USAC officials have announced changes to the 32nd annual edition of NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week set for July 18-27, in Speedway, Indiana.

First, bonus money has been thrown into the purse for the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship.

ProSource, out of Grand Saline, Texas, has added “Hard Work” and “Passing Master” awards to the festivities totaling $2,000, with one award paying $200 per night to the slowest qualifying driver who transfers into the night’s feature event. The other award will gift $400 to the driver who accumulates the most positions gained from his or her original starting spot during each feature event throughout Indiana Sprint Week.

B & W Auto Mart from Bloomington, Indiana, has also added a $100 “Hard Charger” bonus to the driver advancing the most positions from his or her starting spot during each night’s feature event throughout the eight-race series.

These awards are in addition to the previously announced and season-long sponsors. For more information on the available awards, visit here.

USAC officials also announced they pushed back start times for the first half of the Sprint Week tour.

Events set for Thursday, July 18, through Sunday, July 21, will feature open pits at 4 p.m. EST, open gates at 5 p.m., and hot laps at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, including a complete NOS Energy Drink Indiana Sprint Week schedule, visit usacracing.com.

Photo courtesy of Dave Olson, USAC

The COMP Performance Group, based in Memphis, Tennessee, has announced the hiring of Dan McKinstry as its new Director of Supply Chain Management.

As the Director of Supply Chain, McKinstry will oversee the team responsible for purchasing, master scheduling and related planning categories, inventory control and project management.

McKinstry brings with him 25 years of supply chain experience including with mid-size and large companies. His skills include creating and implementing new supply chain processes, inventory optimization, executing statistical forecasting technology and designing centralized demand planning processes. He has also successfully fulfilled a number of management roles.

McKinstry’s education includes a BA in Economics and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He and his wife, Monique, have two sons and reside in Germantown, Tennessee.

“Dan has worked for large corporations previously – ones that are known for efficiency – and we aspire to run our companies with that same kind of productivity. The knowledge and experience that he brings to the table is unparalleled. We look forward to becoming the best version of the COMP Performance Group possible, and Dan is a key to making that happen,” COMP Performance Group Chief Operations Officer Chris Douglas said.

For more information, visit cpgnation.com.

Mast Motorsports, the manufacturer of LS engines, heads and intakes, will move its manufacturing facility from Detroit, Michigan, to its headquarters in Nacogdoches, Texas.

The Mast Motorsports headquarters will be expanding in order to accommodate the changes.

“Michigan has been home to our manufacturing facility for many years, but we are excited about unifying our company and the expansion of our headquarters,” the company stated in a news release. “As always, our products will be cast in Michigan but machined and finished in Texas. This move will result in massive cost savings for Mast, and we are passing that on to our customer.”

Mast Motorsports will announce additional details at a later date.

For more information, visit mastmotorsports.com.

Babcox Media Inc. has acquired Transmission Digest, the publication founded in 1980 that serves as one of the primary resources for shops seeking the parts, services and supplies necessary to run a successful transmission/powertrain business.

Adding Transmission Digest to the Babcox Media portfolio enables Babcox Media to extend its reach further into the automotive repair marketplace by providing the focused, extensive technical coverage necessary for these disciplines, according to a published release.

The brand’s digital publications, ePowertrain Bulletin and Transmission Tech/Talk, provide additional in-depth educational and reference tools in both text and video format.

Based in Springfield, Missouri, Transmission Digest was founded in 1980 by Les & Carol Langsford of MD Publications, Inc. Current Publisher Bobby Mace will continue to serve in his role, and the company will remain in Springfield.

“We are excited to welcome Transmission Digest to the Babcox Media family. The brand has a long-standing reputation for delivering extensive technical coverage of diagnostic, repair and installation information, which our readers value. The addition of this brand to our company allows us to add more depth to our already extensive coverage of the automotive industry,” Babcox Media President Bill Babcox said.

For more information, visit babcox.com.

Dayco has announced Joel E. Wiegert has been appointed as the company’s new chief executive officer (CEO). Wiegert, who has also been named as a member of Dayco’s Board of Managers, is now responsible for the global operational performance and strategic direction of Dayco, which is based in Troy, Michigan.

For the past 16 years, Wiegert has held several senior leadership roles with BorgWarner, most recently as the president and general manager of BorgWarner Morse Systems.

Wiegert’s career also included seven years of working for Dana Corporation where he held engineering and sales positions of increasing responsibilities.

The newly-appointed CEO earned a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Wheaton College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from Bowling Green State University.

“After a rigorous search, the board concluded that Joel’s outstanding leadership skills, along with his strong track record of success, made him the outstanding candidate for the role,” Chairman of the Board of Managers Dr. Stephan Kessel said. “Joel has demonstrated throughout his career the ability to work in different environments around the world, leading to impressive results.”

For more information, visit dayco.com.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has announced the company will strengthen its production capacity at Toyo Tire North America Manufacturing Inc. (TNA) in Bartow County, Georgia.

The tire production facility will undergo changes to increase sales in the North American market, optimize product selection to grow with trends, and improve development and technical capabilities.

As part of the announcement, Toyo will also install new production equipment in the facility, which recently underwent an expansion at the end of last year.

The changes align with Toyo’s “Mid-term ’17,” a four-year business plan that began midyear in 2017 to better the company.

For more information, visit toyotires.com.

The long-time owner of Byron Dragway in Byron, Illinois, has passed away. Ron Leek served as the track’s owner and announcer since 1969.

Leek previously held positions at various Midwest race tracks, including Oswego Dragway, Great Lakes Dragaway and Wisconsin International Raceway, before acquiring Byron Dragway 50 years ago.

Leek also promoted monster truck events, packing stadiums across the US.

Outside of racing, Leek founded the R.L. Leek Industries Inc. trucking company, which has been in business since 1971.

Byron Dragway released the following statement regarding his passing:

Ron’s charismatic personality shined brightly over the microphone as an energetic announcer and true showman at countless drag strips, oval tracks and NHRA events. He pioneered a seemingly endless list of groundbreaking events and forever revolutionized sportsman drag racing by promoting the first big money bracket race in drag racing history.

Ron has left an indelible mark on the sport of drag racing and a legacy that will live on forever. We extend our deepest condolences to Ron’s family.

For more information, visit byrondragway.com.

Photo of Ron Leek courtesy of Byron Dragway

POWRi officials have announced the addition of five races to its 2019 schedule.

The POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League will visit Belle-Clair Speedway in Belleville, Illinois, on Friday, July 26, followed by Macon Speedway in Macon, Illinois, on Saturday, July 27. Both tracks are known for “elbows up, slide job” extravaganzas.

Friday, October 4, will see the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midgets take center stage at Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois. The following night, both the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League and the POWRi Engler Machine & Tool 600cc Outlaw Micro League will take the same track.

Finally, a trio of POWRi racing will invade I-30 Speedway in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Saturday, October 19.

The schedule changes were to supplement the schedule after recently canceled shows due to rain.

For more information, visit powri.com.

Formula 1 recently announced that the first race of the next FIA Formula 1 World Championship will be the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2020. The Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Australia, will host the event from Thursday, March 12, to Sunday, March 15.

The year of 2020 will feature several anniversaries for Formula 1 as it marks the 70th year of the pinnacle of motorsport and also the 25th year of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Like this year’s event, the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix 2020 will run on the weekend following the Labor Day long weekend in Victoria.

Rolex, a Global Partner of F1 since 2013, will be the Title Sponsor for the eighth consecutive year.

“There can be no better place to start the 2020 season, which will be significant as the sport will celebrate its 70th anniversary,” Formula 1 Chairman and CEO Chase Carey said.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

Photo courtesy of Formula 1

NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) has announced the opening of its new NGK/NTK Venture Lab in Santa Clara, California.

The technical exhibition and collaboration space is dedicated to the creation of new business opportunities through innovation, according to a published release. The lab also represents NGK’s commitment to the co-creation and incubation of new technology through potential partners and starters.

Several representatives were on hand for the opening, including officials from startups, venture capital firms, industry businesses, and academic offices. Dr. Radenka Maric, Ph.D., VP for Research at the University of Connecticut, was a guest speaker.

“We plan to use this space to inspire ideas for collaboration with potential partners. The Venture Lab showcases a wide range of NGK technologies, beyond just spark plugs, through a large video display and augmented reality,” NGK’s Global Executive VP Toru Matsui said, according to published sources. “It also includes a shared office which we will offer to our startup partners to use as their own. Our primary intention is to make strategic investments in early-stage startups, working together to bring new technologies to market.”

For more information, visit ngksparkplugs.com.