People, Places & Racing News

NEWS NUGGETS

COUNTDOWN IS ON TO NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES 2013 OPENER: The 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to Southern California and historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, February 14–17. With kids 12 and younger allowed into general admission seating for free with a paying adult, this family-friendly event is one of the gems at the venerable Los Angeles County Fairplex. The season-opening event of what promises to be an action-packed 24-race schedule will be the perfect opportunity for dedicated NHRA fans to reconnect with their favorite drivers and continue to make memories they will carry with them for a lifetime. Many drivers will be sporting new sponsors, paint schemes and new crewmembers, and this event will allow fans to see the new combinations early in the competitive season. Fans will also be treated to a sensory-overload environment with the sights and sounds of the tradition-rich event as drivers rocket down the track at speeds of more than 320 mph in an attempt to join the list of O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals winners.

WeatherTech Racing Audi R8 Wins GT Title in Rolex 24 at Daytona
The WeatherTech Audi R8 GRAND-AM racing team of Felipe Albuquerque (Portugal), Oliver Jarvis (England), Eduardo Mortara (Italy) and Dion von Moltke (Coral Gables, Florida) won the GT class of the 51st GRAND-AM Rolex 24 at Daytona.

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

Here is a brief look at some of the recent news and updates happening in the specialty-equipment industry.

Amalie Oil Co. has agreed to a multi-year title-rights sponsorship of the NHRA Gatornationals at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. The Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals is scheduled for March 14–17, and is the third event in the 24-race 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

The Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) is dedicated to preserving and promoting the hot-rod industry. HRIA members consist of hot-rod manufacturers, builders/fabricators, dealers, car clubs and enthusiast publications. HRIA welcomes two new members.

Toyo Tires Racers Capture Six Stage Wins and 13 Podiums During the 2013 Dakar
Toyo Tires racers captured six stage wins and a total of 13 podiums during the running of the 2013 Dakar, which completed its final stage this past weekend. Running from Lima, Peru, to Santiago, Chile, the roughly 5,000-mile, 14-stage rally wound its way south along the Pacific Coast, while sweeping inland through parts of Argentina. Competitors were challenged with extreme off-highway conditions, which included huge sand dunes, rock-strewn desert roads, deep river crossings and treks through high mountains.

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

NEWS NUGGETS

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR 2013 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS AT AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA: Tickets for the 53rd annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, February 14–17—the season-opening event of the 2013 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series—are going fast. NHRA’s season-opening event will be contested at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona and will be every NHRA fan’s first opportunity to see all of the new cars and paint schemes and meet all of the drivers who will be racing at speeds of more than 320 mph in an attempt to become O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals champions. A win at this event can mean great momentum as drivers chase NHRA Mello Yello world championship glory during the 24-event season that crisscrosses the United States. All of the stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will be competing at the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, including defending Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown, Tony Schumacher and Brandon Bernstein; Funny Car fan favorites “Fast Jack” Beckman, Ron Capps, Courtney Force and 15-time champ John Force; and defending Pro Stock world champ Allen Johnson, four-time champ Greg Anderson and four-time 2012 winner Erica Enders. To purchase general-admission, reserved-seat or Top Eliminator Club tickets for the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals presented by Super Start Batteries, log on to NHRATix.com or call the NHRA Ticket Sales Center, 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets for children 12 and younger are free in general admission with any paid adult ticket.

Here is a brief look at some of the recent news and updates happening in the specialty-equipment industry. Know someone who is moving on or moving up? Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.