Adam Sinclair

Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway more than 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of traveling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week.

Adam spent several years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.

Be sure to tune in for his sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place (almost) every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.

Contact Adam: Email

Speedway News

Veterans To Be Honored at 24th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans

Wednesday, Oct 06

Veterans and active military will be honored throughout the Nov. 10-13 weekend of the 24th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans with special ticket pricing, hospitality opportunities and the opportunity to participate in pre-race ceremonies for the final race of the 2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The Motul Petit Le Mans is being held one month later than its traditional date, with gates opening to the public Wednesday, Nov. 10. All veterans and active military, with proof of service, can purchase one four-day ticket for $50, a $40 discount off the already reduced advance-purchase price.

Veterans and active service members attending Thursday’s popular Motul Petit Le Mans night practice, as well as their families, are invited to a Veteran’s Day drop-in hospitality event in the Tower Paddock chalet from 5-8 p.m., where snacks, beverages and a great view of the front straight and pitlane will be available.

Also, as part of the celebration, each race team competing in the IMSA season finale will have a service member serve as an honorary team member during the pre-race ceremonies Saturday, Nov. 13th. This role will include walking across the pre-race stage for driver introductions and being introduced to the crowd.

“Our nation’s veterans deserve to be recognized and appreciated every day, but we’re glad for the opportunity to celebrate them and their families at the 24th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans,” said Rick Humphrey, president and general manager of Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. “This occasion to honor our military is one that presented itself with the changing of our event dates to November, which meant the Thursday of race week would fall on Veteran’s Day. With much respect and admiration for our nation’s veterans, we look forward to the chance to make their experience here even more special.”

The 24th Annual Motul Petit Le Mans endurance classic kicks off Wednesday, Nov. 10 and culminates with the 10-hour IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship season finale starting at 10:10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13.

(Courtesy of Road Atlanta)

Speedway News

Always Becoming: VIR Continues Blossoming under Nyholm

Wednesday, Oct 06

By David Phillips

IMSA Wire Service

In the words of noted motorsports buff Bob Dylan, “Never think you’ve arrived. Always be in a state of becoming.”

Although it’s doubtful Mr. Dylan has ever set foot on the well-manicured grounds of VIRginia International Raceway, his words could have been the mantra of Connie Nyholm and Harvey Siegel as they went about resurrecting the fabled motorsports facility some 20 years ago after it had gone to seed in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Not content with restoring the iconic road course to mere serviceability, Nyholm and Siegel used the rebirth of VIR to create the country’s first “motorsport resort” featuring upscale lodging and dining, trackside condominiums and suites overlooking pit lane along with a go-kart track – even skeet shooting, pistol and rifle ranges – in a setting more akin to Augusta National or Pebble Beach than your run-of-the-mill racetrack.

Nyholm has continued enhancing the facility’s competitor- and spectator-friendliness –since Siegel retired from ownership, selectively widening and repaving all 3.27 miles of the track’s full course layout, paving the main paddock and adding dining and lodging options such that VIR now boasts no fewer than three onsite hotels.

And did we mention the adjacent VIR Motorsport Technology Park, home to some of America’s leading motorsports and automotive organizations, including Team Hardpoint, which will field the No. 88 Porsche for co-drivers Rob Ferriol and Katherine Legge in Saturday’s featured race at the Michelin GT Challenge, as well as the National Tire Research Center operated by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute?

“On the one hand, we started with a clean sheet of paper back in 1998,” says Nyholm. “On the other hand, you could say the other tracks around the country had a 20-year head start on us, and we were playing catch-up.”

Suffice to say VIR caught up quite some time ago. Nor should it come as a surprise that competitors and fans alike will find significant improvements awaiting when they arrive for IMSA’s Michelin GT Challenge at VIR this weekend, courtesy of VIR’s ongoing “infrastructure program.” Noteworthy projects include installing more robust catch fencing in Turn 1, completely new guardrails on the drivers’ right from pit out to Turn 1, and on the drivers’ right running from the exit of Turn 1 to Turn 3.

But if you think Nyholm and her staff believe these upgrades mean VIR has arrived, think again.

“We’re in the process of developing a master plan for VIR for decades to come,” she says. “We don’t start things we aren’t sure to finish, so we’ll make the projects public as soon as we are able.”

Like most tracks around the country, indeed worldwide, VIR took something of a financial hit during the pandemic, what with rescheduling and, at best, limited crowd capacity. If there was some relatively good news to come out of the last 18 months, it’s that the club component of VIR’s schedule has rebounded with a bang, with club activities up some 30 percent as amateurs enjoy the circuit’s wide-open spaces from behind their face-shielded helmets.

Now it’s time for the professional side of VIR’s calendar to follow suit.

“We’ve always looked forward to the IMSA weekend,” says Nyholm, “and this year’s (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship) race will be carried live on NBC. We hope the competitors and fans who are returning – some of whom have been coming here for 20 years – will notice all the improvements.”

Tickets for the Michelin GT Challenge At VIR weekend are available at virnow.com. The two-hour, 40-minute WeatherTech Championship race, featuring the GT Le Mans (GTLM) and GT Daytona (GTD) classes, airs live at noon ET Saturday on NBC. The Virginia Is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge two-hour race, streams live at 2:05 p.m. Sunday on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

Racing News

Charlotte Half-Mile Promises Epic Progressive AFT Finale

Wednesday, Oct 06

This is it. Following 15 fiercely fought Progressive American Flat Track rounds, the season-ending Honda Charlotte Half-Mile will determine the 2021 Grand National Championship under the lights at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Friday, October 8.

As they arrive in Charlotte, North Carolina, reigning two-time Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champion Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) and living legend Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) are separated by just four points. That means both factory Indian stars are in position to secure the 2021 crown from the top step of the podium, simple as that.

It gets a bit more complicated should another rider play the spoiler and steal away the victory. Should that happen, Mees’ slight lead earned on the strength of an active four-race win streak provides him an advantage in that he could still take the title by finishing close behind Bauman on track.

Considering their combined ability, winning percentage, and motivation, it may seem unlikely that another rider is able to elbow ahead with so much on the line, but Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) managed to do just that (twice) in last year’s similarly tight DAYTONA finale.

The scenario of a title-shifting upset just became that much more realistic with the news that Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing/DPC/KullyCo/Bigelow Indian FTR750) has been added to the entry list. As a reminder, in last year’s late-season battle in Charlotte, Bauman and Mees traded the lead back and forth until privateer Carver shot past them both en route to a huge win. A repeat effort could literally decide which bike the #1 plate is brandished upon in 2022.

The field is stocked with potential spoilers, including Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Coolbeth-Nila Racing Indian FTR750), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), Brandon Price (No. 92 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) and JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).

AFT Singles

The 2021 AFT Singles championship will be determined in Charlotte as well. While there doesn’t appear to be much room for drama as in the premier class, if second-ranked Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-FFE) manages to dethrone defending class champ Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), you can bet some serious drama went down.

With 20 points and the tiebreaker working in his favor, Daniels merely needs to finish 13th or better in the Main even if Australian Whale wins. And if Whale doesn’t win, Daniels doesn’t need to do anything but collect his trophy.

Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Mission Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) is nearly as safe in third with Daniels’ teammate, Mikey Rush (No. 15 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), 18 points back in fourth.

Last year’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway was a classic, with Daniels clinching the title thanks to a last-lap pass for victory over Mischler. Whale finished fourth, just 0.201 seconds back of the win, which sets the table nicely for another spectacular scrap on Friday night.

AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines

Last season, Cory Texter (No. 65 G&G Racing/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) scored a holeshot-to-checkered flag win in Charlotte. The situation was considerably different, as Texter was desperate just to keep his slim 2020 AFT Production Twins presented by Vance & Hines title hopes alive at the time.

Now he comes into the finale having already locked down a second-career AFT Production Twins championship. That said, Texter is a racer’s racer and one making up for lost time spent as a long-time journeyman pilot. He’s unlikely to lack for motivation even with the title already taken care of.

Meanwhile, AFT Production Twins championship runner-up honors are still up for grabs with Chad Cose (No. 49 Voodoo Ranger/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) nine points up on Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) with one race to go.

The evening also presents one final chance for the likes of Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Jesse Janisch (No. 96 Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson XG750R) to get a win before the year is out.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Charlotte Half-Mile will also feature the season finale of Royal Enfield’s hugely popular BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. program and the penultimate round of the innovative Super Hooligan National Championship. BUILD. TRAIN. RACE. showcases the talent, versatility, competitiveness, and enthusiasm of female motorcyclists in its own action-packed style, while the outlaw-minded Super Hooligan series features customized heavy street bikes competing at a road race circuit, a Short Track, a Half-Mile and an asphalt oval to determine the nation’s most all-around skill heavy street bike racer.

The Honda Charlotte HM will also feature all the pomp and circumstance befitting a season finale off the track as well. NASCAR superstar Austin Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE will serve as the evening’s Grand Marshal ahead of the weekend’s NASCAR doubleheader at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Additionally, the Fan Zone will offer a multitude of activities, including a Tribute to the Troops presentation to a Gold Star Family, fun in the Kids Zone, live music courtesy of series’ favorite Chasing Neon and fireworks at the end of the evening to close out the 2021 season in style.

Exclusive to the Honda Charlotte Half-Mile experience is the introduction of the Honda Talon Fan Experience. Fans may purchase one of a very limited number of passes granting access to an exclusive ride-along experience in the Official Sport SxS of AFT: the Honda Talon. This one-of-a-kind experience includes GA admission, Paddock Access Upgrade, Mission Hospitality service and more. Information and purchasing can be found at https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3325/#selectTickets.

Tickets are available for purchase now at https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3325/#selectTickets. General Admission Grandstand tickets are $29 in advance (kids 12 and under free with an adult ticket purchase) and Premium GA Grandstands are just $10 more (kids 12 and under $20).

The Paddock Access Upgrade is a certified fun multiplier. Offering access to the pits where fans can check out the race bikes and watch the riders and teams work from close range, the upgrade comes highly recommended at $40.

The gates will open for fans on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT, with Opening Ceremonies scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT ahead of the season’s final Main Event program. Live coverage of the entire weekend’s racing activities will be available on any device for only $1.99 a month via TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

The Honda Charlotte Half-Mile will premiere on NBCSN one day later, Saturday, October 9, starting at 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT, and re-air on Friday, October 22, at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT.

For more information, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

Racing News

James Roe Captures First Win in Indy Pro 2000 at Mid-Ohio Season Finale

Wednesday, Oct 06

Irishman James Roe captured his first Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires win during yesterday’s season finale at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. The rookie driver delivered a remarkable drive in the 25-lap race that saw him pull off bold passes under wet conditions to get to the lead and earn an impressive maiden victory in the competitive Road to Indy series.

Qualifying for yesterday’s race happened under rainy weather conditions, a familiar and welcome challenge for the Irish-born driver. After qualifying sixth, Roe was set on fighting for results in the afternoon race. On the opening lap, the rookie slotted into fourth position right before a yellow flag came out. Roe got an excellent restart on Lap 3 and soon worked his way up to P3. Another caution came out on Lap 9, allowing Roe to prepare for another charge on the next restart. Once the race was underway again, Roe utilized his strong exits at Turn 2 to set himself up for outside passes at Turn 4 to take second position, then the lead in the second half of the race.

Once Roe was out in front, he began distancing himself from the rest of the field, gaining over a three second lead by Lap 19. Yet another yellow flag came out with just a few laps to go, and Roe readied himself for one final restart. With an excellent restart on Lap 21, Roe was in the clear to finish the race strongly and claim a well-earned win.

In addition to his win, Roe was also awarded with the Tilton Hard Charger Award and $1,000 prize at last night’s Championship Celebration for gaining the most positions on track during the course of the 2021 race season.

Roe ended the year with one win, one pole position, ten top-ten finishes, and 243 points in the driver’s championship.

James Roe Celebrates with Champagne Spray on the Podium / ?: Road to Indy

Indy Pro 2000 Championship // #3 James Roe
Topcon/Trintech

“I couldn’t be happier to get the win at Mid-Ohio,” said James Roe. “It was probably the best drive of my career. We had phenomenal pace in such tricky conditions. The team did a fantastic job, and I did my job, so it was a true group effort. I am just so happy to finish the season on the top step of the podium for all my partners and sponsors. They all make this possible for me. This is just the start of many more wins and podiums.”

“I’m extremely proud of James for getting his first race win on the Road to Indy,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “As a person, he deserves this win more than anyone else, not just because of how he drives but also because of the work he does outside of the car just to be able to put himself in the race car. James is the hardest working driver I’ve seen in the Road to Indy in many years, and as an Irish team owner, I’m extremely happy to be able to give an Irishman his first win in the series.”

“The race was tricky with the track conditions drying each lap,” continued Dempsey. “We made a few changes from qualifying in the setup and made sure we gave James the tools he needed to give him the confidence to push the car to its limits. You could see during the race he was extremely confident, and that allowed him to push to the front and make some very good passes for the lead. I’m so thankful for all the help and support the crew has gave us throughout the weekend as we battled some issues on Saturday, but James definitely redeemed himself and the team on Sunday.”

“I want to say a special thanks to all of the crew members that worked with us this year,” continued Dempsey. “None of our success would have been possible without each individual playing their part. I’m grateful to have assembled the team we have, and I’m looking forward to building on that next season.”

James Roe and Peter Dempsey Celebrate Victory / ?: Road to Indy

The next official event on the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires is the Chris Griffis Memorial Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course October 30-31. The official series test will serve as an opportunity to prepare drivers for the 2022 racing season.

For racing updates, follow James Roe on Instagram at @james_roe9, on Twitter at @jamesroe10, and on Facebook at James Roe Junior.

To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

Racing News

Bosch extends ABB FIA Formula E World Championship partnership

Wednesday, Oct 06

Formula E and Bosch have today agreed a new, multi-year partnership to continue showcasing the German manufacturer’s sustainable mobility solutions.

Having worked closely with Formula E since first announcing their partnership in Season 4, Bosch has committed to sharing its expertise as an Official Partner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship through Season 10. With a common goal to drive forward electromobility, Bosch and Formula E make natural partners in progressing innovation in electromobility and race-to-road EV technology.

With Formula E entering the Gen3 era from Season 9, Bosch will work with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as its more powerful and lighter cars race on city streets around the world, increasing the highly competitive, dramatic racing that fans associate with Formula E.

Bosch’s industry-leading software and hardware promotes innovation in all forms of e-mobility, in particular through a tailor-made vehicle management system as demonstrated in their relationship with DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT. The combined focus on technology and delivering sustainable mobility makes the partnership between Formula E and Bosch the kind of authentic, integrated collaboration the Championship prides itself on.

Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E, said: “Each of our partners has a true, integrated alignment to our common mission and Bosch’s leading role in accelerating the global electromobility agenda makes them the perfect partner for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Bosch has committed to advancing electromobility through integrated technology and marketing initiatives and we are delighted they will continue to showcase their innovations in cities around the world in partnership with Formula E.”

Dr. Markus Heyn, Member of Bosch’s Board of Management, said: “Electromobility is establishing itself as a core area of business for Bosch. Electric cars with our components can by now be found on roads around the world. By continuing in our role as official sponsor of Formula E and supplier of tried-and-tested motor racing technology to the first purely electric racing series, we’re demonstrating that we’re the number-one partner for electric driving.”

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns to the track for Season 8 in 2022.

Audiences can plug in and follow the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.
@FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE

Racing News

Gimme a Break: Injury Forces Murillo Racing to Shift Lineup

Wednesday, Oct 06

By Godwin Kelly

IMSA Wire Service

After a solid fourth-place finish driving the No. 56 Murillo Racing Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca last month, Jeff Mosing broke his right foot in a freak accident.

“It broke bad enough that I can’t use my foot,” said Mosing, who co-drives the Grand Sport (GS) class machine with Eric Foss. “It’s unfortunate. I rolled my foot over and thought I had injured my ankle at first. When I got home and had an x-ray, they found the broken bone.”

IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge: Virginia Is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix Entry List

Mosing and Foss, who scored their first Michelin Pilot Challenge GS victory at Lime Rock Park in July, are seventh in the GS standings with two races remaining – including Sunday’s Virginia Is for Racing Lovers Grand Prix at VIRginia International Raceway.

“Once you taste that victory or championship, you keep wanting it and Murillo Racing has done everything they can do to get us here,” Mosing said after the team’s historic victory.

The victory was welcomed by Murillo Racing. The series’ 2014 and 2017 Street Tuner (ST) class champion team and its two drivers had not won a Michelin Pilot Challenge race since Foss and Mosing took the ST checkered flag at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2017.

With Mosing out this week at VIR, Kenny Murillo, the 25-year-old son of team owner Ken Murillo, will take his place.

“I look forward to having Kenny drive for me,” Mosing said. “Kenny has raced VIR a lot. He should be really good there with Eric.”

Now the emphasis shifts to Foss, who could score a top-three finish in the GS championship with strong finishes at VIR and next month at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. He and Mosing are just 120 points out of fourth place in the standings and 290 from the lead. With a GS field of 20 cars this week and a comparable field expected in the finale, huge points swings are possible.

Foss said he has the wheels to accomplish that mission.

“The Mercedes-AMG GT4 is such a great car,” he said. “It’s super consistent, it’s very drivable and inspires a lot of confidence.”

Foss can also lean on his new co-driver, an accomplished racer. Mosing and Foss have been with Murillo Racing for a decade and watched Kenny mature behind the wheel.

“Jeff has been in my life for 10-plus years,” Kenny Murillo said. “My original thought was to feel bad for Jeff because he brings so much life to the team, so I was a little sad he wasn’t driving. Now my attitude has changed to bring him a good result. I am fully motivated.”

Kenny Murillo has competed in three Michelin Pilot Challenge races this season in the team’s sister car, the No. 65 Mercedes-AMG GT4.

“I’m pretty familiar with the car and with Eric,” he said. “Eric has been a huge mentor for me for 10-plus years. This is all really exciting. It seems like all the stars are aligning for some good results.”

The younger Murillo is also looking forward to VIR, which measures 3.27 miles and boasts 17 turns.

“We always thought Mercedes used Virginia as its test track,” Murillo said with a laugh. “We always seem to do fairly good there, which is pretty rare in IMSA. We have really high hopes.”

Mosing hopes to heal in time for the season finale, the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway in early November. “I’m going to take care of it and see if it gets well enough for me to compete there,” he said.

If not, no worries.

“Kenny is a talented little driver,” Mosing said. “He understands, along with his dad, they know how to engineer the car properly. They should be strong for sure.”

Bill Auberlen and Dillon Machavern, co-drivers of the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4, are the GS points leaders, 40 points ahead of teammates Robby Foley and Vin Barletta in the No. 96 BMW. Michael Lewis and Taylor Hagler of the No. 77 Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb-Agajanian Hyundai Veloster N TCR head up the Touring Car (TCR) standings, 170 points ahead of teammate Parker Chase, who shares the No. 98 BHA Hyundai Elantra N TCR this weekend with Ryan Norman.

The Michelin Pilot Challenge schedule at VIR lists a practice each day on Friday and Saturday. Qualifying is set for 8 a.m. ET Sunday, with the race streaming live later that same day, at 2:05 p.m. on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

Racing News

Monster Energy Supercross Tickets on Sale Today for all 17 Rounds of the 2022 Season

Wednesday, Oct 06

Feld Entertainment, Inc. announced today that tickets are on sale for all 17 rounds of the 2022 Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. Pre-sale begins today at 10 a.m. ET for preferred customers and will run through next Monday, October 11. Tickets will then become available to the public starting on Tuesday, October 12 at 10 a.m. ET and then 10 a.m. in each subsequent time zone. Fans can sign up for preferred access or make ticket purchases online at SupercrossLIVE.com.

The 17-race schedule returns to its traditional weekend routing format as the series visits 15 cities spread across 13 states including California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington.

Storylines abound for the 2022 Supercross season as the 450SX Class continues to feature what has become an ever-expanding, deep array of talent. Three Supercross champions will be competing for another title – 2x champion Cooper Webb, 2020 champion Eli Tomac and 2018 champion Jason Anderson as both a domestic and international “who’s who” list of competitors vie for their first title – Ken Roczen (Germany), Marvin Musquin (France), Dylan Ferrandis (France), Adam Cianciarulo, Justin Barcia, Aaron Plessinger, Malcolm Stewart and Chase Sexton, all from America.

The first of three Triple Crown events will take place on Saturday, February 5 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., followed by rounds 8 and 13 on Saturday, February 26 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas and Saturday, April 9 at the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. The Triple Crown, three-race format is a break from the traditional one Main Event race format and has become a fan favorite since its inception in 2018.

The 250SX Class will see a return of both reigning champions – Justin Cooper (Western Regional) and Colt Nichols (Eastern Regional), while Australian super-star brothers Jett and Hunter Lawrence and Japan’s Jo Shimoda seek their first title.

The Western Regional 250SX Class Championship will be contested at the following rounds:

Round 1 - Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, January 8 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Round 2 - Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, January 15 at RingCentral Coliseum
Round 3 - San Diego, Calif. on Saturday, January 22 at Petco Park
Round 4 - Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, January 29 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Round 5 - Glendale, Ariz. on Saturday, February 5 at State Farm Stadium
Round 6 - Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, February 12 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Round 12 - Seattle, Wash. on Saturday, March 26 at Lumen Field
Round 16 - Denver, Colo. on Saturday, April 30 at Empower Field at Mile High

The Eastern Regional 250SX Class Championship will be contested at the following rounds:

Round 7 - Minneapolis, Minn. on Saturday, February 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium
Round 8 - Arlington, Texas on Saturday, February 26 at AT&T Stadium
Round 9 - Daytona Beach Fla. on Saturday, March 5 at Daytona International Speedway
Round 10 - Detroit, Mich. on Saturday, March 12 at Ford Field
Round 11 - Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, March 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium
Round 13 - St. Louis, Mo. on Saturday, April 9 at the Dome at America’s Center
Round 15 - Foxborough, Mass. on Saturday, April 23 at Gillette Stadium

The Dave Coombs Sr. East/West Showdown races will be held on Saturday, April 16 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga. (Round 14) and Saturday, May 7 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah (Round 17).

Monster Energy Supercross, The Official Video game 4, released last Spring featured a new track editor feature where gamers can create their own in-game track designs. Milestone, the video game maker, ran a global contest from April through June where the winning prize was to bring one virtual track design to life during the 2022 championship. Round 11 in Indianapolis will be inspired by the winning design from the video game track editor contest.

Round 11 Indianapolis Track Map – featuring Monster Energy Supercross, The Official Video game 4 track editor contest winning submission.

Six Supercross events will also serve as the second and Premiere round of qualifying for the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship. Athletes competing in the 250SX Futures Class will be awarded points towards their pro Supercross license based on their finishing positions at these Premiere qualifying events. For the first-time ever fans will be able to preview the next generation of talent as part of the Saturday Supercross race-day schedule.

Supercross Futures Premiere Qualifying Events:

Round 2 – Oakland, Calif. on Saturday, January 15 at RingCentral Coliseum
Round 4 – Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, January 29 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Round 5 – Glendale, Ariz. on Saturday, February 5 at State Farm Stadium
Round 8 – Arlington, Texas on Saturday, February 26 at AT&T Stadium
Round 14 – Hampton, Ga. on Saturday, April 16 at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Round 15 – Foxborough, Mass. on Saturday, April 23 at Gillette Stadium

The top four athletes from each Premiere qualifying race will advance to the Supercross Futures AMA National Championship where 24 athletes will vie to become the 250SX Futures Class Champion. The Supercross Futures AMA National Championship will take place at Round 17 in Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, May 7 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Kicking off its 23^rd year of racing, KTM Junior Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo will return to competition and the 2022 program will feature participants racing aboard KTM’s highly competitive electric KTM SX-E 5 platform, with a fully solar operational semi and set up.

A fan favorite, KTM Junior Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo will take place at 10 rounds culminating in a championship at the finale in Salt Lake City, Utah.

KTM Junior Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo Schedule:

Round 1 - Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, January 8 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Round 3 - San Diego, Calif. on Saturday, January 22 at Petco Park
Round 5 - Glendale, Ariz. on Saturday, February 5 at State Farm Stadium
Round 6 - Anaheim, Calif. on Saturday, February 12 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Round 7 - Minneapolis, Minn. on Saturday, February 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium
Round 8 - Arlington, Texas on Saturday, February 26 at AT&T Stadium
Round 10 - Detroit, Mich. on Saturday, March 12 at Ford Field
Round 11 - Indianapolis, Ind. on Saturday, March 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium
Round 13 - St. Louis, Mo. on Saturday, April 9 at the Dome at America’s Center
Round 16 - Denver, Colo. on Saturday, April 30 at Empower Field at Mile High
Round 17 – Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, May 7 at Rice-Eccles Stadium

Registration for the 2022 season opens October 15 at KTM Junior Supercross, presented by Wells Fargo - Registration Link.

FanFest is currently planned for all rounds except Minneapolis, Minn. (Round 7) and Detroit, Mich. (Round 10). The expansive outside footprint will feature the race team rigs, Monster Energy exhibitions, sponsor displays, photo opportunity set ups, food and beverages, plus the red-carpet styled Ride of Fame.

As the pandemic recovery progresses, Supercross is monitoring changes to government mandates, public health guidelines and industry standards and is working closely with our venue partners to adjust protocols for the safety and wellness of guests based on state and local requirements. Please monitor the venue website for health and safety policies, including face covering and entry requirements, which are subject to change. For details about Supercross Fan Wellness, please go here.

Racing News

2022 Schedules Announced for Indy Pro 2000/USF2000

Wednesday, Oct 06

Andersen Promotions today unveiled the 2022 schedules for the two junior levels of the Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires – the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship – which will feature all races in support of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

Next season marks another pivotal year for both series with the introduction of new chassis – the Tatuus IP-22 and USF-22 – which will extend the competition life of each to 2026. Upgrades include a new, wider monocoque with the addition of a Halo-type device as well as new sidepods, underfloor, engine cover, air ducts, damper covers and fuel cell.

Over $1,213,000 in prize money and awards – including the per-race Cooper Tires Pole Award – will again be on offer featuring an Indy Pro 2000 champion’s scholarship valued at $614,425 to advance to Indy Lights in 2023, and a USF2000 champion’s scholarship valued at $406,925 for Indy Pro 2000 competition the following year.

In keeping with the hallmark training the Road to Indy provides for drivers and teams to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the 18 races on the 2022 calendar for each level feature a blend of road courses and street circuits as well as ovals. Additionally, Andersen Promotions will host five pre-event test days for USF2000 and seven for Indy Pro 2000 as well as the traditional Spring Training at the Homestead-Miami Speedway road course on February 17/18, a two-day open test at Barber Motorsports Park on March 21/22 and the traditional Open Test in late September/early October.

All race events will continue to feature INDYCAR services including Race Control, Timing & Scoring and safety provided by the AMR INDYCAR Safety Team.

Road to Indy TV will return for its ninth season in 2022 providing extensive behind-the-scenes coverage as well as global live streaming of all events on RoadToIndy.TV, the Road to Indy TV App and the series’ respective websites – indypro2000.com and usf2000.com – as well as live and on demand coverage on Apple TV, Amazon Fire and Roku.

Indy Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires 2022 Schedule – Nine Events/18 Races

February 26/27

April 30/May 1

May 13/14

May 27

June 11/12

July 2/3

July 16/17

August 20

September 2/3/4

Streets of St. Petersburg

Barber Motorsports Park

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Lucas Oil Raceway

Road America

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Streets of Toronto

World Wide Technology Raceway

Portland International Raceway

1.8-mile street course*

2.3-mile road course*

2.439-mile road course**

.686-mile oval

4.014-mile road course*

2.258-mile road course*

1.786-mile street circuit*

1.25-mile oval

1.967-mile road course**

* Double-Header Rounds **Triple-Header Rounds

Pre-event test days include Barber Motorsports Park April 28, Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 12, Lucas Oil Raceway May 26, Road America June 9, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 30, World Wide Technology Raceway August 18 and Portland International Raceway September 1.

Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship 2022 Schedule – Eight Events/18 Races

February 26/27

April 30/May 1

May 13/14

May 27

June 11/12

July 2/3

July 16/17

September 2/3/4

Streets of St. Petersburg

Barber Motorsports Park

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Lucas Oil Raceway

Road America

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Streets of Toronto

Portland International Raceway

1.8-mile street course*

2.3-mile road course*

2.439-mile road course**

.686-mile oval

4.014-mile road course*

2.258-mile road course**

1.786-mile street circuit*

1.967-mile road course**

* Double-Header Rounds **Triple-Header Rounds

Pre-event test days include Indianapolis Motor Speedway May 12, Lucas Oil Raceway May 26, Road America June 9, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 30 and Portland International Raceway September 1.

“I want to thank all of the promoters in working with us to provide our competitors with a schedule that features all races in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES in 2022,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “It provides a tremendous opportunity to showcase our teams and drivers at not only well-attended, professionally run premier events but also to the INDYCAR paddock.

“The excitement surrounding our new cars in Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 in addition to what we feel is an outstanding schedule alongside the continuation of our healthy scholarship and prize money packages will make for a great season next year.”

Next up for the Road to Indy is the traditional Chris Griffis Memorial Open Test at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course on October 30/31. The event will be preceded by a one-day Indy car test for the top-three finishers in the 2021 Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires championship – Kyle Kirkwood, David Malukas and Linus Lundqvist – as part of their prize package.

Racing News

Trans Am Ready for Utah after Decade Absence

Wednesday, Oct 06

With five rounds complete, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship will return to action at Utah Motorsports Campus (UMC) Oct. 7-9 for its penultimate race.

It's the first time in a decade that the roar of American Trans Am muscle will echo 4,409 feet above the Beehive State.

The national Trans Am Series last visited Utah in 2011 when the facility was named Miller Motorsports Park, running the 3.048-mile course. Tony Ave won from pole while setting the fastest lap in an Ave Motorsports-prepared Corvette, the same Corvette he claimed the checkered flag during the inaugural Trans Am Utah event in 2010 (on the 2.2-mile Miller course).

This weekend will mark the West Coast Championship's first visit to UMC where 18 drivers will compete on the 14-turn, 3.048-mile Outer Course as part of the Utah SpeedTour. With two rounds left in 2021, the title chase for the TA2 West Coast class tightens up with nine drivers still mathematically in the hunt, though four of those drivers, Carl Rydquist, Tim Lynn, Mitch Marvosh and Darrell Anderson, have pulled a gap ahead of the rest.

After winning the SGT West Coast Championship in 2020, Rydquist has continued his success in his first season of TA2, amassing three wins in the No. 47 Racecars4Rent/GroupWholesale/OptimalStunt Ford Mustang. Rydquist will be working with a new motor at Utah, after mechanical issues at Portland forced the Nelson Motorsports' driver to retire early and eventually lead the team to replace the powerplant between events.

Despite the Portland setback, Rydquist still leads the class with 137 points, 29 points ahead of his nearest rival Lynn (108 points) who has two season victories.

"Utah has such a great circuit layout, I look forward to racing the No. 47 Nelson Motorsports/GroupWholeSale/Optimal Stunt Mustang," said Rydquist. "At 4400 foot altitude the cars see less cooling effect so everyone will be monitoring drivetrain and brake temps a little extra. I've done a lot of extra long run cardio and intervals the last eight weeks because you need extra stamina at this place because of the elevation. The field is stacked with quick and experienced drivers to keep us on our toes, additionally Tim (Lynn) is a smart racer who is hunting us for the title. We've had a championship mindset all year which has been to work our way toward incremental goals session by session. It works well so we'll keep our heads down and keep doing that."

As Rydquist keeps his head down, Marvosh intends to keep his eyes clear looking ahead to his first hometown race. A small margin of 15 points separates second place from fifth place in the championship. Marvosh is third overall in the TA2 class, first in the Master's Class, trailing Lynn by five points (108 vs.103) entering Utah.

"As a driver with Team CHR, I’m personally super excited to see UMC for the first time, it looks like a fast, fun track!" said Marvosh. "My family origins are from Utah, so we are taking this one as a “Home Track”, regardless of never running UMC before!. We are currently locked in a crazy tight race between a great group of drivers. UMC is a pivotal race leading up to the final round at Circuit of The Americas for the season The No. 29 Wolf Entertainment Howe Ford Mustang will be 110 percent podium hunting in the Beehive State!"

Leading the Rookie of the Year standings and fourth overall is Anderson in the No. 45 Park Place Constructors Chevrolet Camaro. Anderson finished third overall at Portland in a recovery drive to the checkered.

"We are going through the car thoroughly after hitting the wall in Portland," said Anderson. "We will need to bring our A game to Utah to stay up front. I have never been to the Utah Motorsports Campus so we will really need to put our head down and utilize every lap in Practice to get the car and driver to a place where we can compete up front."

This year marks John Schweitzer's first season in professional racing after winning a season championship at the club level. The rookie wheeled the No. 00 Superior Builders Inc Ford Fusion to victory at Thunderhill Raceway and leads the SGT championship.

"Our rookie season in the Trans Am West Coast Championship has been a big step up from club racing in all aspects, and to be leading the SGT class points with two events to go is very exciting for our team," Schweitzer said. "None of this would be possible without a lot of support and encouragement from my family and the efforts and commitment of the team. On a personal level the experience has been challenging both mentally and physically since the races are quite a bit longer than typical club races and I have learned so much about racing and myself too. Our goals for the remaining events continue to be staying focused on getting to the starting line fully prepared, executing our race strategy and having fun."

Schweitzer will have a pair of Vipers in full attack mode behind him as Lux Performance returns to the lineup with Cindi Lux (No. 5 LuxPerformance/BlackRockCoffee Dodge Viper) and Dirk Leuenberger (No. 35 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper). Lux's season started at The Ridge, and she's won every round she's entered since. Out of all the drivers on the entry list, Lux has the most laps turned at UMC. The Portland native served as the Director of the Ford Racing School, working with the former track owners for a decade.

"I have probably turned more than 25,000 laps at UMC over the 10 years of teaching and testing there," explained Lux. "I haven't been back since 2016 but I am confident that the team will fall right back in motion."

The Trans Am West Coast drivers will have a full day of testing on Friday to get up to speed before the official race weekend starts on Saturday with an all-class practice starting at 10:50 a.m. Mountain Time followed by qualifying at 2:50 p.m. The drivers will take the green on Sunday at 10:50 a.m. for 33 laps or 75 minutes.

Follow Live Timing and Scoring all weekend at www.gotransam.com/livetiming

EVENT INFORMATION

Racing News

Happy Homecoming for Red-Hot Milner, Tandy This Week at VIR

Wednesday, Oct 06

By Mark Robinson

IMSA Wire Service

After sweeping to victory in the GT Le Mans (GLTM) class at the two IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races last month in California, Corvette Racing drivers Tommy Milner and Nick Tandy are fueled with energy heading into this week’s Michelin GT Challenge at VIR.

Saturday’s race at VIRginia International Raceway – broadcast live at noon ET on NBC – provides a true homecoming for Milner, who lives in Ashburn, Virginia. Though No. 4 Corvette C8.R co-driver Tandy is British, the nature of the track makes it feel like a homecoming for him as well.

“I'm really excited to get another IMSA race since we are two for our last two,” Milner said. “Nick and I are heading into VIR with some momentum, but we'll have to work as hard as ever to continue that trend. VIR is an awesome, awesome racetrack ... one that is a lot different than what we are coming off of at Long Beach and even (WeatherTech Raceway) Laguna Seca.

“There is a ton of grip at VIR so it will be a fun challenge. This C8.R was a lot of fun to drive there last year. It's improved from last year so I'm looking forward to seeing how good it is around VIR this time around.”

Milner has two IMSA wins at VIR, but the last came in 2012 when he and then-Corvette teammate Oliver Gavin clinched the GT class championship with a victory. Tandy has a pair of VIR triumphs as well, though they came with Porsche in GTLM competition in 2015 and ’19.

“I love VIR … absolutely love it!” Tandy said. “I have since the first time I went there. It reminds me of racing at a lot of tracks where I grew up in the U.K. There is greenery everywhere. It feels different and is one of my favorite tracks on the calendar.

“Past that, the track layout is awesome. It has everything: super-fast with long straights, elevation changes, slow technical sections and super-high-speed technical sections. It definitely is one of my favorite places to race on the IMSA calendar.”

Milner and Tandy’s teammates, No. 3 Corvette co-drivers Antonio Garcia and Jordan Taylor, are the reigning overall and GTLM winners at VIR. Garcia, in fact, has won three of the last five races on the 3.27-mile, 17-turn circuit.

The other GTLM entry, the No. 79 WeatherTech Racing Porsche 911 RSR-19, teams full-season driver Cooper MacNeil with Kevin Estre. The latter made his first WeatherTech Championship start since 2017 in the No. 79 at the Rolex 24 At Daytona to start the 2021 season. Estre tested in the car at VIR last month but it will be his first race at the track in seven years.

“I’m really pleased to go back to VIR,” the French driver said. “I did the IMSA GT race back in 2014. It didn’t go so well, but I really like the track. There is a lot of risk in a fast lap there, but with the good aero of the Porsche 911 RSR, it makes it fun and fast for a driver. It is a short weekend, so we need to have error-free practice, good strategy in the race and we can come away with a result.”

WeatherTech Championship practice and qualifying takes place Friday at VIR, ahead of the expected green flag for the two-hour, 40-minute race at 12:10 p.m. ET Saturday.

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Adam Sinclair

James Roe Celebrates with Champagne Spray on the Podium / ?: Road to Indy

James Roe and Peter Dempsey Celebrate Victory / ?: Road to Indy

EVENT INFORMATION

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