Spokane County Raceway in Airway Heights, Washington, has rejoined the NHRA Member Track Network as part of the Northwest Division after spending one year with the IHRA.

"We had some good events this past year, but we really feel that NHRA offers more opportunities for success,” said track manager Craig Smith. “We are overhauling our timing system and making improvements all around the facility looking forward to a great season in 2016.”

Spokane County Raceway was an NHRA Member Track from 2009-2014 before spending 2015 with the IHRA. The track, which is located just more than eight miles west of Spokane, recently installed a new ticketing booth and new security lights in the pit areas. It will also install security lights in the spectator areas as well as overhaul their timing system in the spring. The entire facility features a drag strip, an oval track and a road course. The quarter-mile NHRA certified drag strip includes an eighth-mile concrete launch pad.

Spokane County Raceway will host the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Divisional Race, May 20-22, as well as its own “Summer Bracket Brawl” July 9-10, which will feature Nitro cars and jet cars.

“Spokane County Raceway has a history of some of the best events in the northwest and we look forward to having them back into the NHRA fold,” said Northwest Division Director Matt Levonas.


The International Council of Motorsport Sciences announced Dino Altmann, M.D., as a presenter at its Annual Congress on Wednesday, December 9, at 2 p.m. Registration for the Congress and the Race Track Safety Program is available now. The Congress begins on Wednesday, December 9 at the Indiana Convention Center and the RTSP will be held Friday, December 11.

“We are thrilled to have Dino Altmann join us for our Annual Congress,“ said Don Andrews, Executive Director of the International Council of Motorsport Sciences. “He will present Medical Centre Manpower and Equipment Needed at Permanent Circuits. Doctor Altmann will be speaking from his experiences as the Chief Medical Officer of the Brazilian Grand Prix, and having covered every major motorsport event in Brazil, we are honored to work with him.”
 
The ICMS Annual Congress 2015 will be held at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis December 8-11, 2015. The Congress Curriculum and Registration are now available. To register for  Friday only Race Track Safety Program, a separate registration form is to be completed.

http://www.icmsmotorsportsafety.org/

The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) announced two important additions to its executive leadership team, both in operations director roles.

Each new director has extensive experience in motorsports and both are preparing for their first SVRA event with the November 4–8 national championships at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA).

Terry Ozment was formerly vice president of club racing at the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) where she spent 10 years of her career. The centerpiece of her responsibilities in that role was to manage the world-famous SCCA National Runoffs. That annual event is one of the world’s largest gatherings of competitors, involving hundreds of race cars and teams. As national director of event management Ozment will define and oversee the process and procedures of organizing events throughout the SVRA’s season-long schedule.

Also joining the SVRA executive team is Dan Pinsonneault whose racing experience comes through owning, preparing and driving race cars. He drove a 1969 Camaro Trans-Am racer to the SVRA Group 6 sprint racing series championship in 2006. As the former President and CEO of the David R. Webb Company he has extensive experience in manufacturing where he honed his operations skills in developing efficient systems and processes. Pinsonneault will serve as national race competition director where he will lead all aspects of officiating every race weekend on the SVRA calendar. This will include managing personnel of safety, timing and scoring, flagging and rule enforcement.

“I’m extremely excited about the direction of the SVRA,” said Ozment. “I want to bring my strengths in event management to the organization. This includes insuring the kind of consistent, formalized processes and procedures that our participants and all constituents will see as fair, professional and put into practice in a way that will help the business expand its growth.”

“Being in a leadership role with SVRA is a huge opportunity,” said Pinsonneault. “Combining my career experience in operations with my understanding of the needs of the vintage racer makes me very confident I can make a great contribution to an organization I have a ton of respect for. I understand the racer’s needs and mentality. It will be exciting to deliver outstanding event weekends for our members who compete and fans who come to watch.”

SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella expressed great confidence in the new executives. Their arrival is part of his growth strategy for the business.

“Hiring Terry and Dan is part of our long term vision to establish the SVRA as part of mainstream motorsports,” Parella said. “Both of these outstanding leaders bring the polish and professionalism that allows me to focus entirely on being CEO to better serve our partners and create a compelling offer to attract a significant fan following. The SVRA has a lot to offer people who love cars and auto racing.”


The arrival of Pinsonneault and Ozment comes with the departure of Ray Snowdon who previously served as SVRA national race director. Snowdon had been with the SVRA since 2011.

“I want to thank Ray for his contributions over the past four years in taking the SVRA from a club racing organization to a full-fledged auto racing sanctioning body and business,” Parella said. “We wish Ray well in his future endeavors and he will always be considered a friend of the SVRA.”

At the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, NASCAR and Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) announced a 10-year partnership extension, ensuring the official partner will continue providing training for students seeking employment in the motorsports and automotive services industries.
 
The partnership was highlighted by the opening of UTI’s subsidiary school, NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) in 2002. NASCAR and UTI have partnered to offer a curriculum that has developed new generations of technicians to serve motorsports and the automotive services industries.
 
“UTI has created a pipeline of highly skilled automotive technicians that have been embedded throughout the NASCAR ecosystem for the past 15 years,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “Our 10-year extension underscores the mutual benefit of our partnership and sets us up for a decade of success.”    
 
UTI Vice President John Dodson will discuss the early renewal live on Fanschoice TV from the Las Vegas Convention Center, where each year more than 100,000 industry executives, buyers, influencers and car enthusiasts attend the SEMA Show. Afterward, a special panel of NASCAR Tech graduates, each now gainfully employed within the motorsports industry, will share stories about the program’s impact on their professional careers.
 
“This long-term renewal accentuates the sustained success of our program, and perfectly aligns with our plans to celebrate UTI’s 50th anniversary this upcoming year,” said Dodson. “By offering students hands-on experience and the opportunity to build relationships with key manufacturers, our students graduate with the ideal skill set to succeed in this competitive industry.” 
 
NASCAR Tech has become the leader in the industry for technical education, graduating thousands of students. Four out of five graduates from NASCAR Tech find employment in careers within their field of study. Team Penske has hired nearly 50 NASCAR Tech graduates, more than any other team.
 
NASCAR Tech alumni featured at the SEMA Show include Jennifer LaFever, who manages quality assurance at Roush Yates Racing Engines, and Van Nguyen, a development engineer for Toyota Racing Development.
 
The graduates will be joined on the panel by Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Prior to competing in NASCAR’s national series, Larson won the 2012 championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where his Rev Racing car engines were built and maintained by NASCAR Tech students.
 
The No. 2 UTI / NASCAR Tech Rev Racing Toyota Camry, driven to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway by current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Collin Cabre, is on display at the NASCAR booth. The race-winning car’s engine was also a product of the NASCAR Spec Engine Program.

Spring Mountain Motor Resort & Country Club announced a new spec-racing series based around the award-winning 7th generation Corvette. The Michelin Corvette Challenge race series kicks off its inaugural season, February 20, 2016 at the Spring Mountain facility, near Las Vegas.

Composed of identically prepared, track-ready Corvette Stingray models, the series will feature 15 races over 8 weekends, utilizing multiple configurations of Spring Mountain's 6.1-mile race track. With a unique season-long payment plan, competitors will simply arrive and drive for each event and take delivery of their Corvette Stingray following the season finale on December 10, 2016.

The Ron Fellows Performance Driving School, based at Spring Mountain, will serve as the technical race partner for the series.

"The Corvette Stingray is one of the most track-capable production cars available and our enhancements simply augment the production specs to help ensure durability for a dedicated racing life," said Ron Fellows. "With the cars mechanically on equal footing, driver skill will be the determining factor in the rankings, which should make it a very exciting series."

The Ron Fellows Performance Driving School collaborated with Chevrolet and Michelin to develop the series, as well as the package of performance and safety equipment required for each participating race car.

Many of the performance components are derived from a new portfolio of Corvette Z06-based parts from Chevrolet. They're designed to enhance the handling, braking, cooling and downforce performance of the Stingray. Chevrolet showed a Corvette Stingray Z51-based concept race car featuring the new Z06-based parts at today's announcement. It is on display this week at the SEMA Show, in Las Vegas.

Additionally, all of the cars will run on Michelin racing slick tires in dry conditions or Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires in wet conditions. Michelin tires are the exclusive choice on all Corvette Stingray and Z06 production models. Michelin also is a long-time partner of the Corvette Racing team, which in 2015 won the Triple Crown of endurance racing including the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the Le Mans 24 Hour race.

"Corvette owners have been competing in showroom-stock-type racing for six decades and the new Michelin Corvette Challenge extends that legacy," said Harlan Charles, Corvette marketing manager. "With Michelin's support and the direction from Ron Fellows and his team, the series offers Corvette racers a unique competition experience all their own."

Below is the schedule for the 2016 series, with each race weekend featuring  a pair of 30-minute races on the challenging Spring Mountain circuit:

• February 20/21

• March 19/20

• April 16/17

• May 21/22

• Sept 17/18

• October 15/16

• November 19/20

• December 10 (followed by awards banquet).

More information on the racing series is available at: http://michelincorvettechallenge.com 

The Circuit of The Americas has announced it has released its CEO of two years, Jason Dial.

“After careful consideration, the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) board of directors has decided to part ways with CEO Jason Dial,” the board said in a written statement on Tuesday afternoon. “We appreciate Jason’s hard work in his two years at COTA, but it’s time to move in a different direction.

"As we embark on a busy year, we are committed to delivering an outstanding fan experience and world-class events.

"While a search for replacement is underway, an interim executive committee of the board will lead COTA’s day-to-day operations.”

Dial joined Circuit of The Americas as track president, after serving as CMO for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, Dial was made CEO just a month later when Steve Sexton departed the role.

Dial's release comes less than a month after a rain-drenched Formula 1 race "lost millions,” according to COTA chairman Bobby Epstein. Following the effects of Hurricane Patricia, Epstein told the Austin American Statesman that the US Grand Prix was "a financially devastating weekend for the company…

"We suffered from some fans having such a bad experience they won't be back, although I hope we can change their mind."

Dial responded with his own statement.

"I want to thank my team who have worked tirelessly in a challenging environment to make Circuit of The Americas something special for Austin and Central Texas. We made tremendous progress over the past two years.

"My team’s performance on F1 weekend with the unprecedented rains and wind was extraordinary.  I also want to thank Red and Charline McCombs, for whom I have great respect and admiration."

The Trans Am Race Company has officially announced a 12-event schedule for the 2016 Trans Am Championship, the 50th Anniversary Season of the Trans Am Series, with many of the same venues from 2015 returning for the upcoming season along with the Series’ return to Watkins Glen, its first appearance at the legendary track since 2013.  

“The 2016 Trans Am Championship is a celebration of 50 years of Trans Am Racing,” said John Clagett, President of The Trans Am Race Company. “This Series has seen so much, so many legends of our sport and history-making races. We’re ready to pay homage to that like never before. Trans Am made more history in 2015 with record setting fields and a return to the racing you expect of the Trans Am name; now we’re ready to eclipse that in 2016 as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and prepare for one of our best seasons yet.”

All three Trans Am classes, TA, TA2 and TA3, will participate at each stop on the Championship schedule—one that sees the season once more kick off at Sebring International Raceway before heading to Road Atlanta for an earlier, standalone, date on April 10. Next, the Series will make its return to Watkins Glen on May 15, before continuing with stops at New Jersey Motorsports Park with F4 and Formula Lite, Brainerd International Raceway and then a two-race stint alongside the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and Road America.

After an appearance at Virginia International Raceway, another of Trans Am’s original homes in the 1966 season, alongside SVRA, Trans Am will head south to finish up the season beginning with a new date at Homestead-Miami Speedway with F4 and Formula Lite on October 9th, before finishing up in the same fashion as 2015 at NOLA Motorsports Park, Circuit of the Americas and Daytona International Raceway.  

“We see this schedule a perfect mix of Trans Am’s past, present and future,” said John Clagett, President of The Trans Am Race Company. “It has the historic tracks that Trans Am has called home for most of its existence: Mid-Ohio, Road America, Road Atlanta, Brainerd International Raceway, Sebring, where it all began, and our return to Watkins Glen.  Yet at the same time, we are racing at places like Circuit of the Americas, NOLA Motorsport Park, Homestead-Miami and New Jersey Motorsports Park—places where we are working to create new traditions and new homes for the future.”

The schedule also continues Trans Am’s ongoing partnership with the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association; as the two entities will feature alongside each other at Sebring, VIR, NOLA, and Circuit of the Americas.

“In SVRA we have the perfect partner to help celebrate 50 years of Trans Am Racing,” continued Clagett. “In SVRA’s field you find cars that made their mark in Trans Am, and you will see them alongside their modern counterparts in our Series throughout the year. We’re particularly pleased that the historic Trans Am cars will be joining us at Sebring to kick off the year—bringing back some the most iconic Trans Am cars of all time to start the year in style.”

The 2016 Trans Am Championship will conclude at Daytona International Speedway, in conjunction with Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR), on November 12, 2016.

2016 Trans Am Championship Schedule

March 6 – Sebring International Raceway
April 10 – Road Atlanta
May 15 – Watkins Glen International
June 12 – New Jersey Motorsports Park
July 3 – Brainerd International Raceway
August 13 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
August 27 – Road America
September 24 – Virginia International Raceway
October 9 – Homestead-Miami Speedway
October 15 – NOLA Motorsport Park
November 5 – Circuit of the Americas
November 12 – Daytona International Speedway

Lexus announced its motorsports partnership with Paul Gentilozzi and newly formed F Performance Racing to field the RC F GT3 in a soon to be announced sports car series. This new racing venture is part of Lexus' global motorsports effort that will see the Japanese luxury brand competing on tracks in the United States beginning in 2016. The new race vehicle is based upon the production Lexus RC F high performance coupe that went on sale at the end of 2014.

"A core mission of F Performance Racing was to strengthen the Lexus' F brand by applying lessons gleaned from racing, while nurturing an engineering culture that transfers that knowledge to dynamic, high performance passenger car development. We are very excited about what this partnership and race effort can mean for the brand in the years to come," said Jeff Bracken, group vice president and general manager, Lexus division. 

Veteran driver and road racing legend Scott Pruett will pilot the RC F GT3, bringing a wealth of experience to bear during the vehicle development phase. F Performance Racing will campaign a limited schedule in 2016. In its inaugural year, the team's primary focus will involve developing the race organization while gathering data and track experience to help further propel vehicle development. For the 2017/18 season, the plan calls for F Performance Racing and Pruett to participate in a full sports car racing schedule with a multi-vehicle effort.

Pruett and Lexus have a history of success both on and off-the-track. The Roseville, California native campaigned Lexus-powered prototypes from 2004-2007 in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Championship Series earning three driver championships and winning the Rolex 24 at Daytona overall in 2007. In fact, Pruett has won the 24 Hours of Daytona a total of five times, earned 12 class victories and a record 60 wins in American sports car competition. Beyond his on-track feats, Pruett was an integral part of the development and global promotion of both the Lexus LFA supercar and the Lexus IS F performance sedan.

"When Lexus left motorsports, I pledged to them that I would be there to help them return when that time came," said Pruett.  "That time is now and I could not be more ecstatic to be representing Lexus as a performance brand ambassador and on the track in the F Performance RC F GT3."

Gentilozzi competed in his first professional motorsports event 45 years ago. That NHRA drag racing event started a career that turned left and right into a significant road racing career resulting in five Trans Am driver championships with three different brands and virtually every record in the Trans Am history book. Gentilozzi also earned two Daytona 24 Hour class victories and an overall victory in the storied-event in 1994. On his path to more than 40 first place trophies, Gentilozzi's teams accomplished three additional driver championships for Scott Pruett, Klaus Graf and Tomy Drissi and ten manufacturer championships in IMSA and Trans Am combined. Tony Gentilozzi joined the family business in 1994 and quickly became an accomplished championship engine builder taking teams to more than 50 wins and 100 podium finishes. In the fall of 1998, John Gentilozzi joined the action, engineering multiple championships and team records.  A true "family" powerhouse was formed through victories in Champ Car, IMSA, Grand Am and Trans Am competition.

The racing family is ready to embrace a new challenge. In early 2015, at the North American International Auto show, Lexus announced the brand would return to racing with its high performance RC F. The possibility of returning to the hotly contested GT ranks in 2016 with Lexus' high performance niche brand was a race team's dream. Given the brand's commitment to competition, Lexus racecars are poised to develop a motorsports heritage through sports car racing around the world.  Simply put, this is a "must do" challenge for F Performance Racing and Scott Pruett.

"An opportunity to reunite with North America's greatest sports car driver and a great friend, Scott Pruett and Lexus, a globally prestigious brand validating their performance potential, is a racer's dream," said Paul Gentilozzi. "One that would put an exclamation point on anyone's motorsports career."

Accepting the challenge of being part of a developing Lexus Motorsports heritage, both F Performance Racing and Pruett look to 2016 and beyond with great anticipation of the first on-track success for the RC F GT3.

2016 Lexus RC F GT3 basic specifications:

Overall Length: 189.2 inches (4805 mm)

Overall Height: 50 inches (1270 mm)

Width: 78.75 inches (2000 mm)

Wheelbase: 107.5 inches (2730 mm)

Curb weight: 2866 lbs. (1300 kgs.)

Power: Production 5.0–liter derived V8 (500+hp)

Transmission: 6-speed Sequential w/paddle shifters

Origin: Toyota Technocraft, Japan

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. has signed a multi-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at Sonoma Raceway.
 
The 29th annual Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals will be held July 29–31, 2016—an event that is a tradition-rich stop in the legendary three-race NHRA Western Swing. The race will feature competition in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle and will be televised on the FOX national broadcast network.
 
This extends a long-running sponsorship between the auto maker and Sonoma Raceway. Toyota has served as co-title sponsor of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event since 2007, as well as the raceway’s official vehicle.
 
Toyota’s involvement in NHRA began in 2002 with the arrival of the Celica-bodied Funny Car. The program has risen to new heights over the past eight years as Toyota-sponsored race teams have won six world championships, with the most recent being Antron Brown, who clinched this year's Top Fuel title on Sunday at the Toyota National in Las Vegas.  
 
“Sonoma Raceway's relationship with Toyota has been fundamental to our success as promoters,” said Steve Page, president and general manager of Sonoma Raceway. “We couldn't be happier than to expand their presence at the track and with our premier events.”
 
Toyota, which has held the status of the official car of the NHRA since 2014, currently sponsors three Top Fuel teams and five Funny Car teams. Top Fuel drivers are Brown, Shawn Langdon and Richie Crampton. Toyota’s Funny Car roster includes Cruz Pedregon, Del Worsham, Alexis DeJoria, Tony Pedregon and Chad Head.
 
“We appreciate Toyota’s ongoing commitment to NHRA and look forward to working with them during the famed Western Swing to develop exciting activation plans around their sponsorship of the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “During the past decade, Toyota has become an integral part of the sport through very successful participation at the team level, highly visible event entitlements and by becoming the official car sponsor of the NHRA.”
 
“Toyota is looking forward to expanding our already successful partnerships with both Sonoma Raceway and the NHRA,” said Steve Appelbaum, Toyota national manager of engagement marketing. “We're thrilled to become the title sponsor for the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals.”

Premium synthetic lubricant and performance chemical manufacturer, Royal Purple, announced Ann Sakolsky as the grand prize winner of The Royal Purple Treatment Sweepstakes. Between July 24–September 30, more than 385,835 race fans entered the sweepstakes for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas to attend the 2015 SEMA Show as well as receive VIP access to the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship race.

As this year’s winner, Sakolsky and a guest will receive complimentary domestic airfare for two to Las Vegas including hotel accommodations for five nights courtesy of Royal Purple.
 
Sakolsky will also be gifted with two VIP passes to the Red Bull Global Rallycross season finale as well as guest credentials to the much anticipated 2015 SEMA Show, a trade-only automotive event, not open to the general public. Sakolsky will also receive a Visa gift card for personal shopping during her trip.
 
“We are thrilled to show our loyal customers how much we appreciate them. SEMA and Red Bull Global Rallycross are two of our favorite events, and we are ecstatic to share these experiences with Ann and her guest while they enjoy our VIP treatment,” said Debby Neubauer, Royal Purple’s Vice President of Marketing.