The weekend will be highlighted by the return of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patron featuring some of the most advanced technological cars racing in any sports car series. The series features something for everyone from the high price purpose built race cars of the P1 prototype class to the GTC production based class that is a slightly modified lower cost alternative to the GT class.

It will prove to be a weekend to remember. Last year’s event is still fresh in the mind of those who attended as they watched the track record fall to Klaus Graf and Muscle Milk Pickett Racing with a lap time of 1:35.434 seconds or 123.352 mph. Join us to see what records will fall this year!

Spec:RaceAtom
Building on the incredible worldwide success of the Ariel Atom 3 as an ultra-performance track-day car, the next logical step is to transform it into a successful competition car. With this in mind, a reworked platform has been designed & developed by TMI AutoTech, Inc. based off the thoroughbred Ariel Atom 3 production chassis. The result provides each competitor with a safe, durable and highly cost effective race car – the Spec:RaceAtom (SRA).

The SRA is a specifically race-modified version of the Ariel Atom 3. It comes equipped with everything you need to race… but nothing you don’t! SRAs focus solely on overall performance, safety & durability as a race car. Reliability & affordability have remained paramount in our efforts to develop the new SRA car while also providing drivers with an easy to operate & maintain vehicle, in keeping with spec series competition parameters.

Currently in its 3rd year of racing there are Championship Series being held on both the east and the west coast with a 10-race series held at VIRginia International Raceway, as well as a newly added 4-race Winter Series held at Spring Mountain Motorsport Ranch outside of Las Vegas.

Whether you are a driver looking to move up from high-speed track events, or a seasoned racer looking for a new series to race with, the Spec:RaceAtom series is for you. The Spec:RaceAtom series presented by Honda Racing/HPD is one of the most competitive, yet cost effective racing series to hit the track in years. Really Serious Fun!

NARRA US GT Championship
The USGTC is the fastest televised open GT sprint series in the US, produced by Internal Combustion Group. USGTC has the same Horsepower and Weight rules as the US Time Trials Championship (USTTC) with some added safety equipment and additional driver qualifications.

The series is known for treating everyone equal, and the rules challenge the engineer and driver to perform. Old or new, factory or garage built the results are up to the driver and owner.

Lamborghini Super Trofeo
VIR is pleased to be a stop on the six-race schedule for the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series as it starts it inaugural tour in the US and Canada. All teams will be driving specially prepared Gallarado LP 570-4 race cars powered by a V10 engine 570 horsepower and all-wheel drive.

The series event at VIR will be the next to last event of the season and points battle will surely be up for grabs. Be a part of the excitement as this series of exotic cars tangle with VIR for the first time.

Intercontinental Trophy Cup
The 2013 Intercontinental Trophy Cup Series Championship (ITC) presented by Avitus Group is a defined path for new and upcoming talent coming from a variety of disciplines, including karting and club racing. The series, which races exclusively with Porsche Caymans, began in April 2011, and is the first nationally touring semi-professional series sanctioned by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). ITC provides a structure to assist the enhancement of drivers and teams, not only on the track, but also off, fostering business partnerships and developing marketing strategies. ITC is excited to be included in the ALMS event and would like to thank VIRginia International Raceway for hosting the weekend. ITC is concluding its 3rd year of Championship racing with this event, after racing at tracks such as Road Atlanta, Sebring, NJMP, NOLA, Mid Ohio and Autobahn. ITC has been growing steadily and has worked hard to secure national sponsorships along with supporting sponsors providing quality products and services to ensure a quality series with top-level products going into these beautiful cars.

This ALMS support race is being presented by Isringhausen Imports of Springfield Illinois. Isringhausen Imports has had a very active team in ITC from its inception. Isringhausen Imports along with ITC will be debuting the new 2014 Porsche Cayman as the new Spec ITC P1 class racer for the 2014 season. ITC has been working closely with its providers and suppliers in the Indianapolis area and abroad to continue building quality cars for close competition in the series.

The ITC team is dedicated to providing a great experience for racers and teams both on the day of an event and in the weeks afterwards and throughout the year, with advertising and promotion of all involved. For more information on the series, please visit www.trophycupracing.com or call 317.759.6100.

Click Here for the tentative weekend schedule.

Examples of Thomas Day’s work at the VIR Tavern can be found in the archways in the main dining hall.

Day was a master cabinetmaker and entrepreneur whose business flourished during a time when most African Americans were enslaved and free blacks were restricted in their movements and activities. The exhibition showcases 39 pieces of furniture crafted by Day or attributed to his workshop. The exhibition also includes a Bible owned by Day, three period quilts from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, historic photographs and contemporary photographs of architectural interiors designed by Day.

“Thomas Day’s story of talent, entrepreneurship and hard work exemplifies a distinctly American experience and conveys this nation’s rich artistic and cultural history,” said Elizabeth Broun, The Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. “This exhibition presents careful research and fine historical objects that have special charm still today.”

During the antebellum years (1820–1861), North Carolina planters used both classical architecture and fine furniture to convey economic status and gentility. Day, whose father was a cabinetmaker, opened his shop in 1827 in Milton, N.C., where he created fine furniture and architectural interiors for an elite clientele. Day’s style is characterized by undulating shapes, fluid lines and spiraling forms. He combined his own unique motifs with popular designs to create a distinctive style readily identified with his shop. Day is the only documented American cabinetmaker to offer clients both architectural elements for their Greek Revival homes and furniture incorporating the same classical motifs. To date, woodwork in about 80 homes in rural North Carolina and Virginia has been attributed to Day.

The rocking chair is an American invention, and those offered by Day were unique in design. Day’s rockers include extended arm supports with tight scrolls that serve as both functional hand rests and decorative features. Day created a fluid line from the front to the back of the chair, introducing a subtle sense of motion through the curvilinear design of arms, supports, seat frame and rockers.

In the 1850s, Day transformed the fashionable French Antique style, with abundant displays of intricate scrolls paired with fruit and foliage designs, into a style known as Day’s Exuberant style. A hallmark of this style is positive and negative space within the design elements, a technique he employed for both furniture forms and architectural elements. Day’s stylistic exuberance reached new heights in fancy display cabinets, called a “whatnot.” An example in the exhibition features pierced gallery shelves with sinuous S-curves and scrolls.

Eight short videos, produced by the North Carolina Museum of History, run continuously in the exhibition. Each woodworking demonstration features period tools and techniques used in Thomas Day’s workshop. A slide show of selected artworks included in the exhibition is available on the museum’s website, americanart.si.edu. Photographs and time-lapse videos documenting the installation of the exhibition are on Flickr at flickr.com/photos/americanartmuseum and on YouTube at youtube.com/americanartmuseum.

Free Public Programs
A series of free, public programs celebrating Day’s work will be presented at the Renwick Gallery in conjunction with the exhibition. A talk and book signing by Jo Ramsay Leimenstoll, coauthor of the book that accompanies the exhibition and professor and historic preservation coordinator at the University of North Carolina, is Friday, April 12, at noon. A panel discussion “Thomas Day: The Man, The Maker, The Mogul” begins at 1 p.m. Friday, May 10; John Franklin, program manager at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, will moderate a discussion with Donna Day, a descendent of Thomas Day; James Roark, the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of American History at Emory University; and Michael Ausbon, associate curator of decorative arts at the North Carolina Museum of History.

Additional programs include a gallery talk by Robyn Kennedy, chief of the Renwick Gallery, Wednesday, May 1, at noon; an exhibition tour with furniture conservator Don Williams Friday, June 7, at noon; a gallery talk by Nona Martin, public programs manager, Wednesday, June 26, at noon; and “In the Time of Day” Saturday, July 27, from noon to 3 p.m. featuring re-enactors and performers in the galleries, demonstrations by furniture maker Jerome Bias and readings from Day’s letters to his daughter by storyteller and historian Fred Motley. Additional information is available online at americanart.si.edu/calendar. A themed scavenger hunt for children and families, “Day’s Way,” is available daily at the Information Desk during the run of the exhibition.

Publication
An illustrated book accompanies the exhibition ($42; The University of North Carolina Press). Written by Patricia Phillips Marshall, curator of decorative arts for the North Carolina Executive Mansion and the North Carolina Museum of History, and Leimenstoll, the book presents a new understanding of the powerful sense of aesthetics and design that mark Day’s legacy. It is available for purchase in the Renwick Gallery museum store.

Credit
“Thomas Day: Master Craftsman and Free Man of Color” is based on an exhibition organized by the North Carolina Museum of History. The James Renwick Alliance supports the exhibition presentation at the Renwick Gallery.

About the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum celebrates the vision and creativity of Americans with artworks in all media spanning more than three centuries. The museum’s branch for craft and decorative art, the Renwick Gallery, is located on Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street N.W. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. Metrorail station: Farragut North (Red line) and Farragut West (Blue and Orange lines). Follow the museum on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Flickr, ArtBabble, iTunes and YouTube. Museum information (recorded): (202) 633-7970. Smithsonian information: (202) 633-1000. Website: americanart.si.edu.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will make its inaugural visit to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va., on Aug. 24, 2013.

The event will replace the race previously announced for CNB Bank Raceway Park on July 20 in Clearfield, Pa.
With Virginia International Raceway joining the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East calendar, NASCAR’s top development series will now have two road course dates in 2013. The series was already scheduled for its inaugural event at Road Atlanta on Oct. 18 in Braselton, Ga.

“We are very pleased to welcome Virginia International Raceway to the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East calendar,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president of regional and touring series. “Adding a premier road course facility like VIR is a great addition to an already diverse schedule of events.”

Visit the K&N Pro Series East Web Page for additional information.

>>Buy Tickets

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Amateur roadracers in the American Motorcyclist Association will compete for national championships on Sept. 21-22 when the 2013 AMA Roadrace Grand Championships go to Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.

“The annual AMA Roadrace Grand Championships feature the most-talented up-and-coming young roadracers in the United States,” said AMA Track Racing Manager Ken Saillant. “We’re looking forward to bringing this event to the top-notch facility at Virginia International Raceway. This is an excellent venue for our amateur racers to compete for AMA national No. 1 plates in several skill-, age- and displacement-based classes.”

The AMA has partnered with the American Sportbike Racing Association and Championship Cup Series to help run the AMA Roadrace Grand Championships. The grand championship event will run in conjunction with CCS and U.S. Grand Prix Racer Union classes. As always, the 2013 AMA Roadrace Grand Championships will welcome racers from all clubs and organizations, and is open to all licensed roadracing AMA members.

“As an organization involved in the sport of motorcycle roadracing, there is no greater honor than to be part of the AMA Roadrace Grand Championships,” said CCS President Kevin Elliott. “Bringing the AMA Roadrace Grand Championships to VIR during the CCS End-of-Summer Cyclefest is a real boost for the event and the championships. Not only will the weekend be packed with top-caliber sportsmen racing, but the AMA-sanctioned USGPRU finals will complement the action. This will be an awesome weekend for racers and fans alike as we get to see competitors from all over the country battle for national titles.”

Riders will get ample track time and an opportunity to race against the country’s fastest amateur racers. The best compete for the AMA Roadracing Horizon Award, which is awarded to the rider showing the most promise for success in the professional ranks. Past winners of the AMA Roadracing Horizon Award have included Jason DiSalvo, Hayden Gillim, Jake Lewis, Ben Spies, Miles Thornton and Blake Young.

Other awards at the event include the AMA Roadracing Youth Award, the AMA Roadracing Top Novice Award and the AMA Racing Vet/Senior Award, presented to a standout rider who’s 30 years old or older.

For more information about this event and to sign up to race, see www.ccsracing.us.

Visit our Spectator Events Page to reserve your tickets today.

Sign-ups for laps on the challenging VIR South Course will start at noon at the front gate and in the South Paddock and on-track activities will run from from 1 PM until 5 PM. The cost is a $25.00 donation per 15 minute on-track session. Payments in cash or by major credit card will be accepted.

The Boys and Girls Club annually serve nearly 4 million young people, through membership and community outreach, in some 4,000 Club facilities throughout the country and BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide.

Here is your chance to play, have fun, laugh and learn. There are opportunities to build new skills that raise each child’s belief that he or she can succeed and receive recognition for personal accomplishments. The Boys and Girls Club also have ongoing relationships with caring adults and connections to new friends in a positive environment, reinforcing a sense of belonging, personal accountability civility and civic responsibility.

Click Here for the full article by Racer Magazine.

Kyle Petty and the Victory Junction staff were on hand to meet with fans, take photos and sign autographs. The Heart of Carolina Mustang Club presented a check for $500 to Kyle and Victory Junction. This check was in addition to the laps they had purchased. Thank you HCMC for your continued support!

Patrons were treated to facility tours on the VIR Trolley. Oak Tree Spa opened its doors and provided chair massages and 2-step exfoliating hand treatments. Food was available throughout the day at the Pagoda Grill with the Oak Tree Tavern opening in the afternoon for complimentary wine tasting, food and other activities. VIR Kart Track offered complimentary laps on their 5/8-mile track.

TMI AutoTech, builder of the Ariel Atom, BMW Performance Center with an M6 and Jim Taggart Autosport in his Pirelli World Challenge Lotus Sport were all on hand to provide hot laps. All proceeds raised from these laps were donated.

You can see photos from the Open House on our Flickr Page.

Alton, VA – Martinsville Speedway isn’t the only venue hosting race fans in our area this week.

Virginia International Raceway held an open house today — with food, celebrity guests, and plenty of fast cars. This year VIR offered patrons a chance to drive their own cars around the track for a small fee. The proceeds from that and other activities went to Victory Junction, a summer camp for children with chronic illnesses run by former NASCAR driver Kyle Petty.

“This is one of our most revered events of the year, ” said Owner Connie Nyholm.

Nyholm says it offers visitors the chance to experience every aspect of the motorsport resort – from the restaurants to the race track.

“We want everyone to come in and see the variety of things we have to offer and have a chance to drive on the historic four course race track, ” she said.

Patrons had the option to drive their own cars or ride shotgun with the pros in a high-performance vehicle, and for those who weren’t brave enough to get on the track, the on-site spa offered a variety of complimentary services.

“It’s a great facility. This is the first time I’ve been here. It’s a lot of fun, a lot of nice cars around…just a good atmosphere to be around, ” said visitor Clif Burcham.

For many, the best part was knowing that their donations were making a difference.

“It’s been incredibly gratifying to watch these kids grow up, ” said Kyle Petty.

Petty represented the camp which has helped more than 17,000 chronically ill children experience the joy of summer camp.

As a driver and humanitarian, Petty saw the event as a true success.

“I’ve already met two families here whose kids have gone to camp and they’re here today to ride around and donate back to camp. So being at VIR today is a good day, ” he said.

VIR officials say the event is great for increasing business at the resort, and having the race at the Martinsville Speedway in the same week makes it a win-win for race fans.

2013 marks the final season of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón with its penultimate race weekend taking place here at VIRginia International Raceway October 2-5.

The new competition class names for 2014 were also announced:

• Prototype (P) class – current GRAND-AM DP, ALMS P2 and DeltaWing cars
• Prototype Challenge (PC) – current ALMS PC cars
• GT Le Mans (GTLM) – current ALMS GT cars
• GT Daytona (GTD) – current GRAND-AM GT and ALMS GTC cars
• GX – current GRAND-AM GX cars

United SportsCar Racing has launched a web site, www.unitedsportscar.com, where fans can enter to win two tickets to the 2014 Rolex 24 At Daytona as well as official merchandise.

Also announced was the retaining of the storied International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) as the sanctioning body for United SportsCar Racing, with an updated version of the iconic IMSA logo unveiled. IMSA, co-founded in 1969 by John Bishop and the late Bill France Sr., also will sanction the new organization’s various ancillary series, including the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, Ferrari Challenge, the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama Series, the Cooper Tires Prototype Lites Powered by Mazda Series, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin and the newly announced Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo which will race here at VIR October 2-5 as part of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón weekend.

You can read the full announcement about this exciting new era in sports car racing by visiting the American Le Mans Series news page.

Victory Junction is this year’s beneficiary. They’ve enriched the lives of more than 17,000 children and families since opening in 2004. They’ve hosted campers from all 50 states and four countries and will celebrate its 10th empowering summer starting in June.

Admission is free and parade laps will be $25, which will last about 15 minutes. Don’t miss the opportunity to bring the entire family for a fun-filled day of exploration.

Activities:

• On-track parade laps
• Laps on the kart track
• Ariel Atom rides
• Food tastings
• Skeet shooting exhibitions
• Raffle prizes

Amenities:

• The Villas
• Pit Lane Suites
• The Lodge
• Oak Tree Spa
• Oak Tree Tavern
• Connie’s Pub

Come and join in the fun and learn about all VIR has to offer.

Contact us at (434) 822-7700.