People, Places & Racing News

NEWS NUGGETS

Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA)

HRIA Seminar Workshop Lineup for the Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS: Donny Schatz was named the winner of the fifth annual Economaki Champion of Champions presented by Rockett Brand Racing Fuel. The award was presented by National Speed Sport News Publisher Emeritus Chris Economaki and accepted by Schatz during the 20th annual PRI Trade Show in Orlando.

SUPPORT: Advance Auto Parts, which has sponsored the Advance Auto Super DIRT Series for 10 years, has increased its support of the World Racing Group, signing on as sponsor of the World of Outlaws sprint-car series.

ETool Developers hired John Zinn as its new president. Zinn has worked in many facets of the automotive aftermarket industry, including retail, manufacturing, distribution, publishing and e-commerce development. He was most recently the director of marketing for Stillen.

John Zinn

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS: The fifth-annual Economaki Champion of Champions Award presented by Rockett Brand Racing Fuel will be awarded December 6, at 3:00 p.m., during the PRI Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.

PAY DAY: Jimmie Johnson and his Hendrick Motorsports team earned a check for $7,317,499 at the annual NASCAR Nextel Cup Series banquet in New York City.

Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. announced that Kenji Nakakura was appointed the company’s new president and chief executive officer.  Mr. Nakakura will also serve as the representative director for the company and will continue to serve as a member of the board.  He will assume all responsibilities effective January 1, 2008. Mr. Nakakura replaces Yoshio Kataoka, who will become advisor to the president and will continue serving as a member of the board.

NEWS NUGGETS

NHRA ANNOUNCES HOT ROD HERITAGE SERIES: To help preserve NHRA's rich history and tradition while seizing on the success of nostalgic drag racing competition, NHRA has announced the formation of the NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Racing Series that will crown year-end points champions in 14 categories.

Sport-Compact Council (SCC)

SCC is hosting a Jobber Focus Panel on Friday, December 7, 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m., during the PRI Trade Show in Orlando. The meeting, open to all SEMA members, will cover the latest compact-performance trends and outline the current direction of the market. The meeting is set for the Orange County Convention Center, Meeting Room S331B (on the third level). To RSVP or for more information, contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or e-mail paulm@sema.org.

Sport-Compact Council (SCC)

SCC is hosting a Jobber Focus Panel on riday, December 7, 7:30 a.m.–9:00 a.m., during the PRI Trade Show in Orlando. The meeting, open to all SEMA members, will cover the latest compact-performance trends and outline the current direction of the market. The meeting is set for the Orange County Convention Center, Meeting Room S331B (on the third level). To RSVP or for more information, contact Paul Moritz at 909/396-0289, ext. 112 or e-mail paulm@sema.org.

STAYING PUT: Surprising no one, Speedway Motorsports Inc. Chairman Bruton Smith accepted $80 million worth of incentives from the city of Concord, North Carolina, Cabarrus County and the state of North Carolina, and proudly announced Lowe’s Motor Speedway would remain in Concord permanently.