Torrance, California-based Edelbrock has announced the appointment of Rob Morse to the position of Account Sales Manager at Edelbrock, LLC.

Morse, whose expertise is in project management with performance OEM and private label sales, brings 28 years of experience in the automotive industry to the Edelbrock Sales Team. He was most recently the Sales Operations Manager at AutoRep Sales Company.

Prior to this, Morse spent 15 years in the performance aftermarket at Ford Motor Company, where he held various management positions including senior zone manager, regional marketing manager and retail development manager before wrapping up his career at Ford as global representation planner.

“I am honored to be joining the Edelbrock team,” Morse said. “Not only have I spent my entire career working in the automotive industry, I also have been a performance enthusiast, race fan and drag racer since I was a teenager. To be joining one of the most historic and founding companies of the performance aftermarket is truly a great opportunity.”

For more information, visit edelbrock.com.

Wiseco Performance Products in Mentor, Ohio, has hired industry veteran Chris Whitworth as the company’s Automotive Product Manager.

Whitworth arrives at Wiseco and its parent company, Race Winning Brands (RWB), with over a dozen years of automotive industry experience following stops at Raybestos Powertrain, Transtar Industries, Accel Performance Group and Wellman Products Group.

In his new role, Whitworth will focus his efforts on managing the development of the Wiseco Automotive and K1 Technologies automotive product lines while working alongside both divisions’ product development, supply chain and quality teams to ensure new products are developed to specification and delivered on time.

With a coast-to-coast domestic distribution system and international customers in Europe, South America, Africa, Australia and Asia, Wiseco manufactures high-performance, forged pistons for the automotive performance market and others including motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, personal watercraft, and outboard marine. K1 Technologies produces race connecting rods and crankshafts.

For more information, visit wiseco.com.

CV Products has announced it is changing the company name to Xceldyne Group, LLC. Xceldyne, which stands for “Accelerated Dynamics,” is a product attribute that best reflects the company’s recently announced strategic shift to focus all company resources on dynamic precision design and manufacturing, according to a company statement.

Four proprietary brands will align under Xceldyne Group’s efficiencies in manufacturing and materials coatings: Xceldyne, CV Racing Products, Cycra and Advanced Material Coatings (AMC).

“This is an exciting time for our organization and our employees,” said Steve Lineberger, President and CEO of Xceldyne Group, LLC. “We looked very closely at the marketplace and made a strategic decision to concentrate our team’s efforts on what we do best—manufacturing the most technologically advanced precision parts in the industry. This refined approach will allow us to spend more time developing innovative products and value-added services to satisfy our customers’ growth objectives and achieve high levels of success.

Xceldyne is an advanced manufacturing and design facility that utilizes CNC and other specialized equipment to produce high-performance components for the motorsports, aerospace and general commercial markets; CV Racing Products, a supplier of auto racing industry performance engine components for over 30 years, recently announced a narrowed distribution of race parts to complement its branded engine components for all levels of racing; Cycra is a plastics injection manufacturer in the motorcycle accessories and powersports market; and Advanced Material Coatings provides anodizing for several industries including aerospace, defense, firearms and motorsports.

Wixom, Michigan-based NGK Spark Plugs (USA) recently announced changes in its executive management team, as Senior Vice President of Aftermarket Mike Schwab will assume a more global leadership role in developing targeted initiatives for the Pan-American or “PAMA” Aftermarket regional headquarters.

Meantime, as Vice President of Aftermarket Sales and Marketing, Brian Norko will expand his responsibilities leading all growth initiatives within the brand marketing, product management and category management functions, in addition to his current sales leadership role. He will continue to report to Schwab.

Since joining NGK Spark Plugs in 2016 as the Vice President of Sales, Norko has implemented a more streamlined sales structure, re-aligning sales territories to allow for improved customer service and engagement. This includes added marketing and technical training support.

Before joining NGK Spark Plugs, Norko was the Global Director of Business and Product Development at Federal-Mogul Corp. Overall, Norko has over 29 years of experience in the aftermarket industry and is a member of the Automotive Sales Council.

For additional information on NGK Spark Plugs (USA), visit ngksparkplugs.com.

Charlotte Motor Speedway (CMS) has rolled out a new-look Patriot Partners program that allows race fans the opportunity to send service men and women to the premier NASCAR events at the iconic 1.5-mile superspeedway, including the inaugural Bank of America ROVAL 400 on September 30.

First launched in 2012 as "Salute the Troops," the Patriot Partners program now allows fans to donate any amount that they wish by simply rounding their ticket purchase up to the nearest dollar or making a donation of any dollar amount.

For every $25 raised, CMS will purchase discounted tickets to be distributed to troops and their family members through the speedway's partner, USO of North Carolina. Donations can be made by calling the speedway's ticket office at 800/455-FANS (3267).

In addition to race fans donating to the Patriot Partners program, interested corporate partners and businesses can join the cause and purchase a block of tickets. Already in 2018, partners like Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Bojangles', FK Rod Ends, the Cabarrus County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority helped provide more than 4,300 tickets to troops and their families coming to CMS.

In related news, NASCAR has announced that Goodyear will make wet weather tires available for the Bank of America ROVAL 400, should inclement weather occur. Unlike standard dry tires, wet weather tires have tread pattern designed to redirect moisture and provide grip in challenging conditions.

The Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca recently took place August 23–26, featuring Nissan and its illustrious racing history that dates back to its Datsun heritage.

Along with celebrating 50 years of motorsports success in the United States, Nissan had the season five ABB FIA Formula E car on display.

Fifteen race groupings competed during the events with cars ranging in age from a 1911 National Speedway Roadster in Group 1A to a 1995 Nissan 240SX in Group 7B. Find results from Saturday here and results from Sunday here.

Special awards were presented by racer and commentator Mike Joy and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Sr. Vice President of Events Gill Campbell in a proper ceremony to conclude the event on Sunday afternoon. The prestigious Spirit of Monterey award was bestowed upon Herb Wetanson. For a complete list of award winners, visit here.

The International Motorsports Association (IMSA) also revealed a significant part of its 50th-anniversary celebration with the unveiling of its book “IMSA: Celebrating 50 Years” during the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion.

IMSA President Scott Atherton received the first copy of the book from Racer Studio President and CEO Paul Pfanner before a standing room only crowd.

“IMSA has been looking forward to this day since we decided to produce a book to capture the essence of our first 50 years,” Atherton said. “The book is so well written the stories jump off the pages and the photography throughout the book will make this a must-have for any fan.”

Besides the history of IMSA, the book gives an inside look at the cars, drivers and manufacturers that have been an integral part of the sport’s history.

FIA Formula E officials have announced pre-season testing will take place at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, Spain, from Tuesday, October 16, through Thursday, October 19. Both Tuesday (10/16) and Friday (10/19) events will be open to the general public.

There is no charge to attend, but only attendees that register online here will be granted access to the circuit. Fans will be able to access seating with a view of the track. 

Each day of testing will be split into two sessions, with cars running between 9-12 a.m. and 2-5 p.m. Thursday, October 18, will serve as a rest day with no action on the track.

Season 5 of the FIA Formula E season kicks off in Saudi Arabia on December 15, 2018.

Performance Open Wheel Racing, Inc. (POWRi) has announced a new asphalt open wheel series for the west coast, the POWRi Pacific Racing League (PRL).

Sanctioned by POWRi, PRL is said to be the first pavement series west of the Mississippi and is the second pavement race series for POWRi.

“Our goal is providing an even playing field, reducing the cost of racing while increasing exposure and providing the best experience for the fans,” a series release said.

Tracks currently partnered with the series include Irwindale Speedway, the Speedway at Willow Springs International, Havasu 95 Speedway, Madera Speedway and Shasta Speedway.

The new series will feature pavement sprint cars and midget cars. PRL races will also include coverage from POWRi’s in-house production company, POWRi TV.

“We are committed to bringing sustainable asphalt open wheel racing back to the local racer through ‘out of the box’ thinking and rules based on a ‘Balance of Power’ concept while keeping the traditions of sprint and midget racing intact,” POWRi Pacific President Jeff Trout said.

For more information on the new series, contact Trout at 805/380-8106 or jtrout@powripacific.com.

Avon Lake, Ohio-based Design Engineering, Inc. (DEI) recently named David Ramirez as the company’s new Vice President of Operations.

Ramirez, who joined the company in May, has over 30 years of experience in systems management, quality control, logistics, sales and marketing, and purchasing and operations.

For 10 years, Ramirez worked in the wholesale sporting supply business for the Southern California distribution center Outdoor Sports Headquarters, followed by seven years with Buckeye Sports Supply in Canton, Ohio.

Prior to joining DEI, Ramirez worked for MAG Instruments as Senior Planner/Plant Manager; he also worked at Edelbrock Corporation as the company’s International Product Manager, where his primary duty included expanding key product lines, as well as improving and streamlining the international sourcing process.

Other key positions include Operations Manager for Spectre Performance in Ontario, California, where one of his primary duties was to design, source, market, and distribute performance products to national chains and Internet retailers, and as Director of Sales and Marketing for Specialty Products Inc. in Los Angeles, California.

For more on DEI, visit DesignEngineering.com.

The BorgWarner Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Frederic Lissalde as President and Chief Executive Officer effective August 1; he will also join the Board of Directors at this time.

At that time, James R. Verrier will step down from the President and CEO role and serve in a non-executive advisory role to the Board of Directors and CEO to support a successful transition until he retires from the company on February 28, 2019.

Lissalde has held positions of increasing responsibility during his 19 years with the company. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Previous positions include President and General Manager of BorgWarner Turbo Systems, the company’s largest business; Vice President and General Manager of BorgWarner Transmissions Systems; and Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing of BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems.

Lissalde also served as Managing Director of several operations in Europe for BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems.

For more information, visit borgwarner.com.