TORC: The Off-Road Championship presented by AMSOIL will add official UTV PRO racing classes to three of its exciting championship weekends this season.

UTV racers will join the TORC Series this year for championship stops in Elk River, Minnesota, July 16-17, Bark River, Michigan, July 30-31, and Crandon, Wisconsin, September 2-4. The TORC PRO UTV series plans to expand the schedule in 2017, bringing UTV racers into the entire championship calendar.

“UTV racing is the best feeder class we can possibly have for short course off-road truck racing and it’s an ideal fit for us as we grow the TORC Series,” said Dave Swanwick, co-founder of MSI TORC, the company that acquired ownership of the premier off-road racing series at the beginning of this year. “We’re excited to offer our fans another thrilling type of racing during three of our national championship stops this season. It’s so much fun to watch.”

The TORC Series will offer two classes of UTV competition: UTV PRO, a 1,000 cc stock class, and the UTV PRO Modified, which allows for factory installed superchargers and turbochargers, a modified wheel base, and an upgraded clutch. It’s a formula that promises action-packed, competitive racing for teams and fans alike.

“Competing UTV PRO or UTV PRO Modified is a great stepping stone for drivers who want to get started in dirt racing,” said Ben Nelson, series director. “We’re seeing a lot of interest from young drivers as well as crossover competitors who want to explore another racing discipline – especially from action sports athletes who have backgrounds in top-level snowmobile and motocross competition.”

Series organizers promise to bring UTV racing to the next level, with exciting course designs and a solid live HD digital broadcast package for the new UTV PRO and UTV PRO Modifieds, as well as inclusion on TORC Series television shows airing on FS2.

Double defending champion CJ Greaves, who won both the PRO 4WD and PRO 2WD classes of TORC Series racing for Monster Energy Drink and Toyota in 2015, is one driver who plans to add UTV racing to his championship schedule.

“They’ll definitely teach you line choice and how to get a car rotated,” said double defending PRO 4WD and PRO 2WD champion CJ Greaves, who plans to race UTVs in the TORC Series this season. “They’re a little tipsy, and they’ll keep on your toes—it’s almost like driving a small PRO Light and if you can drive one of those, then you should be able to get into a PRO truck and not be out in left field.”

Andrew Carlson, who drives in the TORC Series Atturo Tire PRO Light class, has his roots in UTV and snocross competition, and says he learned a lot from racing the smaller, lighter vehicles that prepared him for success in his truck.

“They’re some of the only vehicles that can handle the same kinds of terrain the trucks can do, but they’re at a more affordable level,” said Carlson, who spent six years racing UTVs before getting into his TORC Series truck. “It’s a cheaper way to get seat time. When I can’t get out and drive my truck, I’m in my UTV.”

With a focus this season on exciting Midwest locations, starting with the Twin Cities Takedown TORC Series weekend July 16 and 17 at the ERX Motor Park, continuing to Throwdown in the U.P. at Bark River International Raceway July 30 and 31, and concluding with Keys to the Big House at the legendary Crandon International Off-Road Raceway September 2-4. The three-stop UTV PRO series provides accessible national championship level competition for UTV racers across the country who are currently campaigning one-off events or regional competitions. A prize purse pays out all the way down to 10th place at every race.

Event Registration is live.

All entries must be accompanied by a USAC license.

With a dramatic Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Pro class victory just two weeks ago, Ford Motor Company announced that its factory-supported Ford GT race program will run for a minimum of three more years in both IMSA and FIA WEC competition.

“We wanted to make sure everyone knows that we are committed to sports car racing globally with WEC and IMSA,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and chief technical officer.  “The stated goal of our Ford GT program was to win Le Mans, and we're very proud that we were able to do that in our first year. To commit to a full, four-year assault on both the IMSA and WEC championships shows how serious we are about taking Ford GT racing around the world.

“We are in motorsport to win races and championships, but just as importantly we are using it to develop our engineering expertise and help develop advancements for production vehicles like EcoBoost engines, advanced aerodynamics and lightweight materials that consumers can use in Ford production vehicles going forward.”

“We’re excited and feel the extension of this Ford GT race program sends an important message to the industry and to enthusiasts that we are committed to global racing at Ford,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance.

“But we remain committed to doing racing the right way. And the Ford GT program is a perfect example of how we are using our racing efforts to help improve the products that Ford consumers can drive every day. Developing the GT production car and the race car at the same time has been a challenging task for everyone, but it has also showed how the production vehicle side and racing side of Ford Performance can work together to benefit everyone.”

The first-year program currently consists of two Ford GT race cars in IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship competition, and two Ford GT race cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The program scored a 1-3-4 GTE Pro class finish at Le Mans on June 19, with France's Sébastien Bourdais, USA's Joey Hand and Germany's Dirk Müller driving the winning No. 68 Ford GT effort.

The IMSA program also scored Ford GT’s first victory in May at Laguna Seca with Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe taking the victory, while the WEC program scored its first podium with a second-place finish at Spa-Francorchamps, with Marino Franchitti, Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell driving.

Ford GT drivers Billy Johnson, Olivier Pla and Stephan Mücke also currently lead the WEC GT Drivers' Cup standings.

The IMSA program resumes action this weekend with the Sahlen's 6 Hour of the Glen at Watkins Glen, N.Y., while WEC action resumes July 24 at the 6 Hours of Nürburgring in Germany.

SCORE International and the Stand 21 Safety Foundation will host a driver safety workshop on July 30, at the SCORE Tech Shop to discuss multiple safety issues affecting off-road motorsports. This joint partnership will be led by SCORE International’s CEO/President, Roger Norman and Stand 21’s Safety Foundation and Stand 21 Safety Equipment President, Yves Morizot.

Created five years ago, the Stand 21 Safety Foundation is an extension of the Stand 21 brand created in 1970 after Morizot witnessed a friend’s fatal car accident during a race in France.


The continued pioneering achievements Stand 21 has made, leads it to be just one of three companies authorized to manufacture the HANS device. Complete with its own dedicated engineering R&D activity and production facilities, Stand 21 is truly a leader in motorsport safety equipment.

Current IndyCar safety consultant, Dr. Terry Trammell will join the workshop to discuss his role as an orthopaedic spine surgeon for the last 32 years in Indianapolis and his close affiliation to the Indy 500. Previously he served as an orthopaedic consultant to CART and is a founding member of both the International Council of Motorsports Science (ICMS) and the FIA Institute for Motorsport Safety.

Trammell continues to actively research safety in the form of spinal biomechanics; preventing injury, heat stress and kinematics.

Recently retired NASCAR Senior Director, Tom Gideon, PE joins the workshop to discuss his new role of motorsport safety consultation and in-house NASCAR safety program.


Prior to NASCAR, Gideon served as Safety Manager for 12-years within the GM Racing group; researching HANS, seats, belts and “black box” data recording. The off-road racing industry was examined as part of his accident investigation research.


Gideon serves as a board member of the International Council of Motorsports Sciences (ICMS); with his primary role to improve driver safety across all motorsport categories.

Don Taylor serves as the Director of the Stand 21 Safety Foundation; organizing safety seminars similar to that of SCORE’s to ensure education. Previously Taylor advised the Hyundai Motorsports program through his company Eclipse Management and was a technical consultant for the Automotive X Prize competition before commencing as a technical writer for Racecar Engineering.


Before that, Taylor was Senior Director, National Technical Services for the NHRA and Group Manager at GM Racing; working on various programs throughout the NASCAR series and racing safety programs.

Ivan Stewart is the final keynote speaker within the safety workshop and will discuss his experiences of safety innovations during his time as a multiple overall champion within off-road racing.

All Racers and Race Teams are welcome to attend the workshop, to be held at the SCORE Tech Shop, 9434 Bond Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92021.


Lunch will be provided, plus an opportunity for all to be heard during this casual event.
Please register prior to attending by visiting Racing Goes Safer.

The source for race tracks is on the shelves now. The 2016 National Speedway Directory lists a total of over 1300 auto racing facilities. It is the most comprehensive publication of active tracks in the United States and Canada available. This book lists detailed information on oval tracks, dragstrips and road courses. The phone numbers, addresses, exact directions, nights of operation and type of racing are included in this handy 592-page paper-back book.

Listings for approximately 300 sanctions, 60 racing publications, and 70 racing related museums, pushes the total to over 1730 motorsports related listings. The 2016 schedules for over 200 racing series with 4000 events are also included.
 
The new edition is essential for planning vacations and race outings. Race fans and industry professionals can depend on the National Speedway Directory for the most accurate and updated directory of race tracks in North America.
 
The price for one copy is $15.00 (includes postage) or two copies for $25.00. Orders can be placed online at www.speedwaysonline.com or emailing orders@speedwaysonline.com. Checks or money orders can be sent to: National Speedway Directory - 909 Seneca Road - Wilmette, IL - 60091.

Pace Performance announces the addition of its new Director of Vendor Relations, Johnny McDevitt. McDevitt is an industry expert with 15 years of experience in the performance aftermarket and automotive racing industry. He will be handling all direct vendor communications, as the company restructures its management team. 

McDevitt can be contacted with any Merchandising, Advertising, Account, or other Vendor Relationship questions or information. Email: johnny@paceperformance.com or direct phone number: 330/965-7213.

Castrol Raceway, home of the next IHRA Drag Racing Series event, the Mopar Rocky Mountain Nationals in Edmonton, Alberta, is offering some new opportunities for fans to enhance their experience at the race, which takes place July 15-17.

One is the "Thunder Alley Experience," which includes a deluxe "members only" hospitality center, exclusive reserved grandstand seating, a complimentary hospitality buffet on Saturday and Sunday, complimentary beverages, semi-private restrooms, a private cash bar, exclusive driver autograph sessions, a gift bag with an exclusive collector cap, a preferred parking pass with the purchase of four seats, and the option to renew or change seats annually.

The track calls it the "ultimate upgrade."

And if that isn't exclusive enough for you, there's the Drag Tower Third Floor Penthouse option.

The Castrol Raceway Penthouse is capable of hosting 30-45 people with full food and beverage service. You get: a premium 360-degree view of the entire facility, exclusive penthouse access, custom suite access credentials, premium parking for 20 vehicles, comfortable lounge-style seating and décor, a dedicated suite attendant and hostess, complimentary beverages, "munchies" including fresh popcorn, chips, candy bars and packaged snacks, and in-suite climate control.

The world’s longest continually running drag racing event, the World Series of Drag Racing presented by Sunoco and the Memphis Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, is making its big debut at Memphis International Raceway August 26–27, and the line-up continues to get even bigger and better. Just announced, Car Chix, the premier motorsports organization for women, will be bringing its high-profile Ladies Only Drag Race to the World Series of Drag Racing at Memphis International Raceway.

“We are excited to have Car Chix and their Ladies Only Drag Race join the World Series of Drag Racing at Memphis International Raceway and we know our fans are going to enjoy the great ladies only competition and seeing and meeting top female drivers,” said Pam Kendrick, President, Memphis International Raceway.

The Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race is open to all female racers with two classes to choose from: Car Chix Street & Car Chix Pro. In addition to cash, prizes and trophies for first and second-place racers, awards will be presented for Best Burnout, Fastest MPH, Hottest Ride and Best Reaction Time.

The Car Chix will be joining some of the biggest names in drag racing including: two-time NHRA Pro Stock Champion, Erica Enders-Stevens; the “First Lady of Drag Racing” Shirley Muldowney; Don “Big Daddy” Garlits; NHRA Funny Car Champion Del Worsham; six-time IHRA Top Fuel Champion, Clay Millican; three-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion Larry Dixon; five-time Pro Stock Champion, Jeg Coughlin and more.

“We are beyond excited to present the Car Chix Ladies Only Drag Race during the World Series of Drag Racing at Memphis International Raceway,” stated Jeanette DesJardins. Car Chix President & Founder, “This is a great opportunity for female racers of all racing levels to meet and race with some of the most influential women in racing and motorsports.”

Motorsport.com has learned that Chip Ganassi Racing, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing and Andretti Autosport tried brakes from alternative suppliers—along with a revised Brembo setup—in the Road America test in June. As a result of this test, Performance Friction Corporation has emerged as a favorite.

The brake evaluation which was blind—as in the drivers weren't made aware beforehand which manufacturers' brakes they were testing—followed long-standing complaints about heat consistency issues with Brembo’s current package.

Bill Pappas, VP of competition and race engineering, said, “Nothing has been finalized yet. We tested three manufacturers—Brembo obviously, Performance Friction, and a third company which… I don’t think there’s a need to bring them up.”

Explaining the search for a new brake supply, Pappas said, “Brakes have been such a source of headaches so we need to find something to alleviate the consistency issues that the teams have had through the last four-and-a-half years.

“We’re not looking for a performance change. We just need something the guys can bolt on and know that it will be the same leaving Long Beach and arriving at Barber or however the schedule is constructed. We’re trying to make it more consistent for the drivers and more cost-effective for the teams.”

Pappas said that in the switchover the brakes would remain both spec and single-source, and that the series would be “trying to keep the costs as close to the current costs as possible.”

Although Pappas added that he hasn’t closed the door on Brembo and is “still evaluating various options,” he did state: “Performance Friction pitched for the initial contract for the DW12 and for whatever reason, IndyCar went with Brembo. But PFC rate very highly in terms of quality and in the 20-something years I’ve known them, they deliver what they say they can deliver.

He added, “For the sake of the series I want everyone to have the same equipment. We don’t want brakes affecting performance from one car to the next.” 

Sebastien Bourdais of KVSH Racing was not at the Road America test due to his Le Mans commitments, but has been one of the more regular and outspoken drivers regarding brake problems. He says, for example, that braking issues were what limited him to 12th on the grid in the last race at Road America.

Bourdais said, “I think it’s one of those things where everyone stopped talking about it, but everyone’s been struggling with [Brembo] brakes – starting to pull and lock and having big differences in temperature from left to right.

“It’s been a recurring problem which is frustrating because brakes are supposed to be bolt-in parts that just work and no one should really have to discuss. You try and tape up the ducts but then you start getting overheating and temps start drifting the other way.

“It’s been an uphill battle, and there’s a reason why the series organized a test with other manufacturers at Road America. Right now, it is what it is, but it sucks when it happens in qualifying, like it did for me at the last race.

“We got to where we thought we’d stabilized the brake temperatures but in qualifying there was a 300degF split across the rear axle, between left and right. So when I jumped on the brakes, the car pulled massively to the right and locked the left-front. Tough to put a lap together with the brakes behaving like that.”

NASCAR and the NASCAR Hall of Fame announced longtime High Point (N.C.) Enterprise reporter and sports editor Benny Phillips as the sixth recipient of the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence.
 
Phillips spent 48 years with the Enterprise, serving as its sports editor for 32 of them. He will be honored during NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony festivities on January 20, 2017, and featured in an exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina.
 
In addition to his time at the Enterprise, Phillips wrote for Stock Car Racing magazine for 27 years and spent 12 years with TBS. The prestigious Squier-Hall Award is the latest in a long list of accolades bestowed upon Phillips during, and after, his exemplary career. Phillips was named the NMPA Writer of the Year seven times, won the NMPA Joe Littlejohn Award in 1977, the IMHOF Henry T. McLemore Award in 1978, the Buddy Shuman Award in 1986 and the NMPA George Cunningham Award in 1988.
 
Phillips, who battled polio throughout his life, died in 2012 at the age of 74.
 
“Benny Phillips told the engaging stories that transformed our drivers into heroes, and with it developed a deserved reputation as a trusted confidant whose determination and affable personality made him a beloved fixture in the NASCAR garage,” said Brian France, NASCAR chairman and CEO. “Benny delivered the stories of our sport to millions of NASCAR fans on a daily basis through newspapers, books, magazines and television. This award has been given only to the giants of his industry, and unquestionably, Benny was exactly that.”
 
Phillips penned four books, including Dale Earnhardt’s autobiography “Determined,” which he co-authored with fellow NASCAR reporter Ben Blake.
 
Phillips was among eight nominees voted upon by a panel comprised of NASCAR and NASCAR Hall of Fame executives, journalists, public relations representatives and former competitors. The Squier-Hall Award was created in 2012 to honor the contributions of media to the success of the sport. Legendary broadcasters Ken Squier and Barney Hall, for whom the award is named, were its initial recipients. Chris Economaki, Tom Higgins and Steve Byrnes have since won the award.
 
The other seven nominees were:
 
Norma “Dusty” Brandel, the first woman to report from inside the NASCAR garage
 
Russ Catlin, one of the best-known early racing writers and historians, served as editor of Speed Age Magazine
 
Shav Glick, covered motorsports for the Los Angeles Times for 37 years, bringing NASCAR coverage to the West Coast
 
Bob Jenkins, served as the lead NASCAR lap-by-lap anchor at ESPN from 1982-2000.
 
Bob Moore, spent more than 20 years as a NASCAR beat writer including stints with the Daytona Beach News-Journal and The Charlotte Observer.
 
T. Taylor Warren, best known for his three-wide photo of the 1959 Daytona 500 finish, he covered every Daytona 500 until his death in 2008.
 
Steve Waid, covered NASCAR for more than 40 years for the Roanoke Times & World News, NASCAR Scene and NASCAR Illustrated.

A capacity crowd at the Corning Museum of Glass was treated to a celebratory evening of tributes, shout-outs, slide shows and interviews on Thursday as the International Motor Racing Research Center presented the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award to racing icon Roger Penske.

The presenting sponsors of the evening and award were NASCAR, IMSA, International Speedway Corp. and Watkins Glen International. The sell-out event was supported by Sahlen's.

This was the IMRRC's third consecutive presentation of the award recognizing outstanding contributions to motorsports in the name of the founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen, N.Y. Multi-team owner and former driver Chip Ganassi was the first recipient of the Argetsinger Award in 2014. NASCAR icon Richard Petty was the 2015 honoree.

Penske, whose Team Penske is celebrating 50 years in the sport this year, received the award from Argetsinger's sons J.C. and Duke, along with Bobby Rahal, four-time Indianapolis 500 winner and chairman of the IMRRC's Governing Council.

Racing dignitaries offered up personal memories of their experiences with the man who's known as "The Captain." Speakers included famed TV reporter Dr. Jerry Punch as the master of ceremonies; Scott Atherton, president and COO of IMSA; Michael Printup, president of WGI; Jay Frye, president of INDYCAR Competition and Operations; Lisa Noble, president of SCCA; and Walt Czarnecki, executive vice president of Penske Corp. and vice chairman of Team Penske.

His peers painted a portrait of Penske using accolades emphasizing his calm and effective leadership, respect for others, attention to detail and focus on getting a job done and getting it done well.

"You see his energy, and it builds energy in you," Printup said.

Ganassi spoke to Penske spontaneously from the audience.

"I never had a bitter rivalry with you, we had a great rivalry," he said. Then, speaking to the room, Ganassi related that Penske was the first to send congratulations after his team's recent historic victory at Le Mans.

The gathering viewed a number of video shout-outs from Penske's former and current team members as well as his competitors, all lauding his many successes over the 50 years of Team Penske's reign. The respect Penske has earned in that half-century was evidenced by the tributes from Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, Danny Sullivan, Al Unser Jr., Parnelli Jones and his current crop of team drivers Will Power, Simon Pagenaud, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano.

Team Penske drivers Helio Castroneves, currently competing in IndyCar, and former racer Rick Mears, team advisor for Team Penske, were interviewed by Punch.

Mears marveled at Penske's own championship record as a driver before he became a team owner, a record highlighted in remarks by Noble of SCCA and the dinner's slide show.

"I'm learning more tonight about how well he drove a race car. As a driver himself, he understood what it took," said Mears who earned three CART championships for Team Penske. "That understanding took a lot of pressure off of me as a driver."

Penske's driving experience, Castroneves agreed, is the well from which he pulls split-second decisions that lead to success.

"When he makes a decision, there is no way you're going to change it," Castroneves said. "He's the key to me winning my first championship."

Penske himself took the hot seat later in the evening, fielding questions from Punch about his career, personal family life and the time he had a $100 bet with fellow driver Augie Pabst that ended with a car in a hotel swimming pool.

Punch led him back to his early days, asking about the inspiration that would launch a career in motorsports. Penske said it was watching races as a youngster, including the Indianapolis 500 when he was 14.

"Once you're there, you see the speed and you see the cars. I never forgot that. I wanted to be a driver, and I wanted to compete," Penske said.

More than 50 years later, Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of racing.

"We're not in the racing business," Penske said. "We're racers, and there's a big difference. We want to deliver more than what's expected. That's what we try to do in racing, and I think that's why we have been so successful."

The laudatory evening was punctuated by the $27,500 auction bid for an original painting by famed motorsports artist Randy Owens depicting just a few of the championship-winning cars that represent Team Penske's remarkable 50 years in the sport.

In addition to NASCAR, ISC, WGI, IMSA and Sahlen's, award dinner sponsors and supporters were Corning Incorporated, Bosch, Corning Auto Glass, Chip Ganassi Racing, Elmira Savings Bank, Paul Miller Auto Group, Porsche, SCCA, Sunoco, Welliver and Glenora Wine Cellars.