CMYK 32 RACING 2010 FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 | THE GAZETTE-VIRGINIAN The sleek and pow- erful Daytona Pro- VIR Offers Fans A Variety totype cars of the BY JOE CHANDLER sleek, powerful Daytona Prototype cars. Grand-Am Rolex SPORTS EDITOR Also featured that weekend is a race for Sports Car Series the Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports thundered into the hen it comes to racing at Alton’s Car Challenge Series. Double races for the second turn during fabled VIRginia International SCCA Pro Racing Jetta TDI Cup Series, last April’s Bosch WRaceway, variety is the buzzword. the Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup Series, the Engineering 250 at Whether it’s auto racing, motorcycle rac- Mustang Challenge Series and the Skip VIRginia Interna- ing or kart racing, there is something for Barber National Championship Series are JOE CHANDLER/GAZETTE-VIRGINIAN tional Raceway. everyone at VIR. also on tap. VIR opens its 2010 season of spectator Another fan favorite event is VIR’s Stock gust 13-15. That’s when VIR will host the weekends of go-kart racing. events next weekend, March 20-21 with Car Open Test Day, which is tentatively Suzuki AMA Pro Superbike Champion- VIR will cap its season on Oct. 30 with motorcycle racing under the WERA sanc- set for May 26. Fans can come out and ship event, an event that will feature the the return of the SCCA Charge of the tion. Several different classes of racing watch NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams country’s top pro motorcycle road racers. Headlight Brigade. A 13-hour enduro race, will be featured throughout the weekend, and NASCAR Nationwide Series teams Fans of SCCA professional racing will this event has attracted teams of inter- producing a good deal of competitive rac- shake down and test their cars as they want to mark the weekend of Sept. 10-12 national drivers to compete against local ing for fans. prepare for upcoming road races. on their calendar as VIR will host the drivers as well as drivers from across the After that, sports cars will take to the For fans that enjoy a nostalgic trip down SCCA Pro Racing Sports Car Wars. country. track. memory lane, VIR hosts the Heacock Clas- The weekend schedule includes races While fans are at VIR to view the racing On the weekend of April 16-18, VIR sic SVRA Gold Cup Historic Races on the for the SCCA Pro Trans-Am series and the action, they have a variety of amenities on will host the Sports Car Club of America’s weekend of June 4-6. SCCA Pro World Challenge GT and Tour- site they can take advantage of. Fans can Oak Tree Double Nationals. Past events Several different classes of competition ing Car series. visit the Plantation Valley Kart Track and have had upwards of 300 or more cars on are featured during the weekend, which Fans of kart racing will get to see some take to the track on go-karts. hand as amateur road racers compete for features classic racecars of yesterday. Past of the best in kart racing at VIR this Other on-site amenities at VIR include points that will hopefully lead them to the Gold Cup events have featured some of the season. On the weekend of July 31-August the Villas at South Bend, the Pagoda MOTORSPORTS season-ending SCCA runoffs. cars and drivers that have made history 1, VIR will host the World Karting As- Restaurant in the North Paddock, the Oak VIR’s first major event of the season at VIR as well as some of the country’s top sociation/ Woodbridge Kart Club National Tree Tavern and Connie’s Pub. ACADEMY comes up the weekend of April 23-25 with vintage cars. Go-Kart Races. For additional information, fans can call the Bosch Engineering 250 Grand-Am VIR’s biggest motorcycle racing event Several classes of racing will be featured VIR or go online and visit the VIR Web EXPANDS TO Rolex Sports Car Series race featuring the of the season is set for the weekend of Au- in what will be one of the region’s biggest site. TWO TEAMS SEE STORY, PAGE 16 w South Boston Speedway opens its 2010 season Saturday at 2 p.m. with the NASCAR Whelen All-American A SPECIAL PUBLICATION OF Series Twin 75s. THE GAZETTE-VIRGINIAN FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 CMYK 2 RACING 2010 FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 | THE GAZETTE-VIRGINIAN FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010 | THE GAZETTE-VIRGINIAN RACING 2010 31 Racing Returns To SBS This Weekend VIPER Takes To The Drag Strip BY JOE CHANDLER SPORTS EDITOR BY CHANDLER REUBUSH DIRECTOR VIPER SERVICE ast year four first-time champions emerged when South Boston Speed- rag racing is a sport of the Lway completed its points season. slimmest margins. The competi- Will that be the case this season, or will Dtion is fierce and close. Races there be some repeat title winners? are won and lost by thousandths of Those questions will take a little more a second. Proper vehicle and driver than six months to answer, but the road to performance can mean the difference the 2010 season championship begins Sat- between packing up early and making it urday when South Boston Speedway kicks to Winner’s Circle. off its season with the 2 p.m. running of For this reason, the Virginia Insti- the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tute for Performance Engineering and Twin 75s racing program. Research (VIPER) is pioneering the Twin 75-lap races for the NASCAR development of testing and simulation Whelen All-American Series Late Model services specifically for the drag racing Stock Car Division will headline Saturday’s market. VIPER’s unique combination of action with races for the track’s Limited test equipment and experience allows Sportsman Division, Pure Stock Division us to optimize both the drag racing SUBMITTED PHOTOS and Southern Vintage Modified Division vehicle performance as well as the drag The exterior of the VIPER building at VIRginia International Raceway. also on tap. racing driver performance. off the elapsed time, a driver can lose VIPER is a national center for ground Learning and Research, VIPER com- Saturday’s race is the first of 19 events The prevailing perception is that drag hundredths of second at the starting vehicle performance testing, engineer- bines the research capabilities of Virgin- that have been scheduled for the .4-mile racing is solely a contest of power. He lights. Many “faster” cars have lost the ing & research services specializing in ia Tech and Old Dominion University oval this season. A total of 22 points races who has the most power wins. While race before the cars have even moved an racing, advance technology and perfor- with the world class facilities and physi- have been slated for the NASCAR Whelen this adage may generally be true, if the inch with a poor start at the Christmas mance vehicles. cal assets of the Virginia International All-American Series Late Model Stock Car vehicle cannot successfully transmit the Tree (starting light). Through the Institute for Advanced Raceway (VIR). Division competitors this season. power to the ground, then it is simply Starting performance is about psy- Included on the 2010 South Boston wasted. chology, reflexes, and muscle memory. Speedway schedule are six special events, JOE CHANDLER/GAZETTE-VIRGINIAN The chassis performance of a drag VIPER is developing a specific drag race The field ofN ASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Cars heads to the start/finish line to take the green flag for the 2009 sea- five for touring series. racing vehicle is of equal importance. program for the advanced full motion Have you ever wanted to The first of South Boston Speedway’s son finale at South Boston Speedway. VIPER’s 8 Post vehicle dynamics shaker driving simulator to provide a unique touring series events comes up Saturday K&N Pro Series, fans will see veteran driv- Whelen All-American Series Late Model line on its ticket prices and is not increas- rig, having helped tune road race cars driver training opportunity. With afternoon April 3 when the stars and cars ers competing against some of the country’s Stock Car Division again this season. ing its ticket prices this season. General and the stock cars of the NASCAR the simulator, a driver may practice race at over 200 MPH? of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified most talented young drivers who are look- The first of those events will be the admission tickets for South Boston Speed- circuit, is now ready to simulate the hundreds of runs training his mind Tour join those of the NASCAR K&N Pro ing to climb the ladder in NASCAR racing.” track’s annual pre-Fourth of July rac- way’s regular fare of NASCAR Whelen quarter mile. Using the 8 Post, a team and body to execute that perfect launch Experience the sights, Series for a unique racing doubleheader The USARacing Pro Cup Series, the ing extravaganza, the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series events will be priced can perform dozens of “passes” in a day every time. sounds, and motions in that will feature a 150-lap race for each of series that many fans remember as the Late Model 200 on Friday night, July 2. A at $10 for adults and $5 for kids ages 7-12 tuning the chassis and suspension, all Looking to gain the competitive the driver’s seat of the the two touring series. former Hooters Pro Cup Series, will make 200-lap NASCAR Late Model Stock Car when accompanied by a paying adult.