Testing SpeedwayMedia.com

Category: Featured Other Series

Featured Other Series

  • Tequila Patrón ESM Returns to Podium at Long Beach Grand Prix

    Tequila Patrón ESM Returns to Podium at Long Beach Grand Prix

    LONG BEACH, Cal., (April 15, 2018) – Strong strategy, fast pit stops, and commanding passes from the Tequila Patrón ESM squad earned the team a second place finish Saturday afternoon at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s BUBBA burger SportsCar Grand Prix at Long Beach. Scott Sharp and Ryan Dalziel piloted the Nissan Onroak DPi to a second place finish, earning the No. 2 car’s first podium of the 2018 season.

    After a difficult qualifying session, the No. 2 car started in eighth position with Scott Sharp taking the green flag. The field quickly spread out, and Sharp maintained position for his 40 minute stint, keeping the car in a competitive position for the final stint of the sprint race. He pitted under caution from eighth for a full service stop. The Tequila Patrón ESM crew put fresh tires on the car, and topped off the fuel, and Ryan Dalziel took over the machine, leaving pit lane fourth in line. Pit stops cycled through, and Dalziel and the No. 2 charged forward with 45 minutes remaining. One more stop for a splash of fuel was needed to make it to the end of the race, so the team called Dalziel in on lap 37 with the leaders. He rejoined behind Ricky Taylor’s No. 7 Acura, working at every turn to set up a pass to take second position. His opportunity came with 22 minutes remaining when debris on track brought out a full course caution. The Tequila Patrón ESM Nissan took advantage of the Penske Racing Acura at the exit of the hairpin on the restart, allowing Dalziel to pass on the inside, and charge towards the leader. The Nissan had the speed to race competitively against the race leading Cadillac, but the race clock ran out. With the second place, Tequila Patrón ESM earned the second podium in the season’s three races, earning valuable points in the Prototype team standings.

    After starting ninth, the No. 22 Nissan Onroak DPi fell victim to an incredibly random stroke of bad luck, when debris from another car struck the machine. The piece of debris hit an external button on the car that the FIA requires in case a car is stalled on course and needs to be shifted into neutral by a corner marshal. Once hit, the car went neutral, initially causing the team to diagnose the issue as transmission related, but it was only once the car made it back to the garage that the source of the problem was discovered. Sadly, the piece of debris costs the Twelve Hours of Sebring winners Johannes van Overbeek and Pipo Derani the race, retiring the No. 22 early. The duo will have a chance at redemption next month at Mid-Ohio SportsCar Course for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Showdown, May 4-6. The two hour and 40 minute race will be the second of three consecutive sprint races on the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship calendar. For more information, visit imsa.com.

    Driver Quotes
    No. 2 Nissan Onroak DPi

    Scott Sharp
    We’re sitting better than where I thought we’d be after yesterday’s qualifying. We made some godo changes to the car, and it was much better today. We had a great pit stop. Ryan made some good moves. He was mart in his driving and had a great restart. I even thought for a second we should have something for the race leader. It ended up being a strong race weekend. I feel bad for the No. 22 guys. It would have been great to have them on the podium with us. We keep together as a team to get these good results, and that’s what we need to do.

    Ryan Dalziel
    Second place two years in a row! It was a bit tougher this year than last year, but we had a great car, and an unbelievabley good pit stop. The guys nailed it, and we gained a bunch of places. It was such a great race car. I made a small mistake, which so many of us did with all the marbles out there. Second place was a good day. It was a rough one for the No. 22 car, so we’ll take it.

    No. 22 Nissan Onroak DPi
    Johannes van Overbeek
    Not the best birthday I’ve ever had. It was a shame we lost drive in the No. 22 car, and we also had an uncharacteristic slip up in the pits. It just wasn’t our day. The No. 2 car ran well, and I’m proud they were able to carry the flag for the team in Long Beach.

    Pipo Derani
    Unfortunately a piece of debris hit our car, and hit the neutral button that is FIA mandated for the marshals to use in case of an emergency. The debris hit that exact spot, putting our car in neutral, and I couldn’t restart the car. We weren’t sure of the source of the problem at the time, unfortunately those things can happen. We’re glad there was no real problem on the car. I feel sad for the team after all their hard work this weekend, as usual. We’re looking forward to a strong result for the next one, and trying to get a strong result. Congratulations to the No. 2 car for a strong finish. Coming from eighth to second was a very strong race.

  • A Look at the Engineering Behind NASCAR Tires

    A Look at the Engineering Behind NASCAR Tires

    We usually focus on the cars, the big and powerful engines under the hood, and the drivers wrestling with the immense power of NASCAR cars. The sporting events we follow are just as exciting. But NASCAR is not as crude as many think – we’re looking at you, Formula 1 fans – and there is a lot of engineering that goes into preparing the car for every race.

    In this article, however, we are going to focus more on the tires. A set of NASCAR tires has to endure an incredible amount of force while maintaining grip and allowing the car to channel its power to the tarmac. The engineering feat behind NASCAR tires is nothing short of incredible.

    They Need to be Managed

    It is not a secret that tire degradation and managing that rate of degradation are critical to the success of a NASCAR team. There is an engineer behind every NASCAR team and its tire management system. One of the tasks of that engineer is measuring tire temperature before and after the tires are used, and then calculating tire degradation based on various metrics.

    NASCAR tires need to be managed because each team only has access to a limited set. You can’t expect to blow through tires and win the race. Teams can have as many as 14 sets for a single race – usually a longer one – but not all teams need to buy the maximum number of sets.

    NASCAR tire management really shows how engineers can lead in a management situation. Students pursuing their Ohio University masters in engineering management and a similar degree from other universities are learning to incorporate management skills into their work by using NASCAR as one of the case studies.

    They’re More High-Tech Than You Think

    It is also worth noting that NASCAR tires have more technology than you think. For starters, every tire has its own RFID chip and identifier. The chip used to be for managing tire distribution, especially with the regulation in force dictating that tires need to be returned at the end of every session.

    Today, the RFID chip works more for identification and research purposes. Goodyear, who is currently supplying the tires for NASCAR teams, always know which tires go to which team.

    “We know where they are, and if at any time we want a particular tire back, we can do that,” according to Goodyear’s director of racing Greg Stucker in an interview with Road and Track.

    Different Compounds for Different Challenges

    The most interesting thing about NASCAR tires is the many compounds teams can choose from, depending on the challenges they will face. Once again, students at top universities such as Ohio University often use these different compounds in their studies, particularly in relation to safety and performance.

    In fact, the Ohio University Online master of engineering management program teaches the same Six Sigma method used to improve NASCAR tires. The amount of engineering that goes into every compound provided for a particular race is simply mind-blowing.

  • New Television Package Another Boost For INDYCAR Momentum

    New Television Package Another Boost For INDYCAR Momentum

    Wednesday morning INDYCAR announced a new television package that will start in 2019, with every race being broadcast on NBC or NBC Sports. The multiyear deal, which gives NBC Sports Group exclusive broadcasting rights, will broadcast eight races on NBC, with the remainder airing on NBC Sports. The move also marks the end of ABC’s relationship with INDYCAR, as they have broadcast every Indianapolis 500 since 1965.

    In a press release from INDYCAR, CEO of Hulman & Company Mark Miles said that the arrangement brings all of INDYCAR to one home and increases the sport’s exposure. “We couldn’t be happier to have start-to-finish coverage of INDYCAR’s season with NBC Sports Group,” said Miles. Hulman & Company owns INDYCAR as well as the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

    The latest announcement comes as a part of a wave of momentum for the sport. Not only was the new car released this season to rave reviews, but television viewership has risen 38 percent in the past four seasons, not to mention social media followers have risen 400,000 in the past year alone.

    Since joining NBC Sports in 2009 when the network was only a part-time partner, viewership has steadily risen, including a 78 percent increase since 2013. Also added to the lineup is exclusive content delivery through the NBC Sports Gold mobile app, available for verified users.

    While NASCAR remains the most popular form of motorsport in America, INDYCAR has steadily risen in prominence. If this current wave of momentum continues, there may be a day where the sport eclipses NASCAR and enters a Golden Age similar to NASCAR’s in the early 2000s.

    Something else that INDYCAR has going for it right now is the sport’s parity. Despite the sport’s smaller schedule (compared to NASCAR, NHRA, and other forms of motorsport), there have been 21 different winners in the last six seasons.

    The road is currently paved for INDYCAR to become the new top motorsport in America because of this momentum. Everything going on with the sport right now has brought continuing growth to the sport, ensuring it’s continued survival and promises to reach new heights, as coverage is bound to reach new demographics that may otherwise not follow any form of motorsport. In turn, the odds of a Golden Era for INDYCAR are higher than they’ve ever been.

     

  • Natalie Decker Wins Pole for Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire

    Natalie Decker Wins Pole for Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire

    • 20-Year-Old Becomes Fourth Female Pole Winner in Daytona International Speedway in History
    • NASCAR On-Track for First Time in 2018 on Saturday, With Three Practices for Advance Auto Parts Clash
    • ‘Speedweeks Premiere At DAYTONA’ Interactive Fan Event Set for Saturday Night

    DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 9, 2018) – Natalie Decker won the pole Friday for the Lucas Oil 200 Dirven by General Tire, becoming the fourth female pole winner in Daytona International Speedway history.

    In addition to Danica Patrick’s spectacular breakthrough in winning the DAYTONA 500 pole in 2013, Erin Crocker captured the Lucas Oil 200 pole in 2007, while Patty Moise was the Lucas Oil 200 polesitter in 1989-90.

    The Lucas Oil 200, set for Saturday at 4:45 p.m., is the season-opening race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. It has its own rich history as an integral part of DIS’ Speedweeks. Past winners include some of biggest names in the history of stock racing such as Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman, Benny Parsons, Kyle Petty, Lennie Pond and Tim Richmond.

    Decker, 20, is from Eagle River, Wisconsin. She turned a fast lap of 181.859 mph on the 2.5-mile tri-oval, in the No. 25 N29 Capital Partners Toyota.

    “Oh my goodness, it was crazy … my spotter was talking to me the whole time, walking me through it,” Decker said. “There’s been so much learning [here]. I’m so thankful to be here. Last year we only ran seven races so we could run for rookie of the year [this year] So far, it’s a great start.”

    Also Saturday, NASCAR competitors will be on-track for the first time this year with three practices sessions for Sunday’s 40th annual Advance Auto Parts Clash. The Clash is an all-star type event, with the exclusive field consisting of 2017 pole winners, former Clash champions, former DAYTONA 500 pole winners who competed full-time in 2017 and drivers who qualified for the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The Clash starting field will be determined Saturday night in a blind draw among crew chiefs whose drivers have qualified for the event.

    The Clash draw is part of the Speedweeks Premiere At DAYTONA event in the speedway infield’s UNOH Fanzone, following the Lucas Oil 200 from 6:30-8 p.m. The event features drivers and crew chiefs from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series involved in several interactive activities with fans. Activities include autograph sessions, participating in Facebook Live sessions in the infield media center and competing in the new 2018 Season Update for the video game NASCAR Heat 2 on the UNOH Fanzone’s main stage. In addition, young fans will assist crew chiefs in the Clash draw.

    The top-flight list of drivers scheduled to participate in the activities include former DAYTONA 500 champions Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Jamie McMurray and Newman, reigning Monster Energy Series champion Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Austin Dillon and 2017 Coca-Cola 400 champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Busch, the defending DAYTONA 500 champion, is also the 2004 Monster Energy Series champion.

    Sunday will mark a return of an old-school Speedweeks tradition, as DAYTONA Qualifying Presented by Kroger and the Clash combine for an afternoon doubleheader. Qualifying starts at 12:15 p.m. (ET), with the Clash at 3 p.m.

    Hendrick Motorsports’ Chase Elliott is trying to win the DAYTONA 500 pole for the third consecutive year, which would tie a record shared by Fireball Roberts (1961-63), his father Bill Elliott (1985-87) and Ken Schrader (1988-90).

    Tickets for the 55th annual Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire, the 40th annual Advance Auto Parts Clash, the 60th annual DAYTONA 500 and other Speedweeks events can be purchased online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and Snapchat, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.

  • GHOST TRACKS: Revisiting Indiana’s Armscamp Speedway

    GHOST TRACKS: Revisiting Indiana’s Armscamp Speedway

    “No Trespassing” signs were everywhere. I had taken a wonderful 90-minute ride on my Triumph Bonneville to see the old race track and I didn’t want to go home empty-handed. It took half an hour to find someone who assured me that I could take a few quick photos of the former Armscamp Speedway in Alexandria, Indiana.

    There’s not much left. The south concrete wall still stands, marking the asphalt track’s fast main straightaway. The smaller infield track, which circles inside the quarter-mile main facility, is easier to make out. Half-century-old trees have grown up and through everything, including the old track surface itself.

    Built in 1941, Armscamp Speedway was at its zenith in the 1950s under the watchful eye of owner Paul Karnes, universally known as “Whitey.” If you could travel back in time and attend an average night at Armscamp Speedway, there is absolutely nothing that you would not recognize. You would feel right at home.

    You could watch races on Friday or Sunday nights. Occasionally a special double feature would be held with a complete midget show running Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm, followed by a “hardtopper” show at 8:30 pm the same evening for stock cars. For a dollar, you could watch them both (about $6.50 in today’s devalued currency).

    The entire nightly routine would feel familiar to a modern short track fan. See if there’s anything here you recognize…

    Qualifying, or “time trials’ as they were then known, began an hour before the first race. If you could run the quarter-mile bullring in about 17.5 seconds, you were among the fastest cars.

    Fifty or more “hardtops” would enter the event, divided up into a trophy dash and four 10-lap heat races. The faster cars advanced into one of two 15-lap “semifinals,” with the fastest semifinal cars transferring to a 25-lap feature event.

    Amateur racers competed in “pleasure cars,” sort of an early version of street stocks. All other drivers were listed as professionals if their class paid a purse. The fact that most of them held day jobs mattered not. If you got paid, you were a professional racing driver.

    Just like today, a handful of the fastest open-wheel touring pros could make a decent living by racing full time. When Bob Breading of Indianapolis won the first of his three eventual Consolidated Midget Racing Association titles in 1946, his earnings for the year totaled $14,000. He would spend more than half of that on travel and car maintenance, but $6-7,000 was an upper middle class living in 1946 when the average US annual salary was barely $2,600.

    Special events paid more. A $2,000 total purse for a special main event was a big payday in the early 1950s, and a common sum for special touring series events or 100-lap championship features.

    Does all this still sound familiar?

    Drivers and officials at Armscamp Speedway argued over fairness and budgets just like today. Whitey Karnes introduced a new rule for the 1952 season declaring that any car winning three features must be sold to the first bidder for five hundred dollars. If no one bought it, the driver was free to continue competing in it. The “claim” rule is standard for many Midwestern short tracks today.

    Armscamp’s 1953 rules package was exactly ten sentences long. This is an exact quote: “Motor… anything you can’t see (is okay). If the motor looks stock outwardly, it’s okay. No tear downs!”

    The successful drivers were well known to race fans throughout the region. Names like Huston Bundy, Audie Swartz, Johnny Arnold, Francis Morris and Bill Holloway were in the newspaper every week.

    In 1953, Holloway was a 29-year-old from Muncie who built his own cars, managed the family garage, held a full-time position at Delco and ran four or more short track races every week. The previous year he had set single lap, 5-lap, 10-lap, 15-lap and 50-lap speed records at Armscamp while posting more Hardtop feature wins than any other driver. He raced for thirty years in stock cars and midgets before taking up motorcycles. He was still riding a 1200cc bike (rapidly) at age 83. If they’re going to build a Hall of Fame, guys like Holloway belong in it. He was typical of the local heroes who lit up Midwestern tracks every weekend in the middle of the 20th century.

    Armscamp Speedway ran its final race in the summer of 1967, after 26 years as a mainstay on the Indiana/Ohio short track racing circuit.

    If you could travel back in time to Armscamp Speedway in the 1940’s and 50’s, every single moment of your experience would be familiar. It would feel like home. You would instantly become comfortable with the format, the atmosphere and even the fans. It is shocking how little has really changed throughout the history of short track racing.

    The ruins of Armscamp Speedway can be found about a hundred yards northwest of the Centennial Steel building on the north side of State Road 28, less than a mile west of the junction with State Road 9 in Alexandria, Indiana. There’s not much to see, but I still considered it worth the trip. It’s like having your own personal time machine.

    But be sure and ask first. There are “No Trespassing” signs everywhere.

    Stephen Cox

    Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions

    Driver, Super Cup Stock Car Series & FIA EGT Championship

    Co-host, Mecum Auctions on NBCSN

  • HITACHI TO CONTINUE TEAM PENSKE PARTNERSHIP IN 2018

    HITACHI TO CONTINUE TEAM PENSKE PARTNERSHIP IN 2018

    Multi-Faceted Relationship to Enter Seventh Season with Championship INDYCAR Program

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (January 15, 2018) – Team Penske and Hitachi Group today announced an extension of their partnership for the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season.

    After a productive five-year relationship working with three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves of Team Penske, the familiar Hitachi branding will transition to the No. 1 Dallara/Chevrolet of reigning INDYCAR champion Josef Newgarden for eight races in the 2018 season.

    Additionally, Hitachi will continue as an associate sponsor on Team Penske’s other Verizon IndyCar Series entries – the Dallara/Chevrolets driven by Simon Pagenaud, the 2016 series champion and Will Power, the 2014 title winner, along with a return to Castroneves’ No. 3 car for the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500.

    “Our partnership with Hitachi continues to deliver for both organizations across a wide variety of business platforms,” said Roger Penske. “Hitachi is deeply involved in our on-track performance as they continue to collaborate with Chevrolet on its winning INDYCAR engine program. Away from the race track, our relationship continues to reach new heights with shared success through various automotive and technology projects, along with joint marketing and promotional initiatives. We are excited to build on this success in 2018.”

    Hitachi and Team Penske began their partnership in 2012 and it has evolved into one of the successful pairings in the INDYCAR paddock. The industry leaders have aligned for race wins, podium finishes and pole positions and the future is bright with Newgarden, one of the fastest rising stars in motorsports.

    “Over the course of my first season with Team Penske, I was able to witness this great partnership firsthand,” said Newgarden, who earned four wins, one pole and nine podium finishes en route to his first series championship in 2017. “I look forward to working with all of the Hitachi employees and partners as we try and build on the tremendous framework of success already in place.”

    The activation strategy around the Hitachi Team Penske partnership includes event marketing and execution at key automotive events and industry shows across the globe, to go along with unique at-track experiences and creative social media integration with Hitachi and its partners.

    “The sponsorship with Team Penske continues to provide the Hitachi Group with a tremendous opportunity to leverage the success of a great IndyCar racing team, as well as to partner with a global leader in transportation and logistics – Penske Corporation,” said Toshiaki Higashihara, President & CEO, Hitachi, Ltd. “Since 2012, Hitachi has been able to leverage its technology and applications experience, along with data analytics expertise to help Penske build a successful racing team and also optimize other aspects of their business.” “Partnering with Penske puts Hitachi in a strong position to continue to build our global brand around Hitachi’s Social Innovation Business,” he continued.

    “We are very excited to continue our partnership with Team Penske in 2018,” said Hideaki Seki, President & CEO for Hitachi Automotive Systems Ltd., . “Finishing in four of the top five positions in the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series final standings and earning a 15th series championship illustrates Team Penske’s commitment to excellence. Hitachi shares the same drive and determination to be the best.”

    The 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series season begins on the Streets of St. Petersburg in Florida on Sunday, March 11.

     

    About Hitachi, Ltd.

    Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society’s challenges. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal 2016 (ended March 31, 2017) totaled 9,162.2 billion yen ($81.8 billion). The Hitachi Group is a global leader in Social Innovation and has approximately 304,000 employees worldwide. Through collaborative creation, Hitachi is providing solutions to customers in a broad range of sectors, including Power / Energy, Industry / Distribution / Water, Urban Development, and Finance / Government & Public / Healthcare. For more information, please visit http://www.hitachi.com.

    About Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.

    Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is engaged in the development, manufacture, sales and services of automotive components, transportation related components, industrial machines and systems, and offers a wide range of automotive systems including engine management systems, electric power train systems, drive control systems and car information systems. For more information, please visit the company’s website at http://www.hitachi-automotive.co.jp/en/.

    About Team Penske

    Team Penske is one of the most successful teams in the history of professional sports. Cars owned and prepared by Team Penske have produced more than 470 major race wins, over 540 pole positions and 32 Championships across open-wheel, stock car and sports car racing competition. Over the course of its 52-year history, the team has also earned 16 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 Championships, a Formula 1 win and overall victories in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. For 2018, Team Penske will compete in the Verizon IndyCar Series, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR XFINITY Series and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The team also races in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, in a partnership with Dick Johnson Racing, as DJR Team Penske. For more information about Team Penske, please visit www.teampenske.com.

  • Diversity In IndyCar Manufacturers Could Widen Sport’s Appeal

    Diversity In IndyCar Manufacturers Could Widen Sport’s Appeal

    One of the great things about motorsports is the competition. The regular, race-to-race battle for the win is something that draws the fans in, be it a battle between drivers, sponsors, or manufacturers.

    However, in the Verizon IndyCar Series, the best competition is between the drivers and sponsors. Manufacturers, not so much considering that at the moment, the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) in the sport are Chevrolet and Honda – hardly the basis of a legendary rivalry like Chevy and Ford or Foyt and Andretti.

    One of the perks of bringing in another manufacturer has to do with the new universal aero-kit. It will be cost-effective in the sense that manufacturers can solely focus on the equipment and powertrains without worrying about aerodynamics. As a result, prospective manufacturers can consider entry into the sport without worrying about any extra growing pains. They can enter and expect to be on par with the rest of the competition.

    This would bring much-needed parity to a sport that needs it. At the moment, Team Penske and Andretti-Herta Autosport are the two organizations that currently dominate IndyCar; with Penske’s Chevrolets competing with AHA’s Hondas. Those are the organizations that are always at the front every race; they’re what the prospective new fans see on a weekly basis.

    They don’t see teams like Ed Carpenter Racing, A.J. Foyt Racing, or Schmidt-Peterson Motorsports, teams that have to fight harder to compete with those groups. They succeed every so often, although it’s usually more of an uphill battle as they don’t have as much focus or funds at their disposal. Adding more manufacturers would even out the sport’s playing field, and as a result, we’d see guys like Spencer Pigot and James Hinchcliffe contending for wins more often.

    In 2017 10 races (out of 17) were won by Chevrolet; all Penske machines. The only other teams to score more than one win were Rahal-Letterman Racing (Graham Rahal’s Belle Isle sweep) and AHA (Takuma Sato won Indy, Alexander Rossi won Watkins Glen). Ganassi Racing earned just one win, a far cry from their Franchitti years of glory, while SPM and Dale Coyne Racing also earned singular wins. Those aren’t favorable, competitive numbers, and it’s no wonder why other manufacturers said, “no way,” when courted by IndyCar.

    In American motorsports, brand loyalty is huge. In NASCAR, there’s the Chevy/Ford/Toyota debate that draws in a substantial portion of fans. During the entirety of his NASCAR career, Dale Earnhardt Jr. voiced his unending loyalty to Chevrolet, and the fans ate that up. When NASCAR first brought Toyota into the national fold in 2004, cries of outrage came from the older contingent of fans given Toyota’s birth as a foreign car company.

    Point being? The manufacturer debate has always been full-speed in NASCAR. Why not IndyCar? Bring back Ford. Bring in Dodge. Bring in Toyota. Diversify the OEMs in IndyCar, and there could be a chance it could legitimately rival NASCAR’s mainstream status. Parity is key to the growth of a sport. Hopefully, with the universal aero kit cutting down team costs, we could see plenty of that in the near future.

     

  • JR Motorsports Adds Sam Mayer to 2018 Late Model Lineup

    JR Motorsports Adds Sam Mayer to 2018 Late Model Lineup

    14-Year-Old Second-Generation Driver Joins Veteran Josh Berry on Two-Car Team

    MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 10, 2018) – Sam Mayer has been named to JR Motorsports’ championship-winning Late Model program for 2018. The 14-year-old native of Franklin, Wis. will take the seat of the team’s second entry for the season, hoping to continue the run of success the team has had over the past several years.
    Mayer, son of former IndyCar and road racing star Scott Mayer, will join 2017 CARS Late Model Stock Car Series champion Josh Berry as a teammate for 2018. The younger Mayer, who began racing go-karts at the age of 4, ended his first Late Model campaign in 2017 on the strength of three victories and 13 top-10 finishes. Mayer ended the season with a fifth-place run in the prestigious Myrtle Beach 400, a race that Berry won to cap his season.
    “We’re very happy to have a young driver of Sam’s caliber join us here at JR Motorsports,” said L.W. Miller, director of motorsports at JRM. “He’s accomplished a lot in his career already, including against the top Late Model talent in the Southeast, and he definitely has all the qualities we look for on the track and off it.”
    The breakout 2017 season for Mayer also included a full slate of US Legend Car Series events, and the young driver won the US Legend Car Winter Heat Championship, the Summer Shootout and US Legend Car Asphalt Nationals.
    “It will be a really exciting experience, to know that I’m with a top NASCAR team and a top Late Model team,” Mayer said. “I hope to be really competitive and have lots of fun while doing it. I’m confident with the way the team is going to treat me and the car, and excited about seeing what we can do together and what we can accomplish.”
    JR Motorsports is coming off a two-year stretch in which its Late Models have won 26 races in 97 starts. Berry has claimed 21 race victories in that span, while drivers Anthony Alfredo, Christian Eckes and Scott Bishop combined to add five wins to the total.
    Now in its 17th year of competition, the JRM Late Model program has scored 40 victories in the last three seasons and track championships in 2012 and 2014. Berry also won the CARS Late Model Stock Car owner championship in 2016 and the driver title in 2017.
    ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS:
    JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 15-time Most Popular Driver and winner of 50 NASCAR-sanctioned races.  Now in its 17th year of overall competition, JR Motorsports races in multiple divisions, including the NASCAR Xfinity Series where it won championships in 2014 and 2017.  The company also competes in Late Model competition and owns four championships in regional late model divisions.  To learn more about the organization, its drivers and its sponsorship opportunities, visit www.jrmracing.com.
  • CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Gearing Up For Championship Defense in 2018

    CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Gearing Up For Championship Defense in 2018

    Three days of testing ahead of Rolex 24 and open of WeatherTech Championship

    • Corvette Racing a three-time Rolex 24 winner
    • Fifth year of competition for Chevrolet Corvette C7.R
    • Both Corvettes and all six drivers to attend Daytona test
    • Corvette Racing celebrating 20th season of competition

    DETROIT (Jan. 2, 2018) – A new calendar year also brings a new season for Corvette Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. It all begins this weekend at the annual Roar Before the 24, which serves as a prelude to the Rolex 24 At Daytona and opening round of the IMSA season.

    For Corvette Racing, the three-day test is a chance to gear up for its chance at a fourth class victory at the twice-around-the-clock endurance race at Daytona International Speedway. Both Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs will be on-track along with its full complement of three drivers in each car.

    Defending GT Le Mans (GTLM) Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen team up again with Mike Rockenfeller in the No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R. In the No. 4 Corvette, full-season teammates Oliver Gavin and Tommy Milner will drive with Marcel Fässler in hopes of replicating their 2016 class victory.

    Corvette Racing celebrates its 20th season of competition in 2018 – longevity not matched by any other team in the IMSA paddock. The Chevrolet/Corvette Racing partnership is the most successful in professional North American endurance racing with 98 victories in the United States and Canada. Add eight Le Mans victories, and Corvette Racing’s global tally is 106 during the last 19 seasons.

    The roll of honor for Corvette Racing also includes 12 Manufacturer and Team championships, as well as 11 Driver titles. In 2017, Garcia and Magnussen won three times and won their second IMSA title together. Gavin and Milner also posted a victory of their own last year.

    Since the start of the 2014 season – the first under the ALMS/GRAND-AM merger – no manufacturer or team has won more often in the WeatherTech Championship than Chevrolet and Corvette Racing. Team Chevy has 35 victories with 15 coming in GTLM with Corvette Racing.

    The Rolex 24 served as the first event for the Corvette Racing program in 1999, and one of the team’s Corvette C5-Rs finished fourth. Two years later, Corvette Racing won the race overall. Fast forward to the current era, and the program added class victories in both 2015 and 2016. The latter was the thrilling 1-2 finish that saw the No. 4 Corvette beat its sister entry by just 0.034 seconds.

    That is just one of more than 40 victories for Chevrolet across all motorsports events at Daytona, making it the most successful manufacturer at the World Center of Racing.

    ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “It has been a busy period since the end of last season. Corvette Racing has put a lot of effort into testing for our 20th season in 2018 – both on the track and in our simulator. We can make use of every piece of data we can find. Hopefully that helps us at Daytona. We were disappointed not to win last year’s Rolex 24 after we led twice after pit stops in the final hour. After missing just a little pace then, I hope we can find what we need after these three days of testing.”

    JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “With everything we accomplished last year, one of the disappoints we had was not winning Daytona. So we will go into the Roar with that goal in mind. We are there for three days but there is a huge amount of items we need to run through for the Rolex 24. Winning there would be the best way to start Corvette Racing’s 20th year.

    MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “It will be great to get back in the Corvette C7.R at Daytona. As a team, we have a lot to work toward to give both our cars the best possible to chance to win this race. That means we need to get everything we can out of testing this week. I am continually impressed by the level of racing in GTLM with the number of great manufacturers, drivers and teams. So it is imperative we start strong with a good showing at the Roar.”

    OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “I’m very eager to get this year started off right. Tommy, myself and everyone on the No. 4 Corvette side want to put last season out of our minds and focus on having a good, positive weekend at the Roar. This stands to be a big year for Corvette Racing… our 20th season and going for three straight GTLM championships. Checking off all the items on our testing list would be a great start.”

    TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “This is a huge year for everyone at Corvette Racing. It’s our 20th season and from the competition standpoint, this will be the biggest challenge we’ve faced. There’s additional motivation for our side of the garage after last season’s tough going. The best thing about our team though is the talent and experience we have working together for so many years. We need to use that advantage this weekend to get us in the best possible shape heading into the Rolex 24.”

    MARCEL FÄSSLER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “I’m ready to get back to the track with Corvette Racing. Daytona is a big event and one that we have been lucky to win before. For me personally, my comfort level in the Corvette is higher than it has ever been. I was fortunate enough to participate in a couple of test days after the 2017 season that proved to be very beneficial. Our confidence is very high going into Daytona so hopefully that will mean a successful start to the season for Corvette Racing.”

    DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “Well, 2018 is dawning with some new and exciting things for Corvette Racing and the entire WeatherTech Championship fan base. For the first time, the Roar will actually have some impact on the Rolex 24 as we will be ‘qualifying’ for our pit lane and garage assignments. This can have a direct impact on the race itself when you consider the GTLM margin of victory in 2016 was a scant 0.034 seconds between our two Corvettes. In addition, the Roar will mark the first time for a variety of new machinery, including new cars in GTLM. The 2018 season looks like pretty darn exciting from where we sit.”

    2017 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – Final GTLM Standings

    Driver Standings Team Standings Manufacturer Standings
    1. Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 334

    2. Alexander Sims/Bill Auberlen – 317

    3. Dirk Muller/Joey Hand – 306

    4. Richard Westbrook/Ryan Briscoe – 306

    5. Dirk Werner/Patrick Pilet – 295

    8. Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 276

    		 1. No. 3 Corvette Racing – 334

    2. No. 25 BMW Team RLL – 317

    3. No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – 306

    4. No. 67 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing – 306

    5. No. 911 Porsche GT Team – 295

    8. No. 4 Corvette Racing – 276

    		 1. Chevrolet – 348

    2. BMW – 342

    3. Ford – 338

    4. Porsche – 325

    5. Ferrari – 204

     

    Corvette Racing at Daytona

    Year Class Drivers Result Car Notes
    1999 GT2 Fellows/Kneifel/Paul Jr. 3rd Corvette C5-R
    GT2 Sharp/Pilgrim/Heinricy 12th Corvette C5-R
    2000 GTO Fellows/Bell/Kneifel 2nd Corvette C5-R
    GTO Pilgrim/Collins/Freon 10th Corvette C5-R
    2001 GTS Fellows/O’Connell/Kneifel/Freon 1st Corvette C5-R Overall winners by eight laps
    GTS Pilgrim/Collins/Earnhardt/Earnhardt 2nd Corvette C5-R
    2014 GTLM Garcia/Magnussen/Briscoe 10th Corvette C7.R Retired (Mech)
    GTLM Gavin/Milner/Liddell 5th Corvette C7.R
    2015 GTLM Garcia/Magnussen/Briscoe 1st Corvette C7.R Magnussen fastest lap
    GTLM Gavin/Milner/Pagenaud 3rd Corvette C7.R Gavin pole
    2016 GTLM Garcia/Magnussen/Rockenfeller 2nd Corvette C7.R Garcia fastest race lap
    GTLM Gavin/Milner/Fässler 1st Corvette C7.R 0.034-second win margin
    2017 GTLM Garcia/Magnussen/Rockenfeller 4th Corvette C7.R
    GTLM Gavin/Milner/Fässler 9th Corvette C7.R

     

    About Chevrolet
    Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 115 countries and selling more than 4.0 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

  • Are Grid Girls the Next Casualties in the War for Political Correctness?

    Are Grid Girls the Next Casualties in the War for Political Correctness?

    Stephen Cox Blog Presented by McGunegill Engine Performance

    Auto racing’s long-standing tradition of grid girls seems to be in trouble.

    It was early 2015 when the World Endurance Championships (WEC) got rid of them, and Formula 1 may be next. Director Ross Brawn of Liberty Media, the new controlling group of Formula 1, recently said that the tradition of grid girls is being reconsidered.

    For the uninitiated, “grid girls” are the pretty women who stand beside the race cars prior to many events to hold grid markers and sponsor signs, and, well… look pretty.

    Traditionally, grid girls have dressed to look attractive and feminine. That’s all well and good. Recent years have seen (some of) them dressing more and more scantily. In my opinion that’s not so good. But if I don’t like it, I’m still free to stay home. And that’s good.

    This is precisely why I don’t attend boxing matches and MMA fights, by the way. The ring girls aren’t just dressed attractively. Some of them are downright indecent. So I stay home, shut up and mind my own business. The girls can keep their jobs, the fight promoters can put on the show they like and everyone is happy.

    What, exactly, is being accomplished if Formula 1 decides to defend women around the world by firing hundreds of women around the world? The girls that needed these jobs will no longer have them. The girls who aspire to be models, spokeswomen, media personalities or actresses will have one less avenue available to enter their chosen field.

    The grid girls are not being well served by getting fired. The only people satisfied by their unemployment are people who demand that their agenda be enacted no matter what the cost may be to anyone else.

    Did you see auto racing enthusiasts protesting and rioting against grid girls at the last race you attended? Me neither. Motorsports series are not firing grid girls in response to an overwhelming mandate from fans.

    They’re doing this to please people who have little or no interest in motor racing, who may never attend an auto race, and who, in some cases, oppose the very existence of the sport. By definition, these are not people who are willing to live and let live. If they were, they would refuse to have grid girls at their book burnings and witch hunts but leave you free to have them at your auto races.

    Racing officials need to understand one point very clearly – these people will not become fans once you fire the grid girls. Auto racing is a loud, dangerous, fatality causing, fossil fuel burning, cut throat competition that does not award trophies for participation. These people hate you. They are not suddenly going to embrace you as a forward thinking intellectual simply because you caved in to their demands and kicked a few recently unemployed women to the curb.

    If this artificially manufactured non-issue needs to be revisited at all, it should be revisited solely on the basis of what the the teams, their fans and the grid girls want rather than on political pressure to conform to the demands of outside groups who don’t care one whit about the sport. Make your own decision and listen to your own fans and we’ll be happy no matter what the outcome may be.

    If I don’t like it, I’m free to stay home.

    Stephen Cox
    Sopwith Motorsports Television Productions
    Driver, Super Cup Stock Car Series & EGT Championship