Compiled by SEMA Staff

	The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association kicks off its 30th anniversary season this weekend at Westworld in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Goodguys 30th Anniversary Season Kick-off This Weekend
The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association will kick off its 30th anniversary season this weekend at Westworld in Scottsdale, Arizona. The event marks the beginning of a year full of automotive festivals geared towards classic American automobile enthusiasts, according to a Goodguys release. With the kick-off in Scottsdale, the Goodguys promises that fans will get a close-up glimpse of the modern-day hot-rodding scene and witness how the Goodguys' core message—having fun with cars—has not changed in 30 years. The event will feature all of the attractions of Goodguys events—the AutoCross, Manufacturers Midway, model car program sponsored by Revell, and All American Sunday—that have made Goodguys events a key component of the rodding scene. For more information, tickets or to register a show car, visit www.good-guys.com.

Rich Barsamian has joined GT Performance as vice president of sales and marketing.

Rich Barsamian Joins GT Performance
GT Performance Products hired Rich Barsamian as the company's vice president of sales and marketing. GT Performance President Tom Poteet said he is excited about reuniting with Barsamian and that he looks forward to having an employee of Barsamian’s caliber join the team. Barsamian will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives to grow GT Performance’s product business, according to a press release. Barsamian resigned as national sales manager with Advanced Clutch Technology. He served as vice president of sales for Grant Products and also worked as national sales manager for Edelbrock. He is also active with SEMA and is the chair-elect of the Motorsports Parts Manufacturer Council (MPMC). He also served as chairman of the Young Executives Network (YEN) and is currently a Select Committee member of the SEMA Memorial Scholarship Committee.

Petersen Automotive Museum Presents Women's Day
The Petersen Automotive Museum is celebrating Women's History Month by presenting Women's Day, Saturday, March 16, from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The day's activities will include a car care clinic, light refreshments, workshop certificate, car care goody bag, admission to the museum and parking validation. Participants will get their hands dirty in pairs or groups working on their own cars. The cost of the event is $30 for non-members and $25 for members. A special rate for students has recently been added at 2-for-$20. In order to receive the 2-for-$20 special student rate, participants should write “SEMA” in the PAM Membership # section and fill in the names of the two participants. For more information, or to sign up for the event, contact Lorianne at 323-964-6308 or e-mail lsalazar@petersen.org.

	The members of the Link Trailer Parts sales team are (from left to right) Evan Hunt, Anne Johnson, Tim Stein, Connie Acord, Jim Newsom and Dan Summerill (not pictured).

Link Trailer Parts Relaunched
Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. and NTP Distribution have announced the re-launch of Link Trailer Parts. Link Trailer Parts offers an assortment of trailer products in segments that include utility, hitch and tow, equestrian and recreation trailers, and the product mix consists of axles, brakes and brake assemblies, hub assemblies, trailer chassis components, hitches, wiring and electrical, jacks, couplers and leaf springs. In conjunction with the re-launch, a new sales team for Link Trailer Parts has been established. The members of the sales team are Evan Hunt, Anne Johnson, Tim Stein, Connie Acord, Jim Newsom and Dan Summerill. 

New Phoenix Location for Meyer Distributing
Meyer Distributing has opened a new location in Phoenix. The cross-dock will have a direct feed from the Meyer hub in Dallas. “We are taking another big step towards our West coast expansion plans,” states Nick Gramelspacher, vice president of sales and marketing. “Meyer carries a lot of unique product offerings that will help customers in the Phoenix market to grow their business and ours together. We look forward to starting relationships in a city we frequently visit for the Performance Warehouse Association conference each year.

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

Compiled by SEMA Staff

	Irwindale Speedway's new operators, Team 211 Entertainment, will honor all 13 of the facility's 2011 uncrowned champions on 2013's grand re-opening night, April 6.

Irwindale to Honor 2011 Uncrowned Champions for NASCAR Re-Opening Night
They all won championships at Irwindale in 2011 and ended up with nothing to show for it when the former track operators signed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy February 10, 2012.

On Saturday night, April 6, 2013, the Speedway's new operators, Team 211 Entertainment, have invited all 13 of the facility's uncrowned champions back for 2013's grand re-opening night and will honor them in a pre-race ceremony on the race track before the national anthem.

As most fans know, there were no NASCAR races at Irwindale Speedway in 2012, but the 2013 racing season promises to be a very good one. "Many of the top 10 drivers from our 2011 season will be back along with a number of new drivers many of whom are destined to be fan favorites before the 2013 season is in the books," assured Event Center General Manager Bob Klein.

In addition, there were three Irwindale Dragstrip champions who didn't receive their honors for competing in the track's 2011 NHRA Summit Series. They will also be honored April 6.

The 2011 Irwindale Speedway oval track champion drivers were: Rod Johnson, Rancho Cucamonga, California (Super Late Models); Brandon Davis, Huntersville, North Carolina (Late Models); Curtis White, Norwalk, California (Super Stock); Andrew Anderson, Lancaster, California (S2); Daryl Scoggins, Sunland, California (Mini-Stock); Chad Schug, Hemet, California (Legends Cars); Christian McGhee, LaVerne, California (Bandoleros); Jay Hansen, Oak Hills, California (Figure 8); Conner Cantrell, Valencia, California (Super Trucks); Jeff Williams, Newbury Park, California (West Coast Pro Trucks).

The 2011 Irwindale Dragstrip racing champion drivers were: Branko Sindicich, Lomita, California (Super Pro); Chad Cline, Orange, California (Pro Bike); and double-division winner Gary Hairfeild, San Diego (Pro and Sportsman).

	The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held at the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites in Gainesville, Florida, Thursday, March 14, 2013.

Lucas Oil Returns as International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Installation Dinner Sponsor
Don Garlits, chairman of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing has announced the return of Lucas Oil Products Inc. as major sponsor for the 2013 Induction Banquet for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, which is based at the museum. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Lucas Oil has been a sponsor of the dinner. Lucas Oil joins new co-sponsors—the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and Summit Racing Equipment.

In addition to the major sponsors, two associate sponsors—Commercial Power Cleaners Inc. and Chrysler Group LLC’s MOPAR Parts, Service and Customer-Care Group—have returned, and two new associate sponsors—VR-12 from Freezetone Products and National Parts Depot—have become involved.

The event will be known as the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet presented by NHRA, Summit Racing and Lucas Oil, and will be held at the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites in Gainesville, Florida, Thursday, March 14, 2013, preceding the NHRA Gatornationals. Long-time NHRA event announcer Bob Frey will serve as the master of ceremonies.

The Class of 2013 Hall of Fame inductees include: Dave Boertman, Wally Booth, Bernie Fedderly, Harry Hibler, the Hirata, Hobbs & Vodnik Team (Kenny Hirata, Phil Hobbs and Bobby Vodnik), Louis Senter and the late K.S. (Tiger) Pittman. The Founders Award will be presented to Dr. Robert C. Post, Ph.D. and introduced by Hall of Fame member and Funny Car driver Bruce Larson.

Ticket details and additional information are available by calling or emailing Donna Garlits at: 352-245- 8661 or 877-271-3278 (toll free), fax 352-245- 6895 or e-mail donna@garlits.com.

	Skip Barber is now an SCCA Hall of Famer. Credit: SCCA Images

Rahal, Barber, Shelby Lead SCCA Hall of Fame Class
Motorsports legends Bobby Rahal, Skip Barber, Carroll Shelby, Bill Noble and Andy Porterfield were inducted into the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Hall of Fame last Saturday night in Las Vegas at a ceremony presented by Mazda. The five inductees joined eight previous classes to cap the 2013 SCCA Convention presented by SafeRacer at the South Point Hotel and Casino. Rahal, Barber and family members of the late Shelby, Noble and Porterfield addressed the nearly 400 event attendees.

12C GT3 Now Approved to Race in North America as Pirelli World Challenge Confirms Eligibility
The McLaren 12C GT3 has been confirmed as eligible for the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) by the series organizers following a strong competitive debut season in Europe. This announcement means that the British-built racer is now able to compete in North America for the first time.

The 12C GT3 enjoyed a promising 2012 season, claiming 19 victories and a further 19 podium finishes, and has been enhanced further for the 2013 season. These upgrades are designed to further optimize the car's performance in the more varied conditions found in global championships. The enhancements are evident through the updated bonnet and ducting, designed to ensure that the 12C GT3 can run competitively in higher temperatures than those experienced during 2012.

The Race & Performance Expo returned to St. Charles, Illinois, for its sixth year.

2013 Race & Performance Expo Celebrates Sixth Year
The Race & Performance Expo, celebrating its sixth year in 2013, returned to St. Charles, Illinois, with new offerings for show attendees, along with a new three-day schedule that provided attendees with even more opportunities to learn about hot new products, sit in on seminars, talk with the experts and mingle with their racing peers.

Featuring 130 exhibitors, the sixth annual Race & Performance Expo added both the Offroad & Performance Truck Expo and Car Builder’s Showcase. The show targets enthusiasts of drag-racing, circle-track racing, high-performance street and engine builders with trucks and hot rods from some of the top custom car builders in the nation. The expo featured some of the top manufacturers in the industry showing off their products, along with the Circle Track Expo and Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge.

The Race & Performance Expo is the first of seven Engine Challenge qualifying events in 2013 for teams to earn their way into the national championship to be held at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis in December. This year’s Expo featured 24 teams with 12 different teams each getting two shots at producing the quickest time to advance to Indianapolis. The goal of competing in the Engine Challenge is to disassemble and reassemble identically prepared small-block Chevy engines in the shortest amount of time possible, with four team members working around the engine and one behind the parts table manning the components and providing the necessary tools.

Team Parts Pro from the Thomas County Central High School in Georgia captured the first round of the Engine Challenge with a time of 23 minutes, 28 seconds, which was a little more than three minutes quicker than runner-up Team Motive Gear from Joliet Central High School at 26 minutes, 42 seconds. Thomas County’s second squad, Team Flowmaster, finished third with a time of 26 minutes, 46 seconds.

More show coverage is available online.

	Blue Torch Fab Jason Carner won at the Southeast Dirt Riot race in Alabama.

Blue Torch Fab Jason Carner Wins First Dirt Riot of 2013
Blue Torch Fab Jason Carner took his single seat Ultra4 car to the Southeast Dirt Riot race in Alabama and won just three weeks after competing in the King of the Hammers. The blue-and-white Miller Welders wrap on the car only lasted a short time before being covered with mud at The Great American Park in Auburn, Alabama.

The next Southeast Dirt Riot race will be at Gray Rock in Birmingham, Alabama, April 27.

POWRi Lucas Oil Outlaw Midgets Schedule Eight Events for Inaugural Season in New Hampshire, New York
POWRi Racing will sanction the POWRi Lucas Oil Outlaw Midget Series, which will run its inaugural season in 2013 with an eight-race schedule in New Hampshire and New York.

Greg Olson of Providence, Rhode Island, led a group of car owners and drivers from the Northeast who wanted to establish a touring series for Midgets on dirt and the search led them to POWRi's Kenny Brown, who co-founded the organization with Jim Siner in 2005.

Olson's group began racing five years ago at closed Whip City Speedway in Westfield, Massachusetts, and earned the "Outlaw" designation because it ran without a sanctioning body.

The Midget chassis will run under POWRi technical rules and engines will be Ford Focus or GM Ecotec and Quad-4. Racing procedures will adhere to the POWRi rulebook.

POWRi also sanctions the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series, POWRi Lucas Oil West Series, POWRi Lucas Oil Australian Speedcar Super Series and POWRi Lucas Oil New Zealand Midget Super Series. POWRi also is the promoter at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

	The Apex-I Lexus SC430 returns from 2012 with Pat Mordaunt behind the wheel.

Yokohama Tire Corp. Slides into Action with 2013 Drifting Program
Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has announced it will participate as a Formula Drift tire supplier for the second consecutive year and partner with three teams for the 2013 season. Matt Johnson, YTC performance marketing supervisor, said drivers will run on ADVAN Neova AD08 and S.drive tires during the seven-event series, which starts April 12–13, at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Two new teams will join the Yokohama family in 2013—the GSR Autosport BMW E46 piloted by Michael Essa, and the GTNET Tomei Powered Subaru BRZ driven by Toshiki Yoshioka. The Apex-I Lexus SC430 returns from 2012 with Pat Mordaunt behind the wheel.

Perris Auto Speedway Season Opener for Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series This Saturday
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, celebrating it’s 10th season anniversary, will make its 2013 debut at Perris Auto Speedway (PAS), Saturday, March 9. Joining the West Coast’s sprint car organization on this triple-header program will be two other divisions that call the PAS their home—the California Lightning Sprint Cars and PAS Senior Sprints. Spectator gates for the 18th season opener for open-wheel action will open at 5:00 p.m. and the first race will be at 7:00 p.m.

To win the title in 2013, all the other stars have to do is knock 31-year-old Mike Spencer off his pedestal. In 2012, Spencer became the first driver in the history of USAC to win five straight championships. In doing so, he has won five of the first nine USAC/CRA titles. On his march to the crown in 2012, Spencer achieved nine main event wins, 20 top-five finishes and 13 fast times.

Spencer began defense of his fifth straight championship last weekend at the Copper on Dirt at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona. He placed fifth in the main at the opener last Friday. On Saturday, he out-qualified the 26-car field, but early problems in the main slowed him and he was hit by another car and finished 23rd. He heads into Saturday’s race seventh in the point standings.

Last Friday night, Bryan Clauson won both the USAC/CRA main and the USAC Western Midget main at the Copper on Dirt. He backed up his Friday night performance when he won Midget main again on Saturday and came home third in the sprint car feature. Thus, he comes into Saturday’s event as the USAC/CRA point leader and he will be driving the same Mike Martin-owned car that he wheeled in last week’s races.

Saturday’s race will also feature the 20th anniversary season opener for the California Lightning Sprint Car Series. Smaller versions of their 410 brethren, they are powered by motorcycle engines and race with wings on top at the PAS. Bobby Michnowicz was the 2012 series champion, but will not be defending his crown in 2013, as he will be splitting the driving chores with his teenage son, Kevin.

Rounding out Saturday’s program will be the PAS Senior Sprint Cars. The Senior Sprints are for drivers 45 years of age and older with cars powered by 360-cid cast-iron block engines. Bruce Douglass is the defending champion in the Senior class.

Compiled by SEMA Staff

	Irwindale Speedway's new operators, Team 211 Entertainment, will honor all 13 of the facility's 2011 uncrowned champions on 2013's grand re-opening night, April 6.

Irwindale to Honor 2011 Uncrowned Champions for NASCAR Re-Opening Night
They all won championships at Irwindale in 2011 and ended up with nothing to show for it when the former track operators signed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy February 10, 2012.

On Saturday night, April 6, 2013, the Speedway's new operators, Team 211 Entertainment, have invited all 13 of the facility's uncrowned champions back for 2013's grand re-opening night and will honor them in a pre-race ceremony on the race track before the national anthem.

As most fans know, there were no NASCAR races at Irwindale Speedway in 2012, but the 2013 racing season promises to be a very good one. "Many of the top 10 drivers from our 2011 season will be back along with a number of new drivers many of whom are destined to be fan favorites before the 2013 season is in the books," assured Event Center General Manager Bob Klein.

In addition, there were three Irwindale Dragstrip champions who didn't receive their honors for competing in the track's 2011 NHRA Summit Series. They will also be honored April 6.

The 2011 Irwindale Speedway oval track champion drivers were: Rod Johnson, Rancho Cucamonga, California (Super Late Models); Brandon Davis, Huntersville, North Carolina (Late Models); Curtis White, Norwalk, California (Super Stock); Andrew Anderson, Lancaster, California (S2); Daryl Scoggins, Sunland, California (Mini-Stock); Chad Schug, Hemet, California (Legends Cars); Christian McGhee, LaVerne, California (Bandoleros); Jay Hansen, Oak Hills, California (Figure 8); Conner Cantrell, Valencia, California (Super Trucks); Jeff Williams, Newbury Park, California (West Coast Pro Trucks).

The 2011 Irwindale Dragstrip racing champion drivers were: Branko Sindicich, Lomita, California (Super Pro); Chad Cline, Orange, California (Pro Bike); and double-division winner Gary Hairfeild, San Diego (Pro and Sportsman).

	The International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held at the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites in Gainesville, Florida, Thursday, March 14, 2013.

Lucas Oil Returns as International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Installation Dinner Sponsor
Don Garlits, chairman of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing has announced the return of Lucas Oil Products Inc. as major sponsor for the 2013 Induction Banquet for the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame, which is based at the museum. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Lucas Oil has been a sponsor of the dinner. Lucas Oil joins new co-sponsors—the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) and Summit Racing Equipment.

In addition to the major sponsors, two associate sponsors—Commercial Power Cleaners Inc. and Chrysler Group LLC’s MOPAR Parts, Service and Customer-Care Group—have returned, and two new associate sponsors—VR-12 from Freezetone Products and National Parts Depot—have become involved.

The event will be known as the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Induction Banquet presented by NHRA, Summit Racing and Lucas Oil, and will be held at the Paramount Plaza Hotel & Suites in Gainesville, Florida, Thursday, March 14, 2013, preceding the NHRA Gatornationals. Long-time NHRA event announcer Bob Frey will serve as the master of ceremonies.

The Class of 2013 Hall of Fame inductees include: Dave Boertman, Wally Booth, Bernie Fedderly, Harry Hibler, the Hirata, Hobbs & Vodnik Team (Kenny Hirata, Phil Hobbs and Bobby Vodnik), Louis Senter and the late K.S. (Tiger) Pittman. The Founders Award will be presented to Dr. Robert C. Post, Ph.D. and introduced by Hall of Fame member and Funny Car driver Bruce Larson.

Ticket details and additional information are available by calling or emailing Donna Garlits at: 352-245- 8661 or 877-271-3278 (toll free), fax 352-245- 6895 or e-mail donna@garlits.com.

	Skip Barber is now an SCCA Hall of Famer. Credit: SCCA Images

Rahal, Barber, Shelby Lead SCCA Hall of Fame Class
Motorsports legends Bobby Rahal, Skip Barber, Carroll Shelby, Bill Noble and Andy Porterfield were inducted into the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Hall of Fame last Saturday night in Las Vegas at a ceremony presented by Mazda. The five inductees joined eight previous classes to cap the 2013 SCCA Convention presented by SafeRacer at the South Point Hotel and Casino. Rahal, Barber and family members of the late Shelby, Noble and Porterfield addressed the nearly 400 event attendees.

12C GT3 Now Approved to Race in North America as Pirelli World Challenge Confirms Eligibility
The McLaren 12C GT3 has been confirmed as eligible for the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) by the series organizers following a strong competitive debut season in Europe. This announcement means that the British-built racer is now able to compete in North America for the first time.

The 12C GT3 enjoyed a promising 2012 season, claiming 19 victories and a further 19 podium finishes, and has been enhanced further for the 2013 season. These upgrades are designed to further optimize the car's performance in the more varied conditions found in global championships. The enhancements are evident through the updated bonnet and ducting, designed to ensure that the 12C GT3 can run competitively in higher temperatures than those experienced during 2012.

The Race & Performance Expo returned to St. Charles, Illinois, for its sixth year.

2013 Race & Performance Expo Celebrates Sixth Year
The Race & Performance Expo, celebrating its sixth year in 2013, returned to St. Charles, Illinois, with new offerings for show attendees, along with a new three-day schedule that provided attendees with even more opportunities to learn about hot new products, sit in on seminars, talk with the experts and mingle with their racing peers.

Featuring 130 exhibitors, the sixth annual Race & Performance Expo added both the Offroad & Performance Truck Expo and Car Builder’s Showcase. The show targets enthusiasts of drag-racing, circle-track racing, high-performance street and engine builders with trucks and hot rods from some of the top custom car builders in the nation. The expo featured some of the top manufacturers in the industry showing off their products, along with the Circle Track Expo and Hot Rodders of Tomorrow Engine Challenge.

The Race & Performance Expo is the first of seven Engine Challenge qualifying events in 2013 for teams to earn their way into the national championship to be held at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis in December. This year’s Expo featured 24 teams with 12 different teams each getting two shots at producing the quickest time to advance to Indianapolis. The goal of competing in the Engine Challenge is to disassemble and reassemble identically prepared small-block Chevy engines in the shortest amount of time possible, with four team members working around the engine and one behind the parts table manning the components and providing the necessary tools.

Team Parts Pro from the Thomas County Central High School in Georgia captured the first round of the Engine Challenge with a time of 23 minutes, 28 seconds, which was a little more than three minutes quicker than runner-up Team Motive Gear from Joliet Central High School at 26 minutes, 42 seconds. Thomas County’s second squad, Team Flowmaster, finished third with a time of 26 minutes, 46 seconds.

More show coverage is available online.

	Blue Torch Fab Jason Carner won at the Southeast Dirt Riot race in Alabama.

Blue Torch Fab Jason Carner Wins First Dirt Riot of 2013
Blue Torch Fab Jason Carner took his single seat Ultra4 car to the Southeast Dirt Riot race in Alabama and won just three weeks after competing in the King of the Hammers. The blue-and-white Miller Welders wrap on the car only lasted a short time before being covered with mud at The Great American Park in Auburn, Alabama.

The next Southeast Dirt Riot race will be at Gray Rock in Birmingham, Alabama, April 27.

POWRi Lucas Oil Outlaw Midgets Schedule Eight Events for Inaugural Season in New Hampshire, New York
POWRi Racing will sanction the POWRi Lucas Oil Outlaw Midget Series, which will run its inaugural season in 2013 with an eight-race schedule in New Hampshire and New York.

Greg Olson of Providence, Rhode Island, led a group of car owners and drivers from the Northeast who wanted to establish a touring series for Midgets on dirt and the search led them to POWRi's Kenny Brown, who co-founded the organization with Jim Siner in 2005.

Olson's group began racing five years ago at closed Whip City Speedway in Westfield, Massachusetts, and earned the "Outlaw" designation because it ran without a sanctioning body.

The Midget chassis will run under POWRi technical rules and engines will be Ford Focus or GM Ecotec and Quad-4. Racing procedures will adhere to the POWRi rulebook.

POWRi also sanctions the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series, POWRi Speedway Motors 600cc Outlaw Micro Series, POWRi Lucas Oil West Series, POWRi Lucas Oil Australian Speedcar Super Series and POWRi Lucas Oil New Zealand Midget Super Series. POWRi also is the promoter at Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

	The Apex-I Lexus SC430 returns from 2012 with Pat Mordaunt behind the wheel.

Yokohama Tire Corp. Slides into Action with 2013 Drifting Program
Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) has announced it will participate as a Formula Drift tire supplier for the second consecutive year and partner with three teams for the 2013 season. Matt Johnson, YTC performance marketing supervisor, said drivers will run on ADVAN Neova AD08 and S.drive tires during the seven-event series, which starts April 12–13, at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

Two new teams will join the Yokohama family in 2013—the GSR Autosport BMW E46 piloted by Michael Essa, and the GTNET Tomei Powered Subaru BRZ driven by Toshiki Yoshioka. The Apex-I Lexus SC430 returns from 2012 with Pat Mordaunt behind the wheel.

Perris Auto Speedway Season Opener for Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series This Saturday
The Amsoil USAC/CRA Sprint Car Series, celebrating it’s 10th season anniversary, will make its 2013 debut at Perris Auto Speedway (PAS), Saturday, March 9. Joining the West Coast’s sprint car organization on this triple-header program will be two other divisions that call the PAS their home—the California Lightning Sprint Cars and PAS Senior Sprints. Spectator gates for the 18th season opener for open-wheel action will open at 5:00 p.m. and the first race will be at 7:00 p.m.

To win the title in 2013, all the other stars have to do is knock 31-year-old Mike Spencer off his pedestal. In 2012, Spencer became the first driver in the history of USAC to win five straight championships. In doing so, he has won five of the first nine USAC/CRA titles. On his march to the crown in 2012, Spencer achieved nine main event wins, 20 top-five finishes and 13 fast times.

Spencer began defense of his fifth straight championship last weekend at the Copper on Dirt at Canyon Speedway Park in Peoria, Arizona. He placed fifth in the main at the opener last Friday. On Saturday, he out-qualified the 26-car field, but early problems in the main slowed him and he was hit by another car and finished 23rd. He heads into Saturday’s race seventh in the point standings.

Last Friday night, Bryan Clauson won both the USAC/CRA main and the USAC Western Midget main at the Copper on Dirt. He backed up his Friday night performance when he won Midget main again on Saturday and came home third in the sprint car feature. Thus, he comes into Saturday’s event as the USAC/CRA point leader and he will be driving the same Mike Martin-owned car that he wheeled in last week’s races.

Saturday’s race will also feature the 20th anniversary season opener for the California Lightning Sprint Car Series. Smaller versions of their 410 brethren, they are powered by motorcycle engines and race with wings on top at the PAS. Bobby Michnowicz was the 2012 series champion, but will not be defending his crown in 2013, as he will be splitting the driving chores with his teenage son, Kevin.

Rounding out Saturday’s program will be the PAS Senior Sprint Cars. The Senior Sprints are for drivers 45 years of age and older with cars powered by 360-cid cast-iron block engines. Bruce Douglass is the defending champion in the Senior class.

By SEMA Staff

The ’13 Nissan NV200 Compact Cargo Van features 40/60-split rear doors.

With the release of the Body Builder’s Guide for the ’13 Nissan NV200, the vehicle's launch is now underway. Nissan currently has 312 commercial dealers for the NV200 Compact Cargo Van.

Available in S and SV models, the all-new ’13 Nissan NV200 is more than 4.5 ft. shorter in length and 2.5 ft. lower in height compared to the Nissan NV 2500/3500 High Roof Cargo Van. Built on Nissan's compact commercial platform, the NV200's body has been extended 7.9 in. for the North American market.

The combination of a 115.2-in. wheelbase with a 186.3-in. overall length, along with a compact drivetrain and rear suspension, provides an 82.8-in. cargo length, 54.8-in. cargo width (48 in. between the wheelwells) and 53-in. cargo area height. Along with its low cargo floor height (19.5 in.) and tall roofline, the NV200 offers a large cargo capacity of 122.7 cu. ft. Payload is estimated at 1,500 lbs. (S model).

The tall rear French doors are a 40/60-split design, with the 60% side on the right (curb) side for easy access from a sidewalk. The 40% left side door is shorter, reducing its potential intrusion into the street when open, helping lower the risk of accidents due to passing vehicles. Both rear doors feature dual opening positions of 90 degrees and 180 degrees. All doors are solid (no windows) to accommodate advertising or business signage, with available privacy door glass.

Added commercial flexibility is provided by the standard integrated mounting points, which allow installation of racks and shelves without drilling into the sidewalls, and six available floor-mounted cargo hooks in the cargo area.

Inside, the Nissan NV200 offers "mobile office" functionality with a center console featuring laptop/hanging file folder storage, a pen/pencil tray, CD holder and dual cupholders. Recessed storage areas are provided on the upper instrument panel for folders and documents. In addition, the passenger seat folds down to serve as a worktop or lunch table, or it extends the cargo space for hauling longer items. Passenger seat slide travel is nearly 9.5 in. The 15x13-in. tray built into the seatback can fit most laptops.

The ’13 NV200 is powered by a 2.0L 16-valve DOHC four-cylinder engine rated at 131 hp and 139 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is matched with an Xtronic CVT transmission. Fuel economy is rated at 24 mpg (city), 25 mpg (highway) and 24 mpg (combined).

Check out the ’13 Nissan NV200 Body Builder’s Guide. NV200 engineering vehicles are available for product development and validation work. For more information, contact Gerry Appie.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

GIRL POWER ON DISPLAY AS NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES HEADS TO FLORIDA: While much hype has been given to a certain female stock car racer for posting a top 10 finish at the Daytona 500, it has been business as usual in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Two female drag racers—Courtney Force and Erica Enders-Stevens—have posted back-to-back victories to open the 2013 season. It is the first time in NHRA history that two women have opened a season with consecutive victories. Force, 24, powered her 8,000hp Funny Car to break all of her male competitor’s hearts—including Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca and Ron Capps—and win at the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona, California, on Valentine’s Day weekend. Last weekend in Phoenix, Enders-Stevens, 29, rallied to take the Pro Stock victory over Mike Edwards in the final round. Enders-Stevens used a reaction-time advantage to beat event top-qualifier Edwards in the 200-mph factory hot-rod category.

“We’re not out here just to race against the boys,” Force has said. “We’re here to beat the boys.”

Perhaps it will be Leah Pruett, Alexis DeJoria, Brittany Force or Katie Sullivan who will win the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals and continue the early-season girl power theme, March 14–17 at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending event winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2HD. Tickets are available online at www.nhratix.com or by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472). For more information about the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.nhra.com.

INDIANA-BASED NHRA CHAMPIONS HONORED AT MOTORSPORTS DAY AT INDIANA LEGISLATURE: NHRA teams based in Indiana were honored during Motorsports Day at the Indiana Legislature, Tuesday, March 5, in Indianapolis. This celebration of racing included a tour of the Indiana State House and a private meeting with Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Motorsports Day at the Indiana Legislature recognized that in 2012 all major auto-racing championships, excluding stock car, were captured by teams headquartered in Indiana. Don Schumacher Racing driver Antron Brown (Top Fuel), who won his first championship in 2012, and three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Eddie Krawiec of Vance & Hines were in attendance and recognized for winning their respective championship titles in 2012.

“I feel very fortunate and blessed to be honored by our state. It’s a great, great honor. I’ve lived around Brownsburg and now in Pittsboro where Billie Jo and I are raising our kids,” Brown said. “I grew up in New Jersey, but Indiana has become my home. Brownsburg is the hub of NHRA professional drag racing and home for our Don Schumacher Racing organization. Being recognized by the Indiana Legislature for being the NHRA Top Fuel world champion is very special to me, my family and our Matco Tools team.”

Several NHRA executives were on hand during the event, including Glen Gray, NHRA vice president of technical operations, Wes Collier, general manager of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and Scott Smith, NHRA senior communications manager. NHRA owns and operates Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and annually conducts the NHRA U.S. Nationals at the multi-purpose facility. Visit www.nhra.com for more on this story.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS IN LAS VEGAS: Eight racers in the Pro Stock category will take center stage during the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals as they take part in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. The specialty event will be held Saturday during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), April 5–7—the fourth of 24 events in the 2013 season. An NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is a celebration of automotive performance and one of the most fan-friendly events in all of sports. When the series visits The Strip at LVMS, families can take advantage of a ticket special: Children 12 and younger will receive free admission with a paid adult. Every ticket purchased for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals is a pit pass, which offers an unrivaled look behind the scenes in the world of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. This gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics “twirl the iron” between rounds. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock drivers will battle on the track all weekend for the Wally trophy. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD. For tickets, call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 800-644-4444, or log on to LVMS.com.

UNDERDAHLS LAND SPONSOR, PLAN FULL PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE SEASON: Jimmy Underdahl and his father, Greg, plan to compete at all 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events with their Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki after signing a sponsorship agreement with E-Z Go Golf Carts and its subsidiary, Bad Boy Buggies. They join a sponsorship program that includes Suzuki Extended Protection. The 2013 Pro Stock Motorcycle season begins at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

“We’ve been busy this winter,” said Greg. “Jimmy and I have completely rebuilt his bike. We stripped it down to the frame and rewired it and changed a lot of things. This is the first bike that he’s had that was built exactly for him. We built the bike not knowing if we’d be able to race in all the events this season, but with E-Z Go, Bad Boy Buggies and Suzuki Extended Protection, we are going to be able to make this work. We’re both really excited to get to Gainesville and see how we stack up against everyone else.”

For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS, Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, March 14–17: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its third of 24 stops of the 2013 season in the sunshine state of Florida. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-6472 or log on to NHRATix.com.

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 5–7: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the fourth of 24 races on the circuit. Drivers in the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock classes will earn points toward the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX Dragway, April 19–21: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to the Bellagio of Dragstrips in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the fifth of 24 events. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete in a four-wide configuration and earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season points standings. The 2012 winners of the event were Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DESPITE TOUGH START TO SEASON, ENDERS-STEVENS REBOUNDS WITH WIN IN PHOENIX: After claiming career victory No. 5 in her GK Motorsports Chevy Cobalt at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens continues to run down the competition each and every week. Winning races is no easy task no matter what motorsports events drivers compete in, but she manages to do so with such grace and determination. Despite stock car driver Danica Patrick making headlines that weekend, Enders-Stevens and team made their own when they brought home the Wally. “I am really proud of how Danica did qualifying for the Daytona 500 and I knew that was going to be talked about for a really long time,” Enders-Stevens said. “For my guys and our team, GK Motorsports and KLR Group, I couldn’t be more proud. Coming off of a year like we had last year and starting the season like we did this year, it’s kind of a gut check in the sense like ‘Man, are we ever going to be able to get it done again?’ Granted we’re only two races in, but we worked our butts off all off-season, especially since my team didn’t test a lot. They proved that they can pick up right where we left off and I’m excited.”


INSIDE THE NUMBERS

3: CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE RACER EDDIE KRAWIEC HAS EARNED AT AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec has been on a hot streak when it comes to competing in the traditional season-opening race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. The defending world champion will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville for the 44th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 14–17. For more information on this event, visit www.nhra.com.



DID YOU KNOW…

BEACON DRAGWAY JOINS NHRA MEMBER-TRACK ROSTER: Beacon Dragway in Paducah, Kentucky, is the newest addition to the NHRA member-track roster. The track is being reopened by Top Fuel driver Keith Murt, who operates Murtco Inc.—a mechanical and underground utility contractor in western Kentucky—and Dr. Blane Grow, both of whom are lifelong developers in the area. Major renovation to the property began last fall and will be completed before the spring opening. Test 'n' tune and fun and grudge racing is being scheduled on Thursday nights and the track’s points-racing series on Saturday nights, and a number of special events are planned throughout the season. New concrete starting-line pads have been installed, the racing surface has been repaved, a new tower has been erected and new track lighting, TSI computer timing system and scoreboards are being installed. The airpark office is being remodeled as a hospitality center, and one of the hangars is being renovated into an eat-in or carryout concession complex. Fans will enjoy viewing from pitside elevated grandstands, and extensive paving of additional pit parking is scheduled for completion as soon as weather permits. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

GIRL POWER ON DISPLAY AS NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES HEADS TO FLORIDA: While much hype has been given to a certain female stock car racer for posting a top 10 finish at the Daytona 500, it has been business as usual in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Two female drag racers—Courtney Force and Erica Enders-Stevens—have posted back-to-back victories to open the 2013 season. It is the first time in NHRA history that two women have opened a season with consecutive victories. Force, 24, powered her 8,000hp Funny Car to break all of her male competitor’s hearts—including Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca and Ron Capps—and win at the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona, California, on Valentine’s Day weekend. Last weekend in Phoenix, Enders-Stevens, 29, rallied to take the Pro Stock victory over Mike Edwards in the final round. Enders-Stevens used a reaction-time advantage to beat event top-qualifier Edwards in the 200-mph factory hot-rod category.

“We’re not out here just to race against the boys,” Force has said. “We’re here to beat the boys.”

Perhaps it will be Leah Pruett, Alexis DeJoria, Brittany Force or Katie Sullivan who will win the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals and continue the early-season girl power theme, March 14–17 at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending event winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2HD. Tickets are available online at www.nhratix.com or by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472). For more information about the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.nhra.com.

INDIANA-BASED NHRA CHAMPIONS HONORED AT MOTORSPORTS DAY AT INDIANA LEGISLATURE: NHRA teams based in Indiana were honored during Motorsports Day at the Indiana Legislature, Tuesday, March 5, in Indianapolis. This celebration of racing included a tour of the Indiana State House and a private meeting with Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Motorsports Day at the Indiana Legislature recognized that in 2012 all major auto-racing championships, excluding stock car, were captured by teams headquartered in Indiana. Don Schumacher Racing driver Antron Brown (Top Fuel), who won his first championship in 2012, and three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Eddie Krawiec of Vance & Hines were in attendance and recognized for winning their respective championship titles in 2012.

“I feel very fortunate and blessed to be honored by our state. It’s a great, great honor. I’ve lived around Brownsburg and now in Pittsboro where Billie Jo and I are raising our kids,” Brown said. “I grew up in New Jersey, but Indiana has become my home. Brownsburg is the hub of NHRA professional drag racing and home for our Don Schumacher Racing organization. Being recognized by the Indiana Legislature for being the NHRA Top Fuel world champion is very special to me, my family and our Matco Tools team.”

Several NHRA executives were on hand during the event, including Glen Gray, NHRA vice president of technical operations, Wes Collier, general manager of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and Scott Smith, NHRA senior communications manager. NHRA owns and operates Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and annually conducts the NHRA U.S. Nationals at the multi-purpose facility. Visit www.nhra.com for more on this story.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS IN LAS VEGAS: Eight racers in the Pro Stock category will take center stage during the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals as they take part in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. The specialty event will be held Saturday during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), April 5–7—the fourth of 24 events in the 2013 season. An NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is a celebration of automotive performance and one of the most fan-friendly events in all of sports. When the series visits The Strip at LVMS, families can take advantage of a ticket special: Children 12 and younger will receive free admission with a paid adult. Every ticket purchased for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals is a pit pass, which offers an unrivaled look behind the scenes in the world of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. This gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics “twirl the iron” between rounds. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock drivers will battle on the track all weekend for the Wally trophy. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD. For tickets, call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 800-644-4444, or log on to LVMS.com.

UNDERDAHLS LAND SPONSOR, PLAN FULL PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE SEASON: Jimmy Underdahl and his father, Greg, plan to compete at all 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events with their Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki after signing a sponsorship agreement with E-Z Go Golf Carts and its subsidiary, Bad Boy Buggies. They join a sponsorship program that includes Suzuki Extended Protection. The 2013 Pro Stock Motorcycle season begins at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

“We’ve been busy this winter,” said Greg. “Jimmy and I have completely rebuilt his bike. We stripped it down to the frame and rewired it and changed a lot of things. This is the first bike that he’s had that was built exactly for him. We built the bike not knowing if we’d be able to race in all the events this season, but with E-Z Go, Bad Boy Buggies and Suzuki Extended Protection, we are going to be able to make this work. We’re both really excited to get to Gainesville and see how we stack up against everyone else.”

For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS, Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, March 14–17: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its third of 24 stops of the 2013 season in the sunshine state of Florida. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-6472 or log on to NHRATix.com.

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 5–7: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the fourth of 24 races on the circuit. Drivers in the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock classes will earn points toward the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX Dragway, April 19–21: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to the Bellagio of Dragstrips in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the fifth of 24 events. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete in a four-wide configuration and earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season points standings. The 2012 winners of the event were Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DESPITE TOUGH START TO SEASON, ENDERS-STEVENS REBOUNDS WITH WIN IN PHOENIX: After claiming career victory No. 5 in her GK Motorsports Chevy Cobalt at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens continues to run down the competition each and every week. Winning races is no easy task no matter what motorsports events drivers compete in, but she manages to do so with such grace and determination. Despite stock car driver Danica Patrick making headlines that weekend, Enders-Stevens and team made their own when they brought home the Wally. “I am really proud of how Danica did qualifying for the Daytona 500 and I knew that was going to be talked about for a really long time,” Enders-Stevens said. “For my guys and our team, GK Motorsports and KLR Group, I couldn’t be more proud. Coming off of a year like we had last year and starting the season like we did this year, it’s kind of a gut check in the sense like ‘Man, are we ever going to be able to get it done again?’ Granted we’re only two races in, but we worked our butts off all off-season, especially since my team didn’t test a lot. They proved that they can pick up right where we left off and I’m excited.”


INSIDE THE NUMBERS

3: CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE RACER EDDIE KRAWIEC HAS EARNED AT AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec has been on a hot streak when it comes to competing in the traditional season-opening race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. The defending world champion will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville for the 44th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 14–17. For more information on this event, visit www.nhra.com.



DID YOU KNOW…

BEACON DRAGWAY JOINS NHRA MEMBER-TRACK ROSTER: Beacon Dragway in Paducah, Kentucky, is the newest addition to the NHRA member-track roster. The track is being reopened by Top Fuel driver Keith Murt, who operates Murtco Inc.—a mechanical and underground utility contractor in western Kentucky—and Dr. Blane Grow, both of whom are lifelong developers in the area. Major renovation to the property began last fall and will be completed before the spring opening. Test 'n' tune and fun and grudge racing is being scheduled on Thursday nights and the track’s points-racing series on Saturday nights, and a number of special events are planned throughout the season. New concrete starting-line pads have been installed, the racing surface has been repaved, a new tower has been erected and new track lighting, TSI computer timing system and scoreboards are being installed. The airpark office is being remodeled as a hospitality center, and one of the hangars is being renovated into an eat-in or carryout concession complex. Fans will enjoy viewing from pitside elevated grandstands, and extensive paving of additional pit parking is scheduled for completion as soon as weather permits. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

GIRL POWER ON DISPLAY AS NHRA MELLO YELLO SERIES HEADS TO FLORIDA: While much hype has been given to a certain female stock car racer for posting a top 10 finish at the Daytona 500, it has been business as usual in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Two female drag racers—Courtney Force and Erica Enders-Stevens—have posted back-to-back victories to open the 2013 season. It is the first time in NHRA history that two women have opened a season with consecutive victories. Force, 24, powered her 8,000hp Funny Car to break all of her male competitor’s hearts—including Matt Hagan, Bob Tasca and Ron Capps—and win at the season-opening Winternationals at Pomona, California, on Valentine’s Day weekend. Last weekend in Phoenix, Enders-Stevens, 29, rallied to take the Pro Stock victory over Mike Edwards in the final round. Enders-Stevens used a reaction-time advantage to beat event top-qualifier Edwards in the 200-mph factory hot-rod category.

“We’re not out here just to race against the boys,” Force has said. “We’re here to beat the boys.”

Perhaps it will be Leah Pruett, Alexis DeJoria, Brittany Force or Katie Sullivan who will win the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals and continue the early-season girl power theme, March 14–17 at Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville. Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are the defending event winners at the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event, which will be televised on ESPN2HD. Tickets are available online at www.nhratix.com or by calling the NHRA Ticket Sales Center at 800-884-NHRA (6472). For more information about the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.nhra.com.

INDIANA-BASED NHRA CHAMPIONS HONORED AT MOTORSPORTS DAY AT INDIANA LEGISLATURE: NHRA teams based in Indiana were honored during Motorsports Day at the Indiana Legislature, Tuesday, March 5, in Indianapolis. This celebration of racing included a tour of the Indiana State House and a private meeting with Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Motorsports Day at the Indiana Legislature recognized that in 2012 all major auto-racing championships, excluding stock car, were captured by teams headquartered in Indiana. Don Schumacher Racing driver Antron Brown (Top Fuel), who won his first championship in 2012, and three-time Pro Stock Motorcycle champion Eddie Krawiec of Vance & Hines were in attendance and recognized for winning their respective championship titles in 2012.

“I feel very fortunate and blessed to be honored by our state. It’s a great, great honor. I’ve lived around Brownsburg and now in Pittsboro where Billie Jo and I are raising our kids,” Brown said. “I grew up in New Jersey, but Indiana has become my home. Brownsburg is the hub of NHRA professional drag racing and home for our Don Schumacher Racing organization. Being recognized by the Indiana Legislature for being the NHRA Top Fuel world champion is very special to me, my family and our Matco Tools team.”

Several NHRA executives were on hand during the event, including Glen Gray, NHRA vice president of technical operations, Wes Collier, general manager of Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and Scott Smith, NHRA senior communications manager. NHRA owns and operates Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis and annually conducts the NHRA U.S. Nationals at the multi-purpose facility. Visit www.nhra.com for more on this story.

TICKETS ON SALE FOR SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS IN LAS VEGAS: Eight racers in the Pro Stock category will take center stage during the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals as they take part in the K&N Horsepower Challenge. The specialty event will be held Saturday during the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS), April 5–7—the fourth of 24 events in the 2013 season. An NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event is a celebration of automotive performance and one of the most fan-friendly events in all of sports. When the series visits The Strip at LVMS, families can take advantage of a ticket special: Children 12 and younger will receive free admission with a paid adult. Every ticket purchased for the SummitRacing.com NHRA Nationals is a pit pass, which offers an unrivaled look behind the scenes in the world of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. This gives fans direct access to the teams, allowing them to see firsthand the highly skilled mechanics “twirl the iron” between rounds. Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock drivers will battle on the track all weekend for the Wally trophy. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Spencer Massey (Top Fuel) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock) are the defending winners of the event that will be televised on ESPN2HD. For tickets, call Las Vegas Motor Speedway, 800-644-4444, or log on to LVMS.com.

UNDERDAHLS LAND SPONSOR, PLAN FULL PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE SEASON: Jimmy Underdahl and his father, Greg, plan to compete at all 16 Pro Stock Motorcycle events with their Vance & Hines-powered Suzuki after signing a sponsorship agreement with E-Z Go Golf Carts and its subsidiary, Bad Boy Buggies. They join a sponsorship program that includes Suzuki Extended Protection. The 2013 Pro Stock Motorcycle season begins at the Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

“We’ve been busy this winter,” said Greg. “Jimmy and I have completely rebuilt his bike. We stripped it down to the frame and rewired it and changed a lot of things. This is the first bike that he’s had that was built exactly for him. We built the bike not knowing if we’d be able to race in all the events this season, but with E-Z Go, Bad Boy Buggies and Suzuki Extended Protection, we are going to be able to make this work. We’re both really excited to get to Gainesville and see how we stack up against everyone else.”

For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS, Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville, March 14–17: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series makes its third of 24 stops of the 2013 season in the sunshine state of Florida. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Morgan Lucas (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Mike Edwards (Pro Stock) and Eddie Krawiec (Pro Stock Motorcycle). For tickets, call 800-884-6472 or log on to NHRATix.com.

SUMMITRACING.COM NHRA NATIONALS, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 5–7: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series returns to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the fourth of 24 races on the circuit. Drivers in the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock classes will earn points toward the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Jason Line (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-644-4444 or log on to LVMS.com.

DOLLAR GENERAL NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS, zMAX Dragway, April 19–21: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to the Bellagio of Dragstrips in Charlotte, North Carolina, for the fifth of 24 events. Drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will compete in a four-wide configuration and earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series regular season points standings. The 2012 winners of the event were Spencer Massey (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-455-FANS or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

DESPITE TOUGH START TO SEASON, ENDERS-STEVENS REBOUNDS WITH WIN IN PHOENIX: After claiming career victory No. 5 in her GK Motorsports Chevy Cobalt at Firebird International Raceway near Phoenix, Pro Stock driver Erica Enders-Stevens continues to run down the competition each and every week. Winning races is no easy task no matter what motorsports events drivers compete in, but she manages to do so with such grace and determination. Despite stock car driver Danica Patrick making headlines that weekend, Enders-Stevens and team made their own when they brought home the Wally. “I am really proud of how Danica did qualifying for the Daytona 500 and I knew that was going to be talked about for a really long time,” Enders-Stevens said. “For my guys and our team, GK Motorsports and KLR Group, I couldn’t be more proud. Coming off of a year like we had last year and starting the season like we did this year, it’s kind of a gut check in the sense like ‘Man, are we ever going to be able to get it done again?’ Granted we’re only two races in, but we worked our butts off all off-season, especially since my team didn’t test a lot. They proved that they can pick up right where we left off and I’m excited.”


INSIDE THE NUMBERS

3: CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE RACER EDDIE KRAWIEC HAS EARNED AT AMALIE OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS: Vance & Hines Screamin’ Eagle Harley-Davidson rider Eddie Krawiec has been on a hot streak when it comes to competing in the traditional season-opening race for the Pro Stock Motorcycle category. The defending world champion will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory when the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series heads to Auto-Plus Raceway at Gainesville for the 44th annual Amalie Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 14–17. For more information on this event, visit www.nhra.com.



DID YOU KNOW…

BEACON DRAGWAY JOINS NHRA MEMBER-TRACK ROSTER: Beacon Dragway in Paducah, Kentucky, is the newest addition to the NHRA member-track roster. The track is being reopened by Top Fuel driver Keith Murt, who operates Murtco Inc.—a mechanical and underground utility contractor in western Kentucky—and Dr. Blane Grow, both of whom are lifelong developers in the area. Major renovation to the property began last fall and will be completed before the spring opening. Test 'n' tune and fun and grudge racing is being scheduled on Thursday nights and the track’s points-racing series on Saturday nights, and a number of special events are planned throughout the season. New concrete starting-line pads have been installed, the racing surface has been repaved, a new tower has been erected and new track lighting, TSI computer timing system and scoreboards are being installed. The airpark office is being remodeled as a hospitality center, and one of the hangars is being renovated into an eat-in or carryout concession complex. Fans will enjoy viewing from pitside elevated grandstands, and extensive paving of additional pit parking is scheduled for completion as soon as weather permits. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com.

By SEMA Staff

	PRO leadership discusses ways to improve the industry during a meeting at the 2012 SEMA Show.

What tops the to-do list at your company? Are you looking for creative ways to win new customers and keep them happy? Hire, train and retain qualified employees? Gain a competitive edge in your marketplace? Expand and run a more streamlined and profitable accessory business? Every professional restyler and installer faces these and other challenges.

Inside the PRO Business Development Guidebook, you’ll find innovative, practical solutions and useful step-by-step guidelines and information to help you manage and run a more profitable and professional restyling business, be it start-up or an established restyling center.

Beginning with an overview of the importance of having a business plan—including tips on how to develop a business plan and the many purposes it can serve—the manual offers chapter-by-chapter strategies for creating, operating and maintaining a successful business. They include understanding the basics of business finance, the importance of quality and service and how to make them your business hallmarks, building knowledge and skills among your employees and branding your restyling business as a market leader.

Through the collective experience of accessory professionals, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) has developed this member-only resource (and many others) to help your business succeed and prosper. PRO represents the collective interests of all SEMA-member companies serving the restyling and accessory market—including manufacturers, warehouse distributors, manufacturer's reps, restylers and installers. As a member company, you can work with PRO to build solid, mutually beneficial relationships with OEMs and new- and used-vehicle dealers, participate in ongoing efforts to elevate the level of professionalism throughout all sectors of the industry, enhance customer satisfaction and have a voice on issues that impact the industry.

To learn more visit www.SEMA.org/PRO or contact Zane Clark at 909-978-6696.

By SEMA Staff

	PRO leadership discusses ways to improve the industry during a meeting at the 2012 SEMA Show.

What tops the to-do list at your company? Are you looking for creative ways to win new customers and keep them happy? Hire, train and retain qualified employees? Gain a competitive edge in your marketplace? Expand and run a more streamlined and profitable accessory business? Every professional restyler and installer faces these and other challenges.

Inside the PRO Business Development Guidebook, you’ll find innovative, practical solutions and useful step-by-step guidelines and information to help you manage and run a more profitable and professional restyling business, be it start-up or an established restyling center.

Beginning with an overview of the importance of having a business plan—including tips on how to develop a business plan and the many purposes it can serve—the manual offers chapter-by-chapter strategies for creating, operating and maintaining a successful business. They include understanding the basics of business finance, the importance of quality and service and how to make them your business hallmarks, building knowledge and skills among your employees and branding your restyling business as a market leader.

Through the collective experience of accessory professionals, the Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) has developed this member-only resource (and many others) to help your business succeed and prosper. PRO represents the collective interests of all SEMA-member companies serving the restyling and accessory market—including manufacturers, warehouse distributors, manufacturer's reps, restylers and installers. As a member company, you can work with PRO to build solid, mutually beneficial relationships with OEMs and new- and used-vehicle dealers, participate in ongoing efforts to elevate the level of professionalism throughout all sectors of the industry, enhance customer satisfaction and have a voice on issues that impact the industry.

To learn more visit www.SEMA.org/PRO or contact Zane Clark at 909-978-6696.

By Della Domingo

"Raw"—makers of "Gold Rush" (Discovery) and "Locked Up Abroad" (National Geographic)—is looking for enthusiastic and quick-thinking mechanics for a new competitive television series involving teamwork, skill and ingenuity. Each show aims to test some of the most experienced individuals in the most challenging of environments. Individuals who think they have what it takes to be a real-life MacGyver and want to find out more should contact casting@raw.co.uk.