By SEMA Editors

The SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program will provide 10 high schools with hands-on-learning opportunities and expose hundreds of students to the $44.6 billion automotive specialty equipment industry.

The SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program, now entering its third year, will provide 10 high schools with hands-on learning opportunities and expose hundreds of students to the $44.6 billion automotive specialty-equipment industry.

The program began in 2017, with one vehicle and one high school. Using donated parts from 23 SEMA-member manufacturers, students from Santa Fe Early College Opportunities Applied Science Magnet High School (Santa Fe ECO), from Santa Fe, New Mexico, built a ’15 four-wheel-drive Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that was auctioned off to raise money so that the program could be replicated and even grow. The following school year, the SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program expanded to include five high schools. This year, the program will include 10 vehicles consisting of Jeep Wrangler TJs and third-generation Toyota 4Runners.   

The program aims to engage students in the customization lifestyle and introduce them to a career path within the automotive aftermarket industry by connecting high school automotive shop classes with specialty-equipment manufacturers’ products to build one-of-a-kind customized vehicles.

“We launched this program with the goal of offering students a hands-on learning experience while enhancing existing curriculum in high school automotive shop courses,” said Katie Hurst, SEMA youth engagement programs manager. “Not only did we reach that goal, but also the program was so successful that now we are expanding it to reach even more high school automotive shop students.”

Although applications to participate in the 2019–2020 vehicle build have already closed, SEMA is currently in the process of securing parts donations from parts manufacturers and volunteers to serve as industry mentors to students. By contributing parts, participating companies will have their products installed on the vehicle(s) and receive recognition through the build website and in SEMA build promotions.

“The program not only provides promising students with applicable skillsets and knowledge, but also gives them a great sense of community,” said Hurst. “Through teamwork, passion and the generosity of our sponsors, we are truly able to make these vehicle builds one of a kind.”

In addition to the High School Vehicle Build Program, SEMA’s Educational Program includes Scholarship and Loan Forgiveness, SEMA Show Student Programs and career opportunities through the SEMA Career Center.

Companies interested in donating parts for the builds or learning more about the High School Vehicle Build Program can visit www.sema.org/student-builds or contact Hurst at katieh@sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Steve Torrence took over the Top Fuel points lead in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship when he defeated Doug Kalitta in his Capco Contractors dragster at the 12th annual NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Torrence, Hight, Kramer and Hines Emerge Victorious at NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals

Steve Torrence took over the Top Fuel points lead in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship when he defeated Doug Kalitta at the 12th annual NTK NHRA Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Deric Kramer (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in their respective categories at the third of six races in the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs. It is also the 21st of 24 events during the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season.

Defending world champion Torrence won this event for the second year in a row with a final round pass of 3.772 seconds at 323.19 mph in his Capco Contractors dragster to beat Kalitta. Funny Car’s Hight went 3.917 at 329.02 in his Automobile Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to win the final round when Jack Beckman went red at the starting line. This win also puts him in the lead in the Countdown to the Championship.

In Pro Stock, Kramer went 6.541 at 211.33 in the final round in his American Ethanol Novozymes Chevrolet Camaro to snag his second victory in 2019 and fourth of his career beating Matt Hartford in the final. Hines picked up his eighth Pro Stock Motorcycle win of the season in his Harley-Davidson when his pass of 6.805 at 199.37 defeated Karen Stoffer in the final round.

The Mello Yello Drag Racing Series continues October 17–20, with the fourth of six races in the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs—the AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at Texas Motorplex in Dallas.

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

By Rachel Tatum

Members of the media can find exhibitor press releases in the SEMA Show Online Media Center.

Exhibitors are busy preparing for the SEMA Show, and they share their latest updates for the event taking place November 5–8, in Las Vegas. New product debuts and innovations are the center of the premier automotive trade show. Many of the announcements can be found in the SEMA Show Online Media Center.

Below are some of the latest announcements that can be found:

• MagnaFlow to Unveil All-Wheel Drive, Twin-Turbo, Carbon-Fiber Widebody Dodge Charger by SpeedKore at the SEMA 2019 Show
• OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Alley Returns to SEMA Show
• New Patented Concept in Car Phone Mounts
• BOSS Audio Brings New Look and New Products to the 2019 SEMA Show
• Retro Sound—Modern Sound for Your Classic and a Grasshopper
• CleanTools Inc. to Display “3 Penny Roadster” in Their Booth at the 2019 SEMA Show
• Crosley/Howerton Championship Winning Bike on Display at the Full Spectrum Power Booth at SEMA
• New Like90 Penetrating Cavity Wax Protects Areas Other Cavity Waxes Can’t Reach
• Confezioni Andrea Brings Custom Car Covers and Interior Protection for the First Time at the SEMA Show
• New Headlamp Tab Repair Kit Passes CAPA Verification Program
• New Era Racing Tires
• North American E-Mobility Launch From Wiha Tools
• New Paintless Dent Repair Tool Company Creates Innovative Patent-Pending Tools for Everyone
• Hey Zestino Fans, We Are in SEMA Show as Scheduled This Year
• Yakima LockNLoad Platform Collection Now Available
• ReadyRest Arm Rest
• Spray Your Way to Big Savings With Apollo’s TrueHVLP Maxi-Miser 2000 Mobile Spray System

To see more press releases from SEMA Show exhibitors, visit www.semashow.com/press. Find all SEMA Show news at www.semashow.com/news.

Exhibitors can upload releases to be included in the Online Media Center. For information about PR opportunities for SEMA Show exhibitors, contact Rachel Tatum at rachelt@sema.org or 909-978-6669.

By Rachel Tatum

Members of the media can find exhibitor press releases in the SEMA Show Online Media Center.

Exhibitors are busy preparing for the SEMA Show, and they share their latest updates for the event taking place November 5–8, in Las Vegas. New product debuts and innovations are the center of the premier automotive trade show. Many of the announcements can be found in the SEMA Show Online Media Center.

Below are some of the latest announcements that can be found:

• MagnaFlow to Unveil All-Wheel Drive, Twin-Turbo, Carbon-Fiber Widebody Dodge Charger by SpeedKore at the SEMA 2019 Show
• OPTIMA Batteries Street Car Alley Returns to SEMA Show
• New Patented Concept in Car Phone Mounts
• BOSS Audio Brings New Look and New Products to the 2019 SEMA Show
• Retro Sound—Modern Sound for Your Classic and a Grasshopper
• CleanTools Inc. to Display “3 Penny Roadster” in Their Booth at the 2019 SEMA Show
• Crosley/Howerton Championship Winning Bike on Display at the Full Spectrum Power Booth at SEMA
• New Like90 Penetrating Cavity Wax Protects Areas Other Cavity Waxes Can’t Reach
• Confezioni Andrea Brings Custom Car Covers and Interior Protection for the First Time at the SEMA Show
• New Headlamp Tab Repair Kit Passes CAPA Verification Program
• New Era Racing Tires
• North American E-Mobility Launch From Wiha Tools
• New Paintless Dent Repair Tool Company Creates Innovative Patent-Pending Tools for Everyone
• Hey Zestino Fans, We Are in SEMA Show as Scheduled This Year
• Yakima LockNLoad Platform Collection Now Available
• ReadyRest Arm Rest
• Spray Your Way to Big Savings With Apollo’s TrueHVLP Maxi-Miser 2000 Mobile Spray System

To see more press releases from SEMA Show exhibitors, visit www.semashow.com/press. Find all SEMA Show news at www.semashow.com/news.

Exhibitors can upload releases to be included in the Online Media Center. For information about PR opportunities for SEMA Show exhibitors, contact Rachel Tatum at rachelt@sema.org or 909-978-6669.

By SEMA Editors

Young builders all over the country are competing in the SEMA Young Guns Regional competition for a chance to win a trip to the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and have their vehicle displayed at the Show. SEMA stopped and talked to Keenen LaCour at the TX2K in Houston—one of the regional qualifier stops for the competition.

LaCour is truly passionate about his ’03 Mitsubishi Evo 8. Seven years ago he started out with a completely stock Lancer Evolution and that was only the beginning of this passion project. Over time, he added a Precision turbo, aluminum rods, upgraded the transmission and ECU and much more. After numerous tweaks and a custom tune, LaCour’s Evo 8 is now putting out 1,106 hp at 51 lb.-ft. of boost. All of the trial and error has paid off as LaCour earned himself a spot at the SEMA Show with this build.

The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world. The “Young Guns” classification is exclusive to up-and-coming builders who are 27 years old and younger and have performed the majority of the work on their vehicles.

The regional competitions open the program up to 10 more “Young Guns” who may not already be showcasing a vehicle at the SEMA Show, by partnering with event organizers throughout the country. The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

By SEMA Editors

Young builders all over the country are competing in the SEMA Young Guns Regional competition for a chance to win a trip to the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and have their vehicle displayed at the Show. SEMA stopped and talked to Keenen LaCour at the TX2K in Houston—one of the regional qualifier stops for the competition.

LaCour is truly passionate about his ’03 Mitsubishi Evo 8. Seven years ago he started out with a completely stock Lancer Evolution and that was only the beginning of this passion project. Over time, he added a Precision turbo, aluminum rods, upgraded the transmission and ECU and much more. After numerous tweaks and a custom tune, LaCour’s Evo 8 is now putting out 1,106 hp at 51 lb.-ft. of boost. All of the trial and error has paid off as LaCour earned himself a spot at the SEMA Show with this build.

The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world. The “Young Guns” classification is exclusive to up-and-coming builders who are 27 years old and younger and have performed the majority of the work on their vehicles.

The regional competitions open the program up to 10 more “Young Guns” who may not already be showcasing a vehicle at the SEMA Show, by partnering with event organizers throughout the country. The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

By SEMA Editors

Young builders all over the country are competing in the SEMA Young Guns Regional competition for a chance to win a trip to the 2019 trade-only SEMA Show and have their vehicle displayed at the Show. SEMA stopped and talked to Keenen LaCour at the TX2K in Houston—one of the regional qualifier stops for the competition.

LaCour is truly passionate about his ’03 Mitsubishi Evo 8. Seven years ago he started out with a completely stock Lancer Evolution and that was only the beginning of this passion project. Over time, he added a Precision turbo, aluminum rods, upgraded the transmission and ECU and much more. After numerous tweaks and a custom tune, LaCour’s Evo 8 is now putting out 1,106 hp at 51 lb.-ft. of boost. All of the trial and error has paid off as LaCour earned himself a spot at the SEMA Show with this build.

The Battle of the Builders competition celebrates the amazing craftsmanship and talents of people who create and build some of the most unique cars in the world. The “Young Guns” classification is exclusive to up-and-coming builders who are 27 years old and younger and have performed the majority of the work on their vehicles.

The regional competitions open the program up to 10 more “Young Guns” who may not already be showcasing a vehicle at the SEMA Show, by partnering with event organizers throughout the country. The grand prize is an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot and entry into the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition.

Is this is a ’20 Jeep Wrangler with a Stormtrooper package?

FCA continues to leverage its Disney/Star Wars sponsorship with a new vehicle that reflects the film franchise like, in this case, a Jeep Wrangler. Similar to other movie tie-ins, this Wrangler will consist mostly of trim and equipment bundles (Fox shocks, Warn winch, LED foglights), and the trim changes appear to be modest based on these photos.

If this is truly a Stormtrooper package, expect an announcement around the November L.A. Auto Show, ahead of the release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker on December 20.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Is this is a ’20 Jeep Wrangler with a Stormtrooper package?

FCA continues to leverage its Disney/Star Wars sponsorship with a new vehicle that reflects the film franchise like, in this case, a Jeep Wrangler. Similar to other movie tie-ins, this Wrangler will consist mostly of trim and equipment bundles (Fox shocks, Warn winch, LED foglights), and the trim changes appear to be modest based on these photos.

If this is truly a Stormtrooper package, expect an announcement around the November L.A. Auto Show, ahead of the release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker on December 20.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Is this is a ’20 Jeep Wrangler with a Stormtrooper package?

FCA continues to leverage its Disney/Star Wars sponsorship with a new vehicle that reflects the film franchise like, in this case, a Jeep Wrangler. Similar to other movie tie-ins, this Wrangler will consist mostly of trim and equipment bundles (Fox shocks, Warn winch, LED foglights), and the trim changes appear to be modest based on these photos.

If this is truly a Stormtrooper package, expect an announcement around the November L.A. Auto Show, ahead of the release of Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker on December 20.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde