In recognition of outstanding leadership and performance across its premier motorsports facilities, Speedway Motorsports, Inc. (SMI) officials named Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by President and General Manager Chris Powell, as Speedway of the Year.

“From leading the way as innovators in motorsports to hosting millions of fans for races, concerts, festivals and driving schools, it’s been a banner year for Speedway Motorsports, and I’m honored to recognize those who helped lead the charge,” SMI President and CEO Marcus Smith said. “Chris Powell and the entire staff at Las Vegas embraced a tremendous year of new opportunities with a new four-wide NHRA race and the kickoff of NASCAR’s Monster Energy Cup Series playoffs to capture the Speedway of the Year award for the fifth time.”  

For the second consecutive year and fifth time overall, Las Vegas Motor Speedway was chosen as Speedway of the Year from among the eight Speedway Motorsports facilities. The award is presented for the best overall speedway performance during the year in such aspects as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity.

The staff at Las Vegas Motor Speedway were reported to have worked tirelessly to attract and host new events to the famed entertainment complex by converting The Strip to four lanes to host the first NHRA four-wide drag race on the West Coast and adding a second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend to its season schedule. In addition, the speedway undertook an ambitious renovation plan, adding three exclusive clubhouse areas, the new Turn One Social Pavilion, two separate loge-box seat offerings, and a racing-inspired, interactive sports lounge.

The award was announced Wednesday during NASCAR’s Champion’s Week festivities in Las Vegas, which also honored Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter and the team from Charlotte Motor Speedway as Promoter of the Year.

For more information, visit speedwaymotorsports.com.

The PRI Trade Show mobile app, available now at no cost at pri2018.com/mobile, offers attendees the best, most comprehensive tool to help prepare for the annual trade show taking place Dec. 6-8, 2018, in Indianapolis, IN. With a list of all exhibitors, seminars, VIP appearances, Show specials and even a visitor’s guide to Indy, the app gives Showgoers everything they need to plan and get the most out of the upcoming event. 
  


Nowhere else can PRI attendees create a personalized Show plan, on the go, while also accessing details for dining and entertainment options in downtown Indianapolis. New this year is a listing of exclusive specials that exhibitors are offering only during the three-day PRI Trade Show. Show specials have been proven to help exhibitors generate increased traffic and sales at trade shows, and can be added by exhibitors through their online dashboard. 
  


“The PRI mobile app provides easy access to all the features of the PRI Show Planner from the Show floor all in the palm of your hand,” said Bill Miller, PRI General Manager. “While walking the Show floor and throughout the three days of the Show, it’s important to have a planning tool that can go with you wherever you are. The mobile app is the one tool that all attendees should download and start using now.” 
  


Features of the 2018 PRI Show mobile app include:
    •    Ability to search all exhibitors by name or product category
    •    Ability to search all events by name, date, speakers and tracks
    •    List of exhibitor seminars, searchable by exhibitor, seminar title, date/time and location
    •    Interactive Show floor plan
    •    Show Planner to create and organize your agenda
    •    Guide to Indy, complete with information on transportation, parking, dining options and more
    •    Feeds of the official PRI Show social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn


This year’s PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths, showcasing the latest developments in auto racing technology. Tens of thousands of buyers from all 50 states and 70 countries will be on hand to conduct business and discover innovative solutions. 
  
In addition, the days leading up to and including the PRI Show, which have come to be known as Race Industry Week, will offer a range of motorsports-related activities in and around the Indiana Convention Center beginning on Monday, December 3. Numerous conferences, seminars and other special events will offer unlimited business opportunities and provide invaluable insight on the latest technologies and how to apply them throughout the racing world. 
  


To register for the 2018 PRI Trade Show, log on to pri2018.com.

Hellwig Suspension Products, one of the industry leading manufacturers of towing, hauling and performance suspension products, has announced two new additions to the Hellwig team. Brett Kinsfather has taken on the role of director of sales & marketing, while Karen Grassel has joined as the company’s new customer service manager.

In the newly appointed roles, Kinsfather will direct the marketing department as well as lead the growing sales team with his extensive aftermarket experience and knowledge of the industry. Grassel will look to support the Hellwig customer service department and will further streamline customer satisfaction through her extensive experience in the service industry.

“We are thrilled to continue growing our team,” Hellwig President Melanie White said. “The addition of Brett and Karen will help us as we move into 2019 and expand our business ventures in all areas. Brett’s proven track record in business-to-business sales is going to help us elevate our business to the next level.”

Kinsfather comes to Hellwig with a strong marketing and sales background, having worked extensively with both manufacturers and distribution. Beginning his professional career in the CART series, he eventually went on to work for K&N Engineering as its sales and marketing program manager. Kinsfather later served as vice president of sales and marketing at Motovicity Distribution where he launched several high yielding sales and marketing initiatives.

After accruing over 15 years of experience, Grassel developed her skills in sales, management, and business development in the food service industries with George’s Greek Café and Harris Ranch Inn & Restaurants. Grassel earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Long Beach State. Grassel has sharpened her client and customer relationship skills through continuous direct sales communication and maintained repeat business from satisfied customers in her previous positions.

For more information about Hellwig Suspension Products visit HellwigProducts.com.

ExxonMobil’s Mobil 1 brand, the Official Motor Oil of NASCAR and an official partner of NASCAR for more than 15 years, was honored today with the 2018 NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award during the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Luncheon held at the Wynn Las Vegas.

This year, the global brand continued its promotion of Mobil 1 Annual Protection motor oil, utilizing NASCAR as a catalyst to the national campaign. The Mobil 1 brand renewed its popular series of advertising creative featuring Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick by breaking two new television spots in 2018. 

The company also hosted the Mobil 1 Annual Protection 20K Road Trip, which began in Philadelphia and ended at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to test the Mobil 1 Annual Protection motor oil, formulated to protect engines for 20,000 miles.

ExxonMobil also activated its Mobil 1-brand team sponsorship with all four Stewart-Haas Racing drivers. Its synthetic motor oil is also used by more than 50 percent of the teams competing across the three-national series.

Additionally, the Mobil 1 brand became one of the cornerstone partners in the NASCAR Ultimate Performers program, bestowing the “Mobil 1 Performance Award” to the Monster Energy team that gains the most position during the race via green flag passes and on Pit Road. The program resulted in more than 3 million social impressions via NASCAR and winning team social accounts.

This is the first time the Mobil 1 brand has been awarded NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award. Other previous winners include Comcast, Coca-Cola, Fox and NBC, Mars, Incorporated, and Toyota.

In related news, NASCAR presented several season-ending awards on Wednesday afternoon at the Encore Theater in Las Vegas, during the annual NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards.

Some honors were handed out during the Champion’s Week mainstay, highlighted by the Champion Crew Chief Award, which was bestowed to Todd Gordon, crew chief for the championship-winning No. 22 Ford with driver Joey Logano.

The complete list of award winners from the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon include:
 
    •    NMPA Myers Brothers Award: Jim France
    •    Buddy Shuman Award: Grant Lynch
    •    NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award: Mobil 1
    •    American Ethanol Green Flag Restart Award: Kevin Harvick
    •    Busch Pole Award: Kurt Busch
    •    Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Award: Joey Logano
    •    MAHLE Clevite Engine Builder of the Year Award: Doug Yates
    •    Mechanix Wear Most Valuable Pit Crew Award: Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 team
    •    Mobil 1 Driver of the Year Award: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    •    MOOG Go the Extra Mile Crew Chief of the Year Award: Adam Stevens, crew chief No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team
    •    Sunoco Diamond Performance Award: Joey Logano
    •    Champion Sponsor Award: Shell-Pennzoil
    •    Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award: William Byron
    •    Champion Crew Chief Award: Todd Gordon

For more information, visit nascar.com.

Brandon Hutchison has been promoted to the role of executive vice president and general manager of Atlanta Motor Speedway, Track President Ed Clark announced today.

With the promotion, Hutchison will oversee the day-to-day operations of Atlanta Motor Speedway and all track events. While Hutchison will manage the daily activities of the track, Clark will remain as the facility's President.

"Brandon has been involved in all aspects of the Speedway's operation over the past 24 years providing him valuable experience that has prepared him for this next step in his career," Clark said. "I am extremely proud of his growth at Atlanta Motor Speedway and he has proven himself as the absolute right person to take on the added responsibility of running the Speedway."

Clark will assist in the transition while continuing to work on long-range opportunities for Atlanta Motor Speedway and Speedway Motorsports Inc.

"With more than 42 years of experience in NASCAR and 26 years in Atlanta, Ed will play an important role in the strategic positioning of Atlanta Motor Speedway," Speedway Motorsports Inc. CEO Marcus Smith said. "While Brandon's experience has uniquely positioned him to be successful leading the day-to-day operations of the Speedway."

Hutchison joined Atlanta Motor Speedway as a public relations intern in March of 1995 and was hired as a track rental coordinator by the Speedway four months later. He served as the director of events and the vice president of events before he was promoted to assistant general manager in September of 2014. A native of Georgia, Hutchison grew up in Lawrenceville. He graduated in 1995 with a BS in Communications Arts from Georgia Southern University.

For more information, visit atlantamotorspeedway.com.

As the industry prepares for the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show, taking place Dec. 6–8 in Indianapolis, Indiana, motorsports professionals will have access to the newest PRI Show features, which offer an up-close look at iconic pieces of racing history, insight on the latest technical information, and a preview of the latest parts and products for the racing industry.

The Unser Family Tribute, a unique display presented by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum, will celebrate one of the truly iconic families in auto racing history—the Unsers. “The Amazing Unsers” exhibit, which will be in the 9000 Exhibit Area in the Indiana Convention Center during all three Show days, honors Bobby, Al Sr. and Al Unser Jr., who have collaboratively won nine Indianapolis 500s since the family’s first race start in 1958. Stop by the display to see the family’s past race winning vehicles, including Bobby’s 1956 Pikes Peak and 1968 Indy 500 cars, and Al Sr.’s 1978 Indy 500 car, and more.

The appreciation for the Unsers does not end there, as Al Sr. and Al Unser Jr. will join veteran motorsports journalist and broadcaster Dave Despain on stage for the PRI Trade Show’s traditional morning kickoff event, the Grand Opening Breakfast, set for Thursday, December 6, from 8-9 a.m. Be sure to come early for the hot, catered breakfast as doors to the event open at 7 a.m. 

Another new Show feature for 2018, IMS Museum will also present the “Hoosier Thunder: Indiana’s Short Track Heritage Exhibit.” The display, which will be available during al three Show days in the first floor of the Hyatt Serpentine Lobby, tells the story of the drivers and families who have made Indiana short track racing a way of life. Decades of United States Auto Club (USAC) race car development will be on display, including Tony Stewart's Silver Crown car, a 1937 Dreyer Special sprint car, Rich Vogler's midget car and Ed Carpenter's 1/4 midget car.

Stop by the Featured Products Showcase (FPS) in the new Lucas Oil Stadium exhibit area to discover the latest products, parts and technology for the racing industry. This year’s Featured Products Showcase will offer unparalleled access for attendees and added value for exhibitors during the world’s premier event for motorsports professionals and will be open throughout all three exhibit days of the PRI Trade Show.

PRI Trade Show attendees and exhibitors are invited to enjoy cold beverages and mingle with like-minded racing professionals from outside of the US during the International Reception, taking place Friday, December 7 from 5-7 p.m. in the 500 Ballroom area in the Indiana Convention Center. The event will take place in conjunction with the inaugural 2018 PRI Global Media Awards Presentation, which honors the companies with the top products, based on international consumer appeal, in the Featured Products Showcase.

Finally, be sure to make time for the new educational sessions presented by the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) in conjunction with their annual event. AETC presents five special seminars during PRI 2018, including Honing By The Numbers, PENSKE Racing Shocks -Inerters In Motorsports, Used Oil Analysis Results And How To Understand Them, GRIP Seminars Preview - Bump Stops, and Balancing Traction On Today’s Dirt Track Race Cars. Find out more about these special events here.

To view the complete lineup of events set for the biggest gathering of motorsports professionals, visit here. For more information on the PRI Trade Show, including how to register for free, visit pri2018.com. 

Monster Transmission & Performance has announced the launch of a new company, MONSTAR Transmission & Automotive Centers.

Featured services include transmission repair, brakes and a/c servicing. MONSTAR will be offering automotive franchise opportunities in early 2019.

Stop by the Monster Transmission booth #7197 or #3070 at the PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indiana, for more information, or visit MONSTAR.com.

Champion Racing Association (CRA) officials have announced the creation of the CRA Junior Late Model Series powered by JEGS.

The division will feature 10- to 15-year-old drivers competing amongst themselves for both experience and recognition in full-size Late Models with economical drivetrain and suspension alternatives. The inaugural schedule is expected to feature up to ten races in the Midwest, with most expected to coincide with existing events on the CRA schedules.

The new series for Junior racers will have a parental advisory committee to assist CRA with the development and guidance of the series.  Experienced Michigan racer Chris Hettinger will chair the advisory committee.

“We’ve seen what they are doing with similar Junior racing in California, and are excited that CRA will oversee the development and growth of this in the Midwest. CRA is the leading short track pavement sanctioning body for late models, and having them take the leading role with this gives it instant credibility,” Hettinger said.

Our industry has had a gap in the progression for talented young racers that have raced quarter midgets or go karts and want to go into stock car racing,” CRA’s R.J. Scott said. “This new series will help bridge that gap, and give young racers the chance to race against each other and hone their skills before heading into top-tier late model racing like the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour and the ARCA/CRA Super Series.”

Specific details about the series will be released in the coming weeks. A key component in the cost savings area will be the mandated use of the $3,900 factory sealed Chevrolet 602 crate engine. All new engines will be purchased from JEGS through the series’ lone repair and certification partner in McGunegill Engine Performance.

eams will also be utilizing less expensive rear ends, transmissions and springs and shocks and will be racing on 8-inch steel wheels and utilizing 8-inch Hoosier Racing tires.

“Eliminating bump stops and coil binding will help new teams have access to some older cars that have been sitting on the sidelines since the newer technology took over,” Hettinger said. “The complete rules package will make it much more affordable for people to get involved and provide no real performance advantage for newer cars over older cars.”

CRA officials expect to have the complete schedule and rules finalized in the next few weeks. For more information, visit cra-racing.com.

Officials from Tommy Baldwin Racing have confirmed the team will return to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next year.

The team plans to enter the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona Int’l Speedway along with additional events throughout the season that will be determined at a later date.

“We are looking forward to get back going again with TBR in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series,” Team Owner Tommy Baldwin Jr. said. “Our goal is to work methodically and build it one piece at a time. I’m excited about these five to seven races for the 2019 season, and where it takes us in the future.”

Tommy Baldwin Racing was originally formed in 2009 and ran a full-time schedule in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for several seasons before closing down in 2017.

The team earned a "best finish" of third on two occasions, with Dave Blaney earning a third-place finish at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2011 and Regan Smith finishing third at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway in 2016.

Those who have driven for Tommy Baldwin Racing include Blaney, Smith, J.J. Yeley, Elliott Sadler, Justin Marks, David Reutimann, Hermie Sadler, Bobby Labonte, Alex Bowman, Reed Sorenson, Joey Gase, Michael Annett, Geoffrey Bodine, Michael McDowell, Patrick Carpentier, Robert Richardson Jr., Scott Riggs, Mike Skinner, Mike Bliss, Ron Fellows, Casey Mears, Steve Park, Johnny Sauter, Stephen Leicht, Tomy Drissi, Danica Patrick, Tony Raines, Victor Gonzalez Jr. and Ty Dillon.

For more information, visit tommybaldwinracing.com or nascar.com.

NHRA has announced the schedule for the 2019 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, featuring races across the country including the NHRA Motorsports Museum’s Hot Rod Reunions. The entertaining series features intense racing action and is highlighted by the nitro-burning Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters and Nostalgia Funny Cars.

The season roars to life at the 61st annual Good Vibrations March Meet, March 7-10, at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif. The series will also make their annual visits to Sacramento Raceway, Firebird Raceway, Wild Horse Pass, Osage Tulsa Raceway, and both Top Fuel and Funny Car will be at the new event at Spokane County Raceway.

The series will be highlighted at two Hot Rod Reunions, hosted by the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum presented by Automobile Club of Southern California. The 17th annual Holley National Hot Rod Reunion presented by AAA Insurance at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., is the first on the schedule slated for June 13-15, with Top Fuel and Funny Car competing for points in the series.

The 28th annual California Hot Rod Reunion presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California will conclude the series October 25-27, at Auto Club Famoso Raceway which will decide the championships in all the categories.

“We were thrilled to have the first season-ending championship for all Heritage Series Classes in Bakersfield this year,” Wally Parks Motorsports Museum Executive Director Larry Fisher said. “We are looking forward to an exciting championship battle at Auto Club Famoso Raceway in 2019.”

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series consists of two nitro categories—Nostalgia Top Fuel dragster and Nostalgia Funny Car—and two groups of additional classes. Group 1 includes A/Fuel, Jr. Fuel, and 7.0 Eliminator, and Group 2 includes Nostalgia Eliminator I, Nostalgia Eliminator II, Nostalgia Eliminator III, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, D/Gas, and Hot Rod Eliminator. Racers in each class will run a combination of events at which they will score points toward the championships.

The NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series was developed in 2008 to help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while providing racing opportunities for those enthusiasts who enjoy nostalgia drag racing competition. For more information, visit nhra.com.