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Adam Sinclair

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  

  

 
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Coming to LORTV This January

Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Coming to LORTV This January

04 Dec 2019
Racing News

Get ready to start the new year in high gear when Lucas Oil’s Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tires comes to  Lucas Oil Racing TV (LORTV) in January! Yearly LORTV subscribers will enjoy a LIVE broadcast of the Chili Bowl Nationals on January 18th at 8:30 p.m. ET. Recognized as the Super Bowl of racing, Lucas’ annual Chili Bowl Nationals brings 55 laps of can’t-miss adrenaline-packed racing straight to your television. Give yourself or a loved one the gift of automobile racing this holiday season with a yearly subscription to LORTV and watch all the Chili Bowl action go down LIVE this January. 

 

In addition to this LIVE broadcasts, motorsport fans can choose from more than 5,400 shows across 90 different categories, all available 24/7 on-demand on the Lucas Oil Racing TV platform. 

Both returning and new subscribers can log directly onto LucasOilRacing.TV and watch the action from the convenience of their browser. Additionally, Lucas Oil Racing TV is available on all the most popular streaming devices like ROKU, Apple iOS, Android devices, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Google Play, Xbox One, and more. A full list of supported devices can found HERE. 

 

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Formula E to become ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from start of 2020/21 season

Formula E to become ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from start of 2020/21 season

03 Dec 2019
Racing News
Formula E has been granted world championship status by the FIA, in a vote that will see the series recognised as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from the start of the 2020/21 season.
 
The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the governing and sanctioning body for world motorsport, and sitting members of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) recently voted upon and agreed to move forward with certifying Formula E as an FIA world championship.
 
Founder & Chairman of Formula E Alejandro Agag - alongside FIA President Jean Todt - signed the agreement together at FIA headquarters at Place de la Concorde in Paris, to officially confirm world championship status for season seven.
 
Transitioning to the highest level in the FIA sanctioned single-seater hierarchy, means the most competitive line-up of teams and drivers in motorsport will compete for the newly named ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title next season.
 
The announcement comes off the back of Formula E’s most successful season to date - with nine different race winners and growing audience figures - and shortly after the opening two rounds of season six and the much-anticipated arrival of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche at the SAUDIA Diriyah E-Prix.
 
To learn more about the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, find out where to watch highlights from the season opener in Saudi Arabia and buy tickets to the remaining races, visit www.FIAFormulaE.com or download the app on iOS and Android.
 
Alternatively, follow the ABB FIA Formula E Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. @FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE
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Event tickets go on sale today at advance pricing for the 2020 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course season

Event tickets go on sale today at advance pricing for the 2020 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course season

03 Dec 2019
Speedway News
The green flag has dropped on ticket sales at advance pricing for all five major race events at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course next season. The 59th season of racing at the legendary road course in Lexington, Ohio, will feature the best in two- and four-wheel motorsports action, beginning the first weekend of May and running through mid-August.
 
Fans can see all the on track action, plus gain access to club weekends not open to the general public, with the purchase of a Mid-Ohio Season Race Pass at the $360 advance price. The regular price is $395 starting March 3rd. Included with the all access pass are all event general admission tickets and grandstand seating, infield parking, redemption offers for use on site, and other exclusive experiences. A Paddock Pass for The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio is also provided. See midohio.com for a summary of all the exclusive benefits of a 2020 Mid-Ohio Season Race Pass.
 
Now through March 2nd, fans who buy during the advance purchase window get rewarded with savings of up to $20 on most event tickets. Also, Weekend Motorhome and Tent Camping are available at $20 off regular prices currently. Tickets can be ordered online at midohio.com or 419-884-4000 weekdays during business hours.
 
“Tickets are on sale now at a terrific savings during the holiday gift buying season. The Mid-Ohio Season Race Pass continues as one of the best values in all of motorsports, and it makes a great gift for any race fan,” said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “We have another exciting season of racing in store for 2020. The variety of series on our schedule across the five race weekends is tremendous and hard to top.”
 
The 2020 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course schedule is as follows:
 
  • Acura Sports Car Challenge (IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event) – May 1-3
  • Mid-Ohio 170 (NASCAR Xfinity Series event / ARCA Menards Series) – May 29-30
  • Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (Sportscar Vintage Racing Association / TransAm) – June 26-28
  • AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (AMA’s annual motorcycling celebration) – July 10-12
  • The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (NTT IndyCar Series event) – August 14-16
 
Two adjustments on the schedule for 2020 are shifts in dates for the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NTT IndyCar Series rounds at Mid-Ohio due to television coverage of the Summer Olympics from Tokyo. The NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the Mid-Ohio 170, moves earlier to May 29-30, and is the first stop in the Midwest next year for NASCAR. The ARCA Menards Series returns to Mid-Ohio for the first time since 1965 as Friday’s feature race of this stock car weekend. Then, Ohio’s largest motorsports event, The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio headlined by the NTT IndyCar Series, shifts to a later summer date, August 14-16, to wrap up the 2020 schedule with the stars and cars of the Indianapolis 500.
 
The Acura Sports Car Challenge, featuring the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, again leads off the 2020 schedule the first weekend of May for the third straight season. A celebration of automobile history in motion occurs June 26-28 for the Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio. The longest continuously running event at Mid-Ohio also adds the fender-banging, ground-pounding cars of the TransAm Series to its weekend schedule for the first time.
 
Shifting from four-wheel to two-wheel action, AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days is up next, July 10-12. American Motorcycle Association’s annual motorcycle gathering again brings numerous activities for enthusiasts spread across all 330 acres of the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course facility.
 
Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course offers one of the best family values in all of live sports and entertainment. Children 12 and under always receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Visit midohio.com for more information, and follow its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, Twitter @Mid_Ohio or Instagram @officialmidohio for the latest news.
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Jake Griffin ready for his return to the Snowflake 100

Jake Griffin ready for his return to the Snowflake 100

30 Nov 2019
Racing News
On Saturday, December 7, the eyes of the stock car racing world will turn south towards Pensacola, as the stars of the world of Late Model racing head to Five Flags Speedway for the Snowflake 100. Amongst the myriad of up and coming racers in the field is Jake Griffin.
 
Griffin is not unaccustomed to finding victory lane, as he scored a Late Model win earlier this year at one of the most scenic areas in the world at Alaska Raceway Park in Palmer, AK.  Jake will drive the Adventures In Racing #88 Ford in the Snowflake 100, and it will be his second start in the storied event.
 
Jake has made six starts in the Gander Outdoors Truck Series, having debuted under the tutelage of Mike Mittler and his MB Motorsports operation.
 
“This is going to be really cool.  Earlier in the year I raced in Alaska for Adventures In Racing and now we're racing near the Gulf Of Mexico," stated Griffin."We have now raced at opposite ends of the country in a single season.”
 
At age 14, Jake Griffin became the youngest winner in NASCAR touring series history. Two years later, Griffin made his NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series debut.
 
“As I mentioned when we raced in Alaska, seat time is seat time and you can never get enough of that," Griffin continued. "It's kind of like having a well rounded education.  The more aspects of your trade you have experience with, the better a driver you will be.”
 
Jake has one regional championship, and six track championships since his start in quarter midgets at age seven. Since then, he has raced in the UMP A and B- Modified, UMP Late Model, USAC Midget, IMCA Modified and Sportmod, ULMA Late Model (where he placed 2nd in series points, at the age of 12),POWRi Series, Crate Late Model, Pro Late Model, Super Late Model, Modified and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. He has over 200 Feature wins in various series and more than 300 top fives,
 
With that in mind, he's hoping for a good weekend in Pensacola. 

“Well, in our first Snowflake, we had a solid qualifying run and started 11th," Griffin added.  "Unfortunately, our day was cut short because we got caught up in a wreck there was no way to avoid. We're using that as motivation to bring home a strong finish this time around.”
 
 
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IMSA WeatherTech Championship 2020: Who’s Going Where?

IMSA WeatherTech Championship 2020: Who’s Going Where?

30 Nov 2019
Racing News
We’re just past the halfway point in the offseason which comes on the first weekend of January with the Roar Before the Rolex 24 At Daytona.
 
Teams, drivers and manufacturers get a little break this week for the Thanksgiving holiday and another one next month around Christmas, but other than that, it’s going to be flat out right up until the Roar – and actually all the way up to the start of the Rolex 24 At Daytona on Saturday, Jan. 25.
 
There has been a fair amount of movement in the driver and team ranks with lineup changes announced for 2020. Here’s a quick look and what’s been confirmed so far:
 
No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi Confirms Derani, Nasr for Full Season; Albuquerque for Michelin Endurance Cup (Oct. 8)
The first announcement of 2020 plans actually came the week of the season finale, as Whelen Engineering Racing announced the return of Pipo Derani and Felipe Nasr as full season co-drivers of its No. 31 Cadillac DPi-V.R on Oct. 8.
 
The big news in that announcement was that Filipe Albuquerque, who was a full-time driver of the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac alongside Joao Barbosa for the previous two seasons, was joining the No. 31 team for the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds in what is anticipated to be the only Action Express Racing-fielded entry for 2020.
 
Magnussen Exploring Other Opportunities After 16 Years with Corvette Racing (Oct. 18)
During the week after the 2019 WeatherTech Championship season concluded, Corvette Racing confirmed that one of the all-time greats in IMSA competition, Danish racer Jan Magnussen, would be moving on from the team and exploring other opportunities in 2020.
 
“Everyone at Corvette Racing thanks Jan for his years of dedication and professionalism during the last 16 years,” said Chevrolet U.S. Vice President of Performance and Motorsports, Jim Campbell. “Jan has been a key part of the growth and success of Corvette Racing. His experience and insight have been invaluable. We hold Jan in the highest regard and wish him well in the next chapter of his career.”
 
McMurry Joining Farnbacher, Meyer Shank Racing in No. 86 Acura NSX GT3 for 2020 (Oct. 30)
In a combination of 2019 WeatherTech Championship titlists, LMP2 champion Matt McMurry was announced as the new co-driver of the No. 86 Meyer Shank Racing Acura NSX GT3 alongside Mario Farnbacher, who won the 2019 GT Daytona (GTD) title co-driving with Trent Hindman. McMurry previously drove for the team when it fielded an LMP2 car in 2015.
 
“It’s an honor to be selected to join the Meyer Shank Racing team again,” McMurry said. “I can’t imagine a better place to be for the 2020 season than in an Acura NSX GT3 EVO at MSR.”
 
“I’m excited to be back with the Meyer Shank Racing guys next year,” added Farnbacher. “We had a great 2019 season and we will head into 2020 with the same goal.”
 
Kyle Busch to Compete in 2020 Rolex 24 in AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RCF GT3 (Nov. 4)
 At the time of the announcement, Busch only had one Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title on his résumé. But the now two-time champion will make his Rolex 24 At Daytona debut in January.
 
“I’d like to thank everyone at Lexus Motorsports, AIM Vasser Sullivan and Toyota for this opportunity,” Busch said. “To have the chance to run in such an iconic race as the Rolex 24 is certainly something I’ve thought about and wanted to do. My partnership with Toyota and the history we’ve had together is incredible. I would love to continue that history and maybe get my own Daytona Rolex to add to my trophy collection.”
 
Era Motorsport Commits to LMP2 Entry for 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona (Nov. 5)
Era Motorsport – which has been a stalwart of historic racing – announced plans to compete in the LMP2 class in the 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona, fielding an ORECA entry for team principal/driver Kyle Tilley and other drivers still to be named. The program is being run in partnership with longtime LMP2 competitors, DragonSpeed.
 
“We’re very excited to confirm that we’ll be joining the IMSA ranks in 2020 for the Rolex 24 At Daytona,” Tilley said. “We weren’t expecting to have to confirm the news so soon, but we’re thrilled there’s such media interest in our team.”
 
Acura Team Penske Returns with Same Driver Lineup for 2020 (Nov. 5)
When your two cars finish first and third in the DPi championship standings, there’s no reason to change much and that’s exactly what Acura Team Penske is doing in 2020. The team confirmed via Twitter that its championship-winning driver lineup of Dane Cameron and Juan Pablo Montoya will be back in the No. 6 ARX-05 with Ricky Taylor and Helio Castroneves also returning for the full season in the No. 7 entry.
 
For the Rolex 24, Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Advance Auto Parts and Motul Petit Le Mans, 2019 Indy 500 winner and 2016 IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud will return to the lineup for the No. 6, with 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi coming back to the No. 7 squad.
 
Corvette Racing Lineup Includes Jordan Taylor for New C8.R Race Cars (Nov. 14)
In mid-November, Corvette Racing confirmed what long had been rumored when it announced that two-time IMSA champion Jordan Taylor would be moving from the prototype ranks to team with Antonio Garcia in the No. 3 Corvette C8.R as part of the team’s two-car GT Le Mans (GTLM) class program in 2020. The team’s No. 4 entry would continue to see longtime co-drivers Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin.
 
“It’s a huge honor to be back with Corvette Racing for 2020 and part of the full-season lineup,” said Taylor, who won the 2015 24 Hours of Le Mans with Gavin and Milner as part of the Corvette Racing GTE Pro lineup. “I’m very proud to be joining one of the most successful teams in sports car racing and to represent the Corvette and Chevrolet brands.”
 
Briscoe Joins van der Zande, No. 10 Cadillac DPi Squad; Dixon Names Endurance Teammate (Nov. 15)
The day after longtime team driver Jordan Taylor was confirmed at Corvette Racing, his father’s Wayne Taylor Racing squad revealed that Ryan Briscoe would be joining the No. 10 Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi-V.R team to co-drive with Renger van der Zande for the full 2020 WeatherTech Championship.
 
“I’m really excited to be joining WTR,” said Briscoe. “I’ve always had so much respect for the organization. They’ve been so successful and are one of the most committed teams in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. It’s an honor to join them as one of their full-time drivers.”
 
Briscoe is joining the team after four years with Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s Ford GT program, which concluded in 2019. Another longtime Ganassi racer – five-time IndyCar champion and 2008 Indy 500 winner Scott Dixon – was confirmed to join the lineup for endurance races at Daytona, Sebring and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. Kamui Kobayashi, who won the 2019 Rolex 24 alongside van der Zande, Jordan Taylor and Fernando Alonso, also is returning to defend the team’s Daytona victory.
 
DragonSpeed Commits to Full LMP2 Season with Hedman, Hanley (Nov. 19)
DragonSpeed became the first team to formalize its plans to compete in the full six-race WeatherTech Championship LMP2 season with the announcement that Henrik Hedman and Ben Hanley will drive the team’s Gibson-powered ORECA. The team also will defend its 2019 Rolex 24 At Daytona class victory – which does not count toward the overall 2020 WeatherTech Championship for the class – with as-yet-unnamed third and fourth drivers.
 
“IMSA’s changes to the LMP2 class rules and schedule have put it on a par with the (European Le Mans Series) in terms of gentleman driver appeal,” said Team Principal Elton Julian. “We are responding enthusiastically to that.”
 
Legge, Nielsen Names Co-Drivers of New GEAR Racing Lamborghini for 2020 (Nov. 19)
Katherine Legge and Christina Nielsen – who co-drove a Meyer Shank Racing Acura for several 2019 WeatherTech Championship events – were named as full-season co-drivers of the new No. 19 GEAR Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3. The team is being run in conjunction with Grasser Racing, which won the Rolex 24 At Daytona in both 2018 and 2019, as well as the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2019.
 
“GEAR stands for Girl Empowerment Around Racing, and it is our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold in racing and in life,” said Kara Kenney, GEAR’s global brand director. “We’re thrilled to have Katherine and Christina on the team, and we couldn’t have found a better racing partner than Grasser.”
 
Parker Chase Joins Hawksworth, Lexus and AIM Vasser Sullivan for 2020 Season (Nov. 21)
Eighteen-year-old Parker Chase, who made his WeatherTech Championship debut in the 2019 season with Starworks Motorsport in the GTD class, is joining the driver lineup for an AIM Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 in 2020. Chase – who drove in his first race with the team at Motul Petit Le Mans – will co-drive the team’s No. 14 entry alongside longtime Lexus racer Jack Hawksworth.
 
“I’m honored and excited to be joining AIM Vasser Sullivan for the 2020 IMSA GTD season,” Chase said. “I want to thank [team co-owners] ‘Sulli’ (James ‘Sulli’ Sullivan), Jimmy (Vasser) and Andrew (Bordin) for this opportunity. The team had a lot of success in their first year in IMSA racing the Lexus RC F GT3 and I’m looking forward to helping them continue and improve on that success.”
 
Mustang Sampling And JDC-Miller Motorsports to Field No. 5 Cadillac DPi for Barbosa, Bourdais, Duval (Nov. 22)
They’ve co-driven to Daytona, Sebring and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta victories in the past, and now, Joao Barbosa and Sebastien Bourdais will chase the WeatherTech Championship DPi title in 2020. They will be sharing the No. 5 Mustang Sampling Racing Cadillac DPi-V.R, which will be fielded by Minnesota-based JDC-Miller Motorsports in 2020, for the full season, with past 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Loic Duval joining the team for IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.
 
“I’m incredibly excited to join JDC-Miller Motorsports and to continue my relationship with Mustang Sampling Racing,” said two-time WeatherTech Championship titlist Barbosa. “(Mustang Sampling President) Ken and (wife) Brenda (Thompson) have been incredible supporters. The passion they bring to the races is key to the success of Mustang Sampling.”
 
“I am thrilled to get the opportunity to race a prototype again and be reunited with Joao, Ken and Brenda,” Bourdais added. “2020 can’t come soon enough and I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of our Cadillac DPi-V.R.”
 
The 2020 Rolex 24 At Daytona will take place January 25-26. Tickets are available at www.DaytonaInternationalSpeedway.com. 
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Southern Conference U.S. Majors Tour 2020 Schedule Announced

Southern Conference U.S. Majors Tour 2020 Schedule Announced

30 Nov 2019
Racing News

The Southern Conference’s 2020 SCCA® U.S. Majors Tour® competition calendar has been released. A total of six weekends, 12 races in all, again make up the schedule that runs from January to early September.

All of the Southern Conference’s race weekends in 2020 will be two-day events. That includes this year’s visit to Circuit of the Americas in Texas, which will again be part of the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour along with the annual stop at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma. Five of the six race weekends will again take place in Texas, and the final two events -- separated by a little more than three months -- will both be held at Motor Speedway Resort Houston.

As always, the calendar below is subject to change. But the current 2020 U.S. Majors Tour Southern Conference schedule is currently comprised of the following:
- January 25-26: MotorSport Ranch; Cresson, Texas

- February 8-9: Circuit of the Americas; Austin, Texas

- April 4-5: Hallett Motor Racing Circuit; Jennings, Oklahoma
(Dual Mid-States/Southern Conference Event)

- May 2-3: Eagles Canyon Raceway; Decatur, Texas

- May 23-24: Motor Speedway Resort Houston; Angleton, Texas

- September 5-6: Motor Speedway Resort Houston; Angleton, Texas

Schedules for other SCCA U.S. Majors Tour Conferences will be published as they are finalized. Only SCCA Full Competition and SCCA Pro Racing License holders may register for U.S. Majors Tour or Hoosier Super Tour events. Again this year, both the U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Super Tour serve as pathways to the 2020 SCCA National Championship Runoffs® being held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

The Sports Car Club of America®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Hagerty, the Official Insurance Partner of SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit www.scca.com.

Photo: Circuit of the Americas’ exciting first turn will again be part of the U.S. Majors Tour Southern Conference schedule.

Credit: Jay Bonvouloir

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SCCA announces 2020 Tire Rack CAM Challenge Schedule

SCCA announces 2020 Tire Rack CAM Challenge Schedule

30 Nov 2019
Racing News

Sports Car Club of America® has released the schedule for the 2020 Tire Rack CAM Challenge Powered by SCCA, “America’s Pro-Touring Autocross Championship Series.” The calendar consists of seven stops around the country, including one stand-alone event at Grissom Aeroplex in Peru, Indiana. At each event, champions will be crowned in all three Classic American Muscle (CAM) classes, plus an Overall CAM Challenge Series Champion determined during the 2020 Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals.

Points will be awarded at all seven scheduled events for 2020, with the CAM Challenge Championship Finale -- conducted within the Tire Rack Solo Nationals -- having weighted points 50 percent greater than the previous six regular-season events. Competitors will score points in their best two CAM Challenge events plus points gathered at the Finale, all in a single class. CAM entries will continue as supplemental classes at the Solo Nationals Championship, but points will be tallied as part of the CAM Challenge Series.

The CAM Challenge season kicks off in March at Las Vegas Speedway, running in conjunction with the Tire Rack Vegas Championship Tour. From there, the series heads to California, joining the Tire Rack Crows Landing Championship Tour in April. In May, the series heads to the middle of the country to meet up with the Tire Rack Grenada ProSolo in Mississippi. From there, the trucks head north to Kansas where the CAM Challenge will run with the Topeka ProSolo in late June. The following weekend, it’s off to Bristol, Tennessee to run during the action-packed, double-header weekend with the Summer Nationals ProSolo.

The only stand-alone CAM Challenge event for 2020 takes place in August at Grissom Aeroplex in Indiana before September’s CAM Challenge Championship Finale contained within the Solo Nationals Championship at Lincoln Airpark.

The schedule is subject to change, but the 2020 Tire Rack CAM Challenge Powered by SCCA calendar currently is as follows:
- March 27-29: Tire Rack Las Vegas CAM Challenge; Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas Motor Speedway

- April 17-19: Tire Rack Crows Landing CAM Challenge; Crows Landing, California
NASA Crows Landing Airport

- May 1-3: Tire Rack Grenada CAM Challenge; Grenada, Mississippi
Grenada Airport

- June 26-28: Tire Rack Topeka CAM Challenge; Topeka, Kansas
Heartland Motorsports Park

- July 2-3: Tire Rack Summer Nationals CAM Challenge; Bristol, Tennessee
Bristol Motor Speedway

- August 7-9: Tire Rack Peru CAM Challenge; Peru, Indiana
Grissom Aeroplex

- September 10-11: Tire Rack CAM Challenge Finale; Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln Airpark West

In addition to the schedule, the 2020 CAM Challenge Rules are now available. To help grow the CAM-T class, the years of eligibility for that class have been expanded. For earlier models, the year now includes model years from 1948 to 1953. On the other end of the spectrum, vehicles up to the 2000 model year are now allowed. There were many requests to allow aerodynamic aids which prompted the allowance of spoilers, splitters and diffusers starting in 2020. The final rule change of note is the removal of the Yokohama AO52 from the excluded tire list. Complete rules for the Tire Rack CAM Challenge Powered by SCCA can be found on the series webpage here.

The Tire Rack CAM Challenge Powered by SCCA has three different classes for muscle cars. The CAM-T class is for car and truck body styles originating from 1948-2000 with a minimum weight without driver being 3000 pounds. The CAM-C class houses car and truck body styles from 2001 and newer, all of which must have a minimum weight without driver of 3300 pounds. The CAM-S class is for two-seater cars.

For more information, visit the Tire Rack CAM Challenge Powered by SCCA webpage at https://www.scca.com/pages/cam-challenge.

Photo Credit: Rupert Berrington

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SCCA Runoffs Airing on CBS Sports Network

SCCA Runoffs Airing on CBS Sports Network

30 Nov 2019
Racing News

December just wouldn’t be the same without Sports Car Club of America® Runoffs® races airing on television for a wider audience to view and enjoy. And for a third year in a row, millions of households throughout the country will be able to experience the excitement and energy of SCCA® competition when select National Championship events from VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) air Sundays on CBS Sports Network.

Starting at 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Dec. 8, race fans will be treated to the very exciting Spec Racer Ford Gen3 event, followed at 5 p.m. Eastern by the tight Formula Vee race. A week later on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. Eastern, Spec Miata will wow the viewing audience, followed immediately at 4 p.m. Eastern by the high-powered GT-2 race.

Sunday, Dec. 22, is all about SCCA Production racing on CBS Sports Network. At noon Eastern, the surprising E Production race will be broadcast. Then the nail-biter that was F Production will air at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Runoffs coverage on CBS Sports Network then concludes Sunday, Dec. 29, with the Touring 4 battle at 3 p.m. Eastern, then a 4 p.m. Eastern broadcast of the suspenseful Super Touring® Lite event.

Each separate race, produced by Apex Broadcast for the 11th year in-a-row, will be 60 minutes in length and anchored by longtime Runoffs announcer Greg Creamer. Additional commentary is supplied by pro driver Tom O’Gorman, Runoffs announcers Andy Hollis and Larry MacLeod, SportsCar365 writer Ryan Myrehn, and Heyward Wagner again covering pit row. All broadcast times are Eastern and the schedule is subject to change. Check cable or satellite TV providers for local CBS Sports Network channels.

2019 Runoffs CBS Sports Network broadcast schedule:
- Sun., Dec. 8, 4 p.m. Eastern; Spec Racer Ford Gen3
- Sun., Dec. 8, 5 p.m. Eastern; Formula Vee
- Sun., Dec. 15, 3 p.m. Eastern; Spec Miata
- Sun., Dec. 15, 4 p.m. Eastern; GT-2
- Sun., Dec. 22, Noon Eastern; E Production
- Sun., Dec. 22, 1 p.m. Eastern; F Production
- Sun., Dec. 29, 3 p.m. Eastern; Touring 4
- Sun., Dec. 29, 4 p.m. Eastern; Super Touring® Lite

Exposure on CBS Sports Network allows Sports Car Club of America an opportunity to showcase its thrilling brand of road racing to millions across the nation while also displaying accessibility to motorsport activities, said SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb.

“SCCA’s National Championship Runoffs are the three most exciting days of racing anywhere in the United States,” Cobb said. “Selecting eight races for broadcast on CBS Sports Network is always difficult, but we’ve again decided on races that connect with a wide audience and showcase the skill and passion of our members.”

The SCCA National Championship Runoffs has evolved into what is now commonly agreed to be the pinnacle of American motorsports. Since 1964, the SCCA has crowned Road Racing’s National Champions at the winner-take-all, single race Runoffs format through dozens of separate races over three days. The 56th annual Runoffs took place in 2019 at VIRginia International Raceway. It was the first time SCCA’s National Championship visited that venue found along the border of North Carolina and Virginia.

With broadcasts presented by Mazda, all 2019 Runoffs races from VIR are available for online viewing anytime at the 2019 SCCA Runoffs OnDemand webpage at SCCA.com.

The Sports Car Club of America®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the SCCA annually sanctions over 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the SCCA’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Hagerty, the Official Insurance Partner of SCCA; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of SCCA; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of SCCA; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of SCCA. To learn more, please visit www.scca.com.

Photo Credit: Jay Bonvouloir

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After Record-Breaking Year, De Angelis Hopes to Continue Trend of Previous Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Champions

After Record-Breaking Year, De Angelis Hopes to Continue Trend of Previous Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Champions

26 Nov 2019
Racing News
Following a busy IMSA season that consisted of two season-long championships plus a podium finish at the prestigious Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, one would think Roman De Angelis earned some time to relax.
 
But it’s that success that had the 18-year-old racing once again just two weekends ago.
 
After scoring 22 wins in 28 races between Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and its Canadian counterpart – GT3 Cup Challenge Canada – en route to Platinum Class championships in both series, De Angelis was nominated as a wild card entry for the Porsche Motorsport Junior Programme Shootout following the season’s end at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta last month.
 
Alongside 11 other drivers from Porsche one-make series around the world, De Angelis traveled to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal to showcase his skills in an attempt to be named the next Porsche Junior and ultimately, win a scholarship to compete full time in the Porsche Supercup series in 2020. The winner will be announced in the coming days.
 
“To compete in the Porsche Junior Shootout is something that I never would have expected to have the opportunity to do in my life,” said De Angelis. “It was a massive honor to be ranked along with the other 11 selected talented drivers to compete for such a coveted seat in motorsports.
 
“Over the three days I spent competing for the 2020 Porsche Junior seat, the knowledge and learning done was amazing and I can’t thank Porsche enough for this, which I will hopefully be able to take further into my life in motorsports.”
 
While the Canadian from Belle River, Ontario has competed in a variety of race cars since joining the IMSA ranks three years ago – including a Ligier LMP3 in the IMSA Prototype Challenge for three events in 2018, plus the Audi R8 LMS GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class at this year’s Rolex 24 – it’s the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car that De Angelis has mastered with guidance and time.
 
His first encounter with the car came in 2017, when fellow Mark Motors Racing driver Marco Cirone introduced him to GT3 Cup Challenge Canada and arranged a ride for him in the Gold Class.
 
“The hard thing about that year was that I didn’t really have an engineer,” said De Angelis. “We went with a low-budget program with Mark Motors because I was their third driver, having Marco and Zach (Robichon) in the car and throwing me in last minute. I was trying to figure out everything on my own, figuring out a sports car, basically a proper race car for the first time, having only ran in Formula Ford before.”
 
Joining the Platinum ranks in 2018, De Angelis gained the assistance from an engineer – Chiel Bos, to whom he credits much of his driver development.
 
“Coming into this year, I not only had a year in Platinum and I’d say a half season in Gold where I was able to adapt a little bit to a sports car,” he said. “Maybe not the best method, but at least I had the seat time I needed. As you saw with Zach in his third season, he was able to come together and put out some really good results (to win the 2018 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada championship).
 
“I guessed what he had going into 2018 is what I had this year, that extra little confidence with the car. I was able to adapt a little quicker than some of the guys who came on strong at the end of this year. I just had the experience in the Porsche Cup car, which helps quite a bit because it is such a difficult car to drive even compared to the LMP3 or the Audi GT3 car I drove at Daytona this year. It’s a lot of adaptation over the last three years, but obviously it’s paid off.”
 
Robichon and 2017 GT3 Cup Challenge Canada champion Scott Hargrove have been constant sources of inspiration for De Angelis over the last three years. Robichon won all but one race – which went to De Angelis – during his championship-winning season, while Hargrove missed out on a perfect season by two victories.
 
The pair then went on to co-drive this season in IMSA’s top-tier WeatherTech Championship sharing a different Porsche, a 911 GT3 R. Robichon also scored the inaugural WeatherTech Sprint Cup title for GTD drivers competing in the seven races in 2019 that were two-hours, 40-minutes in duration or shorter.
 
“Even when I was in Gold, we had Scott who set the baseline for the competition and how high it was,” De Angelis explained. “We see Scott now moving into GT3 and doing an awesome job, as well as Zach last year setting the baseline and also doing an awesome job this year in GT3. It shows how high the level is. I think it’s good to have somebody like that in the series, that you know how far off you are from someone who’s at the peak of their Porsche GT3 Cup career and of their driving ability in that vehicle.
 
“At the end of this year, we had some really good fights the last few rounds. It just shows how competitive the series will be moving forward. I think a lot of the other rookie talent we’ve had the last two years is going to start evolving into what Zach was last year, Scott was the year before and hopefully what I was this year.”
 
While De Angelis is still working through plans for next season – “I’m looking forward to something where I can hopefully keep learning” – he recognizes those who have helped him skyrocket to success.
 
From his karting team, Koene USA; to Mark Motors Racing and Kelly-Moss Road and Race with Jeff Stone in GT3 Cup Challenge USA; to ANSA Motorsports in Prototype Challenge; and Audi Canada for the Rolex 24 effort, De Angelis’ talent has been recognized across the board.
 
And to further show his level of humility, De Angelis donated the Porsche 911 Carrera S that he was awarded during the GT3 Cup Challenge USA banquet to the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, as he has been a partner with Racing for Children’s and Medical Properties Trust for the last two years.
 
“The stuff we do there is really cool to be involved with,” he said. “It shows you’re not only just racing for yourself and the results you want, but you’re racing for kids who are in the hospital and suffering with things that are unimaginable. It’s cool to have something to push you and keep moving forward on your bad days.”
 
In the end for De Angelis, “It’s a lot of people to thank, but it’s been a long road. I’ve done a lot of stuff in the last three or four years, so I have to thank them all.”
 
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Photo Credit: Scott Hunter, American Flat Track

Harley-Davidson Launches Major Support for AFT Production Twins in 2020

26 Nov 2019
Racing News

 Harley-Davidson announced today a major increase in their support of American Flat Track’s AFT Production Twins class. For the first time ever, authorized Harley-Davidson dealerships will now have the race-proven XG750R available for purchase, ensuring that more competitors will field these race-winning machines during the 2020 American Flat Track season. To support the racing efforts of Harley-Davidson-mounted riders in the class, the Milwaukee-based marque has also posted a $250,000 contingency package. 

 

“As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson XR750 next season, this expanded pledge of support shows our lasting commitment to the sport of flat track,” said Jon Bekefy, GM of Brand Marketing for Harley-Davidson. “Harley-Davidson dealerships fielding the XG750R will provide an opportunity for our community to rally behind this great American sport.”

  

Harley-Davidson has been synonymous with flat track racing since the inception of the sport. Throughout the golden era of pro flat track, powerhouse Harley-Davidson dealerships from around the country scored hundreds of wins aboard the legendary XR750. Moments of brilliance during the 2019 AFT Production Twins season hearkened back to that golden era, as Dalton Gauthier and James Rispoli made consistent podium appearances and scored two wins aboard a privateer XG750R backed by Black Hills Harley-Davidson. 

 

With $7,500 awarded to XG750R riders for each AFT Production Twins race win plus a $25,000 championship bonus on the line, the contingency package offered by Harley-Davidson is sure to heat up the on-track action next season. A total of $15,000 will be up for grabs to XG750R riders at each AFT Production Twins round in 2020, broken down as follows:

  1. $7,500
  2. $3,000
  3. $1,000
  4. $800
  5. $700 
  6. $600 
  7. $500 
  8. $400 
  9. $300 
  10. $200  

The XG750R is available for purchase for $35,999 and deliveries will begin immediately. Supply is limited and priority will be given to dealerships. For details and ordering information, please contact Vance & Hines at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  

As America's Original Extreme Sport continues its meteoric rise, the availability of the XG750R and Harley-Davidson's banner contingency offering will set the stage for a renaissance movement of dealer-backed privateers contesting for AFT championships in 2020.

 

"We are delighted with this latest initiative from Harley-Davidson," said Michael Lock, CEO of American Flat Track. "This represents the latest in a long line of Harley-Davidson's investment in our sport and it opens up a great opportunity for dealer teams and aspiring riders to challenge in our rapidly growing sport."

 

American Flat Track will kick off its highly-anticipated 2020 season with the first-ever Saturday of Speed featuring the DAYTONA 200 and DAYTONA TT Doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway. It all kicks off at the peak of Daytona Bike Week on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Tickets start at just $35 online and are available for purchase now at www.americanflattrack.com.

 

For more information on American Flat Track and the upcoming 2020 season visit www.americanflattrack.com.

 

Get the latest American Flat Track clothing and merchandise at www.americanflattracker.com.

 

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