Team Aguri will leave Formula E at the end of the current campaign, having agreed the sale of its entry.

A statement from the team confirmed it had "agreed the sale of its license to new investors," a process that began back in April. That means this weekend's Battersea Park FE season finale will be Team Aguri's last in the series.

The Anglo-Japanese team was one of the electric single-seater championship's founding entries when it was created by ex-Formula 1 driver Aguri Suzuki and Mark Preston in November 2013.

"I am proud to say that Team Aguri can be considered true pioneers in the development of electric vehicles, pioneering new technologies and showcasing them to the world," said team principal Preston, who has not confirmed whether he will be part of the new setup. The team had already confirmed that the new investment meant Suzuki would be relinquishing his role.

Team Aguri, which is the only FE team not registered as its own manufacturer, has undergone multiple staff changes in the last 12 months. It was set to confirm a Renault powertrain supply for season three, potentially badged as a Nissan as the Japanese marque evaluates whether to enter FE.

It is unknown how the sale of the team affects those negotiations.

TEAM AGURI IN FORMULA E:



Races: 19

Wins: 1

Podiums: 1

Poles: 0*

Fastest laps: 1

Total points: 90

2014/15 teams' result: 7th

Current teams' position: 8th

Drivers: Takuma Sato, Katherine Legge, Antonio Felix da Costa, Salvador Duran, Sakon Yamamoto, Nathanael Berthon, Ma Qing Hua and Rene Rast.


*Da Costa qualified on pole for the 2016 Long Beach ePrix but was excluded from the results

Tony Stewart, who is retiring from NASCAR at season’s end, is receiving a going-away gift from Indianapolis Motor Speedway that will encourage him to return.


IMS is giving Stewart a dirt track inside Turn 3.

The plan, IMS president Doug Boles has said, was to install a 3/16th-mile oval for Stewart’s media appearance July 5. Several teams that own dirt midgets have been invited for what amounts to an exhibition. It stands to reason Stewart will take anyone’s offer to take a spin around the new oval, and he might even be the first to do so.

Stewart was told of the plan last weekend, Boles said.

Assuming things come together as expected, IMS will modify the track so it’s large enough to host sprint cars, too.

“Tony doesn’t want gifts, per se, but we thought this was a great way to marry his love for dirt-track racing with his love for racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway,” Boles told IndyStar.

Boles said IMS won’t get in the business of hosting frequent dirt-track events, but it could have an assortment of “special” events, such as a spot in Indiana Sprint Week or a sprint/midget event during Brickyard 400 weekend.

For the July 5 test run, the dirt track will not have fencing, and the banking will be minimal—maybe 6 inches, Boles said—but all aspects of the presentation will be considered for the final product.

As for the real estate the dirt track will encompass, Boles said it will still be able to serve as primary infield parking area for major oval-track events such as the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.

Stewart has twice won the Cup race at IMS, but the July 24 race is scheduled to be his final start on the oval. Well, the big oval, anyway.

Darlington Raceway announced Wednesday that Kerry Tharp will be the new President of the track Too Tough To Tame, effective July 18.

Tharp accepts the role from his most recent position as Senior Director of Racing Communications for NASCAR.

Tharp replaces current Darlington Raceway President Chip Wile, who accepted the position of President of Daytona International Speedway back in April.

“These are exciting times for Darlington Raceway and Kerry Tharp is the perfect person to lead one of the most historic tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit,” International Speedway Corp. Executive Vice President and COO Joie Chitwood said. “His appreciation of our sport, knowledge of the industry and passion for South Carolina are unmatched. Kerry will do a great job leading the Darlington Raceway team and continuing to build upon their celebrated throwback marketing campaign.”

Tharp, a Louisville, Kentucky, native, joined NASCAR in April of 2005 after a successful 20-year career as Associate Athletic Director for Media Relations for the University of South Carolina (1985-2005) in Columbia. He worked for 26 total years in intercollegiate athletics prior to joining NASCAR. He also served two years at the University of Tennessee and four years at the University of Oklahoma, prior to the University of South Carolina.

Since 2005, Tharp has played an integral role in the communications efforts for NASCAR, having forged strong relationships for the sanctioning body with the drivers, race teams and tracks.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to have this opportunity,” Tharp said. “I love the state of South Carolina and its people. I know how special Darlington Raceway is to this state and to the sport of NASCAR. The track’s rich tradition, history, and popularity resonate with the competitors, partners, media and most importantly the fans. I look forward to working with our team to help keep Darlington as one of our sport’s crown jewels.”

NASCAR also announced three promotions in light of Tharp’s pending departure.

Matt Ciesluk will move into the role of Senior Director, Racing Communications; Mike Forde takes on the position of Director, Racing Communications; and Stephanie Harris will be promoted to Senior Manager, Content Communications.

“All of us at NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications take tremendous pride in the fact that ISC chose a member of our team to lead efforts for one of the sport’s most iconic facilities,” said David Higdon, vice president of NASCAR Integrated Marketing Communications. “The selection also is a testament to Kerry’s acumen and the work that he has done cultivating strong relationships with so many in the media. He will be a great asset to Darlington and ISC, and will remain an essential advocate for NASCAR in his new role.”

After reviewing the data provided by on-track results from POWRi Illinois SPEED Week and other events this year and comparing that data to information from the races earlier in the season prior to the current rev limiter rules, POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series officials have decided to make a change.

Effective immediately, POWRi will be going back to the previous rev limiter rules.

Gathered data has shown that with the two major types of engine designs, push rod engines and overhead cam engines, the rev limit rules have impacted the performance and slanted the table against the overhead cam engines.

The present rules have not affected the push rod engines as much as the overhead cam engines because the push rod engines’ power curve is broader and comes in at much lower RPM range. On the other hand, the overhead cam engines have a narrower RPM range and work better in the top range.

“We thought this rule was a step in the right direction,” said POWRi owner Kenny Brown. “After reviewing the data, we realized it was not. The goal of implementing these rev limit rules was parity, to ultimately save money for car owners with increased time between engine maintenance cycles, and to welcome lower cost alternatives to current engine platforms. But it has become apparent over the last month of racing that the rev limit rules never actually accomplished this. We made a mistake heading in this direction and therefore, POWRi is going back to the previous rev limit rules.”

Motovicity Distribution, an automotive performance aftermarket distributor, is announcing the addition of Go Fast Bits to its line card.

Go Fast Bits is an Australian company started by John Adrian, an engineer of 35 years. He leaned on his engineering background and started designing, testing, and developing his own parts. Go Fast Bits offers a wide range of innovative and high-quality boost controllers, blow-off valves, pulley kits, and short shifters.

 “We are proud to partner with Motovicity in expanding the availability of Go Fast Bits in North America,” said Glenn Dirkse, President of Global Performance Parts, exclusive importer for Go Fast Bits – Go Fast Bits, North America. “Motovicity’s unique concentration in the sport compact and Euro markets make them a natural choice and partner.”

Go Fast Bits products are now available for wholesale purchase through Motovicity Distribution. For product inquiries, call 888.SPEED.16 to speak to a representative.

NASCAR announced updated procedures for NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race eligibility and new provisional starting guidelines for races during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
 
Starting with Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway (7:45 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), current year owner points will replace practice speeds for determining race eligibility and starting position in the event adverse conditions prevent Coors Light Pole qualifying from taking place. Starting in 2017, for the second and third events of the season, practice speeds for Open teams will remain the criteria used to determine race eligibility.
 
NASCAR also announced that Open teams that earn a berth in the Chase will be awarded a provisional starting position for every Chase race, guaranteeing those teams an opportunity to compete for the championship in NASCAR’s playoffs.
 
“These changes provide a more even competition field for both Charter and Open teams, rewarding strong performances over the course of a season,” said Jim Cassidy, NASCAR senior vice president, racing operations. “Earning a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is extremely difficult and requires consistent elite performance. Those teams should be guaranteed an opportunity to race for the title, and this ensures that will be the case.”

The creation of provisional starting positions for Open teams that earn a berth in the Chase has been discussed extensively with industry stakeholders.
 
The adverse conditions qualifying procedures remain unchanged for the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. 

Three drivers have been placed on probation by Race Director Tony Cotman following rounds eight and nine of Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires competition at Road America this past weekend.

Dean Stoneman of Andretti Autosport, Santiago Urrutia of Schmidt Peterson Motorsports w/ Curb-Agajanian and Ed Jones of Carlin have been placed on probation through the end of the 2016 season for misconduct leading up to and including the Road America event.

If Stoneman, Urrutia or Jones are involved in any additional incidents including unsportsmanlike conduct and dangerous or over aggressive driving as determined by the Race Director, they will be penalized with the loss of a minimum of 10 championship points.

“The notices issued do not preclude a driver from racing hard, but serve as a reminder on how to race over the final eight rounds of the championship,” said Cotman.

Lesa France Kennedy, CEO of International Speedway Corporation (parent company of MRN) and vice chairperson of NASCAR, was named one of ADWEEK’s "30 Most Powerful Women in Sports" in the magazine's July issue, on newsstands now.

Kennedy is featured along with Sprint Cup Series Driver Danica Patrick and other elite athletes, league executives, sports media personalities and sports marketing executives.

"Being chosen along with such an incredible group of women is a testament to the relevancy and popularity of NASCAR and motor sports," Kennedy said. "I’m pleased to be joined by Danica Patrick, who is inspiring the next generation of women drivers and competitors. A profound 'thank you' to the ADWEEK team."

Kennedy’s vision led the $400 million re-imagining of Daytona International Speedway into the world’s only motor sports stadium, which was named Sports Facility of the Year at SportsBusiness Journal’s 2016 Sports Business Awards. Kennedy received accolades as Forbes’ Most Powerful Woman in Sports for 2015 and was recently inducted into the Cynopsis Sports Hall of Fame.

Kennedy is also leading a legacy project with the development of "ONE DAYTONA," a 300,000-square-foot pre-eminent retail, dining and entertainment destination set to open in 2017 across from the Speedway.

Steve Page, Sonoma Raceway's president and general manager, introduced 2016 Wall of Fame Honorees Ernie Irvan and Tony Stewart before a crowd of vocal and enthusiastic fans and media. 

Page said, the Wall of Fame was started "a decade ago as a way to honor the legacy and thank those" who have contributed to the history of the circuit. Both drivers are two-time winners here.

Page called the 1992 race, in which Irvan from the back of the grid "one of the most remarkable races" he'd ever seen.

When asked about his part in the fast growth of NASCAR in the 1990s, Irvan said, "I'm just one part of it. Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough and others" set the stage for the explosive growth the sport experienced.

Stewart thanked Page with mixed emotions, "I've always looked forward to coming here," noting he marked the date in his calendar. And now looking ahead to last race, at the Sprint Cup level, he felt a bit sentimental.

That said, Stewart who will retire from his ride at the team he co-owns with Gene Haas stressed that this was his last year in driving in Sprint Cup but not as a driver in other series, "I can't wait to start the second part of my career."

Having just celebrated 26 wonderful years with Performance Racing Industry, I've made the decision to move on to the next chapter in my life, and depart from my position at PRI. I'd like to shift down a gear or two in the pace of life. The calendar pages have been flying off the wall as if in a windstorm in recent years, and I'd like to slow it down a bit. There are a couple of personal goals I'd still like to achieve, and I'm at that age where I'd better get to it! I've had a great run here at PRI, where we took this concept of a trade show and business magazine to previously unimaginable heights. Along the way, I had the great fortune to work in an industry that taught me a lot about how to live this life. Thank you all for chasing after it the way you did. You inspired me throughout my 26 years.

The stewardship of PRI will be in great hands. We have a veteran team, who all love this sport. Editor Dan Schechner will continue to do great things with this magazine, as he's done for the past four years. We have folks like Rob Hiner, our Creative Director, and Karin Davidson, our Trade Show Director, who both have a couple decades each in serving this industry with creativity, energy and vision. Laura Vukich also has a couple decades of experience here in the title of Production Manager, although she manages much more than that in operating PRI. And our topnotch Laguna Beach sales team will continue to be a critical link between the industry and PRI—Judy Kean, Francisque Savinien, Eric Jurado, Jeff Swoboda and Andrea Brake. They're the best. We've added salespeople from the Diamond Bar office to our team—Alan Josse (with many years at PRI on his resume), Brian Paik, Monica Terlouw, Warren Kosikov—who are fitting right in. I don't have space to go down the entire PRI roster, but you know it's packed with talent that makes a difference.

Just as important is the strong leadership, as well as the powerful resources, that have been applied to the growth of PRI since our purchase by SEMA. The benefits to the industry from this change have been huge, from the reduction of two trade shows to one and the move of the PRI Show to Indianapolis, to the current battle with the EPA to prevent it from essentially altering the face of the sport.  The SEMA Board of Directors and CEO Chris Kersting have proven over and over again how much they value PRI, and the racing industry. SEMA leaders Bill Miller, Senior Vice President of Operations assumes oversight management responsibilities, while Peter MacGillivray will oversee the sales and magazine publishing team.  They have the experience and savvy to continue serving and helping the racing industry succeed and prosper.

Time to move on down the track and negotiate the next turn. I'll see you at the races!