News and Notes

news NOTES&

Photo: Dennis Krieger

PRI HAS FILED an amicus brief in a lawsuit between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Gear Box Z. Inc. (GBZ), arguing against EPA’s contention that the Clean Air Act (CAA) does not allow a motor vehicle to be converted into a racing vehicle used solely for competition.

For more on this topic, check out the AFTER WORD column on page 82 of this issue.

If you can’t sleep at night, and are adverse to taking sleeping pills, you can use the QR code below to read the entire amicus brief. GARY WEBB just keeps spinning. The veteran race car driver will soon kick off his 50th season behind the wheel of a race car. The Iowa native was inducted into the National Late Model Hall of Fame back in 2008 and will look to add to his 521 wins total during the season. Webb will turn 72 in April.

LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS has had a major impact on short track racing and they have now promoted their key motorsports coordinator. Dan Robinson has a new expanded role within Lucas Oil’s Motorsports Division, which includes Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland. As Vice President of Motorsports Operations, Robinson will be responsible for all operational aspects of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League and the Lucas Oil MLRA along with Lucas Oil Speedway. His duties will include financial performance, operations, marketing, sponsorships, staffing, human resources, safety, scheduling and event planning. “Dan’s knowledge and experience of the grassroots motorsports industry will help us build on what is an integral part of our marketing strategy,” said Morgan Lucas. “Dan has earned this role with what he has accomplished in Wheatland and we are proud to have him leading our motorsports promotional efforts.” MATT SHEPPARD will start the 2021 season on probation with the Super DIRTcar Series after an incident during Florida Speedweeks with Max McLaughlin. According to the official complaint, “Event and explanation: During the Feb. 11, 2021 Super DIRTcar Series event at Volusia Speedway Park, driver Matt Sheppard went into the Michael “Max” McLaughlin’s pit area after the feature event was completed. Verbal discussion from Sheppard, escalated into a physical confrontation.” Sheppard will be on probation until July 1.

Photo: Paul Arch HAVE JUMBOTRON, WILL TRAVEL. The World Racing Group now has three of these mobile jumbotron screens that will tour, one each, with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, and the SuperDIRT Big Block Modifieds. They were all on display at Volusia for the Dirtcar Nationals, including one positioned so the lower Gator Pits could watch the action remotely.

Photo: Bill Blumer Jr.

ANGELL PARK SPEEDWAY will have new promoters in 2021 as Gregg and Angie McKarns will take over promotional duties for the new season in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The McKarns also manage the nearby asphalt Madison Int’l Speedway and run the ARCA Midwest Tour and are looking forward to a season full of Badger Midgets, USAC National Midgets for the Pepsi Nationals in September and will continue to run winged Sprint Cars with visits from the IRA and the All Stars. The speedway is owned by the local volunteer fire department and hosts the National Midget Hall of Fame in turns one and two.

AARON REUTZEL WON in the World of Outlaws return to East Bay Raceway Park in early March in an event that only became possible when Golden State COVID protocols canceled the tour’s Western Swing. It had been 38 years since the series last appeared at the Gibsonton, Florida, racetrack, which was the longest stretch between dates in series history. RPM SPEEDWAY has a new promoter as long-time race fan and tech inspector Chris Sutton will take over the reins of the Kansas Speedway. The track, located in the central Kansas town of Hays along I-70, will continue to feature IMCA divisions. “I want to see this track continue to be a success. It’s a very big piece of the IMCA racing puzzle in the state and consistently has had one of the biggest car counts in Kansas,” said Sutton, who has also been involved as a competition director, track prep guy and announcer.

THE CHUNKY POODLE is aiming to be the best marketing partner in the history of the USMTS. Weren’t we way overdue for a series with an official cookie? The drought has ended as Chunky Poodle will be peddling products at USMTS events as they’ll be active in the autograph sessions and handing out cookies at various events.

news NOTES&

Photos and Text By Brett Swanson

#17 James McFadden

UPS AND DOWNS DOWN UNDER

The 2020/21 Australian racing season has just concluded and it had just as many twists and turns as one would imagine. We tasked writer/photographer Brett Swanson with giving us the highs and lows of one strange season.

BEST OF…

1.Just getting to go racing after the 2019/20 season was cut short early followed by the delay to the start of the 2020/21 season, especially more so in the southern states of the country.

2. Lachlan McHugh replacing Robbie Farr in the East Coast Pipelines Racing NQ7. McHugh has been virtually unbeatable in his home state of Queensland as well as taking a couple of big wins (as well as a big wreck) when he was able to venture south over the likes of James McFadden, Jamie Veal and many of the country’s best racers. 3. 50th Anniversary of the Premier Speedway Clubs moving to their current Allansford site, home of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

4. Tyler Maggs. Impressive grandson of legendary car owner Jack Maggs (Aussie speedway royalty) who is showing brilliant speed and maturity in Junior Formula 500s in only his second season since stepping up from a year or two in dirt karts. A name to keep an eye on in the future.

5. James McFadden’s form after returning from the USA and having to quarantine for two weeks. He had a great month of January winning a couple of big-dollar 360 and 410 shows including the Fifty for 50, a substitute event for the non-running of the Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic.

6. Supercar racer Cameron Waters debut in a sprint car. The black top racer who is used to speeds of 190mph (300Kph) at the awesome Bathurst circuit and others will spend as much time turning left as possible between his paid ride in Australia’s premier circuit racing series. Dirt is nothing new to Waters, although a sprint car is, as he is a National Champion in Modified Production Sedans and has spent time in a late model.

#24 Tyler Maggs

WORST OF…

1. World famous Parramatta Raceway not commencing its final season as promised while the state of New South Wales awaits the construction of a new replacement facility due for the 2021/22 season. Sydney and Australian fans and competitors have been denied the opportunity to farewell the iconic track. The promoter blamed COVID yet every other track in the country is up and running! Rumours persist that the promoter took government cash to make the land available for redevelopment early.

2. No American tourists. Due to Covid and International and interstate border closures, no Americans were able (willing to quarantine for two weeks) to contest the prestigious Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic leading to its postponement for the first time ever. Many interstate teams were also unable to travel due to state borders being closed to other states.

3. Lockdowns. State governments closing borders to other states making it impossible for teams/fans to travel interstate for big races and restrictions on crowd numbers at those venues that area able to operate.

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CAPTURE

Kerry Madsen rode out this grinder at Knoxville in August of 2020. Photo: Conrad Nelson