Chevrolet has introduced the Camaro GT4.R—a new-for-2017 and fully race-ready variant of the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro.

Built to global GT4 regulations, the Camaro GT4.R is eligible in the IMSA’s Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (GS category) and the Pirelli World Challenge (GTS class), two of North America’s top GT racing championships, as well as additional GT4 series across the world.

Developed with technical partner Pratt & Miller Engineering, the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R is built off the Camaro ZL1 road car platform. The race-tuned, dry-sump 6.2L LT1 V8 small-block engine—developed and validated by Chevrolet Racing—delivers power through a race proven, six-speed Xtrac sequential transmission with pneumatic paddle shift and adjustable traction control. Other notable features unique to the GT4.R include:

•    Xtrac racing limited-slip differential

•    Two-Way Adjustable Ohlins Racing Coil-Over Dampers 

•    Adjustable ABS featuring Brembo brakes with six-piston aluminum monobloc calipers in the front

•    Aerodynamic improvements developed in the wind tunnel including a new rear wing, front splitter and front diveplanes.

The racing success of the fifth-generation Camaro gave Chevrolet engineers a head start on creating a turn-key racer in the GT4.R.

From 2010-16, the Camaro GS and Camaro Z/28.R won 55 races, two Manufacturer’s championships and five driving titles in major North American competition. The lessons and experience aided in the design and development of Chevrolet’s latest customer-driven track car.

The extent to which teams can make repairs to damaged vehicles will be more tightly policed beginning with the 2017 season, as NASCAR officials unveiled a new Damaged Vehicle Policy this week at the sanctioning body's Research & Development Center, a policy that will be enforced in all three national series—Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series.


Under the guidelines, teams no longer will be allowed to replace damaged body parts that are the result of accidents or contact. Repairs, such as fixing damaged sheet metal, will be allowed; however, teams will be given five minutes to fix damage once they enter pit road. If the damage requires the car to go behind pit wall or to the garage for repairs, the car will not be allowed to return to the race. Also, if the repairs take longer than the five minutes allowed, the car will not be permitted to return to the race.


Once repairs have been made, a car is still required to maintain the minimum speed determined for that event. Once that has been accomplished, the five-minute clock is reset in case the car needs to come back down pit road.


Previously, teams were allowed to replace any damaged panels or parts with no time limit and no penalty. Quarter panels, splitters, hoods and deck lids damaged in accidents were often removed and replaced. Some repairs were completed on pit road; more extensive damage often meant a trip to the garage. Each time, the driver was sent back out onto the track as quickly as possible.


That will no longer be the case.


"We have a lot of cars that are going back on the track that end up in 38th position, for instance, that probably don't need to be out there from a safety and competition aspect," Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, told NASCAR.com, "because they always tend to bring out more yellows with stuff falling off."


Heavily damaged cars that need extensive repairs that can't be done on pit road, Miller said, "are essentially going to be out of the race.


"There will be many circumstances and many things happen and you will continue to see it where cars are in wrecks and never go to the garage area. They come down pit road, they work on things … and they go back out and make minimum speed. They continue to work on the car as the race goes on. That will still completely be in play."


Miller said the move is to help officials, who didn't often see what goes on in the garage but can better observe repairs on pit road.


Teams will be allowed to correct mechanical or electrical failures that aren't the result of an accident or contact without penalty. Such repairs may be done on pit road or in the garage area, and the five-minute clock will not be in play in those instances.


"We're not going to tell a guy who breaks his transmission at Watkins Glen or Pocono, for instance, and coasts into the garage area that he's out," Miller said. "Because that doesn't create an unsafe situation; that is a mechanical failure.


"It's more about crashed vehicles and all that is involved with that, from the crew guys to the drivers to dropping more debris on the track, which always happens. … So there are exceptions for mechanical failures, those things can be rectified in the garage. That's going to be up to the series director's discretion to make those calls, but it's not going to be that difficult."


There will be modifications to at least two pit-road penalties under the policy for those making repairs. Any driver receiving a pit-road speeding penalty (entry or exit) will lose 15 seconds from the five-minute clock. Any team sending too many men over the wall will result in that car being removed from the race.


"Speeding comes with an additional penalty because speeding in or out is a way to circumvent the clock," Miller said.


When a car is damaged and repairs are made on pit road, teams know they will be at the tail end of the longest line, so extra men often go over the wall. (Each team is allowed six to work on the car and one to service the driver and/or windshield.)


"That's another thing we discussed with the teams and internally," he said. "Too many men over the wall is also defeating the purpose of the policy; it would encourage teams to bring extra people well-versed in going over the wall to repair cars. So too many men over the wall just has to signal the end of that car's day."


What will race fans see with the new policy? It's what they won't see, Miller said, that is behind the change.


"What they won't see is stuff we don't like to see, cars running around out there with stuff flying off," he said. "We don't like that because it creates yellows, it creates debris for other cars to run over, it creates a dangerous situation. That's what they won't see. What they will see are quality cars on the race track racing one another."

As Badlands Motor Speedway continues its search for a new ownership group, track officials have confirmed six special events at the three-eighths-mile track this year.

The condensed schedule opens with the Folkens Brothers $100,000 Silver Shootout on Saturday, May 13. Last year’s Silver Shootout, won by North Dakota’s Mark Dobmeier, opened the Badlands Motor Speedway era. At the time it was the highest-paying automobile race in the history of South Dakota.

The Folkens Brothers $100,000 Silver Shootout will again be paid out in 10-ounce Silver Bars with the winner of the 410 sprint car feature to receive 75 bars, ($15,000 value at the time of production). The feature will award a minimum of three bars to all starters, a value of $600. The Silver Shootout will also feature the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars and the Late Model Street Stocks.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series will also make their annual return to Badlands for a two-day show on July 1-2. Last season the World of Outlaws visited Badlands for a two-day program with Brad Sweet and Donny Schatz picking up victories. The Midwest Late Models will be the support class for both nights of racing.

The Late Model Mayhem will also be part of the schedule with two dates on June 4 and Aug. 6. The Late Model Mayhem events will feature the Midwest Late Models, the Late Model Street Stocks, the USRA Hobby Stocks, USRA Stock Cars and USRA B-Modifieds. The June 4 event will still be part of the USRA Iron Man series.
Badlands will also host a Huset’s Speedway Flashback Night on Sunday, Sept. 3 with a total purse of $50,000. The Flashback night will feature 410 sprint cars, 360 sprint cars and Late Model Street Stocks. The night will also feature the Huset’s Speedway Hall of Fame and the 2017 class will be inducted at intermission.

2017 Badlands Motor Speedway Schedule

DAY	DATE	EVENT	CLASS
Saturday	May 13	Folken Brothers Silver Shootout	410 Sprint Cars, 305 Sprint Cars, LMSS
Sunday	June 4	Late Model Mayhem	Midwest Late Models, LMSS, USRA Hobby, Stock Car, B-Mod
Saturday	July 1	World of Outlaws	WoO, Support Class: Midwest Late Models
Sunday	July 2	World of Outlaws	WoO, Support Class: Midwest Late Models
Sunday	August 6	Late Model Mayhem	Midwest Late Models, LMSS, USRA Hobby, Stock Car, B-Mod
Sunday	Sept. 3	Huset’s Flashback	410 Sprint Cars, 360 Sprint Cars, LMSS

Hoosier Racing Tire will continue its support of the Professional Drag Racers Association this season as the official tire of the series.

Hoosier also posts contingency awards in all Pro and Sportsman classes, as well as special event classes.

“We look forward to continuing our relationship with PDRA and the racers that compete in this series this year,” said Faron Lubbers of Hoosier Racing Tire. “Our continued support of the series and the racers means a lot to us as and we’re looking forward to a great season and beyond.”

Hoosier Racing Tire will be onsite offering trackside support at all of the PDRA events with their great corporate representative Frank Papp and servicing representative of Jody Skeens Track Side Service. As a customer-driven company, Hoosier Racing Tire carries many of the PDRA’s competitors to the winner’s circle.

“Continued support from industry-leading companies like Hoosier is a large part of what makes the PDRA a strong and growing organization,” thanked PDRA Director of Marketing, Will Smith. “We thank Faron and the great team at Hoosier for supporting our organization and our racers. We’re all in this for the same reason – to support the racers and we appreciate our partners, like Hoosier, who help us do that here at the PDRA.”

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) awarded the 2016 SCCA Mechanic of the Year to Richard Hayes of Colorado. Hayes is the crew chief for Formula F driver Andy Melvin.

The honoree is chosen each year by the technical staff at SCCA based on submissions received through a survey completed at SCCA.com or through an e-mail invitation.

The SCCA Mechanic of the Year demonstrates a commitment to his craft and to the drivers he supports. Hayes has been an SCCA member since 1993 and is said to display an unparalleled work ethic. He prepares, transports, coaches and puts his driver in a position to win during every single SCCA weekend, according to SCCA.

In their first full season together, Hayes and Melvin have made great strides. After a first-turn incident at Road America in 2015, Hayes repaired the heavily damaged racecar in time for an event the following weekend in Kansas. In 2016 at the June Sprints, the mechanic and driver worked together to achieve an amazing victory, a first for Melvin at the Chicago Region's iconic event.

As evidence of the bond Hayes and Melvin share, consider the 2015 SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway. While belting Melvin into the racecar, Hayes’ phone rang and he briefly took the call to learn of his mother’s death. He bent down into the cockpit and informed Melvin of the news. The driver then stood up and gave Hayes a huge hug. The duo then got right back to work to put Melvin out on track.

NASCAR announced it is partnering with American Medical Response (AMR) to expand the capabilities of NASCAR’s medical support model and enhance on-track incident response. AMR, a recognized leader in the emergency medical services, will add a doctor and paramedic to the on-track safety team for each Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series weekend.
 
NASCAR’s industry-leading medical standards remain in place; Infield Care Centers will continue to be staffed with experienced local emergency room physicians, maintaining the valuable connection with local medical facilities at every track. Combining the experience of local emergency practitioners with the familiarity that the AMR team will develop with drivers will positively impact the process for years to come.
 
“This partnership further strengthens NASCAR’s medical response capability, making our well-established, medical response system even better,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “AMR is a leader in the emergency services sector, and its doctors and paramedics add another layer of expertise to the immediate response team.”
 
AMR will position state licensed doctors and paramedics in a chase vehicle along with two NASCAR Track Services team members and immediately respond to an on-track incident. The paramedic and doctor will provide an assessment at the scene.
 
“We’re excited about this partnership with NASCAR,” said Edward Van Horne, president and chief executive officer, AMR. “We’re going to work collaboratively with NASCAR and local teams to share best EMS practices and ensure the highest quality of care.”
 
AMR, which currently delivers EMS support at a number of NASCAR events, will provide a physician to serve as the national medical director of the AMR Safety Team to oversee all services provided by AMR and work with the NASCAR Medical Liaisons and NASCAR Consulting Physicians.
 
AMR, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare, is the largest provider of emergency medical transportation services in the U.S. and a leader in pre-hospital care and treatment.
 
Furthermore, AMR becomes the Official Emergency Medical Services Partner of NASCAR, and AMR will be the presenting partner of the annual NASCAR (Track Services) Summit.
 

The raceway formerly known as Frontier Sports Park will reopen under new management for the 2017 race season and will be renamed to Sports Park Raceway. Sports Park Raceway, located at 2298 South River Road, Iowa, will be ready for racing action in 2017 under the direction of Jason Vansickel, Marty Pringle, and Dave Doughty.

Jason Vansickel, the new track promoter/manager and Webster City local, has seen nearly 40 years of racing and has thick family ties to the racing community as well. In 1999 he built a car and started racing—having now earned experience in Econo Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Late Models and most currently, stock cars. From 2014-2016 he served as the track manager/promoter at the Hamilton County Speedway.

“I look forward to making the speedway the place to be on Sunday nights,” Vansickel said.

Marty Pringle, from Otho, has been involved in the racing community for over 50 years. He is a second-generation stock car driver and has raced, promoted and flagged at several central Iowa figure 8 tracks. Pringle has also been part of the Ryan Griffith late model race team for many years. He is a racing historian and spends his time restoring and collecting vintage race cars and other racing memorabilia. As the current president of the Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum, Inc. he and the Board of Directors are in the process of finding a permanent location for a museum to share the history of Iowa racing with race fans from all over the Midwest.

Dave Doughty, a Fort Dodge native, began his racing career in 1981 and continued racing through the 2010 season. Along the way, he’s met a lot of great people and developed close ties with many in the racing community. With a vision of what Sports Park Raceway can become, Dave is excited to work alongside Vansickel and Pringle to try and bring the speedway to its full potential, according to the company.

“I know with hard work, dedication and the support of the fans, drivers and the area businesses, we can make this track something we are all proud of.”

Management will not be the only change race fans see this season; weekly racing in Fort Dodge will take place on Sunday nights. The 2017 season will begin with “Test & Tune” dates on April 23 and April 30, 2017. Weekly racing at Sports Park Raceway will begin on May 7 and run through July 30, 2017. Sports Park Raceway, although not sanctioned, will run IMCA racing rules.

Sports Park Raceway is a ½ mile semi-banked oval dirt track located just south of Fort Dodge. Anticipated classes include Sport Compacts, Hobby Stocks, Sport Mods, Stock Cars, Modifieds, and Late Models.

For any questions, please contact Jason Vansickel at (515) 835-9686. Please find Sports Park Raceway on Facebook and at www.sportsparkraceway.com.

Front Row Motorsports announced that it has purchased a third charter for use in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series ahead of a planned expansion for the 2018 season.

The Bob Jenkins-owned organization indicated that it has acquired the charter last used by BK Racing's No. 83 entry in the series in 2016. Front Row said it intends to lease the charter to TriStar Motorsports' No. 72 team this year in advance of fielding three full-time entries the following season.

Front Row Motorsports currently has two chartered teams: The No. 34 Ford for driver Landon Cassill and the No. 38 Ford driven by David Ragan. The organization—based in Statesville, North Carolina—has fielded at least one full-time entry in NASCAR's top division since 2009.


"I'm proud of the way this team has grown since we first joined the sport, and we're here to stay," Jenkins said in a news release provided by the team. "Now we're taking the next step that will strengthen our foundation as a team and help us build more meaningful, lasting relationships on all levels—driver, sponsor and manufacturer."


Front Row has campaigned as a three-car team as recently as 2015. Last season, it completed primarily as a two-car effort, with David Gilliland in a third car at restrictor-plate tracks.


The move reduces BK Racing's number of chartered teams to one—the No. 23 Toyota which will be driven by Joey Gase in the Daytona 500 with rookie Gray Gaulding driving nearly the entire schedule. BK Racing owner Ron Devine indicated that its Nos. 83 and 93 will compete in multiple races as open teams.

"I believe operating with one charter will allow this team to focus our resources in a way that will make us more competitive on the race track," Devine said in a statement released by the team. "I have the utmost confidence that we will give both Joey Gase in the No. 23 and Corey LaJoie in the No. 83 the equipment they need to give us a strong run in Daytona, and I'm eager to see Gray Gaulding do great in the No. 23 starting in Atlanta.


"As previously announced, Corey LaJoie will run multiple races in the No. 83 this season. Like last year, you will likely see the No. 93 on track from time to time as well. We have excellent, young talent this year, and I plan for this to be BK Racing's most competitive year ever."


TriStar announced its return to NASCAR's premier series Thursday, planning a full-time ride for driver Cole Whitt.


NASCAR introduced the charter system ahead of the 2016 season in an effort to provide a better business model for team owners. Of the 40 starting spots available in each Monster Energy Cup Series race, 36 are guaranteed to chartered teams.

Motovicity Distribution announced the promotion of April Zuk to Marketing Manager.
 
“Since day one, April has demonstrated the keen ability to successfully manage several marketing initiatives simultaneously,” said Brett Kinsfather, Motovicity’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “In her new role, I look forward to the growth of Motovicity’s uniquely original promotional and marketing efforts that she will spearhead.”
 
Zuk’s career at Motovicity began in 2015 as the company’s assistant marketing manager, where she was responsible for the day-to-day marketing and advertising efforts of the company. In 2016, Zuk lead Motovicity’s trailblazing SpeedRing event, bringing together racers, manufacturers, builders, dealers, and the general public to a single venue where the country’s top Time Attack racers battled it out for more than $30K in prize money.
 
In her new role as Marketing Manager, Zuk is responsible for managing the execution of Motovicity’s B2B advertising and promotional strategies.

“I’m looking forward to progressing Motovicity’s marketing programs to the next level,” Zuk said when asked about her new role. “Motovicity has long been a leader in co-op marketing efforts and I’m excited to bring new ideas and tools to their renowned programs,” she continued.

The Verizon IndyCar Series has modified the race weekend schedule at some events for the 2017 season. INDYCAR, the sanctioning body for the Verizon IndyCar Series and Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires developmental ladder, announced the modifications, as well as updates included in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Official Rule Book.

Among the race-weekend schedule modifications are:

• Phoenix and Gateway qualifications: Qualifying at two oval tracks – Phoenix Raceway and Gateway Motorsports Park – will be held on the same day as those Saturday night races. The first day of those two-day events weekends will focus on a pair of practice sessions, the latter falling within the same evening time slot as the race.

• Firestone alternate tires: At road and street courses, each car will receive an additional set of Firestone’s red-sidewall alternate tires, bringing the total to four sets of the softer-compound Firehawks available for the weekend and allowing teams to better gauge performance characteristics of the alternate tires in comparison to Firestone’s more-durable, black-sidewall, primary-compound tires prior to qualifications. Each entry must return one set of tires – either primary or alternate – following the first practice session of a weekend and another set – the opposite compound from the first returned set – following the second practice session.

• Overtake assist time allotment: Push-to-pass overtake assist in road and street races will be based on a maximum time allotment for each car instead of the number of uses. The events on the streets of St. Petersburg, Raceway at Belle Isle Park and Sonoma Raceway will have a total overtake time allotment of 150 seconds for each race, with the other road/street races set for 200 seconds. When a driver engages the overtake via a button on the steering wheel, it increases engine turbocharger boost pressure by 15 kilopascals (kPa) to 165 kPa – good for about 60 added horsepower. Once engaged, push-to-pass will run for a pre-established duration equivalent to approximately the time needed to drive the length of the track’s main straightaway (15-20 seconds). Drivers will now have the ability to disengage an overtake activation midway through its use to save time for a later use. In addition, push-to-pass will not be available at the start of a race or for any restarts, with the exception of a restart commencing with two laps remaining in the race.

• INDYCAR Grand Prix schedule: Verizon IndyCar Series on-track action at the INDYCAR Grand Prix on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course will consist of two days, Friday and Saturday, May 12-13, to create a more action-packed event. All three levels of the Mazda Road to Indy development ladder will still have track activity on Thursday, May 11.

• Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix qualifications: For the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix doubleheader in June, qualifying sessions for each race will see the field divided into two groups based on practice times, with 12 minutes of track time allotted for each qualifying group (with five minutes of guaranteed green-flag time). Previously, qualifying for the first race followed the advancement round format used at other road/street events. Qualifying groups for Belle Isle will be based on best lap times from the practice session immediately preceding Race 1 qualifications. If a car causes a red-flag situation during a qualifying session, its best two timed laps will be disallowed and it will not be permitted to continue in the session. One driver and entrant championship point will be awarded to the fastest car in each qualifying group on both days.

• Standardized road/street practice times: Practice sessions on the first day of most road/street course event weekends will have standardized start times of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. local. Each session will be 45 minutes in duration.

"INDYCAR consulted with our various stakeholders – teams, drivers, event promoters – to refine the weekend schedules and generate the most value and excitement for everyone," said Jay Frye, INDYCAR president of competition and operations. "These changes are subtle but will enhance the race weekend experience for everyone involved, most particularly our fans."

Conducting qualifications on race day at Phoenix (April 29) and Gateway (August 26) provides fans more on-track action those days. Adding a set of Firestone alternate tires on road/street race weekends is said to allow teams to be better prepared for qualifying and the race. Changing the push-to-pass parameters puts the strategy into the drivers’ hands for when and how much to use it. Updating the formats for the INDYCAR Grand Prix and Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix makes for a more efficient, better weekend flow. Standardized practice times at road/street events allow teams a more consistent preparation schedule to begin the often-chaotic race weekend.

The 17-race Verizon IndyCar Series season opens with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 12, includes the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil on May 28 and concludes with the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on September 17.

Teams will gather this week for an open test featuring all full-season cars February 10-11 at Phoenix Raceway.