FASTRAK Companies International, LLC has announced a new tour for the 2020 season called the FASTRAK Racing Series Northeast Tour.

The season will kick off April 25 at West Virginia’s Tyler County Speedway paying $7,000 to win in the 3rd Annual Great American Crate Race, a co-sanctioned event. That date, along with the Labor Day Weekend doubleheader also at Tyler County Speedway, will be co-sanctioned with the FASTRAK Racing Series powered by Chevrolet Performance, FASTRAK’s Southeast touring division.

The tour will have a $5,000-to-win points fund for its inaugural season and pay through the top 10 in points. Drivers must be a FASTRAK member, attend 75% of the races, and run Hoosier FT tires at all times to qualify for points or other contingencies.

“It is with a lot of excitement we are launching the FASTRAK Northeast,” FASTRAK Vice President DJ Irvine said. “Every year we get a lot of drivers and teams asking when FASTRAK was coming back to the area and we feel that this is the right time with a lot of tracks putting their support behind this along with the drivers.”

Rose Compton, who is the ULTIMATE Northeast Super Late Model Series director, will be assisting with operations of the FASTRAK Racing Series Northeast.

"We are happy to be bringing FASTRAK back to the Northeast," Compton said. "FASTRAK returning to the area has been a commonly asked question since the launch of the ULTIMATE Northeast. This is a great opportunity for drivers to compete locally for a great points fund."

2020 FASTRAK Racing Series Northeast Tentative Schedule
*Subject to change
April 25 – Tyler County Speedway - $7,000 – 3rd Annual Great American Crate Race (Co-sanctioned)
May 2 – Hagerstown Speedway - $2,000
May 24 – Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex - $2,000
May 30 – Virginia Motor Speedway - $3,000 – King of the Commonwealth (Bonus Race)
June 13 – Latrobe Speedway - $2,000
July 25 – Latrobe Speedway - $2,000
July 26 – Roaring Knob Motorsports Complex – $2,000
August 1 – Virginia Motor Speedway - $3,000 – USA 100 (Bonus Race)
August 15 – Hagerstown Speedway - $2,000
August 22 – Virginia Motor Speedway - $3,000 – Prelude to the World Championship (Bonus Race)
September 5 – Tyler County Speedway - $2,000 (Co-sanctioned)
September 6 – Tyler County Speedway - $2,000 (Co-sanctioned)

For more information, visit fastrakracing.com.

Lane Automotive is hosting a Safety Summit event on March 7, from its Watervliet, Michigan, facility.

The third-annual summit will feature several safety manufacturers for a day of technical and practical safety information. With presentations, demonstrations, and product training, this event will provide valuable information to maximize driver and crew safety. There will also be special pricing on select safety equipment.

Event highlights include Kalamazoo track safety, custom earmolds by Racing Electronics, the opportunity to trade in old belts, a rollover simulator, keynote speakers, and more.

Seminars are scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with topics ranging from “Being Pro-Active vs. Reactive When It Comes To Safety,” “Why Everyone Should Have A Fire Suppression System,” pit and shop safety, and more.

Registration is encouraged as space is limited.

For more information, visit laneautomotive.com/lanemobile/SafetySummit2.html#register.

Photo courtesy of Lane Automotive

Cottage Grove Speedway, the dirt track in Cottage Grove, Oregon, has a new owner for the 2020 season.

Heather Boyce, the current track’s general manager and promoter, has finalized a deal to take over track ownership from Jerry Schram.

“I grew up in these grandstands and cheered for drivers racing on this race track, and I promise I will give my very best every day to this ¼ mile of dirt and to all of you that support it,” Boyce stated in a track release. “I would like to thank Jerry Schram for taking what was a pretty big risk when he made me the general manager in 2013, and again in 2016 when he leased the track to me. And, especially now for selling to me so that I can truly make this place my own.”

“I have learned so many things in the last seven seasons and I am confident that I am ready for this next big challenge. I would also like to thank all of you drivers, crews, and fans that have shown up over the last few years to support me and this race track,” Boyce continued.

“Perhaps the biggest thank you of all to the incredibly dedicated staff who show up week in and week out for no other reason than the passion and love they have for this sport and track,” Boyce ended.

The Cottage Grove Speedway 2020 season opens Saturday, March 21, with 360 Sprints, Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA SportMods and IMCA Sport Compact.

For more information, visit cottagegrovespeedway.com.

The Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) 2020 Sponsorship Program is now accepting applications.

Team DEI offers product and technical support in the automotive aftermarket, including quality builds, winning race teams and vehicle projects. Past promotional pairings have ranged from participation in a variety of motorsports and powersports competitions to assistance with high-profile custom creations.

“Team DEI isn’t just a sponsorship. It’s an elite group of the best of the best,” DEI Sponsorship Coordinator Will Farkas said. “Street Machines of the Year, Hot Rods of the Year, Barrett-Jackson Cup winners, national and international drivers and riders, race teams, world-class builders—the list of successful Team DEI partnerships goes on and on.”

Team DEI sponsorship agreements include thermal and sound control and related products, coverage from the company’s social media and marketing outlets, as well as full product and technical support.

In return, sponsored partners will be expected to showcase the performance and quality of DEI products, help to increase brand awareness and loyalty, and provide content for the company’s marketing initiatives.
 
For more information, visit designengineering.com/join-team-dei.

In related news, DEI has chosen South Dakota-based Performance Business Media to manage its public relations, product announcements, newsletter, editorial outreach and marketing consulting.

For more information, visit designengineering.com.

Speedway 660 and Petty International Raceway, two race tracks in New Brunswick, Canada, have banded together to form a Late Model sportsman challenge series.

The four-race Petty International Raceway and Speedway 660 Sportsman Challenge presented by Lonnie Sommerville Racing begins Saturday, June 13, at Petty International Raceway in River Glade.

Each race will include a 100-lap feature, paying the winner a minimum of $1,250, with the finale paying $2,000 to win. In addition, each competitor that hauls their car from their home track will receive a $100 bonus in tow money.

The Petty International Raceway and Speedway 660 Sportsman Challenge presented by Lonnie Sommerville Racing champion will also receive an AR Bodies body and installation courtesy of Lonnie Sommerville Racing. Hoosier Racing Tire will be giving one team—chosen at random—a set of tires at each of the four events.

“We’re very excited to see these two tracks work closely together to put this Series together,” Speedway 660’s Max Roy said. “Between Speedway 660, Petty International Raceway and Lonnie Sommerville Racing, it shows the racers and the fans that we are all committed to helping grow the sport of stock car racing in the Maritimes.”

“Petty Raceway is excited to be teaming up with Speedway 660 to offer the racers and fans this new event in 2020,” Petty International Raceway’s Ellen Smith said. “We are very pleased to have been able to work with Max and Brent Roy to come up with a Sportsman rule package to make this event a possibility for this year and into the future.”

For more information, visit pettyinternationalraceway.com and speedway660.com.

Photo courtesy of Speedway 660

In a response to fans’ increased interest in road-course races, Daytona International Speedway announced that the Busch Clash At DAYTONA will move to the speedway’s 3.56-mile road course and be held under the lights on Tuesday, February 9.

The 2021 Busch Clash at DAYTONA, an exhibition-style event, will be held on the same course as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and the DAYTONA 200.

“The famed road course at Daytona has a long and storied history with sports cars and motorcycles, and now we can write a new chapter on it with stock cars,” NASCAR Vice President of Racing Development Ben Kennedy said in a press release. “Fans coming to the track will get to see six consecutive days of exciting NASCAR action, with no two days being the same.”

In contrast to the tightly-packed competition on the speedway’s famed 2.5-mile high-bank-tri-oval, the reimagined Busch Clash will utilize approximately three-quarters of the tri-oval along with the challenging infield portion of the road course. That translates into 12 turns instead of the usual four.

This year's Busch Clash At DAYTONA was held for the 42nd consecutive time on Sunday, February 9, featuring NASCAR Cup Series pole winners and playoff participants from the previous season, former Busch Clash champions and former DAYTONA 500 champions and pole winners who competed full time in 2019.

In addition to the changes to the Busch Clash, it was also announced the Lucas Oil 200 ARCA Menards Series season-opening race shifts to Saturday, February 13, as part of a doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the NASCAR Racing Experience 300.

DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger will be held on Wednesday, February 10, to set the front row for the DAYTONA 500. The Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA qualifying races will remain on Thursday night, February 11, followed by the NextEra Energy 250 to open the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season on Friday night, February 12.

For more information, visit daytonainternationalspeedway.com and nascar.com.

Entering into their first full season under the POWRi brand, the Minn-Kota Lightning Sprint Series has released its 2020 season schedule, featuring 28 races competing under the POWRi rules package.

Based out of the North Dakota and Minnesota area, the POWRi Minn-Kota Lightning Sprints will continue to operate with Jason Berg, the series owner, remaining as head of the series.

As part of the POWRi Racing League organization, POWRi provides a point fund for each individual division, offering competitors enhanced opportunities to grow within their respective league and series.

The season opens with a three-day feature from May 22-24, starting at the Red River Valley Speedway (West Fargo, North Dakota) on Friday, followed by Buffalo River Race Park (Glyndon, Minnesota) on Saturday and Sunday.

The season ends September 19 at Devils Lake Speedway in Crary, North Dakota.

For more information, and the complete 2020 POWRi Minn-Kota Lightning Sprint Series schedule, visit powri.com.

Photo courtesy of POWRi

Officials have opened registration for the SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack, which features more than 130 events at 30 tracks across the country in 2020.

Track Night is a non-competitive way for “nearly anyone who loves cars or motorsports to get on a real race course in their own vehicle during weeknights.” Participants must be 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and have access to an approved helmet and street car in good working condition.

Since its inception in 2015, SCCA Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack has helped tens of thousands of automotive enthusiasts get their vehicles on the track at major motorsports facilities.

Drivers may run in the Advanced, Intermediate or KONI Novice Experience groups. Each car also gets three 20-minute sessions on course—as well as feedback from SCCA driver coaches on site.

The price to participate is usually around $150 per event, with special events and certain tracks costing extra. Spectator admission is free.

Drivers can register at tracknightinamerica.com. For more information, visit scca.com.

Officials from the NMRA Technical Department have announced the G-Force Racing Transmissions Coyote Stock Eliminator class will add the Gen 3 Coyote engine to the list of approved engines beginning with the 2021 season.

In 2017, the NMRA Technical Department announced the transition to the Gen 2 Coyote engine for the Coyote Stock class, with a guaranteed four-year run without an engine change. The Gen 3 announcement is in accordance with that timeline.

NMRA and Ford Performance have committed to the Gen 3 engine package for four complete seasons—2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024—which can help give racers confidence when upgrading to the new engine combination.

Ford Performance and NMRA worked together to develop a package to help racers convert their current race cars to the new Gen 3 combination. The Gen 3 Coyote Stock package includes new components based on swap requirements and the demands of heads-up racing.

In addition to the Coyote Stock legal engine package, the factory Gen 3 Oil Filter Adapter is required in NMRA competition.

For more information, visit nmradigital.com.

Photo courtesy of NMRA

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation has announced that Lincoln Tech, the specialized automotive training school, has been chosen as the Official Technical School of Arrow McLaren SP (AMSP), formerly Arrow Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, for the 2020 INDYCAR racing season. 

The announcement will mark the fourth consecutive year that Lincoln Tech is sponsoring the team, continuing a long relationship with co-owner Sam Schmidt.

A major component of the associate sponsorship agreement is the Mentorship Program, which allows five Lincoln Tech students from across the country to join the AMSP team as members of the pit crew for five races this season. 

Students selected for the Mentorship Program will have the opportunity to attend team meetings, meet the team's drivers, run tires, assist with basic car prep and maintenance, and shadow front end crew member Cole Jagger—a graduate of Lincoln Tech's Indianapolis campus. 

In addition, students in the Indianapolis campus' computerized manufacturing program will continue to assist the team by machining components for AMSP's race cars.

"We've seen year after year how our students benefit from the experience of working with this team, and we're honored to once again sponsor Arrow McLaren SP," Lincoln Tech President and CEO Scott Shaw said. "This year, to serve as their official tech school, makes it even more special. For almost 75 years, Lincoln schools have helped students build careers in the auto industry—and what better way to experience 'auto technology' than in the pit of a real INDYCAR racing team?"

Lincoln Tech's logo will also be displayed on the No. 7 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet driven by rookie Oliver Askew.

For more information, visit lincolntech.edu and arrowmclarensp.com.