People, Places & Racing News

Deegan Gains Overall Points Lead at LOORS
Rounds three and four found Brian Deegan back on top of the podiums in both the Pro Lite and Pro 2 classes at the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORS) this past weekend. Saturday's races started out with Deegan winning the Pro Lite class in his #38 Rockstar Energy Drink/Makita Power Tools Ford. In the late afternoon Pro 2 race, Deegan led the field after the first lap before crossing the finish line second. On Sunday Deegan was part of a pile-up after a restart in the Pro 2 race, suffering a flat tire that sent him back to the pits. After coming out of the pits and fighting to get back in the running, Deegan crossed the finish line in the ninth position. Closing out the weekend, Deegan finished with another first-place win, bringing him back in the game for the overall points lead.

News and updates and from SEMA's councils and committees. 

In only its fourth race, the all-new Mazda6, powered by a production-based SKYACTIV-D Clean Diesel engine, scored a win in the Rolex Grand-Am GX race at Road Atlanta. Joel Miller and Andrew Carbonell drove the #00 Visit Florida Racing Mazda6 to the win, with teammates Sylvain Tremblay and Tom Long finishing third in the similar #70 SpeedSource Mazda6 SKYACTIV-D. It was a three-way battle for most of the race with a Porsche Cayman splitting the two Mazdas.

Here is a brief look at some of news and updates from around the specialty-equipment industry. Companies featured this week: RealTruck.com, Lund International, Automotive Lift Institute, Fidanza Performance and more.

ENDERS-STEVENS IN SEARCH OF HOMETOWN VICTORY IN HOUSTON: Erica Enders-Stevens is easily the most successful woman in NHRA Pro Stock history. After a stellar 2012 season behind the wheel of her GK Motorsports Chevy that produced four wins in seven final rounds and a fourth-place points finish, there is one thing that would make her even more proud: to win a Wally in front of her hometown crowd at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals presented by Super Start Batteries at Royal Purple Raceway.

SEMA’s councils and membership department introduces the Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN). The mission of the ETTN is to “identify, understand and communicate emerging trends and technologies to help members improve.” The launch comes after the Street Performance Council (SPC) sunset earlier this year.

The new show, “Girl Gear Heads”—a car competition for women—is currently looking for female car enthusiasts to compete for prize money by turning a basic car into a modified track-ready hot rod.

News and updates and from SEMA's councils and committees. 

Here is a brief look at some of news and updates from around the specialty-equipment industry. Companies featured this week: The Marx Group, Holley Performance Products, Jiffy-tite and more.

Falken Tire has defended its Long Beach Formula Drift title for the fourth consecutive year when team veteran Daijiro “Dai” Yoshihara took the win over former teammate Vaughn Gittin Jr.