The 2018 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas.

The 2018 SEMA Show takes place Tuesday–Friday, October 30–November 2, in Las Vegas.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

Attendee, exhibitor and media registration for the 2018 SEMA Show is now open.

Attendee, exhibitor and media registration for the 2018 SEMA Show is now open.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

John Force in his Peak Chevrolet Camaro SS defeated Ron Capps in the final round last weekend at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

J. Force, Pritchett, Anderson and Arana Jr. Win at Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals

John Force raced to his 149th career Funny Car victory and first in more than a year last Sunday at the first stop on the three consecutive race Western Swing at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the 14th of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Force was in his 13th career final round at Bandimere Speedway and was pitted against Ron Capps. In his Peak Chevrolet Camaro SS, Force left the line ahead of Capps for a winning pass of 4.075 seconds at 315.42 mph to the losing run of 4.067 at 308.71. This is his eighth win at the facility. Piloting her Dodge Mopar 1320 dragster, Pritchett faced Doug Kalitta in the finals and raced to a winning pass of 3.831 at 316.45 to the losing run of 3.852 at 319.82. In Pro Stock, Anderson raced to his first win of the year when he defeated his teammate Jason Line in the finals. Anderson’s 6.943 at 196.53 pass in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to the losing run of 6.947 at 196.19 gave him the victory and retook the points lead in the category. Arana Jr. raced to his first win since the St. Louis event in 2015 on his Lucas Oil EBR for his 12th career win when he bested Jerry Savoie in the finals. Arana Jr. went on to record a pass of 7.170 at 185.89. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway July 27-29.

Team Falken’s James Deane earned his second victory in a row in the 2018 Black Magic Formula Drift Pro Championship at Evergreen Speedway.

Team FALKEN’s James Deane Victorious at Formula DRIFT’s Evergreen Speedway

Team Falken’s James Deane earned his second victory in a row in the 2018 Black Magic Formula Drift Pro Championship at Evergreen Speedway, increasing his lead in the Driver’s Championship with three events remaining. Teammate Piotr Wiecek took third place, solidifying his position at third overall, while Justin Pawlak placed fourth at Evergreen, putting him fifth in the tight overall points battle. It was Falken’s fourth series of podium finishes this season out of five rounds. All eight Team Falken drivers advanced to the Top 16, with four continuing on to the Top 8. From there, teammates Deane and Field faced off, with Deane taking the win, while both Wiecek and Pawlak advanced. Deane squared off against teammate Wiecek, while Ryan Tuerck eliminated Pawlak. Deane returned the favor by beating Tuerck in the final. Team Falken will travel south to St. Louis for Round 6 when Formula DRIFT visits Gateway Motorsports Park, located across the state line in Madison, Illinois, August 10–11.

Christopher Bell earned back-to-back victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) as he won last Saturday’s race at New Hampshire after winning at Kentucky Speedway the week before.

Christopher Bells Earns Back-to-Back Victories in NASCAR Xfinity Series

Toyota driver Christopher Bell earned back-to-back victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) as he won last Saturday’s race at New Hampshire after winning at Kentucky Speedway the week before. Bell started second and led the field three times for a race-high 93 laps (of 200) to finish first. Bell also won the race’s first stage and was eighth at the conclusion of the second stage. With his performance, Bell jumped to second in the NXS point standings and leads the playoff points with 18 marks to eight for his next-closest competitor. Bell’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates also finished in the top-10 overall with Ryan Preece in third and Brandon Jones in sixth.

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

Compiled by SEMA Editors

John Force in his Peak Chevrolet Camaro SS defeated Ron Capps in the final round last weekend at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway.

J. Force, Pritchett, Anderson and Arana Jr. Win at Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals

John Force raced to his 149th career Funny Car victory and first in more than a year last Sunday at the first stop on the three consecutive race Western Swing at the Dodge Mile-High NHRA Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Leah Pritchett (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the 14th of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Force was in his 13th career final round at Bandimere Speedway and was pitted against Ron Capps. In his Peak Chevrolet Camaro SS, Force left the line ahead of Capps for a winning pass of 4.075 seconds at 315.42 mph to the losing run of 4.067 at 308.71. This is his eighth win at the facility. Piloting her Dodge Mopar 1320 dragster, Pritchett faced Doug Kalitta in the finals and raced to a winning pass of 3.831 at 316.45 to the losing run of 3.852 at 319.82. In Pro Stock, Anderson raced to his first win of the year when he defeated his teammate Jason Line in the finals. Anderson’s 6.943 at 196.53 pass in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro to the losing run of 6.947 at 196.19 gave him the victory and retook the points lead in the category. Arana Jr. raced to his first win since the St. Louis event in 2015 on his Lucas Oil EBR for his 12th career win when he bested Jerry Savoie in the finals. Arana Jr. went on to record a pass of 7.170 at 185.89. The 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Toyota NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway July 27-29.

Team Falken’s James Deane earned his second victory in a row in the 2018 Black Magic Formula Drift Pro Championship at Evergreen Speedway.

Team FALKEN’s James Deane Victorious at Formula DRIFT’s Evergreen Speedway

Team Falken’s James Deane earned his second victory in a row in the 2018 Black Magic Formula Drift Pro Championship at Evergreen Speedway, increasing his lead in the Driver’s Championship with three events remaining. Teammate Piotr Wiecek took third place, solidifying his position at third overall, while Justin Pawlak placed fourth at Evergreen, putting him fifth in the tight overall points battle. It was Falken’s fourth series of podium finishes this season out of five rounds. All eight Team Falken drivers advanced to the Top 16, with four continuing on to the Top 8. From there, teammates Deane and Field faced off, with Deane taking the win, while both Wiecek and Pawlak advanced. Deane squared off against teammate Wiecek, while Ryan Tuerck eliminated Pawlak. Deane returned the favor by beating Tuerck in the final. Team Falken will travel south to St. Louis for Round 6 when Formula DRIFT visits Gateway Motorsports Park, located across the state line in Madison, Illinois, August 10–11.

Christopher Bell earned back-to-back victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) as he won last Saturday’s race at New Hampshire after winning at Kentucky Speedway the week before.

Christopher Bells Earns Back-to-Back Victories in NASCAR Xfinity Series

Toyota driver Christopher Bell earned back-to-back victories in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) as he won last Saturday’s race at New Hampshire after winning at Kentucky Speedway the week before. Bell started second and led the field three times for a race-high 93 laps (of 200) to finish first. Bell also won the race’s first stage and was eighth at the conclusion of the second stage. With his performance, Bell jumped to second in the NXS point standings and leads the playoff points with 18 marks to eight for his next-closest competitor. Bell’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates also finished in the top-10 overall with Ryan Preece in third and Brandon Jones in sixth.

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

By Linda Spencer

Keynote speaker Alan Turley, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, provided Export Workshop attendees with an overview of the changes underway in China and the opportunities it presents U.S. manufacturers.

SEMA was honored to receive the Presidential E Star Award from Alan Turley (second from left). (L–R): Linda Spencer, senior director, international and government affairs; Turley; Wade Kawasaki, SEMA chairman of the board; and Bill Miller, SEMA vice president, operations.

Thirty-five SEMA members from around the United States participated in an Export Workshop at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, July 17. This program brought together both experienced exporters and those new to selling to customers outside the United States.

Keynote speaker Alan Turley, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, riveted the audience with an overview of the changes underway in China—and the opportunities they present U.S. manufacturers—from the perspective of the 30 years he spent in Asia in both government service and the private sector. Turley recounted his posting in the 1980s in Japan, when the country’s specialty-equipment market was in its early stages. The companies that entered the market then are now well positioned. He noted China is in a similar stage as Japan 30 years ago, and urged U.S. companies to seriously consider the Chinese market, despite the current bilateral trade issues and other emerging market challenges.  

Turley’s presentation set the stage for the following speakers, who ably provided an overview on how to protect trademarks and brands while selling abroad; the SEMA Show IPR policy; and an official from Alibaba, who discussed the mega Chinese online marketplace’s IPR enforcement program. Other speakers covered everything from how to correctly fill out a customs form to Europe’s New General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what actions U.S. companies need to take to comply.  

SEMA was also honored to receive the Presidential E Star Award from Turley, which recognizes the SEMA-U.S. Department of Commerce partnership and the resulting programs and resources for U.S. companies to grow their overseas sales of automotive accessories and performance products.

To date, SEMA members participating in SEMA’s overseas business development programs have generated more than $130 million in export sales.

By Linda Spencer

Keynote speaker Alan Turley, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, provided Export Workshop attendees with an overview of the changes underway in China and the opportunities it presents U.S. manufacturers.

SEMA was honored to receive the Presidential E Star Award from Alan Turley (second from left). (L–R): Linda Spencer, senior director, international and government affairs; Turley; Wade Kawasaki, SEMA chairman of the board; and Bill Miller, SEMA vice president, operations.

Thirty-five SEMA members from around the United States participated in an Export Workshop at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, July 17. This program brought together both experienced exporters and those new to selling to customers outside the United States.

Keynote speaker Alan Turley, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, riveted the audience with an overview of the changes underway in China—and the opportunities they present U.S. manufacturers—from the perspective of the 30 years he spent in Asia in both government service and the private sector. Turley recounted his posting in the 1980s in Japan, when the country’s specialty-equipment market was in its early stages. The companies that entered the market then are now well positioned. He noted China is in a similar stage as Japan 30 years ago, and urged U.S. companies to seriously consider the Chinese market, despite the current bilateral trade issues and other emerging market challenges.  

Turley’s presentation set the stage for the following speakers, who ably provided an overview on how to protect trademarks and brands while selling abroad; the SEMA Show IPR policy; and an official from Alibaba, who discussed the mega Chinese online marketplace’s IPR enforcement program. Other speakers covered everything from how to correctly fill out a customs form to Europe’s New General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what actions U.S. companies need to take to comply.  

SEMA was also honored to receive the Presidential E Star Award from Turley, which recognizes the SEMA-U.S. Department of Commerce partnership and the resulting programs and resources for U.S. companies to grow their overseas sales of automotive accessories and performance products.

To date, SEMA members participating in SEMA’s overseas business development programs have generated more than $130 million in export sales.

By Linda Spencer

Keynote speaker Alan Turley, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, provided Export Workshop attendees with an overview of the changes underway in China and the opportunities it presents U.S. manufacturers.

SEMA was honored to receive the Presidential E Star Award from Alan Turley (second from left). (L–R): Linda Spencer, senior director, international and government affairs; Turley; Wade Kawasaki, SEMA chairman of the board; and Bill Miller, SEMA vice president, operations.

Thirty-five SEMA members from around the United States participated in an Export Workshop at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, July 17. This program brought together both experienced exporters and those new to selling to customers outside the United States.

Keynote speaker Alan Turley, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s deputy assistant secretary for China and Mongolia, riveted the audience with an overview of the changes underway in China—and the opportunities they present U.S. manufacturers—from the perspective of the 30 years he spent in Asia in both government service and the private sector. Turley recounted his posting in the 1980s in Japan, when the country’s specialty-equipment market was in its early stages. The companies that entered the market then are now well positioned. He noted China is in a similar stage as Japan 30 years ago, and urged U.S. companies to seriously consider the Chinese market, despite the current bilateral trade issues and other emerging market challenges.  

Turley’s presentation set the stage for the following speakers, who ably provided an overview on how to protect trademarks and brands while selling abroad; the SEMA Show IPR policy; and an official from Alibaba, who discussed the mega Chinese online marketplace’s IPR enforcement program. Other speakers covered everything from how to correctly fill out a customs form to Europe’s New General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and what actions U.S. companies need to take to comply.  

SEMA was also honored to receive the Presidential E Star Award from Turley, which recognizes the SEMA-U.S. Department of Commerce partnership and the resulting programs and resources for U.S. companies to grow their overseas sales of automotive accessories and performance products.

To date, SEMA members participating in SEMA’s overseas business development programs have generated more than $130 million in export sales.