This fall’s Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in Braselton, as well as all the other major sports-car races in the world this year, will have a decidedly different look this year as Peugeot is withdrawing from sports-car racing.
The auto manufacturer issued a statement this week that read in part: “This decision has been taken in the context of a difficult economic environment in Europe. ... Peugeot has chosen to concentrate resources on its sales performance in 2012.”
For the past three seasons, Peugeot and Audi have battled for the major sports-car titles, with Peugeot being most successful at Road Atlanta, where it ended Audi’s long dominance in the Petit with three consecutive wins, from 2009-11.
The Braselton-based American Le Mans Series, which sanctions the Petit as well as other sports-car races in America, including the upcoming 12-hour race in Sebring, Fla., responded with its own statement.
“While the announcement of Peugeot ending its factory participation in endurance racing comes as a real disappointment, it will take little — if any — luster off the spectacle” of the race in Sebring.
The statement went on to say: “There will still be a plethora of new cars, teams and manufacturers represented on the grid with plenty of entertainment available at the circuit.”
The ALMS statement also said that Peugeot had been a credit to the sport and officials hoped the manufacturer would return at some point.
Speedfest in Cordele
In a rare move, one of the country’s major asphalt short-track races, Speedfest, is changing race tracks less than two weeks before the green flag flies.
The annual mid-winter event was set to be run next weekend at Lanier National Speedway in Braselton, but instead is being moved to Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele after apparent disagreements between Lanier’s owner Donnie Clack and officials from the sanctioning body, Champion Racing Association.
Among the expected entries for Speedfest are Sprint Cup drivers Kyle Busch and David Ragan, who this week signed to race in Sprint Cup in the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports. Busch took back-to-back Speedfest wins in 2009 and 2010, but did not compete last year.
There also are some second-generation drivers with NASCAR connections on the entry list, among them Bill Elliott’s son, Chase; Matt Kenseth’s son, Ross; and John Hunter Nemechek, son of Joe Nemechek. Chase Elliott is the defending Speedfest winner.
NASCAR preview
NASCAR fans have a chance this weekend to meet the top drivers in the sport Saturday in Charlotte at the “NASCAR Preview 2012 Presented by Sprint.” The format is reminiscent of the old Winston Preview. Fans can meet drivers, get autographs and participate in Q&A sessions and games.
The event will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center. For tickets or other information visit nascaracceleration2012.com.
