With a new era of operational control of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, IndyCar has announced a 14-race schedule for 2022. 

The schedule features events in 11 key markets and three doubleheader weekends, including a return to Iowa Speedway and the series’ debut on the Streets of Nashville. In November, IndyCar had added the role of promoter to its position of sanctioning body of Indy Lights. 

All 14 races, qualifying sessions, and practices will happen within 2022 NTT IndyCar Series weekends, providing an inclusive atmosphere for the developmental series that serves as the final step toward competing in North America’s premier open-wheel series. 

Additionally, where available, Indy Lights will benefit from a more integrated paddock area as its team garages will be inside the NTT IndyCar Series paddock footprint. 

“To have all 14 races included with the NTT IndyCar Series schedule and its world-class venues is a tremendous step forward,” said Levi Jones, director of Indy Lights. “In addition to competing for the 2022 championship, Indy Lights drivers, crew members, and teams will be able to see up close how event weekends run and operate in IndyCar.” 

For more information, visit indylights.com. 

Maserati will debut in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in 2023. The automaker is the first Italian automaker to compete in Formula E, the world’s first all-electric road racing motorsports series.   
 
Maserati will debut on the grid from Season 9 with the new Gen3, the fastest, lightest, most powerful Formula E racing car to date.  
  
Since its inception, Formula E has raced on the streets of iconic cities, including New York, Monaco, Berlin, Mexico City, London, and Rome. The series focuses on energy efficiency, enhancements in battery range, and advances in powertrain development. 
 
“We are very proud to be back where we belong as protagonists in the world of racing,” said Maserati CEO David Grasso.  
 
For more information, visit fiaformulae.com. 

The Race Track Business Conference has awarded the Joliet, Illinois-based Autobahn Country Club the “Outstanding Facility of the Year” award. The plaque was presented by National Speedway Directory at the 2021 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis. 

“Autobahn Country Club is the premier motorsports country club in the United States. It has created a new class of real estate development at sports and entertainment facilities. By incorporating traditional auto racing circuits with trackside garages and condominiums, motorsports enthusiasts at Autobahn Country Club are able to enjoy a true automotive lifestyle,” said Tim Frost of National Speedway Directory. 

The previous award winners include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2013, NCM Motorsports Park in 2014, Daytona International Speedway in 2015, Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2016, Gateway Motorsports Park in 2017, Knoxville Raceway in 2018, and M1 Concourse in 2019. 

For more information, visit autobahncc.com. 

VP Racing Fuels has announced the promotion of Ben Dolan to vice president of marketing.  

“The VP team takes pride in having star players in every division and at every level,” said Alan Cerwick, VP Racing Fuels president and CEO. “Since joining the VP team as director of Marketing in September of 2020, Ben has proven his star power, bringing unique and creative marketing ideas and leadership qualities that are being applied across all business units. Ben is a VP team player who has earned this promotion with his skills and strong work ethic.”  

Prior to joining VP, Dolan was director of Sales and Marketing at holding company UGGM LLC. He has more than 20 years of marketing and sales experience across a broad range of industries. Dolan earned his BS in Marketing and MBA with a digital marketing concentration from the University of Dayton.  

For more information, visit vpracingfuels.com. 

Leaders in the motorsports industry gathered at the 2021 SEMA Show for a unique conversation about the state of the industry. Led by Dr. Jamie Meyer, president of Performance Racing Industry (PRI), the one-hour panel discussion is now available for viewing through the new SEMA Education website at semashow.com/education.     

Featuring Bill Schlieper (owner of PRO Power Racing LLC), Dan Millen (president of Livernois Motorsports & Engineering), Mike Kojima (president of MotoIQ), and Seth Ravndal (owner/CEO of BlackLake Research and Development), the session covers lessons learned during the pandemic, challenges overcome, and what is ahead for the motorsports industry in 2022. Viewers will also get to know the unique background and accomplishments of each panelist, hear experiences with the recent supply chain issues and possible solutions, insight on employment opportunities in the market, and what electric vehicles might mean for the motorsports industry.  

New seminars are added weekly at semashow.com/education. Additional seminars include “How the Pandemic Moved Buyers From Your Showroom to Online, Powered by PRO,” “Marketing Shifts – Life After the Golden Age of Print,” and “Tactics to Increase Online Market Share.”    

Users of the SEMA Education website will need to create a personal profile upon their first visit, which will then provide access to all recordings in the library. 

For more information, visit semashow.com/education.

Holley, the platform for performance automotive enthusiasts, has acquired substantially all of the assets of Arizona Desert Shocks (ADS), Baer Brakes, Brothers Trucks, and Rocket Racing Wheels.

“These acquisitions are in highly strategic product categories that are powertrain agnostic with applicability to the emerging opportunity in electric vehicles and electric powertrain conversions.”

“The acquisition of ADS augments Holley’s existing capabilities in on-road performance suspension systems by adding off-road expertise. Baer Brakes introduces a new product category to Holley and brings us tremendous brake system expertise, moving us closer to our goal of providing complete vehicle solutions to our enthusiast consumers. Brothers Trucks further enhances our offerings in truck and SUV appearance items and Rocket Racing Wheels strengthens our offerings in wheels for both cars and trucks,” said Tom Tomlinson, Holley’s President and CEO.

Holley completed the acquisitions for approximately $56 million during the fourth quarter of 2021. For 2022, Holley expects these acquisitions to contribute net sales of approximately $30 million, the company stated.

For more information, visit holley.com. 

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) is strengthening its commitment to the motorsports industry and cementing its presence in the racing capital of the world by purchasing a 42,500-square-foot building in Speedway, Ind., just outside of Indianapolis. Located within walking distance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the building will serve as PRI Membership Headquarters and offer a broad range of programs and services to assist the motorsports community.

“Indianapolis is the epicenter of motorsports in America and the world, and we are excited to work alongside our Indianapolis neighbors and racing industry icons, and be at the forefront of the racing community,” said PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer. “PRI Membership is a groundbreaking program that unites the industry and creates a collective voice for the motorsports community to address any challenges and needs."

By establishing its PRI Membership Headquarters on Main Street in Speedway, Ind., PRI has solidified its commitment to Indianapolis, site of the organization's annual PRI Trade Show. The building, which will be a key tool in helping expand PRI Membership, will include office space for dedicated staff, have a Content Factory where garage space will be transformed into a content generation machine, offer live and virtual educational opportunities, host motorsports gatherings and membership meetings, and more.

The new PRI Membership Headquarters will also support other PRI initiatives. PRI launched an aggressive PRI Road Tour in 2020 where staff embarked on a nationwide trek visiting motorsports companies and tracks, sharing their stories and increasing awareness to billions of enthusiasts. PRI Membership followed in early 2021, giving businesses and individuals the opportunity to unite and advocate for the protection and growth of the racing industry. The recent PRI Show in December 2021 included 50,000 attendees and marked the motorsports industry’s largest trade gathering since the pandemic began in March 2020.

“PRI is at the forefront of building, promoting, and protecting the racing community,” said Meyer. “The new PRI Membership Headquarters in Indianapolis will allow us to expand on the PRI Membership promise to unite the industry and remain a strong voice for the racing community.”

PRI Membership Headquarters is scheduled to open in May 2022, just in time for the running of the Indianapolis 500.

The PRI Show was created in 1988 and found its home in Indianapolis, where 16 of the 33 Shows have been held. The Show encompasses all forms of racing and attracts attendees from all 50 states and across the globe, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers, and media. The annual Show features the latest products, services, machinery, simulation and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry.

To learn more about PRI, visit PerformanceRacing.com. To learn more about PRI Membership, or to join, visit PerformanceRacing.com/Membership.

Two industry veterans recently received promotions at Speedway Motorsports, as Mike Burch has been named the company’s chief operating officer, while Jerry Caldwell was promoted to president of Bristol Motor Speedway. The promotions were announced by Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. 

Burch, who joined Speedway Motorsports in 2003, most recently served as chief strategy officer, and previously held positions of senior vice president of national sales and marketing and manager of business development. 

Caldwell, who began working full-time at Bristol Motor Speedway in its sales and marketing department in 1997, has been the executive vice president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway and Dragway since 2010.

For more information, visit speedwaymotorsports.com.

The 2022 class of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Hall of Fame has been announced. A group of five longtime SCCA members will be recognized for each of their contributions to the Club’s history and the world of motorsports.

The class includes a sports car racing champion across multiple decades, an all-around Champion driver and promoter, and a group of members who have contributed to the promotion and growth of the SCCA. Charlie Clark, Howard Duncan, Paul Pfanner, Greg Pickett and Mark Weber will officially join the SCCA Hall of Fame during a virtual induction on January 21—the opening day of the 2022 SCCA Convention.

For more information on the inductees, visit the announcement here or visit scca.com.

Tulsa Speedway, the quarter-mile dirt oval dirt track based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has announced co-owner Keith Haney has taken over daily operations of the facility as they seek a new general manager. 

Haney and co-owner Todd Martin have announced several improvements to the track, including plans to construct a new building with an office complex, ticketing/will call, merchandise, full concessions, and new restrooms.

The pair have also announced plans to purchase a new electrical grid and and track equipment. A new clay surface and additional lighting will also be implemented. 

Racing is expected to begin on March 25 for the Classic Chevrolet Friday Night Lights Opening Night followed by the ASCS Sooner Region sprint season opener on April 1. 

For more information, visit tulsaspeedway.com.