The Pennsylvania House of Representatives introduced PRI-supported legislation (H.B. 2489) that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s emergency Business Closure Order does not allow any recreational activity businesses, such as spectator sports, to operate. The bill requires such activities to adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the House Committee on State Government.

For more information or contact lawmakers in support of this legislation, click here.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

Photo courtesy of NASCAR, Pocono Raceway

Details of the joint draft technical regulations for Le Mans Daytona “h” (LMDh), which will be eligible for the top category of international sports car racing in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, were released to interested automotive manufacturers and chassis constructors. 

The comprehensive and detailed regulations are the result of many months of collaborative work by the technical departments of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), together with more than a dozen automotive manufacturers and the four nominated chassis constructors (Dallara, Ligier, Multimatic and Oreca).
 

Following a joint press conference at Daytona International Speedway in January announcing plans for convergence, a full detailed public presentation of the technical regulations was originally intended to be held in March at Sebring, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, the presentation was made to interested automotive manufacturers and chassis constructors last week using WebEx remote group presentation software technology.

The global description of the LMDh platform will correspond to the following points:

• LMDh is a common car created by ACO-IMSA and able to race in both WEC and IMSA 
• LMDh based on a cost-capped car and will have the same spine (spine = complete car without bodywork, engine, hybrid) as the next generation of Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) 
• Only mainstream automotive manufacturers (associated with one of the four chassis constructors) can homologate a LMDh car 

The cars will feature: 

• A manufacturer branded and stylized bodywork 
• A manufacturer-branded engine 
• A common single source rear wheel drive hybrid system 
• A minimum homologation period of five (5) years 

The basis of the joint regulations to govern the new LMDh category is comprised of the following points: 

• Minimum car weight at 1030 kg 
• 500 kW peak of combined power (sum of power resulting from internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid system) 
• One bodywork package with identical aerodynamic performance 
• Single tire supplier (i.e. Michelin) 
• Global BoP to harmonize the overall performance of the LMDh and LMH cars

The introduction of LMDh race cars continues to be targeted in the 2022 racing season for both the ACO and IMSA. Final regulations are anticipated to be released on or before the 24 Hours of Le Mans in September 2020.

For more information, visit fiawec.com.

The 2020 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season will begin Saturday, June 6, with the Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway. INDYCAR's stars will take the green flag at 8:45 p.m. (ET), with broadcast coverage provided by NBC Sports via NBCSN.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, INDYCAR will run a condensed schedule with practice, qualifying, and the race taking place on the same day. The event also will be conducted without fans in attendance. This will be the 24th consecutive year in which INDYCAR has raced at the 1.5-mile oval in Fort Worth, Texas.

"We're excited and ready to kick off the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season at Texas Motor Speedway," INDYCAR President Jay Frye said. "We've worked closely with Eddie Gossage, the entire TMS team and public health officials on a plan of action that will ensure the safety of our event participants alongside an exciting return to competition for our drivers, teams, and viewers tuning in from around the world."

"America needs live sports and they are not going to believe what they see when the Genesys 300 storms into their living rooms on TV from Texas," said Eddie Gossage, president and general manager of Texas Motor Speedway. "One of the world's greatest sporting events, the Indy 500, has been postponed until August by [the] coronavirus, so all of that pent-up energy, anticipation, frustrations, and anxiety will be pounding through the drivers' nervous systems. Typically, the Genesys 300 results in a 220-mph photo finish."

Other steps to protect the well-being of participants have been identified through close consultation with TMS and public health officials. These include:

• Strict access guidelines limiting the number of personnel on site

• A health screening system administered to all participants

• PPE equipment provided to everyone entering the facility, along with guidelines on usage

• Social distancing protocols in place and carefully maintained

• Revised competition layout to increase distancing

To accommodate the one-day schedule, the length for the race at Texas Motor Speedway has been adjusted to 200 laps rather than the previously announced 248 laps. The full on-track schedule for the Genesys 300:

• NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice: 1:30-3:30 p.m. (ET) 

• NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifications: 5 p.m. (ET)

• Genesys 300 at Texas Motor Speedway: 8:45 p.m. (ET)

The remainder of the updated, 15-race INDYCAR calendar for 2020, announced early April, remains on schedule for competition. For more information, visit indycar.com.

WISSOTA Promoters Association Inc. and its board of directors have announced the suspension of its national points season in an effort to encourage drivers to race locally, according to a series press release.
 
"Much like small businesses across the world have been negatively impacted by the virus, our member tracks and the drivers that support them have experienced drastic changes to their everyday life. The decision to suspend the national points season, until further notice, comes out of the need of the organization to support and promote local racing for the local promoter and local economies in this time of crisis," WISSOTA Executive Director Carson Gramm said.

While the decision to suspend national points is in place, WISOTTA drivers have been reminded that local track points and state points are not being changed for the 2020 season. WISSOTA officials will provide new programs to the state points standings and will make the necessary adjustments to the national points season as race tracks continue to return to full operation.

"The safety of our drivers, promoters, and fans is of utmost importance. Our number one concern is ensuring that drivers do not feel like they must travel to get points and finish high in the national points because for some this is not possible this year due to health and safety concerns as well as border crossing restrictions. Another determining factor for this decision is the unknown timelines of when a lot of WISSOTA tracks can open. We are developing a structure for the local and state points that will benefit more drivers and tracks than a national structure would be able to support during this time," Gramm said.

Drivers can expect to be rewarded for supporting local tracks while following the recommendations from federal, state/province, and local officials.

"At this time WISSOTA is focused on a method that will positively impact drivers in their finishes in local and state points. We will release more information regarding that method as the crisis continues to evolve," Gramm said.

For more information, visit wissota.org.

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) has confirmed its 2021 entry into Extreme E, the new racing series that will feature 550-horsepower, electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world in an effort to preserve regions affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global championship highlights the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles to help preserve the environment and protect the planet.

Extreme E is operated in association with Formula E, the organizer of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

 "Extreme E is a very different proposition to anything we have done before, but it’s where I think motor racing is headed in the future. When I started our team in 1990, one of the founding principles I built it on was innovation. I’ve always been passionate about pushing the boundaries of what is possible, and Extreme E checks that box for us in a big way," team owner Chip Ganassi said. "Extreme E represents an opportunity to change that balance in auto racing by using the latest technology to attract a new, younger audience to this great sport of ours. Everything about it is cool, from the car to the race format and the in-built technology. We’re thrilled to join the championship and are excited to play a part in developing the future of our sport."

For more information, visit chipganassiracing.com.

After weeks spent under stay-at-home orders designed to halt the spread of COVID-19, many states have taken the first steps toward loosening restrictions and reopening their economies.

SEMA and PRI have compiled a continuously updated state-by-state directory of closures and openings, including businesses and workers deemed essential during COVID-19. The webpage includes best practices for reopening published by the government and industry. Businesses are encouraged to consult state and local law when deciding to reopen.

Below are examples of actions states have taken to reopen certain businesses while practicing safe social distancing:

Alaska: restaurants, retail stores, and nonessential businesses, including hair and nail salons, could reopen on April 24 under certain conditions.
Colorado: retail businesses could reopen for curbside pickup on April 27 and real estate showings could resume. Personal care businesses may reopen with precautions starting on May 1.
Georgia: gyms, hair and nail salons, bowling alleys, and tattoo parlors could reopen on April 24. Restaurants could resume limited dine-in service on April 27, and movie theaters were also allowed to reopen.
Minnesota: employees in certain agriculture, industrial (including manufacturing), and office settings could return to work on April 27.
Mississippi: retail stores could reopen at 50% capacity on April 27.
Montana: retail businesses could reopen with reduced capacity on April 27. Restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, and casinos can reopen on May 4 under reduced capacity.
Oklahoma: restrictions were lifted on salons, barbers, and pet groomers on April 24. Restaurants, movie theaters, gyms, houses of worship, and sporting venues are likely to be allowed to reopen on May 1 under certain conditions.
South Carolina: retail stores could reopen at 20% capacity starting on April 20.
Tennessee: restaurants could reopen in 89 counties at 50% capacity on April 27. Retail stores followed on April 29.
Texas: retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls may reopen on May 1 at 25% capacity.

For more information, visit PRI's state-by-state coronavirus resources page here or contact mail@performanceracing.com.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series, together with their partner tracks, have updated schedules into mid-June in an effort to safely “Return to Racing” in a manner that allows tracks, teams, partners and fans to begin looking ahead.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is set to race Friday night, May 8, at Knoxville (IA) Raceway in a $10,000-to-win, “behind-closed-doors” Invitational by McKay Insurance with Nationwide.  While spectators will not be able to attend in person, fans across the world can watch live on DIRTVision presented by Drydene.

Events originally scheduled for May 23 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, May 25 at Lawrenceburg Speedway, May 29 at Lake Ozark Speedway, May 30 at I-70 Motorsports Park and June 3 at I-80 Speedway have been postponed. Fans with tickets to those events will be able to use them when rescheduled dates are announced.

The June 5 event at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND, and June 6 at Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, MN, remain on the schedule, with a final determination being made closer to the event dates based on local guidelines.

As Friday night’s event at Knoxville Raceway will be run without fans in attendance, DIRTVision is offering a special 20%-off promotion using code RETURNKNOXVILLE, which is good through 11:59 pm ET Wednesday, May 6th. For details, visit DIRTVision.com.

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series is also adjusting its schedule, with action resuming May 15-16 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 rather than the previously announced Boone Speedway. The fast-changing landscape has provided the opportunity to shift the Series re-opener to Pevely, MO, in front of fans on a limited basis.

"The Series thanks the tireless efforts of Robert Lawton, Coty Mallicoat and Cody Sommer for their work to bring a 'Return to Racing' to Boone, and is looking forward to the Series debut at Boone for the previously postponed Hawkeye 100 mega-event at the historic Iowa venue at a time when the race can be run in front of a live audience. We also wish our friends at Boone the best of luck as they prepare to get back to the track in their own unique fashion in the very near future," a series press release said.

The originally scheduled races May 29 at Jacksonville (IL) Speedway and May 30 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN, have been postponed.

Tickets to all limited crowd events will go on sale through worldofoutlaws.com. For more information, and the updated 2020 schedules, visit worldofoutlaws.com.

A path toward the opening of the 2020 racing season at Madera Speedway has been approved, speedway officials announced following extensive discussions with Madera County (CA).

Phase one—limited competitor practice—has been given the go-ahead immediately at the one-third mile oval. Race operations ceased on March 12, just two days before the scheduled MAVTV-televised Late Model opening night, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
“I want to say thank you to the Madera County Supervisors who have been wonderful to work with during this very difficult time,” promoter Kenny Shepherd said. “Our proposal has been approved to get back to some operations at Madera Speedway. We will get back to racing over five phases, although there is no timeline on these phases.”
 
Madera Speedway has an agreement to enter phase one, allowing the speedway to begin private testing with up to 10 participants on the grounds. Face coverings, hand washing, and social distancing will be required. Phase two allows an increase in the numbers of competitors participating, with the same mitigation requirements. Phase three would see racing competition at the Madera Speedway with limited staff and competitors along with closed grandstands. Phases four and five are part of a long-term plan to gradually increase the number of race fans allowed into the grandstands.
 
For more information about Madera Speedway, visit racemadera.com.

Lucas Oil Products has announced the return to racing in 2020 for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series following several postponements and cancellations due to COVID-19. 

The “Lucas Oil Reopening Tour” provides the purse for six newly added May events. With these events, along with the races contested at Speedweeks, the series drivers will still compete in 54 of the 57 original 2020 LOLMDS tour events. The number of scheduled televised races will remain as originally scheduled.

Because of the scheduling changes, a pair of $7,000-to-win events, on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 12-13, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, will signal the return, with all late model teams invited. These events will be fan-less, but fans will get a chance to tune in live, via LucasOilRacing.tv, and free on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Facebook page at 7:30 PM ET/6:30 PM CT. In addition to the back-to-back weekday races, Lucas Oil Speedway will hold a practice session on Monday, May 11 (closed to the public).

To view the revised 2020 schedule, see below or visit lucasdirt.com/events/schedule.

In addition to race schedule updates, the “Sunoco Road to Wheatland” is now the “Sunoco Road to East Bay". All teams that have perfect attendance with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series in 2020, through May 27, will receive the $1,500 bonus from Sunoco Race Fuels.

Cancellations and Postponements:

May 8 - Buckeye Spring 50, Atomic Speedway - cancelled

May 9 - 23rd Annual Indiana Icebreaker, Brownstown Speedway - cancelled

May 14 - Triple 777 Trucking Lucy 50, 34 Raceway - cancelled

May 15 - Truck Country 50, 300 Raceway - Postponed to July 13

May 16 - NAPA Auto Parts North Star Nationals, Deer Creek Speedway - cancelled

May 21 - 7th Annual Cowboy Classic - cancelled

May 22 - The Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson - cancelled

May 23 - 28th Annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 - postponed to July 18 (single day $20,000)

July 18 - 14th Annual Diamond Nationals - moved to July 19

Lucas Oil Reopening Tour (fan-less, available for viewing on LucasOilRacing.TV, and Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Facebook Live):

Monday, May 11 - Lucas Oil Speedway - Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Practice

Tuesday, May 12 - Lucas Oil Speedway - $7,000 to win*

Wednesday, May 13 - Lucas Oil Speedway - $7,000 to win*

Tuesday, May 19 - Golden Isles Speedway - $7,000 to win*

Wednesday, May 20 - Golden Isles Speedway - $7,000 to win*

Tuesday, May 26 - East Bay Raceway Park - $7,000 to win*

Wednesday, May 27 - East Bay Raceway Park - $7,000 to win*


*A-Main Purse (40 laps)

1. $7,000, 2. $3,500, 3. $2,500, 4. $2,000, 5. $1,500, 6. $1,400, 7. $1,300, 8. $1,200, 9. $1,150, 10. $1,100, 11. $1,050, 12. $1,000, 13. $975, 14. $950, 15. $925, 16. $900, 17. $875, 18. $850, 19. $825, 20. $800, 21. $800, 22. $800, 23. $800, 24. $800

For more information, visit lucasdirt.com.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 31st Annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction festivities originally scheduled for late May will now be held July 31 and August 1 in Knoxville, Iowa.

“The health of our supporters, National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees and our staff remains the highest priority for us here in Knoxville,” said National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Executive Director Bob Baker. “We just didn’t think it was feasible for us to gather in large groups in late May. Rescheduling for August gives everyone some time to plan, and hopefully, we’ll be back to some sense of normalcy by then.”

A highlight of the weekend includes the attendance of previous National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees, which will take place July 31; this year, light snacks and soft drinks will start the ceremonies at 6 p.m.

Following refreshments, at 7 p.m. the annual salute to inductees on the museum’s second floor will commence. A roundtable of previous inductees includes an open mic discussion with storytelling and reminiscing. The reception is free and open to the public. 

The 31st Annual National Sprint Car Hall of Fame induction banquet takes place August 1, beginning at noon. It will be held at the Dyer-Hudson Hall on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville. 

Inductees include:

Drivers—Greg Hodnett, Tim Shaffer and Jeff Swindell
Owners-Mechanics-Builders-Manufacturers-Car Sponsors—Walt Dyer and Paul Leffler
Promoters-Officials-Media Members-Event/Series Sponsors—Don Lamberti and Spencer Riggs
Pre-1945 Era—Bill Cummings

Hall of Famers Dave Argabright and Pat Sullivan will emcee the event. 

Following Saturday’s induction, inductees’ families and friends are invited back to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum’s second floor for the unveiling of the new inductees’ plaques.

The museum itself is tentatively scheduled to open May 15, pending current policies concerning the pandemic in Iowa.

For ticket information, or more on the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum and its special events, visit SprintCarHoF.com.