The NMCA Tech Department has requested that all mid-season rule requests be turned in by Friday, May 24.

NMCA officials made the announcement in an effort to expedite the process to get any adjustments and rule modifications handled in a quick and decisive manner.

“We value all of your input and while not all requests are granted, each one is studied and determined if it is in the best interest of the category,” a release said.

NMCA competitors with mid-season rule requests can send the request with their name, NMCA car number and supporting information to NMCARules@ProMediaPub.com.

For more information, visit the NMCA website.

(Image courtesy of NMCA).

Renault Sport Racing is bringing changes to its organizational structures in both France and the UK to reinforce its management and strengthen its technical departments.

At Viry-Châtillon in France, two new management positions have been created. Christophe Mary has been named Director of Engineering and will begin August 1, while Stéphane Rodriguez has been appointed Project and Purchasing Director within the technical department. Both will report to the Engine Technical Director Rémi Taffin.

At Enstone in the UK, current Deputy Chief Designer Matt Harman has been appointed Engineering Director within the technical department and will report to Chassis Technical Director, Nick Chester.

All three will sit on Renault F1 Team’s Management Board.

Previously, Mary held technical responsibilities for 14 years at Ferrari F1 and for four years at Mercedes HPE. Most recently, he held the position of Chief Systems and Powertrain Engineer at PSA Motorsport.

Rodriguez has held various positions since joining Renault Sport Racing in 2001, from Head of Reliability to Head of Testing. He is currently Project Manager, responsible for the latest generations of V8 engines and hybrid PUs.

Harman joined Renault F1 Team in 2018 as Deputy Chief Designer after 11 years at Mercedes AMG HPP and more than seven years at Mercedes AMG F1 as Head of Powertrain Integration and Transmission design.

Beyond their impact on the 2019 and 2020 seasons, these changes are a significant step towards preparing both organizations to the challenges of the 2021 season and meeting the objectives of the roadmap set in 2016.

For more information, visit the Renault Sport website.

Meyer Distributing, Inc, the provider of automotive specialty products marketing and distribution, announced the addition of its Barstow, California location. The cross-dock will have a direct, next-day feed from Meyer's Ontario, California distribution hub which houses one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories and RV parts in the region.

“We continue to make logistics and inventory investments in the Southwest,” Meyer CEO Jeff Braun said. “Each additional step we take results in a positive reaction in the market which allows us to take another step. We appreciate the customers continuing to have faith in us as we develop our regional infrastructure aggressively, but sustainably.”

Through numerous strategically positioned warehousing facilities, Meyer serves thousands of customers nationwide via Meyer Logistics direct ship.

For more information, visit the Meyer Distributing website.

NASCAR and Genius Sports, one of the global leaders in sports data solutions, announced a landmark deal that will see Genius Sports develop an official NASCAR gaming offering for legal sportsbooks.

The new agreement is the first step toward creating an advanced live betting product that will drive fan interest and deepen engagement around NASCAR race events.

Genius Sports will utilize NASCAR’s official data feed to build a high-end live betting product to be sold to legal sportsbooks around the world. Exclusive access to NASCAR’s official data will allow Genius Sports to create a real-time gaming platform that provides up-to-the-minute odds and a suite of traditional wagers and prop bets. The new initiative will enhance the race day experience and keep fans engaged with the sport for longer periods of time.   
 
“Partnering with Genius Sports allows us to deliver a dynamic fan engagement platform in the rapidly-growing world of legalized sports gaming,” said Brian Herbst, senior vice president, broadcasting and innovation, NASCAR. “This new relationship will provide another entry point to the sport and complements our strategy to create a more immersive experience for fans.”

As a result of the agreement, Genius Sports becomes the exclusive provider of NASCAR data to licensed sportsbooks. The new data partnership marks NASCAR’s first in the growing U.S. sports betting sector.

“NASCAR fans are some of the most devoted in the world, and we look forward to helping them to create a deeper, more connected experience that is both safe and secure as the business of sports betting continues to evolve in the U.S.,” said Mark Locke, Genius Sports CEO. “Furthermore, our global relationships will help bring the excitement of NASCAR racing to new audiences both within the U.S. and in new territories around the world.”

With 40 cars on the track reaching speeds of over 200 miles per hour, NASCAR’s official data is vital to the development of a gaming platform. Only licensed sportsbooks in regulated territories will have access to the official data, providing greater transparency, accuracy, and cooperation to monitor and safeguard NASCAR events.

Before the start of the 2019 season, NASCAR developed a comprehensive sports integrity program and gambling policy in which the sanctioning body granted all teams and tracks the ability to sell marketing sponsorships to sports-betting companies and licensed sportsbooks.

For more information, visit the NASCAR website.

Brembo S.p.A., the brake disc technology company based in Curno, Italy, has announced that Daniele Schillaci will serve as the company’s new chief executive officer (CEO) and Board member beginning July 1.

The current CEO Andrea Abbati Marescotti will leave the company and his position within the Board of Directors (BoD) of Brembo on June 30 to pursue new professional projects and activities.

Schillaci will report to Executive Vice Chairman Matteo Tiraboschi.

“I wish to welcome Daniele Schillaci, an Italian manager coming back to Italy with pride and passion after spending 20 years abroad and from which we expect a strong contribution to the future development of the Company. A strengthening to be sustained by both organic growth and external lines, identifying new opportunities in expanding markets and in business areas that are synergic with the ones manned by Brembo,” Brembo’s Chairman Alberto Bombassei said.

After graduating in Industrial Technologies Engineering at Milan’s Politecnico in 1993, Schillaci has gained a 25-year experience in the automotive sector covering increasingly complex roles at an international level, including stints with Renault, Alfa Romeo, Toyota, and Nissan.

The BoD of Brembo, led by Chairman Bombassei, expressed the appreciation for the Marescotti’s work for the company, and wished him the very best for his future endeavors, according to a company release.

For more information, visit the Brembo website.

Racing industry suppliers can apply for exhibit space at the 2019 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show now at pri2019.com/exhibit. Taking place Dec. 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, the PRI Trade Show is where the motorsports industry gathers for the three biggest business days in racing.

"Every year tens of thousands of buyers and suppliers converge on the PRI Show in Indianapolis to conduct business and network with fellow industry professionals at the world’s premier motorsports trade event," said PRI Trade Show Director Karin Davidson. "The Show gives exhibitors unprecedented access to attendees who are looking for the hottest products and latest technology serving all types of auto racing."

The PRI Show features exhibiting companies displaying the latest products, services, machinery, simulation and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry in a single location. Last year’s three-day event attracted attendees representing all forms of racing from over 70 countries, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, e-commerce sites, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media.

"The PRI Show is a powerful vehicle for Royal Purple to showcase its high-performance motor oils and lubricants to motorsports professionals," said John Paul Hyden, Sponsorship and Event Manager for Royal Purple Synthetic Oil. "PRI gives us the opportunity to educate customers on our product line, network with buyers and suppliers, and support our large network of distributors. It also provides the ideal platform for the release of new cutting-edge products."

New companies that submit space applications before May 10 will be added on a first-come-first-served basis after the initial plotting of returning exhibitors in June. In addition to the Indiana Convention Center, which hosts over 750,000 gross square feet of exhibit space during the PRI Show, the indoor exhibit area at Lucas Oil Stadium will be expanded onto the stadium’s field to provide additional space for a large-scale display of state-of-the-art race trailers and haulers.

“This year’s PRI Show will feature more than 1,100 exhibitors showcasing the latest developments in racing products, technology, and services,” said Davidson. “Applying for booth space by May 10 gives potential exhibitors the best chance to secure booth space and connect with volume buyers and attendees from all over the world.”

To apply for booth space at the 2019 PRI Show, visit pri2019.com/exhibit or call 949/499-5413.

Attendees will have access to hundreds of rooms at newly added hotels in downtown Indianapolis when Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show registration opens May 14.

Motorsports professionals attending the 2019 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, December 12-14 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, can begin making hotel reservations on May 14, the same day registration opens for the Three Biggest Business Days in Racing.

New this year, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels join more than two dozen others in downtown Indy as official PRI Show host hotels.

"With tens of thousands of attendees and buyers looking to conduct business and network with fellow industry professionals at the world’s premier motorsports trade event, we encourage all PRI attendees to register and secure their hotel rooms on May 14,” said PRI Trade Show Director Karin Davidson. “By registering and booking a hotel as soon as possible, participants will ensure their housing needs are met and that they are a part of what will be another amazing Show.”

In addition to downtown hotels, Show attendees also can secure accommodations near Indianapolis International Airport, including the Plainfield area. Guests in these locations will enjoy complimentary shuttle service to and from the Indiana Convention Center, as well as free guest parking and courtesy airport shuttles.

PRI, in partnership with Visit Indy Housing Bureau, have secured Indianapolis hotel packages that range from affordable to upscale. Extra benefits for guests booking through PRI’s only official housing partner include no deposits and free in-room Wi-Fi.

“Only by booking rooms through Visit Indy Housing are Show attendees guaranteed access to officially contracted room blocks and rates,” said Davidson. “Reservations made through an agency other than Visit Indy will be at your own risk.”

Hotel reservations can made online beginning May 14 at prishow.com or directly with Visit Indy Housing via email at prihousing@visitindy.com or phone at 317/262-8191 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET).

This year’s PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths and showcasing the latest products, services, machinery, simulation and testing technologies, and trailers for the racing industry in a single location. Now in its 32nd year, PRI encompasses all forms of racing and attracts attendees from all 50 states and over 70 countries, including professional race teams, retail shops, warehouse distributors, engine builders, fabricators, dealers, installers, jobbers and media.
 

In addition, the days leading up to and including the PRI Show—known as Race Industry Week—will offer a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center beginning Monday, December 9. Numerous conferences, seminars and special events will offer unlimited business opportunities and provide invaluable insight on the latest racing technologies and how to apply them.  

For more information, visit prishow.com.

Arnie Fox and Steve Durning have partnered to form a new marketing services firm, GAIN Aftermarket, which offers marketing talent on a contract basis without the high cost and commitment of hiring additional permanent staff for manufacturers, remanufacturers, WDs, and retailers.

“From my experience in automotive marketing management, I know that extra talent is often needed for specific purposes, such as new product development and launches, market analyses, e-cataloging, major trade shows, etc.,” Fox said. "Budget and headcount limitations often prevent adding the experienced permanent hires that could optimize these events, but GAIN Aftermarket offers a viable alternative.”

“I have often seen clients needing more than just an ad or a website," Durning said. "Arnie brings expertise to the core areas that really grow a business. That’s why I saw a great opportunity in combining our efforts.”

Fox has held marketing management positions at Fel-Pro Incorporated, Federal-Mogul Corporation, and Dana Incorporated for more than three decades. Durning was the creative director at Meyer/Fredericks and rebranded the agency to Durning Communications in 2009, serving the advertising and public relations needs of automotive businesses, as well as other B2B industries.  

For more information, visit the GAIN Aftermarket website, contact gainaftermarket@gmail.com, or call 847/702-9385.

Watkins Glen International in Schuyler County, New York has announced another capital improvement by constructing a new general admission viewing berm in between Turns 1 and 2, increasing the capacity of the premier road racing facility.

“It is always great when we can make improvements to enhance the overall experience of our races here at The Glen,” Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup said.“Fans are first and this new berm is a way to express our gratitude of having the best fans in motorsports and give them a great view of one of the most exciting parts of our racetrack.”

Looking ahead for the 2019 season, the IMSA Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, NASCAR Go Bowling at The Glen and the SVRA Hilliard U.S. Vintage Grand Prix headline a season schedule full of talented drivers.

Located within five hours (~300 miles) of 25% of the US population, Watkins Glen International is a premier road racing facility in North America and voted three-times as the “Best NASCAR Track” by readers of USA Today. For tickets, camping, and additional information, call 1-866-461-RACE or visit the Watkins Glen International website.

(Photo courtesy of Watkins Glen International).

DIRTcar Racing will kick off the 2020 season with the all-new DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals January 16-18 at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida. The event will feature DIRTcar Pro Late Models, Florida Late Models and 602 Late Models racing for a total purse of nearly $100,000, including a $10,000-to-win finale for Pro Late Models.
 
Points will be assigned to results on the first two nights that will set the field for the Saturday finales, similar to the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series Firecracker 100 weekend.

“Dirt Late Models are an important part of DIRTcar Racing, and we are excited to showcase them in January at Volusia with the Sunshine Nationals a few weeks ahead of the DIRTcar Nationals,” DIRTcar Racing COO Tom Deery said. “With the number of Late Models running the 602 and 604 motors, especially in the Southeast, we felt it was time for them to be the focus of an event like this one. For those further North, where winter is going to be around well into March and April, this gives them a chance to break free from cabin fever, head to Florida for a vacation and go racing.”

Just like the DIRTcar Nationals in February, gates will open each day at 5 p.m., with on-track action beginning at 5:30 p.m.
 
A practice night on Wednesday, January 15, will precede the Sunshine Nationals, giving all competitors a chance to get dialed in before the action counts.
 
For information as the event draws closer, make sure to visit the DIRTcar website and follow DIRTcar Racing on social media.