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Happinessa achieves season’s-best result, secures Lady Trophy victories

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Happinessa secured Lady Trophy victories as she overcame challenging conditions in the NASCAR Euro Series at Brands Hatch, where the Bremotion driver bounced back from a high-speed crash in the previous round at Vallelunga to secure her first top-15 finish of the season.

Emily Cotty, F4 Middle East, 2025 Abu Dhabi, R-Ace GP

Photo credits: Bart Deahese / EuroNASCAR

Happinessa secured Lady Trophy victories as she overcame challenging conditions in the NASCAR Euro Series at Brands Hatch. The Bremotion driver bounced back from a high-speed crash in the previous round at Vallelunga to secure her first top-15 finish of the season.

Happinessa also experienced her first competitive wet weather running in race one as the German driver continues to progress in her debut season of racing. 

Following a period of recovery and recuperation after a significant incident at Vallelunga, Happinessa returned to the NASCAR Euro Series at Brands Hatch. The German driver demonstrated great determination to come back to competitive action less than one month after this incident with the Bremotion team working hard to prepare her car. Despite being the shortest circuit on the NASCAR Euro Series schedule, the iconic Brands Hatch circuit was a challenging one to master with Happinessa keen to battle within the competitive midfield. 

On-track action began on Friday with two free practice sessions for the drivers to familiarise themselves with the Brands Hatch Indy layout. Happinessa completed 14 laps in session one and set a quickest time of a 52.225 which placed her 17th overall. In session two, the German racer battled technical issues with the Bremotion team working hard to rectify these ahead of Saturday’s action. 

Following overnight rain at Brands Hatch, the track was damp away from the racing line for Saturday morning’s qualifying session. Happinessa was caught out by these tricky conditions early in the session as she spun into the gravel trap at Paddock Hill bend. The Bremotion driver therefore ended qualifying in 21st position and was looking ahead to the two races which followed. 

Photo credits: Bart Deahese / EuroNASCAR

Photo credits: Bart Deahese / EuroNASCAR

Race one of the weekend took place on Saturday afternoon with Happinessa lining up from 21st on the grid. The track was initially dry, before light rain started to fall as the drivers fired their engines. As the pace laps commenced, the rain intensified and a number of drivers headed for the pits to change onto the wet tyres. 

Happinessa remained on the circuit and as a result, she was running in a career-high position of fifth prior to the green flag being displayed. Track conditions remained extremely wet as the race got underway and a number of cars began aquaplaning off the circuit. As a result, the race was red flagged after one lap with Happinessa doing a superb job to remain on track as she ran in ninth position.

Following a short delay while the rain eased, the cars returned to the circuit behind the safety car with Happinessa taking up her ninth position. The Bremotion driver then pitted prior to the green flag being displayed due to an issue with her wipers which made it unsafe for her to continue as the rain persisted at Brands Hatch. 

Conditions remained extremely challenging throughout the race and Happinessa was able to rejoin the circuit with six laps remaining to gain valuable wet weather experience. Although she was unable to achieve the finish she had hoped due to the extended stay in the pits, Happinessa claimed the Lady Trophy victory. 

Photo credits: Bart Deahese / EuroNASCAR

Photo credits: Bart Deahese / EuroNASCAR

For the second race of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, conditions had improved at Brands Hatch and the track was fully dry. Happinessa lined up from 22nd position on the grid and was immediately promoted to 19th with three drivers failing to take the start. As the green was flag was displayed, the Bremotion driver made an excellent getaway and gained four on-track positions to end lap one inside the top-15.

Happinessa was doing well in the initial stages to defend from Michael Bleekemolen, however the veteran racer moved ahead on lap three. A recovering Thomas Toffel also overtook the Bremotion driver on lap four, before Happinessa came under attack from Sven Van Laere. The German racer did a good job to defend her position, while also setting her fastest time of the entire event on lap five. 

On laps seven and eight, technical issues for both Toffel and Claudio Remigio Cappelli elevated Happinessa back into the top-15 as she targeted her best overall finish to date. With both cars requiring retrieval on the exit of Druids, the race first entered a full course yellow period before the safety car was deployed. 

The race resumed on lap 14 and after again defending well from Van Laere, the Belgian driver moved ahead on lap 16 with Mike Wise following him through. Happinessa was quick to reclaim the position from Wise, while a retirement for Bleekemolen saw the Bremotion racer enter the top-15 once again. As the race entered the closing stages, Happinessa did a nice job to manage faster traffic moving ahead as the leaders put the German driver one lap down.

Happinessa remained ahead of Wise and extended her margin to the American debutant with just two laps remaining. Fluid was then spilt on the track entering Paddock Hill bend and this led to a number of drivers leaving the track and hitting the barriers.

Fortunately, Happinessa remained on the circuit and the race was subsequently red flagged due to the slippery track conditions. Therefore, Happinessa was credited with her best result of the season in 15th, while also claiming the Lady Trophy for the second straight race.

Happinessa overcame adversity during the weekend to score her best result in the NASCAR Euro Series. The Bremotion driver showed good improvements as she tackled changeable track conditions at Brands Hatch. She will now be looking to build upon this progress when the championship returns to Autodrom Most in Czechia, following an extended summer break, on the weekend of August 30th/31st.



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Motorsports

Gov. Braun announces state board and commission appointments | Local Government

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Seven people from northeast Indiana have been called for statewide service.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Friday announced his appointments to 30 state boards and commissions, including the Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, the Indiana Motorsports Commissioner and the State Board of Dentistry.

The Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities is meant to advance social and policy changes that lead to meaningful inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in all aspects of life, the state’s website said.

Baun has appointed Fort Wayne City Clerk Lana Keesling and Corinna Wyss, The League’s financial controller, to that council. Their terms expire in September 2028.

The Indiana Motorsports Commission was created in 2013. It finances construction of and lease of real estate and personal property improvements for the benefit of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, according to the state’s website.

Tom Kelley, president of Kelley Automotive Group in Fort Wayne, was reappointed to that commission. His term ends at the end of 2029.

The state’s website said the State Board of Dentistry grants licenses related to dentistry to individuals and facilities in the dental field.

Matthew Kolkman, a dentist with Grabill Family Dentistry, was reappointed to the board. His term expires at the end of November 2029.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission regulates electric, natural gas, steam, water and wastewater utilities.

Braun appointed former state Sen. Andy Zay of Huntington to a four-year term on the commission that expires at the end of March 2030. Zay announced his resignation from his Senate seat last month because of his appointment to the commission.

The Behavior Analyst Committee establishes rules, sets standards and oversees licensing for behavior analysts and assistant behavior analysts, according to the state’s website.

Jill Forte, CEO of the Children’s Autism Center, from Huntington County, was named to the committee. Her term expires at the end of 2029.

Indiana code says the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee supports local domestic violence review teams by collecting and analyzing data, providing needed expertise and establishing and sponsoring training programs for members of local domestic violence review teams.

Leslie Dowden of the Adams County Coroner’s Office will serve on the statewide committee. Dowden’s term expires at the end of 2027.

Braun announced 66 appointments to state boards and commissions Friday from different parts of the state. Each had varying term lengths with the shortest term running until Aug. 31 and the longest term being Zay’s on the utility regulatory commission.



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Pro Motorsports Photographer Shares Behind The Scenes Secrets On The GAS

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Jamey Price
Credit: Jamey Price

Jamey Price is one of the world’s top motorsports photographers. You’ll see his work from Formula 1 and IMSA tracks in dozens of publications during the year, but you’ll have to buy a book to get his coolest shots.

Price has been carrying around a $10 NASCAR novelty film camera and taking shots at many of the events he covers. He’s now collected them in a new book, “Racing Unfiltered: A Year in Motorsports Captured on Film.”

He joined Gary Gastelu and Alex Nunez on the latest edition of The GAS podcast to talk about the project and what the life on the road and track is like as he shoots thousands of photos each day trying to capture perfect shots of cars flying by at up to 200 mph, while also looking for the intimate images behind the scenes.

SUBSCRIBE AND LISTEN TO THE GAS: AN AMERICAN CARS AND RACING PODCAST ON YOUR FAVORITE PLATFORM



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Logan Sargeant’s Transition to Endurance Racing

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Logan Sargeant (pictured), the American racing driver born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on December 31, 2000, competed in Formula 1 with Williams from 2023 to 2024. Over 36 Grand Prix starts, he scored a single point, finishing 21st in the 2023 Drivers’ Championship. His tenure ended mid-2024 after a heavy crash in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix, with Williams replacing him with Franco Colapinto for the remainder of the season.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Following his F1 exit, Sargeant took time away from full-time competition in early 2025 before returning to racing later that year. He made his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut in the LMP2 class, contesting the final two rounds with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports in an Oreca 07 Gibson, achieving a best result of fourth in class at the Motul Petit Le Mans.

#52: PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports, ORECA LMP2 07, LMP2: Benjamin Pedersen, Naveen Rao, Logan Sargeant. Image by LAT for IMSA
#52: PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports, ORECA LMP2 07, LMP2: Benjamin Pedersen, Naveen Rao, Logan Sargeant. Image by LAT for IMSA

As of early 2026, Sargeant has shifted his focus to sports car racing in the IMSA series. On January 2, 2026, Era Motorsport announced his participation in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, marking his debut in the iconic endurance race. He will drive the No. 18 Oreca 07 Gibson in the LMP2 class, sharing duties with Ferdinand Habsburg (a multiple LMP2 champion in WEC, ELMS, and Asian Le Mans Series), Naveen Rao (full-season driver), and a yet-to-be-confirmed fourth driver (provisionally listed as James Roe in earlier entries). Era Motorsport, a team with two prior Rolex 24 LMP2 victories, fields a strong lineup for the event, which kicks off the 2026 IMSA season on January 22-25.

Sargeant, a Florida native from the same town as IndyCar driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity: “I’m super excited to be tackling my first-ever Daytona 24 with Era to kick off 2026. It’s a race I’ve always wanted to be part of, with how close it is to home. It’ll be great to get acquainted with my teammates at the Roar and push hard to come away with a Rolex at the end of the race.”

This move aligns with a broader pivot to endurance racing for the 25-year-old, who comes from a prominent family—his uncle is billionaire businessman Harry Sargeant III, involved in shipping and oil. Despite this background, Sargeant has pursued a professional racing career, progressing from a 2015 CIK-FIA Karting World Championship win (the first by an American since 1978) through junior formulas to F1 and now sports cars.

While many former F1 drivers transition to IndyCar or other series, Sargeant has chosen IMSA’s endurance format. Speculation about a potential World Endurance Championship (WEC) program persists, including past links to programs like Genesis Magma Racing (which he withdrew from) and a 2025 Bahrain rookie test in a Proton Competition Ford Mustang GT3, but no confirmed full-season WEC entry has been announced as of January 2026. His current commitment is the Daytona one-off, with potential for further IMSA races.

Sargeant, known for his competitive junior record and clean-cut appearance that has drawn fan attention, aims to rebuild his reputation in the team-oriented world of sports car racing.



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Former Watkins Glen President Michael Printup 1965-2025

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Racing America is devastated to confirm the sudden passing of Chief Operating Officer Michael Printup at 60 years of age. Michael was an icon in motorsports, a great partner and a friend. His passion for racing and commitment to the industry made a lasting impact on the sport. He will be deeply missed. Racing America sends our thoughts and condolences to Michael’s family, friends and colleagues.

Michael first joined Racing America in July 2023 as the President of Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). In January 2024, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, as well as all racing operations. A native of Hamburg, N.Y., Michael spent nearly three decades working for NASCAR, most notably in the role of president of Watkins Glen International. He was also president of Americrown and oversaw the Levy food service contract for 12 NASCAR-owned racetracks.

Michael leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, two boys Brendan (and wife Caitlin) and Matthew, and two granddaughters, Sophia and Vivienne.

A memorial service for Michael will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 2-4 p.m. at James A. Dyal Funeral Home (303 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483)

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Wheelhouse Motorsports and Robert Noaker Racing Announce Strategic Partnership for 2026 Mustang Challenge

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CONCORD, NC, UNITED STATES, January 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wheelhouse Motorsports today announced a new strategic partnership with Robert Noaker Racing (RNR), uniting two leading organizations known for their development of competitive Mustang racing programs. The collaboration brings together RNR’s championship-winning expertise with Wheelhouse’s operational strength, deep technical resources, and nationally recognized driver development capabilities.

Robert Noaker Racing enters the partnership following back-to-back Team and Driver Championships in 2024 and 2025, including a flawless 2025 Mustang Challenge season in which the Noaker-prepared car led every lap of every race. Wheelhouse Motorsports will integrate this proven technical knowledge with its own established infrastructure, including its GT4 Mustang program competing in the World Racing League (WRL).

Operations will be based at the Wheelhouse Motorsports facility located on the campus of Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Wheelhouse team, including the manager, engineering staff, and technical crew, brings over 100 years of combined motorsports experience to the program. At the track, competitors will also recognize familiar faces, as the RNR crew, led by Bob Noaker, will collaborate with Wheelhouse personnel to support all Mustang Challenge efforts.
“As we continue to expand Wheelhouse Motorsports, this partnership represents a significant step forward,” said Dan McKeever, owner of Wheelhouse Motorsports. “Robert Noaker Racing has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in the Mustang Dark Horse R platform, and by combining that expertise with our operational systems and our long-standing commitment to driver development, we are well-positioned to deliver a next-level experience for our customers and competitors.”

The alliance leverages Wheelhouse’s roots in operating the Ford Performance Racing School, the nation’s premier performance driving school since 2006. The organization operates owner-experience programs for Ford and offers 1-day, 2-day, and Advanced high-performance driving courses, giving clients access to top-tier coaching and continuous development. Integrating this expertise with RNR’s race-winning preparation provides a comprehensive solution for drivers seeking a pathway into professional competition.

“This partnership allows both of our organizations to do what we do best,” said Robert Noaker, owner of Robert Noaker Racing. “Wheelhouse brings unmatched operational depth, driver training, and a world-class facility. When we combine that with the experience our team has developed running and winning with the Dark Horse R, we create a program built to elevate any driver who wants to compete at a higher level.”

Through this partnership, drivers have the following opportunities:
– Lease a Mustang Dark Horse R for the entire 2026 Mustang Challenge season.
– Contract Wheelhouse/RNR to maintain and operate their own cars.
– Compete with Wheelhouse Motorsports in the WRL series, piloting a GTO-class Mustang GT4.

Wheelhouse Motorsports and Robert Noaker Racing look forward to delivering a comprehensive, competitive, and professionally supported environment for drivers seeking championship-caliber performance in 2026 and beyond.

Bill Johnson
Wheelhouse
+1 910-658-1447
email us here

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media



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Motorsports

Wheelhouse Motorsports and Robert Noaker Racing Announce Strategic Partnership for 2026 Mustang Challenge

Published

on


CONCORD, NC, UNITED STATES, January 2, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Wheelhouse Motorsports today announced a new strategic partnership with Robert Noaker Racing (RNR), uniting two leading organizations known for their development of competitive Mustang racing programs. The collaboration brings together RNR’s championship-winning expertise with Wheelhouse’s operational strength, deep technical resources, and nationally recognized driver development capabilities.

Robert Noaker Racing enters the partnership following back-to-back Team and Driver Championships in 2024 and 2025, including a flawless 2025 Mustang Challenge season in which the Noaker-prepared car led every lap of every race. Wheelhouse Motorsports will integrate this proven technical knowledge with its own established infrastructure, including its GT4 Mustang program competing in the World Racing League (WRL).

Operations will be based at the Wheelhouse Motorsports facility located on the campus of Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Wheelhouse team, including the manager, engineering staff, and technical crew, brings over 100 years of combined motorsports experience to the program. At the track, competitors will also recognize familiar faces, as the RNR crew, led by Bob Noaker, will collaborate with Wheelhouse personnel to support all Mustang Challenge efforts.
“As we continue to expand Wheelhouse Motorsports, this partnership represents a significant step forward,” said Dan McKeever, owner of Wheelhouse Motorsports. “Robert Noaker Racing has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in the Mustang Dark Horse R platform, and by combining that expertise with our operational systems and our long-standing commitment to driver development, we are well-positioned to deliver a next-level experience for our customers and competitors.”

The alliance leverages Wheelhouse’s roots in operating the Ford Performance Racing School, the nation’s premier performance driving school since 2006. The organization operates owner-experience programs for Ford and offers 1-day, 2-day, and Advanced high-performance driving courses, giving clients access to top-tier coaching and continuous development. Integrating this expertise with RNR’s race-winning preparation provides a comprehensive solution for drivers seeking a pathway into professional competition.

“This partnership allows both of our organizations to do what we do best,” said Robert Noaker, owner of Robert Noaker Racing. “Wheelhouse brings unmatched operational depth, driver training, and a world-class facility. When we combine that with the experience our team has developed running and winning with the Dark Horse R, we create a program built to elevate any driver who wants to compete at a higher level.”

Through this partnership, drivers have the following opportunities:
– Lease a Mustang Dark Horse R for the entire 2026 Mustang Challenge season.
– Contract Wheelhouse/RNR to maintain and operate their own cars.
– Compete with Wheelhouse Motorsports in the WRL series, piloting a GTO-class Mustang GT4.

Wheelhouse Motorsports and Robert Noaker Racing look forward to delivering a comprehensive, competitive, and professionally supported environment for drivers seeking championship-caliber performance in 2026 and beyond.

Bill Johnson
Wheelhouse
+1 910-658-1447
email us here

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media



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