SRI Performance has acquired Roush Yates’ distribution business and day-to-day operations in Mooresville, North Carolina. SRI Performance is a subsidiary of Stock Car Steel & Aluminum, a leading full-line steel service provider for all the major motorsports series.

“This is a very exciting time for SRI Performance,” said Greg Fornelli, owner of SCSA and SRI Performance. “With our recent acquisitions of TJ’s Motorsports Warehouse, CV Products’ chassis and suspension products, Professional Race Service Trackside programs and now Roush Yates Performance Products, SRI Performance has a strong and stable foundation for the future. By combining the strengths of all three companies and their dedicated staffs under the SRI Performance platform, plus our commitment to the highest-quality innovation and customer service, we look forward to providing our customers with industry-leading knowledge, service and quality products.”

In 2015, SRI purchased TJ’s Motorsports Warehouse in Denver, North Carolina. TJ’s is known for its drag racing and dirt racing expertise. The company supports grassroots racers and tracks across the entire Southeast. In November, SRI purchased the chassis, suspension and Professional Race Service (PRS) Trackside programs from CV Products and opened for business on December 1 at the company’s Mooresville, North Carolina, location.

SRI Performance will be located at 122 Knob Hill Road and plans to continue to build upon the successes of Roush Yates Performance Products in the motorsports and street performance markets. SRI Performance will specialize in products for all forms of racing and street performance, including chassis, engine, suspension and used performance products. SRI Performance will now operate a trackside sales program for NASCAR sanctioned events with a fully outfitted hauler along with a second hauler for short track events in the United States.

SRI Supplies will be located at the 107 Overhill Drive location and will continue to distribute race shop supplies, including body shop, fabrication and industrial supplies.

“Roush Yates Performance Products has been in business since 2008 supplying new and used performance products to the performance industry,” said Doug Yates, president and CEO of Roush Yates Performance Products. “We believe this agreement and consolidation of local distribution will enhance technical support, customer service and competitive pricing. It was important that we find someone who could satisfy the racers’ needs for chassis, suspension, engine, as well as street performance parts for the performance aftermarket. Greg Fornelli and the SRI Performance team will carry on the tradition that we started in 2008.”

The SRI Performance store, located at 122 Knob Hill Road, Mooresville, N.C., opened for business on January 4.

SPEEDVEGAS will host its first job fair to fill 75 positions in time for its March 2016 opening. The job fair will take place on Tuesday, January 12, from 3–8 p.m. and Wednesday, January 13, from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. at Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas (at I-215 and Rainbow Boulevard).

SPEEDVEGAS is the $30 million, 100-acre motorsports complex that will offer visitors supercar driving experiences on its 1.5-mile track. The track will open to the public in March 2016.

Multi-lingual candidates are encouraged to apply and previous tourism-industry experience is a plus. The available positions include:

• Concierge: Assist guests in person with reservations and check-ins. Sales and customer service experience is required.

• Reservation/Sales Agent: Assist and convert to sales via live chat, E-mail and telephone.

• Driving Coach: Drive in supercars with guests to create positive and safe experience. General knowledge of exotic cars, good customer service skills, clean driving record are required. Previous coaching experience is not required.

• Paramedic/Fire/Track Safety: Certifications are required.

• HR Manager: HR management experience is required.

• Controller: Experience is required.

• Gift Shop Manager

“As we gear up for our March 2016 track opening, we’re gratified to be able to kick off the New Year by creating new jobs for Southern Nevadans,” said Aaron Fessler, founder and CEO, SPEEDVEGAS. “We also look forward to being part of the region’s thriving tourism industry.”

Added Jim Mooradian, general manager, Gaudin Porsche: “It’s a pleasure to host the SPEEDVEGAS job fair. We’re thrilled about the addition of this distinctive supercar driving experience to our local community and look forward to enjoying a close partnership with the attraction for years to come.”

Interested candidates should register to attend the job fair in advance at https://speedvegas.com/en/careers/2016-job-fair/info.

Effective January 1, 2016, Melling Engine Parts has promoted Karen Bewley to the position of Midwest Regional Sales Manager.

Bewley has been with Melling for 2 years and has strong knowledge and experience of the industry with over 24 years in the Automotive Aftermarket.

Bewley was educated in Edinburgh, Scotland. She will report to Tom Trosin—President of Melling Aftermarket.

According to owner Jim Dubois, Onaway Speedway will be closed for the entirety of the 2016 racing season to make needed improvements at the popular Northern Michigan speedway.

“We’re doing a bunch of improvements,” said Dubois. “We’re putting in a figure-eight track along with a go-kart track.”

Dubois, who normally resides in Athens, Michigan, has currently taken a position in Ventura, California, in order to acquire the funds needed to make these improvements. “We’re just trying to bring more of a variety of events to the speedway,” said Dubois.

Before closing, the Onaway Speedway hosted mainly stock car racing events.

The expected re-opening of the Onaway Speedway is May of 2017. Dubois also has plans to hold figure eight and stock car racing classes at the speedway once it has re-opened.

According to onawayspeedway.com, the Onaway Speedway was originally built in 1980 by Harry Moran, a businessman from Onaway. It was sold to Jack and Randy Palmer and Son in approximately 1996. In 2009, It was purchased by current owners, Jim and Krista Dubois. In 2011, the couple had all of the lighting and sound equipment at the speedway upgraded.

Kendrick Motorsports announced Monday that it has named former Joe Gibbs Racing crew chief Darian Grubb as its vehicle production director.
 
The 40-year-old Grubb "will oversee every aspect of race car manufacturing" in the newly created role, according to a release provided by the Hendrick organization. Grubb will work alongside vehicle technical director Kenny Francis, another former crew chief, to spearhead production and engineering for Hendrick Motorsports' four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams.
 
The hiring also reunites Grubb with the Concord, North Carolina-based operation, where he worked in various engineering and crew chief roles from 2003-08.
 
"It means a lot to come back to Hendrick Motorsports," said Grubb, a Floyd, Virginia native. "This is a role that will allow me to contribute to the success of the entire organization, which was very important to me. Kenny is someone I greatly respect, so the chance to work side-by-side with him was a big factor. Everything is familiar, and I think that will make for a smooth transition.
 
"The more we talked about the opportunity, the more it felt right. I'm ready to get started."
 
Joe Gibbs Racing said in a December 21 news release that Grubb was "currently exploring several opportunities" as it unveiled its 2016 crew chief lineup. It ended a four-year tenure at JGR, where Grubb paired with drivers Denny Hamlin (2012-14) and Carl Edwards (2015), combining for nine Sprint Cup victories in his time there.

Grubb began his stock-car racing career with team owner Richard Petty, shortly after graduating from Virginia Tech with a mechanical engineering degree. After three years as lead engineer for the No. 48 Chevrolet and Jimmie Johnson, then an up-and-coming star, Grubb made his biggest splash in his debut atop the pit box, helping guide Johnson to a victory in the 2006 Daytona 500 as interim crew chief while Chad Knaus served a four-race suspension.
 
After notching two more premier-series wins and filling other engineering roles, Grubb departed Hendrick to serve as crew chief for Tony Stewart and the newly formed Stewart-Haas Racing in 2009. That prolific pairing netted 11 victories over three seasons, culminating in Stewart's third Sprint Cup championship in 2011.

NHRA officials have unveiled the 2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series schedule.

In 2016, the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will compete at 10 NHRA national events.

Highlighting the schedule once again in 2016 will be the tradition-rich Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the world’s most prestigious drag race, at historic Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis over Labor Day weekend, August 31–September 5.

The season will open March 17–20 at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida, at Gainesville Raceway.

Following the season-opener, the series returns to Texas for the NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, April 29–May 1, and then heads to Georgia for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, May 13–15.

June will feature three Pro Mod Series races, starting with the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, June 9–12. The NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals will follow over Father’s Day weekend, June 17–19, at Bristol  Dragway in Bristol, Tennessee. The busy month will wrap up with the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 23–26, at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio.

After the prestigious Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, the series will head to Concord, North Carolina, for the NHRA Carolina Nationals, Sept. 16–18, at zMAX Dragway. The penultimate race of the 2016 NHRA Pro Mod season, the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals, will be held at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois, Sept. 23–25.

The 2016 season will conclude and a Pro Mod champion will be crowned at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the NHRA Toyota Nationals, October 27–30.

2016 NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series Schedule:

Dates – Venue – Location

March 17-20 – Gainesville Raceway – Gainesville, Fla.

April 28-May 1 – Royal Purple Raceway – Baytown, Texas

May 13-15 – Atlanta Dragway – Commerce, Ga.

June 9-12 – Old Bridge Township Raceway Park – Englishtown, N.J.

June 17-19 – Bristol Dragway – Bristol, Tenn.

June 23-26 – Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park – Norwalk, Ohio

Aug. 31-Sept. 5 – Lucas Oil Raceway – Clermont, Ind.

Sept. 16-18 – zMAX Dragway – Concord, N.C.

Sept. 23-25 – Gateway Motorsports Park – Madison, Ill.

Oct. 27-30 – The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, Nev.

Red Bull Global Rallycross announces the addition of Colby Rodriguez to its Executive Management Team. Rodriguez, who brings over 12 years of motorsport marketing experience from his most recent role at Red Bull North America, will work conjointly with CEO Colin Dyne on day-to-day management of the series, as well as on long and short term strategic goals.

“I am extremely pleased to announce that Colby is joining our team, and that we continue to attract such accomplished, top-tier talent as we build our platform and expand the GRC experience,” said Dyne. “I am looking forward to 2016 being our best season yet!”

Rodriguez has been involved in series and athlete development for most forms of motorsport, including off-road, NASCAR and F1. Over the past two seasons, he has also been involved in growing the GRC brand with Red Bull North America.

“Red Bull Global Rallycross is one of the most exciting and fastest growing series in the world," said Rodriguez. “I’m excited to continue to build a sport that I’m very passionate about.”

John Ruch, Vice President of Fulfillment and Logistics at Keystone Automotive Operations, Inc. announced the company’s expanded delivery services in the Northeast region, including Webster, Massachusetts; Gorham, Maine; Albany, New York; Rochester, NY; Syracuse, NY; Exeter, Pennsylvania; Plainview, NY; and Syosset, NY.

“The expansion provides an opportunity to better connect with both current and new customers in the area, helping them continue to excel within their respective markets. The recent crossdock enhancements in the Northeast offer our customers access to the largest inventory selection within the industry and superior service—all with next day delivery! Our sales force is extremely excited about the recent expansion and is looking forward to providing continued industry knowledge, passion and support throughout 2016,” said Ruch.

Also, Keystone added five new lines to its inventory before the end of 2015. Mishimoto, DINAN, Drive Shaft Shop, DRAKE and Instant Proof are now part of the company’s speed and performance, truck and off-road and accessories market segments.

“We are committed to investing in the market with the goal of offering deeper and broader coverage across various product categories,” said Larry Montante, Vice President of Category Management. “We want to be part of the process to really help our customers market themselves as a local source for new and innovative products. It’s our job to keep adding new lines to help them achieve that status.”

Keystone has more than 165,000 unique SKUs and will continue to expand its footprint to meet the growing needs of its customer base, providing them what they need, when they need it.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has revealed that Marino Franchitti, Stefan Mücke, Olivier Pla and Andy Priaulx have been selected to race in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the wheel of the all-new Ford GT.

Ford is running two cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship and two in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The intention is for the two teams to come together in June for a four-car effort at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 50 years after its historic 1-2-3 finish. The FIA WEC will visit a further three locations in Europe, Silverstone (England), Nurburgring (Germany) and Spa (Belgium).

“Make no mistake, we are racing to win,” said Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director. “To compete at this level you need the best car, the best team and the best drivers, and we have selected Stefan, Olivier, Andy and Marino to drive the Ford GT to take on the best in the world.”

“I’m excited to be at team HQ in the UK to launch the WEC team,” said Chip Ganassi, owner of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. “Just like when we announced the Ford GT drivers for the Weathertech Sportscar Championship last month, we’ve again chosen drivers with heart, speed and proven endurance racing credentials. It’s a global team running in two championships and I can’t wait for the racing to begin.”

Franchitti is an endurance-specialist and has raced at Le Mans no less than five times. Mücke has multiple WEC victories under his belt and knows what it takes to make it onto the podium at Le Mans. Pla also has first-hand experience of the fierce competition in WEC. Priaulx is a three-time FIA World Touring Car champion who has also won one of the world’s toughest endurance races—the Nürburgring 24 Hours—and stood on the podium at Le Mans.

WEC Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team principal—Multimatic’s George Howard-Chappell—has already led a team to victory at Le Mans on three occasions.

“It doesn’t get any more competitive than the Le Mans 24 Hours but that is what makes winning it so special,” said Howard-Chappell. “Everything has to be perfect and even then you still need luck on your side to cross the line first. The Ford GT has been built to return to Le Mans and these four drivers all know what it takes to compete against the toughest competition in the world.”

Mücke will get behind the wheel of the Ford GT very soon as he joins the IMSA Ford Chip Ganassi Racing squad for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona, January 8–10. Mücke will become the third driver in the No. 67 Ford GT entry at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which takes place on January 30–31 alongside Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing also announced that Sébastien Bourdais would join the team for the Rolex 24 at Daytona as the third driver of the No. 66 Ford GT entry alongside Joey Hand and Dirk Muller.

Breaking with a longstanding tradition of naming the Best of the Best cars and trucks, Autoweek is launching its inaugural Autoweek Awards to recognize individuals or companies who, over the course of the last year, have made substantial contributions to the continued relevance and advancement of car culture. As America's motorsports publication of record, Autoweek also will recognize the racers and teams who provided the most memorable moments in motorsports from the previous year.

Selected by Autoweek editorial staff, the winners of the 2016 Autoweek Awards are:

Car Culture – Ken Block Who has done more to bring new blood into car culture than Ken Block? His Gymkhana videos are a genuine pop-culture phenomenon and he has fans young and old paying attention to motorsports again. No one has had a greater impact on the way that we engage with car culture than Block.

Driver – Erica Enders Erica Enders is coming off her second straight NHRA Pro Stock Championship. No other driver has dominated their sport to the degree that Enders has over the course of the last two years. Enders' success goes back many years, being named NHRA Sportsman Rookie of the Year in 2000 at the age of 16.

Team – Mercedes F1 Since 2014, Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team has been the unstoppable force in Formula One, winning the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships in 2014 and 2015. Mercedes-Benz has gotten ahead of vehicle regulatory and performance requirements in F1, and it has paid off.

Moment – Juan Pablo Montoya The final moments of the 2015 Indy 500 reminded us all why it's called The Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Juan Pablo Montoya's victory in yet another hyper-competitive 500 was among the most dramatic finishes in any sport last year. Where other series seem content to allow races to be decided during qualifying, IndyCar keeps producing moments that race fans will remember for a lifetime.

Rising Star – Erik Jones Erik Jones, at age 19, appears to be a future NASCAR star. In his three years driving in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Jones notched seven wins, seven poles and 33 top 10s. In two years competing in NASCAR's Xfinity Series, he secured two wins, 20 top 10s and three poles. Last year he made his official Sprint Cup debut in the SpongeBob SquarePants 400 after having relieved an ailing Denny Hamlin in the Food City 500. Jones made two additional Sprint Cup starts in 2015 and will add to that total in 2016 as Joe Gibbs Racing has made his development a top priority.

Constructor – Chevrolet No manufacturer races in more disciplines, and no one did it more successfully than Chevrolet in 2015. Whether it's NASCAR, IndyCar, drag racing, or sports cars, you can bet that Chevrolet will have a victory.

Autoweek Achievement – The Denise McCluggage Award: Jeff Gordon Nothing seems more befitting than to award Jeff Gordon our inaugural lifetime achievement award, named after our own Denise McCluggage, who accomplished so much in her lifetime as America's preeminent female auto racing driver and journalist. In nearly a quarter-century of driving, Jeff Gordon helped transform stock-car racing into a mainstream American sport. He was not only a great, highly successful racer, but was extremely professional, gracious and respected by all.