Bodine Lands Daytona Sponsor

Red Horse Racing announced today that former NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Todd Bodine will drive the team’s Toyota Tundra at Daytona International Speedway this month, with sponsorship from Good Sam RV Club. Good Sam is a sister organization to the series’ title sponsor, Camping World, and provides roadside assistance to recreational vehicles, automobiles, SUVs and motorcycles.

Bodine said he is happy to be heading to the World Center of Racing with a sponsor on board. “Good Sam has been a part of our sport before and (CEO) Marcus Lemonis is obviously a big supporter of our series,” said Bodine. “The Camping World Truck Series has been a great marketing tool for them, and they understand what the series is all about. I’m proud to be going to Daytona with them and I hope to make something more out of this down the road.”

The 2006 and 2010 Truck Series king said the remainder of his season remains uncertain, and that the search continues for additional sponsorship. “Tom Deloach at Red Horse Racing made the commitment to me that we were going to Daytona, one way or another,” he said. “Now, Good Sam has stepped up to ensure that we’ll have something on the quarter panels.”

Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway Hosts Grand Opening

The green flag is waving today over the grand opening of Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City’s first land-based, Las Vegas-style casino.

The new casino was developed and is operated by Kansas Entertainment, LLC, a 50/50 joint venture of Penn Hollywood Kansas, Inc., a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming, Inc. and Kansas Speedway Development Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation. All casino games at the facility are owned by the state of Kansas.

Penn National Gaming Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter M. Carlino, and International Speedway Corporation CEO Lesa France Kennedy opened the casino at a ribbon cutting ceremony today alongside Mayor/CEO of the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, Joe Reardon. NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer and Kasey Kahne were also in attendance at the new Casino, located high above the speedway’s second turn, where two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series events are held annually. It is the first trackside casino in the ISC family of facilities, and guests can play on a single gaming floor and dine at five different restaurants, several with views of the track.

 “The combination of a world-class sports facility with the premier Hollywood-branded casino will set a new standard in gaming entertainment excellence,” said Lesa France Kennedy today. “ISC and Kansas Speedway have been a collaborative partner with the community to increase area tourism and create jobs for more than a decade. We continue to make significant investments in the facility, most recently with the start of the speedway’s permanent road course construction. This partnership started with a mutual vision to create a true destination for visitors and residents, anchored by a premier motorsports racing facility. Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway will build upon our successful track record.”

Approximately four million guests are expected to visit Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway annually, bringing increased tourism and tax revenues to Wyandotte County and the state of Kansas. The total estimated economic benefit of the casino is $220 million annually. The Casino will employ more than 1,000 workers from the greater Kansas City region and is seen as a significant driver of employment in the area.

Motor Racing Network is a subsidiary of International Speedway Corporation

MRN Radio Announces New Online Programs

With the 2012 racing season almost completely out of hibernation, Motor Racing Network is set to start the New Year by rolling out a fresh lineup of exclusive online programming. The network’s schedule of live streaming content will feature the launch of “The Straight Line,” a weekly one-hour look at the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The show will be streamed at MotorRacingNetwork.com and debuts Feb. 8 from 12-1 p.m. (EST) in advance of the season-opening O’Reilly Auto Parts Winternationals Presented by Super Start Batteries.

Doug Herbert co-hosts "Straight Line."

“The Straight Line” is an outgrowth of MRN producer Marty Hough’s weekly podcast, which began in 2011. Hough is co-hosting the one-hour online show with current Top Fuel competitor Doug Herbert. The program’s debut will feature 15-time NHRA champion John Force; his daughter Courtney, currently competing in Funny Car; and that division’s 2011 champion, Matt Hagan. Following its one-hour webcast, “The Straight Line” will be available for download from the MotorRacingNetwork.com Media Center as well as iTunes and Stitcher.

Motor Racing Network’s digital programming lineup will also expand into coverage of IndyCar racing and NASCAR Modifieds, with all streaming shows available exclusively at www.motorracingnetwork.com. “The Paddock,” a weekly review of open-wheel racing in the IZOD IndyCar Series and Formula One, will be co-hosted by MRN producer Eric Morse and driver John Andretti and streamed live from 1-2 p.m. each week beginning Tuesday, March 13, with a preview of the season-opening F1 race in Australia. The program is an extension of a weekly Formula One podcast produced by Morse last year.

MRN’s Kyle Rickey and Buddy Long will co-host “Modified Madness,” debuting Wednesday, March 14, in the 1-2 p.m. time slot. The show will focus on Modified racing across America and feature the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour.

“MRN Motorsports Monday” and “Winged Nation,” a weekly look at the World of Outlaws Series, already have returned to MotorRacingNetwork.com and are streamed weekly. All of MRN’s online programming is produced by Web Manager Craig Moore.

MRN RADIO Exclusive Weekly Online Programming

(All times Eastern)

Monday, 12 p.m.

“MRN Motorsports Monday”

Tuesday, 12 p.m.

“Winged Nation” -- World of Outlaws

Tuesday, 1 p.m. / Starting March 13

“The Paddock” -- IndyCar and Formula One

Wednesday, 12 p.m. / Starting Feb. 8

“Straight Line” -- NHRA drag racing

Wednesday, 1 p.m. / Starting March 14

“Modified Madness”

AM FM-Energy To Back Hornaday, Gresham

Joe Denette Motorsports has announced that AM FM-Energy.com will continue its support of the team as an active member of their 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series sponsorship lineup. The Virginia-based company will serve as an associate sponsor for former series champion Ron Hornaday’s No. 9 Chevrolet and newcomer Max Gresham’s No. 24 Chevrolet.

"AM FM-Energy.com is proud to partner with Joe Denette Motorsports again for the 2012 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season," said Andy Mays, president of AM FM-Energy.com. "With a veteran like Ron Hornaday and an up-and-coming rookie like Max Gresham, we know the duo will be powerful spokesmen for our brand. As a small company in Virginia that sells pellet and wood stoves on our website, we know the power of a NASCAR partnership. We look for both drivers to 'heat things up' in 2012."

AM FM-Energy.com, based in Amherst, VA, is celebrating its seventh year in business in the alternative energy solutions field. The company specializes in multi-fuel stoves, wood stoves and pellet stoves. They also distribute the Timber Ridge line of wood and pellet stoves from England Stove Works.

AM FM-Energy.com sponsored Elliott Sadler's No.24 Joe Denette Motorsports entry in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Sadler captured JDM's first Keystone Light Pole Award and led 53 laps en route to a ninth-place finish. 

"After partnering with JDM and Elliott Sadler in last year's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol, we saw a tremendous boost in sales through our online store," continued Mays. "We hope this is a winning combination for both sides and we wish Joe, Ron and Max the best of luck in 2012."

National Speed Sport News Returns!

With an all-new monthly print publication launching in March and an aggressive plan for the future, Turn 3 Media, LLC, is bringing back the National Speed Sport News brand, identified for its namesake weekly newspaper that was widely recognized as the “Bible” of American auto racing news.

Turn 3 Media, LLC, a North Carolina company founded by publishing veteran Curt Moon, former SPEED executive Joe Tripp, and motorsports television personality Ralph Sheheen, has acquired the exclusive rights to National Speed Sports News from The Kay Publishing Company.

Founded in 1934 and edited by “The Dean of American Motorsports Journalism” Chris Economaki beginning in 1950, National Speed Sport News ceased publication of its venerable weekly newspaper following the March 23, 2011 issue.

While the realities of the publishing world, which contributed to the demise of the newspaper, haven’t changed, the Turn 3 Media partners are confident the new National Speed Sport News will succeed.

“We’re starting with a clean slate,” said Tripp, “building upon all that was great about the former publication by expanding the content and delivering it through a broad variety of platforms relevant to the times. Specifically, we will provide race fans with credible and timely coverage of all forms of professional motorsports – two wheels and four – on everything from mobile (SPEED SPORT Mobile), tablet (SPEED SPORT Digital Edition) and web (www.nationalspeedsportnews.com) – plus a new magazine that will be available in print and digital editions.”

“We listened to our fans – and while most are getting race results and breaking news online these days, they still really wanted a print edition.” explained Moon. “The new monthly SPEED SPORT Magazine will include exclusive stories and interviews, thought-provoking editorial, and a comprehensive view of all motorsports not found in other publications.”

For many years, former National Speed Sport News Editor Chris Economaki was a fixture on national television. With his iconic voice and unique style, Economaki was unparalleled in the business. Most of today’s motorsports journalists and personalities credit Economaki with forging a path for their own careers.

"The first nationally televised race broadcast I was a part of more than 20 years ago, Chris Economaki was my colleague on pit road,” explained Sheheen. “Chris set the standard for motorsports journalism on TV and with National Speed Sport News. We have assembled some of the best writers and reporters in motorsports to continue that tradition. We'll be giving our readers insightful and thought provoking commentary and features on every form of motorsports involving cars, motorcycles and anything else that belches flames, slings mud or singes the asphalt."

As Publisher, Sheheen will manage the editorial direction of the new SPEED SPORT Magazine and will help drive reach and brand awareness through his extensive television exposure. He will also lead efforts to expand the brand into video and television media.

Readers will benefit from the continuity of an editorial staff led by Editor in Chief Mike Kerchner, who has served NSSN continuously since 1991.

“I think our readers will enjoy seeing the familiar faces, names and opinions with which they have become accustomed through the years,” said Kerchner. “SPEED SPORT Magazine will deliver racing information to its readers in an updated manner and style, but we’re confident it will have the same warm, fuzzy feeling that readers have enjoyed when finding National Speed Sport News in their mailbox for nearly 80 years.”

SPEED SPORT Magazine will debut with a March Season Preview issue, exactly one year after the original National Speed Sport News ceased publication.

Subscriptions to SPEED SPORT Magazine are available for $24.95 per year for 12 issues. A digital edition of the magazine will be available for $12.95 per year. Access to www.nationalspeedsportnews.com will remainfree.

Turn 3 Media is planning to announce more details of its plans during Florida Speed Weeks later this month.