Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Michael Essa will pilot the Essa Autosport BMW E46 M3 on a segment of the Long Beach Grand Prix street course.

Yokohama Tire Corp.’s Formula Drift Title Defense Begins at Long Beach, April 4–5
The 2014 Formula Drift season starts April 4–5 in Long Beach, California, and Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) will try to defend its title with reigning champion Michael Essa. YTC and Essa captured the 2013 Formula D crown. He will pilot the Essa Autosport BMW E46 M3 on a segment of the Long Beach Grand Prix street course. YTC is also partnering with D1 veteran Kuniaki Takahashi in his A’PEXi Lexus SC430, as well as up-and-coming Ryan Kado in his Gryphon AutoLab Nissan 350Z.

In addition, all three YTC-sponsored teams are scheduled to participate in the Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge during the Long Beach Grand Prix weekend, April 10–11. The cars will compete under the lights on Friday and Saturday evening and be on display throughout the weekend.

Powerbuilt Tools to Offer New Award for Racers
Powerbuilt has announced support for the teams in the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) with the creation of a special award at each race during the 2014 season. Eligible teams can win the Powerbuilt Tools Award with the prize being a Powerbuilt ½-in. deflecting beam professional torque wrench. The USTCC season will start April 5, 2014, at Buttonwillow Raceway just north of Los Angeles. The teams will have seven races across the West Coast finishing at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California.

16-Year-Old Super Late Model Driver Jordan Ives Wins $50,000 "Search for a Champion" Sponsorship
Jordan Ives won his first race at age four. Twelve years later, the 16-year-old has landed a $50,000 grand-prize sponsorship in the “Search for a Champion” contest from Federal-Mogul’s Champion sparkplug brand. Ives was one of 15 finalists from among nearly 400 grassroots racers who submitted videos describing how a Champion sponsorship would help them dominate the competition in 2014. More than 243,000 members of the “Performance Driven” Champion online community cast votes in the contest.

Ives won eight Late Model races and was Norway Speedway’s “Rookie of the Year” in 2012. He was selected “Most Improved Driver” after finishing in the top 10 in points in Super Late Model competition in 2013. He plans to campaign his 2012 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Super Late Model car throughout the midwestern United States this year. In addition to the grand-prize sponsorship, Federal-Mogul also awarded $5,000 sponsorships to each of the 15 finalists, for a total of $125,000 in grassroots support from the Champion brand. Watch Ives’ video that led him to this win.

	Kalitta Motorsports’ Top Fuel Driver Doug Kalitta shares a moment with SealMaster franchise owner Jerry Britt, who offers the brand’s full line of pavement maintenance products and equipment.

SealMaster partners with the NHRA and Kalitta Motorsports for 2014 NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing Series
SealMaster, a manufacturer and distributor of pavement maintenance products and equipment, has announced its sponsorship of the 2014 NHRA Top Fuel Drag Racing series. The company is also sponsoring Kalitta Motorsports’ two 10,000-hp Top Fuel dragsters driven by Doug Kalitta and David Grubnic.

As part of the NHRA agreement, SealMaster will have a presence at all 24 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events across the United States. Through its onsite presence, SealMaster will receive promotional video spots on the track big screen, conduct hospitality for corporate guests, will have track bannering rights and will host onsite promotional displays at select events. Additionally, the marketing partnership designates SealMaster as the title sponsor of the NHRA Track Walks, which take place in the morning prior to eliminations. During the Track Walk, an NHRA driver or legend of the sport leads spectators in a roundtrip walk of the dragstrip, from the starting line to the finish line and back.

Irwindale Weekly Racing "Opening Night" 2014 Whelen All-American Series Swings Into Action
Irwindale Speedway kicks off its 2014 championship season with a night of NASCAR racing, Saturday, April 5, with four divisions and five exciting race events utilizing both of the track's "twin-ring" half- and third-mile oval courses. In the Lucas Oil Late Models, 2013 series champ Ryan Partridge will lead the charge back to Irwindale's half-mile with Toni McCray and Andrew Porter both in pursuit. For more information and tickets, visit www.irwindaleeventcenter.com.

	The Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2299 will headline the second annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show, Saturday, May 17, 2014.

Le Mans-Winning ’64 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe to Headline Second Annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show
Almost 50 years after its historic victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe CSX2299 will return to Southern California to headline the second annual Carroll Shelby Tribute and Car Show, Saturday, May 17, 2014. Hosted by Carroll Shelby International, the Carroll Shelby Foundation, Carroll Shelby Licensing and Shelby American Inc., the single-day event will take place at the future home of the Carroll Shelby Automotive Museum at 19021 S. Figueroa St., Gardena, California. The event will feature a Ford and Shelby car show, awards ceremony, an expert panel and the Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe that brought the United States its first victory in 1964. The tribute will benefit the foundation and new museum.

Nitto Tire Becomes Official Partner of TORC
Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. has announced its partnership with The Off-Road Championship (TORC) for the 2014 season. The Nitto team will sponsor short course world champion Ross Hoek, pilot of the #10 ’14 Toyota Tundra Race Truck, in his 2014 Pro 4x4 (Pro4) Championship campaign. TORC kicks off its 2014 season on April 5–6 at the Primm Valley Off-Road Raceway located just miles outside of Las Vegas. TORC is broken down into three classes of PRO Trucks—Pro Light, Pro 2WD (Pro2) and Pro 4X4 (Pro4). Competing in the Elite Pro4 class, Nitto team driver Hoek's ’14 Toyota Tundra is powered by an unrestricted V8 making more than 850 hp and just less than 600 lb.-ft. of torque.

For the 2014 season, TORC will be broadcast by NBC Sports alongside NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar. In addition to the race broadcasts, NBC Sports will bring fans behind the scenes and provide them with a look at the world of TORC through a docu-reality TV series chronicling the stories of the off-road racing teams and the drivers.

By SEMA Editors

	The Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage, will be held Thursday, April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California.

More than 40 SEMA-member companies have confirmed that they will attend next Thursday's Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about Black Boxes for vehicles; event-data recorders; mobile app development; OEM plans for future manufacturing; and more. Register now!

As vehicle technology continues to evolve rapidly, so do the tools that can take a product from a concept to a working reality. Knowing that tomorrow’s consumers will look for different capabilities in their vehicles, the challenge becomes understanding how connectivity influences the user experience.

The Product Development Expo is one of the tools that will help companies remain knowledgeable about the newest technologies and developments in the industry, setting businesses up for long-term success in a rapidly changing market.

"The race to define future vehicles is on," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. "Competition for the future of the auto industry is rapidly evolving between Silicon Valley and Detroit. The recession accelerated the auto industry’s transformational changes required for growth as well as reinvention and product development of vehicles—from mechanical to electrical systems, from standalone to connected, and from mass markets to personalization and customization. The changes we are going through today will impact the performance aftermarket industry for decades to come. SEMA's Product Development Expo is your chance to learn how to compete and win as new technologies, tools and applications are deployed."

Companies Participating in 2014 Product Development Expo

During the SEMA Product Development Expo, industry experts—including automakers, tier suppliers and association leaders—will discuss the future of the accessory market, including how products will be integrated into new vehicles and why automotive apps, such as Ford’s Open XC platform, matter.

Cosponsored by the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) and the Emerging Trends & Technology network (ETTN), the SEMA Product Development Expo takes place April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the future of product development and product planning, current emissions certification requirements, how to access high-tech tools at a reduced cost and other ways to make products cost efficiently.

The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $47 for SEMA members and $97 for non-SEMA members. For details, visit www.sema.org/product-development or contact Juliet Marshall, 909-978-6655. Register now!

By SEMA Editors

	The Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage, will be held Thursday, April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California.

More than 40 SEMA-member companies have confirmed that they will attend next Thursday's Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about Black Boxes for vehicles; event-data recorders; mobile app development; OEM plans for future manufacturing; and more. Register now!

As vehicle technology continues to evolve rapidly, so do the tools that can take a product from a concept to a working reality. Knowing that tomorrow’s consumers will look for different capabilities in their vehicles, the challenge becomes understanding how connectivity influences the user experience.

The Product Development Expo is one of the tools that will help companies remain knowledgeable about the newest technologies and developments in the industry, setting businesses up for long-term success in a rapidly changing market.

"The race to define future vehicles is on," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. "Competition for the future of the auto industry is rapidly evolving between Silicon Valley and Detroit. The recession accelerated the auto industry’s transformational changes required for growth as well as reinvention and product development of vehicles—from mechanical to electrical systems, from standalone to connected, and from mass markets to personalization and customization. The changes we are going through today will impact the performance aftermarket industry for decades to come. SEMA's Product Development Expo is your chance to learn how to compete and win as new technologies, tools and applications are deployed."

Companies Participating in 2014 Product Development Expo

During the SEMA Product Development Expo, industry experts—including automakers, tier suppliers and association leaders—will discuss the future of the accessory market, including how products will be integrated into new vehicles and why automotive apps, such as Ford’s Open XC platform, matter.

Cosponsored by the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) and the Emerging Trends & Technology network (ETTN), the SEMA Product Development Expo takes place April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the future of product development and product planning, current emissions certification requirements, how to access high-tech tools at a reduced cost and other ways to make products cost efficiently.

The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $47 for SEMA members and $97 for non-SEMA members. For details, visit www.sema.org/product-development or contact Juliet Marshall, 909-978-6655. Register now!

By SEMA Editors

	The Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage, will be held Thursday, April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California.

More than 40 SEMA-member companies have confirmed that they will attend next Thursday's Product Development Expo, fueled by the SEMA Garage. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about Black Boxes for vehicles; event-data recorders; mobile app development; OEM plans for future manufacturing; and more. Register now!

As vehicle technology continues to evolve rapidly, so do the tools that can take a product from a concept to a working reality. Knowing that tomorrow’s consumers will look for different capabilities in their vehicles, the challenge becomes understanding how connectivity influences the user experience.

The Product Development Expo is one of the tools that will help companies remain knowledgeable about the newest technologies and developments in the industry, setting businesses up for long-term success in a rapidly changing market.

"The race to define future vehicles is on," said John Waraniak, SEMA vice president of vehicle technology. "Competition for the future of the auto industry is rapidly evolving between Silicon Valley and Detroit. The recession accelerated the auto industry’s transformational changes required for growth as well as reinvention and product development of vehicles—from mechanical to electrical systems, from standalone to connected, and from mass markets to personalization and customization. The changes we are going through today will impact the performance aftermarket industry for decades to come. SEMA's Product Development Expo is your chance to learn how to compete and win as new technologies, tools and applications are deployed."

Companies Participating in 2014 Product Development Expo

During the SEMA Product Development Expo, industry experts—including automakers, tier suppliers and association leaders—will discuss the future of the accessory market, including how products will be integrated into new vehicles and why automotive apps, such as Ford’s Open XC platform, matter.

Cosponsored by the SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) and the Emerging Trends & Technology network (ETTN), the SEMA Product Development Expo takes place April 10, 2014, at SEMA headquarters in Diamond Bar, California. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the future of product development and product planning, current emissions certification requirements, how to access high-tech tools at a reduced cost and other ways to make products cost efficiently.

The registration fee, which includes lunch, is $47 for SEMA members and $97 for non-SEMA members. For details, visit www.sema.org/product-development or contact Juliet Marshall, 909-978-6655. Register now!

It looks like the Bullitt is back, as the shooters at KGP Photography just got their first look at a prototype for the ’15 Bullitt Mustang testing on the mean streets of Dearborn, Michigan.

The prototype was painted in what appeared to be a deadringer for the classic Dark Highland Green that graced Steve McQueen's original ’68 Mustang from the movie classic, and the subsequent special-edition Bullitt Mustangs from ’01 and ’08. In the past, Ford had vowed that the color will remain specific to Bullitt editions, and won't be found on standard, run-of-the-mill Mustangs. The prototype also does away with the 5.0L badging, and many other flourishes, with the only badging being the galloping Mustang logo on the front and back. The back Mustang badge gets the vertical bars, but the red, white and blue stripes are gone in favor of an all-chrome look. The front grille insert is also a new treatment not featured on any prior ’15 Mustangs.

The latest Bullitt's new wheels look to be a modern interpretation of previous Bullitt wheels, with smoky, blacked-out spokes enhanced by a bright brushed metal finish defining the five-spoke design.

The Bullitt Mustangs have been known to have a particularly excellent musclecar soundtrack, and KGP's photographer reports that nothing has changed on this all-new version.

Photo credit: KGP Photography