VMP Performance, the e-commerce business focused on aftermarket automotive upgrades based in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, has appointed Chuck Harter as its new director of sales.

Harter will now oversee the company’s sales efforts, including introducing new product lines, managing sales teams and relationship and account management.

“Harter will serve this position well, building and expanding upon the trust our customers have placed in VMP over the years,” VMP Owner and Director of Customer Experience Rebecca Starkey said in a published release. “I look forward to him leading the ongoing sales initiatives and product expansion of VMP Performance.”

Harter, who is a car enthusiast, most recently worked with R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. as a territory manager representing the Southern US. There, he worked with manufacturers in the automotive performance and vehicle accessory industry and led education programs for product installation at shops among other duties.

In addition to its line of performance parts and components from manufacturers, VMP also offers custom tuning and installations from its 12-acre campus.

For more information, visit vmpperformance.com.

WISSOTA Auto Racing has announced that WISSOTA Pure Stock and WISSOTA Hornet divisions have been added to the 2019 Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 at I-94 Speedway in Fergus Fall, Minnesota.

The four-day event has expanded to five (Sept. 10-14), with the addition of a complete race program for the WISSOTA Pure Stocks and WISSOTA Hornets on Tuesday, September 10. The change will be on a trial basis as Tuesday is normally reserved for practice beginning 7 p.m. Practice will be bumped up to 6 p.m. because of the change.

"We are excited to give these two divisions and the drivers a chance to be crowned Speedway Motors WISSOTA 100 champion," WISSOTA Executive Director Carson Gramm said. "The growth that these two divisions have seen over the past two seasons has been fantastic and we want to reward the drivers for their commitment to WISSOTA."

Each division will receive a draw for starting position in the heat race. The features will be lined up using passing points from the heat race. WISSOTA officials will then ask the top eight drivers in passing points to redraw to determine their starting spot in the top eight for the feature.

For more information, visit wissota.org.

Photo courtesy of Tom Krob, Shooter Guy Photos

Formula 1 has announced that the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will continue to be held in Melbourne until at least the end of 2025. The agreement between Formula 1 and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation has been recently signed in London.

Australia hosted a round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship since 1985, with the Grand Prix previously being held in Adelaide until 1995 when it was moved to the heart of the Victorian state capital the following year.

Since then, the Australian Grand Prix has always been the World Championship season opener apart from 2006 and 2010. In the last three years alone, more than 900,000 fans have attended the Grand Prix at Albert Park’s street circuit in Melbourne.

“The decision to extend the current relationship for a further two years stems from the fact this event has proved to be a resounding success for the capital of Victoria, for Australia and indeed around the world, proving immensely popular with fans and those who work in Formula 1,” Formula 1 Chairman and CEO Chase Carey said.

Next year’s Australian Grand Prix will take place March 12-15.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

Photo courtesy of Formula 1

Bruce Crower of Crower Racing Cams & Equipment Co., located in San Diego, has passed away. Crower is also a member of the SEMA Hall of Fame Class of 2019 and will be inducted next Friday at the SEMA Installation & Gala in Anaheim, California.

Growing up in the ’30s, Crower was captivated by cars and speed from an early age. Whether it was the Moto-Scoot he modified at the age of 13, the Harley he got when he was 17, or the ’36 Ford Coupe or ’32 Ford Roadster that followed, Crower was always looking for ways to improve speed. After a brief period in the Air Force, Crower headed to San Diego, where hot rodding was flourishing. In 1955 he opened Crower Racing Cams & Equipment Co. and began manufacturing race products. From the mounting of the 671 Blower on his Hudson to the Crower Glide Clutch and wings on Don Garlits' race car, Crower is credited with advancing the industry’s speed, safety and overall innovation.

Crower has been awarded and recognized for many things in his life. Among the standouts: In 1977, he was the recipient of the prestigious SAE Louis Schwitzer award for innovation and engineering excellence for both his automatic clutch and the flat-8 engine. In 1993, he was inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame. More recently, Crower won a 2007 PopSci Invention Award from Popular Science for his six-stroke internal-combustion engine.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

For more information on Crower Racing Cams & Equipment Co., visit crower.com.

Lucas Oil Products Inc, the global American-based manufacturer and distributor of additive and lubricant products, has named Matt Conrad as the new General Manager of Lucas Oil. Conrad will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Lucas Oil Production Facilities in Corona, California, and Corydon, Indiana.

“As our company has grown and matured, so has our staff. Looking to the future we believe it is time we promoted someone to the position of General Manager,” Lucas Oil Founder, CEO and President Forrest Lucas said. “Matt Conrad has been the obvious choice for a long time. Matt is very unselfish and is always looking out for the company and staff. We are pleased to name him General Manager of Lucas Oil.”

An Indiana native, Conrad brings 15 years worth of Lucas Oil knowledge and experience into his new role, having joined the company in 2004 as a production line worker. Throughout his tenure at Lucas Oil, Conrad has worked within an array of additional departments, such as truck dispatch, shipping, human resources, payroll, I.T., new production line design and startup, and inventory management. He also served as a plant manager and was the General Manager of Lucas Oil Golf Course in English, Indiana.

Conrad and his wife, Kimberly, along with their son, Kaiden, and daughter, Addilynn, will remain residents of their native Hoosier State.

For more information, visit lucasoil.com.

Edelbrock, the manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket performance parts, and Pat Musi Racing have expanded their collaborative high-performance street and racing crate engine line to include the new Edelbrock/Musi 555.

The Edelbrock/Musi 555 carbureted big-block Chevy crate engine produces a reported 676 horsepower and 649 ft-lbs of torque on 91 octane pump gas.

Every engine is assembled by Pat Musi himself and is equipped with the latest Edelbrock products, including new Edelbrock E-CNC cylinder heads which are fully CNC ported to provide optimal airflow. Additionally, the Edelbrock/Musi 555 crate engine includes Edelbrock’s Victor Jr. intake manifold and 800cfm Thunder Series AVS carburetor with the Pro-Flo 4 EFI and Pro-Flo 4 XT EFI induction systems available as options.

Edelbrock’s partnership with Pat Musi Racing began more than 15 years ago and since then, the eight-time Pro Street World Champion has collaborated with the team to develop numerous products. In 2018, Edelbrock and Pat Musi Racing promoted their crate engine program with the introduction of the Edelbrock/Musi 632 at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show.  

“Our team has been extremely fortunate to work with Pat Musi to develop these products. His engine-building expertise and racing knowledge have helped us expand our world-class crate engine line,” Edelbrock CEO Don Barry said.

Musi has also provided his technical expertise and racing experience to several Edelbrock products, including the M3 Nitrous Nozzles and the Victor Musi Big-Block Chevy CNC cylinder head. In addition, Edelbrock will continue to support Musi’s daughter, Lizzy, for the fourth consecutive year as she competes in the Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) Pro Nitrous class.

For more information, visit edelbrock.com.

Fuel Injector Clinic (FIC) based in Hobe Sound, Florida, announced The Tuning School has become the fuel injector provider’s official education partner.

The Tuning School, based in Odessa, Florida, will use FIC’s components in class and in training, giving students access to high-quality fuel injector technology and precise tuning data.

"Fuel Injector Clinic's decision to partner with The Tuning School was easy. Their educational programs and classes have a great reputation within the industry, and they are widely used by tuners, shops and automotive enthusiasts around the world. Partnering with The Tuning School allows our staff and customers access to some of the best training available in the industry,” Fuel Injector Clinic Director of Sales and Marketing Randy Earle said, according to a published release.

As part of the partnership, The Tuning School’s students will have access to private training classes at shops that install FIC products, as well as be able to train on FIC’s Data Match injectors with custom data.

For more information, visit fuelinjectorclinic.com or thetuningschool.com.

Attendees at the 2019 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show will have more opportunities than ever to learn valuable strategies, insights and solutions on a variety of subjects when the world’s premier motorsports trade show comes to Indianapolis in December.

Over two dozen seminars broken out by tracks including Sales & Marketing, Business Operations, International, Opportunities in Racing, Sanctions & Tracks, and more will provide vital information for motorsports professionals of all stripes—engine builders, speed shop owners, fabricators, machinists, tuners, race team members, sanctioning body and track officials, and media—during the Three Biggest Business Days in Racing.

“In a continued effort to deliver more value for Show goers, PRI Education has more than tripled for 2019 with seminars taking place before and during Show hours,” said SEMA-PRI Senior Director of Education Zane Clark. “Our focus is on delivering best-in-class opportunities to learn up-close from industry leaders and experts on a number of hot-button topics across multiple education tracks. We want racing businesses to improve their performance on and off the track.”

New for 2019, a PRI Education sign-up page has been integrated into the PRI Trade Show’s attendee registration process. This page provides a comprehensive list of all PRI Education sessions currently offered during the Show, December 12-14, at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indy.

“The lineup of expert presenters and industry leaders set for this year’s program is unlike anything that’s ever been offered at PRI,” said PRI Editor Dan Schechner. “Sign-up is quick and convenient, and we encourage attendees to take advantage of these exclusive—and free—opportunities to elevate your operations ahead of the 2020 racing season.”

In addition to complimentary sessions offered through PRI Education, a number of conferences and seminars, among them the Race Track Business Conference and International Council of Motorsport Sciences’ Annual Congress, will provide invaluable insight and business opportunities in and around the Convention Center during Race Industry Week, which begins Monday, December 9.

This year’s 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.  

For more information or to register for the 2019 PRI Trade Show, secure hotel reservations, and sign up for free business seminars, log on to prishow.com.

Bentley Motors has announced the appointment of Paul Williams as the organization’s new director of motorsports. Williams replaces Brian Gush, who will bring a 20-year Bentley career to a close on August 1.

“Paul has been an outstanding member of our engineering team for more than 10 years, and as our powertrain expert, he is well placed to take on Bentley Motorsport – where his V8 engine faces its toughest tests. He has a passion for racing and he will take our motorsport team from strength to strength. On behalf of Bentley Motors I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the loyal and dedicated service of Brian Gush for the last two decades, and wish him a happy and relaxing retirement,” Member of the Board for Engineering Werner Tietz said.

Williams joined Bentley in 2008 and joins Bentley Motorsport from his current role as Director of Powertrain.

Gush leaves Bentley as only its second Director of Motorsport in history, with W.O. Bentley himself being the first. Among several accomplishments over his 20 years with Bentley, Gush brought racing back to the organization in 2001 after a 70-year absence from the track. Bentley scored third place at the Le Mans 24 Hours that year before taking the famous first and second finish at the 2003 race—Bentley’s sixth Le Mans victory. Since 2012, his focus has been the GT3 racing program developed from the second-generation Continental GT, before taking the all-new third-generation car and launching a new Continental GT3 in 2018.

For more information, visit here.

Image of Paul Willams, left, and Brian Gush courtesy of Bentley

Team O’Neil Rally School Founder and Owner Tim O’Neil recently announced Chris Cyr as partner and CEO of Team O’Neil. The change, effective immediately, has allowed O’Neil to turn his attention to his true passion: training rally car drivers, according to a company release.

Moving forward, O’Neil and Team O’Neil Motorsports will offer customized training packages to qualified individuals who have completed the Team O’Neil Five Day Rally School. The program, which is the result of ongoing requests from Rally School alumni, might ultimately include the opportunity to compete in national-level rally competition.  

The new program leverages O’Neil’s firsthand experience to mentor beginner drivers. The curriculum will focus on ensuring students complete rallies and garner the seat time required to continue to improve.

“With the ability to step back from day-to-day operations at the Rally School, I can now focus on enjoying introducing new participants to the sport of rally," O’Neil said.

For more information, visit teamoneil.com/motorsports.