By Fredy Ramirez

SEMA eNews highlights products from member-companies each week. This week’s submissions are listed below.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is the largest database of specialty market product information and provides solutions to help you author, validate, store, and distribute industry-standardized ACES and PIES product data. SDC member companies below carry the SDC logo. Learn more about becoming an SDC member at www.semadatacoop.org.

N-FAB Growler Hitch Step N-FAB announces the release of its Growler Hitch Step for any vehicle that has a 2-in. or larger receiver. The hitch is designed to include reliable and secure footing. It features a custom anti-rattle clip engineered for secure and quiet mounting. All hitches include hitch pin for proper mounting. 866-806-6322 www.n-fab.com PN: Vary
Tuffy Security Products Locking Lid Cubby Cover Tuffy Security Products introduces its Locking Lid Cubby Cover for ’18–’21 Wrangler JL (2-door) and JLU (4-door) models. Components of the locking lid are designed to work with the original equipment design of Wrangler. Constructed from welded steel mounting plate, the design of the lid uses high-strength materials constructed for durability.  800-348-8339 www.tuffyproducts.com PN: Vary
Design Engineering Black Titanium Protect-A-Sleeve Design Engineering Inc. introduces its Black Titanium Protect-A-Sleeve. The sleeve is designed to protect wires, lines and cables from the damaging effects of high temperatures. Engineered to be capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 1,800° F direct heat and 2,500° F radiant heat, the line sleeves are offered in 1/2- and 1-in. inner diameters. 800-264-9472 www.DesignEngineering.com PN: 010591
Design Engineering Cool Cover GOLD Design Engineering announces its Cool Cover GOLD sleeve. It is primarily used to cover cold air tubes to reflect heat for a cooler, denser and more powerful air charge and features a hook-and-loop edge design. The cover is manufactured to reflect direct heat up to 800 ̊ F. The sleeve is designed to protect components and keep them cool in the most demanding applications. Cool Cover GOLD measures 28-in. in length, which can be trimmed to length and built to accommodate up to 4-in. O.D. air tubes. 800-264-9472 www.DesignEngineering.com PN: 010486
Avery Dennison Paint Protection Films Avery Dennison Launches its Supreme Defense Paint Protection Films. The matte film is engineered to protect the vehicle surface from stone chips, road debris, insect stains and weathering. The polyurethane film is designed to preserve and protect a flat factory finish, but designers can also use it to transform high-gloss OEM paint to achieve a dramatic look. The film is constructed to be a self-healing top coat that absorbs impact from scratches and debris, and both provide long-term durability of up to five years. 800-282-8379 www.graphics.averydennison.com PN: Vary
Axxess Digital Signal Processor Axxess announces the release of its AXDSP-X packages for Chrysler, Ford, GM and Hyundai/Kia. The kit includes Axxess’ 10-channel digital signal processor and a vehicle-specific wiring harness for plug-and-play installation. The kit features 6 inputs, 10 individually assignable outputs with a 31-band graphic EQ on each channel and high, low and bandpass filters. Also included is a bass knob for level control of the subwoofer amplifier and, if needed, a data interface for integration with the OEM vehicle technology. 386-257-2956 www.MetraOnline.com PN: Vary
Meguiar’s Inspection Light Meguiar’s announces the release of its MT103 Sunlight 3+ inspection light. The tool is designed to identify swirls and defects. The handheld light features an aluminum-alloy frame combined with additional controls. It includes separate linear controls for both lumens and color temperature, 50 to 500 lumens output range, 2,500 to 6,500 Kelvin range, and also features an exclusive settings memory function for instant on/off without searching for settings. 800-347-5700 www.meguiars.com PN: Vary

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Shawn Langdon powered to his first Top Fuel victory since 2016 last Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, capping off an impressive weekend with a win at the 66th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Langdon, Beckman, Enders and Pollacheck Claim Wins at Denso Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals at Indy

Shawn Langdon powered to his first Top Fuel victory since 2016 last Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, capping off an impressive weekend with a win at the 66th annual DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA U.S. Nationals. Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Scotty Pollacheck (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the sixth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Langdon went 3.705 seconds at 326.32 mph in his 11,000-hp DHL dragster to beat Leah Pruett in the final round.

Funny Car points leader Beckman went 3.908 at 327.35 in his 11,000-hp Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to beat J.R. Todd in the final round. Enders rolled to the Pro Stock win with a 6.606 at 208.55 in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. She posted a .009 reaction time against Matt Hartford in the final round and never trailed. In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Pollacheck beat Andrew Hines in the final round with a 6.790 at 200.53 on his Strutmasters.com EBR. The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues September 25–27, with the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway.

Chelsea DeNofa (USA) in her BC Racing/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR won the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship round two.

2020 Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round Two Results

Chelsea DeNofa (USA) in her BC Racing/Nitto Tire Ford Mustang RTR won the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship round two, held September 6, at World Wide Technology Raceway near St Louis, Missouri. Round one winner Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Rockstar Energy Drink/Nitto Tire GR Supra was eliminated from the Top 16 by Matt Field, following a collision shortly after starting line on second run. For complete results, visit the Formula DRIFT website.

Andrew Carlson Takes Pro Mod SXS Title

Team Yokohama member Andrew Carlson won the Pro Mod SXS title in the Crandon World Championship event.

Team Yokohama member Andrew Carlson won the Pro Mod SXS title in the Crandon World Championship event at Crandon International Raceway. Fellow Team Yokohama member Levi Shirley crossed the line for a third-place finish in the Ultra4 race under the lights on Saturday in the 4400 unlimited class.

“I’m so excited to leave Crandon as a world champion,” Carlson said. “We put in a lot of hard work to make sure we were prepared for this race and it paid off! With the Yokohama Tire GEOLANDAR tires, I know I can drive anywhere on the track and have speed.” Yokohama is the Official Tire of Crandon—the largest short-course off-road facility in the world.

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

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked on the scope and cost of the next economic stimulus package. Weeks of negotiations between leaders on Capitol Hill and the Trump Administration for a fourth phase of COVID-19 relief stalled in July. House Democrats passed the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act” in May but it is widely recognized that this bill will not pass the Senate. The $3.4 trillion proposal includes funding for state governments, another round of direct payments for individuals, and a continuation of the expanded $600 per month unemployment benefits from the first stimulus package.

As the Senate returned from its August recess, a narrower $1 trillion Republican proposal is being considered on the Senate floor, although its ultimate passage uncertain. The bill includes $300-per-week in federal unemployment payments, another round of funding to aid small and medium-sized businesses, liability protections for businesses, and money for education.

While both Democrats and Republicans are motivated by the upcoming election and pressures from the American public as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt day-to-day life, the legislative path forward is unclear as neither side seems willing to compromise over cost or issues to be addressed. Both parties are using their bills to stake positions for future negotiations.

Something the two sides could come together on is their common interest in extending and modifying the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). SEMA supports legislative proposals directing the Small Business Administration to create a one-page online or paper form to make it easy to file a forgiveness application for loans of $150,000 or less. Many companies have been holding-off on submitting a forgiveness application since the current form and paperwork requirements are burdensome. The legislation would include money to cover audit costs to help prevent the fraudulent use of PPP funds. The legislation will also allow eligible small businesses to take a second forgivable loan if they have experienced continued revenue losses.

The Republican bill includes a SEMA-supported liability protection provision for businesses, schools and health care providers that have taken proper COVID-safeguard precautions.  At least 11 states have already enacted such measures which helps businesses reopen without the fear of frivolous suits.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked on the scope and cost of the next economic stimulus package. Weeks of negotiations between leaders on Capitol Hill and the Trump Administration for a fourth phase of COVID-19 relief stalled in July. House Democrats passed the “Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act” in May but it is widely recognized that this bill will not pass the Senate. The $3.4 trillion proposal includes funding for state governments, another round of direct payments for individuals, and a continuation of the expanded $600 per month unemployment benefits from the first stimulus package.

As the Senate returned from its August recess, a narrower $1 trillion Republican proposal is being considered on the Senate floor, although its ultimate passage uncertain. The bill includes $300-per-week in federal unemployment payments, another round of funding to aid small and medium-sized businesses, liability protections for businesses, and money for education.

While both Democrats and Republicans are motivated by the upcoming election and pressures from the American public as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt day-to-day life, the legislative path forward is unclear as neither side seems willing to compromise over cost or issues to be addressed. Both parties are using their bills to stake positions for future negotiations.

Something the two sides could come together on is their common interest in extending and modifying the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). SEMA supports legislative proposals directing the Small Business Administration to create a one-page online or paper form to make it easy to file a forgiveness application for loans of $150,000 or less. Many companies have been holding-off on submitting a forgiveness application since the current form and paperwork requirements are burdensome. The legislation would include money to cover audit costs to help prevent the fraudulent use of PPP funds. The legislation will also allow eligible small businesses to take a second forgivable loan if they have experienced continued revenue losses.

The Republican bill includes a SEMA-supported liability protection provision for businesses, schools and health care providers that have taken proper COVID-safeguard precautions.  At least 11 states have already enacted such measures which helps businesses reopen without the fear of frivolous suits.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

This Ford Bronco Raptor undergoing testing is the very first development prototype of the Bronco Raptor, according to the photographers on site.

All the expected workings of a Bronco Raptor are present, including a significantly higher ground clearance, wider wheel arches, and a wider stance. The significant amount of thick camouflage covers up the majority of the vehicle, but the camo can only do so much to disguise what are clearly wider flares.

The prototype rides on a set of BF Goodrich AT All Terrain T/A tires, though we can't quite make out the size (they appear to 17inch wheels). It's not clear what suspension upgrades are in place, but the Bronco Raptor is definitely expected to feature a more rugged and more capable chassis, even compared to the range-topping Wildtrak Bronco model. The latest rumors suggest a Bronco Raptor launch for the ’23 model year.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This Ford Bronco Raptor undergoing testing is the very first development prototype of the Bronco Raptor, according to the photographers on site.

All the expected workings of a Bronco Raptor are present, including a significantly higher ground clearance, wider wheel arches, and a wider stance. The significant amount of thick camouflage covers up the majority of the vehicle, but the camo can only do so much to disguise what are clearly wider flares.

The prototype rides on a set of BF Goodrich AT All Terrain T/A tires, though we can't quite make out the size (they appear to 17inch wheels). It's not clear what suspension upgrades are in place, but the Bronco Raptor is definitely expected to feature a more rugged and more capable chassis, even compared to the range-topping Wildtrak Bronco model. The latest rumors suggest a Bronco Raptor launch for the ’23 model year.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By Ashley Reyes

Fury Tires continues to set the bar for the off-road and wheel/tire segment of the automotive aftermarket. Learn how company sales director Bob Day, and owner Jaimie Jang discovered a new unique niche for tire sizes, collaborated with manufacturers, and implemented a marketing strategy that resulted in amassing more than 140,000 organic social media followers in just three years, in the latest video from the 2019 SEMA Show STAGE. 

“We talked to wheel companies – we had a lot of feedback from them. And then we talked to builders […] and with that collaboration, it just grew. We had the 26 and 28s—last year we launched the 30 in.,” said Day. “The funny thing is, the 26s and 28s, maybe one or two wheel companies had it. Now everybody has a 26 or 28 and there’s probably three or four companies that have a 30 in. within one year. So it’s amazing the way it happened.”

Get to know what’s next for the future of Fury Tires, learn Day’s insight on the importance of marketing and utilizing social media, and hear what advice he has for companies looking to grow their brand by watching the full video.

Stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional featured interviews powered by SEMA Education in partnership with the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC).  For the latest news and updates on the STAGE, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By Ashley Reyes

Fury Tires continues to set the bar for the off-road and wheel/tire segment of the automotive aftermarket. Learn how company sales director Bob Day, and owner Jaimie Jang discovered a new unique niche for tire sizes, collaborated with manufacturers, and implemented a marketing strategy that resulted in amassing more than 140,000 organic social media followers in just three years, in the latest video from the 2019 SEMA Show STAGE. 

“We talked to wheel companies – we had a lot of feedback from them. And then we talked to builders […] and with that collaboration, it just grew. We had the 26 and 28s—last year we launched the 30 in.,” said Day. “The funny thing is, the 26s and 28s, maybe one or two wheel companies had it. Now everybody has a 26 or 28 and there’s probably three or four companies that have a 30 in. within one year. So it’s amazing the way it happened.”

Get to know what’s next for the future of Fury Tires, learn Day’s insight on the importance of marketing and utilizing social media, and hear what advice he has for companies looking to grow their brand by watching the full video.

Stay tuned to SEMA eNews for additional featured interviews powered by SEMA Education in partnership with the SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC).  For the latest news and updates on the STAGE, follow SEMA Education on Facebook and Instagram.

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Wheel and Tire Council (WTC) remains committed to providing its members with a forum to address industry-related issues by offering year-round networking and educational opportunities.

All WTC members are invited and encouraged to attend the council’s virtual ambassador meeting, September 15, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT). Participants will receive updates on the council’s current initiatives and opportunities to connect with each other on both wins and challenges in the industry.

WTC’s Ambassador meetings are the ideal opportunity for members to get involved and learn how to maximize their council membership. Attendees will work together to identify common problems and opportunities relating to the custom performance wheel and tire markets, and receive updates on important industry-related issues, such as ADAS and and the impact of tariffs.

Register here.

Questions regarding the event can be directed to WTC Council Director Nicole Bradle at nicoleb@sema.org.