Atlanta Motor Speedway President and General Manager Ed Clark has announced the promotion of eight staff members at the 1.5-mile superspeedway.

Allison Fillmore, who has been with the speedway since 2009, has been promoted to vice president of sales. Fillmore previously held the title of executive director of sales.

Dustin Bixby has been promoted to vice president of marketing and promotion. He began with the speedway as the marketing and promotion manager in 2013 and was named the department director in 2014.

Rebecca Reid has been named vice president of ticket operations. She began with the speedway in 2007 as the director of ticket operations. She joined the speedway from Ticketmaster, where she held the position of event creation manager.

Kristi Wilson has been named the senior director of administrative services after serving as the director of client services. Wilson began with the speedway sales department in 2001 as a sales administrator.

In his second year with the speedway, Kyle Nelson has been promoted to event logistics manager. He began as an event coordinator in 2015.

Kim Snider has been promoted to business development manager. The Indianapolis, Indiana native began with the speedway as a group sales associate in 2013 and was named a corporate sales executive in 2014.

Rodney Fordham has been promoted to grandstand and building operations manager. He previously served as the grandstand and building operations supervisor. He joined the speedway in 2006 as a member of the grandstand maintenance team.

Geoff Reed has been named the infield operations manager at the speedway. Previously, he was the infield supervisor. He joined the speedway in 1992 as a member of the infield operations crew.

“We have an outstanding team at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and these promotions recognize the dedication and hard work each of these employees demonstrates day in and day out to the success of AMS,” Clark said. “They are key players in our business strategy as we move towards a very busy 2017 event season.”

Turn 14 Distribution has added new companies to its line card, including Clevite Engine Bearings, Kartboy Subaru Products, HP Tuners and MGP Caliper Covers.

The distribution company now offers Clevite Engine Bearings, who has long history within the racing community as a leader in engine bearing technology.

Clevite’s history within the racing community for quality and performance began with its association with NASCAR. Clevite is the exclusive bearing of NASCAR Performance, and the company has been winning NASCAR-sanctioned races since 1948.

Clevite also claims roots in Indy Car, ARCA, NHRA, and IHRA racing, as well as numerous other forms of motorsports.

New to Turn 14 is also Kartboy Subaru brand, under All Wheel Engineering and founded in 1999 to serve the U.S. market demand for upgraded components on Subaru Impreza 2.5RS vehicles.

HP Tuners’ tuning products were also added to Turn 14 Distribution’s line card.

HPTuners’ mission is to provide complete, cost effective tuning and data acquisition solutions for enthusiasts and professional shops, according to the company.

Lastly, MGP Caliper Covers were added to Turn 14’s line card. MGP Caliper Covers are designed for easy install, to fit properly and to provide ample wheel clearance, according to Turn 14 Distribution.

MGP offers officially-licensed products for Ford, General Motors, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Acura and Honda, along with products to work with vehicles from nearly every automotive manufacturer in the world.

For the complete list of Turn 14 Distribution's line card, visit here.

Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Fla., has joined the NHRA Member Track Network within the Southeast Division, NHRA’s Division 2.

Bradenton Motorsports Park opened in 1974 as DeSoto Memorial Dragway and held a Lucas Oil series event beginning that season. The track has also been host of the Snowbird Outlaw Nationals since it opened and is known for record setting passes and being the winter testing grounds.
 
"In the book of Florida Drag Racing history, many of the greatest chapters of the last five decades were written at Bradenton Motorsports Park,” said NHRA Division 2 Director Rich Schaefer. “We’re very excited to have track owner Alan Chervitz and his team in the NHRA Member Track network.”

As an NHRA-sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Jr. Street and the NHRA Drags: Street Legal Style presented by AAA.  Additionally, the track has the opportunity to host NHRA’s specialty events including the NHRA All Access Challenge, NHRA Summit King of the Track, and NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League Challenge, where racers compete for the coveted Wally trophy.

NHRA’s Division 2, the Southeast Division, features tracks from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Puerto Rico. Division 2 facilities host NHRA-sanctioned competitions throughout the year along with countless other events for the heartiest of drag racing competitors and fans.

Richard Petty, the “King of NASCAR,” will be inducted into the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame on Saturday February 18, at the 15th Annual Shriners Hot Rod & Drag Racing Expo at the Greensboro Coliseum.


Petty drag raced his “Outlaw 43 Jr.” Plymouth Barracuda across the nation from 1964 until 1966, after NASCAR banned the 426 Chrysler Hemi engine from major league stock car racing.

Later in 1966, Petty resumed his NASCAR career as the engine was once again made legal.

During his two-year stint of drag racing, Petty raced all across the country match racing against the likes of Sox & Martin and others.

The restored car and Petty himself will both be at the Expo.

In addition to Petty, other 2017 North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductees are Frank Teague of Hickory, Jean Howard of Polkton, and Terry Adams of Millers Creek. The Jeff Byrd Award will go to Thomas Pope, the sports editor at the Fayetteville Observer.

We hope everyone has a safe holiday season, full of fun, joy and most importantly -- new racing gifts under the tree!

The United States Auto Club and the American Racing Drivers Club have announced a partnership alongside a 19-race slate scheduled at a bevy of traditional venues.

“I am thrilled that we are partnering with an organization with the legacy of ARDC,” USAC National Series Director Levi Jones said. “By partnering with ARDC, it solidifies the presence of USAC Midget racing across the United States’ landscape from the West Coast to the Midwest to the East Coast, in addition to the USAC Midget National Championship. I am really looking forward to working with (ARDC President) Wayne Lesher, the drivers and teams of ARDC for the 2017 season and beyond.”

“Everyone involved with the ARDC is very excited of our partnership with USAC,” Lesher stated. “USAC gives the ARDC a national platform and ARDC gives USAC a regional presence on the east coast. Both organizations have a common goal of promoting midget racing, so it wasn’t a hard decision for either side to make.”

ARDC’s 75th year of competition is highlighted by high-profile events including six that share the stage with USAC’s national series. In fact, the series will share the event card with all three of the national divisions next year.

On June 15 and 16, the USAC/ARDC Midgets will race on back-to-back nights at historic Williams Grove Speedway half-mile in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The first of the two events, which are both part of the 11th annual Eastern Storm, takes place on Thursday, June 15 with the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship. The following night, Friday, June 16, the midgets compete on a docket that also features the USAC Silver Crown Championship’s Horn-Schindler Memorial 100-lapper.

Amid the month of August, the third edition of Pennsylvania Midget Week comes to the Keystone State for four races at four different tracks in a span of five nights.

York Haven’s Susquehanna Speedway kicks the week off on Sunday, Aug. 13 with races at Spring Run’s Path Valley Speedway Park (Aug. 14) and Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway (Aug. 15) in Newmanstown on the two following nights. A one-day break for rest or a possible rain date (if needed) is slated for Aug. 16 with the week concluding at a yet-to-be-determined venue in Pennsylvania on Aug. 17.

The remainder of the schedule will be showcased at a variety of familiar stops, including four dates at Linda’s Speedway in Jonestown, Pa., on Mar. 31, May 5, June 30 and Sept. 29; three races on tap at Lanco on Apr. 1, Jul. 1, Aug. 15; four at Susquehanna on Apr. 29, May 20, Jul. 29 and Aug. 13; and a pair at Big Diamond Speedway in Pottsville, Pa., on May 19 and Jul. 21. Additionally, two TBA dates are slated for Sep. 8-9.

ARDC crowned its first champion, Bill Schindler, after the 1940 season. This season Alex Bright of Collegeville, Pa., a veteran of both ARDC and USAC for several seasons, earned the ARDC title.

The lineage of ARDC champions includes some of the most legendary and successful names in midget auto racing history including Henry Banks, Dutch Schaefer, Mike Nazaruk, Jiggs Peters, Len Duncan and Ray Bull.

USAC Eastern Regional Midget Series presented by ARDC Schedule

March 31 – Linda’s Speedway – Jonestown, Pa.
April 1 – Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway – Newmanstown, Pa.
April 29 – Susquehanna Speedway – York Haven, Pa.
May 5 – Linda’s Speedway – Jonestown, Pa.
May 19 – Big Diamond Speedway – Pottsville, Pa.
May 20 – Susquehanna Speedway – York Haven, Pa.
June 15-16 – Williams Grove Speedway – Mechanicsburg, Pa.
June 30 – Linda’s Speedway – Jonestown, Pa.
July 1 – Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway – Newmanstown, Pa.
July 21 – Big Diamond Speedway – Pottsville, Pa.
July 29 – Susquehanna Speedway – York Haven, Pa.
Aug. 13 – Susquehanna Speedway – York Haven, Pa.
Aug. 14 – Path Valley Speedway – Spring Run, Pa.
Aug. 15 – Lanco’s Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway – Newmanstown, Pa.
Aug. 17 – TBA – TBA
Sept. 8-9 – TBA – TBA
Sept. 29 – Linda’s Speedway – Jonestown, Pa.

Federal-Mogul Motorparts announced changes to its EMEA, Braking and Corporate Development leadership team.

Andrew Sexton has been named president, EMEA aftermarket and regional president, EMEA, effective immediately. He will report to Dan Ninivaggi, CEO, Federal-Mogul Motorparts and co-CEO, Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation. During his 16-year career at Federal-Mogul Motorparts, Sexton has held positions of increasing responsibility including director, Powertrain sealing and bearings –Asia Pacific; general manager, sealing; vice president, sealing and engine; and, most recently, senior vice president, global sealing, engine and underhood service. He will retain responsibility for the global sealing, engine and underhood service business for the near term and will be based in Kontich, Belgium.

Neville Rudd has been named senior vice president, global braking, effective immediately.  He will report to Ninivaggi. Rudd joined Federal-Mogul Motorparts in 2012 from TRW and has held positions of increasing responsibility as an operations director, vice president, global operations and, most recently, vice president and chief operating officer, global braking.

Detlev Baudach has been named senior vice president, global OE sales and EMEA aftermarket commercial strategy, effective immediately. He will report jointly to Ninivaggi and Sexton. Baudach will retain his current responsibilities for global OE sales, program management, and marketing. Baudach joined Federal-Mogul Motorparts in 2009 with prior leadership experience in sales, engineering and operations with several notable European-based automotive companies.

Alok Agrawal has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president, strategy and corporate development, reporting to Ninivaggi. Prior to joining Federal-Mogul Motorparts, Agrawal held various positions of increasing responsibility with Ford Motor Company, AT Kearney and major automotive suppliers.

McLeod is collaborating with Raybestos Powertrain to bring a line of Performance Automatic Rebuild Kits to the performance aftermarket.


McLeod by Raybestos Performance Automatic Rebuild Kits will be available exclusively through McLeod’s list of distributors. The alliance between the two companies will ensure quality with an affordable price for a wide range of applications, according to a release from McLeod Racing.

Raybestos Powertrain is a manufacturer of transmission-related friction products, supplying the next generation of OE-quality aftermarket products for automotive and performance use.

“McLeod and Raybestos Powertrain have each earned long-standing reputations for quality and innovation in the high performance industry,” said Paul Bogutsky, CEO of Raybestos Powertrain. “Together, we now offer American-made, performance-focused transmission rebuild kits that deliver the competitive power our customers demand.”

McLeod is known for its innovation of the RST and RXT clutch kits, as well as all driveline components. For over 45 years, McLeod has provided  products to its customers, and now continues to expand product lines to accommodate more applications.

“McLeod is constantly looking to offer our customers the high quality products that they demand,” said Paul Lee, owner of McLeod Racing. “By teaming with a company as reputable as Raybestos Powertrain, McLeod can now offer our world famous quality and service to the performance automatic transmission market.”

McLeod by Raybestos Performance Automatic Rebuild Kits are available for order now from any of McLeod’s dealers. To find a location, click here.

 

Speedway Motorsports Inc. has promoted Kentucky Speedway Vice President of Sales and Marketing John Cox to vice president of business development for Speedway Motorsports.

Cox, who joined Speedway Motorsports in August of 2004 as senior director of business development for Charlotte Motor Speedway, is a 1994 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He worked for Charlotte Motor Speedway until February of 2012 when Cox made a move to Kentucky Speedway where he supervised all aspects of Corporate Sales, Ticket Sales/Operations and Consumer Marketing.

“Bringing John home to Charlotte was a natural next step,” Speedway Motorsports Vice President of National Sales and Marketing Braun Smith said. “John and I have worked closely since his time in Kentucky with one of our largest partners, Shell Oil. John’s vision to increase their visibility by painting the track walls Quaker State green was just one example of the creative thinking he will bring to the national team to help us expand existing partnerships and grow new ones.”

In his new role, Cox will be responsible for maximizing revenues for Speedway Motorsports through customer retention as well as developing new business opportunities for the company.

“I am thrilled to have this opportunity with Speedway Motorsports,” Cox said. “I have been affiliated with the company for more than 12 years and I cannot imagine working around a better, more professional group of people.

“I began my SMI career at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so the opportunity to come back home is extremely exciting. I look forward to working with all of our facilities and leveraging the entire company’s portfolio to grow revenue and build world-class partnerships.”

The Mopar brand is adding horsepower to its support of amateur, non-professional NHRA Sportsman racers with a slate of new programs and resources for the 2017 season.

Initiatives include factory-backing for select Mopar and Dodge NHRA Sportsman teams, a new “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program, technical at-track assistance for grassroots racers and increased outreach and communication with Sportsman competitors.

Mopar will team up with the Dodge brand to provide factory-backed support for three supercharged, 354-cubic-inch Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak NHRA Sportsman machines that will carry the official Mopar and Dodge colors next year.

In addition, the new “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program will provide monetary awards to the amateur racers who compete in the Mopar brand’s modern-day package car, the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

Also new for next season, FCA US LLC engineers will attend each of the 24 NHRA National events to provide all Mopar-powered NHRA Sportsman racers with technical advice and guidance. Unlike professional drivers in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series, amateur NHRA Sportsman racers often compete with little or no sponsorship, supporting their weekends at the dragstrip via their own funds.

“Amateur Sportsman racers fuel our brand’s involvement in NHRA competition,” said Bill Harry, Head of Marketing, Mopar. “In 2017 we’re backing up those words with new initiatives that prove our commitment to our most dedicated and passionate brand ambassadors. We’re also very excited to work more closely with the Dodge brand in providing select factory-backed support for Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak drivers. This enhanced commitment, combined with our championship-winning relationship with Don Schumacher Racing in Funny Car and Top Fuel, demonstrates that we are focused on NHRA involvement that makes the most sense for the Mopar brand.”

In addition to teaming with Mopar in factory support of a trio of Dodge Challenger Drag Pak machines, Dodge will also introduce a new brand display, located next to the Mopar trailer on NHRA Manufacturers Midway, at 15 of 24 NHRA National events.

“The Dodge brand has a long, proud tradition in NHRA drag racing dating back to the early 1960s,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Cars, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and Fiat, FCA North America. “We look forward to extending that tradition by joining forces with Mopar to provide support for select Dodge Challenger Drag Pak NHRA Sportsman teams for the 2017 season. Our new Dodge display at 15 NHRA events will also give us a great opportunity to connect with the performance-loving enthusiasts who truly embrace and identify with our brand.”

In 2016,Joe Welch Racing debuted a 354-cubic-inch Gen III HEMI engine-powered Drag Pak, wrapped in official Mopar and Dodge graphics, at the NHRA U.S. Nationals. For 2017, the team will add another car to form a formidable pair of factory-backed Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entries.

One Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak will be steered by Michigan native and team owner Welch. The seat of the second Joe Welch Racing Drag Pak machine will be reserved for a Mopar and Dodge-sponsored, nitro-fueled star from the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. The driver, who will compete at select events, will be announced in the near future.

The third Mopar and Dodge-backed entry will boast a championship pedigree — the elite team of owner Jeff Teuton and driver Kevin Helms. The duo, who partnered to capture the 2015 NHRA Stock Eliminator World Championship in a Teuton-owned Drag Pak, will seek to reclaim that title-winning magic in a supercharged, official Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak entry.

The three factory-backed Drag Pak cars will also be used in a developmental capacity, yielding information and data to help grow the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak program, which has produced 260 factory-built race cars since it was introduced in late 2008.

The “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program will offer payouts to the Top 20 Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak drivers, as determined by the program’s points system. Points will be awarded for entries, runner-up finishes and victories. Rewards will also be offered for a Factory Stock Showdown NHRA National event win and a Stock Eliminator or Super Stock World Championship claimed by a Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak competitor.

The “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program will commence in February at the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona, California.  More information will be shared via the twice monthly “Mopar Speed” e-newsletter to be distributed early next year.

In addition to the “Magneti Marelli Offered by Mopar Drag Pak Rewards” program, Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak drivers will also be eligible for awards under the long-running Mopar Contingency Program. The program — open to all Mopar-powered Sportsman racers — rewards competitors who compete with specified Mopar parts and carry the Mopar Contingency decal on their race vehicle.
Also returning for 2017 are the Mopar HEMI Challenge and the Mopar Sportsman Appreciation Night, two programs that have become mainstays of the premier event on the NHRA circuit, the U.S. Nationals.

Back at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis for the 17th year in 2017, the Mopar HEMI Challenge showcases SS/AH Sportsman class competitors in head-to-head battle on the quarter-mile. The event features the classic muscle cars that contributed to the brand’s legendary reputation and success at the drag strip. The 1968 Dodge Dart and Plymouth Barracuda “package cars,” factory-built for the strip, were precursors to the Mopar Dodge Challenger Drag Pak vehicles that compete today in NHRA Stock Eliminator, Factory Stock Showdown and Super Stock.

Mopar will also recognize its grassroots racers at the brand’s annual Mopar Sportsman Appreciation Night at the U.S. Nationals. The event will offer free food, drinks, tech seminars, Q&A sessions and multiple Mopar prize giveaways to showcase the brand’s appreciation for its dedicated brand ambassadors.

The Tom Hoover Sportsman Challenge will continue to recognize the outstanding Mopar Sportsman racer who accumulates the most points over a full season while competing in Stock or Super Stock Class racing. The award is named after legendary racer and engineer Tom Hoover, acknowledged as the father of the 426 Gen II HEMI engine. The annual winner receives a cash award and a custom trophy.