Permatex, the manufacturer, distributor and marketer of chemical technology for automotive maintenance and repair, has recently moved its business operations from Hartford, Connecticut to its Solon, Ohio manufacturing and distribution facility.

The facility currently consists of a 180,000 square foot distribution center and a 170,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and business operation center. The campus, which sits on 40 acres, also has room for Permatex to double the size of its headquarters to 700,000 sq. ft. to accommodate new growth.

“Having all of our personnel, from business operations, to R&D, to manufacturing, in the same location gives us the ability to make decisions quickly and bring more products to market,” Permatex Vice President & General Manager Lee Burtelson said.

The facility employs 19 high tech robots designed for the elimination of repetitive motion and to lighten the amount of heavy lifting done by Permatex employees.

Permatex, which is a division of Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Inc., markets a wide range of products under brand names such as Permatex, Fast Orange, Spray Nine, The Right Stuff, Threadlocker Gel Twist, and Grez-Off. Permatex currently operates in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the U.K. and exports products to more than 85 countries around the world.

The new Permatex headquarters is located at ITW Permatex Inc., 6875 Parkland Blvd., Solon, OH, 44139.

For more information, visit the Permatex website.

NASCAR’s annual all-star spectacular will again provide the platform for the world’s greatest stock car drivers to compete for $1 million, while race teams will get a real-world experience with technical components that could be implemented in the next generation car.

The next step in the all-star evolution was unveiled by NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS).

"Last year’s all-star rules package resulted in one of the most exciting all-star races in history. With a similar package, and added elements that we could see in the next generation race car, we expect another must-watch event,” NASCAR Executive VP and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell said.

The 35th running of the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race will again have four stages, with a five lap increase in the final stage compared to last year’s race. The stages will last 30 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps and 15 laps.

Both green flag and yellow flag laps will count in Stages 1-3; with only green flag laps counting in the Final Stage. NASCAR Overtime rules will be in effect for Stages 1-3. In the final stage, if the race is restarted with two or fewer laps remaining, there will be unlimited attempts at a green, white, checkered finish under green flag conditions.

For the 2019 edition, the race cars will feature two keys technical elements that NASCAR may incorporate into the Gen-7 car slated to debut in 2021.

The first is single-piece carbon fiber splitter/pan that should offer dramatic improvements in ride height sensitivity for the drivers. This technical component will provide a more stable aero platform and create more consistent performance in traffic.

The car will also be configured with a radiator duct which exits through the hood as opposed to the current design which exits into the engine compartment. This feature will create improved aerodynamic parity and, at the same time, reduce engine temperatures.

The Monster Energy Open will occur Saturday evening prior to the Monster Energy All-Star Race and will include three segments (20 laps / 20 Laps / 10 laps). The winner of each segment will earn a spot in the All-Star Race.

Those eligible for the Monster Energy All-Star Race include: drivers who won a points event in either 2018 or 2019; drivers who won a Monster Energy All-Star Race and compete full-time; and drivers who won a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship and currently compete full time. Those who have not already earned a spot via the above criteria can still lock-in by winning a stage in the Monster Energy Open or by winning the Fan Vote. Polls for the fan vote are open now on NASCAR.com.

For more information, visit the NASCAR website.

Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Lenawee County will construct a new scoreboard in the middle of the infield to add another dimension to the race experience.

The new 150-foot high scoreboard will include screens on all four sides, with gigantic video screens at the bottom capable of showing racing action replays or showcase the events at MIS. The 12-foot high by 19-foot wide screens will be at the base of the leaderboard, approximately 44 feet above the ground.

“We continue to make enhancements to the facility to improve the experience for the fans on race weekends,” MIS President Rick Brenner said. “We are excited to install a new scoreboard that will allow us to show videos and highlight the leaders at the same time.”

The new digital leaderboard stretches 72 feet above the video screens, will totally encase all four sides and will feature the top 15 driver positions.

At the bottom of the leaderboard, the final two positions will scroll through everybody in the race. The top of the leaderboard will feature a four-foot section that will be able to show the lap number of the race or the top speed in practice and qualifying.

NASCAR returns to MIS for the FireKeepers Casino 400 on June 9, and the Consumers Energy 400 on August 11.

For more information, visit the MIS website.

American Rally Association (ARA) officials have announced the addition of Rally Colorado to the 2019 ARA West Region Championship schedule. Based in the northwestern Colorado town of Rangely, Rally Colorado will run as an ARA Super Regional event from July 26–27.

Entering its third year, Rally Colorado will feature 121 miles of twisting dirt stage road divided into 12 stages. That averages to just over 10 miles per stage, emphasizing the rally’s endurance challenge. Further enhancing the difficulty will be the event’s altitude; Rangely sits 5,300 feet above sea level. In naturally aspirated vehicles, that elevation will result in a 15-20 percent power loss.

“As an organizer, it has been a privilege to be part of reestablishing Rally Colorado and seeing all the local support making it a success,” Rally Colorado Co-Volunteer Coordinator Tracey Gardiner said, referring to the original event that ran from 2001–2009.

The evening of Thursday, July 25, will serve as the opening festivities for the Rally Colorado, which will see local fire and police vehicles lead competitors to the rally’s ceremonial start. Competition begins the following day on Friday, July 26, and will feature two challenging stage loops near the Utah border. For Saturday, July 27, the rally will head south of Rangely into the mountains.

More information on Rally Colorado, including how to enter, spectate, or volunteer, can be found on the rally’s Facebook and Instagram channels.

For more information on the series, including an updated 2019 calendar, visit the American Rally Association (ARA) website.

McLaren is stepping up its sports car program by inking a deal to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship later this year.

After competing in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Grand Sport class the past two seasons with its GT4 model, McLaren has confirmed plans to bring the McLaren 720S GT3 into the WeatherTech Sprint Cup series’ GTD class.

The expansion into Sprint Cup means that the starting grid will now include 14 different manufacturers—the most for a WeatherTech Championship race since there also were 14 in the 2017 Rolex 24 At Daytona. McLaren was also one of IMSA’s official automotive partners through its Pilot Challenge Program.

McLaren will debut its Compass Racing 720S GT3 race car driven by co-drivers Paul Holton and Matt Plumb during the Acura Sports Car Challenge at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course set for May 5.

McLaren will field the car in the GTD class, the largest class in the Sprint Cup with a total of nine manufacturers. The seven-race series for GT Daytona (GTD) begins in Mid-Ohio.

For more information, visit the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship website.

NASCAR Whelen Euro Series officials have announced a series of contract extensions for the touring series.

The Series has extended its agreement with title sponsor Whelen Engineering through 2024. The Series has also announced a five-year contract extension with Circuit Ricardo Tormo, which will bring the European NASCAR Series to Valencia, Spain until at least 2024.

“Circuit Ricardo Tormo is an amazing facility which provides a wonderful experience to race fans and a fantastic playground to our competitors,” NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President CEO Jerome Galpin said. “The organization crew is extremely professional and it’s a true pleasure to work with them. Year after year the NASCAR GP Spain never stops to get bigger and better and we will all work to continue this way.”

The Valencia NASCAR Fest at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo has been the opening round of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series since 2014 and the event has steadily gained popularity among Spanish fans.

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series’ partnerships with General Tire, Brands Hatch, Zolder and Hockenheim have also been been prolonged. The extended agreements help to give the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series long-term stability.

For more information, visit the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series webpage.

Sonoma Raceway will unveil a new fan viewing area during this year’s Toyota/Save Mart 350.

The raceway announced late last year that NASCAR would return to the original, 12-turn road course, including the famed Carousel, for this year's Toyota/Save Mart 350 (June 21-23) as part of the facility's year-long 50th-anniversary celebration.

The raceway has rebranded the peninsula between Turns 1 and 6 as "The Point” to allow fans to enjoy the intensity of the challenging turn.

The Point will be upgraded with a 1,550-square-foot Humboldt Redwood shade structure, more than 700 feet of stand-up bars along the fence line and new food and beverage locations. Access to the area is free to all fans, and terrace seating is available on the hillside adjacent to Turn 1.

"With all the twists and turns of the Sonoma Raceway road course, every fan has their own opinion of the best place to watch the races," said Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway president and general manager. "The Point adds one more terrific viewing option; not to mention a fun place to hang out."

The Carousel, which plunges from Turn 4 down through Turns 5 and 6 before dropping onto the raceway's longest straightaway into the Turn 7 hairpin, has been the site of many memorable moments in the raceway's history, including Dale Earnhardt's critical pass of Mark Martin in 1995 en route to his first-ever NASCAR road-course victory.

For more information, visit the Sonoma Raceway website.

After sitting dormant for nearly a decade, officials from the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) and Lanier Raceplex announced that asphalt stock car racing will return to North Georgia later this year.

The PASS Super Late Models will headline the PASS National Championship season finale on November 15-16, at the track formerly known as Lanier National Speedway near Atlanta, Georgia.

Details regarding the race, along with support divisions, will be announced in the coming days.

A practice day for all divisions competing is scheduled for Friday, November 15. Additional practice, qualifying, and all features will take place on Saturday. Sunday, November 17, will be reserved as a rain date if needed.

“This is something we have been working on for a very long time,” said PASS President Tom Mayberry. “We plan to announce more details soon but wanted to let drivers and fans know as soon as possible that stock car racing will be returning to Lanier in 2019 so they can make their plans to join us.”

In addition to the grandstands being open, Lanier’s famed trackside parking will be available to the fans for this event.

The track was repaved and all infield buildings were torn down at Lanier Raceplex as the facility was transformed to host drifting events and Go-Kart racing for the public. All race cars will be pitted outside the track so fans will be able to enjoy an unobstructed view of the action from any vantage point at the speedway

When PASS began sanctioning super late model races in the south, Lanier was one of the first tracks to come on board to host an event.

For more information, visit the PASS website or the Lanier Raceplex website.

(Photo courtesy of PASS).

Keystone Automotive Operations, the distributor and marketer of specialty automotive equipment accessories in North America, has added Lubrication Specialties Inc. (LSI) to its performance product line card.

LSI, which was founded by Chris Gabrelick in 1997, provides additives, lubricants and oils for diesel and gas engines. The company specializes in hard-to-handle lubrication areas, specifically targeting power and performance inefficiencies with custom blends and rigorously tested additives, according to LSI.

Gabrelcik, the founder of LSI, is one of few people in the world who holds both titles of certified lubrication specialist (CLS) and oil management analyst (OMA), according to the company.

The company’s flagship automotive brand, Hot Shot’s Secret high-performance fuel and oil additives, will now be available through Keystone Automotive.

“I’m excited to say that we have added Hot Shot’s Secret to our diesel portfolio at Keystone Automotive,” Keystone Category Manager Dave Burke said. “No matter what type of diesel enthusiast you are—drag racing, sled pulling, or just an everyday driver—Hot Shot’s Secret has something for you, with a product lineup that is built to perform.”

For more information, visit the Keystone Automotive website or the LSI website.

NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc., based in Wixom, Michigan, announced the addition of Brian Lesiewicz as its new general manager of traditional sales along with the realignment of Beth Skove to general manager of marketing.

Lesiewicz joins NGK Spark Plugs from Brembo North America, where he held the position of aftermarket business unit manager and was responsible for the US, Canada and Mexico regions. There, he focused on improving the end user experience by making the products easier to purchase, expanding the product range, implementing catalog improvements and introducing marketing campaigns.          

Before this,  Lesiewicz held positions with Exide Batteries and Automotive Distributors Warehouse (ADW) in Ohio. He holds an Automotive Aftermarket Management degree from Northwood University and also serves as the current Vice Chair of AASA’s Modern Industry eXpertise (MiX) council.

Skove joined NGK Spark Plugs in 2018 as the general manager of sales, where she was responsible for leading and restructuring the company’s traditional sales organization.

Before joining NGK, Skove held the position of director of marketing for Valeo, where she managed all marketing related efforts designed to grow recognition of the brand in the aftermarket. Before this, Skove held positions with ITW Evercoat and automotive hand tool manufacturer Ken-Tool.

Skove is an active member of industry associations, including Women in Auto Care, the Automotive Sales Council, and the ACA Research Committee. She graduated from Hiram College with a Bachelors in English and completed graduate courses in marketing and English at Kent State University.

For more information, visit the NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) website.