I-CAR, the Inter-Industry on Auto Collision Repair, continues to announce its series of new presentation topics for 2022 SEMA Show attendees, offering a variety of classroom and stage demonstrations to increase collision-repair industry knowledge and skills at the annual Las Vegas convention, to be held November 1-4.

I-CAR’s Director of Technical Products & Curriculum Bud Center announced the complete list of sessions to be held, including live interviews and panel discussions with:

• Chief Automotive-Structural Holding with Mike Croker, Global Repair and Training Product Manager
• Lucid Motors with Jake Rodenroth, North American Body Repair Program Operations Manager
• Snap-On ADAS True Point with Tim Garner, Market Development Manager

There will also be a series of other technical topic panel discussions hosted by I-CAR and SCRS.

“We’ve curated a robust and relevant mix of presentations, courses, sessions and live
stage demonstrations will provide attendees with the most comprehensive education and hands-on learning we’ve ever been able to offer,” noted Center. “Also, registration remains open for our first-time MIG Welding Technology & Applications training session focusing on basic to advanced techniques and ideal for collision repair, classic car, hot rod and vehicle builders/rebuilders as well as other technicians. Although not eligible
for I-CAR credit, to encourage newer technicians and vehicle builders out there, I-CAR is making this popular MIG Welding session available for $75 (normally $150) and will include complimentary, hands-on welding practice at the SEMA Collision Repair Stage.”

Online registration for all topics is now open and available through Thursday, November 3. Stay updated with the complete I-CAR schedule of free presentations and live stage demonstrations here.

Attendees will also be able to register on-site outside I-CAR Classrooms S224 and S225. As previously noted, I-CAR will hold a free series of live educational presentations on topics, including Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Electric Vehicles (EVs), Scanning and Calibrations, Welding and more at the SEMA Collision Repair & Refinish Stage.

Additionally, I-CAR, a SEMA Education Partner, will participate in the free and new SEMA
ADAS Showcase #39007, in Upper South Hall and SEMA Electrify #11268 in the North Hall. Individuals who take I-CAR educational training gain knowledge and credits valid toward the I-CAR Platinum designation, which is given to collision repair professionals who achieve and maintain high levels of role-relevant training that contributes to complete, safe and quality repairs, and which also contributes to I-CAR Gold Class recognition for their repair facility, both representing the highest role-relevant training achievement recognized by the collision-repair industry.

Keith Martin Names Jeff Sabatini as First Editor-In-Chief of Sports Car Market Magazine

Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market Magazine (SCM), announced that Jeff Sabatini has been named the first editor-in-chief of the publication, effective immediately. Sabatini has been an automotive journalist for more than 25 years. His first stint with SCM was from 2003 to 2005, and he returned to the magazine in August 2020. In between, his career has included stops at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Autoblog and Car and Driver. As editor-in-chief, Sabatini will assume a greater role in decision making for all aspects of SCM, from membership to social media and digital enterprises to SCM 1000 tours.

Honda and I-CAR Announce '22 Honda HR-V Tech Training

The Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) has expanded its collaboration with Honda to bolster its technical training programming with the development and delivery of two new online courses specifically designed for repair of the ’22 Honda HR-V. Both one-hour online courses for the subcompact SUV are led by I-CAR’s technical experts. Registration for the program is open.

Honda HR-V 2022 Collision Repair: This course provides an overview of vehicle design and construction materials, highlighting the unique aspects of service parts and procedure for the ’22 Honda HR-V. The training also includes considerations for sectioning, attachment methods and specific part removal and installation.

Honda HR-V 2022 Electromechanical Repairs: This course is designed to introduce technicians to the electrical and mechanical systems, parts and repair considerations for the ’22 Honda-HRV. It offers a detailed overview of mechanical information and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) features, and also highlights steering and suspension parts and repair considerations.

I-CAR is offering free, daily instruction—from welding 101 to advanced MIG welding techniques for aluminum and standard-strength steel—during the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. More information and registration for the I-CAR sessions are available online.

Fix Auto USA Names Alex Doria Rookie of the Year

Fix Auto USA announced the top performers in the Fix Auto family during the final day of the Fix Auto USA conference. Alex Doria, owner of Fix Auto Santee, was named the Fix Auto USA Rookie of the Year for 2022. Doria joined Fix Auto USA as a franchisee in October 2020. While not new to Fix Auto USA or the industry, being an owner-operator of his own repair facility was a new journey—and one that started during a particularly challenging time. Leveraging his passion and experience for customer service and marketing, this store quickly became a flagship location for the representation of brand imagery, customer service and operational performance.

Centerforce Launches All-New Website

Centerforce has announced the launch of an all-new consumer-friendly website, featuring a redesigned layout with year, make, model search, faster load times and easier overall navigation. Its improved dealer search function allows customers to locate nearby Centerforce dealers and installers via their zip code or address to get their upgrades quickly. The all-new home page features new product releases and video uploads so that visitors can keep up-to-date with the latest offerings and adventures from Centerforce.

Third Annual Hood Master Challenge & Second Annual PiN Master Challenge a Success

This year, the FinishMaster and CREF teams raised a record $13,000, which more than doubled from the previous year.

On Friday, October 7, the FinishMaster team welcomed around 250 guests at the Alexander Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, where guests traveled in from all over the country to take in the sights and experiences Hood Master had to offer. The event featured a total of 70 hoods and 38 pins, including 13 winning hoods from previous challenges, which were highlighted and displayed as the backdrop on the center stage.

Hood Master Winners:

Pinstripe

1st Place – Ol’ Calhoun; Brendan Warmerdam⁠
2nd Place – Exalted Circuit; Drew Brasington⁠
3rd Place – Paint by Performance; Mike Smith⁠

Airbrush

1st Place – Guilty Pleasure; Chad Henslin⁠
2nd Place – Immortalis in Memoria; Tom Strait⁠
3rd Place – Ignite Your Passion; Andy Dean⁠

Overall

Wild Card - Exalted Circuit; Drew Brasington⁠
Crowd Favorite - Rhythm N’ Blues; Zack Hampton⁠

PiN Master is a student challenge hosted during Hood Master for those in collision-repair programs across the United States, where high-school and college students compete against each other by repairing, designing and painting retired bowling pins. The goal of the PiN Master Challenge is to showcase the skills of these students and to support the future of this industry. Hood Master’s 19 industry-expert judges utilized their background and expertise to properly evaluate the skills and technique of each of the students’ pins and determine this year’s winners.

PiN Master Winners:

1st Place – Untitled; Eric De La Cruz⁠, Lincoln Tech
2nd Place – Untitled; Colton Griggs⁠, Kingwood Park High School
3rd Place – Untitled; Erin Shannon⁠, Lincoln Tech
Wild Card – A Little Bit of Everything; Jordan Hoag⁠, Cape Fear Community College

For the second year in a row, FinishMaster utilized the Hood Master platform as an opportunity to support the future of the collision-repair industry. All proceeds raised before and during the Hood Master Challenge went directly to a FinishMaster sponsored education grant for CREF to support collision-repair education programs across the nation. This year, the FinishMaster and CREF teams raised a record $13,000, which more than doubled from the previous year.

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.

Here’s a very first look at the ’24 Cadillac CT5 refresh.

The CT5 refresh will offer a revised front fascia that includes updated headlights and some slight changes to the lower front grille, which sees the ’24 CT5 ditching the “semi-smiley” aesthetic. The new headlights will bring it in-line with the ’24 XT4, which is still yet to debut.

Inside, the Cadillac CT5 will receive some updates to the interior, including a revised cockpit similar to the upcoming ’24 Cadillac XT4, which will also be a refresh. The XT4 refresh will feature a wide curved display that houses both the instrument cluster and the infotainment screen.

The ’24 CT5 is expected to soldier on with with three engine options, the turbocharged 2.0L, rated at 237 hp and 258 lb.-ft., the twin-turbo 3.0L V6, with 335 hp and 405 lb.-ft. of torque, and the 6.2L, with 668 hp and 659 lb.-ft. of torque in the CT5-V Blackwing.

Expect an official debut in early 2023.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Enjoy a hot breakfast with your colleagues before the Show officially opens! Ken Block and Brian Scotto will join SEMA at the SEMA Show Kickoff Breakfast to talk about “Electrikhana,” the new video that will have just dropped one week before the breakfast taking place November 1, in Las Vegas. The annual breakfast, formerly known as the SEMA Show New Products Breakfast, will have a fresh, new feel and include important award winner announcements.

Ken Block will be the featured guest at the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast.

Hosted by industry personality Jarod DeAndra, known by many as the voice of Formula DRIFT, the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast will include—for the first time—the announcements of SEMA Manufacturer of the Year and SEMA Channel Partner of the Year (formerly SEMA Distributor of the Year) award winners. Winners of the SEMA New Products Awards will also be announced, including those in the new Electric Vehicle and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) categories.

Block and Scotto will join DeAndra on stage to talk about “Electrikhana.” Featuring a new, all-electric Audi S1 Hoonitron and shot on the streets of Las Vegas, “Electrikhana” is the newest video in the Gymkhana series. The video, produced by Scotto and released on October 25, features drifting superstar Block behind the wheel of an 800-volt AWD, 1,400hp one-off custom-built prototype.

“We’re honored and excited to have Ken Block and Brian Scotto join us at the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “The Gymkhana video series and cars are iconic in the industry. They’re inspirational, and this newest video is representative of what the SEMA industry is about. Electrikhana pushes the envelope of innovation and continues improve upon what was already great.”

The SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast is an annual tradition for thousands of industry professionals. Taking place immediately before the opening of the four-day trade show, the breakfast is the ideal time to connect with the industry and celebrate what is to come.

The breakfast takes place Tuesday, November 1; doors open at 7:30 a.m. at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Event Center. Tickets to the breakfast are free to all credentialed SEMA Showgoers; Because space is limited, tickets must be reserved in advance during registration or through an individual’s SEMA Show dashboard.

Later in the week, a shorter SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m., at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Event Center. The annual gathering of the specialty-equipment industry will be highlighted by a networking cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment. The event marks the celebration of the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Gen-III Innovator of the Year and Automotive Influencer of the Year. An important announcement regarding the future of the SEMA Show and the association will be made. Register now.

To learn more about the SEMA Show and the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast, visit www.SEMAShow.com or download the Official SEMA Show Mobile App.

By Chad Simon

The SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet—to be held Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m., at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Event Center—is the annual celebration of the specialty-equipment industry and highlighted by a networking cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment. Themed “Further. Faster. Together.,” this year’s event is a revamped, shorter program that now concludes at 9:00 p.m., and features an innovative layout to immerse the audience in the experience.

Themed “Further. Faster. Together.,” this year’s SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet is a revamped, shorter program that now concludes at 9:00 p.m., and features an innovative layout to immerse the audience in the experience.

In addition, the SEMA Launch Pad finale will be filmed at the banquet, and a cocktail reception hosted by Fifth Third Bank will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Westgate Palm Court.

The event provides the backdrop for the presentation of industry awards that include the SEMA Person of the Year, SEMA Gen-III Innovator of the Year and, new for this year, the Automotive Influencer of the Year.

The inaugural SEMA Automotive Influencer of the Year Award is established to honor a content creator for their outstanding contributions to automotive culture and for creating a positive impact with automotive enthusiasts. Nominees include:

• Larry Chen
• ChrisFix
• TJ Hunt
• Adam LZ
• Alex Taylor

The SEMA Gen-III Innovator of the Year Award has been established to honor a person for their outstanding contribution to the industry. A “Gen-III Innovator” is defined as a young, entrepreneurial individual, 40 years old or younger within our industry who is creating new innovative breakthroughs within the area(s) of industry opportunities, advancement, best business practices, technology and/or trends. Nominees include:

• Mike Burns, CEO, ValvoMax
• Alex Kay, founder, RestorFX International   
• Dustin Woolf, owner, Woolfpack Racing

You won’t want to miss this year’s SEMA Show Industry Awards Banquet! Stay tuned, because an important announcement will be made at the event about the future of the Show and the association.

Exhibitors can secure complimentary tickets and purchase additional tickets through their registration dashboard, while attendees can purchase tickets here.  

Earlier in the week, the SEMA Show Kick-Off Breakfast will be held Tuesday, November 1, at 7:30 a.m., at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino Paradise Event Center. Featuring special guest Ken Block, this event will kick-off the 2022 SEMA Show with the hottest new-product award winners and the presentation of the Manufacturer of the Year and Channel Partner of the Year awards. Register now, and enjoy a hot breakfast with your colleagues before the Show officially opens.

The 2022 SEMA Show takes place November 2–5, in Las Vegas, with the Show floor opening at 9:00 a.m.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has requested public comments on the Section 301 tariffs as part of the statutorily required four-year review process. The review covers tariffs on all four Lists, as Lists 1 and 2 were implemented over four years ago and Lists 3 and 4a are considered modifications of these actions. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the tariffs should continue, expire or be modified following their four-year anniversary dates.

In 2018, the USTR instituted a Section 301 investigation of Chinese trade practices and imposed $50 billion in tariffs on a variety of goods on Lists 1 and 2, including miscellaneous metal and rubber parts. After China responded with retaliatory tariffs, the U.S. imposed the additional List 3 and 4a tariffs. The List 3 tariffs apply to most auto parts.

The USTR is seeking “comments on the effectiveness of the actions in achieving the objectives of the investigation, other actions that could be taken, and the effects of such actions on the United States economy, including consumers.” The docket will open for comment on November 15, 2022, and close on January 17, 2023. The USTR has identified the following general topics for comments:

• Effectiveness in obtaining the elimination of China’s practices related to technology transfer, intellectual property and innovation as identified by USTR in its Section 301 investigation.
• Other actions or modifications that would be more effective in counteracting practices the USTR identified in its Section 301 investigation.
• Effects on the U.S. economy, including U.S. consumers.
• Effects on domestic manufacturing, including capital investments, domestic capacity and production levels, industry concentrations and profits.
• Effects on U.S. technology, including U.S. technological leadership and U.S. technological development.
• Effects on U.S. workers, including employment and wages.
• Effects on U.S. small businesses.
• Effects on U.S. supply-chain resilience.
• Effects on the goals of U.S. critical supply chains outlined in Executive Order 14017 and in subsequent reports and findings.
• Whether the actions have resulted in higher additional duties on inputs used for additional manufacturing in the United States than the additional duties on particular downstream products or finished goods incorporating those inputs.

Besides the general topics listed above, on November 1, 2022, the USTR intends to post to the docket additional specific questions to guide comments. SEMA encourages companies to share feedback on how they have been impacted by the tariffs and comments on USTR’s consideration of product exclusion requests.  

If your business has been impacted by the Section 301 tariffs, please contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org to be incorporated into SEMA’s comments.

Ultra4 Racing Announces 2023 Schedule

Ultra4 Racing—the national race series featuring unlimited four-wheel drive race vehicles—has released its eight-race schedule for 2023. More than $815,000 in series payouts will be on the line on the 2023 schedule, which begins with the King of The Hammers in Johnson Valley, California, February 2–11, and ends with the annual Legends of the Fall race, now taking place at Lake Havasu City, Arizona, October 24–29. Classes participating in 2023 will be the 4400 Unlimited, 4800 Limited, 4500 Modified, 4600 Stock, Pro Modified SXS, Stock Production SXS, Open SXS, 170 Modified SXS, and 170 Limited SXS. For more information, visit ultra4racing.com.

eNASCAR International Series Announces Details for Five-Race Schedule

The eNASCAR International iRacing Series will return with a five-race schedule, including a virtual race livestreamed at the ADAC SimRacing Expo in Nuremberg, Germany, December 6. Drivers across the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series, NASCAR Pinty’s Series, and NASCAR Driver for Diversity Driver Development program are all scheduled to compete on iRacing.com, which provides an online racing simulation portal and features officially sanctioned, laser-scanned replicas of race tracks around the world.

Round 3 of the DBOX eNASCAR International iRacing Series presented by Digital Motorsports championship will be part of the ADAC SimRacing Expo program, as the livestream will be featured to close out the event, meaning visitors can watch on-site. In addition, the eNASCAR iRacing Coca-Cola Series Championship trophy will be renamed in Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s honor beginning this race season. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt Jr.’s NASCAR Xfinity Series team, has held an eNASCAR franchise since 2019.

For more information, visit enascar.com.

2022 eNASCAR International iRacing Series Schedule:

• November 15 – Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas
• November 22 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
• December 4 – Daytona International Speedway (9 a.m. EST), Daytona, Florida
• December 13 – Circuit Zolder, Heusden-Zolder, Belguim, Germany
• December 20 – Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina

Jeff Trout Purchases Sprint Car Chassis Business

Jeff Trout has agreed to purchase the pavement sprint car chassis business owned by Jimmy Riddell, according to a LinkedIn post written by Trout, which stated the following:

”Today, I purchased Jimmy Riddell’s Hornet pavement sprint car chassis business. [Effective immediately, my] partners and I will be producing Hornet non-winged and winged pavement sprint cars and maybe a Silver Crown car... Our cars will feature AWS-certified and inspected welds, standard halos, and outlaw-style intrusion bars, as well as optional CASM Seat Mount System.

Hornet sprint cars have won the last five NCMA championships with three different cars and three different drivers. The last race of the 2022 season saw Shauna Hogg pick up the win at Stockton 99 Speedway in a Hornet.”

Trout was previously announced as the president of the POWRi Pacific Racing League (PRL).

FIA Approves 2023 World Endurance Championship Calendar

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has approved the seven-round 2023 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) calendar, shown below, with the 6 Hours of Portimão a new addition to the schedule. The 11th season of FIA WEC will kick off with the Official Prologue at Sebring International Raceway on March 11–12, and conclude with the 8 Hours of Bahrain on November 4.

The first-ever 6 Hours of Portimão at Algarve International Circuit will take place on April 16. This will be the second time that FIA WEC has run at this track which previously held an 8-hour race at the Portimão, Portugal venue back in 2021. For more information, visit fiawec.com/en.

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

Motorsports icon, championship-winning driver and team owner Tony Stewart will help kick off the three biggest business days in racing as the headline guest at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show’s annual Grand Opening Breakfast, Thursday, December 8, 2022, in Indianapolis.

The Breakfast is an annual tradition for thousands of motorsports professionals from all over the world. Taking place the morning of the first day of the PRI Trade Show, it symbolizes the official opening of the three-day event.

With host Ralph Sheheen of Speed Sport joining Stewart on stage, the two will engage in a casual, talk-show-style interview that is sure to educate, entertain and inspire.

“Tony Stewart’s passion and drive is going to add a great deal of energy to an already iconic event,” said Dr. Jamie Meyer, PRI president. “We’re looking forward to hearing Tony’s outlook on the racing industry, what projects he has in the works and learning where he is headed as a leader of the racing industry.”

Stewart’s most widely known titles are the three he scored in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, he has 13 driving championships under his belt, including an IndyCar series championship and four United States Auto Club (USAC) championships—three of which made up an unprecedented win of USAC’s “Triple Crown” in 1995. He is the first and only driver to win championships in stock cars, Indy cars and open-wheel Midget, Sprint and Silver Crown cars.

In 2009, Stewart became a driver/owner in the NASCAR Cup Series when he formed Stewart-Haas Racing with Haas Automation founder Gene Haas. Three years later, Stewart won the championship. It was his third and final Cup Series title as a driver, but the first of three NASCAR owner titles.

Stewart has 27 owner championships under the Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) banner—14 in USAC, nine in the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series and four in the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midgets Series.

In 2022, Stewart expanded TSR’s footprint to include the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series. His eponymous team fields two full-time entries—one in Top Fuel for 10-time event winner Leah Pruett and one in Funny Car for 42-time event winner Matt Hagan.

In addition to TSR, Stewart also owns Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. The half-mile dirt oval is where Stewart frequently raced as an up-and-coming USAC driver, and it hosts several of the year’s biggest dirt racing events. Stewart is also part-owner of two other racetracks – Paducah (Kentucky) International Raceway and Macon (Illinois) Speedway.

Stewart is a series owner as well. He purchased the All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) in January 2015. The ASCoC is one of the oldest traveling 410 winged sprint car organizations in the United States, and it’s a staple of grassroots, open-wheel racing. In 2020, the ASCoC added to its roster by absorbing a three-quarter midget racing series, renaming it the All Star Circuit of Champions TQ Midget Racing Series.

“Tony Stewart personifies the winning spirit that drives our industry,” said Meyer. “He continues to push boundaries and has proven himself as a racer, a team owner, a track owner and a businessman. I know that he is going to inspire the crowd by sharing his personal story.”

Doors to the Grand Opening Breakfast open at 7:00 a.m., and the program begins at 7:45 a.m. All PRI attendees are invited to the breakfast free of charge, but guests are advised to arrive early, as seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more details, visit PerformanceRacing.com.

The New Products Showcase is consistently voted as the No. 1 destination by SEMA Show buyers and media. The first product entered in one category is free; each additional entry costs $150.

In addition, the New Products Showcase will expand to include two new product categories. Showgoers will find products related to electric vehicles (EV) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), along with products in 16 other categories, in what is the world’s largest display of new automotive aftermarket products.

Accessible exclusively to SEMA Showgoers, November 1–4, the New Products Showcase is the automotive aftermarket industry’s most comprehensive collection of new and trending products. SEMA Show attendees visit the area to discover and see parts and accessories before they hit the market. A Featured Products component includes items that may not qualify as new; the product may have been on the market for more than a year but is among an exhibitor’s top products.

“Through the SEMA Show New Products Showcase, buyers, retailers and distributors can easily discover and learn about all the hot products that they may want to carry,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “They will find details about the products, including the exhibitor’s booth number. They can then connect directly with the manufacturer on the Show floor to learn more. It’s no surprise that SEMA Show buyers rely on the New Products Showcase to help them stock their shelves.”

Details on all the products from the Showcase are also included in the SEMA Show mobile app, giving attendees a year-round resource to help them after the Show. The mobile app’s product-scanning feature enables attendees to flag items of interest and create custom lists of noteworthy products. At the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, attendees will be able to connect with all product experts from exhibiting companies for quality one-on-one discussions, demos and presentations.

Participation in the New Products Showcase, available as a benefit to SEMA Show exhibitors, is easy and affordable. All exhibitors qualify to submit one product entry at no cost. Subsequent entries cost $150 each, and there is no limit to the number of entries. New this year is an on-site freight-delivery service to make it easier than ever for exhibitors in West, North and Central Halls to participate.

Through the new service, exhibitors drop off their products at a nearby designated area in their respective hall, and then coordinate to meet the product at the New Products check-in area in South Hall.

Qualifying products may also be recognized as a Best New Product. Winners and runners-up in 18 categories—including the new EV and ADAS categories—will be announced and presented at the Kickoff Breakfast, Tuesday, November 1, just before the official opening of the SEMA Show. Additionally, all products in the Showcase are professionally photographed. The photos are often used by outside media and help brand awareness.

“Exhibitors that participate in the New Products Showcase report much higher success than those that do not participate,” said Gattuso. “Research tells us that exhibitors with products in the Showcase see more buyers in their booths and receive more media coverage than those that do not participate in the Showcase.”

A nearby transportation hub that includes taxi and shuttle drop-off, as well as an entry point for the Las Vegas Convention Center underground tunnel, makes it easy for attendees to visit the Showcase. More than 2,000 product entries are expected to be included in this year’s Showcase.

“You can have a 10x10-ft. booth and be up against booths that are 100 times bigger, but in the New Products Showcase, you’re the same size. If you come up with something great, it’s going to get noticed there.”

—Jim Flowers, president, Florida-based Bubba Rope

Exhibitors can enter the SEMA Show New Products Showcase by visiting www.semashow.com/new-products-rules. To register to attend the SEMA Show, visit www.semashow.com/register.

By Della Domingo

As the SEMA Show concludes on Friday, November 4, iconic cars and trucks will emerge from the Las Vegas Convention Center and make their way to the West Hall Parking Lot for SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party—where enthusiasts will see some of the hottest custom vehicles in the world that debuted earlier in the week.

General admission tickets allow access into SEMA Ignited and are available at www.SEMAIgnited.com. Enthusiasts can purchase upgraded tickets for reserved seating to watch the SEMA Cruise and performances from Formula DRIFT and the Urias Globe of Death—daredevil motorcycle riders who perform jaw-dropping stunts in a mesh sphere ball. A limited number of Friday Experience packages are available for general admission into SEMA Ignited, as well as entrance into the SEMA Show on Friday, November 4, and come with a one-year SEMA Individual Membership. The SEMA Friday Experience ticket price is $70 if purchased by October 28, after which, it will increase to $100.

“The SEMA Ignited Friday Experience is a rare opportunity for gearheads to experience the trade-only SEMA Show, and engage with the industry as SEMA Individual Members,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Through the Friday Experience, enthusiasts will get a behind-the-scenes look at what industry professionals are doing at the SEMA Show and witness the trends as they are happening.”

Now in its eighth year, SEMA Ignited is a combination of a car show, parade, music, food, entertainment and exhibitions all rolled into what becomes the ultimate automotive celebration. It’s where consumers see, hear and, in some cases, get up close and connect with award-winning vehicles and their owners. With more vendors and exhibitors than ever before, the 2022 SEMA Ignited is where enthusiasts will be able to discover the newest trends, learn about new products, meet industry celebrities and experience the excitement of the growing aftermarket.

All SEMA Showgoers will be able to attend SEMA Ignited with their Show credentials. For more information about SEMA Ignited, visit www.SEMAIgnited.com. To learn more about the SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com.