David Gilliland Racing (DGR) and CROSLEY Sports Group have announced that they have formed a new race team, effective immediately.

DGR-CROSLEY has purchased Red Horse Racing assets, a longtime NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race winning team.

"There is so much value in joining forces with CROSLEY Sports Group," said DGR-CROSLEY President David Gilliland. "Bo LeMastus and I have been working on this for several months, and we're both very excited about this new company. It's been my plan to get into the Truck Series for quite some time. Now, we have a well-designed driver development program to groom drivers in championship caliber equipment as they work their way up through the ranks."

DGR-CROSLEY is based in Mooresville, N.C., and has retained the same race shop that Red Horse Racing used successfully over the last 10 years. From this location, DGR-CROSLEY will be fielding Late Models, K&N, ARCA and NASCAR Trucks.

The DGR-CROSLEY stable will be made up exclusively of Toyotas with support from Toyota Racing Development (TRD). The new union includes the expansion of the relationship with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM) that DGR has had the past two years.

Announcements on some of the committed drivers will follow by the end of next week.

For more on DGR-CROSLEY, and/or to inquire about driver development opportunities under the DGR-CROSLEY banner, contact Jason Hedlesky.

Holly Springs Motorsports, a drag strip located in Holly Springs, Mississippi, has signed a multi-year partnership agreement with the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA).

The sanctioning announcement comes just two years after the 1/8-mile drag strip faced massive facility damages due to an F4 tornado in December 2015.

The facility features a laser-leveled, all-concrete surface with eight staging lanes plus concrete walls, guardrails and 1,400-plus feet of uphill shutdown area and a full sand trap.

It also features an AccuTime timing system, numerous speakers, all-asphalt parking, electrical hook-ups, a fuel shack and a concession stand.

Track operator Aileen Davis believes the IHRA Summit SuperSeries program fits in nicely with their philosophy of taking care of the racer.

“All of our racers enjoy that, especially the chance to race at the (IHRA Summit) World Finals,” she said. “Where we’re located, Memphis is just right up the road from us. I just had a truck driver we deal with call me and tell me how he was a track champion up North and how he had come to the World Finals. It’s just a great opportunity for our racers to race against the best from all over the country.”

(Image rendering courtesy of K1 Speed).

Indoor kart racing operator K1 Speed has announced K1 Circuit, a new outdoor karting center in Southern California.

Three years in the making and designed by pro racing driver Rocky Moran, Jr., the 1.1-mile configurable outdoor track will offer banked turns and elevation changes within the foothills of Southern California.

The main building will be a 14,000-sq. ft., two-story structure that features a K1 Race Gear store, meeting spaces and a Paddock Lounge café with a deck overlooking the track. Additional structures will serve as garages and storage spaces, while a scoring tower will be installed to display the current running order on track.

The karts utilized on the track will also differ from those found at K1 Speed. With a longer distance and more opportunity for safe run-off territories, an all-new electric pro-kart will propel drivers to over 75 mph.

K1 Speed is the United States’ largest indoor kart racing operator with over 30 centers across the nation. K1 Speed also recently introduced an international franchise program, which has enjoyed success in South Korea and Mexico. New facilities in Canada, Panama, China and the United Arab Emirates currently under construction.

K1 Speed will announce more information about K1 Circuit at a later date.

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has made changes to its 2018 competition classes and payouts for its sportsman and bracket programs.

There will be five competition classes in the 2018 season: Top Sportsman, Top Dragster, Bracket Combo (including box and no-box competition), Top Junior Dragster and Pro Junior Dragster.

The ADRL has also announced increases to its purses and payouts for the sportsman and bracket classes. Top Junior Dragster and Pro Junior Dragster prizes will stay the same as previous years. The changes are reflected below.

1. Bracket Combo: Entry fee $100

Winner- $5,000
Runner-up- $1,250
Semi-Finalists- $400
Quarters- $125
 
2. Top Dragster & Top Sportsman: Entry fee $150

64 car field (58+ cars)
Winner- $3,500
Runner-up- $1,300
Semi-Finalists- $500
Quarters- $200
Qualifiers- $50
 
32 car field (28+ cars)
Winner- $2,000
Runner-up- $800
Semi-Finalists- $300
Quarters- $75
 
16 car field (13+ cars)
Winner- $1,500
Runner-up- $650
Semi-Finalists- $200
 
Eight car field
Winner- $1000
Runner-up- $600

With the next set of engine regulations in the works, the Verizon IndyCar Series, Chevy and Honda have announced that both manufacturers will step back from the full slate of engine development options for the 2018 race season, as reported by RACER.

Based on the current 2.2-liter TTV6 engine formula (created in 2012), odd-ending years like 2017 called for limited R&D, while even years allowed teams to update and replace cylinder heads, turbos and induction systems, camshafts, and other core pieces. Always available for upgrades are pistons and valvetrain components.

Because of the next set of engine rules are in the works, however, Chevy and Honda will stick to the restrictive R&D plan typically followed in odd years. This program will stay in place until officials implement the new regulations in 2020 or 2021.

“Originally, we expected four years with this formula, then something new for the fifth. We are going into the seventh year of competition for this engine. They were never intended to run at the power levels we are seeing now, that we've increased to now. So we looked at it and decided for the next two years until we do a new engine, let's hold back on the amount of development that we can do, and not waste money,” HPD race team leader Allen Miller told RACER.

According to RACER, 2020 is the target year for a new formula if a third manufacturer joins the series. If Chevy and Honda are the only two brands to remain, IndyCar will likely extend the deadline to 2021.

More news of the next engine regulations will come soon, says IndyCar Competition President Jay Frye.

"We hope to have some sort of news on this early in the year," Frye said to RACER. "And we are in agreement that the power piece is what's next in the equation. Everybody wants more power, so that's what we're working on giving our fans with this plan. 'Fast and loud,' brother, that's the thing we're going for."

American-Canadian Tour (ACT) officials have announced that Randy Potter has joined the ACT staff as a technical inspector. Potter will work alongside Director of Competition Pete Knights at all ACT Late Model Tour events throughout the 2018 season.
 
Potter was involved in Northeast racing for more than three decades as a competitor. He raced full-time on the ACT Late Model Tour during the 2007–2012 seasons, winning one event and finishing in the top-10 in points each season. Knights served as Potter’s crew chief during his time on the Tour.

Potter was also a multi-time Late Model champion at Speedway 51 in his hometown of Groveton, NH, when it was known as Riverside Speedway. He began his racing career in 1983 in the track’s Super Stock division and has competed there as recently as this past season.
 
“I raced against Randy for a number of years throughout the Northeast and [had] always known him to be an enthusiast, respectful, and stand-up person,” ACT co-owner Cris Michaud said. “Having raced and worked on ACT-type Late Models for so long, he comes to this position with the knowledge base that is essential for success. With Randy and Pete having a long history together as well, we’re excited about what both will bring to ACT.”

The International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) has announced that Sports Park Raceway has achieved its goal of IMCA-sanctioning for this year.

IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and Mach-1 Sport Compacts will run Sundays this season at the half-mile dirt track in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Opening night will be April 22, as per the current schedule.

“We ran the track last year with IMCA rules and goals to establish our car count and grandstand attendance,” explained Jason Vansickel, who co-promotes Sports Park Raceway with Marty Prin­gle and Dave Doughty. “We wanted to be IMCA sanctioned this year, so now we’ve accomplished all three of those goals.”

A test and tune session will take place April 15. Season championship night will be on Aug. 5 after a break in the last weekend of July.

Modifieds will be part of IMCA’s Side Biter Chassis North Central Region. Stock Car points earned at Sports Park Raceway will apply in the EQ Cylinder Heads Northern Region and Hobby Stock points in the Big Daddy Race Cars Northern Region.

Sports Park Raceway averaged 75 cars and 600-plus spectators for weekly shows in 2017. Fan attendance doubled when the kids' night landed on the season finale, according to officials.

Racing executive Jerry Gappens has reached an agreement with track owner Jack Himelick to lease and promote Gas City I-69 Speedway effective immediately, as reported by the United States Auto Club (USAC) Racing.

Located just off Interstate 69 between Indianapolis and Ft. Wayne, the semi-banked, quarter-mile dirt oval opened in the mid-1980s.

Gappens enjoyed a 23-year career with Speedway Motorsports, Inc. as the owner and operator of eight major NASCAR venues. During that time he also worked for the NASCAR Hall of Fame track owner O. Bruton Smith.

A native of Kokomo, Indiana, Gappens most recently served as executive vice-president and general manager of New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for eight years. Before this, Gappens spent 15 years in executive management at Charlotte Motor Speedway working under H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler.

Himelick purchased the facility, which was dormant at the time, in 1996 and has made significant upgrades during his ownership. He brought in Jiggs Thomason in 1997 to promote the track, and the two enjoyed a successful 17-year run until Thomason’s retirement. In recent years, various promoters have rented the facility for special events only. Gappens plans to restore a full schedule of races this season.

Gappens said the priority is putting together a schedule of races for this season, including contacting various sanctioning bodies for date availability. Divisions being considered include midgets, Late Models, modifieds and additional local classes. Other non-racing dates could consist of flea markets, music, car shows and a Christian-themed festival.

Co-founder of the Chili Bowl Nationals Emmett Hahn has announced that next year’s popular event will extend to a six-day show.

Since its inception in 1987, the Chili Bowl Nationals has grown from a two-day show with a field of 52 entries to a five-day one with over 350 entries, with the most recent event taking place January 9–13, 2018. The 2019 Chili Bowl Nationals is set for January 14–19 at the River Spirit Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Hahn told motorsport.com that the change to divide qualifying sessions would enhance the fan experience throughout the week.

“Everybody wants to come here and watch some good races then go out and eat after it’s over or party, and when we have this many cars on our qualifying nights, it’s too late for them to go eat and party,” Hahn told the publication. “This is all about having fun.

“Instead of having 90-cars trying to qualify, we’ll have 60-65. That’s four hot lap sessions with four [fewer] heat races. We can cut the racing down and have better race conditions and have the races over by 10:15,” Hahn continued.

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has announced that longtime member and autocrosser, John Hunter, has been named both the SoloMatters Editor and Starting Line Program Coordinator.

In these roles, Hunter will be overseeing all SoloMatters content, as well as the continued development and day-to-day operations of the Starting Line program.

Having been an SCCA member and autocross competitor since 2002, a Starting Line instructor since its inception, and current Nebraska Region Solo Chair, Hunter is excited to be working in these new roles. “I love the culture and passion the members of SCCA bring to the club. We come for the cars, but stay for the people. I am excited to share our members' stories and work as an ambassador to help the club go and grow.”

In related news, the SCCA has announced the club is producing the Hoosier Shop Manual series—a set of videos taking a quick look at some of the ways Club members have fun with cars. Each short video provides a glimpse into the competitive activity and a specific way to get involved. Videos will be rolled out early in 2018 and will be available for view at SCCA.com.

Mike Cobb, SCCA President and CEO, said the videos are being created to help automotive enthusiasts gain a better grasp of the SCCA member experience. The first set of videos focus on specific car classes across several Club.  In the future, the Hoosier Shop Manual series also hopes to explore various volunteer specialties.

The first Hoosier Shop Manual video is now available for viewing here and focuses on Beth Aquilante and her SCCA road racing American Sedan Camaro. Check back to SCCA.com frequently as new videos will be uploaded in the coming months.