‘Little 500’ & Midget Classic Will Get Body’s Stamp

INDIANAPOLIS — The nation’s longest Sprint and Midget races in 2008 will be sanctioned by the United States Auto Club, according to last week’s joint announcement by USAC and Anderson (Ind.) Speedway officials.
 The 60th Pay Less Little 500 sprint-car race and the inaugural Anderson 400 Midget Classic will be designated “special events” on the USAC calendar and therefore will not offer national points. Both races will be officiated by Anderson Speedway.
 The May 24 sprint-car race continues a tradition begun in 1949 and the 500-lap race has traditionally been held the night before the Indianapolis 500 at the quarter-mile banked, paved oval. The July 26 midget race begins a new tradition, offering 400 laps of competition the night before NASCAR’s  Allstate 400 at The Brickyard.
 

Fellows To Compete In Mexico City

DETROIT — Ron Fellows has signed on to partner with Leighton Reese in the No. 06 Banner Engineering Pontiac GXP.R in the third round of the Grand Am Rolex Series Mexico City 250 at Autodrome Hermanos Rodriguez April 19.
Fellows has won the American Le Mans Series GT1 championship three times, including two 24 Hours of Le Mans victories. He also has 19 Trans-Am wins and five NASCAR victories and drove the Pontiac GTO.R in 2006 at Mid-Ohio.

Skagit Joins ASA Track Program

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash., has signed on as a Level II partner in the American Speed Ass’n Member Track Program.
“The American Speed Ass’n has built a very strong reputation in the short-track world,” said Skagit Speedway owner Steve Beitler. “And I like what the ASA brings with them — exposure, insurance and a lot more. Everything they do is good for us.”
In addition, Beitler is widening his track for more exciting events on the 0.3-mile dirt track for the weekly 410 sprint cars, 360 sprint cars, sportsman sprint series and outlaw hornets when the season kicks off April 19. The track also signed a recent partnership with Foothills Toyota making Toyota Tundra the Official Racing Series Sponsor.

Lifelock To Sponsor Sprint Cup Race

JOLIET, Ill. — LifeLock has signed a multi-year agreement with Chicagoland Speedway to become the title sponsor for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race beginning this year with the July 12 event.
“As the industry leader in protecting identities, we have become accustomed to breaking new ground, much like Chicagoland in this event,” explained LifeLock CEO Todd Davis. “We have enjoyed our increased association with NASCAR and its passionate fans.”
Track Packs for Chicagoland Speedway’s 2008 season and Pole Day tickets are now on sale at www.chicagolandspeedway.com.

Paragon Speedway Announces Full Slate

PARAGON, Ind. — Paragon Speedway owner Keith Ford has released the track’s 2008 schedule, which is set to begin April 19.
Several special events for the sprint, street-stock, bomber and pure-stock weekly divisions have been added, including the eighth annual KISS event for sprints and the Midwest All-Star winged sprints. Steve Bowlen night has been added for street stocks.
For the full schedule of events, visit www.paragonspeedway.com.

Fans Can Vote For Berlin Hall Of Fame

MARNE, Mich. — On Sept. 13, three of the 15 nominees submitted by Berlin Raceway fans will be inducted into the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame presented by Boyne Machine Company.
The track’s hall of fame was established to recognize and honor individuals who have made significant contributions and accomplishments to auto racing at Berlin Speedway. Each year, the Berlin Raceway Hall of Fame inducts up to three of the nominated individuals.
Fans are able to vote online for their top three choices at www.berlinraceway.com through Aug. 16.

Friendship Speedway Switching To Dirt

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Friendship Motor Speedway, an ASA member track since 2003, is adding up to 48 inches of red clay to the paved four-tenths-mile facility for the 2008 season.
With opening night scheduled for April 26 at the Elkin, N.C., facility, the pavement-to-dirt transition is nearly finished.
More information about FMS and a race calendar are available at www.FriendshipMotorSpeedway.net.

Point Fund Set Up For Four-Race Mini Series

BEAVER DAM, Wis. — A special four-race $5,000 point-fund established by promoter Dan Thiel will add to the excitement of the upcoming Midget Maynia Tour, which begins in five weeks at four tracks in Wisconsin and Northern Illinois.
Those four events are part of the 28-race Mopar USAC National Midget Championship.
The four-race series will begin at LaCrosse Fairgounds Speedway in West Salem, Wis., on May 16 before heading to Slinger (Wis.) Speeedway for the second-annual Stan Fox Classic on May 17. On May 18, the series moves on to Rockford (Ill.) Speedway, marking USAC’s first race there since Rich Vogler’s victory in 1979.
 The fourth and final leg will be the seventh-annual Sue Thiel Memorial May 30 at Dodge County Fairgrounds in Beaver Dam, Wis.

Mazda MX-5 Cup Revises Schedule

TOPEKA, Kan. — Road America and New Jersey Motorsports Park have been added to the SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup tour.
The SCCA series will stop at Road America in August and make its New Jersey stop in September.
Here is the complete revised schedule:
May 2-4, Road Atlanta; May 16-18, Mosport Int’l Raceway; July 25-27, Portland Int’l Raceway; Aug. 8-10, Road America; Aug. 15-17, Trois-Rivieres; Sept. 19-21, Miller Motorsports Park; Sept. 26-28, New Jersey Motorsports Park; Oct. 17-19, Mazda Raceway at Laguna Seca, Calif.