Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) announced three major organizational promotions effective immediately.

Jeff Barna, pictured above, was named the president of YTC. Barna joined YTC in January of 2017 as COO. Barna’s expanded role will now include oversight of the company’s OE sales, export sales and human resource functions, which complements his current responsibilities of sales, marketing, product management, supply chain/logistics, project management and business analytics.

Hideto Katsuragawa was named the chairman of YTC. Katsuragawa, a YRC board member and senior managing corporate officer, remains president and CEO of Yokohama Corporation of North America (YCNA), which oversees all Yokohama-related operations in North America, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. (YRC).

Shinichi Takimoto, also a YRC corporate officer, was named CEO of YTC, Yokohama Tire Canada (YTV) and Yokohama Tire Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V. (YTMX).

Mazda Motorsports has added a new member to the team who will be supporting the company’s entire motorsports program with a focus on grassroots racing. Josh Smith will help build Mazda Motorsports’ competition parts selection, be available to competitors on the phone for parts and technical consultations, and support Mazda racers at many race events, including SCCA Majors and NASA National events.

Smith, formerly of Spec Miata prep shop Panic Motorsports, will be traveling to the SCCA Southeast Majors events, many Hoosier Super Tour events, and others. While the on-hand work will be focused in the Southeast, what is learned will translate to the entire motorsport program.

The announcement is part of a move to establish a support program based in the Southeast, according to Mazda Motorsports Manager of Business Development David Cook, who will be locating to Florida as part of the initiative. Steve Strickland of Mazda Motorsports will be providing parts support.

“No other auto manufacturer is doing this. This effort will help us bolster our parts offerings, enhance our contingency program, and simply provide better overall support to all of our racers and shops,” Cook said.

Smith says he’s looking forward to making the most of this opportunity with Mazda Motorsports and the development of the program. “I’m really excited to be a part of Mazda,” he says. “I race Spec Miata myself, and I own an RX-7. Being able to help people on a broader scale, rather than just someone who walks into the shop, and to have access to the information to help is what I’m looking forward to the most.”

A new drag racing association, Nitro Outlaw Drag Racing Association, has been formed and plans to host a limited number of events during 2018, with an “emphasis on bringing the fun back into racing.”

Instead of a traditional qualifying format, teams will be given a single "test and tune" run at the start of the event. Racers will then "challenge" an opponent for first-round pairings. In a unique twist, the fans will get to choose the lane for each driver via text or website voting. All the action will be streamed live on NitroTV.org.

Both Top Fuel and Funny Car categories will be contested during the events.

Races will be to 1000ft when possible. Nitro fuel will be limited to a maximum of 80%. A maximum manifold pressure of 60 lbs. psi will also be implemented.

Nitro Outlaw’s members include driving superstar Cory McClenathan, Funny Car owner/driver Jack Wyatt, and race winning Crew Chief Tony Shortall.

McClenathan will head up the Nitro Outlaw's drivers committee, while Wyatt oversees the owners committee. Shortall has been named Director of Safety and Competition.

"Some of my best memories from drag racing go back to the days of the match races in the 70s’,” Shortall said. "You had these drivers who would go head-to-head to settle grudges or to prove who was really the best out there. That has been missing, and we hope to bring that spirit back to the drag strip with the Nitro Outlaws."

The Nitro Outlaw races will be held at the following NHRDA (National Hot Rod Diesel Association) events in 2018, with more ADRL races pending.

March 17 —WILD HORSE PARK—CHANDLER, AZ
APRIL 28—TEXAS MOTORPLEX—ENNIS, TX
JUNE 9—BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY—MORRISON, CO
OCTOBER 13—TEXAS MOTORPLEX—ENNIS, TX

CP-Carrillo, Inc. and Arias Industries recently announced that CP-Carrillo will acquire the Arias Pistons brand name and trademark, and relocate their piston production to CP-Carrillo’s main manufacturing facility in Irvine, California. Arias Pistons' headquarters was previously located in Gardena, California, before the acquisition.

“Arias Pistons has endured the test of time, created a legendary history and we are beyond excited to continue this legacy," said Barry Calvert, CEO of CP-Carrillo. "Both companies strive to provide the best internal engine components to the customer, and combining the Arias product offering with our high-volume manufacturing capabilities is taking it to the next level."

In 1969, Nick Arias Jr. and Carmen Arias started Arias Pistons as a small, family-owned business in Gardena.

“With minimal staff and equipment, our parents began a journey that produced leading-edge and highly innovative products and most importantly, new client relations that the family still cherish today. Faced with the current industry consolidation, we have found in CP-Carrillo a strong partner to continue our mission to bring the highest quality, experience, performance and innovation to our customers,” said Nick Arias III, son of Carmen and the late Nick Arias, Jr.

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) has hired Chris Robbins as the new Director of Region Development. Robbins will now lead both the Region Development and Member Services departments.

In his new role, Robbins will focus on helping SCCA regions grow by developing and deploying an effective mix of membership acquisition, membership service and training, and program creation as part of an overall development plan for regions. He will work closely with staff, regional leadership and member services to provide regions with effective growth strategies.

Robbins worked at Southwest Airlines for more than two decades. From 2011 until his retirement in 2017, he served as a Customer Service Senior Manager, as well as a Curriculum Development Senior Manager and Senior Program Lead at Southwest Airlines University. Additionally, Robbins has been a guest speaker at several SCCA National Conventions.

“The SCCA has been part of my life since childhood, attending SCCA events in Ponca City and Salina with my dad,” Robbins said. “It’s now an honor to join the staff of one of the most recognized brands in motorsports to actively engage Region Leadership, Members, Staff and Stakeholders in service of growing SCCA participation and membership.”

Joining the SCCA in 2007, Robbins is a member of the Texas Region and served from 2012 to 2014 as the Region’s Membership Chair where he produced a quarterly newsletter, fielded questions about SCCA membership and Texas Region activities, and acted as Region ambassador at autocross, road racing and car show events. He is an active autocrosser who also participates in Club Trials.

Red Bull Global Rallycross officials have unveiled the 2018 series schedule, featuring 12 rounds, eight events, and the series’ return to Europe.

The 2018 Red Bull Global Rallycross season will feature three distinct classes of racing, with Polaris RZR side-by-side competition joining the Supercar and GRC Lites championships.

Top drivers expected to compete in the international championship include three-time defending Supercar champion and ex-Formula 1 star Scott Speed, rallycross and drifting champion Tanner Foust, NASCAR veteran and 2017 Fan Favorite Driver of the Year Steve Arpin, World Rally Championship veteran Chris Atkinson, and many others.

“This year’s strong slate of fan-favorite domestic stops, coupled with a return to Europe to wrap up the 2018 championship, guarantee an off-the-charts season,” said Red Bull GRC CEO Colin Dyne.
“Add into the mix the launch of our new Polaris RZR side-by-side class, there is no doubt GRC continues to expand the rallycross landscape.”

The 2018 Red Bull Global Rallycross championship schedule is as follows:
Round 1: Louisville, Ken. (May 19-20)

Rounds 2-3: To be announced (June 9-10)*
Round 4: New Orleans (June 23-24)

Round 5: Los Angeles (July 7-8)

Rounds 6-7: Indianapolis (Aug. 11-12)*

Rounds 8-9: Atlantic City, N.J. (Aug. 25-26)*

Round 10: Seattle (Sept. 15-16)

Rounds 11-12: Europe (Oct. 27-28)*

*indicates doubleheader

Full fields of 3/4-midgets, Slingshots and Champ karts are entered for the Ironton Telephone/Avaya Indoor Auto Racing fueled by VP at PPL Center in Allentown, PA, on Friday, January 5 and Saturday, January 6, 2018.

Over 50 3/4-midget teams are entered for two nights of competition.

In addition to the diversity of driving talent entered from across the entire spectrum of short track racing, many new cars, some wholly different others new tweaks on existing, proven designs, have been built.

The 3/4-midgets will run a full program of racing with feature events both nights. On Friday, the 3/4-midgets will be joined by the Champ karts sponsored by Hoosier Tire, where over 30 entries have been filed.

On Saturday, a full field of Slingshot racers backed by the Action Track, USA Kutztown Fairgrounds, will join the 3/4-midgets.

For Ironton Telephone Allentown Indoor race tickets, contact the PPL Center Box Office by phone at 610/347-TIXX (8499) or visit pplcenter.com. Those wishing to avoid online fees may purchase directly at the Box Office, but are encouraged to do so in advance to avoid possible box office lines the day of the event.

The series moves next to the NAPA Auto Parts Indoor Auto Racing Weekend in Atlantic City January 26–27. The finale will be a first annual event in New York State, on February 9-10, 2018 in the Times Union Center in downtown Albany, NY.

More information including ticket and hotel links is available at indoorautoracing.com.

Hastings Manufacturing Co. of Hastings, Michigan, and Piston Rings Komarov of the Czech Republic have announced the two global designers of piston rings for the OEM and aftermarket channels have merged businesses.

Piston Rings Komarov has established a global footprint, serving customers all over the world but most commonly in the Americas, South Africa and the Middle East for over 100 years. With the merger, both companies can leverage technology, will have a larger reach and better-backed reputations.

According to officials, current and new customers will benefit from the merger with expanded product offerings, lower lead times, competitive pricing and a regional infrastructure including R&D, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, sales and customer service support.

The two companies will align both sites to operate collectively while continuing to function from their respective headquarters over the next few months.

The Joliet City Council and Chicagoland Speedway of Illinois have signed on for another 20-year relationship, as reported by The Herald-News.

The council approved a use agreement that continues most of the terms of the original agreement that brought two major tracks into the city almost 20 years ago.

The Route 66 Raceway, which sits in the racing complex on the city’s south end, held an agreement that was made in 1997. The Chicagoland Speedway annexation agreement was made in 1999. Both 20-year agreements needed to be renewed.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since the vision and dream of Route 66 Raceway was born in Joliet,” Chicagoland Speedway President Scott Paddock told the council.

The agreement consolidates terms for both tracks which are now under common ownership.

City Attorney Marty Shanahan, who worked on the agreement, said it basically continues the agreement for another 20 years. Paddock described it as “business as usual” for the racetracks, according to The Herald-News.

Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) announced that long-time racing executive Doug Duchardt has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the corporation. Duchardt begins the role effective immediately in preparation for the upcoming 2018 seasons.

Max Jones has been promoted to Managing Director of the team’s NASCAR Operation joining Mike Hull, Managing Director of the team’s INDYCAR and IMSA Operations.
 
Additionally, a newly formed Corporate Office will include Team Owner and CEO Chip Ganassi, President Steve Lauletta, COO Duchardt, CFO Chuck Gottschalk and Vice President of Human Resources Rob Wilder. The Corporate Office will oversee all of CGR’s racing and commercial activities globally.
 
Duchardt will work closely with Managing Directors Max Jones and Mike Hull and team President Steve Lauletta to increase collaboration, performance and growth across all of CGR’s worldwide racing activities. 
 
“Doug will be a great addition to help lead what I think is already a very good group of people,” said Ganassi.

Duchardt was most recently executive vice president and general manager at Hendrick Motorsports (HMS). He spent over 12 years at HMS where he directed all racing operations for a NASCAR team that fields four cars in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS). Under his watch, the team won seven MENCS Championships including a run of six consecutive from 2006-11. 

Prior to HMS, the Morton, IL native spent over 20 years with General Motors where he most recently managed their entire North American motorsports initiatives with relationships in NASCAR, INDYCAR, NHRA, IMSA and SCCA. 

He is a graduate of Missouri University of Science and Technology with a mechanical engineering degree. He earned a master’s degree in engineering from Purdue University. Most recently he completed his Advanced Certificate for Executives at Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.