Compiled by SEMA Editors

VP Racing Fuels and Ray Evernham have partnered for the 2018 racing season and his new project called the “Ghost.”

VP Racing Fuels Partners With Ray Evernham for 2018 Race Season

VP Racing Fuels has announced a mutual partnership with NASCAR Hall of Fame crew chief and team owner Ray Evernham for the 2018 racing season and his new project called the “Ghost,” which combines Evernham’s admiration for old-school automotive styling and aesthetics with his knowledge and access to modern-day technology and performance. The concept for this car was born out of Evernham’s passion for vintage race cars, respect for innovation and concern for safety. Evernham will take his modified to several vintage races next year, but will focus efforts and the web series on five events: SVRA event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, vintage event at Pocono Raceway, drag session at zMax Dragway, landspeed trial run on the Bonneville Salt Flats and Pikes Peak Hill Climb (driven by Al Unser Jr.).

24th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout to Kick Off 2018 Season at Bradenton Motorsports Park

NMRA kicks off the 2018 season at Bradenton Motorsports Park, March 1–4, for one of the biggest, most celebrated all-Ford motorsport events of the year! The 24th Annual Nitto Tire NMRA Spring Break Shootout, presented by Steeda Autosports, features drag racing, an all-Ford car show, a manufacturer’s midway and more. The event also features some of the greatest specialty shootout classes of the year, hitting popular niches in the late-model Mustang market. Taking QA1 True Street one step further is Outlaw True Street featuring 275/28 street Mustangs. There is also the traditional Spring Break Shootout plus a Terminator/GT500 showdown, fast-paced Turbo Coyote Shootout and the Stick Shift Shootout. The all-Ford car show includes one of the largest all-Ford manufacturers’ midways with representatives to answer product questions and a swap meet with hundreds of hard-to-find used parts. For more information, visit the NMRA website.

WELD Racing Returns to NHRA Midway

WELD Racing continues to expand its commitment to the NHRA Pro and Sportsman competitors by returning to the NHRA Midway. McCormack Motorsports will represent the brand at all 23 NHRA national events and provide sales and technical support to racers and fans. The WELD Racing NHRA Midway display will offer technical support, pre-orders/product sales, contingency information, small parts availability and servicing of wheels.

By SEMA Editors

(L–R): SEMA WTC member and event host Billy Eordekian of 1-800EveryRim-OEM Wheels, Gold Sponsor Matt Burrows of Yokohama, TIA Past President Tom Formanek of Stellar Industries, Social Hour Sponsor Ryan Crawford of Federated Insurance, CTDA President Chris Barry of ITDG, SEMA WTC Chair Greg Parker of Wegman Automotive, and Gold Sponsor Sevada Meckailian of Pirelli. (Not Pictured: Gold Sponsor Paul Arellano of Lakin Tire West.)

Jay Goldberg (left) receives the award plaque from CTDA President Chris Barry (right) of ITDG for more than 50 years of service to the California Tire Dealers Association.

SEMA Wheel & Tire Council (WTC) Chair Greg Parker of Wegmann Automotive and Tire Industry Association (TIA) Immediate Past President Tom Formanek of Stellar Industries headlined the California Tire Dealers Association’s (CTDA) annual CTDA/1-800EveryRim New Year’s luncheon, held January 17. CTDA President Chris Barry of The Independent Tire Dealer Group (ITDG) served as master of ceremonies. Also recognized was CTDA board member Jay Goldberg’s 50-plus years of service to the association. Goldberg was instrumental in the merger of the then Southern California Tire Dealers Association with its Northern counterpart in 2013, and had been a principal at Globe Tire and Anderson Tire since the ’60s. The luncheon drew 50 companies and 79 guests overall.

Those companies interested in joining CTDA may contact Executive Director Marc Connerly at mconnerly@connerlyandassociates.com or 916-214-6495.

Event Host: 1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels

Social Hour Sponsor: Federated Insurance

Gold Sponsors:

• Yokohama
• Pirelli
• Lakin Tire West

Silver Sponsors:

• American Tire Depot
• Net Driven
• Turbo Wholesale Tire

Firms Represented:

• 1-800EveryRim – OEM Wheels
• Achilles Tires USA
• American Tire Depot – Corporate
• American Tire Distributors
• Borg Equipment & Tire Supply
• Cogg’s Tire Service
• Commercial Tire
• Continental Tire
• Discount Tire Centers – Corporate
• Fairmount Tire
• Federated Insurance
• Freedom Tire Distributing
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co
• Grand Prix Performance
• Grand Prix Tire & Automotive
• Independent Repair & Tire Pros
• Independent Tire Dealer Group (ITDG)
• Kings Tire Wholesale
• Kovel Fuller
• Lakin Tire West
• Lee’s Tire
• LKQ - Keystone
• McMahan Tire Service
• Modern Tire Dealer Magazine
• Momo Automotive
• Net Driven
• Nexen Tire
• Parts & People Magazine
• Penn Tires
• Performance Plus Tire
• Pirelli
• Savas Tires
• SEMA
• SEMA Wheel & Tire Council
• Sentury Tire
• South Valley Wholesale
• Star Tire Center
• Sunrise Auto Center
• The Carlstar Group
• Tire Industry Association (TIA)
• Tire Network
• Tire Pros – Corporate
• Tire Review Magazine

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In case you missed the January 9 free webinar on how the new tax law will impact small businesses, their owners and employees, you have a second chance. The recording and slides are now available for viewing. To take advantage, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org and he will provide you with a link and password.

The webinar was presented by Paula Calimafde, president and general counsel of the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC), and Jessica Summers, SBLC’s strategic policy director. The SBLC is a coalition of trade and professional associations, including SEMA, that represent a cross-section of the small-business community, and form a unified voice in helping influence how the nation’s laws are enacted and implemented.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In case you missed the January 9 free webinar on how the new tax law will impact small businesses, their owners and employees, you have a second chance. The recording and slides are now available for viewing. To take advantage, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org and he will provide you with a link and password.

The webinar was presented by Paula Calimafde, president and general counsel of the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC), and Jessica Summers, SBLC’s strategic policy director. The SBLC is a coalition of trade and professional associations, including SEMA, that represent a cross-section of the small-business community, and form a unified voice in helping influence how the nation’s laws are enacted and implemented.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In case you missed the January 9 free webinar on how the new tax law will impact small businesses, their owners and employees, you have a second chance. The recording and slides are now available for viewing. To take advantage, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org and he will provide you with a link and password.

The webinar was presented by Paula Calimafde, president and general counsel of the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC), and Jessica Summers, SBLC’s strategic policy director. The SBLC is a coalition of trade and professional associations, including SEMA, that represent a cross-section of the small-business community, and form a unified voice in helping influence how the nation’s laws are enacted and implemented.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles.

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles. Under current law, such vehicles do not qualify for registration as Class A vehicles and are not granted the same access to roads used by all-terrain vehicles. This bill is currently in the Senate Transpiration Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Daniel Ingber at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles.

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles. Under current law, such vehicles do not qualify for registration as Class A vehicles and are not granted the same access to roads used by all-terrain vehicles. This bill is currently in the Senate Transpiration Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Daniel Ingber at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles.

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles. Under current law, such vehicles do not qualify for registration as Class A vehicles and are not granted the same access to roads used by all-terrain vehicles. This bill is currently in the Senate Transpiration Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Daniel Ingber at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles.

Legislation was introduced to create a special registration plate for fullsize special-purpose off-road vehicles, self-assembled or modified original-equipment manufactured vehicles, that would give them the same limited access to roads as all-terrain vehicles. Under current law, such vehicles do not qualify for registration as Class A vehicles and are not granted the same access to roads used by all-terrain vehicles. This bill is currently in the Senate Transpiration Committee.

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Daniel Ingber at stateleg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A bill was introduced that allows for window tinting as long as it meets the minimum standard of 25% light transmittance.

A bill was introduced that allows for window tinting as long as it meets the minimum standard of 25% light transmittance. The bill has been introduced and referred to the Senate Committee on Business and Labor. 

For more information, visit the SEMA Action Network (SAN) website. For details, contact Daniel Ingber at stateleg@sema.org.