Louis "Sonny" Meyer Jr., one of the most accomplished and successful engine builders in Indianapolis 500 history, passed away Saturday, Nov. 9 in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was 89. Meyer Jr. was the son of Louis Meyer, the first three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 as a driver.

Meyer Jr. joined Meyer & Drake Engineering soon after his father and Dale Drake purchased the Offenhauser engine business from Fred Offenhauser in early 1946. Meyer Jr.’s involvement in the sport was instrumental as an engine builder or chief mechanic in at least 15 Indy 500 victories.

The Meyers introduced the supercharged midget engine to Indy in 1949-50 with Tony Bettenhausen. Meyer Jr. worked on Bill Vukovich's crew in the early 1950s before becoming a chief mechanic for Bettenhausen in 1958 as he finished fourth at Indy in the No. 33 Jones & Maley Epperly/Offy.

When his father sold out of Offenhauser in 1964 to become a distributor for Ford's double-overhead-camshaft V8 engine, Meyer Jr. relocated to Indianapolis and became a mentor to many future chief mechanics. He also worked with his father on the Ford program, and a Ford engine powered A.J. Foyt to his third Indianapolis 500 win, in 1967.

Meyer Jr. also built the engine that powered Gordon Johncock's first "500" victory in 1973 in the No. 20 STP Double Oil Filter Eagle/Offy owned by Patrick Racing. The crew chief was Meyer Jr.’s brother-in-law, George Bignotti, and Meyer Jr. also served as the team's fueler during pit stops. Meyer Jr.’s tenure at Patrick Racing was followed by a stint at Vince Granatelli Racing and then several more years as development engineer on John Menard's potent V6 turbocharged Buicks.

Meyer Jr. was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 2013.

Photo courtesy of IMS

The Bob Hilbert Sportswear Short Track Super Series fueled by Sunoco is set to break new ground in February.

For the first time in history, the Short Track Super Series-sanctioned Modifieds and Crate 602 Sportsman will head south to Florida for the Sunshine Swing mini-series at All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, February 5–8, 2020.

An open practice on February 5 leads into three consecutive nights of racing at the facility located roughly an hour west of Jacksonville. February 6 features $5000-to-win for the STSS Modifieds and $1250-to-win for the Crate 602 Sportsman. On February 7, the stakes rise to $7500-to-win for the STSS Modifieds with the Crate 602 Sportsman again competing for $1250.

February 8 closes the series with Modified competing for $10,000 to win and Crate 602 Sportsman battling for a $1500 top prize.

All posted payouts are minimums and are likely to increase with sponsorship and bonus cash.

Amalie Motor Oil has extended its title sponsorship of NHRA Championship Drag Racing’s traditional east coast opener in Gainesville, Florida, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, in a multi-year extension agreement.

One of the most legendary races on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit, the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is a destination race for fans and drivers alike. It also traditionally serves as the season opener for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Pro Stock Motorcycle category.

“Amalie Motor Oil is excited to announce the continuation of our title rights sponsorship of the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals,” said Rick Barkett. “We are fortunate to have one of the premier drag racing events in the world so close to our global headquarters in Tampa, Florida. The 50th anniversary Gatornationals this season was a huge success and we look forward to being an integral part of this great event for many more years.”

Amalie Motor Oil has been involved in NHRA drag racing across numerous platforms through its presence in NHRA’s contingency program as well as its sponsorship of drivers including Top Fuel pilot Terry McMillen. This renewal will continue to build upon the partnership and provides Amalie Motor Oil with opportunities to connect with NHRA fans including product placement, signage, interactive displays, media exposure and more.

“Amalie Motor Oil is a valued partner to NHRA Championship Drag Racing,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president, and chief development officer. “We are extremely happy to continue our relationship with Amalie Motor Oil as the title sponsor for one of our largest, longest-running and most iconic events.”

The Outlaw Diesel Super Series has released its 2020 schedule, which includes nine separate events across the South and Midwest:

Round #1: Suncoast Spring Shakedown - Holt, Florida—Emerald Coast Dragway - March 13th-14th

Round #2: Rudy’s Spring Event - Piedmont, North Carolina—Piedmont Dragway - April 17th-18th

Round #3: Ultimate Callout Challenge - Indianapolis, Indiana—Lucas Oil Raceway - May 1st-3rd (Pro Classes)

Round #4: Outlaw Diesel Revenge - Xenia, Ohio—Kil-Kare Raceway - June 5th-6th

Round #5: Hollyrock Custom Summer Showdown - North Dinwiddie, Virginia—Virginia Motorsports Park - June 26th-27th

Round #6: Rock Top Diesel Shootout 7 - Crossville, Tennessee—Crossville Dragway - July 24th-26th

Round #7: Scheid Diesel Extravaganza - Lyons, Indiana—Wagler Motorsports Park - August 28th-29th

Round #8: Hardway Sunshine Showdown - Holt, Florida—Emerald Coast Dragway - September 18th-19th

Round #9: Rudy’s Fall Truck Jam - Piedmont, North Carolina—Piedmont Dragway - October 2nd-3rd

The Outlaw Diesel Super Series is promoted by the owners of Scheid Diesel, RLC Motorsports, TS Performance and Rudy’s Diesel Performance with the intent of creating a points series to standardize payouts and increase competition at each event.

For more information, visit outlawdieselss.com.

Michael Olinger, M.D., who served as INDYCAR’s medical director from 2006-2018, died November 7. He was 69.

Olinger joined the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team when INDYCAR was formed in 1996 as an on-track physician. He was promoted to INDYCAR’s Senior Medical Director in 2006 following the retirement of Dr. Henry Bock. Olinger had served as Bock’s deputy medical director at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for more than a decade. In 2003, Olinger was recognized with the Safety Award from the Championship Drivers Association.

Olinger was appointed the state of Indiana’s first emergency medical services medical director in 2014 and held the job for two years. He was a professor of clinical emergency medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine and served as medical director for the Indianapolis Fire Department and Indianapolis EMS. He was a gubernatorial appointee to the Indiana EMS Commission.

Olinger also served as the Medical Director for Marion County’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force (Indiana-Task Force 1) and was deployed by FEMA to the Oklahoma City Bombing, Hurricane Marilyn, the DeBruce Grain Elevator explosion, the Atlanta and Salt Lake City Olympic Games, the World Trade Center incident, the recovery mission of the Space Shuttle Columbia crew, the Republican National Convention, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Katrina.

A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 1983, Olinger, a former helicopter pilot in the Army, completed his Residency in Emergency Medicine in 1987 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanette, and their children and grandchildren.

Welcome to this year’s edition of the premier event for motorsports professionals!

The 2019 Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, set for December 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium (LOS) in downtown Indianapolis, promises to deliver the absolute latest parts, equipment, information and solutions to help attendees supercharge their operations ahead of the 2020 race season. Backed by more than 1100 exhibiting manufacturers and service providers, a newly expanded trailer display area on the LOS field, and a full lineup of all-new PRI Education seminars, PRI 2019 offers unbeatable business opportunities for racing retailers, engine builders, fabricators, machinists, tuners, teams, and more.

Show veterans know it’s nearly impossible to navigate 3300-plus booths and multiple special exhibits—not to mention a comprehensive event schedule and after-hours networking activities—without a solid game plan. Which is why we’re promoting a pair of online tools designed to help attendees, exhibitors and media develop a finely tuned agenda before setting foot on the Show floor.

The first is our official Show app. Available for download at prishow.com/app, it provides a complete listing of exhibitors, seminars, VIP appearances, Show specials and more, all from the convenience of your mobile device. Second is the Show Planner function on our Map Your Show site. Just go to pri2019.mapyourshow.com and click the Show Planner heading at the top of the page. Once you create an account (takes 30 seconds) you’ll have access to features that let you organize and prioritize the events, products, exhibitors and more you’ll find during the three biggest business days in racing.

Beyond these incredibly useful resources, we in the Editorial Department wanted to further assist in making your Show experience as rewarding and productive as possible. So we decided to focus the lead story in this issue—beginning on page 28—on how attendees can maximize their time and efforts on the Show floor… from the exhibitors’ perspective. After all, who better to advise on what attendees should and shouldn’t do, what questions they should and shouldn’t ask, and what they should and shouldn’t know before stepping into a supplier’s booth?

Among those weighing in was Trevor Hobson of CVF Racing (Booth #2867), who said that when it comes to Shows like PRI, “it becomes important for attendees to be mindful of time for both themselves and other attendees. There are a lot of people, a lot of information, and not a whole lot of time by comparison. Getting super in-depth about the specifics of your program is probably better suited to when vendors are back in the office and have the full support of their staff and resources at their fingertips.”

Meantime, Mike Jones of Jones Cam Designs (Booth #1110) said that while he appreciates questions about his company’s parts and capabilities, “and what makes them better than our competitors,” he asked that attendees please “don’t show up, with an entire build sheet on your engine and a list of the engine rules for your track, and want someone to go over the whole thing with you. Our mind is focused on answering questions about our products and services, and we are answering questions from thousands of attendees.”

Indeed, as Ron Dabill of exhibitor Bend-Tech (Booth #5416) reminded us, “Asking questions is fine, but if they are not serious buyers then please allow the salespeople to connect with potential customers when it’s busy.”

Above all else, the PRI Trade Show is about doing business. It’s the industry’s once-a-year chance to discover and buy (for attendees) or display and sell (for exhibitors) innovative new products and equipment. Time is in short supply, so be sure to spend yours wisely…and have a great Show!

Alaska Raceway Park, located in Palmer, Alaska, has signed an agreement to become a new National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) member track. Originally built in 1964, the multi-use motorsports park will become a member of the Northwest Division. The official signing of the member track agreement took place at the Dodge NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas.

The facility owned and operated by Earl and Karen Lackey and Michelle Lackey Maynor sits about 42 miles northeast of Anchorage. As part of the track’s new agreement with NHRA, Alaska Raceway Park will be adding additional facility and safety features. Additionally, they will be making changes to their rulebook to better align with the rules and standards of NHRA.

“The drag strip has been there for 55 years and we just opened the NASCAR track in 2016. NHRA is the top name in drag racing and NASCAR is the top name in oval racing so it seemed like a good fit,” said Lackey Maynor. “We’re excited for the upcoming season. To get back to the fun part of racing. That track family atmosphere is kind of what we’re focusing on for this year.”

The track will host a slate of NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League events during the year. Racers will also have the opportunity to compete against other racers in the division for a championship “Wally” (the official NHRA trophy) through the Land of the Leaders ET Challenge Series.

As an NHRA sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the track will have the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events, including the National DRAGSTER Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge.

For more information, visit nhra.com.

Photo courtesy of NHRA

Mike Parks and MDP Motorsports Promotions have entered an agreement to lease Claremont Motorsports park in Claremont, New Hampshire, beginning with the 2020 season in April.

The track has been owned by Ben Bosowski and Norman Wrenn since last year, who ran operations with General Manager Phil Hayes. The duo will focus on other racing properties in 2020.

“I have to thank Norm and Ben for giving us this opportunity,” Parks said, who is the founder and owner of the Granite State Pro Stock Series (GSPSS). “We have held several one-off events over the last couple of years and this is the next step in the progression. This is my home track. To have the opportunity to actually run the place is a dream come true.”

Biweekly Friday night racing will continue at the track under NHSTRA and NASCAR banners featuring the sportsman Modified division. Also returning to the track will be mini stocks, Late Model sportsmen, Six Shooters, pure stocks, and street stocks.

As far as changes, Parks will adjust start times to 7:30 p.m., “with a goal of having people out by 10:30.”

GSPSS will open the track’s season, as well as its own season, on Saturday, April 25.

The property features a 1/3-mile oval as well as a kart track, mud bog pit, and a sand drag track. An official schedule announcement will be released at a later date.

For more information, visit claremontmotorsportspark.com.

Lucas Oil Speedway has released its 2020 tentative schedule, which features a complete schedule of events—and even a professional bull ride—for three of its motorsports venues at the Wheatland, Missouri-based complex.

Along with the 13-week Weekly Racing Series, which General Manager Danny Lorton calls "the backbone of our schedule," there's at least one special event per month from April through October.

Included is the return of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series for the Off Road Shootout, Aug. 21-23, and the 28th annual Show-Me 100 Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com, May 21-23. Storm damage forced cancelation of those marquee events in 2019.

Drag Boat action also makes its return for the first time since 2018 with three events on Lake Lucas.

"We're excited that the 2020 schedule again has lots of variety," Lorton said. "We'll have the big Late Model specials, the Open-Wheel shows, Drag Boats, Monster Trucks, Pro Pulling and the Lucas Oil Off Road Series on the off-road track."

There are some special additions within the Weekly Racing Series. Pure Stocks, which ran twice in 2019, have been added on April 18 and June 20 with Mod Lites, for the first time, joining the July 11 program. The Show-Me Vintage Racers return for a third straight year, on Aug. 8.

June will also feature an event other than motorsports with the Lucas Oil Invitational Pro Bull Ride Presented by ProtecttheHarvest.com, which is set for June 26-27 at the dirt track.

For more information and the complete schedule, visit the Lucas Oil Speedway website here.

Image courtesy of Lucas Oil Speedway

Series officials have announced the 2020 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour schedule, which will feature its furthest trip West with the visit to Iowa Speedway on Friday, July 31.

The Whelen Modified Tour will open the season with a return trip to Virginia’s South Boston Speedway on Saturday, March 21. Connecticut will serve as the traditional opening of racing in New England with the 46th Annual Icebreaker weekend at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park on Sunday, April 5, followed by the NAPA Spring Sizzler weekend at Stafford Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 26.

The Whelen Modified Tour slate will also visit Martinsville, Virginia’s famous half-mile Martinsville Speedway for the Maxpro Window Films 200 on Friday, May 8, as part of the spring Cup Series weekend.

Jennerstown Speedway, the .522-mile oval in western Pennsylvania, will feature the tour on Saturday, May 23.

New Hampshire Motor Speedway will again feature a 100-lap showcase on Saturday, July 18. The Whelen Modified Tour will also return with the 200-lap main event for the track’s Full Throttle Fall Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 12.

The season will conclude with the 48th annual NAPA Fall Final weekend at Stafford on Sunday, Sept. 27, and the 58th annual Sunoco World Series of Speedway Racing at Thompson on Sunday, Oct. 11.

The complete NBCSN schedule, including broadcast times, will be released at a later date.

For the complete schedule, visit the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour website, here.