INDUSTRY NEWS
FAST FACTS
Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) announced that Ray Polentz was promoted to senior director of supply chain and logistics. He will report to Yokohama President and CEO Jeff Barna. Polentz, who works out of YTC headquarters in Santa Ana, California, joined Yokohama in October 2017 as regional distribution center manager. He was promoted to director of distribution operations in July 2018. Before joining Yokohama, Polentz had more than 15 years of supply chain and logistics experience. He previously held senior positions at JCPenney as well as Stein Mart in both operational and transportation roles.
R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. (RRMCI) announced the recent hire of John Keller as sales and marketing representative. Keller will join the RRMCI West Coast sales team. Keller began his career in the aftermarket with Goodguys Rod & Custom in 2009. Twelve years later, he moved to Arizona, where he worked as a sales manager for an aftermarket billet company.
Hyundai Motorsport announced a change to its senior management, with Sean (Seon-Pyung) Kim taking over the role of president. He replaces outgoing President Scott Noh, who is set to take up a new position at Hyundai Motor Company in Korea. During Noh’s tenure, Hyundai Motorsport secured consecutive world titles in the FIA World Rally Championship (2019 and 2020) and the FIA World Touring Car Cup (2018 and 2019).
Fullbay, a turnkey platform designed to improve the operational efficiency of heavy-duty repair shops, acquired Dieselmatic Digital Inc., a digital marketing agency focused exclusively on diesel repair shops. The acquisition layers the digital marketing services of Dieselmatic onto the shop management software Fullbay already offers in order to help drive demand for repair shop businesses.
World Products appointed Lance Stillwell as its director of operations. Stillwell will oversee the development and manufacturing of World Products’ engine blocks and cylinder heads. In 1997, Stillwell founded parts provider and engine builder Motorsports Unlimited in Terre Haute, Indiana. Today, he has more than 25 years of engine machining experience and in-depth knowledge of World Products’ product line, the company stated.
Wheel Pros, backed by Clearlake Capital Group LP and in partnership with management, announced that it acquired TeraFlex, a designer, manufacturer and distributor of aftermarket suspensions, shocks and other components for automotive and off-roading enthusiasts. TeraFlex operates three domestic U.S. facilities.
Hemmings announced that President Jonathan Shaw appointed Douglas R. Glad as head of editorial. Terry McGean, who had acted as editor-in-chief since 2005, will remain at the company in an editorial capacity. Glad’s employment will commence this month. Glad has more than 20 years of experience in the automotive publishing industry.
DENSO Products and Services Americas Inc., an affiliate of DENSO Corp., promoted Reggie Cruz to director of corporate planning and Manny Rodriguez to senior manager of product development. Cruz, who has been with DENSO for more than 16 years, is now responsible for overseeing business and corporate planning, financial services and new-business strategy development. Rodriguez, who has been with DENSO more than 22 years, is responsible for collaborating with DENSO’s engineering, procurement and supply chain teams on product development.
Reggie Cruz
Manny Rodriguez
PFC Brakes announced the promotion of Luis Maurel to the role of director of global motorsports. Maurel will manage the company’s race department and help expand into sports cars and other professional motorsports segments across the world, the company stated. He will also manage PFC Brakes’ involvement as providers for racing series, including the NTT IndyCar Series, the Superstar Racing Experience and the Renault Sport Series.
Senior business executive and sales professional Devron Jeffers returned to Speedway Motorsports as vice president of business development for the company’s
national sales team, as announced by Speedway Motorsports Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer Kevin Camper. Jeffers will be based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and will focus on national sales opportunities for companies headquartered in Texas and the central United States.
Race Winning Brands Inc. (RWB), a portfolio company of MiddleGround Capital, announced the acquisition of PAC Racing Springs (PAC), a manufacturer of high-performance valve springs serving the automotive and powersports performance and racing aftermarket. PAC represents the ninth add-on acquisition for Race Winning Brands. RWB also announced the acquisition of RevMax, TransGo and Transmission Specialties Inc. (TSI).
