Compiled by SEMA Editors

NASCAR Results at Irwindale Speedway

NASCAR Junior Late Models Race 1 – 21 Laps
1. Austin Edwards
2. R.J. Smotherman
3. Kyle Keller

NASCAR Pick Your Part Late Models Race 1 – 30 Laps
1. Lawless Allen
2. Ryan Schartau
3. Christian McGhee
4. Jagger Jones
5. Nick Joanides

Inex Legend Cars – 35 Laps
1. Darren Amidon
2. Chad Schug
3. Austin Farr

NASCAR Sharky’s Spec Late Models “Irwindale Race of Champions” – 30 Laps
1. Ryan Partridge
2. Nick Joanides
3. Bill Sedgwick

Super Stocks – 12 Laps
1. Rich DeLong III
2. Jerry Toporek
3. Matthew Sampson

Junior Late Models Race 2 – 12 Laps
1. Kyle Keller
2. Austin Edwards
3. Olivia Manke
4. R. J. Smotherman

NASCAR Pick Your Part Late Models Race 2 – 30 Laps
1. Blaine Perkins
2. Alec Martinez
3. Ryan Schartau

Irwindale Race Trucks – 35 Laps
1. Ryan Partridge
2. Connor Cantrell
3. Lucas McNeil

Formula DRIFT and AEM Induction Systems have teamed up for 2018 to present the Formula DRIFT/AEM Halftime Show with Maximum Driftcast throughout the 2018 season.

AEM Induction Systems Sponsors New Formula DRIFT Halftime Show

Formula DRIFT (FD) has announced a new halftime show for the 2018 season. Sponsored by AEM Induction Systems, the show will be available to event spectators and viewers of the Formula DRIFT livestream broadcast. Beginning with the Formula DRIFT final round at Irwindale Speedway in 2016, and at several FD rounds during 2017, AEM Induction Systems hosted the Maximum Driftcast halftime podcast from its booth in the paddock area. At the same time, Formula DRIFT was investigating different ways to expand its live broadcast, which reaches more than 2.5 million fans annually. The series wanted to provide more stories to its fans and bring greater insight at each event, so Formula DRIFT and AEM Induction Systems teamed up for 2018 to present the Formula DRIFT/AEM Halftime Show with Maximum Driftcast throughout the 2018 season. Two more key Formula DRIFT partners, Nexen Tire and Motegi Racing, will also be on board as supporting brands, adding more content and features to the halftime show. The schedule for each event is available at www.formuladrift.com.

The all-new Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla Hatchback will campaign the 2018 Formula Drift season with driver Fredric Aasbo and the Papadakis Racing team. (Photo: Louis Yio/Larry Chen)

Fredric Aasbo and Papadakis Racing Unveil New for 2018 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

Papadakis Racing unveiled the all-new Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla Hatchback as part of Toyota’s new vehicle launch at the New York International Auto Show. Champion driver Fredric Aasbo will pilot the modified Toyota Corolla Hatchback in the 2018 Formula Drift series. Its competition debut is set to take place April 6–7 at the series opener on the Streets of Long Beach. Based on the brand new Toyota Corolla Hatchback, the rear-wheel-drive converted Rockstar Energy Drink/Nexen Tire Toyota Corolla Hatchback produces 1,000 nitrous-boosted horsepower from its four-cylinder turbocharged Toyota 2AR engine.

E3 Announces 2018 Sponsorship Agreements

E3 Spark Plugs has announced that the company has significantly increased its level of motorsports sponsorship for 2018. In addition to renewing its longstanding sponsorship of NMRA, NMCA and NHRA drag racing, E3 recently announced the title sponsorship for the NHRA PRO MOD drag-racing series. This series, which is all-new for E3, features 12 races of high-powered turbo, nitrous and supercharged late-model American musclecars that compete in a 16-car field. Other sponsorships that are being renewed for 2018 include title sponsorship of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League. For both, E3 will be the title sponsor with television entitlement rights on CBS, CBS Sports Network, MATVT and the NBC Sports Network. This is in addition to E3’s longtime commitment to Lucas Oil Racing programs through continued title sponsorship of three major Lucus Oil motorsports race events: E3 Spark Plugs Off Road Nationals, the E3 Spark Plugs Late Model Nationals and the E3 Spark Plugs Drag Boat Nationals. E3 is also sponsoring many of the top racers across multiple series, including USAC racer Joss Moffatt, and NHRA racers Antron Brown, Leah Pritchett, Dan Schumacher, Courtney Force, Ron Capps, Andrew Ranger and more.

Last weekend, a Shelby 289 FIA Cobra (CSX7000) by Superformance took a “Most Elegant of Show” award in the Exclusive Drive Concours d’Élégance.

Classic Shelby Cobra Graces Le Mans Podium Again

Shelby Cobras continue to win awards at Le Mans. Last weekend, a Shelby 289 FIA Cobra (CSX7000) by Superformance took a “Most Elegant of Show” award in the Exclusive Drive Concours d’Élégance, held at the famed French circuit. The car was displayed by Superformance’s Belgian dealer, Shelby Gentleman Car. The company’s Le Mans stable also included another Shelby 289 FIA Cobra and a 427 Cobra, a Shelby GT40 in 1966 Le Mans livery and an iconic F-250 support vehicle.

Motorsport Safety Foundation Partners With MOMO and SCCA to Keep Drivers Safe

The Motorsport Safety Foundation has partnered with racing safety equipment company MOMO to assist the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in promoting driver safety throughout the 2018 race season. The Motorsport Safety Foundation has secured nearly $20,000 in certificates for SFI and FIA-approved MOMO racing gloves, boots or even a racing suit to be awarded at the discretion of the SCCA Chiefs of Tech at SCCA’s seven remaining 2018 Hoosier Super Tour races across the United States.

Land Rover is just one year away from revealing its second-generation Evoque, which has now been spotted undergoing high-speed tests at the German Nürburgring race track—well ahead of its launch. The company will tinker little with the current car’s formula, and will maintain the distinctive coupé-style shape that helped define a segment.

The current Evoque helped transform the company into the much larger and more successful one it is today. Sales have never dropped below 100,000 units annually, even six years after it was launched.

Jaguar Land Rover has a stated target of having an electrified version of each of its new models launched after 2020, but the Evoque will arrive just before that and consequently there will be no electrified version from launch.

However, it’s understood the Evoque is under consideration to be the first JLR model to get a new mild-hybrid drivetrain currently in development, which has been captured in prototype form. This combines a new three-cylinder 1.5L Ingenium engine with a small electric motor, backed up by a 48V electrical architecture to power ancillaries, including air-con and the water pump. Equipping the Evoque with this drivetrain will require extensive changes to the car’s underpinnings, and as such, it will not be ready for launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest.

Prototype versions of the Evoque Mk2 are a regular sight around the company’s Gaydon engineering base, and it is understood Land Rover is preparing a reveal of the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show, ahead of a sales-start in early 2019.

The current Evoque, codenamed L538, has become firmly established since its launch, and design boss Gerry McGovern believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should not “lose key ingredients” and would be designed with the intention of making it “more relevant.” McGovern said that even years after its launch, the Evoque Mk1—the design of which can be traced as far back as the Land Rover LRX concept car from 2008—remained a “very distinctive vehicle” that is “known for what it is: falling roof, rising beltline.”

The evolution of the design will extend to the car’s underpinnings. The next-generation Evoque, codenamed L551, will be built on an overhauled version of the current car’s D8 architecture, which is Jaguar Land Rover’s only natively front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse-engined models.

Refinements to the D8 underpinnings will focus on improving the ride comfort of the Evoque, and the comfort levels for passengers. The firm has always resisted creating a pure performance version of the Evoque—the model is considered every bit the ‘mini Range Rover’ in terms of luxury and refinement—both areas Land Rover will look to improve further with the second-generation car. There will be no significant increase in size.

Land Rover’s suite of new four-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium gas and diesel engines will carry over to the new Evoque, each engine a 2.0L unit ranging in power output from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels, and from 237 hp to 296 hp for gas. There will be further improvements to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of the engines in their application in the second-generation Evoque, aided by the increases in refinement being engineered into the car’s architecture right from the start of development.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Land Rover is just one year away from revealing its second-generation Evoque, which has now been spotted undergoing high-speed tests at the German Nürburgring race track—well ahead of its launch. The company will tinker little with the current car’s formula, and will maintain the distinctive coupé-style shape that helped define a segment.

The current Evoque helped transform the company into the much larger and more successful one it is today. Sales have never dropped below 100,000 units annually, even six years after it was launched.

Jaguar Land Rover has a stated target of having an electrified version of each of its new models launched after 2020, but the Evoque will arrive just before that and consequently there will be no electrified version from launch.

However, it’s understood the Evoque is under consideration to be the first JLR model to get a new mild-hybrid drivetrain currently in development, which has been captured in prototype form. This combines a new three-cylinder 1.5L Ingenium engine with a small electric motor, backed up by a 48V electrical architecture to power ancillaries, including air-con and the water pump. Equipping the Evoque with this drivetrain will require extensive changes to the car’s underpinnings, and as such, it will not be ready for launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest.

Prototype versions of the Evoque Mk2 are a regular sight around the company’s Gaydon engineering base, and it is understood Land Rover is preparing a reveal of the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show, ahead of a sales-start in early 2019.

The current Evoque, codenamed L538, has become firmly established since its launch, and design boss Gerry McGovern believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should not “lose key ingredients” and would be designed with the intention of making it “more relevant.” McGovern said that even years after its launch, the Evoque Mk1—the design of which can be traced as far back as the Land Rover LRX concept car from 2008—remained a “very distinctive vehicle” that is “known for what it is: falling roof, rising beltline.”

The evolution of the design will extend to the car’s underpinnings. The next-generation Evoque, codenamed L551, will be built on an overhauled version of the current car’s D8 architecture, which is Jaguar Land Rover’s only natively front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse-engined models.

Refinements to the D8 underpinnings will focus on improving the ride comfort of the Evoque, and the comfort levels for passengers. The firm has always resisted creating a pure performance version of the Evoque—the model is considered every bit the ‘mini Range Rover’ in terms of luxury and refinement—both areas Land Rover will look to improve further with the second-generation car. There will be no significant increase in size.

Land Rover’s suite of new four-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium gas and diesel engines will carry over to the new Evoque, each engine a 2.0L unit ranging in power output from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels, and from 237 hp to 296 hp for gas. There will be further improvements to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of the engines in their application in the second-generation Evoque, aided by the increases in refinement being engineered into the car’s architecture right from the start of development.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Land Rover is just one year away from revealing its second-generation Evoque, which has now been spotted undergoing high-speed tests at the German Nürburgring race track—well ahead of its launch. The company will tinker little with the current car’s formula, and will maintain the distinctive coupé-style shape that helped define a segment.

The current Evoque helped transform the company into the much larger and more successful one it is today. Sales have never dropped below 100,000 units annually, even six years after it was launched.

Jaguar Land Rover has a stated target of having an electrified version of each of its new models launched after 2020, but the Evoque will arrive just before that and consequently there will be no electrified version from launch.

However, it’s understood the Evoque is under consideration to be the first JLR model to get a new mild-hybrid drivetrain currently in development, which has been captured in prototype form. This combines a new three-cylinder 1.5L Ingenium engine with a small electric motor, backed up by a 48V electrical architecture to power ancillaries, including air-con and the water pump. Equipping the Evoque with this drivetrain will require extensive changes to the car’s underpinnings, and as such, it will not be ready for launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest.

Prototype versions of the Evoque Mk2 are a regular sight around the company’s Gaydon engineering base, and it is understood Land Rover is preparing a reveal of the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show, ahead of a sales-start in early 2019.

The current Evoque, codenamed L538, has become firmly established since its launch, and design boss Gerry McGovern believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should not “lose key ingredients” and would be designed with the intention of making it “more relevant.” McGovern said that even years after its launch, the Evoque Mk1—the design of which can be traced as far back as the Land Rover LRX concept car from 2008—remained a “very distinctive vehicle” that is “known for what it is: falling roof, rising beltline.”

The evolution of the design will extend to the car’s underpinnings. The next-generation Evoque, codenamed L551, will be built on an overhauled version of the current car’s D8 architecture, which is Jaguar Land Rover’s only natively front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse-engined models.

Refinements to the D8 underpinnings will focus on improving the ride comfort of the Evoque, and the comfort levels for passengers. The firm has always resisted creating a pure performance version of the Evoque—the model is considered every bit the ‘mini Range Rover’ in terms of luxury and refinement—both areas Land Rover will look to improve further with the second-generation car. There will be no significant increase in size.

Land Rover’s suite of new four-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium gas and diesel engines will carry over to the new Evoque, each engine a 2.0L unit ranging in power output from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels, and from 237 hp to 296 hp for gas. There will be further improvements to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of the engines in their application in the second-generation Evoque, aided by the increases in refinement being engineered into the car’s architecture right from the start of development.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Land Rover is just one year away from revealing its second-generation Evoque, which has now been spotted undergoing high-speed tests at the German Nürburgring race track—well ahead of its launch. The company will tinker little with the current car’s formula, and will maintain the distinctive coupé-style shape that helped define a segment.

The current Evoque helped transform the company into the much larger and more successful one it is today. Sales have never dropped below 100,000 units annually, even six years after it was launched.

Jaguar Land Rover has a stated target of having an electrified version of each of its new models launched after 2020, but the Evoque will arrive just before that and consequently there will be no electrified version from launch.

However, it’s understood the Evoque is under consideration to be the first JLR model to get a new mild-hybrid drivetrain currently in development, which has been captured in prototype form. This combines a new three-cylinder 1.5L Ingenium engine with a small electric motor, backed up by a 48V electrical architecture to power ancillaries, including air-con and the water pump. Equipping the Evoque with this drivetrain will require extensive changes to the car’s underpinnings, and as such, it will not be ready for launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest.

Prototype versions of the Evoque Mk2 are a regular sight around the company’s Gaydon engineering base, and it is understood Land Rover is preparing a reveal of the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show, ahead of a sales-start in early 2019.

The current Evoque, codenamed L538, has become firmly established since its launch, and design boss Gerry McGovern believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should not “lose key ingredients” and would be designed with the intention of making it “more relevant.” McGovern said that even years after its launch, the Evoque Mk1—the design of which can be traced as far back as the Land Rover LRX concept car from 2008—remained a “very distinctive vehicle” that is “known for what it is: falling roof, rising beltline.”

The evolution of the design will extend to the car’s underpinnings. The next-generation Evoque, codenamed L551, will be built on an overhauled version of the current car’s D8 architecture, which is Jaguar Land Rover’s only natively front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse-engined models.

Refinements to the D8 underpinnings will focus on improving the ride comfort of the Evoque, and the comfort levels for passengers. The firm has always resisted creating a pure performance version of the Evoque—the model is considered every bit the ‘mini Range Rover’ in terms of luxury and refinement—both areas Land Rover will look to improve further with the second-generation car. There will be no significant increase in size.

Land Rover’s suite of new four-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium gas and diesel engines will carry over to the new Evoque, each engine a 2.0L unit ranging in power output from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels, and from 237 hp to 296 hp for gas. There will be further improvements to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of the engines in their application in the second-generation Evoque, aided by the increases in refinement being engineered into the car’s architecture right from the start of development.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Land Rover is just one year away from revealing its second-generation Evoque, which has now been spotted undergoing high-speed tests at the German Nürburgring race track—well ahead of its launch. The company will tinker little with the current car’s formula, and will maintain the distinctive coupé-style shape that helped define a segment.

The current Evoque helped transform the company into the much larger and more successful one it is today. Sales have never dropped below 100,000 units annually, even six years after it was launched.

Jaguar Land Rover has a stated target of having an electrified version of each of its new models launched after 2020, but the Evoque will arrive just before that and consequently there will be no electrified version from launch.

However, it’s understood the Evoque is under consideration to be the first JLR model to get a new mild-hybrid drivetrain currently in development, which has been captured in prototype form. This combines a new three-cylinder 1.5L Ingenium engine with a small electric motor, backed up by a 48V electrical architecture to power ancillaries, including air-con and the water pump. Equipping the Evoque with this drivetrain will require extensive changes to the car’s underpinnings, and as such, it will not be ready for launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest.

Prototype versions of the Evoque Mk2 are a regular sight around the company’s Gaydon engineering base, and it is understood Land Rover is preparing a reveal of the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show, ahead of a sales-start in early 2019.

The current Evoque, codenamed L538, has become firmly established since its launch, and design boss Gerry McGovern believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should not “lose key ingredients” and would be designed with the intention of making it “more relevant.” McGovern said that even years after its launch, the Evoque Mk1—the design of which can be traced as far back as the Land Rover LRX concept car from 2008—remained a “very distinctive vehicle” that is “known for what it is: falling roof, rising beltline.”

The evolution of the design will extend to the car’s underpinnings. The next-generation Evoque, codenamed L551, will be built on an overhauled version of the current car’s D8 architecture, which is Jaguar Land Rover’s only natively front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse-engined models.

Refinements to the D8 underpinnings will focus on improving the ride comfort of the Evoque, and the comfort levels for passengers. The firm has always resisted creating a pure performance version of the Evoque—the model is considered every bit the ‘mini Range Rover’ in terms of luxury and refinement—both areas Land Rover will look to improve further with the second-generation car. There will be no significant increase in size.

Land Rover’s suite of new four-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium gas and diesel engines will carry over to the new Evoque, each engine a 2.0L unit ranging in power output from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels, and from 237 hp to 296 hp for gas. There will be further improvements to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of the engines in their application in the second-generation Evoque, aided by the increases in refinement being engineered into the car’s architecture right from the start of development.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Land Rover is just one year away from revealing its second-generation Evoque, which has now been spotted undergoing high-speed tests at the German Nürburgring race track—well ahead of its launch. The company will tinker little with the current car’s formula, and will maintain the distinctive coupé-style shape that helped define a segment.

The current Evoque helped transform the company into the much larger and more successful one it is today. Sales have never dropped below 100,000 units annually, even six years after it was launched.

Jaguar Land Rover has a stated target of having an electrified version of each of its new models launched after 2020, but the Evoque will arrive just before that and consequently there will be no electrified version from launch.

However, it’s understood the Evoque is under consideration to be the first JLR model to get a new mild-hybrid drivetrain currently in development, which has been captured in prototype form. This combines a new three-cylinder 1.5L Ingenium engine with a small electric motor, backed up by a 48V electrical architecture to power ancillaries, including air-con and the water pump. Equipping the Evoque with this drivetrain will require extensive changes to the car’s underpinnings, and as such, it will not be ready for launch until the early part of the next decade at the earliest.

Prototype versions of the Evoque Mk2 are a regular sight around the company’s Gaydon engineering base, and it is understood Land Rover is preparing a reveal of the car in October next year at the Paris Motor Show, ahead of a sales-start in early 2019.

The current Evoque, codenamed L538, has become firmly established since its launch, and design boss Gerry McGovern believes there is no need for the concept to be reinvented, saying it should not “lose key ingredients” and would be designed with the intention of making it “more relevant.” McGovern said that even years after its launch, the Evoque Mk1—the design of which can be traced as far back as the Land Rover LRX concept car from 2008—remained a “very distinctive vehicle” that is “known for what it is: falling roof, rising beltline.”

The evolution of the design will extend to the car’s underpinnings. The next-generation Evoque, codenamed L551, will be built on an overhauled version of the current car’s D8 architecture, which is Jaguar Land Rover’s only natively front-wheel-drive architecture for transverse-engined models.

Refinements to the D8 underpinnings will focus on improving the ride comfort of the Evoque, and the comfort levels for passengers. The firm has always resisted creating a pure performance version of the Evoque—the model is considered every bit the ‘mini Range Rover’ in terms of luxury and refinement—both areas Land Rover will look to improve further with the second-generation car. There will be no significant increase in size.

Land Rover’s suite of new four-cylinder, turbocharged Ingenium gas and diesel engines will carry over to the new Evoque, each engine a 2.0L unit ranging in power output from 148 hp to 237 hp for the diesels, and from 237 hp to 296 hp for gas. There will be further improvements to the fuel economy and CO2 emissions of the engines in their application in the second-generation Evoque, aided by the increases in refinement being engineered into the car’s architecture right from the start of development.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Jenny Galvan

The Young Executives Network is hosting a meetup in conjunction with the next SEMA Town Hall meeting.

The Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the automotive industry. The gathering will be held in conjunction with the next SEMA Town Hall meeting, taking place at the COMP Performance Group distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, April 12. The meetup starts at 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the Town Hall meeting begins.

All YEN members and those interested in building industry connections are encouraged to attend. YEN leadership and SEMA staff will be present to discuss the network’s initiatives, volunteer opportunities and additional ways to get more involved.

Those who will be in the greater Memphis area are invited to stop by and enjoy an evening with fellow YEN colleagues. Appetizers and drinks will be served.

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

RSVP now.

By Jenny Galvan

The Young Executives Network is hosting a meetup in conjunction with the next SEMA Town Hall meeting.

The Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the automotive industry. The gathering will be held in conjunction with the next SEMA Town Hall meeting, taking place at the COMP Performance Group distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, April 12. The meetup starts at 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the Town Hall meeting begins.

All YEN members and those interested in building industry connections are encouraged to attend. YEN leadership and SEMA staff will be present to discuss the network’s initiatives, volunteer opportunities and additional ways to get more involved.

Those who will be in the greater Memphis area are invited to stop by and enjoy an evening with fellow YEN colleagues. Appetizers and drinks will be served.

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

RSVP now.

By Jenny Galvan

The Young Executives Network is hosting a meetup in conjunction with the next SEMA Town Hall meeting.

The Young Executives Network (YEN) is hosting a meetup for local professionals under the age of 40 who work in the automotive industry. The gathering will be held in conjunction with the next SEMA Town Hall meeting, taking place at the COMP Performance Group distribution center in Olive Branch, Mississippi, April 12. The meetup starts at 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the Town Hall meeting begins.

All YEN members and those interested in building industry connections are encouraged to attend. YEN leadership and SEMA staff will be present to discuss the network’s initiatives, volunteer opportunities and additional ways to get more involved.

Those who will be in the greater Memphis area are invited to stop by and enjoy an evening with fellow YEN colleagues. Appetizers and drinks will be served.

For more information, contact SEMA Director of Networks Bryan Harrison at bryanh@sema.org or 909-978-6691.

RSVP now.