inTech Trailers, a custom aluminum trailer manufacturer, announced plans to expand its operations in Indiana, creating up to 60 new high-wage jobs.

“Look at the intersection of manufacturing and motorsports, and you’ll find inTech Trailers,” said Governor Mike Pence. “inTech Trailers is an Indiana homegrown success story, launching here with the support of a manufacturing workforce that employs one in every five Hoosiers and a business climate built for growth. Today this company sells its trailers around the world, demonstrating once again that Indiana is a national manufacturing leader.”

The homegrown Hoosier company will invest $1.67 million to expand operations across its campus at 1940 W. Market St. in Nappanee. inTech Trailers has purchased 3.5 acres of land adjacent to its current property and plans to build a new 42,000-square-foot facility. With construction expected to begin this month, the company will install a full production line to manufacture motorsports trailers at its new facility, requiring new equipment such as saws, forklifts, welding machines, overhead cranes, scaffolds, hydraulic shears and hydraulic brakes. As part of its growth, the company recently completed a renovation of an 8,000-square-foot insulated and heated production facility, which was formerly used for cold storage.

inTech Trailers, which currently employs 80 full-time associates, plans to begin hiring skilled production and office support associates in January, with new positions expected to pay on average nearly 40 percent more than the state's average wage. Interested applicants may apply by calling inTech Trailers at 574.773.9536 or by submitting an application at its facility.

“Indiana is the perfect place to attract top talent for our business,” said Adam Maxwell, chief executive officer of inTech Trailers. “Here in Nappanee, we’re proud to have a strong team of skilled engineers, craftsmen and professionals helping us build custom trailers that are sold around the world. And with Indiana’s world-class business climate, we couldn’t have found a better place to grow and thrive.”

Founded in 2010, inTech Trailers designs and manufactures custom all-aluminum trailers, which are sold across the nation. The company’s engineers utilize 3D CAD software to customize its trailers, which are then produced with a small shop-based production method. inTech Trailers has seen increased demand to produce trailers for racing and motorsports operations, particularly quarter midget and kart racing, which is a major driving force for its current growth. Earlier this year, the company was recognized by the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce as one of its three Excellence in Business award recipients.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered inTech Trailers Inc. up to $450,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The city of Nappanee will consider additional incentives.

"Nappanee is excited to see inTech Trailers' continued growth in the community," said Nappanee Mayor Phil Jenkins. "The company's commitment to quality products and customer service fits well with Nappanee's tradition of successful local businesses. We are pleased to partner with inTech as they look at adding facilities to increase production and improve efficiency."

Manufacturing companies like inTech Trailers continue to find the workforce and business climate they need to expand in Indiana. Since July 2009, manufacturing companies have created 89,900 new jobs in the Hoosier state at a rate that ranks second in the nation. Indiana continues to have the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs of all states.

The 2017 and tentative 2018 Verizon IndyCar schedules will be announced in the next two or three weeks but Hulman & Company CEO Mark Miles said next year's menu is going to look a lot like this year's with the possibility of adding "one more race."

It will be the 1.25-mile oval at Gateway Motorsports Park, located east of St. Louis in Madison, Illinois, and the race will be held in August. Australia, Portland and Calgary remain possibilities but not until 2018.

"We said we'd have it out by mid-August and we will, but we wanted to exhaust all possibilities," said Miles. "We wanted to try and open the 2017 season earlier but I remain optimistic about getting going in February of 2018.

"As it is, it's the earliest we've had our schedule ready so that's good for our promoters and fans."

Gateway hosted CART from 1997-2000 before the Indy Racing League tried its hand between 2001 and 2003. Other than CART's debut, attendance was never very good and open wheel was gone by 2004 and replaced by NASCAR trucks.

The original owner, Dover Motorsports, finally closed the doors in 2010 before a former racer named Curtis Francois leased the track and brought back NHRA drag racing in 2012. Since that time, Francois has brought in NASCAR trucks and USAC Silver Crown cars to go along with NHRA, while giving the track and facilities a complete makeover.

He began pursuing IndyCar's Jay Frye two years ago about bringing back Indy cars. Ed Carpenter tested on the track last year and it was approved as an official test track by IndyCar for 2016.

As it stands, the IndyCar race would be in between the NASCAR/USAC weekend in June and NHRA in September on Gateway's drag strip. It would give IndyCar six ovals (Phoenix, Indy, Iowa, Texas, Pocono, Gateway) out of the 17 races. But this summer has shown the Midwest remains IndyCar's biggest draw as based on Road America in June and this past weekend at Mid-Ohio.

"The emphasis in 2017 and 2018 is continuity and to consider adding events very selectively where it makes sense to build on our strong base of existing races," said Miles.

When NASCAR drivers arrive at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway later this month, they will see some additional changes to the racing surface.

Jerry Caldwell, general manager at BMS, confirmed the changes on Sunday morning. They include a “polishing” of the lower racing groove, the addition of a substance that will help tire rubber adhere to the racing surface, and the running of a tire machine on the surface since the changes.

The tire machine is similar to the one used at Kentucky Speedway prior to its July race. The track completed its own repaving project this season.

“After the Food City 500 in the spring, we evaluated the track surface and decided to make some minor modifications to the lower racing groove,” Caldwell said. “We made the changes in consultation with NASCAR and several top Cup series drivers.”

Among the drivers consulted were Tony Stewart, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“Our hope is this will improve the lower groove of the racing surface,” Caldwell said. “We wanted to try a few things to see I we could make the lower racing groove more preferred by drivers.”

The changes were completed only this week and the Truck Series will be the first to drive on the surface when it conducts practice sessions on Aug. 17, prior to its race that night.

In 2012, the track conducted a “grinding” of the upper groove of the track in order to reduce the progressive banking.

The track was resurfaced and reconfigured in 2007 to include progressive banking. The move changed much of the dynamic of the racing at the track before the changes, which was basically a one-groove track that produced a lot of beating and banging when drivers attempted to pass.

Broadcaster Jack Arute and championship drivers Ken Bouchard, Ricky Craven, Nokie Fornoro, the late George “Moose” Hewitt, Dwight Jarvis, Randy LaJoie and Jerry Marquis make up the New England Auto Racer’s Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

The newest members of the NEAR Hall will be inducted at the NEAR Hall of Fame Banquet Sunday, November 13 at Maneeley’s Banquet Hall, 65 Rye Street, South Windsor, CT. Ticket information and order forms will be on the NEAR website (www.near1.org) shortly.

Four members of the class will be joining a father or brother in the Hall, which has been part of New England racing scene since 1998.

New Britain, CT-born Arute went from the family owned Stafford Motor Speedway to a spot as one of America’s premier broadcast journalists. He spent nine years with the Motor Racing Network and 20-plus as part of the Indianapolis 500 broadcast team. The University of Vermont grad won acclaim for his “pull no punches” reporting style throughout his career. Jack’s father precedes him in the NEAR Hall.  

En route to the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, Bouchard, a Fitchburg, MA product, had an estimated 100-plus wins at a dozen different New England facilities in Modified and Late Model action including memorable triumphs at Oxford Plains, Stafford, Thompson and Westboro Speedways and Plainville Stadium. The 1975 Yankee All-Star League champion joins brother the late Ron Bouchard in the Hall.

Championships at Unity Raceway and on the ACT and success on the Busch North Series preceded Craven’s journey down south where he earned Rookie of the Year honors in both the Busch and Winston Cup Series. The Maine native’s resume includes Winston Cup victories at Martinsville and Darlington. The pride of Newburgh, ME is now an analyst for ESPN.

Eleven Midget championships (including six with ARDC and one with NEMA) and 110 victories (including two Night Before the 500 checkereds) puts Danbury, CT-born Fornoro in exclusive company. During a career that stretched from 1974 through 2009, he was also a winner  in Supermodfieds, Quarter Midgets and Sprint cars. He joins father Nick and brother Drew in the Hall.  

A one-time motorcycle racer, Hewitt, an Uncasville, CT resident, came to the modifieds in 1966 at Waterford Speedbowl. He became a major force at Waterford, where he won five championships, and then moved on to the New England NASCAR Modified circuit. The 1975 Winston 100 at Stafford Speedway tops the list of triumphs for this no-holds barred racer who passed away in 1997.

A product of Ascutney, VT, Jarvis has collected 18 championships and 110 wins in a career that includes dominating performances at Claremont (63 wins, 13 titles) and Monadnock (47 wins, five titles) Speedways. His resume also includes the 2006 Valenti Modified Racing Series championship and success on the Tri Track Series.

Second-generation racer LaJoie (dad Don is a Hall of Famer), won back-to-back (1996-97) Busch South titles capping off a career that started with Go Karts in his native Norwalk, CT. A sportsman title at Danbury Racearena, success in SK Modifieds and success on the Busch North circuit (the 1985 championship) followed. A 15-time Busch South winner, he also had two top-five Winston Cup efforts.

Marquis, the 2000 National NASCAR Modified champion, has truly incredible numbers including over 150 feature wins and 23 track championships. Seven wins came on the Busch North Series. Now calling Broadbrook, CT home, Marquis was twice a NASCAR Northeast Regional champ and includes a Spring Sizzler, a Thompson 300 and success at New Hampshire International Speedway among his wins.

Still to be announced are the “Veterans” picks and the winner of the Mitchell/Ratta media award. 

TORC: The Off-Road Championship presented by AMSOIL will join forces with the SPEED Energy Stadium SUPER Trucks presented by TRAXXAS for The Showdown in Charlotte at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Aug. 19-20.

TORC Series stars including C.J. Greaves, Keegan Kincaid and Luke Johnson are joined by Stadium SUPER Trucks racers Robby Gordon, Sheldon Creed, Matt Brabham and more for a spectacular double bill.

“We’re thrilled to have Robby Gordon’s Stadium SUPER Trucks racing with us in Charlotte,” said TORC Series Chief Operating Officer Dave Swanwick. “As we develop and grow the TORC Series into the future under our new ownership, it’s exciting to bring new elements to our show and we know our fans are going to love this double bill.”

The event features TORC Series racing in three classes both Friday and Saturday: four-wheel drive PRO 4WD trucks, the 900 horsepower rear-wheel drive PRO 2WD machines, and the Atturo Tire PRO Lights, now joined for the both nights of the Charlotte stop by the 650 horsepower Stadium SUPER Trucks machines.

“For Stadium SUPER Trucks, a hometown Charlotte product, to travel the 8.7 miles to join a respectable off-road series such as the TORC Series for The Showdown at Charlotte is something pretty awesome. In the last four years SST has become a major player in the motorsport industry, competing in many premier events all over the world, attracting drivers from all different forms of action sports. With now a global fan base, it will be a special weekend showcasing our trucks in front of the many suppliers, sponsors, and family members who continue to support SST into one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment today,” said Stadium SUPER Trucks President Robby Gordon.

With three races remaining in the TORC Series national championship, double defending champion C.J. Greaves leads both the PRO 4WD and PRO 2WD classes, while Kyle Hart sits atop the standings in Atturo Tire PRO Light.

After 14 of 23 rounds in the Stadium SUPER Trucks World Championship schedule, Sheldon Creed leads TRAXXAS teammate Matt Brabham by 48 points. In a role reversal, Matt Brabham leads Sheldon Creed in the SST North America standings by just seven points.

In just under a year, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has grown its business exponentially and furthered its reach into international markets. The growth has prompted the addition of veteran motorsports executive, Dana Landry as the IHRA director of new business, industry and contingency relations; effective immediately.

Landry has joined the organization to further develop the IHRA's growing portfolio of national and international sponsorship partners and assist with contingency sales across all IRGSE-owned properties. He will be responsible for generating new business revenue with regional, national and international companies through the integrated packaging of IHRA and IRGSE assets. Mr. Landry is also responsible for the overall management of existing corporate partnerships including the development of new revenue opportunities, creating value added opportunities and scaling up the new sponsorship contingency plans for the IHRA as it grows.

Located at the West Palm Beach, Florida headquarters, Landry reports to IRGSE chief revenue officer Shawn Hackman. "Mr. Landry's extensive experience and comprehensive understanding of the motorsports industry is a tremendous addition to the IHRA and a valuable asset to the growth of our properties. His hands-on approach will ensure that the needs of our partners are met and that we exceed expectations," stated Hackman.

Landry brings with him almost two decades of business experience in the motorsports industry and has worked with numerous high-profile brands throughout his career. Prior to joining the IHRA, he worked at SMI properties-owned, Bristol Motor Speedway where he worked primarily with Bristol Dragway and assisted with integrated strategy, development and execution of all Speedway and ancillary events. In addition, his motorsports portfolio includes working with such leading brands as NASCAR, SUBWAY restaurants, PepsiCo, NAPA Auto Parts, Viacom (MTV and TNN) and he spent six years with Catalyst Public Relations managing agency account teams for a multitude of clients.

"I'm delighted to join the IHRA at an exciting time of positive growth for the organization," stated Landry. "I'm looking forward to meeting our partners and racers at the IHRA Northern Nationals championship finale this weekend."

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series will have two big-time events back on the schedule in 2017.

The Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury American Legion Speedway (Ill.) and the USA Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway (Wis.) have been added to the waning summer months of late-July and early-August.

The 28th-running of the Prairie Dirt Classic weekend will be held on July 28 and 29, 2017. The quarter-mile, semi-banked clay oval has been a landing spot for the World of Outlaws since 2013. Race Director Matt Curl said the progress the event has made in that time is “huge.”

“We couldn’t be happier with the relationship we have with the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Late Model Series,” Curl said. “From an unbelievable race in 2016, we look forward to continuing our relationship for the future.”

Following up Fairbury in the stretch of back-to-back weekend action is the 30th Annual USA Nationals, Aug. 3 to 5, 2017. The Outlaws will make their seventh appearance at the three-eighths-mile oval. Track co-owner and promoter Steve Kaufman said the speedway’s partnership with the World of Outlaws is “stronger than ever.”

“We’re super excited to have the series back,” Kaufman said. “The event keeps growing and growing each and every year. We contribute that to a great relationship we have with the World of Outlaws.”

Mazda isn't ready to reveal its new-for-2017 Daytona Prototype international, or formally confirm its existence, but the brand's motorsports manager is willing to say he's looking forward to IMSA's new DPi formula.

Mazda Racing announced a five-year plan for its prototype program back in 2014, and with the WeatherTech Championship set to move toward DPi's custom bodywork and engine solutions starting next year at the Rolex 24 At Daytona—within Mazda's five-year plan—the Japanese car company is expected to hit the grid with a DPi of its own.

"We're very excited about the new Daytona Prototype international program from the Mazda side," John Doonan said. "We've announced our intentions, we've been doing our research, making a lot of plans, [and] hope to have some announcements publicly to share in the coming weeks and months.”

The DPi formula allows manufacturers to commission special bodywork to dress its P2 chassis, and according to Doonan, that aspect of DPi fits nicely with Mazda's approach to vehicle styling.

"The unique thing about it is allows us to tell a deeper brand story—the opportunity to integrate Mazda design language, Kodo design language is what we call it, into the race car to tell a deeper story about what our brand stand for and how that ties into our road cars," he added.

Doonan made no effort to contain the enthusiasm he feels for DPi and what it could bring to IMSA's top class.

"We're very excited about how that opportunity has been provided for us; it's a great platform to further share, for us, our brand tagline right now; it's not just a tagline, it's a philosophy, that driving matters," he said.

"In all the things we do from the WeatherTech Championship to the Continental Championship to Prototype Challenge presented by Mazda, is about driving. We're really thrilled about the new program for our particular program, and the new [DPi] platform IMSA has provided."

British Touring Car Championship organizer TOCA has implemented a new clause in its regulations that includes a provision for race bans, following a review of driving standards at Snetterton.

Two of the three races at the Norfolk circuit at the end of July were stopped for lengthy periods, with the second and third affairs red-flagged as a result of serious crashes.

Five cars were involved in an accident as the field headed onto the Bentley straight on the opening lap of race two, blocking the circuit, while a cameraman escaped serious injury in the final race after Hunter Abbott's Power Maxed Chevrolet Cruze - which had been repaired having been involved in the earlier incident - was spat out of a startline crash and barrel-rolled into his mounting post.

Both races were shortened as a result.

While no drivers or the cameraman were seriously injured, the decision was taken to strengthen the regulations regarding driving standards.

Drivers deemed to fall short in the judgement of the series' clerk of the course and administrator could be forced to sit out races.

The additional provision states:

"Any driver who, in the opinion of the BTCC clerk and the administrator, has failed to exercise an acceptable standard of driving may be excluded from participation in the next available race or races or championship meeting."

The new directive will be implemented with immediate effect, and in place for this weekend's seventh round of the season at Knockhill.

A new reality TV series set to debut this fall on the Rev’n Network has some industry insiders optimistic it could bring a Street Outlaws-level of awareness to the sport of truck and tractor pulling.

“Hooked On Dirt” will showcase the lives of several drivers, both on and off the track, as well as staff from the Battle of the Bluegrass Pulling Series, based in Louisville, Kentucky.

The highlighted pulling classes will include the Light Limited Super Stock Tractors, the Super Stock 2WD Trucks and the Pro Street Semis. “These are classes that the fans at home will relate to; there’s something for everyone—tractors, trucks and semis,” explained Tom McConnell of the Battle of the Bluegrass Pulling Series. “We believe for pulling to get to the next level and make the sport even more recognizable, this is the way to do it.

“Look at what Street Outlaws has done for drag racing!” he added. “Fans can relate to their vehicles, as they are not dragsters or funny cars, but real life Hot Wheels—cars that look like regular cars but with big motors hanging out. The classes we run are similar in the fact that they look more like street or farm vehicles, and thus the fans relate to them.”

As the first-of-its-kind reality show about truck and tractor pulling, the series anticipates the emergence of dedicated fans, as well as new pullers to further strengthen this powerful motorsports segment.

For more information on the series, visit www.hookedondirt.com.