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ROCKINGHAM
SHOWS OFF ITS
DIVERSITY WITH
SATURDAY’S BIOMOTO
PIT CREW CHALLENGE
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Track owner Steve Earwood believes that diversity is the element that has kept Rockingham Dragway viable even in these tough economic times. To prove his point, he offers up this Saturday’s BioMed Pit Crew Challenge which will bring several hundred middle school students to the track to study how STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematic) skills apply to auto racing.
A comprehensive “body and mind” endeavor underwritten by Golden LEAF Foundation and guided by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center
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and the North
Carolina Motorsports
Association, BioMoto
is designed to
mirror the functions
of actual pit crews
and thereby teach
the students the
significance of
nutrition and
physical fitness,
teamwork and
creativity.
At last year’s pit
crew challenge,
coach Milton
Matheny’s
Corriher-Lipe Middle
School teams,
representing
Rowan-Salisbury
schools, won both
the first a second
place awards. Mark
Burr’s Hamlet Middle
School team,
representing
Richmond County, was
third.
“This is a great
program for kids
because it links
science and sports,”
Earwood said. “From
our standpoint, it’s
giving back but it
also is an
opportunity to
introduce The Rock
to a new generation
of potential fans
and participants.
It’s a win-win and
we’re proud to be a
part of it.”
By the time the
three-year program
concludes, more than
1,500 students
representing 12
North Carolina
school districts
will have
participated in the
various phases. In
addition to the pit
crew challenge,
there are
competitions in
fitness, mental
acumen and design
and invention.
Coach Burr’s Hamlet
Middle School teams,
one designated
Daytona and the
other Talladega,
tied for the Peak
Mind title last year
and won the Watson
Vande Garde Award
for the design
deemed most
patentable by two
patent attorneys.
Although
Rockingham’s primary
business is
mainstream drag
racing, including
events in the IHRA
Nitro Jam Series and
the Super Chevy Show
series, the track
also has hosted a
number of concerts,
motorcycle rallies,
drifting events,
commercial shoots,
car shows and
company “play days.”
It also is a
favorite test
facility for a
variety of pro and
sportsman race
teams.
Even within drag
racing’s parameters,
Rockingham has
pushed the envelope
with special events
for diesel-powered
vehicles, for
Chevrolets, Dodges,
Fords and
Volkswagens.
Furthermore, it
hosts a series of
model car events on
a 1/10th scale
version of its
concrete-and-asphalt
track.
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SHRINERS
EXPO RE-SCHEDULED -
SPRING GRUDGE FEST
ALSO ON GO!
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The April 18-19 "Spring Grudge Fest / ALL Bikes! Outlaw Bikes! Grudge Bikes!" will still take place right here at Rockingham Dragway! That same weekend, the 2014 12th annual Shriners Drag Racing & Hot Rod EXPO is set to take place on April 18-19 in Greensboro, NC after being rescheduled due to weather related issues in early February.
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MAV
TV AIRING IHRA NITRO
JAM RACES FROM
ROCKINGHAM DRAGWAY &
MORE
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Leading automotive network MAV TV to broadcast entire 2014 IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series season- New show to feature unique character-driven, reality format
The International Hot Rod Association™ (IHRA) and IRG Sports + Entertainment™ are thrilled to announce the return of IHRA national event drag racing to a national television audience. In an exclusive deal with leading automotive network MAV TV, the entire 2014 IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series will air in a special 13-week series on MAV TV. |
MAV TV, with its unparalleled line-up of motorsports events and exclusive automotive reality shows, will air all 12 IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series events and a special season in review episode in a unique, character-driven show that will focus on equal parts behind the scenes stories, car and driver profiles and on-track racing. The show will air in the fourth-quarter of the 2014 season.
“We are very excited to partner with the leading provider of motorsports entertainment in MAV TV to bring our incredible series to a national television audience,” said Jason Rittenberry, CFE, President and Chief Executive Officer of IRG. “IHRA is a unique brand with incredible classes and exciting characters and now we are adding true competition back to the series for the first time in many years. We look forward to showing the world what the new IHRA is all about and giving our fans a chance to follow the series all across North America.”
The IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series (NJDRS) will be unlike anything drag racing fans have experienced before. Focusing primarily on character-driven entertainment, the NJDRS will showcase specific drivers, classes and cars in a unique blend of on-track racing and behind the scenes stories. With its roots in reality storytelling, fans will get up-close-and-personal with the stars of the IHRA’s professional drag racing series and all of the drama that is associated with championship motorsports.
“When we entered into talks in regards to a television broadcast, we felt it was very important that we focus on the entertainment aspect of what we do. The racing element is one part, but we want to show the world that this sport is so much more than just cars going down the track,” said Scott Gardner, President of IHRA Motorsports. “The IHRA is so rich with incredible people, personalities and behind the scenes stories and we want to share these incredible people and stories with the world.
“Ultimately this is not just a traditional drag racing recap show. This is something innovative and exciting that will give fans a behind the scenes look at our series in a setting that you won’t find anywhere else. This is the way drag racing is meant to be experienced.”
Video coverage will be provided by Masters Entertainment Group based in Nashville, Tennessee. Masters Entertainment Group has provided award-winning programming for over 20 years for dozens of broadcast partners, including previous coverage of IHRA events. Now IHRA and Masters Entertainment will once again partner to present the 2014 season in a brand new form.
“Masters Entertainment has a long history with IHRA Motorsports and bringing their events to a national television audience. We are all very excited to once again partner with the IHRA in 2014 and bring their incredible series back to the forefront with MAV TV,” said Butch McCall, Executive Vice-President of Masters Entertainment.
The 2014 IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series will include a unique mix of classes and competition not found anywhere else in the sport. From historical cars and legendary drivers to cutting edge drag racing technology, the NJDRS has something for motorsports fans of all ages. Classic Nitro Funny Cars and Nitro Altereds mixed with the incredible talents of Nitro Harley, Mountain Motor Pro Stock and the sports only Jet Dragster championship contested by the fastest girls in drag racing, the IHRA looks to continue to provide an exciting blend of entertainment and competition.
IHRA last aired on national television in 2009 on SPEED channel and now the IHRA returns to homes with this brand new series. In addition to the initial run of the 13-week series, fans will also enjoy additional airings of the brand new show throughout the latter half of 2014.
For more information on the 2014 IHRA Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series visit www.ihra.com and for more information on MAV TV visit www.mavtv.com |
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"CHARLIE"
EARWOOD, REST IN
PEACE (Steve
Earwood's Father
Passes)
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Flags at Sebring International Raceway flown at half-mast in honor of former race official and general manager Charlie Earwood who passed away on Monday.
C.L. “Charlie” Earwood, who distinguished himself in the insurance industry before rising to even greater prominence as a driver, promoter and official for some of America’s premier auto racing organizations, passed away peacefully on January 28, 2014 at his home in Punta Gorda, Fla. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 4, 1924. |
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After a 40-year career at Life of Georgia during which he rose from District Manager to Division Manager to Manager of Agencies and, finally, to Executive Vice-President, Earwood retired in 1985 to pursue his “love of family, fishing and sports car racing.”
An active member of
the Sports Car Club
of America starting
in 1960, he raced
Porsches in E and F
production classes
and introduced his
sons, Terry and
Stephen, to the
sport before it
became evident that
his skills and
passion would best
be utilized outside
the cockpit. |
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Earwood gradually
moved away from
driving and
competition and into
organization and
arbitration,
ultimately becoming
Chief Steward for
almost all of the
prominent events and
series in American
road racing.
Earwood served as an
official at the SCCA
National Runoffs at
Road Atlanta from
1964 through 1993,
and was Chief
Steward for the 12
Hours of Sebring and
the 24 Hours of
Daytona as well as
for the SCCA
Trans-Am Series,
SCCA Truck Series,
the Playboy
Endurance Series,
the F2000 Series and
a wide variety of
vintage racing
series.
When showroom stock
classes were
introduced in the
1970s with their
potential for
creative rules
interpretations,
Earwood was
commissioned to
serve as Chief
Steward of competing
SCCA and
International Motor
Sports Assn’s
versions of those
classes
simultaneously.
While General
Manager at Sebring
International
Raceway, Earwood was
tasked with
designing the
current course and
opening the track
for year-round
events by separating
it from still active
airport operations.
In 1986, he and John
Burns pared the
original 5-mile
course down to the
current 3.7-mile
configuration,
maintaining its
original integrity
as “America’s
toughest and most
competitive track”
while opening it for
year-round use.
For his efforts,
Earwood was inducted
into the Sebring
International
Raceway Hall of Fame
in 2006 for
“outstanding
contributions to the
track as Manager,
Promoter and Chief
Steward.”
A 1981 recipient of
the prestigious
Woolf Barnato Trophy
for “Outstanding
long-term
contributions to
Sports Car Club of
America and the
sport of Road
Racing,” he was also
inducted into the
SCCA Hall of Fame in
2012 and was awarded
the “Flame of
Excellence” trophy
by Historic
Sportscar Racing.
He is survived by
his wife of 72
years, Ann; his
sons, both of whom
followed him into
auto racing, Terry
as a drag racing and
road racing champion
and competitive
driving instructor,
and Steve as a
promoter, official
and track owner; two
granddaughters,
Tammy Ferran of the
home, and Stephanie
Peterson of
Richland, Michigan;
grandson Todd Beal
of Cambridge,
Massachusetts; and
four
great-grandchildren.
A memorial service
is planned for March
1 in Punta Gorda.
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FREE
TICKETS!
NEW
PDRA SERIES COMING
TO THE ROCK - April
4-5-6
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Be sure to print now your complimentary FREE TICKETS for the upcoming PDRA (Professional Drag Racers Association) event April 4-6, 2014 right here at Rockingham Dragway!
Pro Extreme, Pro Nitrous, Extreme Pro Stock, Pro Boost, Pro Extreme Motorcycle, Top Sportsman, Top Dragster and Junior Dragsters will compete for the very first time under the newly formed (highly stable) PDRA Series along with the Wild '41 Willys Jet Car!
- View / Print FREE TICKETS Here NOW!
- View The "Spring Open" Event Schedule
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"THE
ROCK"
Always Action Packed
and Extremely Fast
For All Race Cars &
Bikes!!
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