Jasper Engines & Transmissions has opened a branch office in Pensacola, Florida, to better serve the businesses in the Florida panhandle and southern Alabama markets.

“As we continue to expand our nationwide footprint, improving our availability and customer service is something JASPER is very committed to,” JASPER Director of Branch Operations Kevin Powell said in a press release. “Our new Pensacola facility will allow us to service most customers in this market with a JASPER truck up to five days a week.”

The 10,000-square-foot building will have diesel fuel and air components, gas and diesel engines, transmissions and differentials in its inventory. 

“The growth in the panhandle has exceeded our expectations,” JASPER Regional Vice President Richard Olson said in a release. “So, it is only natural to have a physical location for our great customers.”

Jasper Engines & Transmissions currently has 49 branch offices and two distribution centers servicing the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

The new facility is located at 7770 Sears Boulevard.

For more information, visit jasperengines.com.

Photo courtesy of Jasper, AMN

The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) has announced that the Hawaii Rally Sport Association (HRSA) will organize the newest NASA region for the 2020 season and beyond.

The NASA Hawaii Region will focus on continuing HRSA’s rallycross series, as well as expand into additional motorsports segments as new facilities are built on the Hawaiian islands.

“We are happy to be able to offer NASA programs to our friends in Hawaii,” NASA General Counsel John Lindsey said to NASA Speed. “We look forward to growing the sport and also helping however we can to get more facilities built in Hawaii for enthusiasts to enjoy.”

“We will be applying over a decade of motorsports experience as event organizers. Members of the HRSA team also have decades of experience as motorsports participants in Hawaii and the mainland,” HRSA President and Regional Executive Avery Tsui said to NASA Speed. “We plan to grow the group slowly and maximize safe seat time for all participants. It is also our goal to continue our charity work with Make-A-Wish Hawaii and other benefactors. Members of HRSA and the NASA Hawaii Region are also deeply involved in developing motorsports venues in Hawaii. We are fortunate to have been invited to help develop the Circuit Hawaii motorsports venue in Honolulu. Hawaii Rally Sport Association and NASA Hawaii Region are looking forward to a safe, fun, and successful future in Hawaii.”

For more information, visit nasaproracing.com.

The ARCA Menards Series has announced a change to its championship points format, aligning the series point structure with those in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series, and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series as well as the ARCA Menards Series East and West, formerly known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series.
 
Previously, the ARCA Menards Series used a format that awarded 235 points to a race winner, 220 points for second, and then a five-point interval per position throughout the field. Five bonus points were available for winning the General Tire Pole via qualifying, for leading a lap, and leading the most laps, meaning a driver could earn a maximum of 250 points per race.

Under the new system, a race winner will earn 43 points plus a three-point bonus for winning the race for a total of 46 points, second would earn 42 points with a one-point per position interval through the remainder of the field. There will be a one-point bonus for winning the General Tire Pole via qualifying, and one-point bonuses for leading a lap and leading the most laps, meaning the maximum a driver could score by sweeping an event is 49 points.

As it has been in the past, ARCA will continue to award teams points for competing in each five-race segment within its 20-race season.

“Entering our third year as NASCAR property and now as the sanctioning body for the ARCA Menards Series East and West, we felt it was time to align our points system to fall more in line with the other national series,” ARCA President Ron Drager said. “The one-point-per-position points format has led to some great championship battles since it was implemented, and we are looking forward to seeing how it plays out in the ARCA Menards Series in 2020.”
 
For more information, visit arcaracing.com.

John Andretti, one of the most popular and versatile American race drivers of his generation, passed away after a battle with colon cancer. He was 56.

Andretti, a member of the famed Andretti racing family, drove and won at the highest levels of North American motorsports in Indy cars, stock cars and sports cars. He also competed in top-level drag racing and short track open wheel racing. His career included 12 starts in the Indianapolis 500 and 11 starts in the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Andretti also spent time assisting and raising funds for various charities throughout his life, even after going public with his cancer diagnosis in April 2017.

When he announced his diagnosis with late-stage colon cancer in April 2017, Andretti also started an aggressive campaign to urge regular colon screening, something he admitted he didn’t do to catch his illness in its early stages.

The #CheckIt4Andretti gained notoriety during the 2017 Indy 500 presented by Gainbridge, likely saving many lives through the encouragement of regular colonoscopies.

Andretti was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the son of race driver Aldo Andretti and nephew of 1969 Indianapolis 500 and two-time Formula One World Champion Mario Andretti.

Andretti is survived by his wife, Nancy, and children Jarett, Olivia and Amelia. Jarett Andretti has followed his father’s tire tracks and drives in sprint cars, sports cars and Indy Lights.

Fans are encouraged to continue Andretti’s legacy through regular colon screenings and by sharing the #CheckIt4Andretti hashtag on social media.

For more details on Andretti's career and accomplishments, visit the IMS website, here.

Photo courtesy of IMS

Dart Machinery has announced that its Iron Eagle Heads have been officially approved for United States Racing Association (USRA) Limited Mod class racing.

The new addition to the rulebooks helps builders and racers secure readily available, US-made cylinder heads for competition use.

Dart's Iron Eagle line focuses on affordability, quality and performance and is designed for street builders and racers alike, according to a press release.

The USRA approved part number (10024360) features 1.940in/1.500 in valve sizes, 165 cc high-velocity runners and is available bare or with 1.250in single springs for hydraulic flat tappet cams. The assembly includes stainless steel valves, premium springs, locks, retainers, and seals.

USRA was formed with a mission of growing local and regional dirt track racing through cost-effective rules. USRA currently sanctions four divisions, Modifieds, stock cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks.

For more information, visit dartheads.com.

The National Auto Sport Association (NASA) has announced a new partnership with SEBECO Motorsport, which has acquired the NP01 program in its entirety from Élan Motorsports Technologies. SEBECO Motorsport, in collaboration with NASA, will resume development and promotion of the NP01 NASA prototype race car. 

“When the opportunity presented itself to become involved in the NP01 program, we jumped at the chance,” SEBECO Motorsport Co-Owner Ben Cooper said. “We are looking forward to building on the reputation of this car. We also extend our gratitude to Élan Motorsports Technologies, NASA and HAAS Automobile Imports for working with us to make this happen.”

The new partnership will bring sales, design and manufacturing under one roof at SEBECO, reducing the costs to compete in an NP01 build.

The NP01 is built around a 1018 steel-tube TIG and MIG welded frame with a roll cage structure and anti-intrusion bars. The package is powered by Mazda’s MZR 2.0 engine and a Sadev six-speed sequential gearbox.

For more information, visit sebecmotorsport.com or nasaproracing.com.

Photo courtesy of SEBECO

A team of dedicated racers has come together to form Redwood Acres Raceway LLC, a partnership that will promote the 3/8-mile paved oval beginning in the upcoming 2020 season. The ownership group for RAR LLC is comprised of racers Jim Redd, Joe Bonomini and Bill White.

Each of the three partners has a long history at Redwood Acres Raceway as well as at other speedways in the West Coast region.

Jim Redd is well respected both inside and outside of the local racing community. Redd has raced at RAR for nearly 20 seasons and has won championships in the real stock and bomber divisions. Last year, Redd helped form the Upstate Bomber Series which held events at RAR as well as Ukiah Speedway and Shasta Speedway.

Joe Bonomini has also been behind the wheel of various racing classes at Redwood Acres Raceway over a similar period of time. Bonomini has most notably raced in mini stocks, Thunder Roadsters and late models. More recently, Bonomini has served as the area’s parts supplier and dealer for INEX sanctioned divisions which includes Bandoleros and Legends.

Bill White has participated in racing both on the local level as well as the regional level. White has been a sponsor for the local late model division for the past several years. In addition, White has been a car owner for his son Brandon who participated full-time in the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series between 2013 to 2016 in over 30 events as well as in the Pacific Challenge Series and the Rocky Mountain Challenge Series.

The group has announced plans to improve the facility, including installing a new scoreboard, additional caution lights, and discounted ticket prices.

For more information, visit racintheacres.com.

Photo courtesy of Redwood Acres Raceway

MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. has partnered with Grant Brothers Sales Ltd., one of Canada’s largest manufacturers’ representatives.

The new collaboration enables MAHLE to provide its broad portfolio of aftermarket solutions to customers across all major Canadian markets, including Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City and Halifax.

Implemented through an organized program of pull-through selling and in-store merchandising, MAHLE will work closely with the Grant Brothers team of 28 sales and customer service personnel to distribute a diverse range of vehicle technologies including thermal management products, fast and reliable diagnostics and service solutions, as well as spare parts.

“We are excited to be partnering with Grant Brothers to bring our portfolio of innovative products to an important North American market that represents the world’s second-largest nation in total area,” MAHLE Aftermarket North America President Jon Douglas said. “Through their service offerings, Grant Brothers has established and maintained pivotal relationships with key automotive aftermarket vendors across the vast region of Canada and we look forward to working closely with them moving forward to provide customers with a ‘full systems approach’ that also includes expert support and technical training.”

Following its recent 75th Anniversary celebration, the team at Grant Brothers Sales has already been working closely with MAHLE Aftermarket to implement a 2020 sales strategy, which included a visit to the MAHLE Aftermarket North American headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan earlier this month.

“The Canadian automotive aftermarket is a very vast, lucrative industry, and we are thrilled to be working with MAHLE to bring customers state-of-the-art offerings and technical expertise as this market continues to grow,” Grant Brothers Sales Limited, Automotive Division President Adam Crisp said.

For more information, visit mahle-aftermarket.com.

Lucas Oil Products Inc., the US-based manufacturer and distributor of additives and lubricants, has appointed Matt Kimmick as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Kimmick will be responsible for overseeing the accounting and financial reporting functions at Lucas Oil.

“I am sincerely thankful to Forrest, Charlotte, Morgan, and the Lucas family for their confidence in me and giving me this opportunity. Lucas Oil Products is a first-class organization whose team of professionals is second to none,” Kimmick said. “To have the opportunity to work for an innovative, community-oriented company that values its products and people equally is something I’ve always dreamed of, and I’m looking forward to helping build upon the tremendous success Lucas Oil products has already experienced.”

Kimmick has a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from the University of Southern Indiana and a Master of Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also spent over 18 years in state and local taxation and finance.

For more information, visit lucasoil.com.

Scott Biesanz, the owner of Goodson Tools & Supplies for Engine Builders, has retired.

Biesanz purchased the company in 1979 from the Winona Tool Company. Some highlights from Biesanz's tenure as owner include adding an in-house crankshaft grinding wheel shaping and sizing department in 1981, four years later, he oversaw the building of a 10,000-square-foot building to house the company, followed by an expansion in 1995.

Also during his tenure, Goodson became the exclusive distributor of Sunnen Automotive Products throughout the US in 2001, which expanded to Canada in 2019.

In 2004, Goodson bought Mach-B Grinding Wheels Shaping & Resizing to expand its abrasive production capabilities. Goodson also bought the Seat Grinding & Equipment Supplies division of Kwik-Way in 2014 and is now the product line’s exclusive manufacturer.

In 2015, Goodson was named the exclusive distributor of Radiac Automotive Abrasives, and in 2017, Goodson added an in-house coated abrasive belt conversion division, Abrasive Industrial Supplies.

As his parting accomplishment, Biesanz has worked with company leadership to create an Employee Stock Ownership Plan, making the employees the owners of the company.

For more information, visit goodson.com.