NEWS NUGGETS

SILLY SEASON CONTINUES! JOHNNY GRAY MOVES OVER TO FUNNY CAR AND DSR: With only six weeks remaining until the first engines start up at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, the off-season shuffle appropriately named, “the silly season,” continues as former Pro Stock driver and team owner Johnny Gray announced that he, along with sponsor TBC Retail Group, would be joining Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and fielding the Service Central Racing Dodge Charger Funny Car for the 2011 season. The addition of Johnny Gray gives DSR a total of four Funny Car teams competing this season in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Gray, who last year drove a Pro Stock car for Service Central, returns to the Funny Car wars in which he competed from 1999 to 2004 and again in 2006. Famed crew chief Lee Beard will take over tuning duties on the Service Central Dodge Charger.

“It’s been great driving Pro Stock, but it was time to move up into Funny Car for added exposure, and we decided Don Schumacher Racing was the way to go,” said Gray. “I had driven a Funny Car for Don several years ago (six races in 2004) and knew his was the right organization for our program. Lee Beard and I get along real well and always have. This looks like it was meant to be.”

Gray is the second driver to be added to the DSR lineup this off-season. This past November, DSR announced that Top Fuel driver and 2009 Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie-of-the-Year winner Spencer Massey would climb into the Prestone/Fram dragster for the 2011 season. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and 60th anniversary season of NHRA kicks off at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

TIRE KINGDOM NHRA GATORNATIONALS, GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, March 10–13: The second stop in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and first race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, this showdown in the swamplands of Florida will bring added excitement as the NHRA celebrates its 60th anniversary. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle. For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

60 YEARS IN NHRA HISTORY

*Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins (near) defeated Ronnie Sox at the 1970 NHRA Winternationals, the first official race for the Pro Stock category.

1970, THE ADDITION OF PRO STOCK: In January 1970, NHRA announced a new addition to its official pro category lineup—the Pro Stock category. Since then, such famed NHRA drivers and legends like Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson and many, many more have raced in the famed category, and the highly competitive class has become a staple of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for more than 40 years.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

187: That’s the current qualifying streak (dating back to Las Vegas 2002) held by Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, heading into the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season and the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, February 24–27. In his 12-year career, Anderson has failed to qualify for the season-opening race only once (1998).*

*Anderson did not attend the season-opening race in Pomona in 2001.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that a crew from the popular Science Channel TV program "How It’s Made" visited Morgan Lucas Racing last year to film a special show entitled "Dragsters?" The show will air for the first time this Friday, January 21, at 9:00 p.m. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.

NEWS NUGGETS

SILLY SEASON CONTINUES! JOHNNY GRAY MOVES OVER TO FUNNY CAR AND DSR: With only six weeks remaining until the first engines start up at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, the off-season shuffle appropriately named, “the silly season,” continues as former Pro Stock driver and team owner Johnny Gray announced that he, along with sponsor TBC Retail Group, would be joining Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and fielding the Service Central Racing Dodge Charger Funny Car for the 2011 season. The addition of Johnny Gray gives DSR a total of four Funny Car teams competing this season in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. Gray, who last year drove a Pro Stock car for Service Central, returns to the Funny Car wars in which he competed from 1999 to 2004 and again in 2006. Famed crew chief Lee Beard will take over tuning duties on the Service Central Dodge Charger.

“It’s been great driving Pro Stock, but it was time to move up into Funny Car for added exposure, and we decided Don Schumacher Racing was the way to go,” said Gray. “I had driven a Funny Car for Don several years ago (six races in 2004) and knew his was the right organization for our program. Lee Beard and I get along real well and always have. This looks like it was meant to be.”

Gray is the second driver to be added to the DSR lineup this off-season. This past November, DSR announced that Top Fuel driver and 2009 Auto Club Road to the Future Rookie-of-the-Year winner Spencer Massey would climb into the Prestone/Fram dragster for the 2011 season. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27: The 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and 60th anniversary season of NHRA kicks off at historic Auto Club Raceway at Pomona at the 51st running of this event. Defending event winners include Larry Dixon (Top Fuel); John Force (Funny Car); and Mike Edwards (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

TIRE KINGDOM NHRA GATORNATIONALS, GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, March 10–13: The second stop in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series and first race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle class, this showdown in the swamplands of Florida will bring added excitement as the NHRA celebrates its 60th anniversary. Defending event winners include Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Tim Wilkerson (Funny Car); Jason Line (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle. For tickets, call 800/844-NHRA or online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Senior Communications Manager Scott Smith at ssmith@nhra.com.

60 YEARS IN NHRA HISTORY

*Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins (near) defeated Ronnie Sox at the 1970 NHRA Winternationals, the first official race for the Pro Stock category.

1970, THE ADDITION OF PRO STOCK: In January 1970, NHRA announced a new addition to its official pro category lineup—the Pro Stock category. Since then, such famed NHRA drivers and legends like Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Jeg Coughlin, Greg Anderson and many, many more have raced in the famed category, and the highly competitive class has become a staple of the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series for more than 40 years.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

187: That’s the current qualifying streak (dating back to Las Vegas 2002) held by Pro Stock driver Greg Anderson, heading into the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing season and the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, February 24–27. In his 12-year career, Anderson has failed to qualify for the season-opening race only once (1998).*

*Anderson did not attend the season-opening race in Pomona in 2001.

DID YOU KNOW…

…that a crew from the popular Science Channel TV program "How It’s Made" visited Morgan Lucas Racing last year to film a special show entitled "Dragsters?" The show will air for the first time this Friday, January 21, at 9:00 p.m. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.

As was speculated last year, the Genesis will undergo a freshening for the ’12 model year and will offer a new eight-speed transmission. Last time the spy network at Brenda Priddy & Co. set their crosshairs on the ’12 Genesis, engineers kept the shifter covered up. Today, the camouflage is off the shifter and exterior of the car.

Exterior updates will include a new lower front fascia as well as new trim pieces on the front and rear ends, according to Priddy. While this test car has plain-looking exhaust pipes, Priddy's team expects the final version to have a slightly tweaked lower fascia and some bright exhaust tips.

The big news is the all-new 5.0L V8 motor under the hood. Hyundai's powerful engine option won't be supercharged but naturally aspirated, as confirmed by Hyundai, and pump out 429 hp. The Korean automaker is anticipating a 2% increase in fuel economy as well as better acceleration and overall handling from the new V8.



Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

As was speculated last year, the Genesis will undergo a freshening for the ’12 model year and will offer a new eight-speed transmission. Last time the spy network at Brenda Priddy & Co. set their crosshairs on the ’12 Genesis, engineers kept the shifter covered up. Today, the camouflage is off the shifter and exterior of the car.

Exterior updates will include a new lower front fascia as well as new trim pieces on the front and rear ends, according to Priddy. While this test car has plain-looking exhaust pipes, Priddy's team expects the final version to have a slightly tweaked lower fascia and some bright exhaust tips.

The big news is the all-new 5.0L V8 motor under the hood. Hyundai's powerful engine option won't be supercharged but naturally aspirated, as confirmed by Hyundai, and pump out 429 hp. The Korean automaker is anticipating a 2% increase in fuel economy as well as better acceleration and overall handling from the new V8.



Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

As was speculated last year, the Genesis will undergo a freshening for the ’12 model year and will offer a new eight-speed transmission. Last time the spy network at Brenda Priddy & Co. set their crosshairs on the ’12 Genesis, engineers kept the shifter covered up. Today, the camouflage is off the shifter and exterior of the car.

Exterior updates will include a new lower front fascia as well as new trim pieces on the front and rear ends, according to Priddy. While this test car has plain-looking exhaust pipes, Priddy's team expects the final version to have a slightly tweaked lower fascia and some bright exhaust tips.

The big news is the all-new 5.0L V8 motor under the hood. Hyundai's powerful engine option won't be supercharged but naturally aspirated, as confirmed by Hyundai, and pump out 429 hp. The Korean automaker is anticipating a 2% increase in fuel economy as well as better acceleration and overall handling from the new V8.



Photo Credit: Brenda Priddy & Company

A rule issued in 2008 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate certain auto body refinishing operations took full effect on January 10, 2011. The rule targets metal compounds emitted as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) during paint coating or stripping operations. The compounds include chromium, lead, manganese, nickel and cadmium.

The EPA rule establishes “best practices” (spray booth, spray gun cleaning, etc.) for minimizing HAP emissions during surface coating operations. All shops are effectively required to have a filtered spray booth or prep station and use high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) or equivalent spray equipment. Owners and operators are required to provide training for their painters on how to properly spray surface coatings and clean equipment. 

Companies subject to the rule must send the EPA a one-time notification form stating that they are in compliance with the rule by March 11, 2011. Click here for the compliance form. (Companies were required to contact the EPA by January 11, 2010, informing the agency that they were subject to the standard. Click here for the initial notification form.

The regulation does not apply to paint stripping and surface coating performed by individuals as part of a hobby, or for maintenance of their personal vehicles so long as those activities do not exceed two motor vehicles (or the equivalent in pieces) per year.  Additionally, the rule does not apply to painting done with an airbrush or hand-held non-refillable aerosol cans. 

Click here for a summary of the rule. For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

A rule issued in 2008 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate certain auto body refinishing operations took full effect on January 10, 2011. The rule targets metal compounds emitted as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) during paint coating or stripping operations. The compounds include chromium, lead, manganese, nickel and cadmium.

The EPA rule establishes “best practices” (spray booth, spray gun cleaning, etc.) for minimizing HAP emissions during surface coating operations. All shops are effectively required to have a filtered spray booth or prep station and use high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) or equivalent spray equipment. Owners and operators are required to provide training for their painters on how to properly spray surface coatings and clean equipment. 

Companies subject to the rule must send the EPA a one-time notification form stating that they are in compliance with the rule by March 11, 2011. Click here for the compliance form. (Companies were required to contact the EPA by January 11, 2010, informing the agency that they were subject to the standard. Click here for the initial notification form.

The regulation does not apply to paint stripping and surface coating performed by individuals as part of a hobby, or for maintenance of their personal vehicles so long as those activities do not exceed two motor vehicles (or the equivalent in pieces) per year.  Additionally, the rule does not apply to painting done with an airbrush or hand-held non-refillable aerosol cans. 

Click here for a summary of the rule. For additional information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its “Handbook for Employers” (M-274) on how to complete I-9 forms when verifying the authorized work status of new hires. All U.S. employers are required to process I-9 forms. The updated instruction manual contains new information about electronic storage and retention of I-9 forms. It also has processing instructions for workers with complicated immigration status, such as H-1B or H-2A visas, or extended stays for employees with temporary employment authorization.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have increased the number of I-9 worksite inspections under the Obama Administration. In fiscal year 2010, ICE conducted 2,196 audits, collected $6.9 million in penalties and pursued 187 business owners for criminal complaints. The increased attention on I-9 compliance follows years of sporadic enforcement. While the goal is to prevent unauthorized workers from being hired, the government has been issuing fines for improperly completed forms, for example, failing to update the form for a name change. Employers must reverify the status of current workers as authorization documents expire, such as visas. However, forms do not need to be reverified for U.S. citizens and noncitizen nationals. For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.  

The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its “Handbook for Employers” (M-274) on how to complete I-9 forms when verifying the authorized work status of new hires. All U.S. employers are required to process I-9 forms. The updated instruction manual contains new information about electronic storage and retention of I-9 forms. It also has processing instructions for workers with complicated immigration status, such as H-1B or H-2A visas, or extended stays for employees with temporary employment authorization.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have increased the number of I-9 worksite inspections under the Obama Administration. In fiscal year 2010, ICE conducted 2,196 audits, collected $6.9 million in penalties and pursued 187 business owners for criminal complaints. The increased attention on I-9 compliance follows years of sporadic enforcement. While the goal is to prevent unauthorized workers from being hired, the government has been issuing fines for improperly completed forms, for example, failing to update the form for a name change. Employers must reverify the status of current workers as authorization documents expire, such as visas. However, forms do not need to be reverified for U.S. citizens and noncitizen nationals. For details, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.  

President Obama issued an Executive Order directing all federal agencies to review their regulations in an attempt to eliminate rules that hinder economic growth. In Congress, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), the new chairman of the House Oversight and Investigations Committee, has asked the business community, trade groups and research organizations to identify federal regulations that are restraining the nation’s economic recovery.

The President’s Executive Order reminds government agencies of their responsibility to take flexible approaches to rulemaking so as to impose the least burden necessary when achieving regulatory objectives. While many rules are required by law, the order notes that agencies usually have the ability to create alternative regulatory proposals for small versus large businesses based on differences in size and resources. There is no specific time table for agencies to review their current rules. The order is viewed as an effort to repair relations with the business community and a reminder to the agencies to strike the proper balance between protecting the public and not interfering with economic growth.

In the House, Chairman Issa observed that federal agencies circulated 43 “major” regulations in the last fiscal year, with a projected cost on business of $28 billion. The House Oversight Committee is expected to hold multiple hearings in the coming months to identify existing and proposed regulations that stifle the economy and job growth. For details, contact Dan Sadowski at dans@sema.org.