Adam Sinclair

Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway more than 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of traveling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week.

Adam spent several years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.

Be sure to tune in for his sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place (almost) every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.

Contact Adam: Email

Racing News

Progressive AFT and Tribute to the Troops to Honor Veterans and Gold Star Family at Charlotte Half-Mile

Thursday, Sep 30

Progressive American Flat Track proudly announced today an event partnership with the nonprofit foundation Tribute to the Troops to honor the memory of a fallen veteran at its October 8 Honda Charlotte Half-Mile event at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Tribute To The Troops was founded by U.S. Army Veteran, singer-songwriter-philanthropist, Rockie Lynne, in 2004 with a mission to bring comfort to the families of fallen soldiers and to honor their sacrifices.

During the Honda Charlotte Half-Mile event, at 5:45 p.m. ET in the fan zone area, Tribute to the Troops will perform a special presentation for the family of Gunnery Sgt. Michael Scott McQueeney, honoring the life of this hero who bravely served his country in the US Marine Corps.

“For 18 years, Tribute To The Troops has been paying tribute to the families of our fallen," said Lynne. "We are excited to be able to honor the family of Gunnery Sgt Michael Scott McQueeney at this event. We know that the fans of Progressive AFT are true patriots and will enjoy being part of honoring this American hero’s family.”

The organization's founder will also serve as the event's national anthem singer during Opening Ceremonies at 7:00 p.m. ET.

For more information on Tribute to the Troops, their involvement in the Honda Charlotte Half-Mile and ways to contribute to the cause, visit https://www.tributetothetroops.org.

Tickets for the epic finale Honda Charlotte Half-Mile at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Friday, October 8 are available now at https://store.americanflattrack.com/ebooking/ticket/view/id/3325/#selectTickets. As always, veterans and first responders receive a discount on GA tickets with valid GovX registration.

For those viewing from home, live coverage will be available on any device for only $1.99 a month via TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

For more information, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

Racing News

DeFrancesco to close out Indy Lights season with “home” race

Thursday, Sep 30

This weekend’s replacement rounds of the Indy Lights presented by Cooper Tires Championship at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course were originally scheduled to be a special “home” race for Devlin DeFrancesco.

The Toronto-born racer was due to make his home soil pro racing debut this year in Canada but the Honda Indy Toronto event was sadly canceled for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic – denying DeFrancesco the chance for his “homecoming.”

Rather than racing on the Toronto streets, the Indy Lights Championship will now return to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course which previously hosted Rounds 11 and 12 on the Fourth of July weekend this year.

The Andretti Steinbrenner Autosport racer will contest what is a “compact” weekend for the Indy Lights teams. A single 45-minute practice session on Friday will prepare the teams and drivers for the weekend where both Saturday and Sunday will feature a single qualifying session and a race.

DeFrancesco has his sights firmly focussed on returning to the podium this weekend. At the previous rounds at Mid-Ohio he scored a pair of fifth-place finishes.

Race fans can catch the action live this weekend on the Road to Indy app. REV TV will present the action for fans in Canada, while international fans can watch the live stream at The Race’s YouTube channel at the-race.com/youtube.

DeFrancesco’s 2021 Indy Lights campaign is backed by hydrogen production and dispensing fueling infrastructure innovators, Powertap Hydrogen; Kimoa – the fashion, clothing, and accessories brand founded by Fernando Alonso; world-class racing simulator manufacturer AIS; Apple’s largest premium retail partner, Simply Mac; Seattle, WA-based Jones Soda Co; software and services company Fyllo; Seattle-WA and Sol Yoga.

MID-OHIO SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct 1:
3:00 PM-3:45 PM Practice

Saturday, Oct 2:
9:25 AM-10:05 AM Qualifying 1
1:00 PM-1:50 PM Race 1

Sunday, Oct 3:
8:45 AM-9:15 AM Qualifying 2
12:00 PM-12:50 PM Race 2
(US Eastern time)

DEVLIN DEFRANCESCO Q&A

Q: How much are you looking forward to returning to Mid-Ohio this weekend?
A: “I’m really looking to finish this year strong. It's been a difficult year, but I think we look strong going into this weekend. I want nothing more than to end the year strong for the PowerTap Andretti Steinbrenner crew and end with a bang.
"For a good lap at Mid-Ohio – you definitely need to be committed and really in that zone because it's a real rhythm to kind of place.
"So once you're in that rhythm and you seem to have everything connected, you'll definitely be strong. That's for sure the biggest challenge.
"My favorite part of Mid-Ohio I'd say is just how fast the place is in certain corners. And when you're in that flow, and you nail a lap there, there's really no better feeling.
"I really want nothing more than to end the season on a high and move on ready for the next challenge.”

Q: How disappointing was it to miss the opportunity to race in Toronto this year?
A: “I was really shattered about that but I certainly understand. The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered challenging times for us all, but hopefully, we’re getting closer to getting back to normal and we can race again next year in front of the Canadian fans.
“Not only was I disappointed to not get to race in Canada, but I also love street circuits and was really looking forward to the chance of doing another street race this year.”

Q: How have you prepared for this weekend at Mid-Ohio?
A: “In the last round at Laguna Seca we tried a bunch of things on the car and used the day as a bit of a test to prepare for this weekend at Mid-Ohio.
“We’re looking to take what we learned from that day and hopefully make a step forward this weekend.
“Everyone raced here a couple of months ago, but you don’t have a lot of time to prepare for this weekend with only a single practice session.
“We’re going to have to focus on really hitting the ground running and hopefully the No.17 PowerTap car will be fast on Friday and we can continue to push throughout the weekend.”

Racing News

Andersen Promotions Announces USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires

Thursday, Sep 30

Andersen Promotions today announced a new series that will help drivers prepare for the highly acclaimed Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires driver development platform, a clear-cut path to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires will launch in 2022 offering a prize package exceeding $325,000 including a scholarship valued at more than $200,000 to advance to the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship – the first official step on the ladder to the pinnacle of U.S. motorsports.

The new series will be sanctioned by USAC with a schedule that will be announced in the next few weeks comprising six road-course race weekends, most with triple-header rounds for a total of 16-18 races. For 2022, the popular Ligier JS chassis and HPD powerplant will be utilized with long-time series engine builder Elite Engines performing all new builds and rebuilds. Cooper Tires will develop a series-specific tire for the triple-header events with two sets of tires allocated for each event weekend. Budgets are expected to be in the $120,000 to $150,000 range, and the series will be open to drivers as young as 14 years of age.

“There are numerous routes into the Road to Indy, but it has become apparent that one additional entry level step was needed,” said Dan Andersen, Owner and CEO of Andersen Promotions. “Our current first step – the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship – has become extremely more competitive from a global scale of driving talent than what used to be considered as entry level.

“Our goal with USF Juniors is to provide a true entry level series that is professionally managed where drivers, teams and parents can focus on training and racing via shorter, more economical events, while also lowering the spotlight on young drivers that often occurs on INDYCAR race weekends. Our entry level drivers will learn the skills needed for them to move onto the Road to Indy, with less pressure. The new series will be choreographed with our current programs and tremendous partnership with Cooper Tires. The feedback I have received from team owners has been nothing but positive.”

In addition to a team from Andersen Promotions’ current staff, former Indy Lights race winner and sports car talent Gustavo Yacaman will fill the role of series manager. An accomplished driver coach, Yacaman now leads the YACademy Winter Series, a highly regarded training ground for drivers looking to make the move from karts to cars. Andersen Promotions will work closely with the YACademy as a pre-season testing opportunity for USF Juniors as well as USF2000 and the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires.

“I am really excited to get this program off the ground together with Dan Andersen,” said Yacaman. “Our successful strategies in place at the YACademy Winter Series will be brought to this new series with all the support and resources that Andersen Promotions has to offer. Huge thanks to Cooper Tires for believing in this project from Day 1. Without their support, none of this would be possible.

“We will be very focused on driver training and making sure that young drivers really learn the right way of racing an open-wheel car in a highly competitive environment.”

Current Indy Pro 2000 and USF2000 Race Directors Johnny Unser and Joel Miller will oversee race control and will work directly with USF Juniors official driver coach Gabby Chaves, the 2014 Indy Lights champion, in preparing drivers to take the next step on the ladder.

"We're enjoying an increasing number of drivers coming to USF2000 from assorted junior programs each year, so creating this new platform will only pay dividends when it comes to properly training the young racers who want to move into the Road To Indy," offered Rob Howden, Road to Indy Series Development Director. "The USF Juniors program will immerse these young drivers in our culture and our approach to training and race direction. I believe that this will only serve to further increase the quality of the competition in USF2000 and Indy Pro 2000 in the coming years. The drivers will learn the Road to Indy approach and atmosphere, which I believe sets us apart from other programs."

Registration for USF Juniors Presented by Cooper Tires will open in November. The USF Juniors website can be found at http://usfjuniors.com/ and is currently in development. Social media platforms include @USFJuniors on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Racing News

Progressive AFT and All Kids Bike Team Up to Bring Learn-To-Ride Program to Charlotte-Area Kindergarteners

Thursday, Sep 30

Progressive American Flat Track proudly announced today that the series will be teaming up with the nonprofit All Kids Bike to help teach hundreds of kids to ride by placing a learn-to-ride program into a Charlotte-area elementary school.

On the morning of October 7, Progressive AFT staff, All Kids Bike staff, and AFT stars Cory Texter and Johnny Lewis will be building bikes and delivering the program to the Parkside Elementary School kindergarten PE class.

At Friday's Honda Charlotte Half-Mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a highlight video of the bike build and school delivery will be featured on the livestream and at-track jumbotron.

As part of the Friday night race program, there will be an opportunity for older students who already know how to ride to come ride their bicycles in the infield of the racetrack in front of the fans.

This “Next Generation – Bicycle Ride” will happen at 6:20 p.m. ET, just before Opening Ceremonies. This bicycle ride opportunity is limited to the first 100 registrants. Terrain may be challenging and kids must be proficient bicyclists to participate.

One free adult ticket is available with each registered young rider and must be picked up at Will Call by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, October 8. Registration is available at:

www.AllKidsBike.org/next-generation-bicycle-ride.

To learn more about All Kids Bike, visit www.allkidsbike.org.

For those viewing from home, live coverage will be available on any device for only $1.99 a month via TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.

For more information, please visit http://www.americanflattrack.com.

To score the latest gear for the Progressive American Flat Track fan, visit our official merchandise store at https://store.americanflattrack.com.

Racing News

Ten Finalists Selected for Inaugural IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship

Thursday, Sep 30

The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) today announced that 10 finalists have been selected to vie for the inaugural IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship.

Four women and six men were selected from 35 applicants to contend for the scholarship worth upwards of a quarter million dollars in value toward a full season of competition in either the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge or IMSA Prototype Challenge next year. The inaugural recipient of the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship will be named during Motul Petit Le Mans week at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

“The response we received after announcing the IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship in August was fantastic,” said IMSA President John Doonan. “There were so many talented applicants, and it was extraordinarily difficult to select our 10 finalists. It will be even more difficult to choose one recipient, as all of our finalists have what it takes to succeed long term in IMSA.”

To be eligible for the scholarship that was introduced on Aug. 10, drivers must have a strong desire to compete in IMSA, outstanding previous race results and/or proven on-track potential in junior racing categories and the ability to build a compelling business plan for securing the remaining funding needed to compete in a full season in 2022.

The IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship recipient will receive substantial support from IMSA and partners such as Michelin, VP Racing Fuels, OMP, RECARO and LAT Photo USA in 2022. Some scholarship benefits will extend toward a second season for the recipient in 2023.

2022 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship Finalists (in alphabetical order):

Sebastian Carazo, 23,

Guaynabo, Puerto Rico

Carazo is currently competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America presented by the Cayman Islands as a Porsche Junior Driver. He won the 2019 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama Gold Cup championship.

Jaden Conwright, 22

Newark, California

Conwright made his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in the 2021 Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, finishing fourth in the GT Daytona (GTD) class in the No. 42 NTe Sport Audi R8 LMS GT3 after qualifying third.

Sabré Cook, 27

Grand Junction, Colorado

Cook is the only American to qualify for the W Series in 2021. She finished third in her Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama debut in May at Circuit of The Americas, becoming the first woman in series history to finish on the podium.

Courtney Crone, 20

Corona, California

Crone is the 2021 recipient of the Gorsline Scholarship for Young Racers has been racing for more than three-quarters of her life in a variety of disciplines. She is competing in her first season of IMSA Prototype Challenge in 2021 and opened the year by competing in the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals.

David Dalton, 23

Charlotte, North Carolina

Dalton brings previous racing experience from the F4 United States Championship powered by Honda and the Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series, earning a victory in the latter series’ race at National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park in 2019.

Christina Lam, 33

Vienna, Virginia

Lam is an experienced driver coach with Hi-Speed Motorsports and Skip Barber Racing School. Earlier this year, she co-founded the Hi-Speed Motorsports race team with Honda Performance Development to field Civic race cars in a variety of championships.

Mateo Llarena, 17

Hallandale, Florida

Llarena won his first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship pole in the LMP3 class in qualifying for July’s WeatherTech 240 at Watkins Glen International, becoming the youngest pole-winner in series history. He also is a Lamborghini GT3 Junior driver.

Kyle Loh, 22

San Jose, California

Loh currently leads the Formula Pro USA Western Championships point standings with four races remaining. He finished third in the 2019 Formula Pro USA F4 West Coast Series and also is currently a driving instructor at Allen Berg Racing Schools.

Sarah Montgomery, 27

Lafayette, Louisiana

Montgomery is currently competing in the World Racing League (WRL) GTO class driving a Porsche Cayman S 3.8 for Round 3 Racing. She earned three poles, seven podiums and a victory in the 2020 WRL season, and was the first woman to score a podium result in Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich ND1 class – earning four in the 2019 season en route to fourth in the class championship standings.

Nikko Reger, 23

Austin, Texas

Reger won the 2018 Idemitsu Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by BFGoodrich championship. He also has competed in IMSA Prototype Challenge and SRO in recent years.

Racing News

Turn 3 Motorsport Set for Road to Indy Season Finale at Mid-Ohio

Thursday, Sep 30

The 2021 Road to Indy Presented by Cooper Tires championships will draw to a close this weekend as the teams head to Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the season finale. After a month long break on the race calendar, a double race weekend is in store for both the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship and the Indy Pro 2000 Championship Presented by Cooper Tires as they return to the 2.258-mile, 13 turn road course for the second time this season.

Turn 3 Motorsport is coming off one of their strongest events of the season at New Jersey Motorsports Park where the team achieved a breakthrough podium finish with USF2000 driver Josh Green as well as nearly landing on the podium with Indy Pro 2000 driver James Roe for the second time this year. With four more races to go, the team is looking to keep their momentum going and finish the year with more top-level accolades to their name.

#3 James Roe // Indy Pro 2000 Championship

Topcon / Trintech

“I’m really looking forward to Mid-Ohio this weekend,” said James Roe. “We have been quite strong in the last part of the season and had good speed at Mid-Ohio during the summer, so I am hoping we can tie everything together and finish the year on a successful note.”

James Roe in his #3 Topcon/Trintech Indy Pro 2000 car

#32 Christian Weir // USF2000 Championship

R+L Carriers / Autobahn Country Club

“Mid-Ohio is a place that I am excited to go back to,” said Christian Weir. “With it being a track that I have now been to, I’m hopeful for good results. Finishing the season strong is going to carry the momentum toward next year and help make me more confident going into the first rounds next season.”

Christian Weir in his #32 R+L Carriers/Autobahn Country Club USF2000 car

#33 Josh Green // USF2000 Championship

Session Guardian / Lionfish Consulting / Mark Green / JHG Investments

“I’m super excited to get going,” said Josh Green. “It’s been a season of learning and hard work, and I really can’t wait to put it all out there for these last two races. We know what we want to do and how we’re going to accomplish it, so it’s time to get to work!”

Josh Green in his #33 Session Guardian/Lionfish Consulting/Mark Green/JHG USF2000 car

#34 Dylan Christie // USF2000 Championship

Dylan Christie Racing

“I am excited to bring everything I have into the final round of racing this weekend,” said Dylan Christie. “This season has been a learning process, but I believe we can show that we are capable of getting good results in this final race weekend.”

Dylan Christie in his #34 DCR USF2000 car

“We’re ready to go for this weekend at Mid-Ohio,” said Team Owner Peter Dempsey. “We’re coming off a strong weekend at New Jersey Motorsports Park and looking forward to carrying that momentum into the last race weekend. We’ve improved as a team since the last time we were at Mid-Ohio in July, and I’m expecting the team and drivers to perform at their best. Hopefully we can finish out the season strong and carry that propulsion into next season.”

The Indy Pro 2000 series hits the track first with a practice session tomorrow afternoon, and the USF2000 series will head out for their first practice on Saturday morning. Saturday and Sunday will host the qualifying sessions and races in both series. A full weekend schedule with detailed information is below.

Live streaming for the event can be viewed worldwide on the Road to Indy TV app or on www.indypro2000.com / www.usf2000.com.

To stay up to date on Turn 3 Motorsport, follow the team on social media using the handle @turn3motorsport.

Racing News

Jones and Pawlak win Super Drift events during Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach

Wednesday, Sep 29

The annual Super Drift event takes place during the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach; a motorsports festival featuring Indy Car racing, held on the Streets of Long Beach. The roots of Super Drift can be traced back to 2005 when the Grand Prix organizers invited Formula DRIFT to create drift demos around the full street course. The following year, Formula DRIFT worked with the Grand Prix and the City of Long Beach to establish a standalone drift event, which takes place the weekend before the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach and has been a mainstay of the eight-round Formula DRIFT Championship ever since.

To better represent the Formula DRIFT series, the drift demo evolved into Super Drift in 2012, which has drivers competing in pairs through turns 9-11 for the Grand Prix audience without scoring championship points. Just like an FD event, drivers are eliminated via competition heats until a winner is found. However, the packed weekend schedule means that unlike a full FD event where 32 drivers compete, Super Drift invites eight drivers to create a compressed format.

DRIVER ENTRIES

Trenton Beechum (USA) – Clonex Racing / Nexen Tire Ford Mustang
Rome Charpentier (USA) – Garagistic / Federal Tire BMW E36
Michael Essa (USA) – FCP Euro / Liqui Moly / GT Radial BMW M3
Jeff Jones (USA) – Jeff Jones Racing / GT Radial Nissan 370Z
Kyle Mohan (USA) – KMR / Renewable Lubricants / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8
Justin Pawlak (USA) – Falken Tire Ford Mustang
Branden Sorensen (USA) – 212 Performance / Sorensen Motorsports BMW
Forrest Wang (USA) – Achilles Tire / Yellowspeed Racing / NRG Innovations Nissan

SUPER DRIFT DAY 1

Taking place on Friday under early evening floodlights, the big surprise for drift fans was the appearance of Forrest Wang (USA) on the Super Drift roster. The popular driver has been absent from Formula DRIFT since completing the 2019 season, but notably won both Super Drift rounds that year – the last time Super Drift was held because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, Wang was eliminated from the first round this year by an on-form Justin Pawlak (USA) driving the Falken Tire Ford Mustang. Wang's downfall was a mistake on his chase run where he had to make a big correction in the final turn and was ruled incomplete. Despite small mistakes by Pawlak, he progressed to the Top 4 heats to meet Jeff Jones (USA) driving the Jeff Jones Racing / GT Radial Nissan 370Z.

Jones had defeated Kyle Mohan in his first heat after his KMR / Renewable Lubricants / Mazdatrix Mazda RX-8 experienced technical problems. His battle with Pawlak would be his first real test and it was a corker.

Despite less power than the 1000hp under Pawlak’s right foot, Jones acquitted himself well. In fact, the judges were unable to separate the two drivers after their tandems runs, so requested One More Time. When this happens, the drivers repeat both runs, and with Pawlak leading the third attempt, he attacked the course at speed. However, he over-rotated in Outside Zone 1 causing Jones to adjust his line but the pair finished the run together.

With Jones in the lead, Pawlak followed him like a devoted puppy. Both drivers crossed the line together but Jones was given the win in light of Pawlak’s small mistake on the previous run.

Jones then faced 2013 FD Champion, Michael Essa (USA) in the final. Driving the FCP Euro / Liqui Moly / GT Radial BMW M3, Essa had looked imperious at last weekend’s FD Long Beach round and would’ve been the betting man’s choice. However, Essa was slow to initiate on his chase run but otherwise maintained impressive proximity throughout the course. With Essa in the lead, he drifted deep into the turns, and when Jones went off in the final turn, it appeared Essa was the victor. However, the video replays showed Essa had slowed in the wrong area, forcing the mistake from Jones. As a result, Jones was the winner of Super Drift Day 1.

Pawlak would claim fourth after he lost the third-place run-off to Rome Charpentier (USA) in the Garagistic / Federal Tire BMW E36. In the chase position, Pawlak hit the wall hard in Touch & Go 1, causing him to straighten and be ruled incomplete. Despite a good lead run, the damage was done and Charpentier finished third.

SUPER DRIFT DAY 2

If Day 1 had been difficult for Pawlak, the Saturday event looked equally bleak. He was paired against Essa in the opening heat and both drivers are renowned for their speed and aggression.

Both performed at their best on the first run, with Essa running deep lines and Pawlak shadowing him closely. This meant the pressure was on Essa for the second run, and he over-rotated in Outside Zone 2 as his drift went awry. Essa corrected the slide to prevent a spin but was forced to straighten and ruled incomplete.

Pawlak moved into the Final 4 where he again met Wang. On their first run, Pawlak again performed perfectly in the chase, challenging Wang to replicate his performance. However, the speed of the Mustang in the first half of the second run meant Wang was unable to keep pace, and that made the difference. Pawlak was promoted to the Final.

Sadly, the expectant crowd was robbed of the prospect of a Ford Mustang showdown when Trenton Beechum (USA) was forced to call a Competition Time Out for his Clonex Racing / Nexen Tire Ford Mustang. Rushing back to the pits, his team had 5min to diagnose and repair the problem. Unable to perform the miracle, Pawlak took a victory lap before claiming his Champagne on the podium.

Wang out-paced Charpentier in the third-place run-off and reminded us why he’s missed from the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship. Hopefully, we’ll see his name back on the driver roster in 2022, or back in Super Drift at the very least.

2021 FORMULA DRIFT SUPER DRIFT RESULTS

DAY 1

Jeff Jones (USA) – Jeff Jones Racing / GT Radial Nissan 370Z
Michael Essa (USA) – FCP Euro / Liqui Moly / GT Radial BMW M3
Rome Charpentier (USA) – Garagistic / Federal Tire BMW E36
Justin Pawlak (USA) – Falken Tire Ford Mustang

DAY 2

Justin Pawlak (USA) – Falken Tire Ford Mustang
Trenton Beechum (USA) – Clonex Racing / Nexen Tire Ford Mustang
Forrest Wang (USA) – Achilles Tire / Yellowspeed Racing / NRG Innovations Nissan
Rome Charpentier (USA) – Garagistic / Federal Tire BMW E36

FORMULA DRIFT NEXT ROUND

Irwindale Speedway – the House of Drift – will host Round 8 TYPE S Title Fight. This is the Final Round of the Formula DRIFT PRO and Link ECU PROSPEC Championships, scheduled for October 22-23. Please visit formulad.com for the competition schedule, ticket information, driver profiles. special content and the event livestream

EDITOR’S NOTE

Please use this link for Super Drift images: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I5AkP7mTXR8ZeOAcV3hpgQKy2ZJvEKxz

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

twitter.com/FormulaDrift

2021 FORMULA DRIFT OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Major Sponsor, Official Vehicle Lighting, Dash Cam & Jump Starter – TYPE S

Major Sponsor, Official Energy Drink – NOS Energy Drink

Major Sponsor, Official Military Branch – United States Air Force

Major Sponsor, Official Engine Oil – Royal Purple

Major Sponsor, Official ECU, PROSPEC Title Sponsor – Link Engine Management

Major Sponsors – Falken Tires, GT Radial, Nitto Tire

Tire Supplier – Nexen Tire, Federal Tire

Official Lifestyle Media Partner – Men’s Journal

Official PROSPEC Tire Service Partner – Tire Stacks

Official Apparel Supplier – Marwin Sports

Official Sponsors – Ford Performance, BC Racing (Official Suspension), Toyota Racing,

Associated Sponsors – Enkei Wheels, Torque Drift, NGK Spark Plugs, Pedal Commander, Rays Wheels

Technical Partner – PCI Race Radios, Proform

Racing News

W Series Goes Bigger in Texas for Spectacular Season Finale

Wednesday, Sep 29

W Series, the international single-seater motor racing championship for female drivers, will conclude its 2021 season with a double-header at the Circuit of the Americas, Austin, Texas, USA. The series’ seventh and eighth rounds of the season – and first races to be staged outside of Europe – will take place on 23 and 24 October in support of F1's United States Grand Prix.

There is nothing conventional about the city where ‘Keep Austin Weird’ is emblazoned on souvenirs, and nor is there anything conventional about W Series. Launched in October 2018, W Series is a free-to-enter motor racing championship, which provides equal opportunities for women and eliminates the financial barriers that have historically prevented them from progressing to the upper tiers of motorsport.

The series aims to push aside stereotypes and change the face of motorsport, believing that women and men can race one another on equal terms provided they are given the same opportunity. It is 45 years since a female driver last started a Championship Formula 1 Grand Prix and, unless a positive intervention is made, it could be another 45 years before a woman has the experience and qualifications to start a Championship Formula 1 Grand Prix again.

Drivers do not have to pay to race in W Series. They are selected purely on their ability rather than how rich their backers are. The series’ cars are mechanically identical and therefore set up to remove any hardware advantage from the competition. This means that W Series races and championships will be won by the most talented drivers, rather than those with the wealthiest backers and the fastest cars.

Almost three years since the series was born, this will be the first W Series round to be staged outside of Europe. After six rounds this season, Alice Powell (Racing X, GBR) and Jamie Chadwick (Veloce Racing, GBR) are level on 109 points at the top of the W Series championship standings, with Alice one place higher than the defending champion by virtue of having one more race victory than Jamie this season (three wins to two). Emma Kimiläinen (Ecurie W, FIN) is third in the table, 34 points behind Alice and Jamie with a maximum 50 points available from the two remaining races of the season at COTA.

As well as that leading trio, all eyes will be on Jessica Hawkins (Racing X, GBR), who makes her big-screen debut as a stunt driver in the new James Bond film, No Time to Die, which will be released in the USA on 8 October, a fortnight before the COTA round. Jessica is in fine form on-track too, scoring the best result of her W Series career (fifth) at the previous race at Zandvoort, Netherlands, on 4 September.

There will be plenty of support for Sabré Cook (Bunker Racing, USA), W Series’ sole American driver, for whom the site of her home race will always hold fond memories. The 27-year-old from Colorado won the 2018 Renault Infiniti Engineering Academy competition at COTA and, on the same weekend, raced in the SCCA Formula 4 U.S. Championship there.

Ayla Agren (M. Forbes Motorsport, NOR) is also familiar to US audiences. The 28-year-old was born in Norway but has lived in Houston, Texas, for several years, racing on the Road to Indy programme, driving the IndyCar safety car and working as a spotter at numerous events, including the Indy 500. Of the 18 women on the grid, only W Series’ two US-based drivers have previously been to the 3.426-mile (5.513 kilometres) Circuit of the Americas. Sabré has raced there three times, while Ayla has driven on the circuit but not raced there.

W Series’ full on-track schedule for the COTA weekend will be announced in due course. The action can be seen across W Series' digital and social channels, as well as being broadcast in more than 175 territories – including on beIN SPORTS in the USA – with a full list available at https://wseries.com/where-to-watch/.

Quotes

Lyn St. James (First woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award; Had seven starts in the Indy 500, two class victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona and one at the 12 Hours of Sebring; Participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans; former President of the Women’s Sports Foundation and advocate of women in motorsports worldwide):

“I’m very excited to be able to see the W Series drivers race in person at COTA. I met most of them when I was part of the selection committee prior to the opening season. To be able to see how they’ve progressed over a few short years, and see the new ones, will be very rewarding. I hope Sabré Cook, the driver from the U.S. and who I’ve followed since her karting days, has a couple of good races to close out what has been a frustrating season.

“One of the goals of W Series was to provide the drivers with the opportunity to race in quality cars with quality support which would fine-tune and showcase their talent, resulting in the drivers having the opportunity to race in other categories, which is exactly what has happened. I believe W Series has been a catalyst for other racing programs focused on women drivers. I love seeing the momentum that’s happening for women in racing around the world. The efforts of the FIA, W Series, the newly announced IMSA Driver Development Scholarship, ShiftUp Now, the IndyCar Race for Equality and Change, and the Next Gen Foundation are all examples of leaders in the sport taking action to help open doors for women in motorsports.”

Sabré Cook (W Series driver, Bunker Racing, USA):

“The Circuit of the Americas will always hold a special place in my heart. I raced in the SCCA Formula 4 U.S. Championship there, gaining 25 places across two races, on the same weekend in 2018 when I won the Renault Infiniti Engineering Academy competition. I love the people at COTA so it will be great to go back there again.

“W Series is the biggest opportunity I’ve had in my career and this season, supporting Formula 1, has been amazing, so to have the final round at home is very special. I’m extremely proud to be the only American on the W Series grid. It’s a great honour to represent the USA and doing so at COTA will be incredible. Lots of my friends and family will be coming or watching on TV and I’m excited for them to see what W Series has achieved in just its second season.

“Having W Series here is massive for the series and women’s motorsport in the USA. So many young American girls have started following W Series and lots of them have been in touch with me to say they are planning to go to COTA, and I know families who are taking their daughters to see W Series that weekend too. For those girls to see us on track is going to be really special and I hope we’ll inspire them to stick with it and continue to climb the motorsport ladder.”

Sabré Cook, the only American driver in W Series in 2021; Driver for Bunker Racing

Ayla Agren (W Series driver, M. Forbes Motorsport, NOR):

“I am very much looking forward to W Series racing at COTA, just a couple of hours’ drive from Houston which has been my home for the last five years. Putting on a show is what it’s all about in Texas, so I know that W Series will have great fun that weekend and everyone here will embrace the series and what it stands for.

“Racing with W Series at COTA in support of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix will be the highlight of my career so far. It will be a real pinch yourself moment and I can only compare the excitement and rush I’m feeling in the build-up to 2014 when I was fighting for the F1600 Championship Series title. Prior to this season, I’d never been to an F1 race before, so to now be part of it and sharing the stage with the best drivers in the world at COTA, a home race for me, is an incredible feeling.

“This could be a huge moment for women’s motorsport in the USA. Every time I come home, people ask me about W Series, and everyone is open-minded and intrigued by it. Racing outside of Europe for the first time will be a big boost for the series, and for the fans here to be able to engage with it, see the racing up close and see that it is proper racing will amplify the support for the series and women’s motorsport which already exists here. We can’t wait to put on a show!”

Ayla Agren, W Series driver from Norway who currently lives in Houston; Driver for M. Forbes

Racing News

Building Your Brand - LMDh Offers Global Opportunity for Manufacturers

Wednesday, Sep 29

By Jeff Olson

IMSA Wire Service

If you’ve ever been in the infield at Sebring, you know the dress code. Wear your favorite car on your hat or shirt.

Not necessarily your favorite driver. Your favorite car.

Some people are BMW fans. Some favor Mercedes. Others love Acura. Or Porsche. Or Ferrari.

It’s a phenomenon unique to sports car racing; to fans, the cars are as intriguing as the people who race them. Fans are drawn to their favorite brand. They’re loyal to the manufacturer, often because they own – or want to own – one of the manufacturer’s production cars.

“When you go to an IMSA race, fans hang on the fence with a T-shirt that represents the brand,” said Mike Hull, managing director of Chip Ganassi Racing, which fields the No. 01 V Performance Academy Cadillac DPi-V.R in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. “You’ve got world-class race car drivers who just drive a Cadillac. … That’s what’s so special about this series.”

Brand loyalty is one aspect that sports car racing shares across borders and sanctioning bodies. It’s also what makes the new LMDh platform, set to roll out in IMSA in 2023, so critical to increasing international crossover between racing series.

LMDh is a shared platform between IMSA and Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) for the top class of endurance racing, replacing the current Daytona Prototype international class (DPi) in the WeatherTech Championship in 2023. The cars will use cost-controlled chassis built by one of four approved constructors.

Each participating manufacturer will select its own chassis constructor and will use unique internal combustion engines matched to a spec hybrid powertrain. Each LMDh car also will have manufacturer-specific bodywork styling.

More than a year before it launches, LMDh is being greeted enthusiastically.

“It’s something we’ve all talked about, but for different reasons it hadn’t happened,” said Tim Cindric, who will oversee Team Penske’s transition to LMDh with Porsche. “That was interesting for everybody. It seems like it’s on track to see that through.”

Theoretically, IMSA teams and manufacturers will be more easily able to cross over to World Endurance Championship races or compete regularly in the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the new class. Part of that appeal is the reward teams and manufacturers get for winning.

Case in point: the reaction to Toyota Gazoo Racing winning at Le Mans in August with Mike Conway, Jose Maria Lopez and Kamui Kobayashi.

“When I read about the 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was all about the Toyota that won the race,” Hull said. “(Brand recognition) is unique to sports car racing and even more so now to the fact that there will be so many manufacturers (in the LMDh format). I don’t even want to project how many will be in this category. Seven, eight, nine, 10? All with at least two cars each. Who knows? If you add multiple entries for both continents, it’s more than that. That’s what’s really neat about it.”

So far, five manufacturers and three teams have confirmed plans to begin fielding LMDh cars in 2023, but rumblings abound of other possible participants. When Porsche and Team Penske began talking about teaming up for LMDh, the matching specs across different sanctioning bodies appealed to both.

“You knew that meant the efficiencies and the exposure the manufacturers and teams receive (would increase),” Cindric said. “It becomes more of a global approach to sports car racing.”

Crossover is at the fore of the plans for those considering and already committed to LMDh. Cadillac, which announced its LMDh plans in August and named Chip Ganassi Racing and Action Express Racing as its teams, stated its intent to use the format to prepare for Le Mans.

“The prospect of Cadillac returning to Le Mans in the large category is really, really great,” Hull said. “In our case, working hand in hand with Action Express and Cadillac and (chassis constructor) Dallara to race competitively in a global manner is really special. Cadillac has a terrific winning heritage, and it will be great to continue that.”

NEXT IN THE SERIES: A look at the complications facing teams as they prepare to field a brand-new hybrid car. “I don’t think it’s as daunting as people want to make it,” said Wayne Taylor, whose Wayne Taylor Racing is thought to be part of Acura’s LMDh plans. “It’s not that daunting. The only thing that’s daunting is the question of whether we’ve designed and built a car that can win all the races.”

Speedway News

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course announces schedule for 2022 racing season

Wednesday, Sep 29

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course will showcase five race weekends again for its 2022 schedule, but with an exciting, new feature confirmed for next year’s 61st season of racing at the legendary road course in Lexington, Ohio. For the very first time, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race on the 2.258-mile, 13-turn track layout on Saturday, July 9th.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series has produced great road racing for its previous eight appearances at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Now the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will continue that tradition and visit for its inagural round at the track on the weekend of July 8-9. This new addition realigns Mid-Ohio’s NASCAR Xfinity Series stop to Portland International Raceway for a new event in the Pacific Northwest also promoted by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which owns and operates Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

“Our fans are going to experience a great show with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series racing at Mid-Ohio for the very first time," said Craig Rust, president of Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. “The 2022 schedule continues our commitment to bring our fans the best variety of motorsports that they have come to expect. With the uncertainty we all have faced the past couple seasons, it’s great to be able to release our full schedule this early to our fans, so they can make their racing plans for next summer!”

Four of the five race weekends remain on the same weekends as last year. The 2022 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course schedule for spectator events is as follows:

May 13-15: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event

June 24-26: Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio (Sportscar Vintage Racing Assoc./Trans Am)

July 1-3: The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (NTT INDYCAR SERIES event)

July 8-9: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event

July 22-24: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days (AMA’s annual motorcycling celebration)

Event tickets and Mid-Ohio Season Race Passes will go on sale at midohio.com with timing details for the sales launch to be released at a later date. Children 12 and under always receive free general admission when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Visit midohio.com for more information, and follow its Facebook page @MidOhioSportsCarCourse, Twitter @Mid_Ohio or Instagram @officialmidohio for the latest news.

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Adam Sinclair

James Roe in his #3 Topcon/Trintech Indy Pro 2000 car

Christian Weir in his #32 R+L Carriers/Autobahn Country Club USF2000 car

Josh Green in his #33 Session Guardian/Lionfish Consulting/Mark Green/JHG USF2000 car

Dylan Christie in his #34 DCR USF2000 car

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