Williams Grove Speedway took a week off from racing before kicking off its final month of competition on Friday night, September 13, featuring a trio of Hoosier Diamond Series races to close out the year.
The September 13 racing program will include the Highway Equipment and Supply Billy Kimmel Memorial for the Lawrence Chevrolet 410 sprint cars and the make-up Dirty Deeds 25 for the HJ Towing & Recovery 358 sprints.
The annual Kimmel Memorial will be another race in the 2024 Hoosier Diamond Series of races.
September 20 will find Williams Grove offering the Diamond Series Kevin Gobrecht Challenge for the 410 sprints along with action for the 358 sprints.
And then the final Diamond Series race of the year comes up on Friday, September 27 when the 410s compete in the VP Race Fuels World of Outlaws Tune-up race as they ready for the October 4 and 5 Weis Markets/Sage Fruit National Open.
The 358 sprints will also see the champion crowned on September 27 with the running of the final race of the season for the division.
The season will come to a spectacular end on October 4and 5 with the running of the two-day, Weis Markets/Sage Fruit National Open sanctioned by the World of Outlaws.
Liberty Media, owner of Formula One Group, confirmed that it is under investigation by the Justice Department for denying Andretti Global entry into the Formula 1 World Championship.
“We intend to fully cooperate with that investigation, including any related request for information,” Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei said during a conference call Thursday.
The F1 rejection in January came after a six-month review of Andretti’s application and the reasoning for the denial was taken personally by both Mario and Michael Andretti, as well as General Motors, which plans to partner with Andretti in F1 under its Cadillac brand. The bid would expand the current 10-team grid to accommodate a two-car American team.
Maffei said Thursday that the company is open to new entrants applying and potentially being approved if certain requirements are met.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
Among F1’s claims related to the rejection were that it did not believe Andretti would be a competitive team; that the Andretti name does not bring the value to the series that Michael Andretti believes it would; and that getting on the grid in the next two years would be a challenge Andretti has never faced before.
Mario Andretti said in April that he was deeply offended by the language Formula One Management used in denying the bid to join the global motorsports series. The 1978 Formula 1 world champion posted on social media he was "devastated".
In May, six U.S. senators called on the Justice Department to look into the rejection, saying that there were concerns that Formula 1 was acting on behalf individual teams and other “key stakeholders,” including foreign automakers, and that could be a violation of antitrust laws
It has been awhile since I visited Eldora but always enjoy the shows.
Eldora Speedway has hired championship-winning USAC driver and motorsports executive Levi Jones as general manager for the World’s Greatest Dirt Track.
The appointment serves as a homecoming for Jones, with the 42-year-old from Olney, Illinois, having raced for Eldora Speedway owner Tony Stewart in the United States Auto Club (USAC) from 2006 until the midpoint of 2013, winning six of his seven USAC championships with Tony Stewart Racing.
Jones comes to Eldora from IndyCar, where he has been director of Indy NXT, the stepping-stone division to the flagship NTT IndyCar Series. Prior to his three-year tenure at IndyCar, Jones held numerous competition and executive positions with USAC, rising from national series competition director in 2015-2019 to executive vice president from 2019 until October 2021 when he joined IndyCar.
Jones will officially begin his general manager role at Eldora on Sept. 16 following IndyCar’s season finale at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.
“On behalf of everyone at Eldora Speedway, we’re excited and grateful to have Levi Jones as our general manager,” Stewart said. “Levi has always held Eldora in high regard, both as a racer and as an executive. Now in his role as general manager, he combines a racer’s perspective with excellent managerial and promotional experience earned in USAC and IndyCar. Our fans and competitors should know that Eldora is in very good hands, just as it had been before.
“We had a terrific leader in Jerry Gappens, and all of us were devastated by his passing. I’m incredibly proud of the entire staff who stepped up in what has been a very trying time. At numerous points this summer, we all asked, ‘What would Jerry have done?’ as we worked to put our best foot forward.
“I want to especially thank Jonathan Bateman, who has worn nearly every hat and done every job at Eldora since joining us in 2006. He became our interim general manager after Jerry passed, and he had less than two weeks to get ready for one of our biggest races, the Dirt Late Model Dream. He was an absolute pro, and the Dream and our summer slate of racing wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for the experience and work ethic Jonathan brings to Eldora every day.”
Jones delivers another established work ethic to Eldora. He won 35 feature races during his USAC driving career, a tally spread amongst Sprint Car (28 wins), Midget (four wins) and Silver Crown (three wins). His USAC Sprint Car titles came in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, and he earned back-to-back USAC Silver Crown championships in 2010 and 2011. All but Jones’ 2005 Sprint Car championship came with Tony Stewart Racing.
That experience made Jones a perfect fit for USAC, where as its national series competition director, he led the planning and operation of more than 75 USAC events across the United States in the Sprint Car, Midget and Silver Crown divisions. When Jones was promoted to USAC executive vice president, he helped diversify the sanctioning body’s scope beyond open-wheel racing. Under Jones’ watch, USAC expanded to youth racing, off-road competition, rally and sports car racing. All the while, Jones was responsible for maintaining and executing annual rule books, managing sponsorships for each series, negotiating sanction agreements, personnel management and working as race director, when needed.
“Being general manager of Eldora Speedway is a huge opportunity and I’m grateful for it,” Jones said. “I know I have big shoes to fill from all that Jerry Gappens and his predecessors accomplished, but I’m ready for this moment. I know Eldora’s history and what it means to fans and everyone who comes through its pit gate, whether they’re a driver or a crew member. We are passionate that Eldora remains the preeminent dirt track in the world, and that’s my aim as general manager.”
Carved from a cornfield in 1954, Eldora has become a leader in motorsports growth and sustainability. The half-mile, dirt oval hosts some of the most prestigious grassroots racing events in the world, and 2024 is its 71st consecutive season of racing.
“Eldora is the track where everyone wants to win because you really have to earn it, and when you do, your name is on a list of legends,” said Jones, a two-time winner of Eldora’s 4-Crown Nationals (2005 and 2010). “There’s a lot of pride that comes with just competing at Eldora, and credit goes to track founders Earl and Berneice Baltes. They made Eldora a destination with constant improvement and innovation. Tony Stewart has done an incredible job of continuing all that Earl and Berneice created, and I’m honored to help carry on their vision.”
Jones’ first race as Eldora general manager will be the 4-Crown Nationals, which features consecutive nights of racing Sept. 20-21, headlined by the Kubota High Limit Racing winged sprint car series and the USAC Sprint Car, Midget and Silver Crown National Championship series.
Tickets are on sale at www.EldoraSpeedway.com, where fans can sign up for breaking news and updates delivered via email or text message. Fans can also call the ticket office at 937-338-3815. The latest event information, including raceday schedule and weather updates, can be found on the official @EldoraSpeedway social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
NASCAR Awards Ceremony to take place in Charlotte this year
The annual NASCAR Awards – the year-end celebration honoring the sport’s top talents and brightest stars – will have a new home in 2024 … Charlotte, N.C. Home to many of the sport’s drivers, race teams and the NASCAR Hall of Fame, this will be the first time the NASCAR Cup Series Awards will be hosted in the Queen City.
The 2024 NASCAR Awards will be held on Friday, Nov. 22 to formally honor all three national series champions (NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series) at the Charlotte Convention Center and will air on Sunday, Nov. 24 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. ET/PT on The CW. Tune in to watch the celebration of the 2024 national series champions. For the second-consecutive year in conjunction with the national series awards, NASCAR will host a celebration for the NASCAR Regional Series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and the NASCAR International Series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), on Thursday, Nov. 21.
“We are pleased to announce our move to the Queen City for our postseason celebrations.” said Michelle Byron, EVP, Chief Partnership and Licensing Officer at NASCAR. “Being able to trace many of our sport’s racing roots back to the North Carolina area, you can feel the energy and passion for NASCAR from the fans in Charlotte. We’re excited to officially crown our champions in the Queen City.”
Last year, 2023 Cup Series champion Ryan Blaney, Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer, and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes were honored in Music City. The formal postseason Awards is a tradition that stretches back to 1981, when the event was held in New York City. It has since relocated to Las Vegas from 2009 to 2019 and Nashville from 2019 to 2023
For the first time in its storied history, the NASCAR Cup Series will see cars hit the track for a points race in Mexico. On Sunday, June 15, 2025, the world-class Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in vibrant Mexico City will host the milestone event as part of the 2025 schedule. The monumental weekend will also include the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Mexico Series competing on the road course.
The new international NASCAR event was announced today as part of a press conference at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City with Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Executive Vice President & Chief Venue & Racing Innovation Officer, Federico Alaman, Head of Commercial Partnerships for OCESA, Jimmy Morales, CEO of NASCAR Mexico Series, and Daniel Suárez, driver of No. 99 for Trackhouse Racing.
“This is a historic moment for our sport, and specifically for the NASCAR Cup Series, in being able to expand our footprint to Mexico,” said Kennedy. “We’ve been bold about our intentions to grow on a global scale, and there isn’t a better place to take the next step in that journey than at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City.”
“At OCESA, we are dedicated to entertaining people, and this has positioned us as the most powerful live events platform in Mexico and Latin America, as well as one of the most important globally," said Alejandro Soberón, Founder and CEO of OCESA. "The arrival of the NASCAR Cup Series to our country reflects the significant growth that motorsports has experienced in Mexico, an achievement in which Escudería Telmex has played a major role by promoting the NASCAR Mexico Series and supporting drivers like Daniel Suárez.”
The historic road course is 2.674 miles long, boasts 17 turns and sits at an elevation of 7,342 feet. Built in 1959, the track was named in honor of racing brothers Ricardo Rodríguez and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit was remodeled back in 2015 and has hosted eight Formula 1 Grand Prix´s since then, becoming one of the most popular international racing circuits and a spectacular destination for NASCAR fans to experience.
While the race will be a first in the Cup Series, there is a storied relationship between NASCAR and Mexico. In 1950, NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. and Curtis Turner participated in La Carrera Panamericana road race across Mexico. Between 2005-2008, the Xfinity Series competed at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with current Cup Series stars Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex, Jr. all earning a victory there during the four-year stretch.
Additionally, the NASCAR Mexico Series has been the premier stock-car racing series across Mexico with 17 seasons under the NASCAR name, developing future talent along the way — including Cup Series winning driver Daniel Suárez and current Drive for Diversity rising stars Eloy López, Andres Pérez de Lara and Regina Sirvent. The series competed in the United States earlier this year when it joined the Cup Series for the Busch Light Clash at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum event weekend in February.
The Cup Series first competed internationally on July 1, 1952 at Stamford Park, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada in a race won by Buddy Shuman. The last Cup Series international points race was on July 18, 1958 at Canadian Exposition Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NASCAR also held three exhibition races at Suzuka Circuitland in Suzuka City, Japan in 1996-1998.
The action at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez will begin with the Mexico Series and Xfinity Series as part of the June 14-15 race weekend. The NASCAR Mexico race weekend will culminate with the first international points event in Cup Series modern history on Sunday, June 15.The Cup Series event will air live on Prime Video while Saturday’s Xfinity Series tilt to air live on The CW.
While information on tickets has not been announced, fans can register online to receive event and ticket information at www.nascarmexico.com.
Parella Motorsports Holdings (PMH) announces the acquisition of MotorsportReg, making the world’s largest motorsports events calendar a wholly-owned subsidiary of PMH.
"Parella Motorsports Holdings and MotorsportReg have a shared goal of bringing motorsports to more people—regardless of whether they are driving or spectating," said PMH CEO Tony Parella. "Working together will accelerate the ability of MotorsportReg to develop and implement tools that make it easier for enthusiasts to enter and attend events."
PMH owns seven major road racing series and hosts 24 race weekends across the United States under the SpeedTour banner. Hosting more than 5,500 racing entrants during the 2023 season, PMH also holds the long-term commercial rights to SCCA Pro Racing, allowing it to sanction events for race groups like The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, Formula Regional Americas Championship, Formula 4 United States Championship, Formula Race Promotions and Formula 2000.
MotorsportReg manages more than 500,000 registrations at 10,500 events organized by more than 1,700 automobile clubs, racetracks and sanctioning bodies, making it the dominant platform for club memberships and event registrations in the U.S. and Canada. Automating event listings, registration and payment processing for all types of motorsport and automotive events, MotorsportReg is involved in events of all sizes, ranging from small social gatherings to the world's largest participatory events. The platform was designed to allow customers to automate tasks, improve accuracy and grow participation, making it one of the best tools to organize and cultivate events.
The acquisition from Hagerty was finalized in June.
"For MotorsportReg customers it will be business as usual," Parella said.
"The same team you know and love will continue to support your organization," added Brent Whitten, Vice President of MotorsportReg. "We’re excited for this next chapter, as it provides us with a renewed focus on grassroots motorsports."
Logano: 'We're not doing enough' to fix flipping cars according to journalist John Newby.
The recent Cup race at Daytona International Speedway featured a first-time Cup Series winner. It also had one car completely flip and another start flipping before Joey Logano knocked it back onto its wheels.
"We've got to figure out how to keep the cars on the ground. We're not doing enough to fix that," Logano told media members after exiting the infield care center.
Flipping cars is nothing new in NASCAR. It has happened for decades. However, Saturday night's incidents occurred after NASCAR implemented changes to increase the velocity needed for a car to leave the ground.
The sanctioning body mandated a new "shark fin" on the right-side window of the Cup car, a move made after wind tunnel testing as well as Corey LaJoie suddenly flipping at Michigan. The new shark fin matched the one already used on the left side of the Cup car.
Multiple drivers said ahead of the Daytona race that they didn't know how the new fin would affect how their cars handled superspeedway racing. Daytona's summer race does not have practice, so they did not have an opportunity to test the fin before taking the green flag on Saturday night.
The Daytona night race had two more cars leave the ground. Josh Berry's car completely flipped over while Michael McDowell's went partially over.
"It's speedway racing. It's a lot of fun until it's not," Logano said. "...McDowell just got turned and came down in front of me with nowhere to go. I think he's OK as well. Some pretty big hits there, and then horrible to see Josh Berry there a second ago upside-down into the wall."
NASCAR stated after the race that the No. 4 of Berry would go back to the R&D Center for further evaluation.
This is not the first time that Logano has spoken about the Cup cars flipping. He also did so after the 2021 spring race at Talladega Superspeedway, a race that he exited after his No. 22 Team Penske Ford flipped at the end of the first stage.
Unlike the Next Gen cars, however, the roof of Logano's Ford collapsed to the point where it was touching his helmet.
"It's a product of this racing," Logano told Fox Sports' Jamie Little after his wreck in 2021. "On one hand, I'm so proud to drive a Cup car that's safe, that I can go through a wreck like that and get out and speak about it. On one hand, I'm mad about being in the crash, the other hand, I'm just happy I'm alive.
"But on the other hand, I think when are we gonna stop? This is dangerous doing what I'm doing. I've got a rollbar on my head. That's not Ok. I'm one hit away from the same situation Ryan Newman went through (in the 2020 Daytona 500). I just don't feel like it's acceptable."
NASCAR responded to Logano's crash in 2021 by mandating package changes for the remaining superspeedway races in 2021. The list included mandating a smaller tapered spacer featuring a smaller opening (57/64-inch to 53/64-inch).
The package change also made it mandatory to have the reinforced roll bar behind the driver compartment. Finally, the new package removed the wicker from the spoiler as NASCAR sought to reduce the speed of the Cup cars by up to 10 mph on superspeedways.
The Piston Foundation, whose mission is to help more young people become collector car technicians, announced its partnership with Hearst Autos, the leading automotive media organization in the world, and its brands – Autoweek, Bring a Trailer, Car and Driver, and Road & Track.
Through this new partnership, Hearst Autos and the Foundation will produce a Public Service Announcement campaign to help grow awareness of The Piston Foundation's scholarship program among readers of Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road & Track. Hearst Autos will also support fundraising efforts, such as a Piston and Bring a Trailer t-shirt collaboration that will launch in September 2024.
In return, The Piston Foundation, through its communications and initiatives, will continue its efforts to recognize the charitable work of Hearst Autos in the car community.
“I’m thrilled to begin this partnership with Hearst Autos,” said Piston’s president and COO Jeff Mason. “Their media support will help us introduce The Piston Foundation to enthusiasts across the car community and invite everyone to be a part of our mission to fuel the careers of future technicians.”
“We thank Nick Matarazzo, president of Hearst Autos, for his leadership on this issue. It’s not a lack of interest that keeps young people from pursuing automotive skilled trades, it’s a lack of access to the education and training that’s needed to unlock these careers. By joining Piston in solving this problem, Hearst Autos is truly giving back to its community.”
“We’re always looking to inspire and empower the next generation of enthusiasts,” said Matarazzo. “The impressive work The Piston Foundation is doing embodies the collective vision of our BRANDS—to build a strong community who shares our passion for automotive and preserving the art of car culture.”
The Piston Foundation announced earlier this year that 20 Piston Scholarships have been awarded for 2024, for the fall semester. Since the program's inception in 2022, The Piston Foundation has granted 53 scholarships to 37 aspiring students who are training for careers in automotive restoration, collection management, and vintage motorsports.
Additional information and details on The Piston Scholars may be found at https://pistonfoundation.org/blog/piston-scholarship-awards-fall-2024/.
With NASCAR moving the Wakins Glen 2024 Cup date to the second full weekend in September, it forced Outlaw Speedway owner/promoter, Tyler Siti to make a shift in the tracks Annual NASCAR Night from its traditional second weekend in August to the second week in September.
NASCAR Night is a tradition at the Outlaw Speedway going back to the 1990’s when then track owners, Lin and Cindy Hough invited Tony Stewart to be a special guest at the facility. Prior to that and to this day many of the Watkins Glen fans would make the short drive to catch some great dirt track racing action and it spurred one of the biggest nights of the season at Outlaw.
Stewart became a regular spectator at the facility as well as a competitor running many events including 360 and 410 Sprint races along with at least one Modified feature.
From there NASCAR Night has grown in popularity and the track has become a revolving door for a multitude of the country’s top division drivers, crew members and car owners who visit the facility on a yearly basis.
“We just never know who might show up for NASCAR Night. Some Cup Drivers are not available and there are others that cannot commit one way or the other at this point. However, we have had many top names just show up at the last minute to hang out with the fans and sign autographs and take photos. They generally head to the pit area and co-mingle with the drivers, crew members and fans on that side of the facility.” That according to Tyler Siri.
Should NASCAR and Watkins Glen confirm a definite driver that will be participating at Outlaw Speedway on Friday, September 13, 2024, it will be announced in press release form as well on the tracks Facebook.
On the card for the September 13 Ted Siri Memorial will be the first ever appearance of the USAC Non-Winged 360 Sprints racing for a winners take of $4,000 with each driver taking the green flag guaranteed $400.
The ULMS Super Late Models will make their second appearance of the 2024 season with the winner walking away with $5,000.
Friendly Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Modifieds will race for a winner’s share of $4321.18 and the Sunrise Insulation/Knapp and Schlappi Lumber Crate Sportsman feature winner will hoist a check for $2321.18.
Rounding out the nightly card will be the Winner’s Circle Deli 4 Cylinder Mini Stocks racing for $1321.18 to win.
With many of the regions weekly facilities now either done for the year or having gone to non-weekly special events to wrap up the 2024 season it is anticipated that several invaders in the Modified, Sportsman and Mini Stock Divisions will converge on Outlaw all looking for the winners share of the high dollar events.
In a recent agreement between ULMS Promoters, Chris and Trevor Zuver and Outlaw Speedway owner/promoter, Tyler Siri the RUSH Crate Late Models will be allowed to compete in this one- time event using current 2025 RUSH CLM Rules including their tire compounds.
“There are numerous RUSH CLM teams in this region that compete at tracks like Woodhull, McKean and Genesee. By opening the playing field allowing these teams to compete means extra cars and it gives them an opportunity to race within may of the top Super Late Model Teams that will be at Outlaw.” That according to track owner, Tyler Siri.
ULMS Officials recently revealed that some of the best Super Late Model Drivers and Teams in the northeast will converge at Outlaw Speedway for the Friday, September 13, 2024, event including the likes of Max Blair of Centerville, Pa., Big Brother Dan Stone of Thompson, Pa., Greg Satterlee of Indiana, Pa., Andrew Yoder, of Middleburg, Pa., Seth Zacharias from Vestal, NY along with Outlaw Speedway ULMS July 26, 2024 Summer Nationals winner Dylan Yoder from Selinsgrove and runner-up Dylan Cecce of Williamsport.
It is also anticipated that leading Lucas Oil Late Model Series Rookie of the Year contender, Drake Troutman will make the haul from Hyndman, Pa to compete at the Yates County Oval.
Michael Lake of Uniontown, Pa. currently sits atop the ULMS 2024 Point Standings and will return to Outlaw Speedway after a 6th place finish at Outlaw during the July Summer Nationals.
For more information regarding the Sept. 13 event including gate and start times along with ticket pricing simply go to www.Facebook.com/OutlawSpeedwayLLC/where Craig Spazman Simmons will fill your curiosity with plenty of updates heading right up to when the first green flag waves on the night of action.
The Outlaw Speedway is located on Rt. 14a just outside of Dundee, NY right in the middle of the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate, NY.
A short drive from Seneca Falls, Waterloo, Geneva, Penn Yan, Watkins Glen, Corning, Elmira and Bath, Hammondsport.
Continuing to celebrate 67 years of great dirt track racing, The Outlaw Speedway provides fans with a beautiful view of the Fast 4/10 of a mile clay oval including an observation area located on the top deck of the Outlaw Saloon located in the pit area which also sells a wide selection of iced cold beer.
For grandstand fans, the Turn 4 Tavern is equipped to sell iced cold beer as well.
Camping is always free at Outlaw and those coming with their rigs are encouraged to consult the Outlaw Speedway Facebook Page for directions to the camping area at the facility.
DOWN THE ROAD AT OUTLW SPEEDWAY.
Friday, September 20, 2024. 9th Annual Outlaw Speedway Fall Nationals featuring $4,000 to win ESS 360 Winged Sprints, $5067 to win Modified Gun Slinger 50, $2067 to win Crate Sportsman, $1567 to win Street Stocks and $1067 to win Hobby Stocks.
Friday and Saturday, October 18-19, 2024. 9th Annual Hoag Memorial featuring ESS Sprints, Modifieds, Crate Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks and Hobby Stocks competing over the two-day event.
