By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) has named Devon Davidson, owner of MARS of Billings, as the council's newest spotlight member. Get to know Davidson in his interview with SEMA News below.  

SEMA News: What inspired you to pursue a career in restyling?   

Devon Davidson: I wanted to own and operate my own business, and I have always loved vehicles and making them shiny.

SN: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?   

DD: This is a great time to get into the automotive aftermarket industry. It is an exciting industry with amazing products to offer to your customers that keep evolving and keep it exciting. You need to have passion for both people and the vehicles you are working on.

SN: What is your dream vehicle?   

DD: I don't have one particular dream vehicle but would love to find a '69 Chevy C10 someday to completely restore and then have a nice sports car (Porsche, Corvette or Mustang) to cruise around in that is fast and shiny on the weekends!

SN: What is the best advice you have ever received?   

DD: "Work hard, play hard," and "people first, tasks second!"

SN: What keeps you in the industry?   

DD: The people I have met and made life-long relationships with, as well as the exciting products that keep evolving that we get to bring to our local markets and help protect our customers' prized possessions.

SN: Where can you be found on a Saturday?   

DD: On a Saturday, you can find me with my family at sporting events, on the golf course hitting the little white ball around or on the lake hanging out with family and friends.

Fill out a PRO member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the automotive restyling industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on PRO's social media, SEMA News and future PRO-member updates.  

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA's Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) named Crystal Lawrance, vice president of KTL Restorations Inc., as the council's newest spotlight member.

Get to know Lawrance in her interview with SEMA News below.  

SEMA: Did you ever consider another career or industry, and what made you choose automotive restoration? 

Crystal Lawrance: Sports marketing and automotive were my only career choices from a young age.

SEMA: How long have you been volunteering for ARMO?

CL: I have been a member of ARMO for six years and I am looking to get more involved.

SEMA: What's the best advice you ever received?  

CL: My late father always had the best advice: Hold your own, don't let anyone tell you no, and if they do, it's for a good reason; be sure to 'drive it off' and think about it before you take action. (Think before you speak;just think behind the wheel first.)

SEMA: If you could do one thing over from the course of your career, what would that be? 

CL: Impact our next generation and teach them what an amazing industry we are a part of. Show others--through my own actions--the value our industry brings and encourage others to continue pursuing our way of life, long after we are gone.

SEMA: What keeps your passion going in this industry? 

CL: My clients and their enthusiasm. The pure love of automotive. Watching the youth I mentor continue to grow in our industry. We have the best jobs in the world! How could you not be passionate?

SEMA: What is your dream vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend? 

CL: An '87 Buick Grand National (My late father's car).

SEMA: On a Saturday, where can you be found? 

CL: Nine out of 10 times--at the shop with my husband or at an event on the road.

SEMA: What do you see as the biggest challenges for the restoration industry today, and where do you see the industry in five years? 

CL: Education in trades and continuing to fight to grow the next field of restorers, mechanics, tradesmen and tradeswomen.

Fill out an ARMO-member spotlight form to highlight how your company is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates will be featured on ARMO's social media, SEMA News and future ARMO-member updates.  

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

SEMA and PRI's advocacy plates will be piled high this coming year, as efforts in Washington, D.C., and statehouses nationwide kick into high gear to support and protect the automotive aftermarket industry and grassroots racing community. To help members understand where we are focusing our energies, SEMA and PRI are pleased to share their 2025 Advocacy Agenda.

The agenda highlights a series of critical priorities, including:

• Protecting the right to repair and modify vehicles
• Halting electric vehicle mandates and preserving vehicle choice
• Preserving access to public lands for recreational use
• Shaping tax policies that help small businesses
• Defense of classic vehicles and collector rights
• Protection of small businesses from regulatory overreach.

Start by reading an introductory letter from SEMA and PRI leadership. Then, download the 2025 Advocacy Agenda to learn how SEMA and PRI are advocating on your behalf.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

SEMA and PRI's advocacy plates will be piled high this coming year, as efforts in Washington, D.C., and statehouses nationwide kick into high gear to support and protect the automotive aftermarket industry and grassroots racing community. To help members understand where we are focusing our energies, SEMA and PRI are pleased to share their 2025 Advocacy Agenda.

The agenda highlights a series of critical priorities, including:

• Protecting the right to repair and modify vehicles
• Halting electric vehicle mandates and preserving vehicle choice
• Preserving access to public lands for recreational use
• Shaping tax policies that help small businesses
• Defense of classic vehicles and collector rights
• Protection of small businesses from regulatory overreach.

Start by reading an introductory letter from SEMA and PRI leadership. Then, download the 2025 Advocacy Agenda to learn how SEMA and PRI are advocating on your behalf.

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA), throwing out the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Combating Auto Retail Scams Rulemaking (CARS Rule), which was designed to ensure that consumers are not subject to hidden junk fees and bait-and-switch tactics when purchasing new and used motor vehicles.

The appeals court's 2-to-1 ruling in favor of the auto dealers maintained that the CARS Rule violated procedural rules in writing the regulation without giving advance notice of the planned regulation. The FTC can appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, although it is unclear if the commission will accept the ruling or fight to maintain the rule.  

While the FTC previously delayed implementing the 2024 CARS Rule as the agency awaited a ruling from the 5th circuit, some auto dealers have used the rule's presence as a justification to limit the customization options they offered before the first point of sale. The FTC recently sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, which clarified that the CARS Rule "does not prohibit dealers from offering products and services that provide value to customers."

The FTC's January 14 letter also noted that the commission would look at whether a consumer would benefit from an add-on service, which involves "analyzing objective standards under the circumstances, such as whether the add-on provides benefits; whether the consumer is eligible to use the add-on; whether the add-on's coverage excludes the vehicle at issue; and whether the add-on is incompatible with the vehicle at issue." 

The FTC provided clarity on the CARS Rule in response to Rep. Bishop's October 31 letter, which requested that the FTC affirm that the rule does not prohibit dealerships from offering services that consumers demand, such as window tint, paint/underbody paint coating, replacing cloth with leather seat covers, paint-protection film that scientifically reduces clear coat damage from rock chips, truck lifts, wheel and tire replacements, truck accessories, window tint that reduces ultraviolet (UV) rays, tonneau covers, spray-in bed liners and remote starts. 

For additional information, contact Eric Snyder, SEMA's senior director of federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org. 

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the Texas Automobile Dealers Association (TADA), throwing out the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Combating Auto Retail Scams Rulemaking (CARS Rule), which was designed to ensure that consumers are not subject to hidden junk fees and bait-and-switch tactics when purchasing new and used motor vehicles.

The appeals court's 2-to-1 ruling in favor of the auto dealers maintained that the CARS Rule violated procedural rules in writing the regulation without giving advance notice of the planned regulation. The FTC can appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, although it is unclear if the commission will accept the ruling or fight to maintain the rule.  

While the FTC previously delayed implementing the 2024 CARS Rule as the agency awaited a ruling from the 5th circuit, some auto dealers have used the rule's presence as a justification to limit the customization options they offered before the first point of sale. The FTC recently sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA), co-chair of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus, which clarified that the CARS Rule "does not prohibit dealers from offering products and services that provide value to customers."

The FTC's January 14 letter also noted that the commission would look at whether a consumer would benefit from an add-on service, which involves "analyzing objective standards under the circumstances, such as whether the add-on provides benefits; whether the consumer is eligible to use the add-on; whether the add-on's coverage excludes the vehicle at issue; and whether the add-on is incompatible with the vehicle at issue." 

The FTC provided clarity on the CARS Rule in response to Rep. Bishop's October 31 letter, which requested that the FTC affirm that the rule does not prohibit dealerships from offering services that consumers demand, such as window tint, paint/underbody paint coating, replacing cloth with leather seat covers, paint-protection film that scientifically reduces clear coat damage from rock chips, truck lifts, wheel and tire replacements, truck accessories, window tint that reduces ultraviolet (UV) rays, tonneau covers, spray-in bed liners and remote starts. 

For additional information, contact Eric Snyder, SEMA's senior director of federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org. 

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA member company employees under the age of 40 have two exclusive opportunities to enhance their careers through the SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) Professional Development Programs.  

Hosted in partnership with Dale Carnegie, these programs will be held at the SEMA Garage Detroit, May 5-9, and will feature a course on individual communication and a course on team leadership. FLN members can apply for one or both courses at sema.org/fln-pdp.  

Dale Carnegie has more than 100 years of proven success in helping thousands of organizations and millions of people create positive change and successful growth. This program, which focuses on improving individual and business performance, is available to FLN members at a significant discount off the standard Dale Carnegie training fees.   

Available Courses: 

Individual Communications Course – May 5-6

In this session, attendees will learn about Dale Carnegie's methods and principles for gaining the confidence and tools to build relationships and drive results by gaining willing cooperation and commitment. Takeaways include how to communicate professionally and confidently in business situations, how to build relationships and deal effectively with people in a multitude of scenarios and how to build rapport.   

The price is $960 per person, which includes the training program, a certificate of completion, three nights of hotel accommodations and food and beverage during training.  

Team Leadership Course – May 7-9

Dale Carnegie's unique relationship-centered approach to leadership development will provide attendees with a comprehensive toolkit that will help them become the type of leader required in today's workforce. This program combines the crucially important hard skills and proven behaviors that leaders need, while also focusing on adopting the right attitudes required to be an engaging leader. 

The price is $1,280 per person which includes the training program, a certificate of completion, four nights of hotel accommodations and food and beverage during training.  

"The FLN PDP program provided me with insight and knowledge I am unable to receive in regular training at my job," said Ryan Ehlers of Diode Dynamics on his past experience attending the program. "Professional leadership is tricky to teach yet this course laid it out in a very engaging way which helped me retain the lessons taught. The automotive industry can be very diverse, and it was great hearing the perspective of other attendees as well."  

Contact FLN Director Denise Waddingham at Deniselw@sema.org with any questions.

By SEMA News Editors

NHRA Announces New Bonus for Regular Season Champion, $25M Overall Purse

The NHRA will award $25 million in purse and payouts to teams during the 2025 national event schedule, including a new bonus payout for regular-season champions ahead of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

The multi-million dollar payout includes the event purse for drivers in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series on the national event tour, as well as the year-end championship purse for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, payouts for the All-Star Callout races in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in the four professional categories, and other incentive programs.

It also includes the payout for a regular-season championship, which will be introduced this year and will be awarded to the regular-season points leader in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. NHRA is set to award almost $400,000 of additional purse to the regular season champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle, contributing to the $25 million up for grabs this year during the 2025 season, NHRA officials said.

For more information, visit nhra.com.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

ALT Sports Data, World Racing Group Announce Sports-Betting Partnership Ahead of 2025 Season

World Racing Group has entered into a new partnership with ALT Sports Data, a San Diego-based leader in trading and consumer data for action, motor, alternative and emerging sports, that will enable regulated sports betting on some dirt-track racing properties, including the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, the American Sprint Car Series and the Super DIRTcar Series.

Through this partnership, ALT Sports Data will leverage official data feeds to deliver pre-race and live betting products to sportsbooks worldwide. ALT Sports Data will utilize the World of Outlaws (WoO) official data to offer up-to-the-minute odds and an array of traditional wagers and prop bets, designed to enhance fan engagement and expand the global reach of dirt track racing, the sanctioning body said in a statement announcing the partnership.

Betting will be available in jurisdictions where approved starting with the first night of World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car action at Volusia Speedway Park's Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals on Wednesday, February 5.

For more information, visit worldofoutlaws.com.

By SEMA News Editors

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings nationwide. Below are some of the latest postings.

Coker Tire Company

West Coast Sales Manager in Los Angeles, California

The West Coast sales manager, based in Los Angeles, California, (or within a close proximity) is responsible for driving sales growth across existing and new customers in the region west of the Rocky Mountains. This role requires travel, including visits to both current customers in the surrounding area, as well as to potential clients.

Renegade Racing Fuels & Oils

National Sales and Marketing Director in Owensboro, Kentucky

Primary responsibilities for the selected candidate include establishing new business, maintaining existing sales, increasing market share and more. This role is also expected to directly supervise a sales team, manage the Salesforce CRM program, create monthly sales forecast reports and plans, establish sales objectives, implement sales programs and more.

Baja Designs

Electrical Engineer in San Marcos, California

Baja Designs is currently seeking an electrical engineer to design and develop new, high-power analog and digital LED and power control circuit boards for Baja Designs and sPOD products. The role is also responsible for testing, analyzing and collaborating with the engineering and product development teams.

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
 

South Florida's popular Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), which closed its gates in 2022, is back on the market, giving hope to the local grassroots racing community that a new owner can save this historic track and once again bring safe motorsports competition back to the region. Since its closure in 2022, PBIR has been a point of focus for lawmakers, law enforcement and concerned local automotive enthusiasts, who have organized in an urgent attempt to preserve racing venues for local enthusiasts. 

The 174-acre plot was destined to become a 2-million-sq.-ft. warehouse complex with a contract agreement in 2022 to an industrial warehouse developer. But with the property returning to the market as a raceway, there is renewed hope that the historic facility can return to its glory days. The automotive community quickly took to social media to share the listing that went public in mid-January in hopes of identifying a buyer. The track is currently listed unpriced by CBRE and is open to offers. 

Efforts to save the track have been spearheaded by Madelyn Marconi, a resident of Palm Beach County and writer for Drag Illustrated. Marconi, who met her husband at the track, has organized local enthusiasts and small-business owners to share their personal stories and the community impact of the track at countless county commission meetings. Marconi prioritized building relationships with local and state representatives while highlighting the massive economic impact of having an operational track in Palm Beach County. Enthusiasts also took to social media to raise awareness over its closure, garnering more than 15,000 signatures on a petition and creating various social media pages to generate public interest. 

As mentioned, the automotive community was not alone in its fears over losing the iconic track. Florida law enforcement expressed concern with drivers taking their need for speed to the streets with the loss of a dedicated and safe area for racing. With the rise of illegal street racing and dangerous online trends such as "intersection takeovers," local tracks have served as a safe alternative for thrill seekers to enjoy the company of fellow speed enthusiasts. 

Currently, Palm Beach County is experiencing a lull in warehouse demand since the height of COVID-boosted e-commerce in 2020. The industrial market's overall vacancy rate has reached an all-time high at 7%, with more than 85% of new inventory still available for lease, a local industrial market report stated. On the other hand, the need for tourism has increased substantially as Palm Beach County leaders have recently prioritized tourism as a key goal for 2025. While the future of the property is still up in the air, hundreds of thousands of automotive enthusiasts are optimistic that current market trends will see that PBIR makes a comeback to South Florida.  

SEMA's Washington, D.C., office and PRI News will continue to spread the word on this issue, which is important to the racing community.