IMCA officials have announced that Hyperco will give away product awards to drivers in five divisions and one special series this season. This is the 21st season Hyperco has supported the Iowa-based race series.

IMCA Modified, IMCA Sunoco Stock Car, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod and Smiley’s Racing Products Southern SportMod competitors, as well as Deery Brothers Summer Series drivers, will all receive contingencies from the Pontotoc, Mississippi, high-performance suspension components manufacturer.

The top three eligible drivers in each of the five modified regions, both stock car regions, both hobby stock re­gions and in national standings for Northern SportMods and Southern SportMods—competing with at least one Hyperco spring—will receive product certificates for two Hyperco SNS Conventional springs.

Hyperco also gives two Conventional SNS springs to the top eligible driver in the tour for IMCA Late Models. Second and third-place eligible drivers each receive one Conventional SNS spring.

Drivers in all those divisions and the Deery Series must display two Hyperco decals on their race car and compete with at least one Hyperco spring to be eligible. Modified, stock car, hobby stock and SportMod drivers must also fill out and return a sign-up form to the IMCA home office by August 1.

Dick Jordan, who has served the U.S. Auto Club (USAC) in media relations and publicity capacities for almost 50 years and a member of the National Sprint Car and Midget Halls of Fame, was announced as the winner of the 2018 Jim Chapman Award for excellence in motorsports public relations.

The Chapman Award is considered by many in the industry as the highest honor in racing public relations. It is named in memory of Chapman, the legendary PR executive and innovator, who worked with Babe Ruth and was named Indy Car racing’s “most influential man” of the 1980s.

The announcement and presentation were made at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by Michael Knight, chairman of the selection committee, and one of Chapman’s closest friends. The award is determined by a vote of national media members, many of who knew Chapman, and is authorized by the Chapman family. PR representatives from all forms of motorsports are eligible for consideration.

Now USAC's vice president of communications, Jordan's schedule has routinely had him at more than 100 races a year. It's believed he has witnessed more USAC events than anyone. He has been called "USAC's greatest champion" as defined as "someone who fights for a cause."

Established in 1991 by media and publicists within the CART series, the Chapman Award originally focused on achievement in CART. After a hiatus of several years, the award was resumed in 2004, with eligibility expanded to anyone working in racing PR.

For more information, visit here.

(Photo of Dick Jordan courtesy of USAC and Dan R. Boyd.)

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has invited industry professionals to its Town Hall Meeting in Berea, Ohio, where members and prospective members will gather at Flaming River on Thursday, June 7, from 6–9 p.m., for an evening of networking with local industry leaders and the SEMA team as well as members of PRI's sales team.

This meeting will be the organization's last Town Hall Meeting for 2018 as of now.

SEMA’s Town Hall Meetings provide members and prospective members with the opportunity to learn about the association’s current programs and objectives while networking with automotive aftermarket professionals from the same geographic region.

These personal interactions give members a chance to share the business challenges and opportunities they face. As SEMA staff interacts with attendees, they also gain valuable feedback which helps identify how current benefits can enhance members’ business operations to better meet their needs.

For more information or to register, visit SEMA’s Town Hall Meetings website, contact Kristen Fregoso at 909/978-6697 or email kristenf@sema.org.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca officials have announced Timothy P. McGrane as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the County of Monterey-owned facility, effective June 1.

McGrane is a lifelong automotive enthusiast with an extensive background in event management, fundraising, and sponsorship acquisition. He has been involved with classic car auctions for 30 years, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance through various associations for 25 years, and most recently served as Executive Director of Blackhawk Automotive Museum since 2013.

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is an iconic 11-turn, 2.238-mile road course built in 1957 and hosts world-class motorsports events such as Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix, and Porsche Rennsport Reunion.

“Tim shares the County’s vision of transforming the raceway into a world-class facility,” Assistant County Administrative Officer for Monterey County Dewayne Woods said. “The combination of Tim’s experience and the County’s engagement will expedite success in this transformation. We are looking forward to an exciting future at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.”

Earlier in the year, the raceway announced a naming rights agreement with WeatherTech Inc., signed Lexus as the Official Luxury Automobile of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, and extended the naming rights agreement of the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion with Rolex Watch U.S.A.

Remaining events on the motorsports calendar include the Monterey Pre-Reunion, August 18-19; the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 23-26; the Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix featuring AMERICA’S TIRE 250, Sept. 6-9; the Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI, Sept. 27-30; and the California 8 Hours presented by Pirelli World Challenge, Oct. 26-28.

For tickets or more information, visit weathertechraceway.com.

The 38th annual Speedway Children's Charities Gala sponsored by Sonic Automotiveand Speedway Motorsports, Inc., a fundraising event featuring many of NASCAR’s most prominent personalities, generated a record-setting $1.2 million—the first time in history that the gala has generated more than $1 million.

Special honors were bestowed upon 12-time NASCAR Cup Series champion team owner Rick Hendrick during the black-tie dinner and auction hosted by FOX's Adam Alexander and Shannon Spake.

"We are very blessed to have enjoyed so much success, and it's all because of our sponsors and supporters. Thanks to their record-setting generosity, we will be able to make an incredible impact on the lives of many deserving children,” Executive Director of the Charlotte Chapter of Speedway Children's Charities Lisa Starnes said.

The night was designed to honor Hendrick, a 2017 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee. Since Hendrick Motorsports debuted in 1984, the team has celebrated more than 300 race victories across NASCAR's top three series. Additionally, Hendrick joined Speedway Children's Charities Founder Bruton Smith and Sonic Automotive President and CEO Scott Smith in donating $100,000 each to the auction.

Other NASCAR dignitaries who attended the gala include Chad Knaus, the crew chief for Jimmie Johnson's No. 48 Hendrick-owned team, as well as longtime Hendrick crew chief and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Ray Evernham, and legendary team owner Felix Sabates.

Since Bruton Smith founded Speedway Children's Charities in 1982, the organization has awarded $53 million to other nonprofits across the country. Speedway Children's Charities are operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

For more information on Speedway Children's Charities or to see how to volunteer or make a donation, visit speedwaycharities.org.

Darlington Raceway will give race fans a unique opportunity to drive their personal vehicles on the high banks of the Lady in Black, and in turn, support service members and veterans on Saturday, June 16.

For a $30 cash donation per car, Darlington Raceway will allow fans to take three laps around the famed 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval. The Track Drive is scheduled for 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

For their donation, guests will also receive two tickets to the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 race (scheduled at Darlington Raceway on Sept. 1) with $10 benefiting the VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship Program.

“It’s been several years since we’ve had a track drive here at Darlington Raceway and felt this was a great opportunity for our fans to take a few laps around the track and support our service members and veterans through the Sport Clips’ Help A Hero Scholarship Program,” track President Kerry Tharp said. “We encourage all of our fans to come out that day and participate in a family-fun activity for charity.”

Since 2013, Sport Clips has been the primary supporter of the VFW’s Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program, which provides scholarships for service members and veterans for use at post-secondary schools and trade schools. From October 15 through November 11, Sport Clips locations around the country will collect donations in-store to support the scholarship program. To date, 943 scholarships totaling $4.1 million have been awarded.

For more information, visit DarlingtonRaceway.com.

The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has announced the results of the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors election. Donnie Eatherly from P&E Distributors Inc., Dan Kahn from Kahn Media Inc., Brian Lounsberry from Motovicity Distribution, Dr. Jamie Meyer from General Motors, and Steve Whipple from Edelbrock LLC elected to serve on the Board.

While Kahn is a current SEMA Board member who was re-elected onto the group, Eatherly has served as a past Board member, and Lounsberry, Meyer, and Whipple will join as new SEMA Board Members.

The following is the complete list of the 2018-2019 SEMA Board of Directors, effective at the close of the board meeting on July 20, 2018:

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by all SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ rep and services.
The entire 2018-2019 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation and Gala in July.

At the same time outgoing SEMA Board members Jim Bingham of Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc., Susan Carpenter of CPG, Laurel Dasher of MagnaFlow and Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing will be concluding their volunteer terms and honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees Ed Pink, Chris Thomson and Donnie Eatherly. Details and tickets to the SEMA Installation and Gala are available at sema.org/gala.

Hyperco, an MW Industries, Inc. company, has announced the addition of a new warehouse in Commerce, California.

Hyperco is a manufacturer of high-performance suspension springs and related components supporting the motorsports, street performance, off-road and powersports markets. 

Its new warehouse will support its growing markets, according to the company, with a focus on its off-road and powersport customers.

Hyperco products are manufactured and stocked in its Pontotoc, Missouri, and Logansport, Indiana, plants.

“By opening this west coast warehouse, we can ship orders much quicker and for less money. That makes our customers happy,” Hyperco Motorsports And Performance Aftermarket Vice President Kelly Falls said.

Tulsa Raceway Park, a 1/4-mile drag race facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is recovering after a severe thunderstorm caused damages along the area of Highway 169.

The storm created flash floods and damaged pit signage, grandstand sign banners and related track property. The facility, which lost power, is expected to have the lights back on late Thursday evening. There were no injuries reported.

Track officials noted crew members would be on-site Thursday cleaning up debris and other damage and invited race fans out to the facility to help.

“We would like to take a minute and say thank you to all that have called texted or message checking on us. Everyone is fine,” the track said in a prepared statement. “We will be ready for racing this weekend the best we can tell right now; just lot [of] work to get done between now and then. Thanks, everyone.”

Friday night’s test-and-tune is still expected to take place, as well as the PMRA Bike Drags event set for Saturday and Sunday.

The track, owned by Keith Haney and Todd Martin, was named the NHRA Track of the Year from 2011-2013, according to its Facebook page.

The World of Outlaws (WoO) Craftsman Sprint Car Series will return to I-96 Speedway for The Rumble in Michigan, in Lake Odessa on Friday, June 1, after a one-year hiatus from the 3/8-mile track.

WoO Craftsman Sprint Car Series has raced a total of 14 times at I-96 Speedway, with events dating back to 1995. The majority of those races were on the original 1/2-mile, which was reconfigured a few years ago to its current 3/8-mile layout. 

Donny Schatz, the nine-time and defending series champion, won for the first time at I-96 Speedway in 2014.

IMCA Modifieds will also take the field during The Rumble in Michigan.

To purchase tickets, visit here.