The 2020 season, 56-race schedule of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series has been released.

Next year, the series will visit 32 different venues across 18 states. The 2020 tour will launch with nine events during Georgia-Florida Speedweeks and conclude October 16-17 with the 40th Annual Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park.
 
For the first time, All-Tech Raceway in Lake City, Florida, will host the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series on Sunday, February 9, as the event wraps up Georgia-Florida Speedweeks. On Saturday, April 4, the tour will make its return to Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, Alabama, for the first time since June 14, 2008.

The 2020 campaign will be highlighted by a number of the industry's richest events, including: Lucas Oil Speedway's Show-Me 100 ($30,000 to win); I-80 Speedway's Silver Dollar Nationals ($53,000); Florence Speedway's North/South 100 ($50,000); Batesville Motor Speedway's Topless 100 ($40,000); Port Royal Speedway's Dirt Track Throwback ($50,000); Tyler County Speedway's Hillbilly Hundred ($30,000); Knoxville Raceway's Late Model Nationals ($40,000); Pittsburgh's PA Motor Speedway's Pittsburgher 100 ($20,000); and Portsmouth Raceway Park's Dirt Track World Championship ($100,000).
 
For the complete tour schedule, driver information and more, visit lucasdirt.com.
 

The Race Team Alliance, an organization representing a majority of NASCAR Cup teams, has purchased Speed51.com, according to published reports and statements from both groups.

Founded by NASCAR broadcaster Bob Dillner and other passionate short track aficionados, Speed51 bills itself as the home for behind-the-scenes stories and short track news for series all around the country including NASCAR’s Touring Series, Late Models, Modifieds and more. In 2015, Speed51.com created the Speed51 Network, an on-demand video network which now features thousands of short track racing videos from throughout North America.

Speed51.com released a statement that reads: “Speed51 confirms that it has been purchased by the Race Team Alliance. Post-acquisition, Speed51 will continue to operate in the manner as it always has and remains committed to providing the best in live, short-track racing to the racing fan base. The RTA, with its mission to promote North American stock car racing, is ideally suited to provide Speed51 with access to an overall larger racing fan base over time.  Founder,  Bob Dillner, will continue is his role as the President of Speed51.”

The Race Team Alliance includes: Stewart-Haas Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, Richard Childress Racing, Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports, Roush Fenway Racing, JTG Daugherty Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, Chip Ganassi Racing, Germain Racing, Leavine Family Racing, Go Fas Racing and Wood Brothers Racing.

A statement sent to NBC Sports from the Race Team Alliance noted: “Race Team Alliance confirms the purchase of Speed51, a leading live, short-track racing distribution company based in Concord, NC.  The RTA, which represents the common interests of its 13 NASCAR Cup Team members, looks for strategic opportunities which both compliment the RTA’s core principles of promoting and growing the sport and advancing the common interests of the member Race Teams. The RTA identified Speed51 as a growing company with strong synergies to RTA’s commitment to the racing community and aligns with our fan bases’ enthusiasm for grass roots racing. The Speed51/RTA combination will explore ways to create and distribute to race fans exciting new Team related content, and allow the Teams to better connect directly with their fans.

“Speed51, which first started operating as a short-track news and information site in early 2000’s, has become a prominent player in the live, short-track world, streaming over 400 races each year to a dedicated fan base.  Founded by racing and sports broadcasting personality, Bob Dillner, Speed51 has consistently grown throughout the years and the RTA identified the company as one with great potential.  Post-acquisition, Bob will continue in his role as the President of Speed51 and report to RTA’s Executive Director, Jonathan Marshall.”

NASCAR announced that it has successfully closed its acquisition of International Speedway Corporation (ISC), merging its operations into one, new company moving forward. The new company will remain based in Daytona Beach, Florida, and will continue as NASCAR. As part of this process, ISC has been delisted from NASDAQ.

In leading the new, combined company, Jim France will serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, with Lesa France Kennedy as Executive Vice Chair. Steve Phelps has been appointed President and will oversee all operations of the merged entity.

“The merger of NASCAR and ISC represents a historic moment for our sport,” France said. “There is much work ahead of us, but we’re pleased with the progress made to position our sport for success. Delivering for our race fans and partners is job number one and we look forward to doing that better than ever for years to come.”

The merger represents a significant step forward for NASCAR as the sport creates a unified vision to embrace its long history of exciting, family-oriented racing experiences while developing strategic growth initiatives that will drive the passion of core fans and attract the next generation of race fans, according to a company release.

As part of the new organization, the Board of Directors will consist of France, France Kennedy, Mike Helton, and Gary Crotty, Chief Legal Officer. Phelps’ direct reports will represent executives with deep industry experience, including Ed Bennett, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer; Jill Gregory, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing and Content Officer; Craig Neeb, Executive Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer; Steve O’Donnell, Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Development Officer; and Daryl Wolfe, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations and Sales Officer. In addition, Helton and John Saunders will serve as senior advisors under the new leadership structure.

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

Photo courtesy of NASCAR

Cometic Gasket, the supplier of high-performance gaskets for a variety of motorsports markets, has announced a partnership with ASAP Trading USA, LLC, the sales and marketing agency company with offices in San Diego, California and Lima, Peru.

ASAP Trading USA, which was established by Juan-Jose Rebaza to serve the Latin American region, will represent and market all Cometic Gasket products for Mexico, Central America, and South America as the Cometic’s exclusive authorized representative company.

To contact ASAP Trading USA, email Juan-Jose Rebaza at jjrebaza@asap-trading.net. To Contact the ASAP Trading Peru office, contact Ricardo Rebaza at gerencia@asap-trading.net.

For more information, visit cometic.com.

Series officials have released the 2020 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli schedule, which will feature a 12-race calendar for the National Championship.

The opening rounds are nearly identical to 2019, with the 54th year of Trans Am kicking off at Sebring International Raceway as part of the SpeedTour Event, a doubleheader collaboration featuring Trans Am and the SportsCar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) February 29-March 1.

Another schedule highlight is the May 1-3 visit to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The 2019 season marked the first full Trans Am Series appearance at the Monterey circuit since 2004. The home of the Corkscrew turn will once again play host for the first of two Trans Am National and West Coast championship combined races that will see the competitors from the Trans Am West Coast Championship Presented by Pirelli take to the track.

“Last May, we started a new chapter of Trans Am in the West and it was a great success,” President of the Trans Am Race Company John Clagett said. “The drivers in both championships really enjoyed competing against each other through the elevation changes and fast turns of Laguna Seca, and we want to continue to foster that growth in 2020.”

A special event is set for July 10-12 at Brainerd International Raceway, which will honor the late track co-owner and former part-time Trans Am driver Jed Copham. Teams will compete for $35,000 in purse bonuses during the Jed Copham Memorial Weekend.

Trans Am will also once again stage two 100-mile races as part of the Xfinity NASCAR Series at Road America on August 8, completing its summer tour.

The final leg of the 2020 docket starts September 11-13 at Watkins Glen International, followed by a staple on the series’ schedule, VIRginia International Raceway (September 25-27).

After a weekend of racing in record-breaking heat in 2019, the Circuit of The Americas date moves from October back to November (6-8) in 2020, which will serve as the season finale for both the Trans Am National and West Coast championships.

The full official 2020 Trans Am Series West Coast presented by Pirelli Championship schedule will be released at a later date.

For the complete 2020 schedule, visit here. For more information on the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, visit gotransam.com.

Photo courtesy of Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli

SEMA President & CEO Chris Kersting today praised U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) along with 24 original cosponsors for reintroducing S. 2602, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2019 (RPM Act). This bipartisan bill protects Americans’ right to convert street vehicles into dedicated race cars and the motorsports parts industry’s right to sell products that enable racers to compete.  

The RPM Act confirms that transforming motor vehicles into race cars used exclusively for competition does not violate the Clean Air Act. This American tradition was unquestioned for nearly 50 years until 2015 when the EPA took the position that converted street vehicles that compete on the track must remain emissions-compliant, even though they are not driven on public streets or highways. The EPA also maintains that the equipment used to transform a street vehicle into a race car is prohibited.

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said Kersting. “We thank Senators Burr and Manchin for reintroducing a bill that will protect businesses that produce, install and sell the parts that enable racers to compete."

The RPM Act cleared several major legislative hurdles in the previous Congress, including passage by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee. The bill also received hearings in both the House and Senate, which underscored the importance of motorsports as a great American pastime and economic stimulus in communities across the country. Lawmakers were able to find a pathway to a consensus on the language of the bill last session, positioning it to become law in the 2019-2020 Congress.

“American racing runs on traditions,” said Senator Burr. “For more than 50 years, motorsports enthusiasts have purchased cars and modified them to race, off of public roads. However, this tradition was threatened when the Obama EPA attempted to make these modifications illegal. This legislation upholds Congress’ intent of the Clean Air Act and protects motorsports, for professionals and amateurs alike, for years to come. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on this bipartisan legislation, and I look forward to seeing it move through the Senate.”

Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a nearly $2 billion market annually. A majority of the estimated 1,300 race tracks operating across the U.S., including oval, road, dirt and off-road tracks, feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers to be illegal.

“A big part of the fun of motorsports is the tradition of modifying regular cars into race cars,” said Senator Manchin. “This legislation upholds amendments to the Clean Air Act that exempt modified vehicles and race cars from certain environmental regulations, protecting motorsports for years to come. I am proud to be a part of this bipartisan bill and look forward to the boost it will give to motorsports.”

It is important that members of Congress hear from the racing and automotive enthusiast communities about the importance of passing the RPM Act into law during this session of Congress.

To write a letter to your U.S. Senators, visit sema.org/rpm.

For updates and additional information:
- visit sema.org/epa-news

- facebook.com/sema.org

- twitter.com/semamembers

- instagram.com/semashow

- use #saveourracecars, #rpmact

Calico Coatings, the high-performance coatings company based in Denver, North Carolina, has announced the promotion of Jennifer Jenkins to the position of general manager.

In her new role, Jenkins will continue growing within Calico as a leader and promote growth opportunities for other personnel. She also plans to work closely with the sales team and customers as Calico continues to transition from a small to a large business.

Jenkins has been with the company for more than 13 years, first joining as one of four women in the company at the time and working as a bearing technician in 2006. Five years later, Jenkins was promoted to the Shipping and Receiving department, where she learned a broader range of the manufactured parts that Calico was coating, the processes required, the coatings themselves, and the beginnings of the customer service side of the business.

The following year, Jenkins worked as a Customer Service and Sales Support Representative. In this role, she helped work on various projects, including one for MAHLE Engine Components.

“The biggest thing I have learned working at Calico, with the help of my colleagues, is my own potential. I am blessed, and I am grateful for the opportunity Gary gave me in 2006 to join the Calico team and for the leadership role Tracy has trusted me with today,” Jenkins said, referring to Calico Owner Tracy Trotter and past Calico General Manager Gary Huffman, whom she met in 2006 while working at a local restaurant.

Today, Calico employs 11 women, five of whom are in leadership roles.

For more information, visit calicocoatings.com.

Extreme E, the new electric off-road racing series, revealed the organization will visit a damaged region in the Brazilian state of Pará during its Amazon Rainforest Stage of racing when Season One gets underway in 2021.

Extreme E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag made the announcement from a location near Santarém and was joined by members of the Santarém 4 Firefighter Battalion.

The race will take place in a deforested area that has been impacted by recent fire damage.

“I am delighted that we will be heading to the Amazon in Season 1,” Agag said. “A number of issues affect the long-term health of the rainforest here, with deforestation and wildfires among the most topical, and pressing, at this moment in time. I was actually in this precise location just one month ago where we saw pristine forests, which have now been decimated by fire—which has personally brought home the shocking extent of the situation facing the Amazon.

“Our goal is to provide support, not only to dedicated professional firefighters but also [to] the local residents, who lack off-road vehicles, specialist equipment, and training as they strive to control the situation and protect their land.”

The Amazon rainforest is the second location to be confirmed, following the recent announcement that Greenland will host the series’ Arctic round. Three further events are being scouted in the Himalayas, the desert, along with a coastal ocean location.

A first of its kind in motorsports, Extreme E will see electric SUVs compete in remote environments that have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles to help protect the planet.

For more information, visit extreme-e.com.

Photo of Alejandro Agag, center, and the Santarém 4 Firefighter Battalion courtesy of Extreme E

POWRi and the Shuman family have announced that, after the conclusion of the 2019 POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint Car League season, Casey and Brooke Shuman will step away from their positions with the organization.

Casey will continue to assist with scheduling and will remain on in an advisory role.

Both Casey and Brooke have been a part of the sprint car league since 2015 and remained with the series when it came under the POWRi banner in 2017.

“Brooke and I have put our very best effort into this series since purchasing it in 2015. We have been fortunate enough to meet and work with some great teams and families. The Lucas Oil POWRi WAR Sprint League and its racers have grown so much in a fairly short amount of time. I am extremely proud and grateful to everyone that has been part of it,” Casey Shuman said. “Brooke & I look forward to watching the League continue to grow in the future and seeing all those familiar faces at the track when our schedule allows.”

“I would like to personally thank both Casey & Brooke for their hard work, dedication, and all their contributions to POWRi WAR,” POWRi owner Kenny Brown said. “We’re proud to have partnered with them in the early stages of developing our Non-Wing Sprint League. They have served as great ambassadors for our organization, through working to increase the annual race schedule and raising the purses for the driver. I’m glad to say this announcement is mutually beneficial, and I want to thank them for their commitment to POWRi.”

The official 2020 POWRi War Sprints schedule, which is expected to again feature dates in Kansas City and Illinois, will be released at a later date.

Photo courtesy of POWRi

Formula 1 has taken a significant step towards making the first-ever Grand Prix in the city of Miami a reality, after reaching an agreement in principle to host a race at the iconic Flordia city’s Hard Rock Stadium from 2021.

The proposed Formula One Miami Grand Prix would see F1 cars navigating a custom-built track around the stadium—home of the Miami Dolphins NFL team—giving F1 its second race in the United States, alongside the US Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

A statement released by Formula 1’s Managing Director Commercial Operations Sean Bratches and Tom Garfinkel, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Miami Dolphins and the Hard Rock Stadium, read: “We are thrilled to announce that Formula One and Hard Rock Stadium have reached an agreement in principle to host the first-ever Formula One Miami Grand Prix at Hard Rock Stadium. With an estimated annual impact of more than $400 million and 35,000 room nights, the Formula One Miami Grand Prix will be an economic juggernaut for South Florida each and every year.

“We are deeply grateful to our fans, elected officials and the local tourism industry for their patience and support throughout this process. We look forward to bringing the greatest racing spectacle on the planet for the first time to one of the world’s most iconic and glamorous regions.”

Should the race be given the green light in a vote by the Miami-Dade County on October 28, it would see Formula 1 return to the state of Florida for the first time since the 1959 United States Grand Prix at Sebring.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

Image courtesy of F1