Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

SCHUMACHER READY TO DIAL UP CLUTCH PERFORMANCE: Through a standout career that includes eight Top Fuel world championships, Tony Schumacher has displayed an incredible ability to produce remarkable late-season runs to grab a world title. Trailing teammate and reigning world champion Antron Brown by 141 points, Schumacher will again need to dial up something special in his 10,000hp U.S. Army dragster over the final three events, including this weekend’s 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex.

“With the way the U.S. Army team has been performing down the stretch of the regular season and the first half of the Countdown, anything is possible,” Schumacher said. “You never know what’s going to go down on any given weekend, so the way we approach it is to take care of what we can control, and that is to go out and try to be fastest in every qualifying session, then run the table on Sunday.”

TEXAS NATIVE TORRENCE HOPES FOR HOME WIN: It is easy for Steve Torrence to reminisce when he is in the staging lanes at the Texas Motorplex—the site of the 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA FallNationals, October 13–16. The Top Fuel standout and Kilgore, Texas, native grew up racing at the track just two hours from his house, and every time he returns, it is an opportunity to look back on his rise through the drag-racing ranks at the famed facility. After advancing to the final round at the race last year, Torrence’s next step is his first Top Fuel win at the track, something that would add another memorable accomplishment to his impressive 2016 season.

“It was just a few years ago you’re pulling into the water box in your Super Comp car, just aspiring to be in this position,” said Torrence, who is currently sixth in Top Fuel points and has two wins in 2016. “It’s just an unbelievable feeling to accomplish those goals and be at the pinnacle of the sport you love,” said Torrence. “It holds all the more meaning to say I grew up here and every aspect of my racing career took place here. It’s always been a special place to me and where I grew up racing.”

MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY IS CAPPS' GOAL FOR REST OF COUNTDOWN: As he chases his first career NHRA Mello Drag Racing Series Funny Car world championship, Ron Capps has been a model of consistency throughout the 2016 regular season. That consistency has stretched into the six-race NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship, where Capps has continued to be in top form. Capps, who leads teammate Tommy Johnson Jr. by 24 points, has advanced to the semifinals or better in the first three playoff races in his 10,000-hp NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T—a stretch that now goes back to 12 of his past 13 races. It’s been a winning formula that Capps will try to continue to pick up his first 2016 Countdown to the Championship win at this weekend’s 31st annual AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals at the Texas Motorplex.

“Of course it’s better to be chased than be the chaser at this point,” said Capps, who has five wins and nine finals appearances in 2016. “But we’ve still got a long way to go. It’s nice we’ve kept up the consistency, and I said to win a championship you’ve got to average a semifinal finish or better. We’ve had such a great season and we want to keep it going. We’re clicking really well as a team and it’s time to take advantage of it.”

He Said, She Said

“This is a big weekend at the Texas Motorplex for my AAA Texas Chevy Camaro team. I still 100% believe I have a shot at the championship. We need to win races for sure, and I have won the AAA Texas Fallnationals before. I am ready to get to the track because we will have a lot of things going on with AAA Texas, so we’ll be busy, which I think helps keep you focused.”

—Robert Hight, driver of the AAA Chevy Camaro for John Force Racing. In addition to racing on the dragstrip, Hight will also ask fans at the AAA Texas Fallnationals to choose Drags over Checkered Flags. As the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series winds down, Hight is in a tight race with NASCAR’s Joey Logano. Both drivers are sponsored by Auto Club, and all season fans across the country have been voting at select events choosing between Drags/Robert Hight and Checkered Flags/Joey Logano. Fans can vote all weekend at the AAA Texas display at the Texas Motorplex.

Inside the Numbers

September 21–24 and September 29–October 1: The new dates respectively for the 2017 Dodge NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania, and the AAA Insurance NHRA Midwest Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park. The two events are switching their event dates for the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Countdown to the Championship. The AAA Insurance NHRA Nationals at Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Illinois, will move back one week to September 29–October 1, and The Dodge NHRA Nationals will take place September 21–24. The change will improve the overall schedule for both venues.

“I think we will see some benefits from this by moving off the weekend of the NASCAR races at Dover [Delaware],” said Lex Dudas, vice president and general manager at Maple Grove Raceway. “We know fans over the years wanted to do both, but they had to pick and choose.”

Did You Know

HOW NHRA CHAMPIONS WERE CROWNED BEFORE THE COUNTDOWN: The Countdown to the Championship six-race playoff system was established in 2007 to determine the season championships in the professional categories, but that hasn’t always been the case. The very first Top Fuel champion was Jack Williams in 1964. He earned his championship title based on the jackpot system that consisted of a 50-race schedule where drivers earned points at nine events of their choosing. Then in 1965, Maynard Rupp was crowned champion through the introduction of the world finals raced in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Racers had to participate in six events during the season to be eligible to compete for the championship. In 1974, Gary Beck, Shirl Greer and Bob Glidden became the first champions to earn their respective titles based on their season-long performance. This system stayed in place until the Countdown Championship crowned its first champions, Tony Schumacher, Tony Pedregon and Jeg Couglin and Matt Smith nine years ago.

By Della Domingo

The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles.

Featuring top vehicle builders who have proven their talents and craftsmanship by having a car or truck displayed at the 2016 SEMA Show, the third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition includes 250 applications, including builds from 98 up-and-coming “Young Guns.” As the basis for a nationwide television special, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles. 

Industry experts will select the top 10 finalists during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The finalists will then take over and evaluate one another’s vehicles, before the ultimate winner is announced Friday, November 4, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party open to the general public.

Hosted by Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic from “Overhaulin’,” the competition includes special recognition for builders under the age of 35 who are entered in SEMA Battle of the Builders. 

To learn more about the competition or about SEMA Ignited, visit www.SEMAshow.com/botb or www.semaignited.com.

The competitors for the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders are:
 


By Della Domingo

The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles.

Featuring top vehicle builders who have proven their talents and craftsmanship by having a car or truck displayed at the 2016 SEMA Show, the third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition includes 250 applications, including builds from 98 up-and-coming “Young Guns.” As the basis for a nationwide television special, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles. 

Industry experts will select the top 10 finalists during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The finalists will then take over and evaluate one another’s vehicles, before the ultimate winner is announced Friday, November 4, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party open to the general public.

Hosted by Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic from “Overhaulin’,” the competition includes special recognition for builders under the age of 35 who are entered in SEMA Battle of the Builders. 

To learn more about the competition or about SEMA Ignited, visit www.SEMAshow.com/botb or www.semaignited.com.

The competitors for the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders are:
 


By Della Domingo

The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles.

Featuring top vehicle builders who have proven their talents and craftsmanship by having a car or truck displayed at the 2016 SEMA Show, the third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition includes 250 applications, including builds from 98 up-and-coming “Young Guns.” As the basis for a nationwide television special, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles. 

Industry experts will select the top 10 finalists during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The finalists will then take over and evaluate one another’s vehicles, before the ultimate winner is announced Friday, November 4, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party open to the general public.

Hosted by Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic from “Overhaulin’,” the competition includes special recognition for builders under the age of 35 who are entered in SEMA Battle of the Builders. 

To learn more about the competition or about SEMA Ignited, visit www.SEMAshow.com/botb or www.semaignited.com.

The competitors for the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders are:
 


By Della Domingo

The SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles.

Featuring top vehicle builders who have proven their talents and craftsmanship by having a car or truck displayed at the 2016 SEMA Show, the third annual SEMA Battle of the Builders® competition includes 250 applications, including builds from 98 up-and-coming “Young Guns.” As the basis for a nationwide television special, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition honors SEMA Show vehicle builders, their vehicles and the products on those vehicles. 

Industry experts will select the top 10 finalists during the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The finalists will then take over and evaluate one another’s vehicles, before the ultimate winner is announced Friday, November 4, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party open to the general public.

Hosted by Chris Jacobs and Adrienne “AJ” Janic from “Overhaulin’,” the competition includes special recognition for builders under the age of 35 who are entered in SEMA Battle of the Builders. 

To learn more about the competition or about SEMA Ignited, visit www.SEMAshow.com/botb or www.semaignited.com.

The competitors for the 2016 SEMA Battle of the Builders are:
 


By Michael Hart

Kim Lear

Consumer expectations are changing fast. Disruptive technologies have made customization and convenience important factors business owners didn’t even have to think about as little as five years ago.

What do business owners really know about what their customers want? Who are their customers, and where else are they shopping for their products?

These are some of the vital questions “trend spotter” Kim Lear will answer at the Friday, November 4, SEMA Show Keynote and Coffee session, entitled “Buyer Behavior and Your Business.”

“This is for anyone who needs to be more effective in selling to the consumers of today and the consumers of tomorrow,” Lear said. “It’s going to be a future-focused look at what people are buying, why they’re buying it and what their expectations are.”

In this session, attendees will learn:

• How to identify those trends that change how we buy things, especially those that call for discretionary spending.
• Ways to grow their businesses by creating remarkable customer experiences.
• The best and worst examples of customer loyalty.
• What they need to build an action plan that will not only retain their current customers, but also generate new ones.

“Many of the companies in the aftermarket industry are family-owned businesses,” Lear said, “and they run on relationships. Those companies are in a very good spot. They understand already what it takes to build standout experiences for their customers and the relationships they have with them.”

Lear, an expert on how emerging trends impact the marketplace and the workforce, has keynoted for some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Disney and American Express. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, USA Today and on NPR.

As a prime example of how consumer expectations have changed, she points to her own recent experience in buying a new car.

“I did the entire thing online,” Lear said. “They’ve created an online experience where you can learn about and customize your car in almost a gamified way. I literally went to the dealership just to pick it up.”

How can business owners compete with that? Learn how in Lear’s “Buyer Behavior and Your Business” session.

Sign up today.

For complete information on all the 2016 SEMA Show education tracks, visit SEMA Show Education.

By Michael Hart

Kim Lear

Consumer expectations are changing fast. Disruptive technologies have made customization and convenience important factors business owners didn’t even have to think about as little as five years ago.

What do business owners really know about what their customers want? Who are their customers, and where else are they shopping for their products?

These are some of the vital questions “trend spotter” Kim Lear will answer at the Friday, November 4, SEMA Show Keynote and Coffee session, entitled “Buyer Behavior and Your Business.”

“This is for anyone who needs to be more effective in selling to the consumers of today and the consumers of tomorrow,” Lear said. “It’s going to be a future-focused look at what people are buying, why they’re buying it and what their expectations are.”

In this session, attendees will learn:

• How to identify those trends that change how we buy things, especially those that call for discretionary spending.
• Ways to grow their businesses by creating remarkable customer experiences.
• The best and worst examples of customer loyalty.
• What they need to build an action plan that will not only retain their current customers, but also generate new ones.

“Many of the companies in the aftermarket industry are family-owned businesses,” Lear said, “and they run on relationships. Those companies are in a very good spot. They understand already what it takes to build standout experiences for their customers and the relationships they have with them.”

Lear, an expert on how emerging trends impact the marketplace and the workforce, has keynoted for some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Disney and American Express. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, USA Today and on NPR.

As a prime example of how consumer expectations have changed, she points to her own recent experience in buying a new car.

“I did the entire thing online,” Lear said. “They’ve created an online experience where you can learn about and customize your car in almost a gamified way. I literally went to the dealership just to pick it up.”

How can business owners compete with that? Learn how in Lear’s “Buyer Behavior and Your Business” session.

Sign up today.

For complete information on all the 2016 SEMA Show education tracks, visit SEMA Show Education.

By Michael Hart

Kim Lear

Consumer expectations are changing fast. Disruptive technologies have made customization and convenience important factors business owners didn’t even have to think about as little as five years ago.

What do business owners really know about what their customers want? Who are their customers, and where else are they shopping for their products?

These are some of the vital questions “trend spotter” Kim Lear will answer at the Friday, November 4, SEMA Show Keynote and Coffee session, entitled “Buyer Behavior and Your Business.”

“This is for anyone who needs to be more effective in selling to the consumers of today and the consumers of tomorrow,” Lear said. “It’s going to be a future-focused look at what people are buying, why they’re buying it and what their expectations are.”

In this session, attendees will learn:

• How to identify those trends that change how we buy things, especially those that call for discretionary spending.
• Ways to grow their businesses by creating remarkable customer experiences.
• The best and worst examples of customer loyalty.
• What they need to build an action plan that will not only retain their current customers, but also generate new ones.

“Many of the companies in the aftermarket industry are family-owned businesses,” Lear said, “and they run on relationships. Those companies are in a very good spot. They understand already what it takes to build standout experiences for their customers and the relationships they have with them.”

Lear, an expert on how emerging trends impact the marketplace and the workforce, has keynoted for some of the most prestigious companies in the world, including Deloitte, Ernst & Young, Disney and American Express. She has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, USA Today and on NPR.

As a prime example of how consumer expectations have changed, she points to her own recent experience in buying a new car.

“I did the entire thing online,” Lear said. “They’ve created an online experience where you can learn about and customize your car in almost a gamified way. I literally went to the dealership just to pick it up.”

How can business owners compete with that? Learn how in Lear’s “Buyer Behavior and Your Business” session.

Sign up today.

For complete information on all the 2016 SEMA Show education tracks, visit SEMA Show Education.

By SEMA Editors

John Dianna (left) accepted recognition from PWA on behalf of Hot Rod magazine for its 50th anniversary in 1997.

John J. Dianna passed away September 28 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from complications associated with cancer. He was 74 years old.

Those who knew him may be surprised that any illness could beat him, as he was ornery, contentious and outspoken to a fault, but he was also a mentor to many in the automotive industry.

Dianna began drag racing back east in the late ’50s and eventually moved to Southern California. One day, Jim McFarland, publisher of Hot Rod magazine, told Dianna he wanted to talk to him. Dianna thought he would be offered a job racing a Summers Brothers car, but McFarland offered him a job at Hot Rod instead.

Over the next several decades, Dianna worked as an editor at Hot Rod, Car Craft and Motor Trend magazines, among others, eventually becoming the president of the Automotive Performance Group, overseeing as many as 72 automotive titles. Dianna oversaw Hot Rod’s 50th-anniversary content and celebration, and helped transition the initial sale of Petersen Publishing to the Chicago investment group, which went on to take the company public, and again when British publisher Emap purchased the company at the end of the ’90s.

In the mid-’90s, Dianna started his own publishing company, Buckaroo Communications, with magazines such as Super Rod and Street Rod Builder. He eventually moved the business to Chattanooga, Tennessee, but the company quietly dissolved in 2009.

There will be no services.

Sung Kang, known as Han from the “Fast and the Furious” franchise talks with Dennis Pittsenbarger about his ’73 Datsun 240Z that was on display at the 2015 SEMA Show.