A new, touring 360 sprint car series is set to debut in Eastern Canada this season. Dubbed the Knights of Thunder (KoT) 360 Sprint Car Series, the new competition will feature 27 races across seven tracks on the 2021 calendar, with several live streaming broadcasts planned on GForceTV.

Competitors will take part in 19 full-points events, set to take place at five Ontario, Canadian-based venues, including six at Brighton Speedway, five at Humberstone Speedway, four at Merrittville Speedway, two at Ohsweken Speedway, and two at the remodeled and renamed Southern Ontario Motor Speedway (formerly South Buxton Raceway).

Show-up points will be awarded in four additional events at Ohsweken - two surrounding the NASCAR Pinty's 100 in August and two on the Canadian Sprint Car Nationals weekend in September. 

The schedule is rounded out with co-sanctioned non-points events with the Empire Super Sprints and Patriot Sprint Tour at Brockville Ontario Speedway and Cornwall Motor Speedway.

The season kicks off on April 17 at Merritville's Spring Sizzler and concludes at Southern Ontario Motor Speedway on October 9. 

For more information, visit knightsofthunder.com.

Photo courtesy of BMS

Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, and Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS) have entered into a letter of intent to renovate historic Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway (NFS) for the potential return of NASCAR events at the legendary race track.

NFS is the second-oldest operating motor speedway in the US, dating back to 1904. It has a storied connection with racing, including being a showcase for legendary drivers such as Dale Earnhardt, members of the Petty family, and Darrell Waltrip. 

Subject to approval by the Board of Fair Commissioners and Metropolitan Council, Bristol Motor Speedway would have a long-term contract to lease, manage, and operate Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and assume financial responsibility for track renovations and ongoing maintenance.

“The goal of the partnership is to bring our historic racetrack back to life as a valuable and exciting part of the Fairgrounds,” Mayor John Cooper said in a release. “We can put this landmark back on the national stage. I look forward to working with the Fair Board and the Metro Council in the months ahead.”

In addition to NASCAR, the Metro Council anticipates revenues from non-racing events, such as concerts and other entertainment events, including events sponsored by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation.

For more information, visit bristolmotorspeedway.com.

Photo courtesy of IMSA

IMSA has announced date changes for the Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) and the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta following the recent announcement that the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been moved from June 12-13 to August 21-22.

The new Le Mans date falls on the originally scheduled IMSA weekend at VIR, slated to have a live, NBC network television window for the two-hour, 40-minute IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race featuring the GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes.

As a result, the WeatherTech Championship race will now be run on Saturday, October 9, airing live on NBC. It also will become the WeatherTech Sprint Cup season finale for the GTD class. The new VIR event weekend will be October 8-10.

The new date for the 24th Motul Petit Le Mans will be Saturday, November 13, and will include a live, three-hour NBC network television window. The race will include five WeatherTech Championship classes–Daytona Prototype international (DPi), LMP2, LMP3, GTLM, and GTD–and close both the 2021 WeatherTech Championship and IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup seasons. The event weekend will run from November 10-13.

In addition to the WeatherTech Championship events, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA Prototype Challenge races scheduled for VIR and Michelin Raceway will also be moving to the new event weekends.

Three IMSA-sanctioned single-make series–Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, and Porsche Carrera Cup North America–also will be affected by these changes. Officials will provide updates at a later date.

For more information, visit imsa.com. 

A return to Indianapolis for the annual PRI Trade Show, an all-new membership drive launching next week, and a 2.0 version of the renowned PRI Road Tour are all part of Performance Racing Industry’s plans for an unprecedented year.

With its mission to build, promote, and protect the racing community, PRI is focused on uniting motorsports professionals and enthusiasts in 2021 through both traditional platforms and newly introduced initiatives and services. Atop the list is this year’s return of the world’s premier event for motorsports professionals—the PRI Trade Show—which takes place December 9-11 at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis.

“The racing industry is resilient and continues to push forward, and PRI very much reflects that spirit,” said PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer. “Racing businesses have demonstrated remarkable passion and perseverance over the last 12 months. Many have even reported record sales and month-over-month revenue growth. 
 
“Our job is to help the entire community thrive, and No. 1 on that list is bringing the industry together under one roof for an in-person PRI Show to get back to the business of racing and discover all the latest parts, equipment, technology, and solutions.”   

As planning for the Show continues, PRI will introduce a groundbreaking membership program for motorsports professionals designed to unite the industry on a number of important efforts—legislative advocacy, business resources, career development, educational opportunities, cost savings, and more. Exhibitors at this year’s PRI Trade Show, for example, can take advantage of a comprehensive list of benefits that includes discounted booth space, which in most cases covers the cost of membership.    

“PRI is laser-focused on supporting the motorsports industry,” said Meyer. “The PRI Show is a critical component of what we do. Membership will complement what takes place at the event by providing year-round legal support, advocacy, educational seminars, and more.”

Shortly after Meyer’s arrival at PRI in late spring 2020, the company launched a series of targeted programs to assist racing businesses and operations impacted by the pandemic. One was PRI’s Ambassador Program, an aggressive campaign aimed at helping race track operators navigate local, state, and federal rules required to reopen safely. 

Then, in October, PRI announced the launch of its Road Tour—an unprecedented, two-and-a-half-month cross-country journey that took a van-load of content creators to the doorsteps of nearly 100 racing and performance shops, teams, tracks, and more. The result was an all-out media blitz that allowed dozens of motorsports companies large and small to tell their stories, reveal new products, share never-before-seen treasures, and ultimately bring the industry closer together.       

“It was like PRI came to Magnuson and gave us all a big hug,” said Kim Pendergast, president of Magnuson Superchargers, about the PRI Road Tour, which will focus on major race events when it returns for 2021. “I don’t think we knew how much we needed that touch until it arrived.”

Exhibitor booth space applications for the 2021 PRI Trade Show, which include a sign-up option for PRI Business Membership, are available beginning March 15. Details for Trade Show attendee registration, PRI Individual Membership, and the PRI Road Tour will be announced at a later date. 

To learn more, visit performanceracing.com.

PRI Trade Show: performanceracing.com/tradeshow

PRI Membership: performanceracing.com/membership

PRI Road Tour: performanceracing.com/roadtour 

The Tuning School has announced fresh education programs and virtual training courses, along with a building upgrade as part of its new rebranding initiative. 

The Tuning School recently celebrated purchasing the building that has been the company’s headquarters for the last 11 years in Odessa, Florida. Plans for building upgrades are currently in process, including the remodeling of the interior and shop areas. Renovations to its classrooms and dyno tuning areas have also been announced.

In addition, The Tuning School is also developing live virtual training courses. It has also introduced tuning education products that cover more vehicles and more tuning software, including courses for tuning Ford transmission using HP Tuners VCM suite and Ford modular engines using SCT’s Advantage III software.

“The Tuning School is... taking big steps to support the growth of our company, staff, and students. We’ve just purchased our 9,000-square-foot facility and are in the process of renovating and upgrading our classrooms and dyno tuning areas for a new learning experience like we’ve never seen before. We’ve also undertaken a complete rebranding process to make all TTS class cars and trucks uniform with our new logo, colors, and everything,” The Tuning School President and Founder Bob Morreale said.

For more information, visit thetuningschool.com.

Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher and longtime Indianapolis 500 broadcaster Paul Page comprise the 2021 class of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Hall of Fame.

Schumacher and Page were elected to the IMS Hall of Fame by the distinguished voting panel of 150 motorsports journalists, officials, and living Hall of Fame members, chosen from a total of 14 nominees representing the Speedway’s diverse history as host to the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400 and, from 2000-2007, F1’s United States Grand Prix at Indianapolis.

The pair will be honored and officially inducted at the 2021 IMS Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers Dinner presented by Firestone on Thursday, May 27, at the Downtown Indianapolis Marriott.

Schumacher ranks as one of the world’s all-time greatest driving talents, having earned a record-seven F1 World Championships and holding F1 records in nearly every driver-related category during his career. Sadly, in December 2013 the champion driver sustained head injuries while skiing with his family in the French Alps. Schumacher fell and, despite wearing a helmet, suffered severe head injuries. He continues to recover from the accident at his home in Switzerland. In May 2020, Formula One announced that Schumacher was named the most influential person in the sport’s 70-year history, based on fan voting.

Page’s voice is known to motorsports enthusiasts around the world. The Evansville, Indiana, native served as “The Voice of the 500,” or chief announcer, on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Radio Network for 13 years, and as a television host and play-by-play voice for Indianapolis 500 coverage on ABC Sports an additional 16 years. He returned to the IMS Radio Network as “Voice of the 500” in 2014-15 and co-hosted the broadcast of the 100th Indianapolis 500 in 2016 with Mark Jaynes, who took over as the “voice” in 2017 and remains the chief announcer.

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 induction ceremony, the 2020 IMS Hall of Fame inductees–legendary drivers Janet Guthrie and Dale Earnhardt–will be honored at the 2021 event.

For more information, visit indyracingmuseum.org.

LSI Chemical has signed a new distributor for the dual-island Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago and the country of Guyana. TechMotive Imports, located in San Juan, Trinidad and Tobago, is now an authorized distributor of LSI Chemical additives and specialty oils, along with the full line of Hot Shot’s Secret products, for the region’s wide range of applications and markets. 

Serving customers throughout the Caribbean region, TechMotive specializes in improving lubricant, petrol, and diesel quality using formulas derived from nanotechnology. 

“This partnership represents a sizable expansion of our business in the automotive aftermarket and our first entry into additives customized for use at the refinery stage,” TechMotive CEO Dion Maraj said. “We are excited to work with a company that is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing performance automotive chemical brands in the USA. We feel that the Hot Shot’s Secret brand of specialty oils and fuel and oil additives can be easily marketed to our extensive customer base.”

For more information, visit lsichemical.com.

Officials from the City of St. Petersburg and Green Savoree St. Petersburg, LLC (GSSP) have announced that spectators will be in attendance at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

Officials have approved 20,000 spectators to attend each day of the event, set for April 23-25, 2021.

As was implemented at the October 2020 race weekend, GSSP will operate the event under specific health and safety protocols for COVID-19, including face masks and social distancing. Competitors, spectators, and all associated with the event will also be subject to a health screening and temperature check. Visit gpstpete.com/covid19 for more information.

“This is an important event for our local economy and will again serve to showcase and elevate the Sunshine City on the world stage,” St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said. “I am confident that the protocols in place will allow for a safe, fun race weekend in St. Pete.”

Ticket purchasers on file and customers who deferred tickets from the 2020 event will receive a direct communication on the renewal and ticketing process.

The 100-lap NTT INDYCAR SERIES race will be broadcast live nationally on NBC, with coverage beginning at 12 noon ET. Live streaming of all INDYCAR practice and qualifying sessions will be available on Peacock Premium throughout the weekend. 

For more information, visit gpstpete.com.

The University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) has announced a new degree in Motorsports Marketing. Known as one of the leaders in training high-performance motorsports technicians, UNOH will now educate students to run this multi-billion dollar industry’s marketing side.

“Launching the Motorsports Marketing degree at UNOH makes perfect sense for a University that prides itself on all things high-performance,” said Marketing Department Chair Dr. Susan Mann. “If students have a passion for motorsports, but don’t want to be a technician, this program will show them how to create an electric atmosphere at race venues, put together sponsorship packages for teams and drivers, and manage the image or create partnerships for talent in all levels of motorsports.”

According to the university, this new program marks the only four-year bachelor-degree program in the country focused on Motorsports Marketing. The program will take students out of the classroom and into the garages, front offices, tracks, suppliers, and sponsor companies that drive the motorsports industry. With one required internship, students have the chance to work within the motorsports field of their choice, from grassroots racing to the pinnacle of motorsports such as NASCAR, IndyCar, and more.

For more information, visit the UNOH Motorsports Marketing webpage here or unoh.edu.

To align with the advancement of electric drag racing, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has announced a call for manufacturer and industry input on the topic. The invitation includes OEM manufacturers, aftermarket parts suppliers, race car builders, safety and fire suppression companies, and more.

A formal meeting is scheduled to occur during the upcoming Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, March 12-14. The meeting will be the first of many, according to the sanctioning body. 

“When it comes to drag racing electric vehicles, we want NHRA to be the leader, not a follower,” Ned Walliser, NHRA vice president-competition, said to NHRA.com. “That is why we want to meet with recognized leaders in the EV industry. We want to be able to ask some pertinent questions such as, ‘Do you have an interest in using the NHRA platform to develop and promote electric vehicles?’ If the answer is yes, then how do we get where we want to go? We are very interested in talking with and continuing a dialogue with anyone who has experience in this industry.”

Attendees can expect to discuss how to provide the safest environment possible for competitors, spectators, and event workers. With EVs, fire suppression and prevention are likely to be discussed, and the treatment and disposal of batteries, including damaged products. 

“We’ve already seen progress in these areas, but as always, improving safety is an ongoing and never-ending process,” said NHRA Director of Engineering Tim White to NHRA.com.

Interested parties who would like to participate in an upcoming discussion regarding EV technology related to NHRA racing should contact Ned Walliser at nwalliser@nhra.com.

For more information, visit nhra.com.