JR Hildebrand will race a third Ed Carpenter Racing entry in May's Indianapolis 500.

The 28-year-old, who famously lost victory in the 2011 Indy 500 when he crashed at the final corner before finishing second, joins regular drivers Josef Newgarden and Ed Carpenter at the team.

He has not raced full-time in IndyCar since 2012, but has contested the Indy 500 for Carpenter's team for the past two years and is setting his sights on running at the front.

"After the experience I've had over the last two years with this team, I know that we're going to be bringing a race-winning effort ourselves," said Hildebrand.

"I'm looking forward to working with Ed and Josef again and putting the entries up front throughout May."

This will be Hildebrand's sixth start in the Indy 500, the first three of which came with Panther Racing.

The 2011 Indy rookie of the year finished eighth last year, best-placed of the three entries from what was then called CFH Racing.

Keith Simmons of Simmons Promotions Inc. (SPI) has put together an ambitious stock car racing schedule for 2016 covering multiple dirt tracks in Eastern Iowa.

Simmons owns and operates the Farley Speedway in Farley, Iowa, in addition to holding contracts to operate racing events at the West Liberty Raceway on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds in West Liberty, Iowa, and the Dubuque Speedway located on the Dubuque County Fairgrounds, located on the west edge of Dubuque, Iowa.

The 2016 racing season will take its first green flag with a special event at the West Liberty Race­way featuring the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models on Saturday, April 9. On Satur­day, April 16, the West Liberty Raceway will host the Modified Extravaganza; then on Satur­day, April 23, the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season will get underway with five clas­ses of cars in action.

Racing will continue every Saturday through the end of August with season championships being contended on Saturday, Aug. 27. Saturday night action gets underway with hot laps at 6:30 p.m. followed by racing at 7 p.m.

Additional major special events at the West Liberty Raceway include Ideal Ready Mix Tri-Track Late Model specials May 21 and July 16. The second of three Deery Brothers Summer Series races will be held Tuesday, June 14. The Muscatine County Fair Races will be held July 23. The 2016 season will come to a close with the annual running of the Liberty 100 on Friday and Satur­day, Sept. 23 and 24, with Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Models being the featured divi­sion.

Farley Speedway will open the 2016 season with a Late Model special featuring the Deery Broth­ers Summer Series on Friday, April 15. Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modifieds will also be in action dur­ing the season opener.

The IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season gets underway on Friday, April 22, with six classes of race cars in competition. Regular Friday night races get underway with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow at 7:30 pm.

Tri-Track Late Model specials featuring the IMCA Late Models will be held May 20 and July 15. Farley Speedway will hold Driver Appreciation night on Friday, July 8, with a free grandstand for all race fans. Season championships will be held on Friday, Aug. 26.

The stage will then be set for the racing event of the year with the running of the 39th annual Yan­kee Dirt Track Classic, which will be a four-day event again in 2016.

This year the Yankee will be moved up to allow fans more racing options. Opening night will be Aug. 31, with the finals being held on Saturday, Sept. 3. The 100-lap Yankee finale will feature Deery Brothers Summer Series drivers battling for their season’s largest first place prize of $7,500.

SPI’s Sunday night racing venue will be Dubuque Speedway, which will see the 2016 racing sea­son get underway earlier than in the past. The opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing season featuring four classes will be Sunday, April 17.

Racing will be held Sundays through the end of August. The first special at Dubuque will be Sun­day, May 1 with the Modified class taking center stage. May 29 will be the first of two Tri-Track Late Model specials, the second will be held on July 3.

The Deery Brothers Summer Series will make its lone visit of 2016 to Dubuque Speedway on July 10. The Dubuque County Fair will host three nights of racing. Tuesday, July 26 will be headlined by an exciting night of open wheel racing featuring the Sprint Invader Series plus the IMCA Haw­keye Dirt Tour Modifieds, Wednesday, July 27 will be the annual Julien Dubuque Classic with five classes of race cars in competition. The fair will wrap up with race day on Sunday, July 31, when the afternoon demolition derby will be followed by a full night of racing featuring five classes of cars.

Season Championship racing takes place Sunday, Aug. 28.

For more information, or to view the entire SPI racing schedule, log onto the official SPI website at www.simmonspromotionsinc.com.

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) and Racer Media & Marketing have announced a global partnership whereby the media outlet will bring drag racing into the homes of hundreds of thousands of motorsports fans via online, print and digital coverage of the IHRA during the 2016 season.

Racer Media & Marketing will cover all facets of the IHRA throughout the year, with a dedicated page on RACER.com, weekly newsletters and social media content. The IHRA season consists of sportsman and professional drag racing from February until October, and culminates with sportsman team finals and a championship event for both sportsman and professional racers at the end of the year.

The relationship will reintroduce motorsports fans to the sport of drag racing and give insight into the international series with lifestyle pieces, event coverage, feature articles, and segments about the history of the IHRA.

Coverage of the IHRA on the RACER media platforms launched today and can be located on the website at www.racer.com/ihra.

Auburn Hills, Michigan-based TI Automotive has announced the appointment of Brian Altenberger as director, North America aftermarket. Altenberger will be responsible for North American sales, product management, marketing and business development, and will report to David Barbeau, managing director of global aftermarket at TI Automotive.

Before joining TI Automotive, Altenberger spent 16 years with Delphi Product & Service Solutions in a variety of leadership roles, including his most recent assignment as director of North America marketing and service. Before that he spent 10 years at Federal-Mogul Corporation, and four years at Unisys Corporation.

Altenberger replaces Doug Thomson, who recently retired from TI Automotive after a career in the automotive aftermarket that included leadership posts at Federal-Mogul Corporation and Sloan Transportation Products.

Altenberger is a former chairman and vice chairman of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) Marketing Executives Council. He holds an MBA from the Richard Devos Graduate School of Management at Northwood University, and a Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from Michigan State University.

For more information, visit www.tiautomotive.com/aftermarket.

The Stand 21 "Racing Goes Safer" Driver Safety Foundation invites drivers, crew and their families, as well as motorsports media from all forms of auto racing, to attend an important seminar on Saturday, April 16, 2016, at the Long Beach Convention Center, the day before the 2016 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Some of the biggest names in the sport, as well as top medics and safety engineers, will be providing their knowledge and answering questions, including: Del Worsham, Danny Sullivan, Dr. Steve Olvey, Dr. Terry Trammell, Ed Becker and Mike Hurst.  

According to the foundation, recently publicized on-track incidents, and a new awareness about the long term effects of cerebral injuries due to concussion make the knowledge learned by attending the Stand 21 Driver Safety Foundation "Racing Goes Safer" seminars a critical part of motor racing today for drivers, crew and their families. Many racers, especially in higher-risk disciplines, as well as their families and media need to learn more about the consequences of improper physical and mental preparation, as well the effects of wearing clothing, helmets, shoes or other devices unable to offer adequate protection in dangerous situations.

This seminar, including lunch, is offered free of charge, but does require pre-registration and Long Beach track admission.

To register and view the seminar's program, visit www.RacingGoesSafer.org.

Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed a resolution urging the federal Bureau of Land Management to restore the Bonneville Flats International Speedway in Utah’s West Desert.

“We want to make sure that up front everybody understands that this is more than just for racing,” said Louise Noeth, an author, photographer and spokesperson for the advocacy group Save the Salt. “This is a national treasure for everyone to enjoy.”

Speed Week racing events have been cancelled for two years in a row, and racers contend the salt crust is shrinking and thinning from potash mining. While they blame BLM mismanagement, the agency and scientists say the problem is more complex than mining, racing, geography or weather alone.

Nonetheless, Noeth said she was pleased to see the salt flats receiving some high-level attention. She added that the group wants to find a way to retire idle potash leases, as they see that as the best way to start reversing the ruin of the iconic and awe-inspiring resource.

For more information, visit www.savethesalt.org.

Heading into the inaugural season of the Formula 4 United States Championship powered by Honda, SCCA Pro Racing has announced the hiring of Chip Robinson as race director and Casey Cardenas operations manager for the series.

The F4 series, which is organized and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, will consist of 15 races at five classic tracks when its opening season kicks off May 27.

"The addition of Chip and Casey to the team is a major step forward to launching the first season of F4," said Derrick Walker, president and CEO of SCCA Pro Racing. "Chip's previous experience as a driver and knowledge of competition matters makes him an excellent choice. Casey has impressed me with his work with Skip Barber School, and his organization and management skills are just what we need."

Robinson brings decades of road racing experience, including IndyCar starts and wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. He currently serves as the race director for Formula Race Promotions, a position he will maintain while he works with the F4 series.

Cardenas brings his experience as chief instructor and director of competition at Skip Barber Racing School to the F4 series. He began racing in SCCA Pro Racing events at 16.

"Since I'm not too far removed from my own racing career, I'm always looking the best current opportunities for young drivers," Cardenas said. "F4 will be the best entry-level point for drivers and provide all aspects of the professional racing experience."

The F4 series kicks off at Lime Rock on May 27-28 and is scheduled to wrap up Oct. 8-10 at Homestead.

For more information on the SCCA Pro Racing F4 U.S. Championship, visit F4USChampionship.com.

Officials with the Lucas Oil Empire Super Sprints have confirmed the return of the popular loyalty program this year.

Any team that follows 90 percent of the full point shows will receive an extra $500 on top of all their point fund monies earned. Last year an extra $4,000 was handed out at the annual awards banquet.

“We started the loyalty program last year and it was a hit with the teams. Sometimes following a whole tour can be grueling and getting a cash reward as a thank you can go a long way,” said ESS President Chuck Miller. “We were proud to give eight different teams an extra bonus last year and hope to give out more this year.”

The program is open to any team whether they have followed the ESS tour over the years in the past or are looking to do so this year. With increased sponsorship a record point fund will be handed out come November.

“We hope it’s a win, win. The teams get some extra dollars and also we hope the tracks get a nice field of cars at each event,” Miller said. “Our point funds are not always about who’s champion but who was dedicated to the tour. Whether you were Steve Poirier or Dave Axton, they both had a four digit figure in their envelope.”

The most iconic celebration in sports will add a new chapter to its legacy this year, as 100,000 fans will have the chance to share the world’s largest milk toast with the winner of the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is teaming up with the American Dairy Association and Prairie Farms to add this spectacular moment to the 500.

“Drinking the milk in victory circle is one of those special traditions that sets us apart from other events,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles said. “This year, as we mark the 100th Running of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’ we felt it was important to bring as many fans as possible into the mix. This 100,000-strong milk toast will be an epic part of an unforgettable Race Day.”

On Race Day, 100,000 16-ounce pints of Prairie Farms milk will be distributed by ADA volunteers to spectators sitting in the grandstand sections along the front stretch. The milk bottles will be available throughout the race at several strategic locations which will be announced before the event.

“Being a part of the victory celebration and that famous drink of milk, representing Indiana dairy farmers who produce the milk is a special thrill, honor and tradition of American Dairy Ass’n Indiana,” said Deb Osza, American Dairy Association Indiana. “We are excited to continue our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Indianapolis 500 Mile race at the 100th Running of the Indy 500. We’ll be there helping distribute 100,000 milks.”

“Prairie Farms is looking forward to providing milk for the World’s Largest Milk Toast and we’re proud to be part of the most iconic celebration in sports,” Prairie Farms CEO Ed Mullins said. “We strongly believe in giving back to the communities we serve. Not only is Prairie Farms providing 100,000 commemorative bottles of milk for the celebration, our farm families and employees will be there to engage with race fans throughout the day.”

The pints of milk will be specially branded for the 100th Running and will be available at retailers leading up to the race. Fans are encouraged to buy ahead of time to ensure they can celebrate with the winner. A 50-cents-off coupon is included in the Indy 500 ticket mailing. Fans watching from home are encouraged to purchase and participate as well.

The tradition of drinking milk following an Indy 500 victory began in 1936 with three-time champion Louis Meyer. Meyer regularly drank buttermilk to refresh himself on a hot day and happened to drink some in Victory Lane as a matter of habit after winning the 1936 race. An executive with what was then the Milk Foundation was so elated when he saw the moment captured in a photograph in the sports section of his newspaper the following morning that he vowed to make sure it would be repeated in coming years.

ProMedia Events & Publishing and E3 Spark Plugs announced that the Ponte Vedra, Florida-based company will become the official presenting sponsor of the National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) drag racing series. Additionally, E3 Spark Plugs will be the "Official Spark Plug" of all three ProMedia drag racing series' which include the National Mustang Racers Association (NMRA) and NMCA WEST.

The agreement, which continues through the 2018 season, solidifies E3's commitment to the racing and high-performance street marketplace. E3 spark plugs, with advanced DiamondFIRE technology, provide an innovative, high-quality choice for owners of all types of cars, trucks, power sports vehicles and equipment with small engines.
 
"We're excited to partner with the NMCA and their sister organizations," said Rob Fisher, Vice President of Motorsports at E3 Spark Plugs. "I've personally known many of the staff for a number of years and they are a first class operation whose goals match those of ours here at E3. This association rounds out our efforts to become the dominant spark plug in drag racing at all levels." Fisher continued, "Beyond their on track product, ProMedia's creative ideas such as working with Speed Society and the guys from Street Outlaws is also a big attraction for us. We're looking forward to working with the whole group."
 
The 2016 season of the  NMCA Muscle Car Nationals presented by E3 Spark Plugs began on March 10-13 at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida with the 14th Annual Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem. The series continues in April at Atlanta Dragway with the 8th Annual Borla Exhaust NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals presented by Miller Welders. Four more events round out the season with events in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Ohio.
 
"NMCA is proud to have a strong brand like E3 Spark Plugs as the presenting sponsor of our Muscle Car Nationals series," said Steve Wolcott, President & CEO of ProMedia Events. "E3 continues to innovate and increase their product line and they recognize the important connection between racing and street performance. It only makes sense for them to be the official spark plug of NMCA, NMRA, and NMCA WEST."