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RACING

Rocket Pro TPO to sponsor first all-female team’s car at Indianapolis 500

Rocket Mortgage to sponsor all female team with Detroit ties at the Indy 500DETROIT – Rocket Mortgage will be sponsoring Simona D Silvestro’s No. Rocket Pro TPO, the division of Detroit-based Rocket Mortgage which works exclusively with independent mortgage brokers, will serve as the primary sponsor of the No. Paretta Autosport said Rocket Pro TPO will be front-and-center with dominant branding on the car, firesuit and crew suits. “Having Rocket Pro TPO come onboard as our primary sponsor for this year’s Indy 500 is a perfect partnership,” said Beth Paretta, CEO/team principal of Paretta Autosport. Owner Beth Paretta lives in the Detroit area while her Paretta Autosport has a technical alliance with Team Penske.

Ann Arbor’s Blue LLama Jazz Club entertainment venue, restaurant goes on break

Tables at Blue LLama Jazz Club sit right up against the stage for unobstructed views of entertainment. Photo | Sarah M. ParletteANN ARBOR, Mich. – Blue LLama Jazz Club is temporarily closing its doors and going on hiatus for the foreseeable futureIn a message from proprietor Don Hicks and Blue LLama Jazz Club senior management on Monday afternoon, the restaurant/ jazz venue announced that it and its sister concepts were going on a break for a few months. Thanks to your support, you’ve made the Blue LLama one of the brightest stars in the sheltering indigo sky of jazz venues. Ann Arbor is a major destination for jazz artists again” Blue LLama leadership said in a message on the business’s website. Blue LLama Jazz Club is at 314 S. Main St.To our dear Blue LLama guests, musicians, friends, family, and all those with whom we’ve shared drinks, bites, jams and... Posted by Blue LLama Jazz Club on Monday, December 28, 2020Read the full message below:

Detroit-built technology aims to change the game in sailboat racing

DETROIT – Racing sailboats is a niche sport, but it’s popular here in the Great Lakes state. A new technology -- developed locally in the Motor City -- is a finalist for the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award. Several local sailboat enthusiasts wanted to reduce the environmental impact of the sport and came up with a new technology that has them in the running for a big prize. “When we were selected, it was a pretty powerful moment for the whole team,” said Kevin Morin. Morin, along with 10 others, invented the MarkSetBot -- a done that hovers in the water and acts as a marker during sailboat races.

CDC trims quarantine rules down from 14 to 7-10 days

Previously, if you were exposed to a person infected with SARS-CoV-2, the recommendation was that you quarantine for 14 days. That’s based on good evidence that most people will have developed symptoms by day 14 and, even if they don’t have symptoms, the risk of being infectious past day 14 is also low. It’s not that 14 days is bad, it’s just that’s how does society wants to balance it.”And balance is the important point. Based on what we know, the CDC didn’t say that 14 days is wrong and they are still recommending it when possible. Related: Will Michiganders be willing to get COVID-19 vaccine?

3 teenagers shot in 3 separate Detroit shootings Friday

DETROIT – Police are investigating three teenagers shot in three separate shootings in Detroit. The first shooting happened at about 2 p.m. in the 14100 block Houston Whittier Street, just east of Gratiot Avenue. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-5970 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detroit Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 313-596-2260 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak-Up. More: Detroit crime news

Wayne County ordinance makes street racing a public nuisance

DETROIT – Street racing has been declared a public nuisance in southeastern Michigan’s Wayne County following a vote by county commissioners. The new ordinance allows police to impound vehicles and equipment used in street racing. County Executive Warren Evans said the new measure provides law enforcement with tools to help keep neighborhood streets safe. “For their own safety and for the safety of other motorists and pedestrians, would-be racers need to stay off Wayne County streets. “Street racing does endanger lives, has caused injuries, and fatalities and I have witnessed it first hand,” Evans said.

12-year-old Michigan boy pursues dream of racing professionally

DETROIT – While most 12-year-olds are busy riding bikes and playing with their friends -- Keegan Sobilo is busy going fast. Four years before he can get a driver’s license, Keegan is already behind the wheel of a race car. He fell in love with racing when he started watching NASCAR. When he was 8 years old he started racing mini cup cars. Now, the 12-year-old is racing around quarter mile tracks at 80 miles per hour almost every weekend.

Detroit father charged in crash on 8 Mile Road that killed 2-year-old son

DETROIT – A Detroit father and a young man have been charged in a high-speed crash that took the life a 2-year-old child and critically injured two other kids. Michael Lipscomb Jr., 29, has been charged with second-degree murder, reckless driving causing death, and three counts of child abuse because prosecutors said his three children were in the backseat of his car. Jeffery Roberts, 20, has been charged with second-degree murder, reckless driving causing death and three counts of reckless driving causing serious impairment. Detroit police said Lipscomb and Roberts were drag racing when they crashed. Prosecutors said Lipscomb had his kids in the car when he was speeding on West Eight Mile Road and Cherrylawn Street in Detroit.

Racecar driver with autism set to make history at Michigan International Speedway

Armani Williams is looking to make history at Michigan International Speedway in more ways than one. Williams, a Grosse Pointe native, was like any other child with big dreams -- he wanted to become a race car driver. For the first time, he will race in his home state at Michigan International Speedway in the Arca Menards Series. Williams is the first openly diagnosed NASCAR driver with autism and hes become an inspiration for others with autism and their families. Never let autism back them down from their dreams, Williams said.

Benched: IndyCars Simon Pagenaud gearing up to race again

Ive been training every morning getting ready for the season, Simon Pagenaud said. I train three hours every day, then I go on a simulator.Racing is everything to Simon Pagenaud and thats why he gives it his all. Haley is my wife, she is disinfecting everything when it comes into our house, Pagenaud said. Last year was pretty good to Pagenaud who drives for Team Penske. I love Detroit for that reason.Indycar returns June 6th in Texas, but it will be very different.

Benched: Helio Castroneves on missing Detroit Grand Prix, Dancing with the Stars win

Its a race that driver Helio Castroneves has won three times -- and would have been racing for his record-tying fourth win on Sunday. Weve been going back and forth with virtual racing," Castroneves said. Its not the real thing, though.The auto racing driver says he cant wait to get back behind the wheel of an actual car. Im soon going to be wearing silver sneakers as they call me the old guy, Castroneves said. The Detroit Grand Prix is where Castroneves got his first-ever IndyCar win.

Top NASCAR drivers to honor two Henry Ford nurses during Cup Series race

Two Henry Ford Health nurses will be publicly honored at the upcoming NASCAR race amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Symons, from Livonia, is an ICU nurse at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Her name will be displayed just above the drivers door handle of NASCAR driver and Rochester Hills native Brad Keselowskis car. Palmer, from Walled Lake, is an emergency department nurse at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. MORE: NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatusNASCARs upcoming racing schedule can be found here.

Northville Downs horse racing track signs long-term lease, will stay in operation

NORTHVILLE, Mich. – Northville Downs horse racetrack announced that a long-term lease has been signed and it will continue to operate at its current location in Northville through 2024. Live racing starts on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. and will continue every Friday and Saturday through June 20. Northville Downs, located at the corner of 7 Mile Road and Sheldon Road, has been open for more than 100 years. In 2018, it was announced that the racing track would be sold and redeveloped into apartments and homes.