LAS VEGAS  — Former Champ Car World Series champion Paul Tracy was scheduled to participate in a one-day NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series test session today with Germain Racing at Chicagoland Speedway.
Tracy found himself without an IndyCar Series ride after the unification due to contract issues with his former team, Forsythe Racing,
This will be Tracy’s first time behind the wheel of a NCTS truck, but he does have a 2006 appearance in the NASCAR’s Nationwide Series on his resume. A release from Tracy, who amassed 31 CART/Champ Car victories, said the veteran has been working out, preparing for a racing opportunity.
“The Germain Racing team is a championship team that is committed to winning, so it humbles me to be able to take part in a test and share a Toyota Tundra with Todd Bodine,” said Tracy. “He is one of the best in the business and I’m looking forward to getting to Chicago on Wednesday and doing whatever I can to learn from him so that I can experience my own success, should I go that direction.”

Annual Motorsports Show Sets ’09 Dates

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Motorsports 2009, the 24th-annual motorsports show promoted by Len Sammons, is scheduled for Jan. 16-17 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
The same weekend, Sammons will again present indoor auto racing in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall, with the running of the Gambler’s Classic featuring three-quarter midgets and micro sprints. To reserve space for the show, call Danny Sammons at (609) 888-3618.

Sirius To Broadcast Formula One In U.S.

NEW YORK — Sirius Satellite Radio and Formula One Management entered into an agreement for Sirius to become the exclusive North American radio broadcaster of Formula One racing. It will be the U.S. radio debut of the world’s most famous form of auto racing.
The schedule kicked off this past weekend with coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix. Every F-1 event for the remainder of the year can be heard on Sirius channel 125.

Thoennes Joins SCCA Pro As Technical Manager

TOPEKA, Kan. — SCCA Pro Racing announced that Jeremy Thoennes will join its staff as technical manager. Thoennes will focus on the SCCA Speed World Challenge Championships.
Thoennes joins the SCCA Pro Racing staff after serving as Club Racing Technical Services Manager for Sports Car Club of America, Inc., since 2002.
Thoennes will not have to move far to occupy his new post. He’ll move down the hall to the Pro Racing wing in the Topeka, Kan.-based SCCA headquarters. He, his wife Aimee and their family live in Burlingame, Kan.

True Grit Award Goes To NHL Mechanics

INDIANAPOLIS — Chris Paulsen, president and owner of C & R Racing, Inc., announced the 2008  True Grit Winner. 
This year’s recipients are the Newman/Haas/Lanigan mechanics.
Accepting this year’s award for the group will be Tim Coffeen, chief mechanic for Justin Wilson; Tim Homburg, tire specialist; and John Tzouanakis, team manager and, posthumously, Davey Evans, who died earlier this month.
The award, presented each year at the Indianapolis 500 and Allstate 400 at the Brickyard, acknowledges dedicated crew chiefs and mechanics in the motorsports industry.  Established in 1998 by Chris Paulsen, the $10,000 cash award exemplifies outstanding achievement in racing and honors a fellow colleague.

Ohio Speedweek Scheduled For June

CAMARGO, Ill. — Ohio Speedweek, which features seven-straight nights of sprint-car racing sanctioned by the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and nearly $200,000 in purse and bonus money on the line, is set to begin June 22 at Attica Raceway Park.
The schedule is as follows: June 23, Wayne County Speedway, Orrville; June 24, Hilltop Speedway, Millersburg;  June 25, Skyline Speedway, Stewart; June 26, Fremont Speedway; June 27, Limaland Motorsports Park, Lima; June 28, Eldora Speedway, Rossburg. A preliminary non-points event is scheduled for June 21 at Waynesfield Motor Sports Park.
A $50,000 bonus is offered to any driver who can win four of the seven scheduled events. Dale Blaney came up just short of a fourth victory last year.
Drivers are required to pre-register in order to be eligible for the Speedweek point fund and bonus money. Forms and more information are available at www.ohiospeedweek.com.

Grand Am Team Suffers Loss In Hauler Fire

INDIANAPOLIS — The Wayne Taylor Racing team transporter, en route to its Indianapolis race shop following the May 17 Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series RumBum.com 250 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, Calif., caught fire on Interstate 40 in Texas May 19.
There were no injuries and no other parties involved, but team officials have reported major losses due to damage to the transporter and its contents, which included equipment, spare parts and the No. 10 SunTrust Pontiac Dallara race car.
 Initial estimates of damages reportedly exceed $2 million. The team will attempt to race at this weekend at Lime Rock Park using equipment borrowed from Chip Ganassi Racing.
 

Lebanon I-44 Speedway Completing Resurfacing

LEBANON, Mo. — Lebanon I-44 Speedway is completing its resurfacing project and will be closed May 31 for the second-straight weekend.
The track will reopen June 7 with a regular points show in the Central-Bank Racing Series featuring UMP late models, USRA modifieds, B-mods, bombers, factory stocks, rookies and super stocks.