IMCA has released its general rules and procedures for the 2019 race season.

Two noteworthy changes stand out, as officials noted they “should be pointed out to drivers who play fast and loose with the rules.”

The use of data acquisition at any sanctioned event, including practice nights and during hot laps, will result in an automatic disqualification (DQ) and $10,000 fine. Meantime, the use of counterfeited IMCA branded products also re­sults in a DQ and $1,000 fine.

Both infractions carry 30-day suspensions and the loss of all points for the season.

“Data acquisition results in an extreme advantage for any driver or drivers using it,” IMCA President Brett Root said. “It is very sophisticated and while costs have come down, still very expen­sive. It is not the direction we want any of our divisions to go.”

Several of its premier events, like the Super Nationals, Duel in the Desert and Race For Hope, have practice nights where the opportunity to use data acquisition is allowed, Root added. The hefty $10,000 fine is the same as IMCA’s fine for the use of electronic traction control “because we believe it is an equally serious offense.”

Changes in the point structure were limited to the Late Model division. National and state stand­ings will be based on the best 15 finishes in the first 30 starts, and no bonus points will be awarded to track champions.

Also, points earned at Deery Brothers Summer Series events will not count to­ward national, state or track standings and no IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Car points will be awarded August 29-September 2. Additionally, no Modified, Stock Car, Hobby Stock or Northern SportMod points will be given September 2-8, or Sport Compact points on September 3.

For more information, visit the IMCA website here.

NASCAR on Friday confirmed sizable, “company-wide” layoffs at the Daytona Beach, Florida-based sanctioning body. The news comes just a month before the season-opening Daytona Speedweeks and Daytona 500.
 
According to published reports, the number of employees affected is believed to be upwards of 50 or more. NASCAR released the following statement late Friday:
 
“As all good businesses do, NASCAR is committed to strengthening its operation to ensure that resources are aligned to strategies that grow the sport and drive our business. We have a talented team at NASCAR and we’re confident that greater focus on the opportunities to drive fan interest and strong industry partnerships will help our sport achieve long-term growth.”

“A little less than five percent of our total workforce was laid off today across our entire company,” a NASCAR official confirmed, on condition of anonymity, to The Daytona Beach News-Journal. “We’re looking to take our remaining resources and focusing them on initiatives we already have in place that require dollars and that will help us grow.”

Although NASCAR is a private company, Team Volusia Economic Development Corporation estimated NASCAR employed around 280 locals in 2017. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunities requires companies planning layoffs of 50 full-time employees or more at a single location to provide a 60 days advance written notice. As of Monday, the website did not include any notifications from NASCAR.

The layoffs come at a time when the sanctioning body is looking to acquire the International Speedway Corporation (ISC) and take the public company private.

The anonymous NASCAR official that spoke with The News-Journal noted the layoffs were not related to its bid to acquire and merge with ISC.
 
A NASCAR spokesperson declined to confirm specific individuals who were no longer employed there. For more information on NASCAR, visit the official website here.

SCCA Ventures Inc. has named Sydney Davis Yagel as general manager of SCCA Pro Racing. Not only is Yagel the first female to lead SCCA Pro Racing, but she is also the youngest General Manager in SCCA Pro history.

Yagel joined SCCA Pro Racing last spring as the senior manager of race operations.

"We are pleased that Sydney has accepted the position of General Manager for SCCA Pro Racing Division located in Indianapolis," SCCA Ventures President Dan Helman said. "Sydney’s varied background and passion will be a big asset in leading our SCCA Pro Racing Team."

Before, Yagel spent the last 10 years managing MSR Houston events and schools. During this time, she also held positions as the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) Motorsports Operations Marshal Coordinator and as the Houston and Louisiana Grand Prix Race Chair.

“I am very much looking forward to stepping into this new position with SCCA Pro Racing,” said Yagel. “The 2019 season is shaping up to a fantastic one for all of our series and sanctioning partners. Our staff, the SCCA Ventures board, our partners and I all have goals to achieve this year, and I can’t wait to start marking them off our lists.”

Yagel, a 27-year member of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), embraced her role by extending her expertise to serve as the Houston region race chair for 10 years. She then moved on to serve as its regional executive. Additionally, Yagel was awarded Worker of the Year in 2014 for her efforts in race administration and the SCCA Member of Excellence in 2016.

For more information, visit the SCCA website here.

The Custom Automotive Network (CAN) has announced the election results for its 2019 Board of Directors.

“This is an exciting time for CAN. I am pleased to welcome the new board members and look forward to furthering CAN’s long-standing mission to expand and promote profitable distribution amongst all its members,” Andy McJannett, of Performance Improvements and CAN’s Chairman of the Board, said.
 
Royal Coburn, owner and general manager at TruckTech Distributing, will continue to serve on the CAN Board as the newly elected treasurer for the 2019-2020 term. This year’s election was held to fill the newly added four manufacturer and two partner director seats.

Having served as Board Liaisons for the last two years, Cary Redman of Edelbrock, Mike Stickney of Westin Automotive, and Rich Butler of R&R Marketing Consultants, will serve as directors for one-year terms in 2019.

New Board members elected to serve a two-year term include Adrian Murray, President of Painless Performance Products, Denise Waddingham, Regional Sales and Corporate Relations Manager of Dee Zee, Inc., and Chris Fellows, Director of Internet Solutions at DCi.
 
In November of 2018, a significant change in the Board of Directors composition was approved by CAN’s membership and allows non-distributor members to be represented for the first time in the association’s 49 year history.

“The timing of this was right and ensures all CAN members the opportunity to collaborate together on demanding industry challenges,” Tracie Nunez, CAN’s President said this of the change to the Board’s composition.

The Board of Directors consists of twelve elected directors represented by six distributors, four manufacturers and two partners.

CAN was founded in 1970 as Performance Warehouse Association (PWA). The trade association’s mission is to assist the custom automotive industry in efforts to expand, maintain and promote the profitable distribution of custom automotive products through the manufacturer, distributor, retailer and consumer channel. For more information, visit the CAN website here. 

Five Star, based in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, has added Matt Panure as the marketing coordinator for its group of companies, including Five Star Race Car Bodies, Five Star Fabricating and Five Star Coatings.

Panure brings years of experience in short track racing marketing, as well as other key roles. Most recently, Panure served as the editor of Circle Track Magazine from 2015-18. In that time, the publication covered the introduction of Five Star’s Gen 6 late model body.

In addition, Panure acts as co-owner and Marketing/Public Relations Director of the TUNDRA Super Late Model Series. Panure and his partners, Tom and Sharon Lichtfeld, have overseen the formation and growth of the series since its inception in 2011.

Before the formation of TUNDRA, Panure served as the Marketing and PR Director for Dells Raceway Park, as well as the Mid-American Stock Car Series.

“It’s no secret that Five Star is the industry standard when it comes to producing bodies for all forms of racing,” Panure said. “Race bodies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all of the products and services Five Star provides. I look forward to working with the team here to cultivate the growth of the company as a whole.”

For more information on the company, visit the website for Five Star Race Car Bodies, Five Star Fabricating and Five Star Coatings.

Tenneco Inc. announced that it has completed its acquisition of Öhlins Racing A.B., a Swedish technology company that develops premium suspension systems and components for the automotive and motorsport industries.

“Öhlins is an integral part of what will become our new Aftermarket and Ride Performance company. Its premium technology and brand reputation will strengthen our OE and aftermarket portfolios while enhancing our position in the global advanced suspension systems space. This transaction is yet another example of our strategy to leverage key technologies that will better position Tenneco to take advantage of secular trends in intelligent suspension, autonomous driving and mobility,” Tenneco co-CEO Brian Kesseler said.

The agreement to acquire Öhlins was signed and announced mid-November 2018. The closing announcement precedes the planned separation of Tenneco into two independent, publicly traded companies through a tax-free spinoff to shareholders that will establish an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company and a Powertrain Technology company.

The spin-off, which is expected to be complete in the second half of 2019, is part of Tenneco’s transformation that follows its acquisition of Federal-Mogul in October 2018.

For more information, visit the Tenneco website here.

McLaren Racing has appointed Andreas Seidl as managing director of its Formula 1 team. Seidl will report to McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown and will be responsible for all aspects of the team’s F1 racing program.

“Andreas is a highly capable leader with a track record of success in everything he has been involved with, and I look forward to working with him,” Brown said.

The move is the latest step in the team’s F1 performance recovery plan and restructure, and part of McLaren Racing’s long-term strategy to return to F1 success, according to the company.

Seidl will join the team during 2019 and comes to McLaren from his position as Porsche LMP1 team principal. This will mark a return to Formula 1 for Seidl, who worked at BMW Motorsport from 2000 and 2006, then at BMW Sauber as head of track operations until 2009. He graduated from the Technical University in Munich with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering.

“This is an enormous privilege and challenge, which I am ready for and committed to. To have an opportunity to contribute to the McLaren legacy is extremely special and inspiring,” Seidl said.

For more information, visit the McLaren F1 team website here.

The World of Outlaws announced that Morton Buildings, a premium steel building construction company, is building on its involvement in dirt track racing by becoming the title sponsor of the Late Model series, now the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series.

"Morton Buildings has been an amazing partner over the past four seasons, and we are honored to have them expand their commitment to our series and sport,” said World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter. “Their level of enthusiasm and constant support has been second to none, and we’re excited to have them by our side as we begin this next chapter for the World of Outlaws.”

For more than 110 years, Morton Buildings has provided quality custom garages, horse barns, farm storage facilities, workshops, hobby buildings, homes, commercial and municipal facilities to customers across the United States. Today, Morton is one of the leaders in the post-frame construction industry and continues to innovate and improve building components and techniques.  

Through its relationship with the World of Outlaws, the 100-percent employee-based company hopes to bolster recruiting efforts.

“All of our crews are full-time constructing our buildings,” Morton Buildings Director of Marketing Brian Haraf said. “They are seasoned professionals who walk the walk and build the best. They get paid well, and they earn it. This isn’t just a job; it’s a career, and we hope to find new team members looking for the same at dirt tracks across the country.”

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series enters 2019 with a robust schedule of 51 races at 38 different venues, including the season opener at Screven Motor Speedway in Sylvania, Georgia, before heading off to the legendary DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park.

For more information, visit the Morton Buildings website and the World of Outlaws Late Model series website.

(Image courtesy of World of Outlaws).

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has opened the New Year with reorganization and staff additions within the marketing department at the SCCA National Office in Topeka, Kansas.

Heyward Wagner has been promoted to Senior Director of marketing and experiential programs. Jon Krolewicz has shifted to Time Trials program manager, and Andie Albin to creative manager. Blair Deffenbaugh joins the National Staff as marketing project manager, and Courtney Rivers has been added as staffing coordinator for the Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack program.

In his new role, Wagner will continue to oversee programs such as SCCA Starting Line and Track Night in America that convert motorsport enthusiasts into active SCCA participants. Additionally, he will focus on new, innovative programs such as the Tire Rack Time Trials National Tour and Tire Rack Time Trials Nationals, as well as seek ways to grow awareness and exposure of Club activities through traditional and social media.

Krolewicz, as Time Trials Program Manager, will be hands-on with program development and provide support to SCCA Regions seeking ways to implement Time Trials in their areas. Krolewicz previously helped grow Track Night in America and has an extensive background in both road racing and Time Attack.

Albin, formerly Digital Marketing and Communications Coordinator, will now work to bring consistency and cohesiveness to visual elements within the SCCA brand in her new role as Creative Manager.

Deffenbaugh will manage a wide variety of marketing projects that help further tell SCCA's "story." A second generation SCCA member possessing a road racing competition license, Deffenbaugh has gained experience over the past few years working with brands like Mobil 1 and Chevrolet Performance.

Rivers, who worked as an instructor with the Porsche Club of America, the Audi Driving Experience at Circuit of The Americas and the Longhorn Racing Academy, will help with staffing logistics for Track Night in America and has been tasked with seeking ways to streamline processes from online registration all the way to onsite check-in.

For more information on the motorsports organization, visit the SCCA website here.

The Coker Group (Coker Tire, Wheel Vintiques, Universal Vintage Tire, Phoenix Race Tires, Specialty Wheel and Roadster Wire Wheel brands) has announced the purchase of PS Engineering and Vintage Wheel Works.

“We’re very excited to announce Coker Group’s purchase of PS Engineering and Vintage Wheel Works,” Coker President and CEO Wade Kawasaki said to Aftermarket News. “Both brands are a natural fit for the Coker Group portfolio, and they represent a continued focus on the restoration market while allowing us to give our customers a broader spectrum of choices. As our first aluminum wheel brands, we can now offer customers everything from a period-correct 15-inch five-spoke ‘mag’ style wheel to a 17-inch pro-touring wheel that still has a period correct feel, all backed by the quality, customer service and fulfillment they have come to expect from Coker.”

Vintage Wheel Works' lineup of high-quality cast aluminum wheels is available in a variety of iconic muscle and race styles popularized in the 1960s and ‘70s. With several sizes and fitment options designed to accommodate modern performance brakes and tires, Vintage’s line of wheels are available for restorations, period-correct builds, resto-mod cars, and pro-touring cars and more.

PS Engineering offers a complete lineup of two-piece cast aluminum wheels for the vintage racing and motorsports market, as well as muscle cars and restorations. The brand, which is made in the US, has been one of the top wheels of choice in the historic racing and Cobra communities for decades.

Both brands will be available through the Coker Tire catalog and website. For more information, visit the Coker Tire website here.