The Track at Hillside, the racing facility based in Holland, New York, has new promoters and the return of a familiar name.

Operational duties of the Western New York asphalt oval, which primarily features regular stock car racing, has been taken over by Ron Bennett Jr. The track is owned by Pinelawn Enterprises’ Ron Bennett (Jr.’s father) and Gordon Becker.

According to Buffalo News, the previous promotional agreement between the track owners and Daniel J. Hutchinson has been terminated after a court ruling.

The 3/8-mile short track, which was previously known as Holland Speedway, will also return to its original namesake in 2019.

As of now, however, racing is currently suspended at the speedway.

"I know that there's going to be a rush of people who are going to be asking if the speedway is going to open in two weeks. That's not going to happen. What we're looking at is the condition of the property. We have to repair and reset the property,” Bennett told Buffalo News. “The only thing that we would probably do is review the schedule and probably host the 12th year of running Crash-A-Rama.”

Bennett reasoned that the track currently does not have sponsorships or promotions, which are typically secured in the offseason.

For the latest, visit the track’s social media page.

ATA has announced its largest acquisition to date. The Irish-owned and Cavan-headquartered international precision engineering group, which has facilities in the UK and US, acquired Karnasch Professional Tools GmbH located in Heddesheim, near Berlin, Germany.

The acquisition marks an important milestone for ATA and the first since the 2016 management buyout of its private equity partners.

The acquisition also brings the value of the combined enterprise to around $179m and increases the worldwide workforce to nearly four hundred staff.

Established in 1960, Karnasch is a third-generation, family-owned company, selling precision industrial tools across multiple applications including grinding, milling, cutting, sawing and drilling. Karnasch’s focus includes various industry sectors such as automotive, aerospace, construction and mechanical engineering. The company has a strong position in its domestic German market and exports to over 60 countries worldwide.

“We have long admired the professionalism of the Karnasch family and have greatly respected their clear market leadership. ATA is delighted to combine forces with a company of this caliber and reputation and look forward to having the benefit of their obvious expertise within the expanded organization,” ATA CEO Peter Cosgrove said.

The acquisition included equity investment from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and the Development Capital Fund (DCF).

For more information, visit the ATA Group website.

Photo of Fergal McAleavey of ISIF, left, and Peter Cosgrove of ATA, right, courtesy of ATA Group

SRO Motorsports America and Operation Motorsport have announced a collaboration to benefit veterans through the Excite, Engage and Empower recovery programs.

The collaboration, which will be through SRO Motorsports’ Blancpain GT World Challenge America, will assist military veterans with their recovery and rehabilitation.

During each round of the Blancpain GT World Challenge America, veterans from the Canadian and US militaries will have the chance to work closely with teams to see how they can use their skills from military service and transfer them to skills with the race teams and potential civilian jobs.

At the end of the North American racing season in November 2019, Operation Motorsport will provide an opportunity for all active beneficiaries to join an effort to field a two-car, multi-national entry (Canada/USA/UK) in the 2019 Race of Remembrance at Circuit Anglesey, Wales, UK. There, a number of disabled veterans and serving soldier beneficiaries will serve as the team’s crew, drivers and support staff.

Some of the first teams taking part in the collaboration include Alegra Motorsports, KohR Motorsports, JCW Mini and Wright Motorsports.

“It’s been remarkable to see the success the Operation Motorsport program has had with veterans in our paddock,” SRO Motorsports America President and CEO Greg Gill said. “We’re excited to work closer with the team and grow the opportunities within our series this season.”

For more information, visit the Blancpain GT World Challenge America website or contact Operation Motorsport’s Tiffany Lodder at 613/921-6172 or through email at Tiffany@OperationMotorsport.ca.

National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) has signed a partnership with the Australian National Drag Racing Association (ANDRA).

A part of a new agreement, coverage of the ANDRA Summit Racing Equipment Grand Finals at the Perth Motorplex is now available on NHRA.tv.

Fans are now able to see qualifying and eliminations in Top Sportsman, Modified, Super Sedan, Super Street, Competition Bike, Supercharged Outlaws, Super Stock, Competition, Top Doorslammer, Modified Bike and Top Fuel Motorcycle as well as Top Alcohol exhibitions.

ANDRA members will also receive access to discounts along with benefits specifically tailored to the Australian drag race market. These include 25% off NHRA’s digital live streaming service, access to an NHRA National Dragster subscription, discounts to select NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, discounts on NHRA merchandise and more.

To watch or to purchase a subscription, visit NHRA.tv.

For more information, visit the NHRA website or the ANDRA website.

Beginning 2020, the cars that will race in the FIA Formula 2 Championship will be fitted with 18 inch Pirelli tires, as announced by the FIA and Formula 1.

The move, which is subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, reportedly comes after the desire to test and develop the Pirelli tires in Formula 1 competition in 2021.  

Formula 2 and Pirelli will work together during the 2019 season to develop the tires through an intensive testing program with an F2 single-seater. The first official test took place at the Mugello Circuit in Tuscany, Italy yesterday.

“The FIA Formula 2 Championship marks the final step in young drivers’ careers as they strive to achieve a place in Formula 1, and with these plans to introduce, test and develop a new tire profile next season ahead of its introduction into F1, we are showing that Formula 2 is not only the place to prove the top driving talent, but also the latest technologies,” FIA Single-Seater Commission President Stefano Domenicali said.

“We are delighted to introduce 18 inch tires to grand prix weekends next season, a full year before they race in Formula 1, as the next chapter of our pioneering and proactive partnership with Formula 2. This move will assist us greatly as we develop a new generation of Formula 1 tires for 2021, and also benefit next year’s Formula 2 drivers themselves as they gain early experience of the future tire size in Formula 1,” Pirelli F1 and Car Racing Head Mario Isola said.

For more information, visit the Formula 2 website or the Pirelli website.

Image courtesy of Pirelli

Custom Automotive Network (CAN) is currently seeking nominations for five different categories that will be awarded during the CAN Connect Conference, set for September 8–11 in Frisco, Texas. CAN members may now nominate individuals and companies that have made “extraordinary contributions” in the past year.

Award categories include Person of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Reseller of the Year, Manufacturer Sales Rep of the Year and CAN Pioneer.

Members interested in nominations should visit the online nomination survey. The deadline for submissions is May 20.

For more information, visit the CAN website.

[An update to this story has been posted. Click here for the latest].

President Trump announced that tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese products would increase from 10% to 25% on May 10, unless there was significant progress toward reaching a US/China trade accord. Although media reports have suggested that the negotiations were in the final stages, an agreement does not seem to have been reached. The agreement would be to end forced technology transfers whereby US companies are coerced into sharing technology trade secrets with their Chinese business partners.

Unless postponed, the tariff hike from 10% to 25% will take place May 10, at 12:01 a.m.
 
Last July, the US began imposing 25% tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese imports, including miscellaneous metal and rubber parts for auto equipment, machinery, tools and measurement devices. Last September, 10% tariffs were imposed on $200 billion worth of imported Chinese products, including many auto parts, from engines and metal fasteners to tires, steering wheel components, rubber gaskets, transmission belts, brake pads, windshields and suspension springs.

These tariffs were scheduled to increase to 25% on January 1, but the increase was postponed indefinitely while negotiations were deemed productive. They are now set to increase on May 10. President Trump also stated that he plans to impose 25% tariffs on the remaining $325 billion worth of Chinese products “shortly.” China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on $110 billion of US exports.  

US and Chinese officials are reportedly drafting six separate agreements covering agriculture, services, non-tariff barriers, currency, intellectual property rights and forced technology transfers, and cybersecurity. In recent weeks, US/Chinese negotiators have been discussing how to enforce an agreement, with the US wanting to phase out the tariffs over a period of time as compliance with the agreements is demonstrated.

The United States Trade Representative (USTR) will create a process for requesting exclusion from the newly imposed 25% tariffs. If pursuing a request, a company must demonstrate that the product is available only from China, that the tariff will cause severe economic harm and that the good is strategically important. The 25% tariffs on the additional $325 billion worth of products will first be subject to public comment and hearings.

While SEMA supports the Trump Administration’s goal to secure structural reforms in the US/China trade relationship, including the protection of intellectual property rights, SEMA has opposed the use of tariffs as a primary negotiating tool. Tariffs are a blunt instrument for dealing with trade disputes and are ultimately a tax on American companies and consumers.

For more information, visit the SEMA website or contact SEMA’s Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

NASCAR officials announced a tweak in the 2019 baseline rules package for select tracks, adding aero ducts to the three remaining race tracks where a 550 horsepower engine will run, but where cars were not originally required to be fitted with the ducts — Pocono Raceway, Darlington Raceway and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Previously at those three tracks and Atlanta Motor Speedway, NASCAR required teams to use brake ducts or block-offs in that area to help cool the brakes.

Following the racing at Atlanta earlier this season, concerns about air flow to the brakes were alleviated, according to NASCAR.

“When we originally looked at which elements of the package to race at each track, we wanted to err on the side of caution at a few tracks where there may be some brake cooling concerns,” said John Probst, NASCAR senior vice president, innovation and racing development. “After reviewing data from Atlanta, and with what we’ve learned over the first 11 races, we believe we can use the ducts without issue. In conversations with the teams, they emphasized the desire to focus on one race package, which will continue to improve the racing.”

Created to bolster competition with enhanced aerodynamic and engine configurations, the 2019 rules packages are tailored to the specific tracks on the Monster Energy Series circuit. A smaller tapered spacer to reduce engine horsepower to a target goal of 550 and aero ducts to foster tighter racing were implemented on a majority of speedways measuring longer than one mile.

The rules packages for the remaining tracks on the schedule have not changed.

For more information, visit the NASCAR website.

McLaren Applied Technologies is now able to carry out all servicing of alternators in the USA, Canada and South America from its North American headquarters in Huntersville, North Carolina.

Until recently, all McLaren Applied Technologies alternator inspections, testing, repairs and servicing had to be carried out at the McLaren Technology Center in Woking, England.

McLaren Applied Technologies offers high-output, lightweight alternators which are used in racing segments including World Rally Championship, LMP2 and DPI categories, as well as in many open wheel racing series, NASCAR, sportscars and Dakar Rally vehicles.   

Its three ranges of alternators include the F-Type, G-Type and K-Type. Each are suited for motorsports applications and feature high performance, low friction bearings that allow the alternator to run at high speed creating maximum current at 18,000RPM, according to the company.

For more information on the service, contact the company at sales@mclaren.com or +1 704/660-3181.

iRacing and NASCAR announced today the return of the eNASCAR Ignite Series in 2019. The first and only online youth-focused eSports series, will kick off on June 13, with some of the best young racers competing in mixed race formats in two different classes of vehicles en route to the championship.

The top 50 drivers will then advance to a five-race playoff and championship bracket concluding at the virtual Martinsville Speedway in September. Each regular season race will again utilize Legends Cars, a staple of entry-level racing, during the qualifying rounds.
 
This year’s eNASCAR Ignite Series champion will receive a prize package that includes a $10,000 racing scholarship and a real-world test day in both a NASCAR Pinty’s Series car with Canada’s Best Racing Team (CBRT) and a US Legend Car vehicle, which could lead to more real-world racing experience, as well as additional prizes.

“The talent showcased in the inaugural eNASCAR Ignite Series season exceeded our expectations,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR director, racing operations and event management. “There’s new energy around esports across the industry and its ties to the on-track product we see every week in NASCAR.”

The eNASCAR Ignite Series provides racers between 13 and 16 years of age a low barrier of entry to NASCAR by allowing young competitors with driver’s seat experience to help them hone their racing talent.

For more information on the eNASCAR Ignite Series, including more qualifying season information and how to compete, visit the iRacing website.