Compiled by SEMA Editors
Ford Mustang Teams Gear Up for Final Fight of 2014 Formula DRIFT Season at Irwindale Speedway
With one race left in the 2014 Formula DRIFT season, Ford Motor Co. heads to Irwindale Speedway in California. Vaughn Gittin Jr., in third place, and Justin Pawlak, in seventh, will compete in customized Ford Mustangs, October 10–11, in the final fight of the seven-event series. Ford has supported drivers in Formula DRIFT since 2005, when the sport triggered a successful Ford Racing Performance Parts engine-development program for a supercharged 4.6L V8 crate engine.
Ford will give fans the opportunity to enter to win an EcoBoost-powered Fiesta ST. The sweepstakes winner will receive personal drift lessons from Gittin Jr., a trip to Ford’s ST Octane Academy and a visit to Hoonigan Racing headquarters. The deadline to enter the contest online is October 13, at 11:59 a.m. (EDT). For more information, visit www.formuladrift.com.
 The 15th Annual NMRA Ford Nationals will be held on May 1–3, 2015, at Maryland International Raceway | |
NMRA to Return to Maryland International Raceway, Summit Motorsports Park in 2015
The 15th Annual NMRA Ford Nationals will be held May 1–3, 2015, at Maryland International Raceway in Mechanicsville, Maryland. The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals Series brings Street Outlaw racers capable of side-by-side 200+ mph action along with classes including Renegade, Coyote Modified, Modular Muscle, Super Stang, True Street and more.
NMRA will return to Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, June 11–14, 2015, and NMCA will return August 27–30, 2015. High-horsepower, supercharged and nitrous-powered Mustangs get ready for heads-up competition in the Street Outlaw and Renegade classes. In the King Ford event, bracket class winners of Fast Ford, Quick Ford, Street Ford and Nostalgia Ford will face off for the right to be crowned King Ford. When the NMCA Flowmaster series heads to Norwalk in August, all-brands of American muscle compete side-by-side on the dragstrip. Super quick classes include the 250+ mph Pro Mods, Street Outlaw, Radial Wars and Xtreme Street.
Holley EFI to Sponsor CRAWL Magazine Off-Road Event in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Holley has announced its sponsorship of CRAWL magazine’s Reader’s Ride South off-road event for 2014, which returns to the Wishbone Ranch off-road park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, September 27. Wishbone Ranch boasts more than 110 acres with more than 20 trails. Open trail riding is available Friday, September 26, from 12:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m., Saturday morning, September 27, is the main event day, with Wishbone Ranch opening at 6:00 a.m. The Holley EFI Bump and Hustle obstacle course competition takes place at 10 a.m., and trail riding is open until 7:30 p.m. The Wishbone Ranch will also be available for open trail riding Sunday, September 28, from 6:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Ben Coffman and his 600hp Ultra 4 buggy powered by Holley Terminator EFI will be present at the event. Ian Johnson, host of "Xtreme Off-Road TV," will also be present at the event with his Holley-equipped Big Tire Garage 4x4. For more information on this event, visit the CRAWL magazine website, or call the Wishbone Ranch at 270-991-5882.
 The Kobalt Tools Ford Fiesta ST leads the way in Los Angeles. Photo credit: Olsbergs MSE | |
Double Podium for Olsbergs MSE in GRC Doubleheader
The Olsbergs MSE team scored a pair of Red Bull Global Rallycross podiums in the Los Angeles doubleheader last weekend, with second- and third-place results bringing the championship title closer for Red Bull/Bluebeam Ford Fiesta ST driver Joni Wiman. The rookie Wiman climbed two positions in the championship standings. With just two races remaining in the season, Wiman is now a close second in the overall title chase, behind fellow Ford driver Ken Block. Kobalt Tools Ford Fiesta ST driver Patrik Sandell also had a strong showing in Los Angeles, and is in the top five heading into the championship's penultimate round near Seattle.
Wiman finished third last Sunday following a second-place result a day earlier. The top results helped Olsbergs MSE partner Ford to clinch the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship's manufacturers title before the conclusion of the season. It is Ford's fourth-consecutive championship win. Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship competition resumes with the ninth round of the 2014 season, GRC Seattle, September 26–27. Full coverage of the race will air on NBC, Sunday, September 28, at 4:30 p.m. (EDT).
MAVTV to Telecast 2014 the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet
The Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing—home of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame—has announced the 24th annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame presented by Lucas Oil induction banquet will be televised on the MAVTV cable channel. The first airing will be made on the network’s “Inside Drag Racing” program, Thursday, October 2, at 1:30 p.m. (EDT). The program will feature the introduction of the 2014 inductees—John Abbott, Al Bergler, Frank Hawley, Tom Hoover, Forrest Lucas and Warren Johnson, and Founder’s Award recipient Kenny Youngblood. Master of Ceremonies Bob Frey will provide his insightful, commentaries. The program will re-air Thursday October 2 at 6:30 p.m. (EDT), and Saturday October 4 at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).