Racing News: Race Team Owners Say No More 4-Wide Drags

NO GO: NHRA’s Professional Racers Owners Organization (PRO) has said in a letter to NHRA President Tom Compton that it will not participate in another four-wide competition for points. The first four-wide drag race in the history of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series was held March 26–29 at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina.

SAVING IT: There is an effort being made to revive Hinchliffe Stadium, a historic midget and stock-car racing venue located in Paterson, New Jersey. The Friends of Hinchliffe Stadium has recently received a $32,000 grant to conduct a study and plan for preservation of the stadium.

EXTENSION: Whelen Engineering Inc. and NASCAR have announced an extension that will see Whelen remain as the title sponsor for three of NASCAR’s developmental divisions through 2019.

APOLOGY: Tony Stewart, owner of Ohio’s Eldora Speedway, has apologized for the problems with the track surface at the historic half-mile dirt track that led to the cancellation of the USAC AMOSIL National Sprint Car Series doubleheader at the track April 2–3.

RIDE WITH PANTHER: Ed Carpenter has landed a ride for the Indianapolis 500 thanks to a partnership between Panther Racing and Tony George’s Vision Racing.

CALLING IT A CAREER: Jim MacMaster, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Yokohama Tire Corp., will retire June 30 after 39 years in the tire industry.

GO EAST YOUNG MAN: For the first time in 32 years, the USAC National Sprint Car Series will race in the Garden State when New Jersey’s New Egypt Speedway hosts the third event in USAC’s Eastern Swing on June 3.

NEW DRIVER: Johnny Sauter will replace Mike Bliss behind the wheel of the Tommy Baldwin Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car beginning this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

GOLDEN NUMBER: Larry Dixon earned his 50th NHRA victory Sunday afternoon at Houston Raceway Park in Baytown, Texas. Jeg Coughlin (Pro Stock), Matt Hagan (Funny Car) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also victorious.

SIGNED AND APPROVED: North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue has signed Executive Order 49, which creates the Governor’s Motorsports Advisory Council, which is designed to protect and expand the motorsports industry in North Carolina.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. Subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate.