Speedway Motorsports has announced that Rob Lofland, the current vice president of corporate partnerships at Dover Motor Speedway, will add New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) to his portfolio. Lofland will oversee corporate partnership efforts, client management and partner retention. He will also focus on bringing additional events to the facility based in Loudon, New Hampshire.

Lofland, who has more than two decades of experience in the corporate sales world, began his career at Dover in 2000. Since 2020, in addition to Dover, he has successfully overseen corporate sales at Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee, which hosted its first two NASCAR Cup Series weekends in 2021 and 2022.

Lofland will be based in Delaware.

For more information, visit nhms.com or speedwaymotorsports.com.

W Series—the all-female, single-seater racing championship—has announced that it will not host the final three races of its scheduled 2022 season, including the event at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas (October 21–22). In addition, the doubleheader at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Mexico City, Mexico, on October 28–30, will also be canceled.

“As confirmed during the most recent W Series race event at Marina Bay Circuit... the required funding due to the business from a recent contracted investment was not received, forcing the remaining three races of the 2022 calendar into doubt,” a series release stated. 

Organizers will focus on “the longer-term fundraising process to enable the longevity and financial health of W Series into 2023 and beyond.” 

The premature end to the 2022 season means Jamie Chadwick—who sits 50 points clear in the drivers’ championship standings—is crowned W Series Champion for a record-breaking third time. 

For more information, visit the W Series announcement here or visit wseries.com. 

NHRA Crew Chief Dave Connolly and race promoter Jennifer Folk have purchased Competitive Suspension, the provider of shock absorber services, according to published reports. 

As part of the announcement, Competitive Suspension has been relocated from Terre Hill, Pennsylvania, to Bradenton, Florida. 

Competitive Suspension was founded in 2017 by Shane Sweigart, who sold the business after accepting the role of track manager/race track relations at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania. 

Competitive Suspension will continue to sell and service suspension components by AFCO, Penske, and JRi Shocks and is also equipped to handle in-house dyno services. Additionally, the pair plan to offer on-track consultation services at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton. 

Connolly is the crew chief for NHRA’s KB Racing Pro Stock, while Folk currently promotes the Million Dollar Drag Race event at Capital City Motorsports Park in Montgomery, Alabama. 

For more information, visit competitivesuspension.com. 

The Auto Care Association has appointed Ted Hughes as its new senior director of community engagement and executive director of the Aftermarket Warehouse Distributors Association (AWDA). AWDA is an organized group of warehouse distributors for the motor vehicle aftermarket with over 600 members.

Hughes brings more than 20 years of aftermarket experience to the association, with his most recent role being the head of marketing for MAHLE Aftermarket. In his role as head of marketing, Hughes was responsible for promotions, public relations, advertising, motorsports programs, and the advancement of all electronic and Web-based activities.

In his role as senior director of community engagement, Hughes will help to establish engagement strategies; communicate membership benefits; and implement community practices and policies. As executive director of AWDA, he will provide guidance and support for all organizational activities, including assistance in engagement, growth, and retention. 

Since 2020, Hughes has served as the vice chair of the Auto Care Association’s Marketing Communications Committee.

For more information about the Auto Care Association’s member communities, including AWDA, visit autocare.org/networking-and-development/communities.

Calistoga Speedway is one step closer to reopening. The city of Calistoga, California, is moving ahead with its plan to purchase the Napa County Fairgrounds, home to the famed Calistoga Speedway, best known for the annual “Louie Vermeil Classic.” 

The Calistoga city council approved the purchase on October 4. The 70.6-acre fairgrounds would be sold for $15,885, but the sale is contingent on two-thirds of Calistoga voters approving a bill to fund infrastructure improvements that would cost approximately $9.1 million.

According to published reports, the agreement includes the entire fairgrounds site and the Mount St. Helena Golf Course.

Should the voters approve the deal, it could close by July 31. 

As part of the agreement, the city will pay Napa County approximately $15,000 per month until the sale is finalized for maintenance costs on the golf course portion of the property.

Race Winning Brands (RWB)—a portfolio company of MiddleGround Capital based in Lexington, Kentucky—has announced the addition of Scott Neely as the director of Powersports Sales and the transition of existing RWB veteran, Scott Highland, to the director of marketing.

Neely brings over 20 years of experience in both the powersports and automotive sectors. Previously, he held multiple roles at Cometic Gasket, most recently handling responsibilities with powersports and automotive OEM and retail accounts.

Highland, meanwhile, joined RWB in 2018 as the director of Powersports with over 30 years of experience. In his new position, Highland will reinforce RWB’s “commitment to actively sharing its passion for performance with the automotive and powersports communities,” as well as support RWB’s efforts in product support and education for partners and end users.

Neely and Highland will both report directly to RWB Vice President of Sales and Category Management Cary Redman. 

For more information, visit racewinningbrands.com.

The Indy Autonomous Challenge (IAC) has announced that the IAC powered by Cisco will take place at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, November 11.

Teams will be operating Dallara AV-21 autonomous race cars equipped with a boosted engine package, capable of delivering 30% more horsepower than the last time they raced. The new package comes after an IAC race car programmed by team PoliMOVE from Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and the University of Alabama (USA) set a new land speed world record of 192.2 mph at the Kennedy Space Center in Merrit Island, Florida, in April prompting the adoption of refreshed technology on all IAC racecars moving forward.

Cisco Systems will enable in-vehicle and car-to-trackside connectivity with Dallara AV-21 racecars using ultra-low latency wireless technology. 

The competition will be live streamed via Twitch in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS).

For more information, visit indyautonomouschallenge.com. 

FinishMaster—the distributor of automotive refinish and industrial coatings and supplies based in Indianapolis, Indiana—will host the third annual Hood Master event on Friday, October 7, in Speedway, Indiana. The one-of-a-kind challenge is designed for auto painters to showcase their true skills in a free, family-friendly event.

In partnership with the Collision Repair Education Foundation (CREF), the second annual PiN Master student competition will also take place, where high school and college collision tech students have the chance to win prizes and equipment.

The 2022 Hood Master Challenge will take place at The Alexander, 333 Delaware Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204, on Friday, October 7, from 6–8 p.m. EDT. Online registration is encouraged here.

SMART Associated Products by FinishMaster Inc. is a first-time exhibitor at the PRI Trade Show in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, Dec. 8–10. For more information or to register, visit performanceracing.com/trade-show/attend.

Photo courtesy of World Of Outlaws, Facebook

The longtime World of Outlaws Late Model Series announcer Rick Eshelman has passed away at 61. 

Eshelman was inducted into the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame earlier this year as one of only four announcers to be honored. In 2012, the Michigan Auto Racing Fan Club presented him with the Tom Carnegie Announcer of the Year Award.

Eshelman grew up in Michigan, attending races at Flat Rock Speedway in Carleton, where he joined the team as a scorer before announcing his first race in 1979. A year later, he announced races at Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio, before joining the Air Force. 

“It is with great sadness and shock to know we lost our brother Rick Eshelman,” World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter said in a release. “Please send prayers to his family, his World of Outlaws and DIRTcar family, and his many friends across the country.”

The City of Loves Park, Illinois, has honored the late Jody Deery—the longtime promoter and owner of Rockford Speedway, the 1/4-mile asphalt short track in Loves Park. Deery is also the mother of PRI Track Ambassador Tom Deery.

City officials have designated Forest Hills Road—between Harlem Road and Illinois State Highway 173—the honorary name of Jody Deery Way. Honorary street signs were unveiled late last month with a special ceremony hosted by Loves Park Mayor Greg Jury and attended by members of the Deery family, multiple local and state elected officials, and supporters. 

In 1959, Deery and her husband Hugh were part owners of Rockford Speedway before becoming the sole owners in 1966. Following Hugh’s passing in July 1984, Deery became one of the first women to solely operate a racing venue in the US. She officially retired from day-to-day duties at the track in September 2020.

The track celebrates its 75th anniversary this year and is currently run by David and Susie Deery. 

For more information on Deery, visit her obituary here.