Dr. Daniel Armbruster will take over the management of Porsche Motorsports North America (PMNA) as the president and CEO beginning September 1. He steps into the position of Jens Walther, who has headed the wholly-owned Porsche subsidiary in California since 2010.

Armbruster joined Porsche AG in 2000 and was responsible for the development of the innovative 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car. Most recently, he managed the Motorsport Quality Management division. Jens Walther moves to Porsche Leipzig, where he takes up the role as the director of sales and marketing.

Porsche Motorsports North America takes care of Porsche’s motor racing customers in North America. PMNA’s services range from the sale of Cayman GT4 Clubsport, 911 GT3 Cup and 911 GT3 R race cars through to drivetrain overhauls and spare parts sales as well as supporting customers at the racetracks. PMNA also offers a restoration service for vintage Porsche race cars. PMNA has been a part of the new Porsche Experience Center in Carson, south of Los Angeles, since November.

“We would like to thank Jens Walther, who has boosted the professionalism of Porsche Motorsports North America over the last seven years, which led to many successes,” says Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars. “With Daniel Armbruster as his successor, we have an outstanding and experienced manager with many years of experience in Porsche Motorsport.”

Verizon IndyCar teams will have more than new bodywork to install leading into the 2018 season. With a chance to refresh the visual quality of its cars, the series is also planning to take a step forward with new engine controllers and other associated electronics to power the fleet of Dallara DW12s.

IndyCar mandated the use of McLaren Applied Technologies' TAG-400i ECU for every manufacturer to use when the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 formula was introduced in 2012, and it's believed a new TAG-600 model is among the ECUs under consideration for 2018. In addition to McLaren, Bosch and Cosworth could also be in the running to earn the ECU supply contract.

To complement the planned ECU update, a new dash is also being considered, which would require a significant upgrade to the DW12's onboard data acquisition system. If the existing Cosworth dash is retired, a major vendor like those named above would be needed to outfit each car.

With contracts under current negotiation, the final cost per upgrade isn't known, but an estimate of $40,000 per chassis has been mentioned within the IndyCar paddock, according to Racer.com.

Stage lengths for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July have been tweaked slightly.

Minor updates to the XFINITY Series race package for the summer race at the flat 2.5-mile oval are expected to alter the length of a fuel run; to compensate, the new stages for the Lilly Diabetes 250 (July 22, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, IMS Radio Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be as follows: Stage 1 ends following Lap 30, Stage 2 ends following Lap 60 and the race is scheduled to end following Lap 100.

The previous format was 25-50-100.

“Following the previously announced updates to the competition package for the NASCAR XFINITY Series event at Indianapolis, NASCAR will issue a rulebook bulletin that updates the stage lengths for the race,” Scott Miller, NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition, said in a statement. “As we have with every race, we worked with teams on expected fuel and tire runs for the event, and have determined that stages ending on Lap 30, Lap 60 and Lap 100 will provide the best race for fans.”

Monisha Kaltenborn has left her role as team principal and CEO of the Sauber Formula 1 Team, effective immediately, the Swiss team confirmed.

Kaltenborn had been with the Hinwil-based team since 2000, having joined as the head of legal in 2000 and becoming CEO in 2010.

She became F1's first female team principal, as well as a team shareholder, when she took over the day-to-day running of the squad from founder Peter Sauber in October 2012 and continued in the role when the team was acquired in full by Longbow Finance S.A. in July last year.

“Longbow Finance SA regrets to announce that, by mutual consent and due to diverging views [on] the future of the company, Monisha Kaltenborn will leave her positions with the Sauber Group effective immediately," read a brief statement released late on Wednesday by Pascal Picci, Chairman of Sauber Holding AG.

"We thank her for many years of strong leadership, great passion for the Sauber F1 Team and wish her the very best for the future. Her successor will be announced shortly; in the meantime, we wish the team the best of luck in Azerbaijan.”

Under Kaltenborn's stewardship, Sauber finished seventh in the constructors' standings in 2013, but have since done no better than eighth, with the team finishing last year a disappointing tenth with just two points.

Picci also denied media suggestions that their drivers do not receive equal treatment from the team, saying: "This is not only patently untrue, it would be contrary to the team’s absolute and longstanding commitment to fair competition. These reports, attributed to anonymous 'sources', are highly detrimental to both Marcus Ericsson and Pascal Wehrlein as well as to the management and all staff of the Sauber F1 Team.”

Sauber is currently ninth in the Formula 1 standings with four points.

Dart Machinery in July 2015 completed the purchase of an 82,000-square-foot industrial complex in Warren, Michigan that would eventually combine the current headquarters and the manufacturing center into one central location.

Fast-forward almost two years and the move has progressed very well, according to the company. For a big move like this, it’s not as simple as calling a moving company and just packing up and moving. It requires thoughtful planning and a tremendous amount of effort and collaboration to orchestrate such an enormous undertaking.

“We had to carefully think about, plan, take all variables into consideration and then execute to pull this move off,” said Richard Maskin, president of Dart Machinery. “We have the distinct advantage of keeping production flowing because we own our own facilities and equipment. We pick when to move certain machines, so that there is minimal, if any, impact on increased production time.”

Currently, 100 percent of the company’s Makino machines have been moved to the new Warren location along with support equipment.

“We are in the process of moving departments from our Troy, Michigan, location and should have nearly all production under one roof by the end of 2017,” Maskin said. “The last part of the company to be moved will be the administrative offices. When the new Dart headquarters in Warren is fully completed, it will be nearly 90,000 square feet.”

Dart Machinery is the manufacturer of high-performance cylinder heads, engine blocks, manifolds, crankshafts, top end kits, coatings and more with street and drag strip applications.

Homestead-Miami Speedway and the newly formed Vantage Karting Group (VKG) Entertainment have announced a new long-term partnership that will allow VKG Entertainment to assume an operational and managerial role of Homestead-Miami Speedway’s premier kart track. The track, located on the Speedway grounds, is a multi-configuration 7/10-mile sprint course that hosts some of the most competitive kart racing events in North America.
 
VKG was formed by business partners Eric Jones and Justin Marks to streamline the import and distribution businesses of Kartsport North America, IAME USA East and the Eastern North American distribution of MG Tires. Vantage Karting Group’s track operations arm, VGK Entertainment, will be the official operator of the kart track at Homestead-Miami Speedway and will also operate all future karting facilities planned by Jones and Marks.

Marks is a veteran of 69 NASCAR national series races between 2007-16, including two in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, 30 in the XFINITY Series and 37 in the Camping World Truck Series.
 
VKG Entertainment and Homestead-Miami Speedway are both committed to helping grow and develop the karting industry and provide racers and consumers with a first-class karting experience. The partnership will bring a heightened level of excitement to the facility, according to Homestead-Miami.
 
“We are excited about the future of karting activities at Homestead-Miami Speedway,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Matthew Becherer. “We searched and considered many options in the karting industry and feel that VKG Entertainment was the best fit for operating the facility and realizing its full potential within a passionate and extensive South Florida karting market.”
 
VKG Entertainment will move into the facility and begin making improvements in mid-August. Some of the enhancements planned will include a rental kart fleet, a new track for rental racers and a corporate hospitality area. VKG Entertainment has secured a title sponsor for the facility and will be announcing the sponsor and the new track name in addition to more developments in the coming weeks.

Andy Carter was named the new Texas Motorplex general manager by owner Billy Meyer. Carter joined the Motorplex as the VP of Sales in 2014, but will now lead the veteran team at the historic facility as general manager.

Built in 1986 by Billy Meyer, the Texas Motorplex was drag racing’s first "super track" and also was the first all-concrete stadium-style drag racing facility ever constructed.

“Andy has been leading our team in terms of our sales and marketing initiatives for the past four years and has been groomed for this position,” Meyer said. “His 30 years of experience in sales and event management, I believe, will lead our Motorplex team to many successful years of drag racing and entertainment events.”

Carter was first introduced to NHRA drag racing at the Texas Motorplex in 1987 when he worked in event management for US Tobacco (Skoal), whom Billy Meyer introduced to the sport in 1981 as the original Skoal Bandit Race Team. Before Carter began working at Texas Motorplex, he held the position of VP of Championship Bull Riding.

“This is an unbelievable opportunity and a challenge that I am looking forward to tackling,” Carter said. “The Dallas and particularly the North Texas region is one of the most competitive markets when it comes to sporting events and sales, but I think we have a great team here at the Motorplex as well as a strong history. I am looking forward to continuing to grow our business, welcoming hundreds of thousands of fans through our turnstiles and developing even stronger partnerships with our current and future sponsors.”

Carter, a graduate of TCU, has lived in North Texas since high school and has made this his home with his son, Casey, an avid sprint car driver.

The Texas Motorplex has hosted NHRA national events since its inception and hosts a number of racing and car show events between March and November each year. This year, the Ennis, Texas Motorplex will host the 32nd annual AAA Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, October 12-15.

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) has announced that Forrest Lucas will receive the Bob Russo Heritage Award at the 29th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented By Bridgestone on June 28, at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach, Florida.

The award, named in honor of the longtime motorsports journalist and historian Bob Russo, is presented at the recommendation of the MSHFA Board of Directors in recognition of the recipient's contributions to motorsports throughout his or her career. According to the MSHFA Board of Directors - few people have done more to support motorsports at every level in the U.S. than Forrest Lucas, the founder of Lucas Oil Products, Inc. Lucas and his wife Charlotte founded the company in 1989 and motorsports became the cornerstone of the company's marketing strategy a few years later.

Under Forrest Lucas's direction, Lucas Oil is especially proud of its research and development technology and is constantly creating and testing a full line of racing oils, according to the company. Lucas Oil formulas have long enjoyed success at every racing level including such elite teams as Richard Childress Racing (RCR) in NASCAR and Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in IndyCar.
 
Lucas Oil has also become a major presence in the ownership and promotion of motorsports facilities. Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, is a multi-sport complex encompassing a state-of-the-art dirt track, a newly built “short course" off-road race track and the only purpose-built drag boat lake in the nation.
 
The company also owns and operates seven race series, works with other track owners and promoters, and supports the sponsorship of hundreds of race teams, series and individuals. Lucas Oil has the naming rights to Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana, - a premier drag racing facility. The company designs and builds off-road “short course" tracks throughout the Southwestern United States and Baja California.

"When I look at the list of names of the Bob Russo Heritage Award winners already in the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, like Leo Mehl, Bill France Jr, Carl Haas, Don Panoz and my old friend Linda Vaughn,” said Forrest Lucas. “It makes me proud to be honored alongside them and be part of this great industry. I will always treasure this award."

 Joe Gibbs Racing has named Dave Rogers technical director for its NASCAR XFINITY Series Operations.

Rogers had previously served as the crew chief for the No. 19 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team before taking a personal leave of absence in March of this season. He will work closely with JGR’s Executive Vice President Steve deSouza in all aspects of competition across the organization’s XFINITY Series program.

“I really appreciate the support I’ve received over the past couple of months allowing me to take care of what I needed to in my personal life,” said Rogers. “This position really excites me and I’m looking forward to working closely with Steve (deSouza), our crew chiefs and everyone in our XFINITY Series shop on all aspects of competition.”

Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. has added Odyssey Battery to its speed and performance category. EnerSys is a manufacturer of stored energy solutions for industrial applications and is the manufacturer of Odyssey Battery—a brand with off-road, classic and antique cars, motorcycles and powersports, as well as other high performance and modified vehicles applications.

Keystone is stocking the Odyssey Performance Series and the Odyssey Extreme Series for its aftermarket customers. The former is designed to handle the increased use of onboard accessories in today’s vehicles. These batteries combine a long service life, high reliability and deep-cycle capabilities, according to Keystone.

The Odyssey Extreme Series battery is developed from military design and engineered to withstand harsh environments and the demanding conditions, also according to Keystone. Robust intercell connectors are cast to the plates and bonded, helping to resist vibration. Additionally, alloy coated brass terminals help ensure secure, corrosion-free cable connections.

Odyssey Battery has captured the interest of some big names across numerous industries through high-profile sponsorships with Penske, Brian/Hailie Deegan, Hawk Performance, Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood, Camburg Engineering, Warrior Boats, Skeeter Boats, Don Dingaman, Schumacher Racing, TerraCross and Rockstar Garage.

“Partnering with Keystone, for us, is really positioning ourselves more solidly in the automotive aftermarket parts world as a quality supplier. We are not just your average car battery manufacturer. We manufacture high-performance AGM batteries built to last,” said Alan Kohler, Specialty Marketing Manager EnerSys/Odyssey Battery.

Keystone is one of the industry’s leading distributor and marketer of aftermarket automotive parts.