- Details
- Written by Mike Admin
- Category: The Business Of Racing
By: IndyCar
November 14, 2024
November 14, 2024
Indianapolis/Long Beach, California – Penske Entertainment announced today the newest member of its growing event portfolio, confirming the acquisition of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, LLC, from longtime owner Gerald R. Forsythe. The association administers the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the longest-running major street circuit race in North America. The purchase is expected to provide significant investment for the marquee NTT INDYCAR SERIES race, to further enhance this can’t-miss celebration of speed and Southern California motorsport culture for years to come.
This upcoming year marks the 50th edition of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, with special programming planned to mark the occasion. The race will return to network television, with FOX set to broadcast the event Sunday, April 13.
“We’re incredibly proud to be the new stewards of this cherished and iconic event,” said Roger Penske. “This is the most historic and prestigious street circuit race in North America, and we’re excited to work with Jim Michaelian and his great team in Long Beach to ensure continued success and growth over the long term. This race and its loyal fans matter so much to everyone across the INDYCAR community, and we’re looking forward to a very special 50th anniversary celebration this April, as well.”
“As we prepare to celebrate a truly remarkable milestone, the 50th anniversary of this amazing event, it’s fitting that we have such exciting and important news to share about its future,” said Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach President & CEO Jim Michaelian. “Roger and the team at Penske Entertainment understand the special history and unique qualities that give us such a strong foundation and will be ideal partners as we continue to deliver an exceptional race weekend for our fans moving forward. I also want to acknowledge the significant contribution that the previous owners, Jerry Forsythe and the late Kevin Kalkhoven, made to the success of our event over the past 19 years.”
As an acclaimed and highly attended annual event located in the nation’s entertainment capital, the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach is a premier race weekend for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. Working alongside the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach team, Penske Entertainment plans to invest in bolstering and enhancing the experience for race fans, sponsors and hospitality customers.
“This is a major race weekend, not just on our calendar but across the motorsport landscape,” Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles said. “We’re committed to preserving the core attributes that make it best in class while also working on some exciting and bold initiatives to make its future even bigger and brighter.”
The three-day weekend regularly attracts crowds of over 190,000 people to its 1.968-mile racecourse surrounding the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. The 2024 edition featured a supercharged atmosphere, which included the largest attendance in the modern INDYCAR era. The event brings global attention and positive economic impact to its home city, while also maintaining a charitable organization – the Grand Prix Foundation of Long Beach – which has donated more than $4.2 million to those in need within the Long Beach community.
“The Grand Prix is an incredibly vital and vibrant asset for our community and an annual event that drives commerce, attracts tourism and elevates cultural connectivity across our city,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “Penske Entertainment will be a committed and energetic partner for the future that seeks to preserve and enhance this event’s rich history and strong legacy. We’re looking forward to a great working relationship that benefits everyone who calls Long Beach home.”
As part of today’s announcement, Penske Entertainment and the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach released a special video, narrated by former Indy 500 Honorary Starter and acclaimed actor Milo Ventimiglia. You can watch here.
Today’s news marks the continuation of an ambitious and productive period for Penske Entertainment, which owns and manages INDYCAR and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. In September, the organization announced the establishment of the first charter system in INDYCAR’s history, providing NTT INDYCAR SERIES owners meaningful and enhanced value across their entries. In October, Penske Entertainment unveiled the INDYCAR Grand Prix of Arlington, powered through a first-of-its-kind joint venture with the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is North America’s premier open-wheel racing series, featuring an international field of the world's most versatile drivers who compete on superspeedways, short ovals, street circuits and permanent road courses across the United States and Canada. Beginning in 2025, FOX Sports will be the exclusive home of all INDYCAR action, providing a network broadcast via FOX of all 17 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in the U.S. to broadcast every race on network television.
- Details
- Written by Mike Admin
- Category: The Business Of Racing
By: Formula1.com
November 11, 2024
November 11, 2024
The collaboration will officially launch during the 2025 season, marking the 90th anniversary of KitKat and the 75th anniversary of Formula 1. It will then expand across the world throughout 2026. Formula 1 enthusiasts can look forward to consumer activations, promotional prizes and immersive fan zones at select Grands Prix, with trackside branding, and cheerful, light-hearted content.
Bringing its iconic “Have a Break, Have a KitKat®” message to Formula 1, the partnership champions the importance of taking a moment to pause, and unites two diverse global fanbases in an innovative collaboration. Both brands are dedicated to elevating the fan experience by combining the excitement of world-class racing with the renowned sense of humour of KitKat and tradition of sharing breaks.
Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer at Formula 1, said:
“We’re delighted to have such a globally recognised and fun brand as KitKat joining us as a partner. They’re universally loved, and we can’t wait to see the fantastic experiences they’ll be bringing to our fans at the track and the new audiences they’ll introduce to the sport.”
Bernard Meunier, Head of Strategic Business Units and Marketing and Sales at Nestlé, said:
“Formula 1 is a global phenomenon with a rapidly growing, diverse fanbase, especially among younger audiences. With its global reach and packed schedule, F1 offers KitKat the perfect platform to remind everyone to make time for a break. We’re excited to bring our signature sense of fun to this thrilling sport and to create memorable experiences for fans around the world.”
More details on the new partnership will be released in due course.
- Details
- Written by Mike Admin
- Category: The Business Of Racing
By: NASCAR
September 27, 2024
September 27, 2024
Kansas City, Kansas - The ARCA Menards Series has announced a television broadcast agreement extension with FS1 and FS2 that features a full season of live television coverage in 2025. Additionally, as part of the new agreement, the 2025 ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway will air live on FOX, marking the first time in series history that a race has aired on broadcast television.
The relationship, which began with Speedvision in 1999, is now extended through at least 2028.
"We’re proud of the long-standing partnership between ARCA and FOX Sports in what will span across three decades during the course of this most recent extension” said Ben Baker, NASCAR’s VP of Broadcasting & Production Operations. “FOX’s coverage of the ARCA Menards Series continues to expand to a larger audience and we’re looking forward to their coverage of great racing in the years to come.”
ARCA also has released the 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule, comprised of 20 races at 19 different tracks, with the season opener slated at Daytona International Speedway and, for the fourth consecutive year, it will close at its home track, Toledo Speedway.
The highlights:
- The series will race at Daytona for the 62nd consecutive year dating to 1964; as it has for the last six years, the race will be the opener of a same-day doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series the day before the DAYTONA 500. FOX will broadcast the Daytona ARCA 200, the first time an ARCA Menards Series race will be broadcast live on an over-the-air network.
- Kansas Speedway continues to be the only track on the schedule twice, with races scheduled in conjunction with the NASCAR national series in May and September.
- Tandem races with the NASCAR Cup Series will also take place at Phoenix Raceway in March, Talladega Superspeedway in April, Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Michigan International Speedway in June, Dover Motor Speedway in July, Iowa Speedway and Watkins Glen International in August, and Bristol Motor Speedway in September.
- Stand-alone short track races will be held at Berlin Raceway and Elko Speedway in June, Madison International Speedway in August, the traditional fall classic date at Salem Speedway in September, and the championship finale at Toledo Speedway in October.
- The two dirt miles at the Illinois State Fair and DuQuoin State Fair both return on their traditional weekends.
- Lime Rock Park will join the schedule for the first time and the half-mile Madison International Speedway rejoins the schedule for the first time since 2019.
The race at Phoenix Raceway in March will be a combination race with the ARCA Menards Series West, while races at Dover Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Iowa Speedway, and Bristol Motor Speedway will be combination races with the ARCA Menards Series East.
The complete 2025 ARCA Menards Series schedule (all times are Eastern)
Date | Track, Location | Time (ET) | TV |
Feb. 15 | Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla. | 12:00 PM | FOX |
March 7 | Phoenix Raceway, Avondale, Ariz. | 8:00 PM | FS1 |
April 26 | Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Ala. | 12:30 PM | FS1 |
May 9 | Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan. | 8:00 PM | FS1 |
May 23 | Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C. | 6:00 PM | FS1 |
June 6 | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich. | 5:00 PM | FS2 |
June 14 | Berlin Raceway, Marne, Mich. | 7:00 PM | FS1 |
June 21 | Elko Speedway, Elko, Minn. | 9:00 PM | FS2 |
June 28 | Lime Rock Park, Lime Rock, Conn. | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
July 18 | Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Del. | 5:00 PM | FS1 |
July 25 | Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Brownsburg, Ind. | 5:30 PM | FS1 |
Aug. 1 | Iowa Speedway, Newton, Iowa | 7:00 PM | FS1 |
Aug. 8 | Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y. | 2:00 PM | FS2 |
Aug. 17 | Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Ill. | 2:00 PM | FS1 |
Aug. 22 | Madison International Speedway, Madison, Wis. | 9:00 PM | FS1 |
Aug. 31 | Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin, Ill. | 8:30 PM | FS1 |
Sept. 11 | Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tenn. | 5:30 PM | FS1 |
Sept. 20 | Salem Speedway, Salem, Ind. | 8:00 PM | FS2 |
Sept. 26 | Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kan. | 8:00 PM | FS1 |
Oct. 4 | Toledo Speedway, Toledo, Oh. | 4:00 PM | FS2 |
All dates are tentative and subject to change.
Schedules for the ARCA Menards Series East and West will be released at a later date.
For further information please visit ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates follow @ARCA_Racing on Twitter.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
- Details
- Written by Mike Admin
- Category: The Business Of Racing
By: NASCAR
September 30, 2024
September 30, 2024
Daytona Beach, Florida – NASCAR Studios and Words + Pictures, the team behind the critically acclaimed Netflix docuseries FULL SPEED, today announced the formation of FULL SPEED ENTERTAINMENT, a production partnership that will develop and produce a wide swath of premium racing content, ranging from documentaries, series and special events to studio shows, podcasts, and more.
Among the venture’s projects will be the much-anticipated second season of FULL SPEED, which will premiere on Netflix in 2025.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be expanding our partnership with NASCAR with Full Speed Entertainment,” said Connor Schell, the CEO and founder of Words + Pictures. “The first season of Full Speed was a really rewarding project for our company, and it was a thrill to work side-by-side with NASCAR Studios every step of the way. The opportunity to bring audiences more great racing content and collaborate with NASCAR opens a wealth of possibilities we can’t wait to get working on.”
The partnership will allow Words + Pictures to significantly expand their development focus in the racing space and work closely with NASCAR Studios on content all across the storytelling spectrum.
“Early into the Full Speed process, I knew we wanted to find more ways to collaborate and capitalize on new opportunities for NASCAR as cultural demand for compelling sports stories continues to grow,” said Tim Clark, NASCAR’s executive vice president and chief brand officer. “Words + Pictures is the premier storyteller in the sports content space, and Connor’s team excels in not just generating big ideas and visions, but executing them in ways that captivate big audiences.”
“It’s such a natural partnership for NASCAR Studios and for me personally,” said John Dahl, whom NASCAR hired in the spring as the company’s new senior vice president of content. “I have so much respect and appreciation for Connor. We’ve had a great working relationship and friendship going back to the creation of ESPN Films and 30 for 30, and I’m excited about all the possibilities we can explore in this new chapter.”
Full Speed Entertainment is in development on a range of projects, with more announcements expected soon. Emmy-winner Tally Hair, who’s an executive producer on Full Speed, will serve as general manager for the new partnership.
About Words + Pictures
Words + Pictures was founded in 2021 by Schell and Peter Chernin, and is backed by Chernin’s The North Road Company. In addition to Full Speed, W+P’s critically acclaimed documentaries and docuseries include the Emmy award-winning Super League: The War for Football (Apple), Full Court Press (ESPN), Giannis: The Marvelous Journey (Prime Video), and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (HBO/CNN Films).
About NASCAR Studios
NASCAR Studios is the dedicated hub for developing world-class, on-demand content and dynamic storytelling executions on behalf of America’s No. 1 form of motorsports, including driver-focused social content, original documentaries, series, short films and features, as well as branded content, studio shows and podcasts. Credited projects include the 2024 Netflix docuseries NASCAR: Full Speed, USA Network’s Race for The Championship, the Sports-Emmy-Award-Winning Netflix documentary RACE: Bubba Wallace, and more.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Sprint Race, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series).
The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, X and Snapchat.
- Details
- Written by Mike Admin
- Category: The Business Of Racing
By: NASCAR
September 27, 2024
September 27, 2024
Kansas City, Kansas – ARCA and Menards announced a multi-year extension that keeps the Eau Claire, Wis.-based home improvement retailer as the entitlement partner for all three series within the ARCA Menards Series platform, including the ARCA Menards Series East and West.
The agreement extends the relationship between two Midwestern-based family-owned companies that trace their roots back to the 1950s. ARCA was started in Toledo, Ohio by John and Mildred Marcum and is overseen by their grandson, Ron Drager. Now in its 72nd season, the ARCA Menards Series has contested over 1500 races at 180 different racetracks. The first Menards opened in 1958, and from humble beginnings the company has grown to 341 stores in 15 states across the Midwest.
“Menards has been the cornerstone of a strong foundation for ARCA and the ARCA Menards Series since 2009 when they became a presenting sponsor,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “That relationship has only become stronger over the years and reached its pinnacle in 2019 when Menards became the series’ entitlement partner. It’s great to be associated with a company that knows racing inside and out and actively participates in building and growing the series. We are proud to continue to carry this relationship into the future.”
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with the ARCA Menards Series,” said John Menard, President/CEO, Menards. “Our customers are hard-working people with strong Midwestern family values, and that aligns perfectly with the ARCA Menards Series, a series made up of hard-working racers who find a way to get things done on and off the racetrack.”
“Menards supports racing because the entire Menard family loves the sport,” said Mike Helton, Senior Advisor, NASCAR. “The continued partnership between Menards and ARCA is a tremendous benefit to the racers who compete in the ARCA Menards Series and the fans all across the country who love to see the stars of tomorrow racing at both grassroots-level short tracks and some of the biggest motorsports venues in the world.”
Acquired by NASCAR in 2018, the ARCA Menards Series platform has proven to be the premier training ground for drivers with aspirations of competing in one of the three NASCAR national series. In 2023, nearly 80% of the drivers racing across the three national NASCAR series – representing dozens of series championships and hundreds of race wins – started their journey in the ARCA platform.
The 2024 ARCA Menards Series championship will be determined on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the series’ home track, Toledo Speedway. The race will be televised live on FS2 starting at 4 pm ET; live timing and scoring data will be available at ARCARacing.com. Follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.
About ARCA
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.