NASCAR has relaunched its weekly racing series as the NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts, a strategic reframing of its longstanding grassroots racing platform designed to more clearly reflect the vital role local short tracks play in communities across the United States and Canada.

Formerly known as the NASCAR Weekly Series, the NASCAR Local Racing Series places renewed emphasis on the competitive, community-driven racing that serves as the foundation of the sport. The updated identity simplifies how grassroots racing is presented to fans, partners and communities, while reinforcing NASCAR's long-standing commitment to local competitors and hometown tracks.

"Local short tracks are the heartbeat of NASCAR--they're where raw talent is developed, hard-nosed competition is on full display, and the next generation of stars earns its stripes," said Joey Dennewitz, managing director of NASCAR Regional. "Week after week, these drivers compete in intense, high-level racing environments that demand skill, resilience and respect for the craft. The NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts captures the authenticity, toughness and community pride that define grassroots racing, while presenting it in a way that is clearer and more accessible for fans and partners alike. This platform celebrates the tracks and communities where racing isn't just something you watch--it's something you live."

As part of the launch, O'Reilly Auto Parts has been named the exclusive entitlement partner of the NASCAR Local Racing Series, further deepening its long-standing relationship with NASCAR, which includes the title sponsorship of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.

"O'Reilly Auto Parts has a deep-rooted passion in providing excellent customer service and helping customers keep their cars in great condition, whether it's in local racing or regular commuters" said Hugo Sanchez, vice president of marketing and advertising at O'Reilly Auto Parts. "From local short tracks to the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and throughout the country, our commitment to NASCAR fans and our customers spans the full spectrum. Powering the NASCAR Local Racing Series allows us to continue supporting racers, teams and local communities."

In addition to O'Reilly Auto Parts' entitlement partnership, Grizzly Nicotine Pouches, a brand of American Snuff Company, will serve as a significant partner to local tracks within the NASCAR Local Racing Series footprint, providing additional support through signage and market-level activations.

The NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O'Reilly Auto Parts will continue to sanction weekly racing at tracks across North America, serving as a critical entry point for emerging drivers and a cornerstone of NASCAR's driver development pathway. You can watch NASCAR local races all season on FloRacing.

For more information, visit NASCAR.com/Regional.

Image courtesy of NASCAR | Darren McCollester/Getty Images

Phil Krueger, a veteran of two Indianapolis 500 starts, died February 9 in Indianapolis. He was 74.

Krueger, a native of Milwaukee, competed in the "500" in 1986 and 1988, finishing eighth in 1988 in the No. 97 CNC Systems Sales March-Cosworth fielded by R. Kent Baker Racing.

The performance in 1988 also earned the talented mechanic and fabricator the Clint Brawner Mechanical Excellence Award for his work guiding the 2-year-old car and the team's all-new crew to a top-10 finish. After his driving career, Krueger worked as an engine builder, mechanic, and crew chief.

Krueger was a regular competitor in May at Indianapolis Motor Speedway throughout the 1980s, turning laps every year from 1981-89 with small, low-budget teams with older equipment. He failed to qualify from 1983-85 and in 1989, and he didn't attempt to qualify in his first attempt at the race in 1981 or in 1982 and 1987 due to crashes in practice.

His Month of May in 1987 symbolized his hard luck and perseverance at the Speedway. Krueger started the month as the chief mechanic for the Raynor Motorsports entry for Dennis Firestone. Krueger climbed into the team's backup car as a driver after Firestone crashed and suffered a broken foot in the team's primary car.

Krueger clipped the wall between Turns 1 and 2 in practice, damaging the rear suspension. He led repairs to the car and attempted to qualify on Bump Day. His opening lap of 203.920 mph was on pace to make the field, but he crashed in Turn 1 on his second lap and didn't qualify. Still, Krueger earned the Jigger Award that year for his determination amid hard luck during May.

He started his career in endurance karts in his teens. In 1977, with a $200 budget in his pocket, he began competing in the USAC Mini-Indy Series.

Krueger then competed in Super Vee and Formula Ford while also learning how to build and fabricate Indy cars when not racing. His driving and mechanical skill helped him climb to CART in 1981, and he made 23 career INDYCAR SERIES starts between 1981-91. His best finish was fifth in the 1988 Michigan 500 among his seven career top-12 finishes.

After his driving career, Krueger worked as an engine builder, mechanic and crew chief.

Pictured: Andy Voelkel (left) and Jonathan Fiello (right).
 

Phoenix, Arizona-based piston ring and engine sealing solution manufacturer Total Seal Piston Rings has named Jonathan Fiello as vice president of development and Andy Voelkel as its new director of marketing.

Fiello joins Total Seal with more than two decades of experience in the automotive aftermarket with deep expertise in performance parts engineering, product development and technical leadership from his tenure as chief engineering officer at K&N Engineering and vice president at First Brands Group, overseeing brands including FRAM, Autolite and Carter. 

He is also an accomplished inventor with multiple automotive patents, and a veteran drag racer who has built and competed with his own race vehicles.

Voelkel, in his new role of director of marketing, will lead Total Seal's global marketing strategy, brand positioning, content development and customer engagement initiatives.

Professionally, Voelkel has built a career around automotive-focused marketing, digital storytelling and brand development, and has worked alongside performance brands Ridetech, Baer Brakes and Lingenfelter Performance Engineering through motorsports partnerships, content creation and experiential marketing.

For more information, visit totalseal.com.

NASCAR has formed a new partnership with POET, a producer of biofuels, naming the company the Official Bioethanol Partner of NASCAR.

As part of the agreement, NASCAR will become the first major motorsports series to utilize zero-carbon bioethanol in combination with its existing fuel partner Sunoco, reinforcing the sport's commitment to innovation, performance, and healthy environments in accordance with its NASCAR IMPACT goals.

The partnership also delivers two highly visible integrations across NASCAR. Beginning this season, POET will serve as the sponsor of the "POET Restart Zone" at all NASCAR-owned tracks, bringing the brand into one of the most intense and action-packed moments of each race. Additionally, POET branding will appear on all NASCAR fuel cans, alongside long-time Official NASCAR Fuel Partner Sunoco, further embedding bioethanol into the sport's competitive fabric.

"The partnership with POET reflects our commitment to leverage our platform as a real-world proving ground for innovation," said Eric Nyquist, chief impact officer, NASCAR. "As the world's largest biofuel producer, POET's industry-leading technology will bring zero carbon bioethanol to our Sunoco race fuel blend, helping to drive performance on and off the track for NASCAR."

POET produces more than 3 billion gallons of bioethanol annually, leveraging cutting-edge biotechnology and homegrown agricultural resources to create American-made fuel that strengthens domestic energy independence and supports rural communities nationwide, according to the company.

Bioethanol's high-octane properties enhance engine performance while contributing to lower carbon intensity and cleaner combustion--benefits that support a healthier environment for drivers, crew members, and fans. For NASCAR, it also represents a home fuel advantage, pairing a great American sport with energy produced by American farmers and manufacturers, the sanctioning body said.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Long Beach, California-based Formula DRIFT is relaunching FD Studios to create content at the highest level.

Longtime staff members Joyce Leung and Teo Corrales have been appointed co-directors of FD Studios, in charge of developing the entire Formula DRIFT content strategy, including sponsor-related content plus managing usage, broadcast and copyright matters.

Additionally, the pair will manage a roster of media personnel to develop and distribute stories and content from both the FD PRO and PROSPEC Championships.

"We're excited to enter this new chapter with FD Studios and look forward to producing fresh and engaging content for the fans to enjoy," said Leung. 

"FD Studios in 2026 will be telling compelling, original stories, creating lasting memories and showcasing every layer of the Formula DRIFT eco-system within the world of drifting," Corrales added.

With FD Studios already in operation, it has announced Larry Chen Photography as the first agency to sign up as a content creator. The team managed by the photographer and videographer will provide FD Studios with both production capability and the unique eye of the Formula DRIFT Hall of Fame recipient, Larry Chen.

"Formula DRIFT has always been my home. I started photographing in 2006 and the series has given me and my team the ideal environment to practice, hone our craft and push our creativity without limitations," said Chen. "It's been an absolute honor to be the official photographer since 2012, and after all these years, it makes sense for us to also provide video content to the series, showcasing professional drifting in the most beautiful and awe-inspiring way possible with cinematic motion pictures and incredible slow-motion clips. We'll strive to ensure our video content will be the best representation of Formula DRIFT in order to help the series grow since video is often how people around the world learn about professional drifting. I'm looking forward to pushing what's possible with Formula DRIFT content in 2026 and beyond."

"By relaunching FD Studios, we've empowered two of our longstanding team members, who've repeatedly proven themselves capable and ready to head our internal studio, to lead this new initiative. Their roles will focus on content generation with a strong underlying narrative to impart the strength of the Formula DRIFT brand," said Formula DRIFT President Ryan Sage. "I could not be more thrilled to build the studio within the walls of our HQ. And in partnership with Larry Chen Photography, our foundation is already strong and capable of moving at the pace needed to keep up with one of the fastest-moving action sports series in the world."

Content creators and media agencies wishing to collaborate with FD Studios can contact them directly at FDstudios@formulad.com. 

For more information, visit formulad.com.

Porsche Carrera Cup North America will race on Pirelli tires through a multi-year agreement that makes the brand the official tire supplier for the one-make series.

The announcement also marks the first time in the six-year history of Porsche Carrera Cup North America that the championship will utilize the brand on track.

The agreement follows a recent announcement that Pirelli has developed the P Zero R and the P Zero Trofeo RS in bespoke fitments for the road-going Porsche 911 GT3. Porsche Carrera Cup North America will use the P Zero DHG tire, which debuted across all Pirelli-served GT championships worldwide in 2025. Should the Porsche Carrera Cup North America field need to run on a wet tire, it will rely on the Pirelli Cinturato WHB, the standard wet-weather tire for all GT classes since 2025.

The 2026 season officially begins at Sebring International Raceway alongside the IMSA WeatherTech Championship Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, March 18-20 in Sebring, Florida.

For more information, visit racing.porsche.com.

Pictured above: Jim Oberhofer (left), Nicky Boninfante (center) and Jon Oberhofer (right).
 

Brothers Jim and Jon Oberhofer will lead Rick Ware Racing (RWR) for the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, where the duo will serve as the crew chiefs for Top Fuel drivers Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican. Joining them as co-crew chief for both entries will be NHRA veteran Nicky Boninfante.

Jim Oberhofer had been Millican's crew chief since 2022 and when RWR acquired the team in 2023, Jim remained in the role and an integral part of the operation, which has gone on to win five Top Fuel event victories, including the 2024 U.S. Nationals. With the addition of eight-time Top Fuel champion Tony Schumacher to RWR for the final seven races of 2025, Jim was moved to crew chief of Schumacher's No. 15 American Communications Construction dragster.

Jon Oberhofer comes to RWR from Kalitta Racing, where he rose from cylinder head specialist to co-crew chief for multiple championship-winning Top Fuel and Funny car drivers.

For more information, visit www.wareracing.com.

The RUSH Late Model Series has released its schedule for the 2026 Touring Series. 

The season will include a minimum of 20 events at 12 different speedways, all paying between $4,000 and $20,000 to-win, and a $76,200 point fund with $20,000 to the champion.

Highlighting the schedule is the Series' crown jewel $20,000 to-win Bill Emig Memorial, which returns to Lernerville Speedway (PA) in conjunction with the Firecracker 100 weekend in June. Other returning marquee events include the Jook George Steel City Classic and "Bill Hendren Memorial" events at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's PA Motor Speedway. Mansfield Speedway (OH) will be a new venue, while Georgetown, Sharon, Woodhull and Marion Center will all return to the schedule after an absence.

For more information, visit rushlatemodels.com. 

See the full 2026 schedule below:

Schedule is subject to change; courtesy of the RUSH Late Model Series 

Officials with the Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod presented by Red Line Oil have announced a lucrative $25,000 winner's purse headlines the Pro 10.5 Challenge during the February 26-28 event at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Manatee County, Florida. In addition to racing for one of the richest payouts in class history, competitors will also decide the inaugural DI Winter Series presented by J&A Service Pro 10.5 champion, with the champion earning a $5,000 bonus and a custom baseball bat from Victus Sports as a one-of-a-kind trophy.

"This is a big moment for Pro 10.5," said Wes Buck, Drag Illustrated founder and Winter Series promoter. "We've watched the class bring incredible energy and car counts to the World Series of Pro Mod the last two years, so bringing them into the full three-race Winter Series for the 2025-2026 season felt like the natural next step. Rewarding the drivers who’ve supported the series by adding a championship element takes it to the next level. Big thanks to Tom Kasper, Kasper Performance Edge and everyone at Victus Sports for helping to make it all possible."

The World Series of Pro Mod will also crown a $150,000 Pro Mod winner, as well as the 2025-2026 Winter Series Pro Mod champion. The event lineup also includes True 10.5, Lil Gangstas and much more. 

Tickets for the World Series of Pro Mod are on sale now. Visit TheWinterSeries.com/tickets to purchase tickets. 

Graphic courtesy of Drag Illustrated World Series of Pro Mod

SEMA and PRI are sponsoring legislation to provide more certainty in the process by which the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approves aftermarket emissions products seeking clearance to be sold in the state.

Senate Bill 1069, authored by Sen. Tim Grayson, D-Concord, would provide specific timelines to which CARB must adhere when manufacturers navigate the board's Executive Order (EO) process. EOs for aftermarket parts ensure companies are in compliance with CARB emissions standards and serve to greenlight the manufacturing, sale or installation of an aftermarket product in California. Under the bill, companies would be refunded a portion of the application costs incurred if the time it takes to receive an EO becomes unreasonable.

• The application to receive a CARB EO was once free, with fees later added to help speed the process and enable the hiring of staff who could facilitate the review of these applications. But despite this administrative support provided via the monetary investment of applicants, the process continues to lag and deprive well-meaning companies of their opportunity to reach the California market with their innovative, emissions-compliant products.
   

According to SEMA research, it currently can take CARB 12-18 months to approve EOs and sometimes up to two years. Businesses cannot afford to wait that long to bring products to market.

"This is a necessary bill for lawmakers to prove to their constituents that they're serious about clean air in California and providing small businesses with a pathway to thrive. SEMA has invested heavily to support aftermarket businesses that seek to serve the California marketplace with innovative products that adhere to state and federal emissions laws. We have known for a long time that the CARB EO process is in sore need of reform; it is slow, costly, and wrought with administrative delays that are a disservice to companies and consumers. We thank Senator Grayson for authoring this bill, which encourages companies to continue their good-faith efforts to adhere to California laws, while improving compliance and ensuring that California consumers have access to the cleanest aftermarket products available," said SEMA CEO Mike Spagnola.

"California's automotive enthusiasts deserve the opportunity to buy these products for their cars and trucks, and the path must be cleared for businesses that have committed to work to meet our state's standards," said Sen. Grayson. "When I attend the SEMA Show, I always marvel at the innovation brought forth by the automotive aftermarket, highlighted by advanced, clean-emissions products for consumers' vehicles. Supporting car culture is not a zero-sum game with environmental stewardship and this bill reflects that--a tangible path toward cleaner air, business success and consumer satisfaction."

ABOUT THE BILL

The legislation will provide the following reforms:

• After companies submit their applications for an EO, CARB would have 30 days to state whether the application is in order, and then 60 more days to approve or deny the application.
• If an application is denied, CARB is to provide the applicant a list of reasons for the denial; applicants will then have a 30-day "cure" period to keep an application on track.
• If CARB fails to adhere to this reasonable timeline, applicants are entitled to a 50% refund of their fees.
   

Fees for CARB EOs can reach thousands of dollars. Currently, those fees are:

• $500 for companies with fewer than 100 employees, and
• $1,000 for companies with 100 or more employees.
   

Analysis conducted for 2025 by the SEMA Garage shows that aftermarket companies pay $1,600-$3,200 per product for which they seek an EO, based on an average of 3.2 application breakouts, which result in three distinct charges for the same product.

• In some examples, there are enough breakouts to cost companies well beyond $20,000 for a single product. Such cases force companies to make difficult decisions over whether to even apply for coverage on all their products.
   

BACKGROUND

SEMA has invested more than $30 million in the past ten years to help the aftermarket industry with emissions compliance. SEMA has two emissions compliance centers--Diamond Bar, California, and Plymouth, Michigan--with each offering a suite of aftermarket product testing optimized with state-of-the-art testing equipment. SEMA has made it its mission to hire experienced professional emissions staff to educate the industry and its members on emissions issues and the need for compliance.

In California, SEMA works with CARB to issue EOs.

• SEMA's Diamond Bar, California, Emissions Compliance Center, part of the SEMA Garage, is recognized by CARB as a Certification Ready Automotive Emissions Testing Laboratory. This facility is integral to SEMA's work with CARB, offering SEMA members a complete product development resource, geared toward manufacturers and providing assistance in all aspects of securing CARB EOs and EPA emissions compliance to demonstrate that vehicles are emissions-compliant after a product is installed.
   

Over the last ten years, SEMA has assisted with approximately 50% of all aftermarket EOs issued by CARB, and its compliance team has completed over 800 CARB EO applications for members. The SEMA Garage helps our member companies and other aftermarket businesses to test and sell emissions-compliant products.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock | Robert Schlie