Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske race team were the winners for the first time in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race season. |
Logano Wins Second Straight Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Joey Logano and the No. 22 Team Penske race team gambled on a late race call in Vegas and came out winners for the first time in the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race season. This was Logano’s second straight victory in a special race for the 2018 Champion driver and his team. Driving the No. 22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang in his sponsor’s entitlement race, the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube, Logano scored his second straight win at the track and the 24th victory of his Cup Series career by holding off a host of challengers with fresher tires after a bold call following a late race caution. The 2020 Pennzoil 400 victory brings Logano and the No. 22 team to 22 total NCS wins since he joined the team in 2013. Logano’s 2020 Pennzoil 400 win brings Team Penske to a total combined 542 wins, 620 pole positions and 37 national championships.
Sparta Evolution and United States Touring Car Championship to Partner for 2020 Season
Sparta Evolution has announced a partnership with the United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) for the 2020 racing season. The big beneficiary of the program will be the competitors who will receive a discount program, free technical support and exposure through the partnership. The program will also introduce the “Sparta Award” at every race where a driver will win $1,000 of Sparta products.
 Tommy Johnson Jr. went 3.883 seconds at 326.40 mph to defeat teammate Jack Beckman during the final round at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in his MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. |
Johnson, Torrence and Enders Take Home Wins From the Desert at NHRA Arizona Nationals
Funny Car veteran Tommy Johnson Jr. added a trophy to his collection at the 36th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in front of a sold-out crowd last Sunday. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel) and Erica Enders (Pro Stock) also took home wins in their respective categories at the second of 24 events on the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. In an all Don Schumacher Racing final, Johnson went 3.883 seconds at 326.40 mph to defeat teammate Jack Beckman during the final round at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in his MD Anderson Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat.
In Top Fuel, defending world champion Torrence faced Doug Kalitta in the final round, picking up his 37th career win and his second in Phoenix after going 3.679 seconds at 321.27 in his CAPCO Contractors dragster. In Pro Stock, Enders grabbed her first win of the season and the 26th of her career with a 6.531-second pass at 210.44 in her Melling/Elite Performance Chevrolet Camaro. Sunday’s win moves Enders into the top 10 for all-time wins in the Pro Stock class. NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series racing action continues to Gainesville, Florida, March 12–15, at the 51st annual AMALIE Motor Oil Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.
 GRDLOC, built by SuperJeep Builder of the Year Nic Ashby, won top honor at the SuperJeep Invitational Championship at King of Hammers in MotorTrend’s American SuperJeep Challenge. |
Nic Ashby Wins 2020 American SuperJeep Challenge Builder of the Year
Rockstar Performance Garage owner Nic Ashby has been named 2020 SuperJeep Challenge Builder of the Year. Ashby’s win at MotorTrend’s 2020 American SuperJeep Invitational Championship was supported by Yukon Gear & Axle gears, axles and driveshafts, a Grizzly locker differential and a Yukon Zip Locker Differential. The inaugural event was held last month at the conclusion of King of the Hammers off-road race in Johnson Valley, California. GRDLOC, Ashby’s modified ’83 CJ7 Jeep Wrangler entry, won unanimously by proving its mettle at handling desert and rock climbing as judged by an elite and diversified panel of industry experts—Courtney Hansen, Terry Madden and Greg Henderson.
The project GRDLOC, three years in development, was also supported by many top-notch aftermarket brand sponsors, including a 4.4 supercharged Cadillac Northstar forged V8, Trophy Truck-sized 3.0 King Shock Coilovers, Bullet Liner-coated olive drab paint job, Scosche 12v Power Sport/Lifestyle Mounts, Throttle Down customs Race Frame, PRP Racing Seats, Mickey Thompson 46-in. tires, Genright Offroad Aluminum Armor, Billet KN Filters intake, Forged wheels, eight-piston brakes from R1 Concepts, nine-speaker Kicker audio sound system, Rugged Radios bluetooth internal comms, seven independent coolers from Mishimoto and an 87 Dodge KingPin front axle/2001 11.5-in. AAM rear axle from Yukon Gear and Axle. The judges and Tony May, executive producer of the “American SuperJeep Challenge,” pointed out that Ashby’s GRDLOC stood out from the field for its marriage of form, function and creativity to unequivocally earn the title.
 The Mustang RTR has been named the official vehicle of the NMRA Ford Nationals. |
Ford Mustang RTR Named Official Vehicle of Holley NMRA Ford Nationals in 2020
The Mustang RTR has been named the official vehicle of the NMRA Ford Nationals and Vaughn Gittin Jr. will make a special appearance during the Nitto Tire-sponsored Spring Break Shootout, February 27–March 1, at Bradenton Motorsports Park. The Spring Break Shootout will feature a match race between Gittin Jr. and teammate Chelsea DeNofa in their 1,200hp Formula DRIFT vehicles.
Recaro Automotive Seating and Subaru Motorsports USA Achieve Success During 2019 Rallycross and Rally Seasons
Recaro Automotive Seating has announced a number of milestones achieved in collaboration with Subaru Motorsports USA during the 2019 Rallycross and Rally Championship seasons. Recaro provided Subaru Motorsports with Pro Racer SPA and Pro Racer SPA XL seats, which were used in numerous Subaru rally vehicles. This season, the Subaru Motorsports USA rallycross effort saw four wins from six rounds of the 2019 Americas Rallycross Championship (ARX). Drivers Scott Speed, Patrik Sandell and Chris Atkinson each earned at least one win during the ARX season. The team also put at least one car on the podium at all six ARX rounds, with a total of nine ARX podiums and two double podiums. Atkinson finished second in the ARX Driver’s Championship, while Sandell placed third, and Subaru Motorsports USA took home the ARX Team Championship. As part of the partnership, the two brands also attended more than 80 events across the United States, displaying key show cars together.
EXEDY Signs as Official Clutch Sponsorship With DIESEL Motorsports
EXEDY has finalized an endorsed product sponsorship deal with DIESEL Motorsports as the official clutch system for all events for the 2020 DIESEL Motorsports season.