The 2011 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund provides financial awards ranging from $1,000–$4,000 to students preparing for careers in the automotive industry.

Students preparing for careers in the automotive industry may be eligible to receive financial awards ranging from $1,000–$4,000 through the 2011 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF). The scholarship application, which is due April 1, 2011, and requires college transcripts and letters of recommendation, is now available at www.sema.org/scholarships.

“Paying for a high-quality education is a challenge for many, particularly in today’s tough economy,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA education director. “SEMA is pleased to play a part in helping students prepare for careers in an innovative and exciting industry.”

Unlike financial aid and student loans, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship is a one-time award that does not have to be paid back. Awards are granted to eligible applicants based on academic achievements, work experience, community involvement, essay content and recommendations. Students may re-apply each year, provided that they still meet the eligibility criteria. A loan forgiveness award is also available to recent graduates who are working for SEMA-member companies and paying off existing student loans. Details and applications for both the scholarship and the loan-forgiveness awards are available at www.sema.org/scholarships.

Winners will be notified in the summer of 2011. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student’s college, university, trade or vocational school to help offset the cost of tuition. Loan-forgiveness payments are sent directly to the financial institutions.

For complete details, visit www.sema.org/scholarships or contact Juliet Marshall at julietm@sema.org, 909/978-6655.

	The 2011 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund provides financial awards ranging from $1,000–$4,000 to students preparing for careers in the automotive industry.

Students preparing for careers in the automotive industry may be eligible to receive financial awards ranging from $1,000–$4,000 through the 2011 SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund (SMSF). The scholarship application, which is due April 1, 2011, and requires college transcripts and letters of recommendation, is now available at www.sema.org/scholarships.

“Paying for a high-quality education is a challenge for many, particularly in today’s tough economy,” said Jamie Eriksen, SEMA education director. “SEMA is pleased to play a part in helping students prepare for careers in an innovative and exciting industry.”

Unlike financial aid and student loans, the SEMA Memorial Scholarship is a one-time award that does not have to be paid back. Awards are granted to eligible applicants based on academic achievements, work experience, community involvement, essay content and recommendations. Students may re-apply each year, provided that they still meet the eligibility criteria. A loan forgiveness award is also available to recent graduates who are working for SEMA-member companies and paying off existing student loans. Details and applications for both the scholarship and the loan-forgiveness awards are available at www.sema.org/scholarships.

Winners will be notified in the summer of 2011. Scholarship payments are sent directly to the student’s college, university, trade or vocational school to help offset the cost of tuition. Loan-forgiveness payments are sent directly to the financial institutions.

For complete details, visit www.sema.org/scholarships or contact Juliet Marshall at julietm@sema.org, 909/978-6655.

Customer service specialist Nancy Friedman will lead the webinar session, "21 Great Unexpected Customer Service Tips."

Great customer service must be the hallmark of any successful business—not only to retain customers, but also to attract new ones. How is your staff doing? Have they become complacent? Could they use a refresher course? Gather your staff and participate in "21 Great Unexpected Customer Service Tips." These are unique techniques that will bring the service level of your organization to new heights.

Each tip, technique and skill will be discussed as well as how to best use it. While some of these tips and techniques may be familiar, Nancy Friedman, who will lead this webinar, brings a new perspective to each of them.

Friedman’s passion for retail sales and counter training goes above and beyond. As a customer service specialist, Friedman has brought programs to Car-X, Tuffy, Carstar, Precision Tune, LA Tire Dealers, Midas, National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA) and a host of other automotive companies and associations over the years.

Join her on Thursday, January 20, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PST) as she conducts this lively session on customer service.

To register for this session or for more information, follow this link.

SEMA webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

All previously conducted webinars are also available for download, making it more convenient for members to access the sessions on their own schedules. To access the webinar archives page, click here.

Customer service specialist Nancy Friedman will lead the webinar session, "21 Great Unexpected Customer Service Tips."

Great customer service must be the hallmark of any successful business—not only to retain customers, but also to attract new ones. How is your staff doing? Have they become complacent? Could they use a refresher course? Gather your staff and participate in "21 Great Unexpected Customer Service Tips." These are unique techniques that will bring the service level of your organization to new heights.

Each tip, technique and skill will be discussed as well as how to best use it. While some of these tips and techniques may be familiar, Nancy Friedman, who will lead this webinar, brings a new perspective to each of them.

Friedman’s passion for retail sales and counter training goes above and beyond. As a customer service specialist, Friedman has brought programs to Car-X, Tuffy, Carstar, Precision Tune, LA Tire Dealers, Midas, National Tire Dealers and Retreaders Association (NTDRA) and a host of other automotive companies and associations over the years.

Join her on Thursday, January 20, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PST) as she conducts this lively session on customer service.

To register for this session or for more information, follow this link.

SEMA webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

All previously conducted webinars are also available for download, making it more convenient for members to access the sessions on their own schedules. To access the webinar archives page, click here.

The following was written by Rep. John Campbell (R-CA).

I am not the world's greatest authority on the subject of cars and propulsion systems, but I'm probably pretty high on the list in Congress. Some people want cars to go away entirely. Others think we are headed to all electrics, all hybrids or fuel cells. Of course, there are 130 million cars and trucks in the United States today, which are almost entirely powered by gasoline. What should the U.S. policy on cars, and the energy to power them, follow? What are the practical alternatives? [Read more]

The following was written by Rep. John Campbell (R-CA).

I am not the world's greatest authority on the subject of cars and propulsion systems, but I'm probably pretty high on the list in Congress. Some people want cars to go away entirely. Others think we are headed to all electrics, all hybrids or fuel cells. Of course, there are 130 million cars and trucks in the United States today, which are almost entirely powered by gasoline. What should the U.S. policy on cars, and the energy to power them, follow? What are the practical alternatives? [Read more]

Nearly 115,000 industry professionals gathered in Las Vegas the week of November 2–5 for the 2010 SEMA Show,, and the tone was decidedly optimistic. Exhibitors, buyers, media and other professionals were there to learn, collaborate, network and explore, sharing their passion in order to build their businesses and celebrate their shared experiences. The SEMA Show provides a window into the future of the industry as well as the hottest cars and best parts for 2011. [Read more]

Nearly 115,000 industry professionals gathered in Las Vegas the week of November 2–5 for the 2010 SEMA Show,, and the tone was decidedly optimistic. Exhibitors, buyers, media and other professionals were there to learn, collaborate, network and explore, sharing their passion in order to build their businesses and celebrate their shared experiences. The SEMA Show provides a window into the future of the industry as well as the hottest cars and best parts for 2011. [Read more]

NEWS NUGGETS

LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS ACQUIRES NAMING RIGHTS TO HISTORIC NHRA-OWNED MOTORSPORTS FACILITY IN INDIANAPOLIS: Lucas Oil Products has acquired the naming rights to the NHRA-owned and operated multipurpose auto-racing facility located just west of Indianapolis. The multiyear track entitlement agreement gives Lucas Oil Products naming rights to the legendary facility, host of the famed Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the world’s most prestigious drag race, and the Kroger SpeedFest, which showcases NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races as well as USAC and ARCA Series races during a single weekend. Selected as one of the world’s top 12 “Shrines to Speed” by RACER Magazine, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis thrives as one of the busiest auto-racing venues in the United States and features a world-class dragstrip, .686-mile asphalt oval and 2.5-mile road course. The commitment increases Lucas Oil Products' involvement with the NHRA. The company is the primary sponsor of one NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals, August 18–21, in Brainerd, Minnesota, and the presenting sponsor for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. Lucas Oil also provides primary sponsorship to several stars in the Full Throttle Series, including Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon, Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors Hector Arana and Hector Arana Jr. In addition, the company is the series sponsor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and provides sponsorship support to many teams competing in that series. For more information on this story, please visit NHRA.com.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NAMED TITLE-RIGHTS SPONSOR FOR SEATTLE, CHICAGO EVENTS: O’Reilly Auto Parts has agreed to multiyear deals to become the title-rights sponsor of the 14th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals, July 7–10 near Chicago, and the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, August 5–7 near Seattle. With the addition of these events, O’Reilly Auto Parts enjoys title-rights sponsorship of five events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals is the 11th of 22 races in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule and takes place at impressive Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The date of the event was recently moved from its traditional calendar spot in early June to July. The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Washington, is the 14th of 22 races on the schedule and is the final stop on the grueling NHRA Western Swing, a three-races-in-three-weeks marathon in the heat of the summer months that also includes stops in Denver and Sonoma. The auto-parts giant also maintains title rights for the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston and the O’Reilly Auto parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

AL-ANABI NAMES HUSEN AS WORSHAM TOP FUEL CREW CHIEF: Brian Husen has been named the crew chief of Del Worsham’s Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragster. Rod Centorbi will remain the assistant crew chief on Worsham’s team, which is in the process of switching from Funny Car to Top Fuel. Husen’s promotion to crew chief on Worsham’s team comes after two very successful years as the assistant crew chief on Larry Dixon’s Top Fuel team that won the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel world championship and finished second in 2009. Prior to joining the Al-Anabi Racing team, Husen, 37, worked alongside then assistant crew chief Jason McCulloch in coordinating team management and logistics on the way to winning five consecutive Top Fuel championships with the U.S. Army team.

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity,” said Husen. “There aren’t many people who get the chance to carry Alan's (Johnson, team manager) books for him, so I want to take advantage of my opportunity and make the most of it. I have learned so much from Alan and Jason over the years, and I appreciate everything they have done to help prepare me for this next step in my career.”

For more on the team changes, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27, 2011: 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 go online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SEAT TIME: Pro Stock Driver Allen Johnson on his testing session this holiday season with NASCAR driver-turned NHRA drag racer Kurt Busch: “This testing has been real good for Kurt, providing him a chance to earn his NHRA Pro Stock license and get some seat time in an NHRA Pro Stock car at full power. He’s completed all his requirements for a license and just needs to get his number from NHRA and he’s ready to go for Gainesville.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

NHRA FULL THROTTLE CHAMPS PICK BCS BOWL WINNERS: With the BCS college football bowl season over, we look back at our four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing world champions' bowl picks for this season. Below are our four world champions’ picks, with the winning teams below them.

Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi Racing dragster:
ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Stanford
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Ohio State
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Auburn
Winner: Auburn

John Force, Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang:
ROSE BOWL: TCU
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Stanford
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Ohio State
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Oregon
Winner: Auburn

Greg Anderson, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP:
ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Virginia Tech
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Ohio State
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Auburn
Winner: Auburn

LE Tonglet, Nitro Fish Suzuki:
ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Stanford
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Arkansas
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Auburn
Winner: Auburn

DID YOU KNOW…

…that in a move to better serve the needs of the racing community at all levels of competition, the NHRA will move its technical department headquarters to Indianapolis? The tech department will be housed at the offices at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and continue to be headed by Vice President of Technical Operations Glen Gray. The NHRA will maintain a technical presence on the West Coast as well, with Danny Gracia, national technical director, and Pat Cvengros, technical services representative and Division 7 tech director, remaining in the company’s Glendora, California, headquarters. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.

NEWS NUGGETS

LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS ACQUIRES NAMING RIGHTS TO HISTORIC NHRA-OWNED MOTORSPORTS FACILITY IN INDIANAPOLIS: Lucas Oil Products has acquired the naming rights to the NHRA-owned and operated multipurpose auto-racing facility located just west of Indianapolis. The multiyear track entitlement agreement gives Lucas Oil Products naming rights to the legendary facility, host of the famed Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil, the world’s most prestigious drag race, and the Kroger SpeedFest, which showcases NASCAR Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series races as well as USAC and ARCA Series races during a single weekend. Selected as one of the world’s top 12 “Shrines to Speed” by RACER Magazine, Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis thrives as one of the busiest auto-racing venues in the United States and features a world-class dragstrip, .686-mile asphalt oval and 2.5-mile road course. The commitment increases Lucas Oil Products' involvement with the NHRA. The company is the primary sponsor of one NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series event, the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals, August 18–21, in Brainerd, Minnesota, and the presenting sponsor for the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals presented by Lucas Oil. Lucas Oil also provides primary sponsorship to several stars in the Full Throttle Series, including Top Fuel drivers Morgan Lucas and Shawn Langdon, Pro Stock driver Larry Morgan and Pro Stock Motorcycle competitors Hector Arana and Hector Arana Jr. In addition, the company is the series sponsor of the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and provides sponsorship support to many teams competing in that series. For more information on this story, please visit NHRA.com.

O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NAMED TITLE-RIGHTS SPONSOR FOR SEATTLE, CHICAGO EVENTS: O’Reilly Auto Parts has agreed to multiyear deals to become the title-rights sponsor of the 14th annual O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals, July 7–10 near Chicago, and the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals, August 5–7 near Seattle. With the addition of these events, O’Reilly Auto Parts enjoys title-rights sponsorship of five events in the NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series. The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Route 66 Nationals is the 11th of 22 races in the 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series schedule and takes place at impressive Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois. The date of the event was recently moved from its traditional calendar spot in early June to July. The O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Northwest Nationals in Kent, Washington, is the 14th of 22 races on the schedule and is the final stop on the grueling NHRA Western Swing, a three-races-in-three-weeks marathon in the heat of the summer months that also includes stops in Denver and Sonoma. The auto-parts giant also maintains title rights for the Kragen O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, California, the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA Spring Nationals at Royal Purple Raceway in Houston and the O’Reilly Auto parts NHRA Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte. For more information, visit NHRA.com.

AL-ANABI NAMES HUSEN AS WORSHAM TOP FUEL CREW CHIEF: Brian Husen has been named the crew chief of Del Worsham’s Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel dragster. Rod Centorbi will remain the assistant crew chief on Worsham’s team, which is in the process of switching from Funny Car to Top Fuel. Husen’s promotion to crew chief on Worsham’s team comes after two very successful years as the assistant crew chief on Larry Dixon’s Top Fuel team that won the 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Top Fuel world championship and finished second in 2009. Prior to joining the Al-Anabi Racing team, Husen, 37, worked alongside then assistant crew chief Jason McCulloch in coordinating team management and logistics on the way to winning five consecutive Top Fuel championships with the U.S. Army team.

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity,” said Husen. “There aren’t many people who get the chance to carry Alan's (Johnson, team manager) books for him, so I want to take advantage of my opportunity and make the most of it. I have learned so much from Alan and Jason over the years, and I appreciate everything they have done to help prepare me for this next step in my career.”

For more on the team changes, visit NHRA.com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS KRAGEN O’REILLY AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, February 24–27, 2011: 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 go online at NHRATIX.com. For media credentials, please contact Director of Public Relations Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SEAT TIME: Pro Stock Driver Allen Johnson on his testing session this holiday season with NASCAR driver-turned NHRA drag racer Kurt Busch: “This testing has been real good for Kurt, providing him a chance to earn his NHRA Pro Stock license and get some seat time in an NHRA Pro Stock car at full power. He’s completed all his requirements for a license and just needs to get his number from NHRA and he’s ready to go for Gainesville.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

NHRA FULL THROTTLE CHAMPS PICK BCS BOWL WINNERS: With the BCS college football bowl season over, we look back at our four NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing world champions' bowl picks for this season. Below are our four world champions’ picks, with the winning teams below them.

Larry Dixon, Al-Anabi Racing dragster:
ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Stanford
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Ohio State
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Auburn
Winner: Auburn

John Force, Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang:
ROSE BOWL: TCU
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Stanford
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Ohio State
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Oregon
Winner: Auburn

Greg Anderson, Summit Racing Pontiac GXP:
ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Virginia Tech
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Ohio State
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Auburn
Winner: Auburn

LE Tonglet, Nitro Fish Suzuki:
ROSE BOWL: Wisconsin
Winner: TCU
FIESTA BOWL: Oklahoma
Winner: Oklahoma
ORANGE BOWL: Stanford
Winner: Stanford
SUGAR BOWL: Arkansas
Winner: Ohio State
BCS CHAMPIONSHIP BOWL: Auburn
Winner: Auburn

DID YOU KNOW…

…that in a move to better serve the needs of the racing community at all levels of competition, the NHRA will move its technical department headquarters to Indianapolis? The tech department will be housed at the offices at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and continue to be headed by Vice President of Technical Operations Glen Gray. The NHRA will maintain a technical presence on the West Coast as well, with Danny Gracia, national technical director, and Pat Cvengros, technical services representative and Division 7 tech director, remaining in the company’s Glendora, California, headquarters. For more information, contact NHRA Media Relations at 626/914-4761 or visit the NHRA Media Center online.