GAINESVILLE, FL – Longtime motorsports broadcaster Joe Castello will be debuting a new podcast dedicated to the wildly popular SAMTECH.EDU Factory Stock Showdown series part of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events in 2019. The inaugural Factory Stock Podcasts are available now on Soundcloud here (Episode 1) and here (Episode 2) as well as on Apple Podcasts in advance of the 50th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Castello will be joined during each podcast by Brian Massingill, SAM Tech’s Vice President of Business Development who is also a successful sportsman racer in the Stock Eliminator class. The series is expanding to eight events in 2019 and Castello will host a pre and post-race podcast around every race featuring racers and industry insiders.

“This is one of the fastest growing NHRA racing series and the interest continues to expand with every race,” said Castello, founder of Castello Media. “The competition is fierce and the support from the manufacturers makes the SAMTECH.EDU Factory Stock Showdown one of the most talked about races on the NHRA tour. There is a massive interest for the Factory Stock Podcast from both the racing and automotive enthusiast audiences.”

Episode one features a series overview with perspective on the upcoming season from each manufacturer including 2018 SAMTECH.EDU Factory Stock Showdown world champion Leah Pritchett, who took the crown driving a Kevin Helms-tuned Drag Pak Challenger, Chris Holbrook who wheels a stellar Cobra Jet Ford and COPO Camaro racer Arthur Kohn, the first Factory Stock Chevrolet COPO in the 7’s. Episode two features Massingill and Joe Castello previewing the first race of the season, the 50th annual Gatornationals, as well as insight from 2017 Factory Stock Showdown champion David Barton, Geoff Turk, and Don Fezell.

Continue reading →

Akron, OH – Local drag racing legends Art and Walt Arfons, Otis “Otie” Smith, and “Akron” Arlen Vanke will be the subjects of an Ohio Historical Marker plaque dedication on Father’s Day, June 19th, at the Akron Fulton Airport to honor their contributions and innovations in the drag racing industry. The plaque will rest at the spot where the four renowned drag racers first began their careers in the early 1950s. At that time, Fulton Airport runway was the first National Hot Rod Association sanctioned drag race track east of the Mississippi.

This will be the first Historical Marker dedicated to racing of any kind in Ohio, and comes thanks to the efforts of the group Akron Race Legends, headed by Randy Lipscomb, with further assistance from Paul Suloff, Bob Jones, John Stevenson, and Ken Andrus. “This is the spot where these local heroes became drag racing innovators back in the 50’s and 60’s,” said Lipscomb, “and we believe that honoring these racing pioneers is long overdue.”

Continue reading →

Gilliam, LA – Nelson and Marla Hoyos, owners of the Driven2Win Drag Racing School, announced today that they have signed a long-term lease agreement as the new track operators of Thunder Road Raceway Park. The race track facility is located in Gilliam, Louisiana, encompassing 180+ acres and currently has an NHRA sanctioned ¼-mile Drag Racing Track (4050 ft. from starting line to end of shut down area), Compulink timing system, a 3-story Tower/Race Control with 8 VIP/Sponsor suites overlooking the starting line, lighting along the entire drag strip for exciting side-by-side night racing, grandstand seating for more than 7,500 race fans, a large commercial concession building and permanent bathroom facilities.

Continue reading →

Reno, NV – Prizes, free giveaways and photo ops for the new “Snake and Mongoose” movie will be offered during two exciting shows this weekend. The “Snake and Mongoo$e” booth will be displayed during the Reno Rockabilly Riot at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno June 14 and 15, and at the Bringin’ Out the Muscle 4 car show at Summit Racing Equipment in Sparks, Nevada, June 16.

During the events, the movie booth will display the film’s costumes and props, and those stopping by can receive complimentary movie posters and stickers, and have photos taken with models. Movie t-shirts will also be available for sale.

In addition, show-goers can sign up to win two tickets to the movie’s charity benefit premiere for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society taking place in Los Angeles on August 26 or in Indianapolis on Aug. 29.

Continue reading →

Arcadia, OK – Godspeed Ministry and Car Care Ministry is asking for vehicles to be donated so that we can meet the need created by the May 19 and 20 tornados.

We have a need for serviceable automobiles that need little or no repair so that we can get them to the people that have an immediate need.  You will receive a fair market value deduction for your donation of a car that is given to an approved applicant.

Godspeed Ministry has been helping single moms, families in need and the elderly with donated transportation for over ten years.

Continue reading →

Newark, DE – Effective immediately Jimmy Biggs has moved on from General Manager at WMOT-7 to Vice President and he will head up the motorsports and internet expansion of Positive Promotions. Biggs will oversee production of motorsports television shows, head up streaming internet channels, oversee the building of the Southern California studio and oversee Positive Promotions shows for regional/national distribution.

Tim Qualls President of Positive Promotions states: Biggs came back 3 1/2 years ago to help out so I could devote my full attention to family matters. He (Biggs) has stayed on through the start up of another network without much complaining.  Now we can expand out on what Biggs did in motorsports before he took a 3 1/2 year leave of absence.  We can offer high end commercial video production at an affordable price to the motorsports industry.

His first assignment is to bring you the sites and sounds of round 5 of the Arabian Drag Racing Leauges 2013 series.  Jimmy leaves for Doha on Sunday, so look for his world famous videos soon!

Courtesy of PMRA

Cayuga, ON – Preparations for the first annual show devoted to the history of Canadian drag racing is now underway, and promises to offer something for anyone interested in the heritage of the sport.

Drag Strip Memories will be held at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Mount Hope, Ontario Sunday April 15.

Highlighting the event will be some of Canada’s most famous drag racing cars, including Willys gassers, early Funny Cars, and a front-engined Top Fueler. Over 20 race cars are expected to be displayed at the Warplane Heritage Museum, where visitors will also be able to experience some of the most significant warbirds in existence.

Drag Strip Memories will also feature the largest display of drag racing models in the country, set up as a miniature Cayuga Dragway, and posters, photos, and other documents related to drag racing. Three local car clubs will also present displays with a focus on early drag racing and the hot rod scene. Several vendors and artists will be on hand for personalized service.

Drag Strip Memories will be held from 11 am until 5 pm April 15 at the Museum, which is situated next to the Hamilton International Airport, at 9280 Airport Road. For more information, contact info@dragstripmemories.com

Norwalk, OH – It is the celebration Jim would have wanted.

In honor of our dear friend Jim Weinert, who passed away on Wednesday, March 7 at the age of 58, the IHRA, Summit Motorsports Park and Jim’s racing family will be holding a celebration of life at the place he met his wife Carrie – Summit Motorsports Park.

The event will honor and celebrate the life of the man who became a presence on the starting line at racetracks around the country. “Big Jim”, as he was known by many, was a staple on the Norwalk Raceway Park starting line for years before joining the IHRA team and managing the field operations and track preparation at every IHRA national event since 1998.

The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. under a tent on the starting line of the track, which is located at 1300 State Rt. 18, Norwalk, OH 44857. Dress is casual (jeans), just like attendance at any drag race and warm clothing is recommended as service will take place outdoors.

Continue reading →