Classic Tube announced the addition of Sean White to its sales staff. White joins Classic Tube as Corporate Sales Manager and aims to promote the growth of current sales markets while simultaneously pursuing fresh opportunities in the field. White brings to the preformed tubing manufacturer over 20 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket and a passion to strengthen the development of new and existing markets.

No stranger to the automotive industry, White has devoted over a decade to inside and outside sales as well as technical assistance, and spent seven years managing upwards of 45 factories as an aftermarket sales representative. His most recent role was National Sales Manager for an automotive brake manufacturer.

“I am looking forward to working with the incredible talent at Classic Tube,” said White, “and I’m eager to help grow the company by searching for new markets to develop.”

Paul Fix, President of Classic Tube, cited White’s 20 years of hands-on experience and aftermarket expertise as a welcome addition. “Our company’s leadership position within the automotive aftermarket is strengthened by this appointment,” says Fix. “We are fortunate to welcome a new Corporate Manager with Sean’s level of proficiency. Classic Tube looks forward to facilitating and supporting the dynamic growth Sean envisions for our company. We’re determined to continue to provide top-of-the-line service to our loyal customer base while exploring an expanding field of opportunities.”

Eddie and Connie Partridge and Tom Gatz, the new owners of Riverhead Raceway, have begun the process of putting a staff together for the 2016 race season. On Tuesday afternoon they announced that veteran race official Scott Tapley of Poland Spring, Maine, has agreed to come on board in the capacity of Race Director at the popular quarter-mile oval.

“We have heard good things about Scott from the racers and owners that have raced at tracks or on a series where he was the race director,” Eddie & Connie Partridge stated.

“We feel he is the right fit,” Gatz added. “Scott is a no nonsense official and that is what we need at Riverhead moving forward. Scott is making a huge commitment to us as he’ll be traveling weekly from Maine. We are very excited to have Scott on our team and what he can bring to the future success of Riverhead Raceway. We feel he will immediately have a positive impact at the track.”

Tapley currently serves as the Race Director at the Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire as well as the Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and is looking forward to his new challenge on Long Island.

“I’m very excited as well thankful for the opportunity Eddie, Connie and Tom have presented me and I look forward to keep the racing at Riverhead Raceway moving in a positive direction,” he said.

Tapley will officiate the weekly NASCAR Whelen All American Series events from the scoring tower and be responsible overseeing all on track racing and activity.

Aside from his Race Director role at Lee, Thompson and now Riverhead Raceway, Scott owns Tapleydesigns.com a firm that builds and maintains web pages for such clients as Lee USA Speedway, Ryan Preece, Justin Bonsignore and Chase Dowling. Additionally Tapley hosts In The Pits, a weekly motorsports show on WJAB 96.3 FM out of Portland, Maine. In 2013 he served as the Race Director for the Valenti Modified Racing Series, and this past season served in that same capacity at the New London Waterford Speedbowl.

Tapley will be working very closely with Riverhead Raceway GM John Ellwood who was part of the process to bring Scott on board. “I’m encouraged with the conversations and relationship Scott and I have built over the last few weeks” Ellwood said. “I’m excited to be involved with Scott and feel he’s the right man for the job and we will prosper with great side by side racing. I’ll back Scott and give him all the tools necessary.”

In order to keep up with current client demand, Premier Restoration Enterprises moves into a new larger facility.

“We have really focused on ensuring that every vehicle that leaves our doors is the best it can be. As a result, our clients have continued to bring us more work as well as referring their friends,” said Arthur Poltorak, Owner of Premier Restoration Enterprises.

The new facility has been designed for maximum efficiency with separate areas for metal working, mechanical, paint, body work, and even a clean room for assembly. Those are just the additions for the restoration side of the business.

In addition to the high end restorations Premier provides, they improved their vehicle storage facilities as well.

“It just makes sense that we would offer clients climate controlled storage with valet services due to the delicacy of these precious vehicles. With winters being so extreme on the east coast and the constant barrage of humidity during the summer, where better to store your precious investment than with the leading restoration company in the NYC area,” continued Poltorak.

Premier Restoration Enterprises' custom heated and cooled storage offers a full range of services for vehicles being stored. These services range from battery trickle, fuel additives, maintenance start-up, spring commissioning and full detailing. Along with these great services, valet services are, also, available to keep your precious gem in “tip-top” shape. These services include pick-up and drop-off at the client’s request, with vehicles fully washed, fueled, and ready to be enjoyed.

There is, also, a showroom and lounge for customers to enjoy if they are only needing a few things done and would like to wait while service or maintenance is being performed.

Premier Restoration Enterprises is now located at 400 Kuller Road in Clifton, New Jersey, just off of Garden State Parkway exit 157 for Route 46. The new location is also only minutes from Manhattan, New York. 

The three series comprising the Mazda Road to Indy—Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires, the Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda—unveiled their 2016 schedules on Wednesday.
All events will be in support of the Verizon IndyCar Series with the exception of the season finale, which will once again take place at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Seven venues will feature all three levels of the ladder system.

“I am extremely pleased with the caliber of events we have on our 2016 schedule,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “We have a total of 50 races on deck for the three series across key markets in the United States as well as Canada. Finishing the season—and crowning all three champions—at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca finale this year proved to be a great ending and we are excited to return and close out the season again next year.

“We have a lot of exciting things in the works, including the unveiling of the new USF2000 car at Indianapolis in May, and we will be working hard to build on the tremendous season we had in 2015.”

On the heels of a successful debut of the Mazda-powered Dallara IL-15, Indy Lights will see an expanded schedule of 18 races next season with the addition of three new circuits – Phoenix International Raceway, Road America and the Streets of Boston. The blend of three ovals, three street circuit and five road course events will include doubleheader rounds at all street and road course venues with the exception of the Boston race. A new qualifying feature – the Cooper Tires Lightning Round – will also debut at select circuits next year featuring the top three drivers from qualifying in a one-lap shootout on a new, softer compound Cooper RS3 racing slick for the coveted Cooper Tires Pole Award.

Indy Lights competitors will again vie for a guaranteed three-race scholarship to the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2017, which includes the Indianapolis 500.

Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires 2016 Schedule

Date – Venue – Location

March 11-13 – Streets of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, Fla.

April 1-2 – Phoenix Int’l Raceway – Phoenix

April 22-24 – Barber Motorsports Park – Leeds, Ala.

May 12-14 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis

May 27 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis

June 24-26 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.

July 9-10 – Iowa Speedway – Newton, Iowa

July 15-17 – Streets of Toronto, Ontario – Toronto

July 29-31 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course –  Lexington, Ohio

Sept. 2-4 – Streets of Boston, Massachusetts – Boston

Sept. 9-11 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.


Pro Mazda will maintain a 16-race schedule featuring five road course, two street course and two oval venues. With the exception of the ovals, all events will comprise double-header rounds. Pro Mazda competitors will once again vie for a Mazda scholarship to advance to Indy Lights in 2017.

Pro Mazda Championship Presented by Cooper Tires 2016 schedule

Date – Venue – Location

March 11-13 – Streets of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, Fla.

April 22-24 – Barber Motorsports Park – Leeds, Ala.

May 12-14 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis

May 27 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis

June 24-26 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.

July 9-10 – Iowa Speedway – Newton, Iowa

July 15-17 – Streets of Toronto, Ontario – Toronto

July 29-31 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio

Sept. 9-11 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.


The USF2000 calendar will include 16 races held at eight venues featuring five road course, two street circuit and one oval event. Aside from the oval, all rounds are double-headers with the now traditional tripleheader event at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. At stake is a champion’s prize of a scholarship from Mazda to advance to Pro Mazda in 2017.

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship Powered by Mazda 2016 schedule

Date – Venue – Location

March 11-13 – Streets of St. Petersburg – St. Petersburg, Fla.

April 22-24 – Barber Motorsports Park – Leeds, Ala.

May 12-14 – Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis

May 28 – Lucas Oil Raceway – Indianapolis

June 24-26 – Road America – Elkhart Lake, Wis.

July 15-17 – Streets of Toronto, Ontario – Toronto

July 29-31 – Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course – Lexington, Ohio

Sept. 9-11 – Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, Calif.

Road America President and General Manager George Bruggenthies announced Road America’s 2016 season schedule.

“Road America is known for having the most active schedule of any road race circuit in the US, and we look forward to hosting the MotoAmerica Series, Verizon IndyCar Series, Pirelli World Challenge Series, NASCAR XFINITY Series, IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and three separate vintage events in 2016,” said Bruggenthies.

“The 2015 season was incredible and included many new facility improvements designed to enhance the overall fan experience. Make no mistake about it, 2016 is going to be a great season full of activities and we are already in the planning process of improving the facility yet again. We encourage all our fans to get their season tickets early, so they can enjoy another season of great racing and fond memories at Road America.”

Road America’s first race weekend next year will be May 13-15, when it hosts SVRA Spring Vintage Weekend. Two-wheeled action takes over when the MotoAmerica SuperBike Doubleheader hits the track June 3-5. One week later, June 10-12, vintage motorcycle enthusiasts will be on track during the AHRMA Vintage Motorcycle Classic and the Rockerbox Motofest® will entertain fans and enthusiasts alike during the weekend with on-track action and vintage motorcycle show. The WeatherTech Chicago Region SCCA June Sprints returns to the 4-mile circuit from June 16-19—Road America’s longest running annual sports car event.

The Verizon IndyCar Series takes center stage June 23-26 as an international lineup of drivers will have their chance to battle it out for glory on one of the world’s most majestic road courses. They will be joined by the Pirelli World Challenge featuring many of the world’s top sports cars and drivers in an all out wheel-to-wheel battle consisting of six classes headlined by separate GT and GTS races along with the TC class. The Porsche GT Cup class will run alongside the GT and GT-A class cars over the course of the weekend. In all, a total 12 different races will fill the schedule during the jam-packed weekend.

A mid-summer classic, The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman presented by HAWK, takes place July 14-17, and has quickly grown to become one of the largest vintage racing events in the country. A Historic CAN-AM race with an impressive field of cars is also expected to gather in celebration of CAN-AM’s 50th Anniversary, plus the Nationwide Insurance Concours D’elegance on Friday and Saturday night in downtown Elkhart Lake round out the festivities.

On August 4-7, the IMSA Continental Sports Car Challenge and WeatherTech SportsCar Championship takes over Road America’s 4-mile circuit for what will be one of the most incredible weekends of sports car racing in the world and the event is now appropriately named The Continental Tire Road Race Showcase. Fans will get to see the IMSA Continental Sports Car Challenge Series race on Saturday, Aug. 6, with the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race on Sunday, Aug. 7.

The NASCAR XFINITY Series rolls into Road America Aug. 25-27, bringing intense door-to-door racing action to the nation’s most intimidating road course. The XFINITY schedule and the event could prove to be a pivotal race for drivers looking to improve their standing in the championship points. The event has also been known to draw an influx of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars and various sports car series veterans, eager for seat time and a chance to capture a win at one of the nations most storied circuits.

On Aug. 28, OPTIMA Batteries will hold one of its OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational qualifying events at Road America, affectionately known as the OPTIMA FACEOFF. The event includes autocross, road course, braking and acceleration challenges, plus a style and design competition and road rally.

Sept. 16-18, the VSCDA Elkhart Lake Vintage Festival returns, featuring several impressive machines including many pre-war racers and CAN-AM enthusiasts reliving history at America’s National Park of Speed.

Coming again on Oct. 1-2, one of the most intense and popular endurance challenges for amateur athletes, Tough Mudder, returns to Road America and includes a 10- to 12-mile obstacle course challenge that involves diving into ice-cold water, crawling through mud and running through bursts of fire.

Jon Dehne, a senior auto care industry leader, has joined Marx Group Advisors as a vice president and member of the Advisory Board. Dehne has more than 15 years of experience with Advance Auto Parts, Solera Holdings, Inc. and Best Buy Company developing strategy and managing complex enterprise transformation initiatives, supply chain and merchandising activities aimed at achieving industry leadership. 
                             
Dehne currently provides consulting services focused on business development opportunities and strategic relationships for the auto care industry. Previously, he spent six years as senior vice president at Advance Auto Parts where he was responsible for market availability, inventory management and merchandising operations. Before that Dehne worked at Best Buy for more than 10 years as vice president of transformation.

“Jon is a senior leader with consistent achievements in building and executing a clear vision, implementing operational best practices and developing and deploying next phase growth strategy as an executive for leading top tier companies,” said Tom Marx, CEO, Marx Group Advisors. “He brings a wide breadth of industry knowledge and contacts to help enhance MGA’s market position. We are honored to have him join our team.”

Dehne earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from St. Cloud State University.

The Advisory Board of Marx Group Advisors plays a critical role within the organization, providing strategy and relationships within the aftermarket. In addition to Dehne, the Advisory Board includes the following aftermarket leaders: John Nodson, Chip Carlson, Howard Kesten, Lou Merz, Rick Rollins and Denise Rondini.

Marx Group Advisors assists automotive, commercial vehicle and heavy duty aftermarket companies with strategic consulting services for mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as with capital formation for private equity placements. The company is engaged in all channels of the industry, including manufacturing, warehouse distribution, program groups, jobbers and service and repair chains.

National Speedway Directory announced new speakers and topics for its annual Race Track Business Conference (RTBC2015), held in conjunction with the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, December 9, at the Indiana Convention Center.

The topic of driver development has been added to the agenda, discussing what really matters—talent or money. Attendees will also learn about who is responsible for moving drivers up the ladder—series, manufacturers, or teams—among other things.

The panel speakers for driver development include Dan Andersen, CEO, Andersen Promotions; John Doonan, Director, Mazda Motorsports; Julia Landauer; and Mike Lewis, Senior Vice President, Don Schumacher Racing.

Another newly added topic is oval tracks: the core of the weekly show, what’s working for the fans at the front gate, secrets of successfully prepping dirt tracks, and more. Slated to discuss this topic are Gary Risch, General Manager, Lernerville Speedway; Dan Robinson, General Manager, Lucas Oil Raceway; and Brett Root, President, IMCA.

The cost to attend RTBC-2015 is $250. This cost includes lunch and admission to the PRI Trade Show.

More information can be found at www.racetrackbusinessconference.com or calling (847) 853-0294.

Those who know have a responsibility to share.
 
Racing is an inherently dangerous sport, and competitors don’t always prepare themselves properly, even though they are aware of the dangers. That is what the Motorsports Safety Education Foundation (MSEF) wants to change. So last year the MSEF created a Steering Committee that included representatives from several areas of the racing industry, including drivers, manufactures, sanctioning bodies, insurance carriers, certification personnel, medical experts and more. 
 
This group has been the driving force behind the safety content needed for MSEF’s animated, online platform that is being used to educate all racers. Have you seen our online curriculum? What do you think? What else would you like to see us add?
 
Meantime, at last year’s PRI Trade Show we had discussions with over 50 drivers from all forms of racing, including Robert Hight, Sammy Swindell, Joey Saldana, Steve Kinser and Scott Bloomquist, and they all agreed on two things: Crashes are going to happen, and there is really nothing to prevent them. 
 
However, we CAN help educate the racer on safety products and proper installation of safety equipment, and that will help minimize the expense of the crash. 
 
The MSEF needs to add more content before the 2016 race season for the sanctioning bodies that are now our partners. A crowdfunding mechanism has enabled us to raise $50,000 in just 50 days. And now the MSEF Board is engaging the Steering Committee to create new material for our online curriculum. 
 
Sanctioning bodies such as POWRi, IRA, Patriot Sprint Car Series, Great American Race Series and ARCA plan to implement the MSEF’s online educational platform for their 2016 season. Would you like to see your series utilize our platform?
 
Racers that complete the MSEF online safety course will also be rewarded! That’s right—rewarded, by learning about safety and collecting discounts from several motorsports suppliers and vendors including: CSI, MyRacePass, McKinney Corporation, AED Motorsport Products, EMI and Speedway Motors. And the MSEF is confident that more companies will seek to partner with us by the time the PRI Show arrives in Indy this December. 
 
The idea is simple: Learn a little, save a lot, and protect yourself or a loved one.
 
The Motorsports Safety Education Foundation educates motorsports competitors with the knowledge they need to participate for a lifetime. For more information about the MSEF and how you can get involved, check out our website at www.motorsportssafety.org. 
 
 
Tom Weisenbach has over 20 years of motorsports experience, including positions with the NHRA (Lucas Oil Raceway), Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Verizon IndyCar Series, Keystone Marketing, the Indiana Motorsports Association and the International Motorsports Industry Show. He currently works for Speedway Motors/AFCO Racing, and volunteers as Executive Director of the Motorsports Safety Education Foundation. Weisenbach also serves on advisory boards for the IUPUI Motorsports Engineering program, University of Indianapolis Kineasiology program, and the Haas Training Education Center at Vincennes University.

The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule—a 16-race season anchored by the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race—spans five weeks longer than last season and features new events in Phoenix, Road America and Boston.

INDYCAR has experienced a 38 percent growth in both television ratings and viewership over the past two years with longstanding TV partners ABC and NBCSN and the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series season is poised to capitalize and build upon that momentum.

One of the most diverse schedule in motorsports features five races on oval tracks, five on permanent road courses and six on temporary street circuits.

“Overall, the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule is another key step forward in INDYCAR’s strategic vision,” said Mark Miles, CEO of Hulman & Company, the parent of INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. “We’re confident that the momentum that INDYCAR has experienced in fan engagement over the past two seasons will continue as a result of the tireless efforts of our event promoters and our improved scheduling on ABC and NBCSN.”

The schedule opens March 13 on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, where the Verizon IndyCar Series season has debuted in each of the past five seasons. The battle for the Astor Cup—the trophy presented annually to the series champion—concludes September 18 at Sonoma Raceway, where the season came to a thrilling conclusion this year as Scott Dixon won the race to capture the championship on a tiebreaker.

The season includes the series’ return to staple venues Phoenix International Raceway and Road America, plus the debut of an exciting new event on the streets of Boston.

“Road America and Phoenix are great venues and two of the best choices that we could have to add to the schedule,” said Dixon, the 2015 Verizon IndyCar Series champion who has raced on both tracks in his 15-year career. “I’m looking forward to both race events. Road America is an old-school American track that I always look forward to. Phoenix was a fun track for me in the past. I tested there (earlier this year) and the changes that they’ve made has maybe opened up quite a few different grooves. The racing will be very exciting; we’ll put on a great show.”

ABC will broadcast five races in 2016, including the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg that kicks off the season two weeks earlier than last year. ABC will blanket Month of May coverage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, broadcasting the Angie’s List Grand Prix of Indianapolis on May 14, Indianapolis 500 qualifications May 21-22 and the eagerly anticipated 100th Indianapolis 500 on May 29.

“The 2016 season is defined by the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500,” Miles continued. “The historic significance of our season is marked by this legendary event and the return of several storied venues such as Road America and Phoenix.  Half the venues on our schedule have hosted 25 or more INDYCAR races and further our rich heritage as the premier form of open-wheel racing in the United States.”

ABC’s Verizon IndyCar Series coverage also includes the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix doubleheader, with full races on June 4 and 5.

“We’ve been associated with the Verizon IndyCar Series since its beginning and we’re proud to be part of a sport with not only historic traditions but also a very exciting future,” said Julie Sobieski, ESPN vice president, league sports programming. “We have been pointing to the 100th Running of the Indianapolis 500 for a long time and especially look forward to that event and our 52nd consecutive year at the ‘Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”

NBCSN returns as INDYCAR’s television partner for the eighth season in 2016 and will telecast 11 races, starting with the return to Phoenix International Raceway on the night of April 2. The 1-mile tri-oval oval hosted 61 Indy car races from 1964-2005. PIR will be the first oval of the Verizon IndyCar Series other than Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time since Kansas Speedway in 2010.

“Coming off the most-watched IndyCar season ever on NBCSN, we are excited to once again contribute to the growth of this great sport and to showcase its speed and exciting brand of racing,” said Jon Miller, president of programming, NBC Sports & NBCSN. “We take pride that INDYCAR entrusts our talented production team to televise the series’ final eight races, including being able to award the IndyCar championship on NBCSN each year.”

NBCSN will also telecast the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 17 and the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama from Barber Motorsports Park on April 24. Following ABC’s coverage in May and early June, NBCSN returns to telecast the final eight races of the season.

Among those are the Grand Prix of Road America on June 26, a homecoming to the 4-mile permanent road course. The picturesque track in the rolling hills of east central Wisconsin played host to 25 Indy car races from 1982-2007.

Also on NBCSN in the back half of the schedule is the inaugural Grand Prix of Boston powered by LogMeIn, set for Sept. 4 on a 2.25-mile temporary street circuit. NBCSN will then air the season-ending GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on Sept. 18.

The 2015 Sonoma race set an NBCSN record for INDYCAR with an average of 841,000 viewers, including a peak of more than a million.

Returning events on the 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule airing on NBCSN include: the Firestone 600 at Texas Motor Speedway on June 11; Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway on July 10; Honda Indy Toronto on July 17; Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio on July 31; and the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 21.

In addition to coverage from ABC and NBCSN, all Verizon IndyCar Series races can be heard on the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network, available through network affiliates, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, the Verizon INDYCAR 16 app and IndyCar.com.

NASCAR announced agreements with 23 tracks to field NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the next five years. Additionally, 24 tracks will host NASCAR XFINITY Series races through 2020.
 
NASCAR also announced its 2016 schedule for both of these national series. The schedule and actual placement of the dates within each given season’s schedule beyond 2016 will be part of the on-going discussions between NASCAR and the tracks. Details are being finalized for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule to be announced at a later time.
 
“NASCAR and the tracks take seriously our collective responsibility to the fans and each stakeholder to ensure the sport is healthy, strong and growing, so we can deliver great racing to the fans for many decades to come,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The live event experience always will be important to creating a lifetime fan in NASCAR.
 
“Among the goals that we set out to accomplish with our track partners was to provide consistency for race fans and the industry stakeholders. We feel like we have a nice balance of that for 2016. The stability of five-year agreements positions us well to deliver fans with schedules as early as possible over the next several years. This is a new approach for our industry, and one that benefits everyone: fans, tracks, teams, drivers, OEMs, media and partners.”
 
NASCAR will kick off the 2016 season against the new backdrop of a completely reimagined Daytona International Speedway. DAYTONA Rising, the speedway’s $400 million redevelopment project, will be complete when both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series launch at Daytona Speedweeks. The 2016 DAYTONA 500 will be held on February 21 and will air live on FOX.
 
After the DAYTONA 500, NASCAR events will be held the following week at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both series then will travel to Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway for the return of NASCAR Goes West.
 
“We learned that NASCAR Goes West worked very well in keeping momentum and interest for NASCAR in these markets,” O’Donnell said. “The tracks put a lot of effort behind making it successful and we think it can continue to have a positive impact as it gains traction from being an annual effort. The efficiency of conducting three consecutive events also is helpful to the teams and industry.”
 
Among the changes to the 2016 schedule:
 
· Pocono Raceway will host its first NASCAR XFINITY Series event in June, with that series joining the Sprint Cup Series for a companion event at the famed three-turn track.

· The spring events at Richmond International Raceway move to a Saturday and Sunday companion event for the XFINITY Series and Sprint Cup Series, from the previous Friday and Saturday schedule.

· The first series stop at Dover International Speedway will move earlier in the schedule, to be held prior to the May events at Charlotte Motor Speedway.   

· NBC will usher in its 2016 race schedule in July at Daytona with the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event moving back to a Saturday evening event.

· The August Sprint Cup Series event at Michigan will move to later in the month.


2016 NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES SCHEDULE

Date, Site
 
2/13, Daytona International Speedway (Sprint Unlimited)
 
2/14, Daytona International Speedway (Daytona 500 Qualifying)
 
2/18, Daytona International Speedway (Duel)
 
2/21, Daytona 500
 
2/28, Atlanta Motor Speedway
 
3/6, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
 
3/13, Phoenix International Raceway
 
3/20, Auto Club Speedway
 
4/3, Martinsville Speedway
 
4/9, Texas Motor Speedway
 
4/17, Bristol Motor Speedway
 
4/24, Richmond International Raceway
 
5/1, Talladega Superspeedway
 
5/7, Kansas Speedway
 
5/15, Dover International Speedway
 
5/21, Charlotte Motor Speedway (NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race)
 
5/29, Charlotte Motor Speedway
 
6/5, Pocono Raceway
 
6/12, Michigan International Speedway
 
6/26, Sonoma Raceway
 
7/2, Daytona International Speedway
 
7/9, Kentucky Speedway
 
7/17, New Hampshire Motor Speedway
 
7/24, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
 
7/31, Pocono Raceway
 
8/7, Watkins Glen International
 
8/20, Bristol Motor Speedway
 
8/28, Michigan International Speedway
 
9/4, Darlington Raceway
 
9/10, Richmond International Raceway
 
9/18, Chicagoland Speedway
 
9/25, New Hampshire Motor Speedway
 
10/2, Dover International Speedway
 
10/8, Charlotte Motor Speedway
 
10/16, Kansas Speedway
 
10/23, Talladega Superspeedway
 
10/30, Martinsville Speedway
 
11/6, Texas Motor Speedway
 
11/13, Phoenix International Raceway
 
11/20, Homestead-Miami Speedway
         
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
 
 

2016 NASCAR XFINITY SERIES SCHEDULE

Date, Site
 
2/20, Daytona International Speedway
 
2/27, Atlanta Motor Speedway
 
3/5, Las Vegas Motor Speedway
 
3/12, Phoenix International Raceway
 
3/19, Auto Club Speedway
 
4/8, Texas Motor Speedway
 
4/16, Bristol Motor Speedway
 
4/23, Richmond International Raceway
 
4/30, Talladega Superspeedway
 
5/14, Dover International Speedway
 
5/28, Charlotte Motor Speedway
 
6/4, Pocono Raceway
 
6/11, Michigan International Speedway
 
6/19, Iowa Speedway
 
7/1, Daytona International Speedway
 
7/8, Kentucky Speedway
 
7/16, New Hampshire Motor Speedway
 
7/23, Indianapolis Motor Speedway
 
7/30, Iowa Speedway
 
8/6, Watkins Glen International
 
8/13, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
 
8/19, Bristol Motor Speedway
 
8/27, Road America
 
9/3, Darlington Raceway
 
9/9, Richmond International Raceway
 
9/17, Chicagoland Speedway
 
9/24, Kentucky Speedway
 
10/1, Dover International Speedway
 
10/7, Charlotte Motor Speedway
 
10/15, Kansas Speedway
 
11/5, Texas Motor Speedway
 
11/12, Phoenix International Raceway
 
11/19, Homestead-Miami Speedway
 
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE