Cup Series Dinner Returns to Waldorf-Astoria For 28th Time

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR announced the lineup for the post-season awards shows for the its top three series, including the NASCAR Sprint Cup Awards Ceremony’s return to the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City.
The Dec. 5 Waldorf event will continue a tradition began in 1981 for  NASCAR’s premier series. The event will be held in the Waldorf’s Grand Ballroom.
This lineup is a change from recent seasons, when the NASCAR Nationwide Series was the finale. The Craftsman Truck Series banquet will be Nov. 17 at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla., while the Nationwide Series banquet will be Nov. 22 at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Orlando.

Hendrick Museum Is Again Open For Business

CONCORD, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports has reopened its museum after being closed for four months due to renovations.
The 15,000 square-foot facility pays tribute to the nearly 25 seasons of Hendrick Motorsports history and includes displays of memorabilia of drivers Casey Mears, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Throughout the year, the museum will exhibit a rotating stable of famous Chevrolets — such as an original All-Star Racing entry, multiple Daytona 500 champions and the inaugural Brickyard 400 winner.
Admission to the museum is free. It is open to the public from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For extended race-week hours, directions and more information, contact www.HendrickMotorsports.com.

Darrell Waltrip Racing Experience Planned

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Three-time NASCAR Cup champion Darrell Waltrip and former crew chief Jeff Hammond announced the details of the Darrell Waltrip Racing Experience slated to open at Belle Island Village in Pigeon Forge this fall.
The site will feature race-car simulators; competition remote-controlled cars to race around a mini-Bristol Motor Speedway; an interactive theater and soundstage to replicate Waltrip’s Fox Sports duties; an interactive pit crew area; and more. In addition, drivers, crew chiefs, announcers and team owners from the past and present will visit several times a year.

USCS Speedweek Set To Start May 29

ATLANTA — The O’Reilly United Sprint Car Series Outlaw Thunder Tour will kick off  Speedweek 2008 May 29 at Riverside Int’l Speedway in West Memphis, Ark., featuring seven days of racing in four states.
Greenville (Miss.) Speedway will host the second event May 25 followed by a visit May 26 to Clayhill Motorsports in Atwood, Tenn., and Clarksville (Tenn.) Speedway May 27. Drivers will take a day off before visiting Camden (Tenn.) Speedway May 29 and North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia May 30 leading up to the 10th annual Columbus Clash at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway May 31.
The seven $2,000-to-win events will pay a minimum of $250 for drivers that start the A-main and an additional point fund that will pay the top-10 drivers of Speedweek 2008 starting at $1,000 for the number-one contender. For rules, visit www.uscsracing.com.

NeSmith Series Adds Pair Of Events To Slate

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series added two 40-lap, $2,500-to-win events to its 2008 National Tour Schedule.
For the first time since 2005, the NeSmith Dirt Late Model National Tour will visit North Alabama Speedway in Tuscumbia for the Tri-State Shootout 40 on June 20. The following day, the series will visit Columbus (Miss.) Speedway for its second of three events at the track.
For the full 2008 schedule, visit www.nesmithracing.com.

West New Crew Chief For DSR’s Beckman

BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Johnny West has been named the new crew chief for Don Schumacher Racing’s Valvoline/Mail Terminal Services Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car driven by Jack Beckman.
Replacing Rick Cassel, the 53-year-old West brings experience as a former Funny Car driver, owner and tuner to his new position. In addition, he brings his work with drag-racing drivers Roland Leong, Doug Herbert, Scott Kalitta, Don Prudhomme and Clay Millican as well as 2001 Top Fuel champion Kenny Bernstein.
“If you’re planning on having a true team effort, you have to have everybody willing to offer suggestions or ideas to each other about what’s going on,” explained West. “From what I’m told, that’s the way it is at DSR.”

PRI Extends Lease Agreement In Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Performance Racing Industry Trade Show has signed an agreement that keeps the show at the Orange County Convention Center through 2016.
The previous agreement ran through 2010. The event has hosted more than 45,000 industry representatives and guests from more than 50 countries since its Orlando debut in 2005.
“After holding the PRI Trade Show in Orlando for three very successful years, it is now viewed by exhibitors and attendees as the place to be for the future,” said PRI Trade Show Producer Steve Lewis.
This year’s PRI Trade Show is scheduled for Dec. 11-13.

Clark Hired To Head I-94 Speedway

SAUK CENTRE, Minn. — Chris Clark has been hired as the new general manager at I-94 Speedway.
Clark comes to I-94 with 21 years of experience from short tracks all around the upper Midwest. Clark spent 15 years in various capacities at Rockford (Ill.) Speedway.
Most recently, Clark was part of the management team at Elko (Minn.) Speedway.
“I’m really excited to be making the move to Sauk Centre and becoming part of the team that makes I-94 click,” Clark said. “This track has a terrific history, and I hope to help add to that in the years to come."