The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) has announced further expanded initiatives for its IMSA Green Racing program.

In the on-going effort to pursue Green Racing Protocols established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and SAE International, the new initiatives also include the continuing expansion of the sanctioning body's own IMSA Green program.

The plan includes increased involvement in the EPA SmartWay Program, the implementation of solar energy within its paddocks, and progress in the current move to electric and hybrid technologies.

As part of the EPA's SmartWay program, IMSA's new trailers and nine Mack Anthem tractors use technology to improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and save money within the transport sector.

IMSA also uses Michelin fuel-efficient truck tires, aerodynamic features on the tractors and trailers, and the tractors' use of the MY engine, which features significant improvements in fuel efficiency, power, and productivity while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“These EPA SmartWay initiatives are an important component of the ever-evolving IMSA Green Racing Program,” IMSA President Scott Atherton said. “It is easy to see the monetary savings SmartWay provides, and by adding in the reduction to our environmental footprint makes this something every team in our paddock should be exploring for their use.”

IMSA has already announced the next generation of its top racing class—Daytona Prototype international (DPi) 2022—will have a hybrid powertrain. The sanctioning body also continues to explore the possible adoption of ETCR (fully electric TCR) and ePrototype platforms in the future.

The racing organization has also been working closely with several companies to explore the use of available technologies to transform energy into opportunities. By implementing these technologies, IMSA Green can continue to develop its sustainability and innovation strategy.

IMSA’s goal is to have electric production vehicles from its manufacturer partners serve as hot lap and pace cars at its events.

For more information and the latest on IMSA, visit imsa.com.

Photo of Karl Simon, EPA, and Scott Atherton, IMSA, courtesy of IMSA

Michael Kitchens, the CEO of Build the Track! (BTT, LLC) has announced the company’s vision for Circuit Hawaii, a multi-motorsports facility set to be built in Oahu, Hawaii.

There has been no motorsports complex on the island of Oahu—which houses just under one million residents—for over 13 years.

Circuit Hawaii—which will be developed as an FIA Grade 3 complex—will be capable of supporting a variety of racing segments, including drag racing, road racing, drifting, karting, dirt racing, and more.

The facility is being designed and developed by the architectural, design, and consultancy firm Driven and will consist of the following:
In addition, several club membership packages will be offered by the Hawaii Driver’s Club for everyone from the affluent enthusiast looking for perks and privileges to those just looking to enjoy the thrill behind the wheel of an exotic sports car.  

The new facility will be located in Campbell Industrial Park directly to the west of Kalaeloa Airport and near the Ko Olina vacation resort.

Circuit Hawaii is currently offering an initial Founding Membership package while it gathers further investment. The project is conservatively expected to be completed by 2022.

For more information on the Hawaiian track development, visit circuithawaii.com.

DIRTcar Racing announced today the revival of one of its most storied brands with the launch of the Xtreme DIRTcar Series for Super Late Models. The Series is set to feature six to eight races in the Southeastern US starting in late November and wrapping up with a championship finale in February.

The Xtreme DIRTcar Series is designed to give racers and race fans a chance to “get their fix” through the winter months with a handful of high-quality special events at some of the South’s most exceptional facilities.

The schedule will feature $5,000-to-win, $500-to-start, 40-lap events with the Series opener and finale to include increased purses. Racers will also be competing for their share of a $45,000 point fund with $20,000 to the champion, $10,000 to second place, $5,000 to third place, and $1,000 to each driver who enters every event.

Entering every event will not be required for point fund eligibility, and drivers will only count a certain number of their highest point nights towards the championship.

Five races have already been confirmed for the 2019-2020 season, with the Inaugural Xtreme DIRTcar Series winter event being the 29th Annual Blue Gray 100 at Cherokee Speedway in Gaffney, South Carolina, on Saturday, Nov. 23.

“We are honored to be the inaugural event for the new format Xtreme DIRTcar Series,” Cherokee Speedway Promoter Scott Childress, Promoter said. “Dirt Late Model racing in the South is almost a year-round sport as it is, but the Xtreme DIRTcar Series really gives us something to look forward to and build around.”

The Series will move on to Lavonia Speedway for a Sunday afternoon, 40-lap, $5,000-to-win affair on Dec. 15, followed by a 40-lap, $5,000-to-win event at Cherokee Speedway on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020 and another 40-lap, $5,000-to-win event at Cochran Speedway in Cochran, Georgia, on Saturday, Jan. 25.  The Series finale is set for Saturday, Feb. 29 at Modoc Raceway in Modoc, South Carolina.

For more information, visit xtremedirtcar.com.

With the recent announcement of NASCAR approving the new Five Star Gen-6 Body for competition in 2020, Myrtle Beach Speedway (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina) and Southern National Motorsports Park (Lucama, North Carolina) have both decided to allow the body for the rest of the 2019 seasons.

With both tracks yet to have their marquee events in 2019—the Myrtle Beach 400 and the Thanksgiving Classic—the decision was made in hopes to save the racer some money moving forward as teams that currently need a new body can make the switch now ahead of 2020.

“It just makes sense for us to go ahead and allow it. That gives teams that received battle scars at Martinsville or from the 2019 regular season the opportunity to replace it now with the new body and still be able to compete for our big event this year. They wouldn’t be forced to replace with the old body now to just turn around and put on a new body in 2020 [and double] their expenses,” Myrtle Beach Speedway General Manager Steve Zacharias said.

The 27th Annual Myrtle Beach 400 is slated for November 15–16 with the Thanksgiving Classic two weeks later on November 29–30. Both events annually attract race teams and fans from all across the Southeastern United States and surrounding areas.

For more information on Myrtle Beach Speedway and the Myrtle Beach 400, visit mbspeedway.com. For more information on Southern National Motorsports Park and the Thanksgiving Classic, go to snmpark.com.

Photo courtesy of Southern National Motorsports Park, Catchfence

Dodge City Raceway Park (DCRP), the 3/8-mile clay oval and 1/7-mile “Little DCRP” clay oval located in Dodge City, Kansas, has announced its 2020 schedule of events.

Opening the schedule is an open practice on both tracks on March 21. The season officially kicks off Saturday, April 4, with a lineup of SCRP vs. URSS Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.

Followed are 13 events on the 3/8-mile track, and 10 on Little DCRP.

Among the season highlights are the Second Annual Stock Car Shootout on April 18, the Hobby Stock Roundup on May 15, Sport Modified Mayhem on August 15, the Jerry Soderberg Memorial Championship on September 19, and the combination of the DCRP 305 Sprint Car Nationals and Modified Stampede from June 18 to 20.

Championship chase divisions at Dodge City Raceway Park will include the Precise Racing Products DCRP Sprint Cars, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.

Sunday events at Little DCRP will include Winged “A” Class, Non-Wing “A” Class, Restricted “A” Class, and Junior Sprints (Novice and Advanced) in the Micro Sprint ranks along with Junior Karts, Adult Karts, and Open Outlaw Karts.

For more information and the complete 2020 Dodge City Raceway Park (DCRP) schedule, visit dodgecityraceway.com.

Photo courtesy of DCRP

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 lineup covering a wide range of topics.

Among the bolstered lineup are five seminars highlighting different opportunities in the racing industry, including:
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. Now in its 32nd year, PRI encompasses all forms of racing and attracts attendees from all 50 states and all over the world, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media.

Known as Race Industry Week, the days leading up to and including the Show will offer a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center beginning on Monday, December 9. Numerous conferences and seminars, among them the Race Track Business Conference and International Council of Motorsport Sciences’ Annual Congress, offer unlimited business opportunities and provide invaluable insight on the latest technologies and how to apply them throughout the racing world.

To register for the 2019 PRI Trade Show, secure hotel reservations and sign up for free PRI Education seminars, log on to prishow.com.

Meyer Distributing, the warehouse distributor with over 75 locations nationwide, has announced Mickey Thompson among its “Vendors of the Year.”

Mickey Thompson, the provider of high-performance tires and wheels, received the award for the Wheel and Tire department.

“Our partnership with Mickey Thompson this year has allowed us to provide their amazing products to our Jeep, off-road, light truck and race enthusiasts and they have helped us grow the business we do with our customers in all of these arenas,” Meyer Distributing Purchasing Manager Jeremy Wagler said. “All of these segments are exciting facets of our business and Mickey Thompson has the products these customers look to use on the track, in the mud or on the street. We are looking forward to an exciting and productive finish to this year and the next one as well.”

Joe Musson, the performance aftermarket channel manager for Mickey Thompson who accepted the award on behalf of the company, stated, “It has been an honor to work with the full Meyer Distributing team over the last couple years as we continue to strengthen and build the relationship between Meyer, Mickey Thompson and their loyal customer base. I look forward to seeing what the future will bring in 2020.”

Also named as a Meyer Distributing Vendor of the Year was Camco in the RV and Towing category, and Air Lift, in the truck accessory category.

For more information, visit meyerdistributing.com.

Bondurant High Performance Driving School announced that Franki Buckman—the tenured track leader with a history of operational, sales and marketing success with motorsports programs and properties—has joined the company as its chief executive officer and general manager.

In this role, Buckman assumes responsibility for all operations of the school, including strategic and day-to-day oversight, the guest experience, and team management.

Bruce Belser, one of the investors who purchased the school in May, will turn the keys of the operation over to Buckman after having served as its leader during the first six months under new ownership. He will continue to hold an ownership stake in the company.

“We thank Bruce for the foundational work he and the team have done to build on for the future,” Bondurant Board Chairperson John Arney said. “We look forward to the execution of the strategic plan, led by a seasoned industry insider who understands how to operate and evolve a track for the next generation.”

Buckman’s experience includes time with Pro Formance Driving Events and Motorsports, a national ride and drive company, and Firebird International Raceway, working directly for NHRA Funny Car legend and track owner Charlie Allen, who originally brought the Bob Bondurant School from California to Arizona.

“I had the opportunity to work directly with Bob 25 years ago, and I’m thrilled to have the chance now to help carry on the unique method of driving instruction that the long-tenured team of trainers at the school still teach today,” Buckman said.

Since leaving Firebird in 2013, Buckman has served as a media and event consultant to automotive brands, including Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series, Lucas Oil Dragboat Racing Series, Harley Davidson, Napa Auto Parts and more.

For more information, visit bondurant.com.

The AAM Group has added Speedmaster to its Parts Pro line card. Founded in 1979 as Pete’s Performance, Speedmaster today develops and manufactures most of its high-performance engine parts in its workshops.

Speedmaster is based in Rialto, California.

Automotive Accessories Marketing USA, Inc. (The AAM Group) is one of the largest distribution groups in the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) marketplace. Now in its 31st year, the corporation was founded by eight high-performance warehouse distributors that sought to achieve cooperative scaled purchasing and marketing advantages. The AAM Group counts 20 member-companies operating 48 distribution centers throughout North America.

For more information, visit speedmaster79.com or theaamgroup.com.

The ARCA Menards Series will race 20 times at 20 different venues in 15 states in 2020, as recently announced by series officials.

The road to the 2020 ARCA Menards Series crown is highlighted in the inaugural ARCA Showdown, a 10-race series set to attract the top teams in the ARCA Menards Series as well as the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West.

The first race of the ARCA Showdown will be the second event in the overall schedule and marks a historic first trip to ISM Raceway in Phoenix on Friday, March 6. The ARCA Showdown will culminate with the inaugural championship race at Memphis International Raceway on Saturday, September 26.

ARCA’s 68th season will take the green flag at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 8, as part of DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth at the “World Center of Racing.”

At the end of the season, the series champion will be crowned at Kansas Speedway on Friday, October 16.

The overall schedule features a mix of superspeedways and historic short tracks, as well as a pair of dirt tracks and a pair of road-course events, that will provide exciting racing for the fans and an exceptional test of teams and drivers.

Other schedule highlights include:
 
    • Salem Speedway on Sunday, April 19, will mark the ARCA Menards Series’ 107th trip to the .555 mile oval in Indiana. The event will be the series’ annual throwback race.
    • The ARCA Menards Series will visit Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Friday, May 29, the first visit there since Ohio’s Jack Bowsher scored the victory in 1965. The series will also make another road-course visit, to Watkins Glen International in upstate New York on Friday, Aug. 14, as part of the ARCA Showdown.
    • In addition to Daytona and Phoenix, the ARCA Menards Series will be part of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekends at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, April 24; Charlotte Motor Speedway on Thursday, May 21; Michigan International Speedway on Friday, June 5; Chicagoland Speedway on Thursday, June 18; Pocono Raceway on Thursday, June 25; and Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 17.
    • The ARCA Menards Series will once again open NASCAR’s Brickyard 400 weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, just a few miles up the road, with a highly-anticipated short-track battle at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Indiana, on Friday, July 3.
    • A pair of upper Midwest short tracks: Minnesota’s Elko Speedway, the shortest venue on the schedule at 0.375-miles, and Wisconsin’s half-mile Madison International Raceway, will be on Saturday, July 11 and Friday, Aug. 7, respectively. They will book-end ARCA Showdown events at Iowa Speedway (Friday, July 17) and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (Saturday, Aug. 1).
    • The traditional Illinois state fair dirt miles will provide a different test for drivers. Springfield Mile at Illinois State Fairgrounds on Sunday, Aug. 23, is followed by another Saturday night race at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds on Sept. 5.

For more information, including the complete ARCA Menards Series 2020 schedule, visit arcaracing.com.