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- 2022 SEMA SHOW TO HIGHLIGHT VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION TRENDS AND TECHNOLOGIES
Press Release | SEMA DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (July 5, 2022) – The 2022 SEMA Show will feature an expanded SEMA Electrified section. Located in the North Hall, the specialized exhibit area will feature the latest advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology, including new products and solutions for EV platforms and conversions. “The EV aftermarket is evolving quickly and continues to change; we’re curating a unique collection of the latest products related to electric vehicles and the aftermarket,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “SEMA Electrified will help businesses see the latest trends and understand how the EV market has evolved. Visitors will gain an understanding of the advancements and opportunities for the future.” Although alternative powertrains currently represent just 1% of the 250 million cars, SUVs, and light-duty trucks in operation on American roads, sales and interest in EVs are increasing rapidly. According to recent SEMA Market Research, the electric market includes several areas of opportunity for the aftermarket, including the development of parts and products to aid in the conversion of older internal-combustion vehicles; building and modifying new project, racing, and purpose-built vehicles; and expertly accessorizing new OEM electric offerings. SEMA is dedicated to helping its member companies identify those opportunities and adapt to the growing segment of the industry. While the dedicated SEMA Electrified section will highlight the endless possibilities in the electric market, EV projects and products will be displayed throughout the SEMA Show. To learn more about the 2022 SEMA Show taking place November 1-4, in Las Vegas, Nev., visit www.semashow.com .
- The Playoff Forecast - Week 18 @ Road America
By Adam Carabine Welcome to the 2nd annual Playoff Forecast project. Projections are calculated by simulating the 2022 Cup Series schedule 125,000 times, using a top-secret predictive formula that is based on 3 important factors: Driver History @ Each Track, Driver Recent Overall History, and Team Performance. How to read it: The numbers in brackets show that driver’s position last week. The percentages in each column refer to the probability of that driver making it to that round. We have also simulated the week's Cup Series race. Check back each week to see who's favoured to win. Since Road America is newer to the Cup Series schedule, there is not a lot of historic data to draw on for this weekend's race. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @StatChatRefresh Or you can email directly: acarabine@racingrefresh.com Get all your StatChat Merch from the Racing Refresh online store!
- StatChat - NASCAR Cup Series @ Road America
By Adam Carabine
- Formula One Race Preview: British Grand Prix
(image via @F1) When it comes to Formula One racing, there is no better place than Silverstone for the 76th British Grand Prix. At one point in history, Silverstone was home to the brave pilots of the Royal Air Force during World War II. Since then, racing has become king in those parts and history was made all along the way. From the very first race of the Formula One World Championship all the way back in 1950, to dominating eras of Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, and Lewis Hamilton. The quest for a world title enters the tenth round in this 2022 season as Red Bull Racing enters this race with six straight wins on the season. 2021 Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen has five of those wins including a dominate race at the Canadian Grand Prix just a few weeks ago. Another chapter will be written on Sunday and only time will tell on who will write it. Below is everything you need to know about the 2022 British Grand Prix. Track Facts: There have been eight different configurations before the current layout was decided in 2010. Eighteen turns make up the 3.66 mile circuit. Almost every single inch of the Silverstone Circuit has an iconic name such as Copse, Maggotts, Becketts, Stowe. and the Hamilton Straight just to name a few. Silverstone will have two DRS zones; the first detection zone is before Turn Three with DRS activation down the Wellington Straight. The second DRS detection zone is before Turn Eleven with DRS activation down the Hangar Straight. It is one of two tracks on the schedule with no DRS activation zone down the pit straight joining the Yas Marina Circuit on that list. Event History: The first British Grand Prix was held in 1950 when Giuseppe Farina took his Alfa Romeo to victory lane. Besides Silverstone, the British Grand Prix has bounced around the Southern region of the United Kingdom since its inception to two other tracks: Aintree and Brands Hatch. The race returned to Silverstone in 1987 and has remained on the circuit calendar since that time. No one has won more than Lewis Hamilton as he leads all drivers in wins with eight, seven of which came in the last eight years. Ferrari holds a two win lead over Mercedes in constructor wins with sixteen wins. Only Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso join Hamilton as active drivers with wins in the event. 2021 Event: Last years' British Grand Prix made headlines around the world as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen made contact on the first lap in Copse Corner which sent Verstappen into the outside retaining wall with an impact that measured up to 51 times the force of gravity and at a speed of around 180 mph. After a lengthy red flag period, Hamilton received a ten-second time penalty for causing a collision. The race restarted with Charles Leclerc leading the field to green but suffered from engine issues as the race ran along. By lap 50, Hamilton caught and passed Leclerc and went on to win the event. Closing the gap in a championship battle he fell short in only a few months later. Tire Allocation: Pirelli has brought three of the hardest tire compounds in their lineup to the 2022 British Grand Prix with the sets being C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), and C3 (Soft) to Silverstone. Driver Standings: (Top 10 Only) Max Verstappen - 175 Points Sergio Perez - 129 Points Charles Leclerc - 126 Points George Russell - 111 Points Carlos Sainz - 102 Points Lewis Hamilton - 77 Points Lando Norris - 50 Points Valtteri Bottas - 46 Points Esteban Ocon - 39 Points Fernando Alonso - 18 Points Manufacture Standings: Red Bull Racing - 304 Points Ferrari - 228 Points Mercedes: 188 Points McLaren: 65 Points Alpine: 57 Points Alfa Romeo: 51 Points AlphaTauri: 27 Points Aston Martin: 16 Points Haas F1 Team: 15 Points Williams: 3 Points Weather: Expect wet conditions for Friday and Saturday track sessions with rain chances at 90% for both days. Sunday will be cloudy and only a 30% chance of rain. Weekend Schedule: (All times EST) Friday, July 1st: Free Practice #1 at 7:55 A.M. on ESPNU Friday, July 1st: Free Practice #2 at 10:55 A.M. on ESPNU Saturday, July 2nd: Free Practice #3 at 6:55 A.M. on ESPN2 Saturday, July 2nd: Qualifying at 9:55 A.M. on ESPN2 Sunday, July 3rd: British Grand Prix at 9:55 A.M. on ESPN2
- Formula E Race Preview: Marrakesh E-Prix
(Image via @RaceOfMorocco) A championship battle is three races from being decided as Round 10 of the eighth season of the ABB Formula E World Championship comes to the beautiful and picturesque vista of Marrakesh, Morocco for the fifth annual Marrakesh E-Prix. Four drivers sperate themselves by only 12 points in the drivers' championship. Pair that with a very competitive manufacture championship with a delta of only 47 points between the top four teams means there is no room for error as the 2021/2022 season rapidly winds down to a close. Here is everything you need to know for the Marrakesh E-Prix Event History: The 2022 Marrakesh E-Prix is going to be the fifth time the race has been on the Forumla E calendar. In the sixth season of Formula E, the series held the inaugural event in one of the more interesting race tracks on the circuit. In 2016, e.dams-Renault driver and 2015/2016 Formula E World Champion Sebastian Buemi took the inaugural win at the event on his way to a season ending world championship. In the four races Marrakesh has held previously, there have no repeat winners at the track with four different drivers and three different teams with Mahindra taking two of the four wins. Only two active drivers are in the field for this weekend's race (Buemi, de Costa). Track Facts: The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan is a 1.846 mile, 15-turn temporary hybrid street course that runs through the Marrakesh hotel district. Designed by Formula One track designer Hermann Tilke. The track is one of the few power circuits in the series that drives will be on-throttle about 75% of the time which will be more about how drivers will manage their power reserves till the end of the race. The Attack Mode will be activated in turn three for drivers to use when needed. Driver Standings: (Top Four only) Stoffel Vandoorne - Mercedes-EQ - 121 points Jean-Eric Vergne - DS-Techeetah - 116 Points Edoardo Mortara - RoKIT Venturi Racing - 114 points Mitch Evans - Jaguar-TCS - 109 points Team Standings: (Top Four Only) Mercedes-EQ: 186 Points DS Techeetah: 170 Points RoKIT Venturi: 169 Points Jaguar-TCS: 139 points Weather: Highs on race day will be in the mid to high 90s with a 10% chance of rain. Weekend Schedule: (All times in EST) Friday, July 1st - Practice #1: 11:55 A.M. on CBS Sports HQ Saturday, July 2nd - Practice #2: 2:25 P.M. on CBS Sports HQ Saturday, July 2nd - Qualifying: 4:30 P.M. on CBS Sports HQ Saturday, July 2nd - Marrakesh E-Prix: 11:30 A.M. on CBS Sports Network
- NTT IndyCar Series Race Preview: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio
(image via @Mid_Ohio) Fireworks may be seen in the night sky this weekend, but just north of Racing Refresh HQ is where sparks will fly and thunder will roar through the valley as the NTT IndyCar Series heads to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Complex. 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericcson holds a slim lead in the championship standings as two of the series best look to close the gap even tighter in the hunt for the 2022 Astor Cup. The last time we saw on track activity it was Josef Newgarden who dominated at Road America as he looks to be gearing up for a possible third series championship. But before he can start getting his hopes up, he has to make it past his Team Penske teammate in Will Power. The dog days of summer are upon us and that means racing in the Rust Belt. Below is everything you need to know for the Honda Indy 200. Track Facts: The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Complex is a 13 turn, 2.258 mile circuit that is carved into the natural terrain of the Lexington, Ohio area. Mid-Ohio has many different areas on the track that fans and drivers rave about when it comes to the course. Turn 2, otherwise known as "The Keyhole" will be one of the first main passing opportunities to start a lap. A long straight with a hard braking zone that is off-camber will have drivers test the limits of the car before heading on to the main back straight. That straight leads to a series of esses that each have different corner radius' that will lead to side-by-side racing as the race into "thunder valley". The initial race start will happen on the backstretch heading into turn four for safety concerns Event History: Open Wheel racing has been coming to Mid-Ohio since 1970 when Formula 5000 raced on the track for the very first time. In 1980, CART/Champ Car made their debut at the series and continues over to the IndyCar Series which has held events at the circuit since 2007. Scott Dixon has been the man to beat at Mid-Ohio as he leads all active drivers with six wins at the event. Joining him as active winners are Newgarden, Herta, Rossi, and Pagenaud. 2021 Event: Joesf Newgarden won the P1 Award in Saturday's qualifying session and led the field to green. Nothing much to write home about until the end of the race as Marcus Ericsson closed the gap on Newgarden but it wasn't enough as he lead 73 of the 80 laps it took to complete the race. For Newgarden, it was his first win of the 2021 season and came on the same day as his team owner, Roger Penske celebrated his 50th season in IndyCar competition. Driver Standings: Marcus Ericsson - 293 points Will Power - 266 Points Josef Newgarden - 261 Points Pato O'Ward - 248 Points Alex Palou - 246 Points Scott Dixon - 224 Points Alexander Rossi - 218 Points Felix Rosenqvist - 203 Points Scott McLaughlin - 199 Points Simon Pagenaud - 197 Points Weather: With rain chances during the weekend getting no higher than 20% on Friday, expect clear skies and temps in mid to high 80s. Weekend Schedule: (all times EST) Friday, July 1st: Free Practice #1 at 3:30 P.M. on Peacock Saturday, July 2nd: Free Practice #2 at 9:30 A.M. on Peacock Saturday, July 2nd: Qualifying at 2:45 P.M. on Peacock Sunday, July 3rd: Warmup at 9:45 A.M. on Peacock Sunday, July 3rd: Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio at 12:30 P.M. on NBC
- NASCAR Cup Series Race Preview: Kiwk Trip 250 at Road America
With only nine races to go until the 2022 playoffs begin, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the rolling hills of Wisconsin for the Kwik Trip 250 at Road America. Sometimes called the "Spa-Francorchamps" of North America, this bustling four-mile road course is placed into the natural landscaping of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. With high-speed straights that lead into hard braking zones to multiple corners with various apex speeds, the Kwik Trip 250 will be a fantastic way for NASCAR fans to celebrate Independence Day weekend. Track Facts: Road America has been in continued operation since September of 1955. Since then, it has become one of the most popular destinations in racing throughout the United States. The first event in track history was set in 1955, when the Sports Car Club of America took to the track in 1955. Since then, Road America has been a regular host to IMSA and the NTT IndyCar Series. Road America is the longest circuit the NASCAR Cup Series will be going to all year at 4.04 miles in length with 14 corners. Passing can be abundant at Road America with four corners at the track being classified as hard braking zones (1,5,8, and 12). The most important corner is Turn 14, which most drivers will aim for a late apex to carry as much speed down the long main straight before heading off into turn one. Event History: The NASCAR race was held in 1956 when then named NASCAR Grand National Series (NASCAR Cup Series) made its first trip to Road America when Tim Flock took his 1956 Mercury to victory lane. It wasn't until 2021 that the Cup Series made its return to the track as a pair of new road courses were introduced to the schedule last year. William Byron won the pole in qualifying and went on to win the first stage. Tyler Reddick picked up the win in stage two. Austin Cindric started from the lead in stage three but unfortunately suffered a transmission issue during the stage. Chase Elliott eventually took the lead from Matt DiBenedetto in the later stages of the race and held off a charging Christopher Bell to win the 2021 Jockey Made in America 250. Playoff Standings: Nine races to go before NASCAR playoffs Locked In: Chase Elliott, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, Austin Cindric, Chase Briscoe, and Daniel Suarez. In on points: Ryan Blaney (+122), Martin Truex Jr (+73), Christopher Bell (+37), Kevin Harvick (+9) Outside looking in: Aric Almirola (-9), Tyler Reddick (-52), Austin Dillon (-53), Erik Jones (-58) Weather: It is looking like it is going to be an amazing weekend in Elkhart Lake with clear skies and temperatures across the three-day weekend in the low to mid 80's with only a 20% chance of rain on Sunday. Weekend Schedule: (all time eastern) Friday, July 1st at 5:30 P.M.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice (USA) Friday, July 1st at 6:30 P.M.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying (USA) Saturday, July 2nd at 11:30 A.M.: NASCAR Cup Series Practice (No T.V.) Saturday, July 2nd at 12:20 P.M.: NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying (USA) Saturday, July 2nd at 2:30 P.M.: NASCAR Xfinity Series - Henry 180 at Road America (USA) Sunday, July 3rd at 3:00 P.M.: NASCAR Cup Series - Kwik Trip 250 at Road America (USA)
- Racing Refresh Tech Tuesday: MGU-Kinetic and MGU-Heat
(image via Renault F1) Since the onset of the hybrid era in Formula One, the series has become one of the most technological racing series in the world. Delivering on the promise on being at the forefront of technology and engineering. With this edition of Tech Tuesday, we look at two of the most complex parts of the internal combustion engine of a Formula One car that changed the history of Formula One in 2014 and will be the catalyst of change as cars continue to develop in the future. To understand fully understand the Motor Generating Unit-H and MGU-K, we have to go all the way back to 2009 which was the year the Kinetic Electric Recovery System (KERS) was introduced with new engine regulations into the series. Much like in the last edition of Tech Tuesday where we talked about the INDYCAR push-to-pass, Formula One also had an issue with cars being less efficient and losing energy. When racecars are traveling around the track they are carrying a level of stored kinetic energy. Under braking loads that kinetic energy is transferred into heat. Which is then wasted as it dissipates into the surrounding air. But engineers found a different way; what if we used the build up of kinetic energy that a car provides and instead of wasting it trough the process of heat transfer, we can use it to provide electrical energy for the car. Before we move on, the MGU-K does not use heat energy to provide electrical energy. That is a common misconception I would like to get out of the way before we start. (Image via shutterstock) All right boys and girls, welcome to science class. I'm your teacher, Collin Best. To start, we have to reintroduce ourselves to electromagnetism, which is the connection of electric charges through magnetic fields. Magnets are made up of two poles which are called north and south poles. When you have both of them in a space, the magnetic field travels between them from north to south. In electric currents, electrons flow in a path from positive to negative. (Got it?? Moving On!) When electricity is passed through magnets, lets say on a copper wire. The wire will move around due to the magnetic field. The same thing also happens when the magnets are moved around the electrical wires thus creating an electrical motor. In all my research of the MGU-K, the motor is a three-phase motor. Which has electrical circuits in 120 degree intervals that spin in a magnetic field producing the electromagnetic power. The MGU-K is set up by using three parts. First, the battery feeds electrical energy to the MGU-K which coverts it to rotational kinetic energy, which adds power to the crankshaft, which sends the energy through the transmission to drive the back wheels. Now to generate power, we need to run the circuit in reverse. The driver starts the process of decelerating the car which means the wheels are now spinning with rotational kinetic energy which will spin the electrical motor of the MGU-K. In order to generate electrical power, the kinetic energy of the rear wheels is used faster because it takes a lot more energy to generate power with the system than it will be to deploy the stored energy. Thus, the rear wheels start to rotate less as more energy is used by the MGU-K. At heavy braking circuits on the Formula One calendar, a the MGU-K can harvest up to 2MJ of energy per lap and can deploy 4MJ of energy per lap that can translate to a power boost of 160 hp to the engine. Well, now that we understand the idea that kinetic energy is not wasted when on track by ways of electrical energy. What about thermal energy? Well to understand that we have to look at a Formula One engine and how it works. In Formula One, the engine is a 1.6 liter, direct-injection turbo charged V6 engine. (Which is the smallest engine in the three major motorsport series in the world.) The engines now have direct injection into the cylinder which means a more efficient engine with the right air-to-fuel ratio. But lets say we need more air to increase power in critical moments. For example, coming out of the hairpin at Montreal before we get on to the main straight. That is where the Motor Generator Unit-Heat comes in too play. (illustration by AJ Appeal) The turbocharger is found on the exhaust manifold of the engine in which the superheated gases pass through the turbocharging unit to spin a small turbine which can move at about 1000 rpm. The air leaving the turbo charger is then forced into a compressor that takes air from an intake on the car and forces it back into the engine to give it the extra oxygen it needs to create more power. The MGU-H takes some of the air that is passed through the turbocharger into a small wind turbine which can also send energy in the form of electrical energy to the battery store for later use or directly to the MGU-K. Much like the MGU-K which has the power to deploy power to the car for use under acceleration, the MGU-H can do the exact same thing by passing energy back to the turbocharger. Now you are probably asking yourself why would it do this. Well, the spinning of the turbocharger is directly affected by how much power the engine is putting out. If you decelerate, the engine produces less power and the turbo slows down as well. The time it takes to get the turbocharger back up to full power is called turbo lag. What the MGU-H does is quickly boost the turbo back up to speed so it doesn't have to wait for the engine to get back up to full power which eliminates turbo lag. So let us put both systems together. Imagine you are Max Verstappen and you are heading into a very slow corner before heading on to a long straight. You're wide open and the engine is at full song. The MGU-K is deploying reserved power to the wheels and you are approaching Turn One at Monza. You slam hard on the brakes and and the wheels are now in somewhat of a free spin while the car is slowing down which is turning the electric motor inside the car and creating more energy to be used when you get on the power leaving turn one. The turbo is also slowing down due to less power coming from the engine as a whole. You are now through turn two and need to keep Lewis Hamilton behind you, well you can deploy that saved energy from the MGU-K to add up too 160 HP to the car but under initial acceleration the turbo is not up to full speed. The MGU-H forces air back into the turbo which then makes it way back into the engine so right off the slowest corner on the track, the engine can now be at 100% of its full power production which helps you maintain position ahead of Hamilton going into the next set of corners on your way to victory. I hope you enjoyed another edition of Tech Tuesday. Next week, we will look in-depth of a new feature to the NASCAR Next-Gen car that has caused a lot of controversy in the series to this point and that is the new single lug nut used in the NASCAR Cup Series.
- Tales from The Trails. A look back at Ohio's former home for NHRA Nationals
Since 1953 the NHRA has been the nation's trusted source of drag racing competition. The popularity of the sport has waxed and waned in various timeframes, but generations of racing enthusiasts and car lovers continue to attend touring weekends all over the United States. In it's current adaptation, the NHRA Camping World Series is televised on Fox to fans in every major market. Headlining the calendar include events such as the US Nationals, season book-ends in Pomona, and Ohio's lone stop at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk. Racing on the grande tour in Norwalk has been an annual event since 2007 when NHRA struck a deal with the Bader family that transitioned racing away from National Trail Raceway for the first time in decades. With the exception of 2020 (due to Covid-19), Norwalk, commercially known as Summit Motorsports Park has hosted events every year on the national tour. Fifteen years after a fanfare from the industry in its inaugural season, Norwalk is still celebrated by drivers, sponsors, and fans as being amongst the true elite events. There are some fans that miss what once was at National Trail, though. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the largest stars who once competed in Columbus to discuss with them their thoughts on a potential return or double-dip in the Buckeye State. Tony Schumacher's first NHRA National event behind the wheel of a top fuel car was in 1996 prepared by his father Don's famed team. Schumacher, an eight time champion in Top-Fuel racing won at National Trail Raceway his first ever attempt, five years later on May 22nd 2005. "Trails? I love National Trails, I have the record there, don't I?" [He does.] Schumacher commented when asked about his favourite memories in Columbus, OH. "I'm from Chicago, I considered National Trail Raceway one of America's best because it was one of the people. It felt like home, all of these tracks in the midwest, including Norwalk make me feel like I'm at home." It made sense that Schumacher loved Ohio, he also won his first time at Norwalk. When I asked him if he was interested in a return to National Trail on the schedule, he laughed he was in favour, but only if they were adding more stops on the calendar. Reigning champion in Funny Car Ron Capps spent a lot of time with the media as always this past weekend, his fast Toyota Supra earned him the No. 1 Qualifier title heading into a weekend at a track he has loved for many years. Separating his support for the Bader family and the Summit community, I inquired with the NAPA man himself about his fondest times in Central Ohio and if he thought the series should ever make a return. "Yeah I , in fact we just had a conversation the other day that I would love to go to National Trails. I wouldn't want to step on any toes [on Norwalk] but I keep a big eye on the internet, and every time they have a big race I ask Woody at Jeg's, and I ask "...could we have a national event there?" And Jay who's took that place over there, I've known him a long time. He has done a great job." Capps said. In regards to the time of year, he had a few thoughts. "I would love to go back there really early in the year, a different part of the year. I have great memories. Racing against Don Purdome. Father's Day a lot of years. I had the chance of winning there. So, yeah I miss going there. I think it is a place we need to be, it is another market we need to be in, and I think there is so much history going back when I was a kid, reading about that race track. Yeah, I keep up with it, I actually asked at my appearance a couple of hours south of here, there was a family of NHRA Sportsman racers, they were about to race there and I asked em', "Do you think we could hold a national event there?" and they said 'Yes.' so that would be great." When asked if Norwalk lives up to the prestige of the former placeholder, he answered proudly, with an opinion many fans seem to share. "Oh yeah, back then [when Norwalk was added] the issue was that it was the other organization, right? But I knew the history of this place and you'd pick the magazines up and you'd read about what the Bader family had done and I first came here, well really the first national event was awesome and it was cool to be here, but the first Night Under Fire I attended, I looked around and I thought 'Ok, I get it....And I'll be back here in about a month at Night Under Fire. This place speaks for itself, there's a reason for why the fans come here and pack this place, ya know, you come here once and you're gonna come here again!" John Force is synonymous with professional drag racing. While his industry mourned the loss of a wonderful friend in Bruton Smith, he attended, worked, and competed last week at Summit Motorsports Park, an annual event he's known for priding himself in victory, and entertainment. I was careful to speak to Mr. Force about a distinct separation in how he felt about National Trail Raceway, without asking him to challenge what the Bader's have done in Norwalk. Force answered candidly as he always does, offering support across the board. "In the late 80's I won my first race at Montreal. And I got to the interview and there was nobody there...now I had won in other divisions, AHRA, and other places I'd raced, match races, but my first win in NHRA was in Columbus. One of my daughters was being born, and they gave me a police escort to get me to the hospital. I wouldn't leave winner's circle until we were done. They kept telling me that I wouldn't make my plane but they took care of me getting back so I could [fly to his daughter's birth], so Columbus was special to me." The Force family has more than one victory as a reason to call their sister city of Indianapolis home. John continued to explain why Columbus is significant to his heart. "The market is big. I'm an Ohio football fan because of Rahal, you know what I mean? My daughter married Rahal. He's a great kid and I love him, they got another baby on the way! I always tell people that I saw his dad [Columbus native Bobby Rahal] win the Indy 500, but I should probably stop embellishing, I watched it on the TV. I love Bobby and I love Graham, and they take good care of her." We discussed more about his family and their story and returned to the legacy of Columbus within drag racing. "In the end, it's hard ya know to try to get enough people in one market, let alone two...and Bader Jr. isn't gonna quit, he loves it here. Of course, the Smith family does two races in Vegas and Charlotte, so...first of all, I want all the races we can get, but I'd just never want to hurt the Bader family, because like Bruton Smith they are my family. All of them." Racing fans from Columbus Ohio miss what once was. The National Trail Raceway, regularly slurred 'Trails' in plural, has decades of history. It is still easily accessible from the nations highway I-70 East and amateurs and professionals compete regularly. Speaking to the drivers this weekend, I learned that they have an authentic and unrehearsed appreciation for the old property when asked. For the time being, locals should continue to support both properties, and celebrate dollar ice cream up north.
- Formula E Content Coming To Racing Refresh in July 2022
Your home for everything stock car racing continues to add other forms of motorsports coverage in 2022. From renewal of our IndyCar platform and the addition of NHRA coverage, Racing Refresh has prided itself in not being locked down to only one great form of high-speed news and entertainment. We are please to announce today that our media credential for the Formula E has been approved, matching our commitment to learning about fuel alternatives and automotive engineering. We will be adding recurring content such as race reviews and results and much more in the coming months. "'I'm thrilled to include additional racing whenever we can here at Racing Refresh, but this one only emphasizes to the fans and partners that work with us that we are in fact, the real deal. It will be exciting to see if North America can claim another race our two in 2023, and to really invest more into this growing sport that is approaching its tenth season. Senior Open Wheel writer Collin Best is known for his coverages of formula style racing, having prepared fans the last few years for events such as Monaco, The Indianapolis 500, and recently in America, the Miami Grand Prix. He will headline Racing Refresh's content. Additional comments to follow. "When the formula E World championship series was announced, it was a huge step in the promise of the engineering and technological advancements that the FIA announced when the turbo hybrid era came to Formula 1. Formula E hosts One of the most diverse driving lineups in all of sports and its schedule is unprecedented in the places it has gone. From the hallowed grounds of the Monaco Street course to Brooklyn, New York, Formula E continues to push new boundaries in motorsports. I am glad that Racing Refresh will be covering the series to add more to it's open-wheel racing coverage." Formula E Racing continues July 2nd from Marrakesh followed by a double header in the United States in New York on July 16th and 17th.
- Bubba Wallace's Best Opportunity to Win is Today at Ally 400
Bubba Wallace has a “must win” mentality for the Ally 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race at Nashville Superspeedway after being the fastest in Friday’s practice. The 23XI Racing driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry says after showing that the car has competitive speed, the team is in a “must win situation.” He topped the leaderboard at Nashville Superspeedway at 161.708 mph during the Ally 400 50-minute practice session on Friday. “I had a lot of emotion when I got out of the car, just from winning practice” he said. Although practice isn’t a benchmark like qualifying or a race win, it is noteworthy. “It meant a lot to me, having that speed and showing that we’re competitive. Now you’ve got a lot of people in the garage that are talking about the 23 car.” Bubba has consistently performed well at superspeedways and the team has showed that they certainly have the speed but to show that the No. 23 is truly competitive, there needs to be execution. He added, “The 23 team is showing a lot of speed each week, and I’m super proud of our team for doing that” Qualifying for the Ally 400 was cut short due to rain, setting the qualifying order after session 1. 23XI owner Denny Hamlin won the Busch Light Pole Award and will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s race after turning a 29.848. Bubba will begin the race in 30th position after a 30.475. Hamlin addressed Bubba’s qualifying run by telling Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, that he “should have stayed on the bus” primarily due to the pressure his presence on track creates. The No. 23 team remains optimistic for Sunday. Hamlin said, “I think they have a lot of confidence in their race car. When I saw him driving into turn one on TV, I knew that [Bubba] carried a tremendous amount of speed.” Bubba believes that today is the best opportunity for the No. 23 team to win. “We gotta win. I don’t know that we can point our way in. We’ve dug our hole deep enough to where we have to show up and not hold back on anything.” The NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway in Nashville, Tennessee airs on NBC at 5p.m. EST.
- Automotive Country Club Complex Gets Go-Ahead From City of Howell
SOURCE Motorsports Gateway HOWELL, Mich., June 29, 2022 - Motorsports Gateway Howell has announced Howell City Council has approved a development plan for their exclusive Automotive Country Club in the city. The approval provides a green light to move the project forward, a major step for the project. The large automotive district will offer passionate automotive enthusiasts a chance to purchase trackside garage condominiums along a European-designed driving circuit. The innovative project will also include an automotive innovation business park, a mixed-use zone for retail, entertainment, and restaurants, as well as a public nature trail. The driving circuit on the property will be designed following FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) safety standards, giving drivers peace of mind when pushing their vehicles to the limit. The circuit will follow the contours and elevation changes of the land as it carves through the woods. A state-of-the-art automated digital marshaling system including electronic flag displays, CCTV, and numerous timing sectors will increase safety and timing data analysis capabilities. The plan is to have the members circuit ready to drive by the summer 2023. Located just north of I-96 between D-19/Michigan Avenue and Lucy Road, the 273-acre development has already generated significant interest, with 75 percent of the founding owner garage condo units already reserved. A limited number of founding owner units remain and are drawing interest locally and across the country. "Since Jordan and Mark first approached the City with their vision, there has been nonstop momentum and excitement to bring this incredible asset to fruition. It continues to be an absolute pleasure to work with them on this venture. Their impeccable character and attitude, coupled with their desire to compliment the community, have been evident throughout the entire process, said Erv Suida, Howell City Manager. Many of the project's features will be available exclusively to owners and members. Once completed, the public will be able to enjoy amenities such as the automotive innovation business park and the mixed-use zone. "The City of Howell is a friendly and welcoming community, comprised of city staff and elected officials committed to providing the highest level of service possible, coupled with a development-friendly attitude," added Suida. "We feel these qualities, along with our beautiful historic downtown, are the main reasons Jordan and Mark selected the City of Howell for Motorsports Gateway. We are honored and sincerely look forward to the continued partnership and project success. This unique development will complement an already great community with opportunities and improvements for many years to come." "We couldn't be more pleased with the city of Howell and the support of city council," said Jordan Dick, co-founder of the project with his father Mark Dick. "We are very excited to move this project forward and look ahead to what it will mean for the city of Howell and Detroit metropolitan area. "The Sachse Construction team is excited and honored to help bring this world-class project to Howell, Michigan," said Ron Henry, senior vice president, Sachse Construction. "We're looking forward to working alongside our partners at Motorsports Gateway Howell to bring this first-class destination to life." "The idea that a new state-of-the-art track, that can have multiple configurations, is going to be so close to home is fantastic. Furthermore, the condo size is exciting and will provide plenty of room for everything we can think of. You can't go wrong." said Vince Messina, garage condo founding owner.
- KIA FORTE RANKS NUMBER ONE IN ITS SEGMENT IN J.D. POWER 2022 U.S. INITIAL QUALITY STUDY
Five Kia Vehicles Take Second Place in Their Respective Segments IRVINE, Calif., June 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A wide cross-section of Kia America's world-class SUVs and sedans received high marks in the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), with the Forte topping the Compact Car segment for the fourth consecutive year. Five other Kia models – Carnival, K5, Rio, Sportage, and Telluride – each took the number two spot in their respective categories. Kia Forte Ranks Number One in its Segment in J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS) for Fourth Consecutive Year "With so many Kia models ranking first or second in their respective segments, there's no doubt that quality, craftsmanship, and attention to detail are an integral part of every vehicle Kia builds – no matter the segment," said Sean Yoon, president & CEO, Kia North America and Kia America. The annual report analyzed responses from 84,165 respondents with regards to 189 vehicle models across 26 segments. Vehicles were evaluated on driving experience, engine and transmission performance and a broad range of quality issues reported by vehicle owners. Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top automotive quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands. Kia serves as the "Official Automotive Partner" of the NBA and offers a range of gasoline, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electrified vehicles sold through a network of 750 dealers in the U.S., including several cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America. SOURCE Kia America
- VIDEO: ATLANTA SINGER/SONGWRITER BLANCO BROWN TAKES LAPS AT AMS
Content and Press Release Courtesy of Atlanta Motor Speedway HAMPTON, Ga. (June 28, 2022) – Atlanta singer and songwriter Blanco Brown got a taste of speed at Atlanta Motor Speedway Tuesday. Brown took laps in Atlanta Motor Speedway's pace car in preparation for his duties as Honorary Pace Car driver for the Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart on July 10. "I'm so excited and it means so much because I grew up listening to cars go around this track, so to be able to drive the pace car is a blessing," said Brown. Brown is no stranger to NASCAR at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He's been coming to races at AMS since he was a child and always enjoys time at the track. "My first time being here at this track I was around 11 years old and I didn't know what to expect," recalled Brown. "Seeing it on TV and actually being in the stands is a whole other feeling. There's nothing else like it. "I love it and now it just feels like home. NASCAR is a go-to for me."
- Registration Open For eSX eSport Championship Presented By Yamaha
Press Release | Feld Entertainment Ellenton, FL., (April 22, 2022) – Registration opens today, Friday, April 22 for the eSX eSport Championship Presented by Yamaha on Battlefy.com/eSX ! Racing kicks off on Friday, May 10 with Time Trial Qualifiers in Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5. Registration will remain open through the end of the Time Trials concluding Thursday, June 30. The eSX eSport Championship will take place in Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 5 and consists of three stages of competition beginning with the Time Trial Qualifiers on May 10, followed by Head-to-Head Heats and the eSX Finals. The eSX Championship will be limited to US entrants only** in order to incorporate a special twist in this year’s competition – a live eSX Finals event will be hosted at a 2023 Supercross round! Racing will take place across PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC®/STEAM, with three categories for qualification – PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam. All registered players will receive a unique identifier code, which they will then redeem in the game to unlock the eSX Time Trials and a special edition Yamaha eSX in-game bike livery.















