Carl Edwards is set to retire from NASCAR racing, effective immediately.

According to sources, Edwards made the decision three weeks ago and that Daniel Suarez will pilot the No. 19 Toyota in 2017.

Suarez, who turned 25 on Saturday, is the defending Xfinity Series champion. The Monterrey, Mexico native won three races on way to his first NASCAR title. Suarez cut his teeth in the NASCAR Mexico Series and the K&N Pro Series East tour before graduating to the Camping World Truck Series and then NXS.

Edwards, 37, was recruited by Jack Roush in 2003. He replaced Jeff Burton in the No. 99 Ford the following season. Edwards scored 23 wins with Roush Fenway Racing before moving to JGR for the 2015 season. In the No. 19 Toyota, Edwards scored an additional five wins over the last two seasons. He finished fourth in the Cup standings last season in his first Championship Round berth.

In 13 seasons of Cup competition, the Columbia, Mo. native posted 28 wins, 22 poles, 124 top fives and 220 top 10 finishes.

Edwards career-best finish was second in the standings in 2008 and 2011.

“Carl Edwards has made an indelible mark on NASCAR. His hard-charging driving style has led to memorable moments that will live forever in the history of our sport. Carl’s passion and personality will greatly be missed – as will the signature backflips that NASCAR fans have come to expect following his victories. We wish Carl nothing but the best as he enters this next phase in life,” NASCAR Chairman & CEO Brian France said.

Hot rodder and industry icon Pete Chapouris, co-founder of Pete & Jake’s Hot Rod Parts and most recently President of So-Cal Speed Shop, passed away on January 6 due to complications from a stroke. He died peacefully in the hospital surrounded by his wife Carol, daughter Nicole and son Pete IV. He was 76.

A native of El Monte, California, Chapouris cruised the streets of Los Angeles as far back as 1955 in his first car — a Model A coupe channeled over Deuce rails. Though quite active and popular in So-Cal hot rod circles in the ’60s, he caught lightning in a bottle when his freshly flamed black ’34 Ford coupe joined friend Jim Jacobs’ yellow ’34 Ford coupe on the cover of the November 1973 issue of Rod & Custom magazine. Many remember it as the “Chicken Coupe” cover. The iconic image and preceding build articles were courtesy of the late Gray Baskerville, who introduced Pete and Jake during their simultaneous chopped coupe builds. After the Chicken Coupe issue hit magazine racks, the resulting fame was a catalyst for the launch of Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Repair, which opened in Temple City, California, in 1974.

Hot rod historian Steve Coonan, publisher of The Rodder’s Journal recalled, “In the early-’70s guys started doing wazoo, super trick for-the-time IFS, and jag rear ends, and the like. But Chapouris and Jacobs had a back-to-basics approach for reliable, safe and traditional early Ford suspensions. Their goal wasn’t to win trophies but to drive long distances in comfort. They were also renowned for refining four bar suspensions in hot rods.”

As it turned out, Pete & Jake’s was one of a few core businesses that launched hot rodding to its current trajectory. Due to the experience and vision of Chapouris and Jacobs, hot rodders around the world were finally able to get safe, usable chassis and suspension components for their early Ford rods. Chapouris was always proud to have been a part of the rise of hot rodding to the mainstream. In a recent interview with the Goodguys Gazette, he was quoted as saying “We took chassis components and kicked them up a couple of notches, and that took the industry in a direction that it had never been before,” he said. “I’m proud that we brought safety to chassis components for hot rodders.”

Chapouris was a quick study when it came to marketing and PR. In that realm, he was just as quick off the line as his killer coupe. After he and Jacobs sold Pete & Jake’s in 1987, he went to work at SEMA in nearby Diamond Bar, California. While at SEMA, Chapouris was instrumental in the formation of the Street Rod Equipment Association (SREA). He then became a driving force in the transformation of the SREA into the Street Rod Market Alliance, a council of SEMA. Years later, Pete was also elected into the SRMA Hall of Fame. SRMA is known today as the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) and has blossomed into the billion dollar behemoth it is today.

After a stint building hot rods with Bob Bauder and old friend Pete Eastwood in the high country of Southern California during the early-’90s, he opened a hot rod shop named PC3g in 1995, churning out a series of cover cars including Billy F Gibbons’ “Kopperhead” and others. It was at PCG3 where he led his most ambitious effort yet – the restoration and resurrection of the Doane Spencer ’32 Ford roadster. It was his crowning achievement and captured the first-ever Hot Rod Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

But professionally, the best was yet to come for Pete. At the 1997 NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion, he scheduled a press conference at the host hotel to announce he had formed an alliance with longtime friend Alex Xydias to bring the famed So-Cal Speed Shop back to life. Soon after the announcement, a 30,000 square foot facility in Pomona was filled with 30-plus employees churning out hot rods and merchandise. Success was so instant, the So-Cal brand blossomed into eight retail stores coast to coast. Teamed with his friend Alex, rising star Jimmy Shine and other team members, the following decades provided the ride of his life. They even got a chance to return to So-Cal’s Bonneville roots building four land-speed cars for GM Performance, setting half a dozen records and putting four drivers in the 200 MPH Club. It was also at So-Cal were Pete mentored young up-and-coming rod builders, showing them the old way to build cars. Gen X and Gen Y players like the aforementioned Jimmy Shine, Ryan Reed, Aaron Broughton, the Veazie Brothers, and others are now thriving thanks to Chapouris’ teachings. His career had come full circle.

From his office in South San Francisco, Steve Coonan reflected further. “Pete was a guy that seemed to get cooler the older he got. He was unique in that way.” He built cars for rock stars; he wore the coolest shoes and had the backstage passes. “He was a perfectionist, too,” Coonan added. “I can remember talking to him 40 years ago when he sold the Cal Kid then bought it back. The engine was messed up. After Pete pulled the engine, he insisted on painting the firewall and getting different textures involved. He was brilliant at blending colors and textures together in his hot rods. And he always pulled it off. He never missed.”

Rod builder and longtime Chapouris friend Roy Brizio swallowed hard when the news broke of Chapouris’ sudden death. “Pete was like a mentor to me,” Brizio said. “Along with my father Andy, Pete helped teach me the ropes of hot rodding when I just broke in. Too many of our friends are leaving. He and his wife Carol took their green ’26 Ford roadster to Canada for Deuce Days with us last summer. I just spoke to him a few weeks ago and he said it was the most fun he’d had in years.”

Pete Chapouris leaves behind a rich legacy of red-blooded American hot rods that have spanned decades, never aging. His industry contributions were revolutionary, their impact wide reaching. His fingerprints run through so many avenues of our industry. But above all that, his friendships, warmth and willingness to help others to succeed and grow outweigh all.

Originally reported by Good-Guys.

The Lucas Oil POWRi West Midget Series calendar will feature visits to two new tracks among a 26-race schedule of events.

The 26-race calendar for the upcoming season includes two co-sanctioned events with the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association and eight co-sanctioned events with the Lucas Oil POWRi National Midget Series.

New racetracks on the schedule include Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., and Red Dirt Raceway in Meeker, Okla.

Kicking off the season will be the Turnpike Challenge featuring the best from the POWRi West and the POWRi National Midgets on March 24-25. Other highlights of the season include the return of the Missouri Mid-State Midget Nationals at Valley Speedway and Lucas Oil Speedway on May 6-7 and a two-day co-sanctioned event at Valley Speedway on July 14-15, again with the National Midgets.

Another major event will be a return to Airport Speedway in Garden City, Kan., during Memorial Day weekend, when they will go head to head with the best racers from the RMMRA. The season will conclude on Oct. 27-28 at Creek County Speedway, when the POWRi West Midgets join the ASCS Sprint Cars for the second annual Fall Fling.

Lucas Oil POWRi West Midget Series Schedule
March 24-25 – Port City Raceway – Tulsa, Okla.
April 22 – I-30 Speedway – Little Rock, Ark.
May 5 – Valley Speedway – Grain Valley, Mo.
May 6 – Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Mo.
May 27-28 – Airport Raceway – Garden City, Kan.
June 10 – Lebanon I-44 Speedway – Lebanon, Mo.
June 30 – RPM Speedway – Crandall, Texas
July 1 – Superbowl Speedway – Greenville, Texas
July 14-15 – Valley Speedway – Grain Valley, Mo.
July 28 – Mid-America Speedway – South Coffeyville, Okla.
July 29 – Port City Raceway – Tulsa, Okla.
Aug. 4-5 – Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 – Pevely, Mo.
Aug. 12 – Lawton Speedway – Lawton, Okla.
Aug. 25 – Mid-America Speedway – South Coffeyville, Okla.
Aug. 26 – Springfield Raceway – Springfield, Mo.
Sept. 9 – I-30 Speedway – Little Rock, Ark.
Sept. 16 – Caney Valley Speedway – Caney, Kan.
Sept. 29 – Red Dirt Raceway – Meeker, Okla.
Sept. 30 – Port City Raceway – Tulsa, Okla.
Oct. 14 – Lebanon I-44 Speedway – Lebanon, Mo.
Oct. 27-28 – Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Okla.

Racing will return to the forefront this summer in Fort Dodge, Iowa with the 2017 introduction of Sports Park Raceway at Frontier Sports Park. Formally known as Frontier Sports Park, the 1/2 mile semi-banked oval dirt track will be ready for the 2017 racing season under the new management of Jason Vansickel, Marty Pringle and Dave Doughty.

Vansickel will serve as track promoter and manager. The Webster City resident has 40 years of track experience in econo stocks, hobby stocks, late models and stock cars. Vansickel has served as track promoter and manager at Hamilton County Speedway since 2014.

”I look forward to making both speedways the place to be for weekend entertainment,” Vansickel said in the press release.

Pringle, from Otho, has been involved in the area racing scene for over 50 years. He’s been a stock car driver and Figure 8 promoter. Pringle also currently serves as the president of the Iowa Hall of Fame and Racing Museum, Inc.

Doughty raced in the area from 1981 through 2010. He is a Fort Dodge native.

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

The weekly races in Fort Dodge will be on Sunday nights beginning in early May and running through late July. Sports Park Raceway isn’t officially sanctioned, but will use IMCA racing rules.

The “test and tune” preseason dates are set for April 23 and 30.

For more information, please contact Vansickel at (515) 835-9686. There is an official Sports Park Raceway Facebook page. The address of Sports Park Raceway is 2298 South River Road.

SEMA President & CEO Chris Kersting has praised U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and his colleagues for reintroducing H.R. 350, the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017 (RPM Act).

The bipartisan bill, which was submitted for reintroduction on the first day of the new Congress, protects Americans’ right to modify street cars and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles, and the industry’s right to sell the parts that enable racers to compete.

 The RPM Act is cosponsored by 44 members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill ensures that transforming motor vehicles into race cars used exclusively in competition does not violate the Clean Air Act. For nearly 50 years, the practice was unquestioned until the EPA published proposed regulations in 2015 that deemed such conversions illegal and subject to severe penalties.  While the EPA withdrew the problematic language from the final rule making last year, the agency still maintains the practice is unlawful.



“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said SEMA President & CEO Chris Kersting. “We thank Representative McHenry and all the cosponsors for reintroducing a bill that will protect businesses that produce, install and sell the parts that enable racers to compete."



When the RPM Act was first introduced in 2016, racing enthusiasts and Americans working in the motorsports parts industry flooded Congress with nearly 200,000 letters in support of the bill. More than one-fourth of the U.S. House of Representatives joined as bill cosponsors as a result. However, the shortened election year schedule did not permit sufficient time for passage of the bill by the previous Congress.



"Last year I was proud to lead the fight against the misguided EPA regulation targeting racing, but our work is not done,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry.  “In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the new Administration to ensure the RPM Act becomes law."



Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a $1.4 billion market annually. There are an estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the U.S., including oval, road, track and off-road racetracks, the majority of which feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers to be illegal. 



“Upon introduction of the Senate version of the RPM Act, we will call on racing enthusiasts throughout the U.S. to contact their members of Congress to request support for the bill,” Kersting added.  “Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved!”

The state-of-the-art three-eighths-mile track at the Royal Purple Raceway was destroyed this week according to photos and a post on the track’s Facebook page. Only the grandstands remain at the dirt-track portion of the multi-faceted motorsports facility, which will continue to host various events including the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series at the track’s successful drag strip.

“The racing chapter at our Dirt Track Speedway has officially come to a close as crews have begun construction to repurpose this area into a multipurpose events facility,” read the post on the Royal Purple Raceway Facebook page.

“Grandstands are about the only existing infrastructure that will remain in place. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements on our 2017 plans!”

Royal Purple Raceway began life as Houston Raceway Park and was the site of Steve Kinser’s 500th World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series victory.

The track has announced a full schedule of drag racing for the coming season.

Motorsports media professional Brad Littlefield will be joining the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca team as public relations manager, who started his duties on January 4.

Littlefield brings experience to the Monterey circuit from having covered motorsports throughout an 11-year period with the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). The 33-year-old California native comes into his new role with a journalism background and adeptness at utilizing multiple media platforms.

“Brad has an impressive skillset as a writer that will be valuable to us in our ongoing public relations initiatives,” said Gill Campbell, CEO and general manager of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. “We are fortunate to have Brad come onboard before the start of a great racing season that will also be a year-round celebration of 60 years at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.”

The son of late Funny Car driver and supercharger manufacturer Mert Littlefield, he combined his passions for writing and motorsports most recently in NHRA’s publications division as an associate editor for National Dragster. He displayed his enthusiasm for racing and ability to earn the trust of racers and media professionals alike while producing original content for a biweekly publication, web site and programs.

“Racing has been part of my life since before I can remember, and I am thrilled to join a dedicated staff at such an esteemed venue,” said Littlefield. “It will be an honor to help celebrate 60 years of racing that include iconic moments like Alex Zanardi making ‘The Pass’ in 1996 as well as being a part of all the incredible racing events on the schedule in 2017.”

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca’s major event season features the Ferrari Challenge, May 12-14; Motul FIM Superbike World Championship GEICO U.S. Round featuring MotoAmerica, July 7-9, Monterey Pre-Reunion, August 12-13; Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, August 17-20; Continental Tire Monterey Grand Prix powered by Mazda (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship), September 21-24; and Pirelli World Challenge, October 12-15.

CARS recently announced changes to its 2017 CARS Tour season. In addition to both divisions competing at Bristol Motor Speedway for this year’s inaugural U.S. Nationals of Short Track Racing on May 19-21, a hefty championship points fund for the Late Model Stocks will be up for grabs, while Super Late Model teams will race for $50,000 in purse money at Orange County Speedway on July 22.
 
The Late Model Stock championship points fund will award $5,000 to the 2017 champion, with 10th place position receiving $500. In all, the fund will total $18,500 before additional awards and prizes are added. Competing teams must attempt all twelve races in order to take home prize money at season’s end. In addition, the CARS Tour Loyalty Program will continue to award participation amongst Late Model Stock teams this upcoming season. Teams that have perfect attendance through the first nine events will receive two free Hoosier tires at race ten and four free Hoosier tires at the eleventh race of the season.  
 
“Late Model Stock teams will have absolutely no reason not to compete on the circuit this season. Each race pays $5,000 to win, $1,000 for tenth, and $600 to start. They will receive free Hoosier tires for their loyalty throughout the season, regardless of their performance position. And now an $18,000 plus points fund at season end to be distributed through the top ten championship points finishers,” detailed an excited Jack McNelly, owner of the CARS Tour. “We encourage our guys to support their local tracks all the time, but for these twelve events on the 2017 calendar it pays to compete for a CARS Tour Late Model Stock championship.”
 
July 22 will be the series’ first attempt at building a marquee event on the schedule. Supers will battle for $50,000 in prize money, with $10,000 going to the winner and $1,000 to the final finisher at Orange County Speedway. Just as with Late Model Stocks, the Super Late Models will benefit from the CARS Tour Loyalty Program, with teams receiving two free Hoosier tires at race ten and four free Hoosier tires at the eleventh race of the season for their perfect attendance through the first nine races.
 
“We are always looking at ways to adjust our program to best fit what our competitors have historically done. As the saying goes, history repeats itself,” explained Series Director Chris Ragle. “Late Model Stocks have shown they prefer to battle for championships throughout the course of a season while Super Late Model drivers from around the country will travel to win marquee, big money, events from California to Pensacola. We believe these major additions to the CARS Tour will take things to a different level for our competitors. We’re not through yet either, we’ve got some more new and exciting things to announce in the coming weeks that will shake our events up and make for some fun nights to watch short track racing again.”
 
All 2017 forms for the upcoming season including rulebooks, owner/driver registration forms, annual race entry, and the hard card application have been released on the CARS Tour website at www.carsracingtour.com.
 

ProMedia Events & Publishing announced that Jim Campisano has joined ProMedia as Director of Sales.

Effective immediately, Campisano will be working closely with the ProMedia sales staff as well as Race Pages editor Mike Galimi and Fastest Street Car editor Steve Baur. As a 30-year industry veteran, early NMRA supporter and former NMCA racer, Campisano is well acquainted with ProMedia events and magazines.

"Jim will be an integral part of our future as our events continue to see double-digit growth and dramatically increased participation and fan attendance," said ProMedia President and CEO Steve Wolcott. "He has hit the ground running and has already contacted key clients. We're thrilled to have Campy on our sales staff."

Campisano’s career in the automotive industry began as a copy editor in the late ‘80s after a five-year stint as a sportswriter. From there, he joined the Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords team as Editor and Editorial Director where he grew the magazine into one of the largest Ford publications in the world. During his time at MMFF, Campisano realized the need for a winter Ford-only race in a warm climate and the “Fun Ford Weekend” series was born. Campisano campaigned an SVT Mustang Cobra project car in the Modular Motor class and it was this series that spawned the NMRA Spring Break Shootout in Bradenton, Florida, now in it’s 23rd year.

After 13 years with Muscle Mustang & Fast Fords, Campisano moved over to Super Chevy magazine where he spearheaded three-project car builds that were auctioned off for charity with $880,000 in proceeds going to the Armed Forces Foundation. In 2011, Campisano and his Super Chevy team were presented the Armed Forces Foundation Patriot of the Year award. Prior to joining ProMedia, Campisano worked as Editorial Director for RTM TV, producers of several automotive shows such as Engine Power, Detroit Muscle and Xtreme Off-Road.

“I’m thrilled to join ProMedia for the latest chapter in my career,” said Campisano. “I have thoroughly enjoyed racing NMCA events and have been attending NMRA races since the very first one. To be a part of this team is a dream come true. From the top on down, it is comprised of hardcore enthusiasts who are dedicated to our racers, sponsors and advertisers.”

NASCAR will offer free admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day, a day-long celebration of NASCAR’s passionate fans, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 21 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
NASCAR stars past and present will participate in autograph and Q&A sessions throughout the day, in addition to free access to the Hall. Fans will be admitted into the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket. Doors open at 8 a.m. ET.
 
However, tickets to the below autograph sessions featuring stars from all three NASCAR national series must be secured in advance. Tickets for these autograph sessions will be available for free on NASCARHall.com starting at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 7. Each fan can secure up to two tickets for one of the seven autograph sessions (one ticket for an individual or two tickets for an individual and their guest).
 
Session 1 (9:30 a.m.)
Richard Childress, Austin Dillon, Ty Dillon

Session 2 (10:30 a.m.)
Aric Almirola, Ryan Reed, Timothy Peters

Session 3 (11:30 a.m.)
Kasey Kahne, Daniel Suárez, John Hunter Nemechek

Session 4 (12:30 p.m.)
Martin Truex Jr., Brandon Jones, Noah Gragson

Session 5 (2 p.m.)
Chase Elliott, Blake Koch, Kaz Grala

Session 6 (3 p.m.)
David Ragan, Brennan Poole, Christopher Bell

Session 7 (4 p.m.)
Paul Menard, Brendan Gaughan, Johnny Sauter
 
Q&A sessions with all of the above drivers will begin 30 minutes prior to their autograph session and are open to all guests. In addition, members of the NASCAR Next program and NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 inductees Rick Hendrick and Mark Martin will participate in Q&As for all those in attendance.
 
NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day will follow the previous evening’s NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Induction Ceremony (Jan. 20, 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN). As in previous years, current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stars will help present each inductee. Scheduled to present at this year’s induction ceremony are seven-time premier series champion Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon. For tickets to the Induction Ceremony, visit nascarhall.com/inductees/induction-ceremony.