Race fans can renew their tickets now for the Big Machine Brickyard 400 and Lilly Diabetes 250 at 2017 prices, as the annual NASCAR race weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway enters a new era next year.

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race will move to the cooler temperatures of Sept. 9, 2018, with NASCAR XFINITY Series action also taking place during the race weekend. The Big Machine Brickyard 400 will serve as the final race of the regular season, determining the regular-season champion and to set the field for the NASCAR Playoffs, which begin the following weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The renewal window will continue through Monday, Aug. 7.

“The Big Machine Brickyard 400 weekend will receive an exciting boost with its new date, featuring cooler weather and the crucial spot on the schedule as the final race of the regular season,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “We’re grateful to our most loyal fans and are pleased to offer customers the opportunity to lock in current pricing for the start of a new era with the 25th annual edition of this classic NASCAR race in 2018.”

Fans who have included tickets for other products in their 2017 order also can reorder at discounted prices during the renewal period. Those products include:

•Lilly Diabetes 250 Race Day tickets
•Friday General Admission tickets
•Parking and camping permits
•Big Machine Brickyard 400 Pre-Race Pit Passes

Those who take advantage of the renewal period also will be first in line for ticket upgrades and are eligible for other presale offers for all IMS events.

The NASCAR Foundation has announced the appointment of four members to the organization’s board of directors. The multi-faceted group represents business community experience and leadership at the local and national levels, positioning the Foundation for future growth in its mission to improve the quality of life for children in need. 


The four new members include:


• Randy Dye, owner of Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep RAM, FIAT, Maserati Alfa Romeo of Daytona and Daytona Certified Pre-Owned Center. Dye also serves on the National Dealer Council for FCA, on the executive board of directors as treasurer for the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce, on the board of directors for the Museum of Arts & Sciences and as a trustee for Volusia Flagler Boys & Girls Club, among other community organizations.


• Peter Intermaggio, senior vice president of brand marketing and communications for Comcast Cable and a former staff member for several members of the U.S. House of Representatives. He is also the former worldwide managing director at the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather.


• Charles Lydecker, former president of the retail division at Brown & Brown, Inc., is currently a trustee of American University, director at Gateway Banks of Florida, chairman of the Florida Neurological Injury Compensation Association and director of Halifax Health Foundation. He is the former chairman of the United Way of Volusia and Flagler counties and the Daytona Beach and Halifax chambers of commerce; he also is former vice chairman of the Florida Ethics Commission and past chairman of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.  


• Norris Scott, NASCAR’s vice president of analytics and insights. Scott leads a new team providing a valuable resource for measurement and analytics of data across social and digital media, broadcast, traditional consumer and category research, fan engagement and sponsorship valuation. Scott previously oversaw the NASCAR partnership marketing and commercial teams, which managed relationships with prominent sponsors.


”These are valuable additions, making a board that was already strong even stronger,” said Mike Helton, chairman of The NASCAR Foundation. “This foursome represents our dual commitment to our roots in the Daytona Beach-area community and the aspiration to grow our impact at the national level. We are proud to welcome Randy, Peter, Charles and Norris to The NASCAR Foundation’s board of directors.”

Motovicity Distribution has officially launched its new B2B e-commerce website. Incorporating helpful features that provide a more insightful, confident, and simplified online shopping experience, the new website is part of Motovicity’s “Better Than Direct” customer relations initiative.

Notably, customers still get everything that has made Motovicity one of the leading performance wholesale distributors of aftermarket performance parts for the last 15 years. Plus, they’ll also get all the digital manufacturer catalogs and documents, price files, complementary product info, and more.  

The features of the new site offer options no one else in the industry is currently making available, according to Motovicity, such as:

•    The only website in the industry that is fully PCI compliant and accepts PayPal
•    An “Online wallet” that allows the management of payments in real time
•    The opportunity to suggest that Motovicity stocks a product currently not carried

Accompanying an always accessible expertise is a product search which includes not only information on the part being shopped, but also showcases:

•    What other customers bought when purchasing the product they’re considering
•    How to recommend helpful changes and additions to product information; image, specs, UPC, description, application, etc.  
•    The ability for the customer to be notified when an item is on sale

For more information, or to check it out yourself, visit www.motovicity.com.

Longtime Holland Speedway track owner and president Ron Bennett announced that the 58–year–old racing facility has been put up for sale, effective immediately.

"I've been here since 1960 when I built the track," Bennett said. "I had a couple of partners who retired and I'm up in age now and I'm looking at it and I have no problems running it but it's time to move on. I'm looking at somebody who is really a seriously interested party. There's 135 acres here. It's a big facility. I'm not being pressured it's just that if there's a time that somebody comes up that I think is worthy and can do it, I'll consider it.”

Over the decades that followed the track is said to have prospered greatly with good car counts and large crowds. Numerous upgrades and additions to Holland's physical structure were also made over the years. Racing heroes such as Art Clark, the late Dick Flaig and many others entertained legions of fans at the track.

For more information, visit www.hollandspeedway.com.

Take1 Insurance has announced the appointment of Laura Hauenstein to the position of Vice President, Broker and Underwriter of Motorsports, reporting directly to Take1 Executive Vice President Scott Carroll.

“We are thrilled to welcome Laura to the Take1 motorsports team,” Carroll said. “Her reputation for providing customers with outstanding service and support is second to none in the motorsports industry, among amateur, semi-professional, and professional drivers, race team owners, sponsors, track owners, leagues, and sanctioning bodies.”

Laura Hauenstein comes to Take1 Insurance from SLE Insurance Brokerage, LLC, where she served as president of the firm that she founded to provide general insurance placement and niche specialties in Motorsports, Equestrian, and Transportation. Prior to this, and for 11 years, she served as President of WSIB Motorsports Insurance.

Newly announced NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Ray Evernham and top race engine builder Jon Kaase will headline a tuned-up Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) at this year’s Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis.

Slated for December 5–6, the 2017 AETC will offer attendees an opportunity to exchange cutting-edge ideas and information on the latest in performance engine technology, as well as a chance to spend one-on-one time with colleagues and expert presenters.


Engine builders, designers, engineers, manufacturers, business owners, racers, and media will gain invaluable information on some of the industry's leading technological breakthroughs and state-of-the-art advances in motorsports technology from three-time NASCAR Cup Champion Crew Chief and 2018 NASCAR Hall of Famer Evernham, Kaase of Jon Kaase Racing Engines, VP Racing Fuels Senior Technical Director Freddie Turza, and EngSim Principal Engineer Dan Agnew, among others.


“AETC serves as a community platform that brings together engineers, engine builders, and influencers who are invested in advancing the motorsports performance industry,” said Zane Clark, SEMA Senior Director of Education and organizer of the AETC. “What really makes AETC unique is the number of networking opportunities available, [allowing] attendees to interact with some of the leading manufacturers and some of the industry's top engine designers."


The AETC is a favorite of attendees who arrive in Indianapolis ahead of the annual PRI Show, which takes place December 7–9, 2017, at the Indiana Convention Center. It’s among the dozens of motorsports-related conferences, seminars, and special events—in and around the Convention Center—in the days leading up to and including the PRI Show.


“The AETC is astronomically terrific. You have the fastest people in the world in one little room, and they share. There are no cover-ups and there’s no hidden information. Everyone learns from everyone else, and it drives our industry,” said Benjamin Baloga of Murrieta, California, who attended last year’s conference. “It stimulates other people into asking questions, then others in the industry who may have already solved that problem will go up to that person and start talking to them.”


There is a fee to attend the two-day Advanced Engineering Technology Conference. For more information or to register, visit www.aetconline.com or call 909/978-6743.

SCRAMP Board of Governors President Michael Smith has been appointed temporary CEO of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, replacing long-time General Manager and CEO Gill Campbell.

Under the reorganization, which SCRAMP (Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula) described in its announcement as “part of an ongoing evolution of operations” at the track, Campbell will move into a new role as Senior Vice President of Event Operations. A search for a permanent new CEO is underway.



"This is a response to the needs and plans of the new SCRAMP that began operating under a new agreement and structure with the County of Monterey in January," Smith said in a statement. "It will enable SCRAMP to address the increased demands of running the entire Laguna Seca Recreation Area while staying focused on an ambitious plan for racing and non-racing events at the facility.

"The realignment allows Gill and her team to focus solely on ensuring future success to meet SCRAMP and Monterey County's shared vision for the future of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca."



In the same statement, Campbell said that her new position will play to her strengths in event organization and promotion.



"I'm looking forward to doing what I do best, which is to organize and promote events, starting with the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion in August," she said. "Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-class facility that has a rich history of bringing once-in-a-lifetime events to the Monterey Peninsula for the shared enjoyment of fans and the community alike and we're going to continue that tradition."



A protracted debate over the Monterey circuit’s track management ended in January with the local county extending SCRAMP’s deal through to at least 2019. 

Mercedes will join the FIA Formula E championship from the start of its sixth season in 2019 after taking up its option on an entry.

Mercedes announced last October that it had secured an option to join the grid as a manufacturer from season five (2018/19), but was still evaluating an entry as of last month.

Despite having until October to make a final decision on taking up the entry, Mercedes announced on Monday that it would be going ahead with plans to join Formula E, starting from season six (2019/20).

As part of a realignment of its motorsport interests, Mercedes also confirmed that it would be quitting DTM, Germany’s leading touring car series, at the end of 2018.

“This new approach will see Mercedes-Benz competing at both ends of the motorsport spectrum: in Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport combining high technology and the most demanding competitive challenge; and in Formula E, which embodies the transformation that is underway in the automotive industry,” a statement read.

NASCAR's leading fan driving experience partners—NASCAR Racing Experience and Richard Petty Driving Experience—announced they will consolidate the two organizations and their operations to deliver the ultimate on-track fan experience at more than 20 racetracks around the country.

Together, it is said that these two trusted brands will create an even more powerful one, with more than 100 race cars and permanent locations throughout the US. With the consolidation, NASCAR Racing Experience and Richard Petty Driving Experience will now be able to offer its customers more dates at more of the nation's premier speedways.

Daytona International Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway have now been added to NASCAR Racing Experience's lineup of Atlanta Motor Speedway, Auto Club Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chicagoland Speedway, Dover International Raceway, Homestead Miami Speedway, Kentucky Motor Speedway, Myrtle Beach Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway, Richmond International Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway and Texas Motor Speedway.

As part of the consolidation, both organizations will continue to operate under their current brands and announced schedules for the immediate future. Terms of the agreement were not available.

"As we have always done, we want to give the best experience for our fans," said Richard Petty. "Boston Ventures acquired Richard Petty Driving Experience in 2008. When they decided to exit and sell the business, we had an opportunity to consolidate the industry and bring the two faces of the sport together—Petty and NASCAR are one in the same."

In preparation for the 2018 season, IndyCar officials have announced the debut of the latest Indy car, “NEXT,” for the Verizon IndyCar Series. 

Cars again powered by Chevrolet and Honda engines will represent a collaboration of several key constituents – INDYCAR, Dallara and design experts in the United Kingdom – paired with input from drivers, teams and fans alike.

The new car for 2018 will come in two specifications: one for superspeedway ovals and the other for use on short ovals, permanent road courses and temporary street circuits.

The project of outfitting the current Dallara IR-12 chassis with a new aerodynamic kit began more than a year ago. Design support came from Dallara and Chris Beatty, a UK-based concept design and 3D animation consultant. Throughout the process, competitors contributed to the design progress.

IndyCar revealed the superspeedway version of the cars with accompanying photos and video. The new car will begin testing on Tuesday, July 24 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-oval. 

For more information, including specifications of body design and safety features as well as photos and video, visit the IndyCar website here.