TriStar Motorsports announced today that Blake Koch will be back with TriStar Motorsports in 2016 to compete full time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

"This is a big day for TriStar Motorsports," said Mark Smith, owner of TriStar Motorsports. "We are excited to announce our continued partnership with Blake Koch and LeafFilter Gutter Protection for 2016. Blake has been a driver at TriStar since 2014 and we are looking forward to finishing out 2015 strong. LeafFilter came on board this season and they have been great partners of our racing program, so having the opportunity to continue working together in 2016 is exciting"

Having a Chase berth safely tucked away, Martin Truex Jr. says it will be full throttle as usual in the remaining four regular season Sprint Cup Series races. The driver of the No. 78 Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Chevrolet clinched a playoff spot following Sunday’s road-race at Watkins Glen International.

“We’re not going to settle for anything less than being a contender in the next four races,” said Truex. “Producing strong performances is contagious and we want to enter the Chase with a winning momentum.”
Truex’s pre-Chase charge will commence this weekend in the Pure Michigan 400 at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway where he finished third in the June rain-shortened race.

Subaru is not your average automaker, doing its own thing and not following industry trends for some time now, and blazing trails in the area of safety along the way. Subaru fans are not a huge group in the U.S. (the automaker’s market share is in the low single digits), but they are fiercely loyal -- and always come back for more; which is why that market share number has been growing in recent years.

Among the new vehicles they have out that aim to increase the reach of Subaru even further is the 2015 Subaru Outback, which I recently got to spend some time driving.

The Outback is a wagon -- a rarity in today’s automotive world dominated by sedans and SUVs/crossovers. I’m back with a full report on the Outback and what Subaru has brought to the table with this redesign for 2015.

BROOKLYN, Mich. — NASCAR announced on Tuesday changes to the race package for the Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 14.

The changes to the car for the race include a nine-inch spoiler with a one-inch wicker bill, a two-inch splitter and a 43-inch radiator pan. These changes are expected to increase the drag on the cars and optimize the racing. NASCAR spoke to the OEMs, owners, drivers and MIS about the package options to select the one to make the competition stronger.

NASCAR and its racetracks are officially on record as wanted fans to leave their Confederate flags at home when they come to the track. Here is the offiical statement:

“As members of the NASCAR industry, we join NASCAR in the desire to make our events among the most fan-friendly, welcoming environments in all of sports and entertainment.

“To do that, we are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events. This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate Flag at our facilities and NASCAR events.

“We are committed to providing a welcoming atmosphere free of offensive symbols. This is an opportunity for NASCAR Nation to demonstrate its sense of mutual respect and acceptance for all who attend our events while collectively sharing the tremendous experience of NASCAR racing.”

SIGNATORIES

International Speedway Corporation (ISC)

Auto Club Speedway

Chicagoland Speedway

Darlington Raceway

Daytona International Speedway

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Kansas Speedway

Martinsville Speedway

Michigan International Speedway

Phoenix International Raceway

Richmond International Raceway

Route 66 Raceway

Talladega Superspeedway

Watkins Glen International

Speedway Motorsports Inc. (SMI)

Atlanta Motor Speedway

Bristol Motor Speedway

Charlotte Motor Speedway

Kentucky Speedway

Las Vegas Motor Speedway

New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Sonoma Raceway

Texas Motor Speedway

Dover International Speedway

Indianapolis Motor Speedway

Pocono Raceway

Iowa Speedway

Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

Road America

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Eldora Speedway

Gateway Motorsports Park

Volkswagen of America, Inc., has announced that the 2015 Golf TDI Clean Diesel, part of the family of vehicles that won the 2015 North American Car of the Year, has set a new Guinness World Records achievement for the “lowest fuel consumption—48 U.S. contiguous States for a non-hybrid car” with 81.17 mpg. Traveling 8,233.5 miles around America in 16 days on $294.98 of Shell Diesel fuel, the Golf beat the previous mark of 77.99 mpg by more than 3 mpg, and also beat the hybrid vehicle record of 74.34 mpg by more than 6 mpg.

“Covering 8,233.5 miles on just 101.43 gallons of Clean Diesel fuel is a remarkable accomplishment, and solid proof of the efficiency and fuel economy of Volkswagen’s TDI® Clean Diesel vehicles,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. “Whether on a long road trip, or even in daily commuting, the great mileage and long range of our TDI models is a pure convenience factor that few other vehicles on sale can match. It’s a simple formula: Less Stop, More Go!”