Veteran Tuner Mike Green Joins Justin Ashley Racing
Mike Green joins Justin Ashley Racing as crew chief.
Justin Ashley Racing announced that world championship-winning crew chief Mike Green has joined the Strutmasters.com/Auto Shocker Top Fuel dragster team. The move comes as Ashley looks ahead to the 2021 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series and a serious run at the NHRA Top Fuel world championship. Green replaces veteran tuner Aaron Brooks who tuned Ashley to his first win and a top ten finish in the shortened 2020 NHRA season.
Last season Green began the season as the tuner of the Montana Brand/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster wheeled by 2019 rookie of the year Austin Prock. Green was crew chief on eight-time champion Tony Schumacher’s dragster and he spent time in DSR’s machine and fabrication shops.
Before he joined DSR prior to the 2008 season, Green worked at Don Prudhomme Racing, Darrell Gwynn Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing. As a crew chief, Green had led drivers to 50 wins—nine in Funny Car and 36 No. 1 qualifying positions.
Design Engineering Inc. Enters Phase Two of Three-Phase Expansion
Even in a pandemic, Design Engineering Inc. continues to grow. The heat and sound management products company is entering Phase Two of a long-term, three-phase expansion project that will increase capacity at its Avon Lake headquarters.
Phase two of DEI's expansion plan adds approximately 10,000 square feet
to the current facility, bringing the total to 35,000-sq.-ft.
Phase One occurred in 2013, when DEI completed a 12,000-square foot addition that more than doubled its prior warehouse space. Phase two of the plan adds approximately 10,000 square feet to the current facility, bringing the total to 35,000-sq.-ft.
The additional space will allow DEI—which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2020—to continue to build on its lineup of heat and sound control products for the automotive, racing, powersports, 12-volt audio, industrial, marine and related markets.
Yokohama's GEOLANDAR CV G058 Wins a 2020 GOOD DESIGN Award
Yokohama Tire’s latest GEOLANDAR product, the
GEOLANDAR CV G058, was named a 2020 GOOD
DESIGN award-winner in the transportation
category from The Chicago Athenaeum.
Yokohama Tire’s latest GEOLANDAR product, the GEOLANDAR CV G058, was named a 2020 GOOD DESIGN award-winner in the transportation category from The Chicago Athenaeum.
“We’re honored once again to earn a prestigious GOOD DESIGN award for one of our GEOLANDAR tires,” Andrew Briggs, Yokohama’s vice president of marketing and product management. “In 2019, our extreme all-terrain GEOLANDAR X-AT™ and the performance SUV/crossover GEOLANDAR X-CV® also received two GOOD DESIGN awards.”
The H- and V-rated GEOLANDAR CV G058 is designed for crossovers, smaller SUVs and minivans.
According to The Chicago Athenaeum, the GOOD DESIGN awards program, which began in 1950, creates awareness about contemporary design and honors products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have chartered new directions for innovation and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace.
Champion Oil Names Stirling Lubricants as Racing and Performance Distributor of the Year
Champion Brands LLC announced that Stirling Lubricants of New York was selected as its Distributor of the year.
“The Champion Racing & Performance Distributor of the Year award is our most respected and highest honor,” stated Karl Dedolph Director of Racing and Performance products at Champion. “Each year, the award seeks to recognize independent aftermarket distributors who display excellent customer service, business acumen, market knowledge and willingness to improve and evolve their business with industry and market changes. Finalists are chosen from customer satisfaction comments posted on different social media platforms that exemplify the tenets of the award.
Since 1985, Stirling Lubricants Inc. has been a trusted oil manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Rochester, New York. The company produces exceptional quality cutting oils, stamping oils, quench oils, hydraulic, and way oils plus distribute branded high-performance and high-quality lubricants, including a wide range of chemicals.
“We are proud to represent Champion Oil,” stated Steve Stirling, President of Stirling Lubricants. “The company's full line compliments our commitment to top-tier lubricants and strategic marketing.”
Dr. Jamie Meyer, President of
Performance Racing Industry.
The SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) will host Dr. Jamie Meyer, President of Performance Racing Industry (PRI), during the network’s upcoming Facebook Live Chat on January 13, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. PST.
Meyer has a unique background. He earned a PhD in anatomy and cell biology while studying to become a medical doctor before changing careers into the industry that he is deeply passionate about.
With a love for all things motorsports, Meyer joined General Motors in 2005 where he served in various roles of its performance division. Since joining the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) as president in 2020, Meyer has had to reinvent and reimagine PRI’s programs.
With a commitment to helping race tracks and businesses reopen during the pandemic, and generating awareness for motorsports manufacturers and their new products, Meyer launched the PRI Ambassador Program and the first-ever PRI Road Tour. He has inspired and led his team to unprecedented social media growth and a newly redesigned magazine.
Tune in to YEN’s Facebook Page to hear how Meyer is able to stay focused amidst the industry’s challenges, what he does to keep his team motivated, and why he remains committed to supporting the racing and performance industry.
As a successful female in a male-dominated industry and an immigrant to the United States, Marquez brings a unique perspective to her job. She will share details of her journey into the automotive aftermarket, including real-life challenges, and how she’s was able to succeed and earn the SEMA’s Manufacturers Representative Network (MRN) Sales Team Annual Recognition (STAR) Award for most outstanding manufacturer’s sales team.
Tune in to the SBN’s Facebook page on January 6 for what is promised to be an inspiring and motivating Live Chat.
Much of the January 2021 issue of Off-Road Business is devoted to how Ford Bronco engineers teamed up with off-road driving experts like Brad and Roger Lovell to develop the new vehicle.
Ford tested the new Bronco at Johnson Valley, the Rubicon, and other locations with challenging terrains. The magazine includes other articles including the announcement that COVID-19 safety protocols are in place allowing King of the Hammers to start on Jan. 29.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has outlined the process to be employed for conducting a cost-benefit regulatory analysis under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The new procedures will require the EPA to prepare a cost-benefit analysis for all future significant proposed and final regulations under the CAA. The analysis is to be conducted using best available scientific information (engineering, physical, biological sciences) and best methodological risk assessment practices. The analysis is to be presented within the regulatory preamble in a transparent and objective fashion.
While the agency will be required to take the analysis into consideration, the rule does not have to pass a cost-benefit test—costs could still outweigh benefits. The rule is expected to be challenged in court. Some parties have expressed concern that the agency could understate the benefits of reducing air pollution.
For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.
In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage is excited to announce a Measuring Session for the upcoming 2021 Ford Bronco Sport!
The event will allow SEMA members to test-fit prototypes, 3D scan, measure, and have close-up experience with the Bronco Sport ahead of the vehicle’s public release.
The featured 2021 Bronco Sport will contain the following specs:
Badlands Trim
4x4
2.0L EcoBoost Engine
8-speed Automatic Transmission
Please note that this will be an in-person event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, this event will take place over two separate weeks with scheduled appointments. Due to high demand, your appointment will be time limited.
Week 2: January 4, 2021 – January 8, 2021
*All registered attendees will be required to an initial temperature check, wear face coverings and gloves, as well as practice social distancing during their appointment. The vehicle will be sanitized in between each appointment.
The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:
As a member of the Association, we need your recommendation of industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.
The following seats are open for this year’s election:
Chairman-elect (1 open seat)
Manufacturers (2 open seats)
Distributors/Retailers (2 open seats)
Services (1 open seat)
Please take a moment and tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, include information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.
A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. We urge you to take part in the nominations process—our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the Nominating Committee.
Thank you for your attention to this important request.
Jeep is set to add a few three-row SUVs in the next few years, and the Grand Cherokee 3-row seen here looks like it’ll be ready to join the truck-based Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer.
This is one of the best looks yet at the large SUV, but this time it has dropped significant amounts of camo revealing the headlights and grille.
Similar to the current Durango in size, and set to compete the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer, it's unclear how off-road capability will be compromised by a longer rear overhang.
The new three-row will get the new platform being designed for Jeep that's based on the Giorgio platform used on Alfa Romeo models. It may receive both the current model's 3.6L Pentastar V6 that will likely be updated, and a new 3.0L inline six that will be turbocharged. It will also receive a hybrid system, effectively replacing the 5.7L Hemi V8. A plug-in hybrid (powertrain borrowed from the 4Xe) and turbodiesel models are expected to follow, given they're confirmed for the Grand Cherokee.
Expect to see the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3-row sometime in the first quarter of 2021.
SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies’ websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, email your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the email.
Join the 
Much of the January 2021 issue of Off-Road Business is devoted to how Ford Bronco engineers teamed up with off-road driving experts like Brad and Roger Lovell to develop the new vehicle.
