Compiled by SEMA Editors

Turn 3 Motorsports won its first 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by Hawk Performance.

Turn 3 Motorsports Takes Victory at 2019 25 Hours of Thunderhill

Turn 3 Motorsports was victorious in Mudville last Sunday when the team won its first 25 Hours of Thunderhill presented by Hawk Performance. The Chicago-based team had a dominant performance, leading shortly after the start and never looking back. The Radical was caked with mud as driver and team principal Peter Dempsey brought the car across the finish line with an eight-lap margin of victory. It’s the first time a Radical sports racer has won the 25 Hours of Thunderhill. The team’s drivers Eric Wagner, Dempsey, Antoine Comeau and Neil Alberico drove the car 2,016 miles, good for an eight-lap margin of victory over second-place overall finisher K2R Motorsports. Team Praga Cars/Fellner Motorsports finished third in ESR and also third overall. For complete results, visit the Speed News website.

Yamaha Announces Partnership with Motosports Travel

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA has announced a partnership with Ohio-based travel experts Motosports Travel to offer VIP packages for select Monster Energy Supercross races as part of the Destination Yamaha program initiative. Beginning with the 2020 season opener held in Anaheim, California, January 4, Yamaha Fan Experience packages offer purchase options that include hotel accommodations, transportation for airport and hotel transfers, prime stadium seating locations and a Yamaha VIP team experience. To see everything included in the available packages and book a Yamaha experience, visit www.motosportstravel.com/yamafan.

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

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has an opening in the Distributors/Retailers category.

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.

The following seat is open for this year’s election:

• Distributors/Retailers (one open seat)

Please take a moment and tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, include a brief information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.

Nominations for the SEMA Board of Directors are due Friday, January 3, 2020. Please complete and submit the nomination form.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well.  We urge you to take part in the nominations process—our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the Nominating Committee.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE

SEMA President & CEO

The following is a message from SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting:

This year, the SEMA Board of Directors has an opening in the Distributors/Retailers category.

As a member of the association, your recommendation is needed for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.

The following seat is open for this year’s election:

• Distributors/Retailers (one open seat)

Please take a moment and tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, include a brief information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.

Nominations for the SEMA Board of Directors are due Friday, January 3, 2020. Please complete and submit the nomination form.

A strong board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well.  We urge you to take part in the nominations process—our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the Nominating Committee.

Thank you for your attention to this important request.

Chris Kersting, CAE

SEMA President & CEO

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

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.

Social-Media Internship
Spyder Auto’s marketing department is looking for a social media intern to assist with social-media marketing efforts and increase website traffic. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge of the social media landscape in the automotive industry. This position will be responsible for collaborating in the creation of engaging blog content, posting to company social media networks and monitoring social and website analytics with the marketing team to identify viable ideas. At least one year of social-media/marketing experience is required. This unpaid internship program is currently scheduled to last three months.

Manufacturing Maintenance Manager
Scat Enterprises Inc. is hiring a manufacturing maintenance manager to repair CNC and manual machines, ensure proper functionality and usage of machines and maintain all electrical equipment in the building. More than five years’ specialization shop maintenance experience is required.

Brand Manager
Drake Automotive Group is hiring a brand manager responsible for managing profitability and product margins, sales training and travel, sales growth, product sourcing and new customer acquisition. A minimum of five years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket industry, preferably in suspension/steering components, is required.

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

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Chad Stanley	Samuel Felberbaum	Michael Snyder

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. Promotes from Within for Sales Director Position

Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. has announced one of its own will be promoted to director of sales. Chad Stanley, a strategic account business development manager at the company, is being promoted to director of sales, northern division, effective January 1, 2020. Stanley first joined Toyo Tires in February 2014, serving as regional sales manager covering the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri. In 2017, he was promoted to his current role covering the western United States. A graduate of the University of Nebraska with a degree in business management and an emphasis in marketing, Stanley has worked in the tire industry for 25 years.

Stanley’s promotion comes with other significant changes to the Toyo Tires sales structure. The first being the change from eastern and western divisions to northern and southern divisions. Sam Felberbaum, currently director of sales, for the western division will be Stanley’s counterpart as director of sales, southern division. In addition, Mike Snyder, who has served as director of sales for the eastern division, will become director of sales, auto dealer channel. This is a new position at Toyo Tires in response to the company’s changing business and growing distribution which now includes major dealerships around the country such as Ford and Mopar. All three directors of sales will report to Mike Graber, who assumes his new role as vice president of sales on January 1.

Polaris Announces Changes to Senior Leadership Team

Polaris Inc. has announced several changes to its senior leadership team. Current president of motorcycles Steven Menneto has been named president of off road; Michael Dougherty, president of international, has been named president of motorcycles, in addition to his role as president of international; and Chris Musso, president of off road, has been named to a new role as senior vice president of electrification strategy. All three leaders will continue to report to Polaris Chairman and CEO Scott Wine.

As president of off road, Menneto is responsible for Polaris’ off-road vehicle (ORV) and snow business segments. During his four years as president of motorcycles, Menneto successfully developed and cultivated a customer-first approach across the business. As the result of his leadership, Indian Motorcycle has gained market share every year. Menneto joined Polaris in 1997, following two years as a Polaris dealer. During his tenure at Polaris, Menneto has served in various leadership roles, including vice president of motorcycles and director of ORV sales.

Dougherty succeeds Menneto as president of motorcycles. Along with the responsibility for Polaris’ motorcycles segment, Dougherty will remain president of international. Dougherty has been a key leader in steering the company’s global strategy and building the Polaris brand with its international customer base. He was named president of international in 2015, and under his guidance, the company has grown international sales into a more than $800 million business, established a direct presence in 13 countries around the world and set a path for continued growth outside of North America. During his time at Polaris, he has also served as the vice president of Asia Pacific and Latin America, vice president of global new market development and vice president and general manager of the ATV division.

In Musso’s new role, he will coordinate across Polaris’ powersports portfolio to advance the company’s electrification strategy and expand on the groundwork established by Polaris’ current electric vehicle product offerings, which include GEM, Goupil and the RANGER EV. Musso joined Polaris in 2017 as president of off road. 

Hurco Forms Preferred Partnership With BMO Automation

Hurco Companies Inc. has partnered with BMO Automation. The Hurco/BMO Automation partnership provides customers with a tested automation solution that requires minimal integration and is designed to increase productivity without disruption.

Trade Publication Parts & People Shuts Down

After 33 years, trade publication Parts & People has closed its doors due to health issues of its founder and publisher Lance Buchner. Rob Merwin, longtime editor of Parts & People, is launching a new aftermarket digital newsletter, Aftermarket Matters, in the same spirit and mission as Parts & People.

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 SEMA Editors

Mike Slater, center, accepted the SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) Retailer of the Year award on behalf of Eastern Truck and Accessories during the third annual TORA Awards at the 2019 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) announced the winners of its third annual TORA Awards during the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The awards are given to members who positively influence the market and to the best new products in the truck industry. Selected by TORA, the TORA SEMA Award winners included:

• TORA Retailer of the Year: Mike Slater, Eastern Truck and Accessories
• TORA Influencer of the Year: Jason Sakurai, Roadhouse Marketing
• TORA Hall of Fame: Joel Ayres, Automotive Concepts 
• TORA Ron Webster Award: Jon Engen, DECKED
• Best Off-Road New Product: Spydura Nightline Synthetic Winch Rope, Warn Industries Inc.
• Best Light Truck New Product: Jeep Gladiator Bedside Storage Lockboxes, Bestop Premium Accessories Group

“The growth of the light-truck and off-road markets wouldn’t be possible without the continuous efforts of our supporting manufacturers and industry influencers,” said TORA Chairman Erika Marquez. “We are pleased to honor the individuals whose creativity, industriousness and accomplishments have contributed to the success of the light-truck and off-road aftermarket.”     

The Retailer of the Year Award, which recognizes a light-truck retailer whose accomplishments have enhanced the stature and growth of the industry, was awarded to off-road shop Eastern Truck and Accessories, from Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to participating in 25–30 local shows per year, Eastern Truck Accessories gives back to the community by donating to local charities, sponsoring youth events and raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Jason Sakurai of Roadhouse Marketing was named Influencer of the Year. As a journalist, Sakurai focuses 100% on trucks, SUVs, off-road and associated markets, including SXS and UTV. He currently writes for OutdoorX4 magazine and their online publication, where he also serves as an ad director.

The TORA Hall of Fame was awarded to Joel Ayres. With more than 40 years of experience in the truck and accessory aftermarket, Ayres’ contributions have earned him leadership roles, including on the SEMA Board of Directors. He is the founder and first chairman of SEMA Cares and has served as a chair of the SEMA Scholarship Committee and LTAA Select Committee. Ayres is active in his community, volunteering his time to multiple education outlets and youth outreach programs.

Jon Engen is the winner of the TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence. A former civil engineer, Engen presented effective solutions to decreasing the weight of truck bed drawers, eventually leading to the success of DECKED. Engen was a veteran of the Norwegian Army and alumni of the University of Oslo.

The award for the Best Off-Road New Product was presented to Warn Industries Inc. for the Spydura Nightline Synthetic Winch Rope. Made from molecular-weight polyethylene with UV-stable coating, the red-and-black weave integrates a 3M light-activated reflective strand into the rope improving visibility during recoveries.

Bestop Premium Accessories Group was awarded Best Light Truck New Product for its Jeep Gladiator Bedside Storage Lockboxes. With easy access from the exterior of the bed, the large storage areas feature fast installation with no drilling, included with tie downs and a nylon net to restrain gear in the main bed and dividers to keep gear in place internally.

By SEMA Editors

Mike Slater, center, accepted the SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) Retailer of the Year award on behalf of Eastern Truck and Accessories during the third annual TORA Awards at the 2019 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) announced the winners of its third annual TORA Awards during the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The awards are given to members who positively influence the market and to the best new products in the truck industry. Selected by TORA, the TORA SEMA Award winners included:

• TORA Retailer of the Year: Mike Slater, Eastern Truck and Accessories
• TORA Influencer of the Year: Jason Sakurai, Roadhouse Marketing
• TORA Hall of Fame: Joel Ayres, Automotive Concepts 
• TORA Ron Webster Award: Jon Engen, DECKED
• Best Off-Road New Product: Spydura Nightline Synthetic Winch Rope, Warn Industries Inc.
• Best Light Truck New Product: Jeep Gladiator Bedside Storage Lockboxes, Bestop Premium Accessories Group

“The growth of the light-truck and off-road markets wouldn’t be possible without the continuous efforts of our supporting manufacturers and industry influencers,” said TORA Chairman Erika Marquez. “We are pleased to honor the individuals whose creativity, industriousness and accomplishments have contributed to the success of the light-truck and off-road aftermarket.”     

The Retailer of the Year Award, which recognizes a light-truck retailer whose accomplishments have enhanced the stature and growth of the industry, was awarded to off-road shop Eastern Truck and Accessories, from Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to participating in 25–30 local shows per year, Eastern Truck Accessories gives back to the community by donating to local charities, sponsoring youth events and raising money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Jason Sakurai of Roadhouse Marketing was named Influencer of the Year. As a journalist, Sakurai focuses 100% on trucks, SUVs, off-road and associated markets, including SXS and UTV. He currently writes for OutdoorX4 magazine and their online publication, where he also serves as an ad director.

The TORA Hall of Fame was awarded to Joel Ayres. With more than 40 years of experience in the truck and accessory aftermarket, Ayres’ contributions have earned him leadership roles, including on the SEMA Board of Directors. He is the founder and first chairman of SEMA Cares and has served as a chair of the SEMA Scholarship Committee and LTAA Select Committee. Ayres is active in his community, volunteering his time to multiple education outlets and youth outreach programs.

Jon Engen is the winner of the TORA Ron Webster Memorial Award for Engineering Excellence. A former civil engineer, Engen presented effective solutions to decreasing the weight of truck bed drawers, eventually leading to the success of DECKED. Engen was a veteran of the Norwegian Army and alumni of the University of Oslo.

The award for the Best Off-Road New Product was presented to Warn Industries Inc. for the Spydura Nightline Synthetic Winch Rope. Made from molecular-weight polyethylene with UV-stable coating, the red-and-black weave integrates a 3M light-activated reflective strand into the rope improving visibility during recoveries.

Bestop Premium Accessories Group was awarded Best Light Truck New Product for its Jeep Gladiator Bedside Storage Lockboxes. With easy access from the exterior of the bed, the large storage areas feature fast installation with no drilling, included with tie downs and a nylon net to restrain gear in the main bed and dividers to keep gear in place internally.

By Fredy Ramirez

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is “data central” for hundreds of specialty parts brands, representing millions of part numbers and tens of millions of vehicle applications. Created by SEMA, the SDC is the definitive, industry-owned and -operated centralized data repository, complete with a comprehensive set of online data management tools.

The product releases below are from SEMA members who are also part of the SDC at the the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level. Learn more about the SDC at www.semadatacoop.org.

SDC members are invited to submit new-product press releases for consideration to editors@sema.org.

B&M Magnum Grip Pro Stick Automatic Shifter Holley announces the release of their B&M Magnum Grip Pro Stick Automatic Shifter. The shifter is designed to fit ’07–’10 Jeep Wrangler models with an automatic shifter in the factory center console. Designed from the Magnum Grip Pro-Stick shifter, it is engineered with an Off-Road gate plate with multiple functions for off-roading and finished off with a factory-looking console cover. 866-464-6553 www.holley.com PN: 81177
304SS High-Tuck with Muffler Hooker BlackHeart releases its 304SS High-Tuck with muffler for the ’97–’06 Jeep Wrangler TJ. The system is designed to work with LS, LT or Gen 3 Hemi engine swaps. This is a 3-in. system engineered to be compatible with any stock-type rear suspension system, bigger wheels and tire assemblies and/or bolt-on lift kits. 866-464-6553 www.holley.com PN: BH13212
Mishimoto Direct-fit Catch Cans for the 2017+ Ford F-150 3.5L and Raptor Mishimoto introduces its direct-fit catch can for the ’17+ Ford Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost. The kit is designed to ensure that blow-by is routed away from your intake and valves in all driving conditions. The can is engineered to hold more blow-by for extended service intervals. 877-466-4744 www.mishimoto.com PN: MMBCC-F35T-17SBE
MSD Hall-Effect Crank Trigger Kit Holley has announced the release of new crank trigger kits from their MSD Ignition division. The MSD flying magnet crank trigger is now available with a hall-effect sensor. The kit is designed with magnets embedded in a 3/8-in.-thick aluminum trigger wheel that will send your EFI a clean signal for every firing. It’s available for small-block and big-block Chevys and for small-block Fords. 866-464-6553 www.holley.com PN: 86101 (SBC), 86201 (BBC), 86401 (Ford)

By Fredy Ramirez

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is “data central” for hundreds of specialty parts brands, representing millions of part numbers and tens of millions of vehicle applications. Created by SEMA, the SDC is the definitive, industry-owned and -operated centralized data repository, complete with a comprehensive set of online data management tools.

The product releases below are from SEMA members who are also part of the SDC at the the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum level. Learn more about the SDC at www.semadatacoop.org.

SDC members are invited to submit new-product press releases for consideration to editors@sema.org.

B&M Magnum Grip Pro Stick Automatic Shifter Holley announces the release of their B&M Magnum Grip Pro Stick Automatic Shifter. The shifter is designed to fit ’07–’10 Jeep Wrangler models with an automatic shifter in the factory center console. Designed from the Magnum Grip Pro-Stick shifter, it is engineered with an Off-Road gate plate with multiple functions for off-roading and finished off with a factory-looking console cover. 866-464-6553 www.holley.com PN: 81177
304SS High-Tuck with Muffler Hooker BlackHeart releases its 304SS High-Tuck with muffler for the ’97–’06 Jeep Wrangler TJ. The system is designed to work with LS, LT or Gen 3 Hemi engine swaps. This is a 3-in. system engineered to be compatible with any stock-type rear suspension system, bigger wheels and tire assemblies and/or bolt-on lift kits. 866-464-6553 www.holley.com PN: BH13212
Mishimoto Direct-fit Catch Cans for the 2017+ Ford F-150 3.5L and Raptor Mishimoto introduces its direct-fit catch can for the ’17+ Ford Raptor 3.5L EcoBoost. The kit is designed to ensure that blow-by is routed away from your intake and valves in all driving conditions. The can is engineered to hold more blow-by for extended service intervals. 877-466-4744 www.mishimoto.com PN: MMBCC-F35T-17SBE
MSD Hall-Effect Crank Trigger Kit Holley has announced the release of new crank trigger kits from their MSD Ignition division. The MSD flying magnet crank trigger is now available with a hall-effect sensor. The kit is designed with magnets embedded in a 3/8-in.-thick aluminum trigger wheel that will send your EFI a clean signal for every firing. It’s available for small-block and big-block Chevys and for small-block Fords. 866-464-6553 www.holley.com PN: 86101 (SBC), 86201 (BBC), 86401 (Ford)