(Photo of Franco Gutierrez, left, and Cory Burns, right, courtesy of Kahn Media.)

Automotive public relations and marketing agency Kahn Media announced expansions to its staff and client roster, as well as several key promotions.

Cory Burns, the agency’s second hire, has been promoted to vice president of Accounts after nine years of employment at Kahn Media. Burns is responsible for overseeing most of Kahn Media’s accounts and leading overall PR and marketing strategy for brands like MagnaFlow, Rolex Watch U.S.A., Dinan Engineering and more.

Franco Gutierrez has been promoted to vice president of the Creative department after leading Kahn Media’s art department and creative efforts including video production, graphic design and photography for the last five years. In Franco’s time at Kahn Media, he has helped direct and produce a documentary on Le Mans called “8 Meters” and created hundreds of pieces of content for clients around the world.

The Kahn Media team also added several new hires. Andrew Gessler, a photographer and videographer that started his career in the off-road and motorsports space, brings a motorsports content focus to the staff. Ben Roget joins the staff as an account executive, coming to Kahn from Lexus USA where he worked as a district manager after graduating from Lexus’ Management and Marketing training program.

Recent client additions include two shows – The Quail Motorcycle Gathering and The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering – both centered around The Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Kahn is also working with Classic Car Studio, the custom shop featured on Velocity’s “Speed Is the New Black” television program. Also new to the roster is Niteo Products, which manages a portfolio of professional vehicle care brands and products, and Karges Fine Art, a dealer of California Impressionist and California Plein-Air art with galleries in Santa Monica and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.

Fuel delivery systems and component manufacturer Aeromotive announced the promotion of Jon Pestinger to vice president of sales. Formerly the company’s national sales manager, Pestinger began his new position earlier this year.
 
Pestinger graduated from Kansas State University with a B.B.A. in Business Administration and Management. Before Aeromotive, he was the top-selling Camaro salesman in the state of Kansas at Hendrick Automotive Group, according to Aeromotive.
 
Since begging with the company in 2012, Pestinger was responsible for building a strong relationship with SEMA Data Co-Op and coordinating the company’s product data information to ensure the accurate and standardization of all information for distributors, retailers and e-commerce. As national sales manager he was also responsible for finding new markets to grow sales.
 
“I remember sitting in the passenger seat of my Dad’s Dick Harrell-prepared 1970 Monte Carlo, barely able to see over the dashboard and long hood when he put the hammer down…the torque of that LS6 454 pressed me into the seat, and I was totally hooked. I like to think that my passion for the automobile during my formative years was the grooming I needed to succeed at Aeromotive,” Pestinger said.
 
For more information about Aeromotive fuel system components, visit here, email info@aeromotive.com, or call 913/647-7300.

Carolina Dragway, located in Aiken, S.C. and Piedmont Dragway in Julian, N.C. have joined Division 2, the NHRA Southeast Division as NHRA member tracks.

Carolina Dragway opened its gates in 1957. The facility includes over 200-acres of property which is said to be growing each year. The brother and sister team of Jeff Miles Jr. and Angel Miles operate the facility today.

Piedmont Dragway in Julian, N.C. was opened in 1957 and has hosted premier events for over 60 years. The facility is well known for hosting “the original” Big Dog Shootout. They also host a wide variety of Pro Mod events during the racing season.

As NHRA-sanctioned tracks, the facilities will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA. Additionally, the tracks have the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the NHRA All Access Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge, where racers compete for the coveted Wally trophy.

“These two tracks are icons of the drag racing community,” said Rich Schaefer, director of NHRA Division 2. “They all have great history, quality leadership and have constantly strived to move the bar higher for their racing customers and spectators. We’re thrilled to have these tracks join us in building the NHRA Southeast Division 1/8th Mile Championship Series, as well as fielding competitive teams for the Summit ET Finals.”

Bertil Roos Racing School has hired former Skip Barber Racing School driving instructors. The news comes after the announcement that the school re-engineered and rebuilt a fleet of former Barber School open-wheel cars. Skip Barber Racing School announced bankruptcy in August 2017. 

Bruce MacInnes has professionally coached racing drivers for over four decades. As the senior instructor at the original Skip Barber Racing School, he tutored such high-profile drivers as Paul Newman and Tom Cruise, and NASCAR race winners A.J. Allmendinger, Boris Said, Ken Schrader and Jerry Nadeau.

Behind the wheel, MacInnes ranks among the most accomplished Formula Ford drivers ever and was twice named Formula Magazine “Driver of the Year.”

A veteran of America’s two most famous road races, the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, he has successfully competed in a wide variety of production cars, Formula cars, & prototypes.

Divina Galica MBE is a sporting legend in her native Great Britain, representing the country in a number of Winter Olympics as a downhill ski racer. In 1973, Galica received the MBE (Member of the Most Excellence Order of the British Empire) from Queen Elizabeth II for services to sport.

A chance invitation to a celebrity race in 1974 led to a second career in motorsports. Since then, Galica has competed in a variety of series including Sports 2000, Formula 1, endurance racing and European Truck Racing.

One of the only five female drivers to have entered a Formula One Grand Prix, she finished 12th in the 1977 Formula One Race of Champions and started the 1978 BRDC International Trophy race.

She moved to the US in 1994 where she raced against drivers like two-time Indianapolis 500 champion Juan Pablo Montoya and started working as an instructor at the original Skip Barber Racing School.

Delta Speedway, a 1/7-mile dirt oval in Stockton, California, will host the inaugural Delta Kart Showdown on Saturday, Feb. 24 featuring 500cc Outlaw karts.

The 250cc Outlaw karts, box stocks, and Clone flat karts round out the four-division show.

This event will mark the first appearance of Outlaw karts at the micro sprint facility since March 2016, when Tanner Carrick won the feature.

Saturday’s Kart Showdown uses the Delta Speedway micro sprint procedures of hot laps, qualifying, heat race, and feature and the track’s micro sprint purse structure as well.

Delta Speedway is located at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds.

The micro sprint season opens on March 15 with a special Thursday night World of Outlaws (WoO) prelude race.

The fourth annual special event is a non-points race that serves as the unofficial kickoff to the WoO weekend at the adjacent Stockton Dirt Track.

Major events on the Delta Speedway calendar include the California Speedweek on June 27 and Turkey Bowl XVIII on Oct. 26-27.

Super 600, non wing, restricted, and Jr. sprints make up the micro sprint points paying divisions at the track.

Brendan O'Brien, public relations and marketing professional, has been named Marketing Specialist for Memphis International Raceway (MIR) in Millington, Tennessee.

O'Brien brings seven years of experience to MIR, including a broad marketing background with specific expertise in digital and social media. Throughout his career, he has helped a variety of brands and companies establish and expand their digital marketing efforts, maximizing results through strategic marketing solutions, analytics, social media and brand engagement, according to MIR.

O'Brien graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of arts in 2010. He worked as a Client Associate with Merrill Lynch in Phoenix, and served as Senior Digital Manager for the online marketplace LivingSocial.com in Tucson, Ariz., for four years. In December 2015, he moved to Memphis after accepting a position as Email Marketing Specialist for Archer Malmo.

O'Brien is an avid motorsports enthusiast who is excited to bring his skills and experience to the team at MIR, according to MIR. He will report directly to MIR President Pam Kendrick in his new position.

"Brendan is a motivated individual who is determined to build strong relationships and doesn't shy away from leadership roles," Kendrick said. "His experience with social engagement and analytics, strategic marketing and brand engagement is valuable in making sure our racers, fans and partners receive maximum value from our events."

Among his duties, O'Brien will maximize the presence of Memphis International Raceway through social media and create marketing strategies at the grassroots level, as well as working with both local and national media.

New Jersey Motorsports Park (NJMP) announced a three-year partnership with Skip Barber Racing School.

Per the agreement, Skip Barber Racing School will have naming rights of NJMP’s track days, trackside signage presence on both Thunderbolt and Lightning Raceways at the Millville facility, co-marketing initiatives and activation opportunities throughout the season, where NJMP competitors and spectators will have the chance to learn more about Skip Barber Racing School.
 
“The combination of world-class facilities, two exceptional race tracks and a passionate staff made our partnership with New Jersey Motorsports Park an easy decision,” said Skip Barber Racing School chief executive officer Anthony DeMonte. “NJMP provides our clients with an all-inclusive motorsports getaway with the hospitality afforded by their onsite villas, suites and clubhouse. Our partnership with NJMP is a crucial component in the on-going success of Skip Barber Racing School and we are proud to be aligned with such a quality group.”
 
Skip Barber will host 45 track experiences at NJMP in 2018 that include, but are not limited to:
    •    Teen Safety & Survival
    •    Driving School
    •    High Performance Programs
    •    One Text or Call Could Wreck It All
    •    1 and 3 Day Racing Schools
    •    2 Day Advanced Racing School
    •    Advanced Car Control
    •    Race Series
 
“We’ve had a great history of track partners here at New Jersey Motorsports Park and we’re excited to welcome Skip Barber Racing School into the mix,” said NJMP chief operating officer Brad Scott. “Our facility is honored to be partnering with the world-renowned racing and driving school.”
 
For more information about Skip Barber Racing School or to sign up for an event, visit here.

The 19th annual Arizona Drag Racer Reunion has been set for March 10, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baer Brakes in Phoenix, Arizona.

This special event will feature 12 nitro burning nostalgia top fuel cars during its three Cackle Fests set for 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

Vendors will serve hot dogs, popcorn and drinks throughout the day.

The Arizona Drag Racer Reunion was first started in 1999 at the home of Everett And Thelma Goosic in Phoenix. This initial gathering, intended to help keep the history of Arizona drag racing alive, was attended by around 15 people. Since then, it has increased in size and scope to include attendance of over 100 dragsters, funny cars, and altereds, Hotrods and muscle cars.

For more information, visit here.

The Noceti Group Inc. has announced racing will be coming to the San Joaquin Asparagus Festival for the first time, with the inaugural Asparagus Cup set to be held at the Stockton Dirt Track in Stockton, California.

The event on Saturday, April 21, will showcase a $10,000-to-win feature for Winged 360 Sprint Cars, with a purse that will be upwards of $40,000.

The San Joaquin Asparagus Festival offers “everything from food to fun” and now adds racing to the mix.

The non-sanctioned Winged 360 Sprint Car program will utilize Sprint Car Challenge Tour rules and is the only division competing at the Asparagus Cup on April 21. The main event winner will go home with a custom, one of a kind asparagus themed trophy, in addition to the $10,000 top prize.

Heartland Motorsports Park General Manager Jake Schmidtlein announced that Shelby Ebert had been named the track’s digital marketing and sales coordinator. 

“Shelby’s successful career in drag boat racing and her experience managing her own brand, Shelby Ebert Racing, LLC. made Shelby a perfect fit to the Heartland Motorsports Park team. Ebert is excited to join the Heartland Motorsports Park team and will play a vital role in continuing to grow the facility’s brand,” Schmidtlein said.
 
“Motorsports has been my biggest passion from the time I was a little girl, so I feel incredibly blessed that I am able to come on board with Heartland Motorsports Park and be involved with something that is so close to my heart,” Ebert said. “I have so many fond memories of coming to the NHRA National Event with family and friends that I can’t wait to continue those traditions, but also work hard to promote all of the unique events that happen here and grow the track’s following bigger than it’s ever been.”
 
Ebert has been racing with the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series for nine seasons and has earned three Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series World Championships, as well as two Southern Drag Boat Association Championships.

She currently competes in the Pro Modified class and plans on competing in the seven national events on the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series 2018 schedule. She has been running Shelby Ebert Racing, LLC. for three years and has attracted Lucas Oil Marine Products as her title sponsor. Ebert will be graduating from Kansas State University in May with two Bachelor of Science degrees in Marketing and Accounting.