Utica Rome owners Bill and Kim Shea have entered into an agreement to promote and operate Rolling Wheels Raceway for the 2016 racing season. The husband and wife team announced that they would run a nine-race schedule on the 5/8-mile track in Elbridge beginning on June 23.

"We were flattered when Mr. Mendick and Mr. Butler contacted us," Bill Shea said. "They said they like the direction we were going in at Utica-Rome and reached out to us, and after some discussions, we decided to do it. We feel very fortunate to be operating two of the most historic tracks in the Northeast."

Glenn Donnelly and his staff from Central New York Raceway Park operated the speedway in 2015 and brought record crowds and a world-record speed at the place known as The Fast Track. Donnelly and his team bowed out in early March to focus on the new track in Central Square. And just like Donnelly, the Sheas will use many of their Utica Rome employees at Rolling Wheels.

"We realize the work that will go into making this work," Kim Shea said. "But we expect much of the staff that works with us on Sundays to be with us at Rolling Wheels and that will help make it easier. We also feel that both tracks will feed off of each other, benefiting both speedways."

The track will start the season with a show on June 23 featuring crate sportsman, crate late models and vintage cars with an open practice for modifieds and sprints also on the card. Among the events for 2016 are the Super DIRTcar Series, the Race of Champions Modified Series, the Empire Super Sprints and the return of the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series during Super DIRT Week on Oct. 8.

A new website is under construction for the speedway and there are two dates on the schedule that will be announced at a later time. Rolling Wheels was constructed in 1969 and was an original member of DIRT, which was founded by Glenn Donnelly.

The Automobile Racing Club of America has entered into a multi-year agreement with American Sports Network to broadcast ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards events.

ASN’s coverage of the ARCA Racing Series will kick off with the April 9 race from Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville. In all, ASN will broadcast nine ARCA events in 2016, including five live broadcasts.

ASN is the sports division of Sinclair Networks Group, a subsidiary of Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. Sinclair is the largest television station operator in the United States, owning or operating a 171 television stations in 81 markets. Through relationships with over the air broadcasters and other regional sports networks, ASN looks to expand the reach and exposure of the ARCA racing series.

“We are excited to once again bring racing to our viewers through ASN,” said Doron Gorshein, COO of Sinclair Networks Group. “ASN’s coverage will include some of the series’ best short track races, designed to showcase ARCA Racing Series action from the tour’s ‘bullrings,’ including both one-mile dirt events at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds and Illinois State Fairgrounds.”

ASN is scheduled to air five ARCA Racing Series events live, beginning with the May 22 Menards 200 from Toledo (Ohio) Speedway. ASN will also televise live races from Madison (Wis.) Int’l Speedway on June 19; Winchester (Ind.) Speedway on Sunday June 26; Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich., on Aug. 6; and the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., on Aug. 21.

In addition, the ASN network is in the planning stages to air a series of motorsports events in a consistent mid-week prime-time slot. Plans call for the five live ARCA events to be re-aired during this motorsports block, plus additional delayed coverage of events from Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville, the DuQuoin (Ill.) State Fairgrounds, and both Salem (Ind.) Speedway events.

“We are pleased to provide additional exposure of the ARCA Racing Series on American Sports Network,” said Mark Gundrum, ARCA vice president for Business Development and Corporate Partnerships. “This is a great opportunity for the teams, sponsors and fans of the series.”

“The ARCA short track race events are some of the best each year, and we’re excited to bring the side-by-side action to the American Sports Networks viewers,” Gundrum added.

The National Hot Rod Association and Purdue University have partnered to expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs and advance motorsports technology.

"Purdue has found that motorsports is an absolutely incredible way to truly enliven the STEM discipline," said Jim Caruthers, professor of chemical engineering. "Oftentimes, STEM is taught in an abstract way, but we have learned how to deconstruct technology inside a motorsports vehicle to the basic science and math."

Purdue has a rich motorsports background through partnerships with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Verizon IndyCar Series and Italian chassis supplier Dallara. Now, Purdue plans to expand its motorsports STEM (MSTEM3) program with a three-year agreement to be the engineering and technology partner of the NHRA.

Caruthers said the initial focus will be to extend the program into middle schools.

"This provides significant motivation for students to learn STEM, and provides a way for us to celebrate their success through academic and racing competitions," he said.

One of the main areas of focus on the NHRA side will be the Jr. Drag Racing League. The JDRL offers kids ages 5-17 the chance to compete in a dragster that is half-scale to the Top Fuel cars. Purdue and the NHRA hope to use the program to bolster MSTEM3 and explore an electric version of the series.

"We are looking forward to the alliance with Purdue," said Tim White, NHRA director of engineering. "We will be able to share information and collaborate to expand STEM into new schools and events."

White also said there will be a research and development link between the two parties.

Students and faculty at Purdue will have the chance to help NHRA improve its technology through research and innovation. Their research could include work on fuels, aerodynamic packages or even engine components.

"As a leading motorsports series, the NHRA offers both STEM and career opportunities for our students," said Danny White, manager of Purdue Motorsports.

The new category of cars created by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, the LM P3s, was introduced in the 2015 Le Mans endurance season. These sports prototypes give new teams and drivers access to the first step on the endurance pyramid put in place by the ACO, and also attract gentlemen drivers who wish to start prototype racing. The philosophy behind these cars is to reduce budgetary, technical, driving and running constraints to the minimum.

This new category was an almost immediate success among constructors and teams. In its first year seven LM P3s were entered for the European Le Mans Series and three for the Asian Le Mans Series. In 2016, the number of cars in the ELMS has tripled reaching 21, while in the Asian Le Mans Series the 2016/2017 season looks very promising as at least double the number of LM P3s is expected.

Early on four chassis constructors, Ginetta, Onroak Automotive, Riley Technologies and Adess AG, were homologated by the ACO. Last year because of the number of requests received the ACO also homologated Japanese constructor Dome. As the LM P3 category proved an immediate success and the growth potential of the market exploded, the club decided to re-open the selection process to companies that had previously sent in an entry for the selection of the fifth constructor. Thus, French car builder, Norma, has been chosen as the sixth and last constructor for the LM P3 category.

The ACO is able to count on Norma to expand the offer in the LM P3 category. This French racing car constructor, based in the south west of France, was founded in 1986 by Norbert Santos. The first Norma prototypes were designed with hill climbs and circuit racing in mind, and they very soon scored their first victories in France and in Europe. In the 1990s the French constructor’s renown began to spread, in particular in the United States, where Norma has a branch in Florida (Norma North America). In 2003, the company launched the Norma M20, one of the highest-produced, most versatile sports prototypes in the world, which is updated on an on-going basis. Today Norma is taking up the LM P3 challenge. The design of the car is already at an advanced stage, and the constructor is aiming to have one or more Norma LM P3s racing before the end of the season.

Carteret County Speedway will be running Legends and Bandolero races under US Legends Cars/INEX sanctioning in 2016.

The INEX sanctioning allows racers competing in the Legends and Bandolero divisions to compete for points regionally and nationally against drivers who run at other tracks. For Legends racers, the move is important since many of them race for points in the INEX national standings.

Both divisions will race on Saturday night, April 2, as part of Carteret County Speedway’s 2016 season opener. Legends racing will be a part of every racing program throughout the regular season.

Bandoleros are a beginner’s class in racing aimed at attracting young drivers to the sport. In the Bandoleros, kids and teenagers learn the basics of racing before moving up, often into a Legends car and then into bigger cars such as Late Models. Many adults race in the Legends cars, which are smaller cars that resemble the cars of the early-to-mid 20th century.

Carteret County Speedway’s inaugural race, held last September, featured both divisions with Justin Mitchell scoring the victory in the Legends division and Dustin Yeoman scoring the win in the Bandolero divisions.

The 10th class was recently inducted into the North Carolina Drag Racing Hall of Fame. The idea of former Piedmont Dragway owner Jim Turner, the NC Drag Racing Hall of Fame has now grown into a group that is respected throughout the drag racing community.   

Ceremonies kicked off with a welcoming message from Shriners’ Potentate Johnny King, who reminded the group assembled of the important work being done every day in the hospitals supported by events such as the Hot Rod & Drag Expo.  At this time, Steve Earwood, inducted himself this year into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, welcomed everyone and started the proceedings with inductee Bob Harris introducing Doc Bilbrey and Gary Bingham.

Greg Burrow next Introduced Richard Broome and Mark Joyce, who spoke for Pro Mod pioneer Ed Hoover. Hoover was away on a business trip and could not attend. Bill Blair then introduced Pioneer Award Winner Bill Ellis and Richard Broome accepted the Jeff Byrd Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for Rick Hendrick.

Hendrick was unable to attend but will accept the award in October during RaceWeek in Charlotte at the Mooresville, NC, event honoring Walk of Fame inductees.

The Lucas Oil Modified Series presented by LoanMart waved the green flag on its 11th championship season Saturday at Havasu 95 Speedway with the strongest group of sponsors in series history lending their invaluable support.

“We’re unbelievably proud to be associated with this group of companies and their products,” series co-founder and promoter Greg Scheidecker said. “I want to thank all of them for sharing the vision Bill Rozhon and Alan Brown and I had when we started the series back in 2006.

“There’s no way we could have survived those early years and seen this series grow the way it has without the commitment of all our sponsors, large and small. We’ve always tried to thank them by giving them the broadest possible platform for marketing and exposure. I think we must be succeeding in that because I know there are series a lot bigger than ours that would love to have the kind of support we enjoy.

“What’s especially gratifying is that most of our partners have been with us for at least a few years and several have been here since the start.”

LoanMart, the nation’s largest auto title loan agency, returns as the series sponsor for the fourth year and that company’s varied contributions have provided a solid base for the series as it expands into new markets and new venues.

Hoosier Tire West and Sunoco Race Fuel are two of the series “lifers.” Both companies signed on during the formative period. Sunoco has been the exclusive race fuel supplier and has sponsored the Winner’s Circle program and other bonus funds. Hoosier has been the exclusive tire supplier and the sponsor of the championship points fund, which has increased every year through their generosity.

K&N Filters has contributed in a variety of ways over the past decade and this year has generously agreed to sponsor the series’ tow money program to help defray travel expenses for the top 24 drivers in the point standings. BILSTEIN is the series Official Shock Absorber as well as the sponsor of the B main events that pay $500 to win, Optima Batteries is the long-time sponsor of the appropriately-named Hard Charger award that goes to the driver who improves his position the most during a race and SuperClean is the sponsor of the Lucky Dog award, to the first driver at least a lap behind at the checkered flag.

DJ Safety significantly increased its involvement before last season, when it worked with series officials to create the DJ Safety Rookie of the Year Award program that rewarded inaugural winner Jack Madrid with products and merchandise worth about $4000.

General Tire, GEICO, E3 Spark Plugs and Carlyle Tools-NAPA are core members of Team Lucas, along with Lucas Oil Products Inc., Protect the Harvest, MAVTV The Motorsports Channel and LucasOilRacing.TV.

The list is expanding, too.

“Fortunately, the favorable reputation our series and our racers have in the racing community and with our marketing partners enables us to continues to attract new sponsors,” Scheidecker said. “We want to welcome five of them this year – 4 Wheel Parts, JOES Racing Products, EFI University, Scribner’s Plastics and Fast EZ-EFI System-COMP.
“We hope they’ll be our partners for years to come.”

Two-time defending race winner Brian Campbell leads the list of early entries for Toledo Speedway’s 7-Up 200 season opener Saturday afternoon, April 16.

The ARCA/CRA Super Series will make up one half of the event, with the ARCA Royal Truck and Trailer Late Model Gold Cup Series filling out the show. Each group will stage 100 lap feature events on the half-mile paved oval.

Campbell, who resides in Wyoming, Michigan, captured the 2014 and 2015 ARCA/CRA runnings of this event at Toledo, which unofficially opens up the pavement late model short track season in the Midwest. A new car and new engine package will put Campbell’s No. 47 to the test for the ARCA/CRA tour.

Defending ARCA/CRA champion and Rookie of the Year Grant Quinlan, two-time series champion Travis Braden and three-time series champion Johnny VanDoorn will also be on hand for the event.

Ohio residents Jack Smith and Cody Coughlin, Michigan speedsters Chad Finley, Thomas Woodin and Chris Koslek and Indiana racers Hunter Jack, Dalton Armstrong, Wes Griffith Jr., Eddie VanMeter, Jeff Cannon and Quinnton Bear are also entered.

The ARCA Royal Truck and Trailer Late Model Gold Cup entries have just begun to arrive, with former series and Flat Rock and Toledo champ Dennis Strickland, Toledo resident Nick Bailey and Michigan driver Frankie Jiovani the first three drivers to file entries for the 100 lap contest for the outlaw-bodied late models.

Advance ticket buyers for Toledo’s first event of the year will be offered the Sunny Media “Good Weather Guarantee.” If the temperature is not at least 55 degrees with no rain at the scheduled 3 p.m. start time, all advance ticket purchasers will be given a free ticket to the next event on Toledo’s schedule, the USAC Silver Crown Series race Saturday, April 30.

To qualify for this offer, an advance ticket must be purchased prior to 5 p.m. Friday, April 15 for Saturday’s 7-Up 200. Tickets are now on sale, with a $5 discount being offered for the advance ticket sale. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. Children 6-12 are $3 and under 6 are admitted free of charge. In the event of weather issues, a rain date of Sunday, April 17 at 1 p.m. has been established.

The West Coast has produced some of the world’s best sprint cars racers.

Gary Paterson, Johnny Anderson, Jimmy Oskie, Brent Kaeding and Bubby Jones are a few names that come to mind. The sprint car movement in California is on the rebound despite losing strong hold tracks such as Ascot and The Baylands. Touring groups such as the King of the West  Sprint Car Series and the Civil War Sprint Car Series are giving racers a solid season schedule, decent purses and a diversity of dirt ovals to hone their talent. KWS runs 410 ci engines, while the Civil War series uses 360 engines. Both groups have events scheduled at tracks ranging from Silver Dollar Speedway in Northern California to the fairgrounds in Hanford in the south.

The World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series makes two annual swings through the state. The AMSOIL USAC-CRA Sprint Car Series and the USAC West Coast Series feature non-winged sprint cars. Their races are also sprinkled throughout the state.

Here are a few drivers who make up the young faces of the “California Crew.”

D.J. NETTO

Netto turned 20 years old on March 1 and is a student at Fresno State University studying Agriculture Business.

He drives the No. 88n Maxim out of Hanford. It was when his dad first took him to a sprint car race as a kid that Netto fell in love with racing. Netto first drove a sprint car in 2012 and has raced one ever since. He drives for a team owned by his father Frank and uncle James Netto. His crew chief is Matt Britt and Brian Matherly calls the shots on the car. Crew members are Gary Padalaro and Nate Matherly. Speedway and Shaver engines provide the power.

Netto won two KWS races last year, one being his first series victory. He added a 360 triumph later in the year. The 2015 season was highlighted by his 410 win and also running third in the World of Outlaw feature during the opening night of the Gold Cup at Silver Dollar. He felt he could have had a better season, but was plagued by mechanical failures.

This season he hopes to continue to learn things and become a smarter race car driver. He looks forward to the Peter Murphy Classic July 22-23 at hunderbowl Raceway.

“It’s been such a great event the last two years and also it honors even a better guy. It’s at my favorite race track, so I’m pretty excited for that,” Netto explained.

He opened this season by competing in the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Okla. He qualified for the A-Main on his preliminary night, but did not finish the feature.

“I believe racing the Chili Bowl does help us in a sprint car because it keeps you on your toes and keeps you in the seat during the winter. Also it’s such a cool event where you get to race with people from different forms of motorsports,” said Netto.

SHANE GOLOBIC

When he was 10 days old, Golobic watched his father, John, race a winged 360 sprint car. He has been hooked on racing ever since. Golobic drives the Keith Day’s No. 22. His Kent Performance Chassis sponsors are Keith Day Trucking, Gabilan Ag Series, Sturdy Oil, Pacific Coast AG, Riley Collins Body Shop, Keizer Wheels, DMI and LRB Manufacturing. The 360 car is powered by Gaerte Racing Engines and S&S Automotive supplies his 410 engines. Rick Bragg is his crew chief.

Golobic won six combined sprint car and midget features last year.

“Last year we seemed to have a consistent year, beginning to end. I would say our strongest runs came late in the year at races like the Trophy Cup,” Golobic said. “It was a good feeling to have such strong races with some of the best 360 competition in the country.”

He holds bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and lives in Fremont, Calif. He finished 12th in the KWS standings and third in the Civil War standings.

“2016 is shaping up to be a fun year,” he said. “I plan on running a strong schedule of 360 and 410 winged sprint car races throughout California and Oregon with the Keith Day Trucking No. 22. I will also be running a 15- to 20-race schedule in the Matt Wood Racing No. 17 midget. I always make it a personal goal to win 10 races throughout the year, so hopefully we can reach or surpass that goal.”

Golobic won the March 19 Shamrock Classic at the Southern Illinois Center in the Wood No. 17.

“As always I am looking forward to the Trophy Cup and the Louie Vermeil Classic. This year I am very excited to have the opportunity to head to Indiana to race the Indiana Midget Week for the first time. I am also looking forward to competing with the World of Outlaws at my home track, Ocean Speedway,” Golobic noted.

He also competed in this year’s Chili Bowl, starting the A-Main and finishing 14th.

“The Chili Bowl is something I always look forward to. It helps keep me sharp through the offseason,” Golobic said. “I believe it takes similar driving styles to be successful in wing sprint cars and midgets. Plus, it’s the most exciting week of racing, year in and year out.

“I am lucky to have had the opportunity to race with so many great people,” he continued. “I would not be where I am today without them. The friendships that I have made in the sprint car world are a big part of why I love the sport so much.”

DOMINIC SCELZI

Dominic Scelzi attended his first sprint car race in Sedalia, Mo., when he was 5 years old. The event showcased the World of Outlaws and included a celebrity modified race involving his father Gary, a multi-time NHRA drag racing champion.

“I saw my first sprint car race when I was 5 and fell in love,” he explained. “The sound, the smell, the way they looked made me want to drive one. From that point on, I’ve loved sprint car racing and always dream of winning a World of Outlaws main event.”

He drives the black No. 41 for Gary Scelzi Motorsports. It is a Schnee chassis powered by a Speedway Engine. They also own a Pace chassis with Moles Racing Engines and a KPC chassis with a Panella powerplant.

The Fresno, Calif., native had an up and down season last year during which he was injured twice.

Racing at Thunderbowl Raceway in March, Scelzi suffered second- and third-degree burns on his left leg and foot. He rebounded and win the KWS stop at the Stockton Dirt Track. But while leading the KWS points going into the late-season Peter Murphy Classic, he crashed and suffered a compression fracture in his back, sidelining him for six weeks. He returned to the cockpit for the Gold Cup at Silver Dollar and won the following week at Hanford. Toward the end of the season, Scelzi and crew chief Kyle Kenoyer journeyed to the Midwest to compete for George and Danny Lasoski in the National Sprint League finale at Nebraska’s I-80 Speedway. He finished eighth and third in two nights of competition. His performance got him a ride in the same car during the World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“Racing is a sport you have to be mentally and physically tough,” Scelzi said. “It owns you nothing and success doesn’t just appear. It comes from hard work, dedication, sacrifice and a will to never give up.”

Scelzi’s goals for this season are to win four KWS features and two CW mains. He plans to return to the Midwest, but this time with the family’s sprint car and win a main event in their madden voyage out of California.

GIOVANNI SCELZI

The younger brother of Dominic Scelzi, Giovanni Scelzi grew up at the micro midget and drag races. He won the 2015 Tulsa Shootout, beating nearly 200 cars in his class. He finished second there in the A class this year. On the local scene, the younger Scelzi has a handful of micro wins at Visalia and Lemoore Raceways.

“I always knew I would be a racer,” he said. “I love all forms of racing from F-1 to pavement midgets, to drag racing and the World of Outlaws. When I first started I was unsure about driving, but the more I did it the more I loved it.”

As part of his goals “Gio” hopes to capture the Plaza Park Super 600 Championship as well as defend his home state and conquer the California Speedweek micro sprint title. He plans to also compete on a national level at events at Oklahoma’s Port City Raceway and Southern Illinois Raceway.

“If you aren’t working to make yourself, your motors and your cars faster, you’re becoming slower. Every team is looking for that next edge to better themselves,” Scelzi noted. “You have to continuously better your team.”

Both Giovanni and Dominic Scelzi were baseball and football players before high school.
Giovanni is expected to make his 360 sprint car debut later this year and  will be competing at Hanford in the Roth Motorsports No. 83jr and will race a select few races in the family car at Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway.

CORY ELIASON

“I just love to race as I feel there is no better feeling than being able to control something that is uncontrollable,” said Selma, Calif., racer Cory Eliason.

Eliason started racing junior sprint cars when he was 9 years old. He got into racing through his dad, who helped a few local racers before Cory was old enough to race.

He drives the white and orange No. 00 GF1 chassis with a Rider engines. He’s both the driver and the crew chief. His primary sponsor is Eliason Racing Composites, which is the carbon-fiber business he started to help pay his racing bills. He also gets support from Reitz Almond Harvesting, Driven Performance, Prime Towing and RE Technologies.

His goal this year is to run as many races as possible, including his first venture to the Knoxville Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway.

“I look forward mostly to the Trophy Cup,” Eliason said. “It’s what we race all year for. To be good at that race.”.

His biggest win to date was the Cotton Classic at Hanford.

He started his season off at the Chili Bowl, which was his first time driving a midget car.

“It’s a blast,” he said. “It’s one of the most prestigious races of the year and networking is big. Lots of people to met.”

Sonoma Raceway will offer fans an entirely new perspective on the racing action, as the facility upgrades its spectator experience with more than 5,000 square feet of Panasonic LED digital signage.

Most notably, the raceway will replace its outdated lap/leader board, which has stood above turn one of the road course since 1994, with an 85-foot tall, four-sided LED scoring tower. The new pylon will provide real-time running order for up to 20 positions, dynamic race-related graphics and fan information.

The new scoring tower will be located in approximately the same position above turn one, but is more than 26-feet taller than the old board and will be easily visible from almost every seating area around the road course. The new fan amenity will make its debut at the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event, June 24-26.

In addition, the raceway will add an 84- x 12-foot Panasonic LED video board on the front of its three-story Drag Tower building. This video board will be easily viewed from the Main Grandstand, as well as the temporary grandstand during the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event in July.

“These two new displays are going to be spectacular and will correct what has been a major deficiency in the guest experience at Sonoma Raceway,” said raceway President and General Manager, Steve Page. “We can’t wait to fire them up.”

This new technology will allow the raceway to create and deliver videos, graphic overlays, real-time statistics, custom content and sponsor advertisements. The new displays will be utilized during all three Sonoma Raceway major event weekends, including the Toyota/Save Mart 350, Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals and GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma Verizon IndyCar Series Championship.

“We are delighted to be partnering once again with Sonoma Raceway and providing technologies that will help contribute to their fans’ satisfaction with each visit to the track,” said Don Szczepaniak, Panasonic executive vice president responsible for AV Solutions. “The new LED scoring pylon and extended length video board are designed to raise the excitement level and give fans a more immersive and memorable experience than ever before.”

Construction on the new video boards and displays is expected to begin at the end of March with the demolition of the old lap/leader board. Completion of the project is slated for early June.