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Haas F1 Team adds Mick Schumacher for 2021 season

By
Andrew Kim
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The Haas F1 Team completed its newly formed driver lineup for the 2021 Formula One season after the team announced the addition of Mick Schumacher, who will embark on his first full-time competition in F1 racing next year.

Schumacher, a 21-year-old German from Vufflens-le-Château, Switzerland, is the son of Michael Schumacher, seven-time Formula One champion. He is also a Formula 2 competitor for Prema Racing, having achieved two victories and 10 podiums this season. He currently leading the championship standings by 14 points entering the series’ pair of final events of the 2020 season at the Bahrain International Circuit scheduled on December 5-6.

The news comes a day after the Haas F1 Team announced that Nikita Mazepin, a Formula 2 competitor from Moscow, Russia, will join the organization as one of the team’s new competitors for the 2021 F1 season. Both Mazepin and Schumacher will replace Haas’ current lineup, featuring Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

“I’m very pleased that we’re able to confirm Mick Schumacher in our driver line-up for next season and I look forward to welcoming him into the team,” Guenther Steiner, Haas’ Team Principal, said. “The Formula 2 Championship has long served as a proving ground for talent to showcase their credentials and this year’s field has undoubtedly been one of the most competitive in recent seasons. Mick has won races, collected podiums and excelled against some pretty exceptional talent in 2020. I firmly believe he’s earned the opportunity to graduate into Formula 1 based on his performances. We have an opportunity ahead of us, as a team, to evaluate and nurture a new driver given our familiarity with our race package heading into 2021. We are putting in place our building blocks for the continued long-term growth of the team and I look forward to Mick’s contributions both on and off the track in that process.”

Schumacher comes into Formula One Racing with an extensive background of racing, having competed in karting before competing in the 2015 ADAC Formula 4 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing. The following year, he competed in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship and the Italian Formula 4 Championship with Prema Powerteam before he campaigned in the 2016-17 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 for MRF Racing. In 2017, Schumacher raced in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship with Prema Powerteam before winning eight races and the championship the following season. In 2019, after joining the Ferrari Academy, he competed in the Formula 2 Championship with Prema Racing, where he achieved his first victory at Hungaroring in Hungary and finished in 12th place in the final standings.

With Mick set to join Haas on a multi-year basis, he is set to become the third member of the Schumacher family to compete in F1, joining his father Michael and uncle Ralf. He will also experience his first laps with Haas in an FP1 at Abu Dhabi next week, where he will then participate in a rookie test a few days following the 2020 F1 finale event at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

“The prospect of being on the Formula 1 grid next year makes me incredibly happy and I’m simply speechless,” Schumacher said. “I would like to thank Haas F1 Team, Scuderia Ferrari and the Ferrari Driver Academy for placing their trust in me. I also want to acknowledge and extend my love to my parents – I know that I owe them everything. I have always believed that I would realise my dream of Formula 1. A huge thank you must also go to all the great motorsport fans out there who have supported me throughout my career. I will give it my all, as I always do, and I look forward to going on this journey together with Haas F1 and them.”

Mick Schumacher is set to make his Formula One debut in the 2021 season-opening event at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit for the Australian Grand Prix on March 21, 2021.

2021 DAYTONA 500 to Have Limited Fan Capacity

By
Official Release
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The Tradition, Pageantry, Excitement and Drama Continues on Sunday, Feb. 14

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2020) – The 63rd Annual DAYTONA 500 will play host to a limited number of fans, but The Great American Race will – as it has since 1959 – continue the tradition of the biggest event in all of motorsports, delivering the pageantry, excitement and drama like nowhere else in the world.

The reduced venue capacity for the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series opener, set for Sunday Feb. 14, as well as all events part of DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth (Feb. 9-14), is due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and is in accordance with enhanced safety protocols and procedures to provide a safe environment for guests, NASCAR competitors, employees and the local community.

“The DAYTONA 500 is one of the greatest spectacles in all of sports, and fans from all over the world converge in Daytona Beach to be a part of motorsport’s biggest day,” said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. “While we won’t be able to have a capacity crowd here in February, we are excited that we can host the DAYTONA 500 with those in attendance, as well as for the millions who will tune in live on FOX.

“The Great American Race will once again have the aura and atmosphere that fans have come to know and love. From the pageantry of our pre-race festivities to the rumble of 40 engines roaring around the high banks, it’s the biggest stage in motorsports.”

As a result of the seating capacity limitations, the Speedway will work to accommodate guests who have already purchased tickets to the 2021 DAYTONA 500. To ensure social distancing between groups who will be in attendance, many fans will be reseated in new locations. The reseating process is expected to be complete by early January.

All guests will be screened before entering the facility and will be required to wear face coverings while maintaining six feet social distancing throughout their visit. Information about your visit to Daytona International Speedway, including all ticket options and safety protocols, can be found by visiting www.DAYTONA500.com/updates or calling 1-800-PITSHOP.

Tickets for the remaining Speedweeks events, and a limited number of premium and extended-stay camping packages, are still available. Fans wishing to attend are encouraged to make their plans early and secure their seats or camping experience now. Excluding the DAYTONA 500 children 12 and under are FREE in the 100 level seating and $10 in all other reserved seating.  In addition to the DAYTONA 500, the rest of the fresh-look on-track Speedweeks action includes:

·         Tuesday, Feb. 9: 43rd Annual Busch Clash At DAYTONA (DAYTONA Road Course under the lights)

·         Wednesday, Feb. 10: DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger

·         Thursday, Feb. 11: Duel At DAYTONA qualifying races

·         Friday, Feb. 12: NextEra Energy 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

·         Saturday, Feb. 13: NASCAR Racing Experience 300 (NASCAR Xfinity Series) and Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire (ARCA Menards) doubleheader


Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.

About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

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 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series and three international 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, Americrown Service and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Russell to Mercedes, Aitken to Williams for 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix

By
Andrew Kim
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With the 2020 FIA Formula One World Championship season two races away from concluding, two championship-winning teams announced a shake-up to its driver lineup for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit scheduled on Sunday, December 6.

The first was the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, which announced that George Russell will be competing for this year’s seven-time Constructors’ championship-winning team at Bahrain, replacing this year’s seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, and be a teammate to Valtteri Bottas.

The news comes a day after Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and was ruled out of the penultimate event of the 2020 F1 season. It also comes following his win at the Bahrain International Circuit last weekend.

For Russell, he currently competes in Formula One for Williams Racing. Following an arrangement between Williams and Mercedes, Russell, who was viewed as a potential candidate to replace Hamilton, was able to make the transition to Mercedes for this weekend’s event at Bahrain.

Russell, a 22-year-old native from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England, is in his second season in F1 competition, having joined Williams in 2019 as an F1 newcomer and a future star. Through 36 career starts in F1, his best results are a pair of 11th- and 12th-place finishes and he has yet to record his first points in F1 racing.

Russell also comes with an extensive background in racing, having started his career through karting. He then won the 2014 BRDC Formula 4 championship before competing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship the following two seasons. In 2017, Russell won the 2017 GP3 Series championship with ART Grand Prix and remained with the team when he competed in the 2018 FIA Formula 2 Championship season, where he won the title.

In early 2017, Russell was added to Mercedes’ junior driver programme. The following season, he was named a reserve competitor for the team before he made his F1 competition debut in 2019 with Williams.

Russell is due to remain at Williams for the 2021 Formula One season along with Williams’ second competitor Nicholas Latifi.

“Firstly, I want to say a huge thank you to everybody at Williams for giving me this opportunity,” Russell said. “I might be wearing a different race suit this weekend, but I’m a Williams driver and I’ll be cheering my team on every step of the way. I see this as a great chance to learn from the best outfit on the grid right now and to come back as an improved driver, with even more energy and experience to help push Williams further up the grid. A big thank you also to Mercedes for putting their faith in me. Obviously, nobody can replace Lewis, but I’ll give my all for the team in his absence from the moment I step in the car. Most importantly, I wish him a speedy recovery. I’m really looking forward to the opportunity and can’t wait to get out on track this week.”

“Our long-term partnership and George’s affiliation with Mercedes is no secret, and so I’m delighted George has this unique opportunity to join Mercedes, the current Constructors’ Champions,” Simon Roberts, Williams’ Acting Team Principal, added. “We have been working hard to ensure that an agreement could be made with Mercedes to allow him this fantastic opportunity. George very much remains a Williams driver and we look forward to him returning to us fresh from this experience and wish him a successful race this weekend.”

With his absence, Hamilton will not compete in an F1 event since 2006, thus snapping his 265-race consecutive starting streak that spans back to the 2007 Australian Grand Prix.

His absence also comes more than two weeks after Hamilton claimed his record-tying seventh world championship following his victory in the Turkish Grand Prix at Intercity Istanbul Park, tying him with Michael Schumacher for the most F1 titles in history. The 35-year-old native from Stevenage, England, has won 11 of 15 Grand Prix events this season, totaling his career wins in F1 to an all-time record 95. He has also achieved 10 poles this season, totaling his career poles in F1 to 98.

With Russell temporarily joining Mercedes, the second driver announcement came from Williams Racing, which announced that Jack Aitken will be making his F1 debut with the team at Bahrain and compete alongside teammate Latifi.

Aitken, a 25-year-old native from London, England, who holds dual British and Korean nationality, is a Formula 2 competitor for Campos Racing. This season, he has achieved two podium results and is in 14th place in the Drivers’ standings entering the series’ pair of final races of the 2020 season at the Bahrain International Circuit.

Aitken comes into F1 competition with an extensive background in racing, having started his career through karting at age seven. He competed in the 2013 Formula Renault 2.0 NEC with Fortec Motorsports. Following a full-time Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 run with Fortec Motorsports in 2014, he remained in the series and joined forces with Koiranen GP in 2015, where he went on to win the championship. Throughout 2015, he also claimed the Formula Renault 2.0 Alps and the Pro Mazda Winterfest. He then competed in the GP3 Series with Arden International in 2016 before joining forces with ART Grand Prix the following season, where he finished in second place in the final standings behind the champion George Russell. Since 2018, Aitken competes in F2, where he has won a total of four races (2018-19).

In addition to racing in Formula 2, Aitken is a reserve driver for Williams Racing. He is also a former reserve/test driver for the Renault F1 Team. He tested a Lotus at Circuito de Jerez in late 2017 and competed in Williams’ FP1 during the practice session of this year’s Styrian Grand Prix at Austria’s Red Bull Ring.

“I’m absolutely over the moon to have the opportunity to make my debut with Williams this coming weekend and I am extremely happy for George to have his chance too,” said Aitken. “I really mean it when I say I’ve felt very much at home here since I joined Williams earlier this year, so to get my chance to help the team try to achieve that elusive points finish is an extremely satisfying occasion to say the least. I’ll be doing all I can to prepare in the coming days, but truthfully, I feel like I have been ready since Melbourne. I also want to wish Lewis well in his recovery, and good luck to George getting the chance to drive the Mercedes this weekend.”

“We are also thrilled this means we are able to give another British talent in Jack Aitken the opportunity to make his Formula One race debut,” Roberts added. “Jack joined Williams at the start of this season, and despite COVID-19 restrictions meaning we haven’t been able to interact with him as much as we would like, he has quickly become a much-liked member of the team. We look forward to seeing him build on his previous experience driving the car in practice, to see what he can do in a qualifying and race situation.”

Russell’s move to Mercedes and Aitken’s move to Williams are two of three new driver-team pairings for the upcoming Sakhir Grand Prix, with Pietro Fittipaldi set to compete for Haas F1 Team at Bahrain and filling in for the injured Romain Grosjean, who continues to recover from injuries sustained following his accident in the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend.

The Sakhir Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit is set to occur on Sunday, December 6.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Austin Cindric Set for Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Sebring 12 Hour at Sebring International Raceway This Weekend

By
Official Release
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Recently Crowned NASCAR Xfinity Series Champ Co-Drives in HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour with Longtime Friend and Supporter David Roberts in 2009 No. 2 Audi R8 LMS Prepared by CRP Racing

Fifth Running of HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour Presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network This Weekend at Sebring International Raceway, December 3 – 6

SEBRING, Florida (December 2, 2020) – Recently crowned 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion Austin Cindric is set to compete in this weekend’s Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Sebring 12 Hour presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network at Sebring International Raceway, December 3 – 6.

Cindric, less than a month removed from clinching the Xfinity Series title in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford in Phoenix on November 7, co-drives the CRP Racing-prepared 2009 No. 2 Audi R8 LMS at Sebring this weekend with longtime family friend and supporter David Roberts.

“I have known Austin for approximately nine to 10 years and met him through his Dad, Tim Cindric, when my company sponsored CRP Racing in SCCA World Challenge,” Roberts said. “We were at the same tracks on many weekends with IndyCar, and that provided me with the opportunity to follow Austin early on in an F2000 open wheel car as he was just starting on the ‘Road to Indy.’”

Tim Cindric began looking for an opportunity for Austin to get some seat time in a sports car and Roberts offered a ride in his Porsche 944 Turbo Club Sport.

“The HSR Savannah event was approaching and I felt that would be a great place for Austin to get his start in sports cars,” Roberts said. “Taking it easy because his Dad told him to, he finished second in his first race on Saturday. On Sunday, Tim turned him loose and he won the second race of the weekend while earning the respect of his fellow competitors.”

That Savannah HSR weekend was a significant one for Austin.

“Without a doubt, Dave has always been an integral part of my career,” Cindric said. “I always joke and say Dave was the first person to ‘put a roof over my head!’ The first time I was in a full-bodied race car was in Dave’s Porsche 944 Turbo down in Savannah a bunch of years ago. For him to be able to trust me in that car at a young age was pretty unique. I was really nervous about not damaging the car but also some really cool cars I was sharing the track with. HSR always brings out some really cool vintage cars and it was pretty special to be out there racing with them at such a young age.”

A tribute race to the 12 Hours of Sebring, the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour celebrates not only the legendary race cars that have competed at Sebring over the last half century but also the rich military aviation history that first put Sebring on the map.

“I ran in the 12 Hours of Sebring with the Lexus GTD program in 2017 and I am no stranger to the track,” Cindric said. “I have done a lot of open-wheel races there, but it has probably been since 2017 that I have been there. I haven’t had the opportunity to go back until now.”

Roberts watched nearly all of Cindric’s Xfinity Series races this year, straight through the title-clinching finale in Phoenix.

“After Austin won the championship, we exchanged a number of texts and I asked him if he would like to get back into a sports car,” Roberts said. “He responded almost immediately that he would like to race at Sebring, so here we are.”

“Throughout my career, David has been a great supporter of mine and also a great friend,” Cindric said. “It’s great to have the best season of my racing career – winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship – and in some ways being able to end the year having come full circle. This is the last event I plan to run this year, and to go to a track like Sebring and race some cool old cars back in HSR and have some fun is a great opportunity.”

In addition to the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour, the season-ending HSR weekend also features the HSR Sebring Historics. Races on that event’s schedule include the final 2020 rounds of the HSR WeatherTech Sprint Series, the HSR B.R.M. Chronographes Endurance Challenge races, HSR Stoner Car Care Global GT, HSR Classic RS Cup and the HSR Sasco Sports International/American Challenge.

Detailed event information for the Classic Sebring 12 Hour and Sebring Historics, including weekend schedules and entry lists, is available at www.HSRRace.com.

Spectator tickets for the HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour are available on-site at Sebring International Raceway beginning Thursday, December 3. For more information please visit www.HSRTickets.com.

Noteworthy: Cindric’s talent behind the wheel wasn’t the main thing that impressed Roberts when they first met. “I became a huge fan of Austin, but not because of his driving ability, but because of the way he handled himself as a young man, Roberts said. “It has actually taken me until this year to become ‘Dave’ rather than ‘Mr. Roberts’ in the eyes of Austin! Tim and his mother Megan Cindric did a great job raising him.”

About HSR: Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the race cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter and Instagram at @HSR_race. A dedicated website for the Classic 24 Hour at Daytona presented by IMSA is available at www.Classic24hour.com.

BRODY ROA FINISHED THE 2020 SEASON AT 53RD ANNUAL WESTERN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – CHILI BOWL NEXT

By
Official Release
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(Cypress, CA, December 1, 2020) Garden Grove, California’s Brody Roa wrapped up his 2020 racing season at the 53rd Annual Western World Championships at the Arizona Speedway in mid-November. Up next for the veteran racer will be the 35th Annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma in early 2021. 

Like most, the Covid crisis has wreaked havoc for the 29-year-old racer in 2020.  At the famous Western World event, he was finally getting to race his familiar #91R car for the first time since early March.  The racing excursion started off well enough for Roa as he spent a day at the river with his wife and new baby daughter.  After the day of relaxation, it was time to get his race face on and get to doing what he does so well.  That is racing a sprint car in the USAC/CRA and USAC Southwest Series. 

The first night of the Western World started out well enough for the 2019 Southwest Series champ as he qualified ninth fastest in the 34-car field with a time of 15.335.  He backed that up with a second-place finish in his eight-lap heat race and thus earned the pole position for the A main event. 

Once the green flag flew for the 30-lap main, Roa steered his eye-catching black and green race car into the lead.  The veteran driver faced stiff challenges for the top spot, but he fended each one off over the first 12-laps.  After a tenacious scrap for the top, he slipped back to second on the 13th circuit.  The likable driver then found himself in a battle for the runner-up position.  Unfortunately, that battle did not turn out the way Roa would have liked.  While trying to take second back coming off turn two on the 14th lap, contact with the car he was battling with sent him catapulting towards the crashwall.  He careened backward before finally making violent contact with the wall and then becoming airborne again.  While it did not flip, all four corners of the car made hard contact with the wall or track in the crash.  While frustrated, the veteran driver emerged from the crash unscathed.  The same could not be said for his car.  It was battered and beaten and too damaged to continue.  He ended up with a 21st place finish, which was a bitter pill to swallow after leading more laps than any driver in the race.

It was immediately apparent that due to the extensive damage the car sustained in the crash, crew chief Zac Bozonich and his helpers would have to roll out a backup car for Saturday night’s portion of the show. 

With the back up steed ready to go, Roa qualified 12th out of 31-cars for Saturday’s finale with a 15.815.  He then placed sixth in his heat race.  That left him two spots out of a transfer position and would force him to contest the B main.

A third-place finish in the B main was more than good enough to get Roa into the Western World A Main Event.  He started on the outside of the 14th row and immediately became embroiled in a sensational fight with nearly half of the field that went on for the entire race.  At one point he slid back as far as 19th but he doggedly clawed his way back.  In the final three laps, he swiftly moved forward and secured a hard-earned 10th place finish. 

December will provide a month off from racing for Roa and the team.  Soon after the New Year, he will be heading off to Tulsa for the Chili Bowl that begins on January 11th.   

Roa, his wife Tailor, newborn daughter Addison Leanne and the entire Brody Roa Performance team wish everyone a merry and safe Christmas and a happy New Year.

Roa and the team would like to thank the following for being on board with them on the #91R.  HD Industries, Burris Racing, Competition Suspension, Sander Engineering, Biker Bruce Fisher, K-1 Race Gear, Molecule, Rod End Supply and Baldwin Filters.  If you or your company would like to jump on board the 2021 season, please give the talented racer a call at (714) 932-7994 or E-mail brodyroa91@gmail.com.  He also wants to than car owner Jayson May and the #8M sponsors, Fastenal, Coopers Propane, Total Lubricants, Marina Pools, TJM Oilfield Distribution, Certex, and Biker Bruce for giving him such a fast car.

To view Roa’s online portfolio and learn more about the team, please click on the following link https://www.teamwithbrody.com/.  Fans can also follow the 2020 action on his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/br91r/.

To keep up with May Motorsports, please check out its Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/MayMotorsports8M

Top 5 Signs Your Car Is Due for Repair

By
SM
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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Cars are arguably the most accessible means of transportation today. They are technological marvels designed to function and transport us for thousands of miles. Despite this, they require routine maintenance and repairs, which can result in untold damage if not completed. If your car shows any of the following signs, then it may be time to take it to the auto shop for repairs.

Fluid Leaks

Leaks are a common car issue that signals that there is a problem with your motor vehicle. While this problem might be minor initially, it will grow into something significant if you do not attend to it. Some systems in your car work efficiently because of certain fluids, and when these fluids become unavailable due to leakage, it spells trouble. If you are looking for where to go for auto repairs, Crash Champions is the ideal auto repair shop to visit.

Knocking Noise

If you hear a knocking noise from the hood of your high-tech car while driving, then your vehicle is due for a repair. A knocking noise results from worn-out engine bearings and will require extensive repairs to resolve. Engine bearings are what moving parts of a vehicle engine rests on. As such, if you do not repair, you will be risking an engine seizure, which does not bode well for your car.

Engine bearings wear out due to extensive mileage or inadequate lubrication. While damage due to mileage is unavoidable, damage due to poor lubrication is. Therefore, always lubricate your engine appropriately and with the proper fluids. So ensure you get where you need to go in the years to come with a reliable vehicle and service from America’s Auto Care & Tire.

Pulling

Pulling occurs when your vehicle jerks to the right or the left while driving. Common causes of this phenomenon include a troubled suspension and problems with the wheel alignment. Fixing such car issues immediately will help prevent further damages which may lead to costly repairs.

Engine Light

If your engine light goes off and comes on, you can be sure your car has a problem that needs fixing. Your engine light going off can indicate any of a wide range of issues, which you wouldn’t be able to ascertain on your own. However, a technician will be able to run diagnostics to figure out the problem and how to solve it.

Excessive Exhaust Smoke

If your sport car’s exhaust suddenly starts releasing a large volume of smoke, especially colored, it is an indicator that there is a problem. Different colors point to various problems, such as:

  • Blue colored smoke indicates that oil is being burnt inside the motor due to an oil leak
  • White-colored smoke points to mixing coolant fluid and gasoline in the combustion chamber due to a coolant leak
  • Black smoke indicates that your engine is burning too much gasoline

Endnote

A car that is used regularly is likely to develop issues. If you experience any of these signs, then it is time to take your car for a repair. If you fail to do so, you should be ready for even significant damage, which can render your car useless and irreparable.

Tips on Inspecting Your Vehicle’s Tyres

By
SM
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Your tyres are a significant part of the overall driving experience as well as the vehicle’s safe performance. Tyres are, quite literally, where the rubber meets the road. They help with accelerating, braking, and controlling the vehicle, and a reliable set of tyres will make the difference between a safe ride and a dangerous one. With regular inspections, it’s possible to spot tyre problems before they get serious. Here are a few tips on tyre inspection.

Check the Depth of the Tread

When tyres have enough tread, they have sufficient traction to hold onto the road. If the tread on your car tyres is less than .15mm deep, it’s time to replace them. Worn tread makes a vehicle unsafe, and it also decreases its handling capabilities. Most tyres have tread wear indicator bars built in, which makes it easy to track tyre wear. If the tread wear indicator bar is even with the tyre’s ribs, it’s time to buy new tyres.

Check the Tyre Pressure

It’s easy to use a tyre pressure gauge to ensure proper inflation. The right pressure for a vehicle’s tyres can be found on a placard inside the driver’s side door or the owner’s manual. Proper tyre pressure helps keep us safe on the road, and it’s important to ensure that each tyre on your vehicle is inflated to the right kg/square meter. Compare the reading you get to the figure recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

Inspect the Tyres’ Sidewalls

Next, examine the tyres’ sidewalls for gouges, scrapes, cracks, and bulges. Cracking typically occurs when the rubber on a tyre starts to degrade from normal wear and elemental exposure. Cracks and bulges indicate the possibility of imminent tyre failure, which means it’s best to replace such a tyre as soon as possible.

Selecting New Tyres

After you’ve decided to change your 4X4 tyres, it becomes easier to select a new set. Start by assessing your usage habits, as well as the seasons and terrain in which you drive. Afterward, it’s simple to find a tyre that suits your driving style.

Maintenance is Essential

Tyre rotation, wheel alignment, and tyre balancing also help tyres become more effective. Age is another crucial consideration; a set of tyres can last up to five years. Maintaining your tyres isn’t just easy and quick, but it also helps keep you safe while saving money. Visit your local online tyre shop for tips on assessing your tyres and ensuring their longevity. If your tyres are worn or damaged, so is your vehicle. When tyres show signs of damage or wear, have them inspected to determine the need for replacement or repair.

ARCA Menards Series 2021 Schedule Features 20 Races at 19 Tracks

By
Official Release
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Season Kicks Off at DAYTONA in February, Concludes at Kansas in October

The ARCA Menards Series has finalized its 2021 schedule, which opens on Saturday, February 13 at DAYTONA International Speedway and concludes at Kansas Speedway in October. The 20-race schedule will be contested at 19 different venues, and will once again include the Sioux Chief Showdown, a series-within-the-series that is designed to bring together top teams from the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West.

The diverse schedule includes stops at superspeedways, intermediate tracks, road courses, paved short tracks and a pair of one-mile dirt tracks.

Highlights include:

  • Eleven races run in conjunction with one or more of the NASCAR national touring series – the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series – including stops at DAYTONA, Phoenix Raceway, Talladega Superspeedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Pocono Raceway, Watkins Glen International, Michigan International Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and Kansas Speedway.
  • Kansas Speedway will be the only venue to host two races, one in May and then the season finale in October.
  • The series will visit its home track, Toledo Speedway, for the 81st time on Saturday, May 22, return to Minnesota’s Elko Speedway on Saturday, July 10, and visit Indiana’s Salem Speedway on Saturday, September 25 for the final short track race of the season.The Elko race kicks off a stretch of four short track races in four weeks, with additional stops at Berlin Raceway in Michigan, Iowa Speedway, and Indiana’s Winchester Speedway on consecutive Saturdays.
  • Two road course races are on the calendar, the first on June 4 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in conjunction with the track’s NASCAR Xfinity Series weekend, and the second at Watkins Glen International on August 6, part of a quadruple-header with the NASCAR Camping World Trucks, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • A trio of stops at historic fairgrounds, with the two traditional mile-dirt races at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield and DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois sandwiched around a return visit to the historic Milwaukee Mile at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin. It marks the first time since 2007 the series will race at Milwaukee. The Springfield race is the second part of a weekend double-header as the series will compete two days prior at Michigan International Speedway.
  • The race at Charlotte and the fall race at Kansas are on a flex schedule and could be moved by a day.

The Sioux Chief Showdown, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West and the broadcast schedules are currently being finalized and will be released in the coming weeks.

The complete 2021 ARCA Menards Series Schedule –

Date Track Location
Sat., 2/13 DAYTONA International Speedway Daytona Beach, FL
Fri., 3/12 Phoenix Raceway Avondale, AZ
Sat., 4/24 Talladega Superspeedway Talladega, AL
Sat., 5/1 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS
Sat., 5/22 Toledo Speedway Toledo, OH
Fri./Sat., 5/28-29 (F) Charlotte Motor Speedway Concord, NC
Fri., 6/4 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, OH
Fri., 6/25 Pocono Raceway Long Pond, PA
Sat., 7/10 Elko Speedway Elko, MN
Sat., 7/17 Berlin Raceway Marne, MI
Sat., 7/24 Iowa Speedway Newton, IA
Sat., 7/31 Winchester Speedway Winchester, IN
Fri., 8/6 Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, NY
Fri., 8/20 Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, MI
Sun., 8/22 Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL
Sun., 8/29 Milwaukee Mile West Allis, WI
Sun., 9/5 DuQuoin State Fairgrounds DuQuoin, IL
Thur., 9/16 Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol, TN
Sat., 9/25 Salem Speedway Salem, IN
Sat/Sun., 10/23-24 (F) Kansas Speedway Kansas City, KS

(F) denotes race that is on a Flex Schedule and could be moved by a day
**All dates are tentative and subject to change.

ARCA MENARDS SERIES RETURNS TO PHOENIX RACEWAY IN 2021 WITH TWO EVENTS INCLUDING WEST SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP, NOVEMBER 6

By
Official Release
-

PHOENIX (Dec. 1, 2020) – Phoenix Raceway today announced the return of the ARCA Menards Series in 2021 with races during each of the two annual NASCAR event weekends, including the ARCA Menards Series West championship event on November 6 as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend. The series is the top developmental ladder for drivers looking to make the next step to one of NASCAR’s three national series as well as a proving ground for some of the best short-track veterans.

“We’re thrilled to host the ARCA Menards Series for two events at Phoenix Raceway once again in 2021 and look forward to crowning another champion in the series next November,” said Phoenix Raceway President Julie Giese. “It’s important that we continue delivering action-packed on-track excitement for our fans and this series offers us that opportunity while also showcasing many of the up-and-coming drivers in stock car racing.”

The series’ first stop through the Valley of the Sun at Phoenix Raceway will be on Friday, March 12 as part of the track’s NASCAR spring event weekend featuring the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series. This ARCA Menards Series event will be the first race in the Sioux Chief Showdown, a ten-race series within a series that brings together the best from the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West.

The ARCA Menards Series West will once again crown its season champion at Phoenix Raceway when the series returns as part of a Saturday doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship on November 6. The event will be one of four championship races over three days as part of NASCAR Championship Weekend, which will also include the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship and the NASCAR Cup Series championship. ARCA Menards Series West crowned a champion at Phoenix for the first time earlier this year when 15-year-old California-native Jesse Love took home his first ARCA title.

Fans looking to get their tickets to the ARCA Menards Series race on March 12 can do so now by visiting PhoenixRaceway.com or by calling 866-408-RACE (7223). Tickets for the ARCA Menards Series West championship race on November 6 are available now through the purchase of 2021 season tickets ahead of NASCAR Championship Weekend single-event tickets going on sale at a later date.

About Phoenix Raceway

Home to the 2021 NASCAR Championship Weekend, Phoenix Raceway has been the premier motorsports venue in the Southwest since 1964 and hosts two NASCAR race weekends each year. In 2021, the spring event weekend, March 12-14, kicks off the race season at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Menards Series. For only the second time in the history of the sport, Phoenix Raceway will host the NASCAR Championship Weekend, November 5-7. Over the three-day event, champions will be crowned in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series West. Phoenix Raceway also hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including corporate meetings and conferences, charity events, holiday events, sport and endurance competitions, driving schools and Segway tours. For more information, visit www.PhoenixRaceway.com.

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 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR consists of three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series™), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour), one local grassroots series and three international 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, Americrown Service and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat (‘NASCAR’).

Nikita Mazepin named Haas F1 competitor for 2021 season

By
Andrew Kim
-

Haas F1 Team announced Nikita Mazepin has inked a multi-year contract to drive for America’s lone Formula One team for the 2021 season, which will mark Mazepin’s first competition in F1.

Mazepin, a 21-year-old native from Moscow, Russia, currently competes in the FIA Formula 2 Championship for Hitech Racing. He won his first two F2 career races this season in featured events (Silverstone Circuit and Mugello Circuit), he has achieved six podium results and he is ranked in third place in the Drivers’ standings with the series entering its pair of final races of the season at the Bahrian International Circuit on December 5-6.

The announcement of Mazepin joining Haas is all part of Haas’ new driver roster for the 2021 season after the team announced in late October that Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen will not be returning next season.

“I’m delighted that Nikita Mazepin will be driving for Haas F1 Team next season,” Guenther Steiner, Haas’ Team Principal, said. “Nikita has underlined his credentials in Formula 2 this year with a brace of victories and a handful of podiums in what’s been a strong sophomore season for him. He’s developed into a mature racer moving up through the junior ranks – notably most recently in the GP3 Series, where he finished runner-up in 2018, and obviously in Formula 2 over the past two seasons. I’m excited to see what Nikita can achieve in Formula 1 and we look forward to giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of world motorsport. With a record-setting 23 race schedule set for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship, he’s going to get plenty of track action to learn all the nuances of Grand Prix racing.”

Mazepin comes into Formula One racing with an extensive background in racing, having competed in the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC for Josef Kaufmann Racing and the Toyota Racing Series for ETEC Motorsport in 2015 before racing in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship the following two seasons for Hitech GP. He then competed in the GP3 Series for ART Grand Prix in 2018, where he won four races and finished in second place in the final standings. The following season, he competed in the FIA Formula 2 Championship season for ART Grand Prix, where he claimed two poles and finished in 18th place in the final standings. He also competed in the 2019-20 F3 Asian Championship with Hitech Grand Prix, where he finished in third place in the final standings.

Mazepin is also a former F1 test competitor for Force India and the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team. He is set to become the fourth Russian to compete in Formula One, joining Vitaly Petrov, Sergey Sirotkin and Daniil Kvyat.

“Becoming a Formula 1 driver is a lifelong dream come true for me,” Mazepin said. “I really appreciate the trust being put in me by Gene Haas, Guenther Steiner, and the whole of the team. They’re giving a young driver an opportunity and I thank them for that. I’m looking forward to starting our relationship together, both on and off the track, and I’m naturally keen to continue to demonstrate my abilities after a strong Formula 2 season. The team will be looking to me for feedback and inputs in order to refine its package for 2021 and beyond. I will take that responsibility on and can’t wait to get started.”

An announcement of Haas’ second competitor for the 2021 F1 season will be announced at a later date.

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