PRI exhibitor Wiseco Performance Products, one of the worldwide leaders in manufacturing high performance, forged pistons for the automotive, powersports, marine and automotive markets, has hired industry veteran Kirk Tenney as the organization’s National and Distribution Sales Manager.

The Ohio University graduate arrives at Wiseco and its parent company Race Winning Brands (RWB) following professional stops at the Jim Wrobleski Company, US Safety Gear and Mr. Gasket Performance Group.

Tenney will be tasked with carrying out long-term sales objectives while focusing on customer service and promoting Wiseco’s automotive product offerings. Meanwhile, the lifelong performance enthusiast will promote the Mentor, Ohio, organization’s strategic sales plan to spur growth and process improvement across the company.  

Tenney started in May and has quickly settled into his new role. In his spare time, he enjoys working on his classic Volkswagens with his son, a U.S. Marine.

With a coast-to-coast domestic distribution system and international customers in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia, and Asia, Wiseco is one of the world leaders in manufacturing high performance, forged pistons for the automotive performance, motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, personal watercraft, outboard marine markets.

For more information, visit wiseco.com.

Andersen Promotions announced the 2019 Road To Indy Presented by Cooper Tires schedule which features 12 events in support of the Verizon IndyCar Series including a new venue with the addition of Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and a return to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for the season finale of all three levels of the globally recognized driver development platform.

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship calendars all will feature a mix of ovals, street circuits and road courses to properly train drivers to move up the ladder system with the ultimate goal of reaching IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500.

The 2019 Indy Lights calendar will feature an 18-race, 10-event schedule comprised of six road course, two street circuit and two oval events highlighted by the crown jewel in the schedule – the Freedom 100 on Carb Day for the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500.

The Pro Mazda schedule will feature 16 races at nine venues consisting of five road course, two street circuit and two oval events. In support of the 103rd Running of the Indianapolis 500, both Pro Mazda and USF2000 will return for the Carb Night Classic on May 24 at Lucas Oil Raceway, which is undergoing a $10M-plus renovation.

USF2000 will see 15 races at eight events consisting of five road course, two street circuit and one oval event.

For the complete 2019 Road To Indy schedules, including Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, Pro Mazda Presented by Cooper Tires and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship, visit here.

DIRTcar Northeast officials have revealed a new twist for the 358 Modified Camping World 150 on Saturday, October 6, during the 47th annual NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway.

Starting on around lap 100, a five-lap competition caution period will allow teams to pit for tires and fuel without being penalized laps. Drivers may decline to pit and will gain positions on those that choose to make the pit stop. Drivers that do pit will exit the pit area in the same order that they entered in, but will start behind the drivers that gambled by remaining on the track during the caution.

Importantly, the NAPA Super DIRT Week Competitor’s Guide states that “dry break/quick fill refueling systems will not be allowed,” giving all participating DIRTcar 358 Modified teams tremendous savings.

All NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week specific rules for fuel cells are still in place as detailed in the DIRTcar Rulebook. Teams cannot have a dry break/quick fill refueling system.

For more information, visit the DIRTcar website here.

The Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show brings the motorsports world together for the three biggest business days in racing, giving attendees a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and experts who can help advance their businesses.

The 2018 PRI Show, held December 6-8 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, will feature a multitude of conferences, seminars, and programs that make it a must-attend event for racing professionals. By signing up to attend the 2018 PRI Show at pri2018.com, attendees can choose from nearly 100 events and activities to discover new processes and technologies, make valuable connections, and meet with current and potential business partners face-to-face.

"No other trade show in the world offers these exclusive opportunities to network and conduct business with thousands of industry professionals under one roof," said PRI General Manager Bill Miller. "The PRI Show allows attendees to meet industry leaders face-to-face and remain at the forefront of the motorsports industry."

Exclusive PRI Show conferences such as the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC), Race Track Business Conference (RTBC), and International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress provide attendees with unique opportunities to interact with industry leaders, including legendary engine builders Ed Pink, Jon Kaase, Sonny Leonard, and Keith Dorton.

Meantime, PRI Show-sponsored seminars feature unbeatable opportunities to hear from accomplished industry professionals. This year’s lineup includes panel discussions on opportunities for women in motorsports, independent race track promotion, keys to effective sponsorships, and international trade. And, top-level presenters on content creation, accounting for small businesses, and reaching customers online with Google round out the program. 

Attendees can also meet up and network at the PRI Happy Hour at Lucas Oil Stadium, the dozens of exhibitor seminars and press conferences held during the PRI Show, and the numerous special events in and around the Indiana Convention Center held in the days leading up to and including the Show beginning on Monday, December 3. And new for this year: PRI’s International Industry Reception, to be held the night of Dec. 7 in the second floor Sagamore lobby, will allow PRI’s international racing community to connect and enjoy a cold beverage after the Show.

"PRI is more than just a Trade Show,” said Miller. “Nowhere can you learn and network with your peers across so many racing disciplines.”

The 2018 PRI Trade Show will feature over 1,100 companies exhibiting in more than 3,300 booths, showcasing the latest developments in auto racing technology to tens of thousands of buyers from all 50 states and 70 countries.

To register for the 2018 PRI Trade Show, log on to pri2018.com. For a complete list of conferences, seminars, and networking opportunities, visit pri2018.com/events.

Thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, the manufacturer of the PRI exhibiting brand BILSTEIN Shock Absorbers, is growing its sales and marketing division with two new executive appointments.

Christian Eichstaedt has joined Bilstein as the head of aftermarket sales, NAFTA. In this role, he will report to Steven Beaty, president, aftermarket and motorsports, in matrix with Volker Wegerhoff, head of sales, IAM.

Eichstaedt joins Bilstein with 30 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket; for the past 15 years, he has worked with Interamerican Motor Corp. (IMC), a distributor of OE-quality import replacement parts.

In addition, Warren Johnson has joined Bilstein as marketing manager. In this role, he will report to Beaty, in matrix with Florian Hagemann, BU head of marketing and motorsports.

As marketing manager, Johnson will be responsible for identifying, planning and managing the organization’s advertising, promotion and publicity activities, to include print, trade show, web/multimedia and sponsorships. He will develop and implement both strategic programs and supporting tactics to ensure the profitability of the company’s products, while evaluating the marketing reactions to its programs and packaging.

Johnson joins Bilstein with 30 years of experience in the field of marketing, with the majority of that experience in the powersports industry. For the past year, he has been with EVS-Sports Inc., which specializes in motocross and street bike protective gear, where he served as the senior marketing communications director.

PRI exhibitor International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) member track Dragway 42, in West Salem, Ohio, has been named the Division 3 Track of the Year.

Opened in 1957, Dragway 42 underwent a complete ground up restoration and reopening in spring 2017. The Matchum and Harper families provide a multi-purpose facility that hosts Drag Racing, Autocross Racing, Truck & Tractor Pulling, and Concerts/Music Festivals throughout the year. 

Part of the renovation includes Musco Lighting throughout the grounds and bleacher seats that were used at the Daytona International Speedway.
 
Offering excellent point programs and value driven weekend events are what makes Dragway 42 the Division 3 Track of the Year, according to IHRA officials.
 
“The Matchum and Harper families strive daily as owners and operators, respectively, to provide a great place to experience IHRA Summit SuperSeries drag racing,” IHRA Division 1, 3, and 5 Director Jon O’Neal said. “They have been a huge proponent for the Summit SuperSeries and have regained the status among racers that historic facility has held for generations.”

For more information on Dragway 42, visit dragway42.com or ihra.com.

Volusia Speedway Park has announced a $500,000 overhaul of its main front stretch grandstand and wall as part of ongoing efforts to provide a top-notch experience for fans and racers at the two-week long, season-opening DIRTcar Nationals.
 
The new grandstand will expand reserved seating options and make the overall experience more comfortable for fans. In addition to the grandstand overhaul, upgrades will include a new control tower, flag stand relocation, and additional safety barriers.
 
“Last year, we made a $300,000 investment in safety upgrades,” explained Volusia Speedway Park CEO Brian Carter. “This year, we’re continuing our wall and fence replacement project down the frontstretch, but also making a significant investment in fan comfort with the new main grandstand. More and more fans are buying reserved seats and looking for new ways to experience racing. We’re doing our best to deliver the most comfortable seating possible and give them fresh options.”
 
The new grandstand, constructed by motorsports specialists Bleacher Builders, highlights increased seating options with an eye on more comfort and access. The new grandstand will offer four different types of seating, from the standard General Admission seating in the bottom 14 rows to a full, deck-based, VIP experience. Enhancements will improve handicap-accessible areas with elevated viewing, ramps and companion seating. Aisles will be four feet wide throughout for easier access.
 
Reserved seating, now from rows 15-22, will have contoured seats, back support, an additional six inches of leg room (30-inch spacing between rows, compared to the previous 24-inch spacing), and a higher rise (nearly double) for better visibility.
 
For the first time ever, Volusia will offer Premium Reserved seating. Rows 23-26 in sections 5-7— the highest rows with the best views in the house—will have contoured seats and back support, plus an additional 15 inches of leg room (45-inch spacing) and a drink rail.
 
The all-new Trophy Deck offers an exclusive group of fans the chance to enjoy a VIP experience, borrowing a page from many of the newest stadiums across the country. Fans who like to move around and socialize will have multiple viewing options on an as-available basis—including traditional seating, bar stools, cocktail tables and standing room—while enjoying live race broadcasts, timing & scoring monitors, bar service, and great views of the entire speedway.
 
A new, modern race control tower, with designated areas for DIRTvision and a better field of view for race officials, will sit above the Trophy Deck. The old tower will be removed, further improving sight lines for fans.
 
In order to deliver on the promise of better views, the overall height of the new structure will be nearly twice that of the old main grandstand. It will also extend deeper into the Fan Midway, effectively creating a covered concourse with additional concession options and gathering areas.
 
Changes will occur in front of the grandstand as well. A new flag stand will stand directly in front of the new main grandstand and tower, moving the start/finish line closer to the middle of the frontstretch.
 
Meanwhile, last year’s wall project, which replaced over 1,000 feet of guardrail, adding a new 46-inch high concrete retaining wall and 17-foot catch fence at the track’s edge through Turns 1 and 2, will continue with nearly another 1,000 feet of new wall and catch fence running the length of the front stretch.

PRI exhibitor Huth-Ben Pearson International LLC has announced two key management appointments. Mark Purman has been appointed Operations and Product Director, and Chris Wronski has been named Engineering Team Manager.

Purman has been with the company 36 years, most recently serving as Product Manager. Wronski has been employed with Huth-Ben Pearson for three years, most recently as Product Designer.

“Few people know shop and manufacturing cell-level tube fabricating equipment like Mark, and Chris brings imagination and competence to our new product development effort,” said company President Ken Murray. “Both of them interact with our fabricator customers every day, and have a great understanding of their needs.”

Huth-Ben Pearson International LLC manufactures pipe bending and end forming equipment, as well as related tooling. In addition to auto repair shops and their distributors, Huth-Ben Pearson International LLC makes equipment and tools for tube and pipe fabricators serving manufacturing and other market sectors.
 
For more information, visit huthbenders.com.

As both the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League and POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League enter the final quarter of the 2018 season, series officials have announced a handful of schedule updates that teams and fans need to be aware of.

The Meents Memorial, originally scheduled for Friday, September 29, has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 13. Belle-Clair Speedway has an RV Show at the fairgrounds on that day, creating the scheduling conflict.


The Meents Memorial will follow a Friday night show at Jacksonville Speedway on Friday, October 12, featuring only the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League and World of Outlaws.

The POWRi Port City Outlaw Nationals on Friday, September 21, and Saturday, September 22, will be recorded and broadcast on MAVTV at a later date. The POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League will take on Oklahoma’s best for the two-day POWRi Port City Outlaw Nationals.

Lastly, a new date is added to the schedule for both the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget League and POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro League on Saturday, October 20, at Southern Illinois Raceway in Marion, Illinois. This will be the makeup date for the rained out show on May 19, and will be recorded and broadcast on MAVTV at a later date.

For further information, powri.com.

Motovicity Distribution announced this week that industry veteran Wayne Howard has joined the company’s purchasing team as a category manager.

“We’re excited to have Wayne join our purchasing team,” Motovicity VP of Purchasing Jason Shatrowksas said. “His wealth of knowledge and experience in this industry will be invaluable to not only our purchasing department, but the entire team at Motovicity.”

Howard brings over 20 years of automotive aftermarket experience to Motovicity with a proven track record in category management, purchasing, merchandising, and vendor relations.

Howard officially started with the company on September 17.