People Places & Racing News

Racing News: Mark Webber Takes Third Win of F1 Season at British Grand Prix

BIG IN ENGLAND: Mark Webber bagged his third Formula One triumph of the year during the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone Circuit.

FATALITY: Mark Niver, 60, of Scottsdale, Arizona, died Sunday during a top-end accident during the semifinal round of eliminations for the Top Alcohol Dragster class during the NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington. He is the second driver to die during an NHRA-sanctioned event in the last month.

TRUST IN NASCAR: NASCAR and most of the sport's top teams have come together to form the NASCAR Teams Licensing Trust, with the focus on merchandising in several key areas, including apparel, collectibles, toys and trackside retail.

SO LONG, AUDIE: Audie Swartz, a pioneer racer who finished second in the first Knoxville Nationals in 1961, died June 30. He was 84.

NEW CHAIRMAN:
Adam Parr has been promoted from his role as CEO of the Williams F-1 team to chairman, a position held by team founder Sir Frank Williams since 1977. Williams will remain as team principal and have final say on all major decisions.

BACK IN BUSINESS: Veteran promoter John Soares is reopening California’s Merced Speedway this Sunday (July 18). Soares is also the promoter of California’s Antioch Speedway.

A POSSIBLE RETURN: Media outlets are reporting that the ill-fated A1GP racing series could return with backing from a new group of investors as early as 2011.

NEW IN THE U.S.A.: Cypher Group, which includes various factions of the defunct U.S. F1 effort, has reportedly filed a bid to join Formula One next year.

NEW FROM BELLEVILLE:
The National Championship Racing Association will serve as the sanctioning body for the annual Belleville Midget Nationals, scheduled for August 6–7 at the Belleville (Kansas) High Banks.

GET WELL, SCOTT: Scott Bonnell, a veteran sprint-car racer from Girard, Pennsylvania, suffered fractures to his T3 and T4 vertebrae during a crash in the ASCS Patriot Region event at Little Valley (New York) Speedway July 3.

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