Series officials have announced the schedule for its 2020 ARCA Menards Series East.

The season gets underway at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway on Monday, February 10. Next year will be the seventh consecutive season the high-banked, half-mile hosted the season opener.

The schedule culminates on Saturday, September 12, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s Full Throttle Fall Weekend when a champion will be crowned.

The announcement comes after the blending of the ARCA Menards Series with the newly renamed ARCA Menards Series East and West, along with a consolidated rulebook.

The 2020 ARCA Menards Series East season will be broadcasted on NBCSN. The official broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.

For the complete schedule, visit the ARCA website here.

Michael Blackmer—the racing enthusiast and owner of Merritt Speedway in Lake City, Michigan—is the new owner of Tri-City Motor Speedway (TCMS).

The circle track in Auburn, Michigan, originally opened in 1947 and operated until the early 2000s. In 2010, Steve Puvalowski and his family purchased the track and made renovations on the property, reopening for racing in 2011.

Since then, the track has grown to be a favorite of racing fans and drivers from across the Midwest and Canada, highlighting racing to be an inclusive family experience.

“I’m excited to now be a part of the best Friday night track in the state and look forward to continuing the high-level of racing excitement and to get to know the TCMS racing family,” Blackmer said.

Tri-City Motor Speedway will continue to operate on Friday nights. Anyone with existing pre-purchases such as grandstand season passes and pit parking or 2020 donated promotional tickets will be honored by the new owner.

The 2019 Season Banquet will still be hosted by the former owners on January 25, 2020.

Those seeking to contact the new owner can reach out to 989/316-6804 or michaelblackmer62@aol.com. For more information, visit tricityracetrack.com.

The Xtreme DIRTcar Series is adding a new event to its winter schedule on Saturday, December 7, at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, Tennessee.

The $5,000-to-win “Grinch 40” completes the Xtreme schedule with six events from November through February at tracks across the Southeast, including the season finale on February 29 at Modoc Raceway in McCormick County, South Carolina, which will be a $7,000-to-win event.

“We’re so glad we get to provide our great fans with the opportunity to see some quality Super Late Model racing,” Volunteer Speedway Track Owner Landon Stallard said. “We were honored to even be asked to be a part of it.”

The finale at Modoc will determine the Xtreme DIRTcar Series champion, who will collect $20,000 from the point fund.

Those that can’t make it to the track can watch the action live on DIRTVision with the Late Model Fast Pass. For more information, visit xtremedirtcar.com.

2019-20 Xtreme DIRTcar Series Winter Schedule

Sun, Nov. 24 – Blue Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC

Sat, Dec. 7 – Grinch 40 at Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap, TN

Sun, Dec. 15 – Lavonia Speedway in Lavonia, GA

Sat, Jan. 18 – Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, SC

Sat, Jan. 25 – Cochran Motor Speedway in Cochran, GA

Sat, Feb. 29 – Modoc Raceway in Modoc, SC

Mopar has teamed up with Dodge//SRT to unveil the new, fourth-generation version of the factory-built, Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak for the race track.

The unveiling took place during the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The 2020 Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak is engineered for grassroots drag racers that compete in sportsman classes in events sanctioned by the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and National Muscle Car Association (NMCA).

“Mopar and Dodge//SRT collaborated to make this factory production-based Challenger Drag Pak not only a force to be reckoned with at the strip but also an instant collectible for Mopar enthusiasts,” said Mark Bosanac, Head of Mopar Service, Parts & Customer Care, FCA – North America. “Our legacy has been won at the track by the women and men who pour all they have into being the best. This new Challenger Drag Pak gives them the tools to stay in front of the competition.”

Production of the new turnkey Challenger Drag Pak, which will also be ready for a variety of modular install kits, will be limited to 50 serialized units.

Construction of the Challenger Drag Pak begins with a standard-width Dodge Challenger Body-in-White (BIW) unibody built at the FCA Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario. An SFI-specification welded rollcage, rated for quarter-mile runs as fast as 7.50 seconds, is integrated into the body.

New for the 4th-generation Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak, the Strange rear axle assembly uses adjustable coilover shocks, four-link suspension with wishbone and an anti-roll bar. Wheelie bars and a parachute mount are integrated into the chassis and are standard.

Ordering and pricing details for the build will be announced in the future.

For more information on the car design, graphics, and more visit the Mopar website here.

Photo courtesy of Mopar

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and Energy Systems Network (ESN) announced a two-year, $1 million prize competition that will culminate in a head-to-head, high-speed autonomous vehicle race Oct. 23, 2021, around the Speedway's famed 2.5-mile oval.

Joining IMS and ESN for the announcement at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas were race car manufacturer Dallara Automobili and the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR)

The Indy Autonomous Challenge is a competition among universities to create software that enables self-driving Indy Lights race cars to compete in a head-to-head race on the IMS track. This type of software can help speed the commercialization of fully autonomous vehicles and enhance existing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in people-driven cars.

The Challenge builds upon the success and impact of the DARPA Grand Challenge—the 2004-05 defense research initiative that helped create the modern autonomous vehicle industry.

"There's a fundamental connection between innovations on the racetrack and real-world improvements on the highway," IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. "With the launch of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, IMS continues to embrace its historic role as a catalyst for the next generation of vehicle technologies in motorsports competition and wider consumer platforms. And while drivers will always be at the heart of racing at IMS, we're excited to be part of this groundbreaking and exciting initiative."

The Challenge consists of five rounds. Teams first submit a form, and in the second round, demonstrate vehicular automation by sharing a video of an existing vehicle or by participating in Purdue University's self-driving go-kart competition at IMS.

Challenge sponsor ANSYS will later supply teams with its VRXPERIENCE Driving Simulator powered by SCANeRTM and its SCADE software development suite, and award $150,000 in prizes to top finishers of a simulated race during the third round. The fourth round enables teams to test their actual vehicles at IMS in advance of the head-to-head race around the oval, which will award $1 million, $250,000, and $50,000 to the first, second, and third finishers, respectively.

Five universities registered for the competition upon the announcement, including Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), University of Florida, University of Illinois and the University of Virginia.

Registration is open for accredited, tax-exempt colleges and universities (including foreign institutions of higher education) through Feb. 28, 2020. For more information and to register for the competition, visit indyautonomouschallenge.com. For additional information, visit indianapolismotorspeedway.com.

The Stand 21 Safety Foundation and the SCTA will offer a free safety seminar at the Dry Lakes in El Mirage, California, on Saturday, November 9.

The “Racing Goes Safer” session will cover the latest safety information in personal fire safety gear, including drivers' suit materials, the differences between suits, and what to wear (and not wear) under a suit. Additional topics will include suit care and maintenance.

The one-hour session will take place from 5 - 6 p.m. at the venue’s tech trailer. Attendees are invited to enjoy the racing taking place ahead of the seminar.

For more information and for questions, contact Don Taylor at dtaylor@racinggoessafer.org.

Custom Automotive Network (CAN) has announced the election results for its 2020-2021 Board of Directors.

Edelbrock Vice President of Brand Sales Cary Redman will continue to serve on the CAN Board as the newly elected Chairman-Elect for the 2020-2021 term. This year’s director election was held to fill three distributor, one manufacturer, and one partner director seats.

Having previously served on the board, R&R Marketing Consultants CEO Rich Butler and Premiere Performance Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bob Barra have each been re-elected for a second term as directors.

New Board members include Dana Seefeldt, Director of Merchandising at AutoAnything, Fred Petrivelli, Vice President of US Sales at Keystone Automotive Operations, and Chris Fairless, Director of Sales at Hypertech.

“2019 has been an exciting year of changes for CAN and marks the first year every member type has been represented on the Board of Directors. The results from this election provide us with another significant moment as the first manufacturer, Cary Redman of Edelbrock, has been elected to serve as CAN’s Chairman-elect. We look forward to a prosperous year and welcoming several new directors in January of 2020,” Tracie Nunez said.

For more information, visit customautomotivenetwork.com.

Attendees of this year’s Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, set for December 12–14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will have more opportunities than ever to pick up valuable tips and takeaways during an expanded seminar schedule covering a wide range of topics.

Among the bolstered technical seminar lineup includes a presentation by Lake Speed, Jr. of Driven Racing Oil.

The evolution of oils and fuels is having a profound effect on motorsports parts and performance. Certified Lubrication Specialist, Used Oil Analyst and ASTM Fuels certificate holder Speed Jr. will discuss some of these changes in depth and explain what they mean for teams now and in the future during his PRI Education session “More than Zinc: What’s Changed In Oils & Fuels” from 3–4 p.m. on Friday, December 13, in Room 236 of the Indiana Convention Center.

Additional technical seminars set for PRI 2019 include:

 • High-efficiency Induction Systems & the Pitfalls of Modern CNC Cylinder Heads  — Thurs. 12/12, 1-2 p.m., Room 233; Sat., 12/14, 10-11 a.m., Room 236

 • BUMP STOPS — Learn the latest technology the industry is using to push the envelope — Fri., 12/13, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., Room 234

 • Breakthrough Tech: Optimal Cam Selection in 95 Seconds — Fri., 12/13, 2-5 p.m., Room 231

The 2019 PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths and showcasing the latest products, services, machinery, simulation, and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry in a single location.

For the complete PRI Education lineup, visit here. To register for PRI 2019, visit prishow.com/register.

With new features, an expanded exhibit area, and more, racing professionals won’t want to miss the 2019 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show set for December 12-14 in downtown Indianapolis.

A host of new features and amenities are designed to make it easier for attendees to navigate and conduct business at the PRI Show, as well as provide them with the latest innovations and information the industry has to offer.



The exciting features set for PRI 2019 include:

PAC Racing Springs, a subsidiary of Peterson Spring, finalized the sale of Schroeder Torsion Bars to Chalk Racing and Competition Suspension Inc. (CSI). The Schroeder brand will continue as a new product line for Chalk Racing, which will relocate to a new facility in Kokomo, Indiana.

“We will continue to manufacture the Chalk Stix line using the same materials and heat treat specs our customers have come to rely on. The Schroeder brand will be made using the equipment, material specs and process its legacy was built on. Having both brands under one roof will provide several benefits for our customers while maintaining each brand’s unique identity,” CSI Owner Garrett Andrews said.

PAC Racing Springs is the aftermarket and racing manufacturer division of the Peterson Spring Company, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan. PAC Racing Springs specializes in engine valve springs and powertrain products. Peterson Spring manufactures springs, wire forms, spring stampings, and coiled retaining rings for automotive, industrial, recreational, and more industries.

For more information, visit racingsprings.com.