This Top Sportsman entry was driven by Chadrick Morrison from Statesville, NC. Unfortunately, he lost in the first round to Ronnie Proctor. We just like the look of this ’57 Bel Air!  (Ron Lewis photo)

The Agent noticed that NHRA changed the schedule so that the Factory Stock Showdown will be running near the professional class qualifying runs. A portent of things to come? He was also was happy to see 22 entries in Comp Eliminator, the most he’s seen in the class for a while. [03/15/19]

Jasmine and Jianna Salinas, daughters of Top Fuel racer Mike Salinas, will make their national event debuts this weekend at the Gatornationals, Jianna in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Jasmine in Top Alcohol Dragster.

Jasmine ran last week at the Baby Gators at Gainesville.

Jianna tested at Bradenton.  (Will McDougle photos)

“I believe we’re ready,” Mike said. “This is going to be a learning year for us – all of us – and we’re okay with that. We know it’s a process and we’re doing it together as a family. Of course we hold ourselves to high standards, but we’re focused on being safe, continuing to make progress and having fun. This is a big weekend for our team and will definitely be a special moment for me. It’s going to be exciting at the bare minimum.”   [03/15/19]

Clockwise from upper left: Brett Moffitt, Justin Haley, Robert Hight and Corey LaJoie (photo courtesy Bristol Motor Speedway)

With less than a month to go before cars hit the track in East Tennessee, drivers from the stock car and drag racing worlds arrived at Bristol Motor Speedway & Dragway on Wednesday, March 13, to preview the upcoming season.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie, NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie Justin Haley, NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champion Brett Moffitt and NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series star Robert Hight were on hand to meet with media, chat with regional business leaders, industry sponsors, Bristol ticket holders and more.   [03/15/19]

UTI student Jonathan Fanstill (left) receives a $2,5000 scholarship from Brian Kaner, president of service for Icahn Automotive Group and Pep Boys.

Icahn Automotive Group LLC, which owns and operates leading auto repair and maintenance providers Pep Boys, AAMCO and Precision Tune Auto Care, has announced a new program designed to invest in and support promising future automotive technicians, as they make their way from the classroom to the service bay. Through the new program, “Race to 2026,” Icahn Automotive is encouraging more men and women to pursue viable careers in the skilled trades by rolling out partnerships with technical training schools; offering scholarships, tuition reimbursement and apprentice programs; and creating internship programs, job placement and continuing education opportunities.

In 2015, Icahn Enterprises automotive company Federal-Mogul Motorparts developed and launched Garage Gurus, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive technical education platform offering on-site, online and on-demand training and related support to thousands of technicians, service writers, shop owners and other industry professionals.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the automotive repair industry will need nearly 46,000 more technicians by 2026 to meet anticipated demand. Additionally, in any given year there are as many as 75,000 job openings, due in large part to the retirement of the last generation of technicians who benefitted from broadly available vocational education programs.    [03/15/19]

Holley EFI's all-new Terminator X and Terminator X Max electronic fuel-injections systems were developed specifically for LS engines and are available in 12 different variations. Superior to ordinary stand-alone LS engine-management systems and compatible with numerous applications. Terminator X features real-time fuel learning, high-impedance injector drivers, an integrated 1-bar MAP sensor, and four programmable inputs and outputs ideal for electric fans, boost-control solenoids, progressive nitrous control, and more. Terminator X Max does all that and also delivers single-drive-by-wire throttle body control and electronic transmission control. The included 3.5-inch handheld LCD touchscreen comes with an easy-to-use calibration wizard along with tuning and gauge-display functions. All Terminator X systems come fully loaded with base maps for common LS engine combinations that get you out of the garage and out on the road or racetrack in no time.  [03/15/19]