The Volkswagen brand has announced it will terminate its motorsports activities as part of a company realignment. The Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH workforce, which employs 169 people based in Hanover, Germany, will be integrated into Volkswagen AG in Wolfsburg in the coming months.

“The Volkswagen brand is on the way to becoming the leading provider for sustainable e-mobility. To this end, we are pooling our strengths and have decided to terminate the Volkswagen brand’s own motorsport activities,” VW Member of the Board of Management with responsibility for the Development Division Dr. Frank Welsch said. 

Volkswagen Motorsport celebrated over five decades of competition, beginning at Formula V in the 1960s and Formula 3 in the 1970s. Achievements include three Dakar Rally wins with the Race Touareg (2009-2011), four Rally World Championship titles with the Polo R WRC (2013-2016), two TCR International titles with the Golf GTI (2016, 2017), and three Rallycross World Championship titles with the Polo (2017, 2018, 2020). 

Volkswagen holds five international records with the ID.R racing car, including the overall record for Pikes Peak (USA), the electric record for the Nürburgring North Loop (D), and the Tianmen Mountain in China.

“The deep technical expertise of the motorsport employees and the know-how gained from the ID.R project will remain with the company and will help us put further efficient models from the ID. family on the road,” Dr. Welsch said.

Production-ready vehicles such as the Volkswagen Polo, Golf, and Scirocco are often found at the grid at race tracks, as well as at rallycross and rally sport events. 

The long-term supply of spare parts for the Polo GTI R5 and Golf GTI TCR for the racing circuit is secure. Production of the customer sport Polo GTI R5 for rallying expires at the end of 2020.

For more information, visit vw.com.

^{Photo courtesy of Volkswagen}

Ozarks International Raceway, a new 3.98-mile, 19-corner race track in Gravois Mills, Missouri, has been announced. Developed by PF Racing, the facility will feature an asphalt paved track, dirt tri-oval, off-road truck track, as well as trail and rally courses. 

The paved track will be open to all typed of vehicles, inlcuding motorcycles. 

Officials announced plans for track days, a racing school, lapping days and nights, Time Attack events, track rentals, and more. Drift events are also in the works. 

The facility will also be home to a 58-bay car garage, created using renovated turkey barns on the property. Track layout and safety were overseen by Multimatic Motorsports, which utilized GPS profiles with Simulation Driving Machines for the track ribbons before paving. Track owners also tapped a host of local suppliers for plumbing, gravel, wall, tunnel, slab work, and more. 

For more information, visit facebook.com/OzarksInternationalRaceway.

^{Photo by David Zemon courtesy of Ozarks International Raceway, Facebook}

Officials have announced the new SPEARS (SRL) Pro Late Model Series will compete in its inaugural season in 2021. 

The new SPEARS Pro Late Model Series presented by Sigma Performance Services (SPS) will run 10 races, nine in coordination with the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series’ race dates. 

“Both the competitors and sponsors have been pushing for us to sanction a Pro Late Model Series, and everything has come together for the 2021 season,” stated the SRL’s Larry Collins. “Many of our sponsors and media partners have jumped on board to make 2021 a big year for the Pro Late Models, including the Sigma Performance Services winner’s bonus to guarantee a minimum of $3,000 to win at each series event.”

The series will run basic Pro Late Model rules. Marque events include the $15,000-to-win Pro Late Model race at the All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway (February 6) and the $7,600-to-win race and fireworks show at Kern County Raceway on June 26.

The series is supported by Sigma Performance Services, Spears Manufacturing, Hoosier Tire, SUNOCO Race Fuels, FLUIDYNE High Performance, MAVTV, Motor City GMC/GM Performance, KHI Management, and PFC Brakes. Races will be live streamed by SpearsRacing.TV. National television coverage by MAVTV is also scheduled.

For more information, visit here or srlsouthwesttour.com. 

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series has released its 2021 schedule, which features a full slate of crown jewel events. The calendar comes just after the series announced increased purses and points funds for the year. 

“We have set the stage for an incredible 2021 season,” World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter said. “The teams will be racing for unprecedented purses in the recent history of the sport, we’ll be back to racing coast-to-coast, celebrating the 50th annual DIRTcar Nationals, the 60th annual Knoxville Nationals, two Kings Royals, a stellar Jackson Nationals with big-money incentives, and we still have a few more surprises to reveal this winter. We’re definitely looking forward to kicking off a huge new season in February.”

As stated by Carter, the series will run two Kings Royals events, each paying $175,000-to-win from an $800,000 purse. Also scheduled is the 60th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals with a potential $200,000 to the winner; $100,000 is on the line for the Jackson Nationals if the same driver wins the Huset’s 50 ahead of Jackson; and the historic Williams Grove National Open will award $75,000 to the winner from an enhanced payout through the field.

The series kicks off February 5-7 at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida, for the 50th DIRTcar Nationals. The season wraps up with the championship-crowning Can-Am World Finals Nov. 4-6 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

For the complete schedule, visit here. For more information, visit worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/.

^{Photo by Trent Gower courtesy of World of Outlaws}

Bill McAnally Racing has announced the BMR Drivers Academy for the 2021 season. The Academy will allow at least 14 drivers to participate with the 10-time NASCAR and ARCA regional championship-winning organization. 

The competition will encompass 40 races across 18 two-day sessions at five California tracks that include NASCAR national series or weekly venues. 

Drivers will visit All American Speedway in Roseville, Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, and Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield. They will also visit road courses at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma and Thunderhill Raceway in Willows.

The BMR Drivers Academy will compete in full-sized stock cars utilizing a 625 horsepower NASCAR Robert Yates spec engine. The cars are also equipped with the same chassis components as ARCA and the NASCAR Truck Series' vehicles. 

In addition to driver support on track, the BMR program will also provide training in media relations, sponsorship relations, social media, fitness, leadership development, and diet.

For more information, visit bmrdriversacademy.com or bmrnaparacing.com.

^{Photo courtesy of Bill McAnally Racing}

Officials from the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series have announced the series is increasing its single-day and two-day event purses, plus the overall points funds in 2021.

Each race now pays a minimum of $10,000-to-win, while the end-of-season points fund will payout more than $730,000 – about a $90,000 increase from 2020.

Single-day events will payout more than $55,800 in total ($1,000-to-start). Two-day events will payout more than $108,000 in total with the first night paying $5,500 to second-place, $1,850 to 10th and $900-to-start, and the second night paying $6,000 to second, $2,000 to 10th and $1,000-to-start.

Again, the championship will pay out $150,000 between the winning driver and team in 2021, but second-place will now pay $100,000, third paying $60,000, fifth paying $50,000, and 15th paying $13,000.

“We’re excited to provide drivers and teams with an increased purse for the 2021 season, especially after the burdens COVID-19 placed on them in 2020,” World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Director Carlton Reimers said. “The increase is a representation of the Series’ exciting continued growth, our commitment to our competitors, and the growing support from the fans.”

Along with the purse increase, the 2021 season will see the return of several big paying events, including the Aug. 11-14 60th NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville Raceway, which will pay a potential $200,000 to the winner.

For more information, visit worldofoutlaws.com.

^{Photo by Steve Bischoff courtesy of World of Outlaws}

NASCAR has announced the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 2021 schedule, which is highlighted by trips to traditional and new tracks alike, including a new battle in the dirt at an iconic NASCAR track and a second dirt contest at another storied – yet brand-new – venue.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will take to the dirt at Bristol Motor Speedway (March 27), joining the NASCAR Cup Series.

Then, on July 9, trucks will roll into Knoxville Raceway for the first time for what will be a highly anticipated contest on one of the most storied tracks in the country.  

“The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series provides some of the most intense and entertaining competition in all of racing,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy said. “The 2021 iteration of the schedule will build upon that intensity through a wide variety of long-tenured race tracks and new venues like Knoxville Raceway. The variety of disciplines will increase the demand on drivers and culminate with a truly battle-tested champion at Phoenix.”
 
The Camping World Truck Series will kick off 16 national series tripleheader weekends in 2021, including at Circuit of the Americas (May 22) and Nashville Superspeedway (June 18). In addition, the Camping World Truck Series will return to fan-favorite Watkins Glen International for the first time since 2000 on August 7.

The series will also share the stage with the NASCAR Cup Series on Saturday, June 26 in Pocono as all three national series take part in the NASCAR Cup Series doubleheader weekend at the Tricky Triangle.

As was initially scheduled in 2020, World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway will return to host the start of the Playoffs (August 20). Two historic short tracks will determine which drivers continue their Playoffs run, as Bristol Motor Speedway (September 16) trims the field to eight and Martinsville Speedway (October 30) decides which four drivers will race for a championship at Phoenix Raceway (November 5).

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Oil Capital Racing Series (OCRS) owner Kerry Gorby has announced that Terry Mattox has purchased an interest in the series and is now a co-owner. With the announcement, the IMCA-sanctioned 305 Sprint Series of Oklahoma has been merged into OCRS.

Racesaver 305s will be racing wheel-to-wheel with two-barrel sprints under OCRS and IMCA sanction.

Mattox is well known to the racing community in his position as Scheduling Coordinator for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series and owner of the NOW600 Micro Sprint series. Mattox is also involved with the Tulsa Shootout and Chili Bowl Midget Nationals, where he serves as flagman. He also promotes various events under the Terry Mattox Promotions banner.

“When Kerry bought [OCRS] from Barry Grabel, I was kind of an advisor, and now going into 2021, I had the opportunity to buy into OCRS,” Mattox said. “With the allowing of the 5x5 wings and the 305s, I thought, why not take a shot at it as it could be something bigger going down the road.

“I grew up with the series and it has been part of my life so I am glad to be involved in it even more now.” 

For more information, visit ocrsracing.net.

PerTronix Performance Brands has announced that industry veteran Jenna Jefferies has joined the company as its new national account manager. 

Jefferies previously spent 18 years at K&N as the national account manager and two years at Pilot Automotive as the vice president of sales. 

Jefferies will be responsible for growing national account revenue and providing new product feedback to the PerTronix engineering team in her new role. She comes from a motorsports family and is passionate about desert off-road racing. 

Jefferies was also honored by the SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) as its SHEIsSEMA Woman of the Year for 2020. 

For more information, visit pertronixbrands.com.

Pit Pal Products is the leader in outfitting trailers, shops, and garages with high-quality aluminum products to fulfill your organization needs. Why Pit Pal? They offer hundreds of storage solutions for not only racers but homes and businesses worldwide. Outfit your trailer with the original organizers and long-lasting products to store your race gear securely in your trailer and assist in having a great race season. Pit Pal gets you organized with cabinets, shelves, brackets, tables, ramps, steps, and more. 

Jody Schmeisser and Dave Devito built Pit Pal in their home garage as young men looking for a solution for all the “stuff” tripping them up in their race trailer. With little equipment, and a lot of manpower, they produced the first door cabinet in 1982, and the rest is history. The cabinet became sought after at the race track, and their inventory grew.

With 39 years in business and being racers themselves, Pit Pal understands racers’ needs for keeping gear organized and trailers in working order at the track. A trusted brand with products made to last a lifetime; all Pit Pal products are innovated and designed in house specifically for the motorsports industry. Pit Pals works closely with customers to meet their racing needs and design the storage solutions they are looking for. The entire manufacturing process from cutting raw material to final assembly and shipment is done at the Pit Pal facility in Zion, Illinois.

Just got a new trailer? Pit Pal should be your first call! Cabinets may be what got Pit Pal in the business, but the company also offers dozens of top-selling “must-haves.” Its trailer loading ramps, secure jack holders, and storage brackets are just a few. Take your pick of shelves to get those cases of oil quarts off the floor or to keep your aerosol cleaners neat and handy. Tie-down hangers and fuel storage are available, too. Pit Pal’s customers include trailer manufacturers, motorsport distributors, auto shops, municipalities, and companies in the health industry. Pit Pals offer hundreds of ways to help you get organized.

There is no PRI Show this year, but Pit Pals Products is still here to help you make the best of your workspace. 2020 has been a difficult year for all. Races were postponed or canceled. Plans were changed. But with a versatile product line, Pit Pals has been able to direct attention to PPE storage solutions. Pit Pal has also noticed customers outfitting more garages and shops as opposed to trailers due to the pandemic shutdowns. 

Pit Pal Products has recently announced its amazing holiday deals coming in December, but its BLACK FRIDAY deals start today! (November 25-29, 2020).

Call for a free catalog to start making your Christmas list! All products manufactured and hand TIG-welded out of heavy gauge American aluminum in Zion, Illinois. Pit Pal Products looks forward to outfitting your needs. Make sure your products are stamped with the Pit Pal logo. Made in the USA. 

Call Pit Pal Products at 1-888-748-7257 or visit pitpal.com for more information. Don’t see what you need? Pit Pal Products builds customs too. You dream it; they build it! 

Pit Pal Products wishes you a safe, healthy, and organized holiday season.