Officials from the California Speedweek have announced that the fifth annual Micro Sprint event will take place June 25-29.

Drivers across Super 600, Non-Wing, and Restricted Micro Sprints will compete at Dixon Speedway, Delta Speedway, Keller Auto Raceway at Plaza Park and Lemoore Raceway.

The series’ list of previous champions includes T.J. Smith, the most successful driver in Speedweek history, and up-and-coming drivers such as Gio Scelzi, Garth Kasiner and Brooklyn Holland. Previous champions also include dirt open wheel standouts such as Michael Faccinto, Jake Hagopian, Chris Andrews and Smith.

More than $200,000 in cash and prizes has been awarded throughout the series’ 16 nights of competition thus far.

For more information, visit californiaspeedweek.com.

Officials from the Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes, the yearly engine giveaway that takes place during the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis that benefits a charity for children, have released the list of vendors and manufacturers that have donated products and parts to this year’s 727-cubic inch Hemi engine. Those vendors are detailed below.

This drawing will be the 30th anniversary of the Sunnen Engine Charity Sweepstakes, with all proceeds going to the Victory Junction, a camp for children living with serious medical conditions founded by NASCAR’s Petty family. Officials will draw the winning ticket on the last day of PRI.

This year’s engine is a custom-built 727-cubic inch Hemi engine valued at more than $60,000. The engine can be street-driven on 93 octane fuel, producing 1310 HP, naturally aspirated. The engine will also include Sonny’s fully in-house ported hemispherical cylinder heads, Sonny’s/Brodix 5.000 B.S. block with 1.000” raised cam with special hi-flow water jackets, a Bryant billet crank, Carrillo steel billet rods, and much more.

For more information, visit victoryjunction.org/sunnen-sweepstakes.

• ACCUFAB THROTTLE BODIES
(909) 930-1751
accufabracing.com

• ARP FASTENERS – STUD, NUTS & BOLTS & HARDWARE
(800) 826-3045
arp-bolts.com

• ATI BALANCERS
(877) 298-5039
atiracing.com

• BIG STUFF III EFI ECU & HARNESS
(248) 877-5636
bigstuffIII.com

• BRODIX ALUMINUM BLOCK
(479) 394-1075
brodix.com

• BRYANT CRANKSHAFT
(714) 535-2695
bryantracing.com

• CALICO COATINGS
(704) 343-5805
calicocoating.com

• CARRILLO CONNECTING RODS
(949) 567-9000
cp-carrillo.com

• CHE VALVE SEATS & GUIDES
(805) 499-8885
cheprecision.com

• COMETIC GASKETS
(800) 752-9850
cometic.com

• COMPETITION CAMS
(901) 795-2400
compcams.com

• DIAMOND PISTONS
(877) 552-2112
diamondracing.net

• HOLLEY EFI INJECTORS
(866) 464-6553
holley.com

• JESEL BELT DRIVE WITH DISTRIBUTOR & LIFTERS
(732) 901-1800
jesel.com

• JONES MACHINE – DRIVE SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR, AC & PS PUMP
(610) 847-2028
jonesracingproducts.com

• K & N FILTER
(800) 858-3333
knfilters.com

• MANLEY VALVE TRAIN COMPONENTS
(732) 905-3010
manleyperformance.com

• MAXIMA RACING OIL
(800) 345-8761
maximausa.com

• MEZIERE WATERPUMP & STARTER
(800) 208-1755
meziere.com

• MOROSO OIL PAN
(203) 453-6571
moroso.com

• MSD IGNITION – WIRES, SENSORS & CRANK TRIGGER
(888) 258-3835
msdignition.com

• PERFORMANCE ALLOYS – MOLDSTAR-90 PRODUCTS
(262) 255-6662
performancealloy.net

• PETERSON FLUID SYSTEMS
(303) 287-1731
petersonfluidsys.com

• PSI VALVE SPRINGS
(248) 486-3372
psisprings.com

• SONNY’S SIGNATURE NGH CYLINDER HEADS
(434) 239-1009
sonnysracingengines.com

• T&D MACHINE ROCKER SYSTEMS
(775) 884-2292
tdmachine.com

• TOTAL SEAL PISTON RINGS
(623) 587-7400
totalseal.com

• TREND PRODUCTS – PUSHRODS & WRIST PINS
(586) 447-0400
trendperformance.com

• TRICK TITANIUM VALVES
(517) 694-7449
tricktitanium.com

• WELDON REGULATOR & FILTER
(440) 232-0606
weldonracing.com

• VISNER ENGINE COMPONENTS
(661) 726-6600
visnerengine.com

• XRP HOSES & FITTINGS
(562) 861-4765
xrp.com

Tenneco Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Öhlins Racing A.B., a Swedish technology company that develops premium suspension systems and components for the automotive and motorsports industries.

The addition of Öhlins will accelerate the development of advanced original equipment (OE) intelligent suspension solutions, while also fast-tracking time to market, company officials said, adding that it will also enhance Tenneco’s portfolio in broader mobility markets with the addition of Öhlins’ range of premium OE and aftermarket automotive and motorsports performance products.

Founder Kenth Öhlin will retain a minority interest in Öhlins and partner with Tenneco to provide continuity in his strategic and technological vision. “I am proud of the Öhlins team and all we have accomplished over the last 43 years,” he said. “We are excited to continue to deliver innovative technologies that can accelerate growth with the full strength and resources of Tenneco behind us.”

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Total consideration for the acquisition is approximately $160 million.

On October 1, Tenneco completed the acquisition of Federal-Mogul, a leading global supplier to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket with nearly 55,000 employees globally and 2017 revenues of $7.8 billion. Additionally, the company expects to separate its businesses to form two new, independent companies, an Aftermarket and Ride Performance company as well as a new Powertrain Technology company, in late 2019.

In a bid to advance the sport of sprint car racing, constituents from across the country representing sanctioning bodies, tracks, car owners, chassis builders and drivers have announced the formation of a sprint car council. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the sprint car industry.

The intent and purpose of the council is to improve communication among all constituents in the sprint car industry. The council will work together, focusing on car and track safety initiatives, improving consistency in rules, maintaining costs, enforcing suspensions across all tracks and series, and advancing the holistic improvement of sprint car racing for drivers, team owners, series, tracks and fans.

The council will not act as a governing body. The decision to adjust rules, adapt safety measures, enforce suspensions or otherwise will ultimately be decided at the respective series, track and car owner level.

“Many people in the industry are aware that we had a vision and goal to assemble a council when we met in August during the Knoxville Nationals,” said Tony Stewart, who represents the All Star Circuit of Champions as a series owner. “I am extremely excited about the enthusiasm and participation from our members. This is a great opportunity for all of us to improve sprint car racing for years to come.”

The council will represent individuals from tracks and series representing all geographical areas of the US. Such individuals will actively participate in sub-councils which will focus on the following disciplines: track safety, car/chassis safety, aerodynamics and forward-looking rules changes.

“Since 1978, the World of Outlaws has been a leader in sprint car racing, and we are pleased to expand on that role with the sprint car council,” said World of Outlaws CEO Brian Carter. “Going back 10 years with our stakeholders group, the World of Outlaws has strived to bring the industry closer and to strengthen the foundation of sprint car racing while keeping an eye toward the future. We hope through the sprint car council [that] all the parties can learn from each other to continue enhancing the sport we all love.”

The council will meet four times per year, at a minimum, with to-be-determined dates in February, August, November and December.

Participating members of the council include: All Star Circuit of Champions, American Sprint Car Series (ASCS), Attica Raceway Park, BAPS Motor Speedway, Barry Jackson (crew chief CJB Motorsports and chassis builder), Daryn Pittman (driver), Empire Super Sprints (ESS), IRA Sprints, Jackson Motorplex, John Darby (consultant), Kevin Nouse (PA 358 Sprints), Knoxville Raceway, Lincoln (PA) Speedway, Mark Chevalier (team owner and engineer), Midwest Open Wheel Association (MOWA), National Sprint League (NSL), Ryan Hand (former crew chief), Paul McMahan (driver), Port Royal Speedway, POWRi, POWRi WAR Sprint Car League, Skagit Speedway, Upper Midwest Sprint Series (UMSS), United States Auto Club (USAC), WI MSA 360 sprints, World Of Outlaws and Williams Grove Speedway.

For more information, visit woosprint.com.

McLaren Racing recently announced that Bob Fernley has been appointed President of McLaren IndyCar.

In his new role, Fernley will report directly to Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, and will lead the McLaren 2019 Indianapolis 500 program, when Fernando Alonso will attempt to secure the Triple Crown of motorsports.

Fernley’s career portfolio most recently includes a role as Deputy Team Principal at the Force India Formula 1 team, preceded by a focus on North American motorsports, including successful periods in IndyCar.

Fernley’s appointment is consistent with McLaren Racing’s plan to run its IndyCar program as a separate entity to its Formula 1 activities. Fernley will build and lead a technical team entirely focused on the 2019 Indy 500, while helping to evaluate the feasibility of a longer-term McLaren involvement in IndyCar.

Further details on the 2019 McLaren Indy 500 project will be revealed in the coming months.

DIRTcar Racing track promoters from across the Northeast recently came together to establish the foundation and direction for the 2019 racing season under new Super DIRTcar Series and DIRTcar Northeast Director Dean Reynolds. DIRTcar’s mission statement is to continue leading the way in competition, safety and professionalism.

Among key moments from the meeting with 50-plus promoters and officials is the news that for the first time in 15 years, the Super DIRTcar Series purse will substantially increase. Every race on the Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds schedule will carry a minimum of $7,500 to win, with many at the $10,000 level for NAPA Super DIRT Week Qualifiers, including the return to Eldora Speedway. Other purse highlights include a $1,000 payday for 10th position and $500 to start.

An all-new Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship was also unveiled, with tracks awarding points for Big-Block Modifieds, 358 Modifieds, Sportsman Modifieds, and Pro Stocks. A driver’s best 16 finishes from their home tracks are counted toward the Hoosier Racing Tire Weekly Championship, where nearly $37,000 in cash and nearly $8,000 in VP Racing Fuels certificates will be distributed in 2019.

In addition, Ransomville Speedway and Land of Legends Raceway were named VP Racing Fuels Tracks of the Year.
Finally, DIRTcar announced FloRacing.com will once again live stream nearly all Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds events in 2019.

The season kicks off in February at Volusia Speedway Park’s DIRTcar Nationals. For more information, visit DIRTcarNationals.com.

The next time Tom Gutowski goes to the track, he’ll actually get to watch the races.

After a dozen years of crisscrossing the country, Gutowski has retired as IMCA’s competition direc­tor. His last day on the job was spent helping write rules for the 2019 season.

“There are not a lot of people who get to make a living doing something they enjoy,” said Gu­towski, who’d been the first licensed IMCA Modified driver in Nebraska and was a 2016 inductee into the Nebraska Auto Racing Hall of Fame. “What I’ve enjoyed most has been the people. Ninety-nine percent of IMCA racers are excellent people.”

After ending his own on-track career, Gutowski promoted at Crawford County Speedway, Shelby County Speedway, Buena Vista Raceway and Nebraska Raceway Park before joining the full-time staff at IMCA.

His travels to supervise pre- and post-tech inspection, and share his years of experience with local track officials took Gutowski from coast to coast and border to border.

“I kept track for a while. I’ve been to close to a hundred different tracks. I’ve been from Canada to Louisiana and California and Oregon to New York and Pennsylvania,” Gutowski said. I went on the Dakota Classic Tour nine times, then did the Wild West Shootout this year. I’ve pretty much been all over.”

“It’s been fun to go to new tracks and meeting new promoters,” he added. “I’ve enjoyed sharing the IMCA perspective with them.”

A regular at trade shows and swap meets during the brief off-season, he’s been a mainstay in the tech tent and infield at the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.

“There were times when we got done with tech at 6:30 a.m. and had to start the next day’s pre-tech at 8 a.m. Super Nationals was always my make it or break it event. I knew if I made It through that week I’d make it through the next year,” said Gutowski, who turns 73 in January. “There were times when I had to disqualify people and hated to do it, but the rules are the rules, especially at Super Nationals.”

While other plans for the future are to be determined, Gutowski will attend the IMCA national awards banquet in Lincoln later this month. He’s also looking forward to attending races next year as a spectator.

“I’ll actually be able to watch some racing,” Gutowski said.

“Timing is everything and the timing of Tom’s hiring was perfect, for him and for IMCA,” said Brett Root, president of the sanctioning body. “Tom brought a promoter’s perspective to the table and that was something our previous competition directors did not have. Tom’s experience as a racer and a promoter made us a better organization. We thank him for that and wish him the best of luck.”

The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will continue its exponential growth by expanding its calendar to seven events and 26 races in 2019. The official NASCAR series in Europe will touch eight different countries, visit Most in the Czech Republic for the first time and make its return to Raceway Venray in the Netherlands. A non-championship All Star Time Attack event will take place on a street circuit in France.

NASCAR racing on some of the most challenging and historic tracks in Europe, a wide variety of different road courses, the fastest half-mile oval of the Old Continent and seven American-themed events are the distinctive features of the 2019 season.

“This 2019 calendar is based on the strong willing to provide the best racing experience to fans and families coming to NASCAR events in Europe. We guarantee pure racing with spectacular battles as well as a great American atmosphere with lots of animations around the track,” explained NWES President/CEO Jerome Galpin. “We also provide every fan with unique access to teams, drivers and cars. It’s all about celebrating together our passion for racing and we all love it!”

A consolidated tradition, Valencia in Spain will open the 2019 season on April 13-14 with the Valencia NASCAR Fest at the 4-km Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the sixth time. Euro NASCAR will then head to Italy for the May 11-12 edition of the American NASCAR Weekend at the 2,5-km Autodromo di Franciacorta. The twisty Italian road course will be followed by the historic 1,9-km Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, hosting the seventh edition of the longest standing event in the NWES calendar—the American SpeedFest—on June 1-2.

On June 22-23, an undisclosed street circuit in France will host a special, non-championship, All Star Time Attack event. Venue, format and further details on the spectacular All Star weekend will be unveiled at a later date.

With its flowing 4,222-km layout, the Autodrom Most will welcome the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the first time on June 29-30. The Most weekend will represent the first ever NWES championship round in Central Europe, a region rich of NASCAR fans eager to make the event one of the best in the calendar.

Raceway Venray, will return to the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series calendar on July 13-14. The fast half-mile banked oval in the Netherlands will host an event based on a typical US NASCAR format, highlighted by one 75-lap ELITE 2 race on Saturday and a feature 100-lap ELITE 1 race on Sunday to close the regular season.

The playoffs—four double-points races for each NWES Division—will once again decide who will be crowned European NASCAR Champion and 2019 will put even more pressure on drivers and teams, thanks to a compact schedule.

The iconic Hockenheimring in Germany will open the most crucial phase of the season for the second year in a row on September 21- 22, hosting the Semi Finals on its 3,692-km layout in the context of the American Fan Fest. After another hugely popular edition of its American Festival, Circuit Zolder will once again crown the European NASCAR Champion on October 5-6. The 4-km Belgian track will host Euro NASCAR for the fifth consecutive time.

The regularity-based ELITE Club Division will contest its 3rd season on four track inside the NWES calendar: Valencia, Franciacorta, Hockenheim and Zolder.

Tomahawk Speedway, a 20-acre racing facility located in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, is for sale at $450,000. The track is located just off of Highway 51 in the northern part of the state and features a 1/3-mile clay semi-banked oval track with brand new clay.

Over the years, Tomahawk Speedway has hosted a wide array of events featuring Four Cylinder Stocks, Four Cylinder Mods, Trucks and Pure Stocks.

NASCAR great Kenny Wallace, who earned nine Busch series wins in his career, has been known to race at the track on a regular basis.

The facility also hosts ice racing events for snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles in the winter.

The turn-key facility comes ready to operate and features three water trucks, three graders, two fire trucks, three work trucks, one ambulance, one big tire pack/dump truck, all-new LED lighting, new AMB scoring system, and a fully functional kitchen.

The Sports Car Club of America has announced results for the SCCA Board of Directors elections conducted in five of the SCCA’s geographic areas.

Two new board members were selected, and three incumbents rejoin the board for another three-year term in office.

Bob Dowie, of Chester, N.Y., retains his position as Area 1 Director. Peter Jankovskis, of Lisle, Ill., won his bid for the Area 5 Director seat. In Area 7, Dan Helman, of Huffman, Texas, retains his position, as does Area 8 Director Arnie Coleman of Colorado Springs, Colo. Finally, Jeff Zurschmeide, of Lake Oswego, Ore., won his bid for the Area 13 Director seat. 2018 Board of Director election results are as follows:

Area 1: Encompasses the Northeast Division, including the New England, New York and Northern New Jersey regions.
– Incumbent Bob Dowie ran unopposed

Area 5: Encompasses the Central Division, including: Badlands, Central Illinois, Great River, Lake Superior, Milwaukee, Blackhawk Valley, Chicago, Iowa and Land O’ Lakes regions. Outgoing Director is Bruce Lindstrand.

– Peter Jankovskis: 374

– Bill Trainer: 279

Area 7: Encompasses the Southwest Division, and regions such as: Alamo, Delta, Lone Star, Texas, South Texas Border, Central Louisiana, Houston, Red River, Southwest Louisiana and West Texas.

– Incumbent Dan Helman ran unopposed

Area 8: Encompasses the Rocky Mountain Division including the Colorado, Utah, Southwest Montana, Yellowstone, Rio Grande, Pan Am and Continental Divide regions.

– Incumbent Arnie Coleman ran unopposed

Area 13: Encompasses part of the Northern Pacific Division, including: Northwest, Big Sky, Arctic Alaska, Oregon, Montana and Snake River regions. Area 13 post open due to current Director, Jim Weidenbaum, relocating outside Area’s border.

– Jeff Zurschmeide: 319

– Monty Holt: 98

The full 2019 SCCA Board of Directors is as follows:

Area 1 – Bob Dowie

Area 2 – Jack Burrows

Area 3 – Lee Hill

Area 4 – Marcus Merideth

Area 5 – Peter Jankovskis

Area 6 – Chris Albin

Area 7 – Dan Helman

Area 8 – Arnie Coleman

Area 9 – Charlie Davis

Area 10 – Earl Hurlbut

Area 11 – Jason Isley

Area 12 – Tere Pulliam

Area 13 – Jeff Zurschmeide

Election ballots were received and counted by Mize, Houser & Company, Certified Public Accountants. The current board is set to have one more meeting in December, with new BoD members officially taking their seats Jan. 1.