Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Richard Petty, aka "The King," will help open the PRI Trade Show's return to Indianapolis at the show's Grand Opening Breakfast, December 12. | |
The King Set to Help Open PRI Trade Show's Return to Indianapolis
Richard Petty, known as "The King," will help kick-off the opening of this year’s 26th Annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show with a special appearance at the show’s Grand Opening Breakfast, December 12, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The PRI Trade Show, which will run from December 12–14, will return to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004 after the show’s owner, SEMA, acquired the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS), consolidating it with the PRI Trade Show under the PRI brand for 2013 and beyond.
“We’re honored to have Richard Petty make his first-ever appearance at the PRI Trade Show’s Grand Opening Breakfast,” said John Kilroy, PRI Trade Show Producer. “Everybody in the business of auto racing owes a lot to Richard, and the Petty family, for all they’ve done to establish NASCAR racing as one of America’s most popular sports.”
Petty never had the opportunity to race at Indy during his illustrious career in which he won a record 200 career races and seven NASCAR Cup championships. His Richard Petty Motorsports team has fielded entries at both the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400.
The “King” will be among a variety of guests to appear with motorsports TV personality Dave Despain, who will serve as host of the Grand Opening Breakfast show. Previous guests for the show have included John Force, Bobby Rahal, Kenny Schrader, Bob Bondurant, Humpy Wheeler and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
The Grand Opening Breakfast begins at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, December 12, with doors set to open at 7:00 a.m. It will be held in the Sagamore Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center.
This year’s PRI Trade Show is expected to play host to exhibits from more than 1,100 racing companies occupying 3,300 booths, and attract more than 40,000 racing professionals from across the United States and 72 countries. For additional information on the 2013 PRI Trade Show, or hotel and travel information, visit www.pri2013.com.
 Valerie Thompson joined the “201 MPH Club” after posting a record two-way average speed of 201.02 MPH in the 1000cc MPS/AG class at the recent motorcycle-only BUB Speed Trials. | |
CTEK Sponsored Motorcyclist Valerie Thompson Becomes Newest Member of BUB Speed Trials “201 MPH Club” at Bonneville Salt Flats
Valerie Thompson, the CTEK Power Inc.-sponsored owner/driver of Valerie Thompson Racing (VTR), joined the “201 MPH Club” after posting a record two-way average speed of 201.02 MPH in the 1000cc MPS/AG class at the recent motorcycle-only BUB Speed Trials. Thompson held this record for only a short period, as her record was surpassed later in the event.
Television Airing of 2013 International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies Announced
The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, based at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing (Ocala, Florida), has announced the 2013 Induction Ceremony will be televised Sunday, October 6, 2013, at 1:00 p.m. (EDT) on the Velocity channel.
Taped March 14, 2013, at the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites (Gainesville, Florida), the ceremony honored Dave Boertman, Wally Booth, Bernie Fedderly, Harry Hibler, the Hirata, Hobbs & Vodnik Top Fuel team, K.S. Pittman, Dick Rosberg and Louis Senter for their accomplishments and contributions to the sport of drag racing. Additionally, noted historian Robert C. Post was honored with the Founders Award.
An All-Star group of presenters included four current and former World champions: 2012 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel Champion Antron Brown, Funny Car Champion Jack Beckman and Pro Stock Champion Allen Johnson; plus former NHRA Full Throttle Funny Car World Champion John Force. The other presenters were: US Nationals Top Fuel Champion (1980) Terry Capp, Track Owner/Event promoter Steve Earwood, National Dragster Senior Editor/Artist and drag-racing historian John Jodauga, Funny Car driver Bruce Larson, Engine Builder Ed Pink and NHRA – Wally Parks Racing Museum curator Greg Sharp.
Individual tickets and corporate table sponsorship programs for the 2014 installation dinner are available for immediate purchase. A table sponsorship costs $1000, which includes seating for 10 with logo on the table, a banquet program listing and inclusion in 2015 promotional brochures, a pair of free passes to the Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum, plus logo placement on the banquet DVD credits. Table sponsors will receive a DVD of the evening’s event, and additionally, each sponsor will be recognized from the stage during the televised portion of the event. Individual seating tickets will be available at $100 each. Major and supporting sponsorship programs are also available.
For ticket and sponsor information, contact Donna Garlits at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing at 352-245-8661 or donna@garlits.com.
Team Falken Expanded Alliances in Ultra4 Racing Pay Off for Entries
Falken Tire continues to expand its involvement in the extreme sport of unlimited four-wheel-drive competition known as Ultra4 Racing, earning tremendous results. Team Falken’s newest alliance is with Seattle’s Jason Blanton, who raced his 966 car to fourth overall in the final race of the Ultra4 season, earning him the points needed to finish third overall in the Ultra4 National Championship, and second-place honors in the Western Division Ultra4 Championship.
A second Team Falken member, Rookie Bailey Cole, finished third in the Ultra4 Every Man Challenge Stock Class West Coast Championship. One of the youngest drivers in the series, at age 16, Cole competed in a specially prepped Toyota 4Runner.
 The Diego Alessi/Daniel Keilwitz team clinched the ADAC GT Masters title at Hockenheimring with their Callaway Competition-designed and built Corvette Z06.R GT3. | |
Callaway Competition Celebrates ADAC GT Masters Championship
Last Sunday, the Diego Alessi/Daniel Keilwitz team clinched the ADAC GT Masters title at Hockenheimring with their Callaway Competition-designed and built Corvette Z06.R GT3. At Hockenheim, Callaway's home track, Alessi and Keilwitz finished fifth in the Saturday race and sixth in the Sunday race on their way to the title. This is Callaway Competition's second ADAC GT Masters Team Championship—the oldest team in the series. Their first ADAC GT Masters Team Championship came in 2009.
At season-end, once again there were Callaway Competition podium finishes in the Gentlemen-Class. Toni Seiler and Jeroen Bleekemolen finished second in the first race, Remo Lips and Lennart Marioneck came in third in both races. Lips ended the season in third place in the Gentlemen-Class.
 Bigfoot will make its debut October 12, 2013, in Brisbane and will be driven by long-time Bigfoot driver and winner of three U.S. championships Rick Long, who will start off in Gosford, New South Wales, October 12 and then on to Whyalla, South Australia. | |
Bigfoot Heads Down Under
An all-new Bigfoot truck will be based on QLD's Sunshine Coast, under the control of Clive Featherby and the Monster Truck Promotions Australia crew, and will be seen extensively around Australia and New Zealand. Bigfoot will make its debut October 12, 2013, in Brisbane and will be driven by long-time Bigfoot driver and winner of three U.S. championships Rick Long, who will start off in Gosford, New South Wales, October 12, and then on to Whyalla, South Australia. Bigfoot will sport the new-style Bigfoot off-road body, as seen on Bigfoot 18, in a custom new color scheme with blue, orange and black. Bigfoot's first Australian challenge will be a car-crushing, car-jumping contest against the Aussie champion "Outback Thunda" in an all-out contest for the Australian car-jumping record.
Budweiser Oval Nationals Will be David Cardey's Last Sprint Car Race
Racer David Cardey has revealed that the 18th Annual Budweiser Oval Nationals Presented by All Coast Construction, October 31–November 2, will be his last race in a sprint car. The veteran competitor is presently the driver of the famed Moose Racing #92.
Cardey has been a fixture in the USAC/CRA Series since it debuted in 2004. Along the way he has driven for owners Jim Giardina, Glenn Crossno, Mark Alexander, Don Blair, Massey Motorsports and his current team Moose Racing. In addition, Cardey also owned and maintained his own car for a couple of seasons. Cardey’s nine lifetime USAC/CRA wins sees him tied for sixth overall on the all-time USAC/CRA victory list. The Moose Racing team will continue on with a new driver in 2013.