Sources have caught the upcoming 2024 F-150 refresh testing in Tremor guise.

The vast amounts of camo on the front and rear ends suggest coming revisions to the styling, while a camo on the rear of the vehicle indicates that a new tailgate might be in the works.

Inside, the refreshed F-150 should see a few updates, though the cabin is still regarded as being highly competitive in its segment. However, we might see a larger screen and related revisions to the center stack configuration.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Editors  

The road to the 2023 SEMA Show, October 31-November 3 in Las Vegas, is officially on. Show organizers are hard at work building the floorplan community by community, booth by booth--and you can see it all come together at semashow.com/floorplan.  

More than 2,000 exhibitors are involved in the process, with SEMA Show representatives calling each company--one by one--to select the most suitable booth space to achieve their business goals. As a result, several exhibitors are opting for expanded booth displays for their new product launches and brand stories and organizers are seeing the international community ready to participate at pre-pandemic levels.  

Buyers can expect all the hallmarks that make the SEMA Show the year's definitive trade-only event bringing together automotive industry professionals, enthusiasts and entrepreneurs worldwide. Attendees will experience multiple business community areas, including Racing and Performance, Hot Rod Alley, Restoration Marketplace, Collision Repair & Refinish, Tools & Equipment, Global Tire Expo, Wheels & Accessories, Restyling Repair & Refinish, Powersports & Utility Vehicles, Trucks, SUVs & Off-Road, Mobile Electronics & Technology and Business Services—plus special outdoor exhibits filled with rig displays, demos and activations.  

Unique features include the ultimate automotive showdown of custom vehicles, the Battle of the Builders, which returns to the North Hall. New for 2023 includes a fresh location for the New Products Showcase, which is the No. 1 place for buyers to see new automotive innovations, technology and products. The popular Show feature will now be in the North Hall. [Note for exhibitors: the first product in the New Products Showcase is free. For more information, visit semashow.com/new-products-rules.] 

In addition, buyers and media will be able to explore the future of propulsion, mobility and electric vehicles (EV) in an expanded EV and Alternative community in Central Hall. Plus, the fan-favorite art walk and community areas across the Las Vegas Convention Center will be extended. 

The floorplan will continue to be built over the coming weeks with more new features, attractions and exciting new areas to be introduced. 

The future will be on display when the who's who of the automotive aftermarket gathers in Las Vegas, October 31-November 3, for the 2023 SEMA Show.  

Booth spaces are limited and selling fast, but there is still time to get involved. To reserve a booth at the 2023 SEMA Show, visit here. 

To register to attend the SEMA 2023 Show, visit here. 

Exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2023 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the Show block.

Making hotel reservations in the block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

SEMA Showgoers can save an average of $100 per night at several Las Vegas hotels, including The Palazzo, by booking in the SEMA Show block.

All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show block come with a low-price guarantee. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the most affordable price available.

The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are more than 45 hotels available in the block. For more information on the hotels listed below, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit SEMAShow.com.

SEMA has negotiated exclusive, discounted nightly rates at the best hotels in Las Vegas. However, you can only get the discounted rates when you book through the SEMA Show's official hotel provider. Save an average of $100 a night at the following SEMA Show hotels:

• Bellagio
• The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
• Harrah's Hotel and Casino
• The LINQ Hotel & Casino
• MGM Grand
• New York New York
• The Palazzo
• Park MGM
• The Signature at MGM Grand
• SpringHill Suites Convention Center
• Tropicana LV - A Doubletree by Hilton
• Trump Hotel Las Vegas
• Vdara Hotel and Spa
• The Venetian Resort Casino
• Waldorf Astoria
• The Westin Las Vegas

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2023 SEMA Show, visit SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

Hot Shot's Secret Expands NTPA Sponsorship for 2023

Hot Shot's Secret has announced an expansion of its National Tractor Pullers Association Championship Pulling Series sponsorship for 2023. The new accord establishes a six-event bonus series and point fund titled the Hot Shot's Secret Challenge. This points challenge will provide a payout in excess of $30,000 to the top three-point earners per division. The challenge is open to Grand National competitors in all 13 premier-level divisions.

All divisions that appear at each qualified event are participating in the program. This challenge establishes a four-hook series for Light Modifieds, a six-hook series for two divisions (Light Super Stock and Super Semi), an eight-hook series for seven divisions (Super Stock Open, Super Farm, Pro Stock, Four Wheel Drive, Super Stock Diesel 4x4, Modified, and Unlimited), a 10-hook series for two divisions (Super Stock Diesel, Two Wheel Drive) and a 12-hook series for Modified Minis.

To be eligible for a payout, a vehicle must be registered for the 2023 Grand National series and also prominently display Hot Shot's Secret point fund decals on both sides of the participating vehicle.

Locations for the 2023 Hot Shot's Secret Challenge include the Farley Nationals in Farley, Iowa (June 9-10); the Budweiser Dairyland Super Nationals in Tomah, Wisconsin (June 22-24); the Lions Super Pull of the South in Chapel Hill, Tennessee (July 21-22); the Fort Recovery Grand Nationals in Fort Recovery, Ohio (July 28-29); the North Iowa Nationals in Rockwell, Iowa (August 3-5); and concluding at the National Tractor Pulling Championships in Bowling Green, Ohio (August 17-19).

Additionally for 2023, Hot Shot's Secret will be the prime sponsor of five "Hot Shot's Secret Spotlight" segments to appear during NTPA's weekly "Championship Pulling" television show on RFD-TV. The company will maintain its visibility in trackside signage, public address announcements, and in graphics that will appear on NTPA's official mobile videoboard.

Prock, Hight, Kramer and Herrera Pick Up Wins at Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals

John Force Racing swept the nitro classes last Sunday at zMAX Dragway, as Austin Prock and Robert Hight rolled to wins in Top Fuel and Funny Car, respectively, at the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Deric Kramer (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the fifth of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

In the Top Fuel final quad, Prock went 3.684 seconds at 330.88 mph in his 11,000hp Montana Brands/Rocky Mountain Twist dragster, beating a group that also included points leader Steve Torrence, Josh Hart and Leah Pruett. He finished first in all three quads, posting a 3.686 in the opening quad and then making the quickest run of eliminations in the final round. Pruett finished as the runner-up with her run of 3.708 at 329.99, with Hart taking third. Torrence maintains his points lead in the class.

In Funny Car, Hight powered to a 3.888 at 328.30 in his 11,000hp Flav-R-Pac Chevrolet Camaro SS to beat John Force, defending world champ Ron Capps and Alexis DeJoria. The multi-time champ and his team rolled to the win in every quad as he collected his 63rd career Wally. DeJoria finished as the runner-up as she continued her solid season, while Capps was third. Despite a first-round exit, Hagan maintained the points lead in Funny Car over DeJoria.

Kramer drove to his first win in nearly four years by going 6.555 at 208.88 in his Get BioFuel Chevrolet Camaro in the championship round. Kramer ousted the likes of points leader Dallas Glenn, who was after his third straight win, No. 1 qualifier Matt Hartford and Fernando Cuadra Jr. to earn his fifth career victory.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Herrera stayed perfect, breaking the track E.T. record with a run of 6.710 at 202.00 in the final round on his Vance & Hines/Mission Foods Suzuki. After qualifying No. 1 for the second straight race, Herrera made the quickest run in two of the three rounds on Sunday, defeating teammate Eddie Krawiec, defending world champ Matt Smith and defending event winner Steve Johnson. Herrera finished first in both quads heading into the final and then ran away from his competition in the final round, posting a .013 reaction time and making the quickest PSM run at zMAX Dragway.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action May 19-21 with the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK Performance at Route 66 Raceway in Chicago.

Candidates Named for 2024-2025 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship

Officials with IMSA have announced the finalists for the 2024-2025 IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship. The recipient, to be named later this year, will receive benefits worth more than $250,000 to assist them in competing in one of three IMSA-sanctioned series during the 2024 season.

Over the next few months, the 10 selected candidates will participate in a series of learning modules to bolster their off-track skills and assist them in approaching teams and submitting their final business plans. The 2024-2025 scholarship recipient will be announced in the fall.

The list of candidates for the third annual IMSA Diverse Driver Development Scholarship consists of eight men and two women, and four of the candidates were finalists in past years. The candidates are Antonio Abrom (21; Winston, Georgia); Andrea Castro (24; New York, New York); Sabre Cook* (28; Carmel, Indiana); Ken Fukuda (35; Beacon, New York); Heather Hadley (21; Sherrills Ford, North Carolina); Bryson Lew* (20; Salt Lake City, Utah); Kyle Loh* (24; San Jose, California); Baley Monette (27; Alpharetta, Georgia); Brad Perez* (26; Kannapolis, North Carolina); and Westin Workman (18; Charlotte, North Carolina). [An asterisk (*) indicates a finalist in a previous year.]

For more racing news, visit Performance Racing Industry’s (PRI) website.

R&R Marketing Welcomes Jason Sakurai as Sales and Marketing Representative

R&R Marketing Consultants Inc. has announced the recent hire of Jason Sakurai, who will join the RRMCI sales and marketing team in the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Sakurai is a sales and marketing professional with 20 years of experience, which has also included many lifestyle brands, such as Alpine Electronics, Team Dynamics, Vans footwear, No Fear Action Sports Gear and more. The 2019 SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance Influencer of the Year, he continues to participate in the industry that has fueled his lifelong passion for automotive culture. Sakurai joins RRMCI's roster of more than 15 employees, including executives, consultants, sales and marketing representatives and e-Commerce specialists.

Toyota Women Recognized for Leadership in Manufacturing Industry

Toyota had three honorees at the Women MAKE Awards, presented by the Manufacturing Institute. The three Toyota employees were among the women recognized for delivering leadership in the industry and making contributions to communities in which they live. This year's ceremony celebrated 100 honorees plus 30 Emerging Leaders award winners, which recognizes 30 women under the age of 30 who have achieved unique accomplishments at the start of their careers. Toyota's honorees included:

• Christine Garramone, CPSM, CPM, who is a general manager in the purchasing Supplier development division, managing supply of all powertrain components assembled into vehicles assembled in North America.
• Maura Smith, general manager of Line 1 Production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK).
• Jessica Buck (Emerging Leader), senior vehicle dynamics engineer at Toyota's North American R&D headquarters in Michigan.

Each year, the Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, recognizes women in the science, technology, engineering and production areas of the manufacturing industry who exemplify leadership and excellence in their careers.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

 By Drew Hardin

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Cognito Motorsports

Outside Contract Sales Rep

Cognito Motorsports, located in Bakersfield, California, is hiring an outside contract sales rep responsible for new dealer acquisition, top-line sales production, relationship management and customer retention. The successful candidate will be an effective hunter and relationship builder capable of consistently recruiting new Cognito dealers and helping them to grow and maintain their sales volume.

Toms Offroad

Accountant Controller

Toms Offroad, located in Medford, Oregon, is hiring an accountant controller to comply with federal, state and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation, enforcing requirements, filing financial reports and advising management on needed actions. The ideal candidate for this position would be a self-starter who can manage projects accordingly, is experienced in the field, knowledgeable in QuickBooks and has a growth mindset.

QA1

Content Marketing Strategist

QA1, located in Lakeville, Minnesota, is hiring a content marketing strategist responsible for translating business goals into content strategies to be delivered through a wide variety of mediums. The ideal candidate should be a big-picture thinker who leads the strategy and development of messaging to be delivered in all forms of media. This position requires a high level of creativity and ability to facilitate the creation of highly engaging content to the QA1 audience.

For more information, including how to apply to jobs or to post job listings, visit the SEMA Career Center here. 

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA's Washington, D.C., advocacy team invites members to join the PRI Political Action Committee (PAC) for the Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 13. What better way to kick off summer than inside a fully catered "Gasoline Alley" luxury suite with exclusive indoor and rooftop views?

What role does the PAC have within SEMA? United States law restricts groups like SEMA from directly funding elections. However, our members' voices need to be heard! A PAC allows members to pool their resources to support lawmakers and candidates who stand up for the racing industry. 

Purchase required to attend. Interested in the event or have questions? Contact Alicia Steger at alicias@sema.org. 

By Ashley Reyes

Among the benefits and perks of SEMA membership is the ability to access dozens of free research reports on the automotive specialty-equipment market at sema.org/research. Conducted by professional market researchers, the studies are filled with data and insights on consumer behavior, purchasing habits, economic indicators, and sales figures--all specific to the automotive specialty equipment market. It's the best place to find industry-focused data.

SEMA members may obtain the reports at no cost. Nonmembers may purchase individual reports for as much as $2,000 per study.  

New studies are posted throughout the year. 

Current reports include:

The "SEMA Market Report"

How big is the specialty-equipment market? In 2021, the performance and accessory market climbed more than $50 billion. The 2022 "SEMA Market Report" details the size and scope of the market to help members better understand their business opportunities.  

Industry Trends 

How is the industry doing, and where is it going? The "SEMA Future Trends" and "SEMA State of the Industry" reports uncover industry shifts in the automotive specialty-equipment market. Look to these reports to understand where growth is occurring and where the industry might evolve next. 

Consumer Insights 

What motivates your customers to purchase accessories? The consumer insights reports focus on specific consumer behaviors, including how they research, shop and buy upgrades and modifications. SEMA offers reports for many important customer targets, including pickup owners, Jeep owners, modern musclecars and more. 

While the SEMA Market Research team focuses primarily on developing research reports, they are always happy to answer questions about the industry. Visit the SEMA Market Research website to learn more, or contact Gavin Knapp, gavink@sema.org or 909-978-6712.