Road Racing

Friday Qualifying Shapes the Field at 2024 NASA Championships

by Mike
Friday Qualifying Shapes the Field at 2024 NASA Championships

Sept. 6, 2024, Salt Lake City — Friday qualifying at the 2024 NASA Championships is an interesting proposition. Race drivers have two qualifying sessions to lay down their fastest lap time in an attempt to start from as far forward on grid as possible for the first qualifying race on Saturday.

The morning session is usually the best opportunity to set a fast time. Afternoon sessions give drivers the opportunity to put all their added seat time to good use, but temperatures in the high 80s this afternoon in the Tooele Valley can diminish engine power and decrease the amount of grip on the racing surface. Drivers who lay down a scorcher of a lap in the morning usually set themselves up to be in the best grid position possible. (more…)

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National Auto Sport Association Announces Location of 2025 NASA Championships

by Mike
National Auto Sport Association Announces Location of 2025 NASA Championships

Sept. 5, 2024, Salt Lake City — One of the newest and most challenging courses in the United States, Ozarks International Raceway will host the NASA Championships Sept. 4-7, 2025.

The track features 19 turns and 150 feet of elevation change, and 1,200 feet of elevation change during a single lap. Track owner and president JR Pesek and his crew took nearly three years to build the facility, consulting with everyone from the Army Corps of Engineers to global engineering, manufacturing and motorsports powerhouse Multimatic. Pesek’s in-house team moved about 3 million cubic yards of dirt, but left as many trees in place to create a park-like setting. The result is a track with corners that might seem familiar, but overall is like nothing else in the world. (more…)

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NASA Drivers Make The Most of Thursday Test-And-Tune at 2024 NASA Championships

by Mike
NASA Drivers Make The Most of Thursday Test-And-Tune at 2024 NASA Championships

Sept. 5, 2024, Salt Lake City — For the drivers at the 2024 NASA National Championships, making sure every minute of practice on the Utah Motorsports Campus track counts. Whether it’s learning the track or chasing the right setup, practice is a critical component to winning a NASA Championship on Sunday.

Speed News walked around the paddock and spoke to drivers in between practice sessions to find out how they use the shakedown day. With the Championship pressure building, drivers know the adjustments they make on Thursday could be the difference of standing at the top of podium or wondering what went wrong. (more…)

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Toyota GR Corolla Returns as Official Pace Car for 2024 NASA National Championships

by Mike
Toyota GR Corolla Returns as Official Pace Car for 2024 NASA National Championships

Sept. 5, 2024, Salt Lake City — Making its debut as the official pace car at the 2022 NASA Championships at Laguna Seca, the pulse-quickening GR Corolla will again pace the field for the NASA National Championships in 2024. Built for driving enthusiasts who crave high performance, the Toyota GR Corolla boasts rally-inspired origins, a formidable 300 horsepower turbocharged 3-cylinder and GR-FOUR All-Wheel Drive, it’s become a favorite of sports car enthusiasts everywhere. (more…)

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Lizards Return to Alabama for Barber Double Header

by Mike
Lizards Return to Alabama for Barber Double Header

BIRMINGHAM, AL., (September 4, 2024) – Momentum is on the side of Flying Lizard Motorsports as the multi-effort racing team heads to Barber Motorsports Park after an eight-year SRO America absence from the scenic circuit. The Phoenix, Arizona-based team has enjoyed back-to-back podium weekends across their GT America, GT4 America, and GT World Challenge America and journeys to Birmingham, Alabama for another weekend filled with sports car racing.

Flying Lizard has had successes at the circuit before, including a 2015 victory with 24 Hours of Le Mans Winner and FIA World Endurance Championship champion Kevin Estre.

We are getting close to the end of the 2024 season and are looking forward to a return to the Barber Motorsports track. This is a tricky circuit because there are not many straightaways, most corners are tight and put a lot of load on the front of the car. We have had success here in the past and always like coming to this beautiful facility. (more…)

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Ferrari Challenge Confirmed As Support Race At Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024

by Lou Modestino
Ferrari Challenge Confirmed As Support Race At Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024

LAS VEGAS (September 4, 2024) – FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX has confirmed Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli as a support race when the highly anticipated event returns November 21–23.  The addition of the Ferrari Challenge series to the racing schedule means ticketed fans will now see two racing series speed down the iconic Las Vegas Strip during the Las Vegas Grand Prix race weekend.

“The addition of the Ferrari Challenge series further demonstrates our commitment to delivering an even bigger and better racing event than ever before,” said Silvia Bellot, VP of Sporting and Race Operations at Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. “Last year we made the dream of racing down Las Vegas Boulevard a reality, and we are thrilled that we can now offer fans twice the racing action for the price of a single ticket. Whether it be on or off-track, we are dedicated to providing fans with a truly unforgettable experience.”
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Wright Motorsports Prepared for Battle at Barber

by Mike
Wright Motorsports Prepared for Battle at Barber

BIRMINGHAM, AL., (September 3, 2024) — Eight years have passed since SRO America last held an event at Barber Motorsports Park and this weekend, the Fanatec GT World Challenge America returns to Birmingham, Alabama for the penultimate event of the 2024 season. The competition will intensify at the picturesque circuit as Wright Motorsports aims to keep a tight grasp on the PRO-class championship point lead with the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“It’s great to be returning back to Barber,” said Team Owner John Wright. “Not only is the facility beautiful, but it offers some great racing as well. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly everyone gets up to speed at a track we haven’t raced at in some years. We’ve had decent success here in the past. After our recent test here, we are ready to get down to business and hopefully keep growing that championship points lead.” (more…)

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Workmanlike Day for TeamSLR at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

by Mike
Workmanlike Day for TeamSLR at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Barry Boes scored his sixth Pro-Am Challenge-class victory in 10 races this season and fourth in the last five races. He entered the weekend with a 102-point lead in the championship within a championship.

The 16-year-old Julian DaCosta’s eighth-place finish was his second top-10 in as many TA2 Series starts this season. He made his series debut with a 10th-place finish April 14 at NOLA Motorsports Park in Avondale, Louisiana. (more…)

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NASCAR Returns To Lime Rock Park In 2025

by Lou Modestino
NASCAR Returns To Lime Rock Park In 2025

After a 14-year hiatus, NASCAR will once again race at Lime Rock Park as the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series makes its debut at the Connecticut circuit on June 27-28, 2025.

Lime Rock Park has been a premier venue for diverse events since its inception in 1957, hosting events from the iconic Trans Am weekend on Memorial Day to the Historic Festival, which will celebrate its 42nd edition this Labor Day weekend.

In preparation for NASCAR’s return, Lime Rock Park will undergo several updates during the off-season, including an extension to pit lane and additional safety features. (more…)

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TeamSLR: Barry Boes, Julian DaCosta Set for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

by Mike
TeamSLR: Barry Boes, Julian DaCosta Set for Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2024) – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, which began its life as an iconic road-racing circuit known as Mosport Park, plays host to its first Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli headline event since 2014 this weekend, and TeamSLR and its M1 Racecars equipment are ready for the challenge with drivers Barry Boes, the TA2 Pro-Am Challenge-class frontrunner, and 16-year-old Julian DaCosta, who will be making his second career TA2 start.

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Flying Lizard Motorsports Brings the Heat to Austin for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

by Mike
Flying Lizard Motorsports Brings the Heat to Austin for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America

AUSTIN, Tex., (August 27, 2024) – Summer break is over for Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America, and the quartet of Flying Lizard Motorsports Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2 cars is ready to hit the track at Circuit of the Americas as they resume their pursuit of championship titles. With eight podiums and two wins under their belt, the Lizards have enjoyed a strong season and are primed for the final three events on the 2024 schedule. This weekend, the Austin, Texas circuit will host 43 entries in a thrilling doubleheader event. (more…)

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Silver Hare Racing: Jake Drew, Boris Said Jr. Head North of the Border

by Mike
Silver Hare Racing: Jake Drew, Boris Said Jr. Head North of the Border

HIGH POINT, N.C. (Aug. 27, 2024) – After having to wait eight weeks between rounds eight and nine of the 2024 Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series, the Silver Hare Racing team and its driver duo of Jake Drew and Boris Said Jr. welcome the much more agreeable turnaround of just eight days between last Friday’s round nine at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and this Saturday’s round 10 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.

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The Alpine A424s Return to Action in Austin

by Mike
The Alpine A424s Return to Action in Austin

After the summer break, Alpine Endurance Team returns to the Americas for the resumption of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Austin, back on the calendar for the first time since 2020.

Inaugurated in 2012, the Circuit of the Americas has established itself as a favourite destination among competitors, with its gradients, including a steep climb to the first corner and its fast and technical sections spread over 5,513 metres. This layout offers plenty of challenges, and the drivers’ fitness will be severely tested by the high temperatures and counter-clockwise direction, which always punishes the neck muscles. (more…)

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Korthoff Preston Motorsports Breaks Through for First IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTD Victory Sunday at VIR

by Mike
Korthoff Preston Motorsports Breaks Through for First IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar GTD Victory Sunday at VIR

DANVILLE, Virginia – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team Korthoff Preston Motorsports (KPM) broke through for its first victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s competitive GT Daytona (GTD) class Sunday with a convincing win by team co-drivers Mikael Grenier and Kenton Koch in the No. 32 Korthoff Preston Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the Michelin GT Challenge at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR). The No. 32’s maiden win came just over three years after the team made its IMSA GTD debut in July of 2021 at Watkins Glen International. The triumph follows KPM’s IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD team and driver championships last year and several near-miss shots at a race win over the course of the team’s full-season campaigns, which began in 2022.

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