Virginia International Raceway (VIR) is having a significant impact on its local economy. That’s according to a new study, conducted by the track and its regional partners.

The multipurpose road course in Alton, Virginia, contributes more than $200 million to the state’s economy each year. About $197 million of the contributions stay local and is split between Halifax County, Pittsylvania County and Danville.

VIR owner and CEO Connie Nyholm presented the findings during a breakfast meeting at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research held by the Danville Pittsylvania County and Halifax County chambers of commerce.

VIR is a multipurpose road course near Danville for professional and amateur racing that attracts nearly 270,000 total visitors each year.

To review the executive summary, click here.

QA1 has announced its 25th anniversary will be celebrated during its annual open house and #goDRIVEit Cruise, set for July 20, at its Lakeville, Minnesota facility.

Founded in 1993 by Jim Jordan, QA1 is said to be continually evolving and innovating in technology and new products, like its carbon fiber driveshafts with over 83,000 sq. ft. of space and state-of-the-art equipment.

Each year, QA1 invites enthusiasts to get an inside look at its operations and manufacturing facility by spending the morning at the annual open house and #goDRIVEit Cruise. Held from 7–9 a.m., the open house features tours of the facility, free prizes varying from small to large t-shirts and gives attendees the chance to show off their car.

Then, attendees cruise 27 miles to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for the Street Machine Nationals, gaining preferred entrance to the show (attendees must be preregistered for the Street Machine Nationals and pick up their registration packet Thursday night).

“We have come so far in 25 years, and we want to share our excitement with those who truly embody what we stand for—those people who go out and enjoy their vehicles out on the road," QA1 President Melissa Scoles said.

This year, QA1 will highlight its 25 years of business with extra prizes and activities for attendees. For more information on the Open House and #goDRIVEit Cruise, visit QA1.net/cruise.

Longtime Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and INDYCAR Senior Director of Medical Services Dr. Henry Bock, a pioneer in motorsports safety and medical treatment, passed away May 26 in Indianapolis. He was 81.

Bock, an emergency medicine specialist at IU Health Methodist Hospital and Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis, served as senior director of medical services at IMS from 1982-2006 and in the same role for INDYCAR since its inaugural race in 1996 through the end of the 2006 season. Bock also worked as a consultant for IMS and INDYCAR after his retirement from both organizations.

Bock was a familiar, trusted specialist to every driver who was cared for at the infield medical center at IMS and IndyCar Series events throughout the US. He also worked tirelessly to promote motorsports safety, producing revolutionary advancements in the treatment of injured drivers and helping to create state-of-the-art medical facilities at racetracks across North America.

Perhaps the greatest of Bock's numerous contributions was his work on the development of the Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) Barrier, one of the most revolutionary safety advances in motorsports history, which debuted in 2002 at IMS.

Bock began his motorsports medicine career in 1966 when he was a medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine. After graduation from IU in 1968, he served as a medical provider/consultant to the production crew of the motion picture "Winning," starring Paul Newman and with scenes filmed at IMS.

In the late 1970s, Bock traveled with the United States Auto Club's (USAC) Champ Car safety team as an on-track physician and served as an assistant to IMS Medical Director Dr. Thomas Hanna, before succeeding his mentor in 1982.

Bock was a longtime member of the International Council of Motorsports Sciences (ICMS), an organization of medical professional and scientists dedicated to improving injury prevention and promotion of safety in the motorsports industry.

Bock was recognized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for his contribution to emergency medical services and was named as the 1998 Indy Racing League Achievement Award winner for his outstanding contributions to driver safety and the success of the series.

In 1999, Bock was recognized with the Safety Award from the Championship Drivers Association. In 2004, he received the Herb Porter Award for his contribution to the development of the SAFER Barrier.

Bock also received the Sagamore of the Wabash distinction from Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon in 2000, a top civilian honor given in the state of Indiana.

(Image courtesy of INDYCAR).

The Fremont Speedway Hall of Fame will induct 10 new members on Saturday, June 2.

Skip Miller, Jimmy Leaser and the late Lin Potter were named as the driver inductees. Larry Gill and Buddy Gill, the late Richard “Dick” Hazzard, Don and Ron Keegan, and Jay Engler will be inducted in the mechanics/car owners category. Joe and Shirley Thompson will be inducted as special contributors to the track.  

The ceremony will mark the 10th class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for “The Track That Action Built” based out of Fremont, Ohio.

The hall of fame induction ceremony will take place rain or shine under the historic covered grandstands prior to the night’s racing. Gates will open at 1 p.m., with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m.

The induction event is open to the public, but those planning to attend must purchase a ticket, as that includes admission into the night’s racing.

Following the Hall of Fame induction, racing on the 1/3-mile semi-banked clay track’s Vision Quest Night features the Fort Ball Pizza Palace 410 sprints, the Fremont Federal Credit Union 305 sprints, Burmeister Trophy dirt trucks and the McCullough Industries Late Models.

NASCAR has announced several leadership promotions within the sanctioning body.

Gene Stefanyshyn will lead the sport’s international efforts as senior vice president and chief international officer, John Probst has been promoted to vice president, Innovation and Racing Development, John Bobo has been promoted to vice president, Racing Operations, and Scott Prime has been promoted to vice president, Strategic Development.

Stefanyshyn will be responsible for developing the racing product and brand across NASCAR’s international series in Canada, Mexico and Europe, as well as prospective new markets abroad.

Stefanyshyn joined NASCAR in 2013. Prior to NASCAR, Stefanyshyn worked internationally in the automotive industry. Stefanyshyn will continue to report into Steve O’Donnell, executive vice president and chief racing development officer.

“We are excited about the future direction of our international racing portfolio and are looking forward to Gene’s leadership across this growing platform,” O’Donnell said.
 
Probst will step into the key leadership role Stefanyshyn held the past five years and will be responsible for leading the sport’s efforts to continue to deliver strong racing at all levels of competition, as well as integrating innovation and technology across the sport’s at-track operations.

Probst joined NASCAR in 2016 after over two decades of industry experience, including time with Ford Motor Company, Red Bull Racing and Chip Ganassi Racing. Probst will remain based out of the NASCAR R&D Center in Concord and will report directly into O’Donnell.

Bobo will oversee racing operations across all national, touring and weekly series, as well as managing the American Medical Response (AMR) relationship and the sport’s drug testing program.

Bobo joined NASCAR in 2010 after two-decades of previous high-level experience in private, government and non-profit sectors. Bobo will remain based out of the NASCAR’s Daytona Beach, Florida, headquarters and will report directly into O’Donnell.

Prime will oversee key strategic initiatives and development of key new business platforms for the sport, as well as manage the industry council framework across the sport’s main stakeholders. Prime joined NASCAR in 2015 and will remain based out of NASCAR’s New York offices. He will report directly into Steve Phelps, chief operating officer.

NASCAR announced Wednesday the dates and locations for its postseason awards banquets, which annually highlight the top performers from its national and regional touring series.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Awards Show will return to the Las Vegas for the 10th year this fall, set for Thursday, November 29, at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, both the joint NASCAR Xfinity Series-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series banquet and the NASCAR Home Tracks Champions Awards return to Charlotte, North Carolina, in December, taking place December 7-8 inside the Charlotte Convention Center at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series banquet moved from Miami to Charlotte last year. Last year was the first time the touring series awards and the Xfinity Series and Truck Series awards were presented in Charlotte on the same weekend.

Champions and standouts from the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series, NASCAR Peak Mexico Series and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series will be honored before the national series stars take to the stage later in the weekend.

Dynamic Drivelines will deliver awards to top rookie drivers and IMCA special events competitors in 2018.

National rookies of the year in the IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod divisions will each receive steel drive shafts from the Des Moines, Iowa, manufacturer.

Both the national IMCA Late Model and the Deery Brothers Summer Series rookie of the year will earn carbon fiber drive shafts.

Dynamic Drivelines will also give $50 gift certificates to designated place finishers at 80 Modified, Late Model, stock car, hobby stock and SportMod special events in its third season of IMCA sponsorship.

“We are already looking at some pretty strong accomplishments from rookie racers populating each IMCA division and expect that level of success to continue throughout the season,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “Dynamic is a great partner for our rookie drivers as well as those established in the class and their support is much appreciated.”

(Image courtesy of IMCA).

USAC Racing and the World of Outlaws will come together October 12–13 at the Terre Haute Action Track for the Wabash Clash, creating one of Indiana’s biggest fall weekend of sprint car racing.

USAC National Sprint Cars tackle the historic half-mile speedplant on Friday, October 12, before the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Cars roll into Terre Haute on Saturday, October 13.

Season-long championship battles will be heating up for both series, creating an intense atmosphere in the heart of Indiana sprint car country.

Advanced tickets, including a two-day package, are on sale now. Two-day reserved tickets are $60, two-day general admission is $50. Kids 11-and-under are free in general admission.


 

Turn 14 Distribution has introduced its "Enhanced Saturday Ground Shipping" initiative.

Turn 14 Distribution’s warehouse, customer support and accounts receivable teams are now available to process shipments and assist customers on Saturdays.

Turn 14 Distribution, now with six UPS pickup days a week, has updated its UPS Ground shipping schedule to better serve its customers, according to the company. Eligible ground packages picked up on Saturday destined for local areas will now be delivered on Monday, and those that would have been delivered on Monday can now be delivered on Saturday.

“As the modern marketplace continues to develop and customers’ demands on the supply chain continue to increase, we are eager to establish ourselves as your most committed partner in fulfilling those lofty requirements. This means dealers can now order [a] product from Turn 14 Distribution at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night and have that product delivered to their shop or customer on Monday morning with no additional fees,” Turn 14 Distribution CEO Jon Pulli said.

SRO Motorsports Group has announced the incorporation of WC Vision LLC and the Pirelli World Challenge into its organization.

The purchase follows a two-year plan where both organizations worked closely together.

The addition of the Pirelli World Challenge will allow SRO Motorsports Group to propose a global GT Racing platform to the drivers, teams and manufacturers, according to a company release.

The North American leadership and management of the Series will reportedly not change, while Bob Woodhouse, Peter Cunningham, Jim Haughey and Greg Gill will remain as Members of the Board.

“This addition was the final piece in our plan to provide global GT racing to our drivers, teams and manufacturers around the world. Our next step will be to meet with our PWC paddock members and discuss the future together,” Founder and CEO SRO Motorsports Group Stephane Ratel said.