The world’s first dedicated eSports racing arena will be built by Millennial Esports Corp in Miami, Florida, with the state-of-the-facility scheduled to open in 2020.

The new 12,000 square-foot arena will be located in the prominent entertainment district of Wynwood in Miami—known for restaurants, breweries, retail areas, and outdoor murals. Millennial has secured $2.8 million in private construction financing to complete the facility.

The new facility is part of Millennial Esports’ push to professionalize global eSports racing competition.

The arena will feature 30 racing simulators that can be raced on individually, linked with the other racing rigs in the building, or globally networked to compete against drivers from all over the world.

Professional drivers can also utilize a full-size full-motion simulator—the same type as used by major professional race teams around the world.

The plans are in conjunction with the August announcement that Millennial Esports has a controlling stake in specialist racing simulator constructor, Allinsports. Founded in 2008 by ex-Formula 1 engineer Anton Stipinovich, Allinsports not only manufactures high-end racing simulator systems used by race teams across the globe but also produces the eRacer eSports simulator rigs that will be used in Millennial Esports’s upcoming “World’s Fastest Gamer” competition.

“Creating our first arena is an important step in Millennial Esports’ goal of taking eSports racing to an entirely new level,” Millennial Esports President and CEO Darren Cox said. “Allinsports already have a driver training simulator facility in Miami, but our new arena will take eSports racing to an entirely new level. ESports is the fastest growing sport in the world, but the racing genre of eSports is ready to take a massive leap.”

For more information, visit millennialesports.news.

Image courtesy of Millennial Esports Corp

Chris Bovis, an expert in the performance, racing, and automotive aftermarket industries, has joined Hart Marx Advisors. Bovis will apply his 20 years of client development, acquisitions and integration, and marketing expertise to his new role as a partner at the firm.

As a partner within the firm, Bovis will be involved with business development, client relationship cultivation, deal-making, and negotiating, as well as the oversight and implementation of marketing initiatives.

“I’ve known Chris for several years,” Hart Marx Advisors Senior Partner Tom Marx said. “His experience in taking WELD Racing from a single brand to an integrated, diversified, multi-brand company, adds performance experience and unique integration capabilities to our current company skillset.”

Bovis previously served as vice president of marketing and business development at WELD Racing. As WELD transitioned into new ownership, Bovis played an instrumental role in the acquisitions of wheel brands CCW, HiPer Technology, and Forgestar from 2015 to 2017.

Bovis started his career with Yokohama Tire Corporation before entering the motorsports industry as a live-event promoter. He also served as the vice president of sales and marketing for HiPer Technology, a carbon fiber wheel, and safety manufacturer.

Bovis graduated from Butler University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and shares a passion for motorsports, starting out as a young volunteer worker and later becoming a road racing driver and team owner.

“Chris’ deep understanding of the motorsport and performance culture, as well as expertise with mergers and acquisitions in the performance and automotive setting make him a standout fit for our team,” Managing Partner Devin Hart said. “We are excited by this latest expansion of the firm and the opportunities that it brings.”

For more information, visit hartmarxadvisors.com.

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) campuses in Houston, Texas, and Lisle, Illinois, have been named 2019 "Schools of Excellence," along with UTI’s NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, North Carolina.

The distinctions are the most prestigious institutional achievements awarded by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC).

In 2019, UTI-Houston, UTI-Lisle, and NASCAR Technical Institute are among just 17 ACCSC-accredited institutions across the country to be honored by ACCSC as "Schools of Excellence."

"This 'Schools of Excellence' designation is a true honor and testament to Universal Technical Institute employees and their heartfelt and unwavering commitment to our students and industry partners," UTI President and CEO Kim McWaters said. "The best measure of our success is the achievement of our graduates and [the] ability of the employers we serve to secure the trained workforce they require."

In addition to being named a "School of Excellence," UTI-Lisle Education Manager Justin Doerries was recognized individually as ACCSC's top educator of the year—an honor given to just one instructor annually. Doerries received the award in recognition of his dedication to innovative, unique, and effective educational programs that help students attain individual success, along with his community efforts to inspire a new generation of students to pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

ACCSC is recognized by the US Department of Education as the designated accrediting body for more than 650 post-secondary, trade, and technical schools that serve over 150,000 students nationwide in a variety of vocational programs each year.

For more information about UTI, visit uti.edu.

The Race Track Business Conference (RTBC) has released the agenda for its 2019 gathering in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show’s Race Industry Week.

The keynote speaker for 2019 will be the accomplished driver Lyn St. James, who has been recognized by Sports Illustrated as one the "Top 100 Women Athletes of the Century.” St. James was the first woman to be awarded the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year in 1992 and has also started in the Indy 500 seven times over nine years.

Off the race track, St. James is the founder of the Women in the Winner’s Circle Foundation and previously served as the President of the Women's Sports Foundation. She is also an ambassador of the Haggerty Education Fund, the RPM Foundation, a member of the Nascar Diversity Council.

Set for December 11, eight cutting-edge presentations from industry-leading professionals highlight the RTBC schedule, with sessions covering marketing agencies, track operations, event security, racing technology, and education, eSports/sports betting, broadcasting and streaming, ticketing, and media.

The event will be held just prior and in conjunction with the PRI Trade Show, the centerpiece event for Race Industry Week 2019. The PRI Show runs from Thursday, December 12, to Saturday, December 14, 2019, at the Indiana Convention Center.

The cost to attend RTBC-2019, which includes lunch, is $250.

For more information, visit racetrackbusinessconference.com or contact Tim Frost at twfrost@speedwaysonline.com or 847/853-0294.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. (Toyo Tires) has announced Michael Graber has been promoted to the position of vice president of sales beginning January 1, 2020. Currently serving as the director of sales for commercial tires, Graber’s promotion is a part of the company’s succession plan following the retirement of senior vice president Randy Gaetz.

Graber first joined Toyo Tires as a truck tires sales manager in September 2013. He later took the role of senior manager, product planning, and technical services in March 2015 before being promoted to the director of sales, commercial tires in July 2018.

Gaetz’s retirement will come after more than 41 years in the tire industry. Since he joined Toyo Tires in September of 2013, the company has seen unit sales increase by more than 50%, and dealer points of sale have more than doubled, according to a press release. During his tenure, he also successfully relaunched the brand’s US truck and bus tire business.

“Randy Gaetz has spearheaded initiatives which have resulted in our exceptional growth the last six years, and I am excited to continue that momentum with Michael Graber as the new head of our elite sales team,” Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. President and CEO Roy Bromfield said.

Assuming the role of director of sales for commercial tires effective January 1 will be Dave Johnston, who has been with Toyo Tires for 19 years. He served 18 of those years with Toyo Tires Canada, where he began as regional sales manager and later served as national director of the commercial division. In September 2018, Johnston arrived in the United States to fill Graber’s previous position as senior product manager of commercial tires.

For more information, visit toyotires.com.

Photo of Graber courtesy of Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) has announced it will be known as Motorsport Australia in 2020 and beyond.

The new name signifies “the changing nature of the sport” and Motorsport Australia’s role as the government-recognized sporting organization for all four-wheeled motorsports in Australia, in addition to its delegated role as the National Sporting Authority by the Federation Internationale de’l Automobile (FIA), according to a press release.

Aside from the name change, Motorsport Australia’s responsibilities will remain the same and with no change to the organization’s constitution or structure.

“Anyone who may be looking to get involved in the sport will now know the first port of call will be Motorsport Australia – in line with other sporting bodies – and will not be confused about what our role is. We know from our own experiences, ‘CAMS’ or the ‘Confederation of Australian Motor Sport’ didn’t necessarily express the leading role we play to those unfamiliar with our sport,” CAMS President Andrew Papadopoulos said.

“While other names were considered, the change to Motorsport Australia is the most obvious fit and brings us in line with what many other sports have already done, including the Australian Government’s own agency, Sport Australia.”

Papadopoulos also said the organization’s existing international work would also be boosted by the change, with training overseas remaining a key revenue stream for the organization.

“Our people are playing a key role in the delivery of the first-ever Vietnam Grand Prix in 2020, highlighting the talented group of officials and staff we are so very proud of. With a new name, the strong reputation of Australia in global motorsport will be further enhanced.”

For more information, visit motorsport.org.au.

Image courtesy of CAMS

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced Summit Racing Equipment’s continued commitment to the IHRA Summit SuperSeries and IHRA Summit Team Finals programs in 2020, making it one of the longest-running series partnerships in drag racing.
 
The IHRA Summit SuperSeries, a prestigious bracket drag racing program, will return for a 19th consecutive year in 2020. The $200,000 program serves as the World Championship for over 12,000 IHRA member-track racers each season and nearly 100 IHRA-sanctioned member tracks.
 
IHRA Summit SuperSeries track champions from 28 states and international competitors from Canada, and Aruba are represented in Top (Box), Mod (No Box), Sportsman and Junior divisions, at the IHRA Summit SuperSeries World Finals at Memphis International Raceway. In addition, qualifying Summit Team Final champions from seven IHRA regions also compete at Memphis.

“The Sportsman racer has been and will continue to be one of the most important components of the Summit Racing Equipment family,” Summit Racing Motorsports and Events Manager Jim Greenleaf said. “We are proud to support the men, women and kids who gather at their local IHRA tracks to participate in the Summit SuperSeries and Summit Team Finals. It is a great feeling for us to see champions from all over the United States, Canada, and Aruba show up in Memphis for the Summit World Finals to race head-to-head for an IHRA World Championship.”

For more information, visit summitracing.com or ihra.com.

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) announced that John Doonan had been named the next president of the sanctioning body effective January 1, 2020, with his first day on the job scheduled for Monday, October 21.

Doonan was previously the director of motorsports for Mazda North America Operations, where he developed the overall strategy and managed Mazda’s motorsports programs in North America.

“John is a fantastic choice to become our next president, to build upon the momentum of our just-completed 50th anniversary season and take our sport to the next level,” IMSA Chief Executive Officer Ed Bennett said. “He is respected, well known in our paddock, and brings a strong passion for motorsport that will greatly benefit everyone involved.”

Doonan, who joined Mazda in 2003 as the regional advertising manager in the Midwest region and was promoted to the director of motorsports position in 2011, succeeds Scott Atherton, who last month announced his retirement as IMSA president at the end of the year.

While at Mazda, the program Doonan led was headed by Mazda Team Joest, which competes in the Daytona Prototype international (DPi) class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime and dream opportunity after attending IMSA races since I was young boy,” Doonan said. “I am very humbled and truly honored to have the opportunity to join the IMSA team, and I’m really looking forward to making a positive impact [on] our sport, our partners, and our industry.”

Doonan earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Business Administration from Augustana College and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Western Illinois University.

IMSA will kick off its 51st season with the 2020 Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway on January 3-5. The 58th running of the season-opening Rolex 24 will take place Saturday and Sunday, January 26-27.

For more information, visit imsa.com.

Image of John Doonan courtesy of IMSA

DEI, the aftermarket heat and sound control specialist, announced two new supervisory positions.

John Gabriel has been hired as DEI’s powersports division manager, while the former DEI employee Mike Zenone has been rehired as the company’s inside sales supervisor.

In his new position, Gabriel will be responsible for driving revenue growth with a strategic plan for this market segment, which includes motorcycle, side by side (UTV), ATV, and snowmobiles. He will work with all product brand managers developing new products, manage inside and outside sales representatives, and represent the DEI powersports division at all events.

Gabriel has two decades of experience in the powersports market, first working with Russell Performance Products as the company’s national motorcycle sales manager. Prior to joining DEI, he served as an account manager for Progressive Suspension, LLC.

In his new position, Zenone will manage inside automotive sales representatives and report directly to the Vice President of Sales and Marketing Tom Miller. Zenone has a proven track record of successfully managing a team of DEI sales representatives and handling retail, dealer, and wholesale phone sales for Flaming River Industries Inc. (Berea, OH). Additionally, he is thoroughly familiar with DEI’s products, systems, customers, and markets.

Zenone previously worked for a decade with DEI as the company’s brand manager and manager of business development, where he was responsible for double-digit sales growth before taking a position at Flaming River and working with sales, customer service, technical assistance and media relations.

For more information, visit designengineering.com.

Photos of John Gabriel, left, and Mike Zenone courtesy of DEI

John Bondar and Steve Gidman have acquired the long-time privately-owned Shannonville Motorsport Park in Shannonville, Ontario, Canada. The new ownership team plans to revitalize what is known as the “Birthplace of Champions,” according to a track release.

As one of Canada’s few multi-purpose motorsports facilities, Shannonville sits on 146 acres and features a 2.5-mile (4.03 km) track, a go-kart track, a drag strip, and a skidpad.

The new management team announced plans to expand the facility into a multi-use event hub with an emphasis on corporate events, while also staying dedicated to racing, driving, and training track programs.

The facility is located approximately equidistant between Montreal and Toronto and is located close to the US border.

“There is a lot to be done, and we will chip away at it. Our strategic plan will address the needs of our customers. Shannonville will change the way people think about a motorsport park,” Bondar said.

“John and I share a great enthusiasm for motorsports, and I look forward to working together to create a revitalized Shannonville Motorsport Park.  There’s plenty of work ahead, and it will take time, but the result will be worth the wait,” Gidman said.

Bondar is the founder of the Canadian Touring Car Championship (CTCC), and Gidman is a current vintage racer with experience in technology businesses.

For more information, visit shannonville.com.

Photo courtesy of Shannonville Motorsport Park