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Even if Chrysler faces an uncertain future with its new owner, the market for Chrysler specialty-equipment parts is plenty healthy.

Between April 19-May 18, Chrysler enthusiasts spent $1,017,530 on specialty parts via online auction, according to data from Terapeak, a developer of market-focused research software that monitors online sales and auctions.

Exterior goods, lighting and lamps, and interior components (in that order) proved the most popular categories
with Chrysler – not only Mopar – fans, the three categories alone generating $451,687.

Grilles, moldings and trim, and mirrors were the most sold exterior items – grilles alone accounting for $102,853, most of them for the 300C – while headlights, taillights and Xenon lamps comprised the lighting category’s most coveted items.

The most popular interior items include floor mats and carpets, trim pieces, and switches and controls.

Terapeak's Motors P&A Research provides sellers with access to in-depth research on the past year of online auction data and allows users to get in-depth research reports on the competition and themselves. More at www.terapeak.com/motors.  

According to Brenda Priddy & Company, the long-anticipated "Blue Devil" Corvette—also referred to as the SS—is in its final tuning stages and was just caught sporting a bright red paint job. This much-anticipated model will be the hottest Corvette ever and will be pitted against such super-sports cars as the Porsche Carrera GT and Ferraris.

Five Axis has announced that its new brand, Five Axis Designs, will be available to Scion enthusiasts through Scion’s OPTOMIZE accessories catalog. On offer is the four-piece lip kit for the 2007 xB, consisting of polyurethane front lip, rear skirt and side rockers.

The kit is available nationwide through Scion’s dealer network, and Scion will offer installation services and a limited lifetime warranty. A kit for the new xD model, as well as interior and exterior accessories, will follow later this summer.

"Scion is all about customization and innovation,” said Steve Hatanaka, Scion Accessories Manager. “Our partnership with Five Axis allows us to broaden our accessory line up and satisfy the demands of our core enthusiasts Troy [Sumitomo, Five Axis president] and his team are certainly at the leading edge of what Scion personalization can look like.”

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The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved a bill (S 694) designed to protect children from injuries or deaths in non-traffic vehicle incidents. The measure directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require new vehicles be equipped with a means of alerting the driver if a child is behind the vehicle when it is being backed-up. The specialty-equipment aftermarket has been at the forefront of offering cameras and sensors to address the issue. The legislation now moves to the Senate floor for consideration. A similar bill (HR 1216) has been introduced in the House of Representatives.

It is estimated that at least 1,100 children have died in back-over incidents since 2000. Some vehicles, such as SUVs, are particularly vulnerable to blind spots. Under the legislation, the NHTSA would be directed to expand the scope of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111 (Rearview Mirrors) to establish performance requirements that would effectively mandate installation of cameras or sensors on new cars. The bill would also direct the NHTSA to consider requiring power windows and panels to automatically reverse direction if there is an obstruction in the path, such as a child’s head or arm.

If the agency decides this is impractical or unnecessary, the NHTSA would be required to explain how it came to that conclusion. Additionally, starting in model year 2011, all cars with an automatic transmission would have to have a brake-shift interlock to help prevent vehicle roll-away. The driver is then required to apply the brake in order shift the vehicle out of park. For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

THE CAR: NASCAR made it official May 22, announcing its Car of Tomorrow (COT) will be come “the car” beginning next season. The CoT will be utilized in all Nextel Cup Series races next year. Originally, the sanctioning body had planned a gradual roll out for the CoT, which did not see it being used in every race until 2009.

IN THE COURTS: A judge ruled in favor of AT&T, issuing a preliminary injunction allowing the company to use its logos on the No. 31 Cingular Chevy of Jeff Burton and Richard Childress Racing in the Nextel Cup Series. NASCAR and Sprint-Nextel had sought to keep AT&T, which recently purchased Cingular, from displaying its logos on the car because of the exclusivity clause in Sprint-Nextel’s contract to sponsor the series. Cingular was allowed to remain in the series because it was involved prior to Sprint-Nextel’s commitment.

STREAK OVER: Indiana sprint-car driver Jon Stanbrough won six consecutive races at five different tracks during a two-week period, including a triumph in the Tony Hulman Classic at Terre Haute, Indiana. The streak ended May 20 at Kokomo Speedway when Dave Darland claimed the victory.

BACK ON TRACK: Champ Car World Series driver Paul Tracy is expected back on the track when the series resumes June 10 at Portland International Raceway. Tracy has been out of action since he was injured at Long Beach, California, in April.

TESTER: Three-time defending Champ Car World Series title winner Sebastien Bourdais tested for the second time with the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One team. He is expected to test again in June for a potential seat with the team in 2008.

PARTNERSHIP: Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have formed a partnership to create Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies, which will build engines for both NASCAR race teams and sell powerplants to other teams as well.

NO. 1: NASCAR Nextel Cup Series point-leader Jeff Gordon remains on top of the National Speed Sport News Power Rankings.

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NEWS NUGGETS

ESPN2 ANNOUNCES NEW TV SCHEDULE FOR O’REILLY THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS: ESPN2 and ESPN2 HD will provide same-day coverage of qualifying and eliminations for the rescheduled O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals presented by Q at Bristol Dragway, July 6–8. Qualifying will be televised from 4 to 6 p.m. (ET) Saturday, July 7, and final eliminations will air from 7 to 9 p.m. (ET) Sunday, July 8. NHRA Race Day will air at 11 a.m. (ET) on July 8, to set the stage for that day's eliminations.

KING DEMON CROWN FIELD TO BE SET AT TOPEKA: With the rescheduling of the O'Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway to July 6–8, points accumulation for the 2007 NHRA King Demon Crown bonus event for Pro Stock drivers has been shortened to 22 events. The O'Reilly NHRA Summer Nationals at Heartland Park, in Topeka, Kansas, June 1–3, is the last event where Pro Stock drivers can earn points for the lucrative event.

The King Demon Crown, which features the eight best Pro Stock teams from the last year, pays $50,000 to the winner. The popular race-within-a-race bonus event will be contested June 9 at the Torco Racing Fuels NHRA Route 66 Nationals at spectacular Route 66 Raceway near Chicago. The current top eight drivers include: Greg Anderson, Jason Line, Allen Johnson, Dave Connolly, Kurt Johnson, Mike Edwards, Greg Stanfield and V Gaines. Jim Yates and Richie Stevens, ninth and 10th respectively, need quick qualifying performances at Heartland Park, in Topeka, Kansas, to have a shot at making the eight-car lineup.

NHRA ANNOUNCES BUELL WEIGHT ADJUSTMENT IN PSM: Following a review of recent performances in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category, NHRA has announced that the minimum weight for all Buell-powered motorcycles will be increased by 10 pounds, from 615 to 625 (minimum weights include the rider). The increase is part of NHRA's ongoing efforts at maintaining competition within the category. The change is effective June 7, 2007, at the Torco Racing Fuels Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway, which is the next stop on the POWERade tour for Pro Stock Motorcycle. Harley Davidson V-Rod (160 CID) and Suzuki (101 CID) remain at 615 pounds.

JON OBERHOFER NAMED CREW CHIEF FOR DOUG KALITTA: Longtime Team Kalitta co-crew chief Jon Oberhofer will take over the reins as crew chief of the Mac Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by veteran Doug Kalitta. Oberhofer has relinquished his duties as co-crew chief of the Zantrex-3 Top Fuel dragster driven by Dave Grubnic. Connie Kalitta will retain his title as crew chief on the Zantrex-3 entry.

Oberhofer, a 38-year-old resident of Ypsilanti, Michigan, began his tenure at Kalitta Motorsports in 1991 working as a crewmember on the Top Fueler driven by Connie's son and two-time Top Fuel world champion (1994-1995), Scott. He worked his way up through the Team Kalitta organization to take over as clutch specialist in 1998 on the dragster driven by then rookie and soon thereafter Auto Club of Southern California Road to the Future Award winner Doug, Connie's nephew. He was promoted to crew chief of the Grubnic-driven rail in 2004, where he has served in that position since, guiding the team to two NHRA national event victories (2005, Topeka, Kansas; and 2006, Gainesville, Florida).

“This is a great opportunity for me and hopefully for our whole team,” Oberhofer said. “I'm going to miss working with the guys over on Grubnic's car, but they're in good hands. I've learned so much from Connie already, and I know that will continue in my new position. “I'm very grateful to him for everything he has done for me and my career in drag racing. More than anything right now, the Mac Tools car needs leadership, just like the Zantrex-3 car needs focus. I think the way we've approached this change will provide those things. I'm looking forward to working with Doug again and with all the guys on the Mac Tools team.”

COMING ATTRACTIONS

O’REILLY NHRA SUMMER  NATIONALS (AND NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS), TOPEKA, KANSAS, HEARTLAND PARK TOPEKA, JUNE 1–3: The ninth race of the NHRA POWERade season, this marks the beginning of the turn for home in the 17-event “regular season” portion of the NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship. Drivers will begin jockeying for one of the top eight spots that will guarantee them a place in the second stage, the Countdown to 4.

NORTHEAST NHRA SPORT COMPACT NATIONALS, ATCO, NEW JERSEY, ATCO RACEWAY, JUNE 9–10: Defending champions at the popular stop on the Sport Compact circuit are: Brad Personett (Pro RWD), Bryan Jimenez (Pro FWD), Jorge Lazcano (Modified), Ron Lummus (Hot Rod) and Norris Prayoonto (Honda Tuning Magazine All Motor).

TORCO RACING FUELS NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS, JOLIET, ILLINOIS, ROUTE 66 RACEWAY, JUNE 7–10: NHRA legend John Force holds the track record here (4.665 seconds) and he has won three of his NHRA-record 122 races at the spectacular raceway, which hosted its first NHRA POWERade Series race in 1998. This race also features the eight best Pro Stock cars from the last year, racing for the $50,000 winner’s share in the NHRA King Demon Crown bonus event.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

1: One time behind the wheel of a Funny Car was all it took for NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor Eddie Krawiec to know that being enclosed in front of a 7,000-horsepower engine was not for him. Instead, he decided to go with the wide open spaces that his 190-mph Screamin’ Eagle Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson gives him.

“I have always known that a Funny Car is something I would never drive,” Krawiec said. “I don't do well in tight spaces. I sat in a Funny Car once, and the second they put the body down, I wanted out.”

DRIVERS TELL ALL

MUCH-NEEDED VICTORY FOR TROXEL: Melanie Troxel ended a 13-month absence from the winner’s circle by winning the Top Fuel title at the O’Reilly NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis. Troxel, one of eight women to earn a professional category victory in NHRA history, and one of six females to win in Top Fuel, says the victory couldn’t have come at a better time.

She moved to fifth in the points standings, and bettered her chances of holding on to one of the top eight spots as the NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship moves closer to the Countdown to Eight cut-off point (August 19, Reading, Pennsylvania).

“It takes a huge amount of pressure off of us to make it to that winner's circle again,” said Troxel of her third career Top Fuel win. “We moved up four spots in the points and are less than a round out of third [four points], so we're definitely in the hunt. With Bristol being rescheduled, we ended up with an extra couple of weeks before our next event. The way I look at it, that's a couple more weeks for me to enjoy being the most recent NHRA race winner.”

The Modified Automotive Group, a division of PRIMEDIA Inc., promoted Peter Tarach to editor-in-chief, and Paul Murphy to associate publisher of Modified magazine. Tarach began his career with Modified magazine in 2004 as the technical editor, and was promoted to East Coast editor in 2006. Murphy has been in the advertising industry since 1994 and has held several senior positions with major publishing companies before joining the Modified Automotive Group in 2003.

Norio Karashima, president and CEO of Yokohama Tire Corp. and president of Yokohama Corp. of America, was promoted to managing corporate officer. Karashima became president of Yokohama Tire Corp. and an officer of the Yokohama Rubber Company in 2004.

DENSO Sales California promoted Frank Cisek to senior manager from manager. Cisek is responsible for the aftermarket, DENSO brand, heavy duty and Latin America sales departments.

MEDCO named Scott Anderson director of marketing for the company’s mobile tool division. Anderson joins MEDCO from SK Tools where he was senior product manager and a member of its executive committee.

Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. signed an agreement to become the series title sponsor of the NMRA Ford Nationals and the Official Performance Parts Supplier of the NMRA and the NMCA Muscle Car Nationals. Keystone joins forces with ProMedia Events, producers of street-legal motorsports shows in the United States. 

Power Slot hired John Marshall as director of sales. Marshall is based in the company's Rockford, Illinois, regional branch. Marshall has more than 11 years of sales management experience. He held national account positions at K&N Engineering and Auto Meter.