By SEMA Editors
With its sustained growth throughout the United States, late-model racing will play a prominent role at this year’s 26th annual Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, December 12–14, 2013. Beginning Monday, December 9, and continuing through the show days, a number of events featuring some of the sport’s biggest names and latest technological advances will focus on late models.
“Whether it’s engine development, chassis setup, or finding the latest technology on the show floor, the PRI Trade Show is going to be a must for late-model racers and businesses,” said John Kilroy, publisher and general manager, PRI.
Among the featured events is Speedway Illustrated magazine’s seminar, "Winning Setup Strategies for Dirt Late Models," which takes place Thursday, December 12. Karl Fredrickson, publisher of Speedway Illustrated, will moderate the event featuring Hall of Famer Scott Bloomquist, 2011 World of Outlaws champion Rick Eckert and Rocket Chassis’ Mark Richards.
On Friday morning, the Penske Racing Shocks Short Track/Late Model Technology seminar will feature speakers Aaron Lambert, Bloomquist, Dave Reedy, James Stevens and Kelly Falls discussing current Late Model short-track technologies, trends in shock absorbers and more. Hyperco Coils will present a Short Track/Late Model Suspension Setup seminar on Friday as well.
PRI's Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) provides engine builders, racers, manufacturers, design engineers, business owners and more the opportunity to learn from the best and most creative minds in the performance business in a three-day conference running December 9–11.
On Friday morning, PRI’s Ask The Experts Engine Builders Panel features noted engine builders Vic Hill (Vic Hill Race Engines LLC), Ron Shaver (Shaver Racing Engines), Keith Dorton (Automotive Specialists) and Jon Kaase, (Jon Kaase Racing Engines), who will discuss how to run a successful race engine business and take questions from PRI Trade Show attendees.
The biggest draw at PRI is the trade show floor, which is full of racing technology, bodies, engines and parts.
“PRI’s a really good show,” said Scott MacDonald of Bilstein Shocks, whose company introduced its XVS series large gas chamber stock for the IMCA market at last year’s show. “The people who are there are really serious about doing business and looking for new products.”
Exhibitors, buyers and even sanctioning bodies all will be in attendance.
“Each year the PRI show has grown, and it’s become imperative that we’re here—not only to represent our series, but also to work with our partners because they’re all here as well,” said Chris Dolack from “World Of Outlaws.” “It’s where you come to connect with people face to face. From our standpoint, all of our partners are here. From the dirt standpoint, we know they’re all here. And the show moving to Indy will be really good for us, as a strong majority of our competitors are within an easy day’s drive of Indianapolis.”
This year’s PRI Trade Show is expected to play host to exhibits from more than 1,200 racing companies occupying some 3,400 booths, and attract more than 40,000 racing professionals from across the United States and 72 countries. The show returns to Indianapolis for the first time since 2004, after the show’s owner, SEMA, acquired the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) in late 2012, consolidating it with the PRI Trade Show under the PRI brand for 2013 and beyond.