Suspension and driveline manufacturer QA1 has broken ground on a new company headquarters that will provide over 100,000 square feet of space. The facility will be located just two miles from QA1’s existing facilities in Lakeville, Minnesota, and will combine all of QA1’s manufacturing, office, and distribution operations under one roof.  

“This new facility is a commitment to our employees, our customers, and our community,” QA1 President Melissa Scoles said. “We’ve been in Lakeville for over 20 years and are glad we can continue making quality American-made products in a community we love and support. With space for more equipment and with modern workspaces for our team to be more comfortable and efficient, we can deliver even more innovative new products to our customers in the years to come.”

The new state-of-the-art facility will have multiple improvements over its current headquarters, including dedicated machining, fabrication, and composites manufacturing cells, an R&D center, complete climate control, and space to grow.

For more information, visit qa1.net.

TechnoCraft, which operates TrailerCabinets.com, has announced the launching of its new trailer outfitting service.

The Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee-based company is now able to outfit race trailers and develop smart storage systems for racers looking to “cram a lot of equipment in a small space.”

“We’ve spent a lot of time reorganizing our facility and our systems and we now feel that we have the capability to offer a bespoke outfitting service,” TrailerCabinets.com President Brian Hope said, according to published sources. “Racers need to be organized and TrailerCabinets.com offers numerous storage solutions from ‘Thin Line’ wheel-well cabinets to multi-drawer tool boxes that simplify the logistical problems of trying to stow all the equipment needed to go racing—especially when it’s time to pack up and get on down the road.”

The service is also available for shops, garages, offices and more using standard size or custom units built in the company's Tennessee facility. 

For more information, visit TrailerCabinets.com.

Image courtesy of TrailerCabinets.com

World Wide Technology Raceway officials unveiled the completion of its road course expansion.

This expansion, which was designed by Tony Cotman of NZR Consulting, expands the track from 1.6 miles to 2.0 miles in distance and creates a dynamic course configuration for the Formula Drift Series.

“This is a tremendous step to the next level for the future of road racing and drift events in the St. Louis region,” said WWTR Executive Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. “The additional track length, as well as its unique configuration, will enable our venue to attract higher-level, spectator-driven road racing events. For the sport of drifting, our track now will host the series with the best grandstands, the largest suite structure, an expanded pit-and-paddock area and multiple configurations to provide the most entertaining events.”

The first event to be held on the new, expanded configuration will be the Formula Drift Series on August 9-10.

“Formula Drift is committed to WWTR and the St. Louis region for many years to come,” said Jim Liaw, President and Co-Founder of Formula Drift Holdings. “We are excited to be part of the new course configuration as it will provide fans with more seating, our partners with world-class hospitality options, a bigger paddock for the teams, a dynamic festival area as well as a challenging competition course layout.”

Upon completion of the August event, the track will begin working with existing and new road racing sanctioning groups on schedules and configurations. WWTR will continue to offer races on the traditional 1.6-mile course as well as the enhanced 2-mile configuration.

The multi-purpose motorsports venue is located just five miles from downtown St. Louis in Madison, Illinois. For more information, visit wwtraceway.com.

Image courtesy of WWTR

PPG has appointed James T. (JT) Jones as vice president, procurement, effective July 1.

Reporting directly to Rebecca Liebert, the senior vice president of automotive coatings, Jones will be responsible for leading PPG’s global procurement team, processes and strategy. He will also be tasked with optimizing the organization’s worldwide supplier base of purchased raw materials, goods and services spanning numerous categories and regions.

Jones joins PPG from Celanese, a global chemical and specialty materials company, where he was vice president of global raw material procurement. In that role, Jones aligned the procurement team and processed to more closely match each of the businesses go-to-market models and growth strategies. In addition, he led a global cost-savings initiative that exceeded productivity targets by more than 35%.

Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University.

For more information, visit ppg.com.

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), the largest undergraduate college in Iowa, is partnering with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) and Iowa Speedway on a new internship program available exclusively to DMACC Automotive students.

DMACC students who are selected for the internship will spend eight to 10 weeks at CGR Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they will have the opportunity to work on current NTT IndyCar Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race cars alongside professional racing industry technicians. The deadline to apply is June 28 at 4 p.m. CT.

“Careers in professional auto racing are very competitive, whether you’re a driver or an auto technician, and experience is key,” said Jerry Burns, DMACC Automotive Service Education Program (ASEP) and Automotive Technology Chairperson and Professor. “Students selected for this internship will strengthen their industry qualifications and differentiate themselves by gaining invaluable, hands-on experience in a professional race shop.”

“Chip Ganassi Racing is very excited to partner with DMACC for internships that can lead to potential full-time employment of young mechanical talent,” said Mike Hull, Managing Director for CGR. “After a visit to the DMACC campus, it was easy to sense the passionate desire of the students to work within a mentoring system.

Application information and materials can be found online at dmacc.edu/programs/automotive. The selection committee will review applications at the beginning of July, and finalists will be invited to attend the Iowa 300 at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, July 20.

For more information, visit chipganassiracing.com, iowaspeedway.com, or dmacc.edu.

Dayco has announced the appointment of Mike McTeer as its new vice president of sales and marketing for the US aftermarket. In this role, McTeer will be accountable for all aspects of Dayco sales and marketing strategy within the US.
 
“I am excited about my expanded role at Dayco; this is a great opportunity to serve in a leadership role leveraging the past Dayco heritage and integrating new and exciting Dayco product and marketing strategies,” McTeer said.
 
McTeer joined Dayco in 2018 as the director of business strategy, US aftermarket. Since then, his focus has been on developing and integrating Dayco aftermarket departments “to better serve both present and future Dayco customers.”
 
McTeer brings more than 25 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket having previously worked at O’Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone, Factory Motor Parts and Federal-Mogul Motorparts.
 
“I am pleased to have Mike take on his new role as vice president of sales and marketing. His success at Dayco, along with his experience, will play a key role in satisfying our customer’s needs. We will leverage Mike’s knowledge to develop strategies to achieve our current and future initiatives,” said Bruno Vallillo, president global aftermarket.
 
Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

For more information, visit dayco.com.

Premier Performance Products Distribution, the wholesale distributor with headquarters in Rexburg, Idaho, has announced the addition of two new directors.

Ryan Mitchell will serve as the new director of the off-road category, while Alan Miller will fill the role of director of truck performance.

Mitchell, who has been a part of the aftermarket industry for over two decades, has previously served in roles including as regional manager and director of wholesale.

In his new position, Mitchell will maintain current vendor and dealer relationships, research prospective accounts in the off-road market, build new relationships and promote Premier’s offering of off-road products and services.

While collaborating with internal departments, Mitchell will also help in developing new entry-level employees.

Miller, meanwhile, has worked for Premier Performance as its business development manager, overseeing sales in the Eastern US region for two years.

In his new position, Miller will research prospective accounts in the gas and diesel truck performance markets, while also establishing and maintaining new and current relationships like Mitchell.

For more information, visit premierwd.com.

A new general manager has been appointed at Bobby Watson’s Carteret County Speedway in Peletier, North Carolina.

Mark Watson will oversee track duties for the 4/10-mile, low-banked asphalt track. Watson has been involved in racing for three decades—as both a competitor and track operator—and has worked at Carteret County Speedway since its inaugural race in September 2015.

“I’m excited to help carry out Bobby’s dream and help the track move forward,” Watson said in reference renowned promoter, racer and original track owner Bobby Watson. “We’re working to keep improving as we move forward in this new venture. I’ll still be visible on race days and I’m looking forward to working with the drivers and with Bob [Lowery, track owner] and the staff at Carteret County Speedway.”

Watson, in addition to his years of experience in the industry, studied engineering at Wilson Tech.

For more information, visit carteretspeedway.com.

Photo of Mark Watson courtesy of Bobby Watson’s Carteret County Speedway

International Speedway Corporation (ISC) announced that Matthew Becherer, President of Homestead-Miami Speedway, has been promoted to an ISC Officer as VP of Consumer Sales.

“Through the work of [Matthew] and his team, they have helped to elevate NASCAR’s Ford Championship Weekend to new heights, as it has grown in size and stature each year. His fan-first focus drives new ticket audiences and will help to grow admissions while ensuring that every fan who attends our races has a memorable experience," stated John Saunders, President, ISC.

In addition to his role as track president of since December 2009, Becherer has led the enterprise consumer marketing team for ISC over the last two years, where he helped develop and implement new initiatives in the areas of data analytics and outbound sales.

In his new post, Becherer will report to Saunders and moves into the newly-formed role of VP of Consumer Sales for ISC.

Simultaneously, Al Garcia, Senior VP of Operations at Homestead-Miami Speedway, has been promoted to president of Homestead-Miami Speedway.

A native of Miami where he graduated from Columbus High School, Garcia began his motorsports career with the Miami Grand Prix in 1985, working for Homestead-Miami Speedway founder Ralph Sanchez.

As an original member of the Homestead-Miami Speedway staff, Garcia helped to manage not just the construction of the original facility but also more than $100 million of capital improvement projects since the facility’s opening in 1995.

In his new role, Garcia will report to ISC COO Joie Chitwood III and oversee promotion and operation of Homestead-Miami Speedway beginning with its 2019 Ford Championship Weekend in November.

For more information, visit internationalspeedwaycorporation.com or homesteadmiamispeedway.com.

The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame staged its 16th induction ceremony, presented by World Wide Technology Raceway, last week before 500 guests at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California.

Motorsports industry figure Ralph Sheheen was the event’s master of ceremony, assisted by 51FIFTY hostess Teresa Fletchinger.

Eleven stalwarts across the motorsports spectrum from the 20th and 21st centuries were honored during the gala.

The 2019 class of enshrinees includes NASCAR team owners Gary Bechtel and Bob Bruncati; the late Joe Gibbs Racing president J.D. Gibbs and NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon, Doug McCoun and Eric Norris. Five Heritage inductees were also honored: international racing star George Follmer; early west coast NASCAR strand-outs Rick Henderson and Marshall Sargent and Indianapolis 500 champions Bob Sweikert and Bill Vukovich.

Wayne Wells, retired NAPA Auto Parts western vice president, was honored with the Hall’s Award of the Decade marking the second time the award has been given out. The Scottsdale, Ariz. executive guided his company’s sponsorship of events, drivers and teams both in the west and nationwide.

Presenters included NASCAR premier series champion Kurt Busch; Ford Performance Worldwide Director Mark Rushbrook; former ESPN television NASCAR reporter Dr. Jerry Punch; Weather Tech Laguna Seca Raceway CEO Tim McGrane and more.

For more information, visit westcoaststockcarhalloffame.com.

Photo of Eric Norris courtesy of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame