2022 Dates, Stops for HOT ROD Drag Week, Power Tour Announced
MotorTrend has announced two of its annual events are returning in 2022: the HOT ROD Power Tour (June 13–17) and HOT ROD Drag Week (September 18–23). The 28th Annual HOT ROD Power Tour Driven by Continental Tire is “going South” for 2022. The 1,000-mile traveling car show is set to take place Monday, June 13, through Friday, June 17, and will visit motorsports venues in Tennessee, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
HOT ROD Drag Week will be held September 18–23. Image courtesy: MotorTrend
Meanwhile, the “Fastest Street Car in America” will be crowned during the 18th annual HOT ROD Drag Week presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, Sunday, September 18, through Friday, September 23. The endurance drag racing event will visit four classic drag strips: Memphis International Raceway (Millington, Tennessee), World Wide Technology Raceway (Madison, Illinois), Beech Bend Raceway (Bowling Green, Kentucky) and Alabama International Dragway (Steele, Alabama).
For registration details and more information, visit motortrend.com/hotrod or motortrend.com/events.
HOT ROD Power Tour 2022 Dates and Locations:
- Day 1: Monday, June 13—Memphis International Raceway, Millington, Tennessee
- Day 2: Tuesday, June 14—Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tennessee
- Day 3: Wednesday, June 15—Hoover Met Complex, Hoover, Alabama
- Day 4: Thursday, June 16—Pensacola Fairgrounds, Pensacola, Florida
- Day 5: Friday, June 17—Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton, Georgia
HOT ROD Drag Week 2022 Dates and Locations:
- Registration, Tech Day, and Test’ n’ Tune: Sunday, September 18—Memphis International Raceway, Millington, Tennessee
- Day 1: Monday, September 19—Memphis International Raceway, Millington, Tennessee
- Day 2: Tuesday, September 20—World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois
- Day 3: Wednesday, September 21—Beech Bend Raceway, Bowling Green, Kentucky
- Day 4: Thursday, September 22—Alabama International Dragway, Steele, Alabama
- Day 5: Friday, September 23—Memphis International Raceway, Millington, Tennessee
Record-Breaking Loeb Snatches Win at FIA World Rally Championship
Sébastien Loeb and Isabelle Galmiche grabbed a Rallye Monte-Carlo victory last weekend.
Sébastien Loeb became the oldest winner of an FIA World Rally Championship round after grabbing a Rallye Monte-Carlo victory from the under the nose of old foe Sébastien Ogier last Sunday. The 47-year-old Frenchman trailed Ogier by almost half a minute heading into the penultimate speed test of the four-day event in the French Alps. But when Ogier limped to the finish with a front left puncture, Loeb reclaimed a lead he had conceded to his compatriot on Saturday. He stayed calm through the final test to seal his eighth Monte-Carlo success in a Ford Puma by 10.5 seconds.
Loeb, starting his first WRC event for more than a year, was competing for the British M-Sport Ford squad in a one-off appearance. He joins Ogier at the top of the Monte-Carlo roll of honor with eight wins. His victory means he has topped the WRC podium in three different decades. Co-driver Isabelle Galmiche, a 50-year-old schoolteacher who was making her first top-tier start, became the first female winner of a WRC fixture since 1997.
Craig Breen finished almost 90 seconds further back in third in another Puma, giving the British-based M-Sport Ford squad an early lead in the manufacturers' championship. Kalle Rovanperä languished outside the top 10 after the opening night, but after set-up changes improved the balance of his GR Yaris, he soared up the order to secure fourth. Despite losing time with engine issues on Saturday, Gus Greensmith claimed fifth in another Puma after winning his first special stage at WRC level. Thierry Neuville was sixth in a Hyundai i20 N.
The championship switches to Scandinavia next month for the only pure winter round of the season. Rally Sweden takes place in Umeå on February 24–27.
NMCA Muscle Car Nationals Announces Red Line Oil as Title Sponsor
Red Line Oil has signed a two-year agreement to become the title sponsor of the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals. The Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals offers six national events catering to grassroots drag racing, street performance and the restoration and customization segments. The Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals is prepared to launch at Bradenton Motorsports Park on March 17–20 for the NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem Presented by Holbrook Racing Engines. For the complete 2022 season schedule, visit here. For more information, visit nmcadigital.com.
Forrest Lucas, Founder of Lucas Oil, Named to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022
Lucas Oil Products Inc. has announced the induction of Forrest Lucas, founder of Lucas Oil and namesake of Lucas Oil Speedway and Lucas Oil Stadium, into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He is recognized worldwide as a generous supporter of motorsports and the innovative pioneer of problem-solving oils and fuel treatments. Lucas and his fellow inductees will be honored in ceremonies on Sunday, February 6, in Springfield, Missouri.
Lucas founded the company in 1989 alongside his wife Charlotte in an effort to create oil and fuel treatments for the trucking industry that would reduce mechanical failures and increase mileage. Since the company’s realization, Lucas has created engine oils and fuel treatments for just about any machine with an engine or moving parts. Beyond being a self-made businessman, he is also a generous philanthropist and sports marketing legend—famous for strategic sponsorships spanning amateur and professional sports of all kinds.
Lucas’ numerous contributions to the automotive industry and sports nationwide are traceable over decades. He has made significant investments in sports across the Midwest and around the country. From the Lucas Oil Speedway, known as “The Diamond of the Dirt Tracks” in Wheatland, Missouri, to high-profile sponsorships like Lucas Oil Stadium, Home of the Indianapolis Colts, as well as exclusive oil of Monster Jam and the Dallas Cowboys.
He is accompanied into the 2022 Hall of Fame Class by St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday and Ken Morrow from the “Miracle on Ice” 1980 USA Olympic Gold Medal hockey team. Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s CEO & Executive Director Jerald Andrews will introduce Lucas and the Class of 2022 Enshrinement at the Highland Springs Country Club with a reception presented by Reliable Toyota to follow.
NHRA Announces Hot Rod Heritage Series Schedule
NHRA has announced the eight-race schedule for the 2022 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series, featuring two Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum’s Hot Rod Reunions. The series will feature nitro-burning Nostalgia Top Fuel dragsters and Nostalgia Funny Cars. The 2022 season will begin at the Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet, March 3–6, at Famoso Dragstrip. The California Hot Rod Reunion will close the season at Famoso Dragstrip on October 21–23. Nostalgia Top Fuel will compete for points at five events during the season, and Nostalgia Funny Car will compete for points at six events.
In addition to Nostalgia Top Fuel dragster and Nostalgia Funny Car, there are two groups of additional classes. Group 1 includes A/Fuel, Jr. Fuel, and 7.0 Eliminator, while Group 2 includes Nostalgia Eliminator l, Nostalgia Eliminator ll, Nostalgia Eliminator lll, A/Gas, B/Gas, C/Gas, D/Gas, and Hot Rod Eliminator. Drivers in each class will be able to run a combination of events that will award them points toward their respective championships. For the complete schedule, visit here.
For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.