Pirelli Tyre S.p.A. will not compete in the World Rally Championship (WRC) next year, choosing instead to focus its motorsport resources on the approximately 300 other racing series it supplies worldwide.

Pirelli Motorsport Director Paul Hembery disclosed Pirelli’s decision Nov. 11 during Rally Australia, the 2016 WRC season finale.

Pirelli re-entered WRC competiton in 2014 after a three-year-hiatus following the company’s decision to end its WRC supply deal in 2010 after it was granted the exclusive tire supply contract for Formula 1.

“Rallying is a form of motorsport that we are very passionate about and will continue to support enthusiastically,” Mr. Hembery said. “However, we’re not homologating a WRC tyre for next season in order to concentrate on the 300 or so other championships that we supply worldwide.”

Pirelli will, however, continue to support rallying through a supply contract for the FIA European Junior Championship, Mr. Hembery said, “which fits in perfectly with our philosophy of promoting the careers of young drivers by giving them opportunities to compete on a wider platform.”

Pirelli is the spec tire supplier for the ERC Junior Championship, which is limited to drivers aged 17 and up who have not previously competed in a “P1” class rally. It also states on its motorsports website it supports more than 25 national championships in 21 countries.

“Most young rally drivers begin their careers on their national championships,” Mr. Hembery continued, “so we will also be ensuring that we continue to supply our latest products to these championships all over the world, reinforcing our global presence in the sport into the future.”

Pirelli recently has taken on a number of new racing championships, putting pressure on its ability to supply them all.

Among the new supply contracts for 2017 will be:

    •    Trans Am Championship in North America;
    •    Electric GT Championship in Europe;
    •    China GT Championship;
    •    Blancpain GT Series Asia;
    •    Bathurst (Australia) 12-hour enduro; and
    •    The one-off Macau Grand Prix, both for the FIA Formula 3 World Cup and the FIA GT World Cup races.

In 2016 Pirelli estimates it supplied more than 25,000 racing tires on a single weekend in late July to the series it supports globally.

Pirelli recently disclosed it’s planning to install capacity for competition tires at its plant in Slatina, Romania, giving it two manufacturing sources for race tires.

NASCAR champions Ricky Craven and Randy LaJoie were among the honorees during the annual New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Sunday at Maneeley’s Banquet Hall.

Broadcaster Jack Arute and drivers Ken Bouchard, Nick Fornoro Jr., the late George “Moose” Hewitt, Dwight Jarvis and Jerry Marquis were also part of the Class of 2016.

Explaining his “overwhelming desire” to win on NASCAR’s then Winston Cup series, Maine’s Craven called the final 20 circuits at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in the fall of 2001 “the greatest laps of my life.”

Craven, who won that race, then credited it to lessons learned as a competitor in New England. LaJoie, a product of the famous Danbury Racearena, had a similar response in his remarks.

“I had to learn those lessons somewhere,” said LaJoie who, like Arute and Fornoro, followed their fathers into the Hall.

Bouchard was the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year. Fornoro was the winner of 110 midget features and 11 championships. Jarvis scored 110 feature wins and 18 titles. Marquis claims the 2000 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship among almost two-dozen crowns. Each one cited car owners as keys in their success.

Arute paid tribute to his late father Jack. Daughter Kim Gero accepted for Hewitt.

Veteran Committee Inductees were the Maine natives Edgar and Freelan Stanely, who, in addition to building the Stanley Steamer, also set early speed records. Bay Stater John Burgess, who brought the midget to New England in the 1930s and Fred Meeker, a post World War II midget ace, also entered the Hall courtesy of the Veteran Committee. Sarah Stanley, a great-great-great granddaughter of Freelan, was part of the presentation.

The inaugural Ron Bouchard Award, honoring lifetime service to the sport of auto racing, went to Vermont’s Ken Squier. NEAR President Paul Masse and Bouchard’s widow Paula Flemke Bouchard presented the award. Justin St. Louis accepted for Squire.

The Danny Pardi Memorial Award, acknowledging service to the Hall of Fame, went to former NEAR President Al Fini. Presenter Fred Ciavola pointed out Fini’s long-time dedication to the club.

Phil Whipple of Maine’s Lewiston Sun Journal and Richard Bigelow shared the Mitchell/Ratta Media Award and Russ Dowd, a track announcer at Thompson for 35 years, was the recipient of the Frank Maratta Award which recognized “outstanding contribution and support of auto racing.”

Matt Buckler, who has been Master of Ceremonies for all but three of the induction affairs, kept the festivities moving. Buckler pointed out that the crowd of 360 plus included Bugs Stevens and Eddie West, members of the Hall’s first (1998) and second classes respectively.

There were two – Donnie LaJoie and Ron Narducci – from the third class. Fred Rosner, Don Rounds and Denny Zimmerman represented the fourth class.

Among the highlights was Olivia Bouchard’s emotional induction of her father Ken. Other presenters were Gary and Brian Danko (Marquis), Peter VanderVeer (LaJoie), John Spence (Jarvis), Dave Dykes (Hewitt), Mike Scrivani Jr. (Fornoro), Whipple (Craven) and Pete Zanardi (Arute).

It was met with great success in 2016, and it will be back in a big way again in 2017.

Badlands Motor Speedway and the Midwest Sprint Touring Series (MSTS) have partnered again for next season beginning on Saturday, May 20. The MSTS travels the region and races at various tracks, but the home track for the series will again be BMS.

The “MSTS Powered by Badlands Motor Speedway” series will be a part of Sprint Car Saturday Nights at BMS. The series will join the IMCA RaceSaver Sprint Cars, and the 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars every Saturday, which will also feature a bonus structure called “Chuck’s Challenge,” named after Badlands Owner Chuck Brennan. If a driver wins two of the three events in one night, they will receive a $5,000 bonus. If the driver sweeps the night and wins all three A-Main events, it’s a $25,000 bonus.

Kris Knight interview’s Tim Kaeding on Sept. 11, 2016 after winning the 360 Sprint Car Championship at BMS.

Last season, 67 different drivers competed in the MSTS Powered by Badlands Motor Speedway 360 Sprint Car series at BMS. Six different drivers claimed victories, led by San Jose’s Tim Kaeding with five wins. The California native went on to win the Championship.

Formed in 2015, the MSTS is one of the top 360-sprint car sanctioning bodies in the country with strong car counts at every stop. BMS averaged 28 MSTS cars last season including a season high 34 cars on June 5 and July 30.

The NHRA's 2016 Manufacturers Cup was presented to Mopar representatives during the season-closing NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series awards ceremony in Hollywood on Monday night, just following the NHRA Finals where Ron Capps was awarded the Funny Car championship for a brilliant season-long performance in his Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) Mopar Dodge Charger R/T.

The Manufacturers Cup is awarded to the automobile manufacturer whose current-year model earns the most points for qualifying and category victories in NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series national and divisional events. Entries in Funny Car, Pro Stock, Super Stock, and Stock are awarded 60 points for an event win, 40 points for a runner-up, and 20 points for qualifying. The most recent Manufacturers Cup victory for Mopar was in 1970.

DSR Mopar Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car drivers Capps, Matt Hagan, Tommy Johnson Jr., and Jack Beckman, as well as Dodge Dart Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, led the winning efforts for Mopar and Dodge in the professional categories.

Ron Dennis has been forced to relinquish his position as chairman and chief executive officer of the McLaren Technology Group (MTG), following a meeting of shareholders on Tuesday. However, he remains a shareholder and a director of McLaren Technology Group.

Dennis, who has been part of McLaren since 1980, helping lead their F1 team to 20 world championship titles, was placed on gardening leave until his current contract expires in January.

The news follows ongoing disagreement between Dennis and the group’s majority shareholders over management style and the future path of the business.

Dennis says he intends to launch a new technology investment fund once his contractual commitments with McLaren expire.

McLaren Technology Group is now in the process of seeking a new Chief Executive Officer. Until such an appointment has been made, the company will be run on an interim basis by an Executive Committee comprising the Group’s majority shareholders, in close collaboration with the Board of Directors and the senior management team.

Perris Auto Speedway, located on the Lake Perris Fairgrounds in California, recently released their 2017 racing event schedule. The 1/2 mile clay oval features a raised back straightaway and a new front grandstand. Perris Auto Speedway runs different types of racing events, from ISAC/CRA Sprint Cars to American Factory Stocks. The tentative schedule for 2017 is listed below.

2017 Perris Auto Speedway Event Schedule

• March 4: "SOKOLA SHOOTOUT" USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
•  
• March 11: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
•  
• March 18: NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION I - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing, Spectator Racing, Formula-X Autocross & CrossKarts "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
•  
• April 1: "SO CAL SHOWDOWN" WORLD OF OUTLAWS, USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
•  
• April 22: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
•  
• April 29: NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION II - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing, Spectator Racing, Formula-X Autocross & CrossKarts
•  
• May 13: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, IMCA Modifieds and CDCRA Dwarf Cars
•  
• May 20: NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION III - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing, Spectator Racing and Formula-X Autocross & CrossKarts
•  
• May 27: "SALUTE TO INDY " USAC/CRA Sprint Cars , PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Guns and California Guns "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
•  
• June 3: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
•  
• June 24: USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
•  
• July 1: 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION IV Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing Spectator Racing, Formula-X Autocross & CrossKarts "Power of Purple Night" Benefiting the City of Perris Relay For Life and The American Cancer Society
•  
• July 15: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
•  
• July 22: USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints, PAS Young Guns
•  
• July 29: NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION V - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing, Spectator Racing, Formula-X Autocross & CrossKarts
•  
• August 19: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and IMCA Modifieds
•  
• August 26: "CALIFORNIA RACERS HALL OF FAME NIGHT" USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
•  
• September 2: NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION NOD VI - Demo Cross, Figure 8's, Figure 8 Trailer Racing, Figure 8 Chain Racing, Spectator Racing, Formula-X Autocross & CrossKarts
•  
• September 9: PASSCAR SERIES - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, Modifieds
•  
• September 23: "GLENN HOWARD CLASSIC" USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
•  
• October 7: 15th Southern California Fair
•  
• October 21: USAC/CRA Sprint Cars, PAS Senior Sprints and PAS Young Guns
•  
• October 28: PASSCAR "Champions Night" - Street Stocks, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks and Modifieds
•  
• November 8: Oval Nationals Practice
November 9th Budweiser Oval Nationals "Presented by All Coast Construction"

•  
• November 10: Budweiser Oval Nationals "Presented by All Coast Construction"

•  
• November 11: Budweiser Oval Nationals "Presented by All Coast Construction"

Note: Schedule subject to change. Originally posted to the Perris Auto Speedway Facebook Page.

The Northern Conference has released its 2017 SCCA U.S. Majors Tour competition schedule. Six weekends, 12 races in all, make up the schedule that runs from May to August.

Two Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour dates are part of the 2017 Northern Conference schedule. The first one takes place at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and the second at Road America for the June Sprints. As always, dates are subject to change, but the 2017 U.S. Majors Tour Northern Conference calendar currently consists of the following:

- May 6-7: Blackhawk Farms Raceway; South Beloit, Illinois
- June 2-4: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course; Lexington, Ohio
Hoosier Super Tour
- June 16-18: Road America; Plymouth, Wisconsin
Hoosier Super Tour (June Sprints)
- July 8-9: GingerMan Raceway; South Haven, Michigan
- July 29-30: Road America; Plymouth, Wisconsin
- August 12-13: Grattan Raceway; Belding, Michigan

The Southeast Conference, Western Conference and Mid-States Conference calendars have already been announced. Schedules for the remaining two SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Conferences will be published as they are finalized. 

Drivers competing in the U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour should now apply online for Series Registration at MotorsportReg.com. Those paying the $50 Series Registration fee can reserve a single or two-digit number in a Conference of their choosing with payment deferred until January 1, 2017. The same number can also be reserved in other Conferences for an additional $25 per Conference. A Series Registration fee of $100 allows drivers to register a three-digit number, with the leading digit required to be “1,” for all Conferences.

Only SCCA Full Competition and SCCA Pro Racing License holders may register for the U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour series. Series Registration allows drivers to prepare number graphics for their cars that will be good for the season. Registered participants also receive a special Hoosier SCCA Super Tour hard card and series decals for car placement prior to events. Where available, Series Registration also provides access to a special registration line for express registration and tech. Additionally, a $25 coupon will be supplied to registrants for merchandise at www.sccagear.com.

Reserved numbers will be honored until two weeks prior to an event. In-Conference reserved numbers will be given priority over out-of-conference reserved numbers for event registration.  In the case of a dual-conference event, any duplicate reserved number requests will be resolved by earliest event registration.  The word “reserved” does not mean “permanent.” If class run groups for any event differ from a norm, then number assignments for that event will give preference to the in-conference drivers who register first, then further duplicate requests will be resolved by earliest event registration. The reserved number program does not apply to the SCCA Runoffs.

The SCCA U.S. Majors Tour will see some changes next year with a focus on cost containment and providing greater control of non-Super Tour events to Regions and Divisions. One such change is the expansion of racing conferences from five to six. The newly-formed Southern Conference, which includes Texas and Louisiana, was created to reduce travel costs in what was the largest geographic area, the Mid-States Conference, and provide more racing opportunities in Texas.

For non-Hoosier Super Tour events in the U.S. Majors Tour program, also known as Conference events, Regions will have greater flexibility in planning and event structure to meet local needs. While annual calendaring will be approved by the central office to avoid conflicts wherever possible, host Regions or race groups will have sole management responsibility of events, leading to potentially lower costs for racers due to a reduction in series staffing and services.

Hoosier Super Tour dates offer a heightened experience for both competitors and racing fans. Race weekends include segmented timing and scoring, and have a dedicated “Super Tour Radio presented by Hoosier Racing Tire” team of announcers capable of providing consistent insight and entertainment heard at tracks or online at SCCA.com. Dedicated staffing with a series race director, administrator and technical inspector working in conjunction with local event personnel is an additional feature of the Hoosier Super Tour. Up to three static cameras will broadcast races live online at SCCA.com, and onsite SCCA public relations staff will provide weekend media coverage. Hoosier Super Tour dates will also have enhanced weekend social activities.

Both the U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Super Tour serve as paths to the 2017 SCCA National Championship Runoffs with race days being Sept. 29-Oct. 1 at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Jim Read is synonymous with Top Fuel and Australian Drag Racing.

He was the pioneer behind the Winfield Pro Series in the 90s at a time when tobacco sponsorship was a regular fixture in Motorsport, but he was also an icon long before that, racing in Top Fuel, Nitro Funny Car and winning Championships every other year.

Read has been an ANDRA member for over 30 years and served on the ANDRA NSW Divisional Council. He was the first to break the seven, six and five-second barriers, the first to reach 300 mph, the first and only competitor to win Top Fuel and Nitro Funny Car at the same event, and the first Australian to top qualify at an NHRA event.

He has also held positions as President of the NSW Hot Rod Association, General Manager of Castlereagh Dragway, separate stints as CEO and Chairman of Western Sydney International Dragway.

The list is long and storied, and Read can now add the ANDRA Hall of Fame to his induction to the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame and the award of the Order of Australia – Australian Sports Medal.

Jim will be overseas at the time of the 2016 ANDRA Championship Dinner but he paid tribute to those who helped make him the drag racer he became.

“There are four people who really made my life in drag racing,” said Read.

“Firstly there is Bruce Phillips, who is no longer with us, the man was a genius and he was originally one of the guys behind Graeme Cowin with Graeme’s first Psycho.

“He introduced me to a gentleman in Parramatta called Burt Jones – Burt Jones Racing Cams. Burt raced a Top Fuel car in latter years called The Vandal that they bought from Ash Marshall with Ross Mellish.

“Burt, Bruce Phillips and Russell Jones who was one of the smartest tuners anywhere – the man won eight Bridge to Bridge races in a row. That’s 60 miles up the river from Hawkesbury, the boats are traveling 110-115 mph and Russell was my crew chief.

“You can never repay these people because remember I’m a plumber. I’m used to using a pair of Stillsons and carrying around tin snips. I didn’t know what a motor was, I didn’t know how to pull a motor apart. I knew none of that stuff, I was taught by these people who I considered geniuses and helped make me what I am.

“And then there’s my little buddy Noel who has been with me 51 years. I never went to a race without Noel.

“There are a lot of people who did good things for me, but the most prominent person that I can ever remember – and he was Best Man at my wedding— was Ian Kleeman from Rothmans of Pall Mall. Probably the nicest person, if ever I wanted a brother he would have been it, if I had a choice. He was probably the best person for our sport and Jim Read.”

Jim Read will be officially inducted into the ANDRA Drag Racing Hall of Fame at the 2016 ANDRA Championship Dinner on Thursday, December 2, at Mawson Lakes Hotel in South Australia.

Accepting the award on the night will be Jim’s sons Bruce and Phil Read.

SpeedVideo and ProMedia Events & Publishing jointly announced a multi-year agreement to live broadcast the NMRA and NMCA Drag Racing Series through 2018.

The NMCA is said to be home to some of the fastest heads-up race cars in the world, including some of the most dynamic small-tire and radial racing you will find. Like the NMCA, the NMRA boasts just as much variety in classes, but has a specific focus on Ford-bodied and Ford-powered platforms and is the largest all-Ford motorsports show in the United States.

“SpeedVideo is a huge marketing opportunity for us,” said Rollie Miller, NMRA and NMCA General Manager. “Not only will the live broadcasts help promote and market our events and tracks, they will provide tons of high-quality video coverage during and after each event. We are looking forward to building a worldwide audience for our NMRA and NMCA events.”

“NMRA and NMCA is the real deal, with a history that goes back two decades,” said James Lawrence, Power Automedia CEO. “You aren’t going to find more exciting and competitive race action than you’ll see in these two series, and being able to see it live is going to create a lot of new fans for the NMRA and NMCA. With events like the NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl at Route 66, or the NMRA and NMCA World Finals, we couldn’t be more excited.”

"The NMRA has been the gold standard of Ford drag racing for years”, said Steve Turner, Executive Editor of Power Automedia’s Ford Group. ”Bringing SpeedVideo’s live coverage of these exciting Ford events to those who can’t make it to the track is a giant leap forward for fans, racers, and the series."

SpeedVideo will be releasing the official NMRA and NMCA broadcast schedules later this year.

Turn 14 Distribution, a performance parts distributor, announced it has been presented with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Warehouse Distributor of the Year award for 2016.

The WD of the Year award is designed to honor one Warehouse Distributor each year for its outstanding contribution to the motor vehicle aftermarket during the previous twelve months.

“I’m honored and appreciative for the recognition of our team. Our success would not be possible without the talented group of individuals we have assembled over the past nine years," said Jon Pulli, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Turn 14 Distribution.

This is the first time Turn 14 Distribution has been awarded the prestigious award and recognized by its peers and customers for the exceptional customer experience provided by the company’s well-trained staff.

Turn 14 Distribution, founded in 2007, is a Performance Warehouse Distributor with distribution facilities strategically located in Pennsylvania and Nevada, positioned to service its customers most efficiently.

The company utilizes a strategy that consists of catering to niche vehicle markets along with stocking its partner manufacturers’ full product lines for quick order fulfillment.

In 2016, Turn 14 Distribution added nearly 30 new brands to its line card, expanding into the vast truck accessories and diesel truck markets, along with solidifying its standing in the Modern Muscle and Sport Compact categories.

In addition, the company broke ground on a new 230,000 sq. ft. warehouse located in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, which will be completed in time to service its customers for the 2017 selling season.