By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In an effort to protect U.S. companies against intellectual property theft, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that enables companies to protect their trade secrets in federal court. The absence of a uniform federal standard has forced companies to navigate a patchwork of different laws when bringing trade secret cases in state court.

While the U.S. Department of Justice has the power to pursue criminal penalties against companies and individuals that illegally obtain trade secrets, the Department’s backlog of cases have not provided companies with sufficient protection. The SEMA-supported “Defend Trade Secrets Act” remedies this problem, providing a uniform standard for companies looking to defend their intellectual property rights in federal court. 

The bill proceeds to the Senate floor. There has been no action to date on a similar bill in the House of Representatives. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In an effort to protect U.S. companies against intellectual property theft, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that enables companies to protect their trade secrets in federal court. The absence of a uniform federal standard has forced companies to navigate a patchwork of different laws when bringing trade secret cases in state court.

While the U.S. Department of Justice has the power to pursue criminal penalties against companies and individuals that illegally obtain trade secrets, the Department’s backlog of cases have not provided companies with sufficient protection. The SEMA-supported “Defend Trade Secrets Act” remedies this problem, providing a uniform standard for companies looking to defend their intellectual property rights in federal court. 

The bill proceeds to the Senate floor. There has been no action to date on a similar bill in the House of Representatives. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Jason Catullo

	Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Omix-ADA SEMA Cares Jeep JK sold for $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited donated by Omix-ADA to SEMA Cares was sold during last week’s Barrett-Jackson auction for $100,000. Watch the video of the Jeep from the Barrett-Jackson Auction. 

The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Jeep was designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD magazine, Rugged Ridge and SEMA Cares. The Jeep was displayed at the 2015 SEMA Show and was recently featured on the cover of DUB magazine’s issue 96 along with Celeste.

Best known for her work as a ring girl for the UFC, Celeste also co-hosts the automotive reality TV show “Overhaulin’,” where a team of mechanics and designers complete a custom car or truck build in just a matter of days.

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares.

By Jason Catullo

	Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Omix-ADA SEMA Cares Jeep JK sold for $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited donated by Omix-ADA to SEMA Cares was sold during last week’s Barrett-Jackson auction for $100,000. Watch the video of the Jeep from the Barrett-Jackson Auction. 

The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Jeep was designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD magazine, Rugged Ridge and SEMA Cares. The Jeep was displayed at the 2015 SEMA Show and was recently featured on the cover of DUB magazine’s issue 96 along with Celeste.

Best known for her work as a ring girl for the UFC, Celeste also co-hosts the automotive reality TV show “Overhaulin’,” where a team of mechanics and designers complete a custom car or truck build in just a matter of days.

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares.

By Jason Catullo

	Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Omix-ADA SEMA Cares Jeep JK sold for $100,000 at the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited donated by Omix-ADA to SEMA Cares was sold during last week’s Barrett-Jackson auction for $100,000. Watch the video of the Jeep from the Barrett-Jackson Auction. 

The custom Jeep marks Omix-ADA’s third partnership with SEMA Cares over the past three years.

Personalized with Rugged Ridge products and built by DUB Garage, the Jeep was designed by Arianny Celeste, LFTD & LVLD magazine, Rugged Ridge and SEMA Cares. The Jeep was displayed at the 2015 SEMA Show and was recently featured on the cover of DUB magazine’s issue 96 along with Celeste.

Best known for her work as a ring girl for the UFC, Celeste also co-hosts the automotive reality TV show “Overhaulin’,” where a team of mechanics and designers complete a custom car or truck build in just a matter of days.

The SEMA Cares Committee was established by SEMA’s Board of Directors in 2007 and strives to make a positive difference through outreach programs and various fundraising efforts. SEMA Cares makes its mission to foster industry leadership by supporting the education of students pursuing careers in the automotive aftermarket.

For more information on SEMA Cares and its work with local communities, visit www.SEMA.org/sema-cares.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

The Spring Break Shootout race features some of the fastest street-style Mustangs in the land.

Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords to Join NMRA to Feature Spring Break Shootout

The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals has announced that Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords will once again join forces with the NMRA to feature the Spring Break Shootout race at the NMRA Ford Nationals event at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida, March 3–6, 2016. This event, which Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords started back in 1995, features some of the fastest street-style Mustangs in the land competing for the honor of Spring Break Shootout champion. The Muscle Mustangs Spring Break Shootout class regularly attracts more than 120 True Street cars competing for a top-16 spot to qualify for the Shootout.

Wilwood Renews Contingency Sponsorship With USMTS, Title Sponsorship of Redline Time Attack Series Through 2016 Season

Wilwood Disc Brakes has extended its contingency sponsorship with the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) through the 2016 season. This will mark the second year for Wilwood as the USMTS Lucky 7 Award contingency sponsor. As part of the sponsorship, Wilwood will provide a $50 product certificate to the seventh-place finisher at each USMTS event. Additionally, one winner will be drawn randomly from all of the drivers who finished seventh throughout the year to receive a complete Wilwood brake kit.

Wilwood also has extended its title sponsorship of the Redline Time Attack Series through the 2016 season. Redline Time Attack is a California-based motorsport series dedicated to providing the most exciting sports-car and tuner-based road-racing events. As part of the sponsorship, Wilwood will be named title sponsor of the Redline Time Attack Series and various series-owned festivals, including Subiefest, Nissfest, Mitsufest and Mazfest. In addition, Wilwood will have exhibit space and provide product certificates to be raffled off at each festival.

WELD Announces Continued Support for Drag Racing Through Its 2016 NHRA Contingency Program

WELD continues its longtime support for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) by announcing its 2016 NHRA contingency program. This year WELD will pay contingency on the latest and most technically advanced WELD Racing wheels: Delta-1, Black Draglite, Full Throttle and TT63. Competitors who use these contingency specific categories of WELD Racing wheels and display the brand’s decal on their race cars during the 2016 season are eligible for contingency payouts.

The Tequila Patrón ESM Ligier-Honda JSP2, shared by Pipo Derani, Johannes van Overbeek, Scott Sharp and Ed Brown, took the overall win by 26 seconds in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Honda, Tequila Patrón ESM Wins the Rolex 24

Tequila Patrón ESM prevailed last Sunday in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, scoring Honda's first overall victory at the famed event and the first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship win for the new Honda HR35TT twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The ESM Ligier-Honda JSP2, shared by Pipo Derani, Johannes van Overbeek, Scott Sharp and Ed Brown, took the overall win by 26 seconds ahead of the Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Corvette DP driven by Jordan and Ricky Taylor, Max Angelelli and Rubens Barrichello, after a see-saw battle throughout the nighttime hours with multiple contending teams. The ESM entry utilizes the production-based 3.5L Honda HR35TT V6 engine, developed for competition by HPD from the Honda “J35” series of passenger vehicle V6 engines, with improvements including twin turbochargers. Key production-based components include the block and cylinder heads, direct-injection fuel system, valvetrain components, drive-by-wire throttle, alternator, sensors and fasteners. The 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship resumes Saturday, March 19, with another endurance racing classic—the 64th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS won the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Audi R8 LMS Wins the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona in its U.S. Race Debut

The #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS won the 24-hour classic. In one of the closest finishes in endurance racing, owner/driver John Potter and drivers Andy Lally, Marco Seefried and Audi factory driver Rene Rast took the checkered flag after driving 703 laps with only a 3.048-second lead ahead of the second-place car. The Audi R8 LMS, which shares 50% of its parts with the ’17 Audi R8 production car, won its U.S. racing debut.

Jiffy-tite Signs Endorsed Product Sponsorship With DIESEL Motorsports

Jiffy-tite finalized an endorsed product sponsorship deal with DIESEL Motorsports, making the Lancaster, New York, company the official quick-connect fluid fitting sponsor for all events of the 2016 DIESEL Motorsports season.

The Craftsman Brand Returns to Motorsports as Title Sponsor of the World of Outlaws

Sears and the Craftsman brand have announced the return of Craftsman tools as a major presence in motorsports, becoming the title sponsor of the World of Outlaws. The three-year agreement, which begins immediately, renames the two premier series in dirt-track racing to the “World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series” and “World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series.” This is the first time the two top series in grassroots motorsports have shared a title sponsor. Through its relationship with the World of Outlaws, the Craftsman brand will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Craftsman Club by giving its members the chance to earn free tickets to series events, as well as Craftsman gear and other great prizes. The deal is one of the largest agreements in grassroots racing and connects the Craftsman brand with both sprint-car and late-model fans at nearly 140 events across the United States and Canada.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

The Spring Break Shootout race features some of the fastest street-style Mustangs in the land.

Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords to Join NMRA to Feature Spring Break Shootout

The NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals has announced that Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords will once again join forces with the NMRA to feature the Spring Break Shootout race at the NMRA Ford Nationals event at Bradenton Motorsports Park in Bradenton, Florida, March 3–6, 2016. This event, which Muscle Mustangs & Fast Fords started back in 1995, features some of the fastest street-style Mustangs in the land competing for the honor of Spring Break Shootout champion. The Muscle Mustangs Spring Break Shootout class regularly attracts more than 120 True Street cars competing for a top-16 spot to qualify for the Shootout.

Wilwood Renews Contingency Sponsorship With USMTS, Title Sponsorship of Redline Time Attack Series Through 2016 Season

Wilwood Disc Brakes has extended its contingency sponsorship with the United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) through the 2016 season. This will mark the second year for Wilwood as the USMTS Lucky 7 Award contingency sponsor. As part of the sponsorship, Wilwood will provide a $50 product certificate to the seventh-place finisher at each USMTS event. Additionally, one winner will be drawn randomly from all of the drivers who finished seventh throughout the year to receive a complete Wilwood brake kit.

Wilwood also has extended its title sponsorship of the Redline Time Attack Series through the 2016 season. Redline Time Attack is a California-based motorsport series dedicated to providing the most exciting sports-car and tuner-based road-racing events. As part of the sponsorship, Wilwood will be named title sponsor of the Redline Time Attack Series and various series-owned festivals, including Subiefest, Nissfest, Mitsufest and Mazfest. In addition, Wilwood will have exhibit space and provide product certificates to be raffled off at each festival.

WELD Announces Continued Support for Drag Racing Through Its 2016 NHRA Contingency Program

WELD continues its longtime support for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) by announcing its 2016 NHRA contingency program. This year WELD will pay contingency on the latest and most technically advanced WELD Racing wheels: Delta-1, Black Draglite, Full Throttle and TT63. Competitors who use these contingency specific categories of WELD Racing wheels and display the brand’s decal on their race cars during the 2016 season are eligible for contingency payouts.

The Tequila Patrón ESM Ligier-Honda JSP2, shared by Pipo Derani, Johannes van Overbeek, Scott Sharp and Ed Brown, took the overall win by 26 seconds in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Honda, Tequila Patrón ESM Wins the Rolex 24

Tequila Patrón ESM prevailed last Sunday in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, scoring Honda's first overall victory at the famed event and the first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship win for the new Honda HR35TT twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The ESM Ligier-Honda JSP2, shared by Pipo Derani, Johannes van Overbeek, Scott Sharp and Ed Brown, took the overall win by 26 seconds ahead of the Wayne Taylor Racing Dallara-Corvette DP driven by Jordan and Ricky Taylor, Max Angelelli and Rubens Barrichello, after a see-saw battle throughout the nighttime hours with multiple contending teams. The ESM entry utilizes the production-based 3.5L Honda HR35TT V6 engine, developed for competition by HPD from the Honda “J35” series of passenger vehicle V6 engines, with improvements including twin turbochargers. Key production-based components include the block and cylinder heads, direct-injection fuel system, valvetrain components, drive-by-wire throttle, alternator, sensors and fasteners. The 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship resumes Saturday, March 19, with another endurance racing classic—the 64th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS won the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The Audi R8 LMS Wins the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona in its U.S. Race Debut

The #44 Magnus Racing Audi R8 LMS won the 24-hour classic. In one of the closest finishes in endurance racing, owner/driver John Potter and drivers Andy Lally, Marco Seefried and Audi factory driver Rene Rast took the checkered flag after driving 703 laps with only a 3.048-second lead ahead of the second-place car. The Audi R8 LMS, which shares 50% of its parts with the ’17 Audi R8 production car, won its U.S. racing debut.

Jiffy-tite Signs Endorsed Product Sponsorship With DIESEL Motorsports

Jiffy-tite finalized an endorsed product sponsorship deal with DIESEL Motorsports, making the Lancaster, New York, company the official quick-connect fluid fitting sponsor for all events of the 2016 DIESEL Motorsports season.

The Craftsman Brand Returns to Motorsports as Title Sponsor of the World of Outlaws

Sears and the Craftsman brand have announced the return of Craftsman tools as a major presence in motorsports, becoming the title sponsor of the World of Outlaws. The three-year agreement, which begins immediately, renames the two premier series in dirt-track racing to the “World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series” and “World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Model Series.” This is the first time the two top series in grassroots motorsports have shared a title sponsor. Through its relationship with the World of Outlaws, the Craftsman brand will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Craftsman Club by giving its members the chance to earn free tickets to series events, as well as Craftsman gear and other great prizes. The deal is one of the largest agreements in grassroots racing and connects the Craftsman brand with both sprint-car and late-model fans at nearly 140 events across the United States and Canada.

On March 1, 2016, the SEMA Garage will host a first-of-its-kind measuring session on the all-new ’17 Audi R8. Starting at $164,000, the 540hp naturally aspirated V10 Audi R8 represents the pinnacle of performance and engineering for the Audi brand. For SEMA members who support this niche category, don’t miss this one-day-only opportunity to get hands-on with the new Audi. Modest disassembly will be permitted, including wheels, brakes, suspension and limited interior component. Photography and scanning will also be permitted. Audi will also have an accessory marketing rep on hand to answer any questions.

On March 1, 2016, the SEMA Garage will host a first-of-its-kind measuring session on the all-new ’17 Audi R8. Starting at $164,000, the 540hp naturally aspirated V10 Audi R8 represents the pinnacle of performance and engineering for the Audi brand. For SEMA members who support this niche category, don’t miss this one-day-only opportunity to get hands-on with the new Audi. Modest disassembly will be permitted, including wheels, brakes, suspension and limited interior component. Photography and scanning will also be permitted. Audi will also have an accessory marketing rep on hand to answer any questions.

On March 1, 2016, the SEMA Garage will host a first-of-its-kind measuring session on the all-new ’17 Audi R8. Starting at $164,000, the 540hp naturally aspirated V10 Audi R8 represents the pinnacle of performance and engineering for the Audi brand. For SEMA members who support this niche category, don’t miss this one-day-only opportunity to get hands-on with the new Audi. Modest disassembly will be permitted, including wheels, brakes, suspension and limited interior component. Photography and scanning will also be permitted. Audi will also have an accessory marketing rep on hand to answer any questions.