Lotus driver Romain Grosjean has signed to race for Formula 1 newcomer Haas next season.

Haas has called a driver announcement press conference at its headquarters in Kannapolis, North Carolina on Tuesday, with team owner Gene Haas and team principal Guenther Steiner present. Alongside the duo will be Frenchman Grosjean, who is to sever his ties with Lotus at the end of this season after what will be four years with the Renault/Lotus organization.

Although Haas is a start-up team, its reputation in motorsport in the United States, and more importantly its connections in F1 with Ferrari, have proven key selling points to Grosjean. Haas is to be powered by Ferrari, which will also be supplying a number of other components given the change in the regulations.

Given the resources and facilities at Haas, and Ferrari has built a power unit that is now pushing Mercedes, it is understood Grosjean feels his new team could be a midfield runner out of the box.

Joining Haas also opens up a door to Ferrari for Grosjean for 2017, as a seat will be vacant that year should the Scuderia opt not to renew Kimi Raikkonen's contract. Ferrari took up the option in Raikkonen's deal for 2016, but beyond that the Finn's future remains uncertain.

With Ferrari serving as engine supplier and key partner to Haas, it will be able to draw on all of Grosjean's data during his impending year with Haas and compare it to Raikkonen.

As to Haas' second driver, all indicators are pointing to Ferrari test and reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez. Like with Grosjean, Ferrari would have a similar opportunity to place Gutierrez in its car in 2017 should his performances and data prove favorable.

Engine Pro will return as title sponsor of Sprints on Dirt in 2016, the series announced.

Scott Overlund, Sales and Marketing Manager for The Perfit Corporation/Engine Pro released the statement: “Engine Pro is proud to announce that we will be the title sponsor for the Sprints on Dirt series once again for 2016. It’s easy to support and stay involved with SOD due to their professionalism and the quality racers within the series.

“The 2016 season should be very exciting with the new format. There is a bright future ahead for SOD and that will be beneficial to the racers, to Engine Pro, to the tracks, and to the motorsports partners we bring into the series. ARP will once again be the presenting sponsor for the 2016 Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt.”

Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates has announced that reigning Rolex 24 At Daytona winner and four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will join Scott Pruett and Joey Hand in the driver lineup of the No. 01 Ford EcoBoost Riley Prototype for the historic Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on October 3.

The recently-crowned Verizon IndyCar Series Champion has competed twice with the team this season (Daytona and Sebring), where he helped the team score their first victory of the season in the Rolex 24 At Daytona, and his second overall win in the event (2006).

“Petit Le Mans is always a very exciting race and Road Atlanta is such a challenging track to drive,” said Dixon. “The No. 01 has had some very strong runs recently so I’m hoping I can go out and help them compete for another win. I’m looking forward to working with Scott and Joey again, and the whole IMSA program to end the season on a high note and maybe even another championship.”

Dixon completed his 15th season with Target Chip Ganassi Racing in the Verizon IndyCar Series in 2015. He collected two wins, including the team’s 100th Indy car victory and 11th championship with his victory at Sonoma Raceway on August 30.

Dixon is a Four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion (2003, 2008, 2013, 2015) and won the Indianapolis 500 in 2008. His 38 wins place him fifth on the all-time list, and he has 18 CGRFS sports car starts resulting in two wins, three pole positions and six podium finishes.

The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series event scheduled for October 17 at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway has been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

With the extension of the Interstate 69 project, the state of Kentucky has levied eminent domain against the track in Calvert City, Kentucky, which will be permanently shut down.

The three-eighths-mile, high-banked dirt track was to host the USAC AMSOIL Sprint Cars for the very first time and was to mark the series’ first visit to the state of Kentucky since 1999.

Track owner Ronnie Jones, who purchased the facility in 2013, was excited about the USAC Sprint Cars’ first visit to his facility, but despite their best efforts, the event will not be held.

Dynabrade, Inc., an industrial abrasive power tool manufacturer, announced the new appointment of Hardy Hamann as Vice President—Sales & Marketing.  

Hamann has held executive positions with Walter Mayer (now JPW), Hermes Abrasives and most recently, The L.S. Starrett Company.

His management experience includes strategy, organizational and product development along with global sales and marketing. He has spent decades working with distribution in North America and globally.

Dynabrade President Ned Librock stated, “Mr. Hamann joins Dynabrade with a wealth of experience in the sales and marketing arena across numerous industries. We are certainly pleased to have someone of his caliber join our senior management team.”   

Originally from Germany, Hamann has resided in the United States since 1981, earning his American citizenship in 1997.

He and his wife will be relocating to the Buffalo, New York area later this year.

“I am delighted to return to the abrasive tool industry. Dynabrade is a highly regarded American made brand supported by a team with a shared vision for domestic and international growth. I look forward to becoming a Dynabrader,” stated Hamann.

Steve Torrence took a bold step forward in his bid to win his first NHRA Top Fuel championship by hiring Alan Johnson to work with crew chief Richard Hogan on the Capco Contractors dragster beginning with this week’s 18th annual AAA Insurance Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Torrence, who won NHRA’s Alcohol Dragster championship in 2005, is seeking to become the first driver to win championships in both categories.

Johnson, who has won 11 NHRA Top Fuel titles with five different drivers including Tony Schumacher, Larry Dixon, and Gary Scelzi, and who also is a past Alcohol Dragster world champ with his late brother, Blaine, driving, became available after he opted to park his own race car while pursuing additional sponsorship.

“To race against guys like Tony and Antron (Brown) and all the multi-car teams, we need all the help we can get,” Torrence said. “Alan and Richard are good friends and have worked together before so it was a good fit for us. Alan is probably the greatest crew chief ever. He wasn’t going to be on the sidelines very long. We’re fortunate we could get him in our camp. I’m excited and I know the team’s excited.”

A five-time Top Fuel winner, Torrence starts this week from the No. 9 position in Mello Yello points after losing a second round race to Brown last week at Charlotte, North Carolina.

Encouraged by his advance to the semifinals at Gateway just a year ago, Torrence will try to make a move in the standings at the wheel of a Capco dragster that this year has had difficulty translating qualifying performance into race day success.

Although he has started six of the last seven races from no worse than the No. 4 qualifying position and even though he has sped to the three quickest times of his career during that span (3.732, 3.733 and 3.734 seconds), the 32-year-old Texan has only eight round wins to show for it, half of which came in his victory in the Mopar Mile-High Nationals at Denver, Colorado.

 “We know we need to string together some round wins,” he said, “but against these guys, that’s easier said than done. There’s really no margin for error for the driver or the crew chief. We’ve qualified really well. My guys have given me a great car. We’ve started third the last two races and what we got for it was a first round against Richie Crampton—and he started third in the Countdown.
 


“The thing is, there aren’t any easy rounds. We know that. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every time, but I think the Countdown’s still wide open right now. We’re six rounds behind Antron but if we get on a roll, there’s no reason why we still can’t make up that difference. It’s still about timing and whoever has the hot hand.

“I already felt pretty good (going into the Midwest Nationals), but now, with Alan on board, I can’t wait to get back in the car,” Torrence said.

He starts Friday just one round win out of sixth place, the position in which he finished a year ago.

Weistec Engineering  prepares to field two Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars in the upcoming 2016 season of the Pirelli World Challenge. Weistec aims to amplify its presence both in the United States and internationally by racing what they sell.

Racing in the Pirelli World Challenge is the culmination of years of development for the team at Weistec. The AMG GT3 utilizes the high-revving 6.3 liter naturally aspirated V8 power unit that the team is intimately familiar with thanks to its extensive catalog of upgrades that allow its customers to upgrade everything from forged pistons to billet steel connecting rods.

“At Weistec we develop performance in every part and our innovations not only prove themselves in a laboratory, but on the race track as well,” said Weistec’s technical director, Michael Weiss. “Weistec has already set numerous world records utilizing the same 6.3 liter engine that propels the new GT3 car and we are excited to bring our expertise to the Pirelli World Challenge.  Our passion for innovation is as strong as our customers’ desire for the finest in vehicle performance.”

Through relentless testing and continuous improvements in product and performance, Weistec engineers all of its products to be used at the same caliber on the race track as on the street. Countless hours of track testing are done prior to releasing any product to the public to insure components are built to the level demanded by Weistec customers.  

Weistec will be announcing its driver lineup in the coming months. For more information on Weistec’s products, visit www.weistec.com, and for information on the racing team or sponsorship inquiries, please email racing@weistec.com.

Motovicity Distribution, an automotive performance aftermarket distributor, is announcing the addition of Vogtland to its line card.

Vogtland is a suspension manufacturer out of Germany, specializing in performance products for European vehicles, as well as various other applications. Its springs are known for their quality and lightweight chromesilicon construction. The company has also been the leading supplier of springs for NASCAR since 2009, as well as being a large OE provider of various spring elements to a large number of automotive manufacturers.

When asked about the new partnership with Motovicity, Leila Vizzari, CEO of Vogtland North America, said, “Vogtland Suspension is extremely excited to be working with Motovicity! We believe that Motovicity’s experience, reputation, and enthusiasm will be a positive dynamic and contribute to Vogtland’s goal in providing high quality suspension products to the performance aftermarket. We are looking forward to an excellent relationship!”

Brian Lounsberry, VP of Sales & Marketing at Motovicity, said, “We are happy to add this brand to our extensive suspension offering. Vogtland has a wide range of exceptional products. Combine that with our extraordinary product knowledge and legendary shipping rates, and this partnership is a true value for our customers.”

Holley Performance Products announced late last month that it has acquired El Paso, Texas-based MSD Group, which includes such brands as MSD, Mr. Gasket, Accel, Superchips, Edge, Racepak, Mallory, Hays, QuickTime and Lakewood.

Bowling Green, Kentucky-based Holley’s speed-part brands already include Weiand, NOS, Hooker, Flowtech, and Earls. The flagship MSD provides ignition systems for virtually all forms of racing, including competitors in NASCAR, NHRA, World of Outlaws, SCORE and many more.

“We are excited to bring together the great legacies of Holley Performance Products and MSD Group. The combination of these brands will provide our customers with the most complete offering of performance products in the industry,” said Holley President & CEO Tom Tomlinson. “We are aggressively developing innovative new products at Holley and we will continue to build upon the fine job the MSD Group is already doing.”

Tomlinson continued, “Our goal is to offer solutions to automotive enthusiasts so they can achieve their goals while pursuing their automotive passions. We look forward to working with the MSD Group team, including Russell Stephens at MSD, Dave Martinez at Powerteq, and Tim Anderson at Racepak, to marry our technologies and talents to build these solutions.”

Founded in 1903, Holley is a leader in the performance automotive aftermarket by way of its carburetors, EFI systems and various other products and components. For more information, visit www.holly.com.

Developers of SpeedVegas, a new motorsports complex being built on 100 acres south of Las Vegas just east of I-15 at the Sloan exit, broke ground on the $30 million project that has been planned for four years.

"It's going to be a great new attraction that I think people will make a special trip to Las Vegas to enjoy," said Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak.

SpeedVegas will have a 1.5-mile private exotic car course, a welcome center with indoor and outdoor observation decks, a cafe, meeting space, an events center, a gift shop and cars—really fast cars.

The attraction will have a stable of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Corvettes, Audis and Shelby Mustangs. Customers will be able to drive them or ride along with a professional driver in experience packages that start at $99. Five-lap exotic supercar packages start at $295 and the company will offer an a la carte menu that will allow guests to choose the number of laps they run and the cars of their choice.

The attraction is expected to open in early 2016 and the company is taking reservations for March.

The company is catering to tourists by providing transportation to and from the track, and the track—the longest in the region—will be lit to provide evening as well as daytime experiences. Groups or individuals can participate and drivers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driving license from their country of origin. Reservations are encouraged, but not required.

It's been a lengthy road to Monday's groundbreaking.

Co-founders Aaron Fessler and Tom Mizzone worked together to reach Monday's startup. Mizzone co-founded the fractional exotic car-sharing Vulcan Motor Club, which eventually evolved into SpeedVegas.

Fessler decided in 2008 to parlay his interest in fast cars to the tourism industry and worked to open a driving experience. In an interview, Fessler said his appreciation for exotic cars has grown as he has become more familiar with the precision engineering associated with the types of vehicles customers will be able to drive.

"I'm a red-blooded American male and I have three sons so it's easy for me to get enthusiastic about fast cars," Fessler said. "But now, I also look at the art and the engineering and these cars are all just beautiful."

The partners considered several sites and needed to work with Henderson officials on road rights-of-way to finally secure the SpeedVegas location about 11 miles south of the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign, a perfect location since it's visible to northbound I-15 traffic from California. Fessler also noted that the track will be surrounded by desert terrain with 60 feet of elevation gains making for a unique "only-in-Vegas" experience minutes from the Strip.