Here’s a best look at the next-generation Volkswagen Golf R spotted doing some test runs at the German Nürburgring race circuit. While this particular prototype appears to be free of camouflage, take a good look at the front bumper and the cut-out for exhaust pipes and diffusor at the rear one. There’s still a bit of plastic at the front and a clever paint job both ends. Even the door sills could be false—time will tell.

Nonetheless, specific details on this prototype present clear markings of the Golf R’s DNA: This prototype of the range-topping performance model of the ’20 VW Golf Mk8 sports all the exterior elements typical to the Golf R. Lowered suspension and oversized wheels with low-profile tires, sportier bumpers with big air intakes at the front and a massive diffuser at the rear flanked by quad round exhausts, bigger roof spoiler, side skirts and blue-painted brake callipers on massive brake discs (perforated at the front).

Mated to a DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard 4Motion AWD system, the VW Golf R should be even quicker than its predecessor. Kitted with the Performance Pack, the current Golf R does 0–60 in 4.6 seconds and maxes out at 167 mph. The all-new VW Golf R is expected to debut in mid-2020, possibly at July’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, that’s if it’s not cancelled.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

SEMA Editors

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.

• Fullriver Battery USA
• HiPer Wheels
• Ksport
• Lange Originals
• Northern Radiator
• Pavement Ends
• Remflex
• Scorpion Racing Products
• Taylor Cable
• ZyCoat

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

By SEMA Editors

Auto Club Famoso Raceway and Stith Printing Inc. have teamed up for a special event aimed at uniting the country. “National Day of Nitro” will take place, May 30. The day will consist of nitro-burning engines being fired up throughout the day, and it will all be streamed live on Famoso Raceway’s Facebook page and on www.nationaldayofnitro.com. Nitro teams across the country are being asked to pull their cars out and fire them up.

Nationwide fire ups, interviews and stories told will be shown throughout the day. Starting at 12:00 p.m. (EDT), the distinct sound of nitro burning engines will be heard across the country. “Let’s Burn Nitro Again” T-shirts are available and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Drag Racing Association of Women (DRAW). All participating teams will be entered into a drawing where one lucky team will receive $1,000 credit toward entry or ticket purchases for the 2021 Good Vibrations March Meet, presented by Lucas Oil. Stith Printing Inc. is also offering a $1,000 credit to be applied toward new artwork.

For more information on how to participate, purchase a shirt, spectate or to make a raffle prize donation, visit www.nationaldayofnitro.com, or contact Auto Club Famoso Raceway at 844-346-4876, ext. 4, or nitro@famosoraceway.com.

It’s not too late to apply for a 2020 SEMA Show booth. The online Exhibitor Services Manual contains all of the resources pertinent to a successful exhibit at the SEMA Show. To help you navigate efficiently, each section is broken down to the basics. Simply click the buttons to the left to see the products and services available. 

It’s not too late to apply for a 2020 SEMA Show booth. The online Exhibitor Services Manual contains all of the resources pertinent to a successful exhibit at the SEMA Show. To help you navigate efficiently, each section is broken down to the basics. Simply click the buttons to the left to see the products and services available. 

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA Announces Revised Plan to Restart 2020 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series

NHRA officials have announced that they are working with state and local officials as well as host tracks and teams on a revised Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule, which will be announced soon. The season is expected to resume, with fans in attendance, in August and will consist of 18 total events for 2020, including the two that kicked off the season. The Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series will continue to be contested at each Mello Yello Series event. The revised schedule previously announced is in flux because of the fluid nature of the pandemic situation. At this time, it is certain that the events planned for June and July are postponed. Those events are the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, June 5-7 (Gainesville, Florida); Mopar Express Lane NHRA SpringNationals Presented by Pennzoil, June 12–14 (Houston); NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 19–21 (Bristol, Tennessee); Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, June 26–28 (Norwalk, Ohio); Route 66 NHRA Nationals, July 9–12 (Chicago); Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals Presented By Pennzoil, July 17–19 (Denver); and NHRA Sonoma Nationals, July 24–26 (Sonoma, California). Tentative schedule announcements for the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Series, Mickey Thompson Tires NHRA Top Fuel Harley Series, and SAMtech.edu NHRA Factory Stock Showdown series will be released following the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series announcement.

Champion Brands LLC has announced the podium finish of the Jonathan Nerren race livery of a Shelby Tribute Mustang.

Shelby Tribute Mustang Wins with Champion Modern Muscle Motor Oil

Champion Brands LLC has announced the podium finish of the Jonathan Nerren race livery of a Shelby Tribute Mustang utilizing Champion’s line of motor oils. For the 2020 season, Nerren and his teammate Tyler Nelson will travel nationwide as the Shelby American Drift Team in the Pro 1 Series of Formula Drift. Their first event was scheduled to be in Long Beach, California, April 10–11, but was canceled due to the Coronavirus. Once the racing season returns, in addition to their Formula D schedule, they can be found at events including Holley Ford Fest, Gridlife Midwest, Mustang Week, CJ Pony Parts drift demo, zMAX Dragway for NHRA 4-Wide Nationals, Street Car Takeover and the 2020 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Hot Shot’s Secret Announces Sponsorship of Corona Lockdown Online Practice Tree Challenge

Hot Shot’s Secret has announced sponsorship of the Corona Lockdown Online Practice Tree Challenge—a Facebook challenge game open to all drag racers and enthusiasts missing the sport who would like to join this private group. The only question to join the now 1,200-member-strong private Facebook group is: What is your perfect reaction time? Because the events are sponsor-funded, there have been numerous shootouts, jackpots and prizes that have been given away throughout these many weeks of racing, with the grand prize compliments of Mutt & Jeff Promotions that involves a weekend of buybacks valued at $450. For more information on the Corona Lockdown Online Practice Tree Challenge click here.

NASCAR will return to racing on May 17.

NASCAR Returns To Racing With Events At Darlington, Charlotte

NASCAR has announced it will return to racing on May 17, which will kick off a slate of races that includes seven events in three series at two race tracks—Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway. The NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will each host its first on-track event since mid-March. The NASCAR Cup Series will return to Darlington Raceway, Sunday, May 17, with a 400-mile event scheduled for 3:30 p.m. (EDT), live on FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. What follows is a schedule that includes midweek races in primetime and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in its traditional Memorial Day Weekend home for the 60th consecutive season. Each of NASCAR’s return events will be run without fans in attendance. Further schedule adjustments will be announced in the future. To view the schedule, visit NASCAR’s website.

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Announces “Reopening Tour”

Lucas Oil Products has announced the return to racing in 2020 for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series following several postponements and cancellations due to COVID-19. The “Lucas Oil Reopening Tour” provides the purse for six newly added May events. With these events, along with the races contested at Speedweeks, the series drivers will still compete in 54 of the 57 original 2020 LOLMDS tour events. The number of scheduled televised races will remain as originally scheduled. Because of the scheduling changes, a pair of $7,000-to-win events, May 12–13, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, will signal the return, with all late-model teams invited. These events will be without fans, but they will get a chance to tune in live, via LucasOilRacing.tv, and free on the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Facebook page at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). In addition to the back-to-back weekday races, Lucas Oil Speedway will hold a practice session on Monday, May 11 (closed to the public). To view the revised 2020 schedule, visit the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series website.

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is set to race Friday night, May 8, at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in a $10,000-to-win, “behind-closed-doors” Invitational by McKay Insurance with Nationwide.

World Of Outlaws Announces 16-Race Schedule Through Mid-June

The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series, together with their partner tracks, have updated schedules into mid-June in an effort to safely return to racing in a manner that allows tracks, teams, partners and fans to begin looking ahead. The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series is set to race Friday night, May 8, at Knoxville (Iowa) Raceway in a $10,000-to-win, “behind-closed-doors” Invitational by McKay Insurance with Nationwide. While spectators will not be able to attend in person, fans across the world can watch live on DIRTVision presented by Drydene. Events originally scheduled for May 23 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte, May 25 at Lawrenceburg Speedway, May 29 at Lake Ozark Speedway, May 30 at I-70 Motorsports Park and June 3 at I-80 Speedway have been postponed. Fans with tickets to those events will be able to use them when rescheduled dates are announced. The June 5 event at River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and June 6 at Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, remain on the schedule, with a final determination being made closer to the event dates based on local guidelines.

The World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series is also adjusting its schedule, with action resuming May 15-16, at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 rather than the previously announced Boone Speedway. The fast-changing landscape has provided the opportunity to shift the Series re-opener to Pevely, Missouri, in front of fans on a limited basis. The originally scheduled races May 29 at Jacksonville (Illionis) Speedway and May 30 at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Indiana, have been postponed. For more information, and the updated 2020 schedules, visit www.worldofoutlaws.com.

For more racing news, visit the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) website.

By Ashley Reyes

A new video featuring Marla Moore of Legendary Companies from the 2019 SEMA Show STAGE, hosted by Myles Kovacs, is now available. Coined as one of the industry’s most active volunteers and leaders, Moore shares personal stories about how she entered the automotive industry and her reaction to being inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame.

Throughout her career, Moore has been at the forefront of launching marketing projects for aftermarket companies and brands, including AutoZone, COMP Cams, Hypertech and more. Find out how she excelled within each company and what advice she has about attitude when looking to succeed in the industry.

“I think the attitude is wanting to find something that you are passionate about and wanting to be the best there is,” said Moore. “[…] When you’re coming up, have that attitude. ‘I don’t want to just be the best—I want to be legendary. I want people to know me, know who I am and know what I do when I walk down the hall.’”

In addition to her many successes as a marketing director, Moore contributes to various SEMA councils and committees as a volunteer and has spearheaded numerous projects, including the SEMA Businesswoman’s Network (SBN) Mustang Build in 2012. In her interview, Moore talks about the team behind the project that showcased the talent of women in the industry and received national and local news coverage along with a feature in Times Square.

“(When) you’re surrounded by people who are passionate about what they’re doing, who are knowledgeable, it just rubs off on you. It’s infectious,” said Moore.

Moore also speaks about her experience attending Jim Russell’s Racer Driving School and driving Formula Mazdas at Laguna Seca, running into Daryl Hall and John Oates and what it was like stepping on stage the night she was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame.

“The feeling I had when I got up where was ‘I am so in love with this industry’, so that’s what I talked about.”

Check out the full video and stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional interviews from the STAGE powered by SEMA Education and the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC). For the latest news and updates, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By Ashley Reyes

A new video featuring Marla Moore of Legendary Companies from the 2019 SEMA Show STAGE, hosted by Myles Kovacs, is now available. Coined as one of the industry’s most active volunteers and leaders, Moore shares personal stories about how she entered the automotive industry and her reaction to being inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame.

Throughout her career, Moore has been at the forefront of launching marketing projects for aftermarket companies and brands, including AutoZone, COMP Cams, Hypertech and more. Find out how she excelled within each company and what advice she has about attitude when looking to succeed in the industry.

“I think the attitude is wanting to find something that you are passionate about and wanting to be the best there is,” said Moore. “[…] When you’re coming up, have that attitude. ‘I don’t want to just be the best—I want to be legendary. I want people to know me, know who I am and know what I do when I walk down the hall.’”

In addition to her many successes as a marketing director, Moore contributes to various SEMA councils and committees as a volunteer and has spearheaded numerous projects, including the SEMA Businesswoman’s Network (SBN) Mustang Build in 2012. In her interview, Moore talks about the team behind the project that showcased the talent of women in the industry and received national and local news coverage along with a feature in Times Square.

“(When) you’re surrounded by people who are passionate about what they’re doing, who are knowledgeable, it just rubs off on you. It’s infectious,” said Moore.

Moore also speaks about her experience attending Jim Russell’s Racer Driving School and driving Formula Mazdas at Laguna Seca, running into Daryl Hall and John Oates and what it was like stepping on stage the night she was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame.

“The feeling I had when I got up where was ‘I am so in love with this industry’, so that’s what I talked about.”

Check out the full video and stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional interviews from the STAGE powered by SEMA Education and the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC). For the latest news and updates, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives introduced SEMA-supported legislation that would allow  motorsports to resume immediately under certain conditions.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives introduced SEMA-supported legislation (H.B. 2489) that would allow outdoor recreational activities, including motorsports, to resume immediately under certain conditions.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s emergency Business Closure Order does not allow any recreational activity businesses, such as spectator sports, to operate. The bill requires such activities to adhere to the social distancing practices and other mitigation measures defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  

The bill is currently awaiting consideration in the House Committee on State Government.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website.

For details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.