International race teams and Pro-Am driver lineups have been part of the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida throughout each event’s long and storied history.

Through a new incentive program confirmed by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), the “36 Hours of Florida” may see an uptick in both categories in 2018. Teams with Pro-Am driver lineups in the Prototype class at Daytona and Sebring will be eligible for the Trueman Pro-Am Team Endurance Award, recognizing the highest-finishing LM P2 Pro-Am lineup in each race.

The Trueman Pro-Am Team Endurance Award winners will receive Rolex Cosmograph Daytona watches at the Rolex 24 to commemorate their achievement, and will receive specifically designed trophies for the Trueman Pro-Am Team Endurance Award at Sebring. These teams also will compete head-to-head for overall race victories in the Prototype class against world class Daytona Prototype international (DPi) and LM P2 race teams*.

The season-long Jim Trueman Award, which recognizes the top-finishing Pro-Am team entrant in the Prototype class with an automatic invitation to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, still applies.

The International Team Incentive Program is open to all new IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entrants in the Prototype and GT Daytona (GTD) classes competing in the Rolex 24 and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. The program offers each eligible team the following:
    •    Discounted premium entry fees
    •    Fuel credit of $1000 per event
    •    Continental Tire credit of two free sets for Daytona and one for Sebring
    •    Two free hospitality passes for each event (WeatherTech Paddock Club or equivalent)
    •    Travel benefits from IMSA partners and Chateau Elan Hotel Sebring discounted room rates

Eligible teams for the International Team Incentive Program include any internationally based team that did not enter and compete in 2016 or 2017 events at Daytona or Sebring.

“If you’re an international team or driver who regularly races an LM P2 or GT3 car, this program is tailor made for you,” IMSA President Scott Atherton said. “For those already considering the possibility of competing in the 36 Hours of Florida, which represents two of the world’s most prestigious endurance races, these new incentives could provide the additional boost needed to make that commitment.”

*Should a Trueman Pro-Am Team achieve the overall victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona only one watch will be awarded to each winning driver.

Performance Open Wheel Racing, Inc. (POWRi) has partnered with the Houston, Texas-based Lonestar 600 Series presented by K&K Earthworks to form the POWRi Lonestar Micro League, sanctioning both of the Lonestar 600’s divisions, the non-wing 600’s and restricted 600’s.

This partnership was formed to continue the growth and development of non-wing 600 and restricted 600 racing throughout the South, according to POWRi officials.

“The partnership Katie and I have made with POWRi will allow for continued growth of 600 racing throughout Texas and the rest of the Southern US,” said Scot Maust. “When we originally met with Kenny Brown from POWRi, it became apparent that we share a mutual goal: to promote the growth of sustainable 600 micro sprint racing for years to come.”

In 2018, the POWRi Lonestar Micro League will host a combined $10,000 point fund for the non-wing 600’s and restricted 600’s. MAVTV will also feature one event in 2018, to be determined at a later date.

“POWRi’s new partnership with Scot and Katie Maust of the Lonestar 600’s is a great way to continue to expand the POWRi brand,” noted Kenny Brown of POWRi. “We have very successful winged 600 divisions throughout the United States already with POWRi, and this will add successful non-wings and restricted 600’s to that portfolio.”

For further information, visit www.powri.com.

WISSOTA last month suspended the use of open motors in the Late Model division pending additional testing and research. WISSOTA’s goal was to provide an open engine option that provided parity with the other approved options; however, initial results indicated that the open engine option has been superior to other engine options.

WISSOTA’s tech committee plans to make an announcement by July 15 to continue the open engine option with modifications, or to discontinue it. If the program is discontinued, WISSOTA will buy back competitors’ restrictor plate, if appropriate.

Racers seeking additional information are asked to contact Callie Sullivan in the WISSOTA office at 320/275-9922, or callie@wissota.org.

USAC’s recent social media poll to complete the 2017 list of inductees into the USAC Hall of Fame has resulted in inductions for drivers Chuck Gurney, Lloyd Ruby and Ken Schrader, and driver, car owner and builder Bob East.

The four new inductees received the most votes from a select list of 16 candidates and will join eight previously announced inductees in the ceremony which accompanies the July 20 “Rich Vogler Classic” USAC Silver Crown race at Lucas Oil Raceway in Brownsburg, Ind.

Previously announced 2017 inductees include Donald Davidson, Frankie DelRoy, Gene Hartley, Steve Lewis, Howard Linne, Robbie Stanley, Steve Stapp and Johnny Thomson.

For more information, visit www.usacracing.com.

Veteran crew chief Donnie Wingo has been named competition director at Front Row Motorsports, which fields Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams for Landon Cassill and David Ragan.

In addition to the placement of Wingo, Seth Barbour will replace Wingo as crew chief of Cassill’s team.

Wingo has over 30 years of experience in NASCAR racing and Barbour previously worked at Roush Fenway Racing serving as lead engineer for Ricky Stenhouse Jr. when he drove in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Barbour most recently served as crew chief for Darrell Wallace Jr. in the Xfinity Series before that team ceased operations in June.

In observance of the holiday, the PRI offices in Aliso Viejo, California will be closed. Business will resume on July 5. Have a safe Fourth of July! 

The partnership between the County of Monterey and Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) continues to reap benefits for visitors enjoying the Laguna Seca Recreation Area as wide ranging improvements are being made to the entire Monterey County-owned facility. 

County Board of Supervisors entered into a three-year management agreement with SCRAMP just six months ago and the results of the newfound partnership are quite evident. 

“We have accelerated plans that became slightly dormant but are now being implemented. Perhaps the most notable for fans was the demolition of the paddock restrooms and showers,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “In the interim before the new replacement is built, we will have executive washrooms in their place, which are actually far nicer than the wooden building they replace.”

For a list of the projects completed or started, visit the link here. 

“There are many more projects on the drawing board, but we are very pleased with the progress that has been made in a short period time. It is a thrill to see all the activity, increased number of campers and an overall increase in use of the Laguna Seca Recreation Area,” Campbell said.

The remaining Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca major event season continues with Monterey Pre-Reunion, August 12-13; Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 17-20; Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship), September 21-24; and Pirelli World Challenge, October 12-15.

McLaren has confirmed a final split with Ron Dennis, with the former team boss selling his shareholdings in McLaren Technology Group and McLaren Automotive, and relinquishing his directorships of both.

A new holding company, McLaren Group, will have both the aforementioned under its umbrella. McLaren says that Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company and TAG Group will remain as majority McLaren Group shareholders.

There are no further details of the transaction, although a statement from McLaren stated: “McLaren Group has secured finance in order to acquire Ron Dennis’s shareholdings, stimulate growth in its wider businesses and consolidate its financial arrangements.”

Sky News has reported that Dennis will earn £275 million, or about $3.6 million, from the deal.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa will be the executive chairman of the McLaren Group.

Dennis first became involved with McLaren in September 1980, when sponsor Philip Morris brokered a merger between the struggling team and his own fledgling Project 4 F1 outfit.

On his watch, the team won world championships with Niki Lauda, (1984) Alain Prost (1985, ‘86 and ‘89), Ayrton Senna (1988, ‘90, and ‘91), Mika Hakkinen (1998 and ‘99) and Lewis Hamilton (2008).

Dennis first took a step back last November, when he gave up his role as chairman and CEO of the McLaren Technology Group.