American Racing News Vol 1, Issue 2 Issue 3 | Page 5

Hot Laps

NASCAR Partners with Steven Soderbergh on Heist-Themed Film
Channing Tatum to Star in “ Logan Lucky ” for the Big Screen
DAYTONA BEACH , FL – NASCAR ® is collaborating with Academy Award winning director Steven Soderbergh on a feature film entitled Logan Lucky , starring Channing Tatum alongside Daniel Craig , Riley Keough , Adam Driver and Seth MacFarlane . Depicting a theoretical heist at Charlotte Motor Speedway , the project will mark Soderbergh ’ s first feature film since announcing his retirement from the film industry in 2013 . Soderbergh , who also directed heist film Ocean ’ s Eleven , is best known for his work on the critically acclaimed Traffic and Erin Brockovich , which garnered him two Oscar nominations and the accolade of Best Director .
This will not be Tatum ’ s first experience working with NASCAR or Soderbergh . He and 22 Jump Street co-star Jonah Hill served as grand marshals for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ Pocono 400 in 2014 , while Tatum and Soderbergh previously teamed up for the Magic Mike films , Haywire and the 2013 thriller Side Effects , which was the most recent film project led by the acclaimed director .
“ We are excited to work with Steven , Channing and all of Logan Lucky ’ s incredible cast and producers ,” said Zane Stoddard , NASCAR vice president of entertainment marketing and content development . “ It ’ s a big-hearted , fun story that showcases NASCAR and
Charlotte Motor Speedway as the world-class sports entertainment property and venue that they are , much like the Bellagio in Steven ’ s Ocean ’ s Eleven .”
Logan Lucky is tentatively scheduled for release in Fall 2017 . Mark Johnson , Gregory Jacobs and Reid Carolin are producing . Zane Stoddard is executive producing for NASCAR .
1955 Indianapolis 500 Champion Bob Sweikert To Be Inducted Into Motorsports Hall Of Fame Of America
DAYTONA BEACH , FL . ( May 24 , 2016 ) – Indianapolis 500 champion and overall open-wheel legend Bob Sweikert of Los Angeles will be inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America ( MSHFA ) at the 28th Annual MSHFA Induction Ceremony Presented by Bridgestone on June 29 at The Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach .
Bob SweikertSweikert is being inducted in the Historic Category , which honors achievements prior to 1976 . In 1955 , Sweikert had a season for the ages winning the Indianapolis 500 , the AAA “ Big Car ” National Championship and the Midwest Sprint Car Championship . He was the first driver to sweep all three honors in a single season .
Sweikert also was the first driver to exceed 100 mph on a one-mile oval track . His career was halted at the age of 30 , his full potential unrealized , when he died in June 1956 after a Sprint Car accident at Salem ( Indiana ) Speedway .
“ It is always a thrill to induct a past Indy 500 winner ,” said MSHFA President Ron Watson . “ But his other accomplishments in 1955 really put an exclamation point on his short career .”
Sweikert was inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame in 1994 and the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame in 1995 .
Sweikert joins Everett Brashear , Richard Childress , Gary Gabelich , Chip Ganassi , Dave McClelland and Sam Posey in the 2016 MSHFA class of inductees .
Tickets for the 2016 Induction Ceremony can be purchased by calling 248.349.7223 or through the MSHFA website at www . mshf . com .
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Five Legends Unveiled as 2017 NASCAR Hall Of Fame Class
DAYTONA BEACH , FL – NASCAR announced today the inductees who will
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