Holley announced the NMCA's purse and contingency programs for the Holley EFI Factory Super Cars class. Race teams will receive contingency payouts from participating aftermarket manufacturers as well as from the automotive manufacturer of their race car. The new factory contingency program is in addition to the NMCA Pro Contingency program, which includes NMCA trophies and payouts as part of the Aerospace Components Winner's Circle.
 
The Factory Super Cars class is a heads-up class for 2008 and newer COPO, Cobra Jet, and Drag Pak factory cars. This new class will be battling it out at all six 2016 NMCA events with a points champion to be crowned at the 2016 NMCA Awards Ceremony.
 
"We are thrilled to have all three manufacturers participating in this new factory contingency program. All of our racers should be proud to have Jesse Kershaw of Ford, Curt Collins of Chevrolet, and Dale Aldo of Mopar supporting this new class sponsored by Holley EFI," said Rollie Miller, the NMCA's General Manager. Robin Lawrence, Holley's Director of EFI Business Development, also added "We are proud to be able to support such an exciting class of heads-up racing. We already have deep ties with many of the NMCA Factory Super Car teams from NHRA Stock Eliminator, so it was a natural evolution for us to support the class, especially with so many cars in it already using Holley EFI."
 
Factory Vehicle Contingency payouts from Ford, Chevrolet & Mopar per event:
Winner             = $1,000
Runner-up       = $500
 
Holley EFI Factory Super Cars class payouts per event:
Winner            = $1,500
Runner-up      = $700
Semis              = $200
Quarters          = $100
Eights              = $50
 
NMCA class contingency payouts for all other posting sponsors per event:
Winner             = $300 per product
Runner-up       = $150 per product

Factory Super Cars will compete at all six 2016 NMCA events:

March 10-13: The 14th Annual Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem race is in the books. Fittingly, the finals featured two Holley EFI-powered cars as Bruno Massel's 2015 COPO Camaro took down Glenn Pushis' 2014 COPO Camaro. Both cars utilized the 350 cubic inch/2.9L supercharger combination.

April 7-10: 8th Annual NMCA/NMRA All-Star Nationals presented by Miller Welders, Atlanta Dragway, Commerce, Georgia

May 12-15: 15th Annual NMCA Quickfuel Bluegrass Nationals, Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, KY

June 23-26: 15th Annual NMCA All-American Nationals, Lucas Oil Raceway, Indianapolis, IN

July 28-31: 11th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA/NMCA Super Bowl of Street-Legal Drag Racing, Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL

August 25-28: 14th Annual NMCA World Street Finals, Summit Motorsports Park, Norwalk, OH
 
Holley EFI Factory Super Cars class rules: http://www.nmcadigital.com/dl/rules/fsc.pdf

Roush Yates Engines announced a technical partnership with an innovater in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Convergent Science. 

“Convergent Science is a global leader in the CFD field,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Their continued passion to push the technological boundaries and constant pursuit of innovation perfectly aligns with Roush Yates Engines vision and direction.”


CONVERGE CFD software brings a superior level of efficiency, flexibility, accuracy and consistency to simulated fluid flow analysis. Their advanced fully coupled automated meshing capabilities will be a further enhancement to the product development process. 

The unique meshing approach and advanced Adaptive Mesh Refinement (AMR) technology will be an instrumental tool moving forward. CONVERGE CFD software automatically refines results with fluctuating and moving conditions; such as temperature and velocity, while improving through-put and achieving reliable CFD results. The software will be leveraged throughout the Roush Yates Engines organization. Convergent Science brings a great deal of experience to the partnership, demonstrated by their broad background with OEM manufacturers, academics, government and corporate organizations.


“We are delighted to be partnering with one of NASCAR’S largest and most respected engine builders,” said Rob Kaczmarek, Director of Global Marketing at Convergent Science. “Our dedication to bringing our customer’s the most innovative CFD software for simulating flow and combustion is our passion.”



COMP Cams, manufacturer of valvetrain technology, has returned as the title sponsor of the Engine Builders Challenge in 2016. The COMP Cams Engine Builders Challenge will recognize the power plant producers whose dedication and hard work propel the nation's elite dirt late model teams.

The participating engine builders will earn points at each event based on the highest finishing driver utilizing their engine. The engine builder that earns the most points will be crowned the COMP Cams Engine Builder of the Year—worth $1500 cash and additional product certificates. Engine builders finishing second and third in the Engine Builders Challenge will also receive various product awards.

"COMP Cams is thrilled to be a part of the Engine Builders Program again this year.  We pride ourselves on building the industry's best and toughest valvetrain components, and the demanding races on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series are a perfect place to showcase our parts.  We're proud to support racers and teams that are just as dedicated to dirt racing as we are. Their passion for the sport truly reflects the mindset of all COMP Cams employees,” stated Chris Douglas, Vice President of Marketing, COMP Performance Group.

Three of the nation's top engine builders will be vying for the Engine Builders Challenge title. Andy Durham Race Engines of High Point, South Carolina, Clements Racing Engines of Spartanburg, SC, and Pro Power Racing Engines of Sullivan, Wisconsin, will duke it out through the season-long program. For the latest COMP Cams Engine Builders Challenge standings, visit: http://lucasdirt.com/standings/comp-cams-engine-builders-challenge-points.

In addition to the year-end offerings, the Engine Builders Challenge will award the top engine builders at each event with products certificates from various companies, including: BRODIX, COMP Cams, CV Products, and Edelbrock. For a complete list of contingency awards available in 2016, visit: www.lucasdirt.com/drivers/contingency.

Watkins Glen International has announced details for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially kick off a highly-anticipated season on a repaved racing surface on Friday, April 15.

Master of Ceremonies Bob Varsha will be joined by special guests Andy Lally and Derek Bell, a pair of drivers who know their way to victory lane with ten sportscar victories at the historic road course between them.

The ceremony, scheduled for 11:15 a.m., will feature remarks from Lally and Bell, in addition to local and state government officials, and Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup.

“We are thrilled to have Bob Varsha to emcee this historic day at Watkins Glen International, as well as Andy and Derek, who are two of the most successful sportscar drivers here,” Printup said. “It’s going to be a celebration. April 15th is the culmination of a lot of hard work by many people.”

The repave, which doubles as the first completed Priority Project of the Southern Tier Regional Economic Development Council, began in August after the running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cheez-It 355.

Following the on-stage activities, select Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) cars will take part in a ceremonial “first lap” on the new surface. Watkins Glen International partners and members of the media will then be invited to take part in hot laps around the 3.40-mile circuit, followed by an additional period of SVRA activity from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Fans are invited to view the on-track festivities free of charge in the Argetsinger and Seneca grandstands by entering through Gate 2 off of County Route 16. The Toyota Green Grand Prix is scheduled to follow Friday’s ceremonial events.  

The 3.4-mile Arc Grand Prix Run at Watkins Glen International kicks off at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 16 with the event raising over $20,000 since 2014 for the not-for-profit organization that provides support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Register today at www.arcgrandprixrun.org. 

Opening Weekend fueled by Kwik Fill Red Apple continues later Saturday and on Sunday, April 17 with the opportunity for the public to take their personal vehicles on track, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., behind an official WGI pace vehicle, for just $25 benefitting the R.A.C.E. (Racing and Community Enrichment) Foundation, which will have commemorative t-shirts and pieces of the old racing surface for sale. Fans can also take advantage of on-site ticket sales featuring advance pricing while at the track.

The Hall of Fame Museum has introduced a new brand and name, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (IMSM). The name aligns with an unrivaled collection of automobiles and racing artifacts that follow the history of motor racing, Indy racers and the story of the extraordinary people who helped create the American automotive industry. Adding the image of the Borg-Warner Trophy and bold letters and colors represents a first step at enriching the visitor experience to the world-renowned raceway museum.
 
"With 100 years of running and 60 years of collecting the world's greatest treasures of motor sport racing, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is the true gateway to the Racing Capital of the World," said Anton H. George, president of the Museum Board of Directors.
 
Located five miles northwest of downtown Indianapolis on the grounds of the famous Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Museum is home to the most recognized winners in racing, where the stories, heroics, cars and historical memorabilia come to life. The Museum commemorates more than a century of racing at the Speedway and fosters public understanding of the innovation, thrill and adventure of motor sport racing.
 
"Recent surveys from leaders in Indianapolis, the museum community, and racing world along with focus groups with the pubic told us that we have tremendous name recognition with the Speedway," said Betsy Smith, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation executive director. "While we will embellish the honoring of our Hall of Fame members in our museum redesign, the current name caused confusion with multiple Hall of Fame museums around the world."

The Museum's new website provides improved navigation and functionality and a visitor-friendly experience throughout, allowing individuals to access detailed information about automobiles and their drivers, including interviews with Indy500 winners. Created with future interactivity firmly in mind as new museum exhibits take shape, the Museum's website has been designed using the latest technology so that the site is compatible with today's browsers and mobile devices.
 
"The new name and website are just the beginning, said Robert Dyson, IMSM board member. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is undergoing a revitalization, and we are now focusing on how to make major changes in the museum and visitor experience, including interactive exhibits—that tell the stories of the drivers and their cars and immerse visitors in the experience of the Indy500 and the rich history of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway."
 
Following a master planning initiative by Indianapolis architects, Schmidt Associates, a schedule will be announced for updating and redesigning the museum and exhibiting its large array of valuable artifacts and racing memorabilia.

Roger Penske, one of auto racing’s most notable team owners, will be honored in June by the International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC) with the 2016 Cameron R. Argetsinger Award for Outstanding Contributions to Motorsports.
 
As Team Penske celebrates its 50th year in motorsports in 2016, Penske will receive the award at a gala dinner presented by NASCAR, International Speedway Corp., Watkins Glen International and IMSA. The dinner will be at the internationally renowned Corning Museum of Glass in nearby Corning, New York.
 
The June 30 dinner precedes the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen IMSA weekend at WGI, and is supported by Sahlen’s.
 
This will be the third annual award presented by the IMRRC. NASCAR racing great Richard Petty was the 2015 Argetsinger Award recipient. Team owner and former driver Chip Ganassi was the inaugural winner in 2014.
 
The award memorializes Cameron R. Argetsinger, founder and organizer of the first races at Watkins Glen almost 70 years ago.
 
“I am honored to be selected this year to receive the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award from the International Motor Racing Research Center,” Penske said. “The IMRRC does a terrific job of maintaining and documenting the heritage of motorsports, and we appreciate all they do to chronicle and preserve racing history.
 
“To receive the Cameron R. Argetsinger Award in Team Penske’s 50th year in motorsports is truly a special honor and I am looking forward to a great evening with friends and colleagues on June 30.”
 
Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International and a member of the Racing Research Center’s Governing Council, congratulated Penske on behalf of WGI and the Center.
 
“Roger was the first person I worked for in motorsports,” Printup said. “During my time at Auto Club Speedway, and over the course of the many years that I’ve known him, he has taught me so much about the industry, along with invaluable lessons about being a leader in today’s world. We’ve all benefitted from the contributions that Roger has made to our sport, as his influence extends far past the race track every weekend.”
 
The Cameron R. Argetsinger Award Dinner is open to the public, and tickets are limited. The ticket price is $250 per person.
 
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Racing Research Center at (607) 535-9044 or by going to http://www.racingarchives.org/order-tickets-now/.
 
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Information can be found at http://www.racingarchives.org/assets/2016-CRA-Dinner-Facts-Sponsors-03-31-16.pdf.
 
Full details about the event can be viewed at www.racingarchives.org.
 
“Roger Penske is truly an icon in the racing world,” said Mike Helton, NASCAR vice chairman. “From his race teams to the way he runs his businesses, everything Roger does, he does with high class and high integrity.
 
“What Roger Penske has done for the sport of NASCAR can’t be overstated, and I think I speak for everyone in the industry when I say how proud we are to be celebrating Team Penske’s 50th anniversary this year.”
 
As owner of one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports, Penske’s early achievements as a driver are often overlooked. Running a 1957 Corvette, Penske started competing in local hill climbs 1958 while still a business student at Lehigh University.
 
Winning at tracks such as Watkins Glen, Road America, Nassau, Daytona, Brands Hatch and Sebring, he captured the SCCA National Championship in both 1960 and 1961 and earned the USAC Road Racing championship in 1962. Penske earned Sports Illustrated magazine’s Sports Car Club of America Driver of the Year Award in 1961 and was named North American Driver of the Year in 1962 by both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times.
 
Penske competed in two Formula One races – finishing eighth at Watkins Glen in 1961 and ninth at Watkins Glen in 1962.  He won a NASCAR race in 1963, capturing the 250-mile race at Riverside.
 
Penske is founder and chairman of Penske Corporation, a closely held, diversified, on-highway, transportation services company whose subsidiaries operate in a variety of industry segments, including retail automotive, truck leasing, transportation logistics and transportation component manufacturing.
 
In 1965 he turned to racing management full-time, building Penske Racing that today fields teams in the Verizon IndyCar Series, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series under the Team Penske banner. The team also competes in the Australian V8 Supercars Championship, in a partnership with Dick Johnson Racing, as DJR Team Penske.
 
Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Beginning as Roger Penske Racing in 1966, competing in sports car and endurance events, Team Penske has produced more than 420 major race wins, over 480 pole positions and 28 national championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition.
 
Those totals include a historic 16 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 wins, overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring and the distinction of being the last American constructor to win a Formula One race, coming in 1976 with driver John Watson.
 
Scott Atherton, IMSA CEO and president, said Penske is “one of the rare iconic business leaders where the ‘actual’ exceeds the ‘hype’.”
 
“His famous mantras of ‘Effort Equals Results’ and ‘Speed of the Leader Equals Pace of the Pack’ are not just catchy phrases, but words he lives and works by. Literally,” Atherton said.
 
“Over the past five decades his unmatched success in motorsports has impacted nearly every aspect of the industry: driver, team and track ownership and countless related businesses. And while Team Penske’s current focus is on NASCAR and IndyCar, there is a rich history of sports car racing success dating back to the very beginning of the company, including many IMSA race wins and championships.”
 
The gala dinner is also supported by Corning Inc., Bosch and SCCA.

For the fourth year in a row TOTAL continues its commitment with the ACO in Asia. The partnership will include both the Asian Le Mans Series and the newly created Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup.
 
Back in 2013 TOTAL immediately believed in the Asian Le Mans project and potential and was one of the first partner of the series. With this new partnership TOTAL will be associated with the whole ACO platform in Asia (7 events and 10 races between May and January) and will then benefit from a larger exposure both on and off the track which complement its growing presence within the context of the major events held in Le Mans.



Highly experienced in motorsport and with leading-edge technology, the French petroleum company will exclusively supply the Asian Le Mans Series field with 102RON fuel developed by TOTAL Additives & Special fuels when it will concentrate on promoting their lubricant products in the Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup. 



Eric Reverberi, TOTAL Marketing & Services, Rally & Endurance Manager, said, "At TOTAL we pride ourselves on being at the cutting edge of innovation and technology in motorsports. s racing The Asian Le Mans platform provides a fantastic opportunity for us to further elevate and extend our work in Asia, and position ourselves at the forefront of motor racing in this strategic region."



Cyrille Taesch Wahlen, Asian Le Mans Managing Director, added, "The renewal of our partnership with TOTAL is a very good news and makes perfect sense within the context of the long-term development of the ACO platform in Asia. They need to be thanked for their continuous support. The combination of the new Asian Le Mans Sprint Cup and a stronger Asian Le Mans Series clearly widens the marketing and media/new media opportunities.”

 

After acquiring the assets of HiPer Technology in October 2015, WELD has announced the completion of its consolidation of HiPer Technology’s operations into its Kansas City, Missouri-based headquarters. The physical move of HiPer Technology’s Lawrence, Kansas-based operations began March 1 of this year and was completed in less than a month to achieve the goal of minimizing any disruptions to customers and partners of the company.

HiPer Technology by WELD is the largest manufacturer of high performance “super structural” carbon fiber wheels for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) and side-by-side (UTV) vehicles.

“Since the acquisition we have moved quickly and diligently to position HiPer to better serve customers and the marketplace. This has included an aggressive production build schedule for 2016,” said Norm Young, president and CEO of WELD. “Completing the move to Kansas City allows us to consolidate and maximize many business functions, including finance, sales, engineering, marketing and customer support. It also provides HiPer with access to WELD’s forging operations and improved product quality and design.”

Just under 150 days from the biggest event to take place at the Memphis International Raceway (MIR) in nearly seven years, raceway officials announced six premier drivers who will compete in the 2016 World Series of Drag Racing presented by Sunoco and the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, slated for August 26 and 27. These drivers are among the many who will compete in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Nostalgia, U.S. Pro Mods and Fortune Hunter Big Buck Series categories. Don "Big Daddy" Garlits will serve as this year's grand marshal.

"The King of Dragsters" and patriarch of Top Fuel Drag Racing, Garlits will lead the highly anticipated event featuring drivers such as current NHRA world champion and two-time K&N Horsepower Challenge winner Erica Enders-Stevens, who will race five-time Pro Stock champion and Super Gas world title holder Jeg Coughlin. Enders-Stevens is the first female Pro Stock champion and took home the U.S. nationals title in Indianapolis last year, and Coughlin is ranked ninth among the best drag racers of all time.

Six-time IHRA Top Fuel world champion and local Drummonds, Tennessee, native Clay Millican will be on home turf to race drag racing legend Bruce Litton, who will bring his famed Top Fuel dragster to Memphis. After racing in four NHRA events this year, Millican is currently in fifth place in the point standings; just 65 points out of first place.

And, father and son team Tim and Daniel Wilkerson are set for a rematch against each other in the Funny Car category. Tim Wilkerson claimed one of the biggest wins to date this year in Funny Car racing after defeating 16-time world champion John Force in Chandler, Arizona at the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals last month.

The champion lineup continues with three-time NHRA Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon scheduled to make an appearance, and Memphis International Raceway officials expect to release additional exciting announcements in the coming weeks as other industry-leading drivers are confirmed for the event.

All of the excitement will be headed by the sport's beloved Garlits who holds 17 world champion titles, eight U.S. national championships and a total of 144 national event wins. His racing career surpasses four decades and includes record firsts, like being the first dragster to top 270 MPH and the first to reach 200 MPH in the 1/8 mile.   

"The level of talent in this year's race speaks to the continued caliber of this event as we celebrate its 63rd year in August," said Pam Kendrick, vice president and general manager of Memphis International Raceway. "And, as we're still developing plans, we are exciting about announcing all of the wonderful things we are lining up for this event."

The weekend-long event will cater to race fans of all ages and degrees with fireworks and family activities, including a kid zone, as well as live entertainment and a beer garden for attendees 21 and older. Additionally, four tiers of camping space will be available on the raceway grounds for those who prefer to stay in the middle of the action. The historic event will encompass all things drag racing.

The World Series of Drag Racing presented by Sunoco and the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau was built for the fans, by the fans. It attracts sportsman and professional racers from around the country to compete against each other. The top names in drag racing participate in exhibition runs, match racing and competitive eliminator action in front of capacity crowds. Notable participants in past World Series of Drag Racing events include: IHRA President Mike Dunn, Shirley Muldowney, T.J. Zizzo, Cruz Pedregon, Tony Pedregon, Tim Wilkerson, Bruce Litton, Chris "The Greek" Karamesines, Warren Johnson, Larry Morgan, Dom Lagana, and many more.

Once again, NASCAR fans have an opportunity to participate in the 2017 Hall of Fame induction process by taking part in this year's fan vote.
 
Users can cast their votes online—multiple times per day, if they choose. The top five vote-getting nominees will be turned into an actual Hall of Fame ballot—there are 54 total ballots, including the fan ballot. Voting closes May 23 and the 2017 class will be voted on and announced at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 25.



There are 20 nominees for this year's class, including five new names: team owner Jack Roush, four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday Jr., driver Ricky Rudd, engine builder Waddell Wilson and broadcaster Ken Squier. The nominees from the 2016 class who were not chosen last year rolled over to this year's selection. All of the nominees were selected by a committee comprised of NASCAR/Hall of Fame representatives, track owners and media.