Compiled by SEMA Editors
Hammerking Productions Acquires Valley Off Road Racing Association
Hammerking Productions Inc.—the organization behind King of the Hammers and ULTRA4 Racing—is partnering with Nor Cal Rock Rock Racing in the purchase of Valley Off Road Racing Association (VORRA), which was established in 1975 and has organized such iconic desert races as the Fallon 250 and the Yerington 300. Wes Harbor, John Goodby and Dave Cole—promoters and CEOs for VORRA, Nor Cal Rock Racing and Hammerking respectively—solidified their agreement earlier this week. Cole and Harbor will coordinate on the desert races and Goodby will add days and heats to Nor Cal Rock Racing's current short-course schedule to include VORRA teams and classes not currently racing in Nor Cal Rock Racing events.
2016 VORRA Schedule:
April 29–May 1: Prairie City SVRA – combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
May 29: Hawthorne
July 15–17: Wild West Motorsports Park – combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
September 3–4: Fallon 250 – combined with ULTRA4 Racing
September 23–25: Prairie City SVRA – Combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
 Dai Yoshihara will compete this season in his Subaru BRZ. |
Turn 14 Distribution Extends Sponsorship With Formula D Star Dai Yoshihara
Turn 14 Distribution has announced the extension of its title sponsorship and ongoing partnership with Dai Yoshihara—one of the most popular drivers in the Formula D series. With this sponsorship, Yoshihara is building upon an existing four-year relationship with Turn 14 Distribution, and has a full season of Formula D racing planned for 2016. Since 2004, Yoshihara has finished in the top 10 nine times, including his championship run in 2011. Yoshihara will compete this season in his Subaru BRZ, resplendent in Turn 14 Distribution livery to reflect the sponsorship. The Subaru features a custom-built 477-cid turbocharged LS engine with more than 950 rear-wheel hp. The eight-race Formula D schedule kicks off April 8–9 with the Streets of Long Beach event in California, and traverses North America with stops in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Montreal, Washington and Texas, before concluding at the Irwindale Speedway in California in October.
Tedesco Racing Partners With VP Racing Fuels for NHRA 2016 Lucas Oil Season
Tedesco Racing’s Mia Tedesco and Jason Lynch have announced the addition of VP Racing Fuels as a primary marketing partner for the 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil season. The partnership will be featured across the Tedesco team’s entries of super gas and super comp race vehicles, beginning at this weekend’s divisional event in Gainesville, Florida. Tedesco Racing’s super gas and super comp race machines will campaign VP Racing Fuels’ Mad Scientist marketing initiatives at both divisional and national level events.
Wilwood Disc Brakes to Sponsor Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals Autocross; Renews Contingency Sponsorship With IMCA
Wilwood has announced a new sponsorship agreement for the autocross event during the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals in Pomona, California, March 12–13, 2016. The Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals is an annual gathering of performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across the country that compete in a variety of events, including a burnout contest, dyno challenge and autocross. Vendors and sponsors are also showcased on the manufacturer’s midway.
Wilwood also has announced the renewal of its contingency sponsorship with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) through the 2016 season. Wilwood will support select IMCA divisions through product and monetary contingency to multiple finishers in national points and at the Super Nationals.
Kawasaki Signs With DIESEL Motorsports as Official Diesel ATV/UTV
Kawasaki Motor Corp. USA, manufacturer of Kawasaki Mule, has become an endorsed product sponsor of DIESEL Motorsports for the 2016–2017 season. Kawasaki will be the “Official Diesel ATV/UTV” sponsor for the diesel-only race and pulling series with more than 65 events nationwide.
 James Hinchcliffe |
Indy Driver James Hinchcliffe Teams Up With Petro-Canada Lubricants
Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc. (PCLI)—a Suncor business—has partnered with IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe for the 2016 IndyCar racing season. Hinchcliffe, a native of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, will be a brand ambassador for PCLI. The partnership will mark the company’s first venture into the United States motorsports space, having participated in Canada and Europe. The 2016 IndyCar season marks the sixth year of competition for Hinchcliffe, driver of the No. 5 Honda for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He has posted four career wins at St. Petersburg, Sao Paulo and Iowa Speedway in 2013 and New Orleans last year. Hinchcliffe's 2015 IndyCar season was cut short due to a near-fatal accident during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series will begin with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Sunday, March 13.
Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels Returns to IHRA Drag Racing as a Major Event Sponsor
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series, Summit Pro Am Tour and Summit Team Finals will soon begin with Mickey Thompson as a major contingency sponsor. The company will provide contingency awards for all racing classes beginning March 4. Team M/T IHRA sportsman class champions included Super Rod champion Michael Ruff and Top Dragster champion Kevin Brannon.