MAVTV Motorsports Network adds coverage of seven Must See Racing National Sprint Car series events on a tape-delayed basis as part of the All-American Racing programming block on Monday nights. Coverage of the sprint car series will begin with the American Speed U.S. Nationals taking place over Memorial Day weekend at Michigan's Birch Run Speedway on May 26 and 27 and airing in two parts on the MAVTV network starting June 12.
The two-day event will be aired on the MAVTV network in two separate one-hour programs, part one airing on Monday, June 12, and part two following on Monday, June 19. Coverage includes both the MSR National 410 Series and the MSR Midwest Light Series. Broadcast footage will feature multiple in car cameras, speed shots and aerial drone video. The series features drivers from across the United States, Canada and South Africa.
2023 Must See Racing Broadcast Schedule on MAVTV:
- Monday, June 12: American Speed U.S. Nationals, part 1
- Monday, June 19: American Speed U.S. Nationals, part 2
- Monday, August 7: The Engine Pro Fast Car Dash
- Monday, September 4: Bob Frey Classic Jerry Caryer Memorial 40
- Monday, September 18: David D. Mateer Tribute Night of Speed
- Monday, October 9: Pink Lady Classic Elliot Sportsman Classic, part 1
- Monday, October 16: Pink Lady Classic Elliot Sportsman Classic, part 2
Longtime announcer Jacob Seelman will bring his years of experience and enthusiasm to the broadcast booth, joined by Pavement Pounders sprint car historian and information guru David Sink, reporting from the pits with all the behind-the-scenes stories. The duo will be joined during each broadcast by a special guest color commentator.
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Unveils 2024 Induction Class
The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (MSHFA) has announced its 2024 induction class. The class of 2024 includes the all-time winningest NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car crew chief Austin Coil (Drag Racing), six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon (Open Wheel), HANS Device inventors Jim Downing and Dr. Robert Hubbard (Technology), desert racing legend and Hollywood stuntman Bud Ekins (Motorcycles), seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson (Stock Cars), four-time SCCA national champion and eight-time IndyCar title-winning owner Paul Newman (At Large) and 1966 Can-Am champion and championship-winning constructor John Surtees (Sports Cars).
Two additional Historic Category inductees will be announced this summer. The honorees will be formally celebrated during the 36th Motorsports Hall of Fame of America Induction Celebration presented by Toyota Racing in Daytona Beach, Florida, in March 2024. For more information, including honoree bios, visit the MSHFA announcement here.
Extreme E Names New Appointments
Officials with Extreme E--the off-road racing series featuring electric SUVs and founded by the same team behind Formula E--have announced new appointments within the organization. Peter Gallagher has been named to the newly created role of commercial director. He will be "targeting new race locations and even more industry-leading partnerships." He most recently served as the head of partnership development at Arsenal F.C. soccer club.
Kris Reid has been appointed to head of marketing. He served as marketing lead for the Formula E London E-Prix, where he was responsible for overseeing all marketing initiatives for the event. Reid has several years of experience across a range of industries, including sports, music and fashion.
Nic Makepeace, meanwhile, is now the senior digital manager. He most recently worked for Seven League, where he managed the social output for the National Basketball Association (NBA) in Europe and the Middle East.
Matt Field Wins Opening Round of 2023 Formula DRIFT Pro Championship
Matt Field's win at the opening round of the 2023 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship proved he'd lost none of the determination that drove him to the top last year, only to lose by a handful of points. In the Final, Field maintained great proximity in the chase position against Rome Charpentier, and went deep enough to touch the walls at OZ1 and 3 on his lead run. It was enough to give him a win and return him to the top of the title standings, where he spent most of 2022.
For Charpentier, second place was an achievement, especially since Vitour Tire had only joined the series a few weeks before the opening round, giving the teams very little time for testing. However, the success of Charpentier and Hurst put Vitour at the top of the 2023 Formula DRIFT Tire Cup, above its experienced rivals, while Field catapulted Chevrolet in the top spot of the 2023 FD Auto Cup.
The top Formula DRIFT PRO Rookie at Long Beach was Diego Higa (Brazil) who placed 22nd overall in his Toyota GT86.
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NASCAR Commits to Net-Zero Operating Emissions by 2035
NASCAR officials have announced its first long-term carbon-emissions goal as part of NASCAR IMPACT--an umbrella platform spotlighting sustainability, community engagement and other social initiatives. Highlighting NASCAR IMPACT is a plan for the organization to reduce its carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035.
"It's an ambitious goal but one that holds us accountable as we begin to think about sustainability differently," said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR's chief communications and impact officer. "There is much work to be done, but the fundamental objective is clear: we must reduce our emissions over time."
Additional sustainability priorities include 100% renewable electricity at owned race tracks and facilities, the development of a sustainable racing fuel, expanded recycling efforts and on-site EV charging stations. NASCAR will track the progress of its sustainability goals in an annually published NASCAR IMPACT Report, which will also measure the collective impact of other impact-driven functions, including The NASCAR Foundation, diversity, equity and inclusion, STEM education, supplier diversity through sourcing and procurement and more.
With the launch of NASCAR IMPACT and its new sustainability strategy, NASCAR has discontinued its NASCAR Green platform, which was established in 2009 as the sport's first industry-wide sustainability platform.
For more information, visit the NASCAR announcement here.
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