Performance Racing Industry (PRI) has launched a new program to help track promoters navigate evolving and often confusing local, state, and federal rules that will allow them to keep their tracks running. Through the Ambassador Program, PRI is actively reaching out to track operators throughout the country to help them reopen and host events.

"Race tracks play a vital role within the industry, so it's imperative that we help them reopen as soon as possible," said PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer. "With the PRI Ambassador Program, we’ve teamed up with Gene Bergstrom, Tom Deery, and Frank Hawley to embark on a nationwide outreach campaign. We are committed to connecting with and helping as many tracks as possible."

The Ambassador Program is part of PRI’s dedication to helping the racing industry return to business following the COVID-19 shutdown. Other resources, which include updated legislative advocacy and representation, updated information on guidelines and federal aide, and a list of tracks that have reopened, are available at PerformanceRacing.com. Track operators are also encouraged to contact the PRI Track Promoter Helpline (202-794-8279; racinghelp@performanceracing.com) for help in keeping their race tracks open.

"The PRI Government Affairs team has been focused on lobbying and working closely with federal, state, and local governments to get tracks back up and running," said Meyer. "The Ambassador Program will provide us with feedback and a good understanding of what track operators need in order for the advocacy team to successfully assist."

In addition to outreach from Bergstrom, Deery, and Hawley, the Ambassador Program will include a webinar series at 1 p.m. EST on July 28 to discuss topics currently affecting track promoters throughout the country. Track operators, sanctioning bodies, racers, and builders who would like to learn more about PRI's efforts and resources and the ambassadors' experiences helping tracks reopen can register for the webinar here.

To contact PRI, interested members of the racing community are encouraged to visit performanceracing.com or contact mail@performanceracing.com.

BBS GmbH, the wheel manufacturer based in Schiltach, Germany, has filed for bankruptcy, according to a company statement that also cited the coronavirus lockdown as a reason for the announcement. 

Filing for bankruptcy was a "necessary step to prevent an imminent insolvency within the coming months due to the sudden omission of confirmed payments," according to BBS.

"This financial hardship hits us hard during the year of our 50th anniversary," the written statement said. "However, the key message we want to deliver... is that the BBS production keeps on running–the supply of all our OE and AM customers with BBS wheels is secured." 

BBS plans to continue an "extensive turnaround strategy for the whole company," which was implemented before filing for bankruptcy. The company has also appointed two insolvency administrators, one of which previously assisted in the restructuring of the business after it filed for bankruptcy in 2011. 

For more information, visit BBS.com/en.

Knoxville Raceway, the iconic semi-banked 1/2-mile in Knoxville, Iowa, is set to host the first-ever “Christmas in July” celebration on Saturday, July 25. 

“We’re really excited to add a little joy and festiveness to everyone’s race weekend,” Knoxville Raceway Director of Marketing Kendra Jacobs said. “This year has been rough for a lot of different reasons, but adding a little holiday celebration, Christmas lights and Santa Claus on 'Christmas in July' night will hopefully be something different and fun that the fans and community enjoy.”

The race will feature Jersey Freeze/Dennison Racing Tee's Knoxville Championship Series 410s, 360s, and Pace Pro Sprints.

“Christmas in July” will also feature holiday-themed events, including Santa Claus passing out gifts to children, Christmas music, and a tree decoration contest for charity. 

Tickets will be available at the track ticket office on race day. For more information, visit KnoxvilleRaceway.com.

Based on policies and procedures put into effect by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS), officials announced that attendance for the 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, Aug. 23, will be approximately 25% of capacity. Face coverings will be required for all attendees.

Ticket sales will not be permitted after Friday, July 24.

IMS has also prepared a detailed, nearly 100-page plan that provides guidelines and protocols for how the race will be run this year. The plan will be released publicly Wednesday, July 22, ahead of a conference call with Speedway officials. A media advisory with details surrounding the conference call will follow.

“In June, we announced the race was on and that attendance would be limited to no more than 50% of capacity,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President & CEO Mark Miles. “We also made clear we intended to do things differently this year. By offering credits to fans who had previously purchased tickets, encouraging those over 65 to stay at home, limiting attendance in the infield, reducing tickets in our suites and promising fans their decision to not attend would not impact their seniority or right to renew tickets for 2021, we now anticipate attendance at approximately 25% of capacity. We will welcome fans back, and we have an aggressive plan in place, which has been developed through collaboration with national, state and local health experts.”

Indy officials have made clear this year’s race will include numerous safety precautions, including the reassignment of seats to provide for greater distancing; the issuance and required use of masks, distribution of hand sanitizer to all who enter; temperature checks in order to enter; and changes throughout the facility to minimize lines and gathering spots, including limiting options from concession stands to mostly pre-packaged foods. Numerous other changes will also be in place.

“We want to demonstrate that even under current circumstances, people can gather with carefully planned procedures in place so we don’t have to go back to shutting down our country and our community,” Miles said.  

For more information, visit IndianapolisMotorSpeedway.com.

_{Photo by Joe Skibinski, courtesy of IMS}

National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) officials have announced a third date for the NHRA Indy Nationals set for Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis on August 6-9. The four-day race will feature a mix of professional and sportsman racing headlined by the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, E3 Spark Plugs Pro Mod Series presented by J&A Service, and the Mountain Motor Pro Stock class will also compete.

Per Indiana guidelines, limited spectators will be allowed. Fans can purchase tickets online at NHRA.com/schedule/2020, and view guidelines at NHRA.com/fans. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

View a running list of race series and sanctioning body organization updates here. 

Travis Pastrana, active Global RallyCross Championship competitor and "Nitro Circus" star, has proposed a new racing facility in Sudlersville, Maryland. 

Dubbed Circuit 199, the 124-acre land would house a paved rallycross course, an action sports progression park, and a year-round bicycle, skateboard, and scooter track. 

"My goal is to construct a permanent course where we can build rallycross from the ground up,” Pastrana said to The Capital Gazette. “I want to show the world what rally racing can be when done right.”

Pastrana will oversee the design, creation, and testing of the course. 

For more information, visit Circuit199.com.
 

Series organizer TOCA has released the official calendar for the 2021 British Touring Car Championship.

Following the condensed 2020 campaign, the BTCC will reprise a 30-round schedule featuring nine of the UK’s renowned circuits.

Returning to a similar format to 2019, Brands Hatch Indy will bookend the season, while the Hampshire circuit of Thruxton will once again host a second event alongside its regular May date.

“Well, this is certainly a new first for the BTCC--issuing the following year’s calendar before the current season has even begun… but I’m sure everyone will agree that it’s nice to see some ‘normality’ returning to the schedule,” BTCC Chief Executive Alan Gow said. 

“Having said that, with our first 2020 event now less than two weeks away at Donington Park, there is phenomenal enthusiasm for getting this season underway amongst our teams, supporters, and partners.”

2021 British Touring Car Championship Calendar
Rounds/Date/Venue

1,2,3/April 3-4 /Brands Hatch (Indy)

4,5,6/April 17-18/Donington Park (National)

7,8,9/May 8-9/Thruxton

10,11,12/May 15-16/Oulton Park (Island)

13,14,15/June 12-13/Croft

16,17,18/July 31-August 1/Snetterton (300)

19,20,21/August 14-15/Knockhill

22,23,24/August 28-29/Thruxton

25,26,27/September 25-26/Silverstone (National)

28,29,30/October 9-10/Brands Hatch (Grand Prix)
 

Milltronics USA, Inc., a division of HURCO, has announced a new partnership agreement with EMEC Machine Tools, Inc. for the distribution, service, and support of Milltronics Machine Tools across the Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec provinces in Canada.

“Canada has always been an important market for Milltronics. And while we always want to partner with a distributor that can help us sell machines, we really focus on those that do a great job taking care of the customer. EMEC has the capability and the track record of doing just that--before, during, and after the sale,” Milltronics USA General Manager Louie Pavlakos said. 

Milltronics USA is based in Waconia, Minnesota, and is a supplier of machine tools serving job shops, tool rooms, tool and die, and other metal-cutting customers worldwide. 

EMEC has a combined team of 20 technicians between its Mississauga and the Montreal offices. Both locations will display working Milltronics machines in its showrooms, prepare time-studies, host educational seminars, and more.

For more information, visit Milltronics.com or EMECmt.com.

Prestoria Racing Association (PRA) Tours officials have announced leadership changes, effective immediately. Renee Hackett has left the organization to devote more time to her real estate business. Because of this change, motorsports veteran Randy Myers will continue as the competition director, but will also assume control of day-to-day operations. Veteran short track announcer Alan Dietz will also serve as the public relations director.

"We would like to thank Renee [Hackett] for her years of service and wish her the best in her future endeavors," PRA Tours President and Caraway Speedway owner Darren Hackett said. "I have had to move quickly to hire a new team of leadership that can hit the ground running so that we can continue the things we have going at Prestoria Motorsports and the PRA Tours brand. It's the first time in 43 years that the Hacketts have looked outside the family for leadership and hopefully, history will be kind to the decision." 

The PRA Tours 2020 season will launch Saturday, August 1, at Caraway Speedway in North Carolina. The PRA 602 Tour Super Limited and 602 Tour Modifieds will be featured, along with Limited Late Model/Challengers, Mini Stocks, and U-Cars. PRA Tours is working with local health officials to allow limited fan attendance in the grandstands based on CDC social distancing guidelines. 

"I look forward to working with everyone to make August 1 a great event," Hackett said. 

For more information, visit PRATours.com.

National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) officials have announced that Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series competition at both the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil (Aug. 7-9) at Bandimere Speedway and the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals event (Aug. 14-16) at Brainerd International Raceway have been postponed. 

The West Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series division event, originally scheduled to be run in conjunction with the Brainerd national event, has also been canceled. 

Competitors currently entered for either or both of the postponed national events will retain their entries. The entry site will remain open for both events, allowing competitors to enter and withdraw.

Also, as a result of the new Mello Yello Series event at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis on Aug. 6-9, the scheduled North Central Division Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series doubleheader event set for the same date will now be consolidated to a single division event.

For more information, visit NHRA.com.