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.

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.

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.

The 2016 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, November 1–4, in Las Vegas. Online registration for the Show, available now through October 14, is $40.

The 2015 SEMA Show gathered more than 170,000 individuals together to do business. The annual Show features manufacturers representing all segments of the industry highlighting their latest product innovations—from wheels, tires, mobile electronics, restyling kits and paint, to exhaust kits, engine upgrades, suspension components, interior products and much more.

The 2016 SEMA Show is scheduled for Tuesday–Friday, November 1–4, in Las Vegas. Online registration for the Show, available now through October 14, is $40.

The 2015 SEMA Show gathered more than 170,000 individuals together to do business. The annual Show features manufacturers representing all segments of the industry highlighting their latest product innovations—from wheels, tires, mobile electronics, restyling kits and paint, to exhaust kits, engine upgrades, suspension components, interior products and much more.

By Linda Spencer

The SEMA Garage will host a measuring session for the globally popular ’16 Nissan Patrol Y62, August 22–26, 2016. This truck has caught on in the Middle East and Australia, among other markets, but is currently not sold in the United States.

The Nissan Patrol is popular in the Middle East, Australia and other markets, but is currently not sold in the United States. Register now to participate in the August 22–26 Nissan Patrol measuring session.

The 5.6L V8 gasoline 4WD spec-d truck is on loan to SEMA by a trade buyer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who is particularly seeking lights and body kits. SEMA spoke with the shop owner in the UAE who lent SEMA the vehicle. He noted that with the vehicle coming to the United States in 2018 (a rebadged Armada), there are many opportunities for those who make product for the Patrol.

“Our company would like to work with U.S. companies to make better products for on-road and off-road consumers, and this car provides opportunities for them before the car hits the U.S. market. In the UAE, people love to go off-road. I believe companies that make suspension, body kits, lights, tires and wheels and performance parts will gain many aftermarket product orders for this car," he stated.

Register now to participate in the August 22–26 Nissan Patrol measuring session. For general questions about the truck or for those making products sought by the UAE buyer, contact Linda Spencer.

By Linda Spencer

The SEMA Garage will host a measuring session for the globally popular ’16 Nissan Patrol Y62, August 22–26, 2016. This truck has caught on in the Middle East and Australia, among other markets, but is currently not sold in the United States.

The Nissan Patrol is popular in the Middle East, Australia and other markets, but is currently not sold in the United States. Register now to participate in the August 22–26 Nissan Patrol measuring session.

The 5.6L V8 gasoline 4WD spec-d truck is on loan to SEMA by a trade buyer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who is particularly seeking lights and body kits. SEMA spoke with the shop owner in the UAE who lent SEMA the vehicle. He noted that with the vehicle coming to the United States in 2018 (a rebadged Armada), there are many opportunities for those who make product for the Patrol.

“Our company would like to work with U.S. companies to make better products for on-road and off-road consumers, and this car provides opportunities for them before the car hits the U.S. market. In the UAE, people love to go off-road. I believe companies that make suspension, body kits, lights, tires and wheels and performance parts will gain many aftermarket product orders for this car," he stated.

Register now to participate in the August 22–26 Nissan Patrol measuring session. For general questions about the truck or for those making products sought by the UAE buyer, contact Linda Spencer.

By Linda Spencer

The SEMA Garage will host a measuring session for the globally popular ’16 Nissan Patrol Y62, August 22–26, 2016. This truck has caught on in the Middle East and Australia, among other markets, but is currently not sold in the United States.

The Nissan Patrol is popular in the Middle East, Australia and other markets, but is currently not sold in the United States. Register now to participate in the August 22–26 Nissan Patrol measuring session.

The 5.6L V8 gasoline 4WD spec-d truck is on loan to SEMA by a trade buyer in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who is particularly seeking lights and body kits. SEMA spoke with the shop owner in the UAE who lent SEMA the vehicle. He noted that with the vehicle coming to the United States in 2018 (a rebadged Armada), there are many opportunities for those who make product for the Patrol.

“Our company would like to work with U.S. companies to make better products for on-road and off-road consumers, and this car provides opportunities for them before the car hits the U.S. market. In the UAE, people love to go off-road. I believe companies that make suspension, body kits, lights, tires and wheels and performance parts will gain many aftermarket product orders for this car," he stated.

Register now to participate in the August 22–26 Nissan Patrol measuring session. For general questions about the truck or for those making products sought by the UAE buyer, contact Linda Spencer.