SEMA News—August 2022

HERITAGE

Over the Wall

By Drew Hardin

Photography Courtesy: Steve Kelly, Petersen Publishing Company Archive

Hot Rod Feature Editor Steve Kelly traveled to Alabama in April 1970 to cover NASCAR’s inaugural Alabama 500 in Talladega. His spot along the pit wall gave him a good view of the furious activity that took place while the race was under caution.

“Six men were allowed over the wall, and the fastest cars had all four tires changed at once,” he wrote. “Mechanics got a workout!”

Pit crew safety equipment has come a long way since then.

This was the second race that took place at Talladega, and it went much smoother—literally—than the first, which was held the previous September. Rough track surface conditions on the new tri-oval—in combination with downforce generated by a new wave of car aerodynamics (particularly with the winged Dodge Charger Daytona)—were shredding race tires.

In the interest of their own safety, drivers wanted the race postponed until a solution was found; NASCAR owner Bill France said they’d be fine if they just slowed down. As a result of the stalemate, more than 30 drivers boycotted the race, and France was forced to fill the grid from the ranks of the Grand Touring support series.

Since that rocky start, most of the track had been resurfaced, Kelly reported, and the tires were improved.

“Goodyear spent time and money on six different testing sessions and finally came up with a ‘minimum tread pattern’ tire that made it possible for drivers to run their cars as fast as they could without fear of tire failure,” he wrote.

Bobby Isaac, driving a ’69 Charger Daytona, was the fastest qualifier for the weekend, running 199.658 mph.

“Chrysler products definitely had the edge,” Kelly noted, “but David Pearson [in a Ford Torino Talladega] was close at 198.928 mph.”

By the end of the race’s 188 laps, Isaac finished second and Pearson third. Pete Hamilton won the race in a ’70 Plymouth Superbird, leading the final 18 laps.

“Pete wasn’t the same dark horse at Talladega that he was when he won this year’s Daytona 500,” Kelly wrote. “The Petty Engineering crew responsible for his Plymouth never has been.”

SEMA News—August 2022

SEMA DATA

By Gigi Ho

SEMA Data Product News

The products featured below are from SEMA Data member companies that have attained Gold- or Platinum-level data, which means that their product data is robust and complete—likely to drive customer purchase decisions. SEMA Data members meeting data scorecard requirements are invited to submit product releases for consideration to enews@semadatacoop.org.

Borla

F80/F82 M3/M4 2015-2020 Cat-Back Exhaust System ATAK

System features a merge X-Pipe for increased performance and improved sound. The system has valves and features polished T-304 stainless steel tip and Borla’s Polyphonic Harmonizer Technology, which utilizes patented units that contain pipes of different diameters and lengths to create multiple exhaust notes that harmonize to deliver a clean, rich, full-bodied sound to the Borla mufflers. The mufflers then enhance this sound to the character and volume appropriate for our Touring, S-Type and ATAK systems.

Information: www.borla.com

PN: 140731

Forgestar

F14 Wheel Satin BLK

Forgestar performance wheels bridge the gap between forged wheels and cast wheels for the world’s most prestigious luxury and high-performance machines. Its innovative rotary-formed production process allows Forgestar to create a lightweight cast wheel with strength and impact values similar to a forged wheel. In turn, we’re able to create a lightweight aftermarket wheel solution for various street, racing and drag-racing applications, catering to various applications and vehicles. Custom bolt patterns. Lightweight monoblock construction. Rotary-formed flow-formed barrel. Semi, deep, super-deep concave and ultra-deep concave profiles. Big-brake-kit clearance.

Information: www.forgestar.com

PN: GH-13053X

RIGID

Adapt LED Light Bar With EIGHT Beam Patterns, GPS And
RGB-W Backlight, 30 in.

The RIGID Adapt LED Light Bar has a signature look that is unlike any other light bar on the market. Feature-packed, this light bar has eight selectable beam patterns and accent lighting that can be programmed to display any color in the light spectrum. The Adapt features an integrated optics design with spot, flood and driving zones. Horizontal beam patterns range from 90-degree slow or moderate speed broad beam to a highly focused 15-degree high-speed spot beam in a single fixture. The new Active View Technology allows the beam pattern to automatically adjust based on the vehicle’s speed when set to adaptive mode.

Information: rigidindustries.com

PN: 230413

By Caroline Fletcher

Hundreds of land-speed records have been set and broken by racers driving all types of two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles. Photo courtesy: D.Lopez-FotoMundo America/Shutterstock.com

For more than 100 years, racers have descended upon the crystalline white salt remnants of the ancient lakebed that comprises the Bonneville Salt Flats in search of epic speeds. Not only does this unique landmark attract tourists, filmmaker and other commercial activity, but it also possesses rare physical qualities that make it the perfect venue for land-speed racing.

Despite being designated as a historic landmark, Bonneville is imperiled. Beginning in the ’60s, federal mining leases allowed salt to be transferred from Bonneville for potash extraction. Once processed, the remaining salt was not returned to Bonneville until 1997, and the amounts pumped in subsequent years have not made up for decades of losses.

SEMA has worked with the Save the Salt Coalition—a group of concerned racers, businesses and community members—to create the “Restore Bonneville” program. The goal is to gradually increase the yearly amount of salt brine pumped onto
Bonneville from an average of 300,000 tons per year to more than 1 million tons per year. SEMA and the racing community have joined forces with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Utah Geological Survey, and Intrepid Potash Inc. in the collaborative restoration effort.

The restoration program is managed by DNR in conjunction with the BLM, and it is operated by Intrepid Potash. In working with Intrepid Potash, the volume of salt laid down on Bonneville will be increased by updating and improving the efficiency of the current pumping infrastructure and water conservation efforts, which includes rebuilding water wells, covering ditches and installing new pipes and pumps. Great efforts to use water more efficiently will help achieve the goal to increase the volume of salt returned to the salt flats.

More than $1.2 million in federal and Utah state funds were released last year to start the ambitious restoration effort. During the summer of 2021, a new water well was installed along with equipment to measure water evaporation rates and collect scientific data. The data will seek to identify the best ways to take advantage of the salt laydown and study the effects on the salt crust and underlying brine aquifer. For example, the program will consider ways to contain the salt within the large pumping area with dykes or berms.

Stakeholders are now pursuing projects to continue increasing the volume of salt being pumped in 2022 and beyond. While the fight to save the Bonneville Salt Flats is far from over, this program represents a tangible step toward “saving the salt” and protecting the future of racing at Bonneville. If you’re looking for a way to help, financial contributions to the program from the racing community are gratefully accepted at www.savethesalt.org.

Quick History Lesson

Bonneville’s hard salt provides a cool surface that doesn’t overheat tires as vehicles hit mind-boggling speeds. Hundreds of land-speed records have been set and broken by racers driving all types of two-, three- and four-wheeled vehicles. Speed Week is the marquee event, drawing large crowds of racers and spectators nearly every August since 1949. Bonneville also has a long history of being nature’s test track for equipment produced by SEMA and PRI members.

Bonneville serves another important role as a crucial resource for potash used primarily in fertilizers. To obtain potash, salt brine is collected in large solar evaporation ponds from which potash is separated out and processed. The remaining salt is stored and may then be returned to the Salt Flats as salt brine.

Beginning in the ’60s, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which manages the land, issued leases to the north of Interstate 80, where motorsports racing and other recreational activities take place, allowing salt brine to be collected in open ditches for commercial potash processing. The mine operator began pumping the processed salt back onto Bonneville in 1997 as part of a pilot project SEMA helped create, but it has not kept pace with the loss of salt over previous decades.

In the ’60s, the racing venue at Bonneville was more than 13 mi. in length, but there is now 8 mi. or less that can be used for competition. SEMA and the racing community are now pursuing a program to dramatically increase the volume of salt returned to Bonneville.

By Ashley Reyes

Brian Doyle is the SEMA Future Leaders Network’s (FLN) newest spotlight member. Doyle is the general manager at Tire Service International Inc., an aftermarket manufacturer of tire service equipment and shop tools.

Get to know Doyle in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Brian Doyle: You fail your way to success. The owner of TSI told me this when I first started here. It allowed to me to realize that I don’t have to be perfect here or at home, that I will make mistakes and I will fail. In the end, as long as I learn from those failures personally as a parent, husband or at work, I will ultimately become the man, husband and leader I want to be and know I can be.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

BD: The people. We are a unique fun-loving group of people. I’ve been in this industry for more than 17 years, and the hard work has been so rewarding to myself and family. We work hard and play harder!

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

BD: With my family. Nowhere else I’d rather be.

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

BD: In my position, I rely heavily on data. I will spend hours researching and developing a plan for attack.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be and why?

BD: In working for Discount Tire for more than 15 years, there is only one man I would have loved to have lunch with and just pick his brain—Mr. Bruce Halle. He was a visionary, a leader and motivator. I met him two to three times over my tenure there, and each time, our one-to-two-minute exchange was more captivating than ever. I wish I had the chance when he was alive to just pick his brain for an hour or two.

If you are a current FLN member, fill out an FLN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on FLN’s social media, SEMA News and FLN member updates.

By Ashley Reyes

SEMA members will be able to connect with notable off-road racer, entrepreneur and professional stuntwoman Sara Price during a Facebook and Instagram live chat on Wednesday, August 3, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).   

Sara Price was the first factory-supported female racer under Monster Energy Kawasaki, as well as an X-Games medalist.

Named the 2016 Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Rising Star, Price’s racing career is unlike any other. A versatile competitor, she was the first factory-supported female racer under Monster Energy Kawasaki, as well as an X-Games medalist. She has also competed in a vast array of competitions, and has many wins under her belt for motocross, rallying, the X Games and Stadium Super Trucks. Today, Sara can be found competing with RPM Offroad in a Trophy Truck Spec. in Baja, Mexico, in the SCORE International Desert Series.  

Tune into the SBN Facebook page where you will have the exclusive opportunity to ask Price questions on her career accomplishments, anecdotes and the challenges she’s overcome.  

Live Chat Location: SBN Facebook page and SBN Instagram page (@sbn_sema).

B. Force, Tasca III, Enders and Gladstone Get Wins at Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals

Brittany Force went 3.709 seconds at 335.48 mph in her 11,000-hp Flav-R-Pac dragster to beat Mike Salinas in the final round.

Top Fuel star Brittany Force rolled to her fourth win of the 2022 season last Sunday and moved into the points lead in front of a packed house at the 34th annual Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals. Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Joey Gladstone (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the 12th of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the second stop of the three-race NHRA Western Swing. All four winners on Sunday are first-time Sonoma winners as well.

Force went 3.709 seconds at 335.48 mph in her 11,000hp Flav-R-Pac dragster to beat Mike Salinas in the final round, moving back into the points lead over Salinas with her first win at Sonoma and 15th in her career. Salinas now trails Force by six points.

Tasca III went 3.911 at 325.61 in his 11,000hp Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang to knock off John Force in the final round.

Erica Enders knocked off Greg Anderson on a holeshot in the final round to collect her first career victory at Sonoma Raceway. Enders posted a brilliant .018 reaction time and held off Anderson at the finish line with a run of 6.574 at 196.62 in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to earn her 39th career win and sixth this season.

After back-to-back final-round appearances, Gladstone broke through for his first career victory in Pro Stock Motorcycle last Sunday, knocking off Eddie Krawiec in the final round with a pass of 6.759 at 200.68 on his J&A Service Suzuki Hayabusa. Krawiec went a quicker 6.758, but Gladstone was quicker on the starting line with a .026 reaction time and held off the veteran to claim his first win in the class.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action on July 29–31 with the final race of the Western Swing, the Flav-R-Pac NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle. It is the first race at the track since 2019.

Maynards Named Majority Owner of DSR Top Fuel Team

Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) and Joe and Cathi Maynard have announced an expanded partnership that sees the Maynards as majority owners of the Top Fuel operation piloted by Tony Schumacher. The new Maynard Family Racing/Don Schumacher Racing team (JCM/DSR) will launch during the NHRA Northwest Nationals (July 29–31 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Washington), when the Maynards will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Schumacher-driven/Todd Okuhara-tuned machine.

DSR will continue to operate its hospitality program, graphic design and vinyl installation, nitromethane, parts, and chassis sales, and a 75,000-sq.-ft. precision machining and fabrication facility in Brownsburg, Indiana. Additionally, DSR’s trio of Factory Stock Showdown Series entries will also continue to compete under the DSR banner. Don Schumacher, DSR Performance President Chad Osier and DSR Vice President Megan Schumacher will continue to develop DSR Performance, DSR’s performance aftermarket, aerospace and defense manufacturing division.

Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2022

The Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame (ORMHOF) has announced its class of 2022 includes Randy Anderson, Lance Clifford, Vic Curl, Butch Dean, Jim Fricker, Brad Lovell, Eric Solorzano, Scott Taylor and Mike Thomas.

The ORMHOF Class of 2022 will be celebrated at the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame Induction & Awards Gala presented by 4 Wheel Parts on Sunday, October 30, at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. For biographies of the inductees, visit the ORMHOF announcement here. For more information, visit ormhof.org.

Kyle Larson Wins Best Driver Award at 2022 ESPYs

The 2022 Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly (ESPY) Awards presented by Capital One recently celebrated athletes, teams, and moments in the world of sports. Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson received the honor of “Best Driver,” beating out Max Verstappen (Formula One), Steve Torrence (NHRA) and Alex Palou (IndyCar).

The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet claimed 10-points-paying Cup Series victories in 2021, including the Championship 4 season finale at Phoenix Raceway to claim the title and a win in the annual All-Star Race.

NASCAR Hall of Famers and fellow Hendrick alumni Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson each own four ESPY awards for the same distinction, with Larson’s victory being the 19th time a NASCAR driver took home the nod. Kyle Busch is the most recent NASCAR driver to win the award, claiming it in 2019. Kevin Harvick (2015) and Martin Truex Jr. (2018) are the only other active NASCAR drivers to have won an ESPY.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington will hold their 2022 primary elections on Tuesday, August 2, and Tennessee will hold its primary on Thursday, August 4. It’s important to know which candidates support racing when going to the polls or voting early. For information on voting in the primary (including absentee and early voting), registering to vote and identifying your lawmakers and the candidates running in 2022, visit SEMA’s vote racing page.

The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), H.R. 3281 and S. 2736, enjoys strong support from Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee and Washington members of Congress. The bipartisan RPM Act guarantees the right to modify street cars, trucks and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and safeguards the industry’s right to offer parts that enable racers to compete. For more information on the RPM Act, click here.

Below is a list of federal lawmakers who have co-sponsored the RPM Act in the 2021–2022 session of Congress and are running for re-election in 2022. Below is a list of federal lawmakers who have co-sponsored the RPM Act in the 2021–2022 session of Congress and are running for re-election in 2022.

ARIZONA:

• Sen. Mark Kelly [D-AZ]*
• Rep. Paul A. Gosar [R-AZ-4]
• Rep. Debbie Lesko [R-AZ-8]*
• Rep. Tom O'Halleran [D-AZ-1]*

KANSAS:

• Rep. Jake LaTurner [R-KS-2]
• Rep. Tracey Mann [R-KS-1]

MICHIGAN:

• Rep. Bill Huizenga [R-MI-2]
• Rep. Haley M. Stevens [D-MI-11]*
• Rep. Tim Walberg [R-MI-7]

MISSOURI:

• Rep. Billy Long [R-MO-7]**
• Rep. Jason Smith [R-MO-8]

TENNESSEE:

• Rep. Scott DesJarlais [R-TN-4]
• Rep. Mark E. Green [R-TN-7]
• Rep. Diana Harshbarger [R-TN-1]
• Rep. David Kustoff [R-TN-8]

WASHINGTON:

• Rep. Suzan K. DelBene, [D-WA-1]
• Rep. Dan Newhouse [R-WA-4]
• Rep. Kim Schrier [D-WA-8]

*Original RPM Act co-sponsor

**Running for U.S. Senate.

For more information, contact erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Biden Administration announced that it has revived the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) that was created in 2011 and disbanded in 2017. FICOR will provide a forum for federal government agencies to coordinate recreation management, improve access and provide a better recreation experience on federally managed lands and waters. The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), of which SEMA is a member, has been working to restore the council and increase collaboration between federal agencies to address recreation management issues such as increased demand.

ORR is America’s leading coalition of U.S. outdoor recreation trade associations. It represents more than 50,000 businesses that produce vehicles, apparel, equipment and services enjoyed in our nation’s parks, waterways, trails and outdoor spaces. SEMA’s focus within ORR is on motorized recreation (four-wheel, ATVs, UTVs, etc.) along with all the equipment that makes it possible to tow RVs, trailers, boats and off-road vehicles (suspension, wheels, tires, increased horsepower, etc.).

Click here for an ORR fact sheet on FICOR.

For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.

The grand opening of the SEMA Garage Detroit will be held Thursday, August 18, from 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. (EDT), in the new facility at 14655 Jib St., Plymouth, MI 48170.

Be one of the first to view this state-of-the-art facility that will bring automotive aftermarket products to market even faster. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore all the innovative services the new SEMA Garage Detroit will offer and tour the brand-new facility while enjoying food, drinks, music, giveaways and more.

RSVP by August 1 to reserve your spot.

BendPak Announces Senior Leadership Changes

(L–R): Jim Fornear, Jeff Kritzer, Don Henthorn, Javier Arias and Rudy Diaz.

Effective August 3, Don Henthorn will step down as president and CEO, taking on a more limited role in the day-to-day operations as chairman emeritus. Jeff Kritzer, who has been an integral part of the company for more than 40 years, will succeed Henthorn as president and CEO, effective August 3. At the same time, Rudy Diaz will step up from vice president of information technology to executive vice president and COO. Jim Fornear will move from financial controller to CFO. Javier Arias will continue in the role of vice president of operations. Henthorn will remain active in an advisory capacity to ensure a seamless transition of leadership.

Brembo and Gold Phoenix Join Forces to Create a Leading Friction Technology Player

Brembo and Gold Phoenix have signed a 50/50 joint venture agreement (subject to the local and antitrust usual fulfilments) establishing a new company, Shandong BRGP Friction Technology Co. Ltd., to create the first large-scale Brembo manufacturing facility fully dedicated to produce aftermarket pads. The newly formed company will bring together Brembo’s leadership in braking systems with Gold Phoenix’s high-tech friction solutions, and it will focus on product quality and innovation, especially in terms of performance, comfort, durability and sustainability, with the aim of anticipating the challenges of electrification and autonomous driving, according to the companies.

The Joint Venture will serve the segments of passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and heavy-duty trucks, leveraging on new opportunities arising from a growing market. Shandong BRGP Friction Technology Co. Ltd. is expected to start operations in early 2023 in Jinan, the capital of Shandong province in Eastern China. The overall investment from both companies is approximately € 35 million over the next three years.

Cummins Announces Jennifer Rumsey as CEO

Jennifer Rumsey, left, and Tom Linebarger.

Columbus, Indiana-based Cummins has announced Jennifer Rumsey, president and COO, will assume the role of president and CEO. She replaces CEO Tom Linebarger, who ends his term with the diesel and alternative fuel engine and component manufacturer on August 1.

Rumsey will be the seventh CEO and first woman to lead the company since it was founded in 1919. Linebarger will continue to serve as chairman and executive chairman of the board of directors, working directly with Rumsey on specific initiatives, including the pending acquisition of commercial vehicle aftermarket manufacturer Meritor.

Since taking on the role of COO in March 2021, Rumsey has overseen Cummins’ global operations. In February, she was elected to the Cummins board of directors. She will continue to maintain her seat on the board.

LSI Promotes Julie Blankenship to Chemical Business Development Manager

Lubrication Specialties Inc. (LSI) has promoted Julie Blankenship to chemical business development manager. Blankenship will be the primary support to international distributors authorized to sell LSI Chemical-branded additives and Hot Shot’s Secret products. She will coordinate sales and marketing for LSI Chemical’s current 12 distributors in nine countries in Central America and Europe. She will also manage LSI Chemical’s trade show and conference event schedule and coordinate all educational and promotional materials.

Blankenship has more than 30 years of experience with non-profits, corporate, trade associations and public policy. Before this position, she served as LSI’s operations manager for the research and development department since December 2020.

K&K Insurance Names New President, CEO

K&K Insurance, the Fort Wayne, Indiana-based motorsports insurance company, has announced Ron Norton as its new president and CEO. He replaces Todd Bixler, who retired after 12 years with the company.

With 36 years at K&K, Norton began as an associate underwriter in 1986, according to published reports. He would later manage programs, including leisure camps, campgrounds and more before being promoted to vice president of the leisure division in 2007. In 2019, he was promoted to chief underwriting officer.

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