Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Chicky Barton claimed his first ULTRA4 victory at last week's GenRight ULTRA4s at Superlift Park race. | |
Chicky Barton Wins First ULTRA4 Race
Chicky Barton claimed his first ULTRA4 victory at last week's GenRight ULTRA4s at Superlift Park race. With 44 registered drivers, the race was the largest 4WD Hardware Eastern Regional ULTRA4 race to date. Barton, in his new independent front suspension vehicle, qualifed fifth last Friday. Erik Miller qualified first on Friday, followed by Jason Shipman, Wayland Campbell and Mike Colville. Cars left the line every 20 seconds on the 6.75-mile, narrow, tree-lined course. Shannon Campbell ultimately beat out Erik Miller for second place. At the end of the day, 24 of the 39 vehicles that started the race were able to successfully finish five laps in the allotted five hours.
Rob Matzell won the 4500/4600/UTV race. In the RCV SRRS vs. ULTRA4 shootout, Tom Wayes won overall with the fastest combined time of 43.788 seconds, and Danny Smith was the fastest bouncer with a combined time of 51.311. The next ULTRA4 event will be the Metalcloak Stampede held in Prairie City, California, June 6–7.
Trans Am Series Set for TV Return With Rick Benjamin
The Trans Am Series will make its return to television in 2014 with Carolinas Production Group, spearheaded by long-time race announcer Rick Benjamin. The partnership will see Benjamin, who will produce and announce the broadcasts, and Trans Am reunited—a duo that goes back decades. Two Trans Am events will be broadcast this year, Rounds 6 and 7 of the 2014 Trans Am Championship, at Road America and Mid-Ohio, respectively. Each show will be one hour in length with an estimated reach of more than 70 million households, anchored by MAV TV, Tuff TV and Altitude Network. Broadcast times and dates will be announced as the events approach.
 Justin Hall of Team Tsuda Racing/Rock Hard Racing took the top podium in the 4500 class at the Nor-Cal Rock Racing Series. | |
Team Falken Earns a Pair of Firsts at Nor-Cal Rock Racing Series
Team Falken added two more first-place finishes last weekend at the Nor-Cal Rock Racing Series competing in Sacramento. The regional race program is a sister series to Ultra4 and King of the Hammers, following many of the same rules. Taking the top podium in the 4500 class was Justin Hall of Team Tsuda Racing/Rock Hard Racing. Hall also finished first in the W.E. Rock event last month. Ben Varozza and Jacob Pacheco of VP Racing took their stock class Jeep to first in the 4600 class.
Formula DRIFT Announces Further Details on the 2015 World Championship
Formula DRIFT has announced additional information on the 2015 World Championship that include details on event rounds and locations, competition format, confirmation of all Formula DRIFT Pro licenses to be valid for the World Championship and the petition process for international drivers. In addition, Formula DRIFT has confirmed that three rounds of the World Championship will offer a separate Triple Crown prize purse with a possible USD $100,000 up for grabs.
The World Championship will encompass all US Formula DRIFT Championship rounds plus two to three international rounds. The select international rounds will be vetted by Formula DRIFT through the 2014 season with all existing Formula DRIFT international rounds to be considered, including previous international venues.
The competition format will be based off the traditional top 32 head-to-head format. Formula DRIFT also confirms that all Formula DRIFT Pro Licenses are considered valid for the World Championship as well as selected Formula Drift Affiliate Series drivers will be eligible as well, while all other international drivers will need to go through a petition process in order to qualify. Additionally, three selected rounds of the World Championship will constitute its own Triple Crown with a prize pool of a possible USD $100,000.
 A special painting created by Hector Cademartori for the Pirelli World Challenge Championships' 25th Anniversary features a number of historic Pirelli World Challenge race cars that have competed over the last 25 years. | |
Pirelli World Challenge 25th Anniversary Poster Unveiled
Last Saturday, a special painting created for the Pirelli World Challenge Championships' 25th Anniversary was unveiled. The watercolor painting, in partnership with Pirelli, was created by California artist Hector Cademartori, and features a number of historic Pirelli World Challenge race cars that have competed over the last 25 years. A poster created from the painting was handed out to fans during Saturday's driver autograph session for Round 2 of the season, The Roar By the Shore Presented by Kia, in Long Beach, California. There are plans for distribution of the poster at future autograph sessions throughout the rest of 2014.
Starting with the inaugural series champion, R.K. Smith in a Chevrolet Corvette in 1990, through the four class champions in 2013: Johnny O'Connell in a Cadillac CTS-V.R (GT), Lawson Aschenbach in the Blackdog Speed Shop Chevrolet Camaro (GTS), Ryan Winchester in the Compass360 Racing Honda Civic Si (TC) and Robbie Davis in the MINI of Charleston Racing MINI Cooper (TCB), there's a wealth of memorable cars and drivers on the print.
Seven-time series champion Peter Cunningham is featured prominently in the RealTime Racing Acura TSX. Others featured include James Sofronas of GMG Racing (Audi R8), and past series champions Tommy Archer (Viper), Michael Galati (Audi S4), Randy Pobst (Volvo S60) and Patrick Long (Porsche 911).