PPG announced that its board of directors has elected Vincent J. Morales to serve as senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), effective March 1. Morales is replacing Frank S. Sklarsky as CFO, who has announced his retirement also effective March 1. Morales will report to Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael H. McGarry. Morales will also join PPG’s executive and operating committees.

McGarry said of Sklarsky, “During the last four years, Frank has been an instrumental leader for the company through his depth of experience and thought leadership. He has been integral in the successful achievement of our continued business portfolio optimization, both strategically and financially. He has also continued to drive a high-performance finance team and has done an excellent job in preparing the finance function for this succession. On a personal level, I would also like to thank Frank for his valued support and counsel during my corporate leadership transition.”

On Morales, McGarry said, “Throughout Vince’s more than 30 years at PPG, he has been a change agent and played a key role in our transformation to become a leading provider of paints, coatings and specialty materials. His appointment to this role recognizes his leadership, demonstrated experience in finance, and deep understanding of PPG’s global businesses and strategies. In this new role, he will further assist PPG as we continue to grow and expand around the globe and work to create additional shareholder value.”

Morales joined PPG in 1985 and advanced through various finance roles of increasing responsibility in the company’s Corporate Controller’s function, shared financial service center, plants and business units. He also served as vice president, investor relations, and treasurer before assuming his current role as vice president, finance. He earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Robert Morris University and a Master of Business Administration from the Ohio State University.

For more information, visit the press release here.

The 26th year of the American Sprint Car Series gets underway with the Lucas Oil ASCS Southern Outlaw Sprints at Tampa’s East Bay Raceway Park and the 41st East Bay Winter Nationals and Ronald Laney Memorial.

A three day affair with the winner walking away with $10,000 is the start of a 154 race lineup for the drivers of the American Sprint Car Series in 2017, which consists of seven regional tours along with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series National Tour presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.

For drivers chasing ASCS Championships, nearly $400,000 in point fund is up for grabs with the biggest prize of $60,000 going to the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Champion.

Entering the 2017 season, Texas native Sam Hafertepe, Jr. stands as the defending champion.

In all, the American Sprint Car Series is slated to compete in 23 states with 70 facilities on the docket. At this time, nine more dates are in the works across the whole of the American Sprint Car Series.

With six regions in 2016, the re-emergence of the ASCS Mid-South region in 2017 brings a regular rotation of events back to the state of Arkansas. This move also helped to bring the COMP Cams Short Track Nationals at I-30 Speedway back under ASCS sanction.

Just one of several crown jewel events on the ASCS lineup, the $15,000 to win affair is preceded by the $15,000 to win Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup in June at Skagit Speedway, as well as the Arnold Motor Supply 360 Knoxville Nationals in August, at the famed Knoxville Raceway. The High Roller Classic at the Missouri State Fair Speedway in Sedalia and the Hockett/McMillin Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway in September all help to make up the vast list of must see events in 2017.

Fans can following along with National Tour events with live coverage from www.racinboys.com as well as updates through the ASCS social media outlets on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Matt Ward will continue to serve as the National Director of the American Sprint Car Series and can be reached or rules and format questions at (918) 838-3777. ASCS National Schedule is handled by Terry Mattox. Regional schedules are handled each region’s director:

ASCS Gulf South – Keith Johnson 337-457-4498

ASCS Frontier – Kass Cornella 307-351-1412

ASCS Mid-South – Terry Mattox 918-417-0624

ASCS Red River – Terry Mattox 918-417-0624

ASCS Southwest – Roger Toops 623-271-2343

ASCS SOS – Mike Miller 850-287-5689

ASCS Warrior – Larry Hol 816-804-2333

Complete coverage of each event, as well as points and stats will be maintained at www.ascsracing.com. All dates on the 2017 lineup are subject to change without notice.

Overall 2017 American Sprint Car Series Lineup:
(Tour Key: F=Frontier / GS=Gulf South / MS=Mid-South / N=National / RR=Red River / SOS=Southern Outlaw Sprints / SW=Southwest / W=Warrior)
Date – Track (City, State) – Tour
2/23/2017 - East Bay Raceway Park (Tampa, FL) - SOS

2/24/2017 - East Bay Raceway Park (Tampa, FL) - SOS

2/25/2017 - East Bay Raceway Park (Tampa, FL) - SOS

3/4/2017 - Canyon Speedway Park (Peoria, AZ) - SW

3/11/2017 - Deep South Speedway (Loxley, AL) - SOS

3/11/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

3/17/2017 - Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) - N/GS

3/18/2017 - Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) - N/GS

3/24/2017 - Golden Triangle Raceway Park (Beaumont, TX) - GS

3/25/2017 - Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX) - GS

3/25/2017 - Central Arizona Speedway (Casa Grande, AZ) - SW

3/26/2017 - Missouri State Fair Speedway (Sedalia, MO) - N/W

3/31/2017 - Southern NM Speedway (Las Cruces, NM) - SW

4/1/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - RR/MS

4/1/2017 - Southern NM Speedway (Las Cruces, NM) - SW

4/7/2017 - Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, TX) - N/RR

4/7/2017 - Jackson Motor Speedway (Byram, MS) - GS/SOS

4/8/2017 - Texas Motor Speedway (Fort Worth, TX) - N/RR

4/8/2017 - Jackson Motor Speedway (Byram, MS) - GS/SOS

4/21/2017 - Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK) - RR

4/22/2017 - Texarkana 67 Speedway (Texarkana, AR) - RR

4/22/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

4/22/2017 - Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, MO) - W

4/28/2017 - Callaway Raceway (Fulton, MO) - W

4/29/2017 - Deep South Speedway (Loxley, AL) - SOS

5/5/2017 - Heart O'Texas Speedway (Waco, TX) - GS

5/5/2017 - Flint Creek Speedway (W. Siloam Springs, OK) - RR

5/6/2017 - Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) - RR/W

5/6/2017 - Gator Motorplex (Willis, TX) - GS

5/6/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

5/11/2017 - Lakeside Speedway (Kansas City, KS) - N/W

5/12/2017 - Humboldt Speedway (Humboldt, KS) - RR

5/13/2017 - Springfield Raceway (Springfield, MO) - RR/W

5/19/2017 - Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK) - RR

5/20/2017 - Lawton Speedway (Lawton, OK) - RR

5/20/2017 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - SOS

5/26/2017 - Colorado Motor Sports Park (Byers, CO) - N

5/26/2017 - RPM Speedway (Crandall, TX) - GS

5/27/2017 - El Paso County Raceway (Calhan, CO) - N

5/27/2017 - Devil's Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) - GS

5/28/2017 - Phillips County Raceway (Holyoke, CO) - N

5/28/2017 - Lone Star Speedway (Kilgore, TX) - GS

5/28/2017 - Double X Speedway (California, MO) - W

6/2/2017 - Black Hills Speedway (Rapid City , SD) - F

6/2/2017 - Heart O’ Texas Speedway (Waco, TX) - GS

6/2/2017 - Moulton Speedway (Moulton, AL) - SOS

6/3/2017 - Gillette Thunder Speedway (Gillette, WY) - F

6/3/2017 - Cotton Bowl Speedway (Paige, TX) - GS

6/3/2017 - Toccoa Raceway (Toccoa, GA) - SOS

6/9/2017 - West Texas Raceway (Lubbock, TX) - N

6/9/2017 - Gallatin Speedway (Belgrade, MT) - F

6/9/2017 - Batesville Motor Speedway (Batesville, AR) - MS

6/9/2017 - US 36 Raceway (Osborn, MO) - W

6/10/2017 - Route 66 Motor Speedway (Amarillo, TX) - N

6/10/2017 - Riverside Int’l Speedway (West Memphis, AR) - MS

6/10/2017 - Valley Speedway (Grain Valley, MO) - W

6/13/2017 - Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) - N

6/14/2017 - Lawton Speedway (Lawton, OK) - N/RR

6/15/2017 - Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK) - N/RR

6/16/2017 - Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, MO) - N/W

6/16/2017 - Golden Triangle Raceway Park (Beaumont, TX) - GS/SOS

6/17/2017 - Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) - N/W

6/17/2017 - Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX) - GS/SOS

6/18/2017 - Double X Speedway (California, MO) - W

6/22/2017 - Skagit Speedway (Alger, WA) - N

6/23/2017 - Skagit Speedway (Alger, WA) - N

6/23/2017 - Heartland Park Dirt Track (Topeka, KS) - RR/W

6/24/2017 - Skagit Speedway (Alger, WA) - N

6/24/2017 - Caney Valley Speedway (Caney, KS) - RR

6/30/2017 - Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) - N

6/30/2017 - Hattiesburg Speedway (Hattiesburg, MS) - SOS

6/30/2017 - Callaway Raceway (Fulton, MO) - W

7/1/2017 - Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA) - N

7/1/2017 - Pike County Speedway (Magnolia, MS) - SOS

7/1/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

7/2/2017 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - SOS

7/2/2017 - Double X Speedway (California, MO) - W

7/7/2017 - Gallatin Speedway (Belgrade, MT) - N/F

7/7/2017 - Wichita Speedway (Wichita Falls, TX) - RR

7/7/2017 - Tennessee National Raceway (Hohenwald, TN) - SOS

7/8/2017 - Gallatin Speedway (Belgrade, MT) - N/F

7/8/2017 - Superbowl Speedway (Greenville, TX) - RR

7/8/2017 - Winchester Speedway (Winchester, TN) - SOS

7/9/2017 - Duck River Raceway Park (Wheel, TN) - SOS

7/14/2017 - Black Hills Speedway (Rapid City, SD) - N/F

7/14/2017 - Golden Triangle Raceway Park (Beaumont, TX) - GS

7/15/2017 - Black Hills Speedway (Rapid City, SD) - N/F

7/15/2017 - Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX) - GS

7/21/2017 - Shadyhill Speedway (Medaryville, IN) - N

7/21/2017 - Atomic Motor Raceway (Blackfoot, ID) - F

7/21/2017 - Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK) - RR

7/22/2017 - Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, MO) - N/W

7/22/2017 - Atomic Motor Raceway (Blackfoot, ID) - F

7/22/2017 - Texarkana 67 Speedway (Texarkana, AR) - RR

7/23/2017 - Double X Speedway (California, MO) - W

7/28/2017 - Southern NM Speedway (Las Cruces, NM) - SW

7/29/2017 - Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) - N

7/29/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - MS

7/29/2017 - Southern NM Speedway (Las Cruces, NM) - SW

7/29/2017 - Gillette Thunder Speedway (Gillette, WY) - F

7/29/2017 - US 36 Raceway (Osborn, Mo.) - W

7/30/2017 - Mason City Motor Speedway (Mason City, IA) - N

8/3/2017 - Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) - N

8/4/2017 - Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) - N

8/4/2017 - Gallatin Speedway (Belgrade, MT) - F

8/5/2017 - Knoxville Raceway (Knoxville, IA) - N

8/11/2017 - Jackson Motor Speedway (Byram, MS) - SOS

8/12/2017 - Jackson Motor Speedway (Byram, MS) - SOS

8/18/2017 - Sweetwater Speedway (Rock Springs, WY) - F

8/18/2017 - Heart O’ Texas Speedway (Waco, TX) - GS

8/18/2017 - US 36 Raceway (Cameron, MO) - W

8/19/2017 - Sweetwater Speedway (Rock Springs, WY) - F

8/20/2017 - Missouri State Fair Speedway (Sedalia, MO) - N/W

8/25/2017 - Crossville Speedway (Crossville, TN) - SOS

8/26/2017 - Smoky Mountain Speedway (Maryville, TN) - N/SOS

8/26/2017 - Valentine Speedway (Glenrock, WY) - F

8/26/2017 - Salina Highbanks Speedway (Salina, OK) - RR

9/1/2017 - Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN) - N

9/2/2017 - Jackson Motorplex (Jackson, MN) - N

9/2/2017 - Battleground Speedway (Highlands, TX) - GS

9/2/2017 - Riverside Int'l Speedway (West Memphis, AR) - MS

9/2/2017 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - SOS

9/2/2017 - Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, MO) - W

9/3/2017 - Golden Triangle Raceway Park (Beaumont, TX) - GS

9/3/2017 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - SOS

9/3/2017 - Randolph County Raceway (Moberly, MO) - W

9/8/2017 - Gallatin Speedway (Belgrade, MT) - F

9/9/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - RR

9/15/2017 - Tennessee National Raceway (Hohenwald, TN) - SOS

9/16/2017 - Duck River Raceway Park (Wheel, TN) - N/SOS

9/16/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

9/21/2017 - Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) - N/W

9/22/2017 - Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) - N/W

9/23/2017 - Lucas Oil Speedway (Wheatland, MO) - N/W
9/30/2017 - I - 80 Speedway (Greenwood, NE) - N

9/30/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - MS

9/30/2017 - Central Arizona Speedway (Casa Grande, AZ) - SW

10/6/2017 - Deep South Speedway (Loxley, MS) - SOS

10/7/2017 - Southern Raceway (Milton, FL) - SOS

10/7/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

10/12/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - MS

10/13/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - MS

10/14/2017 - I - 30 Speedway (Little Rock, AR) - MS

10/14/2017 - Canyon Speedway Park (Peoria, AZ) - SW

10/20/2017 - Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) - N/RR

10/21/2017 - Devil’s Bowl Speedway (Mesquite, TX) - N/RR

10/27/2017 - Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK) - N/RR

10/28/2017 - Creek County Speedway (Sapulpa, OK) - N/RR

11/3/2017 - Wildcat Raceway (Tucson, AZ) - N/SW

11/4/2017 - Wildcat Raceway (Tucson, AZ) - N/SW

11/10/2017 - Cocopah Speedway (Somerton, AZ) - N/SW

11/11/2017 - Cocopah Speedway (Somerton, AZ) - N/SW

11/24/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

11/25/2017 - Arizona Speedway (Queen Creek, AZ) - SW

Specialty Auto Parts U.S.A. Inc. has announced a licensing agreement with Mopar Performance; enthusiasts can expect to see licensed Mopar parts in 2017. Products in the engine cooling and ignition categories will come first, to be followed by engine dress-up parts.

Some of the dress-up products will benefit from new patented designs, said to be giving Mopar an industry-leading look that is unique to its nameplate.

Valve covers, air cleaner kits, timing covers, and other accessories in multiple finishes are expected as well.

Specialty Auto Parts U.S.A. Inc., also known as PROFORM, will deploy its design resources and manufacturing efficiency to support Mopar at the top of the automotive aftermarket. These Mopar Official Licensed Products will join Chevrolet Performance, and Ford Performance under the special designation Factory Performance Parts, which is reserved for the Big 3 products that Specialty Auto Parts U.S.A. Inc. designs, manufactures and markets to muscle car enthusiasts.

The World Series of Drag Racing is returning to Cordova International Raceway in Cordova, Illinois, after a one-year stay in Memphis, Tennessee, IRG Sports + Entertainment announced. The 2017 World Series of Drag Racing is set for August 25-27, 2017; ticket information will be available in March.
 
The World Series of Drag Racing has a storied history with its inaugural event taking place in Lawrenceville, Illinois, in 1953 and later transitioning to IRGSE-owned Cordova International Raceway. Since its inception, the event has featured many of the world's best drag racers in a said family-friendly environment. The event comprises activities for the whole family including the kids zone, an array of food options, driver meet-and-greets with autograph sessions and fireworks shows. 

"We heard you Cordova and the entire greater Quad Cities - you wanted your race back, and we are glad to make it happen," vice chairman and CEO of IRGSE, the parent company of Cordova International Raceway, Chris Lencheski said. "As they say, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,' and the out crying for the return was palatable.
 
"Memphis (Memphis International Raceway in Millington, Tennessee) was a tremendous host providing terrific corporate support, but candidly, the jewel in their eye is NASCAR. We have now delivered for Memphis as well with the return of a NASCAR event on June 3.
 
"With great respect for everyone in Memphis and the clearest understanding that Cordova/Quad Cities wanted the WSOD back, we are proud to bring the race back and expect that, with our increased purse, this year's edition of the WSOD will be a true homecoming!"

The World Series of Drag Racing attracts sportsman and professional racers from around the country to compete. The top names in drag racing participate in exhibition runs, match racing and competitive elimination action in front of capacity crowds.

Notable participants in previous World Series of Drag Racing events include: IHRA president Mike Dunn, Clay Millican, "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, Shirley Muldowney, Del Worsham, T.J. Zizzo, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Bruce Litton, Chris "The Greek" Karamesines, Warren Johnson, Larry Morgan, Dom Lagana and many more.
 
"Drag racing at Cordova International Raceway has been a mainstay of the summer scene in the Quad Cities for more than 60 years," Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO Joe Taylor said. "Motorsports fans, not just locally but from across the nation, are thrilled that major drag racing will return this summer to its traditional August dates at its traditional home, Cordova International Raceway."

"When rumors of the return of the World Series of Drag Racing began to circulate, lots of emotion and excitement began to stir," Cordova International Raceway president and general manager Rod Wolter said.  "As the rumors gained traction, the track phone never quit - everyone wanted to know if it was true. Guess what? IT IS!"

For more information, visit www.irgse.com.

(Photo credit: Vince Vellella, Dan McFarland, Patrick Miller, Justin Brester and ILP, and Killer Mile Motorsports)

The Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions will launch the 2017 season in near-record fashion, welcoming 18 full-time travelers from five different states, each working to endure 51 events across much of the Midwest and Northeast.

Of the 18 confirmed travelers, 11 will tackle the nine month campaign for the first time in their careers, attempting to etch their names permanently in the All Star history books and claim “Rookie of the Year” honors.

Five-time and defending Arctic Cat All Star champion Chad Kemenah is one of the drivers returning to the line-up this year. Kemenah, who claimed the 2016 championship by a mere-20 markers over fellow Ohio native Dale Blaney, earned one feature victory last season, claiming 33 top-ten feature finishes in 43 contested starts. The Findlay native will return to the driver seat of the Hunter Racing/Seneca Energy/No. 10H in 2017, aiming to score a second-ever title for car owner Rob Hunter.

Other experienced travelers returning to the road full-time in 2017 include Pennsylvania native and 2015 Jim Ford Classic winner Ryan Smith, former USAC Kenyon Midget champion Caleb Armstrong, Findlay, Ohio, native Caleb Helms, 2005 Knoxville Nationals champion and son of 20-time World of Outlaws champion,
 Kraig Kinser, the 2016 All Star “Rookie of the Year” runner-up “Texas Traveler” T.J. Michael, and Etters, Pennsylvania, native Bradley Howard.

In perhaps what will turn into the largest rookie battle in Arctic Cat All Star history, the contingent of newly formed All Stars is diverse, representing a multitude of tracks, series and divisions from across the country.

Although many competitors have limited or part-time experience with the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions, some will compete for the first-time ever in 2017.

Seven of the 11 “Rookie of the Year” candidates hail from various parts of Pennsylvania. Former Lernerville Speedway champion and Buckeye Outlaw Sprint Series (B.O.S.S.) non-wing driver Brandon Spithaler, the father-son duo of Brent and Brandon Matus, former Lernerville Speedway super late model runner-up turned open-wheel competitor John Garvin, 358ci sprint car graduate Tyler Esh, and the third generation family duo of Hunter and Jordan Mackison, will each represent Pennsylvania in 2017.

In addition, Ryan Linder, a Mexico, Indiana, native who will compete out of a Pennsylvania-based race shop, Dane Lorenc, a New York native and former Patriot Sprint Tour feature winner, “Mad Max” Stambaugh, an Elida, Ohio, native who claimed back-to-back NRA “360” Sprint Invaders championship runner-up finishes, and Clyde, Ohio's Roger Campbell, the most recent to add his name to the rookie list, will also follow the Arctic Cat All Star trail in 2017, raising the total number of states represented to four within the “Rookie of the Year” chase.

The 2017 Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions campaign will begin officially February 9-11, with three full nights of the Winter Nationals competition at the Bubba Raceway Park near Ocala, Florida. All three events will award a $5000 top prize, as well as full points toward the 2017 Arctic Cat All Star championship.

For more information on the 6th Annual Winter Nationals at Bubba Raceway Park, visit www.bubbaracewaypark.com. For more information on the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions and schedule, visit www.allstarsprint.com.

DIRTcar Racing announced that John Allen has taken over as the Weekly Operations Promoter at Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida, in advance of the 2017 season.

Weekly racing will commence on March 12 and run through the first week of December.

Allen, a 45-year-old DeLeon Springs, Florida, resident, is no stranger to Volusia Speedway Park, having spent many nights at the track with his father, who was a security guard at the track in the 1970s. Over the last three seasons, Allen had sponsored the track with his business, Allen Plumbing.

Allen is said to have many aspirations with the speedway, including rebuilding the track’s prominence in Central Florida and putting fans back in the seats.

The speedway is a half-mile, clay oval, often referred to as the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile.” Though its name, size and style have changed throughout the years, it has consistently operated as a weekly race track.

“For me, the Speedway is my joy – to bring all these drivers and fans together,” said John Allen. “A lot of people come out of the wood-work to help out, which is huge. We try to help out the local community and just bring everyone together. I get joy out of giving people somewhere to go on a Saturday night.”

Volusia Speedway Park hosts on of the biggest event in DIRTcar racing, the DIRTcar Nationals. This annual race kicks off the 2017 season for the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series, Super DIRTcar Series Big-Block Modifieds, DIRTcar Late Models, DIRTcar UMP Modifieds and Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions.

Weekly racing at the Florida short track will begin soon after DIRTcar Nationals with the All Star National Flat Track Series on March 12. Additionally, the track will host a headline event the following week on March 18 with a $2,000-to-win Late Model race.

Volusia Speedway Park is home to of some of the biggest paydays for short track racing. Two of the largest paydays at the track include the Ironman Weekend on May 19-20 with a $10,000-to-win Thunderstocks Ironman 100, and the Powell Memorial on June 3 with a $5,000-to-win Late Model race.

A Fourth of July celebration will begin on July 2, featuring a number of big dollar races, including $2,500 for the Modifieds, a $2,000-to-win Hobby Stock race, $1,500 to the winner of the Thunderstocks, and $500 for the Gladiators.

The annual Fall Brawl, on Oct. 28, will be the final points race of the season. The 2017 weekly campaign will come to a close on Dec. 2.

Many of racing’s greatest names will in attendance at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America’s (MSHFA) official grand opening at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 17.

The event, which is open to the public, is set to begin at 7:45 p.m. with veteran NASCAR on Fox personality Mike Joy to serve as the Master of Ceremonies. MSHFA inductees Bobby Allison, Donnie Allison, Richard Childress, Tom D’Eath, Hurley Haywood, Buddy Martin (Sox & Martin), Bill Seebold, Rusty Wallace and Humpy Wheeler are among the expected attendees.

As part of the long-awaited event, the MSHFA have a formal ribbon-cutting. It also will unveil and dedicate the new Robert E. Petersen Theatre, an impressive showpiece in the hall, which is located in Daytona International Speedway’s Ticket and Tours Facility. The MSHFA moved to Daytona Beach, Florida last year from Novi, Michigan. In advance of the Official Grand Opening, the MSHFA has been open to speedway tour visitors since last July.

“The racing immortals who will be with us on Feb. 17 will help us usher in a new era for the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America,” said MSHFA President Ron Watson. “The compelling stories of all of our inductees – our “Heroes of Horsepower’ – collectively form the foundation of our new facility. Combine those individual histories with our many classic racing vehicles and our other exhibits, and you have a fall of fame that is truly a ‘must-see’.”

Tickets for the event are $200 and can be reserved by visiting mshf.com or calling 386.681.6843. The evening will include a strolling banquet dinner, a premium open bar and the opportunity to meet some of the greatest names in the history of motorsports.

The 29th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony will be held in Daytona Beach on Wednesday, June 28. The 2017 class of inductees are listed below.

A rundown of the 2017 class:
    •    Steve Kinser (Inducted in the Open Wheel Category):  The "King of the Outlaws" is one of the most successful Sprint Car drivers in history, with 577 World of Outlaw feature victories, 20 WoO championships and 12 Knoxville Nationals championships. He also competed in the 1995 Daytona 500 and 1997 Indianapolis 500. Through five decades, Kinser has accumulated 876 Sprint Car feature victories.

    •    Richard 'Dick' Klamfoth (Motorcycles):  Klamfoth will forever be associated with the DAYTONA 200. At the age of 20, he burst onto the motorcycle racing scene in March 1949 when he rode to a surprise victory in the 200 on his very first attempt. Klamfoth won the beach-road classic again in 1951 and '52 to become the first three-time winner of America's most prestigious motorcycle race. He was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

    •    Terry Labonte (Stock Cars):  In 25 full seasons, Labonte finished in the top five in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series standings seven times — including championships in 1984 and '96. Labonte broke Richard Petty's record of 513 consecutive starts in 1996 and continued his "Iron Man" streak until Aug. 5, 2000, when he missed the Brickyard 400 due to injuries. He and Bobby Labonte are the only brothers to win NASCAR's premier series championship. Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Labonte also was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2016.

    •    Paula Murphy (Drag Racing):  Murphy played a pivotal role in drag racing's formative years, as the first woman licensed to drive a Funny Car and by becoming a successful match racer through 1972, driving an STP-sponsored ride in an era when few drivers had sponsorships. Her career began in road racing. That caught the attention of STP's Andy Granatelli, who brought her to the Bonneville Salt Flats where in 1963, "Miss STP" set a 161-mph women's land-speed record in a Studebaker Avanti. She later boosted her record to 243.44 mph in Walt Arfons' "Avenger" jet car.

    •    Scott Pruett (Sports Cars):  Pruett is one of North America's most accomplished drivers, with 11 major sports car titles from 1986-2013 including IMSA GTO (1986, '88), IMSA GT Endurance (1986), SCCA Trans-Am (1987, '94, 2003) and Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype (2004, '08 and 2010-12). Pruett was the 1989 Indianapolis 500 Co-Rookie of the Year and won two Indy Car races. He also had six top 10s in 40 NASCAR starts. Pruett began his career in karting at the age of eight and won 10 professional karting championships. Pruett dominated the Rolex Series with 41 wins in 132 starts. His record-tying five Rolex 24 victories came in 1994, 2007, '08, '11 and '13.

    •    Herb Thomas (Historic):  Thomas was NASCAR's first two-time champion (1951 and '53) and has the highest career winning percentage in NASCAR's top series (21.053%). Overall, he won 48 NASCAR Cup races, 39 poles and was in a close battle for a third title when his career was cut short by injury. Thomas was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998. Thomas, who died in 2000, was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013.

    •    Brock Yates (At Large):  Longtime executive editor of Car and Driver, Yates championed the role of the automobile in American life. Yates established the Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, a cross-continental road race known as the Cannonball Run; Yates won the second installment in a Ferrari Daytona with 1991 MSHFA inductee Dan Gurney. The race became the inspiration for several Cannonball Run movies, for which Yates wrote the screenplays. Yates was a pit reporter for CBS and a commentator on TNN and the Speed Channel.

The Gulf Coast Midget Championship, USAC’s newest racing series, has announced a six-race schedule at two Texas venues for the 2017 season.

Stephenville’s 281 Speedway serves as the host of three dates including the series opener on April 1. In addition, the series visits the ¼-mile dirt oval on June 3 and the series season finale on August 5.

The ¼-mile dirt Superbowl Speedway in Greenville greets the USAC Gulf Coast Midget Championship on three occasions during the 2016 campaign as well on April 29, May 27 and July 29.

All cars participating in the series must appear and fit the guidelines of a traditional midget. Cars powered by spec engines such as the Honda/Ford Focus, Volkswagen or the Chevy II with an entirely stock-production head and block, etc. do not have a minimum weight. For all purpose-built racing engines, cars must meet a minimum weight of 1035 pounds (including driver).

All 1000cc or greater upright cars are eligible to compete without a minimum weight and may be chain-driven and utilize a traditional driveline or quick-change rear-end.

All four corners of the car must be fitted with Hoosier Tires. On the right rear, teams may use the SP2, SP3 or SP4. A D12 tire or harder compound must be used on the left rear.

A maximum 10-inch-width right rear rim may be used. However, a maximum 12-inch width tire may be mounted to the 10-inch rim. Cars with 1000cc engines can use a maximum 12-inch wide right rear wheel rim.

Only one right rear tire can be used for an entire racing event (heat race and all features) unless it is inspected and determined by a race official to be flat or a potential safety hazard. If another tire is required, the replacement tire must be of the same compound and brand as the tire being approved for removal. All tires will be marked following hot laps.

To compete in the USAC Gulf Coast Midget Championship, drivers must be at least 14 years old and a licensed member as a driver with USAC Speed2.

For more information on the USAC Gulf Coast Midget Championship, please contact Jon McIntyre at mcintyrespeedshop@gmail.com or by phone at (214) 288-4375.
 
2017 USAC GULF COAST MIDGET CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Apr 1: 281 Speedway (Stephenville, Texas)
Apr 29: Superbowl Speedway (Greenville, Texas)
May 27: Superbowl Speedway (Greenville, Texas)
Jun 3: 281 Speedway (Stephenville, Texas)
Jul 29: Superbowl Speedway (Greenville, Texas)
Aug 5: 281 Speedway (Stephenville, Texas)

Imagine you’re an engineering student presented with the opportunity to spend a year working for Infiniti and its Formula 1 racing partner, the Renault Sport team. It’s a deep immersion across vehicle platforms, the chance to learn from and work with veteran engineers on technical challenges facing production and competition vehicles.
 
That’s exactly what happened for seven fortunate students from around the world when they earned a spot at the 2016/17 Infiniti Engineering Academy.
 
In just its third year, the Academy fielded some 4000 applications from seven global regions: the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Emirates, China, and Asia-Oceana. That mountain of entries was culled to 10 finalists from each region, who were then put through two intensive days of tests, team-building exercises and interviews to determine a winner from each region.
 
For Tommaso Volpe, Infiniti’s Director of Global Product Strategy and Motorsport, the Academy is as much about bringing diversity to Infiniti and its Formula 1 partner as it is about finding young engineering talent. “Formula 1 is a global sport, but not a global industry,” he said. “It’s a very Euro-centric industry, despite having races all over the world. We may be a drop in the ocean, but we are leading the conversation about how the sport should become much more diverse. There’s no other structured path for a student from, say, Saudi Arabia or Canada to access Formula 1.”
 
That diversity crosses gender lines, too. This year Caitlin Bunt, a 24-year-old engineering student from Rockford, Illinois, became the first woman to win a spot in the Academy. Two months later she was joined by Xuezi (Sally) Li, a 23-year-old mechanical engineering student from Chengdu, China.
 
Applicants can be undergraduates or doing graduate work, but must be students and not working professionally in the automotive or motorsports fields, Volpe said. Many of the first-year finalists were undergrads, he noted, so after their stint in the United Kingdom they returned to their home schools “as ambassadors of the program. We’ve kept in contact with them and are planning to make offers when they graduate. One has already accepted our offer to work at Infiniti; another will join Renault Sport in July of next year. This year all seven are almost all graduated, so at the end of the year we will be able to hire all of them.”

An agreement was recently reached between Oregon’s Coos Bay Speedway owner/promoter Chuck Prather and Drake Nelson to turn full operation and ownership of the race track over to the Nelsons.

Prather held the position of owner/promoter for 12 years, and rebuilt the racetrack over those years.

Prather is excited to see the venue going to Nelson & his wife Kimberly. He feels that the Nelsons are a good fit to take over the daily operations of Coos Bay Speedway, one that he spent much time in grooming and shaping into what it is today, according to the company.

Prather stated, “Drake has some good people on his side, with his racing knowledge and the young blood that he and his wife possess. I feel like this is the best fit for the situation at hand as well as my wife Karin. The time has come for us to truly step back, as we are ready to spend more time with family and friends and do a little work on some side ventures that I have.”

The Nelsons are no strangers to auto racing, being involved with promoting since the early two thousands. Nelson is a third generation promoter, his grandfather as well as father promoted Meridian Speedway in Meridian, Idaho, back in the 70’s and 80’s. His brother, Adam Nelson, currently owns and operates the track today.

Nelson has been a part of Chaparral Speedway in Eagle, Idaho, and the Douglas County Speedway, in Roseburg, Oregon. He’s spent five years with Prather at Coos Bay Speedway and recently retuned from two years of operation of Macon Speedway in Macon, Illinois.

“The move to Coos Bay Speedway will definitely put a lot of work on Kimberly and me, but the Speedway is such a great place and I want to see it continue with success just as it has with Karin [Prather] and Chuck. I also think Coos Bay is a great place to live and I want my two kids to grow up in this town. With Coos Bay Speedway being a multipurpose racing facility I feel it’s a great fit for us,” Nelson said.

Coos Bay Speedway is located in Coos Bay, Oregon, near Hwy 101 and two & a half miles east on Hwy 42. The facility currently houses a 3/8-mile dirt track, 1/8 mile NHRA drag strip and hosts yearly Mud Drag events.

Coos Bay Speedway is currently working on a 2017 race schedule and has a tentative informational meeting planned for Saturday, February 4th with a time and location to be announced later. All drivers, owners and crew are invited to the meeting for information on all three venues.

For breaking news and updates on the 2017 campaign, visit the soon to be new website www.coosbayspeedway.us and or the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coosbayspeedway.