Daytona International Speedway and Wayne Taylor Racing, which will field a star-studded driver lineup for the 2019 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, have created an exciting new limited ticket offer for fans attending the 57th anniversary of North America’s most prestigious sports car race on Jan. 26-27.
The 2019 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA with Wayne Taylor Racing ticket package, available for $150 per ticket, includes:
- A four-day wristband that provides access to the infield and frontstretch seating (Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 24-27) as well as garage and UNOH Fanzone access.
- Question-and-answer session with all four No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R. drivers (Jordan Taylor, Renger van der Zande, Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi) on Friday, Jan. 25 at 1:30 p.m.
- An autographed Wayne Taylor Racing hero card signed by all four of the team’s drivers.
For fans that have already purchased their four-day Rolex 24 wristband and want to add to their experience, a limited amount of upgrades are available for $40 per person.
To purchase this limited 2019 Rolex 24 At DAYTONA with Wayne Taylor Racing ticket package, fans can visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/wtr or call 1-800-PITSHOP.
Wayne Taylor Racing was formed in 2007 by endurance racing legend and two-time Rolex 24 champion Wayne Taylor and captured the overall Rolex 24 title in 2017. The team annually brings a championship-contending driving lineup to DIS and the 2019 edition of the Rolex 24 is no different. Behind the wheel of the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R. will be 2017 Rolex 24 champion Jordan Taylor, two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso, two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans podium finisher Kamui Kobayashi, and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship veteran Renger van der Zande.
Tickets for the 57th Rolex 24 and other Daytona International Speedway 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.
DIS PR
Plan B Sales and Marketing to Support Bubba Wallace at Auto Club Speedway
15 Jan 2019 Written by Steven B. WilsonRichard Petty Motorsports (RPM) announced a fan-focused sponsorship with Plan B Sales and Marketing that will allow fans to not only design the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, but also get their name on the car and then order the same diecast.
"We're always searching for additional ways in which we can elevate our role with Bubba and fans in the sport," added Powell. "When the opportunity to partner with RPM and the iconic No. 43 arose, it was a dream come true for our company. The fans play a pivotal role in our company and in the sport as a whole. That notion drove us to make sure this partnership interacted with them - whether it be through the paint scheme design, or the addition of their names on the car at the event at Auto Club Speedway."
The Cup race at Auto Club Speedway is scheduled for Sunday, March 17. The race will be televised live on FOX at 3:30 p.m. ET and broadcast on Motor Racing Network and SIRIUS/XM NASCAR radio.\
RPM PR
LVMS tabs ThriveHive as naming rights partner for infield media center
15 Jan 2019 Written by Steven B. WilsonThriveHive, the guided marketing solutions company, has become the Official Digital Partner of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The partnership includes the renaming of the speedway media center as the ThriveHive Digital Center.
Built in 2007, the 60,000-square-foot media facility is one of the most impressive media centers in all of professional sports. Equipped with meeting rooms, hospitality options, production and office areas, a dining room and outdoor terraces with open views of the speedway, the ThriveHive Digital Center is the nerve center of LVMS’s race-week operations and houses hundreds of credentialed media during its national NASCAR events.
Founded in November 2011, ThriveHive has quickly become a leader in the guided marketing world, helping thousands of businesses maximize their marketing potential, expand their reach and enjoy new levels of success. With more than 300 employees and offices in Quincy, Mass., Boston, Las Vegas, Denver and Manchester, N.H., ThriveHive has run more than 150,000 marketing campaigns and built more than 7,000 websites for companies of all types and sizes.
“ThriveHive is a proven leader in the digital marketing industry, and we’re honored to rename our media center as the ThriveHive Digital Center,” LVMS President Chris Powell said. “With partners like ThriveHive, we can continue to be innovative in the ways we reach our fans and promote the many noteworthy events and programs we stage here at LVMS. We’re excited about this partnership and have big plans for future growth with the help of ThriveHive.”
ThriveHive routinely has been feted for its high level of excellence, being named one of the Top 20 Most Promising Digital Marketing Solutions Providers by CIO Review in 2015 and earning Google AdWords Premier SMB Partner status in 2016. In addition, ThriveHive won the Best Digital Agency Award from the Local Media Association in 2017.
The company’s mission is, “to guide businesses to achieve extraordinary local marketing results using the right blend of software, data and people,” and helps people working in local business do what they love by combining actual human guidance with easy-to-use technology to make marketing their business easy, effective and affordable.
“ThriveHive’s relationship with Las Vegas Motor Speedway is extremely valuable, and the opportunity to have our brand on its media center was an amazing opportunity,” ThriveHive CEO Peter Cannone said. “We could not be more excited for the future.”
ThriveHive acquired an award-winning guided marketing platform in 2016 and acquired Closely, the Denver-based technology company known best for its award-winning mobile app, Perch, and integrated it into its digital solutions portfolio. The company uses its guided marketing platform and digital marketing services to help businesses eliminate the guesswork, maximize their time and focus on what’s really important – running their business.
Customers with ThriveHive for 12 months receive 77 percent more leads per month than customers with the company for one month, and the number of leads a ThriveHive customer gets increases five to seven percent each month they are with the provider, according to its website, ThriveHive.com. From guided marketing, display advertising, social media marketing, search engine marketing to e-mail marketing, website design, local list building, logo creation and video solutions, ThriveHive offers an array of services and products to its clients.
The ThriveHive Digital Center will be a big part of the speedway’s first NASCAR tripleheader weekend of the year March 1-3. The Strat 200 NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race and Strat qualifying take place on Friday, March 1, with Saturday’s racing action highlighted by the Boyd Gaming 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race and the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube anchoring five consecutive days of racing at the 1,000-acre facility with a 12:30 p.m. start on Sunday.
Various ticket packages, fun extras and special-access passes for LVMS’s NASCAR weekends are available at www.lvms.com or by calling 1-800-644-4444.
LVMS PR
Gateway Motorsports Park statement on today’s INDYCAR announcement of new title sponsorship
15 Jan 2019 Written by Steven B. WilsonINDYCAR, the governing body of the IndyCar Series, today announced that global information technology and communications leader NTT has signed a multiyear agreement to become the IndyCar Series’ title partner. The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park – the third annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline – will take place on Saturday, August 24.
“Today’s announcement that NTT is the new title sponsor of the IndyCar Series is very promising for Gateway Motorsports Park as it pertains to our business community,” said Gateway Motorsports Park owner and CEO Curtis Francois. “Some of the largest tech companies in the world are located just minutes from our venue and the St. Louis tech start-up scene is thriving.
“Having one of the most technologically advanced sports, that is sponsored by a leading tech company, in the backyard of fast-growing companies is a win for the community. Even before today’s announcement we were developing relationships with a number of technology partners and creating STEM initiatives. This new relationship will provide us with another valuable asset.”
“We hope to use this relationship between INDYCAR, NTT and Gateway Motorsports Park to further advance the development of professional motorsports in St. Louis,” said Gateway Motorsports Park Vice President and General Manager Chris Blair. “Our team will be working on a variety of special promotions and educational programs with the many employees, developers and sponsors in this category that are based within a few minutes of our facility. It’s an exciting and unique opportunity with unlimited potential.
“We are striving to be revolutionary in our approach to promotions and the race-day experience. We are looking forward to pursuing all new roads of activation and engagement with the tech community.”
Truly an international event, the NTT IndyCar Series delivers the cars and stars of the Indianapolis 500 to the St. Louis-Metro East region. In addition to America’s best drivers, the third annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline also draws competitors from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France and Japan.
Tickets for the third annual Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline may be purchased by calling the GMP ticket office at (618) 215-8888.
For more information on Gateway Motorsports Park, please call (618) 215-8888 or visit www.gatewaymsp.com. Follow GMP on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram.
Gateway MSP PR
Toyota Drivers Seavey, Bacon Run 1-2 On Opening Night at the Chili Bowl; Advance Directly to Saturday’s A Main
15 Jan 2019 Written by Steven B. WilsonLogan Seavey led all 25 laps on the way to winning Monday’s Cummins Qualifying Night, while Brady Bacon climbed into second place coming to the line with just two laps remaining as the two Toyota drivers advanced directly into Saturday’s A Main feature at the 33rd annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals with a one-two finish on Monday night at the Tulsa Expo Raceway.
The victory culminated a dominating performance by Seavey, who won all three of his contests on the night after previously triumphing in his heat and qualifying races. In the main event, Seavey started from the pole and moved into the lead at the green flag, never wavering as he became the fourth Keith Kunz Motorsports Toyota driver to win in the last five preliminary night features at the Chili Bowl.
“Everything just fell into place and went our way tonight,” said Seavey, who will look to earn Toyota’s fifth consecutive Chili Bowl title. “Anytime you’re running in a Keith Kunz Toyota you’re going to have a car that’s really good. Then the team just seems to step it up when he comes to this event. Now we can relax for a few days, watch our teammates and get ready for Saturday.”
Bacon started from the fifth position and quickly moved up into the top three and then began a race-long battle for the coveted final A Main transfer spot with Brad Sweet. Bacon eventually went low and cleared Sweet as they came to the starting line with just over two laps remaining.
“I was just waiting for Brad, but I could see his car start to go away a little, so when he went high, we’d just go low and then we finally got a run off of two and were able to move past going into three and then just held on for second,” said Bacon, a native of nearby Broken Arrow, Okla. “It means a lot to be able to transfer directly into the A. It’s just a relief and now we can focus on getting our car ready to run 55 laps on Saturday. This race means so much to me. We’ve got a great package with Toyota and Beast and we seem to just step it up for the big races and this is the biggest one of them all.”
Four additional Toyota drivers advanced to Monday’s feature with Paul Nienheiser earning a ninth-place. Each of the remaining three drivers, Tanner Carrick, Kyle Craker and Hayden Williams, were involved in a five-car incident on lap 13 that would end their nights. Carrick was scored in 20th, Williams in 23rd and Craker in 24th.
This year’s Chili Bowl features more than 360 entries - each fighting for one of the 24 openings in Saturday night’s “A Main” feature event. Qualifying continues for each of the next four nights with seven more Toyota-powered drivers expected to attempt to qualify on Tuesday.
TRD PR
Michigan native Erik Jones is coming to the Irish Hills in 2019 and you have an opportunity to meet him before the Consumers Energy 400 on Aug. 11. Jones and Michigan International Speedway partnered to create a special ticket package for the hometown driver.
The Erik Jones Ticket Package includes a grandstand ticket to the Consumers Energy 400 and a Pit/Paddock and Driver Introduction Pass. And on Sunday morning, Jones will host a special question and answer session for fans who bought this package. Fans can get this ticket package starting at $76 for adults and only $38 for children.
“I am excited to work with my hometown track to create a special ticket package for the fans,” Jones said. “I always look forward to racing in front of family and friends twice a year in the state I started my racing career.”
The Byron, MI native started racing at the short tracks around the state and is now a rising star in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track is excited to create the Erik Jones Ticket Package to salute its hometown driver.
“We are proud to work with Erik to create a special ticket package for his fans to cheer him on in the Consumers Energy 400,” track president Rick Brenner said. “Erik got his start on all the local short tracks in the area and it is fun to see him come back to race in NASCAR’s top series in front of so many family members and friends.”
Tickets and campsites for two great weekends of racing at Michigan International Speedway are on sale. Don’t miss your chance to purchase tickets and reserve a campsite for all the non-stop racing action and the week-long entertainment at NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track in 2019.
It has never been easier to purchase tickets and reserve a campsite at Michigan International Speedway in 2019. Fans can visit www.mispeedway.com or call 888-905-7223 to get the best deals. Grandstand tickets start at $39 and week-long camping starts at $135.
Michigan International Speedway will continue to be a premier racing facility in 2019 when it hosts a pair of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. NASCAR’s most entertaining track will host the Monster Energy Series on June 9 and Aug. 11.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 is on June 9. The series will return on Aug. 11 for the Consumers Energy 400.
The XFINITY Series LTi Printing 250 is June 8 while the Gander Outdoors Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 is scheduled for Aug. 10.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will feature a new aerodynamic racing package in 2019 to bolster the competition. It will be similar to what was used in the 2018 All-Star race. The Gander Outdoors Truck Series Corrigan Oil 200 will serve as the cutoff race for the regular season. Drivers will have one final opportunity to make the playoffs in the truck series, adding even more intensity and intrigue to the already thrilling race at MIS.
MIS PR
INDYCAR announced today during the North American International Auto Show that global information technology and communications leader NTT has signed a multiyear agreement to become the IndyCar Series title partner. In addition, NTT becomes the official technology partner of INDYCAR, the IndyCar Series, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's Brickyard 400 beginning in 2019.
INDYCAR will partner with NTT to deliver digital innovations that enhance the fan experience. These innovations include the evolution of INDYCAR's mobile application and adoption of NTT's proprietary Smart Platform to support the sport and its venues in delivering better insights into the racing series.
"NTT is proud to be associated with INDYCAR and accelerate the future of smart racing. Technological innovations have the potential to change the sport and fan experience drastically," said Jun Sawada, president and CEO of NTT. "NTT, along with our partners, aims to bring the Smart World to life as we have done for Smart City, Smart Entertainment, Smart Mobility and Smart Manufacturing. Based on our lengthy and successful experience, including work in mobile applications, analytics and user experience, we will help INDYCAR create the next generation of fans globally who aspire to enjoy racing through a more digital experience."
The NTT IndyCar Series offers what is regarded by experts as the fastest, most diverse and challenging racing program in motorsports. The series competes on permanent road courses, temporary street circuits, short ovals and superspeedway ovals, including the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
"Having a strong technology partner is critically important to INDYCAR's continued growth, so we are thrilled to welcome NTT as our new title sponsor. INDYCAR's rise in popularity is a testament to the fact that we've made the sport as accessible as possible to our fans and we plan to continue in that mission," Mark Miles, president and CEO of Hulman & Company, which owns INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We have a history with NTT through NTT DATA's involvement in the sport with Chip Ganassi Racing. We know this partnership will help us attract the next generation of fans to what remains the most competitive racing program on the planet."
The 2019 NTT IndyCar Series season consists of 17 races, starting with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 10, including the 103rd Indianapolis 500 on May 26 and concluding with the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey on Sept. 22.
Indycar PR
South Boston Speedway Honors Five Champs During Annual Champions Night Awards Dinner
14 Jan 2019 Written by Steven B. WilsonSouth Boston Speedway crowned five champions Saturday night and, in the process handed out almost $50,000 in prize money and awards at the track’s annual Champions Night.
Champions honored for their 2018 titles included: Peyton Sellers, Late Model Stock; Trey Crews, Limited Sportsman; Daniel Shelton, Pure Stock; Cameron Jarrell, Hornets; and Dennis Holdren, Mod 4.
Philip Morris, the 2018 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national champion, was also honored for winning the overall most popular driver at South Boston in an online vote of fans.
“Congratulations to all the other champions tonight,” Sellers said after being honored for his fourth South Boston Speedway championship. “It’s truly an honor to stand here and wear these rings and be a champion at South Boston Speedway.
“We did have an amazing year. I finished fourth in the nation and thought that was an unbelievable feat considering I was racing against the national champion every week.”
Sellers had three wins in 17 starts at South Boston and backed that up with nine second-place finishes and 15 top-five finishes. A pair of 13th-place finishes, one early in the season and the other late, were the only times he was out of the top five.
Crews had an extraordinary season on the way to his second Limited title. He won eight times in 12 starts. A sixth was his worst finish of the year. He wound up winning the championship by almost 50 points.
“My team and I are very blessed to have the amount of success we’ve had this year,” said Crews. “It would not be possible without the good Lord above. This all started for me over a decade ago with my dad. He’s always believed in me.”
Shelton was one of two rookie champions crowned. He had just two victories on his way to the Pure Stock title but was consistent all season.
“It’s not often you have a 31-year-old rookie in a class,” Shelton joked. “I’ve been coming to South Boston since 1990 when I was three years old. I’ve seen some of the greatest (drivers) race there and it really means a lot for me to be a champion at South Boston Speedway.”
At 19, Jarrell was the youngest champion. He also was the least experienced when the season began. He had never driven a lap at South Boston until the first night of the season. He was a quick study, though with seven wins on the season.
Holdren, an 18-year veteran of many different weekly racing divisions, captured the Mod 4 championship by 25 points.
The 2019 South Boston season will kick off on Saturday March 16 with an afternoon of racing featuring twin 100-lap Late Model races, a 50-lap Limited Sportsman race, a 30-lap Pure Stock race and a 15-lap Hornets race.
SBS PR
Over 200 people braved a snowstorm Saturday night to gather at Eventfully Yours Event Center here to celebrate Gas City I-69 Speedway’s 2018 season. The top-10 finishers in each of five weekly divisions, the Rookies of the Year, and special award winners were honored during an evening that featured recurring comments thanking promoter Jerry Gappens for bringing new vitality and regular weekly shows to the quarter-mile dirt oval. The track was only holding occasional events in the past several years before Gappens became the track’s promoter last year.
Approximately $3,500 worth of trophies and $8,500 in point-fund money was distributed to the track’s 262 weekly racers, who also shared nearly $250,000 in purse money throughout the season.
Taking home the biggest awards were the five driver champions: Clinton Boyles of Lees Summit, Mo. (non-wing sprint cars); Dillon Nusbaum of Warsaw, Ind. (UMP modifieds); Randy Lines of Marion (super streets); D.J. Holt of Marion (thunder cars) and Eric Solms of Fairmont, Ind. (front-wheel-drive compacts.)
The champion team owners were Paul Hazen of Columbia City, Ind. (sprint cars), Nusbaum (UMP modifieds), Sam Thompson (super streets), Holt (thunder cars) and Solms (FWD compacts).
Luke Harbison of Fishers, Ind. and Bryar Schroeter of Kokomo, Ind. were the co-Rookies of the Year in the sprint car division.
The Krider family of Garrett, Ind. has two Rookie of the Year in its household, as Lance won the UMP modified Rookie of the Year award and his son, 13-year-old Bryce Krider, was the top rookie in the thunder car division.
Jarrett Rennaker of Huntington, Ind. was the super street Rookie of the Year.
James Headley Jr. of Wabash, Ind., son of super street and thunder car driver James Headley, was the Rookie of the Year in the FWD compact division.
The keynote speaker was Tom Bigelow, a member of both the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame, and a nine-time starter in the Indianapolis 500.
He told the drivers to set big goals as well as smaller, more attainable goals to help them reach the big goal. He disclosed that he flipped in the first midget race he entered, but he won his first sprint car race.
“Learn how to drive that car, and don’t let it drive you,” he said. He also emphasized that drivers should take care of their sponsors and fans.
“Don’t just pack up and leave at the end of the night,” said Bigelow, who noted that he made it a practice to shake each fan’s hand after he signed an autograph.
And even in this day of engineers, he said learning how to set up a race car is still something each driver needs to do. “You need to know what’s going on,” he noted.
“The people in this room are the grassroots of racing, and the way you treat other people you meet in the sport is very important,” he emphasized.
Gappens said he is close to finalizing the track’s 2019 schedule, and the final version will include 20-22 events. He also recognized Susannah Stapp of Hoosier Tire Midwest, and thanked Hoosier, Marion Tire, Miller’s American Auto Body, Indiana Oxygen, Brandt’s Harley-Davidson, John and Sheril Long and Thompson Trucking for their support.
Several special awards were presented, as follows:
* Media Award: Chuck Landis of “The Chronicle-Tribune,” Marion, Ind.;
* Photographers of the Year Awards: Bill Miller and Randy Crist;
* Super Fan Award: Dale “The Candy Man” Korporal;
* Vendor of the Year: Scott Benic, Benic Enterprises;
* Track Prep Appreciation Award: Jason Martin;
* Social Media/Marketing Appreciation Award: Jacob Quick;
* Walt Disney Award (for taking pride in the track’s appearance): Aaron Bishop;
* “Agony of Defeat” Award (for surviving the most dramatic flip of 2018): Tom Davies;
* Fan Club of the Year Award: No. 00 Headley Fan Club, and
* Special Promotion of the Year Award: Holt, Ervin Turner of Marion and Ron Flaugh of Converse, Ind. for raising $5,000 to stage the “Thunder Car Rumble.”
More information is available on the track’s website at gascityI69speedway.com and by following it on Facebook (@GasCitySpeedwayOnTheGas), Twitter (@GasCitySpeedway) and Instagram (@GasCitySpeedway).
Gas City Speedway PR
