G-Force Racing Gear explains how to use a cloth measuring tape to size a racing helmet to your head correctly. After purchase, make sure the helmet is "snug like a baseball cap" and not uncomfortable. For more information, visit gforce.com.

COMP Cams and Edelbrock Performance told the PRI Road Tour about its latest innovations and new ideas, including the development of new camshaft profiles and more, for the Ford Motor Company Godzilla engine platform. For more information, visit edelbrock.com or compcams.com.

M1 Concourse will host an all-outdoor even called Motor Bella this September. The event will be held in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), which has announced it will not hold its 2021 auto show as planned.

Motor Bella will be held from September 21-26, at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. Centrally located in the metro Detroit area, M1 Concourse, often referred to as an “87-acre playground for auto enthusiasts.”

Plans call for 1.6 million square feet of display space, including terrain ideal for showcasing off-roading capabilities. M1 Concourse will also utilize its 1.5-mile hot track for technology and vehicle demonstrations.

“We are proud and honored to be hosting this world-class automotive event. Motor Bella will allow journalists, industry executives, and the public to interact with vehicles in a fully dynamic and experiential format, well beyond the limitations of static displays. As the largest Private Garage community in the world, we at M1 Concourse share the enthusiasm for creating a unique automotive environment built specifically for car enthusiasts,” M1 Concourse CEO Jordan Zlotoff said. 

Dates for the 2021 Motor Bella are as follows:
• Press Preview, Tuesday, September 21
• AutoMobili-D, Tuesday, September 21 through a half-day Thursday, September 23
• Industry Preview, Wednesday, September 22 and a half-day Thursday, September 23
• Public Show, Thursday, September 23 through Sunday, September 26 

For more information, visit m1concourse.com.

Performance Racing Industry (PRI) is mourning the loss of industry legend Sonny Leonard of Sonny's World Class Racing. The iconic engine builder passed away on January 10, at the age of 77, leaving behind an amazing legacy of innovation and success.

“Sonny Leonard’s passing is a huge loss for the racing industry. He will be missed not only for his engine-building skills and knowledge but also for his good nature and charisma,” said PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends and the entire motorsports community.”

Leonard gained notoriety in the racing world thanks to his engine-building skills, which powered many racers to victories and championships in various drag racing categories, including Pro Nitrous and Pro Modified. His name also became synonymous with big-inch mountain motors due to his success in racing categories such as Mountain Motor Pro Stock and Top Sportsman.

In addition to using his ingenuity to power racers to success on the track, he used his engine building prowess for charitable purposes, including the Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes held every year during the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis. Leonard’s donated engines in 2018-19 helped raise more than $220,000 for Victory Junction, a year-round camping facility in Randleman, North Carolina, for children ages six to 16 with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.

“It was such an honor to have the opportunity to work with Sonny Leonard and his team as they generously volunteered their time to build an engine each year for the Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes,” said PRI Trade Show Director Karin Davidson. “PRI’s condolences are with his family and team at Sonny’s Racing Engines.”

Friends may pay their respects and sign the register, on Wednesday, January 13, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Whitten Timberlake Chapel located at 7404 Timberlake Road in Lynchburg, Virginia. A service celebrating Leonard's life will be held on Thursday, January 14, at 1 p.m., at Thomas Road Baptist Church located at 1 Mountain View Road in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Sonny Leonard, pictured above, at the 2019 PRI Trade Show

McLaren Racing and Formula E have announced an agreement granting McLaren Racing the option to enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship when Formula E’s Gen3 kicks off in Season 9. 

The agreement allows McLaren Racing to enter the Championship as one of a maximum of 12 entries for the 2022-23 season.

Gen3 will take to the track from the 2022-23 season, bringing performance and efficiency advances, including more powerful, lighter cars, faster-charging abilities, and more.

McLaren Racing enjoys a history of success in Formula 1 as well as IndyCar and Le Mans. 

“We’ve been closely observing Formula E for some time and monitoring the series’ progress and future direction. The opportunity to take an option on an entry and the completion of the McLaren Applied supplier contract with the FIA at the end of Gen2 gives us the necessary time to decide if Formula E is right for McLaren as a future competition platform,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said. 

For more information, visit fiaformulae.com.

NHRA has announced the Top Alcohol Funny Car Rules Committee has elected to table the proposal to include an injected nitromethane A/Fuel classification in the Top Alcohol Funny Car class. The announcement comes after careful review and consideration and many hours of discussion regarding public input.
 
“We appreciate those who took time to communicate their thoughts, many of which were very thought out and well compiled,” the committee wrote in a statement. “We thank those that articulately conveyed their thoughts and assisted our Rules Committee members in a very productive manner. We look forward to seeing all of our TAFC competitors at the track in the very near future, as we start our Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series in early February.”

For more information, visit nhra.com.

^{Photo courtesy of NHRA}

Eight NASCAR Cup Series races will be conducted with practice and qualifying in 2021.

A majority of NASCAR national series races last season were held without any on-track pre-race sessions after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-March, a measure taken to streamline events and limit the disease’s spread. Following last year’s racing pause, only one race had qualifying—the Coca-Cola 600.

The following are the Cup Series events for the upcoming season—a mix of high-profile races and events at new venues—where practice and qualifying will be held:

• February 14: Daytona 500
• March 28: Bristol Motor Speedway dirt
• May 23: Circuit of the Americas
• May 30: Coca-Cola 600, Charlotte Motor Speedway
• June 20: Nashville Superspeedway
• July 4: Road America
• August 15: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course
• November 7: Phoenix Raceway

Official weekend schedules — including details on qualifying format and the amount of practice time — have not been released, and the 2021 calendar remains subject to change. Plans to include practice and qualifying at NASCAR Xfinity Series or NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events may be determined later.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

XS Power Batteries, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, has announced the start of operations at its new Las Vegas distribution and manufacturing facility.

Located near McCarren International Airport, the first stage of expansion will include an 8,500-square-foot space that will allow quicker access to all XS Power products for customers in the Western US. Shorter shipping times will also result in less overall package handling and fewer damages.

In addition to a fully staffed shipping hub, the new XS Power facility will be used for the production of SuperBank Ultra Capacitors, Li series lithium batteries, Titan8 lithium batteries, and XV series lithium
batteries.

“Not only are we able to better serve our West Coast customers by providing shorter shipping times, but we are providing more jobs, [plus] more US-made products every single day,” XS Power Sales and Marketing Manager Brady Basner said.

XS Power is the manufacturer and distributor of high-performance batteries, chargers, capacitors, cables, and accessories. It offers AGM lead-acid, lithium, and custom-made power solutions, as well as a complementary line of accessories to the automotive, powersports, marine, and commercial markets
worldwide. 

For more information, visit xspowerbatteries.com.

Wilwood Disc Brakes' racing division has announced the edition of Tommy Strup as the newest outside sales contractor. Strup brings decades of racing experience and braking technology knowledge to the team.

Strup, who has been a regular fixture at race tracks since his early childhood, has owned a race program and worked directly with various race teams, builders, and dealers. He has also worked with Heintz Performance, CV Products, Central High Performance, and Pro-Systems.

A native and long-time resident of Long Island, New York, Tommy now resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. He will report directly to Wilwood Motorsports Manager Dave Brzozowski.

For more information, visit wilwood.com.

A new grassroots racing series is coming to Canada.

Nissan Canada and JD Promotion & Competition have announced the launch of the Nissan Sentra Cup, which builds on Nissan Micra Cup’s six years of success in Canada. 

The Nissan Sentra Cup will be a one-make racing series exclusive to the country, and like the Micra Cup, offers drivers an affordable way to participate in motorsports.

All Nissan Sentra Cup vehicles are built from the Nissan Sentra “S” base model with the six-speed manual transmission. For the complete specifications on the Nissan Sentra Cup vehicles, visit sentracup.com/Sentra-Cup-Nissan-Car.

“There’s a certain thrill in watching motorsport. The great thing about watching one-make racing, in particular, is the gratification of seeing your everyday vehicle driving full tilt in a crowded pack on the track. The Sentra, being one of our most historic nameplates, was redefined with its eighth generation launch, and we’re set to redefine it again through the Nissan Sentra Cup. Let the races begin,” Nissan Canada Director of Marketing Adam Paterson said.

The series launches in May, with visits planned to well-established tracks in Québec and Ontario. A complete 2021 schedule, along with technical regulations, will be announced at a later date. 

Both Sentra Cup and Micra vehicles will share the grid, separated into two classes. Sentra Cup drivers will be at the front of the pack, with the Class Micra drivers positioned behind them. 

Each event will feature the usual top three podium finishes but separated between Micra and Sentra drivers. Micra will also include podium wins for rookies, while the Sentra category will consist of the same for seniors. At the end of the season, there will be one champion for the Sentra Cup and one for the Class Micra. 

For more information on the series, visit sentracup.com.