Photo courtesy Mechanix Wear.

Established in 2016, the Lunniss Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Mechanix Wear will honor Ron Malec, Car Chief of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet team for Hendrick Motorsports on Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race weekend.

The Brian Lunniss Lifetime Achievement Award is dedicated to the hardest working hands in racing—the unsung heroes of motorsports —those who possess exceptional drive and inspire the team to win. The Lunniss Award is reserved for mechanics in motorsports who demonstrate remarkable achievements during their career.

Malec was chosen as this year's recipient in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a car chief in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Malec is the second individual to be recognized. The inaugural award, presented in 2016, was given to Brian Lunniss himself.

"He is a guy that wants to go out there and work and he doesn't pull punches and he doesn't hold grudges," said Chad Knaus, Crew Chief of the No.48. "If you're in a situation where you need to give somebody the ball, he's the guy you're giving it to."

Malec's passion for racing took form during his childhood. He and his brother RJ built and raced anything they could get parts for at the local junkyard growing up as kids. Many would say Ron Malec was destined to be the Car Chief of the No. 48 with seven-time premier series champion driver Jimmie Johnson and few would disagree that there's a special connection unlike any other in the sport.

Johnson shared his sentiments regarding Malec stating, "Ron pursued this lifestyle out of his heart not because it can lead to something or lead to fame or lead to championship moments. Since I've been racing a full-time schedule on the asphalt, Ron has been my head wrench, if you will, on all of my racecars."

Ron Malec will receive the award in front of his teammates, family and friends at a brunch on Saturday, May 20, at Hendrick Motorsports in Concord, North Carolina.

Watkins Glen International and the New York State Fair announced a new partnership between the two parties.

Watkins Glen International and the Fair will promote each other’s major events through ticket giveaways on their social media channels, including the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race weekend, August 4-7, and the Fair, which runs from August 23 to Labor Day, Sept. 4. These co-promotional efforts will begin immediately.

During the Fair in Syracuse, which attracts visitors around the country, The Glen will be present in the form of an informational booth, complete with a Verizon IndyCar on display.

“The New York State Fair is one of our most historic and revered attractions,” said Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup. “For Watkins Glen International to have the ability to co-promote with their team, it’s very exciting. We think there is a lot to be gained from working together, and personally, I can’t wait to get back to the fairgrounds this August.”

The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August 23 to September 4, 2017.

For more information, visit www.theglen.com.

Bobby Rahal, president of the Road Racing Drivers Club (RRDC), announced the formation of The Mark Donohue Foundation, Inc., which will initially help raise funds for the continuation of the RRDC's initiative, SAFEisFAST (SiF).

Rahal made the announcement at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, along with the Foundation's Honorary Chairman Roger Penske and Donohue's son David.

Mark Donohue, an early president of the RRDC, was a three-time Trans-Am champion, the 1972 Indy 500 winner and the 1973 Can-Am champion. He retired in 1973 but returned in 1974 to compete in Formula 1. He lost his life at the 1975 Austrian Grand Prix.

The Mark Donohue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization created to help further the goals of the SAFEisFAST program, which so far has provided tutorial racing-related videos that have been accessed more than two million times by 500,000 drivers from 184 countries since 2011.

These are free online tutorials that provide skills and strategies, intended to increase performance and enhance driver safety, are the core of SiF. The RRDC has been contacted by F1, IndyCar, WEC, IMSA, PWC and other series' drivers from around the world to help participate in creating the messages.

The Mark Donohue Foundation will help create new materials and videos and will use its global reach to disseminate the material to drivers everywhere.

The RRDC was formed in 1952 as a way to give champion drivers a say in their sport, particularly in the areas of safety, and has evolved to serve the future of road racing by mentoring new drivers on both amateur and professional levels. The Club's invitation-only membership includes leading industry professionals, race officials and motorsports journalists, in addition to prominent racing names.

The RRDC presents three annual awards: the Phil Hill Award, the Mark Donohue Award and the Bob Akin Award, and supports the Team USA Scholarship, which has been assisting young Americans in the early stages of their careers since 1990.

For more information, visit www.rrdc.org.

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors recently reached a contract agreement for a one-year naming-rights extension for the iconic Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca facility.

The current partnership will extend through March 31, 2018, while Mazda works directly with the County on plans for a long-term partner relationship with the track. Mazda will retain a six-month exclusive right-of-first-negotiation to enter into a new or continued exclusive agreement with the County.

"Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is truly our spiritual home," said Masahiro Moro, president and CEO at MNAO. "We understand the importance that facilities like Mazda Raceway play in sports car racing, which is why we've remained dedicated to the facility for so many years. We look forward to working with the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on a long-term agreement that will allow the facility to thrive and remain among the world's finest race tracks."

While Mazda has been the primary naming partner of the race track since 2001, this is the first time an agreement has been made between MNAO and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. Previously, all naming rights agreements have been between Mazda and The Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP).

SCRAMP will continue to manage and execute the Mazda agreement as it has for the past 16 years. In addition, SCRAMP, which has managed the Raceway since its inception in 1957, has an expanded management role, assuming all operations of the Laguna Seca Recreation Area and the associated campgrounds, not including the shooting range.

To learn more about Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and to see a schedule of events, visit MazdaRaceway.com.

Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and Tony Stewart’s Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions Series (ASCoC) have teamed up for a doubleheader highlighting Fast Friday, the kickoff to Pole Weekend for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 and the only Indiana appearance for the ASCoC this season, on May 19, at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway.

IMS is also offering a contingency program. The IMS Bonus Challenge offers full-time ASCoC competitors signed in for competition on May 19 the option to display the iconic IMS Wing & Wheel decal on their cars in exchange for eligibility for contingency awards during the event.

The challenge will award the highest finishing eligible car in the Feature event $500, with second-place awarded an additional $200. The evening’s fastest qualifier will receive a $100 bonus, as will the evening’s hard charger and B-main event winners.

Even better, the IMS Bonus Challenge also benefits fans, too. The ASCoC will offer free pit pass upgrades at Kokomo Speedway to any fans presenting Verizon IndyCar Series Pole Weekend tickets for the Indianapolis 500.

The one-night All Star return to Kokomo Speedway will be the first of three events on the weekend schedule for the ASCoC, continuing with action on Saturday and Sunday in Wilmot and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. A full program will be on the Kokomo agenda, complete with qualifying time trials and heat race competition, headlined with a $5000-to-win main event. The USAC SpeeD2 Midgets will also be on the evening card, creating a “must-see” experience for any open wheel enthusiast.

In addition, fans will have an opportunity to participate in a closed autograph session featuring Tony Stewart. The first 150 fans to purchase advance tickets online will have the opportunity to participate in the pre-race autograph session scheduled for 5 p.m. at Tony Stewart’s merchandise trailer just outside of the main gates. Those who purchase an online ticket and qualify for the closed autograph session will be notified with additional information via email closer to the event.

To purchase advance tickets for the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions invasion of Kokomo Speedway on May 19, visit http://tickets.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1528.

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) has recently announced a change to its shipping address. ARCA has asked that members use its new address, below, for shipping packages.

ARCA’s New Shipping Address: 7980 Lewis Avenue, Temperance, MI 48182

ARCA’s mailing address remains the same as P.O. Box 380, Temperance, MI 48182.

The old address is listed as 8117 Lewis Avenue, Temperance, MI 48182. ARCA is a Midwest-based sanctioning body for stock car auto racing. Its next race, the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care, takes place from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, May 21 at Toledo Speedway. Practice takes place from 12:30-2 p.m. the day before. For more information, visit www.arcaracing.com.

Now in its seventh year, the industry initiative NASCAR Next spotlights some of the best and brightest young stars in racing. Alumni of the program include current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suárez, Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney.
 
The NASCAR Next selection process includes input from industry executives, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Council and media members. Drivers must be between the ages of 15-25, aspire to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and show potential – on and off the track – to reach that goal.
 
The following drivers have been chosen for the 2017-18 NASCAR Next class:
 
Harrison Burton (@HBurtonRacing) – In his second year competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the 16-year-old from Huntersville, North Carolina, has earned wins at Bristol Motor Speedway and Virginia’s South Boston Speedway. The son of former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and current NBCSN analyst Jeff Burton also took home the pole award at Bristol for the second consecutive year.
 
Chase Cabre (@CabreChase) – In his rookie season driving for Rev Racing and the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, the 20-year-old Tampa, Florida, native captured his first two pole awards in the twin features at South Boston and earned his best career finish (fourth) at the Virginia short track.
 
Hailie Deegan (@HailieDeegan) – The 15-year-old Temecula, California, native has made a name for herself in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series. Last year, the daughter of FMX legend Brian Deegan became the first female to reach the podium in the series’ history, became the 2016 Modified Kart champion in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series and was also named the Lucas Oil Off Road Driver of the Year.
 
Todd Gilliland (@ToddGilliland_) – The son of former Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver David Gilliland has made quite a name for himself in the sport’s history books. The 16-year-old from Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, already has 12 wins in 30 K&N Pro Series starts and became the youngest champion in NASCAR national or touring series history last year when he took home the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West championship.
 
Riley Herbst (@rileyherbst) – The 18-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, driver is coming off a successful rookie season in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. In 14 starts last year, he compiled seven top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.
 
Cayden Lapcevich (@CaydenLapcevich) – Only the third Canadian-born driver to be chosen for the program, the 17-year-old from Grimsby, Ontario, won three times in 2016 en route to becoming the youngest NASCAR Pinty’s Series champion, and briefly held the title as the youngest NASCAR champion before being dethroned by Gilliland. Lapcevich is the first driver in Pinty’s Series history to earn both the Josten Rookie of the Year honor and the series title in the same year.
 
Ty Majeski (@TyMajeski) – A Roush Fenway development driver and one of the country’s top Super Late Model drivers, the 22-year-old Seymour, Wisconsin native kicked off his 2016 winning the Super Late Model championship at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. He continued his NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season with a third-place finish in the national standings on the strength of 14 wins and 21 top-fives in 26 starts. He will make his NASCAR XFINITY Series debut at Iowa Speedway on June 24.
 
Chase Purdy (@chasepurdy12) – The 2016 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Rookie of the Year made a splash last year when he took home both the rookie of the year and track championship at South Carolina’s Greenville-Pickens Speedway in NASCAR’s weekly series. The 17-year-old from Meridian, Mississippi is chasing another rookie title this year, competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.
 
Zane Smith (@zanesmith77) – Smith, 17, from Huntington Beach, California, broke onto the national scene in 2015 when he won the Super Late Model championship at New Smyrna’s World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. He capped the season with a runner-up finish to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver and NASCAR Next alumnus Chase Elliott in the Snowball Derby. 
 
Since its inception in 2011, 36 of the 46 drivers who have been selected for the program have progressed to compete in one of NASCAR’s three national series, while more than a quarter has gone on to compete in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Twelve NASCAR Next drivers have won a NASCAR national series race.
 
The last three Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Sunoco Rookies of the Year are NASCAR Next alumni, as are four of the top-five contenders for the award this year: Daniel Suárez, Erik Jones, Corey LaJoie and Gray Gaulding. The last four Sunoco Rookies of the Year in both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are also alumni of the NASCAR Next program.


For more information, visit next.NASCAR.com and make sure to follow the drivers on Twitter and on the track. Join the social conversation by using #NASCARNext.

Air Flow Research (AFR) announced the addition of its newest member, Steve Arent, to its team as National Sales Manager.

Arent brings with him over 20 years of experience in the aftermarket high-performance industry and is known for his strong customer service skills and hands-on approach, according to AFR.
 
Arent’s responsibilities will be to support AFR’s growing dealer network, explore new market opportunities and to strengthen its position in the marketplace. Additionally, he will be attending events at the local and national levels.

Arent will work remotely from his Michigan-based location and be available to AFR customers across the country. Arent has past experience as a machinist, production manager and sales manager.

You can contact Steve Arent directly at sarent@airflowresearch.com. Air Flow Research is a manufacturer of high-performance cylinder heads and manifolds for Ford and Chevy.

The schedule of Jr. Dragster championship events in NHRA’s seven divisions has been set, and once again Divisions 1-6 will use a single championship race to decide champions while Division 7 racers will compete in a 10-race points series.

The Pacific Division Jr. Championship Series kicked off earlier in the year at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park and will make additional stops at Sacramento Raceway, Top Gun Dragstrip and Barona 1/8-Mile Drag Strip before wrapping up at Irwindale Dragstrip, Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

Division 7 will also again hold a Jr. E.T. Finals event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This year’s event will take place Sept. 16-17.

Division 5 will kick off the individual championship events, crowning champions at Bandimere Speedway June 23-25. Division 1’s championship event is next, taking place Aug. 11-12 at Numidia Dragway.

The month of September will feature three championship contests: Division 3 (Sept. 8-10 at Kil-Kare Raceway), Division 4 (Sept. 8-10 at Texas Motorplex) and Division 6 (Sept. 1-3 at Woodburn Dragstrip).

The final championship event will be in Division 2, which will determine champions at Rockingham Dragway Oct. 27-29.

Division 2 will also include Jr. Dragsters at all of its NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series events this season, running a points series with champions crowned in three classes: Novice (age 6-9), Intermediate (10-12) and Advanced (13-17). Click here for more info.

Division 6 will also run a series for Jr. racers this year. The series will include 14 events run during seven doubleheader weekends. Click here for more info.

For a full schedule of JDRL division events in 2017, click here.

Fremont Speedway in Ohio will have a busy night on Saturday, June 3.

Firstly, The Fremont Speedway Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will take place at the track, honoring drivers, industry pioneers, car owners, builders and industry supporters. The ceremonies will begin at 3 p.m.

Drivers Jeff Hoffman, Bobby Knoll, Gary Willey and Jack Kraylek; pioneers Kenny and Jerry Nemire; car owners Lamar Burkin and Ron McComas; builder/mechanics Mike Beechler, Doug Ford and Ken “Red” Root; and supporter/lifetime contributors Ken Smith and Eric Phillips will be inducted.

After the induction ceremonies, the Vision Quest Night begins with the 305 Race of Legends, with former sprint car drivers encompassing hundreds of wins and dozens of championships battling on the track.

At last year’s Race of Legends event, Lockbourne's Rodney Duncan, a former staple with the All Star Circuit of Champions, took the lead in the Race of Legends with just six laps to go last season. Duncan drove to his fifth career win at Fremont after a great battle with Benny Bowman and Eric Rankine.

Fremont Speedway Promoter Rich Farmer mentioned this Race of Legends event will likely be the track’s last “at least for the foreseeable future.”

Continuing into the Vision Quest Night will be the All Pro Aluminum Cylinder Heads FAST Championship Series presented by Ohio Logistics for the 410 sprints along with dirt trucks and late models.

For more information, visit www.fremontohspeedway.com. Drivers are still being sought for the Race of Legends. Those interested in more information, contact Rich Farmer at 419/307-4241.