Cloyes Gear and Products announced that it achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification for its manufacturing plant in Paris, Arkansas. Based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, Cloyes is the global designer, developer, manufacturer, and distributor of timing drive systems and components for the OEM and automotive aftermarkets.

ISO 9001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements. It is the most popular standard in the ISO 9000 series and the only standard in the series to which organizations can certify.

“For nearly a century, Cloyes has been building its business and reputation by offering the highest quality timing systems and components,” Cloyes Vice President of Manufacturing Steve Fairbanks said. “After regaining ownership of the Paris plant in October, this is an important milestone for Cloyes. The ISO 9001:2015 certification demonstrates our rigorous quality standards and commitment to continuously improve our business processes.”

The 155,000-square-foot manufacturing plant manufactures highly machined powertrain gears, sprockets, and idler assemblies for automotive original equipment manufacturers, the automotive aftermarket, marine, and high-performance applications. The plant’s key processes include machining, hobbing and shaping, heat treatment, and finishing, and is also home to a quality and metrology laboratory that supports both manufacturing and engineering product development.

For more information, visit cloyes.com.

Officials from NASCAR have announced a reduced-downforce package for the 2020 Cup Series season. The new rules are designed to enhance competition on road courses and the circuit’s shorter oval tracks.

Smaller spoilers, splitters, and other aerodynamic devices are among the changes, which will put more emphasis on handling and driver input.

“Our first and foremost core goal is to deliver great racing, and I think that we constantly evaluate the things that we do on the race track, however, and wherever we need to, to improve that situation for them,” NASCAR Senior Vice President, Innovation and Racing Development John Probst said to NASCAR.com. “And as part of our normal ongoing critique of ourselves and how we’re doing, we just felt like this was a good opportunity for us to improve the on-track product at the short tracks and road courses.”

Among the changes for those specific tracks:
    •    A significantly smaller rear spoiler, which shrinks from an 8-inch height to 2.75 inches.
    •    The front splitter’s overhang will now measure a quarter-inch (down from 2 inches), with approximately 2-inch wings (reduced from 10.5 inches).
    •    Alterations to the radiator pan, removing its vertical fencing in an effort to reduce front-end downforce. The dimensions of the pan remain the same.

The changes will be in effect for nine of the 24 layouts—three road courses and six ovals—that the NASCAR Cup Series will visit in 2020.

The six oval tracks that will use the new rules this season:
    •    Bristol Motor Speedway (.533 miles)
    •    Dover International Speedway (1 mile)
    •    Martinsville Speedway (.526 miles)
    •    New Hampshire Motor Speedway (1.058 miles)
    •    Phoenix Raceway (1 mile)
    •    Richmond Raceway (.75 miles)

All three road courses on the Cup Series schedule will have the new rules in place:
    •    Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval (2.28 miles)
    •    Sonoma Raceway (2.52 miles)
    •    Watkins Glen International (2.45 miles)

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Doug Herbert, the multi-time Top Fuel drag racing champion and founder of the B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe) national teen defensive driving program, has been inducted into the NHRA Southeast Division’s Hall of Fame.

A presentation took place during the organization’s seasonal banquet in Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Herbert was recognized for his on-track success, which includes 10 NHRA National Event Championship wins, 20 IHRA National Event Championship wins, and four Top Fuel World Championships. As the last driver to the win 1/4-mile before it was changed to 1000 feet, Herbert is also the first to ever run over 300 mph during NHRA eliminations, and post a career-best speed over 330 mph.

In addition, the origination lauded Herbert’s long-term commitment to on-road safety through the considerable growth of his B.R.A.K.E.S. pro-active national teen defensive driving program.

“Given the impact that the NHRA has had on my career—both on-track and in support of our teen defensive driving program—this honor is especially significant and is something that I deeply cherish,” Herbert said.  “I look forward to working with the NHRA in the years ahead and thank them for all they have done for me, my family, and the B.R.A.K.E.S. mission of making our roadways safer.”

Established in 2008 following a tragic car crash that took the lives of Herbert’s sons Jon and James, the GuideStar Platinum-rated 501(c)(3) non-profit is supported by Kia Motors America and several other corporate sponsors, major donors, and grant providers. Herbert developed the free lifesaving defensive driver training program to address the number-one cause of death among teens—car crashes—helping to improve road safety for all and prevent other parents from facing the heartbreak of losing a child.

For more information, visit putonthebrakes.com.

Photo of Doug Herbert, left, and NHRA Announcer Joe Castello courtesy of Rhonda McCole

The US and China signed a “phase one” trade deal whereby China will buy more US goods and implement some structural changes to its trade laws. However, the Trump Administration maintains that 25% tariffs imposed by the US on List 1, 2 and 3 products will not be reduced or eliminated until November at the earliest, when the US will review and confirm China’s compliance under the accord. 

The US began imposing tariffs on various imports from China in July 2018. Lists 1 and 2 include miscellaneous metal and rubber parts, wiring and measurement devices. List 3 covers most auto parts imported from China. The tariff rates are 25%, and collectively the tariffs cover about $250 billion in products.

In September 2019, the US also began collecting 15% tariffs on some products on List 4, which covers finished consumer products ranging from toys, footwear and clothing to cell phones and computers. Some of the tariffs were never imposed. For the other product lines subject to levies, the tariffs will be reduced to 7.5% on February 14.

The phase-one accord includes intellectual property enforcement measures for patents, trademarks, trade secrets and counterfeit goods. It also addresses unfair Chinese technology transfer practices, including an end to the practice of pressuring foreign companies to transfer their technology to Chinese companies as a condition for obtaining market access, administrative licenses or receiving advantages from the government. The agreement should help prevent currency manipulation with a ban on competitive devaluation and targeting of exchange rates. The agreement will include a dispute resolution mechanism via bilateral consultations with the ability to impose tariffs if disputes cannot be resolved.

A phase-two agreement will seek to address other outstanding issues, such as reducing the US-China trade imbalance, addressing cybertheft and stopping Chinese subsidization of key industries. Phase-two negotiations are not expected to begin in earnest until after the November 2020 election. A reduction or removal of the 25% tariffs on List 1, 2 and 3 products may not be implemented until those negotiations are completed.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

Image courtesy of Auto Care Association, BusinessWire

Officials from Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, the iconic track in Nashville, Tennessee, have announced that Scott Menlen has taken over as the track’s general manager.

Menlen is a Rochester Hills, Michigan native, and previously spent time managing the Midwest Indoor Racing Series before launching Motor City Racing Promotions in 2014. He also promoted and managed races at Michigan Speedway, Flat Rock Speedway, Hartford Speedway, and others.

Menlen also spent nine years working with the Champion Racing Association, and also served a managerial role and a director role for the American Ethanol Late Model Tour.

It was previously announced that veteran race promoter Bob Sargent of Track Enterprises was leasing the track. The facility opens its 2020 season on April 18.

Photo courtesy of Nashville Fairground Speedway

The ARCA Menards Series West will continue as one of the longest-running stock car series in the US with a 10-race championship schedule in 2020. The slate will include visits to seven western states and include stops at some of the most iconic venues in the region.

In its first season under the ARCA banner, the West Series will open Saturday, February 20 with the Star Nursery 150 kicking off the Pennzoil 400 weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The ARCA Menards Series West championship will culminate at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, November 7, as part of the NASCAR championship weekend.

Other schedule highlights include:
    •    The ARCA Menards West schedule will include its annual road-course event on Saturday, June 13 at Sonoma Raceway. The winding, multi-elevation course in northern California, first hosted the series in 1969 and has been a staple of the schedule every year since 2006.
    •    The three jewels of California short tracks will play crucial roles in the ARCA Menards Series West championship, beginning Saturday, March 28, at Irwindale Speedway and continuing in October at All American Speedway in Roseville (Saturday, Oct. 10) and Kern County Raceway Park (Saturday, Oct. 24). The West has been a regular visitor to Irwindale, outside of Los Angeles, since it opened in 1999, and Kern County since it opened in Bakersfield in 2013. All American, a fairgrounds short-track near Sacramento, first hosted the series in 1977 and has been on the schedule every year since 2008.
    •    The Pacific Northwest will again be home to a pair of races. The Douglas County Speedway on the fairgrounds in Roseburg, Oregon, will welcome the series on Saturday, May 16, while the historic Evergreen Speedway will bring the series to Monroe, Washington, on Saturday, Aug. 8. Roseburg, located south of Portland and Eugene, has held 17 races, including each of the last five years. Evergreen, outside of Seattle, held its first West race in 1964. This year will be the 60th race at the Super Speedway of the West.
    •    Meridian Speedway in Idaho will host the Idaho 208 on Saturday, Aug. 29. The quarter-mile track held one West race in 1972, and has been part of the schedule every year since 2015, including Deegan’s historic first career NASCAR win in 2018.

For more information and the complete 2020 ARCA Menards Series West schedule, visit arcaracing.com.

The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame has announced the names of its eight inductees for 2020.

“This year’s inductee group is another testament to the hard work put in by our 72-member National Induction Committee,” National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation executive director Bob Baker said. “We are really looking forward to our 31st induction banquet on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa on Saturday, May 30.”

Those that will be inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 30, during the 31st annual ceremonies in Knoxville, Iowa, include drivers Greg Hodnett, Tim Shaffer, and Jeff Swindell.

Walter Dyer and Paul Leffler will be inducted in the owners/mechanics/builders/manufacturers category. Inductees in the promoters/officials/media members/event and series sponsors category include Don Lamberti and L. Spencer Riggs. Bill Cummings will be inducted for the Pre-1945 category.

For more information, and short biographies of each inductee, visit sprintcarhof.com.

Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Rick Mears and NASCAR Gander Outdoors & RV Truck Series champion Mike Bliss headline the 10 finalists for 2020 election into the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (WCSCHoF).

Mears and Bliss are among nine, multi-time nominees to emerge from the Hall’s first round of voting that ended Dec. 31, 2019. Only two first-time nominees—Craig Keough and Jerry Pitts—made it onto the final ballot.

Previous nominees advancing to the final vote are Mears, Bliss, Ernie Cope, Tom Gloy, Tommy Kendall, Jim Pettit II, Greg Pickett, and Tom Sneva.

Final voting by the Hall’s board of directors continues through Jan. 31. to select the five 2020 inductees, who will be announced during the February 28-March 1 NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 weekend at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

Five Heritage candidates from racing’s historic era also will be inducted in the Class of 2020, set to be announced later this spring.

The Class of 2020 will be enshrined June 11, 2020, at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California. The event, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, again accompanies the annual NASCAR Cup Series and ARCA Menards Series West weekend at nearby Sonoma Raceway.

For more information, visit westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com.

JE Pistons has announced new class concepts for the 2020 running of the AMSOIL Masters of Motors presented by JE Pistons. The event will take place at JE Pistons’ Mentor, Ohio headquarters September 28 through October 1, 2020.

JE Pistons also announced Masters of Motors has a current event purse totaling $60,000, thanks to support from the performance aftermarket industry.  

Official technical rules and requirements packets will be announced and posted in February.  

With the goal of encouraging innovation without breaking the bank, the Holley Performance Everyman’s LS class will be heavily focused on inspiring builders to push the factory LS architecture “into the stratosphere.” Engines will be limited to 388ci, forgoing a cubic inch factor, and require an OEM, serial numbered GM LS 15º cylinder head. All OEM engine blocks and select aftermarket blocks will be permitted as will both fuel injection and carburetion. Hydraulic lifters will be required, and the scoring range will be from 3,500 to 7,500 RPM.

The Early Iron class will carryover 90% of rules from last year’s competition, welcoming all 1968 and earlier production, pushrod V8s to compete. The class will again require production blocks and production iron heads and highlight a builder’s ability to coax big power from an early engine architecture. Notable changes from last year’s rules will include the allowance of non-car-chassis headers (dyno headers) and non-car-chassis oil pans will also be permitted.

Potential competitors can expect a registration page, complete rules, and additional information to be posted on mastersofmotors.com.

Orange County Fair Speedway has added DIRTcar sanctioning for its weekly Big Block Modified program.

The Middleton, New York dirt oval now features Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship DIRTcar Big Block Modifieds. The track schedule will also feature two Super DIRTcar Series dates, including the Eastern States 200 on Sunday, October 25, and the Battle on Midway 100, on July 28.  

The sanctions come with increased points funding, additional public relations, and insurance.

“In my view, it’s an effort to keep all the rules intact and keep all the cars under one rulebook, making it easy for the top competitors throughout the Northeast to come to Orange County and know they’re racing under the same umbrella,” Orange County Fair Speedway Director of Motorsports Brett Hearn said. “For the local racers, it doesn’t change much because we run VP Racing Fuel and Hoosier Racing Tires. The added benefit of having a DIRTcar license allows for the valuable enhanced insurance program and the weekly racing point fund.”

For more information, visit orangecountyfairspeedway.net and dirtcar.com.