By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) reintroduced H.R. 350—the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017 (RPM Act). The bipartisan bill, which was submitted for reintroduction on the first day of the new Congress, protects Americans’ right to modify street cars and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and industry’s right to sell the parts that enable racers to compete.

The RPM Act is co-sponsored by 61 members of the U.S. Representatives. The bill ensures that transforming motor vehicles into racecars used exclusively in competition does not violate the Clean Air Act. For nearly 50 years, the practice was unquestioned until the EPA published proposed regulations in 2015 that deemed such conversions illegal and subject to severe penalties. While the EPA withdrew the problematic language from the final rule making last year, the agency still maintains the practice is unlawful.

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We thank Rep. McHenry and all the cosponsors for reintroducing a bill that will protect businesses that produce, install and sell the parts that enable racers to compete."

When the RPM Act was first introduced in 2016, racing enthusiasts and Americans working in the motorsports-parts industry flooded Congress with nearly 200,000 letters in support of the bill. More than one-fourth of the U.S. House of Representatives joined as bill co-sponsors as a result. However, the shortened election year schedule did not permit sufficient time for passage of the bill by the previous Congress.

“Last year, I was proud to lead the fight against the misguided EPA regulation targeting racing, but our work is not done,” said Rep. McHenry. “In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the new Administration to ensure the RPM Act becomes law."

Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a $1.4 billion market annually. There are an estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the United States, including oval, road, track and off-road racetracks, the majority of which feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers to be illegal.

“Upon introduction of the Senate version of the RPM Act, we will call on racing enthusiasts throughout the U.S. to contact their members of Congress to request support for the bill,” Kersting added. “Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved!”

For updates and additional information, visit:

• www.sema.org/epa-news
• facebook/sema.org
• twitter/semamembers
• instagram/semashow

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) reintroduced H.R. 350—the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017 (RPM Act). The bipartisan bill, which was submitted for reintroduction on the first day of the new Congress, protects Americans’ right to modify street cars and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and industry’s right to sell the parts that enable racers to compete.

The RPM Act is co-sponsored by 61 members of the U.S. Representatives. The bill ensures that transforming motor vehicles into racecars used exclusively in competition does not violate the Clean Air Act. For nearly 50 years, the practice was unquestioned until the EPA published proposed regulations in 2015 that deemed such conversions illegal and subject to severe penalties. While the EPA withdrew the problematic language from the final rule making last year, the agency still maintains the practice is unlawful.

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We thank Rep. McHenry and all the cosponsors for reintroducing a bill that will protect businesses that produce, install and sell the parts that enable racers to compete."

When the RPM Act was first introduced in 2016, racing enthusiasts and Americans working in the motorsports-parts industry flooded Congress with nearly 200,000 letters in support of the bill. More than one-fourth of the U.S. House of Representatives joined as bill co-sponsors as a result. However, the shortened election year schedule did not permit sufficient time for passage of the bill by the previous Congress.

“Last year, I was proud to lead the fight against the misguided EPA regulation targeting racing, but our work is not done,” said Rep. McHenry. “In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the new Administration to ensure the RPM Act becomes law."

Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a $1.4 billion market annually. There are an estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the United States, including oval, road, track and off-road racetracks, the majority of which feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers to be illegal.

“Upon introduction of the Senate version of the RPM Act, we will call on racing enthusiasts throughout the U.S. to contact their members of Congress to request support for the bill,” Kersting added. “Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved!”

For updates and additional information, visit:

• www.sema.org/epa-news
• facebook/sema.org
• twitter/semamembers
• instagram/semashow

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

U.S. Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) reintroduced H.R. 350—the Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act of 2017 (RPM Act). The bipartisan bill, which was submitted for reintroduction on the first day of the new Congress, protects Americans’ right to modify street cars and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and industry’s right to sell the parts that enable racers to compete.

The RPM Act is co-sponsored by 61 members of the U.S. Representatives. The bill ensures that transforming motor vehicles into racecars used exclusively in competition does not violate the Clean Air Act. For nearly 50 years, the practice was unquestioned until the EPA published proposed regulations in 2015 that deemed such conversions illegal and subject to severe penalties. While the EPA withdrew the problematic language from the final rule making last year, the agency still maintains the practice is unlawful.

“SEMA looks forward to working with Congress to enact the RPM Act and make permanent the Clean Air Act’s original intention that race vehicle conversions are legal,” said SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting. “We thank Rep. McHenry and all the cosponsors for reintroducing a bill that will protect businesses that produce, install and sell the parts that enable racers to compete."

When the RPM Act was first introduced in 2016, racing enthusiasts and Americans working in the motorsports-parts industry flooded Congress with nearly 200,000 letters in support of the bill. More than one-fourth of the U.S. House of Representatives joined as bill co-sponsors as a result. However, the shortened election year schedule did not permit sufficient time for passage of the bill by the previous Congress.

“Last year, I was proud to lead the fight against the misguided EPA regulation targeting racing, but our work is not done,” said Rep. McHenry. “In the coming months, I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress and the new Administration to ensure the RPM Act becomes law."

Motorsports competition involves tens of thousands of participants and vehicle owners each year, both amateur and professional. Retail sales of racing products make up a $1.4 billion market annually. There are an estimated 1,300 racetracks operating across the United States, including oval, road, track and off-road racetracks, the majority of which feature converted race vehicles that the EPA now considers to be illegal.

“Upon introduction of the Senate version of the RPM Act, we will call on racing enthusiasts throughout the U.S. to contact their members of Congress to request support for the bill,” Kersting added. “Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved!”

For updates and additional information, visit:

• www.sema.org/epa-news
• facebook/sema.org
• twitter/semamembers
• instagram/semashow

By SEMA Editors

Pete Chapouris

Hot-rodding legend Pete Chapouris passed away January 6 due to complications from a stroke. He was 74.

Chapouris grew up in El Monte, California, and started “cruisin’ the boulevards” as a young hot rodder with his friends around 1955. His first hot rod was a ’32 roadster, but at the time, he was in love with Gil Granuci's A coupe so he sold the body, bought a Model A coupe and channeled it over the Deuce rails. Like most enthusiasts, Pete went through a string of cars, wheeling and dealing his way up market until he could afford a new ’61 T-bird.

At the time, Chapouris was working as a product development technician at Clayton Manufacturing Co. During his tenure, he met Mike Hoag, who had left Blair’s to form M&S Welding with Sherm Gunn, building drag cars. Chapouris wanted to work for them, and consequently took welding classes at night until they gave him a part-time job. In 1971, he left Clayton and went to work at Blair’s—a speed shop with a history reaching as far back as Alex Xydias’ SO-CAL emporium.

A member of the Vintage Tin hot-rod club, Chapouris began work on a chopped ’34 coupe that would have a seminal impact upon not only his life but also the hot-rod world. Finished in traditional black and flames, the coupe was photographed for the cover of the November 1973 issue of Rod & Custom, along with a similarly chopped canary yellow coupe of Jim “Jake” Jacobs. The two rodders hit it off and decided to start a small hot-rod repair business in Temple City, California. Then came the call from Hollywood, specifically Howie Horowitz, producer of the successful “Batman” series. He wanted Chapouris’ car for a made-for-TV movie called The California Kid starring Martin Sheen.

“The Kid” put Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Parts on the map, and the pair ran a thriving business which, because of their innovative style and seat-of-the-pants marketing savvy, took the hot-rod business out of the backyard and into the mainstream.

Pete and Jake’s was eventually sold in 1987, and Chapouris went to work as vice president of marketing for SEMA. Having been instrumental in the formation of the Street Rod Equipment Association (SREA), Chapouris became a driving force in the transformation of the SREA into the Street Rod Market Alliance (SRMA)—a SEMA council—which later elected him into its hall of fame. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1999.

SO-CAL Speed Shop’s Jimmy Shine (left) and Pete Chopouris (right) teamed up with guitarist Billy Gibbons (center) to build a ’33 Ford coupe project car at the SEMA Garage.

In 1990, he formed an alliance with Bob Bauder and, among other projects, completed a pair of Harley-Davidson “HogZZillas” for Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. The friendship with Gibbons resulted in numerous projects.

In 1995, he opened The Pete Chapouris Group (PC3g)—a hot-rod shop in Pomona, California.

One of the first cars that PC3g was involved in was a restoration for Bruce Meyer of the Pierson brothers’ coupe, which led to an enduring association and the eventual restoration of the SO-CAL belly tank Lakester.

Cover-quality cars were produced by PC3g, including Don Simpson’s “Killer Coupe,” several cars for Gibbons including a ’36 three-window coupe and “Kopperhed,” and an extended-cab Model A pickup for Chuck DeHeras. Chapouris also restored the Doane Spencer roadster for Meyer, which won the inaugural Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Hot Rod Class. It also won the Dean Batchelor Memorial Award for Excellence.

In addition, Chapouris was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People within the high-performance industry and, as such, was inducted into the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame.

Chapouris had a great relationship with Alex Xydias—the founder of the SO-CAL Speed Shop, and convinced Xydias to license him the SO-CAL name. SO-CAL Speed Shop is now a 30,000-sq.-ft. facility in Pomona boasting 30-plus employees and eight retail stores from coast to coast. Chapouris and the SO-CAL team built four land-speed cars for GM Performance, and in the last five seasons, set a half-dozen records putting four drivers in the 200 MPH Club.

Chapouris has been inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame, SEMA Hall of Fame, SREA Hall of Fame and SRMA Service Award, the National Rod & Custom Hall of Fame, the Hot Rod Hall of Fame and the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, awarded the Detroit Autorama Builder of the Year, the Grand National Roadster Show Builder of the Year, the Legends of Speed Lifetime Achievement Award and received the NSRA (UK) Hot Rod of the Century Award for his chopped ’34 3w coupe, the “California Kid.”

He is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Nicole and son Pete IV.

By SEMA Editors

Pete Chapouris

Hot-rodding legend Pete Chapouris passed away January 6 due to complications from a stroke. He was 74.

Chapouris grew up in El Monte, California, and started “cruisin’ the boulevards” as a young hot rodder with his friends around 1955. His first hot rod was a ’32 roadster, but at the time, he was in love with Gil Granuci's A coupe so he sold the body, bought a Model A coupe and channeled it over the Deuce rails. Like most enthusiasts, Pete went through a string of cars, wheeling and dealing his way up market until he could afford a new ’61 T-bird.

At the time, Chapouris was working as a product development technician at Clayton Manufacturing Co. During his tenure, he met Mike Hoag, who had left Blair’s to form M&S Welding with Sherm Gunn, building drag cars. Chapouris wanted to work for them, and consequently took welding classes at night until they gave him a part-time job. In 1971, he left Clayton and went to work at Blair’s—a speed shop with a history reaching as far back as Alex Xydias’ SO-CAL emporium.

A member of the Vintage Tin hot-rod club, Chapouris began work on a chopped ’34 coupe that would have a seminal impact upon not only his life but also the hot-rod world. Finished in traditional black and flames, the coupe was photographed for the cover of the November 1973 issue of Rod & Custom, along with a similarly chopped canary yellow coupe of Jim “Jake” Jacobs. The two rodders hit it off and decided to start a small hot-rod repair business in Temple City, California. Then came the call from Hollywood, specifically Howie Horowitz, producer of the successful “Batman” series. He wanted Chapouris’ car for a made-for-TV movie called The California Kid starring Martin Sheen.

“The Kid” put Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Parts on the map, and the pair ran a thriving business which, because of their innovative style and seat-of-the-pants marketing savvy, took the hot-rod business out of the backyard and into the mainstream.

Pete and Jake’s was eventually sold in 1987, and Chapouris went to work as vice president of marketing for SEMA. Having been instrumental in the formation of the Street Rod Equipment Association (SREA), Chapouris became a driving force in the transformation of the SREA into the Street Rod Market Alliance (SRMA)—a SEMA council—which later elected him into its hall of fame. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1999.

SO-CAL Speed Shop’s Jimmy Shine (left) and Pete Chopouris (right) teamed up with guitarist Billy Gibbons (center) to build a ’33 Ford coupe project car at the SEMA Garage.

In 1990, he formed an alliance with Bob Bauder and, among other projects, completed a pair of Harley-Davidson “HogZZillas” for Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. The friendship with Gibbons resulted in numerous projects.

In 1995, he opened The Pete Chapouris Group (PC3g)—a hot-rod shop in Pomona, California.

One of the first cars that PC3g was involved in was a restoration for Bruce Meyer of the Pierson brothers’ coupe, which led to an enduring association and the eventual restoration of the SO-CAL belly tank Lakester.

Cover-quality cars were produced by PC3g, including Don Simpson’s “Killer Coupe,” several cars for Gibbons including a ’36 three-window coupe and “Kopperhed,” and an extended-cab Model A pickup for Chuck DeHeras. Chapouris also restored the Doane Spencer roadster for Meyer, which won the inaugural Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Hot Rod Class. It also won the Dean Batchelor Memorial Award for Excellence.

In addition, Chapouris was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People within the high-performance industry and, as such, was inducted into the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame.

Chapouris had a great relationship with Alex Xydias—the founder of the SO-CAL Speed Shop, and convinced Xydias to license him the SO-CAL name. SO-CAL Speed Shop is now a 30,000-sq.-ft. facility in Pomona boasting 30-plus employees and eight retail stores from coast to coast. Chapouris and the SO-CAL team built four land-speed cars for GM Performance, and in the last five seasons, set a half-dozen records putting four drivers in the 200 MPH Club.

Chapouris has been inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame, SEMA Hall of Fame, SREA Hall of Fame and SRMA Service Award, the National Rod & Custom Hall of Fame, the Hot Rod Hall of Fame and the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, awarded the Detroit Autorama Builder of the Year, the Grand National Roadster Show Builder of the Year, the Legends of Speed Lifetime Achievement Award and received the NSRA (UK) Hot Rod of the Century Award for his chopped ’34 3w coupe, the “California Kid.”

He is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Nicole and son Pete IV.

By SEMA Editors

Pete Chapouris

Hot-rodding legend Pete Chapouris passed away January 6 due to complications from a stroke. He was 74.

Chapouris grew up in El Monte, California, and started “cruisin’ the boulevards” as a young hot rodder with his friends around 1955. His first hot rod was a ’32 roadster, but at the time, he was in love with Gil Granuci's A coupe so he sold the body, bought a Model A coupe and channeled it over the Deuce rails. Like most enthusiasts, Pete went through a string of cars, wheeling and dealing his way up market until he could afford a new ’61 T-bird.

At the time, Chapouris was working as a product development technician at Clayton Manufacturing Co. During his tenure, he met Mike Hoag, who had left Blair’s to form M&S Welding with Sherm Gunn, building drag cars. Chapouris wanted to work for them, and consequently took welding classes at night until they gave him a part-time job. In 1971, he left Clayton and went to work at Blair’s—a speed shop with a history reaching as far back as Alex Xydias’ SO-CAL emporium.

A member of the Vintage Tin hot-rod club, Chapouris began work on a chopped ’34 coupe that would have a seminal impact upon not only his life but also the hot-rod world. Finished in traditional black and flames, the coupe was photographed for the cover of the November 1973 issue of Rod & Custom, along with a similarly chopped canary yellow coupe of Jim “Jake” Jacobs. The two rodders hit it off and decided to start a small hot-rod repair business in Temple City, California. Then came the call from Hollywood, specifically Howie Horowitz, producer of the successful “Batman” series. He wanted Chapouris’ car for a made-for-TV movie called The California Kid starring Martin Sheen.

“The Kid” put Pete and Jake’s Hot Rod Parts on the map, and the pair ran a thriving business which, because of their innovative style and seat-of-the-pants marketing savvy, took the hot-rod business out of the backyard and into the mainstream.

Pete and Jake’s was eventually sold in 1987, and Chapouris went to work as vice president of marketing for SEMA. Having been instrumental in the formation of the Street Rod Equipment Association (SREA), Chapouris became a driving force in the transformation of the SREA into the Street Rod Market Alliance (SRMA)—a SEMA council—which later elected him into its hall of fame. He was inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame in 1999.

SO-CAL Speed Shop’s Jimmy Shine (left) and Pete Chopouris (right) teamed up with guitarist Billy Gibbons (center) to build a ’33 Ford coupe project car at the SEMA Garage.

In 1990, he formed an alliance with Bob Bauder and, among other projects, completed a pair of Harley-Davidson “HogZZillas” for Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top. The friendship with Gibbons resulted in numerous projects.

In 1995, he opened The Pete Chapouris Group (PC3g)—a hot-rod shop in Pomona, California.

One of the first cars that PC3g was involved in was a restoration for Bruce Meyer of the Pierson brothers’ coupe, which led to an enduring association and the eventual restoration of the SO-CAL belly tank Lakester.

Cover-quality cars were produced by PC3g, including Don Simpson’s “Killer Coupe,” several cars for Gibbons including a ’36 three-window coupe and “Kopperhed,” and an extended-cab Model A pickup for Chuck DeHeras. Chapouris also restored the Doane Spencer roadster for Meyer, which won the inaugural Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Hot Rod Class. It also won the Dean Batchelor Memorial Award for Excellence.

In addition, Chapouris was selected as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People within the high-performance industry and, as such, was inducted into the Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame.

Chapouris had a great relationship with Alex Xydias—the founder of the SO-CAL Speed Shop, and convinced Xydias to license him the SO-CAL name. SO-CAL Speed Shop is now a 30,000-sq.-ft. facility in Pomona boasting 30-plus employees and eight retail stores from coast to coast. Chapouris and the SO-CAL team built four land-speed cars for GM Performance, and in the last five seasons, set a half-dozen records putting four drivers in the 200 MPH Club.

Chapouris has been inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame, SEMA Hall of Fame, SREA Hall of Fame and SRMA Service Award, the National Rod & Custom Hall of Fame, the Hot Rod Hall of Fame and the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, awarded the Detroit Autorama Builder of the Year, the Grand National Roadster Show Builder of the Year, the Legends of Speed Lifetime Achievement Award and received the NSRA (UK) Hot Rod of the Century Award for his chopped ’34 3w coupe, the “California Kid.”

He is survived by his wife Carol, daughter Nicole and son Pete IV.

By Amelia Zwecher

Recruiters should host open houses, site tours and seminars to attract and evaluate qualified candidates.

Matching up top talent with careers and fulfilling organizational needs is the leading goal of the talent-acquisition industry. Recruiters can easily get stuck in the same routines and methods of recruiting, and opportunities can be missed in a complacent state of mind. It’s a good idea to continuously reevaluate practices and strive to improve.

Here are some additional best practices to consider in an ever-changing job market:

1. Host open houses, site tours, seminars, and/or webinars about your company/openings/advice to applicants.

2. Create a pipeline:

• Consider former applicants who were qualified, such as second-place candidates who just didn’t make the cut, or former candidates who were unqualified but may be qualified several months later.
• Stay in touch with former employees who were in good standing (alumni). These individuals can be advocates for your company. Some alumni may be great resources for referrals.
• Recruit active candidates. An active candidate is actively looking for work. This does not necessarily mean unemployed, but it can. This group is looking for a new opportunity for a variety of reasons.
• Recruit passive candidates. A passive candidate is employed, but not currently looking for a new opportunity. Including the 15% of professionals who are tiptoers (active), this group accounts for 75% of the workforce.

3. Consider numerous different applicant tracking systems to assist your company with heightening the sourcing/recruiting/hiring processes. Applicant tracking systems are also effective with managing talent acquisition processes.

For more information, contact Amelia F. Zwecher, TAS, manager, career services, at ameliaz@sema.org.

View Part 1 and Part 2 of this recruitment tips series.

By Amelia Zwecher

Recruiters should host open houses, site tours and seminars to attract and evaluate qualified candidates.

Matching up top talent with careers and fulfilling organizational needs is the leading goal of the talent-acquisition industry. Recruiters can easily get stuck in the same routines and methods of recruiting, and opportunities can be missed in a complacent state of mind. It’s a good idea to continuously reevaluate practices and strive to improve.

Here are some additional best practices to consider in an ever-changing job market:

1. Host open houses, site tours, seminars, and/or webinars about your company/openings/advice to applicants.

2. Create a pipeline:

• Consider former applicants who were qualified, such as second-place candidates who just didn’t make the cut, or former candidates who were unqualified but may be qualified several months later.
• Stay in touch with former employees who were in good standing (alumni). These individuals can be advocates for your company. Some alumni may be great resources for referrals.
• Recruit active candidates. An active candidate is actively looking for work. This does not necessarily mean unemployed, but it can. This group is looking for a new opportunity for a variety of reasons.
• Recruit passive candidates. A passive candidate is employed, but not currently looking for a new opportunity. Including the 15% of professionals who are tiptoers (active), this group accounts for 75% of the workforce.

3. Consider numerous different applicant tracking systems to assist your company with heightening the sourcing/recruiting/hiring processes. Applicant tracking systems are also effective with managing talent acquisition processes.

For more information, contact Amelia F. Zwecher, TAS, manager, career services, at ameliaz@sema.org.

View Part 1 and Part 2 of this recruitment tips series.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Sealed Stock All-Star Showdown Added to 9th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals in Commerce, Georgia

NMRA and NMCA have announced the second annual Sealed Stock All-Star Showdown—a special race between select Coyote Stock and Chevrolet Performance Stock competitors at the Commerce, Georgia, event at Atlanta Dragway, April 6–9, 2017. Billed as the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals, it’s one of only two races where fans can witness the spectacle of both NMRA and NMCA racing the same weekend. The Sealed Stock All-Star Showdown teams will be selected according to the following: Top three in points combined from the 2016 season and 2017 first event, and one wildcard racer whose name will be drawn during a driver’s meeting before the first qualifying round. Racers will compete for major bragging rights, $1,000 cash, a Manufacturer’s Cup, and a trip to the Aerospace Components Winners Circle.

John Force Racing Strengthens Organization for 2017 NHRA Season

John Force Racing (JFR) is strengthening its racing operations in preparation for multiple championship runs for the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Sixteen-time Funny Car champion John Force will reunite with crew chief Jimmy Prock, who won the 2013 title with Force, and co-crew chief Chris Cunningham will also join the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS. Prock worked at JFR for 14 years before serving as crew chief for Jack Beckman the last 2 seasons. Mike Neff returns as crew chief on Robert Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, with Jon Schaffer and Jason McCulloch joining that team as co-crew chiefs. JFR also has added Austin Prock to its driver development program. Prock, the son of Jimmy Prock and grandson of past Funny Car driver Tom Prock, has raced Sprint Cars and Midgets in his young career.

Eileen Daniels

Eileen Daniels to Receive 2017 Patricia Garlits Memorial Award

Eileen Daniels—one of drag racing’s most beloved individuals—has been named by Don Garlits as the recipient of the Patricia Garlits Memorial Award for 2017. She will be honored at the 27th annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet presented by Lucas Oil Products, to be held Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Gainesville, Florida, at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Gainesville. The award—honoring Garlits’ late wife Pat—specifically honors a woman involved with drag racing who has exhibited a lifetime of selfless devotion to the growth and betterment of the sport. Daniels is the fourth woman to be honored with this award, which was established in 2013. Dale Aldo, MOPAR Performance motorsports manager, will present the award—which is sponsored by MOPAR—to Daniels, who has been an active participant in the growth of drag racing since she married her late husband Bob at the age of 18. She has received numerous awards and honors throughout her lifetime, including a Wally, being an International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductee, named a Kentucky Colonel (the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s highest individual honor) in 2011, and given the title of “International Ambassador” by the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Sealed Stock All-Star Showdown Added to 9th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals in Commerce, Georgia

NMRA and NMCA have announced the second annual Sealed Stock All-Star Showdown—a special race between select Coyote Stock and Chevrolet Performance Stock competitors at the Commerce, Georgia, event at Atlanta Dragway, April 6–9, 2017. Billed as the NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals, it’s one of only two races where fans can witness the spectacle of both NMRA and NMCA racing the same weekend. The Sealed Stock All-Star Showdown teams will be selected according to the following: Top three in points combined from the 2016 season and 2017 first event, and one wildcard racer whose name will be drawn during a driver’s meeting before the first qualifying round. Racers will compete for major bragging rights, $1,000 cash, a Manufacturer’s Cup, and a trip to the Aerospace Components Winners Circle.

John Force Racing Strengthens Organization for 2017 NHRA Season

John Force Racing (JFR) is strengthening its racing operations in preparation for multiple championship runs for the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season. Sixteen-time Funny Car champion John Force will reunite with crew chief Jimmy Prock, who won the 2013 title with Force, and co-crew chief Chris Cunningham will also join the PEAK Chevrolet Camaro SS. Prock worked at JFR for 14 years before serving as crew chief for Jack Beckman the last 2 seasons. Mike Neff returns as crew chief on Robert Hight’s Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS Funny Car, with Jon Schaffer and Jason McCulloch joining that team as co-crew chiefs. JFR also has added Austin Prock to its driver development program. Prock, the son of Jimmy Prock and grandson of past Funny Car driver Tom Prock, has raced Sprint Cars and Midgets in his young career.

Eileen Daniels

Eileen Daniels to Receive 2017 Patricia Garlits Memorial Award

Eileen Daniels—one of drag racing’s most beloved individuals—has been named by Don Garlits as the recipient of the Patricia Garlits Memorial Award for 2017. She will be honored at the 27th annual International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Banquet presented by Lucas Oil Products, to be held Thursday, March 16, 2017, in Gainesville, Florida, at the Wyndham Garden Hotel Gainesville. The award—honoring Garlits’ late wife Pat—specifically honors a woman involved with drag racing who has exhibited a lifetime of selfless devotion to the growth and betterment of the sport. Daniels is the fourth woman to be honored with this award, which was established in 2013. Dale Aldo, MOPAR Performance motorsports manager, will present the award—which is sponsored by MOPAR—to Daniels, who has been an active participant in the growth of drag racing since she married her late husband Bob at the age of 18. She has received numerous awards and honors throughout her lifetime, including a Wally, being an International Drag Racing Hall of Fame inductee, named a Kentucky Colonel (the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s highest individual honor) in 2011, and given the title of “International Ambassador” by the British Drag Racing Hall of Fame.