The iconic Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals will remain at the 1/4-mile Tulsa Expo Raceway through 2034, as announced during a press conference at the River Spirit Expo Center in Oklahoma.

The 11-year agreement extends the current deal, which was set to last through 2023.

“What a great day for the city of Tulsa and for our state,” said Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell during the press conference. “[The Chili Bowl] has evolved into one of the country’s biggest auto racing events; it's the largest indoor race in the United States... [This extension] is not just important for the city of Tulsa, but for the state of Oklahoma. Racing fans from across the nation are going to have something to be excited about as we solidify this event for decades to come.”

The Chili Bowl featuring indoor midget car racing was co-founded in 1987 by Emmett Hahn and Lanny Edwards.

For more information, visit chilibowl.com.

Sonoma Raceway will add a legendary NASCAR team owner and one of the raceway's founders to its Wall of Fame during this weekend's Toyota/Save Mart 350 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, June 21-23.

Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee, will join fellow NASCAR legends Rusty Wallace (2005), Mark Martin (2005), Jeff Gordon (2006), Ricky Rudd (2007), Rick Hendrick (2010), Ernie Irvan and Tony Stewart (2016) on the Raceway's Wall of Fame.

JGR has competed on the Sonoma Valley road course in the NASCAR Cup Series since 1992, debuting with driver Dale Jarrett in the Save Mart Supermarkets 300. Over more than 25 years, JGR has visited victory lane four times with Tony Stewart (2001, 2005) and Kyle Busch (2008, 2015). JGR also boasts 13 top-five finishes and 25 top-10 finishes over 65 driver starts and more than 300 laps led in Sonoma.

Raceway founder Robert (Bob) Marshall also joins inductees who have made a significant impact on the raceway, including Bruton Smith, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (2006), Bob Piccinini, Save Mart Supermarkets (2007) and original raceway executive Ken Clapp, Sears Point Raceway (2008).

Marshall, an attorney from nearby Marin County, was an avid sports car enthusiast. While not a racer himself, he was a Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) member and a willing crew member for several local amateur SCCA racers.

Marshall took on the valiant effort of collaborating with a strategic group of investors, developers and racing advisors to make his dream of a "drivers' track" a reality and broke ground on Sears Point Raceway on Aug. 14, 1968.

"The Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame honors individuals who have had a significant impact on the legacy of this facility, and as we celebrate our 50th anniversary, I can't think of two more appropriate additions," said Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway president and general manager.

Marshall's son, Jack, will accept the Wall of Fame honor on his fathers' behalf on Friday during a 50thanniversary press conference at Sonoma Raceway. Gibbs will be inducted into the Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame on Sunday during pre-race ceremonies.

The Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame is designed to honor those who have excelled not only in their form of motor racing but also in Sonoma. 

For more information, visit sonomaraceway.com.

Alcon Components, the provider of high-performance brakes and clutches, is now available through Turn 14 Distribution.

Alcon's braking component kits include the Jeep JK and JL platforms, Nissan Skyline GT-R R35, Ford F-150/Raptor, BMW M3 F80 chassis and more.

Alcon, which was established in 1983 by sports car driver and engineer John Moore, provides braking solutions for high-end motorsports applications as well as for the OEM and performance aftermarket. The company is based in the UK with offices in Moorseville, North Carolina. 

For more information, visit turn14.com or alcon.co.uk.

MAHLE is developing a combination of an activated carbon filter and ion exchanger to make tap water injection possible in gasoline engines, according to a company release.

Water injection in a gasoline engine protects components at high speeds and loads. Existing systems use a water tank that must be regularly refilled with de-ionized water.

MAHLE’s new treatment module, which is currently under development, would allow the dedicated tank in the vehicle to be filled with tap water, which is then treated on board for injection in the engine.

The compact design means the treatment module can be installed at various locations in the vehicle.

As part of the ongoing tests, MAHLE is also investigating the treatment of water sources that are obtained on board during vehicle operation, including the air conditioning system and the exhaust gas flow, which has a water content of about 13 percent for stoichiometric combustion.

For more information, visit us.mahle.com.

Race-Tec—the supplier of custom-made, high performance sealing solutions and vibration isolation components based in Hampshire, UK—and its sister company, Blue Diamond, have been acquired by TRITEC Performance Solutions.

Blue Diamond, based in Southampton, England, is a supplier of metal and rubber components including cast and turned parts, plastic moldings, bearings, seals and subassemblies. TRITEC, meanwhile, is based in Fenton, Michigan, and offers sealing solutions and critical components for several markets, including motorsports.

“We are excited to expand TRITEC’s global capabilities and footprint by leveraging the technology, engineering prowess and team within Race-Tec and Blue Diamond. This addition will continue to enhance our ability to make our customers’ great machines even better,” TRITEC CEO Marcus Pillion said.

For more information, visit race-tec.com or tritec-ps.com.

Badlands Motor Speed, the dirt track in Brandon, South Dakota that was previously listed for sale, has announced an unprecedented purse for “a very special race” set for Tuesday, August 13, 2019.

While not yet official with the track’s legal group, track owner Chuck Brennan and related stakeholders have announced that the winner of the August race will win the track, including 70+ acres of land, the dirt track, track buildings, lights, name, website and billboards.

A minimum number of 18 cars must enter with a non-refundable $200,000 deposit in order for the race to take place, with a maximum number of 36 cars. The winner will receive the track, valued at $18 million. Second place will receive $200,000, with third and fourth each taking home $100,000.

The first 12 teams to sign up will also receive a VIP suite for their guests at the race with a retail value of $20,000 to include 20 tickets, the suite, food and beverages.

The race will follow World of Outlaws rules for tech and specifications. Three heat races of 12 cars will take place, with 24 drivers making it to the main, 40-lap race.

Information on official rules, procedures and ticketing will be released at a later date.

For more information, visit husets.com.

FIA Formula 1 officials have announced drivers will be eligible to score points towards gaining the super license required for F1 race participation by driving in Friday practice sessions.

Currently, drivers must collect 40 points across three seasons by competing in other racing series around the globe such as Formula 2, IndyCar and the World Endurance Championship, before being granted a super license.

If they fail to do so, drivers can still drive in Friday practice sessions on Grand Prix weekends, as Formula 2 championship leader Nicholas Latifi did for Williams in Canada earlier this month, via a free practice only super license, which they can get with 25 points.

Now from 2020, the FIA's World Motor Sport Council has ratified that a driver with a free practice only super license who completes at least 100km during a free practice session will earn an additional point per Grand Prix weekend, providing they do not pick up any license penalty points.

The FIA has capped the number of points that can be accrued for driving in free practice sessions to 10 over three years.

In related F1 news, the final presentation of the Technical, Sporting and Financial regulations for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship for 2021 and beyond will be deferred until the end of October 2019, as agreed on unanimously by F1 stakeholders, including FIA, Formula 1, team principals, technical directors, the tire supplier and a number of drivers.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America announced it raised more than $1.7 million after completing a corner-to-corner route to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Funds raised directly benefit Victory Junction—a camp in Randleman, North Carolina, servicing children with chronic medical illnesses. The Ride’s donation supports maintenance programs, building projects and summer “camperships.”

In addition to the more than $1.7 million raised by the Ride, a $2 million donation was presented to the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Trust by the Andreas family in honor of a beloved Charity Rider, the late David Andreas. The Trust was established by the Ride in 2015 to fund Victory Junction in perpetuity.

To commemorate a milestone anniversary, former NASCAR driver and NBC Sports racing analyst Kyle Petty led 250 participants on the Ride’s longest route ever. On May 3, Petty embarked from Seattle, Washington, on a nearly 3,700-mile journey, traveling through 11 states in nine days before ending in Key Largo, Florida on May 11.

“This year’s Ride was amazing. We had beautiful views, crowds at every stop, police escorts the entire trip, a little rain, fun visits with Victory Junction campers, great food and lots of laughs with friends for nine straight days,” said Petty. “When you get 250 people together that care about kids, want to help others and love to ride motorcycles, it’s going to be fun. Riding corner to corner across America just made it more special.”
 
Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since 1995, 8,650 riders have logged more than 12.4 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised $18.5 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.

The Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes, which takes place each year at the PRI Trade Show, also benefits Victory Junction. Visit victoryjunction.org/sunnen-sweepstakes to purchase tickets for the chance to win a high-horsepower engine built by Sonny Leonard.

For more information about the 25th anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (or to donate), visit kylepettycharityride.com.

Photo from Day 1 in Seattle courtesy of Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America

Eastbound Dragway, a drag strip in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, has entered into a multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

The 1/8-mile strip is part of Eastbound International Speedway and Concert Park, a 55-acre motorsport park and entertainment facility. In addition to drag racing, the complex features NASCAR and INEX-sanctioned racing on a 3/8-mile asphalt track, Monster Trucks, motocross and a "world-class" musical entertainment venue.

Among the most popular events has been the “take it to the track” program to get racing off the streets.

“Every year, we’ve seen an increase in people involved,” Eastbound Park Director of Events Mike James said. “We worked with the local police who were concerned about the safety of street racing. We had burnouts on the oval and we opened up the drag strip. Thousands of people showed up, people who had never been on the drag strip before. They got a really good feel of what it’s like to be on the drag strip. It was incredible to see cars stretched all the way down the 1/8-mile.”

The strip first opened for racing in 2014. James also visits local schools, introducing the sport of drag racing to upwards of 10,000 students.

For more information, visit EastBoundDragway.com.

FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) officials have announced the commitment to the endurance racing series from two manufacturers beyond 2020.

Aston Martin will field a minimum of two factory Aston Martin Valkyrie Hypercars, which will be specially developed for the 2020-21 FIA WEC season.

The new car will feature a race-prepared version of its bespoke, high-revving, normally-aspirated 6.5-liter V12 engine.

“We have always said that we would one day bring Aston Martin back to Le Mans with the intention of going for the outright win when the time was right—now is that time,” Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group CEO Andy Palmer said.

Toyota is the second manufacturer to announce its participation in the FIA WEC beyond 2020.

Toyota Gazoo Racing will take part in the 2020-21 season with a hybrid-powered prototype based on the GR Super Sport road car. Both road and race car are undergoing design and intensive development at the company’s technical centers in Toyota City, Higashi-Fuji (Japan) and Cologne (Germany).

Track testing of the new car, the name of which will be revealed at a later date, will begin next year before the start of the 2020-21 season.

The announcement came just before Toyota claimed a dominant victory at the FIA WEC Season Finale after the No. 8 and No. 7 Toyota TS050 HYBRID sister cars finished first and second following this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Team members include Sébastien Buemi, Fernando Alonso and Kazuki Nakajima.

For more information, visit fiawec.com.

Image of Toyota rendering courtesy of FIA WEC