Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show, the premier gathering for the automotive specialty-equipment industry, is now open at www.semashow.com/register. 

Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show, taking place November 1-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, is now open at www.semashow.com/register.  

Taking place November 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 2022 SEMA Show will build upon the positive momentum following last year’s event, which successfully connected the $47.8 billion industry in person in what was the largest automotive trade show in North America since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.

“The SEMA Show is where industry professionals go to grow existing relationships, create new ones, and push their businesses forward,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Exhibitors are eager to showcase their products and services to the tens of thousands of qualified professionals in attendance.”

Anticipation for this year's SEMA Show ramped up in recent weeks as exhibitors prepared to select their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, a weeks-long process taking place May 2–18 that will lay the foundation for this year’s floorplan. Access to the Priority Space Selection process is available at www.semashow.com, with floorplan updates happening every 10–15 minutes.

“Enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to exceed last year’s, with more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed for the 2022 SEMA Show and confirmed spaces running 25% above last year,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.

Attendees at the 2022 SEMA Show will learn about the latest products, trends and technology in the industry from manufacturers exhibiting throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, including the surrounding parking lots. Educational seminars led by industry experts and networking events that bring market niches together will also be available during the four-day trade event.

“Our industry continues to thrive despite current challenges in the marketplace, and last year’s event proved that the value of conducting business and networking face-to-face can never be replaced,” said Gattuso. “Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”

Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor and media—and everyone must qualify to attend. Attendees are encouraged to register early at www.semashow.com/register so they can secure their credentials and receive updates on breaking news from the 2022 SEMA Show.

For more information about qualifying documents and the 2022 SEMA Show, log on to www.semashow.com.

  By SEMA Editors

The SEMA Awards Gala (formerly the SEMA Installation Gala) is a long-established tradition where individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the industry are honored and celebrated.

Join SEMA leadership, volunteers and industry icons at the SEMA Awards Gala, Friday, July 29, in Anaheim, California, to honor 2022's SEMA Hall of Fame Inductees. The gala will take place at the Westin Anaheim Resort.

Since its inception in 1976, the SEMA Installation Gala (now the SEMA Awards Gala) has served as the formal gathering where new SEMA Hall of Fame inductees are introduced, the incoming Board of Directors are recognized, and outgoing Directors are thanked. SEMA council, network and industry leaders are also highlighted during the event.

Connect with friends and family who share a common passion and love for the industry. Join others in helping celebrate Hall of Fame inductees’ lifetime achievements.

The evening will feature cocktails, networking and dinner. Seating is limited. A full table can be purchased by selecting 10 tickets.

Registration for the 2022 SEMA Awards Gala is now open.

 The 2022 SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit will be held Tuesday–Thursday, July 26–28, in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

SEMA Vice President, Events Tom Gattuso will provide Exhibitor Summit attendees helpful tips on how to be successful at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

At the SEMA Show Exhibitor Summit, exhibitors will receive helpful tips from Show management and have the opportunity to meet with their SEMA Show sales director. During educational sessions, exhibitors will learn how to:

• Use proven strategies to attract buyers to their booths.
• Save big bucks on Show costs, such as material handling, electrical and related Show expenses.
• Work one-on-one with Show experts to maximize ROI.
• Properly plan and budget to add value to their Show experience.
• Take advantage of SEMA value-added programs.
• Explore promotional opportunities through sponsorships.
• Participate in the New Products Showcase.
• Utilize the Exhibitor Services Manual.

There is no cost to attend. Exhibitors pay for their flight and SEMA takes care of the rest, which includes hotel, shuttle service from hotel to LVCC, breakfast and lunch, a cocktail Hour on July 26 and an excursion on July 27 (TBD).

For more information, contact the Show department at semashow@sema.org or 909-396-0289.

Register now!

SEMA News highlights new products from industry companies when available. To have your product considered for upcoming issues, send product press releases to editors@sema.org.

DEI
Sensor Covers

Thermal sensor and wire connector covers are a great way to protect plugs and wire connectors from heat, moisture and dirt. They are made from an aluminized insulation that act as a thermal barrier for sensitive wire connections and sensors.

Simple to install with a split top, the 25mm (10753) and 32mm (10754) can be nested to fully cover connectors, near engine manifolds, turbo’s and their heat sources.

www.designengineering.com

KBS
Motor Coater Kit

The KBS Motor Coater Kit provides your car or truck’s engine with a beautiful and protective finish. This all-inclusive and user-friendly system consists of KBS Klean to clean surfaces, RustBlast to remove rust and corrosion, and Motor Coater, which is a durable engine enamel that has deep and rich pigment for excellent coverage.

Motor Coater is currently available in 39 colors. KBS Klean is a concentrated, water-based, and biodegradable cleaner that deeply penetrates to remove stubborn dirt, grease, and grime.

KBS Klean is an excellent alternative to flammable solvents and hazardous chemicals. RustBlast is a powerful rust remover, zinc phosphate pre-primer, and metal etch. RustBlast effectively dissolves rust, corrosion, metal oxides, and tarnish from most metal surfaces while leaving a surface best for paint adhesion. Motor Coater is a high performance and high gloss paint that can withstand temperatures of up to 450°F and is impervious to oil and gas.

www.kbs-coatings.com

Holley Classic Trucks
Premium Grilles for ’73–’82 Chevrolet C/K

Holley Classic Trucks’ premium grilles are offered in original colors for a stock look or can be painted for a custom touch. All factory mounting points are present to make installation simple, and provisions for the factory Bowtie and moldings, where applicable, are present to maintain an OEM appearance.

www.holley.com

Malco Products, SBC
Eagle Grip Locking Tools

Malco Products, SBC, announced the launch of Eagle Grip, its newest line of professional-grade locking tools. Eagle Grip Locking Tools are the first full line manufactured at Malco’s plant in DeWitt, Nebraska, the original birthplace of the locking pliers.

Forged from premium American steel, Eagle Grip tools deliver stronger and more reliable performance on the job. Malco tools are designed and built to meet the rigorous demands of professional users.

The first products in the Eagle Grip line include locking pliers and clamps for use in sheet metal, automotive, welding and agriculture applications.

Locking Pliers

• 7-in. and 10-in. Straight Jaw Locking Pliers
• 7-in. and 10-in. Curved Jaw Locking Pliers with Wire Cutter

Clamps

• 11-in. Locking C-Clamps
• 11-in. Locking C-Clamps with Swivel Pads

www.eaglegripusa.com

By SEMA Editors

Although the SEMA Priority Selection process is winding down, it’s not too late for exhibitors who want to participate in the 2022 SEMA Show to submit a booth space application. Attendees are encouraged to check the floorplan throughout the week to see where the companies they need to interact with will be located at the 2022 SEMA Show.

Attendees are encouraged to check the floorplan throughout the week to see where the companies they need to interact with will be located at the 2022 SEMA Show.

For more information about exhibiting, refer to the Exhibitor Service Manual, where you will find information about deadlines, booth and feature vehicle applications, Show guidelines, booth services, target times for freight and more.

The 2022 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, November 1–4, in Las Vegas.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Minnesota will hold their 2022 primary elections on Tuesday, May 24, and 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 Alabama, Georgia and Minnesota 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:

ALABAMA:

• Rep. Mike Rogers [R-AL-3]*
• Rep. Gary Palmer [R-AL-6]*
• Rep. Robert Aderholt [R-AL-4]*

GEORGIA:

• Rep. Sanford Bishop Jr. [D-GA-2]*
• Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux [D-GA-7]*
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene [R-GA-14]*
• Rep. Austin Scott [R-GA-8]

MINNESOTA:

• Rep. Pete Stauber [R-MN-8]*
• Rep. Jim Hagedorn [R-MN-1]
• Rep. Angie Craig [D-MN-2]

*Original RPM Act co-sponsor
For more information, contact erics@sema.org.

Almost four years ago, Ford Motor Co. announced that it would yank out every car in the automaker’s lineup, except for the Mustang and Focus Active due to surging demand for crossovers and utility vehicles.

As part of the radical shakeup, the Blue Oval has also discontinued the Fusion, along with its Lincoln-badged platform twins. Be that as it may, there is hearsay the Fusion will return in the guise of a jacked-up utility vehicle inspired by the low-slung Evos crossover for the Chinese market.

Produced by the Dearborn-based automaker’s joint venture with Chang’an Automobile, the Evos mid-size crossover still hasn’t been detailed in depth even though it was presented last year at the Shanghai Motor Show. Based on the 2.0L EcoBoost four-cylinder turbo, eight-speed automatic transmission, and front-wheel-drive layout, it’s likely based on the C2 that replaces the CD4 platform of the Fusion, Taurus, MKZ and Continental.

Given these details, have a good look at the camo’d prototype recently spied near the Dearborn R&D center in Michigan. Evos-inspired styling cues are obvious, but on the other hand, we’re looking at a boxy wagon-esque vehicle rather than a coupe SUV.

Reportedly named Fusion Active, according to unverified reports, the indirect successor of the Fusion four-door sedan features a more upright rear end and a more rugged front-grille motif.

Considering that Ford intends to kill off the long-in-the-tooth Edge in 2023, the mid-size utility vehicle with two-row seating could be replaced by the Fusion Active. The footprint is just right for the newcomer to slot between the front-/all-wheel-drive Escape and rear-/all-wheel-drive Explorer too.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

B. Force, Hight and M. Smith Cap Off Virginia NHRA Nationals With Victories

Brittany Force defeated four-time defending world champion Steve Torrence, going 3.770 seconds at 334.07 mph in her 11,000-hp Flav-R-Pac dragster.

Brittany Force finished off a dominant weekend that included track records and a No. 1 qualifier with a Top Fuel victory on Sunday at Virginia Motorsports Park, helping John Force Racing to a Top Fuel and Funny Car sweep at the Virginia NHRA Nationals. Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the seventh of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Force never trailed in the final round against four-time defending world champion Steve Torrence, going 3.770 seconds at 334.07 mph in her 11,000hp Flav-R-Pac dragster to win for the third time this season, extending her points lead to 81 over rival Torrence, who moved into second in points.

Hight helped ensure a nitro sweep for JFR, delivering a 3.907 at 328.86 in his 11,000hp Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS in the Funny Car final round against points leader Matt Hagan, whose points lead now stands at just 15 over Hight.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, defending world champ Smith denied Steve Johnson his third straight win, adding another great layer in their ongoing rivalry, going 6.842 at 198.35 on his Denso Auto Parts/Stockseth/Matt Smith Racing Suzuki to beat the points leader on a holeshot.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action with the NHRA New England Nationals on June 3–5, at New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire.

Solans Steals Canaries Win

Nil Solans enjoyed a trouble-free drive over the closing tests and went on to clinch victory number two of the season by 11.2 seconds.

Nil Solans grabbed a second victory from as many FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) starts this season, after Luis Monzón hit trouble at Rally Islas Canarias. Monzón was looking good for his fourth Rally Islas Canarias triumph as he outpaced Solans by 3.0 seconds on Saturday’s opener, but disaster struck on the very next test. The 56-year-old discovered a screw which had found its way into one of his Škoda Fabia Rally2’s tires. There was no time to change the wheel before the stage and the tire eventually gave way after 4.3 km, plunging Monzón into retirement.

Solans then seized the top spot and led by 10.4 seconds from Citroën C3 Rally2 driver Yoann Bonato heading into the final loop. He enjoyed a trouble-free drive over the closing tests and went on to clinch victory number two of the season by 11.2 seconds. Bonato was left scrapping for the runners-up spot with Team MRF Tyres Škoda driver Efrén Llarena. Llarena reduced Bonato’s deficit to just 0.7 seconds ahead of the Power Stage before outpacing his rival on the finale to end the rally on identical times. Llarena took second on countback having set the fastest time over the first non-superspecial stage, moving into the championship lead in the process.

Enrique Cruz was the highest-placed Canary Islander, and brought his Ford Fiesta Rally2 home 12.7 seconds behind Bonato to take fourth. He had 45.3 seconds in hand over Škoda rookie Pep Bassas, who celebrated his best-ever ERC result.

The series reverts to gravel for Rally Poland next month. The fourth round is based at Mikołajki, June 10–12.

NASCAR Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Landmark Award

NASCAR has announced the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2023. The three-person group—the 13th since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010—consists of two Modern-Era inductees, Matt Kenseth and Kirk Shelmerdine, and one Pioneer inductee, Hershel McGriff. In addition, Mike Helton was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

For the first time since 2019, members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel—comprised of NASCAR representatives, Hall of Fame inductees, track owners, media members and more—met in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2023 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award. Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote were A.J. Foyt (Pioneer), Kenseth (Modern Era) and Harry Gant (Modern Era).

The class of 2023 induction ceremony is set for Friday, January 20, 2023, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for the induction ceremony will be available later in May on nascarhall.com.

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

By SEMA Editors

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Product Data/Website Administrator
Cognito Motorsports is hiring a product data/website administrator responsible for the development and maintenance of product data for distribution across all digital channels, including the company ERP, website and reseller network. The qualified candidate must have excellent writing and proof reading skills with extraordinary attention to details and ability to hit scheduled deadlines. A B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited four-year university or equivalent work experience is preferred.

Social Media Manager/Content Creator
Seibon International Inc. is hiring a social-media manager and content creator to administer its social-media accounts and generate content for its channels and website. Candidate will be responsible for creating original text and photo and video content, managing posts and responding to followers. Candidates must be up-to-date with the latest digital technologies and social-media trends, have excellent communication skills and a minimum of three years’ experience in the automotive aftermarket industry. SEMA and PRI attendance is required.

Marketing Director
Power Automedia is hiring a marketing director to oversee its marketing efforts. This individual must have a background in omnichannel marketing. Experience in the automotive aftermarket is desirable. This position is responsible for developing and executing the overall marketing strategy to generate B2B sales while also providing some support for consumer marketing. The position requires extensive experience in all forms of digital and sales marketing. Candidates must be capable of analyzing ROI on campaigns and targeting specific audiences. Leadership skills are a major plus, as the department may be growing with increased business.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.