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The Best High-Tech Cars for 2020

By
SM
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Technology is dominating the world now in almost every industry and the automobile industry is one of them. Vehicles of this modern world do much then just drive and stop. Car manufacturers are working with their IT partners to bring exceptional inventions to the modern automotive industry. The main goal is to provide people the most comfortable and secure car using the high-technology. 

Technology is bringing new changes to vehicles. We are all witnessing these changes as the many well-reputed car brands are launching vehicles with new and high-tech features every year. Most of these technologies enhance vehicle style and appeal. Also, modern automobiles are more secure and comfortable as compared to the old cars. Modern vehicles also have widescreen displays and advance the infotainment system. 

Most high-tech cars come with higher prices. The average price of modern cars is more than 37 thousand dollars and it is increasing along with the technology. The automotive industry will be on another level in the upcoming years with the successful launch of autonomous cars. In fact, cars running on the roads right now are equipped with modern gadgets and gizmos. You can buy high-tech cars or contact any Car Rental Dubai company to hire your dream vehicle. 

Here is the list of top 7 high-tech cars of 2020 with advanced technology and features:

Tesla Model S

If we talk about tech-driven and expensive cars, no one can compare Tesla cars. This car costs you 145,000 dollar and we recommend you the P100D version because of its exclusive features. This car can easily go from 0 to 60 in just 3 seconds and it has features of semi-autonomous cars. This car will make your head spin with its exclusive features and amazing hardware and software. It has 8 different video cameras and 12 sensors for car safety. All of these technologies make Tesla the best and most advanced car in the automotive industry. Moreover, it is the best electronic car so far. 

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8

The best and most balanced car is Chevrolet especially when it gets in the center of the road. This car is dominating and competing with mid-engine exotic cars like Ferrari. According to the chief engineer of Corvette the engine of this car is designed with the installation of a highly advanced mechanics level. This features it making it stand alone in the market. The 2019 model of this car comes up with 495 hp, scorches to almost 60 miles per hour in just a matter of 3 seconds. The brand announces that they will launch another car soon with more advanced and high-tech features. It is one of the most premium and best cars designed by Corvette at just 60 thousand dollars. 

KIA Niro 2020

The Kia Niro speaks for its own as it is an affordable but high-tech miracle in the automotive industry. It comes with the 3 different powertrain options that can be propelled by hybrid power. The best thing about Kia is that it has a full battery-electric drivetrain with no international engine combustion. It provides a mileage of 52 MPs within the city and 49 mpg on motorways. This high-tech car comes with an 8-inch UVO touch-screen that supports apple and android car play. It also has automatic climate control that is standard for all models of KIA. The other features include automatic emergency braking, lane assisting, driver drowsiness monitoring, etc. 

Audi Q7 2020

Audi Q7 comes with 3 brilliant and full-color displays that demand the customer’s attention. This car has earned the best UX trophy award 2020. Audi Q7 has a reconfigurable cockpit in front of the driver seat. The 2 horizontal glass displays staked on the center of each console. Its lower MMI screen helps to control all the comfort and climate settings while the upper screen area is to control the infotainment settings. The other features of Q7 include the charging plus, climate controls, Wi-Fi hotspot, phone pairing. Moreover, its sexy design is worth mentioning as it also replaces the buttons with virtual buttons that are highly reconfigurable. 

Sierra Denali 1500

You can find many cool and inspiring features in this car like a shock absorber, tired treads, etc. This car comes up with a durable and stylish body design as well. Sierra Denali has a wireless charging pad, collision warnings, and automatic high-beam lights for driving at night time. The best part is the bose sound system that prevents the noise and makes this car more comfortable. The built-in special haptic vibration system alerts the driver when the car is too far to the right or left. Moreover, this car is more sophisticated and you are going to love its class. 

Volvo S90

According to Volvo claims, Sedan S90 is equipped with the latest technology than any other automobile right now. Well, it’s a claim made by them but we can’t say a thing about it. Although, we are sure that this is one of the most advanced cars on the road in 2020. The features of S90 include a cyclist, built-in animal detection system, auto braking system, and impressive car design. The advanced brake system of this car remains active up to 80 miles per hour. It detects the road edge as well. It also offers parking assist features and headlights that help to illuminate the road curves in dark. Moreover, it has a 9-inch touch screen to connect to different devices.

Ford Mustang

The latest Mustang infuses the muscle car with the most impressive and modern technology. Ford works to modernize its classic cars and that’s why they have outfitted the 12-inch display screen so that drivers can easily enable the settings. This car will memorize the referred settings adjusted by the driver. Moreover, the Mustang also boasts voice command technology along with other distance warnings. It also has speed automatic transmission control to smooth the rides. The price range of the Ford Mustang starts from 40 thousand dollars. 

Final thoughts

Buy any of these top-tech cars 2020 or just rent it out from RentalcarsUAE at a much affordable price. You can get these cars on a daily, weekly, or Monthly Car Rental Dubai basis easily. Also, you don’t have to pay any fee for car pick-up and drop-off. 

CORVETTE RACING IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Saluting Oliver Gavin

By
Official Release
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DETROIT (Nov. 12, 2020) – Track action for Corvette Racing at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring begins today, as does the final event weekend for Oliver Gavin as a full-time driver in the program. The Corvette Racing veteran will step away from full-time competition after a 19-year run that has seen him set nearly every record of success in team history.

Gavin and his full-season Corvette Racing teammates – Antonio Garcia, Jordan Taylor and Tommy Milner – give their thoughts on a record-setting career that started, of all places, at Sebring International Raceway in a preseason test ahead of the 2002 season…

OLIVER GAVIN, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “It’s almost like things are coming full circle. The first place I ever drove a Corvette was at Sebring in November of 2001. That test day is one I’ll always remember. Driving the C5-R out of the pitlane… the noise, the vibration, the rumble and just the physicality of driving that car was extraordinary. The torque from the motor and the delivery was like being in a force of nature in the way that it ripped around the track. Now all of these years on and being in this mid-engine C8.R – with all the downforce, the refinement and all-around feel of a well-refined racecar… it’s a joy to drive it around Sebring. We’ve worked for so many years with partners like Michelin and Mobil 1 that all refined their product and equipment to such a high level now. You know you’re going to get a great product straight out the gate and on the first lap. It’s been an amazing journey. Things will be emotional, for sure. Being with the same team for 19 years, you’d have to have a heart of stone to not feel somewhat emotional about it. But I want to go about and do my job right and well, and finish up with a strong result to get second place in the championship tied up for Tommy and I. Plus it would help to finish off my driving relationship with Tommy on a high note. It would be amazing to stand on that top step one more time.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R – GAVIN’S TEAMMATE SINCE 2012: “Olly has been the single biggest influence on my time at Corvette Racing. We’ve had nine years as teammates and nine years of really good racing – the best races of my career and the best memories. He’s been an integral part of what you see on the results sheets of the successes I’ve had. His contributions to the team are long and storied. I got my first ALMS win in 2012 in our first season together. I’ll never forget standing there at Long Beach in pitlane, watching the screens and not believing what I was seeing. I had been racing in the series since 2006, and to finally get that first win was completely on him. I brought the car back to the pits in one piece and he did the rest. Having him as a teammate with how fast he is and how experienced he is… to be able to lean on someone like that in a growing year for me was huge. When you look at results and stat sheets, his contributions to Corvette Racing are obvious. On top of that, everything behind the scenes as a teammate is as good if not better than what you see on the track. And he’s maintained that same style and passion to find every tenth of a second that he can and motivating all the guys on the team to get as much out of themselves as they can. There is no doubting his will to win and passion for success.”

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Oliver has been a big influence on me in my career. When I was driving for another manufacturer, Olly and Jan (Magnussen) were the only Europeans at Corvette Racing. Those were the two I really paid attention to. When we started competing against Corvette, I knew Olly was one of their strongest guys. As soon as I saw the opportunity to join Corvette, he was one of my references. I learned from him but also had to fight with him, which at the beginning was a struggle. I was very inexperienced compared to where I am now, and he was amazingly fast. It took a long time for me to match his pace, but slowly and slowly I took the lessons I learned from him; I think in past years we’ve started to learn from each other. Being able to compete together for so long as teammates gives you that opportunity. I feel like we both brought the entire team up.

“One of the things that Olly has – similar to me – is that he is super competitive. That’s why he has been and continues to be so solid now. He’s very professional in the way he prepares for each race. One of the important things I’ve gotten from Olly is the amount of preparation he puts into each season and every event. That’s been a huge reference for me – to see someone who can go that fast but is still a little older than me. It’s a great target. If I can get as far he has with the team, I will be more than pleased.”

JORDAN TAYLOR, NO. 3 MOBIL 1/SiriusXM CHEVROLET CORVETTE C8.R: “Oliver has been a staple of Corvette Racing. As a fan growing up and watching the team, he was there and always was the one to root for – the top dog and winning a lot of races. So I was a fan to begin with and then moved into competing against him in GRAND-AM when we were both racing Camaros. I remember my first race against him at VIR. I was terrified that I was in similar equipment and on the track at the same time, just knowing that I have this legend I’m racing against and how could I ever compete against him. Since then, he’s been a good friend and teammate even when we weren’t in the same car. He always treated me so well and offered a helping hand when I needed it or gave advice if I had questions when I went into the third-driver role at Corvette Racing. That was huge for me as a young guy – to come into such an intimidating team and organization to have someone at that level to be mentor. He’s been a huge help. They say to never meet your heroes, but to meet him and work with him is everything I could hope for. It’s been great to spend more time with him, getting to know him better as a person, a dad, a friend and an athlete has been a lot of fun. We’ll all miss him inside the team, but I’m sure we’ll stay connected and work with each other down the road.”

The Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring is set for 10:10 a.m. ET on Saturday. NBCSN will air the race live from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and 6-10:30 p.m. ET; live network coverage on NBC is 3-6 p.m. TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold will offer live streaming of the full race starting at 10:05 a.m. ET. In addition, IMSA Radio will broadcast the race on IMSA.com, which also will host live timing and scoring.

The race also will air on XM channel 202 and SiriusXM Online 972.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, available in 75 countries with nearly 4 million cars and trucks sold in 2019. Chevrolet models include electric and fuel-efficient vehicles that feature engaging performance, design that makes the heart beat, passive and active safety features and easy-to-use technology, all at a value. More information on Chevrolet models can be found www.chevrolet.com.

Video Games: Why They’re Effective Employee Training Tools

By
SM
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Losing high-performing workers is always difficult. For one, you lose out on top talent. It’s also more costly to hire and train a new employee compared to keeping one. If you want to hire and retain more great employees, you need to invest in their development.

According to LinkedIn’s 2018 Workplace Learning Report, over 94 percent of workers say that they’ll stay in their company for longer if their employers invest in their career development. The researchers also found that workers find soft skills, like leadership, collaboration, and communication, to be the most important ones to learn and develop. Identifying and addressing skill gaps and integrating technology into their work are also seen as important focuses on talent development along with tools such as the performance review software to track efficiency and performance.

When it comes to training methods, the report also found that digital methods are on the rise. In-person, classroom-style training methods are a thing of the past. More than 68 percent of workers want to learn at work and at their own pace. As such, it’s important to provide convenient and interesting methods for learning. These include online lessons through your own e-learning platform or through portals like Udemy.

Using Video Games for Training

Another interesting and fun way to train your employees is through video games. You read that right, video games are actually effective at teaching workers essential skills and knowledge for their job. A 2010 University of Colorado Business School paper reviewed over 65 studies and analyzed over 6,476 trainees. They found that trainees that underwent programs that utilized video games had a 14 percent better skill-based knowledge level, 11 percent higher factual knowledge level, and nine percent higher retention rate than those who didn’t use video games for their training.

A well-known and more specific case of the effectiveness of video games for training is Walmart. According to an article in TechRepublic, the shopping giant successfully adopted gamification in their training routine. They did this by providing employees with a proprietary application on their phone. This allowed them to participate in a variety of simulations, including responding to emergencies, handling a high volume of customers (which is especially important during Black Friday sales), and more.

These are trial-and-error situations that help personnel handle real-life ones with increased confidence since they’ve already seen and solved it. What’s great about these games is that employees get to experience these true-to-life simulations without having the pressure of a performance review looming over them.

The training simulation was so fun and useful that employees played the game during their break times and did friendly competitions with their coworkers. But why exactly are video games so effective for training?

Inspires Creativity When Solving Problems

Video games that provide a way for employees to test their skills through trial and error don’t have to worry about real-life consequences if they fail in-game. With this mindset, they can craft creative strategies to solve their work problems. Make sure the game you use for training provides realistic situations, so they can use their newly-formed work style when they finally have to face their real tasks. For example, a flight school often uses flight simulators with true-to-life tools and meters to prepare their students for their real flights.

Instills Confidence and Motivation

A well-made game for training provides clear instructions and objectives for students to follow. When they master the skills needed for their job and ace their training, the game will provide them with instant feedback that they did great.

Proper training on video games should also provide feedback for when trainees don’t do well, showing where they went wrong. This way, they can fix their mistakes in the future. With these feedback mechanisms in place, they can confidently perform the tasks they’ve mastered in-game.

Encourages Social Interaction

Multiplayer games that require trainees to play together will always foster teamwork. Even if a training video game isn’t created with multiplayer in mind, it can still encourage social interaction. Trainees and instructors can share strategies on how to solve certain tasks. They can also engage in friendly competitions if your game comes with points and rewards.

Video games aren’t just for fun and relaxation, they’re also great for training your workers. With a well-developed video game, you’ll not only help trainees improve their memory and hand-eye coordination, but you’ll also help them be more creative and confident at their job.

Work with a professional developer to create a game that balances simulating real-life tasks and fun, and your trainees are sure to enjoy their career development in your company.

NHRA announces 23-race schedule for 2021 Season

By
Briar Starr
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The NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) announced the 2021 season schedule on Wednesday afternoon and features a 23-race calendar, one race short of the usual 24 events that have been seen in recent years.

The 2021 season will open with the 52nd annual Gatornationals in Gainesville, Florida scheduled for March 11-14. The season will end with the return of the Pomona Nationals at Auto Club on the weekend of November 11-14. The Pomona Nationals was missing from the schedule this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We can’t say enough to thank the loyal NHRA fans who have stuck with us during the trying times of the 2020 season,” said NHRA President Glen Cromwell. “We are grateful to you. All of us at the NHRA look forward to a full season of drag racing in 2021. Thank
you to our fans, racers, and partners for your continued support and cooperation.”

The qualifying formats for these races were also announced as well.

For the 17 races, NHRA will use three-day qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday with eliminations taking place on Sunday. In addition, NHRA plans to use a two-day format for five races with qualifying on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. This was the same format used when the NHRA season was restarted back in July.

Included on the 2021 schedule are Atlanta, Pomona I, Phoenix, Richmond and Seattle which will have three-day events followed by two qualifying sessions for the NHRA Camping World Series. While a different format for qualifying is being used currently, NHRA is expected to return to four qualifying runs at some point in their schedule.

Some of the tracks returning to the schedule are Topeka, Houston and Epping. These events were not run in 2020 as they were canceled due to COVID-19.

It is expected that Top Fuel and Funny Car classes will race all of the races on the schedule while the Pro Stock Motorcycle class is scheduled to compete in 16 races. The Pro Stock class will have an 18-race schedule in their category.

Other schedules announced included the E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series. The class returns to their normal 12-race schedule. NHRA Top Fuel Harley Series has a 10-race schedule while the Factory Stock Showdown will have eight races during the 2021 season. Three of these classes will be contested at the season opener in Gainesville.

Finally, the Mountain Pro Stock Class announced a six-race schedule that begins at Richmond, slated for the June 4-6 weekend.

For more information regarding the 2021 NHRA schedule, fans can visit nhra.com.

Jimmy Fennig to Lead Competition at Roush Fenway Racing

By
Official Release
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Long-time Roush Fenway Employee/Championship Crew Chief Named EVP of Competition

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 11, 2020) – Roush Fenway Racing has named Jimmy Fennig executive vice president in charge of competition. Fennig, who joined the organization in 1997 and played a major role in several of the team’s greatest successes, will oversee all aspects of competition for Roush Fenway’s racing operations that currently fields two entries in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The Milwaukee native served as a crew chief at Roush Fenway for almost two decades, working with a parade of all-star drivers including NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch. He most recently oversaw the team’s superspeedway racing program, growing Roush Fenway into a recurrent powerhouse at Daytona and Talladega.

“I’m certainly humbled at the opportunity provided to me by Jack (Roush) and everyone at Roush Fenway Racing,” said Fennig, who in 2018 was awarded the prestigious Smokey Yunick Award for his lifetime impact on the motorsports industry. “I’ve been a part of this organization for a long time and during that time we’ve experienced a lot of highs and lows, but I believe in the team, I believe in Jack and I believe in the people we have here to help us get back to the top.

“Make no mistake, our goal is to get these Roush Fenway Fords to the front,” added Fennig. “We know we have a lot of work in front of us, but I believe we owe that to Jack and we owe that to ourselves as racers, and I know the entire team embraces that challenge.”

In a career worthy of major Hall-of-Fame consideration, Fennig guided his vast lineup of drivers to 40 wins, 192 top five and 255 top-10 finishes, while seeing his race cars lead over 10,200 laps in Cup Series action. He cut his teeth on the pit box at NASCAR’s highest levels with a young Martin in 1986, before moving to head up Bobby Allison’s team the following year – where he helped guide the NASCAR Hall-of-Famer to a 1988 Daytona 500 win.

Fennig joined Roush in 1993, teaming with Martin from 1997-2001 and building Roush’s No. 6 team into a perennial championship contender. The duo won 14 races in that span and finished runner-up in the Cup Series in 1998 – after winning seven races, scoring 22 top-five finishes and leading 1,730 laps in one of the most successful seasons in NASCAR history.

Fennig was instrumental in leading Roush Fenway to its second-consecutive Cup Series Championship with Kurt Busch in 2004 and in 2012 he kicked off the team’s 25th-Anniversary season by guiding Matt Kenseth to a dramatic win in the Daytona 500 – marking Jack Roush’s historic 300th NASCAR victory.

“Jimmy Fennig has been a key part of our organization for over two decades,” said Hall-of-Fame team owner Jack Roush. “Jimmy is a real racer and his record and accolades as a championship level crew chief speak for themselves.

“His passion and drive have played an important role in our success as a race team,” added Roush. “He is one of the most loyal and dedicated people I’ve ever known and I’m confident that he is the right man for the job. I’m certainly excited to work with him as we continue to build our program back to the level that will see us compete on the track each week for wins and championships.”

Both Tommy Wheeler and Kevin Kidd will continue to serve in their current roles under Fennig as director of operations and director of competition respectively.

Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. Set to begin its 34th season in 2021, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

Stoner Car Care Racing Ready for Redemption at Sebring

By
Official Release
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ORLANDO, Fla. (11 November 2020) – The Stoner Car Care Racing fielded by Automatic Racing team is set to complete one of the most demanding Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC)seasons on record this weekend, bringing the year to a close at the two-hour Alan Jay Automotive Network 120, part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Friday’s race will take the green flag at 12:00 PM ET, with NBC Sports Gold’s TrackPass bringing live coverage.

The 2020 racing season brought unprecedented challenges to the series, as well as the Stoner Car Care Racing team and its quartet of drivers. With the event schedule becoming a moving target, drivers had to walk a fine line to balance testing, racing and their professional lives.

Of the four drivers taking the wheel of the team’s pair of Aston Martin Vantage GT4s this weekend, only Kris Wilson (Golden, Colo.) is a full-time driver and driver coach. His co-driver in the No. 99 Invisible Glass Aston Martin Vantage GT4, Gary Ferrera (Houston), is the chief financial officer of the largest ATM owner/operator in the world.

Sharing the No. 09 Stoner Car Care Aston Martin are Rob Ecklin, Jr. (Lancaster, Pa.) the CEO of Stoner Car Care, the high-performance automotive car care product company founded by his grandfather, and Ramin Abdolvahabi (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.), a prominent neurosurgeon.

The Sebring race marks the second time this year for IMSA to compete on the circuit, as a July Sebring race weekend was the first event for the IMPC since the season opener in Daytona: a break of nearly six months.

Both Ferrera and Ecklin look forward to returning to the track this week for the chance to override the memories of a weekend that saw the team deal with a red flag during the race due to weather, some small mechanical issues, and some dramatic moments without traction in the ever-changing conditions.

“I’m generally pleased with the races I’ve run this year, except for Sebring back in July!” said Ecklin with a smile. “Having been out of the car for six months, I felt very out of rhythm and didn’t put in what I would consider good lap times – and that’s one of the reasons I decided to jump back in the car this weekend, for a bit of redemption. I’m anxious to get back on track and have a strong finish to the season. We had the weather situation here back in July, so hopefully we won’t have that to deal with, and if some of the mechanical gremlins are put behind us, we’ll put it all together. Flow and control, that’s the name of the game!”

“I’m hoping the weather is better!” said Ferrera, whose father was stationed at Sebring during WWII, for Army Air Corps bomber training. “We were still working on a few things back in July so if we’ve gotten the bugs out of the system, it will just be down to working on setup and driving. Hopefully we can do better – I had my own faux paux in July, spinning in the rain, and that’s never happened before. So I just want to get there and get racing.”

For the entire Stoner Car Car Racing driver roster, finding that balance this season has been difficult. But the drivers appreciate the opportunity to go to the racetrack and place their focus on something that is at once familiar and comfortable: making race cars go fast.

“With all series event changes, I wasn’t scheduling races until the last minute, since it was hard to know what would get moved or cancelled as the season progressed,” said Ecklin. “But as a competitor, you have to put that behind you and keep your head in the game. The virus has changed everything. You can either dwell on it and react to it or look past it and be more proactive – and I try to choose the latter. Every time you cross the fence to go into the racetrack, your mind and your focus shift. You’re in that “mental vacation” of focusing solely on racing and nothing else, and that hasn’t changed. It’s a credit to IMSA that we’ve been able to get in basically a full season of racing.”

“Stoner Car Care has faired relatively well through this (IMSA schedule changes due to COVID-19),” said Ecklin. “It’s a bit of a dance and it’s tough to plan with the situation changing seemingly every week. The car care side of the business has done well, but we’ve had supply issues, sourcing literally the world for triggers and bottles and things like that. Hopefully next year things will recover even more.”

While his off-track concentration covers a completely different segment of the economy, Ferrara has had to overcome some of the same challenges of Ecklin as he works to combine his hard-driving work ethic, appreciation for time with his family, and the satisfaction that comes from competition.

“For those of us who have employees and are trying to keep everyone as employed as possible and keep them safe, it’s been a tough year,” continued Ferrara. “But spending time in the car takes away a lot of the work stress. I usually have conference calls and things like that to deal with on the race weekends, but once you’re in the car, there are no phone calls or emails! You can’t think about anything when you’re racing, it’s all focus on racing – the car is my therapist!”

The Alan Jay Automotive Network 120 takes the green flag Friday at 12:05 p.m. Eastern. The race will be broadcast live in the U.S. on NBC Sports Gold’s TrackPass, while international viewers can watch via IMSA.tv. IMSA Radio will also be available at IMSA.com. NBCSN will broadcast a two-hour race recap on Tuesday, November 24 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern (check local listings).

About Invisible Glass

Automatic Racing sees their way to victory with Invisible Glass, the top-selling automotive glass cleaner in the United States. The Invisible Glass product line includes aerosol and spray bottle cleaner, Invisible Glass with rain repellent for windshields and wiper blades. Find more online at https://www.invisibleglass.com/

About Stoner Car Care

Stoner Car Care produces high-performance car washes, waxes, polishes, and dressings for auto enthusiasts and car care professionals. The Stoner Car Care line-up includes Invisible Glass, America’s #1 Automotive Glass Cleaner, along with many other appearance products. Whether driving, washing or waxing, Performance Matters! Stoner car care proudly formulates all of our product since 1942

About Automatic Racing

Based in Orlando, Automatic Racing is one of the longest-running teams in the paddock, forming in 2001 and competing in all but one of the 11 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge races at Daytona. The team has been developing, preparing and racing the prestigious Aston Martin Vantage GT4 since 2012. Automatic Racing won the 2017 MICHELIN Pilot Challenge title.

Steven Aghakhani and Jacob Eidson Set for Competitive Close to 2020 IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Season at Sebring International Raceway

By
Official Release
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October 30-Nov 1, 2020. Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca: 6 Jacob Eidson, Steven Aghakhani, US RaceTronics, Lamborghini Beverly Hills, Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO

Aghakhani and Eidson Compete With New Logo of Lead Sponsor SADA Systems and Renewed Resolve for a Winning Weekend to Close Out 2020 IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo Season at Sebring

SEBRING, Florida (November 11, 2020) – Steven Aghakhani and Jacob Eidson will compete with a new logo from lead sponsor SADA Systems and renewed resolve to close out the 2020 IMSA Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America season with a doubleheader sweep of the season-ending races at Sebring International Raceway this Friday, November 13, in the No. 6 SADA Systems US RaceTronics Lamborghini Huracán.

With a pair of frustrating race weekends firmly in the rearview mirror, Aghakhani and Eidson arrive in Sebring ready to win both season-ending 50-minute sprint races on the 3.74-mile road course in this Friday’s doubleheader.

Race one is scheduled to go green Friday morning at 9:05 a.m. EST with that afternoon’s season-ending sprint scheduled to follow at 3:40 p.m. EST. Both races can be view live on www.IMSA.com.

“The race weekends at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca didn’t go the way we planned or would have liked, but we can’t do anything about that now,” Aghakhani said. “We are looking ahead, and everything we need to do to end the year at Sebring on a high note – win races, win poles and set fastest race laps – we have already done multiple times this year. We are going to go out and race, do our best as always and see where things end up.”

Aghakhani and Eidson won two of the year’s first six races – victories from the pole at Road America and VIRginia International Raceway – and the duo has combined for a class-leading four pole positions this season.

At 17 years-old, Aghakhani is the youngest double-duty GT3 driver in the world. In addition to contesting the full IMSA Super Trofeo season, he also competed this year in a round of the Italian GT Championship in a Lamborghini EVO GT3 with full factory support. At an average age of 21, Aghakhani and Eidson are the youngest Pro driver pairing in Super Trofeo competition.

“We’ve been facing some adversity these past couple race weekends but that only makes us more determined to perform for the next race,” Eidson said. “I know Steven and I have prepared at lot for Sebring and I’m excited to challenge for the top step on the podium again. Sebring is a very tough track both mentally and physically but I believe the secret to speed at Sebring is in the details knowing where all the bumps are and how it affects the car.”

The Lamborghini Super Trofeo schedule at Sebring begins with a late afternoon practice today. A second practice Thursday at 11:25 a.m. EST sets the stage for qualifying for both weekend races that afternoon at 4:10 p.m. EST. Race one starts Friday morning at 9:05 a.m. EST with that afternoon’s season-ending sprint scheduled to follow at 3:40 p.m. EST. Both races can be view live on www.IMSA.com.

Noteworthy

Aghakhani was born in and lives in Los Angeles but is of proud Armenian descent. As he did at Laguna Seca, he is dedicating this weekend’s race to the people of his Armenia homeland who courageously endured the hardships of their nation’s recent war with Azerbaijan. “I’m proud of the team, proud of the car and want to thank all of our sponsors, SADA Systems, Carney Shegerian and everyone. I have to thank them all for giving us the opportunity to come out here and race once again at Sebring. Having the Armenian flag on top of the car, it gives us a little more spirit to come out here and fight, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re going to end our season triumphantly for all of our Armenian brothers and sisters.” Learn more and donate at www.ArmeniaFund.org.

Aghakhani’s Lamborghini racing programs run with the support of several key sponsor partners in 2020. SADA Systems, Inc. is a privately-held global leader in providing business and technology consulting services that transform organizations through cloud-based solutions at www.sada.com. Insignia Mortgage focuses on providing flexible portfolio lending options for clients with non-traditional lending needs. Learn more at www.insigniamortgage.com. Magic Laundry Services (MLS) is one of the largest independently owned hospitality linen and dry cleaning operations in the country, catering primarily to the hospitality industry. Learn more at www.magiclaundryservices.com. TKX Associates specializes in consulting and staff augmentation at www.tkxassociates.com, Shegerian & Associates is a Los Angeles based firm at www.shegerianlaw.com and Equeduct provides capital funding solutions for small businesses at www.equeduct.com.

COTA RUNNER-UP THWAITS CLOSING IN ON XGT CHAMPIONSHIP

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Official Release
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Austin, TEXAS – November 11, 2020 – Another terrific result for Ken Thwaits in the XGT Class of the 2020 Trans Am presented by Pirelli season means that the Tennessee based driver is now closing in on the inaugural XtremeGT Class Championship. His 27 point haul for finishing runner up on Sunday means he has now amassed 218 points in his quest for the title, 68 ahead of Erich Joiner, his nearest rival.

Round 7 of the rearranged season took place at the Formula One grade Circuit of The Americas just outside of Austin, Texas and it saw several newcomers to the budding XGT field. Hence the weekend was far from plain sailing for Ken, who benefitted from the late retirements of two of his competitors. Dan Knox, driving an AMG GT3 Mercedes and competing in the class for the first time, was forced into the pits on lap 20, promoting Ken to the podium and tenth overall from 24 starters. Then on lap 23, Ken moved up another spot when Justin Oakes lost control of his Chevrolet Corvette at Turn 19.

Ken is nothing if not honest and realistic when he spoke to us after the race about traffic issues on the track, “It was hot and we didn’t really have a big split start for whatever reason. I guess they need to fix that because we were on the backmarkers of the TA Class within two laps. You’re trying to keep up with the leaders and then get stuck behind the bigger, faster cars down the straight – but they park it in the corner.”

He went on, “It is part of racing and the leaders have to go through those guys too. Kerry Hitt and myself were racing each other even though we’re not the same class and it was fun.”

About the result Ken added, “Hey, we hung around consistently and we came in second. That’s the first thing. You’ve got to start the race and then you’ve got to finish the race! We were behind all weekend. We were not fast all weekend, but we’ll take second place points towards the Championship.”

Ken Thwaits’ No. 5 Audi R8 LMS Ultra posted 2:14:362 in the second testing session. He improved that to 2:12:735 and an impressive P8 overall in official practice, which proved to be his fastest lap of the weekend, as a lack of grip – something noted by other drivers too – prevented him from going quicker in qualifying. A fastest lap in the race for Ken of 2:16:863 only tells half the story, as the Audi is famed for its durability and it was that combined with Ken’s smooth driving that saw him take another significant step towards the title.

Ken also enjoyed a few test laps in the Pancho Weaver built TA Class Dodge Challenger driven to victory in the race by Boris Said. Ken’s comments on the added experience at COTA were ecstatic, “I’ve been joking with Pancho for ages saying, “Where’s my car?” Yesterday he said, “I’ve got your car here – do you want to drive it?” I told him, “heck yes!”

Ken raved about the interior finish, the insulation and above all the brakes on the phenomenal TA muscle car but he added, “I was really impressed with how the box shifted and the power is amazing, but the one thing about a Trans Am car is that it’s not a nimble GT3 car at all! It’s My hat’s off to the guys that drive these things really quick. It’s a whole different ball game!”

Visit the team’s website for Showtime Motorsports, showtimemotorsports.net. Learn more about the Showtime Motorsports team partner, Franklin Road Apparel, at franklinroad.com and keep up to date with the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at gotransam.com. #GoTransAm

Check out the Showtime Motorsports Facebook page: facebook.com/showtimemotorsp/ and @ShowtimeMotorsp on Instagram.

About Showtime Motorsports:

The Showtime Motorsports brand includes Ken Thwait’s racing team and racecars, and an outstanding classic Camaro collection. Showtime Motorsports brings together a dynamic staff who employ diverse talents and share a passion for cars, racing and caring for clients like they are our own family members.

TPC Racing Brings Six Cars to IMSA Single-Make Finales at Sebring

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Official Release
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Two Lamborghini Super Trofeos Upgrade to Am Class, Four Porsches Entered in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA For This Week’s Event

SEBRING, Florida (November 11, 2020) – TPC Racing is bringing six cars to Sebring as part of IMSA’s season finale that includes the single-make Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo championship.

Sebring’s unique schedule means that this event features a “race week” rather than a traditional race weekend. Both championships will qualify on Thursday, November 12 and race a pair of races on Friday, November 13. Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge will run a pair of 45-minute races on Friday, at 8 a.m. EST and at 2:35 p.m. EST. Lamborghini Super Trofeo runs duel 50-minute races on Friday, at 9:05 a.m. EST and 3:50 p.m. EST. All four races can be seen live at IMSA.tv.

TPC Racing’s Lamborghini Super Trofeo program continues to grow. Tom Kerr began the program in August, racing the No. 74 Lamborghini Sterling/GotVeins.com Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO in LB Cup by himself. He was joined in the last round by Scott Schmidt and Trevor Andrusko, who co-drove the No. 38 Lamborghini Sterling Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVO to a podium in LB Cup.

For Sebring, both cars move to the AM class. Schmidt and Andrusko will continue to co-drive, while Kerr picks up a co-driver in Moritz Kranz this weekend in the AM class. The 33-year-old German has been working with TPC Racing as a driver coach to Efrin Castro in the Porsche Cup, and driving in Michelin Le Mans Cup LMP 3 Championship and the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie (NLS) in 2020.

Castro, Dan Hardee, Vernon McClure and Charlie Craig will carry the TPC Racing banner in IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA.

While Castro has been locked in a battle for the first 14 races of the season for the Gold Cup Championship in the No. 65 Fine Fare Supermarkets/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, championship rival Curt Swearingin will clinch the class title just by starting both races this week. Instead, Castro is focused solely on adding to his five wins during the 2020 season.

Like Castro, Hardee, McClure and Craig have been eliminated from championship contention in the Platinum Cup Masters class. McClure led twice at St. Petersburg and is hunting for his first career class win in the No. 10 Main Street Homes/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Hardee, a Vero Beach, Florida-native, is looking for a strong showing behind the wheel of the No. 69 VBar Vero Beach/Hardee Family Foundation/Michelin Wiper Blades Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at his home track.

The event week begins on Wednesday afternoon at the 17-turn, 3.74-mile circuit. The Lamborghini Super Trofeo field opens with a 40-minute practice at 3:55 p.m. EST, with Porsche GT3 Cup following with a 40-minute practice of their own at 4:50 p.m. EST. Porsche GT3 Cup practices at 8:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, and qualifies at 12:45 p.m. Lamborghini Super Trofeo practices at 11:25 a.m. EST and qualifies at 4:10 p.m. the same day. Friday’s races begin at 8 a.m. and 2:35 p.m. (Porsche GT3 Cup) and 9:05 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. (Lamborghini Super Trofeo).

Harris Levitas, Director of Race Operations: “This is going to be a really busy weekend for the TPC Racing guys, but also a really great weekend for our program. In Lamborghini Super Trofeo, our Lamborghini Sterling Lamborghini Super Trofeo EVOs are going to push harder than ever. Scott and Trevor have a weekend and a podium under their belts, and with Moritz joining Tom, a second great pairing even moving to the AM class. Efrin is just running for wins in Porsche Cup, and we think Vernon has a chance to do the same in Masters Platinum. Dan has had Sebring marked on his calendar all year and he loves this track. In all, we’re looking forward to a great event here at Sebring for TPC Racing.”

Tom Kerr, Driver, No. 74 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO: “I’m super excited to be driving with Moritz. It gives me and the team an opportunity for a two-driver team during pit stops and adds another dimension to the race we haven’t experienced before. I’m most excited to be at my home track and have the privilege of driving an amazing Lamborghini Sterling car with this great team. It will be fun!”

Scott Schmidt, Driver, No. 38 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO: “Sebring was the track we did our first Test N Tune in our American Endurance Racing Porsche GT3 with TPC Racing. I’m really excited to get back around Sebring. It’s hard on cars, it’s hard on the body. It’s fast and faster and harder. It’s by far one of the top, top courses in the world. You walk up there and see all the great names on the grandstand. It’s a top notch road course.”

Dan Hardee, Driver, No. 69 Porsche GT3 Cup: “I’m really looking forward to Sebring. It’s one of my favorite tracks, it’s close to my home in south Florida, and it’s close to the home of my sponsor VBar Live. I’ve run several events here with TPC Racing, and if everything goes well I think we can score one of our best finishes ever here this week.”

About TPC Racing:
TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

TWO-TIME SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY CHAMPION JOHNNY LAYNE SEES SUCCESS CONTINUE

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Official Release
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Johnny Layne is pictured with the Nissan 240 racecar he drives in the Pure Stock Division. Layne has won two Pure Stock Division championships at South Boston Speedway. ( Photo Courtesy South Boston Speedway)

South Boston, VA….Johnny Layne temporarily put racing aside twice in his career. His success in racing returned both times.

“I’ve been racing for about 21 years,” the Nathalie, Virginia resident pointed out.

“I took one year off way back when. Last year (2019) I set aside my racing and helped my brother (Steven Layne). He started racing in the Hornets Division. I spotted for him, worked on his car a little bit, and tried to give him a little spotlight. I also spent a lot of time with my daughter. I put racing aside a little bit. It was hard.”

Layne says once racing gets into your blood it is hard to stay away from the sport.

“Racing is just a fun habit,” he explained.

“I can’t get away from it. One way or another I am going to be somewhere racing or helping somebody.”

Layne won the South Boston Speedway Budweiser Pure Stock Division championship in both 2016 and 2017 and fell just shy of making it three titles in a row in 2018. The 2018 season was the last season Layne raced at South Boston Speedway fulltime.

While he stepped away from the sport in 2019, he still enjoyed a large degree of success.

“I raced twice and won the Fourth of July race here at South Boston Speedway,” Layne noted with a smile.

“That was the only win I really hadn’t gotten since I started racing.”

Layne had looked at returning to the sport this season, but the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on his plans, as it did with many others.

“I was hoping we were going to get to race here this year,” Layne remarked during a break in a recent testing session at South Boston Speedway, “but with everything being what it is we’ve raced only three times, all at Orange County Speedway.”

His effort was flawless. Layne won all three of his starts at the North Carolina oval, his most recent triumph coming on October 24.

One of the interesting aspects of Layne’s success is he is driving the same Nissan 240 racecar he has driven for several years.

“I’ve been racing the same car for six or seven years now,” Layne noted.

That may change.

“I have a new car I may debut next year,” Layne pointed out.

“It’s an older model. We decided we would try to build a car and see what it does. It hasn’t been on the track yet, but I think we found some things I can do to make the car handle better and be a little faster than this one.”

Layne has not firmed up his plans for the 2021 season at this time.

“I’m not saying anything for sure,” Layne said.

“It all depends on how things work out between now and then with this pandemic. I’m not going to say we’re going to race fulltime at one track. We will probably venture around some and find the best competition here and there.

“I might come back here (to South Boston Speedway) and try to win another championship,” he added.

“It just all depends on how things work out.”

South Boston Speedway is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. for teams wishing to schedule testing sessions. The track is available for testing from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day. Teams wishing to schedule a test at South Boston Speedway should contact the speedway office at 434-572-4947 at least a day ahead to schedule a test session.

“America’s Hometown Track” will kick off the 2021 season on Saturday, March 20 with twin races for the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series Late Model Stock Cars, twin races for the track’s Limited Sportsman Division and races for the Pure Stock and Hornets Divisions.

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