Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events—South Carolina’s second-largest integrated marketing communication and events agency—has acquired EMC Strategic Communications of Troy, Michigan.

Founded as Event Management Corporation in 1983 by Detroit area attorney and communications consultant John Love, EMC has expertise in motorsports, the automotive industry, sustainable mobility and design. As part of the acquisition, Love has relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, and has joined Jackson as a vice president.

An early consultant to the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS-Detroit), Love helped create the internationally recognized Michelin Media Center and is a co-creator of the prestigious Michelin Challenge Design global design competition and the NAIAS sponsorship program. Love is also a past board member of the Society of Automotive Analysts and the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America.

EMC motorsports clients have included PPG Industries, Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART), BFGoodrich Tires and Michelin.

“John brings tremendous automotive and motorsports knowledge and experience to our staff,” Jackson President and CEO Darrell Jackson said. “His expertise allows us to expand our marketing, event, media and public relations services for our motorsports clients.”

Jackson’s motorsports division has experienced continued growth over the past several years and, starting in 2019, the company will support Michelin in a new sponsorship as the official tire of the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

Jackson will also provide on-site support to IMSA race teams, along with management of consumer activation events, VIP and consumer hospitality events and retail promotion. Jackson’s acquisition of EMC adds media relations to the list of services.

For more information, visit the Jackson Marketing, Motorsports & Events website.

Chevrolet has announced the formation of a driver development program, Drivers Edge Development, which will be operated through Chevy NASCAR teams JR Motorsports and GMS Racing.

News of the program dropped earlier this week but was officially revealed Thursday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Drivers Edge Development will feature a multi-tiered racing pipeline that will also be supplemented by the building of off-track skills. This will include physical, mental and technical training with specific emphasis on brand building, fan relations, partner procurement and retention, and more.

Drivers will participate in one or more series, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series, NASCAR K&N Pro Series, ARCA Racing Series and CARS Late Model Stock Tour.

Six drivers currently make up the first class of the Drivers Edge Development program. These include Xfinity Series drivers John Hunter Nemechek, Noah Gragson and Zane Smith along with Truck Series driver Sheldon Creed and rookies Sam Mayer and Adam Lemke.

For more information, visit the JR Motorsports website or the GMS Racing website.

Canton Racing Products based in North Branford, Connecticut, has announced the addition of Jeff Behuniak as its sales and marketing manager.

Behuniak has been promoted from his position as the company’s marketing coordinator, working on ad campaigns, graphic design, web design, content creation, social media and sponsorships.

In his new position, Behuniak will assist customers with product information among additional sales, marketing and organizational duties.

Similarly, Canton also promoted the fabrication shop foreman, Junior Peterson, to lead the company’s engineering department. Peterson has been with the company for nine years.

For more information, visit the Canton Racing Products website.

NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski has launched a new advanced contract manufacturing company based in Statesville, North Carolina, called Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing (KAM).

Keselowski unveiled his company on Thursday at its state-of-the-art, 70,000-square-foot facility. He also is reportedly investing tens of millions of dollars in equipment and expertise. KAM already has 30 employees and, by the end of the year, the company expects to have up to 100 people working in one of the most advanced hybrid manufacturing facilities in the US.

KAM is partnering with several of the world’s leading companies, including ALSCO, BIG KAISER, GE Additive, Mazak Corp. and Pinnacle X-Ray Solutions. Working with KAM’s team of engineers and technicians, the combined efforts will help KAM lower customer costs and reduce waste, while manufacturing higher quality products.

KAM features 3D printers from GE's Concept Laser, as well as CNC machining capabilities. General Manager Steve Fetch will oversee operations of the business as Keselowski plans to continue to drive full time in 2019.

“Until now, much of this advanced manufacturing technology was considered too complex and too expensive for production level applications. By combining additive manufacturing with subtractive capabilities, the goal of KAM is to lead the way for the next industrial revolution by making these technologies more accessible,” Keselowski said.

With operations quietly beginning in 2018, KAM has already begun working with customers. KAM will work with several different companies across different industries, including automotive and racing, aerospace, military, and oil and gas.

The KAM model is aimed at building custom solutions in metal hybrid manufacturing that offer a set of distinct advantages for its customers: speed, quality, engineering and hybrid manufacturing.

For more information, visit the Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing website.

Robin Pemberton has joined Andretti Autosport to oversee the team’s newest racing initiative in the Pirelli GT4 America Series.

With over 10 years served as NASCAR’s Vice President of Competition, as well as four decades of racing involvement, Pemberton brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team.

Pemberton’s motorsports career started in 1979 with Petty Enterprises, where he worked his way to the role of crew chief for both Richard and Kyle Petty. The New York state-native later went on to the crew chief with teams such as Roush Fenway Racing and Penske Racing.

His record as a crew chief shows 28 victories and 39 pole positions. Before moving to NASCAR in 2004, Pemberton spent nearly two years as Field Manager for Ford Motorsport’s NASCAR programs, leading the development of the Ford Taurus program.

“The new Andretti Autosport GT4 program is an incredible opportunity for the team and McLaren to come together,” said Pemberton. “I’m excited to be involved and we are all working together to get the program off the ground. After spending time with Jarett at sprint car races last season, I’m impressed by his determination. He is a good talent with a bright future. I look forward to working with him and the entire Andretti Autosport team in this new challenge.”

Andretti Autosport will make its GT4 America Series debut March 1-3, at Circuit of The Americas, with Jarett Andretti behind the wheel of the new McLaren 570S GT4.

For more information, visit the Andretti Autosport website.

(Photo courtesy of NASCAR).

Stan Lester, the founder and CEO of both the FASTRAK Racing Series and Ultimate Super Late Model Series, is partnering with Volunteer Speedway Owners Joe and Phyllis Loven to operate “The Gap” in 2019.

The schedule and rules, including the classes that will be racing throughout the season on the high-banked, 4/10-mile dirt track in Bulls Gap, Tennessee, will be released on the track’s website and social media channels shortly.

The 2018 track schedule featured Late Models, Modifieds, Crate Late Models, and more.

For more information, visit the Volunteer Speedway website.

JTG Daugherty Racing unveiled a new sponsorship strategy on Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, as well as its two paint schemes for the Daytona 500 next month.

The No. 47 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series entry, driven this year by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Ryan Preece, will highlight and promote the team’s longtime sponsor Kroger, and its new shopping and delivery options including curbside pickup, and various home delivery options.

The unique approach will feature seven themes that will be showcased on the hood for consecutive weeks at a time:

    •    Flavor Fill Up: the month of March focuses on when sporting events such as the NCAA Basketball tournament encourages a snacking occasion, and when Kroger is highlighting National Frozen Foods Month. Corporate partners include Unilever, Kraft-Heinz, Conagra, General Mills, and Kellogg’s.
    •    Speedup Your Cleanup: the month of April will highlight the spring-cleaning season where shoppers are focused on buying from corporate partners such as such as Clorox, Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
    •    Personal Pit Stop: personal healthcare brands take center stage on the hood in May with corporate partners Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
    •    Thrill of the Grill: June and July highlights everyone’s love for summer grilling with relevant brands from Clorox, Unilever, Kraft-Heinz, General Mills, Bush’s Beans, and Southeastern Mills.
    •    Fast Start: theme will occur during back-to-school timing when families are stocking up on partner product for their change of schedule and the new school year.
    •    Fast Lane to Flavor: focuses on healthy meal solutions for families on the go with brands from General Mills, Bush’s Beans, Clorox and Conagra.
    •    Simmer Like a Winner:  as the weather turns cooler, fans will enjoy shopping for their crock pot recipes with brands from Bush’s Beans, Kraft, ConAgra and General Mills.

Of note, Buescher’s No. 37 Chevrolet will feature Kleenex Wet Wipes branding during the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

To bring the entire program to life and to simplify the communication between NASCAR fans and Kroger.com, the team is also introducing a new mobile technology.

All JTG Daugherty Racing advertising during each month throughout the season will encourage shoppers to text a key word that directs the fans to fun tips, sweepstakes, and Kroger savings for the brands highlighted by the shopper themes.

For more information, visit the JTG Daugherty Racing website.

Courtney Force will step away from Funny Car racing, effective immediately, she announced Wednesday. The 13-time race winner will remain involved in NHRA Drag Racing both through supporting her teammates and off-track partnerships but will no longer drive her Advance Auto Parts Chevy Camaro.

“I will be stepping away from my driving duties, effective immediately,” Force said in a statement. “This was a personal choice as I feel I’m ready to see what the next chapter in my life has in store for me, while spending more time with family. I intend to remain involved in the industry I love and continue to work with a few select partners as I go forward in 2019. I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to have such a successful career at John Force Racing and the privilege of working with so many incredible people while racing against competitors who pushed me to be a better driver.”

Force matched her career-high with four wins in 2018 and finished sixth place in points. The driver wraps up this portion of her career with 12 Nitro Funny Car wins and one Top Alcohol Funny Car win. She earned her first Wally in Top Alcohol Funny Car in 2009 against Chris Demke and her most recent against her father, John, in Richmond.

“I first have to thank my dad for encouraging me to live out my dream of being a Funny Car driver while getting to compete against him and learn from the best,” she said. “I want to thank my family and my husband, Graham, for their support through the highs and lows and to my team for their undeniable will to win and for always keeping me motivated, confident and safe in my race car.”

Force posted a career-best time of 3.815 second and speed of 338.85 mph. She also racked a round-record of 199-154 while going 12-17 in final round appearances.

 “Thank you to all of my sponsors from the start of my career with Traxxas and Ford to now with Advance Auto Parts, Chevrolet, Auto Club, PEAK, Monster, PPG and Mac Tools,” she continued. “I’m grateful for all of your support both on and off the track and the opportunity I had to represent your brands with pride.

“Last but not least, to my fans: thank you for all of your support throughout my career. I’m excited to see where this next chapter will take me, and I hope to see you all at the track soon.”

For more information, visit the John Force Racing website.

(Photo courtesy of John Force Racing).

Kyle Busch, the 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion, will merge his chassis-building business Rowdy Manufacturing with Hamke Race Cars, a race car and parts shop.

The news was announced by Busch earlier this week on “The Morning Bullring,” Speed51’s morning short track talk show with hosts Bob Dillner and Casey LaJoie. Hamke Race Cars was recently purchased by Justin Oertel in 2018.

“Hamke Race Cars was bought out about three or four months ago,” Busch said on the show.  “Justin came over to me at Rowdy Manufacturing and we’ve talked about the opportunity of joining forces. 

“It’s coming together; it’s all but signed. Everything’s going to be worked out where it’s a relationship between Hamke Race Cars and Rowdy Manufacturing, which is the chassis building business at Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM). Rowdy Manufacturing and Hamke Race Car Parts are going to be joining forces and going to be one.”

Both businesses are based in Mooresville, North Carolina.

Busch disclosed that he would be the president of the “new” Rowdy Manufacturing, while Oertel will serve as the company’s chief operating officer.

“In order to keep the Truck Series side of the business consistent not only for KBM, but for the customers that we already have purchasing our truck chassis, the operation of making truck chassis will remain in our building with Rudy [Fugle] being a huge part of watching over that,” Busch clarified. “The needs for Super Late Models, ARCA, K&N, Xfinity, Cup, all of that will be at the new location once we get that up and going.”

For more information on the businesses, visit the Rowdy Manufacturing website and the Hamke Race Cars website.

Great Lakes Dragaway, nicknamed “The Biggest Little Track in the World,” has entered into a multi-year sanctioning agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

The Paris, Wisconsin track is the oldest purpose-built drag strip in America. Track co-founder Marge Bennett first called it the “Dragaway” as a place her friends could drag away.

First opening in 1955, it has hosted the biggest names in the sport such as 17-time world champion “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and Tom “The Mongoose” McEwen. Legendary promoter “Broadway Bob” Metzler, the first promoter ever inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, brought in concerts, parades, the circus and even motorcycle daredevil “Evel” Knievel.

Current track owners Randy Henning and Marcel Kuper have made improvements to the facility highlighted by a quarter-mile drag strip.

The track has a number of special events throughout the season including the Night of Fire, Larry’s Fun Fest, as well as No Prep and Nostalgia events. It also boasts a strong IHRA Summit SuperSeries program.

The track, which is physically in Paris, has a Union Grove post office address.

“You run into people around the country and say, ‘Great Lakes Dragaway,’ and they say, ‘Union Grove, Wisconsin,’” Henning said. “It’s really in Paris, but our race track is strong and where it has been here so long, it’s truly a part of the community where everyone takes pride in it.”

For more information, visit the IHRA website or the Great Lakes Dragaway website.

(Image courtesy of Great Lakes Dragaway, Facebook).