Compiled by SEMA Editors

Daytona Appoints Frank Kelleher Track President

Daytona International Speedway (DIS) has appointed Frank Kelleher, an experienced industry veteran, president of the historic racing facility. Concurrently, NASCAR has announced that Chip Wile, former DIS president, has been promoted to a new expansive role overseeing 13 NASCAR-owned tracks as senior vice president and chief track properties officer.

In his previous role as NASCAR‘s senior vice president and chief sales officer, Kelleher oversaw a team responsible for business strategy and revenue generation, which played a critical role in driving both media and partnership sales for NASCAR and its tracks. Kelleher also helped secure the founding sponsorships to Daytona International Speedway’s highly visible injectors.

Both Kelleher and Wile will assume their new roles effective immediately. Daytona International Speedway’s next scheduled major motorsports weekend is a NASCAR doubleheader August 27–28, featuring the Coke Zero Sugar 400 and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola.

The Mint 400 Announces Official “Military Vehicle” Class

Officials with The Mint 400 have announced an all-new military vehicle class for the 2021 event set for December 1–5, in Las Vegas. The class will allow manufacturers and owners of historic and modern military vehicles to compete and showcase their vehicle platforms in front of tens of thousands of off-road race fans and enthusiasts in-person and via the Mint 400 LiveStream. The new class comes as Mint 400 owners Matt and Josh Martelli and the Mint 400 Event Director Kilian Hamlin plan the second annual Mint 400 Military Challenge, which raised over $100,000 in financial support for veterans and active-duty military in its first year. Last year, several military vehicles took part in the Military Challenge as part of the 2020 Mint 400. This included the Green Berets with the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), who raced the General Dynamics Ground Mobility Vehicle 1.1s, and the Warfighter Made organization who entered its Flyer 22 Vintage Military Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) manufactured by Flyer Defense and a 1988 AM General M998 High Mobility Multi Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) aka Humvee. Companies looking to get involved in the new Mint 400 Military Class should contact Mint 400 CEO Matt Martelli. More information on the new class will be released in the coming months.

Bondurant Racing School to Relaunch at New Location

Race car champion Bob Bondurant has announced the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving will relaunch in a new location. The school is working with and soliciting qualified partners to negotiate the new location for the business, which was previously headquartered at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. The facility is now the site of Radford Racing School, which had purchased the Bondurant school assets in 2019.

Greg Walter Named Promoter of the Year for 2020

Speedway Motorsports officials have honored Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter as the Promoter of the Year and named Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer Kevin Camper as the O. Bruton Smith Award recipient for 2020. Walter, a 20-year leader within Speedway Motorsports, was recognized for Charlotte Motor Speedway’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility used its substantial logistical expertise to provide safe, socially distanced events ranging from drive-through high-school graduations and Halloween events to drive-in concerts and movie nights. Walter’s team was also pivotal in planning and executing North Carolina’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination event and was just the second track on the NASCAR’s return to racing schedule with the Bank of America ROVAL 400 last fall.

Annually presented to one employee across all of Speedway Motorsports and its subsidiaries, the recipient of the O. Bruton Smit Award is someone who exhibits the traits of the Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman and Founder O. Bruton Smith. Those traits include character, enthusiasm, drive, a heart for helping others, respect and appreciation for team members, vision and determination.

Scott Tapley Named Thunder Road Race Director

Thunder Road officials have appointed Scott Tapley as race director for the 2021 season. The longtime motorsports official will oversee all of the Barre, Vermont-based track’s local racing divisions, along with the 19-event schedule. Tapley is also the race director at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and New York’s Riverhead Raceway. Thunder Road opens its 2021 season on Sunday, May 2, for the 23rd Community Bank N.A. 150 featuring the ACT Late Model Tour, Maplewood/Irving Oil Late Models and more.

Capital City Motorsports Park Signs on as NHRA Member Track

The NHRA has announced that Capital City Motorsports Park has signed on as the newest NHRA-member track in the NHRA Southeast Division. Located in Montgomery, Alabama, Capital City Motorsports Park is overseen by owner Ben Willis. Capital City Motorsports Park is gearing up for its 2021 schedule, which will include the Free Entry 10K event in August and the Mike Smith Memorial Race as well as the Jr. Dragster Halloween Spectacular in October. Capital City Motorsports Park joins a group of more than 120 NHRA-member tracks worldwide. As an NHRA-sanctioned track, the facility will be eligible to offer racers a variety of NHRA racing opportunities, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League and NHRA Jr. Street.

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

By Ashley Reyes

With OEMs having committed to either fully electric or hybrid-electric powerplants for future models, new-vehicle options will begin to emerge. SEMA members are invited to connect directly with representatives from Chevy Performance as they lead a Facebook Live Chat focused on Performance Electrification and Electric Vehicle Performance.

Hosted by the SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN), the Facebook Live Chat on April 23, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT), will feature two Chevy Performance representatives as they share their expert insight and answer questions on what’s in store for the future of performance electrification and electric vehicle performance.

Prashant Ahire, special projects leader, performance and racing electrification, and Russ O’ Blenes, director of the performance and racing propulsion team, will discuss the capabilities of the current and future configurations in performance electrifications, how electrification will differ from the current internal combustion engine performance, if OEMS will offer performance upgrades to purchases (much like today’s performance options from each OEM), and how warranties will be affected with performance upgrades.

Participants will be able communicate with Ahire and O’ Blenes live, tap into their expertise and get their questions answered in real-time.

Date: Friday, April 23, 2021
Time: 12:00 p.m. (PDT)/ 3:00 p.m. (EDT)
Location: ETTN Facebook page

By Linda Spencer

SEMA will host its first-ever Reverse Trade Mission (RTM) in three U.S. locations in July, where participants will have the opportunity to meet with key global trade buyers of automotive specialty-equipment products.

Meet one on one with global distributors and resellers and attend numerous networking receptions and special events with top international buyers. The day-and-a-half program (per location) will create opportunities for visiting international resellers and for U.S.-based suppliers to establish or enhance relationships and hopefully lead to increased business.

Space is limited; register now!

Buyers will travel to three states for the RTM, so participants must choose the most convenient location from the list of stops below:

• California, July 19-20
• Michigan, July 22-23
• North Carolina, July 26-27

Registration fee is $300, which includes the opportunity to meet one on one with visiting buyers and all meals, starting with a dinner the first night, followed by one-on-one meetings and a closing reception.

Special Promotion Package: $2,700, which includes a half-page ad in the SEMA Buyer’s Guide that will be published in SEMA News and distributed at the RTM and the Center for International Commerce (CIC) at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Grants: $1,200 is available from the U.S. federal government for qualified companies, with an additional $1,650 from the State of California on a first-come, first-served basis for qualified California-based companies. This results in a total of $150 to cover the registration fees and the special promotion package.

Many other states also have additional grants. For more information, contact Kristin Atwan at kristina@sema.org.

For more information on the RTM or other SEMA international programs and resources, contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA-supported legislation was reintroduced in the 2021-2022 Session of Congress that would provide tax credits to cover 50% of the expenses associated with exhibiting or attending a trade show. The bipartisan Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act of 2021 (H.R.1346/S.477) is significant to businesses that participate in trade shows and the millions of men and women employed in the tourism industry. The legislation would also provide comprehensive relief and recovery measures for the entertainment, travel and hospitality industries and convention centers.

It is important that members of Congress hear from SEMA members about the need to provide tax credits to businesses that participate in trade shows. To send a letter to your lawmakers in Washington, D.C., please click here.
Key provisions of the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act of 2021:

• Establish a tax credit for 50% of the cost of attending or exhibiting at a convention, business meeting, or trade show in the United States between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024.
• Create a tax credit equal to 100% of the qualified restart costs paid or incurred to reopen facilities designed for conventions, business meetings or trade shows if the facility was forced to temporarily close or reduce operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Costs may include any renovation, remediation, personal protective equipment, cleaning, testing or labor to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Restores the Entertainment Business Expense Deduction for 2021 and 2022.
• Establishes a tax credit for restaurants or food service businesses that would cover any cost associated with reopening or increasing service at an establishment forced to temporarily close or reduce operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The credit would be effective between the date of enactment and December 31, 2022.
• Creates a tax credit for 50% of qualified travel expenses for individuals up to a maximum of $1,500 per household plus $500 for each qualifying child (maximum benefit of $3,000 for a family of five). The credit begins phasing out for individuals making more than $75,000 per year ($150,000 for married couples).
• Provides a temporary credit for unmerchantable inventory costs for small businesses that were lost due to necessary precautions to halt public gatherings.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

LSI Chemical Adds Thomas Robinson as Business Development and Marketing Manager

LSI Chemical has announced Thomas Robinson as the company’s new business development and marketing manager. The new position was created in March in response to the company’s rapid growth of new international distributors authorized to sell LSI Chemical branded additives and the Hot Shot’s Secret product line overseas. In this position, Robinson will be responsible for the coordination of all LSI Chemical sales activity, partner and customer support, international marketing initiatives and an extensive trade show and conference event schedule. As the first point of contact for both prospects and existing customers, he is dually responsible for developing new business and supporting existing distributors with the collateral, print and digital, and educational marketing support to ensure their success. He will report directly to LSI Chemical President Todd Cawley.

CRC Industries Joins with TechForce to Help Develop Next Generation of Technicians, Acquires Select Assets of Harris International Laboratories Inc.

CRC Industries Inc., a global manufacturer of specialty products and formulations for maintenance and repair professionals and do-it-yourselfers, has partnered with the TechForce Foundation and its industry alliances to help educate, develop and train the next generation of technicians. TechForce aims to address the critical need to build the technician workforce and inspire students to consider skilled trades careers in the transportation industry. In addition, CRC Industries has acquired select assets of Harris International Laboratories Inc., including the Evapo-Rust brand of rust removal products.

R&R Marketing Welcomes Joe Barone as ecommerce Business Analyst

R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. (RRMCI) has announced the recent hire of Joe Barone as ecommerce business analyst. Barone will join the RRMCI Technology Team. Barone began his career in the automotive industry in 2012 as a counterman selling automotive parts in his family’s hardware store. His passion for the aftermarket quickly grew as he then moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2015 to work with Auto-Wares. In 2019, Barone transitioned to the performance side of the industry where he worked at Motovicity until its acquisition by Turn 14 in 2020. Since then, Barone has been fine tuning his skills, creating data for ecommerce and ACES and PIES for manufacturers. 

SuperSprings Announces Changes to Leadership

SuperSprings International has announced the restructuring of its leadership team in response to the growth the company has experienced this year. In 2021, SuperSprings has recorded more than 50% growth domestically and more than 200% internationally, the company said. Adam Weisner, the company’s chief commercial officer, is now leading all sales efforts, including domestic, international and RV OEM sales. Additionally, Weisner will spearhead all marketing, customer service, e-commerce and companywide technical support.

Michael Stickney, who joined the company in 2019 as chief sales officer, will take on a new role as chief operations officer. Stickney will now be responsible for all operations, including e-commerce operations, purchasing, warehouse, engineering, order fulfillment and vendor relationship management. Gerry Lamberti will continue as CEO and visionary for new products. Justin Tevis will continue to lead data management and reporting, with the additional responsibility of overseeing technology for the company. Ryan Dougan will continue to lead finance for the company, as well as human resources.

Old World Industries Taps Automotive Aftermarket Veteran Greg Noethlich as Chief Executive Officer

Old World Industries announced the appointment of automotive industry veteran, Greg Noethlich, as its new CEO, effective April 5. As CEO of one of America's largest privately held automotive aftermarket companies, Noethlich will be responsible for accelerating the growth of Old World Industries with its PEAK, BlueDEF and Final Charge brands. Noethlich comes to Old World Industries after leading several major automotive aftermarket businesses, including FRAM Oil Filters, Prestone Products and, most recently, Champion Laboratories. 

Addman Engineering Group Acquires 3rd Dimension

Addman Engineering Group has announced the acquisition of 3rd Dimension Industrial 3D Printing based in Westfield, Indiana. 3rd Dimension is a provider of metal additive manufacturing and CNC-engineered solutions. With this acquisition, Addman adds a range of metal printing capabilities as well as traditional subtractive processes. The purchase marks Addman’s second additive manufacturing location in the United States, with its headquarters and innovation center based in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Goodguys Announces Next Generation Award for Young Enthusiasts

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association has created The Next Generation Award presented by Goolsby Customs, formerly called the Young Guys/Gals award, to encourage young builders to continue in the industry and to foster a field of talent which will sustain the hobby. The overall winner will receive prime placement in the Goodguys booth at the 2021 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

A special parking area will be in place for contestants at each Goodguys event. The top two from each event, chosen on Saturday morning from the special parking area, will receive priority placement inside the show, and a winner will be chosen at the end of the event based on a combination of social-media voting and representatives from Goodguys & Goolsby Customs. From those individual event winners, one young builder will be chosen to bring their build to the next SEMA Show, where it will be showcased among the work of the top builders in the world. Builders 25 and under can compete as long as they have performed the majority of the work on their project car or truck.

J-B Weld Acquires Herculiner From Old Worlds Industries

The J-B Weld Company announced its acquisition of the do-it-yourself bed liner brand Herculiner from Old World Industries LLC. Herculiner created the original DIY Truck BedLiner Kit more than 20 years ago. J-B Weld established itself in the DIY market in 1969 with a metal “cold weld” epoxy adhesive that served as an alternative to traditional torch welding and high-strength repair opportunities. Since then, J-B Weld has broadened its product portfolio to meet evolving customer needs, including adhesives for metal, wood, plastic and general-purpose use.

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

By Ashley Reyes

Sales of light trucks continue to skyrocket and are expected to reach more than 82% of all new light vehicles purchased by 2028, according to a new 92-page SEMA market research report.

The new “2021 Vehicle Landscape Report” from SEMA Market Research provides a comprehensive overview of vehicle sales and opportunities for the aftermarket. Designed to help SEMA members make informed business decisions, the report is filled with data on driving metrics, detailed analyses of different vehicle segments and forecasts for future sales by powertrain and segment.

“There are more than 281 million passenger vehicles on the road in the United States; that’s a lot of opportunity to install aftermarket parts,,” said SEMA Director of Market Research Gavin Knapp. “The newest SEMA Market Research report includes data to help businesses understand the current vehicle climate, where it’s going, and where the greatest opportunities are across different vehicle segments.”

Key findings from the report include:

• The U.S. vehicle landscape is shifting away from passenger cars to light trucks. By 2028, light trucks are expected to make up 82% of all new light vehicles sold (up from 53% in 2014).
• The growth in light-truck sales is driven primarily by the popularity and growth of CUVs; By 2028, CUVs are expected to make up about half of all new light vehicles sold.
• Even with the shift in sales, passenger cars aren’t going away; there are still 114.8 million passenger cars in operation, and it will take a while for these vehicles to cycle out.
• Electric vehicles are expected to make up 7% of new light vehicle sales by 2025.
• New-vehicle sales dipped in 2020, but are expected to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels within the next two to three years.

To learn more about the current vehicle landscape and what trends are on the horizon, download the “2021 Vehicle Landscape Report” for free today at www.sema.org/market-research.

By Linda Spencer

With a population of 5.5 million, Finland is considered the northern gate between the East and West, and is home to a disproportionate number of motorsports world champions who enjoy strong sup­port from the local enthusiastic fan base. Learn the factors that have led to their global success and opportunities for U.S. suppliers throughout the Nordic region.

Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and Denmark are collectively known as the Nordic region, and its population of approximately 27 million citizens is passionate about all forms of wheeled competition, including rally racing, drag racing, drifting and circuit racing. A high standard of living in the Nordic region provides the locals with ample disposable income, and the positive perception of U.S. racing products provides an excellent export opportunity for U.S. motorsports prod­uct suppliers. In addition, the strong English-language skills among the average citizen make it one of the easiest export markets in which to do business.  

Want to enhance your relationships with your existing distributors in the region or line up new resellers? Join SEMA on the first SEMA Nordic trip, August 25–29, in Stockholm, Sweden. Meet pre-vetted buyers and see the market first-hand. U.S. government grants are available to help defray participation costs.  

For more information on the 2021 SEMA Nordic trip, visit www.sema.org/nordic or contact Linda Spencer at lindas@sema.org.

Read more about this market.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA purchased a 45,000-sq.-ft. building in the Detroit area to be used as a second SEMA Garage where manufacturers will have access to advanced product-development tools and equipment, a state-of-the-art emissions testing lab, an ADAS research and development center and expert technicians who will help bring products to market.

Like the high-tech SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, the Detroit facility will give aftermarket parts manufacturers access to sophisticated resources that are typically accessible only to large-scale manufacturers. In addition to exclusive OEM measuring sessions, scanning services, advanced tools and equipment, a CARB-recognized emissions lab and a modern training center, the Detroit facility will include expanded services and offer new SEMA benefits through the ADAS Research and Development Center. The ADAS Center represents a new venture for SEMA, where manufacturers will be able to obtain static calibration of on-board vehicle ADAS systems (radars and cameras). With access to OEM-quality equipment and procedures, manufacturers will be able to easily troubleshoot software/hardware obstacles, as well as work on dynamic testing in conjunction with local facilities.  

“The SEMA Garage Detroit facility opens up new doors and opportunities,” said Mike Spagnola, SEMA vice president of OEM relations and product development. “We will be able to take our current offerings to a whole new level by making the services accessible to new members, incorporating new technology, and collaborating with key partners in the area.”

Located in Plymouth, Michigan, less than 30 miles from the heart of Detroit, the SEMA Garage Detroit facility is ideally located near several major automakers and is in close proximity to many Tier-One suppliers, SEMA-member companies, test tracks, automotive technology and aftermarket suppliers. The Detroit facility is three times larger than the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, which opened in 2013 and has provided more than 1,000 SEMA manufacturers exclusive access to new vehicles and CAD files, facilitated rapid prototyping and assisted in obtaining CARB EOs.

SEMA Garage Detroit will undergo extensive facilities improvements and include new equipment, such as emissions and horsepower testing for all-wheel-drive and diesel vehicles, vehicle lifts, full sets of tools, fabrication equipment, an alignment rack, 3-D scanning tools and engineering software. The lab will be purpose-built to accommodate a 48-in. all-wheel-drive chassis dynamometer and include a new emissions test bench. With equipment that meets CARB’s new 1066 testing requirement standards, SEMA Garage Detroit will be able to perform all required CARB and EPA test procedures.

“The SEMA Garage is a game changer for manufacturers,” said Spagnola. “By utilizing the tools and resources in the SEMA Garage, manufacturers no longer rely on trial and error for their product development. They are also able to navigate the complex process of obtaining required certifications and meet compliance.”

Through the SEMA Garage’s resources, manufacturers are often able to develop fully functional prototypes in as little as two weeks, and obtain CARB EOs in as little as 12 weeks. The SEMA Garage Detroit facility is scheduled to be open for members in early 2022. For more information, visit www.semagarage.com.  

This is the F-150 Raptor R. While Ford just recently debuted the third-generation Raptor back in February, they only gave us a look at the tamer version with the 3.5L EcoBoost. These shots show that the Raptor R will have a unique grille and appears to have beefier trailing arms. It’s rumored that the rims are exclusive to the R, and as everyone knows by now, it’ll have the heart and soul of the GT500—the Predator 5.2L supercharged V8.

According to sources, the R will pump out around 725 to 750 hp, probably closer to 750 hp, especially since the GT500 puts out 760 hp. One source said “Honestly, we had to counter Ram once we knew they installed the HellCat in the TRX”. The team is allegedly looking to beat the Ram TRX in every facet of the Raptor R.

The ’21 F-150 Raptor will be assembled at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, and will be available at dealers this summer. The Raptor R is expected to debut later this year with an on-sale date in 2022.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the F-150 Raptor R. While Ford just recently debuted the third-generation Raptor back in February, they only gave us a look at the tamer version with the 3.5L EcoBoost. These shots show that the Raptor R will have a unique grille and appears to have beefier trailing arms. It’s rumored that the rims are exclusive to the R, and as everyone knows by now, it’ll have the heart and soul of the GT500—the Predator 5.2L supercharged V8.

According to sources, the R will pump out around 725 to 750 hp, probably closer to 750 hp, especially since the GT500 puts out 760 hp. One source said “Honestly, we had to counter Ram once we knew they installed the HellCat in the TRX”. The team is allegedly looking to beat the Ram TRX in every facet of the Raptor R.

The ’21 F-150 Raptor will be assembled at Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, and will be available at dealers this summer. The Raptor R is expected to debut later this year with an on-sale date in 2022.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde