The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) announced its 2027 Induction Class today at the 51st running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach. The 39th MSHFA Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, which will formally bring the Class of 2027 into the MSHFA, will be held in the Hall's home of Daytona Beach, Florida, next March.
The Class of 2027 includes four-time INDYCAR race winner and multiple USAC Champion Gary Bettenhausen (Open Wheel), three-time NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car champion and number two all-time Top Fuel Funny Car winner Ron Capps (Drag Racing), founder of the successful Dyson Racing and a winning Rolex 24 At Daytona driver Rob Dyson (Sports Cars), two-time Daytona 500 Champion and winner of 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver Awards Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Stock Cars), the executive who led GM's racing operations to unprecedented results Herb Fishel (Business), a two-time Indianapolis 500 winning car owner and three-time second-place finisher at the Brickyard as a driver Harry Hartz (Historic), the two-time Unlimited Air Racing champion and a world speed record setter for piston-engine planes Steve Hinton (Aviation), three-time NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle champion and the winner of 46 NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle races Angelle Sampey (Motorcycles), the first woman to win Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Lyn St. James (At Large) and one of NASCAR's most successful engine builders and a winner of 57 races as a team owner Robert Yates (Stock Cars).
"It's an honor for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America to be welcomed each year to make this important announcement at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach," said MSHFA president Daren Lucas. "We want to thank the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, INDYCAR, IMSA and so many other top organizations and individuals who make this possible every year. The Class of 2027 is as accomplished as any group of iconic motorsports inductees in our nearly 40-year history, all still revered and admired today, and their legacies and achievements will now be forever memorialized at the Hall of Fame of ALL motorsports. Congratulations to the Class of 2027."
The 10 Class of 2027 honorees will be formally brought into the Hall during the 39th Annual Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, which culminates with a traditional black-tie gala that is the crowning event of the two-day, multi-function MSHFA induction event. The Induction Ceremony will be preceded the night before by the traditional "Heroes of Horsepower" reception and strolling dinner at the MSHFA Museum on the grounds of Daytona International Speedway. Honda presented this year's Heroes of Horsepower reception.
Through last month's Class of 2026 induction, 314 "Heroes of Horsepower" are currently in the MSHFA, a number that will grow to 324 with the 39th Induction Class, the organization said.
For more information, including a full biography of each inductee, visit mshf.com.
Image courtesy of MSHFA and Shutterstock | Aiksatas Sufroh
TNT Sports has secured the U.S. media rights to the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), bringing one of global sportscar series to American fans across truTV and HBO Max.
TNT Sport's truTV will air three premier events in full: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Rolex 6 Hours of São Paulo and Lone Star Le Mans in Austin, Texas. The entire slate of eight WEC races will be available to stream on HBO Max, beginning Sunday, April 19, with the 6 Hours of Imola in Imola, Italy.
The FIA European Rally Championship and its headlining ERC1 category will switch to 100% advanced sustainable fuel in 2026 with all Rally2 cars using ETS Racing Fuels for at least the next three seasons, the series announced.
ETS Racing Fuels, the motorsport brand of Haltermann Carless, will supply its Renewablaze O2 R100, an advanced, drop-in, 100% advanced sustainable racing fuel to all ERC1 competitors.
Produced from 100% renewable components, Renewablaze O2 R100 reduces greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 60%, according to the manufacturer, and by selecting Renewablaze fuel, further establishes the ERC as a critical research and innovation platform.
The alliance aligns the ERC with the FIA World Rally Championship, which uses 100% advanced sustainable fuel, and also meets the FIA's targets for sustainable motorsport, while keeping the ERC firmly on track to meet the targets outlined in WRC Promoter's Sustainability Roadbook.
Haltermann Carless holds FIA 3-Star Environmental Accreditation, the highest level of recognition for environmental performance in global motorsport, awarded by the governing body, the FIA.
"We are delighted to announce our partnership with ETS Racing Fuels. As a championship, we are committed to being more sustainable and using ETS fuels Renewablaze O2 R100 fuel significantly reduces carbon emissions, making the impact positive and immediate," said ERC Championship Manager Rami Virtanen. "Furthermore, ETS manufactures its racing fuels in Europe, meaning it's not impacted by global supply chain issues."
"Introducing 100 % advanced sustainable fuel to the ERC marks a significant milestone not only for the championship but for regional rallying as a whole. ETS Racing Fuels submitted a strong and well-rounded proposal that addressed all key criteria, from technical performance to supply reliability and sustainability," said FIA Road Sport Director Emilia Abel. "Sustainability remains a cornerstone of the FIA's vision for the future of motorsport. The adoption of fully sustainable fuel in the ERC reinforces its role as a frontrunner in sustainable innovation within regional rallying. We look forward to working closely with the ETS Racing Fuels team to deliver a dependable and high-performing fuel solution that supports the championship's competitive and environmental ambitions."
Ultra4 USA will make its return to the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with the inclusion of Ultra4 USA competitors at this year's race on June 21, 2026.
The effort will feature three Ultra4 drivers: Loren Healy, Paul Wolff and Phillip McGilton, marking the first time in 15 years that Ultra4 vehicles compete in an official capacity at the iconic mountain race.
Known for conquering brutal terrain at events like King of the Hammers, Ultra4 USA drivers will now face a dramatically different challenge: 156 turns, steep elevation gain and rapidly changing conditions from the start line to the 14,115-foot summit.
"Ultra4 was built on the idea of doing what others won't--taking on the toughest terrain, the biggest challenges and figuring it out along the way," said Dave Cole, co-founder and owner of Ultra4 USA. "Pikes Peak is one of the most iconic races in the world, and bringing back Ultra4 isn't just a moment--it's a statement."
"The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has long welcomed a wide range of disciplines and competitors to the mountain," said Melissa Eickhoff, CEO of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. "Bringing back a fan favorite, like the Ultra4 vehicles, adds a fun element to the race while showcasing drivers and vehicles that thrive in some of the toughest conditions in motorsports."
Ultra4 USA last competed at Pikes Peak in 2011, when a small group introduced off-road machines to the mountain. Cole led the effort with a third-place finish in the Pikes Peak Open division (13:05.318). JT Taylor, who placed fourth and returns in 2026, competed alongside Samuel Berri, Kevin Yoder, Roger Lovell and Matthew Peterson.
Levi Shirley piloted a 2014 Campbell Ent. Single Seat IFS Ultra4 vehicle in the 100th Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and famously finished the race despite flipping the car at Engineers Corner.
Hot Shot's Secret (HSS)––the manufacturer of high-performance race oils, fluids, and lubricants for diesel motorsports––has announced a major increase in support for diesel racing.
HSS has announced it will extend its title sponsorship of the Outlaw Diesel Super Series (ODSS) for three years (from 2026 through 2028), ahead of its upcoming Rudy's Spring Truck Jam in Rockingham, North Carolina, on April 24-25. Hot Shot's Secret's Adrenaline Outlaw R100+ diesel race fuel will also become the "Official Fuel" for ODSS, joining the brand's Diesel Extreme as the series' "Official Fuel Additive."
ODSS, which celebrates its 10th anniversary season in 2026, is a multi-class, six-race point series with events at tracks in North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.
In addition, HSS has also announced an extension of its title sponsorship of the National Hot Rod Diesel Association (NHRDA) for the same length of time: three years, from 2026 through 2028.
NHRDA was formed in 2003 and is known to be among the largest and longest-running diesel motorsports organizations, offering drag racing, sled pulls, dyno competitions and a national championship series culminating each fall with the World Finals. Its next event is Truckin In Tulsa, May 22-23, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The ODSS and NHRDA announced a new partnership in late 2025 for rules and schedule alignments, allowing for more accessibility in the sport of diesel racing.
The NHRA has entered into a strategic partnership with the Florida-based motorsports venue development company RPM Group to explore a possible return of NHRA racing to South Florida.
The RPM Group, which is behind a current effort to preserve Palm Beach International Raceway, is a motorsports and marketing company focused on helping to resurrect racing venues in the South Florida area. Led by an experienced group of automotive professionals and passionate enthusiasts, their goal is for NHRA Drag Racing to return to facilities across the area.
"We're extremely excited for the future and working with NHRA to bring top-tier drag racing back to South Florida," RPM Group Vice President Tim Moceri said. "We are working diligently on several locations, and we're optimistic about that progress. By teaming and aligning with NHRA, it ensures what we are building in South Florida is not experimental--it is proven.
"NHRA is not just a sanctioning body; it is the gold standard of organized drag racing. With 75 years of history, a national footprint and a legacy of delivering world-class events, NHRA brings an unmatched level of structure, credibility and operational excellence to this effort. With the strength and credibility of NHRA alongside our group, we are positioned to deliver something truly impactful."
RPM Group has evaluated several potential locations for tracks and facilities, with each offering the potential for a premier motorsports destination to return to the South Florida area, generating a strong local economic impact in the process, the NHRA said.
Along with the RPM Group's partnership with NHRA, it has also received endorsements from Palm Beach County and the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, actively engaging with local and state leaders.
"South Florida was home to a thriving motorsports and drag racing community for years, and we believe the demand and culture for the sport has never left," Moceri said. "But a project of this magnitude cannot be accomplished alone. It requires strong partnerships with local, county, and state leadership and the support of our local communities, and that is why our partnership with NHRA is so critical. NHRA understands every detail of what it takes to operate at the highest level, from grassroots racing programs all the way to premier national events."
"We are thrilled to announce this partnership with the RPM Group. It is a group that is filled with passion for NHRA Drag Racing, and they are determined to see it return to the South Florida area," NHRA Director of Field Operations Rob Park said. "The area has significant potential with a strong fanbase and a reputation as a vibrant motorsports region. We look forward to working with RPM Group and offering our expertise and rich history to see this project continue to move forward."
Veteran motorsports executive and longtime race team engineer Mike O'Gara has been named INDYCARvice president of competition, race engineering, INDYCAR officials announced Wednesday.
O'Gara will serve as the senior technical authority for INDYCAR, leading all aspects of vehicle performance strategy, race engineering and technical governance across the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone. He also will be charged to define and drive INDYCAR's long-term technical roadmap, research and development initiatives and the development of next-generation technologies, including the new 2028 NTT INDYCAR SERIES race car.
Indiana native O'Gara, 54, assumes his new role after over 30 years of experience leading championship-winning programs across INDYCAR, IMSA and the World Endurance Championship, including the last 12 years in executive leadership at Chip Ganassi Racing. During that time, O'Gara established the team's Cadillac endurance program after helping win the 12 Hours of Sebring (2014), the Rolex 24 At Daytona (2015) and a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2016).
During his involvement in Ganassi's INDYCAR SERIES program, O'Gara contributed to the team's NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships with Scott Dixon and Alex Palou, and 2022 and 2025 Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge victories with Marcus Ericsson and Palou.
Prior INDYCAR SERIES team experience includes roles as the director of operations at Sarah Fisher Racing (2010-14) and as a race engineer at Chip Ganassi Racing (2004-10) and Dreyer & Reinbold Racing (2000-04).
"I am thrilled to take this next step in my career and honored to join INDYCAR in this critical role for the series," O'Gara said. "This is truly an exciting time for the sport with a new car on the horizon and the opportunity to build on a growing focus and interest in INDY NXT.
"I know my prior experience has set me up to successfully contribute and help mold the future of North America's premier open-wheel racing series. I cannot wait to get started."
O'Gara's role at INDYCAR also will include:
Overseeing all technical rulemaking, providing objective, engineering-driven leadership in the development of regulations and technical bulletins to ensure fairness, innovation and cost control.
Working closely with teams, manufacturers and suppliers to align technical direction with the broader goals of the series while fostering transparency and collaboration through technical working groups.
Leading ongoing safety advancements, maintaining a strong and proactive focus on the development and implementation of enhanced safety technologies.
Serving as the central technical voice of INDYCAR, ensuring that engineering strategy, regulatory direction and on-track performance remain aligned as the series continues to evolve.
"Mike's vast experience in motorsports will make a substantial impact to INDYCAR's competition and engineering team," INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. "It is clear that his impressive list of accomplishments, engineering acumen and proven knowledge of building high-performance teams and operations have the respect of the INDYCAR paddock and will continue be a real asset for our sport in this new role. We look forward to working with Mike as we look toward building competition, innovation, safety initiatives and INDYCAR's world-class racing."
PRI is expanding its Right-to-Race advocacy campaign nationwide. The time to protect race tracks is now, before more long-standing facilities are pushed out of their communities. Learn more at sema.org/right-to-race.
Here's the latest on PRI's Right-to-Race advocacy campaign:
In a stunning betrayal of the bipartisan group of lawmakers who overwhelmingly passed Wisconsin's right-to-race legislation, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed AB 880, legislation aimed at protecting long-standing race tracks from nuisance lawsuits brought by new neighbors and developers.
Notably, the bill had no registered opposition in the state Assembly and Senate. But in defending his veto, Gov. Evers, who previously shared his fond memories of growing up near a Wisconsin race track, stated his belief that the bill would create "unfair and unnecessary hurdles for people pursuing legal avenues to vindicate the use and enjoyment of their land," and that he sought to establish Wisconsin as a state with an "open courthouse door."
BACKGROUND
AB 880 advanced through the Wisconsin State Legislature with strong support from lawmakers who recognize the importance of small businesses and the cultural and economic role motorsports plays across Wisconsin. The bill furthermore sought to reaffirm the important role of motorsports on the state's economy.
According to PRI's economic impact data, Wisconsin's motorsports industry is a major economic driver, contributing:
$2.46 billion in total economic impact
10,601 jobs
$697.92 million in wages and benefits
$271.60 million in tax revenue
For decades, race tracks across the state have served as gathering places for working families, while supporting local economies, tourism and small businesses. Without protections like those included in AB 880, these facilities remain vulnerable to nuisance-based legal challenges that can threaten their long-term stability.
NEXT STEPS
While the veto is a setback, it also underscores the importance of continued engagement and advocacy. The coalition built in Wisconsin, including race tracks, manufacturers, tourism groups and small business leaders, has demonstrated strong alignment and momentum.
Since launching this effort in Wisconsin, PRI has led a comprehensive and coordinated campaign. This has included hosting two advocacy days at the State Capitol, meeting with dozens of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, engaging nearly 100 industry stakeholders, working through key amendments, testifying in multiple hearings, coordinating with the governor's office and submitting thousands of letters and signatures in support of the bill.
PRI will continue working alongside industry partners to advance Right-to-Race protections and ensure that race tracks can operate with certainty and stability.
The checkered flag hasn't waved. Our coalition is stronger than ever, and we are committed to getting this across the finish line.
For more information, contact PRI Director of Government Affairs for Racing Tierra Hubbard at tierrah@sema.org.
My Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (GPLB) weekend began in the passenger seat of a Porsche 911 Carrera GTS, the safety car for the Porsche Carrera Cup North America, with IMSA and TransAm champion Tommy Kendall behind the wheel. And yes, I fully understand how much that sentence captures a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
There's something visceral about experiencing a street circuit at speed from the seat of a Porsche before the crowds officially arrive. It's like seeing the track in its purest form––before the noise, before the chaos, before the big show.
Although, in true Long Beach fashion, the crowds were already there––lined up on public bridges, phones out, watching us flash underneath in a blur.
By the time we hit the main straight for the second time, it all started to sink in. The speedometer was creeping past 150 mph. I was pinned into the seat, trying––mostly failing––to capture the moment. It was equal parts surreal and slightly out of control (at least on my end) in the best possible way.
One lap later, we peeled into the pit lane and rolled to a smooth stop. That's when Kendall casually mentioned it was his first warm-up lap around the Long Beach street circuit in 20 years.
My immediate reaction?
"You could've fooled me."
From there, it was straight into the rhythm of Media Day––working pit lane, photographing Formula Drift builds up close and taking in the mix of competition cars and curated builds that define this event.
The Legacy of Jim Michaelian Carries On
Before we got into GP competition talk, the weekend took a moment to remember a longtime fixture of the event, Jim Michaelian, the Acura GPLB president and CEO who passed away in March.
It was the first Media Day where Michaelian was not addressing media members on stage since the Grand Prix's inception. His absence, but also his influence, was felt everywhere.
To help celebrate his legacy, every car on track––across every series during the GP weekend––will carry a sticker honoring Michaelian. The sense of legacy carried directly into the future of the event during conversations with LBGP leadership.
Jim Liaw, who most recently served as the general manager for PRI, was a familiar presence for our PRI team. He stepped into his role sooner than expected following Michaelian's passing.
Speaking to the press about evolution, Liaw shared how, under new ownership from Penske Corporation, the Acura GPLB is already seeing upgrades––new grandstands, expanded viewing areas, even a double-decker hospitality structure along pit row. There are murals now, too, scattered throughout the circuit, telling the story of a race that has been part of this city since 1975.
And beyond the racing, the Grand Prix Foundation continues to invest back into Long Beach, supporting local students year after year.
It's easy to focus on lap times and results, but weekends like this remind you that major events are ecosystems. They shape cities just as much as they showcase speed.
Inside the Formula Drift Mindset
Then came the Formula Drift press conference. (By the time this reaches readers, the Formula Drift season opener is already in the books, with Conor Shanahan taking the Round 1 win on the streets of Long Beach after a close final against Fredric Aasbø.)
If you want a snapshot of where Formula Drift is right now, it's this: the talent level has never been higher––and everyone knows it.
Reigning champion James Deane didn't sound like someone coasting on five titles, but someone ready to grab his sixth. He talked about watching other drivers' builds in the offseason, about how the overall level keeps rising, and about how competition forces everyone to find new limits.
Sitting just a few seats down, Fredric Aasbø echoed that sentiment. Yes, he believes he can win. But so can everyone else next to him.
That's the theme this year––depth. There are no easy rounds these days. And perhaps no one embodied that intensity more than Matt Field. He walked through his offseason in detail: training, nutrition, reaction work, even blood analysis. Every variable was optimized, he said.
"I've never been more ready," he said.
Of course, not every driver's season will follow a traditional path.
Hiroya Minowa is stepping back to run a partial schedule, shifting focus to rally racing with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Sliding a drift car, he explained, translates naturally to rally. But rally, in turn, sharpens precision, throttle control and decision-making.
It's a reminder of how interconnected motorsports has become, with drivers moving between disciplines, carrying skills from one to another.
Then there's Adam LZ, the driver who exists at the intersection of competition and car culture. He talked about his upcoming role in Sung Kang's movie "Drifter," and what it could mean for the sport.
Not immediately, maybe. But long term.
"The movies I watched when I was 12 or 13 shaped what I wanted to do," he said.
It's a simple idea, but an important one. Motorsports doesn't grow in isolation but through exposure, storytelling, and the next generation finding its entry point.
In hindsight, Shanahan was the driver to watch, building momentum that ultimately carried him to the Round 1 win. At the press conference, he spoke about the challenge of balancing programs across continents––adapting to different cars, tracks and judging styles from one weekend to the next.
"You're going from one side of the world to the other, trying to figure everything out from scratch," he said. "Sometimes you don't even get the perfect practice session, so you're constantly adapting."
With qualifying returning this season, Shanahan noted it should play to his strengths, giving drivers a clearer structure heading into competition.
More Than a Race Weekend
While Formula Drift has already crowned its Long Beach winner, the Grand Prix itself is still ahead, adding another layer of anticipation to a weekend that's already delivered plenty.
This weekend isn't just one race, it's many: NTT INDYCAR Series, IMSA, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Stadium SUPER Trucks and Historic Sports Car, all converging on the same streets. And for the first time, both marquee events will air on network television, bringing Long Beach to an even broader audience.
But what stayed with me most wasn't any single series.
It was the feeling that everything here––every lap, every upgrade, every tribute––is connected.
The city of Long Beach isn't just hosting motorsports. It's shaping where it goes next—and Long Beach is right at the center of it.
INDYCAR has announced an expansion of Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying, including an updated format, for the remaining four street circuit events of the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, beginning with the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 17-19 on the Streets of Long Beach, California.
Single-car, single-lap qualifying runs in the Firestone Fast Six made their debut Saturday, March 14 at the Java House Grand Prix of Arlington. The format followed the traditional INDYCAR "knockout" format of Segments 1 and 2, which narrowed the field to six remaining qualifiers.
Moving forward, the adjustments to the single-car Firestone Fast Six format will include:
Choice of qualifying order based on Segment 2 results.
• The fastest qualifier from Segment 2 will be the first to choose which position they would like to make their Fast Six qualifying run with subsequent choices made for the remaining positions based on the order of Segment 2 results.
Lining up at pit out following tire declaration.
• Once the qualifying order is determined, teams will make their tire selection--primary or alternate tires--prior to lining up in single-file and in order of their qualifying run, at pit out to await their qualifying attempt.
During Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying, drivers will leave pit lane and get an opportunity for one lap--starting and ending at the alternate start/finish line. Once the car enters pit lane following that driver's attempt, the next car will be released for its attempt. As in the streets of Arlington event, tire allotments and tire rules will remain unchanged.
Single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying also will be scheduled for the three remaining street circuit events after Long Beach, at Detroit, Michigan; Markham, Ontario; and Washington, D.C. The move to single-car Fast Six qualifying is designed to create a greater opportunity to spotlight and translate the challenge and expertise required by INDYCAR SERIES teams and drivers competing for the top positions on the starting grid.
"The debut of single-car Firestone Fast Six qualifying in Arlington was extremely popular and well received," INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. "Following the event, we reached out to stakeholders to help evaluate the format and look into ways to improve an already exciting session. This slight update will provide the fastest from the Top 12 an earned advantage of choosing when they would like their run in the Fast Six, while tire selection before lining up at pit out will save time and more closely equalize the session.
"With continued input from teams, drivers and our partners at FOX Sports, we believe these updates will further highlight the close competition and perfection it takes to start at the front of the grid."
As in Arlington, if the Firestone Fast Six single-car qualifying segment is impacted by weather or conditions that cause significant track surface change from one attempt to another, INDYCAR will have the following options:
Revert to standard Firestone Fast Six qualifying procedures, which features all competitors vying for the NTT P1 Award in the standard timed window.
Use the results from Segment 2 to set the starting lineup for the race.
Following the 2026 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, INDYCAR will again evaluate the updated qualifying format to determine its use and implementation in 2027.
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