Following three days of competition at the 2021 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis, the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) has announced its 2021 National Champion team as the high school squad E3 Spark Plugs from Burton Center for Arts & Technology in Virginia.
Team E3 Spark Plugs from Burton Center for Arts & Technology in Virginia.
“It was good to be back, and [we] appreciate all the support of SEMA, Performance Racing Industry (PRI), our sponsors, volunteers, schools, teachers and parents who make this possible. We will be back in 2022 and are looking forward to it,” an HROT representative said.
The E3 Spark Plugs team was led by instructor Chris Overfelt and finished with an average time of 20 minutes and 51 seconds. Second place went to the Forsyth Central High School team sponsored by SCAT, which came in with a time of 22 minutes and 2 seconds. Third place went to the Moroso team from C.D. Hylton High School, who finished with a perfect engine build with a time of 22 minutes and 23 seconds.
The timed engine-building competition sees teams of high-school students disassemble and reassemble a small-block Chevrolet engine in less than 33 minutes (including penalties). Winning teams receive scholarship opportunities to various technical schools.
For a video of the awards ceremony, visit the Facebook Live recap here. For more information, visit hotroddersoftomorrow.com.
Get an inside view of the PRI Trade Show at the Indianapolis Convention Center in the heart of the hardcore racing industry. While at the Show, racing manufacturers and service providers gained direct access to the worldwide racing marketplace. Exhibitors got face-to-face with buyers for hands-on sales presentations, and business was done. Show attendees also enjoyed a wide variety of in-depth educational seminars, networking events and conferences that took place during the Show.
Crystal Wiken is the SEMA Young Executives Network’s (YEN) newest spotlight member. Wiken is the digital marketing coordinator at BOLT Lock, a subdivision of STRATTEC Security Corp.—one of the world's largest producers of automotive locks and keys.
Learn about Wiken’s career in her interview with SEMA below.
SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?
Crystal Wiken: The best career advice I’ve received is, “If you want to succeed, you need to stand out on your own. People respond to truth and authenticity.” It's important to be to be creative and stand out both in my work and in how I hold myself out in the world.
SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?
CW: I did not once see myself in the automotive industry, but I’m sure glad that I found myself here. Things are always changing, and they’re always exciting and fun. The atmosphere is one of the things I love the most. While networking, I find that everyone is passionate not only about their specific roles, but also the industry as a whole. It’s exciting to be a part of something much more—it’s more like a community.
SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?
CW: On a Saturday you can find me with a Starbucks in hand, playing with my three dogs and going on drives in our Mustang!
SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?
CW: In a few steps: identify the purpose for the meeting, pinpoint details, spread the word, finalize agenda and drink lots of coffee!
SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?
CW: Our family consists of huge Ford fans. I’d love to go to lunch with Henry Ford! How cool?! Not only was he the founder and leader of Ford Motor Company, but he was also a pioneer that launched a system starting the mass production and sale of the first affordable automobile to the American public. Not only would it be educational to listen to the start of it all, but also hear how his commitment to the industry at the time resulted in many innovations of Ford.
If you are a current YEN member, fill out a YEN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on YEN’s social media, SEMA eNews and YEN-member updates.
Olavarrieta started her career in the automotive aftermarket 16 years ago as a bookkeeper for a shop and has been with her current company for 15 years. Learn about her career in her interview with SEMA below.
SEMA: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?
RO: I think the challenges for women in the automotive industry are similar to challenges that women in other fields face. Sexism, access to equal opportunities and compensation deter women from approaching a career in the automotive industry. During my career I’ve learned to approach these challenges as opportunities to demonstrate gender is not a limitation.
SEMA: What are three qualities that got you to where you are today?
RO: Resilience, enthusiasm and patience.
SEMA: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry? How have they helped you along the way?
RO: All of the women of SBN. I’ve been fortunate to meet my share of what I like to call the Wonder Women of the automotive industry—women with whom I’ve had opportunities to tackle projects like the SBN Mustang build, to having difficult conversations like how to help women find a life-work balance.
SEMA: What is the best career advice you have received?
RO: You can’t please everybody, period. This is a very powerful reminder that in almost every scenario you will encounter someone who will have something negative to say. If you allow this to get under your skin, it can deter you from trying new things. Focusing on the fact that you can’t please everyone helps you to not take derogatory comments personally.
SEMA: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?
RO: The automotive industry intrigued me since my teens. I’ve had opportunities to change industries, but there is a gravitational pull that I really can’t explain that keeps me in the automotive industry.
SEMA: Who was the most influential person on your career/goals?
RO: I can’t name one person, but I can name one event. The SEMA Show has been the most influential event in my career in the automotive industry. Every year I get to see the vehicles and meet new people and it is definitely the reason why I volunteer with SEMA. Without the SEMA Show, this industry would not be the same.
Do you know, or are you, a woman with a career in the automotive industry? Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN’s #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN’s social media, SEMA eNews and recognized on the www.sema.org/she-is-sema website.
CRP Automotive Names Matt Zarlenga 2021 U.S. Sales Representative of the Year
Matt Zarlenga (center) of the Sherman-Pearson Company was named CRP Automotive’s 2021 U.S. Sales Representative of the Year.
CRP Automotive has named Matt Zarlenga of the Sherman-Pearson Company as its 2021 U.S. Sales Representative of the Year. Zarlenga has been with Sherman-Pearson Company since 2019 and has represented CRP Automotive’s AAE, REIN, Pentosin and AJUSA brands in the Northern and Central Ohio market. CRP Automotive presented the award to Zarlenga during the 2021 AAPEX Show in Las Vegas. The Rep of the Year award was presented by CRP Automotive Channel Sales Manager Nicole Ryan and U.S and Canada Sales Director Warren Morley. Zarlenga accepted the award on behalf of Sherman-Pearson, noting that the accomplishments in 2021 were the result of a solid team effort and made possible only by the dedication and hard work of everyone involved.
Prior to joining Sherman-Pearson Company, Zarlenga was a manufacturers representative with Bowdoin Marketing specializing in the automotive aftermarket. He also worked in the OE dealership channel as a sales consultant and warranty administrator.
GRIDLIFE Announces New “Circuit Legends” Festival at Lime Rock Park for Summer ‘22
GRIDLIFE hosted the “State of the Grid” press conference last Friday at the 2021 PRI Show, where they revealed their 2022 competition calendar, and announced plans for a new festival expansion to the Northeast called “Circuit Legends,” to be hosted at Lime Rock Park, August 19–20, at the celebrated circuit in Connecticut.
Circuit Legends is a new festival concept for GRIDLIFE—known for its music and motorsports festivals with late-night concerts. The Circuit Legends concept won’t feature musical acts, but instead celebrate motorsports culture of the mid-’80s through mid-’00s by featuring vehicles that represent “the golden age of touring car racing”. The goal is to resurrect all the vehicular heroes from around the world and set them loose in the hills of Lime Rock in a celebration of touring-car racing.
The Circuit Legends Festival is a collaboration between the GRIDLIFE and Lime Rock Park, which is producing the new event as partners. At Circuit Legends at Lime Rock, fans will be able to see their vehicular heroes up close and at speed. On track, GRIDLIFE will bring its HPDE, TrackBattle Time Attack, GRIDLIFE Touring Cup (GLTC) and a special “Legends session” where the legacy touring cars will be on track at speed in a shootout-style showcase. More details will be released in the coming months as production of Circuit Legends at Lime Rock begins.
Gold Eagle Company Announces Focus on Innovation Ahead of 90th Anniversary
Gold Eagle Company, a privately held, family-owned and operated manufacturer of performance chemicals, surface treatments and a full-service contract packager, has announced its commitment to innovation ahead of its 90th anniversary in 2022. Matt Banach has been named executive vice president of market innovation and will have full responsibility for new product development and innovation to meet and exceed consumer expectations. He will also operate as the Gold Eagle brands/operations liaison involving packaging, supply-chain solutions and product management/forecasting to ensure continued innovation across all departments within the organization. Banach joined Gold Eagle in 2011 as a technical sales representative and has held the positions of event manager, brand creative director, and most recently, vice president of marketing.
Additionally, in support of the company’s product and marketing innovative efforts, Jennifer Robertson has been named director of marketing with full-scope responsibility for consumer insights and brand management, digital marketing, content marketing and event marketing. Robertson joined Gold Eagle in 2001 and has held many positions within brand management, playing an integral role over the years in helping build the majority of the company brands, most notably STA-BIL and 303.
MAHLE Motorsport Expands Staffing for Sales, Engineering Departments
MAHLE Motorsport has announced the addition of three new employees to the company’s staff headquarters in Fletcher, North Carolina. The three positions fulfill roles in sales technical support and engineering design. Sales administrator Adam Beddingfield has been hired along with engineers Brian Fair and George Wright. All three employees report to MAHLE Motorsport Product Manager Eric Grilliot.
Beddingfield joins a team of in-house PowerPak product experts and sales representatives and will provide technical product support including answering questions about the PowerPak shelf stock products, PowerPak Plus, custom-designed pistons and more. Motorsports Applications Engineer Fair is a recent graduate from Tennessee Tech University (Cookeville, Tennessee), while Wright is a recent graduate from Minnesota State University (Mankato, Minnesota). Both will work in the development of custom performance race pistons and provide input on the design and specification needed to accomplish project goals, utilize CMM and 3D scanning equipment for final design and ensure quality control.
Armond Gilmore
Skyjacker Suspensions Names Armond Gilmore Media Manager
Skyjacker Suspensions has promoted Armond Gilmore, a former graphic designer, to media manager. Gilmore has worked in-house and remotely with the company for five years. He has recently returned from a tour overseas as CPT Armond Gilmore, United States Army 42B Commanding. As media manager, Gilmore will ensure that key messages align with vital business strategies decided upon by upper management. His responsibilities include building and managing the organization’s social-media profile and presence; promoting additional projects to support new-product launches; monitoring online and offline campaigns and reporting on results; and developing and producing content via social media, websites and other distribution channels. Gilmore will also lead the charge in collecting and building video content for the company’s website, YouTube and other marketing channels.
MW Industries Acquires Two New Companies
MW Industries has completed two new acquisitions that expand its precision spring and fastener manufacturing capabilities. They include Fox Valley Spring Company—a supplier of springs, wire forms and flat springs—and Ideal Fasteners—a global manufacturer of threaded fasteners. These additions expand MW’s U.S.-based manufacturing locations and broadens its custom and stock component capabilities. This combined operation will improve the company’s capacity to supply the highest-quality custom springs and increase its stock, standard and custom fastener product lines.
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.
Verstappen Overtakes on Last Lap to Grab First F1 Title
Max Verstappen won his first F1 title last weekend.
Max Verstappen overtook rival Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship season to win his maiden title as a late safety car at Yas Marina brought drama to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last Sunday. By the end of the season, after Verstappen took 10 victories, 10 pole positions and 18 podium finishes, the Dutchman became Red Bull's second world champion after Sebastian Vettel annexed the title for four straight years from 2010–2013. Red Bull’s title ends Mercedes’ seven-year run that coincides with the introduction of the 1.6L V6 turbo hybrid era from 2014, while he becomes the 34th world champion in F1 history dating back to 1950. It is the first title for Honda since Ayrton Senna won the 1991 crown and comes in the engine manufacturers' final race with the team.
Texas Motorplex Releases 2022 Schedule
Heading into 2022 Texas Motorplex, the only quarter-mile multi-use racing facility in North Texas and home of the Stampede of Speed and NHRA Texas Fall Nationals, will once again host dozens of specialty events drawing fans from across the country. The addition of the Stampede of Speed in 2021, the largest continuous motorsports event second only to the Indy 500, will anchor a season of racing action in 2022. For the complete schedule, visit the Texas Motorplex website.
Xtreme Outlaw Series Created for Midgets, Non-Wing Sprint Cars
World Racing Group (WRG) CEO Brian Carter has announced the addition of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series and Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Car Series. The company behind the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars, World of Outlaws Late Models, Super DIRTcar Series Big Block Modifieds, DIRTcar Racing and more made the announcement during the 2021 PRI Trade Show in Indianapolis.
Each Series will feature a 10 to 15 race schedule with a combined point fund approaching $100,000. Long-term goals center around increasing fan interaction and engagement and building brand awareness for the sport of non-wing racing, according to WRG. Added to the annual DIRTcar Nationals, the Xtreme Outlaw Sprint Cars will debut at Volusia Speedway Park, February 14–15, 2022, in Barberville, Florida. In addition, the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will be added to the Ironman 55 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, August 5–6, 2022, in Pevely, Missouri. Additional events will be announced at a later date. The newly created Series will be guided by Casey Shuman, a veteran sprint and midget racer who continues to serve his fourth year as the World of Outlaws late-model series director. For more information, visit xtremeoutlawseries.com.
Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California, Announces Closure
Auto Club Dragway, the 1/4-mile dragstrip in Fontana, California, has permanently closed. The below announcement was made by officials from Auto Club Speedway, the 2-mi. oval track also in Fontana, California.
“After careful consideration on the best direction forward for Auto Club Speedway, the difficult decision has been made to permanently close Auto Club Dragway. We thank all of the competitors, fans and corporate partners who made so many wonderful memories at Auto Club Dragway through the years, and we look forward to making new ones as we embark on our 25th Anniversary Season at the 2-mi. oval in 2022.”
It was previously announced in April that the drag strip would remained closed for the 2021 season “due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.” The track was first built in 2001 outside of the backstretch of Auto Club Speedway. For more information, visit autoclubdragway.com or autoclubspeedway.com.
Turn 3 Media, Riivet Announce “SPEED SPORT 1” Network
SPEED SPORT, the motorsports media company, and Riivet, the provider of motorsports live streaming and video production, have established SPEED SPORT 1. The new joint venture builds upon the SPEED SPORT Network launched in 2019. SPEED SPORT 1 broadcast rights holders (tracks, sanctioning bodies, promoters and broadcasters) will be given the opportunity to participate in the growth of SPEED SPORT 1 since participation will be based on longevity, broadcast performance, content syndication and other parameters to be announced in the coming weeks. The new structure incentivizes and rewards its affiliates to develop their broadcast assets and unique brands while also showcasing and promoting their content via the SPEED SPORT 1 digital television channel and the entire SPEED SPORT network of media. For more information, visit speedsport1.com.
This is a prototype of the upcoming ’23 Ford F-350 Chassis Cab. The model seen here is the XL trim with the Regular Cab configuration and dual rear wheels, outfitted with an aftermarket flatbed configuration.
The ’23 model year will bring about a redesign to the Super Duty lineup, complete with new front and rear fascias, interiors and potential powertrain updates. The Chassis Cab configuration seen here has the front end covered in camo, hiding its new face. Even so, we see a set of incandescent headlights and a large grille opening.
Expect the updated Super Duty to launch in late 2022.
This is a prototype of the upcoming ’23 Ford F-350 Chassis Cab. The model seen here is the XL trim with the Regular Cab configuration and dual rear wheels, outfitted with an aftermarket flatbed configuration.
The ’23 model year will bring about a redesign to the Super Duty lineup, complete with new front and rear fascias, interiors and potential powertrain updates. The Chassis Cab configuration seen here has the front end covered in camo, hiding its new face. Even so, we see a set of incandescent headlights and a large grille opening.
Expect the updated Super Duty to launch in late 2022.
A strong SEMA Board means wise leadership and an association that serves its members well. As a member of the Association, we are currently seeking your recommendation for industry leaders to serve on the SEMA Board of Directors.
The following seats are open for this year’s election:
Manufacturers (3 open seats)
Manufacturers Rep (1 open seat)
Please take a moment and tell us whom you would recommend as a potential nominee for a board member position by completing and submitting a nomination form. To help the vetting process, please include brief information about the nominee’s qualifications, such as background, experience and achievements that would make that nominee an outstanding board candidate.
We urge you to take part in the nominations process—our industry has many individuals who would be an asset to the Board, but we need you to help bring them to the attention of the Nominating Committee.
Thank you for your attention to this important request.
It’s never too early to start planning for the Show. Last month, more than 100,000 industry exhibitors, buyers and media reconnected to do business for the first time in two years at the 2021 SEMA Show. With 2021 in the books, it’s now time to start planning for the 2022 SEMA Show, November 1–4, in Las Vegas.
More than 100,000 industry exhibitors, buyers and media reconnected to do business for the first time in two years at the 2021 SEMA Show.
CW: On a Saturday you can find me with a Starbucks in hand, playing with my three dogs and going on drives in our Mustang!
MAHLE Motorsport Expands Staffing for Sales, Engineering Departments
