Compiled by SEMA Editors

Scott Speed

Champion Driver Scott Speed Joins Rockstar Energy Drink for 2016

Defending Global Rallycross champion Scott Speed is joining Rockstar Energy Drink in 2016. The American driver will unveil his new Rockstar Energy Drink helmet at the rallycross season opener in May. Under the new partnership, Speed will wear a Rockstar Energy Drink helmet in all motorsport competition. The driver, who has competed in the top ranks of professional racing around the world and won the 2015 Global Rallycross Championship title, will continue to focus on the rapidly growing action motorsport this season. Speed returns this year for a third full season with the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team alongside teammate Tanner Foust.

Formula DRIFT and BlackVue Sign Three-Year Presenting Sponsorship Agreement

Formula DRIFT has announced a new partnership with South Korean-based technology company Pittasoft Co. Ltd., owners of the dashboard camera brand BlackVue. The three-year agreement names BlackVue as the “Presenting Sponsor and Official Dashcam” for the Series. Tickets are now available for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach, April 8–9.

WELD Named Official Wheel of IHRA; Announces 2016 IHRA Bonus Program for Pro and Sportsman Classes

WELD has been named the official wheel of the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). In addition, WELD has announced its 2016 IHRA bonus program. WELD will award $100 to event winners in the IHRA Pro and Sportsman classes who use Delta-1, Black Draglite, Full Throttle and TT63 WELD Racing wheels during 2016 competitions. To be eligible for its bonus program, competitors are required to place a WELD decal on their vehicle (of the appropriate size) at the beginning of each event and leave it in place during every round of competition.

This season, Pirelli Formula Lights will incorporate other SCCA Pro events into race weekends, including three appearances with the American sedan-based Trans-Am Series (New Jersey, Brainerd and Homestead-Miami).

Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series Releases Expanded 2016 Schedule

The newly renamed Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series has released its 2016 racing schedule in preparation for its second SCCA Pro season. The news comes just days after Formula Lites organizers announced that the high-tech,open-wheel series has secured title sponsorship from Pirelli.

American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Announces 2015 All-America Team

The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) announced its first All-America Team following the 1970 season. That annual tradition continued with the team being announced for 2015’s top performers. A group of special drivers representing multiple forms of professional motorsports is elected each year by AARWBA. The association’s members vote on drivers within their participating racing categories. The driver receiving the most votes from each discipline is elected to the All-America Team. The 2015 All-America Team included:

• Scott Dixon – Open Wheel Division
• Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi – Road Racing
• Donny Schatz – Short Track Division
• Kyle Busch – Stock Car
• Erica Enders – Drag Racing
• Erik Jones – Touring Series
• Spencer Pigot – At Large Category

Rico Abreu was voted the Rising Star award on the strength of multiple open-wheel dirt short track victories including back-to-back Chili Bowl wins. Abreu will compete full-time in the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Thorsport Racing.

DEI Announces TEAM DEI 2016 Sponsorship Program

DEI, in support of grassroots motorsports and local, regional and national project builds, is offering both racers and builders the opportunity to become a member of TEAM DEI—open to racers of any series from drag to road racing, dirt or oval, to receive support in exchange for promotion of DEI on and off the track. Each month, a racer or project builder will be selected to be featured through DEI’s website and social media as the featured vehicle of the month. To be sponsored and participate in TEAM DEI, fill out the online form at www.designengineering.com. To receive sponsorship, participants must also sign an authorization to allow DEI to use the person’s name and image for future promotion. This month’s TEAM DEI featured vehicle is Joe Cram’s ’06 Mustang GT Saleen featured in Race Pages magazine.

VP Racing Fuels Named Official Fuel of Ultimate Super Late Model Series

Series officials have announced VP Racing Fuels will be the Official Fuel of the Ultimate Super Late Model Series (USLMS) as part of a multi-year agreement beginning in 2016. With the sponsorship, VP will be the preferred fuel for USLMS racers and will benefit from substantial brand exposure at race venues and on the series’ digital and social media platforms.

The 2016 NMCA WEST VP Racing Fuels season opener comes to Fontana, California, April 1–3 with heads-up drag racing and autocross.

Fontana, California, to Host West Coast’s Fastest Street Cars

The 2016 NMCA WEST VP Racing Fuels season opener comes to Fontana, California, April 1–3 with heads-up drag racing and autocross. The 5th Annual Nitto Tire NMCA WEST Spring Nationals event at Auto Club Dragway will feature side-by-side competition between American musclecars with the Hotchkis Cup Autocross, presented by Nitto Tire. The Pro Mod class includes race cars that are capable of 200 mph in the eighth-mile. ProCharger Limited Street brings on the turbocharged, nitrous-powered wheels-up doorslammers with more than 2,000 hp under the hood. There’s also the Meziere Top Sportsman, ARP Outlaw 8.5, Lucas Oil N/A 10.5 and MMR Mustang Madness.

Lucas Oil Named Title Sponsor of Inaugural JuniorMotoX

Lucas Oil has been named the title sponsor of the inaugural JuniorMotoX, which will take place at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, May 12–14, 2016. The new event will showcase youth racers as the maximum age is 18, and it will be limited to 250cc and under motorcycles. Going forward, the event will be named the Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX. There will be a live webcast of the Friday qualifiers and Saturday evening main events in addition to a feature show on MAVTV just a few days following the event.

Wilwood Continues Partnership with Contingency Connection Racer Rewards Program

Wilwood Disc Brakes is continuing its partnership with Contingency Connection’s Racer Rewards program through the 2016 season. Contingency Connection Racer Rewards sponsors post thousands of dollars in weekly awards for grassroots racers throughout the United States and Canada. The program reaches approximately 18,000 racers per week at more than 50 tracks and series hosting 1,500 events nationwide.

Champion Racing Oil to Sponsor the 2016 Great Race

Champion will again sponsor this year’s Great Race with a team of drivers in a classic-car competitive rally that races from San Rafael, California, to Moline, Illinois. The winner of the Great Race receives $50,000, and total prize money for the event is $150,000. The Great Race, presented by Hemmings Motor News and Coker Tire, is an automotive competition based on precision driving and navigational skills in classic, antique and vintage automobiles. The competition, which was founded in 1983, contains numerous timed endurance rally stages. Vehicle entries must have been manufactured in 1969 or earlier with a competition crew of a driver and a navigator in each competing vehicle.

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit ARMO's website.

The Hot Products Showcase is an exciting and valuable opportunity for ARMO-member companies to put their product(s) in front of 100,000 restoration enthusiasts at Spring Carlisle.

Registration for ARMO Hot Products Showcase Now Open

The Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) Hot Products Showcase is an exciting and valuable opportunity for ARMO-member companies to put their product(s) in front of 100,000 restoration enthusiasts at Spring Carlisle. The Showcase is open Thursday through Saturday, April 21–23. For just the cost of shipping your product(s) to the Carlisle Fairgrounds, you'll receive:

• Product displayed in the ARMO Hot Products Tent, located strategically right in the center of the event grounds.
• Product shot by a professional photographer and available for your own use.
• Your product photos displayed in the ARMO booth at the SEMA Show and in a photo gallery on SEMA.org.

If you are going to Carlisle, you can save on the shipping cost by dropping off and picking up your product on-site.

Register your product(s) now!

In addition, if your hot product is “new” this year, you may enter it for an ARMO New Product award in one of nine categories. Judging of New Product Award entries is Thursday, April 21, and winners are announced that evening at the ARMO industry mixer located in the tent. Formal award presentations will be made at the ARMO Awards Reception at the 2016 SEMA Show. These New Product Awards provide yet another marketing opportunity for ARMO-member companies.

New Product Award Categories:

• Reproduction of original replacement interior
• Non-original interior
• Reproduction of original replacement exterior/trim
• Non-original exterior/trim
• Reproduction of original replacement drivetrain/brakes/suspension/wheels
• Non-original drivetrain/brakes/suspension/wheels
• Reproduction of original replacement engine/engine component
• Non-original engine/engine component
• Accessary item (e.g., eight-track tape, record player, bud vase, etc.)

For more information, contact Council Director Jim Skelly at 909-978-6690 or jimsk@sema.org.

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Visit YEN's website

YEN General Membership Call

Looking to get more involved in your industry? The Young Executives Network (YEN) is holding its first-quarter General Membership Call, March 2, from 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (PST). The YEN general membership and other SEMA members under the age of 40 are encouraged to attend to learn about network initiatives, exciting upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.

Topics to be discussed on the call include the following volunteer opportunities, valuable networking events and chances to advance your business:

• SEMA Launch Pad
• YEN Member Insights
• Live Chat
• YEN Power Tour
• Regional networking events
• And more—bring your topics to the table!

RSVP to SEMA Network Director Bryan Harrison to receive the phone number and call-in code.

Ian Lehn

Live Chat with Ian Lehn, President of BOOSTane and 2014 Launch Pad Winner

Do you have a new product that you would like to sell in the performance automotive aftermarket industry? Perhaps you have a prototype and are unsure of the steps needed to commercialize the product. YEN is hosting a Live Chat and open Q&A where you will have the chance to communicate directly with Ian Lehn, founder of BOOSTane and the SEMA Launch Pad Task Force chairman. Questions can include the challenges of running a startup company, tips on preparing for a business pitch, and information on the SEMA Launch Pad’s latest prize package for 2016.

After developing the company from a senior exit thesis in college, Lehn launched his business, won the SEMA Launch Pad in 2014, and has increased his business from local vendors to a distribution network in more than 23 different countries.

Immediately following the YEN General Membership call, please join us on SEMA’s YEN Facebook page, March 2, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. (EST) and learn the secrets of how to successfully grow your company and compete in the SEMA Launch Pad.

Questions? Contact:

• YEN’s MRP Task Force Chair: Tim Kawasaki 
• YEN’s Chair: John Rosanbalm 
• YEN’s staff liaison Bryan Harrison

Back to Top

Strengthen Your Company Through Community

No matter what niche you're in—rods, restoration, racing, restyling, reps, trucks or wheels and tires—there's a SEMA council or professional network that's right for your company. SEMA councils and networks offer members a variety of market-specific programs and activities designed to provide educational and networking opportunities while promoting their particular industry segment.

Visit ARMO's website.

The Hot Products Showcase is an exciting and valuable opportunity for ARMO-member companies to put their product(s) in front of 100,000 restoration enthusiasts at Spring Carlisle.

Registration for ARMO Hot Products Showcase Now Open

The Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) Hot Products Showcase is an exciting and valuable opportunity for ARMO-member companies to put their product(s) in front of 100,000 restoration enthusiasts at Spring Carlisle. The Showcase is open Thursday through Saturday, April 21–23. For just the cost of shipping your product(s) to the Carlisle Fairgrounds, you'll receive:

• Product displayed in the ARMO Hot Products Tent, located strategically right in the center of the event grounds.
• Product shot by a professional photographer and available for your own use.
• Your product photos displayed in the ARMO booth at the SEMA Show and in a photo gallery on SEMA.org.

If you are going to Carlisle, you can save on the shipping cost by dropping off and picking up your product on-site.

Register your product(s) now!

In addition, if your hot product is “new” this year, you may enter it for an ARMO New Product award in one of nine categories. Judging of New Product Award entries is Thursday, April 21, and winners are announced that evening at the ARMO industry mixer located in the tent. Formal award presentations will be made at the ARMO Awards Reception at the 2016 SEMA Show. These New Product Awards provide yet another marketing opportunity for ARMO-member companies.

New Product Award Categories:

• Reproduction of original replacement interior
• Non-original interior
• Reproduction of original replacement exterior/trim
• Non-original exterior/trim
• Reproduction of original replacement drivetrain/brakes/suspension/wheels
• Non-original drivetrain/brakes/suspension/wheels
• Reproduction of original replacement engine/engine component
• Non-original engine/engine component
• Accessary item (e.g., eight-track tape, record player, bud vase, etc.)

For more information, contact Council Director Jim Skelly at 909-978-6690 or jimsk@sema.org.

Back to Top

Visit YEN's website

YEN General Membership Call

Looking to get more involved in your industry? The Young Executives Network (YEN) is holding its first-quarter General Membership Call, March 2, from 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (PST). The YEN general membership and other SEMA members under the age of 40 are encouraged to attend to learn about network initiatives, exciting upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.

Topics to be discussed on the call include the following volunteer opportunities, valuable networking events and chances to advance your business:

• SEMA Launch Pad
• YEN Member Insights
• Live Chat
• YEN Power Tour
• Regional networking events
• And more—bring your topics to the table!

RSVP to SEMA Network Director Bryan Harrison to receive the phone number and call-in code.

Ian Lehn

Live Chat with Ian Lehn, President of BOOSTane and 2014 Launch Pad Winner

Do you have a new product that you would like to sell in the performance automotive aftermarket industry? Perhaps you have a prototype and are unsure of the steps needed to commercialize the product. YEN is hosting a Live Chat and open Q&A where you will have the chance to communicate directly with Ian Lehn, founder of BOOSTane and the SEMA Launch Pad Task Force chairman. Questions can include the challenges of running a startup company, tips on preparing for a business pitch, and information on the SEMA Launch Pad’s latest prize package for 2016.

After developing the company from a senior exit thesis in college, Lehn launched his business, won the SEMA Launch Pad in 2014, and has increased his business from local vendors to a distribution network in more than 23 different countries.

Immediately following the YEN General Membership call, please join us on SEMA’s YEN Facebook page, March 2, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. (EST) and learn the secrets of how to successfully grow your company and compete in the SEMA Launch Pad.

Questions? Contact:

• YEN’s MRP Task Force Chair: Tim Kawasaki 
• YEN’s Chair: John Rosanbalm 
• YEN’s staff liaison Bryan Harrison

Back to Top