By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A federal appeals court approved a 2013 plan by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to expand off-highway vehicle (OHV) access in Southern California’s Imperial Sand Dunes. The plan had been challenged by environmentalists looking to protect the Peirson’s milkvetch—a threatened plant species under the Endangered Species Act. 

The BLM and the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a biological opinion, which concluded that expanded OHV access was not a significant threat to the plant or to the Mojave Desert turtle population. As a result of the appeals court ruling, the BLM may now implement its plan to expand OHV access at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area by 49,3000 acres for a combined total of more than 127,000 acres at the recreation area. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

A federal appeals court approved a 2013 plan by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to expand off-highway vehicle (OHV) access in Southern California’s Imperial Sand Dunes. The plan had been challenged by environmentalists looking to protect the Peirson’s milkvetch—a threatened plant species under the Endangered Species Act. 

The BLM and the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a biological opinion, which concluded that expanded OHV access was not a significant threat to the plant or to the Mojave Desert turtle population. As a result of the appeals court ruling, the BLM may now implement its plan to expand OHV access at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area by 49,3000 acres for a combined total of more than 127,000 acres at the recreation area. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Becca Butler

Free for exhibitors to post and easily accessible by editors, reporters and buyers, the Online Media Center serves as the central hub for all Show-related news from exhibiting companies.

Exhibitors are announcing their 2016 SEMA Show plans daily via the Online Media Center. This web portal provides Showgoers with the latest breaking news from exhibiting companies at this year’s Show.

Here are a few of the most recent announcements:

OPTIMA Batteries, booth #20323, a global leader in high-performance and automotive marine batteries and digital battery chargers, will name the winners of its second annual OPTIMA Ultimate film festival finale during the SEMA Show.

Miller Electric, booth #24113, will offer live welding demonstrations and solutions-based seminars in its booth, Wednesday–Thursday, November 3–4, from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

House of Kolor by Valspar, booth #23513, will announce five new custom colors and celebrate its 60th anniversary at this year’s Show.

Bootywax, booth #16028, is excited to exhibit at the SEMA Show for the first time this year. The car-care products company will be featured in the First-Time Exhibitor area located in the Westgate.

LC Light USA Corp., booth #31261, will make its debut at this year’s SEMA Show, hoping to build its market influence in the United States. LC Light USA is a leading light manufacturer in countries all over the world.   

CMYK Grafix, booth #33319, announces Metallic Kryptek Camouflage Vinyl Wraps. The unique patterns and vibrant colors of these wraps are a great way to make your race vehicles and custom trucks unique.

Toyo Tires, booth #43115, introduces two additions to the popular Open Country family of tires—an all-season tire designed for CUVs and SUVs and an on/off-road commercial-grade tire to fit ½- to 1-ton pickups.

Visit the SEMA Show Online Media Center to see all the exhibitor announcements. The 2016 SEMA Show will take place November 1–4 in Las Vegas. For more information and to register, visit www.semashow.com.

By Becca Butler

Free for exhibitors to post and easily accessible by editors, reporters and buyers, the Online Media Center serves as the central hub for all Show-related news from exhibiting companies.

Exhibitors are announcing their 2016 SEMA Show plans daily via the Online Media Center. This web portal provides Showgoers with the latest breaking news from exhibiting companies at this year’s Show.

Here are a few of the most recent announcements:

OPTIMA Batteries, booth #20323, a global leader in high-performance and automotive marine batteries and digital battery chargers, will name the winners of its second annual OPTIMA Ultimate film festival finale during the SEMA Show.

Miller Electric, booth #24113, will offer live welding demonstrations and solutions-based seminars in its booth, Wednesday–Thursday, November 3–4, from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

House of Kolor by Valspar, booth #23513, will announce five new custom colors and celebrate its 60th anniversary at this year’s Show.

Bootywax, booth #16028, is excited to exhibit at the SEMA Show for the first time this year. The car-care products company will be featured in the First-Time Exhibitor area located in the Westgate.

LC Light USA Corp., booth #31261, will make its debut at this year’s SEMA Show, hoping to build its market influence in the United States. LC Light USA is a leading light manufacturer in countries all over the world.   

CMYK Grafix, booth #33319, announces Metallic Kryptek Camouflage Vinyl Wraps. The unique patterns and vibrant colors of these wraps are a great way to make your race vehicles and custom trucks unique.

Toyo Tires, booth #43115, introduces two additions to the popular Open Country family of tires—an all-season tire designed for CUVs and SUVs and an on/off-road commercial-grade tire to fit ½- to 1-ton pickups.

Visit the SEMA Show Online Media Center to see all the exhibitor announcements. The 2016 SEMA Show will take place November 1–4 in Las Vegas. For more information and to register, visit www.semashow.com.

By Becca Butler

Free for exhibitors to post and easily accessible by editors, reporters and buyers, the Online Media Center serves as the central hub for all Show-related news from exhibiting companies.

Exhibitors are announcing their 2016 SEMA Show plans daily via the Online Media Center. This web portal provides Showgoers with the latest breaking news from exhibiting companies at this year’s Show.

Here are a few of the most recent announcements:

OPTIMA Batteries, booth #20323, a global leader in high-performance and automotive marine batteries and digital battery chargers, will name the winners of its second annual OPTIMA Ultimate film festival finale during the SEMA Show.

Miller Electric, booth #24113, will offer live welding demonstrations and solutions-based seminars in its booth, Wednesday–Thursday, November 3–4, from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

House of Kolor by Valspar, booth #23513, will announce five new custom colors and celebrate its 60th anniversary at this year’s Show.

Bootywax, booth #16028, is excited to exhibit at the SEMA Show for the first time this year. The car-care products company will be featured in the First-Time Exhibitor area located in the Westgate.

LC Light USA Corp., booth #31261, will make its debut at this year’s SEMA Show, hoping to build its market influence in the United States. LC Light USA is a leading light manufacturer in countries all over the world.   

CMYK Grafix, booth #33319, announces Metallic Kryptek Camouflage Vinyl Wraps. The unique patterns and vibrant colors of these wraps are a great way to make your race vehicles and custom trucks unique.

Toyo Tires, booth #43115, introduces two additions to the popular Open Country family of tires—an all-season tire designed for CUVs and SUVs and an on/off-road commercial-grade tire to fit ½- to 1-ton pickups.

Visit the SEMA Show Online Media Center to see all the exhibitor announcements. The 2016 SEMA Show will take place November 1–4 in Las Vegas. For more information and to register, visit www.semashow.com.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Finalists Chosen in Eastwood DIY Legend Contest

Five car enthusiasts have been selected to compete in the Eastwood DIY Legends contest—a competition celebrating Eastwood’s customers that provides finalists with a chance to show off their skills and win a trip to the 2016 SEMA Show. Eastwood launched the DIY Legends contest this past spring when car enthusiasts were invited to submit a recap of their DIY history and dreams. The five finalists received $2,000 in Eastwood tools and $500 in cash to pursue their dream projects. They have until September 26 to complete their projects, before being reviewed by a celebrity judging panel that includes SEMA Vice President of Events Peter MacGillivray, Mike Joy (FOX Sports NASCAR announcer), Dina Parise (Pro Modified Drag Racer) and Rick Dore (custom car designer). After the judges weigh in, the public will be able to vote for their favorite. The contest culminates with the “Eastwood DIY Legend” receiving a trip to the SEMA Show in Las Vegas where the winning project will be displayed for all to see. The contest winner will also choose a nonprofit to be the beneficiary of a $1,000 donation from Eastwood.

The five finalists include:

• Dan Ladrigan, an 80-year-old lifelong car enthusiast from Milbridge, Maine, planning to bring a ’31 Ford roadster back to life.
• Erik Himbert, a paralyzed DIY fanatic from Sisters, Oregon, building a scalable stand-up wheelchair.
• Jack Green, a southern gentleman from Oneonta, Alabama, turning a plain-vanilla ’74 VW Bus into a “psychedelic lounge and living quarters.”
• Rob Chappelle, a handicap-able retired Army veteran from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, who began his DIY days restoring WWII military vehicles.
• John Hughes, lifetime DIY-er from Bonney Lake, Washington, who has worked on everything from a Beetle to a Datsun.

For more information about the DIY Legends contest, visit www.diylegends.com.

Eibach is celebrating the company’s 65th anniversary this year.

Eibach Celebrates 65 Years

Eibach has completed the largest investment of the company’s 65-year history with the construction of an advanced new production plant in Wiethfeld, Germany—7 km from the main plant in Finnentrop. By means of the new production facilities, technologies and necessary structures, Eibach has qualified as a valued partner for OEM manufacturers. Eibach employees and business partners will celebrate the 65th anniversary in real Sauerland style with a Schützenfest beginning September 30 with company tours and discussions.

Jenny Schmitz Joins FM3 Performance Marketing as Director of Marketing and Special Events

Automotive aftermarket and grassroots enthusiast event expert Jenny Schmitz has joined the FM3 Performance Marketing team. Her responsibilities will include developing new and existing business for FM3’s core business of event and mobile marketing and live event production for the automotive aftermarket performance industry. In addition, she will be responsible for developing and overseeing new interactive automotive events geared toward grassroots enthusiasts. Her previous credentials include serving first as marketing manager, then director of special events for TEN: The Enthusiast Network. Events under her leadership included such notables as Hot Rod Power Tour, Car Craft Summer Nationals and Hot Rod Drag Week, among others. Prior to her decade at TEN, she served for 16 years as vice president of finance, then executive vice president and general manager of family events, for Indianapolis-based producers of the Street Machine Nationals, 4-Wheel & Off Road Nationals events and other specialty events.

Robin McNeal

12V Veteran Joins Old School Car Radio Innovator

Retro Manufacturing, supplier of radios, speakers and audio accessories for classic cars, has welcomed Robin McNeal to the RetroSound team. Founded in 2007, RetroSound is a supplier of radios for vintage autos that includes such high-tech features as Apple iPhone/iPod compatibility, USB inputs, DSP and built-in Bluetooth. Recently the company received certification from SiriusXM, whose satellite-compatible subscription service will be offered on future models. McNeal joins Retro Manufacturing as vice president and general manager. He brings with him more than 30 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry and 12-volt audio video in particular.

Firestone Industrial Products Names Mark Hilburger Executive Director of Marketing

Firestone Industrial Products Company LLC (FSIP) has tapped company veteran Mark Hilburger to lead strategic marketing efforts as executive director of marketing. In the newly created role, Hilburger will develop and oversee all product marketing initiatives for the company. He joined Firestone in 1995 as product engineer, air spring development. Since that time, he has held various roles of increasing responsibility, including North American heavy-duty original equipment sales manager and division marketing manager. Hilburger also spent a year working to establish the company’s Turrialba, Costa Rica, manufacturing facility, overseeing site location, hiring staff managers and assisting in the SAP implementation. Most recently, as global automotive OEM business manager, he secured significant incremental business for the company and created a strategic plan for further expansion into the automotive channel.

Diane Fitzgerald

RPM Foundation Revs Up With New President

The RPM Foundation—a grant-giving organization that provides young adults with a pathway to careers in auto and marine restoration—has promoted its national director Diane Fitzgerald to president. The RPM Foundation is a member entity of America’s Automotive Trust (AAT)—a not-for-profit cooperative that seeks to secure America’s automotive heritage and transfer the skills and knowledge necessary for the collector car pastime to continue to grow. Since 2005, the RPM Foundation has impacted more than 25,000 people and has awarded nearly $3 million in funding for grants, apprenticeships and hands-on training for careers in automotive restoration and preservation. According to SEMA, the automotive restoration industry was worth $1.53 billion in 2015, rebounding past its all-time high prior to the Great Recession in 2007.

Edelbrock Receives CARB E.O. Number for Camaro, Corvette, Jeep and BRZ/FR-S E-Force Systems

Edelbrock has announced that it has received California Air Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order (EO) numbers on its E-Force supercharger systems for the ’16 Camaro, ’15–’16 Corvette ZO6, ’12–’16 Jeep Wrangler and ’12–’16 Scion FR-S, Subaru BRZ and Toyota GT86.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AT LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS IN BRAINERD: Timing is crucial in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. At 10,000hp, nitro-burning dragsters reach 330 mph in less than four seconds, and races are won and lost by hundredths of a second. Doing everything at the exact right time can lead to a championship, and drivers and teams heading to the 35th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, August 18–21, are well aware of that. The best in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will fight tooth and nail to hoist a Wally trophy in the Winner’s Circle come Sunday evening, but they will also be fighting time. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is the 17th of 24 events in the 2016 season and, more importantly, the penultimate race of the regular season. Drivers will compete for much more than a win at Brainerd International Raceway; they’ll be racing for a coveted spot in the NHRA’s six-race playoff—the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

SEATTLE NITRO FINALS WILL AIR LIVE DURING BRAINERD: FOX Sports 1 (FS1) is adding 30 minutes of live NHRA programming on Saturday, August 20, during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals to televise the postponed final rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car from the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

The added telecast will air from 3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. (EDT) and will feature the Top Fuel final between Antron Brown and Steve Torrence as well as the Funny Car final between Del Worsham and Ron Capps. Both final rounds will take place during the third round of qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd. The Pro Stock final from Seattle between Vincent Nobile and Aaron Strong will take place during the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

JUSTIN SHEARER PLANS TO RACE AT THE CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS: Justin “Big Chief” Shearer, star of Discovery Channel’s reality television series “Street Outlaws,” plans to compete in his Pro Mod car in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, August 31–September 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

“I’m super excited to have a chance to be part of the U.S. Nationals,” Shearer said. “It’s the biggest and most prestigious drag race in the world, so for me, it’s a dream come true. As a kid who always wanted to be a racecar driver, I’m getting closer to that goal. I have a lot of things to finalize first, but I’m smiling from ear-to-ear and just can’t stop."

Shearer recently appeared in an NHRA public service announcement encouraging hot-rod enthusiasts to race at NHRA tracks, and not illegally on public streets. Shearer filmed the PSA while attending the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, where he met with several NHRA stars and spoke to many fans.

He Said, She Said

"For me, it’s just feeding off the confidence of the team in general. Brainerd’s been exceptionally good to everyone at [Morgan Lucas Racing] over the last few years, and obviously Indianapolis has as well. This is a pretty exciting part of the year for us, and to have a racecar that appears to have turned a corner performance-wise gives us the momentum we’re going to need to try and make a run at this thing in the last six races of the Countdown. Over the last two races, we’ve seen a little bit of warm weather and a little bit of cool weather, and in both of those settings, our Lucas Oil dragster has run pretty good. That gives me a lot of confidence, knowing Aaron Brooks has got a handle on the racecar. We can run really good on a 110-degree race track, and we can run really good on an 80-degree race track.”

—Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton on racing at Brainerd International Raceway during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Crampton won the event last season and is looking for his first win of the year this weekend.   

Inside the Numbers

2006: The year that Tommy Johnson Jr. claimed his only Brainerd victory in Funny Car when he defeated Gary Scelzi. Johnson raced to the final round at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals; he has one win this year and is eighth in the Funny Car standings. His Don Schumacher Racing team is looking to catch a wave of momentum as the season enters the stretch run.

“This is the time of the season when you need to start performing at your best,” said Johnson, who has 13 career victories. “This is kind of when we were peaking last year. This year, we haven’t peaked yet. But I feel confident we’re getting there and that’s big. I can see our performance coming around and it’s important to be at your best this time of the year. I would love for nothing more than to go to Brainerd and hit the tuneup. Indy is coming up, so if you’re going to do any fine-tuning, you better do it here."

Did You Know?

LIMITED PREMIUM TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR NEW TOP ELIMINATOR CLUB AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY: Premium Top Eliminator Club (TEC) tickets are going fast for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, August 31–September 5. Those who purchase tickets will be the first to experience the new TEC pavilion, which will be completed prior to the event at the historic facility. The building is located adjacent to the starting line of the dragstrip on the west side of the track. The TEC tickets offer a deluxe seating experience for the drag race over Labor Day weekend and include an unobstructed view down the racing surface.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AT LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS IN BRAINERD: Timing is crucial in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. At 10,000hp, nitro-burning dragsters reach 330 mph in less than four seconds, and races are won and lost by hundredths of a second. Doing everything at the exact right time can lead to a championship, and drivers and teams heading to the 35th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, August 18–21, are well aware of that. The best in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will fight tooth and nail to hoist a Wally trophy in the Winner’s Circle come Sunday evening, but they will also be fighting time. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is the 17th of 24 events in the 2016 season and, more importantly, the penultimate race of the regular season. Drivers will compete for much more than a win at Brainerd International Raceway; they’ll be racing for a coveted spot in the NHRA’s six-race playoff—the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

SEATTLE NITRO FINALS WILL AIR LIVE DURING BRAINERD: FOX Sports 1 (FS1) is adding 30 minutes of live NHRA programming on Saturday, August 20, during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals to televise the postponed final rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car from the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

The added telecast will air from 3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. (EDT) and will feature the Top Fuel final between Antron Brown and Steve Torrence as well as the Funny Car final between Del Worsham and Ron Capps. Both final rounds will take place during the third round of qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd. The Pro Stock final from Seattle between Vincent Nobile and Aaron Strong will take place during the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

JUSTIN SHEARER PLANS TO RACE AT THE CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS: Justin “Big Chief” Shearer, star of Discovery Channel’s reality television series “Street Outlaws,” plans to compete in his Pro Mod car in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, August 31–September 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

“I’m super excited to have a chance to be part of the U.S. Nationals,” Shearer said. “It’s the biggest and most prestigious drag race in the world, so for me, it’s a dream come true. As a kid who always wanted to be a racecar driver, I’m getting closer to that goal. I have a lot of things to finalize first, but I’m smiling from ear-to-ear and just can’t stop."

Shearer recently appeared in an NHRA public service announcement encouraging hot-rod enthusiasts to race at NHRA tracks, and not illegally on public streets. Shearer filmed the PSA while attending the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, where he met with several NHRA stars and spoke to many fans.

He Said, She Said

"For me, it’s just feeding off the confidence of the team in general. Brainerd’s been exceptionally good to everyone at [Morgan Lucas Racing] over the last few years, and obviously Indianapolis has as well. This is a pretty exciting part of the year for us, and to have a racecar that appears to have turned a corner performance-wise gives us the momentum we’re going to need to try and make a run at this thing in the last six races of the Countdown. Over the last two races, we’ve seen a little bit of warm weather and a little bit of cool weather, and in both of those settings, our Lucas Oil dragster has run pretty good. That gives me a lot of confidence, knowing Aaron Brooks has got a handle on the racecar. We can run really good on a 110-degree race track, and we can run really good on an 80-degree race track.”

—Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton on racing at Brainerd International Raceway during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Crampton won the event last season and is looking for his first win of the year this weekend.   

Inside the Numbers

2006: The year that Tommy Johnson Jr. claimed his only Brainerd victory in Funny Car when he defeated Gary Scelzi. Johnson raced to the final round at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals; he has one win this year and is eighth in the Funny Car standings. His Don Schumacher Racing team is looking to catch a wave of momentum as the season enters the stretch run.

“This is the time of the season when you need to start performing at your best,” said Johnson, who has 13 career victories. “This is kind of when we were peaking last year. This year, we haven’t peaked yet. But I feel confident we’re getting there and that’s big. I can see our performance coming around and it’s important to be at your best this time of the year. I would love for nothing more than to go to Brainerd and hit the tuneup. Indy is coming up, so if you’re going to do any fine-tuning, you better do it here."

Did You Know?

LIMITED PREMIUM TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR NEW TOP ELIMINATOR CLUB AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY: Premium Top Eliminator Club (TEC) tickets are going fast for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, August 31–September 5. Those who purchase tickets will be the first to experience the new TEC pavilion, which will be completed prior to the event at the historic facility. The building is located adjacent to the starting line of the dragstrip on the west side of the track. The TEC tickets offer a deluxe seating experience for the drag race over Labor Day weekend and include an unobstructed view down the racing surface.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AT LUCAS OIL NHRA NATIONALS IN BRAINERD: Timing is crucial in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. At 10,000hp, nitro-burning dragsters reach 330 mph in less than four seconds, and races are won and lost by hundredths of a second. Doing everything at the exact right time can lead to a championship, and drivers and teams heading to the 35th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, August 18–21, are well aware of that. The best in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will fight tooth and nail to hoist a Wally trophy in the Winner’s Circle come Sunday evening, but they will also be fighting time. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals is the 17th of 24 events in the 2016 season and, more importantly, the penultimate race of the regular season. Drivers will compete for much more than a win at Brainerd International Raceway; they’ll be racing for a coveted spot in the NHRA’s six-race playoff—the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship.

SEATTLE NITRO FINALS WILL AIR LIVE DURING BRAINERD: FOX Sports 1 (FS1) is adding 30 minutes of live NHRA programming on Saturday, August 20, during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals to televise the postponed final rounds of Top Fuel and Funny Car from the Protect the Harvest NHRA Northwest Nationals presented by Lucas Oil.

The added telecast will air from 3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. (EDT) and will feature the Top Fuel final between Antron Brown and Steve Torrence as well as the Funny Car final between Del Worsham and Ron Capps. Both final rounds will take place during the third round of qualifying at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd. The Pro Stock final from Seattle between Vincent Nobile and Aaron Strong will take place during the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis.

JUSTIN SHEARER PLANS TO RACE AT THE CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS: Justin “Big Chief” Shearer, star of Discovery Channel’s reality television series “Street Outlaws,” plans to compete in his Pro Mod car in the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals, August 31–September 5 at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.

“I’m super excited to have a chance to be part of the U.S. Nationals,” Shearer said. “It’s the biggest and most prestigious drag race in the world, so for me, it’s a dream come true. As a kid who always wanted to be a racecar driver, I’m getting closer to that goal. I have a lot of things to finalize first, but I’m smiling from ear-to-ear and just can’t stop."

Shearer recently appeared in an NHRA public service announcement encouraging hot-rod enthusiasts to race at NHRA tracks, and not illegally on public streets. Shearer filmed the PSA while attending the NHRA Summernationals at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown, New Jersey, where he met with several NHRA stars and spoke to many fans.

He Said, She Said

"For me, it’s just feeding off the confidence of the team in general. Brainerd’s been exceptionally good to everyone at [Morgan Lucas Racing] over the last few years, and obviously Indianapolis has as well. This is a pretty exciting part of the year for us, and to have a racecar that appears to have turned a corner performance-wise gives us the momentum we’re going to need to try and make a run at this thing in the last six races of the Countdown. Over the last two races, we’ve seen a little bit of warm weather and a little bit of cool weather, and in both of those settings, our Lucas Oil dragster has run pretty good. That gives me a lot of confidence, knowing Aaron Brooks has got a handle on the racecar. We can run really good on a 110-degree race track, and we can run really good on an 80-degree race track.”

—Top Fuel racer Richie Crampton on racing at Brainerd International Raceway during the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Crampton won the event last season and is looking for his first win of the year this weekend.   

Inside the Numbers

2006: The year that Tommy Johnson Jr. claimed his only Brainerd victory in Funny Car when he defeated Gary Scelzi. Johnson raced to the final round at the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals; he has one win this year and is eighth in the Funny Car standings. His Don Schumacher Racing team is looking to catch a wave of momentum as the season enters the stretch run.

“This is the time of the season when you need to start performing at your best,” said Johnson, who has 13 career victories. “This is kind of when we were peaking last year. This year, we haven’t peaked yet. But I feel confident we’re getting there and that’s big. I can see our performance coming around and it’s important to be at your best this time of the year. I would love for nothing more than to go to Brainerd and hit the tuneup. Indy is coming up, so if you’re going to do any fine-tuning, you better do it here."

Did You Know?

LIMITED PREMIUM TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR NEW TOP ELIMINATOR CLUB AT LUCAS OIL RACEWAY: Premium Top Eliminator Club (TEC) tickets are going fast for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, August 31–September 5. Those who purchase tickets will be the first to experience the new TEC pavilion, which will be completed prior to the event at the historic facility. The building is located adjacent to the starting line of the dragstrip on the west side of the track. The TEC tickets offer a deluxe seating experience for the drag race over Labor Day weekend and include an unobstructed view down the racing surface.

By Jason Catullo

All of the products in the Showcase are photographed, featured in SEMA News and hosted on the SEMA website, www.SEMAphotos.com.

The SEMA Show New Products Showcase is a collection of new and signature products from exhibitors representing all markets across the specialty equipment industry. As the area serves as an extra avenue for exhibitors to reach new customers, it also is a temporary hub representing a year’s worth of new innovations and products for media and buyers to research.

All of the products in the Showcase are photographed, featured in SEMA News and hosted on the SEMA website, www.SEMAphotos.com. The images are also promoted to the media and used for the product information available to buyers at the Show.

Your first entry in the New Products Showcase is free. All additional entries are $75 per product category if received by Friday, October 7, $150 thereafter. Entries submitted on-site will be accepted on a space-available basis.

Click here to enter your product in the 2016 SEMA Show New Products Showcase.

More About the New Products Showcase

Location and Check-in System—The 2016 New Products Showcase will be located on the Skybridge of the Las Vegas Convention Center, between Central and South Halls. The location allows organizers to streamline the product check-in/-out system, resulting in a faster and easier process for exhibitors.

Option to Ship Products—Exhibitors can have their product(s) shipped to the Showcase in advance. Once on-site, they will need to visit the Showcase prior to Monday, October 31, at 3:00 p.m., to unpack and check-in the product(s), but the product(s) will already be waiting in the Showcase area. At the end of the Show, exhibitors also can skip product check-out and choose to have UPS package and ship the product(s) on their behalf.

Exposure for Your Existing Products—The “Featured Products” category provides an avenue to allow for products that do not meet the criteria for “new” to be included. A little more than 20% of all Show buyers will attend the Show for the first time in 2016, so the Featured Product category is valuable for promoting an existing line to new customers.

For more information on the New Products Showcase, Featured Products, or to enter a product, click here.