t committed to either side to take part in some great events and be rewarded.”

For more information, visit xtremeoutlawseries.com or powri.com.

Hypercraft—the Provo, Utah-based provider of electric motor manufacturing and turnkey EV drive systems—has announced Kirk Miller has joined the company as vice president of Direct Sales. 

In his new role, Miller will bring his years of experience and global relationships to help serve the EV marketplace across multiple applications in “an effort to break down barriers to EV manufacturing.”    

“Two of my biggest reasons for joining Hypercraft are the talented team they’ve pulled together, which is really incredible. Also, the mission they’re on to lower both the technical and cost bar, to make the jump to an EV drivetrain,” said Miller. “With one of the biggest challenges being the limited range of complete end-to-end engineered drive systems available for the motorsports and conversion markets, it becomes clear where Hypercraft can assist in the rapid and changing needs of this emerging market segment.”

“Over the next 12 months, I’m planning to work with the Hypercraft team to roll out complete solutions to a broad range of customers’ needs: from motorsport to powersport, retro rods, and classic car conversions,” Miller said. 

Miller comes from AEM Electronics, where he spent 24 years as vice president of Sales and Marketing. He played an integral role as the company’s foremost expert in the performance aftermarket with a focus on the tuner, EV, and motorsport market segments. 

For more information, visit hypercraftusa.com.

Rendering courtesy of DEEM Enterprises 

Officials in New Jersey have approved a $2.7 billion development proposal for a new road course and motorsports destination in Atlantic City. The new facility would be located at the former Atlantic City Municipal Airport, also known as Bader Field, and would include a 2.44-mile Formula 1 specification track surrounded by condominiums and retail establishments.

The project, headed by DEEM Enterprises, is expected to take six to nine years to complete. The project aims to “create a world-class motor course destination that embodies the speed, power, and design innovation of the motorsport universe.”

Mayor Marty Small Sr. called the approval process a “historic day” for the city, one that he and the state have been working towards for nearly two years, according to published reports. Next, developers will have six months of due diligence on the proposed track, housing, and retail space. If all goes well, this will be followed by the signing of a redevelopment agreement where plans will move forward.

For more information, visit deem-enterprises.com.

PerTronix Performance Brands—the San Dimas, California-based provider of aftermarket automotive products, including ignition, exhaust, and fuel systems—has appointed Sarah Lassek as the chief brand officer, according to published reports. 

Lassek will be responsible for marketing initiatives for all brands within the group, which includes PerTronix Ignition, JBA Performance Exhaust, Doug’s Original Headers, Patriot Exhaust, Compu-Fire, Spyke, Aeromotive, Waterman Racing Components, and Taylor Cable Products.

An automotive enthusiast, Lassek most recently served as senior vice president of Omaze. She is also a member of The Motoring Club; is on the advisory board for 000 Magazine for Porsche enthusiasts; and is a member of the all-female team of mentors for Petersen Automotive Museum’s Business Incubator Program. 

For more information, visit pertronixbrands.com.

Dayco—the engine products and drive systems supplier based in Roseville, Michigan—has promoted four aftermarket team members. 

Jay Buckley has accepted the role of director of marketing, catalog, and technical product support. Joining the company in 2020, he most recently served as director of product management. Buckley has an extensive background in marketing and is an ASE-certified technician.

Taking over a majority of Buckley’s duties will be Jerry Reeves, who will lead the entire product team and oversee product launches across all applications and industries. Reeves joined Dayco two years ago and has helped launch over a dozen new products in the past 18 months.   

In the meantime, Jon Crawford is now the senior product manager, focusing on special projects. Previously product manager for the industrial division, Crawford joined the company in 2020, spearheading cross-functional projects with finance, sales, and distribution.  

Sheila Mann is now the financial controller for Canada and will continue to support the North American team. She joined Dayco almost three decades ago as a credit manager and continued to be promoted several times throughout her career with the company. She will oversee budgeting and forecasting and collaborate and consult with leadership on strategic financial decisions. 

For more information, visit dayco.com.

Image courtesy of Chevrolet

After nine model years in the market, with hundreds of thousands sold, the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro will retire after the model year 2024. The final sixth-generation Camaros will come off the assembly line at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan in January 2024. 

Chevrolet campaigns the sixth-generation Camaro in a variety of series, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO, NHRA, and the Supercars Championship in Australia. Camaro will continue to compete on the track, working with sanctioning bodies to ensure Chevrolet’s presence in racing moving forward, the automaker said. 

“Chevrolet’s products and our relationship with our customers benefit from motorsports,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president, Performance and Motorsports. “Our plan is to continue to compete and win at the highest levels of auto racing.”

The latest generation Camaro features Magnetic Ride Control and track-focused 1LE packages. Chevrolet will celebrate this storied nameplate by adding the Collector’s Edition package on the 2024 Camaro RS and SS, and on a limited number of ZL1-equipped vehicles available in North America. 

More information on the 2024 Camaro line and Collector’s Edition package will be available closer to the start of orders this summer. For more information, visit chevrolet.com.