The Dr Pepper and 23XI SPEED Institute Tuition Program will return for 2022. The tuition program provides $5,000 each to 23 college students pursuing their interest in a career in the motorsports industry. In addition, two tuition recipients will also receive an internship in their field with 23XI through the 23XI SPEED Institute.

The program was established in 2021 to amplify the efforts of the 23XI SPEED (Scholarship, Professional Education, Executive Development) Institute to support the team’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals.

“23XI Racing was founded with more in mind than just being competitive on the racetrack, and the Dr Pepper Tuition Program continues to be a key example of the impact our team and our partners are dedicated to making within the motorsports industry,” said 23XI President Steve Lauletta.

Students interested in applying for the tuition program must be between 18 and 24 years old and pursuing a career in any of the following fields: marketing, communications, human resources, finance, engineering, or trade disciplines in the automotive industry. Individuals meeting these qualifications can apply with a video submission. Applications must be submitted by Friday, May 13, 2022.

For more information about the tuition program, including the Official Rules, please visit 23xispeedinstitute.com/drpepper. 

Formula 1 has announced the world-famous neon lights of Las Vegas will provide the backdrop to Formula 1’s newest race when the American city hosts a night event beginning in 2023.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday next November and be one of three races in the United States, joining Miami and Austin.

Las Vegas hosted races in 1981 and 1982 but this will be the first time F1 cars will race on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, with the circuit sweeping past famous hotels and casinos.

The 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles with top speeds expected to hit around 212 mph.

The design features three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps.

“This is an incredible moment for Formula 1 that demonstrates the huge appeal and growth of our sport with a third race in the US. Las Vegas is a destination known around the world for its excitement, hospitality, thrills, and of course, the famous Strip,” said F1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali.

For more information, visit formula1.com. 

Nitro Rallycross (Nitro RX)—the rallycross racing series founded by Travis Pastrana in 2021—will launch its inaugural global season on June 18–19 at England’s Lydden Hill Race Circuit for the first of ten races staged in six countries, including Sweden, Finland, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.  
 
“I’m so excited to see Nitro Rallycross expand into a full worldwide series,” said Pastrana, the 2021 season champion.  
 
The 2022–23 Nitro RX season will also feature competition with the debut of the FC1-X in the new Group E division. Created by First Corner, LLC, in collaboration with QEV Technologies and Nitro RX, the FC1-X delivers the electric equivalent of 1,070 peak horsepower and accelerates from 0–60 in just 1.4 seconds. 
 
In addition, the Supercar class and NRX Next class return for this season.  
 
2022–23 Nitro Rallycross Championship Schedule (subject to change) 
June 18-19, 2022 // England (Lydden Hill Race Circuit)
July 30-31, 2022 // Sweden
August 27-28, 2022 // Finland
October 1-2, 2022 // Minneapolis, USA
October 29-30, 2022 // Los Angeles, USA
November 12-13, 2022 // Phoenix, USA
December 10-11, 2022 // Saudi Arabia
January 21-22, 2023 // Quebec, Canada
February 4-5, 2023 // Alberta, Canada
March TBA, 2023 // Nitro RX 2022-23 Series Finale // TBA, USA

For more information, visit nitrorallycross.com. 

Formula E has announced the return of the Formula E: Accelerate esports competition and has launched the application process at FIAFormulaE.com/Accelerate.  

The ‘Road to the London Final’ qualification series will take place online alongside in-person qualifiers in the week leading up to each of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship E-Prix races in Rome (April 9–10), Monaco (April 30), Berlin (May 14–15), Jakarta (June 4), Vancouver (July 2) and New York (July 16–17). Nine drivers recording the fastest lap times in the qualification series will be invited to the finals at the London E-Prix weekend (July 30–31). 

Formula E will then host the Accelerate final in-person during the London E-Prix weekend. The top three winners will receive a share of a 100,000 Euro prize fund, VIP tickets to the Seoul E-Prix as well as the chance to take part in a Formula E driving experience at pre-season testing in Valencia which will take the esports podium from sim rig to race seat. 

“Gaming and esports are engaging Formula E with new fans globally, bringing elite motorsport together with the sim-racing world and the promise of a real-world drive for the most talented gamers,” said Formula E Gaming Director Kieran Holmes-Darby. 

For more information, visit FIAFormulaE.com/Accelerate. 

Photo by Larry Chen, Formula DRIFT

Throdle, the automotive social network, has been announced as an official sponsor of the 2022 Formula DRIFT season. The Throdle app allows car and motorsports fans to connect through their passion for cars, groups, and experiences “without ads or unwanted content.”  
 
“Our fans are the lifeblood of the sport, and being able to connect them to one another through the Throdle platform is going to take the automotive and drifting community to a whole new level. Fans can join the Formula DRIFT group in Throdle to post about FD experiences and explore exclusive behind-the-scenes content, all season long,” said Formula DRIFT President Ryan Sage. 
 
The partnership will include a $1000 contingency fund for each of the four Formula DRIFT PROSPEC Championship rounds. 
 
For more information, visit formulad.com or throdle.com.  

The Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR)—the vintage racing series with headquarters in Clearwater, Florida—will launch its 2022 season at Sebring International Raceway (Sebring, Florida) for the “Sebring Spring Fling” on April 6–8. 

With eight events in 2022, HSR will also visit Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (Braselton, Georgia) on April 28–May 1; Barber Motorsports Park (Birmingham, Alabama) on May 19–22; WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (Salinas, California) on August 12–14 and again on August 17–20; Road America (Plymouth, Wisconsin) on September 15–18 and October 13–16; Daytona International Speedway (Daytona Beach, Florida) on November 2–6; and back to Sebring International Raceway on November 30–December 4. 

For more information, visit hsrrace.com.  

Track officials have announced three veteran sports executives have joined Nashville Superspeedway, Middle Tennessee’s home for NASCAR Cup Series racing and live entertainment in Gladeville, Tennessee. 

Matt Greci is now vice president of events and operations, Kacy Harmon is the senior director of ticket sales and operations, and Jason Lazar is the director of operations. 

“This trio brings a wealth of event experience to the Superspeedway and we look forward to their contributions to our team,” said Nashville Superspeedway President Erik Moses.  

Greci will manage event logistics for the race weekend, oversee the facility's day-to-day operations, and ensure that the venue is prepared to offer first-in-class service. Harmon is responsible for leading and developing ticket sales talent, strategy, service initiatives, and revenue opportunities for the NASCAR weekend and other live events.  

The announcement comes as Nashville prepares for the June 24–26 NASCAR tripleheader weekend, featuring the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 26. 

For more information, visit nashvillesuperspeedway.com.

CommScope has expanded its partnership with NASCAR Cup Series team Trackhouse Racing with the launch of the CommScope Ignition Program. The initiative is designed to leverage the excitement of auto racing to advance STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) learning across the nation—while also offering solutions to increase access to reliable networks, including public Wi-Fi. 

This year’s program will bring CommScope driver Daniel Suárez and the Trackhouse Racing team to schools in Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Miami, Florida, during 2022 race weekends. They will be accompanied by NASCAR technology—including CommScope-branded Chevrolet race cars—and WAV, LLC, a provider of wireless network technology. 

“We’re here to show them that involvement can be more than just turning kids into drivers. An education in STEM can help them become tomorrow’s motorsports engineers, car designers, and crew chiefs,” said Suárez.  

The program includes classroom sessions that illustrate the role of STEM in motorsports and offers broadband network support assessments for schools to help IT teams reliably and securely connect their students online. 

For more information, visit commscope.com or trackhouse.com. 

 
Longtime track president Dennis Bickmeier will leave his position with Richmond Raceway, as reported by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.  

Bickmeier has been appointed as executive director of Henrico County, Virginia’s new sports and entertainment authority. He will oversee all county facilities in this new position, including a 17,000-seat arena expected to open in 2026 and a 180,000-square-foot indoor sports and convocation center.  

Since 2011, Bickmeier has served as president of the ¾-mile, D-shaped asphalt track—which is located just outside of Richmond, Virginia, and hosts all three national NASCAR touring series. He expects to shift to his new position in mid-April, following the Toyota Owners 400 (April 3) and other early-April races. A replacement has not yet been announced. 

For more information, visit richmondraceway.com. 

Photo courtesy of Tim Holland
 

With support from Elk Grove Ford, Placerville Speedway (Placerville, California) and Merced Speedway (Merced, California) have announced a new four-race mini-series that will take place through Saturday, June 18. 

The “series within a series” will feature a special point fund for the final top-three earners and features four USAC Western States Midget events at Placerville and Merced. 

“This should be a great opportunity for the midget teams in California to have a chance at some solid money,” said Scott Russell of Placerville Speedway. 

Elk Grove Ford USAC Western States Midgets Mini-Series at Placerville and Merced

• Saturday, March 26: Placerville Speedway  
• Saturday, April 23: Merced Speedway  
• Saturday, May 7: Placerville Speedway  
• Saturday, June 18: Merced Speedway 

For more information, visit placervillespeedway.com and mercedspeedway.net.