The Race Of Champions is heading to the United States of America for the first time in its history after Miami’s Marlins Park baseball stadium won the rights to host the next Race of Champions event on January 21-22, 2017.

Built in 2012, Marlins Park is the home of the Miami Marlins, the city’s Major League Baseball franchise. The stadium features a retractable roof and can seat more than 37,000 fans, who are more used to watching fastballs than fast cars. It is set to host the 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game next July. Now it will host contenders from all over the world during the prestigious Race Of Champions, which will take place within the confines of the stadium itself.

In recent years Race of Champions has visited the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006), London’s Wembley Stadium (2007-2008), the ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium in Beijing (2009), Düsseldorf’s Esprit Arena (2010-2011), the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok (2012), Bushy Park Barbados (2014) and London’s former Olympic Stadium (2015).

The Race Of Champions is an annual contest which has been held for over 25 years. It brings together some of the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines—including Formula One, NASCAR, IndyCar, Le Mans, MotoGP, World Rally and the X Games—and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

Germany’s four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel took his first Race of Champions Champion of Champions title in London last year after many years of trying. Now he will return to defend his crown in Miami—but first he will have to see off motorsport’s finest competitors from all over the world.

“I’m very happy to have finally won the individual Race Of Champions title last year in London’s Olympic Stadium and I look forward to defending my title at ROC in Miami,” said Vettel. “All the drivers are strong, and the top U.S. drivers from NASCAR and IndyCar will certainly be extra motivated to win in front of their home fans now that the event is being held in their country for the first time.

“This will also be the first time ROC has been held in a baseball stadium so I’m curious to discover the new track layout. But as always it’s the same track and identical cars for everyone so only driver skill makes the difference. The racing at ROC is always very intense and the head-to-head duels often decided by fractions of a second, so it’s just one strategy; flat out from start to finish.”

The first American drivers to sign up for Race of Champions Miami are former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kurt Busch and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner and 2012 IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.

They both have fine pedigrees of their own at the Race Of Champions. At Barbados in 2014 both Busch and Hunter-Reay topped their groups in style with three wins out of three en route to the quarter-finals. Now both drivers can look forward to soaking up the adulation of their home fans as they slug it out to take Vettel’s crown in Miami.

“I’m honored to once again be invited to the Race Of Champions,” said Busch. “I had a great time last time out in Barbados and given that this year’s event will be in the US, it will make it that much more exciting. In addition, representing the U.S. in my country will be special.”

“I’m delighted to be making my fourth straight appearance at the Race of Champions – and especially this time with the event taking place on American soil, better yet my own backyard,” said Hunter-Reay. “It is a spectacular event and a unique challenge to jump in and out of all the different cars as you go head-to-head with some of the best drivers in the world, it is a tremendous honor to be selected as a competitor for ROC. I’m proud to represent America, IndyCar and the Indy 500 and I look forward to hearing the noise of the crowds in Miami and feeling that hometown support.”

The Race of Champions is run over two days: first comes the Race of Champions itself on Jan. 21 with a flat-out battle for individual glory. Then on Jan. 22 it’s the ROC Nations Cup, when drivers pair up in teams based on nationality to bid for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Nation,’ All the racing takes place in a range of super fast cars.

Edelbrock announced the promotion of Terry Pattigno to the position of Vice President of Manufacturing at Edelbrock LLC.

Pattigno brings 35 years of manufacturing and operations experience to his new position. He has been the Plant Manager at Edelbrock’s carburetor Division in Sanford, North Carolina, since 2013 and he was instrumental in transitioning the Carburetor manufacturing operation from Magnetti Marelli.

Previous to this, Pattigno worked for Ace Medical Equipment where he held the position of Vice President of Operations. He has extensive experience with machine tool cutting technologies, production control, quality control, purchasing, finance and customer service. Before this, Terry had previously held the position of Plant Manager at Edelbrock’s Torrance, California, manufacturing facilities from 2002 to 2004.

Pattigno assumes the role of directly overseeing all of Edelbrock’s manufacturing and foundry operations, as well as the role of managing and driving operational efficiencies within the organization. This transition will allow the previous Vice President of Manufacturing, Wayne Murray to concentrate on his role as Edelbrock’s President and focus on the company’s growth and operational strategies.

"I am confident in handing over this position to Terry. He has a long history with our company and knows how important quality is to the Edelbrock brand. We’re looking forward to Terry driving for improved efficiencies and streamlining our production facilities," stated Murray, Edelbrock President.

The Super Cup Stock Car Series will not race at Rockingham Speedway this fall after being unable to solidify a date for the event with the new track owners.

The recent change in ownership negated an agreement with previous track management. The new ownership group and Super Cup Stock Car series officials agreed that the ability to properly organize as well as promote an event in such a short term would not reflect the professionalism of either the series or the speedway.

“The change in ownership and management of the historic facility has proven to be a major task,” said Super Cup Stock Car Series Director Joe Schmaling. “We thank the people of Rockingham Speedway for their efforts and extend to them the best wishes in reopening the track in 2017 as well as welcome the possibility to explore hosting a SCSCS event in the future.”

The Super Cup Stock Car Series will conclude it’s season this weekend at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway with twin 50-lap events.

The Venturi Formula E team has announced a long-term technology partnership with ZF.

ZF is a global leader in driveline and chassis technology as well as active and passive safety technology. Venturi and ZF will work in a partnership to develop powertrain and other permitted technology within the technical and sporting regulatory framework of the FIA Formula E series.

The partnership, which is already under way, will see the Venturi cars racing with increasing amounts of ZF technology as the partnership develops. The technology company will be actively participating in the design and development of the Venturi powertrain that will be integrated in the Generation 2 of the Venturi Formula E cars from the start of Season 5 when the FIA technical regulations road map will demand the use of only one car per driver.

Speaking on the occasion of the announcement, Venturi’s founder and President Gildo Pallanca Pastor said, “When I first committed Venturi to the FIA Formula E series I had in mind precisely the kind of partnership that we have been able to establish with ZF. My target has always been to enable our team’s expertise in EVs to be paired with the resources, manpower and ingenuity of a major automotive organisation and in ZF we have found a willing, capable and highly motivated partner.”

ZF has a well-established and mature racing division, which is famed for producing World Championship winning driveline, clutches and suspension components from Formula 1 to World Rally and LeMans endurance prototypes. This experience, knowledge, skill-base and resource are now married to Venturi’s knowledge and capabilities in EV powertrain development, a winning combination.

ZF’s CEO, Dr. Stefan Sommer explained ZF’s rationale for committing his company to a partnership with the Venturi team.

” For us, the technology partnership with Venturi in FIA Formula E gives us impetus for new technologies that will ideally also find their way to daily street use. Electrification is the key to individual mobility of the future and, using the exciting Formula E platform, we aim to make a significant contribution to the success of Venturi. Winning will allow us to prove our exceptional competences as a lead development partner and technology leader and winning with Venturi will also strengthen our credentials in motorsports with electric powertrain competition cars. The FIA Formula E series, with its forward-looking and sustainability-oriented concept, provides the ideal setting for ZF to showcase our talents.”

Venturi’s CTO Franck Baldet explained the thinking behind the partnership with ZF. “ The level of competition that we are now seeing in the FIA Formula E series requires access to an array of engineering disciplines, equipment, facilities and highly motivated and talented people.  Our partnership with ZF unlocks these assets for Venturi and I’m confident that this will enable our team to grow and to become a winning force within the FIA Formula E series.”

Venturi’s drivers, Stephane Sarrazin and Maro Engel welcomed the ZF partnership.

“We have seen in the first two seasons of Formula E, an escalation in the resources and commitment from Formula e teams to compete for the prestigious FIA Formula E crown.  Therefore, it is essential to have the commitment of a global automotive partner in order to be competitive and in ZF we could not have found a better partner. ZF’s experience and competences in powertrain and electronics coupled with a mature motorsport heritage and a highly skilled and motivated workforce will be a massive asset to Venturi,” Sarrazin said.

“When you plan your strategy in any form of motorsport, you want access to the best technology and personnel available to you to move forward technically. If you sat down to analyse the best automotive partner that you could have in terms of experience, range of relevant competences to Formula E and understanding of motorsport you would arrive at ZF at the top of your list. I’m delighted to be starting my Formula E career at the beginning of this collaboration and I very much hope to make a worthwhile contribution to the success of the ZF technology partnership with the Venturi team,” Engel added.

SCCA Pro Racing has named Mike Collins as its new president beginning September 1, handing leadership of the sanctioning body to the longtime SCCA member and exhibition industry professional.

Collins replaces Derrick Walker, who is resigning after successfully launching the F4 United States Championship powered by Honda in the United States.

Collins, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, brings with him over 20 years of experience in the motorsports and event industries. He started at the bottom, literally sweeping the floors, and worked his way to the top of one of the nation’s leading special events and exhibition companies. After running some of the country’s largest trade shows and special events, including multiple presidential inaugurations, Collins left the leadership of that company for the opportunity to pursue a full-time motorsport career.

Collins is the founder and managing partner of Meathead Racing, one of the largest amateur motorsports teams in the United States. He has successfully raced at every level of the sport and this year competed in the Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires. Collins has been a dedicated SCCA member for 15 years, serving as a member of the Spec Miata Advisory Committee, a National Scrutineer (2009 Runoffs Line Chief for Spec Miata), the Washington DC Region Licensing Chair, and a Competition Committee Member. While remaining dedicated to the motorsports industry, he helped launch a new exhibition company in 2011 and most recently served as its senior vice president.

Steve Harris, chairman of SCCA Ventures Inc., said Collins, a native of Washington, D.C., will be in control of Pro Racing’s day-to-day operations, partnerships and budget.

“Mike knows his way around motorsports and has a proven record in event management,” Harris said. “He is the perfect choice to shepherd along SCCA Pro Racing’s F4 United States Championship powered by Honda, Pirelli World Challenge, the Trans-Am Series and Battery Tender Global Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich Tires, as well as the Atlantic, F2000 and F1600 Championship Series.”

VP Racing Fuels, Inc., announced the appointment of Kyle Moose as Regional Manager, Western Division. Based at the company’s regional sales office in Murrieta, California, Moose will be responsible for sales and distribution of race fuel in VP’s Western region which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho and Montana as well as exports to Baja California, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific Rim.
 
Moose brings substantial industry experience to his new position, including the last two years as Business Development Representative for VP’s Western Region. During the 10 years prior to VP, he worked as a mechanic and engine builder for Varner Motorsports followed by a tour with Henson Clutch Components in sales and rider support.  Moose competed in amateur motocross racing for a number of years and still enjoys racing in off road motocross Grand Prix events.
 
“We’re pleased to hand the reins of our Western Regional Office over to Kyle,” said Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels. “With his broad experience, passion for motorsports and prior success, we anticipate he’ll be a great asset to our sales team.  We’re confident our VP distributors and dealers in the Western region will continue to receive the top quality service and support they’ve come to expect.”

ACC Performance Products Plus, Inc. is expanding. It’s adding double the square footage and almost double the equipment. With this expansion, ACC has already received seven new precision Jet lathes from JPW Industries, and several more state-of-the-art machines from Super Flow Technologies. ACC is also getting some presses and CNC equipment to bring everything in-house.

All of this equipment will not only expand the company’s production capabilities, it also lines up it’s production process for a much improved product flow, engineering, simplified yet much tighter quality controls, and a much higher through put of product.

ACC will be much better able to maintain a sizable inventory to pull from. The company should have all of the equipment in place and operational by the end of October. As ACC is hiring and training on the new equipment that has been added to its current production line, it will maintain the same high-quality product that customers expect. ACC’s defect rate is still running at .085 of 1%. Less than 10% of 1% for the last 8 years.

Negotiations over the once historic race track have ended, giving way to new ownership of Three Palms Speedway.

Janet Gentry said back in July that restoring the speedway would take time, hard work and more than $200,000. But after ending talks with the Charlotte County Airport Authority, she got the green light.

“I know that there’s a lot of work involved but I know what the potential is and I know that back in the day it brought a lot of enjoyment for the drivers, for fans, for the community and that’s where we’re headed,” she said.

The race track is in bad shape: old flags are tattered, weeds have sprouted in cracks in the concrete, and the scoreboard has been abandoned since previous tenants were evicted back in September 2015.

Officials said then that the Three Palms Speedway had slipped through the hands of too many who had promised to revitalize the tracks. But on Thursday, race car drivers joined volunteers enthusiastic about the speedway’s return to its glory days.

“It’s going to be a great place to race and I’m looking forward to it,” driver Jeffery Pacheo said.

Gentry is aiming to have an inaugural race in November and also hopes to attract concerts and other events to the venue.

NASCAR has announced that beginning in 2017, kids ages 12 and younger will be admitted free to all NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
 
The announcement was made during an all-kids press conference hosted at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C. The press conference also kicked off Kids Drive NASCAR, a week-long, youth initiative leading up to this weekend’s national series races at Michigan International Speedway and Road America.
 
“There really is no other experience like attending a NASCAR race in person, and that’s especially true for kids,” said Jill Gregory, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “So many children have become lifelong NASCAR fans because their parents brought them to their first race, and this new ticket offering makes it even more affordable for families to create memories that will last a lifetime."

Many race tracks already have in place a bevy of offerings geared towards youth, including youth autograph sessions, youth garage tours, kids’ clubs and designated kids’ zones. Numerous tracks also have employed various ticket platforms focused on youth, but this new program marks the first time where tracks will institute a consistent offer wherever NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races take place. 

Beginning in 2017, the number of complimentary tickets available for children 12 and younger will vary from venue to venue for every adult ticket purchased. Specific track policies and procedures, including sections in which the tickets are offered, will still apply and may differ for each track as well in an effort to welcome and accommodate as many families as possible.
 
This program is another example of NASCAR-sanctioned tracks improving the at-track experience with the ultimate goal of delivering additional value and an unparalleled live-event experience for fans.
 
For more information, visit www.nascar.com.

National Performance Warehouse (NPW) has reached an agreement to acquire the WD business of longtime distributor and rep Larry Hoffberg. The Hoffberg family has owned DAHL Warehouse in Gardena, California, since 1977. DAHL Warehouse is a longstanding factory warehouse (dba FEE Warehouse) whose purpose is to keep manufacturers’ inventory close to its customers for quick replenishment.

NPW has a facility in Southern California in Vernon, which will be consolidated into the Gardena facility in the near future. The DAHL operations key employees will be retained to service the operation and its customers.

DAHL’s President and Owner Larry Hoffberg offered these comments on the transaction, “We’ve operated this business for almost 40 years now. I enjoyed every minute and have made a lot of friends and expect we helped many suppliers be more prosperous. I am not leaving the business; just handing off a large part to Larry Pacey to continue with his successful formula. I am retaining my office in the NPW facility, as I will continue to represent factories as their sales agent in Southern California and stay active and involved in the industry. NPW will also be warehousing AUP products to distributors.”

NPW’s President and CEO Larry Pacey added: “Larry Hoffberg has built a respected business over the past 39 years. DAHL is near our Vernon warehouse and operates a complementary business model. It was a good fit for our expansion plans and strengthens our Southern California market. We have several more irons in the fire, so stay tuned for more from NPW this year.”

This is NPW’s fifth acquisition in the past year. The deal is set to close September 1.