Late last week—July 20, to be precise—PRI founder Steve Lewis was inducted into the United States Auto Club (USAC) Hall of Fame alongside fellow 2017 honorees Donald Davidson, Frankie DelRoy, Gene Hartley, Howard Linne, Robbie Stanley, Steve Stapp, Johnny Thomson, Chuck Gurney, Lloyd Ruby, Ken Schrader and Bob East.

Lewis, who established the venerable Nine Racing team in the late 1970s, would go on to record 133 national wins and 10 USAC National Midget Series championships over a dominant 25-year span that brought top drivers like Mike Bliss, Dave Darland, Bobby East, Joe Gaerte, Tracy Hines, Kenny Irwin Jr., Kasey Kahne, Jason Leffler, Stevie Reeves, Dave Steele, Tony Stewart, J.J. Yeley and others into victory lane time and time again.

We caught up with Lewis on the eve of his induction to reminisce a bit over his career achievements. Following are his insights on “what all of this means”:  

On the accomplishments he’s most proud of:

We raced for 25 years, earned 10 USAC National Championships and amassed 133 USAC National feature wins in the process. Most important during this amazing journey were the contributions of a group of extremely talented and motivated individuals who all made very valuable contributions to the Nine Racing winning effort. 

I was fortunate to work closely with Don Edmunds (Autoresearch) Ray Fitzpatrick and Bill Steiner (Autocraft Engines), Bob East (BEAST Chassis), Earl Gaerte and Tim Sosbe (Gaerte Engines), and finally Ed Pink (Ed Pink Racing Engines). 

We were also blessed to have talented drivers that all had the desire to win, work hard and contributed so much to the program through the years.
 
On one or two particularly special accomplishments:
 
When Stan Fox won the team’s first USAC feature in September 1979 at Anderson Speedway—I thought, how I could ever achieve anything more rewarding? I had no idea what was coming. But I do remember how special it was to see the #97 Linne Lewis midget in victory lane at Anderson that evening.

Another very special moment came in November of 1990 at the annual Thanksgiving Grand Prix held at Ascot Park. This was to be the last Thanksgiving Grand Prix ever for Ascot Park, so over 100 midgets and drivers came to race.  When the checkered flag waved on the 100th lap, Stan Fox, driving the #9 Gaerte BEAST midget, won the race. And for everyone on the team, that fateful evening [we all] felt something very special had occurred.
 
We took great pride when our drivers were selected to “move up” to the NASCAR ranks. Drivers that won championships and went on to NASCAR were Stevie Reeves (1993 Champion), Tony Stewart (1995 Champion),  Kenny Irwin Jr. (1996 Champion), Jason Leffler (1998), Kasey Kahne (2000 Champion), JJ Yeley ( 2003 Champion) and Bobby East (2004 Champion).
 
On a couple of memories that stand out among the rest:
 
We had the good fortune to also work with a number of talented drivers on a “hit and miss” basis, one of which was the late Dave Steele. Dave Steele was such a talented pavement driver and a real master of the Phoenix Mile track. 

Dave was selected to drive the BEAST–Toyota midget to debut the new Ed Pink Toyota engine. It was a masterful performance by Dave and the team as he put his #91 Beast Toyota midget on the pole and won the 25-lap feature.
 
USAC veteran Dave Darland earned his USAC midget championship driving our Nine Racing midgets in 2001. Dave was noted for his prowess on dirt, and during his tenure with the team he won 25 features, mostly on dirt.

However, one of the most memorable feature wins for Dave (and the team) was when he won the 2007 Thanksgiving Grand Prix on pavement at Irwindale Speedway. This was a huge win for Dave and a real accomplishment to come out on top with all of the best pavement specialists in the business to race against.
 
On his feelings over what the team accomplished during its 25-year run:

I am so proud.… It is a true honor to be inducted into the USAC Hall Of Fame, and to join a very special group of people who dedicated their lives to pursue their passion as drivers, mechanics, car owners, and race event producers.

When you are operating a race team, you think only, “How can we win the next race?” It was very fun and rewarding to be a part of the team of special, dedicated, talented people. Our success throughout came as a result of the combined efforts of the very talented people who all made such valuable contributions to the Nine Racing winning effort.

 

After announcing last week that the Thunder Road Raceway was to close its doors at the end of the month, things are looking up for the Gilliam, Louisiana track.

The owners of Thunder Road Raceway said the park will stay open under the new management of Buddy and Susie Dunn, who will take over operations of the drag strip and host racing events.

The Dunns' said they plan to add family-friendly activities and pay for improvements to the facility.

They said they're both racers who love the sport.

"Everything we do is about racing. Our boat goes fast, our cars, everything we do is about racing and we love that track," Buddy Dunn told ArkLaTex News.

"We want it to be something that the community is proud to have because we'll have races come from all over the country," said Susie Dunn.

Rick Campbell, Goodyear's Project Manager for NASCAR Programs, has officially retired his position after the Brickyard 400 race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Campbell was in his 39th year with The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, entirely in the Racing Division.

After graduating from the College of Wooster (OH) with a degree in Chemistry in 1979, Campbell began his career with Goodyear that year as a Product Compounder. He has subsequently served roles of increasing responsibility in Race Tire Development, including in Formula 1, Indy Car and NASCAR. He was promoted to his current position in 2008.

"Rick has been an invaluable member of the Goodyear Racing team for nearly 40 years," said Stu Grant, Goodyear's General Manager of Global Race Tires. "Motorsports has continued to evolve and advance throughout the years, and Rick has contributed to that at the highest level, and to the continued development and advancement of our tires."

Mark Keto, previously Goodyear's Project Manager for NASCAR Programs, will replace Campbell. He is a 1996 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Chemical Engineering.

NBC Universal has recruited Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will start his tenure with the network in 2018.

Earnhardt’s multi-year deal will offer a variety of media opportunities in addition to NBC’s NASCAR coverage. NBC will also partner with the driver’s other properties including Dirty Mo Media and Hammerhead Entertainment.

“We are excited to welcome Dale Jr. to our team – both on and off the track,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Broadcasting and Sports. “As a company, NBCUniversal allows for talent to stretch themselves across not just their field of expertise, but across other areas of their interests in the media world.”

After 19 years on the Monster Energy Cup Series tour, Earnhardt announced in April that 2017 would be his last. The third-generation racer won two Xfinity Series title before graduated to Cup, where he’s earned 26 wins and 14 poles in 615 starts. Since 2008, Earnhardt has piloted the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy.

Earnhardt has been voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver for 14-straight years.

“It is a tremendous honor not only to join NBC Sports next year but to begin a new career alongside people who love NASCAR as much as I do,” said Earnhardt. “To be reunited with Steve Letarte, to be able to call legends like Jeff Burton, Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty teammates rather than just friends, to be able to continue going to the track and connecting with race fans, it’s a privilege I don’t take lightly. I will devote my heart and soul to this broadcast team and pledge my very best to the millions who watch it.”

Officials from the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (NSCHoF) and Museum will be saluting the legendary Sammy Swindel during Knoxville Sprint Car Nationals week, set to take place August 9–12 in Iowa.

In preparation for the week, eight of Swindel’s iconic career race cars are on display at the NSCHoF. Some of the cars featured include: Channel Lock sprint car, Kodiak big tube, TMC Sprinter, Non-wing Federal Express, Nance and the Sammy Chili Bowl winning midget from the 1998 Chili Bowl along with the Golden Driller Award.

“All the artifacts on display are from Swindel’s personal collection of memorabilia from his helmets, driver’s uniforms, front row challenge belts, to his Kings Royal hat,” Bob Baker, executive director for NSCHoF, said.

Swindel’s trophies from racetracks all around the country, including Ascot in California, which is no longer in existence, Kings Royal trophy, Knoxville Nationals trophy and 360 Nationals trophy will be on display, he continued.

Swindel is a very well-known engineer as well as a race car driver, which the exhibit features as well.

One of those features is a drafting board. Swindel engineered many innovations in sprint car racing. He was the first to use bead-locks on right rear tires. Swindel is also credited with the bleeder system. These are valves that are used on wheels to increase and decrease the amount of air pressure in the tires.

Baker said the Swindel exhibit is the most extensive exhibit NSCHoF has featured.

Swindel will be at the NSCHoF during Knoxville Nationals at 11 a.m. on Aug. 9. Swindel will be with former teammates from several of the cars we have featured in the museum.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. recently announced the 2017 Bristol & Blue Sweepstakes, which offers a chance to win a VIP race experience at Bristol Motor Speedway, among other prizes.

Entries are accepted through September 30, when one will win a Miller Electric Mfg. Co. machine—or a grand prize trip to the Bristol Motor Speedway valued at an estimated $8000.

“The motorsports industry is highly engaged in the welding market,” said Andy Weyenberg, motorsports marketing manager for Miller Electric Mfg. Co. “Miller recognizes and appreciates all motorsports teams, suppliers and most importantly the fans who support their favorite driver.”

The grand prize winner will receive an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Hendrick Motorsports, as well as suite tickets and pit passes to the 2018 Foods City 500 NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The grand prize also includes round-trip airfare for two, five nights of lodging, a $100 credit for the Hendrick Motorsports souvenir gift shop and more.

Four first-prize winners will each take home a Miller product — either a Millermatic 211 MIG welder, a Multimatic 215 multiprocess welder, a Syncrowave 210 TIG welder or a Spectrum 375 X-TREME plasma cutter.

For more information on sweepstakes terms and conditions or to enter the Bristol & Blue sweepstakes, visit MillerWelds.com/bristolandblue.

The Save the Salt Coalition and Utah Alliance have begun a volunteer salt clean-up program called Saving Bonneville One Wheel at a Time, according to SEMA.

As vehicles exit the Bonneville Salt Flats, drivers will have a chance to stop and scrape-off salt from wheel wells, bumpers and undercarriages. The clean-off area will be located where the access road ends at the salt crust.

The Bonneville Salt Flats is a unique land formation in northwestern Utah with a hard salt crust that is perfect for both speed and safety. However, the once-13-mile race track is now less than eight miles due to salt erosion. The Coalition/Alliance is working with government officials and adjoining mine owners to replenish the Salt Flats through a comprehensive salt-brine pumping program.

The Save the Salt Coalition, of which SEMA is a founding member, is comprised of automotive and motorsports companies and organizations with a vested interest in restoring the Bonneville Salt Flats. It is a collaborative effort with the Utah Alliance—a volunteer Utah-based advocacy group with expertise and contacts at the local level.

The One Wheel at a Time program allows racing enthusiasts to do their part in helping protect Bonneville. The program will be sponsored by the venue’s four sanctioning bodies, the Southern California Timing Association, Utah Salt Flats Racing Association, Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials and Land Speed Events.

Veteran motorsports marketing executive Jason Wonderly has been named the Vice President of Sales for Texas Motor Speedway.

Wonderly joins Texas Motor Speedway after spending the past nine years as the director of marketing partnerships and new business for Team Penske in Mooresville, N.C. He will manage an 11-person business development team for one of the world’s premier motorsports facilities that annually plays host to marquee NASCAR and IndyCar events.

Among the various responsibilities in his role at Team Penske, Wonderly managed partnership marketing and special events as well as relationships with nearly three dozen elite partners involved with the organization. He was responsible for generating new business revenue, promoting organic partnership growth and identifying category business-to-business opportunities with Penske Corp.

He also provided strategic marketing and sales support for Team Penske’s Australia-based supercar program, DJR Team Penske and the organization’s technical alliance with Wood Brothers Racing.

Wonderly has been involved in the motorsports industry for the past 17 years, dating to initial sales and marketing positions with Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, and then Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He moved on to become the sports marketing director for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants in 2004, where he managed partnerships with various professional teams and colleges along with NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation and Bill Davis Racing.

Moving to the largest city on the Baja California peninsula, SCORE International has announced that round three of the four-race SCORE World Desert Championship will be the “special" split-format, multi-lap Tijuana 21st SCORE Desert Challenge, replacing the originally scheduled Rosarito Beach race.

Entering into a multi-year agreement with the City of Tijuana, the unique-format race will be held Sept. 22–24 with the spectator-friendly start/finish line and pit area located on the southeast outskirts of Tijuana in the popular Casian Ranch area.

With just four months remaining before the historic 50th-anniversary race of the iconic SCORE Baja 1000, the City of Tijuana and the Tijuana tourism groups have stepped up and offered SCORE a strong, multi-year contract that moves the race from nearby Rosarito Beach, where it was held last year. Motorcycles, quads and a group of car classes will race in split heats on Friday with the remaining car and truck classes running the first half of their race on Saturday and final half on Sunday.

“We appreciate all that Rosarito Beach did to launch the Baja version of the popular SCORE Desert Challenge, but as they were unable to host this year’s race, we are extremely pleased that the City of Tijuana, which has significantly more resources, is able to welcome this popular SCORE racing event,” comments Roger Norman, SCORE President/CEO.

SCORE officials have also indicated that these race dates, one week later than originally scheduled, will allow supporting teams and manufacturers to focus clearly on one-event rather than extending resources because of competing trade and consumer shows on the previous race dates.

Photo courtesy of Formula 1.

Next year’s Formula 1 cars will all be fitted with the Halo cockpit protection system, the FIA announced recently.

The Halo, designed to reduce the risk of injury from debris or other objects striking a driver’s head, was trialled by a number of teams during Grand Prix practice sessions last year.

With the support of the teams, certain features of its design will be further enhanced ahead of its introduction in 2018.

The move was announced following a meeting of the Formula One Strategy Group, at which other topics discussed included 2021 power units, cost control and improving the F1 show for fans.


For the full statement from the FIA, visit its website here.

In related news, Formula 1 has announced the appointment of Steve Nielsen as Sporting Director, working within the Motorsport Division. Nielsen will take up this position on August 1 and will report directly to Ross Brawn. For more on this story, visit here.