By Alan Josse

	The SEMA Show New Products Showcase is annually the No. 1 destination for buyers and provides exhibitors a simple way to build additional company and product awareness away from their booths.

As exhibitors prepare for the 2014 SEMA Show Priority Booth Selection Process, many are strategizing exactly where the best place is for them to exhibit. The Priority Booth Selection Process runs May 5–23, 2014. Here are a few planning techniques for companies to consider regarding booth locations and attracting buyers.

Product Category: First and foremost, be aware that the SEMA Show is sectionalized by various categories. In order to qualify for a particular Show section, a minimum of 75% of the products or services on display and the marketing materials being distributed must be specific to that section.

Product Display: While location may impact who visits your booth, there are many other factors that have a greater influence on where buyers go. In fact, buyers cited product displays as the biggest factor that drew them to booths at the 2013 SEMA Show. Nearly 90% of buyers said product displays influenced them to stop at a booth, followed by vehicle displays, product demonstrations, and the layout or design of a booth. Location was only cited by 24% of buyers, making it the seventh item down on the list.

Pre-Show Marketing: Seventy-one percent of buyers come to the SEMA Show with a plan and a list of exhibitors that they want to see. Targeted mailings, advertising in industry publications, and distributing press releases are all effective ways exhibitors can promote and drive traffic to the booths.

New Products Showcase: Most buyers visit the New Products Showcase, and more than half of all buyers from the 2013 SEMA Show said that they visited an exhibitor as a result of seeing a product in the showcase. Highlighting your products in the New Products Showcase is a great way to increase booth traffic and product and company awareness.

Exhibitors are encouraged to contact their account rep for more ideas on how to increase booth traffic and addtional ways to increase awareness at the SEMA Show. Call 909-396-0289 or e-mail sales@SEMA.org to learn more. For additional information on the 2014 SEMA Show or to secure a booth for the November 4–7 event, get started at www.SEMAShow.com. 

Alan Josse is the SEMA Account Rep for Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road, Powersports & Utility Vehicles, and Restoration Marketplace. He can be reached at alanj@SEMA.org or 909-978-6666.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Since the U.S. House of Representatives will likely not tackle comprehensive tax reform in 2014, lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to extend a variety of yearly tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee has already approved and sent to the senate floor a bill containing a number of such measures.

Of interest to the business community, the SEMA-supported Senate bill would provide a two-year extension, through 2015, for the research and development (R&D) tax credit. It would also extend the 50% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased before January 1, 2016. Section 179 expensing would be restored for one more year at the maximum $500,000 deduction, with a $2 million phase-out level. Absent the renewal, the allowance reverts to $25,000, with a $200,000 phase-out level. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Since the U.S. House of Representatives will likely not tackle comprehensive tax reform in 2014, lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to extend a variety of yearly tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee has already approved and sent to the senate floor a bill containing a number of such measures.

Of interest to the business community, the SEMA-supported Senate bill would provide a two-year extension, through 2015, for the research and development (R&D) tax credit. It would also extend the 50% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased before January 1, 2016. Section 179 expensing would be restored for one more year at the maximum $500,000 deduction, with a $2 million phase-out level. Absent the renewal, the allowance reverts to $25,000, with a $200,000 phase-out level. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Since the U.S. House of Representatives will likely not tackle comprehensive tax reform in 2014, lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to extend a variety of yearly tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee has already approved and sent to the senate floor a bill containing a number of such measures.

Of interest to the business community, the SEMA-supported Senate bill would provide a two-year extension, through 2015, for the research and development (R&D) tax credit. It would also extend the 50% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased before January 1, 2016. Section 179 expensing would be restored for one more year at the maximum $500,000 deduction, with a $2 million phase-out level. Absent the renewal, the allowance reverts to $25,000, with a $200,000 phase-out level. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

NHRA News

THREE LIVE BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT NHRA COVERAGE ON ESPN: The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.

ALUND AMONG WINNERS AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: Appearing in his first career Pro Stock final, Jimmy Alund drove to victory in his second NHRA Four-Wide Nationals appearance. The Swede is substituting for four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson and ran a 6.562 pass at 211.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, becoming the first European winner and only fourth non-American winner in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Alund took out runner-up Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and recent Las Vegas winner Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.

POINTS STANDINGS UPDATED FOR NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The points standings for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are updated following the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and there was movement within the top 10 in all categories. Andrew Hines takes over the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time since 2010 and Antron Brown tightened up the points margin in Top Fuel. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.

He Said, She Said

"Those guys were phenomenal in their time with what they did through the ’90s with him and Dave Schultz was outstanding. It is cool to be tied with John Myers. I grew up around drag racing and around these drag racing tracks. I remember running around as an eight-, nine-, 10-year-old kid having rubber band wars with John Myers. Shooting rubber bands at each other whenever we could. So that is really cool to tie his stat and be associated in that elite group."

—Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines following his win in Charlotte. It was his 33rd win in the category and ties him for third in Pro Stock Motorcycle victories with the late John Myers.

Inside the Numbers

4: Number of consecutive final rounds Robert Hight has raced to in the first five races of 2014. Hight has won two of the events including the most recent race in Charlotte. He also is the Funny Car points leader. The record for the most consecutive final round appearances in Funny Car is 13 held by Don Prudhomme, which he achieved during the ’75–’77 seasons. The record for the most final-round appearances in a single season is held by Hight’s team owner John Force with 16 in 1996.

Did You Know

DOUGLAS MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK; PACEMAKERS RENEWS: Two NHRA Member Tracks—one brand new and the other a longtime staple—have committed themselves to the NHRA Member Track network. Douglas Motorsports Park—an eighth-mile facility located in Nicholls, Georgia. has become a NHRA Member Track, while Pacemakers Dragway Park, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, one of the oldest NHRA member tracks in the country, has extended its NHRA track membership. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.

View the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

NHRA News

THREE LIVE BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT NHRA COVERAGE ON ESPN: The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.

ALUND AMONG WINNERS AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: Appearing in his first career Pro Stock final, Jimmy Alund drove to victory in his second NHRA Four-Wide Nationals appearance. The Swede is substituting for four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson and ran a 6.562 pass at 211.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, becoming the first European winner and only fourth non-American winner in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Alund took out runner-up Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and recent Las Vegas winner Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.

POINTS STANDINGS UPDATED FOR NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The points standings for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are updated following the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and there was movement within the top 10 in all categories. Andrew Hines takes over the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time since 2010 and Antron Brown tightened up the points margin in Top Fuel. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.

He Said, She Said

"Those guys were phenomenal in their time with what they did through the ’90s with him and Dave Schultz was outstanding. It is cool to be tied with John Myers. I grew up around drag racing and around these drag racing tracks. I remember running around as an eight-, nine-, 10-year-old kid having rubber band wars with John Myers. Shooting rubber bands at each other whenever we could. So that is really cool to tie his stat and be associated in that elite group."

—Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines following his win in Charlotte. It was his 33rd win in the category and ties him for third in Pro Stock Motorcycle victories with the late John Myers.

Inside the Numbers

4: Number of consecutive final rounds Robert Hight has raced to in the first five races of 2014. Hight has won two of the events including the most recent race in Charlotte. He also is the Funny Car points leader. The record for the most consecutive final round appearances in Funny Car is 13 held by Don Prudhomme, which he achieved during the ’75–’77 seasons. The record for the most final-round appearances in a single season is held by Hight’s team owner John Force with 16 in 1996.

Did You Know

DOUGLAS MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK; PACEMAKERS RENEWS: Two NHRA Member Tracks—one brand new and the other a longtime staple—have committed themselves to the NHRA Member Track network. Douglas Motorsports Park—an eighth-mile facility located in Nicholls, Georgia. has become a NHRA Member Track, while Pacemakers Dragway Park, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, one of the oldest NHRA member tracks in the country, has extended its NHRA track membership. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.

View the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

NHRA News

THREE LIVE BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT NHRA COVERAGE ON ESPN: The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.

ALUND AMONG WINNERS AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: Appearing in his first career Pro Stock final, Jimmy Alund drove to victory in his second NHRA Four-Wide Nationals appearance. The Swede is substituting for four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson and ran a 6.562 pass at 211.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, becoming the first European winner and only fourth non-American winner in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Alund took out runner-up Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and recent Las Vegas winner Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.

POINTS STANDINGS UPDATED FOR NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The points standings for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are updated following the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and there was movement within the top 10 in all categories. Andrew Hines takes over the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time since 2010 and Antron Brown tightened up the points margin in Top Fuel. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.

He Said, She Said

"Those guys were phenomenal in their time with what they did through the ’90s with him and Dave Schultz was outstanding. It is cool to be tied with John Myers. I grew up around drag racing and around these drag racing tracks. I remember running around as an eight-, nine-, 10-year-old kid having rubber band wars with John Myers. Shooting rubber bands at each other whenever we could. So that is really cool to tie his stat and be associated in that elite group."

—Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines following his win in Charlotte. It was his 33rd win in the category and ties him for third in Pro Stock Motorcycle victories with the late John Myers.

Inside the Numbers

4: Number of consecutive final rounds Robert Hight has raced to in the first five races of 2014. Hight has won two of the events including the most recent race in Charlotte. He also is the Funny Car points leader. The record for the most consecutive final round appearances in Funny Car is 13 held by Don Prudhomme, which he achieved during the ’75–’77 seasons. The record for the most final-round appearances in a single season is held by Hight’s team owner John Force with 16 in 1996.

Did You Know

DOUGLAS MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK; PACEMAKERS RENEWS: Two NHRA Member Tracks—one brand new and the other a longtime staple—have committed themselves to the NHRA Member Track network. Douglas Motorsports Park—an eighth-mile facility located in Nicholls, Georgia. has become a NHRA Member Track, while Pacemakers Dragway Park, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, one of the oldest NHRA member tracks in the country, has extended its NHRA track membership. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.

View the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. The measure would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Wisconsin in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. The bill also would have protected the design contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. The measure would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Wisconsin in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. The bill also would have protected the design contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. The measure would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Wisconsin in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. The bill also would have protected the design contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.