All posts by ARP Trish

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Going For a Rolex Repeat

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Going For a Rolex Repeat
Triple Crown season in 2015 began with class victory in season-opener

· First race for 2016-spec Chevrolet Corvette C7.R
· Defending GTLM winners Garcia, Magnussen to team with Rockenfeller
· 2015 pole-winner Gavin set to drive with Milner, Fässler

DETROIT (Jan. 25, 2016) – One year ago, Corvette Racing started its run to endurance racing’s Triple Crown with a victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona. Fast-forward to today, and the team again is preparing for what it hopes is another race into the record books.

The 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona marks the beginning of Corvette Racing’s 2016 sports car season with a pair of 2016-spec Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs. During the next 10 months, the team will race 12 times across three countries and two continents. The goals: win the biggest events in sports car racing including the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the ninth time and capture the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class championship of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

It all starts at Daytona International Speedway, where Corvette Racing is a two-time winner (2001 overall and 2015 in GTLM). A year ago, Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen were part of the victorious trio in the No. 3 Corvette C7.R. The winning Chevrolet-powered racecar completed 725 laps (it led 389 laps) for 2,581 miles and spent seven less minutes in the pits than the second-place finisher.

Garcia and Magnussen team this year with Mike Rockenfeller, who also is a former Rolex 24 race winner. In the No. 4 Corvette C7.R, Oliver Gavin – last year’s GTLM pole-winner – will partner with full-season teammate Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler, who will make his first Rolex 24 start. Gavin and Milner were part of the GTE Pro-winning trio in 2015 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans; they also were third in class at the Rolex 24 last season.

All six drivers saw plenty of seat-time earlier this month during the three-day Roar Before the 24 test. Gavin was the second-fastest driver in GTLM with a best lap of 1:45.106 (121.934 mph); Garcia was fourth in class at 1:45.124 (121.913 mph).

Long-distance racing is the strength of Corvette Racing. In addition to its two victories at Daytona and eight at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team has won the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring 10 times and the 1,000-mile/10-hour Petit Le Mans seven times.

The 2016-spec Corvette C7.R is an updated racecar due to changes in Automobile Club de l’Ouest regulations for top-level GT cars that compete in the IMSA GTLM class. There are a number of aerodynamic changes including a larger splitter at the front and diffuser at the rear of the Corvette. Side skirts and a repositioned wing also are among the most notable changes, along with updated safety features that are now mandated on all GTLM cars.

The powertrain on the Corvette C7.R is unchanged from 2015 with a 5.5-liter V-8 Chevrolet small block powering the race car. The Corvette C7.R will use E20 fuel during the IMSA season and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The Rolex 24 was the site of Corvette Racing’s debut on Jan. 31, 1999. Since that first race, the team has competed in more than 170 events around the globe with 97 victories worldwide – including three wins in 2015 – along with 10 team and manufacturer championships in the American Le Mans Series and eight victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona is the start of the 2016 IMSA season and is set for 2:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 30. It will air on FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Sports Go. Live audio coverage from IMSA Radio is available on IMSA.com.

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “The end of last year’s race was very tense and very difficult. Having two cars so close together after 24 hours shows how tough it is in GTLM. The Corvette Racing team executed perfectly on every stop and made all the right strategy calls. That is what it takes to win these long races. No one does it better than Corvette Racing, as we have shown over the years. We are all ready for a repeat performance.”

JAN MAGNUSSEN, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “Winning the Rolex 24 last year was very special. The only thing I would change is to have been in the car at the end instead of watching! But it was a great feeling to see Antonio take the checker first in our class. Going into this race we know the challenge will be even more difficult. There are new cars throughout GTLM, and we know everyone will be watching our race. You have to stay focused and not let up at any point because the competition is so strong. Whoever wins this race will have earned it. I hope it is one of our Corvettes.”

MIKE ROCKENFELLER, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “This is a bit of a different Rolex 24 for me now that I am with Corvette Racing. Although we may not be in the fastest class, I am sure that GTLM will be the toughest and most competitive. We had a very good test at the Roar, and I feel more comfortable in the Corvette C7.R with each lap I do. Racing in an event like Daytona is a tough task but also one that as drivers we all look forward to and enjoy. Antonio, Jan and I are hopeful to deliver another Daytona win for Corvette Racing.”

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “By and large the test at Daytona was a great success. It definitely makes things easier in the lead up to the Rolex 24. We should be able to arrive with an established baseline and can work on fine-tuning the little things that add up to give us the greatest chance for success in this race. Although it’s a 24-hour race like Le Mans, Daytona is very different in terms of lighting, how safety car periods work and other nuances. Still it’s a grueling test and one that Tommy, Marcel and myself would love to win.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “It’s the start of a new season for Corvette Racing at Daytona. Considering how well the Roar went for us overall in the No. 4 Corvette, we’re pretty confident that we can have a race car that can challenge for a victory. Oliver and I were able to try a lot of different settings and configurations during the test, and Marcel has gotten up to speed very quickly. We have the drivers, crew and engineers to be successful at this race. It’s up to us all to execute how I know we can.”

MARCEL FÄSSLER, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C7.R: “I am ready for my first Rolex 24 At Daytona, and I couldn’t pick a better group to be with than Corvette Racing. It was a pleasure to drive the Corvette C7.R at the Roar and get a feel for the track and traffic conditions ahead of this race. Long-distance races are nothing new to any of us on the team. There are a lot of endurance victories in the Corvette Racing camp between the team and the drivers, so everyone has the proper mindset for what it takes to win this race. For myself, I need to continue to gain confidence and comfort in the car and not make mistakes. If that happens, I know we will have a shot at victory.”

DOUG FEHAN, CORVETTE RACING PROGRAM MANAGER: “It doesn’t get any better than to start the season with the Rolex 24. It’s the biggest race of the IMSA season and as we saw in 2015, it can set the tone for the balance of the year. As the records show, Corvette Racing has a very strong history of success in long-distance endurance races. We consider these type of events to be our specialty based on the makeup of our drivers, crew and engineers. Still, there are a number of variables that can factor into the outcome of the race. As always, you can be certain that we’ll make that ‘full-throttle’ effort for our fans in the Corvette Corral, around the track and around the world!”

World of Outlaws

Clanton Looks to Repeat as World of Outlaws Late Model Series Prepares for 2016 Kickoff

Clanton Looks to Repeat as World of Outlaws Late Model Series Prepares for 2016 Kickoff

Charges into Screven Motor Speedway with eyes on second series title
CONCORD, N.C. – Jan. 22, 2016 – Shane Clanton, like other drivers in the pits, began the 2015 World of Outlaws Late Model Series season with high hopes of hoisting the championship trophy for the first time in his career. Ten wins, 34 top-fives and 37 top-tens later, Clanton capped off his phenomenal year by doing what he set out to do when he captured his first series title at the Bad Boy Buggies World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte. Continue reading Clanton Looks to Repeat as World of Outlaws Late Model Series Prepares for 2016 Kickoff →

Valerie Thompson Racing

Valerie Thompson Racing–America’s Queen of Speed to appear at Pomona’s 67th Grand National Roadster Show

America’s Queen of Speed to appear at Pomona’s 67th Grand National Roadster Show

7-Time land speed record holder Valerie Thompson and her 200+ mph BMW race bike to be featured in SCTA’s “Quest for Speed” tribute exhibit

(Scottsdale, AZ) – January 22, 2016 – Seven-time speed record holder, Valerie Thompson, will be a featured celebrity racer at the 67th Grand National Roadster Show at the Fairplex in Pomona. Hand picked from a group of accomplished land speed racers, Thompson’s record setting BMW will be displayed in a special tribute area dedicated to the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) named “Quest for Speed.” Continue reading Valerie Thompson Racing–America’s Queen of Speed to appear at Pomona’s 67th Grand National Roadster Show →

RoushYates Racing

Roush Yates RY45 Series Announcement

MOORESVILLE, NC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2015

Roush Yates Engines wants to ensure the engine builder and racing community that we are committed to support the RY45 engine platform. The RY45 is an aluminum version of the Ford FR9 NASCAR engine and was released in 2014. It has the same performance advantages of the Ford FR9 and can be used in multiple racing series including: Dirt Late Model, Off Road Truck, Drag Racing, Marine as well as Street Performance. Roush Yates will continue to promote and sell RY45 products through distribution to engine builders and racers in 2016 and beyond.

“We are excited to share our technology and lead the industry with innovation,” said Doug Yates, President & CEO of Roush Yates, “The RY45 is a classic example of Roush Yates Engines technology being shared across all forms of motorsports.”

Many of the leading engine parts vendors now supply components that integrate into the RY45 platform. Cometic, Del West, Mahle, Jesel, T&D, Carillo, Dyers, Callies, Bryant, Comp Cams, and Scott Wires, just to name a few. All of these vendors provide top quality parts and support for the RY45. This robust and expanding vendor list is another reason that makes the RY45 engine advantageous to all engine builders.

Roush Yates Engines sold over 50 units of RY45 engines/engine kits during the first year of availability. Please stay tuned for more developments on the RY45 engine platform. Roush Yates Engines will now distribute the RY45 and D3 components through SRI Performance in Mooresville, NC.

Follow A Dream Racing

PERMATEX/FOLLOW A DREAM TEAM TUNER TOM HOWELL TO RETIRE

PERMATEX/FOLLOW A DREAM TEAM TUNER TOM HOWELL TO RETIRE

Marstons Mills, Mass. (Jan. 19) – With great sadness, the Permatex/Follow A Dream team announces the retirement of longtime tuner Tom Howell, who recently was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). His departure marks the end of an era for the team. Howell called the shots when team owner and crew chief Jay Blake began campaigning Alcohol Funny Cars in 2003, and under his guidance the team has won a regional championship, four national events, and 10 divisional/regional events, including three wins in 2015 with driver Todd Veney. Howell’s involvement in motorsports spans more than 30 years, including stints with Marc Rowe Race Cars, the Blue Chip IHRA Funny Car driven by Dave Rowe, and the Florence Motorsports dragster driven by Don Florence. He also has extensive experience with Super Modifieds and offshore racing boats. Longtime tuner Anthony Terenzio, who guided veteran Mickey Ferro to countless Alcohol Funny Car victories, including five in a row to conclude the 2010 season, will take over for Howell in 2016.

About Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurological disease that causes muscle weakness and gradually impacts on the functioning of the body, leading to eventual death. It is also referred to as motor neuron disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease, named after the famous baseball player who had the condition.

About Follow A Dream
Follow A Dream Race Team is a remarkable story in itself, and winning at the national level is only part of it. Follow A Dream’s owner and crew chief, Jay Blake, is totally blind. Jay lost his eyesight in a tire explosion over 19 years ago, but he did not lose his positive attitude on life, nor his desire to pursue his dreams. Jay had always wanted to form his own race team, and in spite of his serious setback, he continued to focus on his goals. Through years of incredible determination and perseverance, he was able to realize his dream and founded Follow A Dream Racing. Since then, the team has worked its way up the rankings to become one of the top Funny Car teams in the world.

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Gary Scelzi Motorsports–Scelzi Successful at 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals

Scelzi Successful at 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals

Inside Line Promotions – TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 19, 2016) – Dominic Scelzi enjoyed another successful outing at the premier midget event last weekend.

Scelzi guided a Loyet Motorsports entry to a 15th-place result in a C Main after being involved in a late crash on Saturday during the 30 th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire, which featured a record 336 drivers at Tulsa Expo Raceway.

“I want to thank everyone at Loyet Motorsports for the tremendous opportunity,” he said. “We didn’t get the result we wanted, but it certainly wasn’t anything to put our heads down about. I had a blast all week and hope for another opportunity with them.”

The week began for Scelzi on Thursday when he powered from seventh to second place during a heat race on the quarter-mile oval.

“We had a great heat race,” he said. “We were very fortunate with our heat race draw. It was a good time for me to get comfortable with the race car. To go from seventh to second was a good points result for us.”

That locked Scelzi into the fifth starting position in a qualifier.

“As the track widened out we seemed to struggle getting comfortable and finding the feel that I was looking for,” he said. “I was tight on the entry (into the corners) and free on the exit.”

Scelzi finished where he started, which was good enough to lock him into the 14th starting position for the 25-lap feature.

“In the main event for a while it seemed like we could maneuver forward and then we’d lose some positions,” he said. “I got to about 10th and was as low as 17th at one point. It was how the yellows and restarts worked. We were pretty much right in the middle. Finishing 14th isn’t what we hoped for and it definitely wasn’t my goal, but that set us up for a good position on Saturday.”

Scelzi’s 14th-place result lined him up on the inside of the fourth row in a C Main during Saturday’s finale, which was broadcast live on MavTV.

“We fell back to around 10th and as we were racing forward a car on the outside broke loose and half spun down the track,” he said. “It got into our front end. That spun me out with about two laps to go and ended our run at transferring into the B Main. I think we would have ended up transferring because in the next corner the drivers running fourth, fifth and sixth crashed. The way things were going in front of me I had a shot at earning a transfer.”

Scelzi was battling inside the top 10 when the incident occurred, ending his run with the 15th-place finish.

He will return to action in his winged sprint car March 3-4 at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas in Las Vegas with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Scelzi Scores First Top 10 of Season at Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown Finale

Scelzi Scores First Top 10 of Season at Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown Finale

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 11, 2016) – Dominic Scelzi registered his first top-10 finish of the year last Saturday during the final race of the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown at Cocopah Speedway.

However, the night was anything but easy for the Roth Motorsports backed team, which hustled to switch to a Danny and George Lasoski owned car that Scelzi piloted last year prior to the start of Saturday’s event. Continue reading Scelzi Scores First Top 10 of Season at Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown Finale →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Next Stop is the Rolex 24

CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Next Stop is the Rolex 24
Four Corvette DPs log laps during Roar Before the 24 weekend

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2016) – The Roar Before the 24 Test weekend is complete, and now Corvette Daytona Prototypes look ahead to the opening race of the 2016 season. Four Corvette DPs ran through their respective testing programs at Daytona International Speedway with the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona looming at the end of the month.

It’s the first race of the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship that will see the Corvette DP entries attempt to deliver a fifth straight Prototype Engine Manufacturer Championship for Chevrolet. A Corvette DP last won the Rolex 24 in 2014 when it claimed the top four finishing positions. Continue reading CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Next Stop is the Rolex 24 →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Roar Before the 24 Test Program Complete

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Roar Before the 24 Test Program Complete
Gavin second-quickest in GTLM during the weekend ahead of Rolex 24

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2016) – Corvette Racing ran through a three-day testing program as part of the Roar Before the 24 – the final opportunity for track time ahead of the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona. The two Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs completed a total of 449 laps between them on a weekend focused on development and preparation for the start of the 2016 season.

Oliver Gavin in the No. 4 Corvette C7.R set the second-fastest GT Le Mans (GTLM) time of the weekend and quickest Sunday during the morning session – a 1:45.106 (121.934 mph) lap in the car he will share with Tommy Milner and Marcel Fässler at The Rolex 24. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Roar Before the 24 Test Program Complete →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Dress Rehearsal for Rolex 24

CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Dress Rehearsal for Rolex 24
Three-day test for defending GT Le Mans race-winning team

· Two 2016 Corvette C7.Rs set for full IMSA season
· Corvette Racing a two-time winner in Rolex 24
· All six Corvette Racing endurance drivers set to attend

DETROIT (Jan. 6, 2016) – Corvette Racing’s march to what it hopes is a second straight victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona continues this week with the annual Roar Before the 24 – a three-day test at Daytona International Speedway. It is the final on-track session ahead of the opening of the 2016 International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) season.

Corvette Racing is a two-time winner in the Rolex 24: overall in 2001 and last year in the GT Le Mans (GTLM) class. Two new 2016-spec Chevrolet Corvette C7.Rs are set for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the full IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – including the Rolex 24. Continue reading CORVETTE RACING AT DAYTONA: Dress Rehearsal for Rolex 24 →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Scelzi Shows Speed Throughout First Weekend of Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown’;;;;[;;;;p

Scelzi Shows Speed Throughout First Weekend of Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown

Inside Line Promotions – SOMERTON, Ariz. (Jan. 5, 2016) – Dominic Scelzi accomplished his first objective during the opening weekend of the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown.

Scelzi advanced into Friday’s feature out of more than 45 drivers and he was on pace to repeat that success on Saturday before an incident sidelined him early in a B Main at Cocopah Speedway.

“I’m really happy with how everything has gone so far,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of speed at times. I feel like we found a good baseline that we’ll be able to go into the next few nights with. Everything we came here wanting to learn we have.” Continue reading Scelzi Shows Speed Throughout First Weekend of Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown’;;;;[;;;;p →

Dyson Racing

ROAD RACING CHAMPION CHRIS DYSON RETURNS TO CHILI BOWL WITH SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HERBAL SNUFF AND KRUSEMAN MOTORSPORTS

ROAD RACING CHAMPION CHRIS DYSON RETURNS TO
CHILI BOWL WITH SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HERBAL SNUFF
AND KRUSEMAN MOTORSPORTS
STAMFORD CT (January 5, 2016) Among the 335 drivers entered for next week’s 30th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals indoor dirt-track race meeting in Tulsa, OK, Chris Dyson is the only one who has won a pair of professional sports car racing championships. Back for a second year at the Chili Bowl in a Spike / Esslinger midget race car fielded by two-time Chili bowl champion Cory Kruseman, Dyson is being supported in his effort in America’s largest indoor dirt-racing event by Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, America’s original and best-selling tobacco-free smokeless brand. Continue reading ROAD RACING CHAMPION CHRIS DYSON RETURNS TO CHILI BOWL WITH SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HERBAL SNUFF AND KRUSEMAN MOTORSPORTS →

Chevrolet Racing

CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Race to a Fifth Prototype Championship Starts Now Four Corvette Daytona Prototypes for full-season championship run

CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Race to a Fifth Prototype Championship Starts Now
Four Corvette Daytona Prototypes for full-season championship run

· Corvette DP legacy includes four consecutive Engine Manufacturer titles and 30 race wins
· Action Express Racing, Wayne Taylor Racing, VisitFlorida.com Racing each fielding Corvette DPs

DETROIT (Jan. 5, 2016) – Chevrolet’s road to another Prototype Engine Manufacturer Championship in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) starts this weekend with the Roar Before The 24 at Daytona International Speedway. It’s a prelude to the 54th Rolex 24 At Daytona and the start of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Continue reading CORVETTE DPs AT DAYTONA: Race to a Fifth Prototype Championship Starts Now Four Corvette Daytona Prototypes for full-season championship run →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Giovanni Scelzi One Spot Shy of Second Straight Golden Driller at Tulsa Shootout

Giovanni Scelzi One Spot Shy of Second Straight Golden Driller at Tulsa Shootout

Inside Line Promotions – TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 4, 2016) – Giovanni Scelzi nearly captured his second straight Golden Driller last weekend during the 31 st annual Speedway Motors Tulsa Shootout.

Scelzi finished a close second during the winged “A” class main event at Tulsa Expo Raceway, where the top 24 drivers out of approximately 200 entered battled around the bullring for the coveted top prize.

“At first we were so mad we didn’t win, but for the first time with this combination I was pretty happy with it,” he said. “Second place out of so many of the best micro sprint drivers in the country is a great feat.”

After picking up his first career Golden Driller in 2015, Scelzi put himself in contention for a repeat thanks to a drive from fourth to win a heat race and from third to win a qualifier. That lined him up on the outside of the front row for the main event.

“They graded the track right before we went out,” he said. “I thought we had a good chance of winning, but the track never widened out in the feature. I got under the leader once and it wasn’t enough. There was a restart with two laps to go. It came down to whether he made a mistake and he didn’t make a mistake.”

Scelzi’s second-place finish marked his third consecutive year with a top-10 result in the winged “A” class feature.

He also competed in the winged outlaw division, which also featured approximately 200 premier drivers from coast to coast.

“In the heat race we had so much speed,” he said. “In the first corner we were three wide for second. The guy on the outside jumped the cushion, came down and hit the second-place guy, who hit me. We fell back to ninth and ran it back to fourth. We had so much speed in that car. We were a long way back and ran everybody down.”

After overcoming the early heat race incident, Scelzi powered from 14th to seventh place in a qualifier.

“We were happy we made a qualifier,” he said. “We just ran out of laps. It was only 10 laps so it’s difficult to pass that many cars in that short of a time. Then in the B Main the track was rubber down and I just didn’t get off the cushion quick enough.”

Scelzi ended with a fifth-place result in a B Main to miss transferring into the feature by only three positions.

Scelzi’s weekend in nonwing action wasn’t as fun. He finished fifth in an “A” class heat race on a greasy track and then second in a C Main before the team elected to skip a B Main. In nonwing outlaw Scelzi placed third in a heat race and seventh in a qualifier before a DNF in a B Main.

“We only ran nonwing one time last year,” he said. “We just couldn’t get a handle on it. We’ve been better than that in the past. We were trying so hard. We were throwing things at it we haven’t done and nothing worked.”

Scelzi is scheduled to return to competition on April 1 at Plaza Park Raceway in Visalia, Calif.

Wood Brothers

Wood Brothers Racing–Marvin Panch Was Like One Of The Wood Brothers

Marvin Panch Was Like One Of The Wood Brothers

January 4, 2016

Of all the drivers who have taken the wheel of the Wood Brothers’ Fords over the years, none were as close to the Wood family as Marvin Panch.

Panch, who died Dec. 31 at the age of 89 at his home in Port Orange, Fla., drove the No. 21 from 1962 to 1966, winning eight races, including a sweep of the superspeedway races at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 1965. When Panch drove the Wood’s Ford, now driven by Ryan Blaney, he was more like a member of the family than an employee of the team. Continue reading Wood Brothers Racing–Marvin Panch Was Like One Of The Wood Brothers →

Dyson Racing

DYSON RACING TEAM CONCLUDES TWO-YEAR PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE WORKS-SUPPORTED PROGRAM WITH BENTLEY, LOOKS AHEAD TO 2016

DYSON RACING TEAM CONCLUDES TWO-YEAR PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE WORKS-SUPPORTED PROGRAM WITH BENTLEY, LOOKS AHEAD TO 2016
Poughkeepsie, NY (30 December 2015) The Dyson Racing Team returned to victory lane and scored several podium finishes while competing in the Pirelli World Challenge series in 2015. Dyson Racing campaigned a pair of Bentley Continental GT3 race cars in partnership with Bentley Motors, Ltd. and under the banner of Team Bentley Dyson Racing in the final year of the team’s two-year contract to represent Bentley in North American motorsport. Continue reading DYSON RACING TEAM CONCLUDES TWO-YEAR PIRELLI WORLD CHALLENGE WORKS-SUPPORTED PROGRAM WITH BENTLEY, LOOKS AHEAD TO 2016 →

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Giovanni Scelzi Returns to Tulsa Shootout Aiming to Back Up Golden Driller

Giovanni Scelzi Returns to Tulsa Shootout Aiming to Back Up Golden Driller

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (Dec. 29, 2015) – Giovanni Scelzi has one mission this week at the biggest micro sprint race of the year.

“The only thing you come here to do is win,” he said. “That’s all I’m thinking about doing.”

Scelzi captured his first career Golden Driller during last year’s Speedway Motors Tulsa Shootout at Tulsa Expo Raceway in Tulsa, Okla., where the 31 st edition will run this Wednesday through Saturday. He will once again compete in both the winged and nonwing “A” class and Outlaw divisions.

Last year Scelzi led all 25 laps of the “A” class winged feature to garner the biggest win of his young career. He also placed sixth in the Outlaw winged class.

“It’s so hard to get yourself in position to win and then to execute to actually win,” he said. “There’s so many different variables to think about. You have to draw a good number and be on your game every time you’re on the track. If I can do my job we should be in contention to win. I feel comfortable with the package we have.”

Scelzi also earned a top-10 result in the winged “A” class and winged Outlaw main events in 2014, which was his first year in both divisions.

Gary Scelzi Motorsports

Scelzi Opening 2016 Campaign This Weekend at Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown

Scelzi Opening 2016 Campaign This Weekend at Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown

Inside Line Promotions – FRESNO, Calif. (Dec. 29, 2015) – A lot of money and pride is on the line at the 2nd annual Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown, but it’s the experience that Dominic Scelzi is seeking as he heads into the marquee event at Cocopah Speedway.

Scelzi and his Roth Motorsports backed, family owned team will compete at the 3/8-mile oval in Somerton, Ariz., this Friday and Saturday – as well as next Tuesday and Jan. 8-9 – during the offseason’s premier winged sprint car event in the United States. Continue reading Scelzi Opening 2016 Campaign This Weekend at Winter Heat Sprint Car Showdown →

Chevrolet Racing

Chevrolet Racing Wins 11 Championships in 2015 Titles in IndyCar, NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA and PWC

Chevrolet Racing Wins 11 Championships in 2015
Titles in IndyCar, NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA and PWC

DETROIT – Chevrolet completed another successful year in motorsports in 2015, earning six manufacturer and five driver championships in NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA, United SportsCar Championship and Pirelli World Challenge series.

In addition, Chevrolet drivers won several noteworthy races in 2015, including the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar Dual in Detroit, NHRA U.S. Nationals, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, and the manufacturer’s first overall victory in 50 years at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

“Winning championships and key races are two goals we have every season,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “What we learn on the race track helps us build better vehicles and powertrains for the showroom. Winning races and championships helps elevate brand opinion and image. Consumers are more likely to place our cars and trucks on their shopping list.” Continue reading Chevrolet Racing Wins 11 Championships in 2015 Titles in IndyCar, NASCAR, NHRA, IMSA and PWC →

World of Outlaws

New Tracks, New Big Events, Fierce Competition Expected in 2016 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Schedule

New Tracks, New Big Events, Fierce Competition Expected in 2016 World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Schedule
Series returns in 2016 with 93 events at 52 tracks in 24 states and one Canadian province
INDIANAPOLIS – Dec. 10, 2015 – The World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series announced its 2016 schedule today during the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. The season which has 93 scheduled dates and takes the series to 52 different tracks in 24 states and one Canadian province features new facilities, new big events and promises some of the fiercest competition in the nearly 40 year history of the series.

The Outlaws kick off their 2016 season at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville, Florida, February 12 to 14, for DIRTcar Nationals. The annual tradition features three nights of racing at the world’s fastest half-mile dirt track. To the DIRTcar Nationals champion goes the coveted ‘Big Gator.’

That coveted prize is the first in a season that from February to late October includes some of the biggest events in sprint car racing – and in all of motorsports.

Eldora Speedway’s Kings Royal expands to three days in 2016, July 14 to 16, with the addition of a new Thursday night kickoff event, the ‘Jokers Wild.’ The Ironman 55 returns to Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 on August 5 and 6 as series competitors work to prove who the strongest man is. Out west, the Outlaws battle the fierce competition in California at Silver Dollar Speedway’s Gold Cup on September 9 and 10. In Pennsylvania, at the historic Williams Grove Speedway, the Outlaws battle the Posse during the expanded three-day, $50,000-to-win National Open.

The biggest event of them all though is the $150,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway, August 10 to 13. Reigning series champion and now nine-time Knoxville Nationals champion Donny Schatz will be the driver to beat as the best sprint car drivers in the world converge on Iowa.

The World of Outlaws continues to add and build on weekend destination events throughout the 2016 schedule.

The Texas Outlaw Nationals, at the birthplace of the series, Devil’s Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas, has quickly become a series and fan favorite. ‘The Greatest Show on Dirt’ returns for two-days on April 22 and 23. The FVP Outlaw Showdown at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas moves to Thursday and Friday, March 3 and 4 in 2016 to coincide with the NASCAR weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Knoxville Raceway’s spring World of Outlaws event expands to two nights, June 10 and 11.

The Outlaws take on Badlands Motor Speedway in Brandon, South Dakota for two blockbuster weekends in 2016. The Outlaws will celebrate Fourth of July weekend for the first time ever at the track. Then, the series returns August 19 and 21 for the first Rock N Roll Gold Cup with $50,000 to the winner.

“Every year we work hard to make the World of Outlaws schedule bigger and better than the year before,” said World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series Director Carlton Reimers. “From February to October, the 2016 season promises to be filled with thrilling action at all of the new events and longstanding World of Outlaws traditions.”

The series returns to several tracks after multi-year absences and takes on several more for the first time ever. Among the first-time tracks are Cotton Bowl Speedway in Paige, Texas on February 26, Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Arizona on March 6 and Plymouth (Indiana) Speedway on May 13.

Those tracks returning to the schedule after absences are Royal Purple Raceway Park, Ocean Speedway, Bakersfield Speedway, I-30 Speedway, Jacksonville Speedway, the Jackson Motorplex, US 36 Raceway, Lincoln Park Speedway, Hartford Speedway, Wilmot Speedway and Willamette Speedway.

The battle between the Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse begins on May 18 at Lincoln Speedway’s Gettysburg Clash and continues with trips throughout the spring, summer and fall to Williams Grove Speedway and Port Royal Speedway.

Cedar Lake Speedway’s two-day Sprint Car Showdown returns for the second year on July 8 and 9, and kicks off the ‘Month of Money’ with a $15,000-to-win prize on Saturday. The Brad Doty Classic which moves back to Attica Raceway Park follows that up on July 12. After taking on the Kings Royal, the Outlaws head to Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pennsylvania on July 19 for the Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup.

The series makes two West Coast swings this season. The first, a six-week stretch to start the season from March 3 to April 18, takes the Outlaws to Nevada, Arizona and California. In September, the Outlaws return for a week-long stretch with stops in Washington, Oregon and California.

The Outlaws take one trip to Canada in 2016 on July 26 for Ohsweken (Ontario) Speedway’s annual Six Nations Showdown.

The 2016 season will wrap up and the champion crowned October 27 to 29 at the 10th Annual Bad Boy Buggies World of Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The season finale is one week earlier in 2016.

“With just nine weeks to go before DIRTcar Nationals, we couldn’t be more excited to kickoff the season and write another chapter in the rich history of the World of Outlaws,” said Reimers.