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Building on last year’s competition between longtime rivals USC and UCLA, NASCAR and SAE SoCal announced today that multiple Formula and Baja SAE teams from across California will compete with the ultimate goal of racing on the temporary, quarter-mile racetrack built inside the world-famous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. This year’s event will consist of up to 17 schools competing within three different vehicle categories: Internal Combustion, Electric, and Baja. Two organizations from each category will be selected to compete against each other based on the number of tickets they sell to the 2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum before January 19, 2024. One of these organizations, USC’s Formula SAE Internal Combustion team, has already been awarded one of the Internal Combustion spots as last year’s reigning champion. The list of potential competing schools includes the following:
Opportunity for teams to compete will be contingent on each vehicle passing SAE technical inspection in the weeks prior to the event. Competition format will be single car on track, time-trial style with further details to be announced at a later date. The event will be closed to the public, but each participating organization will be allowed to invite a select number of guests to observe.
“It’s exciting to bring SAE teams back to the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum on an even bigger scale,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President, Racing Development and Strategy. “Our future racers and engineers span far and wide, so it’s wonderful to have students from all across California show off their talent and mastery at crafting best-in-class racecars.” Formula SAE is an intercollegiate engineering competition where students across the globe design, build, test, and race prototype open-wheel racecars. Similarly, Baja SAE is a competition where engineering students design, build, test ,and race off-road vehicles. During these competitions, participating teams are scored in multiple categories evaluated by industry professionals, including design, cost effectiveness and performance in dynamic events. These competitions are important for students of all majors to apply technical skills cultivated within classes and campus maker spaces. In addition, they provide resume-building experiences for students seeking internship and career opportunities. This year’s Formula and Baja SAE competition will set the stage for another historic weekend of NASCAR racing that culminates in a power-packed doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 4 at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The day will begin with the NASCAR Mexico Series competing in California for the first time, followed by the third-annual Busch Light Clash, the NASCAR Cup Series’ season-opening exhibition. NASCAR on FOX will once again carry the broadcast for the Busch Light Clash while the NASCAR Mexico Series race will be on Fox Deportes, Fox Sports 3 in Mexico, and available pan regionally on Claro Sports and the D Motors channel on DirecTV. A single ticket purchased is good for both races, and fans are encouraged to get their tickets now while supplies last by visiting www.nascarclash.com. -NASCAR Spire Motorsports has made key appointments to its front office as it continues build out its staff in preparation for the 2024 NASCAR season.
Veteran sales and marketing executive Scott Duncan has been named Vice President of Sales and Marketing and Andy Gee has been appointed as the organization’s Director of Partnerships. “Scott Duncan and Andy Gee are both industry veterans who have an intimate knowledge of the sport, complimented by sterling reputations and a combined willingness to continue building on our already existing strong foundation,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Scott has deep relationships throughout corporate America and knows how to get a partnership across the finish line. Andy has worked alongside Kyle Busch for over a decade and that speaks directly to his professional demeanor and ability to get things done.” Duncan is a 1992 graduate of Western Carolina University and returns to the Charlotte area following a nearly four-and-a-half year run as the Chief Revenue Officer for Kalitta Motorsports, one of the National Hot Rod Association’s (NHRA) most celebrated teams. Prior to his time at Kalitta Motorsports, Duncan served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development for Michael Shank Racing. Stops at Lime Media, the NASCAR Racing Experience, American LeMans Series and Momentum Worldwide all proved to be instrumental in his long-term success. Fittingly, he began his career in motorsports as the Director of Sales and Operations at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway where the NASCAR Cup Series races twice a year. “I’m thrilled to join Spire Motorsports and am grateful to Jeff (Dickerson), T.J. (Puchyr), Todd Mackin and Bill Anthony for the opportunity,” said Duncan, whose father, Jim, led Sales and Marketing efforts for Charlotte Motor Speedway for over 20 years. “The sky is the limit and this organization is poised to stand alongside the titans of the sport.” Gee comes to Spire with 25-plus years of experience working in the front office of professional sports teams. He spent the last 13 seasons with Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), most recently serving as Marketing Operations Director, where he oversaw the organization’s partnerships, communications and marketing efforts. As part of his role at KBM, he was instrumental in mentoring the team’s young drivers off the track including current Cup Series drivers Erik Jones, William Byron and Christopher Bell, helping the current Cup Series regulars learn the business side of being a NASCAR driver. During his time at KBM, he was a part of 92 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins and six championships. Prior to joining KBM he spent two seasons as Public Relations Director for Baker Curb Racing’s NASCAR Xfinity Series program after spending the first 11 years of his professional career working in various front office roles with the Syracuse Chiefs Triple-A baseball team, including the last five as the Director of Public Relations and Business Development. “Spire Motorsports has proven to be an organization committed to being respected for the product they produce both on and off the track and I’m grateful they’ve entrusted in me to come in and be a part of their continued growth,” said Gee. “No motorsports team can achieve success without strong corporate support, so I look forward to leading a team of enthusiastic professionals at Spire that will go above and beyond to ensure that our ever-growing portfolio of partners have an amazing experience that, in turn, produces long-term commitments for our organization -Spire Motorsports NASCAR engineers involved with the Garage 56 project that sent a Next Gen-based stock car to the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year have won the Dino Toso Racecar Aerodynamicist of the Year award for their innovations in the field of motorsports.
The honor was presented last week during the Race Tech World Motorsport Symposium at the Embassy of Switzerland in London. On hand to receive the award were Dr. Eric Jacuzzi, NASCAR Vice President of Vehicle Performance, and Brandon Thomas, NASCAR VP of Vehicle Design. Both NASCAR officials were panelists at the annual conference, discussing the development of the Garage 56 entry. Among the other finalists for the award were the Formula 1 champion Oracle Red Bull Racing team and Scuderia Ferrari, which won Le Mans with its new 499P Hypercar. A global panel of industry experts served as judges for the award, which was first presented in 2005 and is named for the late Dino Toso — a two-time honoree for his work with the Renault F1 team. The Garage 56 initiative successfully competed in the 100th-anniversary running of the 24-hour classic June 10-11 in France. The project was a collaborative effort among NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear to produce a modified Chevy Camaro ZL1 built for the rigors of the endurance event. Those modifications included specially designed aerodynamic components to make the NASCAR Cup Series’ Next Gen platform competitive in an international field of sports cars on the 8.467-mile Circuit de la Sarthe. The Garage 56 entry — which was entered into the race’s official results but was ineligible for a class or overall victory in the single-entry “Innovative Car” classification — completed 2,413 miles in the event with an all-star rotation of Jenson Button, Jimmie Johnson and Mike Rockenfeller splitting driver duties. -NASCAR NASCAR will open ticket sales to the general public for the second-ever Chicago Street Race on Wednesday, Dec. 6, just in time for the holiday season. The inaugural Chicago Street Race was one of the nation’s most talked-about sports and entertainment experiences of the year, drawing attendees from all 50 states and 15 countries around the globe.
In conjunction with the on-sale announcement, the NASCAR Chicago Street Race team will also be on hand at the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital on Wednesday, Dec. 6, for a special holiday hospital visit and check presentation, alongside Founding Partner Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois – the first of six donations to local hospitals this holiday season. “This year marked the first-time in the 75-year history of our sport that the NASCAR Cup Series took to the city streets for a race, and we are thrilled to once again welcome fans back to the city of Chicago for this bucket-list event,” said Julie Giese, Chicago Street Race President. “2024 will once again have something for everyone, with world-class racing action, A-list concert performances, and a breathtaking backdrop of the city skyline and Chicago lakefront.” New for 2024, NASCAR is proud to offer youth pricing, including free general admission for children 12 and under to Saturday’s events, highlighted by the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, The Loop 110. Tickets for children 12 and under will be just $45 for Sunday’s events, featuring the Cup Series Grant Park 165. Additionally, NASCAR will offer single-day tickets starting at $150 for select experiences for 2024. The 12-turn, 2.2-mile course will once again take NASCAR through many of the city’s most renowned and highly recognizable landmarks. General admission, reserved seats and hospitality experiences include access to races and full-length concerts, with musical artists to be announced at a later date. Two-day reserved tickets starting at $465 offer an array of opportunities that include reserved seating and a wide variety of premium experiences. Two-day general admission tickets start at $269. Fans can enhance their general admission experience with a GA+ ticket for $398. The ticket offers access to the GA+ lounge, located behind the Mobil 1 stage at Turn 3 alongside DuSable Lake Shore Drive, comfortable seating for relaxing in between watching concerts and racing, and a variety of food options and a full-service bar with beer, wine and cocktails for purchase. Some notable hospitality options for fans to take in the Chicago Street Race Weekend include:
— NASCAR -- The NASCAR Foundation announced Molly Moran of Walpole, Massachusetts, as the winner of the 13th annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award during Thursday’s NASCAR Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.
With the announcement, Moran secured a $100,000 donation to Comfort Zone Camp. This bereavement organization helps transform the lives of children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, primary caregiver or significant person. “Molly’s work with grieving children is difficult but important,” The NASCAR Foundation Vice President and Executive Director Nichole Krieger said in a press release. “The relationships she builds with the campers at Comfort Zone Camp help them through the challenging time of losing a loved one. The $100,000 will help them expand their efforts into even more communities.” Additional finalists for the award included Darla Crown of Youth & Family Services in South Dakota, Jennifer Gage of GiGi’s Playhouse in Arizona and Sandy Stanley of City of Refuge in Georgia. Each of these organizations earned a $25,000 donation for their nominated achievements. Moran began volunteering after her mother and grandmother passed away from cancer. Moran serves as a mentor for grieving children during camp weekends, attends community events to advocate for grieving children, trains volunteers, and organizes fundraising events. Moran has been a NASCAR fan for over 30 years after being introduced to the sport by her family. In its 13 years, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award has recognized 52 NASCAR fans who are dedicated volunteers working for children’s causes in communities nationwide. Over 515,000 children have been affected by the program, with $2.335 million contributed to children’s charities. Learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s programs, including the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and Speediatrics Children’s Fund, at www.NASCARfoundation.org. -NASCAR.com In recognition of outstanding service and performance on behalf of Speedway Motorsports and its world-class entertainment facilities, company officials recognized the 2023 Speedway Motorsports recipients for the O. Bruton Smith Award, Promoter of the Year, Speedway of the Year and the Acceleration Award. Announcements were made at The Twelve Thirty Club in Nashville, where the NASCAR industry is celebrating Champions’ Week.
“Each year our company strives to exceed expectations for fans, corporate clients and industry stakeholders as we produce world-class sports and entertainment events,” said Marcus Smith, president and CEO of Speedway Motorsports. “It is an honor to recognize some of our exceptional leaders and the performances of our teams across the country. 2023 was an exceptional year and I am grateful for the hard work and dedication our teammates put forth to achieve our success.” O. Bruton Smith Award Speedway Motorsports Chief Financial Officer Michael Hodge received the 2023 O. Bruton Smith Award. Created 11 years ago to recognize one employee annually across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, the recipient of this prestigious award is someone who exhibits Speedway Motorsports’ founder O. Bruton Smith’s traits: character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect/appreciation for team members, vision and determination. A 16-year veteran with the company, Hodge is responsible for overseeing the company’s financial strategy, reporting and analysis. Hodge joined Speedway Motorsports in 2006 and has served in various financial management positions with the company. Prior to joining Speedway Motorsports, he worked as an Audit and Assurance Manager at Deloitte, where he specialized in serving publicly traded and privately held companies in the motorsports and automotive retail industries. Hodge holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a Certified Public Accountant. “The O. Bruton Smith Award is the highest individual honor given to a member of our company,” said Smith. “The fans and sponsors who attend our events may not see the fruit of Michael’s labor, but his dedication and hard work behind the scenes is critical to our success. I’m so thankful for Michael’s insights and counsel. He and his accounting teams across our company are unsung heroes in our operation, and I’m honored to bring this recognition to Michael Hodge for his many contributions.” Promoter of the Year Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter was named Promoter of the Year for the second consecutive time. The annual award is chosen by the selection committee and given to one Speedway Motorsports general manager who best displayed the creativity, innovation, leadership and execution that are fundamental to Speedway Motorsports’ way of doing business. Walter and his CMS team again hosted a sold-out Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend plus fostered year-over-year revenue growth for the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, World of Outlaws World Finals and dramatic growth in non-event week camping. Under Walter’s direction, the Charlotte Motor Speedway team also hosted the first-ever Super Motocross World Championship Playoffs at zMAX Dragway. Walter expanded his governmental relations efforts with local and state leaders to secure licenses for sports betting at both Charlotte Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway. He also tirelessly promotes North Carolina motorsports as chair of the North Carolina Motorsports Association, encouraging government officials to recognize the industry’s value as an economic and tourism driver. “Greg is an exceptional leader and promoter---not only telling all the fans about the great things both on and off the track that happen at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but also making sure our local and state officials know how our events drive tourism spending at Charlotte and North Wilkesboro,” Smith said. “Greg is also a dedicated team-builder who promotes a culture of growth and improvement at Charlotte Motor Speedway and amongst our executive leadership team every week.” Speedway of the Year Las Vegas Motor Speedway received Speedway of the Year recognition among 11 state-of-the-art Speedway Motorsports entertainment complexes. The award was presented to LVMS President and General Manager Chris Powell for the best overall performance during 2023 in such aspects as fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations and creativity. In presenting the award, Speedway Motorsports Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Burch pointed to the facility’s outstanding performance in generating revenue, including a record year for the Electric Daisy Carnival multi-day music festival. “In addition to producing exceptional NASCAR and NHRA races, Las Vegas Motor Speedway excels in recruiting non-traditional events and corporate engagement throughout the year,” Burch said. “Chris and his team are dedicated to growing that very significant part of our business, and LVMS continues to be an inspiration for all of our facilities to drive us forward in that direction.” Acceleration Award Texas Motor Speedway received the second annual Acceleration Award, presented to a subsidiary in recognition of year-over-year improvement across a number of different metrics. Texas Motor Speedway Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Faber accepted the award on behalf of the TMS team. In 2023 under Faber’s first full year at the helm of The Great American Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway showed significant revenue growth surrounding the EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Playoff race, hosted the Gordy’s Hwy 30 Music Fest (Texas edition) and engaged fans in ‘everything’s bigger in Texas’ fashion with the 3,000-foot long Belly-Up Bar and a new “Bigger Hoss” giant HDTV spanning 22,692 square-feet. Several members of the Texas Motor Speedway staff also supported Speedway Motorsports production of the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas. “Texas Motor Speedway rolled up its sleeves, put in the work and re-established itself as an entertainment destination in 2023,” added Smith. “I’m excited to see how Mark and his team accelerate their momentum into 2024.” -Speedway Motorsports Harvick Continues to Make Impact on Bakersfield Community
Bakersfield, California – (November 29, 2023) – Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, Calif., founded in 2013 by Charlie Beard, Rusty Risi, and James Vernon, is undergoing a significant transformation under the new ownership of Tim & Lisa Huddleston, renowned promoters known for their work at L.A. County’s Irwindale Speedway & Event Center. Under the new ownership, Kern County Raceway Park has been renamed Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, honoring the 2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion and Bakersfield native, Kevin Harvick. This change ushers in a new era to Kern County’s racing scene, infused with enthusiasm and expertise by the Huddlestons. As part of the newly created partnership, Harvick will work closely with the leadership team to ensure the best decisions are made for the track, the competitors and to help build the overall health of motorsports at the grassroots level. This will help continue the vision Harvick has for ensuring motorsports across the country, from the local level to the premier level, produces the best product possible. “Bakersfield is my home, and I am committed to giving back and ensuring a bright future for motorsports in our community,” Harvick said. “Together with Tim and Lisa, we will do everything in our power to make racing in Bakersfield as strong as it has ever been.” Harvick’s journey from local tracks, notably the iconic Mesa Marin Raceway, to the pinnacle of NASCAR as a Cup Series champion, resonates deeply with Bakersfield’s racing community. His story embodies the qualities of determination and hard work, qualities that will undoubtedly shape the future of Kern Raceway. “Kevin Harvick’s involvement is a game-changer for Kern Raceway,” said Tim Huddleston, CEO of Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. “His expertise and commitment will propel us to new heights. Together, we aim to create an electrifying racing experience for fans and competitors alike.” Additionally, Tim Huddleston extended heartfelt gratitude to Virgie Beard and Rusty Risi, acknowledging their hard work and dedication in building, and operating the facility over the years. “Their contributions have laid the foundation for the Raceway’s success, a legacy that our team is honored to continue,” Huddleston said. “In honor of the late Charlie Beard and his work in bringing KCRP to life, the suite tower will be re-named The Charlie Beard Tower effective immediately.” Looking ahead, the leadership team is actively working on the 2024 calendar. Exciting new events and improvement projects are currently in the works, promising a thrilling and enhanced experience for race enthusiasts. Details of these developments will be announced in the coming weeks, adding to the anticipation surrounding Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway is a 120-acre motorsports facility located in Bakersfield, California. The facility is renowned for it’s 1/2 mile asphalt oval and 1/3 mile dirt oval. For the most recent news and updates, kindly visit www.kernraceway.com. Additionally, stay connected with us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @KernRaceway. Come along on this historic journey as we celebrate the legacy of a hometown champion and strengthen community bonds through the excitement of racing. -Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway |