Ford has chosen John Dion to join the company as chief transformation officer, effective April 3, reporting to Ford CEO Jim Farley. Dion will oversee global deployment of methodologies and tools based on lean manufacturing and related concepts, capabilities that are central to realizing the value-creation and growth potential of the company’s Ford+ plan.

Dion has extensive background in successful large-company implementations of lean systems and teaching those approaches to others. He’s held management and P&L positions in disciplines spanning research and development, operations, customer satisfaction and loyalty, and business acquisitions and integrations.

Dion comes from ESAB Corp., a Maryland-based company involved in fabrication and specialty gas-control technology, where he most recently was vice president, business excellence. ESAB has roots that reach back to Sweden nearly 120 years ago, but was spun off in 2022 as an independent, publicly traded company. Dion led its industrial and cultural remaking.

He was with Danaher Corp. for 24 years until 2021, holding progressive leadership roles at six of its operating companies and Danaher Life Sciences. Dion led the integrations and transitions of several Danaher acquisitions, including the two largest: the $13 billion purchase of Pall Corp. and $21 billion acquisition of GE BioPharma, subsequently renamed Cytiva.

In those and other positions, Dion directed application of kaizen-based, lean manufacturing and transactional systems that prioritized exceptional people and plans and repeatable processes, leading to superior execution and performance.

Meyer Distributing Announces Hanover, Maryland Location

Meyer Distributing Inc. has announced the addition of its Hanover, Maryland, crossdock. The crossdock will have a direct feed from Meyer’s Pennsylvania distribution hub, which houses one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories, crash parts, and RV parts in the region.

“We are investing heavily in the Northeast as our focal point for 2023,” stated Jeff Braun, Meyer CEO. “We have increased our Northeast warehousing footprint from 180,000 to 425,000 sq. ft. in the past four months with plans to add substantially more soon. We will be opening a host of new sites to significantly improve delivery service, and we’re looking forward to getting all these improvements in place and settled in.”

Meyer Distributing has numerous strategically positioned warehousing facilities and serves thousands of customers nationwide via Meyer Logistics direct ship.

New Heise Connect App Goes Live for Smart Devices

Heise LED by Metra Electronics has designed an all-new Heise Connect app that is now available for download on smartphones and tablets. The app allows users to remotely control Heise LED automotive lighting accessories from the palm of their hand. This app works cohesively with all Heise LED lighting, which will now be known as the Heise Connect Universe (HCU) of products. An intuitive user interface automatically connects via Bluetooth and detects the type of control box connected to the app; RGB, RGBW or Chasing. Groups of all products can be used and controlled within the same mobile app, including three new Heise Connect controllers that debuted at the SEMA Show: the HE-RGB-CB, HE-RGBW-CB and HE-CHASE-CB.

App features include a selectable color wheel, which lets users choose from 16 million RGB color options, and a true white light color option is available with RGBW products. Users can also select from 24 pre-programmed patterns for RGB and RGBW and 170+ pre-programmed moving patterns for Chasing. A DIY pattern option can be chosen for Chasing products that allows for selecting up to 16 colors and three motion effects. The app also features independent left and right turn signal triggers, a brake trigger and a music sync function.

More information about the Heise Connect app and the Heise Connect Universe is available at HeiseLED.com.

Universal Technical Institute Announces Purchase of Primary Buildings at Orlando Campus

Universal Technical Institute (UTI) has announced the purchase of the three buildings it fully occupies at its Orlando, Florida, campus, which offers technician training programs in automotive, diesel, motorcycle and marine. In February 2022, UTI completed the consolidation of its UTI-Orlando and MMI-Orlando campuses into the current location, which includes the three buildings being purchased and subleased space in a fourth building.

The purchase of the buildings, which total 154,300 sq. ft., as well as the 20 acres of associated land, was sold for $26 million and will be funded from cash on hand, which includes funds from the company's November 2022 revolving credit facility draw. The expected annual adjusted EBITDA benefit is approximately $2 million and after-tax cash savings are approximately $500 thousand.

The campus, which opened in 2004, has more than 1,300 students currently and offers the company’s core automotive and diesel programs, along with the motorcycle and marine technician training programs with Harley-Davidson, BMW, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury Marine and Volvo. The campus also has several auto and diesel Manufacturer Specific Advanced Training (MSAT) programs, including Ford, BMW and Daimler Trucks.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

 By Mike Imlay

As a specialty-equipment market trade association, SEMA’s mission is to help its business members succeed and prosper. To this end, it offers a broad variety of programs. Some are designed to help a business as a whole, while others are tailored toward employees or individuals. Combined, all SEMA programs and benefits offer powerful opportunities to grow brands, careers and industry enthusiasm. But how can members discover and access them all?

As a trade association, SEMA offers business members and their employees a broad range of personal and professional enrichment programs, along with other benefits and perks. Now a newly launched membership portal lets you find and access them all in one place.

Enter the recently launched SEMA Member Portal at www.SEMA.org. Now a simple login takes members directly to an exclusive area highlighting and tracking all the benefits open to them. Members can also build a personal profile to help promote themselves and their businesses. To learn more about the new portal and association benefits, SEMA News turned to Andrea (“AJ”) Carney, the association’s director of membership. The following is our interview, edited for clarity.

SEMA News: Why was the new web portal developed and what is its main advantage for SEMA-member businesses?

AJ Carney: The portal is a one-stop entry point for seeing and taking advantage of all SEMA’s member benefits. In the past, business members inquiring about our many programs were referred to a variety of websites, email addresses or phone numbers. Recently, the SEMA Board of Directors tasked us with simplifying the member experience on www.SEMA.org. This is a major step in that ongoing process and our first-ever hub where members can find and access everything all from one dashboard. It’s a much more user-friendly experience for our members.

Also, the portal experience is individualized for our business members. When a business or company joins SEMA, there are a range of benefits available to its leadership and employees, some of which are based upon their position within the business. Each individual will be able to login through their own personalized account and view the specific programs and benefits open to them.

SN: You’ve focused here on SEMA business members. Is there a distinction between them and SEMA individual members?

AJC: Yes. As you know, we recently launched a SEMA Individual Membership (SIM) program for individual consumer enthusiasts. To avoid confusion, we should clarify that the new portal accommodates both our business members and our individual members. As we continue to develop our SIM program, this portal will also grow and expand its services to all members, regardless of type. When someone logs in, the portal will know whether they’re a business or an individual member and display the benefits unique to their type of membership. It will all be automated from the back end. So regardless of whether you are a business member or an individual member, this portal would serve you either way.

SN: So for the business members who will be reading this article, can you briefly take us through the process of accessing their specific benefits through the portal?

AJC: It’s very simple. Now when a member goes to www.SEMA.org, they’ll see a login icon at the upper right of the landing page. Once they’re registered and logged in, they can click on the “My Profile” icon, which takes them to their profile page. That page displays their image, all their company information, and a “My Benefits” column to the right. That column is their portal. And within that portal, that’s where members can take advantage of savings on parts purchases, SEMA Garage and SEMA Data [formerly the SEMA Data Co-op], and much more.

All they have to do is select a benefit or perk they’re interested in and hit the “Claim” button. They’ll learn more about that benefit, any applicable cost, and all the information needed to engage with it quickly and easily.

A simple three-step process is now all it takes for SEMA business members and their employees to take advantage of their benefits.

SN: You just mentioned a few of the benefits open to our business members. Perhaps we should go a little deeper into all that’s available to them.

AJC: Definitely. I can list several important examples right off the bat. Our manufacturing members have access to numerous SEMA Garage programs, such as Tech Transfer, rapid prototyping, measuring sessions and laser scanning, to list some of the most popular ones.

Another SEMA Garage perk we want members to be aware of is the training facility. Any SEMA business member can book our training room. Manufacturers can use it to educate their staff, consultants, the media and other partners about their products—or pretty much anything else. Retail members can book it, bring in vehicles or products from their shops, and train their employees. The Garage also has work bays equipped complete with tools and lifts.

Participation in SEMA Data is also a major service for member businesses, and they can access that program through the portal as well. If they’re a manufacturer logging in, they’ll see the filtered SEMA Data services that pertain only to them. If they’re a retailer or reseller, they’ll see SEMA Data services filtered for their needs. The portal is very intuitive.

In addition, many members take frequent advantage of SEMA Market Research, and the portal will give them direct access to our association reports. These are a huge advantage for businesses of all types.

SN: You also alluded to other perks. Can you give some examples?

AJC: We’re building our discount program for SEMA business members, which also is an ongoing process. I’ll highlight a couple examples. Right now, business members can redeem SEMA Gear online-only apparel discounts at 15% off through the portal, 40% off at 5.11 Tactical, and 20% parts discounts through Trader Tim’s Tie Downs. Then there’s an exclusive discount from Oakley, Costa and other fashion brands; and a 35% discount on digital ad placements on My Race Pass, to name just a few.

Of course, the portal also provides discount access to our benefit partners, including UPS, First Data and Alliant Insurance Services, among others. We’ll be rolling out more discount partnerships in the coming year. We’ll also reach out to potential partners directly on a member’s behalf when they suggest or inquire about them. Our goal is to greatly expand our perks, and we’re putting a lot of effort into delivering a full range of first-class discounts and benefits. If your business or company is interested in becoming a Benefits Partner, reach out to Mike Kirks, our membership benefits manager, at mikek@
sema.org.

SN: How about access to SEMA Education?

AJC: That is also available now through the portal. Business members can register and pay for select education events and seminars, and access free content as well, including SEMA on-demand education videos. This is another great member benefit. Our education topics are presented by subject-matter experts and cover a variety of subjects for business and personal
enrichment. Regardless of who you are or what you do in the industry, there’s something for everyone.

SN: SEMA council and networks are also important to many of our association members. Do they have a place in the new portal too?

AJC: Yes, SEMA has council and networks addressing a variety of industry segments, and we hope the new portal will increase member engagement with them. They’re a great way to tackle common industry issues, advance your business and even your personal career. But in the past, many members didn’t fully understand what our councils and networks were all about, what they could do for them, or even how to connect with them.

Now members no longer have to go searching for contacts or information about each council or network. The portal explains council and network benefits in one place. When an employee hits the “Claim Benefits” feature, all their council and network options are presented to them, and they can apply for membership right there. It’s a much easier way for business members to start their networking journey within SEMA.

SN: Speaking of networking, how about the full SEMA Member Directory? Is that available online?

AJC: We do have an online Member Directory, which is extremely robust. When members log in to their profile, they’ll see a link to it in the menu. When they click on that link, they’ll be able to filter results. Say, for instance, they want to find retailer members in their radius or manufacturers within a certain category. Boom! They can filter them quickly in the directory. That’s a function we’ve never had before. Previously, members only had access to a PDF copy of a printed directory that they had to sift through themselves. Now it’s automated and much less cumbersome. They can sort members by all types of fields.

SEMA manufacturing members have access to numerous SEMA Garage programs.

SN: And how about keeping their SEMA membership current?

AJC: Once they log in, they’ll see tools for that as well. They can view their annual invoice (90 days before membership expires) and pay it by clicking on “My Invoices” from their profile page. The system even keeps track of all the separate services or benefits they’ve paid for, including any benefit claim codes they’ve previously gotten. Some perks can be accessed multiple times using a single claim code. So if they ever forget or misplace that claim code, they can easily go back to their portal under “My Benefits” and retrieve it from their claimed area.

SN: Up to now, we’ve spoken about business members, but are there also benefits currently available to SEMA Individual Members when they log in to the portal?

AJC: Absolutely! When a SEMA Individual Member logs into SEMA.org and clicks on “Benefits,” they will be presented with a list of benefits/perks. For example, there’s a $10 off a $100 a Summit Racing Equipment purchase; discounts on Oakley, Costa and other fashion brands; 10% off online-only SEMA Gear purchases; 15% off at Hypertech; $15 off a $75 purchase through 5.11 Tactical; and 10% off any two- or five-day welding workshop through PIT Instruction and Training, among others.

SEMA Individual Membership

Employees of SEMA-member businesses and SEMA Individual Members wishing to make use of the portal should go to www.sema.org. At the upper right of the webpage, there are icons to join SEMA and/or log in. Selecting “Login” will take members to a page where they can sign in with their email and password.

If your business is not currently a SEMA member, you can gain member portal access, start saving and growing your business today at www.sema.org/join.

In addition, if you are not yet a SEMA Individual Member, you can join today and get immediate access to membership perks and more by visiting www.sema.org/individual-membership.

Start saving today!

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Video Content Creator
Wilwood Disc Brakes

Wilwood Disc Brakes is hiring a video content creator. Responsibilities include execution of ideas presented by management, planning, filming and editing content for the company website, training, social media and other channels as needed. A basic understanding of video production, sound equipment, lighting and directing scenes for voice-over or live audio is necessary. Typically finished videos can range between one to ten minutes in length. Most production will occur on-premise but may include off-site locations and an occasional event or trade show. Candidates must have more than two years of experience producing short informational videos and be a high school graduate with some college experience in film production preferred.

Web Developer
Prismatic Powders

Prismatic Powders is hiring a web developer to maintain all aspects of the company’s websites; follow established department SOPs regarding creating, testing, and deploying builds; design, document and implement requested functionality and updates; test and debug existing and new functionality; deploy tested and approved updates to the websites; and get approval for projects and updates from subject matter experts in other departments. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in computer sciences or more than three years of web development experience, particularly on e-commerce sites.

Wholesale Phone Sales Representative
Aftermarket Performance Group

Aftermarket Performance Group is hiring a wholesale phone sales representative to apply extensive knowledge of the company’s product lines and automotive knowledge. This position will assist customers in finding the right products for their needs. It requires communicating with customers through phone and email, as well as receive inbound calls and follow up on sales quotes through outbound calls. This position reports up to the director of sales. Candidates should have previous call center or customer service experience.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By SEMA Editors

Automotive specialty-equipment manufacturers are geared up to exhibit at the 2023 SEMA Show, taking place October 31–November 3 in Las Vegas.

With an eagerness to connect with buyers in person to create brand awareness, introduce new products, develop relationships and tell their company stories, exhibitors are signing up earlier than they had in previous years, demonstrating strong momentum for this year’s show.

Exhibitor commitments continue to come in at a constant rate, and with more than a third of all applications historically submitted a week before the April 3 priority application deadline, the 2023 SEMA Show is expected to grow to more than 2,000 exhibiting companies.

The running list on www.semashow.com/participating-manufacturers shows major automakers, iconic aftermarket brands, and new, first-time exhibitors confirmed for the 2023 SEMA Show.

“The early commitment from exhibitors is a positive sign that companies are excited to reconnect face to face,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “It’s also a sign that companies are confident that they will have new products and stories to share.”

Since the pandemic hit in 2020, the industry has gathered at the SEMA Show, making the annual event the go-to place for connecting with colleagues. In 2021 and 2022 the SEMA Show has been among the country’s highest-attended trade shows, and momentum has increased as travel restrictions are lifted and businesses discover limitations of doing business virtually.

“Virtual meetings are great, but you can’t smell the burning rubber over a Zoom call,” said Gattuso.

Exhibitors that submit completed applications by April 3 will be included in the SEMA Show Priority Booth Selection Process, at which time they will select their space and learn how to get the most out of their investment. Exclusive benefits and opportunities include:

• First to select their space at the SEMA Show and officially assigned a booth number.
• Immediately included on the online floorplan, which industry professionals use to determine what exhibitors to visit and how to plan their Show.
• Connect with account reps who will guide them on specific opportunities to boost brand awareness based on the exhibitor’s goals and target audience.
• Opportunity to sign up for the 2023 SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, a two-and-a-half-day boot camp-style event where Show organizers guide exhibitors through important details and tips for success.
• Reminders about early-bird deadlines to save money on booth orders and hotel rooms for staff.

Booth space applications, available at www.semashow.com/exhibitor, are open to companies that manufacture products that enhance a vehicle’s performance, styling, safety or convenience. Registration for industry professionals to attend the four-day SEMA Show opens on May 1 at the early-bird rate until late June.

Visit www.semashow.com to learn more and to see the list of companies that have already committed to exhibiting at the 2023 SEMA Show. 

After nine model years in the market, with hundreds of thousands sold, the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro will retire at the conclusion of model-year ’24. The final sixth-generation Camaros will come off the assembly line at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan in January 2024.

Available in coupe and soft-top convertible variants, this latest-generation Camaro is known for athleticism and composure. Magnetic Ride Control became available on the Camaro SS in the sixth generation and track-focused 1LE packages proliferated through all levels of the lineup for the first time. The street-legal track Camaro, the 650hp ZL1 1LE, produced the fastest time for any Camaro around GM’s Milford Road Course at the company’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan.

“As we prepare to say goodbye to the current-generation Camaro, it is difficult to overstate our gratitude to every Camaro customer, Camaro assembly line employee and race fan,” said Scott Bell, vice president, Global Chevrolet. “While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story.”

Chevrolet will celebrate this storied nameplate with the addition of the Collector’s Edition package on the ’24 Camaro RS and SS, and on a limited number of ZL1-equipped vehicles available in North America. The Collector’s Edition pays homage to Camaro, resurfacing ties that date back to the development of the first-generation Camaro in the ’60s, most notably the program’s initial code name: Panther.

Chevrolet campaigns the sixth-generation Camaro in a variety of series, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO, NHRA and the Supercars Championship. Camaro will continue to compete on track, working with motorsports sanctioning bodies to ensure Chevrolet’s presence in racing moving forward.

“Chevrolet’s products and our relationship with our customers benefit from motorsports,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president, performance and motorsports. “Our plan is to continue to compete and win at the highest levels of auto racing.”

More information on the ’24 Camaro line and Collector’s Edition package will be available closer to the start of orders this summer.

By SEMA Editors

The annual SEMA Show is the place to be for automotive specialty-equipment companies looking to launch new products and establish or strengthen business connections. Being a part of the Show allows exhibitors to control their own narrative and showcase their company with a product and brand presentation for the world to see.

“If you are absent, then the narrative and perception is out of your control, and possibly worse, it gives your competition the chance to tell a better story,” said Andy Tompkins, SEMA’s trade show director.

The SEMA Show attracts more than 132,000 attendees, including more than 70,000 buyers and decision makers from around the world each year. Exhibitors have the opportunity to meet face to face with a global audience, build relationships, talk through issues and develop new ideas. Companies that stand on the sidelines are not top of mind to their customers and prospects.

Lubrication Specialties Inc. hesitated to exhibit in previous years while its Hot Shot’s Secret brand was growing, so the primary goal in 2021 was to bring awareness to the brand and introduce new customers to its products. They also wanted to reach out to potential new dealers and product distributors.

“We were happy to exceed expectations with a heavily trafficked booth in the Racing & Performance section of the Central Hall and sign up multiple new partners,” said Kyle Fischer, director of branding and promotions, Lubrication Specialties Inc. “In hindsight, we should have started exhibiting at the SEMA Show many years ago. It turned out to be the perfect event to put our brand on the map and proved to be an excellent venue to further push the brand growth and recognition that we have been building upon.”

Exhibiting at the Show pays off for smaller companies, too. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hinckley Overlanding supplies, installs and designs products for the state’s growing overlanding community.

“You’re always evolving as a company and as a builder,” said Hinckley Overlanding Owner and Operator Matt McIntosh. “As things change over the next few years, we’ve got to stay ahead of the times. The Show allows us to go to market with all the other builders that are out there and get ideas on how we can make our product better. And you’re making connections you can’t make any other way. Honestly, we’re in the people business. We just happen to make, build and sell cool stuff. At the end of the day, it’s about the relationships that you build with buyers and customers.”

The SEMA Show affords companies numerous methods for extending their message, from the Online Media Center to the Show’s No. 1 buyer destination—the New Products Showcase.

“However, keep in mind that the size of your presentation is less important than the fact that you are there, and if you miss it, your brand will be out of the conversation for two full years—a virtual eternity in business circles,” Tompkins said.

To date, more than 1,300 companies have committed to exhibiting at the 2023 SEMA Show. Organizers expect the number to increase to more than 2,000 by Show time. See who is exhibiting.

There is still time to get involved in this process; submit your ESRA application by April 3!

The 2023 SEMA Show will  be held October 31–November 3 in Las Vegas. For more information about exhibiting, visit www.SEMAShow.com/exhibitor.

This is the C8 Z06 with a little surprise around back, a camo’d lower rear fascia.

Taking a look at the rest of the Z06, there’s not a single change, except for the aforementioned camo’d rear fascia. Is this an early mule for the ZR1, or, is Chevy already making modifications to the Z06?

Regardless, GM is up to something with the Z06. Hopefully, there will be some answers in the coming months, but until then, just know that GM isn’t resting on its laurels when it comes to the C8 lineup.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The tariff costs imposed on imported steel and aluminum and imported Chinese goods over the past five years have been directly borne by U.S. businesses, according to a study released by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). The study results are consistent with SEMA’s comments to the ITC, which noted that significant tariffs had been imposed on member companies with insufficient justification. SEMA recommended that the Section 232 and 301 tariffs be removed.

Last year, the U.S. Congress directed the ITC to assess the economic impact of the tariffs. The agency found that the Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum successfully lowered imports and increased domestic metal production, but they also increased prices and had a largely negative impact on downstream production. Prices for both metals were notably higher in the United States than in the rest of the world.

With respect to the Section 301 tariffs on imported Chinese goods, the report found a one-for-one increase. For example, the product price rose about 10% if the tariff was 10%. The report confirms that the higher costs were paid almost entirely by U.S. companies.

With the issuance of the ITC report, SEMA once again urges the Biden Administration to lift the tariffs and provide some economic relief to American businesses and consumers.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

Competitors settled into the new home of the Scoggin Dickey Parts Center NMCA Muscle Car Mayhem presented by Holbrook Racing Engines, March 17–19, at Orlando Speed World Dragway in Florida.

VP Racing Lubricants Xtreme Pro Mod: Ty Tutterow, in his ’57 Buick-bodied Pro Mod, hammered the tree with an .014 and then hauled to a 3.634 to take a trip to the winner's circle over Robert Abbott, who was right there with a 3.635 in his Camaro-bodied hot rod.

Holley EFI Factory Super Cars: AJ Berge and Ricky Hord hung on for the final round, where 13th qualifier Berge turned on the win light with a 7.63 over Hord’s close 7.62.

ARP Nitrous Pro Street: David Fallon Jr. wound up in the final round of eliminations with Kyle Salminen in the other lane. Fallon Jr. won with a 4.28.

Edelbrock Xtreme Street: Martin Connelley kept his foot planted on the pedal to a 4.49 in his Mustang to pick up the win over Bill Trovato, who trapped a close 4.51.

Dart NA 10.5: Robbie Blankenship made it to the final round and flew to a 7.79 and the winner's circle after Joe Clemente, who led qualifying with a 7.80, ran into trouble and couldn't complete his pass.

Chevrolet Performance Stock presented by Scoggin Dickey Parts Center: Kevin Lumsden led qualifying with a 5.77 in his Camaro, and later landed the win with a 9.62 over Keith Vaughn in his Corvette.

Micro Strategies Stock Eliminator: Bruce Boyle and George Cox were close on the tree, and Boyle earned another win in the double-breakout bout with an 11.50 on an 11.51 in his Camaro IROC Z.

Micro Strategies Super Stock Eliminator: Joe Ewing defeated Mark Nowicki, who was close to Ewing on the tree but slightly dipped under his dial.

Quick Fuel Technology Nostalgia Super Stock: Doug Duell parked his father’s former Fury wagon right on his 9.00 index to defeat Jim Netherland.

Erson Cams Nostalgia Muscle presented by World Products: Michael Tagg trampled the tree to the tune of .000 in his Fairlane, and won with a 10.01 on a 10.00 index over reigning class champion Danny Towe.

MagnaFuel Open Comp: Scott Williams hung the tires to a perfect .000 reaction time on the bottom end, followed by an 8.52 on an 8.66 dial on the big end, to upset Steve Satchell, who broke out by a little more.

LME Street King presented by Chevrolet Performance: Cody Poston went to the winner’s circle with an 8.67 over Bryan Williams, who was also on a breakout run.

Proform LSX Rumble presented by Chevrolet Performance: Keith Vaughn earned the easy win when Nicholas Massengale couldn't complete his pass.

TorqStorm Superchargers True Street: Jeff Smith took the overall win with a 9.38 average in a Mustang Cobra, while Deneen Segura was the runner-up with a 9.73 average in a Mustang. Robert Reilly raced to the 10-second win in a Challenger, Alan Hill arrived at the 11-second win in a Mustang GT, Michael Vanzile motored to the 12-second win in an F-150, Brett Veneman buckled in for the 13-second win, Mary Ann Mammen made it to the 14-second win in a Mustang Mach 1 and Ken Mason collected the 15-second win in a Mustang.

Dodge // Mopar HEMI Shootout: Thomas Falk flew to the win with a nice 8.79 average in his Challenger, while Scott Roegter took the runner-up with a 9.54 average in his Durango Hellcat. Others deserving recognition were Matt Martens (9-second winner in a Challenger), Bryce Rohrs (10-second winner in a Challenger), Joe Gomez (11-second winner in a Challenger) and Homero Lloro (12-second winner in a Challenger). Also standing out were Cindie Scott (13-second winner in a Durango SRT), Josie McClenaghan (14-second winner in a Challenger) and Brandon Barrett (15-second winner in a RAM 3500).

The eight quickest drivers in the Dodge // Mopar HEMI Shootout earned entry into the HHP Racing HEMI Quick 8 on the final day of the season opener, and Mike Clark and Zachan Davis lined up for the final round. They were close on the tree, but on the top end, Clark scored the win with a 9.38 on a 9.40 when Davis ran an off-pace pass.

In Bracket 1, Rick Perry paired a .006 reaction time with a 5.68 on a 5.67 to claim the victory over Shane Williams. Bracket 2 saw Cole Knieriem, who piloted a Liberscher Racing COPO Camaro for the first time this weekend, pull off the win with a 6.18 on a 6.19 over Jeff Ross, who dipped under his dial by more.

The second stop on the tour, the Innovation Performance Technologies NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by MAHLE Motorsport, will be held April 14–16 at Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina.

Cindric, George Comprise Class of 2023 for IMS Hall of Fame

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has announced Tim Cindric and Tony George as the 2023 inductees for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame. Cindric and George will be formally celebrated at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner presented by Shell and supported by National Bank of Indianapolis on Friday evening, May 26 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. The two were chosen from a ballot of 14 nominees by a national panel of more than 150 journalists, participants and historians. In addition to honoring the inductees, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum will celebrate Marlyne Sexton, a philanthropist and community leader who has contributed to the success of the Museum, supported the racing community, and the 500 Festival organization.

Tickets for the event are available for purchase at imsmuseum.org. Pricing is $2,000 for a table of eight and $250 for individual tickets. All proceeds benefit the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that aims to celebrate the cultural and historical significance of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through storytelling and educational programs.

More Details Revealed for the Future of Auto Club Speedway

More details have been revealed about the recent sale of NASCAR’s Auto Club Speedway—the two-mile, low-banked D-shaped oval superspeedway near Fontana, California. It was previously reported that NASCAR had sold 433 acres of the 522-acre site. Now, officials are stating the famed track was purchased for an estimated $559 million by Hillwood Development, owned by real estate mogul Ross Perot Jr. He plans to build a 6.6-million-sq.-ft. logistics hub called “Speedway Commerce Center,” according to the published reports. Plans still currently involve NASCAR building a new short track on the remaining acreage, better suited for the Next Gen cars, according to the new reports.

IMSA Hall of Fame Unveils Inaugural Class

The inaugural class for the IMSA Hall of Fame has been selected and includes four drivers, three IMSA founders and four iconic race cars from throughout the sanctioning body’s 54-year history. The inductees will be honored as part of October’s WeatherTech Night of Champions held following the Motul Petit Le Mans season finale to celebrate the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and crown series champions.

The four drivers selected for induction into the inaugural IMSA Hall of Fame class—Peter Gregg, Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert and Scott Pruett—all were multiple-time IMSA champions and multi-time winners. Joining the inaugural IMSA Hall of Fame class are the three founders of the International Motor Sports Association: John and Peggy Bishop and Bill France Sr.

In addition to the seven people selected to the first IMSA Hall of Fame class, four iconic race cars—the Chevrolet Corvette C5-R, Ferrari 333 SP, Mazda RX-7 GTU and Porsche 962—also have been selected for enshrinement.

The inductees were selected from a larger group determined by a nominating committee comprised of past and present IMSA executives and an esteemed group of media members. BDO, which was introduced as a corporate partner of IMSA earlier this year, validated the accuracy of the 2023 IMSA Hall of Fame voting results. Plans call for a mix of influential people and race cars to be inducted into the IMSA Hall of Fame each year. The IMSA Hall of Fame will live in an online environment. A standalone website will launch later this year.

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