Motorsport’s world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), has appointed SRO Motorsports Group as the promoter of the Motorsport Games and has revealed further details behind the new event.

The FIA first announced that Rome would host the first Motorsport Games later this year in a brief statement following the latest meeting of its World Motor Sport Council in Paris last month. These plans have now been fleshed out with SRO handed the remit of developing the concept under a multi-year contract.

The Motorsport Games will be an annual event with drivers from a variety of disciplines participating in the same venue on the same weekend under their national flag. The Games will initially feature six categories – GT, Touring Car, Formula 4, Drifting, Karting Slalom and Digital Motorsport. Each competition will award gold, silver and bronze medals, contributing to an overall medal table.

The inaugural edition of the Motorsport Games will commence with a “spectacular opening ceremony” in Italy’s capital city on October 31, with the general public and motorsport fans being at the heart of the celebrations.

The action will then move to the race track, with the neighboring ACI Vallelunga Circuit just north of Rome set to play host to events from November 1-3. The weekend will culminate with a closing ceremony, during which the National Sporting Authority (ASN) or National Automobile Club (ACN) of the winning country will receive the Motorsport Games trophy.

The Motorsport Games have their origins in the FIA GT Nations Cup, organized by SRO and will become an annual date on the international motorsports calendar, with a different city hosting the event each year.

“I have long believed that this concept holds tremendous potential for our sport, as we saw last year with the FIA GT Nations Cup. Following the success of that event, it is very exciting to once again work with the FIA as we expand the concept to a variety of disciplines as part of a multi-year agreement,” SRO Motorsports Group founder and chief executive Stéphane Ratel said.

For more information, visit sro-motorsports.com.

Paul Van Valkenburgh's name will be added to the perpetual Peter Bryant Challenger Award Trophy in recognition of his work in and many contributions to motorsports engineering.

"Paul's pioneering work in the sport, and his innate ability to communicate the principles behind highly technical ideas in mechanical engineering, mark him as someone who made sense of the 'magic' by showing us that it really wasn't magic in the first place," said Bryant Award committee chairperson Doug Stokes.

Van Valkenburgh's 1976 book "Race Car Engineering & Mechanics" explained the "how's" and "why's" of modern race car engineering and was written in a friendly, open style that made the information as interesting as it was informative.

A year earlier, Van Valkenburgh had co-written the motorsports classic "The Unfair Advantage" the story of his work with racing champion Mark Donohue. Voiced by Donohue (himself an engineer), the book reveals much of Van Valkenburgh's work ethic and quest for speed that always was based in science (and a lot of hard work).

Van Valkenburgh's explanation of the dynamics of the traction circle demystified the subject for many and pointed out how seemingly small things, when added up and aligned carefully, were very often the difference between winning and finishing second.

His years with Chevrolet Racing as a top motorsports research engineer found him embedded in the inner-workings of several very high-profile racing scenarios and saw him working with Donohue, Roger Penske, and Jim Hall, and led to the “highly controversial at the time” 1972 book, Chevrolet - Racing? Fourteen Years of Raucous Silence! 1957-1970.”

Today, Van Valkenburgh is a regular columnist for RACER ENGINEERING Magazine and writes occasional tech pieces for ROAD & TRACK, CORVETTE FEVER, GRASSROOTS RACING, and DRAG RACER.

The Bryant award was first presented at the 2010 Riverside Raceway reunion the year after Bryant's passing. The first recipient was Howden Ganley, followed by Phil Remington (2011), Bruce Burness (2012), Trevor Harris (2013), Tyler Alexander (2014), Alwin Springer (2015), Ike Smith (2016), Dan Gurney (also in 2016), Joe Cavaglieri (2017) and Jimmy Dilamarter (2018).

NHRA officials have announced that the popular SamTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category will feature a 32-car field at the upcoming 65th annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, Aug. 28-Sept. 2.

With ever-increasing interest from racers, fans and manufacturers, the SamTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series features some of the best of American muscle. Competitors line up for a heads-up contest showcasing drag-racing ready, factory-built vehicles including Ford Mustang Cobra Jets, Dodge Challenger Drag Paks and Chevrolet COPO Camaros. To win requires a combination of technical tuning and superior driving.

“We are thrilled to see the SAMTech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category continue to grow,” said Brian Massingill, vice president of business development for SAM Tech. “Just a few years ago, the category competed with an eight-car field at four events. The drivers, teams and manufacturers have really elevated this category, making it a fan favorite in a short amount of time. To expand the field at the World’s Biggest Drag Race is simply incredible, and something I have worked towards for the last few years. We hope the fans will all come out to see this milestone.”

The competition will begin with one qualifying session on Friday, Aug. 30, followed by two qualifying sessions on Saturday, Aug. 31. On Sunday, Sept. 1, drivers will compete in two rounds of eliminations. Eliminations will continue Monday, Sept. 2.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit nhra.com/tickets.

Photo courtesy of NHRA

Talladega Superspeedway’s new Pit Road Club will be unveiled during the track’s doubleheader NASCAR Playoff Weekend, Oct. 11-13, featuring the 1000Bulbs.com 500 and the Sugarlands Shine 250.

Located directly behind pit road where race teams change tires and refuel their drivers’ cars, the Pit Road Club gives fans the chance to take in the racing and feel like they’re in the middle of the action at the 2.66-mile venue.

The Club will offer hot meals, finger foods and unlimited beer, Dasani Water and Coca-Cola products.

The main floor hospitality level is complete with two buffet lines, four portable bars and multiple styles of seating including patio-style tables and chairs, bar height tables, chairs and rails, and soft seating couches and chairs with a dozen televisions for fans to keep up with all the action throughout the weekend.

The top level features three hundred 21-inch wide seats with cup holders, television monitors and four portable bars with attendants to serve drinks. The covered upper level features 5,600 square feet looks over part of the Talladega Garage Experience, the Talladega infield and Alabama Gang Superstretch.

Fans who purchase the Pit Road Club package will also receive access to the Talladega Garage Experience, which allows fans under the same garage roof where the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars are being prepped by the race teams throughout the weekend.

Two guest options are available for the Pit Road Club—both packages include two-day (Saturday and Sunday) access to the Talladega Garage Experience and a two-day premium infield parking pass for every two Pit Road Club admissions purchased. The lower-level hospitality is $350 per person. The upper level, including a reserved seat plus access to lower-level hospitality area, is $600 per person.


For more information, including corporate passes and Transformation – The Talladega Superspeedway Infield Project, visit talladegasuperspeedway.com/transformation.

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series 2020 championship will launch January 2-5, at Vado Speedway Park, the brand new dirt track venue in Vado, New Mexico.

The inaugural race dubbed the Battle at the Border will be presented by GottaRace.com, Rancho Milagro Racing, Barnett Harley Davidson and Mesilla Valley Transportation.

Racers will battle for part of a purse totaling more than $130,000 throughout the four-night event.

A practice session opens on Thursday followed by three separate points races, including two $5,000-to-win features. The race ends with the 50-lap main event on Sunday, where one competitor will be awarded $15,000.

The multi-million-dollar track sits near the base of the 9,000-foot Organ Mountains in New Mexico and was partly designed by Scott Bloomquist. The facility features a 3/8-mile clay oval, concrete midways and pit pads, “stadium quality” seating, lighting and more.

For more information, visit worldofoutlaws.com/latemodels or vadospeedwaypark.com.

The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Technical Department has announced mid-year horsepower changes to the Stock and Super Stock categories.

The announcement is the first of two scheduled horsepower adjustments for this year. The changes were produced by the Automatic Horsepower Factoring System (AHFS).

The AHFS is a program based on actual run data compiled from all available runs at NHRA events. The data-based format provides the ability to calculate average performances for any class and engine combination in Stock and Super Stock.

The trigger point for the system is 1.00-second or more under the respective index and must be produced on two different occasions. Engine-combination averages and class averages are then computed and analyzed to determine if a change is warranted.

The amount of change is calculated on a stepped percentage basis. Where applicable, adjustments will be effective for the specific car model or body style being evaluated. An automatic adjustment is instituted outside the two-time a year process when a 1.20 and under run is recorded during any NHRA event.

To view the complete first half rating period adjustments for 2019 and for more information, visit here.

In other NHRA news, tickets for the 2020 season-opening 60th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona are on sale now for the national event taking place Feb 6-9, 2020.

For more information, visit nhra.com or nhra.com/tickets.

Officials from Calistoga Speedway in Roseville, California, have announced its eighth induction class for the Calistoga Speedway Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremony and dinner will take place on August 30 at the track.

Leading the list is Billy Albini, the famed West Coast crew chief who passed away earlier this year on March 12. Albini, who assisted driver Brent Kaeding, is the winningest crew chief of the NARC/King of the West Sprint Car Series. The Series also added a new perpetual award in his namesake, the Billy Albini Mechanic of the Year Award.

Also set to be inducted is driver Martin Faw, Ted Finkenbinder, Rich Govan, Wally Talbot and the Tiner family.

Faw, a driver, won the 1962 NARC Owner and Driver Championship with limited funds and by building his own equipment.

Finkenbinder, the driver and car owner that has supported the track for over 40 years, has fielded a “plethora” of sprint and midget cars.

Govan was a fixture during the track’s 1970s racing scene with the Northern Auto Racing Club and won the sprint car main event on June 14, 1975.

Talbot’s career spanned four decades, first competing at the track in 1958. The three-time Northern Auto Racing Club series champion’s last race at Calistoga took place 1984.

Finally, the Tiner family will also be inducted, including Rod Tiner Sr., the car owner with six wins under his belt. His brother, Randy “Boo” Tiner was one of the most popular sprint car drivers in the area and secured four career wins at the track.

Call 916/773-7223 or 916/773-7225 to reserve tickets to the induction ceremony and dinner. For more information, visit calistogaspeedway.org.

Sean Sawyer has joined COMP Performance Group in the new role of Business Development Manager.

Sawyer will use his 25-plus years of industry experience to explore new markets, identify potential new customers, determine ways to better serve the organization’s existing customers and ensure its relevance in the marketplace, according to a company press release.

Sawyer started his automotive career on the retail side of the business with Ford Senior Master Tech, ASE Master and Master Service Advisor certifications. He later made the switch to performance and has spent the last 15 years customizing Pro Touring American muscle cars including 12 years as the owner of his shop.

“Sean is already proving to be a crucial part of the team. As a professional car builder and owner of his own company, he views the aftermarket in a way that allows us to continue moving forward with our renewed focus on developing new business potential, including reaching out to new and existing customers and branching into new market segments,” COMP Performance Group Outside Sales Group Director Mark Campbell said.

For more information, visit cpgnation.com.

Racer Media & Marketing, Inc, the independent general-interest motorsports publisher, has acquired Vintage Motorsport, the publication covering the historic and vintage motor racing scene.

The acquisition includes the print magazine title known as The Journal of Motor Racing History along with digital and online assets. D. Randy Riggs will remain on board as the magazine’s editor-in-chief.

Vintage Motorsport joins RACER magazine, RACER.com, and SportsCar, the official magazine of the Sports Car Club of America as titles published by Racer Media & Marketing, Inc (RM&M).

RM&M will begin publishing Vintage Motorsport with the September/October 2019 issue on sale August 15.

“We are very excited to bring Vintage Motorsport under the RM&M banner,” said Paul Pfanner, co-founder, president and CEO. “It is the most respected title covering historic motor racing—and racing history more broadly—in North America. As the new stewards of the brand, we will proudly carry the standard into the future while using the cross-platform promotional power of the RACER brand to expand the base of Vintage Motorsport’s audience.”

“This is the closest thing to a perfect fit you’ll find in publishing, as Vintage Motorsport will expand the footprint of RM&M to include its authoritative and award-winning content, and RACER’s expertise, resources and proficiency in both print and digital content delivery will ensure Vintage Motorsport’s continued success and expansion. Most notably, D. Randy Riggs will continue at the editorial helm of Vintage Motorsport, and as he has proven for more than two decades, he is decidedly up to the task,” Outgoing Vintage Motorsport Publisher/CEO Michael Silverman said.

RM&M has been publishing motorsports content since 1979.

For more information, visit racer.com or vintagemotorsport.com.

The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship has announced the series will test the use of electronic information panels in select rides to improve fan experience both trackside and at home.

Debuting at the Watpac Townsville 400 set for July 5-7, the LED boards will be programmed to display a variety of in-race information on the cars’ windows, including the car’s track position, car number, pit stop time or an abbreviation of the driver’s name.

The LED technology is currently in use in other series around the globe, including IndyCar and GT racing.

“The plan is to run two or three of each type in two or three different cars in Townsville and assess how they look at the track and on television,” Supercars’ Head of Motorsport Adrian Burgess told Supercars.com.

Supercars initially tested a similar panel system in 2015 in its Dunlop Super2 Series but it was not implemented in full-time competition.

The Supercars Commission will also reduce the electronic technology in pit equipment in order to reel in costs, announcing the teams are no longer allowed to use data loggers for pitstop performance or pressure sensors on the airlines of impact tools.

For more information, visit supercars.com.