NASCAR introduced rules updates for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs on Wednesday, giving competition officials the power to issue more stringent rulings on technical infractions involving post-race laser inspections and lug nuts.
 


The developments were announced just days before the series visits Chicagoland Speedway for Sunday's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM), the opening event in the 10-race Chase playoffs.
 


Similar clarifications, where applicable, will also be in place for the inaugural Chase events in NASCAR's XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series, which get underway in two weeks, at Kentucky and New Hampshire, respectively.
 


The updates allow NASCAR officials to strip race-winning teams of the benefits associated with a Chase victory, which include the automatic advancement into the next elimination round and any tiebreaker implications, should those teams fail the post-race lug-nut check or the post-race Laser Inspection Station (LIS) platform.
 


Previously, lug-nut infractions have resulted in a one-race suspension and a fine for the crew chief while LIS failures have carried a point deduction in the drivers' and owners' championship points, in addition to the crew chief fine.
 


Going into the Chase, post-race failure of the LIS platform now will be deemed a P4 level penalty if a vehicle's rear toe measurements exceed the allowed measurements on both sides.
 


In the Sprint Cup Series, the first violation would result in an encumbered finishing position, the loss of 35 championship driver and owner points, as well as a three-race suspension and $65,000 fine for the crew chief.



In the XFINITY Series, the penalties would be the same, but the crew chief fine would be $20,000.
 
The LIS platform is not a part of the NCWTS inspection process.
 


The penalties will be the same as those for an LIS infraction if a vehicle is found to have 17 or fewer lug nuts in place following the completion of the event (in Sprint Cup, XFINITY or Camping World Truck).
 


"The changes are made to assure that we have a level playing field and make sure that there's not a carrot out there for the team to have excessive violations when it comes to lug nuts and the LIS post-race measurements," Scott Miller, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, told NASCAR.com. "As we worked with those penalties during the season we realized we probably needed to have a little bit more in place as Chase time rolled around.
 


"The Chase obviously changes a lot of scenarios for both NASCAR and the teams; it's ramped up the intensity and there is a lot of scrutiny, as there is every week on everything (involving) technical infractions. This is really just a matter of us putting something in place so that should something happen, we have a means to effectively deal with it."
 


Miller noted that the "encumbered finish" is already a part of the NASCAR rule book.

"This just adds a little bit of definition to how we will use it moving forward," he said.
 


NASCAR officials cracked down on lug nut penalties with new rules this spring, making sure the wheel is securely fastened on all five studs at a pit-road checkpoint after the race.

At least five teams have been found in violation during post-race inspection, including those of drivers Kevin Harvick (Stewart-Haas Racing) and Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing).
 


The LIS platform has been used to measure cars' chassis with precision since the start of the 2013 season. The majority of failures this year have centered on rear toe alignment.


Six Sprint Cup Series drivers and teams have been penalized this year for failing the LIS portion of the post-race inspection process -- Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet (Dover); Matt Kenseth, Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota (New Hampshire), Brad Keselowski, Team Penske No. 2 Ford (Michigan), Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet (Darlington), Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing No. 31 Chevrolet (Darlington) and Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota (Richmond).
 
Miller said he expects the rules to remain in place for the 2017 season as well.
 
LIS failures during pre-race inspection result in written warnings, with the potential for lost track time after a team's fourth violation.
 
Should an infraction involving post-race LIS or lug nut inspection occur during the championship race at Homestead for any of the three series, the finish of the team found to be in violation would not count toward the determination of the series champion, or for any other positions that might be determined via tiebreakers.
 
Busch is the defending Sprint Cup Series champion while Harvick was the first to win a title under the current Chase format, which debuted in 2014.
 
These latest changes were made in collaboration with industry partners. "It should be no surprise to anybody where we landed," Miller said.

"As we convened with some of the team principals and competition guys, it became pretty obvious that we needed to do something like this."

Originally reported by NASCAR.

Pro All Stars Series officials have announced the tentative 2017 schedule for the PASS South super late models.

The PASS South schedule will be highlighted in 2017 by the return to two of the series original tracks with events at Southern National Motorsports Park and Orange County Speedway. With 10 dates confirmed, the PASS South super late models will visit at least six different venues over the course of the 2017 season.

The 2017 season will start once again on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 3-4, at Dillon Motor Speedway with the return of the Winter Meltdown and an expansion of the annual South Carolina Clash.  The Winter Meltdown will also be the first event of the PASS National Championship Series.

The PASS South super late models will then move to the Tarheel State for race number two of the season on Saturday, March 4 as they return to Southern National Motorsports Park in Kenly, N.C.  PASS will be the exclusive super late model series at Southern National next year and will be joined by a major support division for this event.

Just three weeks later, PASS heads to another North Carolina favorite as the series returns to Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C., for the first of two visits in 2017.  The 10th Orange Blossom Special will go green on Saturday, March 25 and then the series will return for the penultimate race of the season on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Hickory Motor Speedway, the longest tenured facility on the PASS South circuit dating back to 2006, will once again hold the annual Easter Bunny 150.  The 12th Annual Easter Bunny 150 is slated for Saturday, April 15. PASS will also return to Hickory for its traditional Fall date on Saturday night, Sept. 23.

In May, the series will move to the two biggest tracks on the schedule.  Caraway Speedway near Asheboro, N.C., will host a special Friday night event on May 4.  PASS will then expand its relationship with Concord Speedway near Charlotte by again hosting the Old Glory Weekend on May 26-27 as part of the big Memorial Day festivities in the Charlotte area.  The famed triangular half-mile, known for its legendary Big 10 Series, will see the PASS South super late models race on Saturday night, May 27.

PASS will close out the 2017 season by crowning the series champion at the 15th annual North-South Shootout, but a venue for that event has not been confirmed. The 14th annual North-South Shootout is being held at Concord Speedway this year.

Confirmation on that event and any additional dates will be released by Nov. 1.

2017 PASS South Schedule
Date – Venue – Location

Feb. 4 – Dillon Motor Speedway – Dillon, S.C.
March 4 – Southern National Motorsports Park – Kenly, N.C.
March 25 – Orange County Speedway – Rougemont, N.C.
April 15 – Hickory Motor Speedway – Hickory, N.C.
May 5 – Caraway Speedway – Asheboro, N.C.
May 26-27 – Concord Speedway – Concord, N.C.
July 15 – TBA – TBA
Sept. 23 – Hickory Motor Speedway – Hickory, N.C.
Oct. 21 – Orange County Speedway – Rougemont, N.C.
Nov. 3-4 – TBA – TBA (North-South Shootout)

Originally reported by Speed Sport.

The three-step Mazda Road to Indy presented by Cooper Tires, INDYCAR's acclaimed open-wheel driver development program, will run in conjunction with the Verizon IndyCar Series on all race weekends in 2017.

Made up of the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires, Pro Mazda Championship presented by Cooper Tires and Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship powered by Mazda, the Mazda Road to Indy offers annual scholarships and awards worth more than $3.6 million to assist drivers to progress, from the grassroots to the pinnacle of the sport in North America.

Indy Lights will be featured on 10 weekends alongside the Verizon IndyCar Series, marking a total of 16 races with doubleheader rounds on the streets of St. Petersburg, at Barber Motorsports Park, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course), Road America, the streets of Toronto and at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Indy Lights will contest single rounds at Iowa Speedway, Gateway and Watkins Glen.

The crown jewel in the series’ schedule remains the Freedom 100 on Carb Day of the Indianapolis 500.

Pro Mazda will feature a condensed, six-weekend schedule of 12 races in order to allow teams to dovetail their racing commitments with a concerted summer test and development program with the new Mazda-powered Tatuus PM-18 chassis which will be introduced in 2018.

Doubleheader rounds will be contested at St. Petersburg, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, Road America and Watkins Glen with a tripleheader at Mid-Ohio and a single event at the Gateway oval.

Pro Mazda incentives for the transitional year until the introduction of the new chassis include an increase in the champion’s Mazda scholarship to advance to Indy Lights from $601,700 to $790,300, bringing the total event and year end prizes to more than $1.1 million.

Testing schedules for each series will be announced in the future.

“The Dallara IL-15 revitalized Indy Lights competition and I foresee our field counts growing significantly in 2017," Andersen said. "We expect the same with USF2000 and the new car, where I do expect 30+ fields.”

All Indy Lights, Pro Mazda, and USF2000 races will be live streamed with full-length, post-race shows produced by Road to Indy TV available on the series’ respective websites and at indycar.com.


The full schedules:



2017 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires

March 11/12 Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida 1.8-mile street course*

April 22/23 Barber Motorsports Park 2.3-mile road course*

May 12/13 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.439-mile road course*

May 26 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval

June 24/25 Road America 4.048-mile road course*

July 8/9 Iowa Speedway .875-mile oval

July 15/16 Streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1.755-mile street course*

July 29/30 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course*

August 26/27 Gateway Motorsports Park 1.25-mile oval

Sept. 2/3 Watkins Glen International 3.37-mile road course

*Doubleheader Rounds



2017 Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires

March 11/12 Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida 1.8-mile street course*

May 12/13 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.439-mile road course*

June 24/25 Road America 4.048-mile road course*

July 29/30 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course**

August 26/27 Gateway Motorsports Park 1.25-mile oval

Sept. 2/3 Watkins Glen International 3.37-mile road course*

*Doubleheader Rounds

**Tripleheader Round



2017 Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda

March 11/12 Streets of St. Petersburg, Florida 1.8-mile street course*

April 22/23 Barber Motorsports Park 2.3-mile road course*

May 12/13 Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.439-mile road course*

June 24/25 Road America 4.048-mile road course*

July 8/9 Iowa Speedway .875-mile oval

July 15/16 Streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1.755-mile street course*

July 29/30 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course 2.258-mile road course*

Sept. 2/3 Watkins Glen International 3.37-mile road course

*Doubleheader Rounds

Tony Formosa, racing promoter at Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville for six of the past seven years, has been tapped to oversee another racing season at the city-owned racetrack.

The Metro Board of Fair Commissioners voted Tuesday to extend its lease agreement with Formosa through 2017. Formosa’s contract had been set to expire at the end of this year.

Formosa was first picked to manage the racetrack at Metro’s fairgrounds in 2010 before the board tapped former NASCAR driver Bobby Hamilton Jr. for the 2011 season. The board leased the track again to Formosa in 2012, and he’s been operating auto racing at the fairgrounds speedway ever since then.

“This place is like home to me. My dad was one of the early pioneers who started racing here in Middle Tennessee right here at the fairgrounds. I’m really thrilled to know that I will get to carry the spear forward for not just the facility, but for stock car racing, for 2017 and hopefully many more years to come,” Formosa said.

Formosa’s contract renewal comes as Mayor Megan Barry administration’s is pumping $15 million in new upgrades at the fairgrounds. Although that allotment includes $2.5 million for improvements to the speedway’s grandstands, Formosa has said he’s disappointed it did not include money for upgrades to the track.

Formosa said parameters of his new lease agreement with the fair board still need to be worked out. After next year, he hopes to land a long-term contract with the board instead of a one-year lease.

Originally reported by The Tennessean.

The Race of Champions means many things to many different people, but when it boils right down to it, the prestige of winning the race and the prizes that go with it are what drives racers to step up to the challenge of running the grueling event.

For several Saturday’s event will be their first time competing in the prestigious race at Oswego Speedway, for others they are veterans of the grind. With lap money, bonuses and a $12,500 top prize at the end of the 66th annual Race of Champions 250. There are several drivers looking forward to the event.

“This is our big one, but it is also a big event in the scope of Modified racing,” stated Ferris Mowers Race of Champions Asphalt Modified Series fueled by Sunoco point leader Patrick Emerling. “We have had a very good year and the icing on the cake would be if we could put forth a good effort and get a win at Oswego. This is the type of event that can make or break a season.”

Chuck Hossfeld sits second in the standings to Emerling, but with the championship points expanding the opportunity for Hossfeld to catch Emerling anything can happen. Several outsiders have also set their sights on the prize.

Other key entrants include Ronnie Silk, Steve Masse, Brandon Oltra, Richard Savary, Austin Kochenash and Billy Whittaker, who will switch from dirt to asphalt for this event.

Interest in the events have been high, including the support division events, which add to a weekend that features the Sportsman Modifieds, the Race of Champions Big 10 Super Stocks, the Small Block Supermodifieds and the Classic Asphalt Modified Series.

Fans can expect several drivers to perform “double-duty” over the weekend competing in the Sportsman Modified on Friday and the Race of Champions 250 for the modifieds on Saturday.

Emerling, Hossfeld, Hirschman, Amy Catalano, Tommy Catalano, Tyler Rypkema, Mike Leaty, George Skora, Daryl Lewis Jr. and Rusty Smith will face off against some of the division’s top drivers like Zach Truesdail and Kevin Timmerman. Western New York Late Model racing legend Bob Weber will wheel the Matt Druar entry in the sportsman event on Friday night.

In the Race of Champions Big 10 Super Stock division a two-race weekend sets in front of them. Jake Wylie, the defending division champion, leads a strong contingent of Super Stock competitors to Oswego for a big weekend of racing, while the Small Block Supermodifieds look to have an incredibly talented field developing for Saturday’s 25-lap showdown.

Drivers like track champion Dave Cliff, young standout Camden Proud, International Classic Weekend winner Mike Bond and Alex Hoag are potential entries for this exciting event.

The event will be taped by Speed Sport for a later airing on Suzuki presents Speed Sport on MAVTV.

Originally reported by National Speed Sport News.

Effectively immediately, Drew Blickensderfer will take over the crew chief responsibilities for the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford Fusion driven by Aric Almirola.

The position was previously held by Trent Owens. Owens will be reassigned a new position within the company.

Late last month, RPM leadership started a relatively more aggressive strategy to improve speed, performance and future growth of RPM. Their goal is to improve on-track results from this year and to capitalize on the progress made in previous seasons.

Blickensderfer, who most recently served as director of research and development with RPM, has a proven history of winning and been a valued employee at RPM for the last four years.

Blickensderfer, who brings nine years of crew chief experience in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, made his crew chief debut in 2009 at Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Since that time, he worked with 13 different drivers in both series and tallied 15 wins, including a Daytona 500 win in 2009, 16 top-five finishes and 104 top-10 finishes.

“We are continuing to analyze every part of our organizations and make adjustments where needed,” said Brian Moffitt, chief executive Office, Richard Petty Motorsports.

The No. 43 team and Almirola have seen success on the track in recent seasons with the team’s most consistent season together and highest average finish to date in 2015. They were also a race winning team in 2014 and competed in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Blickensderfer will begin his duties at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend.

U.S. 131 Motorsports Park has been hosting drag racing all summer, but nothing like the races that are coming Wednesday, September 14.

The legendary Martin Dragway has landed a date in this year's Hot Rod Drag Week (which started on September 12), which means the cars the racers drive to the track are the ones they will race down the dragstrip.

Martin's program is the third in a five-day adventure that will take 356 participants to tracks in Ohio and Illinois in addition to Martin. The event is sponsored by Hot Rod Magazine, and this marks its 12th year.

"It started out small, with a handful of people," said general manager Jeff Dahlin, of Los Angeles. "[Now] we are at capacity. We couldn't accept any more applicants, so it has really grown."

Drag Week began Monday, September 12 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio. Racers then headed to Summit Motorsports Park for Tuesday's races before hitting Martin.

Next up will be Thursday's races at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, followed by Friday's finale, which will be contested back at National Trail Raceway. In all, competitors are expected to log about 1,000 miles heading to and from tracks.

The event has attracted drivers from across the nation and as far away as Belgium, and they will be hitting the dragstrip in a wide range of cars.

"There's no set kind of car that people race. You will see every kind of car, and we will have multiple classes," Dahlin said. "You will see muscle cars, from old GTOs and Chargers and Challengers from the muscle cars wars. There is a big contingent of muscle car crowds, including modern muscle cars, including Mustangs and chargers.

Martin's races will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and spectators are encouraged. The fee is $10 per person.This marks the first time that Martin has hosted Drag Week.

"The drivers are incredible in what they do," Dahlin said. "Cars will break down on the side of the road, and it won't be unusual to see one jump out and fix their transmission right there.”

If you cannot make it to the races, tune into the Hot Rod live-stream video here.

EVENT & LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE- (all times EDT)
Monday September 12: 8am-2pm (gates open 7:30am)
Tuesday September 13: 8am-2pm (gates open 7:30am)
Wednesday September 14: 8am-2pm (gates open 7:30am)
Thursday September 15: 8am-2pm (gates open 7:30am)
Friday September 16 (Finals): 2:30pm-8:30pm (gates open 11:30am)

French car manufacturer Peugeot has unveiled the 3008 DKR, with which it hopes it will successfully defend its Dakar Rally title next year.

Stephane Peterhansel won his 12th Dakar and Peugeot's first since 1990 with the 2008DKR predecessor, while teammates Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz also led the event in January.

The 3008 DKR is based on a new Peugeot SUV being launched at the Paris Motor Show next month, and is set to make its competition debut with Sainz in next month's Morocco Rally.

"The new 3008 symbolizes the next step," team director Bruno Famin said.
"Our goal with this car was to take the weaker points of the existing car and make them stronger, while capitalizing on all the existing strengths to improve them still further.

"There are also some new regulations, which we obviously needed to comply with."

Peugeot engineers have focused on driveability and low-end torque in the 3.0-liter V6 turbo-diesel engine, even with next year's air restrictor cut from 39mm to 38mm, while gains through suspension geometry and dampers have also been targeted.

Cyril Despres will again join Peterhansel, Loeb and Sainz in Peugeot's 2017 Dakar lineup.

Originally reported by Racer.

Several dignitaries will be honored as a part of the pre-race ceremonies for the 66th annual Race of Champions on September 17.

Billy Colton, who owns Troyer Race Cars, and Lenny Sammons, the owner of Area Auto Racing News, will be inducted into the Race of Champions Hall of Fame.

“This is a big honor for me,” said Colton. “This race has been a big part of my life. My Dad first brought me to this race and I have had the opportunity to race in it and the joy it can bring a customer who wins it. It is an honor to be placed next to the names on the trophy.”

Sammons, who carries on the legacy of Area Auto Racing News, has been attending the Race of Champions since its days on the dirt at Langhorne and throughout the years. Sammons maintains one of the most successful, and one of the rare remaining, printed weekly publications in regards to motorsports.

“It is a true honor to be added to the Race of Champions Hall of Fame,”said Sammons. “As a youngster my Dad took me to Langhorne and I saw my first Race of Champions event there on dirt and then on asphalt. Over the years I have always look forward to covering the event. First as a photographer then as a writer. I have great memories from those events Langhorne, Trenton, Pocono, Flemington and now Oswego.”

During the pre-race ceremonies for the 66th Annual Race of Champions, Colton and Sammons will be joined by Bill Shea, vice president of sales for Ferris Mowers, who is a short track racing enthusiast with deep roots into the sport and will serve as the Grand Marshall.

Originally reported by Speed Sport.

Every desert racing organization has been adversely affected by land closures, or use restrictions through the years, prompting each to develop an internal “early warning system” to ensure it walks in-step with government and advocacy groups.

“We work with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and environmentalists to make sure all events are environmentally sound,” said Casey Folks of Best in the Desert (BITD), Las Vegas, Nevada. “We need to take care of the land we use to ensure the future of this sport.”

Best in the Desert, like other desert racing organizations, understands that losing access to public lands would lead to the collapse of off-road racing in the US, taking with it racing parts suppliers and service businesses.

“When Best in The Desert sought a permit application from the BLM for its proposed 643-mile Vegas to Reno race course, the application was challenged by the environmental community, since 37 miles were on existing dirt roads in the Basin and Range National Monument designated in 2015,” said Stuart Gosswein, Senior Director, Federal Government Affairs at SEMA, Diamond Bar, California.

“A national monument designation automatically triggers the need for a new resource management plan, which allows roads and trails to be closed. The plan has not yet been undertaken for Basin and Range, allowing the challenge despite the fact that the race has previously used the 37 miles of roads.
“To its credit, the BLM opened the challenge to public comment, and a number of organizations and off-road groups such as SEMA and the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) have supported access for the race,” he added.

“When federal land is designated as a ‘national monument’ or some other restrictive listing, access can be denied on a legal basis. Current law provides the President with authority to declare land of ‘historic or scientific interest’ to be a national monument,” said Gosswein.

Tens of millions of acres of land have been set aside in the process. Roads and trails for motorized vehicles are frequently closed as a result. 

Imagine the waking nightmare of planning an event where federal managers, mere days before an event, reach a compromise to provide the race with transition access, but at a strict, reduced speed limit of 35 mph and no passing.

“Looking at the bigger picture, these same organizations support legislation in the US Congress to curtail the President’s power to unilaterally designate national monuments,” Gosswein added. “The legislation would require such designations be approved by Congress and the impacted state legislature. The issue has widespread consequences. In the last eight years, President Obama has created 24 national monuments and is considering two more.”