Compiled by SEMA Editors
Summit Racing to Title Sponsor 2019 American Endurance Racing Season
Summit Racing has announced it will be the title sponsor for the American Endurance Racing (AER) 2019 season. Composed of five classes—1 being the slowest, 5 being the fastest—each AER event features two nine-hour races completed on back-to-back days. Vehicle preparation, fueling strategy and driver skill are pushed to the limits during each race. Teams are classed via AER’s unique classing system that compares each team’s drivers’ qualifying times to one another. This means the race field is not only diverse, but also fair with little to no debate as to which cars belong in each class.
AER’s 2019 season begins February 15–17 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta near Atlanta. Other events include:
- April 12–14: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York
- May 17–19: New Jersey Motorsports Park, Millville, New Jersey
- June 14–16: Palmer Motorsports Park, Palmer, Massachusetts
- September 13–15: Summit Point Motorsports Park, Summit Point, West Virginia
- October 18–20: Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course, Lexington, Ohio
- November 15–17: Pittsburgh International Race Complex, Wampum, Pennsylvania
 True North Racing of Western Canada competes in the 4600 Stock Class with two off-road capable Jeep Grand Cherokee builds, as well as the 4800 Legends Class with a custom-fabricated “Brinkfab” off-road vehicle. |
Nexen Tire USA Makes First Appearance at 2019 King of the Hammers, Sponsoring True North Racing Team
Nexen Tire is partnering with True North Racing this week for the 2019 King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California. True North Racing of Western Canada competes in the 4600 Stock Class with two off-road capable Jeep Grand Cherokee builds, as well as the 4800 Legends Class with a custom-fabricated “Brinkfab” off-road vehicle. Nexen Tire has provided its Roadian MTX Extreme Off-Road tires for all three vehicles and will utilize the company’s 35x12.5x17-in. and 37x12.5x17-in. off-road tires. True Racing North will have two custom Jeep Grand Cherokee builds and one custom-fabricated off-road vehicle on the scene at this year’s King of the Hammers event.
“Horsepower Wars” $10K ‘2’ Drag Shootout Applications Now Open; Preliminary Rules Released for 2019
Power Automedia’s $10K Drag Shootout from “Horsepower Wars” has officially opened the team application process for the second season of its build-off and changes have been introduced to the event and rules. “Horsepower Wars’” $10K Drag Shootout challenge pits teams against one another with the goal of building the fastest, most capable drag car possible in just 10 days with a budget of only $10,000. The $10K Drag Shootout 2 is open to all teams who wish to apply through the online process. The official build has been set for May 8–18, in Riverside, California. New this year are several changes designed to make the competition more thrilling, both for participants and for spectators alike. Most notably, the $10K Drag Shootout will move to an eighth-mile format and will compete at No Mercy 10 in Valdosta, Georgia, in October. For performance-based rule changes, teams will be allowed to use E85 as a fuel and are no longer limited to running just race gas. Dual power adders, however, have been outlawed, and teams will be forced to choose one only for their builds to encourage more creative thinking. Overall, the rules have been tightened to increase competitiveness and creativity. Teams can now apply online until the February 21 deadline.
 E3 Spark Plugs has announced a multi-year sponsorship contract renewal with Don Schumacher Racing. |
E3 Announces Multi-Year Expanded Partnership With Don Schumacher Racing
E3 Spark Plugs has announced a multi-year sponsorship contract renewal with Don Schumacher Racing. E3 signed on as a sponsor initially with Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) in 2016, and during the course of the past three years, Leah Pritchett, Antron Brown and Ron Capps have all won championships running E3 products. The renewal, a three-year agreement, includes an elevated level of branding and a deeper product relationship. All DSR teams will be run DiamondFIRE racing spark plugs and the company’s new DiamondFIRE racing spark plug wires.
Permatex Returns to NASCAR with Sponsorship of StarCom Racing in 2019 Daytona 500
Permatex will return to NASCAR competition with StarCom Racing at the 2019 Daytona 500, February 17. The sponsorship of StarCom’s 00 Camaro and driver, Landon Cassill, in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ premier event represents Permatex’s first participation as a NASCAR team corporate sponsor in almost four decades.
 Specialty Mustangs face off in the Mickey Thompson Cobra/Terminator vs. GT500 Shootout at two NMRA events in 2019. |
Mickey Thompson Cobra/Terminator vs. GT500 Shootout Continues the Rivalry at NMRA Opener and Finals
The battle rages on when specialty Mustangs face off in the Mickey Thompson Cobra/Terminator vs. GT500 Shootout at two NMRA events in 2019. The first showdown happens during the 25th Annual NMRA Spring Break Shootout, February 28–March 3, at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida. The second competition happens during the biggest Mustang race of the year, the NMRA All-Ford World Finals over the weekend of September 26–29, at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Mickey Thompson Cobra/Terminator vs. GT500 Shootout is open to any stock-appearing, VIN-verified ’96–’04 SVT Cobra or ’07–’14 Shelby GT500 with a 4.6L, 5.4L or 5.8L modular engine. The OEM chassis must remain but bolt-on modifications are permitted along with any street or race style rear tires. The winner walks away with a $500 winner’s check plus a Mickey Thompson $600 gift certificate and a $1,000 Aeromotive gift certificate. In addition to the check and bonus prizes, the category is included in the NMRA Contingency program, one of the largest all-cash programs in street-legal drag racing. The champion could walk away with winnings that exceed $3,000 for the victory. In addition to the cash and prizes, winners celebrate in the Aerospace Components Winner’s Circle and receive an NMRA Victor award.
For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.