The West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame (WCSCHoF) has announced the 10 finalists for its Class of 2018 induction, a list that includes five first-time nominees.

The five first-time nominees to emerge from the board’s first of two rounds of voting are George Follmer, Joe Garone, J.D. Gibbs, Greg Pursley and Bryan R. Sperber.

Previous nominees advancing for a final vote are Tom Gloy, Rick Henderson, Oren Prosser, Marshall Sargent and Richard (Dick) Woodland.

Final round voting by the Hall’s board of directors takes place Jan. 11–31 to select the five 2018 inductees, whose identities will be announced March 11 prior to running of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event at ISM Raceway in Phoenix.

The Class of 2018 will be enshrined June 21, 2018, at the Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, Calif. The event, presented by Gateway Motorsports Park, again accompanies the annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West weekend at nearby Sonoma Raceway.

“Without a doubt, these individuals comprise one of the most outstanding a diversified group of men whose success helped define the sport on the West Coast during the past 75 years,” said Ken Clapp, chairman of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame. “Electing any one of them will expand greatly the stature of the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame.”

For additional information, including short biographies for each of the 10 candidates, visit the West Coast Stock Car Hall of Fame website here.

Jeff Barna, president of Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC), recently announced five promotions within the tire manufacturing company. Each of the four newly-promoted vice presidents will report to Barna, while the newly-promoted senior director will report to vice president of marketing and product management Andrew Briggs. 

Bruce Besancon was named vice president of OTR sales. Besancon joined the YTC as senior director of OTR sales in 2017. Before that, he was vice president of marketing at Alliance Tire Americas and has nearly 30 years of OTR tire experience, according to YTC. 

Dan Funkhouser has been promoted to vice president of commercial sales and will report to Barna. Funkhouser, who has been with YTC since 1994, has held several positions, including senior director of commercial sales. 

Larry Kull has accepted the role of vice president of consumer sales. Kull joined YTC in 2003 as an account manager and has been promoted several times.

Andrew Zeisser joined YTC in 2013 and has most recently been named the new vice president of OEM sales. Zeisser has more than 37 years of experience in the OE arena and is responsible for the company’s OE business in North America. 

Fardad Niknam has been promoted to senior director of consumer product planning and product marketing. Niknam will leverage his engineering background and market experience to support the company’s product and marketing initiatives in the US, according to YTC. 

(Photo courtesy of the NSCHoF)

Eight legends of sprint car racing were announced recently as the 29th class of inductees to the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF).

The class is led by late drivers Bryan Clauson and Dave Steele. Pennsylvania veteran Lance Dewease was also elected.

Scott Gerkin, Emmett J. Malloy, Steve Beitler, Bob Mays and Oscar Dwain Garnant complete the class that will be enshrined on June 2.

“This year’s inductee group is another testament to the hard work put in by our 72-member National Induction Committee,” National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum Foundation executive director Bob Baker said. “We are really looking forward to our twenty-ninth induction banquet on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa on Saturday, June 2.”

For more information, including short biographies on each inductee, visit the NSCHoF website here.

NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Inc. has announced the addition of Mark Boyle as general manager of product. At NGK, Boyle will manage the product, catalog and pricing team to further efforts for the NGK ignition, NTK sensor and Wells Vehicle Electronics product lines.
 
“Mark’s addition aligns with an exciting time at NGK. It shows our continued commitment to promoting further growth of our product lines, as well as fostering strategic partnerships with our customers,” said NGK Senior Vice President of the Aftermarket, Mike Schwab.
 
Mark Boyle joins NGK from Tenneco, where he was the North American marketing director of product and brand management for the last two years. There he managed part introductions, pricing strategy, sales connectivity, vendor management, advertising, public relations and promotions.
 
Before Tenneco, Boyle spent five years at Federal-Mogul as the director of steering and suspension products, where he established a large team of product managers and specialists who oversaw $400 million in P&L. There, Boyle significantly expanded the MOOG replacement steering and suspension line, overseeing the expansion of MOOG control arms, U-joints, and strut and hub assemblies.
 
Since Boyle’s addition, NGK has released 413 new wire set part numbers and 76 new NTK Oxygen Sensors. Mark Boyle graduated from Aurora University with a Bachelors in Marketing. He currently resides in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his family.

Planning and preparation for the 2018 season reached an important milestone this week as track services professionals from the U.S., Canada and Mexico participated in the 18th annual NASCAR Safety and Operations Summit presented by American Medical Response (AMR).

The three-day conference, held at the Concord (North Carolina) Convention Center, featured numerous presentations and small-group seminars that addressed best practices in the safety, track services, medical and security functional areas.

This year’s keynote speech was delivered by Dr. Ed Racht, the chief medical officer for AMR and associate chief medical officer of Evolution Health, who has served for more than 20 years in the medical field.

Amid the training sessions, NASCAR also presented awards to individuals and tracks for outstanding performance during the 2017 season. The 2017 honorees included:

Track Services
•Mission Award: Tim Arfons
•Teamwork Award: Darlington Raceway
•Innovation Award: Jay Donnay and Jason Payne
•Excellence in Track Services Award: Ignatius Kosier, Atlanta Motor Speedway
•Norrie Baird NASCAR Track Services Training Award: Andrew Brandl, Road America
 
Medical
•Above and Beyond Award: Chuck Willard, Chicagoland Speedway
•Medical Director Award: Dr. Douglas Swanson, Dr. William Liang
•Nursing Director Award: Connie Tompkins, Kerry Lane
•Teamwork Award: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
 
Security
•Security Award: Chief Gary J. Gacek, Concord NC Police Department, Doug Cremer and Tom Vesey, Charlotte Motor Speedway; Alan Watson and Andy McWilliams, Talladega Superspeedway; Greg Scott and Darren Cook, Kansas Speedway; Matt Brannock, Martinsville Speedway; Bill Hindman and Brett Adams, ISM Raceway; Jay Fraioli and Al Garcia, Homestead Miami Speedway

Former crew chief Chad Bryant has acquired the assets of the Cunningham Motorsports ARCA Racing Series program previously owned by Briggs Cunningham and Kerry Scherer.

Bryant has been a key component in Cunningham's success for years, according to ARCA, crew-chiefing driver Chase Briscoe to the ARCA national championship in 2016.

"Same team, new name," said Bryant. "We're open for business as Chad Bryant Racing (CBR)…still the 77 and the 22."

Bryant said he’s keeping the core of the Cunningham Motorsports team that captured 40 victories and the 2016 championship together under the new team name.

Former Cunningham Team Manager and Crew Chief Paul Andrews, whose race shop holds all the former Cunningham cars and equipment, will also remain with the team.

Bryant said the team will field at least one car for the Lucas Oil 200 season opener at Daytona Int’l Speedway on Feb. 10 for Bo LeMastus, who will drive the No. 77 Ford with sponsorship from Crosley Brands, according to ARCA.

Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren announced a series of promotions and role changes effective immediately.

•Joe Fowler, who has been Kansas Speedway’s Director of Business Development, has been named Vice President, Sales and Marketing. In his role, Fowler will continue to oversee the corporate sales and marketing department, while adding consumer ticket sales to his responsibilities.

•Ryan Hogue has been named the Senior Director of Communications and Consumer Marketing, overseeing the consumer marketing, public relations and social media team.

•Eric Peterson has been promoted to Director of Corporate Sales and Marketing, overseeing the corporate sales and marketing team.

Kansas Speedway hosts two NASCAR race weekends a year. Its first race weekend of the season is May 11–12 with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series under the lights. In the fall, the NASCAR playoffs return Oct. 20–21 with the NASCAR XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Also in the fall is the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards series finale. To purchase tickets, call 866/460-RACE (7223) or visit www.kansaspeedway.com.

(Photo courtesy of the Sooner Late Model Series).

Twenty race dates have been scheduled for the Sooner Late Model Series (SLMS) in 2018.

The season will open on March 17 at Super Bowl Speedway in Greenville, Texas and conclude on Oct. 20–21 at Enid Speedway in Enid, Oklahoma.

Four doubleheader weekends are on tap. Southern Oklahoma Speedway will host the Sooner Series on April 20 followed by a stop at Oklahoma Sports Park on April 21. Southern Oklahoma Speedway and Super Bowl Speedway will host the SLMS on May 18 and 19 respectively.

July 20 will see a visit to Southern Oklahoma Speedway with a return to Oklahoma Sports Park on July 21. August 17 and 18 will see the late models at Southern Oklahoma Speedway and Super Bowl Speedway and the season will close with a two-day show at Enid Speedway on Oct. 20–21.

In total, Super Bowl Speedway will host the SLMS three times, Enid Speedway and Southern Oklahoma Speedway will hold six events each Oklahoma Sports Park has five events.

2018 Sooner Late Model Series Schedule
March 17, Super Bowl Speedway, Greenville, Texas

April 7, Enid Speedway, Enid, Okla.

April 20, Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.

April 21, Oklahoma Sports Park, Ada, Okla.

May 5, Enid Speedway, Enid, Okla.

May 18, Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.

May 19, Super Bowl Speedway, Greenville, Texas

June 15, Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.

June 16, Oklahoma Sports Park, Ada, Okla.

July 7, Enid Speedway, Enid, Okla.

July 20, Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.

July 21, Oklahoma Sports Park, Ada, Okla.

Aug. 4, Enid Speedway, Enid, Okla.

Aug. 17, Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.

Aug. 18, Super Bowl Speedway, Greenville, Okla.

Sept. 8, Enid Speedway Enid, Okla.

Sept. 14, Southern Oklahoma Speedway, Ardmore, Okla.

Sept. 29, Oklahoma Sports Park, Ada, Okla.

Oct. 20, Enid Speedway, Enid, Okla.

Oct. 21, Enid Speedway, Enid, Okla.

Motorsports industry veteran Robby Benton will join Team Penske in 2018, serving as NASCAR Team Manager, the organization announced.

Benton, who has spent time as a driver and owner in a number of different series from NASCAR to IMSA, will report to Competition Director Travis Geisler.

Benton will help handle various administrative and competition-related duties for both the team’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) as well as the team’s NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS). Team Penske will field four full-time NASCAR programs in 2018 with the addition of the No. 12 Ford Fusion and driver Ryan Blaney to its Cup program.

“I’m very happy to join an operation like Team Penske,” said Benton. “Anyone that is involved in this sport has a tremendous amount of respect for Roger Penske. He has a world class operation and expects nothing but the best from his people, and that shows on and off the track. I’ve emulated many of Team Penske’s values through my own programs, so it’s especially meaningful to now be a part of this team.”

Following his time as a driver, Benton transitioned to become a team owner in many different racing series. Most recently, Benton was an owner in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Over the years, Benton’s teams scored victories in NXS and IMSA.

The 2018 MENCS regular season begins with the 60th anniversary running of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500, on Sunday, February 18.

An illustrious seven-man list representing six motorsports disciplines and one iconic racing facility comprises a unique class of 2018 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) inductees announced recently at Daytona International Speedway.

The milestone 30th Annual Induction Ceremony presented by Bridgestone is set for Tuesday, March 13, at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach. Honorees include drag racing car builder John Buttera, Indianapolis Motor Speedway founder Carl G. Fisher, four-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, record-setting pilot—and world-famous billionaire—Howard Hughes, motorcycle great Fred Merkel, three-time Indianapolis 500 champion owner U.E. Pat Patrick and sports car legend Bob Tullius.

“Our inductee classes are always intriguing but this year is even more so,” said MSHFA President Ron Watson. “Howard Hughes and Jeff Gordon in the same class—that is probably the best example we’ve ever had to illustrate the breadth of our inductee roll.”

The MSHFA, which in recent years has hosted its induction in July, has moved the date for this year’s ceremony. The switch puts the induction amid a bevy of March motorsports activity in Florida. The IndyCar Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance, the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, the 12 Hours of Sebring, plus the AMA DAYTONA Supercross, American Flat Track’s DAYTONA TT and the DAYTONA 200, as well as Bike Week in Daytona Beach, will all take place in a 10-day period that includes the MSHFA induction.

The induction ceremony will be preceded on March 12 by the annual “Heroes of Horsepower” Reception and Dinner at the MSHFA Museum, located in the Daytona International Speedway Ticket and Tours facility.

Tickets for all 30th annual MSHFA induction activities can be purchased online at www.mshf.com or by calling 386/681-6843. For more information on the 2018 MSHFA inductees, visit here.