Three automotive aftermarket suppliers were recently honored with performance awards by Engine Parts Group, Inc., also known as Engine Pro. The awards were announced at Engine Pro’s annual supplier meeting held in Dallas, Texas.

Dura-Bond Bearing Co. received the group’s Opportunity Award. This award is presented to the Engine Pro supplier who in the past year has provided outstanding profit margins and other financial incentives such as rebates, product promotional opportunities, and profit potential.

S.A. Gear, Inc. captured the Fulfillment and Accuracy Award. This award is presented to the Engine Pro supplier who in the past year has achieved excellent order fill and on-time delivery along with superior order accuracy.

The third award, the Good Steward Award, was presented to Topline Automotive. This recognition is earned by the supplier who has maintained superior marketing practices along with sales and marketing assistance.

“Engine Pro shareholders know what types of activities lead to future success for the group and its customers. These awards are based on those activities and were chosen to recognize the three suppliers but also to encourage our other suppliers to help us meet our goals,” Engine Pro Board Chair Paul Van Woensel said.

Engine Pro is a premier engine parts distribution network in the US, Australia, and Europe.

For more information, visit enginepro.com.

The Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS) will allow its competitors to use two new body options for the 2020 racing season.

The new AR Revolution reskin kit will be revealed at the 2019 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis. Officials will also allow Five Star Race Car Bodies’ Gen 6 body that was released one year ago. Both new body options will carry a 20-pound weight penalty for the 2020 racing season.

The “Approved Body Configuration” (ABC) bodies have been the same since 2002. For 2019, Five Star Race Car Bodies released its Gen 6 body, but GSPSS chose to remain with the ABC program. Now, with AR Revolution releasing its version, the series has made the decision to approve the new package.

“While we believe strongly in the ABC body program, we feel that the time is right to allow these two new options for our competitors,” Series President Mike Parks said. “As things play out over the next year, we will continue to evaluate where we go in the future. ABC has plans for change in the next year or so and we will be watching that closely.

“The ABC program has worked very well for our series,” Parks continued. “Both [Head Technical Inspector] Nathan Kelly and I felt it was important that a team that didn’t need a new body, didn’t feel like they had to have one. Despite the fact that we are racing Pro Stocks, we are still trying to keep the cost of racing in check.”

For more information, visit gspss.net.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (ISM) Museum’s new exhibit, “From the Vault” presented by Bank of America, is now open to the public.

The display provides a glimpse into the automotive and motorsports treasures in the IMS Museum’s diverse collection, including rare or one-of-a-kind race car, automobile, trophy, and many additional artifacts.

Due to space constraints, the IMS Museum can display only 20% of its collection at a given time. For Museum staff, “From the Vault” presented by Bank of America is more than an exhibit; it’s a glimpse of what the Museum can share with the public on a regular basis, provided continued and future financial support is sufficient to conduct a complete renovation and expansion.

A sampling of key exhibits in “From the Vault”:
 
• The 1964 Ferrari 250 LM – the last Ferrari to score the overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1965, and the 1966 Ford GT40 No. 4, driven by Mark Donohue and Paul Hawkins at Le Mans in 1966. The car was part of Ford Motor Company’s successful challenge to Ferrari, chronicled in the blockbuster film Ford vs. Ferrari, now in theaters.
 
• A host of historically significant open-wheel race cars: a 1906 FIAT, the 1957 winner of “Race of Two Worlds” at Monza, Janet Guthrie’s 1978 Wildcat Indy car, and the fastest car in Indianapolis 500 history: Arie Luyendyk’s 1996 track record-setting Reynard.
 
• Pop culture artifacts and priceless trophies, such as the majestic Wheeler-Schebler Trophy and incredible works from the Rudolf Caracciola pre-World War II Grand Prix collection.

The exhibit runs now through April 20. Attendees of the PRI Trade Show (Dec. 12-14 in downtown Indianapolis) will be able to catch a glimpse of the exhibit in the Indiana Convention Center. For more information, visit here.

For more information on the IMS Museum or to donate, visit indyracingmuseum.org.

Happy Thanksgiving! PRI’s Aliso Viejo, California, office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29. We will reopen Monday, December 2.

PRI Trade Show registration will remain open online at pri2019.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 founder, has received a special honor by the British Drag Racing Hall Of Fame (BRDHoF).

The presentation was made during the organization’s annual Gala at the historic Outlands Park Hotel in Weybridge, UK.

“Doug Herbert is from a drag racing dynasty that began with his father, Chet Herbert, who introduced roller cams and zoomie headers to our sport in 1949,” BDRHoF Chairman Stuart Bradbury said during the ceremony. “That lineage also includes Doug’s aunt, Doris Herbert, who published Drag News, the first great drag racing newspaper. 

“Doug himself has won four IHRA Top Fuel championships at 10 NHRA national events,” Bradbury continued. “This award also recognizes and honors Doug’s decision to establish the B.R.A.K.E.S. teen defensive driving program following the tragic deaths of his two sons… [it] is saving countless lives by training and educating teen drivers and their parents about the importance of safe, responsible driving.”

For more information, visit britishdragracinghof.co.uk or putonthebrakes.org.

Photo courtesy of B.R.A.K.E.S.

Irwindale Speedway & Event Center in Southern California has announced its 2020 event schedule.

NASCAR Whelen All American Race will return on the second Saturday of each month, March through October. The fan-favorite “Night of Destruction” presented by LKQ Pick Your Part also returns with seven events spanning January to December.

New to the Speedway in 2020 will be “Outlaw Stock Car Racing” which will see some new, open-style, track-sanctioned divisions take to the track featuring Super Late Models, Pro Late Models, and Modifieds.

Irwindale will also see the SRL Spears Southwest Tour and Spears Mfg. Modifieds, with the season-opening Sunrise Ford All-Star Showdown presented by West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame set for February 1.

In March, the newly formed ARCA Menards West Series (formerly the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West), will debut at Irwindale Speedway as part of the March 28 Night of Destruction.

Formula Drift: Title Fight will also return to “The House of Drift” on October 15-17.

For the complete schedule, visit irwindalespeedway.com.

NASCAR announced several leadership promotions across its Sales and Partnership Marketing operations. Frank Kelleher has been promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer, and Michelle Byron and Jeff Wohlschlaeger have both been promoted to Vice President, Partnership Marketing.    

Kelleher will oversee a team responsible for business strategy and revenue generation across the sanctioning body and its 14 motorsports entertainment facilities. In his new role, he will lead a sales force comprised of partnership and media sales. Kelleher, a 16-year veteran with International Speedway Corporation, will also assume the role of NASCAR Chief Sales Officer, which was previously held by Jon Tuck, who left the company to pursue other opportunities. Kelleher will continue to report into Daryl Wolfe, Executive Vice President and Chief Operations and Sales Officer and will be based in Daytona Beach, Florida.  

In their elevated roles, both Byron and Wohlschlaeger will oversee a team responsible for managing and delivering value to the wide-ranging number of brands invested across the sanctioning body and its track facilities. Byron has been with NASCAR for nearly 20 years and has managed a team focused on driving value for official partners. She has been instrumental in developing key partner initiatives including retail programs, live fan events, and national promotions.  

Wohlschlaeger has more than 25 years of sports industry experience spanning across the Chicago Bulls and NASCAR. Most recently, Wohlschlaeger was responsible for delivering value for entitlement partners Monster Energy, Xfinity and Gander Outdoors. Both will report to Jill Gregory, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. Byron will be based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Wohlschlaeger will be based in Daytona Beach, Florida.  

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), meanwhile, announced a pair of leadership promotions across its Business and Partnership Marketing operations. David Pettit has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Operations, and Brandon Huddleston has been promoted to Vice President, Partnership Marketing and Business Development.

Pettit will continue to lead the sanctioning body’s marketing efforts, and his role will be expanded to include IMSA Properties (Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway and Seven Sebring Raceway Hotel) led by Rick Humphrey.

Under his new role, Huddleston will continue to lead the corporate partnership team and also oversee non-endemic business development along with event and promoter relations. He will continue to report to Pettit.

For more information, visit nascar.com or imsa.com.

Dayco has announced that Laura Kowalchik has joined the company as its chief financial officer (CFO).

“Laura is a highly regarded operational finance leader with significant experience in automotive industries, data analytics, and steel. Her breadth of experience in multiple ownership structures, and market conditions, as well as her hands-on-leadership style, make her uniquely qualified to drive our financial strategy forward to deliver industry-leading financial performance across our business worldwide,” Dayco Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joel Wiegert said.

Kowalchik has previously served as the CFO for Kenwal Steel Corporation and also Urban Science. Her career has also included senior-level financial and controller positions with organizations such as Kaydon Corporation, Dura Automotive Systems, Microheat, and Metaldyne Corporation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Richmond and a master of business administration degree in finance from Indiana University.

“I am looking forward to working closely with Dayco’s investors and stakeholders,” Kowalchik said. “It is exciting to join the Dayco team during this time of transformation to drive strong discipline around financial results that focus on delivering stakeholder value.”

Kowalchik is also active in the community and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation.

For more information, visit dayco.com.

Officials with the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Series have announced the format and purse for the 79th Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix at Ventura Raceway.

As the entry list continues to grow for the November 27th and 28th non-point USAC West Coast and VRA Sprint Car events, extra bonuses will be up for grabs from Automotive Racing Products (ARP). Thursday’s “ARP Battle at the Beach” mini-series finale will also feature the NOS Energy Drink USAC National and Western States Midget Series.

NOTICE TO RACERS:

- TURKEY NIGHT ENTRIES: Thursday, October 31st, was the deadline for the $50 early entry fee. The entry fee is now $100, including entries submitted on race day. The 360 Sprint Car Entry Form can be found online at westcoastsprintcars.com/2019/tn19.pdf.

- USAC West Coast Sprint Car series rules will apply.

- 2019 APPROVED/LEGAL MUFFLERS: EXTREME: 6014-3535, 3615-3535, BILLY BOAT: FRAC-0375S, COAST FABRICATION: 350x625x17-2S, FLOWMASTER: 53545-10, 13516100, 13516101, SCHOENFELD: 14272535, 14272735-78, SPINTECH: 1545P SUPER STOCK. *Failure to comply with the muffler rule will risk disqualification from the event.

- FRONT AXLE TETHER SYSTEMS (2-Chassis, 1-King Pin to King Pin) ARE MANDATORY.

- FULL CONTAINMENT SEATS ARE MANDATORY.

- COCKPIT ADJUSTABLE SHOCKS ARE ALLOWED.

- The Hoosier 105/16 Medium is the ONLY legal right rear tire and all four corners must be Hoosier.

- Engine restrictor rules are 1-7/8” with open heads and 2-3/16” with ASCS cylinder heads.

- The weight rule is 1,475 lbs. with driver and the USAC West Coast Sprint Car Rule Book can be found online at westcoastsprintcars.com and usacracing.com.

ARP BONUS: $5,000 in ARP bucks will be handed out during driver introductions for Thursday’s sprint car main event. All twenty-two (22) positions will get a random envelope with a check from ARP.

THURSDAY FEATURE: Thursday’s “ARP Battle at the Beach” main event will be 41 laps in honor of Jason Johnson. Lap 40 will pay an additional $141 in lap money and Bobbi Johnson will be sending a care package of giveaways for racers & fans.

PROVISIONALS: There will be 2 ARP provisionals for the Thursday night feature.

WEDNESDAY FORMAT:

- PILL DRAW: Racers will pill draw for heat race lineups.

- HEAT RACES: There will be no more than 10 cars per heat race for ten (10) laps each. 

- QUALIFYING RACES: Depending on car count, there will be 4 or 5 twelve (12) lap qualifying races with a four (4) car inversion.

- A PASSING POINTS SYSTEM WILL BE USED FOR HEAT RACES AND QUALIFIERS. 

- DASH: The top-10 cars in points will make the fifteen (15) lap dash. The lineup will be straight up by points and the finish will set the first five rows of Thursday’s 41-lap main event.

- WEDNESDAY DASH PURSE: 1-$1000, 2-$600, 3-$400, 4-$300, 5-$250, 6-$225, 7-$200, 8-$150, 9-$150, 10-$150.

THURSDAY FORMAT:

- SEMI-MAINS: Depending on car count, there will be 2 or 3 twelve (12) lap semi-mains.

- SEMI-MAIN TRANSFERS: The top 3 or 4 finishers will transfer to the feature, which also depends on car count.

- SEMI-MAIN LINEUP: The lineup is based on total passing points from the Wednesday heat races and qualifiers. The lineup will be straight up by points.

- FEATURE: The main event will have twenty-two (22) cars with two possible ARP provisionals.

- THURSDAY PURSE: 1-$3000, 2-$2000, 3-$1500, 4-$1000, 5-$800, 6-$700, 7-$600, 8-$500, 9-$400, 10-$300, 11-22-$200. All non-transfers = $75.

Advance tickets for the “79th Running of the Turkey Night Grand Prix” are available online through venturaraceway.com or by calling 805.648.7223. Ventura Raceway is located on the Ventura County Fairgrounds at 10 West Harbor Blvd. in Ventura, California.

For more information on the series, visit usacracing.com.

SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks has announced its schedule for the 2020 season, featuring a total of 20 rounds and visiting ten different tracks in three different countries.

For the fourth time in series history, the SuperLoop 500 in Adelaide, SA, Australia, will be included on the schedule in conjunction with the Virgin Australia Supercars opening round early in the SST season.

After a year absence, the trucks will be back in South Australia, and will feature drivers from both the United States and Australia in the first of three co-sanctioned events with the newly formed Boost Mobile Super Trucks.

The longest-running event on the Stadium SUPER Trucks schedule will also be back for the eighth consecutive year as the trucks take to the streets of Long Beach, California, April 17-19, for the 47th running of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

The current 2020 SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks Schedule is as follows:

February 1; Southern California Stadium*
February 20-23; SuperLoop 500; Adelaide, SA, Australia **

April 17-19; Long Beach Grand Prix, Long Beach, California

July 10-12; Honda Indy Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

August 7-8; Road America; Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

August 14-16; Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; Lexington, Ohio

August 28-30; Sydney Motorsport Park; Sydney, NSW, Australia**

September 4-6; Portland International Raceway; Portland, Oregon

October 30-November 1; Surfers Paradise Street Circuit; Gold Coast, QLD, Australia**

TBA*
* Announcement with additional dates in the coming weeks
** Co-Sanctioned with Boost Mobile Super Trucks

Visit StadiumSuperTrucks.com for additional event dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

New for 2020, Stadium SUPER Trucks in Australia has expanded to feature its own series schedule in conjunction with existing Virgin Australia SuperCar events under the banner of Boost Mobile Super Trucks.

The Australian campaign will kick off February 20-23 with the SuperLoop 500 in Adelaide, South Australia. The opening event of the Boost Mobile Super Trucks schedule will be co-sanctioned with SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks and will feature both drivers from the United States and Australia competing.

The next two events will feature new tracks for SST with Symmonds Plains Raceway in Launceston, Tasmania hosting an event, April 3-5. While a week later, the trucks will be loaded on a ship for the Pukekohe Raceway, April 24-26, and the first event in the country of New Zealand.

The remaining schedule will feature the Boost Mobile Super Trucks to return to venues that have hosted previously.

The current 2020 Boost Mobile Super Trucks Schedule includes:

February 20-23; Adelaide Street Circuit; Adelaide, SA, Australia**

April 3-5; Symmonds Plains Raceway; Launceston, TAS, Australia

April 24-26; Pukekohe Raceway; Auckland, New Zealand

May 15-17; Barbagallo Raceway; Perth, WA, Australia

June 26-28; Townsville Street Circuit; Townsville, QLD, Australia

July 17-19; Hidden Valley Raceway; Darwin, NT, Australia

August 28-30; Sydney Motorsport Park; Sydney, NSW, Australia**

October 30-November 1; Surfers Paradise Street Circuit; Gold Coast, QLD, Australia **
**Co-Sanctioned with SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks