Professional off-road racing is coming to the Twin Cities Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11 as TORC: The Off-Road Championship presented by AMSOIL returns to ERX Motor Park in Elk River, Minnesota for two full days of racing action.

The TORC Series Twin Cities Takedown represents the ultimate in short-course, off-road truck and side-by-side racing and is highlighted by the high-octane, 900-horsepower, 4-wheel drive PRO 4 truck division. In addition, top drivers from across North America will compete in the rear-wheel drive PRO 2 and PRO Light truck classes, as well as modified and stock UTV action.

It had been 14-years since professional auto racing called the Minneapolis/St.Paul area home when the TORC Series made its Minnesota debut at ERX last summer.

With more than 6,500 fans in attendance, the burly roar of V8 engines returned with a vengeance and the Elk River facility was quickly deemed one of the premier motorsports venues in the Midwest.

More than just a racetrack, ERX Motor Park delivers the ultimate fan experience for hardcore enthusiasts and families alike. As the park looks to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, ERX has grown from little more than an idea and 13-acres, to a sprawling 400-acre facility featuring on-site camping, food and beverage vendors, elevated viewing areas and two-world class tracks featuring races throughout the year including snowmobiles, ATVs, and, of course, off-road trucks.

The TORC Series Twin Cities Takedown at ERX will give fans an amazing view of the track thanks to natural amphitheater lawn seating, bleachers and family friendly zones. All TORC Series passes include free pit access where adults and children can meet the drivers, get up-close to the trucks and feel the rumble of 900-horsepower.

Saturday’s racing action will be capped off with a Red Bull post-race celebration.

A day pass is $25 for adults with children 11 and under FREE. Weekend passes are $40, and weekend camping spaces are priced at $60. For tickets, camping reservations, and more information visit erxmotorpark.com/off-road.

NASCAR announced sweeping changes to the lineup of tracks that make up the playoffs as part of its 2018 national series schedules.

Next season, the final regular season race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be contested at iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Round of 16 kicks off at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR has added a second short track to the playoff slate, as the historic ¾-mile Richmond International Raceway hosts the second playoff race for the first time, and Charlotte Motor Speedway serves as the first cutoff race, with an intriguing twist – and turn. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will race on the road course oval at Charlotte, marking the first time the playoffs will see a road-course layout among its 10 races.

With Charlotte moving to the cutoff of the Round of 16, Dover International Speedway now hosts the first race of the Round of 12 – another playoff first.

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Great American Race, the Daytona 500 returns to its traditional Presidents Day weekend on Sunday, February 18.

Speedweeks kicks off with an action-packed Sunday, February 11 at Daytona International Speedway, with a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season-opening doubleheader featuring the Clash and Daytona 500 pole qualifying.

“Fan feedback was a major driver in developing these schedules, and we worked very closely with the industry to set the stage for an exciting 2018 season,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “This season has delivered more dramatic moments to fans, and with the adjustments to the 2018 schedules we’re in a great position to build upon that success.”

Richmond’s spring race returns to Saturday night, and the spring tripleheader at Dover moves to the first week in May.

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series joins NASCAR Goes West, the annual three-race trek to the West Coast, making March 2-4 a triple-header weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The fall weekend at Las Vegas serves as the final regular season event for the NASCAR XFINITY Series, with a three-race opening round of Richmond, Charlotte and Dover. The fall Bristol race will finalize the playoff field for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with Round of 8 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Las Vegas and Talladega.

All races will air on either the FOX or NBC family of networks, MRN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

For the complete 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Series schedules, visit here.

NASCAR recently announced the Class of 2018 for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, each new member responsible for monumental contributions to the sport of stock car racing.

The 2018 class includes NASCAR’s first champion, Red Byron; one of the sport’s greatest innovators as a crew chief, Ray Evernham; a premier engine builder and champion team owner, Robert Yates; the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series record holder for victories and championships, Ron Hornaday Jr.; and a broadcaster who was instrumental in putting the sport on the map, Ken Squier.

The same night, Grand-Am sports cars series founder Jim France was awarded the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Red Byron
The winner of NASCAR’s modified championship in 1948 and the first champion the Strictly Stock Division a year later, Byron was the last of the original class of nominees from 2010 to gain induction.

“I couldn’t tell you why it took so long,” said NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton, who announced the 2018 Class and the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR, won by Jim France. “We’re going to have current champions, we’re going to have future champions, but we only have one first champion.

Byron was a war hero as well as a titan of the asphalt. He suffered a leg injury in World War II that forced him to drive with a special brace attached to the clutch pedal.

Ray Evernham
In a span of four years, Evernham won three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championships with driver Jeff Gordon. As a crew chief he guided Gordon to a remarkable 47 victories and 30 poles in 213 starts in NASCAR’s top division.

Evernham was on the pit box for two wins in the Daytona 500 and two in the Brickyard 400. In 2001, Evernham led the return of Dodge to Cup racing as the owner of his own team.

Despite the stats, Evernham was surprised at his election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Robert Yates
Yates has been on the ballot four times and had come close to induction in the past. This year, he was the leading vote-getter in the 2018 class, being named on 94 percent of ballots.

As an engine builder, he provided the power that enabled Hall of Famer Bobby Allison to win a championship in 1983. As a team owner, he fielded the cars that carried fellow Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett to a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title in 1999.

Ron Hornaday Jr.
Hornaday leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series with 51 victories and five championships. Discovered by the late Dale Earnhardt, Hornaday himself has returned that courtesy over the years to such aspiring drivers as Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Ross Chastain and Ricky Carmichael, to name a few.

Hornaday always had a couch for the up-and-comers to sleep on while they established their careers.

Ken Squier
Perhaps best known for calling the 1979 Daytona 500 on CBS, the race launched NASCAR’s meteoric popularity, Squier co-founded the Motor Racing Network. The Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, housed in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, bears his name and that of the late Barney Hall.

Jim France (Landmark Award)
The son of Big Bill France and the brother of Bill France Jr., Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR winner Jim France founded the Grand-Am sports car series and shepherded the merger between Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series to create what is now the IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship.

Currently serving as chairman of the board of International Speedway Corporation, France was also a driving force behind the revolutionary Daytona Rising project that transformed the marquee venue of NASCAR racing.

Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. announced it has added Northern Radiator to its speed and performance line card. The company has been manufacturing heating and cooling products across the automotive and racing industries as well as agricultural, truck, and industrial industries for more than 40 years.

“With our race, muscle car, hot rod, custom kit radiators, and fan shrouds, there isn’t a cooling system or cooling problem we can’t help solve, fix, or upgrade,” said Chuck McKaige, Vice President of Sales at Northern Radiator.

Northern Radiator employs a team of R&D specialists who ensure standards are not only met but exceeded, according to Keystone.

The company uses an OE-inspired inlet/outlet along with a side-channel system that allows flex under pressure. High-capacity, efficient, seven-plate oil coolers dissipate more heat. And most Northern Radiators are built with a one-piece precision stamped tank for appearance, fit, function, and cooling.

“Keystone is very excited to have high-quality Performance Aluminum Products by Northern Radiator added to our distribution network. With our immediate inventory availability and delivery capabilities, we know our customers will be successful,” said Dave Burke, Category Manager at Keystone.

Keystone carries and supports over 800 brands of aftermarket products. For more information, visit www.keystoneautomotive.com.

For the third consecutive year, windshield headers on all 40 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars will be replaced with the names of fallen military service members during Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET), NASCAR announced.
 
This year’s "600 Miles of Remembrance" tribute honoring those who served our country, launches a six-week platform encapsulating the industry’s collective expression of respect and gratitude – NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola.

"There is no prouder moment for our sport than when the entire NASCAR family rallies to honor and pay tribute to the United States Armed Forces," said Brent Dewar, NASCAR chief operating officer. "NASCAR Salutes continues to grow thanks to the support of our industry and partners who believe just as strongly in recognizing those who’ve served and continue to serve today."

Coca-Cola, the "Official Soft Drink of NASCAR," has long honored and recognized the U.S. Armed Forces throughout the Coca-Cola 600 and Coke Zero 400 race weekends, which take place on Memorial Day Weekend and Independence Day Weekend, respectively.

This year, Coca-Cola’s support will extend throughout the industry-wide effort to honor the past and present members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as the presenting sponsor of NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola also partners with NASCAR on Troops to the Track, hosting service members from all military branches at race tracks during the season.

Many of the service members whose names will be displayed on the race cars Sunday were chosen by the race teams, including some with unique connections to the fallen. U.S. Army sergeant Gregory Allen Belanger, who was killed in Hallia, Iraq in 2003, was a friend of Team Penske employee Darin Russell, engine tuner for Ryan Blaney’s No. 21 Ford Fusion.

Harold Tussey, whose name will be proudly displayed on Paul Menard’s No. 27 Chevrolet SS, lost his life in the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The third-class petty officer’s great nephew, Troy Tussey, is a mechanic with Richard Childress Racing.

Several families of those recognized on the race cars will attend the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The track will host more than 5000 active military members at Sunday’s race in honor of Memorial Day.

Throughout the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola platform, fans at each of the six race weekends will have the opportunity to write the name of a service member close to their heart on a small poster, and "Rise to Honor" them during the pace laps preceding each event.

Beginning Friday, fans can visit NASCAR.com/salutes to share their message of honor for the military, view an online gallery of the service members honored, and learn more about NASCAR Salutes activities.

Tickets to NASCAR national series events are available at NASCAR.com/tickets.

Warmer weather and time off from school can mean an increase in serious accidents for children, but Shriners Hospitals for Children is trying to change that with the help of Front Row Motorsports (FRM) and driver David Ragan. A nationwide program encourages kids to be Superheroes of Summer Safety and to #EarnYourCape by following tips to reduce the risk of injuries during the summer months.

FRM and Ragan will do their part to spread the message by entering a Shriners Hospitals for Children Ford Fusion this summer into two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup races. Today, Ragan, Shriners Hospitals for Children and students of the Harrisburg Elementary School in Harrisburg, North Carolina, unveiled the livery of the No. 38 Ford that Ragan will race at Michigan International Speedway on June 18 and Sonoma Raceway on June 25.

Ragan will also visit various Shriners Hospitals during the summer to speak to children about how to stay safe and avoid swimming-related incidents, playground accidents, campfire and fire pit burns and more common and potentially life-altering childhood injuries that can occur during this time of year.

“As a father and Shriner, I know that within seconds a fun-filled day can take a turn when an unexpected accident occurs,” said Ragan. “Shriners Hospitals for Children and I want to provide families with simple ways to reduce the risk of childhood injuries so that kids can enjoy a safe summer. We’re proud to carry the colors of Shriners Hospitals on our No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Fusion as a reminder for our children to play safe.”

As leaders in the treatment of pediatric orthopaedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, burns and cleft lip and palate, Shriners Hospitals for Children provides critical, surgical and rehabilitative care to children, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. Shriners Hospitals for Children urges parents and caregivers to remind kids of these simple precautions to keep them injury-free this summer:

• At the playground, slide feet first and swing sitting down
• Keep children inside when lawn mowers are in use
• Keep several feet away from fire pits, campfires or grills
• Only swim with an adult present and wear a lifejacket on open water
• Protect yourself from the sun with a hat and sunscreen

Become a Superhero of Summer Safety and #EarnYourCape so you can enjoy a safe, injury-free summer. For more information on the campaign or Shriners Hospitals for Children, visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/safesummer.

Charlotte Motor Speedway ushered in a thrilling new era of excitement with NASCAR's historic scheduling announcement that next year's Bank of America 500 will be contested on Charlotte's ROVAL on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. The road course oval announcement carries with it several groundbreaking connotations, including:
    •    The first road course NASCAR race in Charlotte Motor Speedway's 58-year existence;
    •    The final event in Round 1 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs;
    •    The first road course race in the 14-year history of the Playoffs;
    •    The first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in September at Charlotte Motor Speedway;
    •    The first new track on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule since Kentucky Speedway joined the circuit in 2011.

The Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL is a daunting, new 13-turn, 2.4-mile road course incorporating part of the infield and all but 400 feet of Charlotte's iconic 1.5-mile oval on which drivers will race 500 kilometers over 130 laps.

"Fans are going to be in for a thrill, and drivers had better be ready for the most physically and mentally challenging race in the Playoffs. With a 35-foot elevation change between ROVAL Turn 4 and ROVAL Turn 10, drivers in next year's Bank of America 500 will truly experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” said Marcus Smith, president and chief executive officer of Speedway Motorsports, Inc.

Accomplished drivers including Mario Andretti, Jeff Gordon, A.J. Allmendinger, Jeff Burton and Max Papis have driven the course and witnessed its considerable potential to entertain fans and challenge drivers and crews.

The ROVAL also drew praise from one of the world's most acclaimed road racers.

"It's very difficult sometimes to really create a road course where you can 'stretch your legs' inside an oval," said Andretti, who competed in the 1967 Bank of America 500 and is known as one of the most successful American drivers of all time.

"From that standpoint, I think they did a good job by giving it rhythm by putting some banking to the hairpin corners - which obviously invites some overtaking. It's wide enough that you can choose a line. You're not really trapped. … It's got a multiple-line (groove) that you can choose from, depending on the capability of the car."

In January, Allmendinger became the first active Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver to drive a stock car on the ROVAL.

"The track has definitely got potential," Allmendinger said. "I had a lot of fun driving it. It's a perfect mix for a race team to set up, whether you go for a full oval setup or somewhat of a road course setup. It'll definitely be a big challenge for the teams."

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR XFINITY Series will compete at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL Friday through Sunday, Sept. 28-30, 2018.

Lucas Oil Speedway is celebrating the 25th Annual Show-Me 100, presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com. The stars of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will invade Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri on May 25 through 27.

The weekend, co-sanctioned with the Lucas Oil Midwest Latemodel Racing Association (MLRA), kicks off on Thursday, May 25, at the “Diamond of Dirt Tracks.” Thursday’s program will feature a $6000-to-win, $600-to-start event, honoring longtime MLRA Owner/Promoter Allen “Cowboy” Chancellor. The 4th Annual “Cowboy Classic” will include a full program of Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and a 40-lap main event.

The action on Friday, May 26 will pay tribute to Don and Billie Gibson, former promoters of West Plains Motor Speedway and founders of the Show-Me 100. The activities will also include a complete program of Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and a 40-lap, $6000-to-win main event.

Drivers will earn points in each of the two preliminary nights that will determine the lineups for Saturday night’s finale.

The USRA Modifieds will be featured as the support class each night. Their activities on Thursday and Friday, May 25-26 will feature a complete program of Time Trials, Heat Races, B-Mains and a 20-lap, $500-to-win main event each night.

On Saturday night, consolation events for the LOLMDS and the USRA Modifieds will be held, plus the Midwest Sheet Metal Show-Me Challenge. The Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 main event will follow the Midwest Sheet Metal Show-Me Challenge on Saturday night. The USRA Modifieds will cap off the weekend action with their $1000-to-win main event.

In 2016, Jimmy Owens became a four-time winner of the Show-Me 100, following an action-packed main event. Scott Bloomquist finished second, followed by Jesse Stovall, Jonathan Davenport and Tony Jackson Jr.

For tickets or more information on Lucas Oil Speedway, visit www.lucasoilspeedway.com or call the track office at (417) 282-5984.

In the continued efforts to achieve and maintain parity within the different car/engine options, WISSOTA is in the process of reviewing some of the rules in the following classes: street stocks, Midwest Modifieds and Modifieds.

WISSOTA is considering possible adjustments in spoiler heights, weight, intakes, restrictor plates, rev chips and other areas to create and maintain parity; some or none of these things may be adjusted in the near future.

“We are only into two or three races at the tracks that are open, and many of our tracks have not had their opener yet, so we ask you to please be patient as we work through this transition. We assure you, we are working hard on this and will be addressing your concerns accordingly,” said technical director Bill Engelstad of WISSOTA on May 10.

Detailed below are new tech procedures and possible penalties that may take place in the various classes going forward. 
  


Street stocks and Midwest Modifieds: A WISSOTA or track tech official may exchange soft touch boxes with drivers at any time during race program and have them sent into MSD to check for legality.
        


Modifieds and Late Models: A WISSOTA or track tech official may ask you to remove your ignition box for inspection.

Street stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Modifieds and Late Models: If you are found to have an illegal soft touch box/ignition box with no chip, a wrong chip or wrong setting, you may be fined $2000 and suspended from all WISSOTA classes for one calendar year.

For more information, visit www.wissota.org.

In an effort to increase the quality of racing, Charlotte Motor Speedway will apply an adhesive substance to its upper groove in all four turns in advance of this weekend’s national touring races at the 1.5-mile track.

The chemical compound was most recently used at Bristol Motor Speedway in April, and its resin was credited with expanding the racing surface on the half-mile track from one groove to two. Additionally, Bristol utilized a tire dragging machine that adds rubber to the surface, which Charlotte will also employ.

NASCAR is hoping a similar outcome will occur on the Charlotte oval, which last weekend hosted the Monster Energy Cup Series All-Star Race. The non-points exhibition was largely derided for its lack of passing and featured just three changes. Afterward, numerous drivers were critical of the track conditions and aerodynamic rules package that they believed wasn’t conducive to racing side-by-side and completing passes.

The issues that arose in the All-Star Race weren’t unforeseen. Last May, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, NASCAR’s longest race, saw Martin Truex Jr. lead 392 of 400 laps.

“We talked through this opportunity with the track, teams, drivers and Goodyear,” said NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Scott Miller. “There was agreement that this process would enhance the racing we see at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and ultimately would make for an exciting Coca-Cola 600.”

The Xfinity race is Saturday, May 28, with the Cup race the following day.