Compiled by SEMA Editors

Scott Speed

Champion Driver Scott Speed Joins Rockstar Energy Drink for 2016

Defending Global Rallycross champion Scott Speed is joining Rockstar Energy Drink in 2016. The American driver will unveil his new Rockstar Energy Drink helmet at the rallycross season opener in May. Under the new partnership, Speed will wear a Rockstar Energy Drink helmet in all motorsport competition. The driver, who has competed in the top ranks of professional racing around the world and won the 2015 Global Rallycross Championship title, will continue to focus on the rapidly growing action motorsport this season. Speed returns this year for a third full season with the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team alongside teammate Tanner Foust.

Formula DRIFT and BlackVue Sign Three-Year Presenting Sponsorship Agreement

Formula DRIFT has announced a new partnership with South Korean-based technology company Pittasoft Co. Ltd., owners of the dashboard camera brand BlackVue. The three-year agreement names BlackVue as the “Presenting Sponsor and Official Dashcam” for the Series. Tickets are now available for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach, April 8–9.

WELD Named Official Wheel of IHRA; Announces 2016 IHRA Bonus Program for Pro and Sportsman Classes

WELD has been named the official wheel of the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). In addition, WELD has announced its 2016 IHRA bonus program. WELD will award $100 to event winners in the IHRA Pro and Sportsman classes who use Delta-1, Black Draglite, Full Throttle and TT63 WELD Racing wheels during 2016 competitions. To be eligible for its bonus program, competitors are required to place a WELD decal on their vehicle (of the appropriate size) at the beginning of each event and leave it in place during every round of competition.

This season, Pirelli Formula Lights will incorporate other SCCA Pro events into race weekends, including three appearances with the American sedan-based Trans-Am Series (New Jersey, Brainerd and Homestead-Miami).

Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series Releases Expanded 2016 Schedule

The newly renamed Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series has released its 2016 racing schedule in preparation for its second SCCA Pro season. The news comes just days after Formula Lites organizers announced that the high-tech,open-wheel series has secured title sponsorship from Pirelli.

American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Announces 2015 All-America Team

The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) announced its first All-America Team following the 1970 season. That annual tradition continued with the team being announced for 2015’s top performers. A group of special drivers representing multiple forms of professional motorsports is elected each year by AARWBA. The association’s members vote on drivers within their participating racing categories. The driver receiving the most votes from each discipline is elected to the All-America Team. The 2015 All-America Team included:

• Scott Dixon – Open Wheel Division
• Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi – Road Racing
• Donny Schatz – Short Track Division
• Kyle Busch – Stock Car
• Erica Enders – Drag Racing
• Erik Jones – Touring Series
• Spencer Pigot – At Large Category

Rico Abreu was voted the Rising Star award on the strength of multiple open-wheel dirt short track victories including back-to-back Chili Bowl wins. Abreu will compete full-time in the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Thorsport Racing.

DEI Announces TEAM DEI 2016 Sponsorship Program

DEI, in support of grassroots motorsports and local, regional and national project builds, is offering both racers and builders the opportunity to become a member of TEAM DEI—open to racers of any series from drag to road racing, dirt or oval, to receive support in exchange for promotion of DEI on and off the track. Each month, a racer or project builder will be selected to be featured through DEI’s website and social media as the featured vehicle of the month. To be sponsored and participate in TEAM DEI, fill out the online form at www.designengineering.com. To receive sponsorship, participants must also sign an authorization to allow DEI to use the person’s name and image for future promotion. This month’s TEAM DEI featured vehicle is Joe Cram’s ’06 Mustang GT Saleen featured in Race Pages magazine.

VP Racing Fuels Named Official Fuel of Ultimate Super Late Model Series

Series officials have announced VP Racing Fuels will be the Official Fuel of the Ultimate Super Late Model Series (USLMS) as part of a multi-year agreement beginning in 2016. With the sponsorship, VP will be the preferred fuel for USLMS racers and will benefit from substantial brand exposure at race venues and on the series’ digital and social media platforms.

The 2016 NMCA WEST VP Racing Fuels season opener comes to Fontana, California, April 1–3 with heads-up drag racing and autocross.

Fontana, California, to Host West Coast’s Fastest Street Cars

The 2016 NMCA WEST VP Racing Fuels season opener comes to Fontana, California, April 1–3 with heads-up drag racing and autocross. The 5th Annual Nitto Tire NMCA WEST Spring Nationals event at Auto Club Dragway will feature side-by-side competition between American musclecars with the Hotchkis Cup Autocross, presented by Nitto Tire. The Pro Mod class includes race cars that are capable of 200 mph in the eighth-mile. ProCharger Limited Street brings on the turbocharged, nitrous-powered wheels-up doorslammers with more than 2,000 hp under the hood. There’s also the Meziere Top Sportsman, ARP Outlaw 8.5, Lucas Oil N/A 10.5 and MMR Mustang Madness.

Lucas Oil Named Title Sponsor of Inaugural JuniorMotoX

Lucas Oil has been named the title sponsor of the inaugural JuniorMotoX, which will take place at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, May 12–14, 2016. The new event will showcase youth racers as the maximum age is 18, and it will be limited to 250cc and under motorcycles. Going forward, the event will be named the Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX. There will be a live webcast of the Friday qualifiers and Saturday evening main events in addition to a feature show on MAVTV just a few days following the event.

Wilwood Continues Partnership with Contingency Connection Racer Rewards Program

Wilwood Disc Brakes is continuing its partnership with Contingency Connection’s Racer Rewards program through the 2016 season. Contingency Connection Racer Rewards sponsors post thousands of dollars in weekly awards for grassroots racers throughout the United States and Canada. The program reaches approximately 18,000 racers per week at more than 50 tracks and series hosting 1,500 events nationwide.

Champion Racing Oil to Sponsor the 2016 Great Race

Champion will again sponsor this year’s Great Race with a team of drivers in a classic-car competitive rally that races from San Rafael, California, to Moline, Illinois. The winner of the Great Race receives $50,000, and total prize money for the event is $150,000. The Great Race, presented by Hemmings Motor News and Coker Tire, is an automotive competition based on precision driving and navigational skills in classic, antique and vintage automobiles. The competition, which was founded in 1983, contains numerous timed endurance rally stages. Vehicle entries must have been manufactured in 1969 or earlier with a competition crew of a driver and a navigator in each competing vehicle.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Scott Speed

Champion Driver Scott Speed Joins Rockstar Energy Drink for 2016

Defending Global Rallycross champion Scott Speed is joining Rockstar Energy Drink in 2016. The American driver will unveil his new Rockstar Energy Drink helmet at the rallycross season opener in May. Under the new partnership, Speed will wear a Rockstar Energy Drink helmet in all motorsport competition. The driver, who has competed in the top ranks of professional racing around the world and won the 2015 Global Rallycross Championship title, will continue to focus on the rapidly growing action motorsport this season. Speed returns this year for a third full season with the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team alongside teammate Tanner Foust.

Formula DRIFT and BlackVue Sign Three-Year Presenting Sponsorship Agreement

Formula DRIFT has announced a new partnership with South Korean-based technology company Pittasoft Co. Ltd., owners of the dashboard camera brand BlackVue. The three-year agreement names BlackVue as the “Presenting Sponsor and Official Dashcam” for the Series. Tickets are now available for Round 1: Streets of Long Beach, April 8–9.

WELD Named Official Wheel of IHRA; Announces 2016 IHRA Bonus Program for Pro and Sportsman Classes

WELD has been named the official wheel of the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA). In addition, WELD has announced its 2016 IHRA bonus program. WELD will award $100 to event winners in the IHRA Pro and Sportsman classes who use Delta-1, Black Draglite, Full Throttle and TT63 WELD Racing wheels during 2016 competitions. To be eligible for its bonus program, competitors are required to place a WELD decal on their vehicle (of the appropriate size) at the beginning of each event and leave it in place during every round of competition.

This season, Pirelli Formula Lights will incorporate other SCCA Pro events into race weekends, including three appearances with the American sedan-based Trans-Am Series (New Jersey, Brainerd and Homestead-Miami).

Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series Releases Expanded 2016 Schedule

The newly renamed Pirelli Formula Lites Championship Series has released its 2016 racing schedule in preparation for its second SCCA Pro season. The news comes just days after Formula Lites organizers announced that the high-tech,open-wheel series has secured title sponsorship from Pirelli.

American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Announces 2015 All-America Team

The American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association (AARWBA) announced its first All-America Team following the 1970 season. That annual tradition continued with the team being announced for 2015’s top performers. A group of special drivers representing multiple forms of professional motorsports is elected each year by AARWBA. The association’s members vote on drivers within their participating racing categories. The driver receiving the most votes from each discipline is elected to the All-America Team. The 2015 All-America Team included:

• Scott Dixon – Open Wheel Division
• Joao Barbosa and Christian Fittipaldi – Road Racing
• Donny Schatz – Short Track Division
• Kyle Busch – Stock Car
• Erica Enders – Drag Racing
• Erik Jones – Touring Series
• Spencer Pigot – At Large Category

Rico Abreu was voted the Rising Star award on the strength of multiple open-wheel dirt short track victories including back-to-back Chili Bowl wins. Abreu will compete full-time in the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for Thorsport Racing.

DEI Announces TEAM DEI 2016 Sponsorship Program

DEI, in support of grassroots motorsports and local, regional and national project builds, is offering both racers and builders the opportunity to become a member of TEAM DEI—open to racers of any series from drag to road racing, dirt or oval, to receive support in exchange for promotion of DEI on and off the track. Each month, a racer or project builder will be selected to be featured through DEI’s website and social media as the featured vehicle of the month. To be sponsored and participate in TEAM DEI, fill out the online form at www.designengineering.com. To receive sponsorship, participants must also sign an authorization to allow DEI to use the person’s name and image for future promotion. This month’s TEAM DEI featured vehicle is Joe Cram’s ’06 Mustang GT Saleen featured in Race Pages magazine.

VP Racing Fuels Named Official Fuel of Ultimate Super Late Model Series

Series officials have announced VP Racing Fuels will be the Official Fuel of the Ultimate Super Late Model Series (USLMS) as part of a multi-year agreement beginning in 2016. With the sponsorship, VP will be the preferred fuel for USLMS racers and will benefit from substantial brand exposure at race venues and on the series’ digital and social media platforms.

The 2016 NMCA WEST VP Racing Fuels season opener comes to Fontana, California, April 1–3 with heads-up drag racing and autocross.

Fontana, California, to Host West Coast’s Fastest Street Cars

The 2016 NMCA WEST VP Racing Fuels season opener comes to Fontana, California, April 1–3 with heads-up drag racing and autocross. The 5th Annual Nitto Tire NMCA WEST Spring Nationals event at Auto Club Dragway will feature side-by-side competition between American musclecars with the Hotchkis Cup Autocross, presented by Nitto Tire. The Pro Mod class includes race cars that are capable of 200 mph in the eighth-mile. ProCharger Limited Street brings on the turbocharged, nitrous-powered wheels-up doorslammers with more than 2,000 hp under the hood. There’s also the Meziere Top Sportsman, ARP Outlaw 8.5, Lucas Oil N/A 10.5 and MMR Mustang Madness.

Lucas Oil Named Title Sponsor of Inaugural JuniorMotoX

Lucas Oil has been named the title sponsor of the inaugural JuniorMotoX, which will take place at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, May 12–14, 2016. The new event will showcase youth racers as the maximum age is 18, and it will be limited to 250cc and under motorcycles. Going forward, the event will be named the Lucas Oil JuniorMotoX. There will be a live webcast of the Friday qualifiers and Saturday evening main events in addition to a feature show on MAVTV just a few days following the event.

Wilwood Continues Partnership with Contingency Connection Racer Rewards Program

Wilwood Disc Brakes is continuing its partnership with Contingency Connection’s Racer Rewards program through the 2016 season. Contingency Connection Racer Rewards sponsors post thousands of dollars in weekly awards for grassroots racers throughout the United States and Canada. The program reaches approximately 18,000 racers per week at more than 50 tracks and series hosting 1,500 events nationwide.

Champion Racing Oil to Sponsor the 2016 Great Race

Champion will again sponsor this year’s Great Race with a team of drivers in a classic-car competitive rally that races from San Rafael, California, to Moline, Illinois. The winner of the Great Race receives $50,000, and total prize money for the event is $150,000. The Great Race, presented by Hemmings Motor News and Coker Tire, is an automotive competition based on precision driving and navigational skills in classic, antique and vintage automobiles. The competition, which was founded in 1983, contains numerous timed endurance rally stages. Vehicle entries must have been manufactured in 1969 or earlier with a competition crew of a driver and a navigator in each competing vehicle.

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

When Porsche unveiled the mid-cycle facelift of the current range last year, the GT3 did not receive the makeover. However, it will very soon, and here are the first images that prove it. Limited to the front bumper and lamp units (and probably the taillamps, too), the car will remain naturally aspirated. Look for a debut in late 2016.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors

SEMA eNews highlights SEMA-member companies' websites weekly through the Hot Links to Cool Sites section. SEMA members: To be included in Hot Links to Cool Sites, e-mail your company name and website to enews@sema.org. Note: Make sure to include “Hot Links” in the subject line of the e-mail.

• GT Performance
• Hard Bagger
• Hellwig
• Hotchkis Performance
• Howards Cams Inc.
• Hughes Performance
• K&N
• KC HiLites
• King Shocks
• Kleinn Automotive Air Horns
• Lloyd Mats
• MagnaFlow Exhaust Products
• MAHLE Motorsport
• MBRP Exhaust
• McGard
• Metro Moulded Parts
• Mickey Thompson
• Orotek
• Pulstar
• QMI