“This is a significant milestone for Spike and Vanguard,” expressed Farran Davis, team development manager for RVA Graphics Motorsports. “The partnership between a global leader like Vanguard and a talented professional driver like Spike, it’s a perfect match. Vanguard recognizes Spike’s immense potential, and we look forward to welcoming Vanguard to the team.”

“I look forward to representing the Vanguard brand on the racetrack and in the paddock,” added Kohlbecker. “Vanguard engines are well-known for their robust design, performance, and longevity even in demanding environments—qualities that are just as crucial for commercial engines as they are for a professional race car driver!”

“We’ve been following Spike’s motorsport journey since he started in karts, often racing one of our Briggs Racing engines,” said Dan Roche, marketing director for Briggs & Stratton. “His exceptional work ethic, both at the track and in school, aligns perfectly with our employees, OEM partners, dealers, and commercial customers. We proudly support a team and driver who understand that preparation equals results.”

2025 Toyota Gazoo Racing North America (TGRNA) GR Cup Series Schedule

Look for the distinctive and powerful Vanguard engines’ yellow and black livery on Kohlbecker’s #55 Toyota GRCup North America car for the 2025 season:

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Key changes shared this morning include:

• Doug Boles will serve as President of both INDYCAR and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, succeeding Jay Frye.
• Mark Sibla will be promoted to Senior Vice President, INDYCAR Competition & Operations.
• Kyle Novak will become INDYCAR’s Vice President of Officiating and Race Control.
• Alex Damron has been named Chief Marketing Officer, INDYCAR, while also continuing as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Penske Entertainment.
• Louis Kissinger will be promoted to General Manager, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Operations.

Doug Boles brings decades of motorsport experience to his new responsibilities, including being the President of Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 2013. At IMS, he oversaw the sellout of the 100th Indianapolis 500, the first full-capacity crowd in the event’s storied history. In addition, he’s managed more than $150 million in strategic investment at the Racing Capital of the World, including “Project 100” and significant infrastructure improvements following the acquisition of IMS by Penske Corp.

Across his tenure at IMS, he has been particularly lauded for his promotional prowess and strategic marketing capabilities, growing the Speedway’s global reach and better connecting Indy 500 fans to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. As a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer at Panther Racing and as Hulman & Company’s Vice President of Communications, he has worked extensively within the INDYCAR paddock, as well. At Panther Racing, Boles helped lead the team to 15 INDYCAR SERIES race wins and two INDYCAR SERIES championships, in addition to seven INDY NXT by Firestone race wins and a championship. In total, he has more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in motorsports, within team operations, sponsorship, marketing, public relations and more.

“Doug is the ideal choice to lead both INDYCAR and IMS as we enter a new era of opportunity and visibility,” said Penske Entertainment President & CEO Mark Miles. “He’s an exceptional leader and motivator who is appreciated by our fans and respected by our owners, drivers, partners and additional key stakeholders.”

Said Boles: “Racing is in my DNA, and no form of racing resonates more personally and strongly with me than the NTT INDYCAR SERIES. I’m honored to lead the amazing team at INDYCAR, and I truly believe the future is bigger and brighter than ever for our sport and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I’m extremely grateful to Mark Miles for this opportunity, and fans can rest assured the hard work is already under way and 2025 will be a fantastic season.”

Boles becomes President of INDYCAR as Frye departs the organization following 10 years in the role. During Frye’s tenure, he led a period of tremendous successes at INDYCAR, including securing the entitlement series sponsorships with Verizon and NTT, the development of the AK18 universal aero kit, development and implementation of the total driver cockpit safety solution aeroscreen and state-of-the-art hybrid technology introduction. In addition, Jay Frye also oversaw an expanded grid with incredible competition.

“It has been an absolute honor and privilege to be the President of INDYCAR and work alongside the dedicated and talented men and women at INDYCAR and in the INDYCAR paddock,” Frye said. “The growth and success the series has had over the last 10 years would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration of the owners, drivers and teams.”

In both his role at INDYCAR and as IMS President, Boles will report to Penske Entertainment President & CEO Miles. As Boles manages strategic vision and priorities across both INDYCAR and IMS, several additional staffing updates will help oversee day-to-day operations within each organization.

At INDYCAR, Mark Sibla has been named Senior Vice President of INDYCAR Competition and Operations. He has been a senior member of INDYCAR’s management team for more than a decade and will lead workstreams focused on general operations and special initiatives such as development of the new car.

Also at INDYCAR, Kyle Novak begins an enhanced role as Vice President of Officiating and Race Control. In this position he will lead both the Race Control and Race Tech teams at INDYCAR, responsible for ensuring rigorous and equitable enforcement of NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT presented by Firestone competition regulations. Novak has served as INDYCAR’s Race Director since the 2018 season and was elected to the FIA General Assembly in 2022.

In addition, as INDYCAR prepares for new levels of audience exposure through its relationship with FOX Sports, Alex Damron has been named Chief Marketing Officer, charged with fully implementing a maximized and unified promotional plan for the sport. In this role, he will lead the marketing and communications teams at INDYCAR. He will also continue as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Penske Entertainment, responsible for overseeing IMS PR efforts and Penske Entertainment’s photo and editorial operations.

“We’re confident Alex is ready for this opportunity,” Miles said. “He’s played an integral role in our transition to FOX Sports, driving significant work to implement the phenomenal promotional initiatives we’ve already seen, ensuring we can quickly and efficiently leverage new opportunities.”

At IMS, Kissinger steps into the role of General Manager, IMS Operations, leading teams responsible for suite/hospitality sales, track operations and event operations. Kissinger began his career at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway serving as a distinguished Orr Fellow, with his most recent role being Director of Event Operations & Experience at IMS.

SOURCE: INDYCAR

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The United States Auto Club (USAC) NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship will once again take center stage as drivers race for victory on the quarter-mile dirt oval inside Turn 3 of IMS. This is the first time the BC39 has taken place in early July, as four of the previous events occurred in September and the other two in August.

Action among the top Midget racers in the country will open Tuesday, July 1, with the 39-lap feature race set for Wednesday night, July 2. The event honors the memory of Bryan Clauson, a three-time Indianapolis 500 starter and four-time USAC national driving champion.

Ticket renewals and applications will be open from Feb. 11-21, with tickets going on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Visit IMS.com for complete details and to renew, apply for, or buy tickets.

Cannon McIntosh took the lead with slightly more than one lap remaining to win the BC39 last September in an unforgettable finish. He joins a list of BC39 winners that includes NASCAR Cup Series champion and Brickyard 400 presented by PPG winner Kyle Larson and short-track stars Justin Grant, Buddy Kofoid, Zeb Wise, and Brady Bacon. No driver has ever won this coveted race more than once.

SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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On May 27, CISA OBP partnered with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and DHS’ S&T Directorate to demonstrate the DETER vehicle barrier at the 108th running of the Indy 500.

The DETER is a quickly deployable barrier designed to protect critical assets and soft targets from vehicular attacks. It’s adaptable to various lane widths, road surfaces and environmental conditions. At the Indy 500, the barrier was deployed multiple times and used as a temporary road closure, enhancing the safety of more than 300,000 fans in attendance over the Memorial Day weekend.

“CISA is excited we were able to help deploy the DETER barrier at the Indy 500. Our partnership with ERDC, DHS S&T and our colleagues in CISA Region 5 continue to set the standard for collaboration, innovation and collective security,” said Darrin Flick, Technical Assistance Branch Chief.

To read more about DETER and our partnership with DHS S&T and ERDC, click the links below:

• S&T Deploys DETER at the Indy 500
• Racing towards a safer nation at the Indianapolis 500

SOURCE: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

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The USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship will be featured during the 38th annual Indiana Sprint Week opener on Thursday evening, July 24, the night before Brickyard Weekend opens on the 2.5-mile IMS oval for the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.

The event promises a unique spectacle, as the 900-horsepower USAC Sprint Cars take to a quarter-mile dirt track inside Turn 3 of the famous IMS oval. USAC Sprint Cars made their debut at The Dirt Track at IMS last September in a special invitational event won by C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Indiana.

“We expected wheel-to-wheel action from Sprint Cars on The Dirt Track, and they delivered,” IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Kicking off Brickyard Weekend with some of the biggest stars of the USAC during Sprint Week is sure to be another incredible show.”

USAC’s Indiana Sprint Week, a cornerstone of sprint car racing in the Hoosier State since 1988, has captivated fans for decades with its thrilling action and rich legacy. The 2025 Indiana Sprint Week schedule consists of eight events at eight different racetracks across a 10-night span between July 24-Aug. 2.

“Sprint car racing and Indianapolis Motor Speedway share a deeply intertwined history, and this event symbolizes the unification of two racing traditions,” USAC President Kevin Miller said. “USAC Sprint Cars at IMS will be an unforgettable experience for fans and competitors alike.”

Dates for the 2025 Driven2SaveLives BC39 for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Series will be announced later.

SOURCE: Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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