Adam Sinclair
Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 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
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Returns to St. Pete
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Champions Crowned in Southern California as 2020 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Comes to Dramatic Conclusion
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After a season filled with uncertainty, the 2020 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Presented by GEICO came to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday, where eight different champions were crowned. Legendary Glen Helen Raceway was the site of the season ending General Tire Golden State Off Road Nationals Presented by Lucas Oil, where the second day of a doubleheader closed out the year in compelling fashion. While some drivers were able to successfully defend their titles from one year ago, four new champions emerged this season, serving as another testament to the depth and competitiveness of the country’s premier short course off road championship. |
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Pro 2 Saturday A season filled with exceptional battles in Pro 2 came down to the 10th and final round of the season, where Brooks needed to simply maintain his seven point lead over Mittag in order to wrap up a second straight title. The championship hopefuls were going to have their work cut out for them on Saturday, as both an inversion of the starting grid placed Mittag and Brooks mid pack in fifth and sixth, respectively. On the pole was Cory Winner with Trevor Leighton alongside on the front row. When the final green flag of the season waved to kick off the championship deciding race Winner asserted himself in the lead ahead of Leighton, as both Brooks and Mittag began their march to the front. With their first opportunity to pace the field both Winner and Leighton were impressive as they held off Brooks for several laps. Leighton was then able to get by Winner and take the lead for the first time in his career, while Brooks chased through into second. With the champ applying heavy pressure Leighton looked composed out front and led the field to the halfway point. When racing resumed the intensity picked up considerably as Mittag looked to get by Brooks for second. Leighton continued to control the race up front and looked like he’d be in line for at least a first podium, but he spun while leading, which handed first place over to Mittag and second to Beat, who took advantage of Brooks’ evasive action around Leighton. From there Mittag did what he needed to do and brought home his second win of the season 1.1 seconds ahead of Beat, with Brooks in third. When the dust settled, Brooks’ podium result helped him prevail yet again to successfully defend his Pro 2 championship by a mere two points over Mittag, while Beat wrapped up his first season in the division with third in the final standings. Saturday Pro 2 Results
Final Pro 2 Points
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Mittag (front, left) captured the final win of the 2020 season, but Brooks (right) celebrated his second straight Pro 2 championship. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Pro Lite Saturday With another win under his belt Heger had the opportunity to control his own destiny thanks to a significant 42-point lead over the rest of the field. When the trucks rolled onto the track on final time on Saturday morning it was Anderson who started on the pole alongside Christopher Polvoorde, while Heger lined up alongside Cole Mamer on the second row. As the field stormed into the first turn at the drop of the green Anderson was able to move into the lead, followed by Mamer and Heger. A miscue by Mamer dropped him to the tail end of the field, allowing Heger to move into second and Polvoorde into third. Just a lap later Heger pulled off track and out of the race with a reported transmission issue. Out front, Polvoorde closed in on Anderson and made the pass for the lead just at the halfway point. When racing resumed Polvoorde and Anderson resumed their battle and put on a show with a spirited fight for the lead. Anderson looked to make the pass happen on the final lap but nearly tipped over, which allowed Polvoorde to take his second win of the season and bookend the 2020 season with victories. Polvoorde crossed the line 2.5 seconds ahead of Anderson, while Jimmy Weitzel rounded out the podium in third. Despite his misfortune in the race Heger’s cushion in the standings was enough to still bring home his first Pro Lite championship by 26 points, which complements his pair of Production 1000 UTV titles. By virtue of his impressive win in the final round Polvoorde jumped up into the runner-up spot in the final standings, while newly crowned Rookie of the Year Madix Bailey capped off an impressive debut season in the division by capturing third in points, anchored by his six podium finishes. Saturday Pro Lite Results
Final Pro Lite Points
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Christopher Polvoorde (left, front) earned the final Pro Lite win of the season, while Heger wrapped up his first class championship. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Pro Buggy Saturday With the championship all but wrapped up coming into Saturday’s last race of the season the focus wasn’t whether or not Watson would earn back to back Pro Buggy titles, but instead if he would wrap up his second championship with an incredible eight race win streak. Watson’s quest for that win began with him starting on the pole alongside Brady Whitlock. When the green flag waved Watson took advantage of his starting spot to lock down the lead. While Watson was able to easily maintain his lead, Whitlock and the rest of the field kept him honest and stayed within a few buggy lengths of Watson. Eventually Gibbs took over control and second and set his sights on Watson for the lead. Gibbs was close enough to pounce on any mistake by Watson, but the champ didn’t flinch. He went wire to wire once more to wrap up the weekend sweep, a record eight race win streak to end the season, and his second straight Pro Buggy championship. Gibbs wasn’t far behind in second, while Brister once again rounded out the podium in third. Watson ended the season with a commanding margin of 53 points over Gibbs, who finished in the runner-up spot, while Brister secured third in the final standings. Saturday Pro Buggy Results
Final Pro Buggy Points
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Watson's run to back-to-back Pro Buggy titles was highlighted by a record eight race win streak to close out the season. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Turbo UTV & Production 1000 UTV Saturday Following the drastically different fortunes for Weller and Anderson on Friday the momentum shifted into the defending champion’s favor for Saturday’s final round. Nine points separated the two, with Weller in a position she’s become all too familiar with in Turbo UTV. As the field took to the track one last time Weller found herself in an ideal position on the pole, lining up alongside Leighton on the front row. Anderson started right behind Weller in the second row and as the engines roared coming to the green flag Weller was able to establish herself at the front of the field, while Anderson pushed hard to move into second. As he gave chase to Weller and pressured her for the lead, all of Anderson’s hopes took a big hit when he suffered a flat right rear tire. Fortunately, his team was able to get the tire changed and get Anderson back out on track without losing a lap, which kept him in contention should a late caution fly. A stroke of luck played into Anderson’s favor when a caution flew with a few laps to go and on the final restart Anderson left it all on the track in a torrid charge through the pack that brought him right to Weller’s rear fender. Knowing the championship was in hand she didn’t give too much of a fight as Anderson came charging through and slotted into second. Anderson’s late heroics gave him his fourth win of the season by 1.6 seconds over Weller in second, with Gibbs in third. Despite Anderson’s best efforts Weller’s undefeated championship record in Turbo UTV remained intact with a third straight title. She ended the season with a slim eight point lead over Anderson in the runner-up spot, while Leighton wrapped up third in the final standings. After a thrilling battle for Friday’s Production 1000 UTV win the excitement was high for Cheek and Heger to go wheel to wheel one last time. While Heger’s chances at erasing the 26 point deficit to Cheek were slim, the battle for victory was sure to end the season in memorable fashion. Fittingly, the championship rivals lined up alongside one another on the front row for the final race of the season, this time with Cheek on the pole. When racing got underway Cheek jumped out to the early lead and built a comfortable lead over Heger. With the championship in reach Cheek didn’t put a wheel wrong and put the pressure back on Heger, who saw his title hopes slip away with a flat right rear. Out front, Cheek wrapped up the title in emphatic fashion with his seventh win of the season, taking the checkered flag 7.6 seconds ahead of Nord, while Anthony Santos followed in third. Cheek’s first career title came on the heels of a breakout season for Cheek, winning seven of 10 rounds with a podium finish in every race. He finished the season 41 points ahead of Heger, who has finished no worse than second in a Production 1000 UTV championship, while Robby Hornsby edged out Nord for third in the final standings by a single point. Saturday Turbo UTV Results
Final Turbo UTV Points
Saturday Production 1000 UTV Results
Final Production 1000 UTV Points
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Ronnie Anderson (left) overcame the odds to grab the season's final Turbo UTV win on Saturday, but it wasn't enough to keep Weller (right) from wrapping up a third consecutive championship. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
Myles Cheek wrapped up his first Production 1000 UTV championship in emphatic fashion with his seventh win of the season. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Mod Kart, JR2 Kart & RZR 170 Saturday It was still anyone’s guess as to which three drivers would emerge with each of the three junior championships on Saturday, but one thing that was for certain was the action would be jam packed with drama and excitement. Despite a difficult outing on Friday, Barry was still well in control of his own destiny for the final Mod Kart race of the season. He held a 23 point lead coming into Saturday’s race and lined up third on the grid for the last round behind Karaston Hernandez and Ebert. When racing got underway Ebert jumped into the lead over Hernandez while Barry settled into third. With a clear track Ebert was able to drive his own race and was exceptionally consistent. He held off a late challenge by Chiaramonte to capture his first career win by a tenth of a second, with Barry in third. Barry’s podium result was more than enough to wrap up his first championship, where he finished 21 points ahead of Chiaramonte, while Gasper and Trey Eggleston ended the season tied for third in the final standings. After another wild day of JR2 Kart action on Friday the championship was still very much up for grabs, with Brodie Martin leading Rhyan Denney by just two points. Martin had his work cut out for him to start on Saturday, lining up fifth on the grid while his cousin, Talan, and Jessie Owens started on the front row, with Denney starting third. When the green flag waved Denney faced adversity almost immediately when she spun in the first turn. Out front, Logan Leggitt grabbed control of the lead while the Martins ran second and third. Leggitt controlled the remainder of the race for his second win of the season while the battle for the title came down to the checkered flag between Brodie Martin and Denney, with Martin finishing second and Denney third. In finishing second Brodie Martin secured his second straight JR2 Kart championship, climbing his way from third to first over the course of the weekend to successfully defend his title in dramatic fashion. Denney finished runner-up in the final standings, just four points behind, while Leggitt’s win in the final round helped him finish third in points. A total of 10 points sat between Siewers and Llamosas entering the final RZR 170 race of the season. The rivals took the checkered flag in every race up to this point, so it was expected that they’d once again face off for the season ending win. For Llamosas, another 1-2 finish for the pair wasn’t going to be enough to overcome the deficit, but for Siewers confidence was high given he’d finished no worse than third all season long. The two drivers started on the front row for the final race, with Llamosas on the pole. The duo dominated the early portion of the race but an incident to start the second half collected Llamosas and dropped him deep in the field. Siewers was the beneficiary and moved into the lead, but Llamosas was on a charge back to the front, reclaiming the lead with two laps to go and storming to his seventh win over Siewers, with Ian Torfi in third. With his 10th podium finish of the season Siewers was able to clinch his first RZR 170 championship, withstanding Llamosas’ class leading win total to take the title by seven points. A strong final weekend helped Easton end the season third in points. Saturday Mod Kart Results
Final Mod Kart Points
Saturday JR2 Kart Results
Final JR2 Kart Points
Saturday RZR 170 Results
Final RZR 170 Points
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Ethan Ebert (left) earned his first win in the final Mod Kart race of the season, while Connor Barry (right) captured his first championship. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
Logan Leggitt (left, front) came away with the JR2 Kart win on Saturday, while Brodie Martin (right) earned a second straight championship. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
George Llamosas (left, front) got the better of TJ Siewers in the final RZR 170 race, but it was Siewers (right) who prevailed with his first championship in the class. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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For information about the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series please visit LucasOilOffRoad.com and be sure to follow all of the LOORRS social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
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Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires Unveils 2021 Schedule
“I want to thank all of the promoters for working with us on what we believe is an exciting and well-balanced schedule for 2021,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “We have added some new events, increased our scholarships across the board, added new incentives, and implemented some cost-saving measures. We are working hard to continue to grow the Road to Indy in the coming years and there are more positives to come.
“We still have one event to confirm for Indy Lights but expect to announce this shortly. This year has been challenging for everyone and I want to thank our teams and drivers for their patience as well as our tremendous partners, especially Cooper Tires, for their continued support.”
After a year’s hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 return of Indy Lights was recently confirmed. Next season will see an increased champion’s scholarship award to $1,289,425 for entry into at least three NTT INDYCAR SERIES events for 2022 including the Indianapolis 500, and the addition of an Indy car test at the conclusion of the season for each of the top-three finishers in the championship.
The Indy Lights schedule is boosted by an expanded calendar of 10 events and 20 races. For the first time since 2012, the series will return to The Raceway at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Mich., for a double-header round, and will cap off the year with a West Coast swing at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Ore., and the season finale at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., the following weekend.
Indy Lights will return to NBC Sports Gold with all races airing live and on demand in the U.S. Internationally, all practice, qualifying and race events will be live streamed on the Road to Indy TV App and at RoadToIndy.TV and indylights.com, as well as dedicated broadcast channels on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Xbox One. Additional coverage of all on-track sessions can also be found on the Pennzoil INDYCAR Radio Network.
Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires 2021 Schedule – 10 Events/20 Races
| March 6/7 | Streets of St. Petersburg | 1.8-mile street course* |
| May 14/15 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 2.439-mile road course* |
| June 12/13 | The Raceway at Belle Isle Park | 2.35-mile street course* |
| June 19/20 | Road America | 4.014-mile road course* |
| July 3/4 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 2.258-mile road course* |
| July 10/11 | Streets of Toronto | 1.786-mile street circuit* |
| August 20/21 | World Wide Technology Raceway | 1.25-mile oval* |
| September 11/12 | Portland International Raceway | 1.964-mile road course* |
| September 18/19 | WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca | 2.238-mile road course* |
| TBA* |
Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 will also see scholarship expansions in 2021. In Indy Pro 2000, the champion’s scholarship valued at $609,245 will increase to $718,065 next season and will once again guarantee a full season contract with an Indy Lights team for the 2022 season. In USF2000, the scholarship value increases from $328,225 to $401,305 and, as with Indy Pro 2000, guarantees a full season contract with an Indy Pro 2000 team.
To assist with budgets, the calendar for both series will be reduced by one event over past years while still featuring 18 races, and the West Coast swing of Portland and Monterey has been removed from the schedules as an additional cost saving. The use of the current generation Tatuus PM-18 and USF-17 will be extended five years through the end of 2026 and will feature an enhanced roll hoop in 2021 and the addition of a Halo and several other upgrades in 2022.
Following a popular return to New Jersey Motorsports Park on October 10/11 after a 10-year absence, the Thunderbolt Raceway road course has been retained as part of next season’s schedule for both Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 with tripleheader rounds serving as the season finale on the Millville, N.J., road course.
Indy Pro 2000 Presented by Cooper Tires 2021 Schedule – Nine Events/18 Races
| March 6/7 | Streets of St. Petersburg | 1.8-mile street course* |
| April 10/11 | Barber Motorsports Park | 2.3-mile road course* |
| May 14/15 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 2.439-mile road course** |
| May 28 | Lucas Oil Raceway | .686-mile oval |
| June 19/20 | Road America | 4.014-mile road course* |
| July 3/4 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 2.258-mile road course* |
| July 10/11 | Streets of Toronto | 1.786-mile street circuit* |
| August 21 | World Wide Technology Raceway | 1.25-mile oval |
| August 28/29 | New Jersey Motorsports Park | 2.14-mile road course** |
| March 6/7 | Streets of St. Petersburg | 1.8-mile street course* |
| April 10/11 | Barber Motorsports Park | 2.3-mile road course* |
| May 14/15 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | 2.439-mile road course** |
| May 28 | Lucas Oil Raceway | .686-mile oval |
| June 19/20 | Road America | 4.014-mile road course* |
| July 3/4 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course | 2.258-mile road course** |
| July 10/11 | Streets of Toronto | 1.786-mile street circuit* |
| August 28/29 | New Jersey Motorsports Park | 2.14-mile road course** |
Coverage of Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 will feature worldwide live streaming 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.
Indian Motorcycle, America’s First Motorcycle Company, and S&S Cycle today announced a collaboration to race an Indian Challenger at the inaugural Drag Specialties King of the Baggers invitational at Laguna Seca Raceway. The modified Indian Challenger will be piloted by the highly-decorated racing champion Tyler O’Hara.
Among the 14 teams invited to the first-ever King of the Baggers race, S&S is the only Indian Challenger entry. Set to face off against a field of 13 Harley-Davidson baggers, the appropriately-named Indian Challenger boasts superior out-of-the-box performance, including a best-in-class 122 horsepower, an inverted front suspension, and a hydraulically-adjustable FOX® rear shock.
“When the Indian Challenger was released last October, it set a new standard for performance-oriented, stock baggers and offers the ideal platform, from which to base our race modifications,” said Paul Langely of S&S. “That said, we’re leaving no stone unturned when evaluating the modifications needed to be successful at Laguna Seca.”
At the helm of the S&S-modified Indian Challenger will be road racing veteran Tyler O’Hara. A highly-decorated, and seasoned rider, O’Hara brings a diverse racing background – having won titles in supersport, supermoto, motocross and flat track racing. O’Hara also brings significant experience at Laguna Seca.
“I’m thrilled to not only be racing in the King of the Baggers event, but to be piloting the only Indian Challenger in the field. It’s an incredible opportunity for me, and I expect it will be a ton of fun,” said O’Hara. “The Challenger is a remarkable machine in its stock form, but I know the S&S team will be working its magic to give us the best chance to be successful come race day.”
“Just like the rest of the racing community and motorcycle industry, we cannot wait to see 14 baggers ripping around Laguna Seca,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “That said, we’re extremely proud to be the lone Indian Motorcycle in the field, partnering with our friends, the elite innovators at S&S.”
The King of the Baggers event will be part of the MotoAmerica Superbike Speedfest at Monterey on October 23-25. The inaugural race will join the premier MotoAmerica Superbike, Supersport, Liqui Moly Junior Cup, Stock 1000, Twins Cup and Heritage Cup racing.
Facing a field of nothing but Harley-Davidsons, King of the Baggers serves up a compelling extension of Indian Motorcycle’s Challenger Challenge program, a mobile demo tour and dealer test ride program that encourages motorcyclists to test ride the Indian Challenger, head-to-head against the Harley-Davidson® Road Glide® Special.
“We’ve seen incredible consumer response to the superior features and benefits of the Challenger when compared directly against the Road Glide,” said Gray. “King of the Baggers takes that comparison to an entirely different level, as we face off against the field at Laguna Seca.”
For more information and ticketing for the Drag Specialties King of the Baggers, visit MotoAmerica.com. Learn more about S&S Cycle at SSCycle.com, and Indian Motorcycle at IndianMotorcycle.com, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Opening Day of Golden State Off Road Nationals at Glen Helen Sets the Tone for Championship Saturday
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The final race weekend of the 2020 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Presented by GEICO got underway on Friday from Southern California’s famed Glen Helen Raceway. With the battles for each of the eight class championships coming down to the wire, it was imperative for the title hopefuls to get the General Tire Golden State Off Road Nationals Presented by Lucas Oil doubleheader off to a strong start, with the goal of reducing the amount of pressure entering Saturday’s finale. |
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Pro 2 Friday The battle atop the Pro 2 standings was tight coming into the final weekend of the season, as Doug Mittag and defending champion Jerett Brooks were separated by just two points. Mittag’s consistency is what ultimately allowed him to carry the points lead into Glen Helen, but it would all come down to the final two rounds of action. The opening race of the weekend saw Mittag start on the pole alongside Ryan Beat, while Brooks began the race fourth on the grid. When the green flag waved to get the racing underway Mittag was able to assume control of the lead but Brooks made quick moves from the second row and quickly moved up into second. Mittag held off the pressure for several laps but Brooks bided his time and made his move at the first opportunity. The two made slight contact and Brooks seized control of the top spot as Beat moved into second. With the lead in hand Brooks dominated the rest of the way and took his sixth win of the season by 3.1 seconds over Beat in second, with Mittag coming in third. The win was enough to put Brooks back in control of the championship hunt. Friday Pro 2 Results
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Jerett Brooks (77) bested championship rival Doug Mittag (81) to take the Friday Pro 2 win. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Pro Lite Friday With four wins in the previous six races entering Glen Helen, Pro Lite point leader Brock Heger found himself in a comfortable position coming into the final weekend, working with a 22-point lead. The extra cushion put Heger in a position to race conservatively, if necessary, as he chased a first Pro Lite championship. Heger started the first race of the weekend on the pole alongside Ronnie Anderson and when racing got underway Heger asserted himself at the head of the pack right away. With a clear track ahead of him Heger was able to take advantage of picking the fastest lines around the track and it allowed him to build a lead he’d never relinquish. Heger was dominant en route to his fifth win of the season, well ahead of Anderson in second, followed by Cole Mamer in third. Friday Pro Lite Results
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Brock Heger’s emphatic win on Friday moved him one step closer to the Pro Lite title. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Pro Buggy Friday No driver in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series was hotter coming into the Glen Helen finale than defending Pro Buggy Champion Eliott Watson. The current titleholder had gone on a tear since the opening round of the season, amassing a six race win streak that he was looking to extend at the finale. With a massive 50-point lead coming into the final two rounds, it certainly looked like it’d be a victory lap for Watson. Fittingly, Watson’s quest for a seventh straight win on Friday began with the champ on the pole alongside Trey D. Gibbs. When racing got underway at the drop of the green flag Watson quickly jumped into the lead and controlled the pace of the race. The clear track gave Waston all the advantage he needed as he continued to hit his marks and ride smooth, consistent laps. The defending champion went wire to wire to capture his seventh straight win and earn a long overdue first victory at Glen Helen ahead of Gibbs in second and Matthew Brister in third. Friday Pro Buggy Results
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Eliott Watson's dominance of Pro Buggy continued with a win on Friday. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Turbo UTV & Production 1000 UTV Friday Each respective championship battle across the series UTV classes featured season long head to head battles between the each division’s top two racers. In Turbo UTV, defending champion Corry Weller and Ronnie Anderson traded momentum all season long, with Anderson carrying a slight seven point edge into Glen Helen. In Production 1000 UTV, a late season hot streak by Myles Cheek had given him the upper hand on two time class champion Brock Heger, with the duo separated by 25 points coming into the finale. The opening Turbo UTV race of the weekend began with Weller and Anderson on the front row, with Weller on the pole. When the green flag waved to get racing underway the championship rivals ran side by side for half a lap before Anderson edged his way into the lead. Anderson quickly built a lead of several car lengths as Weller came under fire from Trevor Leighton in third. As the laps wore on Weller started to close back in, but both the race and championship took a turn when Anderson lost pace. As Weller carried on with the lead in hand, Anderson did all he could to make his UTV survive, hoping to salvage points and his dwindling title hopes before ultimately pulling off track. Out front, the champ carried on to take her fourth win of the season by 2.2 seconds over Trey D. Gibbs with Chance Haugen in third. With his heartbreaking DNF Anderson finished in seventh, suffering a major blow to his championship aspirations. The first Production 1000 UTV race of the weekend also saw the championship contenders on the front row, with Heger on the pole alongside Cheek. As the field came to life to take the green flag Cheek pushed hard on the outside line to clear Heger and take control of the lead. Cheek dropped the hammer in the early laps to pull away by about a half second, which he was able to maintain the advantage through the halfway point. When the second half of the race got underway Heger was there to take advantage of a slight bobble by Cheek and move into the lead. Cheek hounded Heger for the remainder of the race, often giving his rival a nudge on the rear fender, but Heger fended off the challenge to take his third win of the season by less than a car length over Cheek. Dallas Nord finished third. Friday Turbo UTV Results
Friday Production 1000 UTV Results
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Corry Weller (left) prevailed with a big Turbo UTV victory on Friday, while Brock Heger (right) kept his title hopes alive with a Production 1000 UTV win. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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Mod Kart, JR2 Kart & RZR 170 Friday Each junior class championship was still up for grabs coming into the Glen Helen finale. In Mod Kart, a late season surge by Connor Barry put him in the driver’s seat in pursuit of his first title as he carried a 23-point cushion into the weekend. In JR2 Kart, the top three drivers in the championship came into the doubleheader separated by just 13 points, with Talan Martin on top. In RZR 170, the season long battle between TJ Siewers and defending champion George Llamosas was set to come down to the wire, with 11 points between the pair. Friday’s Mod Kart race began with Trey Eggleston on the pole with Barry lining up alongside on the front row. When the green flag waved Barry valiantly fought his way into the lead over Ethan Ebert and Eggleston. Some early misfortune shuffled Barry deep in the field and allowed Ebert to claim the lead, but a hard charging David Gasper soon put himself out front. With the lead in hand Gasper charged to his second straight win by 1.7 seconds over Eggleston in second, with Braden Chiaramonte in third. Barry battled back to finish sixth. The front row for the first JR2 Kart race of the weekend saw Dane Culver on the pole with Lake Adler in second, while Martin started the race from third. When the action got underway Culver asserted himself in the lead while Martin and Adler made contact and lost several positions. A battle for the lead soon unfolded between Culver and Chaden Zane Minder, with Minder eventually getting the edge after patiently giving pursuit for several laps. As the second half of the race got underway Culver made his way back into the lead, but Minder battled back to take over the spot on last time and carry on to his first win ahead of Culver in second and Brodie Martin in third. Neither of the championship contenders started Friday’s RZR 170 action from the front row. Instead it was Declan Shields and Zoe Easton who led the field to the green flag, with Llamosas and Siewers following from the second row. When racing got underway Llamosas made a quick charge to take the lead while Siewers followed along into second. The top two pulled away from the rest of the field, with Llamosas carrying on to his sixth win of the season by a half second over Siewers, with Shields in third. Friday Mod Kart Results
Friday JR2 Kart Results
Friday RZR 170 Results
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(Clockwise from left) David Gasper earned the Mod Kart win on Friday as Chaden Zane Minder (second in line) broke through in JR2 Kart, while George Llamoasas earned his sixth RZR 170 victory. Photo: Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series |
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For information about the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series please visit LucasOilOffRoad.com and be sure to follow all of the LOORRS social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
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Trans Am Sets Expanded 2021 Schedule
After the pandemic forced motorsport into a consolidated schedule for 2020, the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli has bounced back for the 2021 season.
One of the longest-running categories in motorsport, Trans Am is set to stage an expanded 14-race calendar that will see the National Championship featured at legendary venues across the United States and Canada as part of NASCAR and Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) events. Most of the 2021 schedule will continue to be live streamed on the Trans Am by Pirelli Racing App.
The 2021 schedule has grown to include the “Roval” circuits of Charlotte and Homestead Miami, and has been designed with the goal of cost containment for the robust paddock.
With five back-to-back weekends that will be geographically friendly to participants, as well as the option for competitors to drop two rounds from the championship, the 2021 ruleset and calendar reflects both a connection to Trans Am’s long history as well as some well-considered responses to current conditions.
Adding flexibility and potential budget advantages for teams, drivers will be able to utilize their 12 best race finishes toward the championship standings. Teams will have the opportunity to drop two races or drop their worst two finishes up to August 1, establishing the opportunity for teams to select the best schedule of races to fit their plans without losing any competitiveness in the championship fight.
“After a season of unknowns, we wanted to give our participants stability with a cost-effective travel schedule that is geographically friendly and that would also allow for more racing in 2021 after having a shortened season in 2020,” explained Trans Am Race Company President John Clagett. “We also gave the teams the flexibility to choose the events they attend to help with their overall bottom line. There are some great events at the best venues in North America on this schedule. We’ve still got a lot of racing to yet do in 2020, but the enthusiasm about next year is really strong.”
Trans Am has a history at Sebring that stretches back to the very first race in 1966. The series will continue that tradition again in 2021 on February 20-21 to kick off a back-to-back Florida run that will see Trans Am return to Homestead Miami Speedway (February 27-28) as part of the SVRA SpeedTour.
The Homestead round is the first for Trans Am since 2017, and the last time that Sebring and Homestead (2015) ran on back to back weekends, the two races generated 73 and 65 entries, respectively.
The multi-class series travels to Charlotte Motor Speedway (March 20-21), having raced at the track in a previous iteration of the Roval layout in 2000. From there, the series will move south to the always-competitive Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (March 27-28) for another single tow race weekend with SVRA.
Following a short break, the National Championship will make a West Coast swing on consecutive weekends with visits to Sonoma Raceway (April 24-25) and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca (May 1-2), with the dates also slated is the opening two events of the growing Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli West Coast Championship.
Sonoma Raceway hosted the National Trans Am Championship 24 times, consecutively from 1969 through 2004; then returned to the schedule in 2018 as host for a West Coast Championship round. The West Coast Championship has returned to Sonoma every year since, and played host for three rounds and two events this season. The 2021 schedule will mark the first appearance for the National Championship at Sonoma since 2004.
Due to rescheduling, Trans Am drivers will be fighting for a title in the infamous Corkscrew during the 2020 season finale. In 2021, the SVRA SpeedTour event returns to its regularly scheduled first weekend of May slot featuring the Trans Am by Pirelli Championship and West Coast Championship series.
The series then heads back to the other side of the country for a fan favorite and traditional event the Trans Am SpeedTour Classic at Lime Rock Park over Memorial Day Weekend (May 29-31) with SVRA.
Another pair of back-to-back weekends kick off Trans Am’s summer tour, starting with Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course June 26-27. Trans Am will celebrate America’s independence at one of the most iconic road courses in the country, Road America, once again staging two 100-mile races as part of the NASCAR Cup Series event on its new date (July 3-4).
After a one weekend break, Trans Am will head North to Minnesota for a very special event. For the second consecutive season, Trans Am will honor the late track co-owner and former part-time Trans Am driver Jed Copham for the Jed Copham Tribute Weekend July 17-18.
Keeping true to the Trans American name, the final leg of the 2021 docket starts internationally in Canada at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park September 4-5.
The 2021 visit to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park will be its 31st visit, and its first time there since 2014. Trans Am raced at the venue 14 consecutive years (1984-97) and then six straight seasons (2009-2014) on the traditional Victoria Day weekend (start of summer) to now the end of summer holiday (Labour Day).
The following weekend, the teams return to the iconic Watkins Glen International (September 11- 12) after missing the date in 2020 due to the pandemic. The three-week September sprint ends in Virginia International Raceway (September 25-26) with SVRA.
The teams and drivers break for October before the season finale at Circuit of the Americas November 6-7, which will host the season finale for both the Trans Am National and West Coast championships. 
The TA2® powered by AEM class will be enjoying one additional race, to be announced in the near future.
The full official 2021 Trans Am Series West Coast presented by Pirelli Championship schedule will be released at a later date.
For more information on Trans Am, visit www.GoTransAm.com.
2021 Trans Am by Pirelli Schedule
February 20-21 Sebring International (w SVRA)
February 27-28 Homestead (w SVRA)
March 20-21 Charlotte Motor Speedway (w SVRA)
March 27-28 Michelin Road Atlanta (w SVRA)
April 24-25 Sonoma Raceway (w SVRA)
May 1- 2 Weather Tech Laguna Seca (w SVRA)
May 29-31 Lime Rock Park (w SVRA)
June 26-27 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (w SVRA)
July 3-4 Road America (w NASCAR)
July 17-18 Brainerd International Raceway (w tbd)
September 4-5 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (w tbd)
September 11- 12 Watkins Glen International (w SVRA)
September 25-26 Virginia International Raceway (w SVRA)
November 6-7 Circuit of the Americas (w SVRA)
TBA TA2® standalone race TBA street circuit
Battles Remain for Championship Positions in Road to Indy Finale
More than seven months after the 2020 Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires season was set to commence on the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., the same challenging 1.8-mile, 14-turn street circuit will instead host the season finale this weekend, October 24-25. The Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires and the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship will each host two races in support of the final round of this year’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES.
The disruption caused to the original schedule by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic means that this weekend will provide the only races this season on a street circuit.
While both championships already have been decided – in favor of Sting Ray Robb (Indy Pro 2000) and Christian Rasmussen (USF2000), both of whom will graduate onto the next level of the highly acclaimed open-wheel development ladder in 2021 – the runner-up placings in both series remain hotly contested. In addition, several drivers are looking to make an early start to their 2021 campaigns, especially in USF2000 which has attracted its biggest field of the season, 23 cars, for the USF2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Andersen RacePark and Cooper Tires.
Robb’s Job Done but Second is up for Grabs
Sting Ray Robb has enjoyed a spectacular season for Juncos Racing, tying up the championship – and a scholarship valued at $609,245, which will guarantee his graduation to the rejuvenated Indy Lights Presented by Cooper Tires in 2021 – following his trio of podium finishes earlier this month at New Jersey Motorsports Park. But Robb, 19, from Payette, Idaho, still has plenty of unfinished business as he aims to score his first victory in St. Petersburg.
In addition, second place in the championship remains very much undecided as top rookie Devlin DeFrancesco (Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport), from Miami, Fla., holds a 20-point edge over Robb’s teammate, Russian Artem Petrov. Both have won twice already this season.
Singapore’s Danial Frost (Turn 3 Motorsport) currently stands just 10 points shy of Petrov with two races remaining, while rookie Hunter McElrea (Pabst Racing), from New Zealand, and DEForce Racing teammates Parker Thompson, from Canada, and Mexico’s Manuel Sulaiman also retain hopes of placing among the top three in the final championship standings.
Thompson, 22, from Red Deer, Alb., Canada, has by far the most experience on the tricky street circuit, which offers little or no margin for error. In addition to winning both Indy Pro 2000 races in 2019, Thompson led the majority of the season opener in 2018 before being overtaken in the late stages by current INDYCAR rising star Rinus VeeKay. Thompson also claimed a pair of USF2000 podium finishes at St. Pete in 2016, one of them behind Florida native Oliver Askew, last year’s Indy Lights champion who has also claimed a podium finish during his rookie INDYCAR campaign in 2020.
Frost, who finished third and fourth in the two Indy Pro 2000 races at St. Pete in 2019, is looking to recapture the form that took him to a win and a pair of podium finishes in the opening three races this year. McElrea and Sulaiman also have fond memories of St. Pete after notching podium finishes last year in USF2000.
Kory Enders (DEForce Racing), from Sugar Land, Texas, also should have high expectations after posting the second fastest lap in the lone practice session in March prior to the race event being postponed.
Nate Aranda, from Albuquerque, N.M., is set to return in a third Juncos Racing entry after skipping the last two events. In addition, Tristan Charpentier, from Bethune, France, who had originally planned on undertaking a full season of Indy Lights, instead will make his Road to Indy debut in the same Exclusive Autosport Tatuus PM-18 with which Ohioan Braden Eves topped the timing charts at St. Petersburg in March.
The Cooper Tires Indy Pro 2000 Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Presented by Cooper Tires and Allied Building Products will start on Friday, October 23, at 11:05 a.m. with a 30-minute practice session. This will be followed by 30 minutes of qualifying at 3:25 p.m., which will set the grid for Race One at 5:40 p.m. on Saturday. A second qualifying session at 10:10 a.m. on Saturday will determine the starting positions for Race Two on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. All times are EDT.
All Saturday and Sunday sessions will be live streamed globally on the Road to Indy TV App, at RoadToIndy.TV and indypro2000.com.
Barrichello, Gold Tied for Second in USF2000
Denmark’s Christian Rasmussen, 20, has already wrapped up the season-long championship – and a scholarship worth $328,225 to graduate into Indy Pro 2000 – but he still has one more opportunity to etch his name in the record books. Rasmussen has won nine races this season for the Jay Howard Driver Development team which, in addition to three victories during his rookie campaign in 2019, leaves him tied for second on the all-time winners’ list with fellow former series champions J.R. Hildebrand (2006) and Kyle Kirkwood (2019). Both Hildebrand and Kirkwood achieved their tallies during a single season but Rasmussen will have two opportunities in St. Petersburg to equal or exceed the record total of 13 wins accumulated by Chris Simmons in 1992 and 1993. Simmons, incidentally, is part of the engineering team at Chip Ganassi Racing, which hopes to guide New Zealander Scott Dixon to his sixth INDYCAR championship this weekend.
The honor of finishing second in the title-chase remains to be decided between Brazilian Eduardo Barrichello (Pabst Racing) and Reece Gold (Cape Motorsports), from Miami, Fla., who are currently tied on 306 points apiece.
Barrichello holds the tie-breaker at present after claiming three wins this season compared to Gold’s two. The Brazilian also holds the honor of having edged Rasmussen to the fastest time on the unforgiving streets back in March before the event was halted.
The only other driver to win a race this year is Gold’s teammate Michael d’Orlando, from Hartsdale, N.Y., who holds fourth place in the standings. Just eight points separate d’Orlando from the top rookie, Californian Christian Brooks (Exclusive Autosport), who along with Barrichello is the only driver to have finished among the top 10 in every race but one this year.
Josh Green (Cape Motorsports), from Mount Kisco, N.Y., also has an outside chance of securing top rookie honors following his third podium finish of the season in the most recent race at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Other notable entries from a standout field include Cameron Shields (DEForce Racing), who finished second in one of the races at New Jersey, and Brazilian teammate Kiko Porto, who is set to return after missing the trip to NJMP; and Californians Prescott Campbell, who claimed a breakthrough maiden podium in difficult wet conditions two weeks ago, and Nolan Siegel (Jay Howard Driver Development), who earned his first fastest race lap and pole position.
F1600 Championship Series points leader Simon Sikes, from Atlanta, Ga., will return with Legacy Autosport as he looks to gain a head start on a full USF2000 campaign in 2021 after finishing fourth at Mid-Ohio last month. Michael Myers, from Lizton, Ind., and Ayrton Ori, from Orlando, Fla., also will return to the Legacy lineup, while Mexico’s Gil Molina joins DEForce Racing for his USF2000 debut.
The USF2000 field will take to the track for the first time at 11:05 a.m. on Friday for a 30-minute practice session. Next up are a pair of 30-minute qualifying periods at 2:35 p.m. and the following morning at 9:30 a.m. The green flag for Race One is set for 4:40 p.m. on Saturday, with Race Two slated for 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. All Saturday and Sunday on-track sessions will be live streamed globally at RoadToIndy.TV, usf2000.com and on the Road to Indy TV App.
Indian Motorcycle Wrecking Crew Rider Briar Bauman Repeats as AFT SuperTwins Champion
Indian Motorcycle Racing, presented by Progressive Motorcycle Insurance, and the FTR750 closed out an unprecedented season this past weekend at the Progressive AFT Finale Doubleheader at Daytona I & II, a pair of events which saw Wrecking Crew rider Briar Bauman successfully complete his quest to repeat as AFT SuperTwins Champion. Entering the weekend with a slim lead over fellow Wrecking Crew teammate Jared Mees, Bauman was able to fend off the former five-time grand national champion to earn the No. 1 plate for the second consecutive year.
Mees came into the first leg of the doubleheader on Friday just nine points back of Bauman and had every intention of closing the points gap to put himself in position on Saturday to reclaim his throne. Bauman was reluctant to give up any ground and took control of his own destiny, placing second and needing only an eighth-place finish in the second of the two races to complete his repeat bid.
The AFT Finale at Daytona II on Saturday was met with inclement weather which caused numerous delays to the evening’s proceedings. This only made things that much more difficult for Bauman, who was looking to clinch his championship, and Mees who was looking to mount a comeback. Both riders showed their championship grit amidst the conditions and found themselves in the hunt down the stretch of the main.
With Indian Privateer Brandon Robinson seizing control early and throughout, Mees’ best shot for a potential title win was to overtake Robinson and hope for a mistake on Bauman’s part. Mees fought hard and maintained his position in second for the majority of the race but was ultimately overcome by the odds. In the final two laps of the race, Bauman found himself in the top four with Indian Privateer Sammy Halbert hot on his trail looking to pass him and earn a podium finish. Realizing what was happening behind him and what was at stake, along with the potential risk that came with trying to hold off Halbert, Bauman smartly let Halbert pass and was able to cruise comfortably to a fourth-place finish, more than enough to earn him a second consecutive No. 1 plate.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Briar and we’re extremely happy to see him repeat as champion,” said Gary Gray, Vice President – Racing, Technology and Service for Indian Motorcycle. “The same goes for Jared, Bronson and our entire factory team who fought tooth and nail this season and were able to rise to the occasion multiple times in the midst of one of the most challenging years ever.“
The result marked Indian Motorcycle Racing’s fourth consecutive title since returning to professional flat track racing in 2017, with Mees and Bauman each repeating after initial championship victories. Additionally, the Indian Motorcycle FTR750 went undefeated in the 2020 season, earning victories in 15 consecutive races.
Statement on Season Seven calendar update
Rounds one and two of Season 7 will take place in Santiago on January 16 and 17. Our first double-header in the Chilean capital, the back-to-back races in this iconic city centre will mark the start of Formula E’s inaugural season as an FIA World Championship. For health and safety purposes, and working closely with the authorities in Santiago, the event will be held behind closed doors.
Rounds three and four of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on February 26 and 27. Returning for the third year in a row, we are carefully planning the event in coordination with the local authorities to ensure the safe and successful running of both races. Our intention is to host an open race with spectators on site.
Races in Mexico City and Sanya have been postponed until later in the year. We are focused on racing in as many of our international host cities as possible, sticking as closely to our planned and previously announced calendar as we can. In all decision-making we prioritise the health and safety of our staff and the entire Formula E community of teams, manufacturers, partners, drivers and fans, as well as the citizens and residents of the cities in which we race.
Formula E will continue to work with local authorities to monitor the situation and is in constant communication with its community of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters and drivers. The next set of races will be confirmed in early 2021. All calendar updates are subject to approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
Hagerty Acquires the California Mille, Prestigious Car Tour Through Northern and Coastal California
Hagerty announced today that it has acquired the California Mille and will work in collaboration with the Swig family, founders of the time-honored collector car rally, to continue its tradition of excellence.
The California Mille attracts owners of some of the most celebrated collector cars in the nation and invites them to enjoy a sense of camaraderie while embarking on meticulously curated routes along Northern California’s scenic mountain and coastal roads. The Mille joins the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance (ranked as a top five U.S. automotive event by USA Today) in Hagerty’s growing lineup of immersive automotive experiences.
The event is an homage to the original Mille Miglia (Italian for “1,000 miles”), which ran from Brescia, Italy, to Rome and back. The race ran 24 times between 1927 and 1957. In 1977, it was reborn as a slower-paced and vastly safer time-speed-distance rally in which drivers try to complete the course at an assigned average speed. Unlike the Italian Mille Miglia, the California Mille is not a race, but an opportunity for participants to drive at their own pace on a carefully preplanned route.
The California Mille story can be traced back to when John Lamm and Martin Swig went to the 1982 Mille Miglia in Brescia, Italy, with Martin’s 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 Zagato. Nine years later, Martin Swig hosted the inaugural California Mille. Swig’s sons David and Howard have run the event since 2012.
“Our father founded the Mille as a way of celebrating cars and the community they attract,” said David Swig. “There is no other steward whose appreciation of and vision for the Mille are as directly in line with that of our father and our family than Hagerty. We look forward to continuing our participation in this very special event and helping to maintain and preserve its legacy.”
Entry into the California Mille is limited to vehicles that either ran or could have run in one of the original Mille Miglias. In recognition of similar races on this side of the Atlantic, such as Mexico’s Carrera Panamericana, period-appropriate American cars are also eligible and appear alongside an impressive lineup of historic Jaguars, Mercedes-Benzes, and Porsches, as well as pre-war Alfa Romeos, Blower Bentleys, and the like. Participation each year is limited to 65 cars, and having a car accepted is a badge of honor in collector-car circles.
Hagerty recognizes the natural alignment between the event and Hagerty’s mission to save driving, according to McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty. “We share the belief that cars are about more than just getting from Point A to Point B, they’re about connection and a sense of camaraderie. We are thrilled to welcome the event and its participants to our family and will always ensure the California Mille stays true to its roots of ‘important cars, little roads, and wonderful friends.’” The 2021 California Mille is scheduled for April 25–29.
