By SEMA Editors

Hellwig Products released its new bolt-on rear sway bar for the all-new ’18 Jeep Wrangler JL to improve both the handling and safety on- and off-road.

Hellwig Products released its new bolt-on rear sway bar for the all-new ’18 Jeep Wrangler JL to improve both the handling and safety on- and off-road.

Athough Jeep equips the Wrangler from the factory with a front and rear sway bar, they are undersized and not capable of providing adequate roll control after the vehicle is lifted or when rooftop accessories, such as cargo systems and rooftop tents, are added. With the addition of the Hellwig rear sway bar, drastic improvements can be made to handling and body roll control of the JL, with little effect on overall suspension travel and articulation, making the vehicle safer and more fun to drive.

Hellwig Products offers an upgraded 7/8-in. diameter rear sway bar (PN 7775) to replace the undersized factory bar. This bolt-on sway bar is forged from 4140 chromoly steel, heat treated for durability, and features a forged two-hole adjustable end to allow you tuning of the bar to your driving style, suspension modifications, payload and terrain. Each sway bar has a “Hammertone” powdercoat for all-weather durability; includes upgraded polyurethane bushings for noise-free operation; and reuses the factory end links and mounting points.

The sway bars can be installed in less than an hour with simple hand tools, come with all necessary parts and hardware, are made in the U.S.A., and come with a lifetime warranty on all steel parts.

Visit Hellwig Products in Booth #33077.

By SEMA Editors

Kim Pendergast (center) of Magnuson Products won the Athena Woman of the Year Award; Ellen McKoy (right) of EMK Marketing won the Athena Champion Award; and Taylor Bostick, a Mechanical Engineering student at Oklahoma State University and 2018 SEMA scholarship award winner, won the Athena Rising Star Award.

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) again hosted the Gear-up Girl Networking event on Monday, October 29. Started in 2011 as part of the SEMA Education student program, Gear-up Girl is designed to connect female students with industry-leading female professionals. Conversation, stories and advice flowed between industry veterans and students.

At the event, Kim Pendergast of Magnuson Products won the Athena Woman of the Year Award.

Ellen McKoy of EMK Marketing won the Athena Champion Award, and Taylor Bostick, a Mechanical Engineering student at Oklahoma State University and 2018 SEMA scholarship award winner, won the Athena Rising Star Award.

By SEMA Editors

Kim Pendergast (center) of Magnuson Products won the Athena Woman of the Year Award; Ellen McKoy (right) of EMK Marketing won the Athena Champion Award; and Taylor Bostick, a Mechanical Engineering student at Oklahoma State University and 2018 SEMA scholarship award winner, won the Athena Rising Star Award.

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) again hosted the Gear-up Girl Networking event on Monday, October 29. Started in 2011 as part of the SEMA Education student program, Gear-up Girl is designed to connect female students with industry-leading female professionals. Conversation, stories and advice flowed between industry veterans and students.

At the event, Kim Pendergast of Magnuson Products won the Athena Woman of the Year Award.

Ellen McKoy of EMK Marketing won the Athena Champion Award, and Taylor Bostick, a Mechanical Engineering student at Oklahoma State University and 2018 SEMA scholarship award winner, won the Athena Rising Star Award.

By SEMA Editors

ColorBond recognized Carlos Medrano as the winner of the 2018 CLeo Award for his ’13 Honda Civic Si interior.

ColorBond named Carlos Medrano the winner of the 2018 CLeo Award for the amazing transformation of his ’13 Honda Civic Si interior. The show car is on display in ColorBond’s Booth #24181. Medrano also won the award in 2016.

The CLeo Award was established in 2014 to honor Leo Kagan, who was responsible for moving the SEMA Show in 1977 from Anaheim, California, to its current location in Las Vegas. Leo is 102 years old and continues to work for ColorBond Automotive Paint.

The award recognizes individuals who have shown excellence utilizing ColorBond car interior paint to restore or restyle the interior of any type of automobile, including trucks, musclecars and classics. Award recipients receive the CLeo Crystal trophy, $500 and have their vehicle showcased in the ColorBond booth at the SEMA Show. The winning vehicle is also featured in the SEMA Cruise on Friday after the close of the Show.

Past CLeo Award winners are Ken Bolen, Jay Van Houten, Carlos Medrano and Eddie Black.

By SEMA Editors

ColorBond recognized Carlos Medrano as the winner of the 2018 CLeo Award for his ’13 Honda Civic Si interior.

ColorBond named Carlos Medrano the winner of the 2018 CLeo Award for the amazing transformation of his ’13 Honda Civic Si interior. The show car is on display in ColorBond’s Booth #24181. Medrano also won the award in 2016.

The CLeo Award was established in 2014 to honor Leo Kagan, who was responsible for moving the SEMA Show in 1977 from Anaheim, California, to its current location in Las Vegas. Leo is 102 years old and continues to work for ColorBond Automotive Paint.

The award recognizes individuals who have shown excellence utilizing ColorBond car interior paint to restore or restyle the interior of any type of automobile, including trucks, musclecars and classics. Award recipients receive the CLeo Crystal trophy, $500 and have their vehicle showcased in the ColorBond booth at the SEMA Show. The winning vehicle is also featured in the SEMA Cruise on Friday after the close of the Show.

Past CLeo Award winners are Ken Bolen, Jay Van Houten, Carlos Medrano and Eddie Black.

By SEMA Editors

The JL Tire Relocation Bracket is an easy bolt-on install using OE attachment points and lets you retain the rubber isolator for reduced vibrations and brake light/rear camera functions.

To make sure your JL can be equipped with an oversize spare tire, Smittybilt has designed a new JL Tire Relocation Bracket. This bracket allows you to mount a 35-in. spare tire (up to 37 in. with reinforcement plate) by repositioning it 1.5 in. out and 2.62 in. up from the stock tire mount.

This is an easy bolt-on install using OE attachment points and allows users to retain the rubber isolator for reduced vibrations and brake light/rear camera functions. The Gen2 JL Tire Relocation Brackets are available now.

Visit Procomp/Smittybilt/Rubicon Express/Poison Spyder/G2 Axle/LRG Rims in Booth #35061.

By SEMA Editors

The JL Tire Relocation Bracket is an easy bolt-on install using OE attachment points and lets you retain the rubber isolator for reduced vibrations and brake light/rear camera functions.

To make sure your JL can be equipped with an oversize spare tire, Smittybilt has designed a new JL Tire Relocation Bracket. This bracket allows you to mount a 35-in. spare tire (up to 37 in. with reinforcement plate) by repositioning it 1.5 in. out and 2.62 in. up from the stock tire mount.

This is an easy bolt-on install using OE attachment points and allows users to retain the rubber isolator for reduced vibrations and brake light/rear camera functions. The Gen2 JL Tire Relocation Brackets are available now.

Visit Procomp/Smittybilt/Rubicon Express/Poison Spyder/G2 Axle/LRG Rims in Booth #35061.

By SEMA Editors

The NHRA Breakfast featured drag-racing legends Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and John Force.

The 2018 NHRA Breakfast in the Westgate Paradise Events Center showcased celebrity drivers who have been on the road to “Fifty Years of the NHRA Gatornationals.” The event featured drag racing legends Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme as well as current NHRA driver John Force.

FOX broadcast announcer Brian Lohnes served as the panel moderator, asking probing questions to provide attendees with a revealing glimpse into some of the best-kept stories of the historic Gatornationals.

“To have John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme all on one stage is a very rare occurrence,” Lohnes stated.

More About The Panel

Kenny Bernstein – Nicknamed the “King of Speed,” Bernstein was the first driver to break the elusive 300 mph barrier at the Gatornationals in 1992. He’s won the Gatornationals four times in his career and was the first driver in history to win a championship in both Funny Car and Top Fuel.

Joe Amato – Amato secured 52 national event wins in Top Fuel and five world championship titles. He raced to three career victories at the Gatornationals. He was the first driver in the sports history to run 280-mph in 1987 and a 4.5-second pass in 1996.

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme – Prudhomme had 49 national event victories – 35 in Funny Car and 14 in Top Fuel - as well as four consecutive Funny Car world championships. Five of those event wins happening at Gainesville Raceway. As a team owner, he garnered two Top Fuel world championships with Larry Dixon as his driver in 2002 and 2003.

John Force - A 16-time Funny Car world champion, Force has 149 career victories and counting, making him the winningest driver in NHRA history. He has secured eight career victories at the Gatornationals, most recently in 2017.

By SEMA Editors

The NHRA Breakfast featured drag-racing legends Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme and John Force.

The 2018 NHRA Breakfast in the Westgate Paradise Events Center showcased celebrity drivers who have been on the road to “Fifty Years of the NHRA Gatornationals.” The event featured drag racing legends Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato, Don “The Snake” Prudhomme as well as current NHRA driver John Force.

FOX broadcast announcer Brian Lohnes served as the panel moderator, asking probing questions to provide attendees with a revealing glimpse into some of the best-kept stories of the historic Gatornationals.

“To have John Force, Kenny Bernstein, Joe Amato and Don “The Snake” Prudhomme all on one stage is a very rare occurrence,” Lohnes stated.

More About The Panel

Kenny Bernstein – Nicknamed the “King of Speed,” Bernstein was the first driver to break the elusive 300 mph barrier at the Gatornationals in 1992. He’s won the Gatornationals four times in his career and was the first driver in history to win a championship in both Funny Car and Top Fuel.

Joe Amato – Amato secured 52 national event wins in Top Fuel and five world championship titles. He raced to three career victories at the Gatornationals. He was the first driver in the sports history to run 280-mph in 1987 and a 4.5-second pass in 1996.

Don “The Snake” Prudhomme – Prudhomme had 49 national event victories – 35 in Funny Car and 14 in Top Fuel - as well as four consecutive Funny Car world championships. Five of those event wins happening at Gainesville Raceway. As a team owner, he garnered two Top Fuel world championships with Larry Dixon as his driver in 2002 and 2003.

John Force - A 16-time Funny Car world champion, Force has 149 career victories and counting, making him the winningest driver in NHRA history. He has secured eight career victories at the Gatornationals, most recently in 2017.

By SEMA Editors

SEMA Ignited will give the general public a first look at vehicles and products from the 2018 SEMA Show at a new location this year—the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Platinum Lot, located on the east side of LVCC (on Swenson Street, between Desert Inn Road and Sierra Vista Drive).

SEMA Ignited will give the general public a first look at vehicles and products from the 2018 SEMA Show at a new location this year—the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Platinum Lot, located on the east side of LVCC (on Swenson St., between Desert Inn Rd. and Sierra Vista Dr.).

Following four days behind closed doors at LVCC, hundreds of custom-built vehicles will roll out of the Convention Center on Friday, November 2, and assemble at SEMA Ignited.

SEMA Ignited is an open-to-the-public extravaganza that includes food, entertainment, iconic builders, hundreds of customized SEMA Show vehicles, and much more. Spectators may also be included in a nationwide television special, as producers film the announcement of the 2018 SEMA Battle of the Builders winner during the event. The program will premiere on the Velocity Channel in 2019 and document several builders’ journeys to the SEMA Show.

This year, SEMA Ignited will also feature the special, high-flying Nitro Circus Freestyle Motocross (FMX) show. The FMX show will join KIA, Formula Drift and Joe Schubeck's vintage dragster cacklefest in bringing high-performance action to SEMA Showgoers and Las Vegas locals.

SEMA Show attendees receive complimentary admission with their Show badge, while general admission to SEMA Ignited is $20. Children ages 12 and under are admitted free with a paid general admission ticket. 

Additional information is available at www.semaignited.com.