Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway and the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience (RWRE) have announced a deal that will enhance existing race programs and expand entertainment offerings at the Radford, Virginia motorsports venue.

Under the agreement, which includes a multi-year lease, RWRE will assume control of venue operations. Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway also becomes the home track of the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience and its companion companies, including the Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience.

"Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway is one of the finest grassroots motorsports facilities in the nation. We're excited to confirm a full schedule of racing and could not have picked a better home track for The Rusty Wallace Racing Experience and Pure Speed Drag Racing Experience," said Rusty Wallace. 

"This is an exciting time for the future of Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway," said David Hagan, owner of Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway. "The vision offered by RWRE ensures that the venue will continue to build on its rich past and remain a leading motorsports destination for years to come."

RWRE is one of the country's largest racing schools, offering NASCAR-style driving experiences at over 80 tracks in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005, the North Carolina-based company provides a diverse collection of driving schools.

Motor Mile Speedway will be celebrating its 32nd anniversary as a NASCAR-sanctioned short track in 2021. Motor Mile Dragway has showcased high-speed drag racing action since 2004. 

For more information, visit racewithrusty.com or motormilespeedway.com.

Mountune—the designer and manufacturer of race engines and performance parts with locations in the US and UK—has new owners for its Essex, United Kingdom operation.

David Mountain, the founder of Mountune, together with a group of racing industry investors, has acquired the Mountune Performance and Racing business based in Essex, United Kingdom.

“It gives me enormous pleasure to be able to secure the brand both now, in its 40th year, and for the future,” Mountain said.

The acquisition means the Essex-based business, which was formally part of a global group structure, is now a completely independent business. Mountain said the move would allow the company to operate more efficiently and safeguard many jobs.

“We want to get back to what we do best—making power. Whether that be for our race teams, or for road car customers that like to enjoy their cars to the full every day,” Mountain said.

In the next few months, the UK shop will realign stock levels to meet customer expectations, freshen its in-house installation capability, and release performance products. 

For more information, visit mountunestore.com.

_{Photo courtesy of Mountune}

Mark Carter has joined SPEED SPORT’s executive team as vice president of sales and business development.

Carter will be responsible for developing and managing advertising and sponsor relationships against SPEED SPORT’s portfolio of print, digital, and television media products and services. Carter will also play a key role in developing new business and strategic partnership opportunities.

A veteran of motorsports media, Carter has been a successful innovator at Saatchi & Saatchi, where he managed the Toyota program. At NBC Sports, he served as vice president of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. For the past five years, he has served as the founder of Carter Sports Marketing and worked with clients including NBC Sports, Lucas Oil, Red Bull, USA Surfing, Global Rallycross, Supercross, Motocross, and Joe Gibbs Racing.

“I am extremely excited to be joining the SPEED SPORT family to help grow the business,” Carter said. “The team that Joe (Tripp) and Ralph (Sheheen) have put in place and the vision they have is impressive, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Carter’s primary responsibilities will include managing national agency and corporate relationships, developing new partnership opportunities around SPEED SPORT’s core properties, including its over-the-top streaming network, live event productions, and television and film productions. Carter will also develop and guide SPEED SPORT’s sales team.

“I have long admired Mark’s work and am thrilled that he has joined our team,” said SPEED SPORT CEO Joe Tripp. “The timing couldn’t be better. Our company is growing rapidly, and the kind of leadership, creativity, experience, and passion Mark has will be a huge asset to help steer us toward greater heights going forward.”
 
Carter will be relocating to SPEED SPORT’s headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina. He will report to Tripp and coordinate closely with President Ralph Sheheen.

For more information, visit speedsport.com.

Officials have announced an all-new global motorsports series based on electric crossover road cars. 

With a planned 2022 start date, the new SuperCharge series will target eight events in cities from Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, the Middle East, and the US.

Designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, SuperCharge has been created in consultation with some of the world’s leading car manufacturers. The new racing concept will showcase the next-generation electric road cars--compact SUVs and crossovers--as well as leading-edge battery technologies. 

“Motorsport is at a crossroads,” SuperCharge Managing Director and co-founder Rob Armstrong said. “Alejandro Agag and Jean Todt have done a great job pioneering electric motorsport. With many countries and cities already announcing plans to ban internal combustion-engine cars in the coming years, the need for road car-based electric motorsport is becoming more and more compelling. We believe it is only a matter of time before there are more electric motorsport series. Given this rapidly increasing EV momentum, we believe the timing and appeal of SuperCharge are ideal and see a clear space for it as the road car-relevant motorsport series.”

“SuperCharge takes motorsport into a new and hugely relevant arena, and we can’t wait to spark the series into life across the globe.”

The concept will attract new audiences for electric vehicles, as well as give manufacturers the scope to develop, test, and hone electric car battery technology innovations (including smart energy management systems) and relevant software in real-world racing.

SuperCharge competition will be based on cars recognizable on the outside body as daily electric road cars. Nevertheless, the race cars will offer similar acceleration to a Formula 1 car. They will adopt an electric motor drivetrain on the front axle and one on the rear axle, generating peak power from the battery of up to 500kW (equivalent to around 670bhp) and rocket to 0-100 km/h in a staggering 2.5 seconds.

For more information, visit supercharge.live.

Red Line Synthetic Oil, the provider of performance lubricants, has announced a new virtual event called A Peek into Red Line. 

Designed for racers and automotive enthusiasts, the event features educational sessions created to provide in-depth conversations surrounding its initiatives and the science behind Red Line’s products. 

A Peek into Red Line will give a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into making Red Line’s products, featuring interviews with Red Line Chemist Roy Howell and the company’s sponsored racers Scott Birdsall, James Clay, Paul Lee, Steve Torrence, and more. The individuals will conduct 30-minute live streams and answer questions as time allows. Following the launch of Red Line’s latest antifreeze/coolant product, SuperCool, the event will also feature conversations surrounding the coolant market and offerings.

“With the cancellation of many in-person events this year, we are pleased to bring Red Line right into the homes of our customers and enthusiasts,“ said Justin Johnson, Director of Red Line Synthetic Oil. “Our panel of experts is excited to share their extensive knowledge base and have the opportunity to interact one-on-one with our attendees.”

A Peek into Red Line is free of charge and will occur on Thursday, October 29, from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. PST on Red Line’s official Facebook and YouTube pages. For the schedule of events, visit here. 

For more information on Red Line Synthetic Oil, visit redlineoil.com.

National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame (NDLMHoF) Vice President James Essex has announced the 2021 induction class. The group of new members includes five drivers–two from Iowa and Georgia and one from Kentucky–and three contributors. They will be honored during a ceremony at the Hall of Fame facility in Walton, Kentucky, set for Saturday, August 14, 2021, during North-South 100 weekend at the nearby Florence Speedway.

The NDLMHoF is comprised of drivers and contributors to the sport, including builders and owners. To date, more than 120 drivers, 57 contributors, and many special award winners have been enshrined in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame.

Drivers to be inducted include the late Bob Shryock and Jeff Aikey of Iowa; Wade Knowles and Clint Smith of Georgia; and Kentucky’s Darrell Lanigan. 

The three contributors are chassis builder Audie Swartz, former car owner Bobby Allen, and Arizona Sport Shirts’ Gerald Newton, who also currently serves as the NDLMHoF president.

For more information, visit ndlmhof.com or facebook.com/NDLMHOF.

LIQUI MOLY USA/Canada has announced several new employees as part of its strategy to cope with the impact of COVID-19, according to the company.

“In difficult times, we need not less, but more people to help our customers,” LIQUI MOLY USA/Canada CEO Sebastian Zelger said. “All hands on deck–this is our way of fighting the crisis.”

Since February, LIQUI MOLY USA/Canada has added Neriman Stumpf, Jose Mendoza, Aaron Crosby, Ken Dowler, Selene Ibarra, and Robert McLogan, growing to a total of 41 employees.

The new hires’ responsibilities vary from digital marketing, supporting auto repair shops as they grow their business, improving customer engagement and satisfaction, and continuing to bring LIQUI MOLY’s range of oils, additives, and other automotive chemicals to market.

For more information, visit liqui-moly.us.

NASCAR officials have reinstated Kyle Larson, more than six months after his suspension for the use of a racial slur during an iRacing event.

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) fired Larson on April 14, one day after NASCAR barred him indefinitely as part of a behavioral penalty. Larson was mandated to complete sensitivity training at NASCAR’s direction as a condition for reinstatement, but will also have continued requirements to fulfill to keep his NASCAR membership current.

“NASCAR continues to prioritize diversity and inclusion across our sport,” the sanctioning body said in an official statement. “Kyle Larson has fulfilled the requirements set by NASCAR and has taken several voluntary measures to better educate himself so that he can use his platform to help bridge the divide in our country. Larson’s indefinite suspension has been lifted. Under the terms of his reinstatement, he will be cleared to return to all NASCAR racing activities effective January 1, 2021.”

Those terms for reinstatement include several speaking engagements, spaced out through 2023, where Larson will share his experiences with NASCAR’s weekly series, e-sports, and dirt-racing communities. He will also be required to take further training and engagement classes through 2023, and will continue his work with the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS) and Rev Racing, providing coaching and mentorship for those initiatives.

During his suspension from NASCAR, Larson was a regular winner in sprint car competition, including a series-best 12 victories on the World of Outlaws tour, which required Larson to complete sensitivity training within 30 days of the incident to be cleared for competition. Larson won in USAC’s Silver Crown division, most recently taking the Bettenhausen 100 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

Larson has six victories in 223 NASCAR Cup Series starts. He joined the circuit full-time in 2014 with Ganassi’s operation. The California native has also tallied 12 Xfinity Series wins and two victories in Gander Trucks competition.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Speedmaster, the manufacturing and distribution company with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, and Shanghai, has announced the appointment of Vic Wood as its North American Vice President of Sales.

The well-known aftermarket identity brings four decades of experience to his new role. He will be the “face of Speedmaster” in the US and represent the Speedmaster brand at all levels of sales and distribution. 

“I am really looking forward to the challenge,” said Wood, a native of Australia who lives in Kansas City, Kansas. “The range of products within the scope of Speedmaster is outstanding, and the fact that we have products to suit the weekend hot rodder all the way to the highest levels of performance gives us something for all tastes and needs. To represent an Aussie company at this stage of my career makes me very proud.”

“Selecting the right person to represent the brand is never easy, and Vic ticked all the boxes. Aggressive growth over recent years requires someone with the skill, experience, and expertise to ensure our clients receive the communication and trust they have come to expect from Speedmaster. It’s exciting on many levels for all involved,” Speedmaster CEO Jason Kencevski said. 

For more information, visit speedmaster79.com.

SSC North America, the American hypercar company, has reclaimed the title of world’s “Fastest Production Vehicle” with its 1,750 hp Tuatara. 

The Tuatara reclaims the title from SSC’s Aero TT, which set the bar at 256 mph a decade ago.

With driver Oliver Webb behind the wheel, the record-breaking drive took place outside of Las Vegas near Pahrump, Nevada, along a seven-mile stretch of State Route 160. 

Webb pushed the SSC Tuatara to an average speed of 316.11 mph following two consecutive high-speed test runs of 301.07 mph and 331.15 mph. Following record criteria, the Tuatara traveled in opposite directions, clocking its speeds within one hour.

“It’s been ten years since we held this record with our first car, the Ultimate Aero, and the Tuatara is leagues ahead. Its performance reflects the dedication and focus with which we pursued this achievement,” said Jerod Shelby, CEO of SSC. “We came pretty close to meeting the theoretical numbers, which is astonishing to do in a real-world setting on a public road. America’s new claim to victory in the ‘land-based space race’ is going to be tough to beat.” 

In addition, the SSC Tuatara broke the world records for: “Fastest Flying Mile on a Public Road” at 313.12 mph; 
“Fastest Flying Kilometer on a Public Road” at 321.35 mph; “Highest Speed Achieved on a Public Road” at 331.15 mph.

For more information, visit sscnorthamerica.com.

^{Photo courtesy of SSC North America}