Nashville could host a new street race under a proposal from a group of racing investors.

As reported by The Tennessean, the investor group seeking to launch the Grand Prix of Nashville includes former Pocono Raceway COO Joe Mattioli, former Baker Curb Racing CEO Matt Crews, musician Kix Brooks, and track designer Tony Cotman.

In addition to the investor group, the Grand Prix of Nashville’s board members include Operation HOPE CEO John Hope Bryant, former McDonald’s CEO and former NASCAR team owner Ed Rensi, Rod Essig of Creative Artists Agency, racing promoter Gary Baker, and Pinnacle Financial Partners Executive Vice President Andy Moats.

The plan, which has evolved after a year of talks with the office of Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, would include a temporary racing track built in the parking lots around Nissan Stadium and extending onto bordering Interstate Drive.

The idea of the Grand Prix of Nashville was recently pitched to the Metro Sports Authority of Nashville. A vote was held and a memorandum of understanding was approved between Metro, the group of investors and the Tennessee Titans (who call Nissan Stadium home) that marks the first step in negotiations for the event.

The Grand Prix of Nashville group would still need to secure private funding as well as a sanctioning agreement from a major racing series. The Verizon IndyCar Series and IMSA are both being considered for the event, with race organizers seeking a five-year agreement if the event were to come together.

The ACO has detailed the 2020 LMP1 regulations which focus on the introduction of plug-in hybrid technology, safety enhancements and cost reduction. The regulations have been created with stability in mind and will last for at least four years.

Plug-in hybrid tech being added to the LMP1 cars is one of the biggest highlights of the regulations. Each car must be able to pull away from a pit stop and complete the first kilometer of its out lap using only electric power. This will be compulsory for Le Mans as well as the other FIA WEC rounds. There are also plans to have the cars cross the finish line at the Le Mans 24 Hours on electric power only.

Other big changes have been outlined to reduce the cost for the manufacturers. Teams will only be able to homologate a single body kit for each season, with simpler aero under the cars and small variable aero points to enable them to be adaptable for low-downforce circuits like Le Mans. There will be active aerodynamic front and rear wings, with small variable 'clips' behind the front splitter.

The cars will also continue to feature two eight-megajoule hybrid systems – as they do now – and only be allowed two gearbox units.

Wind tunnel hours have been reduced from 800 to 600 hours, and private testing will be limited. Teams will have to opt to develop chassis, engine or aero, but would not be permitted to upgrade all three. ACO set to organize collective tests for greater transparency. The development of the cars year-to-year will also be limited to a number of areas, preventing teams from undergoing design overhauls. Instead, teams will choose which area to develop, be it chassis, engine or aero.

In terms of fuels, the regulations include the integration of biofuels, and other types of more evolved fuels as well as new energies. Research work on new energies like hydrogen will continue with the aim still to introduce them at a later date.

For the complete set of new regulations, including new safety changes, visit the ACO website.

Just prior to the CARS Tour first race of 2017 at Orange County Speedway on June 24, the series has announced the format for the $10,000 to win Mid Atlantic Classic on July 22.

The major event at North Carolina’s fastest 3/8th mile track will feature 100 green flag laps for Late Model Stocks and 150 green flag laps with four different segments for the Super Late Models. The first three segments will pay $500 to win with the final segment paying $10,000.

The inaugural Puryear Tank Lines-Thrifty Tire Centers “Mid Atlantic Classic” presented by The Grilling Store will award $10,000 to the winner and a minimum of $1000 to each competitor taking the green flag. Along the way, each segment will pay $500 to win on lap 35, 100 and 135.

The eight tire optional race will allow competitors a choice to change zero, one, two, three or four tires under a five minute break period, before being lined up in position based on their strategic tire change choice. In addition, the winners of each segment will be awarded a guaranteed top eight starting position in the final fifteen lap segment to the finish, with the exact positioning to be determined by tires taken.   

“I love this format and how it creates strategy and choice for the race teams. It’s very similar to what they use to do at SpeedFest, down in Cordele, for those that were familiar with that format. The only difference is we are creating the opportunity to make that tire change at the conclusion of each segment,” explained Chris Ragle, CARS Tour Series Director.

The CARS Tour will host a 150 lap tune up race at Orange County Speedway on Saturday June 24 in Rougemont, North Carolina for Late Model Stock and Super Late Models leading up to the big event. Entry forms, event schedule and advance ticket purchase for the Puryear Tank Lines-Thrifty Tire Centers “Mid Atlantic Classic” pres. by The Grilling Store are available at www.carsracingtour.com. Tickets are $17 in advance and $25 at the gate for this major event.

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has announced a three-year agreement as co-presenting sponsor of Fan Fest, celebrating the annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) in Colorado.

Fan Fest is held on the Friday of race weekend in Downtown Colorado Springs and allows spectators a chance to meet with competitors, enjoy local food and to take in several booths and exhibitions.
 
This year, Fan Fest will be held on Friday, June 23. The Toyo Tires interactive display will be on-hand and will include Ken Block’s twin-turbo 1400 horsepower 1965 Ford Mustang named “Hoonicorn RTR V2.”
 
Founded 101-years ago, the PPIHC, also known as “The Race to the Clouds,” is billed as the second oldest motorsports event in North America. The 156-turn race climbs from the lush forest to the barren 14,115-foot summit with dramatic 360-degree views of the State of Colorado. Competitors and spectators come from around the globe each year to attend this spectacle.
 
In addition to sponsoring Fan Fest, Toyo Tires will be on the mountain during race day, partnering with the teams Enviate and Lyfe Motorsports. Enviate will have their Hypercar which is a one-off construction, while Lyfe Motorsports will bring their Nissan GT-R. Both cars will rely on Toyo Proxes Slicks for traction.

Concord Speedway, a half-mile tri-oval asphalt race track located in Concord, North Carolina, has been listed for sale by its current owners.

The facility, which also has a quarter-mile paved oval that doubles as a fifth-mile oval on the grounds, has been listed for sale with a price tag of $3.2 million.

According to the official sale listing, the current owners are ready to retire and have decided to put the facility on the market for “NASCAR enthusiasts and investors that can take this track to the next level.”

Included in any potential purchase of the speedway are the two tracks, concessions, 14,000 square-foot rental building, VIP suites that seat more than 200 people, a hospitality pavilion, playground, speedway offices and a tech building. The main half-mile oval can host more than 8000 race fans.

The current track, which was built by the late Henry Furr, is located off of U.S. Hwy 601 South in Concord. It was originally a four-tenths-mile dirt track but was reconfigured into the current layout and paved in 1982.

Recently the track has only hosted special events, including the annual North-South Shootout featuring tour-type modifieds and super late models as the headlining acts. The smaller track behind the main facility typically hosts legends car and Bandolero racing.

Former NASCAR crew chief Mike Ford has joined GMS Racing as competition director for its Xfinity Series program, the team announced Wednesday.

Tom Ackerman will continue to serve as competition director for the team’s Camping World Truck Series program.

Ford has 21 career Cup wins as a crew chief. He won 17 races with Denny Hamlin from 2006-11. He won four races with Bill Elliott from 2001-03.

“We are very excited to welcome Mike Ford here at GMS Racing,” said Mike Beam, GMS Racing General Manager, in a statement. “Mike will bring a lot of knowledge and experience to the Xfinity Series program. We want to continue to elevate this program, and I feel like he will be able to help us accomplish that goal.”

The organization fields Xfinity cars for Spencer Gallagher and Ben Kennedy.

The Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductees have been announced by the Knoxville Raceway Hall of Fame Committee. Those being inducted at the ceremony to be held on June 24 will be Danny Lasoski (Driver), Jeff Woodruff (Crew Chief & Owner), Craig Johnson (Track Official) and posthumously Jim Roush (Official and Fair Board Member).

Danny Lasoski has 111 career feature wins at Knoxville, four Knoxville Nationals wins and eleven track championships. The most decorated driver in Knoxville Raceway history will also become the first active driver to be honored.

Jeff Woodruff has been a long-time crew chief and sometimes car owner. He has won 50 features at Knoxville with notable drivers Mike Chadd, Randy Smith, Skip Jackson and Billy Alley. He has won five 410 track championships and one 360 championship.

Craig Johnson was a track official for approximately 35 years and was most notably seen on the front stretch for the longest period of time helping with the time trials lineup order. Both of his parents Boge & Anita Johnson have been inducted as well as his brother Gary.

Jim Roush was active around the Knoxville Raceway for over 40 years in a variety of capacities ranging from track official, push truck driver, safety crew and as a member of the Marion County Fair Association volunteering his time for several projects to help improve the facility.

The annual induction banquet will be held at noon on Saturday, June 24, in Dyer-Hudson. All current Hall of Fame members and guests will be served a picnic style lunch for $5 per person. Call the ticket office to order tickets at 641/842-5431.

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and State Capitol Raceway will move their rescheduled IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship event from September 7—10, 2017 to August 3—6, 2017, the sanctioning body announced.

Due to torrential rains and widespread flooding during the month of May, IHRA and State Capitol Raceway postponed the June 1—4 event until September. It was the best-available weekend, but it was just two weeks before the season-ending event at Dragway 42 in West Salem, Ohio, leaving little flexibility should weather again become an issue.

The sanctioning body and race track identified the first weekend in August, which at the time of the postponement was not a viable option, as the best time for the rescheduled IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship event. The event is now officially scheduled for August 3—6, 2017. 

The weekend will begin with a test & tune session on Thursday, August 3 with three separate IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship events following on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

“We always want to do what’s best for the racers, and squeezing that event into the window right before the last race of the season could have made things hard on the competitors—especially if we had another weather problem. This August date gives us more flexibility for whatever might come up,” IHRA division director Frank Kohutek said in a written statement.

The next event on the IHRA Summit Sportsman National Championship schedule is set for June 23—June 25 at the Piedmont Dragway in Julian, North Carolina.

The AAM Group has introduced PACE, the company’s custom B2B web solution offering cataloging, browsing and ordering capabilities.

Entirely programmed, tested and implemented by the AAM technology team, PACE offers a modern, intuitive experience for its warehouse distribution members and their retail customers across North America, according to the group.

Designed to provide the best mobile interface of any WD ordering system, PACE also works seamlessly on desktop workstations, according to AAM Group.

Beyond its product cataloging, warehouse inventory system and price-check and ordering capabilities, PACE offers advanced features including a retail mode for point-of-sale interactions, Price Manager quoting tool, year/make/model product lookup and built-in resources—including videos, installation instructions, warranties, rebates and promotions—that attempt to eliminate the need to leave the site for additional information.

AAM was directed to create PACE by its distribution membership. The system went live in May and the group expects dozens of members to begin using the system by the end of the year. Though PACE provides a common technology platform for all adopting warehouses, it is also customizable, allowing members to tailor their sites to achieve a unique presentation for their retail customers.

“Our customers now have the ability to look up products with one of the fastest year/make/model searches in the industry or by using a powerful keyword search,” Brett Corning, president of Midstates Inc. said. “The system is tied directly into our core software—allowing an almost instantaneous ability to check live inventory and pricing and then place an order. With an eye to the future, AAM is already working to enrich the customer experience by adding many new and exciting features to PACE, ensuring that we will be industry leaders for years to come.”

Speedway Motorsports, Inc. announced its partnership with ISM Connect, a pioneer in sports venue digital activation, to bring the world’s largest digital fan engagement network to its eight world-class venues, according to Speedway Motorsports.

The new partnership and technology will debut at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 race weekend at Sonoma Raceway, June 23—25, with full deployment at all Speedway Motorsports’ facilities by 2018.

Manufacturing Resources International (MRI), a technology leader in outdoor LCD displays, has partnered with ISM to be the cornerstone sponsor of ISM Vision Powered by BoldVu at all Speedway Motorsports’ facilities. ISM Vision, Powered by BoldVu, will include nearly 200 IP-connected digital displays, including each track’s large-format digital screens and dozens of 6000 nit 86-inch UHD displays housed in weatherproof casings. Displays will be strategically positioned to offer a “verticalized” heat map of consumer segments that congregate throughout various locations at each venue.

“By ‘verticalizing’ the consumer journey throughout the entire venue, ISM Connect is improving the visitors’ experience and creating an approach to venue engagement that generates new and sustainable revenue streams and delivers enhanced demographic data to advertisers within targeted consumer verticals. We are creating true win/win outcomes,” said Jeff Hutchins, president of ISM Connect.

By building brand relationships with consumers that extend far beyond the event, ISM Connect offers a new revenue channel for venues in search of improved monetization and measurable ROI for key sponsors.

ISM Connect’s proprietary mobile technologies will offer a stand-alone fan companion app, as well as integrations with each track’s existing app, providing fans with easy access to live event schedules, venue wayfinding and real-time traffic, weather and race updates.

“We are thrilled about the long-term partnership with ISM Connect, and the opportunity to leverage their state of the art digital platform across the entire Speedway Motorsports portfolio,” said Speedway Motorsports’ Chief Strategy Officer Mike Burch. “Our integrated program puts the fans first and ISM Connect has gone above and beyond to create a uniquely engaging platform which continues to improve the fan experience across our properties.”