This is the Chevy Silverado HD, featuring the latest Duramax diesel engine, caught cold weather testing in Michigan. GM is expected to give the Duramax diesel in the HD Silverado and Sierra trucks a revamp in order to keep power and efficiency competitive with the latest HD trucks from Ford and Ram, as well as the Nissan Titan XD.

Reports suggest the current 6.6L V8 unit will be thoroughly worked over to dethrone the Ford Super Duty in efficiency and hauling capacities, pushing it comfortably over the 425 hp mark, and at least 860 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also likely to become standard fare, but a 10-speed unit may not be far behind.

The face-lifted HD trucks are supposed to last until 2020 or so, when the next-generation GM pickups will adopt a more aluminum-intensive structure to reduce weight and carry newly downsized engines for better efficiency.

Expect to see the Silverado and Sierra HD later this year.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the Chevy Silverado HD, featuring the latest Duramax diesel engine, caught cold weather testing in Michigan. GM is expected to give the Duramax diesel in the HD Silverado and Sierra trucks a revamp in order to keep power and efficiency competitive with the latest HD trucks from Ford and Ram, as well as the Nissan Titan XD.

Reports suggest the current 6.6L V8 unit will be thoroughly worked over to dethrone the Ford Super Duty in efficiency and hauling capacities, pushing it comfortably over the 425 hp mark, and at least 860 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also likely to become standard fare, but a 10-speed unit may not be far behind.

The face-lifted HD trucks are supposed to last until 2020 or so, when the next-generation GM pickups will adopt a more aluminum-intensive structure to reduce weight and carry newly downsized engines for better efficiency.

Expect to see the Silverado and Sierra HD later this year.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

This is the Chevy Silverado HD, featuring the latest Duramax diesel engine, caught cold weather testing in Michigan. GM is expected to give the Duramax diesel in the HD Silverado and Sierra trucks a revamp in order to keep power and efficiency competitive with the latest HD trucks from Ford and Ram, as well as the Nissan Titan XD.

Reports suggest the current 6.6L V8 unit will be thoroughly worked over to dethrone the Ford Super Duty in efficiency and hauling capacities, pushing it comfortably over the 425 hp mark, and at least 860 lb.-ft. of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission is also likely to become standard fare, but a 10-speed unit may not be far behind.

The face-lifted HD trucks are supposed to last until 2020 or so, when the next-generation GM pickups will adopt a more aluminum-intensive structure to reduce weight and carry newly downsized engines for better efficiency.

Expect to see the Silverado and Sierra HD later this year.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS EXTENDS NAMING RIGHTS OF LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS: Lucas Oil Products has extended the naming rights for the NHRA-owned and -operated multi-purpose auto-racing facility located just west of Indianapolis, officials from the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning organization have announced. The naming rights began in 2011, and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis has represented Lucas Oil Products during numerous events at the facility. Lucas Oil Raceway conducts racing events from March to November on a .686-mile oval, a 2.5-mile road course and the historic dragstrip. Premiere events include weekly drag races, championship events on the oval, as well as sled-pulls, autocross and drifting competitions at the venue. The dragstrip also hosts the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals held annually over Labor Day weekend.

AMALIE MOTOR OIL EXTENDS TITLE-RIGHTS SPONSORSHIP OF NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Amalie Motor Oil Co. has agreed to a multi-year extension of its title-rights sponsorship of the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This year’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is scheduled for March 17–20, and is the third event on the 24-race 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Amalie Motor Oil at this tradition-rich event,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president of sales and chief development officer. “Amalie Motor Oil has been actively involved in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with its association with Terry McMillen and his Xtermigator Top Fuel dragster. The continuation of its involvement with the NHRA and the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will build upon past successes and further its reach in the series.”

K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING OPEN: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to the swamps of Gainesville, Florida, March 17–20, for the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals—the third event of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello season. Fans in the Sunshine State will be in for a treat at the circuit’s traditional East Coast opener at Gainesville Raceway as the world’s best drag racers power their 10,000-hp, fire-breathing machines down the strip in pursuit of championship points and early-season momentum. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including live finals coverage at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

He Said, She Said

“It could be one session where you see one, two, maybe three or four motorcycles run over that 200 mph mark and it might be stacked up on who goes out first in qualifying in the session. It could be as exciting as that or it could be the last two bikes in a certain session put it up side-by-side. We are all looking for it and it is a matter of all the stars lining up correctly and finding that couple of horsepower that we all need to push us to the next threshold.”

—Andrew Hines on the possibility of racers in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category breaking the 200-mph barrier during the 2016 season, starting at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. He has a career best speed of 199.23 mph.      

Inside the Numbers

75: Number of of career victories Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson reached when he was the 2015 AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals winner, defeating teammate Jason Line. Anderson went on to win three more races in 2015, and with his season-opening win in Pomona, he currently has 79 career wins in Pro Stock. Anderson, a four-time Pro Stock world champion, is third on the all-time Pro Stock wins list and trails Bob Glidden in second with 85 wins and Warren Johnson who has 97 victories. Anderson has three career wins at Gainesville Raceway and had the top speed at the event in 2015 at 213.67 mph. Anderson has three wins at the track (2004, 2007, 2015).

“Gainesville, Indy and Pomona, they were always some of the biggest, and from the time I started going to the racetrack with my dad you knew those were one of the special ones,” said Anderson. “They were the ones you wanted to jump in the camper or car and go across country to see. The first time I won there it felt like it was something special, something bigger. I’m glad we have that and not everyone feels the same. Any win is great but the ones that happen at the major tracks—you’re darn right they feel special.”

Did You Know

NHRA TV VIEWERSHIP UP DRAMATICALLY IN 2016: NHRA’s revamped race coverage on FOX Sports earned more than 300,000 additional viewers through the first two Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events of the season, which included the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, California, February 14, and the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Phoenix, February 28.

“We’re extremely happy with the numbers from our first two events on FOX Sports 1,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA president. “Our fans’ response has been incredible and we look forward to continuing to provide a great product on FOX the rest of the season. Our audience is trending younger and we are keeping our viewers tuned in for longer periods of time during each telecast. It is a terrific start with our new television partner.”

According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX Sports 1’s airings of the two NHRA events realized a 15% increase over the same two events last year. The 2016 coverage had a total of 2.6 million viewers for the finals telecasts, qualifying shows and re-airs on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS EXTENDS NAMING RIGHTS OF LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS: Lucas Oil Products has extended the naming rights for the NHRA-owned and -operated multi-purpose auto-racing facility located just west of Indianapolis, officials from the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning organization have announced. The naming rights began in 2011, and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis has represented Lucas Oil Products during numerous events at the facility. Lucas Oil Raceway conducts racing events from March to November on a .686-mile oval, a 2.5-mile road course and the historic dragstrip. Premiere events include weekly drag races, championship events on the oval, as well as sled-pulls, autocross and drifting competitions at the venue. The dragstrip also hosts the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals held annually over Labor Day weekend.

AMALIE MOTOR OIL EXTENDS TITLE-RIGHTS SPONSORSHIP OF NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Amalie Motor Oil Co. has agreed to a multi-year extension of its title-rights sponsorship of the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This year’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is scheduled for March 17–20, and is the third event on the 24-race 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Amalie Motor Oil at this tradition-rich event,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president of sales and chief development officer. “Amalie Motor Oil has been actively involved in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with its association with Terry McMillen and his Xtermigator Top Fuel dragster. The continuation of its involvement with the NHRA and the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will build upon past successes and further its reach in the series.”

K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING OPEN: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to the swamps of Gainesville, Florida, March 17–20, for the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals—the third event of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello season. Fans in the Sunshine State will be in for a treat at the circuit’s traditional East Coast opener at Gainesville Raceway as the world’s best drag racers power their 10,000-hp, fire-breathing machines down the strip in pursuit of championship points and early-season momentum. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including live finals coverage at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

He Said, She Said

“It could be one session where you see one, two, maybe three or four motorcycles run over that 200 mph mark and it might be stacked up on who goes out first in qualifying in the session. It could be as exciting as that or it could be the last two bikes in a certain session put it up side-by-side. We are all looking for it and it is a matter of all the stars lining up correctly and finding that couple of horsepower that we all need to push us to the next threshold.”

—Andrew Hines on the possibility of racers in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category breaking the 200-mph barrier during the 2016 season, starting at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. He has a career best speed of 199.23 mph.      

Inside the Numbers

75: Number of of career victories Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson reached when he was the 2015 AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals winner, defeating teammate Jason Line. Anderson went on to win three more races in 2015, and with his season-opening win in Pomona, he currently has 79 career wins in Pro Stock. Anderson, a four-time Pro Stock world champion, is third on the all-time Pro Stock wins list and trails Bob Glidden in second with 85 wins and Warren Johnson who has 97 victories. Anderson has three career wins at Gainesville Raceway and had the top speed at the event in 2015 at 213.67 mph. Anderson has three wins at the track (2004, 2007, 2015).

“Gainesville, Indy and Pomona, they were always some of the biggest, and from the time I started going to the racetrack with my dad you knew those were one of the special ones,” said Anderson. “They were the ones you wanted to jump in the camper or car and go across country to see. The first time I won there it felt like it was something special, something bigger. I’m glad we have that and not everyone feels the same. Any win is great but the ones that happen at the major tracks—you’re darn right they feel special.”

Did You Know

NHRA TV VIEWERSHIP UP DRAMATICALLY IN 2016: NHRA’s revamped race coverage on FOX Sports earned more than 300,000 additional viewers through the first two Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events of the season, which included the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, California, February 14, and the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Phoenix, February 28.

“We’re extremely happy with the numbers from our first two events on FOX Sports 1,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA president. “Our fans’ response has been incredible and we look forward to continuing to provide a great product on FOX the rest of the season. Our audience is trending younger and we are keeping our viewers tuned in for longer periods of time during each telecast. It is a terrific start with our new television partner.”

According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX Sports 1’s airings of the two NHRA events realized a 15% increase over the same two events last year. The 2016 coverage had a total of 2.6 million viewers for the finals telecasts, qualifying shows and re-airs on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS EXTENDS NAMING RIGHTS OF LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS: Lucas Oil Products has extended the naming rights for the NHRA-owned and -operated multi-purpose auto-racing facility located just west of Indianapolis, officials from the world’s largest motorsports sanctioning organization have announced. The naming rights began in 2011, and Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis has represented Lucas Oil Products during numerous events at the facility. Lucas Oil Raceway conducts racing events from March to November on a .686-mile oval, a 2.5-mile road course and the historic dragstrip. Premiere events include weekly drag races, championship events on the oval, as well as sled-pulls, autocross and drifting competitions at the venue. The dragstrip also hosts the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals held annually over Labor Day weekend.

AMALIE MOTOR OIL EXTENDS TITLE-RIGHTS SPONSORSHIP OF NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Amalie Motor Oil Co. has agreed to a multi-year extension of its title-rights sponsorship of the NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. This year’s Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals is scheduled for March 17–20, and is the third event on the 24-race 2016 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with Amalie Motor Oil at this tradition-rich event,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA vice president of sales and chief development officer. “Amalie Motor Oil has been actively involved in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series with its association with Terry McMillen and his Xtermigator Top Fuel dragster. The continuation of its involvement with the NHRA and the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will build upon past successes and further its reach in the series.”

K&N HORSEPOWER CHALLENGE PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING OPEN: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to the swamps of Gainesville, Florida, March 17–20, for the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals—the third event of the 2016 NHRA Mello Yello season. Fans in the Sunshine State will be in for a treat at the circuit’s traditional East Coast opener at Gainesville Raceway as the world’s best drag racers power their 10,000-hp, fire-breathing machines down the strip in pursuit of championship points and early-season momentum. Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners of the event that will be televised on FOX Sports 1, including live finals coverage at 1:00 p.m. (EDT).

He Said, She Said

“It could be one session where you see one, two, maybe three or four motorcycles run over that 200 mph mark and it might be stacked up on who goes out first in qualifying in the session. It could be as exciting as that or it could be the last two bikes in a certain session put it up side-by-side. We are all looking for it and it is a matter of all the stars lining up correctly and finding that couple of horsepower that we all need to push us to the next threshold.”

—Andrew Hines on the possibility of racers in the Pro Stock Motorcycle category breaking the 200-mph barrier during the 2016 season, starting at the AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. He has a career best speed of 199.23 mph.      

Inside the Numbers

75: Number of of career victories Pro Stock racer Greg Anderson reached when he was the 2015 AMALIE Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals winner, defeating teammate Jason Line. Anderson went on to win three more races in 2015, and with his season-opening win in Pomona, he currently has 79 career wins in Pro Stock. Anderson, a four-time Pro Stock world champion, is third on the all-time Pro Stock wins list and trails Bob Glidden in second with 85 wins and Warren Johnson who has 97 victories. Anderson has three career wins at Gainesville Raceway and had the top speed at the event in 2015 at 213.67 mph. Anderson has three wins at the track (2004, 2007, 2015).

“Gainesville, Indy and Pomona, they were always some of the biggest, and from the time I started going to the racetrack with my dad you knew those were one of the special ones,” said Anderson. “They were the ones you wanted to jump in the camper or car and go across country to see. The first time I won there it felt like it was something special, something bigger. I’m glad we have that and not everyone feels the same. Any win is great but the ones that happen at the major tracks—you’re darn right they feel special.”

Did You Know

NHRA TV VIEWERSHIP UP DRAMATICALLY IN 2016: NHRA’s revamped race coverage on FOX Sports earned more than 300,000 additional viewers through the first two Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events of the season, which included the Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Pomona, California, February 14, and the CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Nationals at Phoenix, February 28.

“We’re extremely happy with the numbers from our first two events on FOX Sports 1,” said Peter Clifford, NHRA president. “Our fans’ response has been incredible and we look forward to continuing to provide a great product on FOX the rest of the season. Our audience is trending younger and we are keeping our viewers tuned in for longer periods of time during each telecast. It is a terrific start with our new television partner.”

According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX Sports 1’s airings of the two NHRA events realized a 15% increase over the same two events last year. The 2016 coverage had a total of 2.6 million viewers for the finals telecasts, qualifying shows and re-airs on FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports 2.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Hammerking Productions Acquires Valley Off Road Racing Association

Hammerking Productions Inc.—the organization behind King of the Hammers and ULTRA4 Racing—is partnering with Nor Cal Rock Rock Racing in the purchase of Valley Off Road Racing Association (VORRA), which was established in 1975 and has organized such iconic desert races as the Fallon 250 and the Yerington 300. Wes Harbor, John Goodby and Dave Cole—promoters and CEOs for VORRA, Nor Cal Rock Racing and Hammerking respectively—solidified their agreement earlier this week. Cole and Harbor will coordinate on the desert races and Goodby will add days and heats to Nor Cal Rock Racing's current short-course schedule to include VORRA teams and classes not currently racing in Nor Cal Rock Racing events. 

2016 VORRA Schedule:

April 29–May 1: Prairie City SVRA – combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
May 29: Hawthorne
July 15–17: Wild West Motorsports Park – combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
September 3–4: Fallon 250 – combined with ULTRA4 Racing
September 23–25: Prairie City SVRA – Combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing

Dai Yoshihara will compete this season in his Subaru BRZ.

Turn 14 Distribution Extends Sponsorship With Formula D Star Dai Yoshihara

Turn 14 Distribution has announced the extension of its title sponsorship and ongoing partnership with Dai Yoshihara—one of the most popular drivers in the Formula D series. With this sponsorship, Yoshihara is building upon an existing four-year relationship with Turn 14 Distribution, and has a full season of Formula D racing planned for 2016. Since 2004, Yoshihara has finished in the top 10 nine times, including his championship run in 2011. Yoshihara will compete this season in his Subaru BRZ, resplendent in Turn 14 Distribution livery to reflect the sponsorship. The Subaru features a custom-built 477-cid turbocharged LS engine with more than 950 rear-wheel hp. The eight-race Formula D schedule kicks off April 8–9 with the Streets of Long Beach event in California, and traverses North America with stops in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Montreal, Washington and Texas, before concluding at the Irwindale Speedway in California in October.

Tedesco Racing Partners With VP Racing Fuels for NHRA 2016 Lucas Oil Season

Tedesco Racing’s Mia Tedesco and Jason Lynch have announced the addition of VP Racing Fuels as a primary marketing partner for the 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil season. The partnership will be featured across the Tedesco team’s entries of super gas and super comp race vehicles, beginning at this weekend’s divisional event in Gainesville, Florida. Tedesco Racing’s super gas and super comp race machines will campaign VP Racing Fuels’ Mad Scientist marketing initiatives at both divisional and national level events.

Wilwood Disc Brakes to Sponsor Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals Autocross; Renews Contingency Sponsorship With IMCA

Wilwood has announced a new sponsorship agreement for the autocross event during the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals in Pomona, California, March 12–13, 2016. The Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals is an annual gathering of performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across the country that compete in a variety of events, including a burnout contest, dyno challenge and autocross. Vendors and sponsors are also showcased on the manufacturer’s midway.  

Wilwood also has announced the renewal of its contingency sponsorship with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) through the 2016 season. Wilwood will support select IMCA divisions through product and monetary contingency to multiple finishers in national points and at the Super Nationals.

Kawasaki Signs With DIESEL Motorsports as Official Diesel ATV/UTV

Kawasaki Motor Corp. USA, manufacturer of Kawasaki Mule, has become an endorsed product sponsor of DIESEL Motorsports for the 2016–2017 season. Kawasaki will be the “Official Diesel ATV/UTV” sponsor for the diesel-only race and pulling series with more than 65 events nationwide.

James Hinchcliffe

Indy Driver James Hinchcliffe Teams Up With Petro-Canada Lubricants

Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc. (PCLI)—a Suncor business—has partnered with IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe for the 2016 IndyCar racing season. Hinchcliffe, a native of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, will be a brand ambassador for PCLI. The partnership will mark the company’s first venture into the United States motorsports space, having participated in Canada and Europe. The 2016 IndyCar season marks the sixth year of competition for Hinchcliffe, driver of the No. 5 Honda for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He has posted four career wins at St. Petersburg, Sao Paulo and Iowa Speedway in 2013 and New Orleans last year. Hinchcliffe's 2015 IndyCar season was cut short due to a near-fatal accident during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series will begin with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Sunday, March 13.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels Returns to IHRA Drag Racing as a Major Event Sponsor

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series, Summit Pro Am Tour and Summit Team Finals will soon begin with Mickey Thompson as a major contingency sponsor. The company will provide contingency awards for all racing classes beginning March 4. Team M/T IHRA sportsman class champions included Super Rod champion Michael Ruff and Top Dragster champion Kevin Brannon. ​ ​

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Hammerking Productions Acquires Valley Off Road Racing Association

Hammerking Productions Inc.—the organization behind King of the Hammers and ULTRA4 Racing—is partnering with Nor Cal Rock Rock Racing in the purchase of Valley Off Road Racing Association (VORRA), which was established in 1975 and has organized such iconic desert races as the Fallon 250 and the Yerington 300. Wes Harbor, John Goodby and Dave Cole—promoters and CEOs for VORRA, Nor Cal Rock Racing and Hammerking respectively—solidified their agreement earlier this week. Cole and Harbor will coordinate on the desert races and Goodby will add days and heats to Nor Cal Rock Racing's current short-course schedule to include VORRA teams and classes not currently racing in Nor Cal Rock Racing events. 

2016 VORRA Schedule:

April 29–May 1: Prairie City SVRA – combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
May 29: Hawthorne
July 15–17: Wild West Motorsports Park – combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing
September 3–4: Fallon 250 – combined with ULTRA4 Racing
September 23–25: Prairie City SVRA – Combined with Nor Cal Rock Racing

Dai Yoshihara will compete this season in his Subaru BRZ.

Turn 14 Distribution Extends Sponsorship With Formula D Star Dai Yoshihara

Turn 14 Distribution has announced the extension of its title sponsorship and ongoing partnership with Dai Yoshihara—one of the most popular drivers in the Formula D series. With this sponsorship, Yoshihara is building upon an existing four-year relationship with Turn 14 Distribution, and has a full season of Formula D racing planned for 2016. Since 2004, Yoshihara has finished in the top 10 nine times, including his championship run in 2011. Yoshihara will compete this season in his Subaru BRZ, resplendent in Turn 14 Distribution livery to reflect the sponsorship. The Subaru features a custom-built 477-cid turbocharged LS engine with more than 950 rear-wheel hp. The eight-race Formula D schedule kicks off April 8–9 with the Streets of Long Beach event in California, and traverses North America with stops in Georgia, Florida, New Jersey, Montreal, Washington and Texas, before concluding at the Irwindale Speedway in California in October.

Tedesco Racing Partners With VP Racing Fuels for NHRA 2016 Lucas Oil Season

Tedesco Racing’s Mia Tedesco and Jason Lynch have announced the addition of VP Racing Fuels as a primary marketing partner for the 2016 NHRA Lucas Oil season. The partnership will be featured across the Tedesco team’s entries of super gas and super comp race vehicles, beginning at this weekend’s divisional event in Gainesville, Florida. Tedesco Racing’s super gas and super comp race machines will campaign VP Racing Fuels’ Mad Scientist marketing initiatives at both divisional and national level events.

Wilwood Disc Brakes to Sponsor Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals Autocross; Renews Contingency Sponsorship With IMCA

Wilwood has announced a new sponsorship agreement for the autocross event during the Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals in Pomona, California, March 12–13, 2016. The Street Machine and Muscle Car Nationals is an annual gathering of performance musclecars, pro-touring cars and street machines from across the country that compete in a variety of events, including a burnout contest, dyno challenge and autocross. Vendors and sponsors are also showcased on the manufacturer’s midway.  

Wilwood also has announced the renewal of its contingency sponsorship with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA) through the 2016 season. Wilwood will support select IMCA divisions through product and monetary contingency to multiple finishers in national points and at the Super Nationals.

Kawasaki Signs With DIESEL Motorsports as Official Diesel ATV/UTV

Kawasaki Motor Corp. USA, manufacturer of Kawasaki Mule, has become an endorsed product sponsor of DIESEL Motorsports for the 2016–2017 season. Kawasaki will be the “Official Diesel ATV/UTV” sponsor for the diesel-only race and pulling series with more than 65 events nationwide.

James Hinchcliffe

Indy Driver James Hinchcliffe Teams Up With Petro-Canada Lubricants

Petro-Canada Lubricants Inc. (PCLI)—a Suncor business—has partnered with IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe for the 2016 IndyCar racing season. Hinchcliffe, a native of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, will be a brand ambassador for PCLI. The partnership will mark the company’s first venture into the United States motorsports space, having participated in Canada and Europe. The 2016 IndyCar season marks the sixth year of competition for Hinchcliffe, driver of the No. 5 Honda for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. He has posted four career wins at St. Petersburg, Sao Paulo and Iowa Speedway in 2013 and New Orleans last year. Hinchcliffe's 2015 IndyCar season was cut short due to a near-fatal accident during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May. The 2016 Verizon IndyCar Series will begin with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg Sunday, March 13.

Mickey Thompson Performance Tires & Wheels Returns to IHRA Drag Racing as a Major Event Sponsor

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) Nitro Jam Drag Racing Series, Summit Pro Am Tour and Summit Team Finals will soon begin with Mickey Thompson as a major contingency sponsor. The company will provide contingency awards for all racing classes beginning March 4. Team M/T IHRA sportsman class champions included Super Rod champion Michael Ruff and Top Dragster champion Kevin Brannon. ​ ​

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enables employees to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities (view all here) in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org. Working for a SEMA-member company has many advantages. In addition to working for a company that supports and contributes to the success of the overall industry, being employed by a SEMA-member company enables employees to participate in webinars, access free market research, join SEMA committees and more.