Industrial Opportunity Partners (IOP), an operations-focused private equity firm based in Evanston, Illinois, and owner of Edelbrock LLC, announced the acquisition of the COMP Performance Group.

Edelbrock and the COMP Performance Group, along with their respective management teams, will operate as independent organizations.

Both teams will continue to provide the same designs, products, and service as they explore opportunities to drive increased products and customer offerings.

Edelbrock designs, manufactures, and distributes automotive aftermarket performance parts and is based in Torrance, California.

The COMP Performance Group, with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, is a family of aftermarket performance companies that includes brands such as COMP Cams, TCI, FAST, RHS, ZEX, Inglese, and more.

For more information, visit edelbrock.com or compperformancegroup.com.
 




 

ProTorque’s Joe Rivera has joined forces with Rob Boninfante and Boninfante Friction in a move to “provide increased performance and technology,” according to the company.

Boninfante Friction, which specializes in friction clutch manufacturing for the motorsports market, has been involved in drag racing dating to 1988, and since then has grown to support every Top Fuel and Funny Car team in NHRA competition. Boninfante recently began making parts for automatic transmission race cars, and this union “adds even more clout, with Rivera providing the finest driveline parts in the world.” the company said.

Gaining access to Boninfante’s machining technology allows ProTorque to “develop more innovative products, produce them more quickly, help racers win more races, and set bigger records,” company officials noted.

“Boninfante handles more horsepower than anyone else, and it is a true honor to be working with a company of this caliber,” said Rivera. “The team at Boninfante is absolutely brilliant, and we’re excited to start rolling. Get ready for an all new level of performance with ProTorque, and expect to see many new products from this collaboration that will be born from Top Fuel technology. This is going to be epic!”

ProTorque’s Rivera and Boninfante have been working in support of one another for over 10 years, and this alliance is expected to become, according to the company, “the epicenter of fluid dynamics development to carry automatic performance racing through the future with dominance.”

For more information, visit ProTorque.com.

Drivers going after the 2020 New England Late Model Challenge Cup (NELMCC) presented by American Racer now have another venue and state in which to chase the title.

American-Canadian Tour (ACT) and Thompson Speedway officials announced today that the Connecticut track has joined the NELMCC program for its inaugural season. Thompson Speedway becomes the fifth track affiliated with the weekly racing program.

The 5/8-mile speedway joins Vermont’s Thunder Road Speedbowl, New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park and Star Speedway, and Massachusetts’ Seekonk Speedway. Thompson’s addition also means tracks from four different states will be represented in the NELMCC presented by American Racer. All scheduled weekly Late Model events at these tracks are eligible for points towards the Challenge Cup. The 10 best results for each registered driver at participating tracks will count towards their total. A special point system is in place based on driver’s feature finishes and event car counts, with bonus points for wins and cars passed. An additional track also means a boost to the season-long point fund for the NELMCC presented by American Racer.

Total awards are now guaranteed to exceed $10,000 with $3,000 guaranteed to the champion. All driver registration fees will be added to the point fund, meaning the total payout will continue to increase as more drivers officially join the roster.

“Adding Thompson Speedway to the Challenge Cup is a good thing for everyone,” ACT managing partner Cris Michaud said. “Having another track provides more opportunities for all weekly drivers involved to chase the championship. This is especially true for southern New England drivers now that another track in their area has joined. It also means more potential rewards for weekly competitors who join, which is the reason this program was created.

“Most importantly, having five tracks now in the Challenge Cup shows the belief this region has for the weekly Late Model program,” Michaud continued. “Each track uses the ACT Late Model rules, and together, they’re making a commitment to the weekly racer who makes ACT what it is. We’re looking forward to a great season for everyone involved.”

Registration forms and other information for the NELMCC presented by American Racer are now available on the ACT website as well as participating track websites. Drivers have until Friday, April 24 to file their entry.

The racing schedule for the Terre Haute Action Track's upcoming season has been released.

The schedule features eight great events, beginning on April 26 with the season opener presented by Scott's Custom Colors & Towing. The event will feature the first two visits for the Midwest Sprint Car Series non-winged sprint cars, in addition to the Indiana Late Model Series and the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

The Week of Indy will feature a doubleheader of racing action on May 20–21. On Wednesday, May 20, the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series will be in town for the Hulman Classic, running alongside the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

Thursday, May 21, will see the USAC Silver Crown Series in action, running in the Sumar Classic. This event features a new date on the schedule, racing in place of the former Hoosier 100 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The Action Track event will also see the first visit for the Indiana Racesaver Sprint Cars.

Making a return after a rainout in 2019 will be the AMA All-Star National Flat Track Series motorcycles on Saturday, June 6.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will be back at the Action Track with a new date on July 12. The new date will take the cold weather factor out of the equation.

The month of July will end with a big show on Wednesday, July 29, as Indiana Sprint Week comes to town for the Dorsett Automotive Don Smith Classic. Joining the sprint cars will be the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

The Midwest Sprint Car Series will be back at the Action Track for its final visit of the year on August 16. In addition to the sprints, the Indiana Late Model Series will be back along with the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

Rounding out the campaign will be the Jim Hurtubise Classic on Friday, September 18. The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Cars will be joined by the Scott's Custom Colors DIRTcar Modifieds.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) is seeking nominations for its Hall of Fame at sema.org/hof.

Created in 1969, the SEMA Hall of Fame recognizes people who have contributed a significant body of work to the industry over a long period of time and is the most prestigious award presented to an individual by the association. It is designed to honor the leaders, innovators, creators and enthusiasts who transformed small, burgeoning businesses into an industry worth more than $44.6 billion annually.

To nominate an individual who epitomizes the essence of ingenuity in action, click here before the deadline on Monday, March 16.

To learn more about the SEMA Hall of Fame and for a list of inductees, visit semahof.com or contact Lindsay Bianco at lindsayb@sema.org or 909-978-6692.

Since 2001, Cape Motorsports has based its operation from its shop in St. Petersburg, Florida. Heading into the 2020 season, however, the team has relocated its program to Brownsburg in Hendricks County, Indiana.

The Cape brothers—Nicholas and Dominic—are currently completing the move of their cars and equipment to the new shop, located just 10 miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“It’s a really big move for us and both companies,” said the Capes, who also have a custom car building operation. “We’ve been living in Florida longer than we lived in the UK. We’ve raised our families here in Florida and almost moved to Indy numerous times. Once we heard that Roger Penske had bought the Speedway, we said if it’s good enough for Roger, then it’s good enough for us! After the Mid-Ohio race last summer, we met with Indiana State representatives for economic development and the Hendricks County guys, which helped us make our decision. With the added help of Wayne Taylor and Travis Houge, we were able to locate our headquarters quite quickly after the Chris Griffis test. We’re really excited at the opportunity to be based in Indy and we think it will be really positive for the race team and the Speed Shop.”

The shop’s primary focus is the four Tatuus USF-17 race cars that they’ll campaign this year in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship. The sibling duo also launched their Cape Brothers Speed Shop in 2014, building one-of-a-kind custom hot rods for select clients. They recently displayed a car at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, and their 1954 Buick Wagon—‘Fat and Sassy’—was featured in a photo shoot for Mob Steel, a custom car wheel manufacturer.

For more information, visit capemotorsports.com.

Perfecting your vehicle’s exhaust system can increase your car’s horsepower and speed. 

For over 20 years, Grand Bending has been a supplier of high quality bends and associated components used in custom and high-performance exhaust systems for race cars.

WEIGHT REDUCTION

The tubing material used in your exhaust system can make a difference in weight and speed. Grand Bending offers an extensive line of thin-walled tubing available in aluminized carbon steel and stainless steel. Offerings include short bends ranging in size from 1-1/2” OD through 5” OD and in bend radii from 2-1/2” through 7-3/4”. Capabilities include compound bends, welded fabrications, expansion, swaging and beading.

MORE THAN RACE CARS

Grand Bending is also the proven choice for custom and high-performance exhaust systems for on-highway bus and work trucks, off-highway, airport and rail-mounted service equipment.

For more information, visit grandbending.com.

Brake Parts Inc. (BPI) recently honored five team members with the BPI Leadership Award. The award recipients were recognized for their performance excellence, dedication and commitment to the success of both BPI and its customers.

Director of Pricing Mark Massoth, Vice President of Finance and Global Controller Michael Caruso, Vice General Manager of Quality Control and Engineering You Jun, NAPA Vice President of Sales David Ferretti, and Raybestos Marketing Manager Kristin Grons were each honored.

The BPI Leadership Awards are presented annually, and nominations are made by members of the BPI Global Leadership Team. Employees nominated for the award must exhibit leadership qualities, including strong financial and operational acumen, customer-focused, results-driven, inspirational leadership, ability to build and manage collaborative relationships, entrepreneurship and strong personal development.

For more information, visit brakepartsinc.com.

The AAM Group has announced the establishment of the AAM General Scholarship fund, which is designed to financially support the educational goals of its member warehouse employees and their dependents.

Open to all full-time member employees—and their children and grandchildren—each scholarship will pay $1,000 toward the cost of one year of enrollment at a four-year college or two-year technical/trade school. Five winners will be selected each year, and recipients can reapply after their annual award expires.

Each year’s application period runs from April 15 to May 31, and recipients will be announced by August 15. Scholarship payments will be sent to the school or the recipient in the amount of $500 twice during the award year, paid in September and January upon receipt of proof of enrollment. A committee of independent third-party evaluators will make the five selections each year.

For more information, visit theaamgroup.com.

Cordova International Raceway (CIR) in Cordova, Illinois, has released a schedule for the 2020 race season, highlighted by the 67th Annual O’Reilly Auto Parts World Series of Drag Racing.

The schedule staple returns to the 1/4-mile drag strip on August 28-30 and will feature Nitro, jet cars, Pro Mods and “gravity-defying” Wheelstanders.

Additional marquee events induce the first annual GM, Ford and Mopar Nationals on May 23, which will be a celebration of American muscle. The second annual Nostalgia Nationals, featuring Nostalgia Pro Stock, Gassers, and more, is set for June 6.

April 4 and April 11 will play host to Volunteer Day, when CIR staff, racers, fans and sponsors come together to prepare the facility for the 2020 season. The track’s first test and tune will also take place on April 11.

The first points race for the IHRA Summit SuperSeries and the Kamper Korner Bracket Series is set for May 9.

For more information and the complete schedule, visit racecir.com.