FIFTH ELEMENT: Jimmie Johnson came from 15 points behind entering the season finale to claim his record fifth-straight NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship Sunday afternoon at Florida’s Homestead-Miami Speedway.

MEXICAN FLAVOR: Gustavo Vildosola Sr. and Jr. became the first Mexican national team to capture the overall title in the 43rd running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race.

NEW HORSEPOWER: Lotus will join Chevrolet and Honda as engine suppliers in the IZOD IndyCar Series during the 2012 season.

WESTERN CASH: Donny Schatz bagged the $15,000-to-win Western World Championships sanctioned by the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Saturday night at USA Raceway in Tucson, Arizona.

SEALED: The Schwanke LS-based Chevrolet sealed engine has been approved as an option for the USAC Western and Rocky Mountain sprint-car divisions next year.

TECH DAY: Indianapolis Motor Speedway will host the 100th anniversary Indy 500 Emerging Tech Day May 7, a place for young minds to display innovative renewable technologies for the automotive industry.

BOUNCED: Nico Hulkenberg will not return to the Williams Formula One team next season. Rubens Barrichello has been retained by Williams and will compete in his 19th Formula One season.

OUT: Austin Coil has left his role as crew chief for 15-time NHRA Funny Car champion John Force at John Force Racing.

STAFF CUTS: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team Richard Petty Motorsports began its restructuring program Monday, releasing approximately 60% of its work force.

BACK TO THE OLD: Sundance Vacations Speedway in St. John’s, Pennsylvania., will revert to its former name (Mountain Speedway) after negotiations with Sundance Vacations for a third season under the Sundance banner fell through.

NEW BOSS: World Racing Group will lease Cayuga County Fair Speedway in Weedsport, N.Y., to veteran central New York promoter Eric Kingsley in 2011.

A FIRST: Chinese driver Ho-Pin Tung, who serves as a reserve and test driver for the Renault Formula One team, made history over the weekend by becoming the first Chinese driver to take the wheel of an IndyCar during a test with the FAZZT Race Team at Sebring International Raceway.

SUBSCRIBE: National Speed Sport News has been published weekly since 1934. To subscribe to National Speed Sport News for a special industry rate, visit www.nationalspeedsportnews.com.

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Highlighted this week are some of the latest sales positions available for various levels.

Regional Sales Manager: A company is seeking a regional sales manager based in Mexico who has five years sales experience in the automotive aftermarket. The candidate will work in a home-based office and act as a consultant to all customers, determining customers needs and providing solutions.  

Regional Sales Manager: There is an opportunity for a regional sales manager for a position based west of the Mississippi. Candidates must be based in Mississippi and have five years of outside sales experience in the automotive aftermarket.

Sales Manager: American Eagle Wheel for a sales manager for its Kansas distribution center located in Kansas City. Individuals must have exceptional customer service skills, proven sales performance in the aftermarket wheel industry and strong sales, presentation and communication skills.
 

 

	Chuck Udell, senior partner with the Essential Action Design Group, will present the session, “Sales Strategy: Creating Your Competitive Advantage,” on Thursday, December 9.

It’s a tough marketplace, and every sale counts. How do you gain a competitive advantage? One important component is your sales strategy. SEMA will conduct an informative webinar session that will explore the anatomy of a sale and specific actions you can take to improve and measure your sales process. Whether your company has a defined sales strategy or you want to develop an improved process, this session is for you.

Chuck Udell, senior partner with the Essential Action Design Group, will present the session, “Sales Strategy: Creating Your Competitive Advantage,” on Thursday, December 9. An industry veteran, Udell is the former president of University of the Aftermarket (of Northwood University), and was responsible for working with a team of key industry leaders to develop Leadership 2010, the University of the Aftermarket’s Executive Development Program. His webinar presentation will include:

• How to differentiate your company, your products and your services.
• How to determine opportunities to add value to your customer’s business—the internal and external obstacles to this process and how to steer around them.
• Implementing your competitive position to produce results and customer loyalty.
• How to ensure financial return of expectations using best practices and case-based approaches to avoid the “no-profit zone.”
• Discuss the “clarity of measurement.”

An effective sales strategy is a powerful change tool that creates a competitive advantage and delivers improved business results. Join Udell on Thursday, December 9, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PST), as he conducts this informative session.

This webinar is powered by the SEMA Manufacturers' Rep Council (MRC). Participate live or download the webinar when it’s convenient. And remember: SEMA webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

Follow this link for more information on this webinar and to register.

For more information on the SEMA Webinar Program and to view a list of all upcoming SEMA webinars, go to www.sema.org/webinars.

	Chuck Udell, senior partner with the Essential Action Design Group, will present the session, “Sales Strategy: Creating Your Competitive Advantage,” on Thursday, December 9.

It’s a tough marketplace, and every sale counts. How do you gain a competitive advantage? One important component is your sales strategy. SEMA will conduct an informative webinar session that will explore the anatomy of a sale and specific actions you can take to improve and measure your sales process. Whether your company has a defined sales strategy or you want to develop an improved process, this session is for you.

Chuck Udell, senior partner with the Essential Action Design Group, will present the session, “Sales Strategy: Creating Your Competitive Advantage,” on Thursday, December 9. An industry veteran, Udell is the former president of University of the Aftermarket (of Northwood University), and was responsible for working with a team of key industry leaders to develop Leadership 2010, the University of the Aftermarket’s Executive Development Program. His webinar presentation will include:

• How to differentiate your company, your products and your services.
• How to determine opportunities to add value to your customer’s business—the internal and external obstacles to this process and how to steer around them.
• Implementing your competitive position to produce results and customer loyalty.
• How to ensure financial return of expectations using best practices and case-based approaches to avoid the “no-profit zone.”
• Discuss the “clarity of measurement.”

An effective sales strategy is a powerful change tool that creates a competitive advantage and delivers improved business results. Join Udell on Thursday, December 9, from 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (PST), as he conducts this informative session.

This webinar is powered by the SEMA Manufacturers' Rep Council (MRC). Participate live or download the webinar when it’s convenient. And remember: SEMA webinars are free to SEMA members and only $29 for non-members.

Follow this link for more information on this webinar and to register.

For more information on the SEMA Webinar Program and to view a list of all upcoming SEMA webinars, go to www.sema.org/webinars.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited to get up close with the Juke, Nissan's all-new crossover. This compact ride features a 1.6L 4-cyl. Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) turbo engine that packs 188 hp at 5,600 rpm. SEMA manufacturing members can take the tape to the new Juke on December 8, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PST), in Diamond Bar, California.

SEMA manufacturing members are invited to get up close with the Juke, Nissan's all-new crossover. This compact ride features a 1.6L 4-cyl. Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) turbo engine that packs 188 hp at 5,600 rpm. SEMA manufacturing members can take the tape to the new Juke on December 8, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (PST), in Diamond Bar, California.

The 2010 SEMA Show marked the first time that Audi had an exhibit at the annual specialty-equipment market showcase. All around the Show floor customized Audis caught the eye of Showgoers, in addition to the official Audi display.

Check out this collection of Audis seen at the 2010 SEMA Show. The photos are part of gallery of more than 2,000 display vehicles from the 2010 SEMA Show and are available on enjoythedrive.com. The gallery is searchable by vehicle make, model, year and more.

The 2010 SEMA Show marked the first time that Audi had an exhibit at the annual specialty-equipment market showcase. All around the Show floor customized Audis caught the eye of Showgoers, in addition to the official Audi display.

Check out this collection of Audis seen at the 2010 SEMA Show. The photos are part of gallery of more than 2,000 display vehicles from the 2010 SEMA Show and are available on enjoythedrive.com. The gallery is searchable by vehicle make, model, year and more.

After months of inaction and missed opportunities, the United States Senate is prepared to take up legislation to remove the 1099 reporting requirement which was included as a revenue-raising provision with the health care law. The “Small Business Paperwork Relief Act” would remove the requirement entirely. Unless this takes place, businesses will be required to issue 1099 reporting forms to all vendors from whom they buy more than $600 of goods or services in any year, beginning in 2012. The law’s intent is to identify and collect taxes on sources of income that businesses have not declared. SEMA contends that it will fail to collect much under-reported income, but it will succeed in punishing small-business taxpayers that already comply with U.S. tax law. The “Small Business Paperwork Relief Act” is scheduled to be considered on November 29, 2010.

In a letter dated July 28, 2010, SEMA President Chris Kersting joined the business community in calling for the removal of this burdensome and time-consuming requirement from current law. SEMA has worked with several small-business coalitions, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), to remove the provision. Please contact your United States Senators (click here to find your senators) in support of this repeal to ensure that small businesses can continue to remain focused on recovery and growth.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski, SEMA congressional affairs manager, at dans@sema.org.

After months of inaction and missed opportunities, the United States Senate is prepared to take up legislation to remove the 1099 reporting requirement which was included as a revenue-raising provision with the health care law. The “Small Business Paperwork Relief Act” would remove the requirement entirely. Unless this takes place, businesses will be required to issue 1099 reporting forms to all vendors from whom they buy more than $600 of goods or services in any year, beginning in 2012. The law’s intent is to identify and collect taxes on sources of income that businesses have not declared. SEMA contends that it will fail to collect much under-reported income, but it will succeed in punishing small-business taxpayers that already comply with U.S. tax law. The “Small Business Paperwork Relief Act” is scheduled to be considered on November 29, 2010.

In a letter dated July 28, 2010, SEMA President Chris Kersting joined the business community in calling for the removal of this burdensome and time-consuming requirement from current law. SEMA has worked with several small-business coalitions, including the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), to remove the provision. Please contact your United States Senators (click here to find your senators) in support of this repeal to ensure that small businesses can continue to remain focused on recovery and growth.

For more information, please contact Dan Sadowski, SEMA congressional affairs manager, at dans@sema.org.