Compiled by SEMA Editors

Will Philippin

Edelbrock Hires Performance System Pro for Newly Created Position of Crate Engine Product Manager

Edelbrock has appointed William Philippin as its new product manager for crate engines. In his new position, Philippin is responsible for product planning and execution throughout the crate engine lifecycle, including gathering and prioritizing product and customer requirements, defining the crate engine product vision and working closely with engineering, sales, marketing and support to ensure revenue goals are met and customer satisfaction is achieved. Philippin has extensive powertrain and crate engine experience, including developing program timing, business cases and proposals for new crate engine projects based on trends and competitive benchmarking. He was also involved with designing and releasing vehicle engine accessories from concept to the customers’ hands, directing aftermarket and production suppliers to execute performance parts programs to meet product goals and more. Philippin also supported customer-facing and motorsports events, such as NHRA Nationals, Hot Rod Power Tour, Woodward Dreamcruise, Autorama, the SEMA Show and PRI Trade Show. For the last nine years, Philippin worked at General Motors, where he held several increasingly responsible positions culminating in his last position of performance parts crate engine product manager. 

Mahindra Automotive North America Announces Personnel Change

After helping to establish Mahindra Automotive North America and being instrumental in developing a multinational powersports sales and service dealer network for the launch of the Mahindra ROXOR off-road vehicle, Luc De Gaspe Beaubien has elected to leave his position as vice president of business development to pursue other interests. Beaubien was a part of the senior management team at Mahindra Automotive North America and has held multiple senior positions over the years. 

Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative Steadfast in Public Land Conservation

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA and its Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) program continues building meaningful partnerships with leading local and national outdoor recreation and land stewardship organizations across the United States with recent grants from the first half of 2020. Yamaha’s latest OAI grants support a wide range of outdoor recreation projects, from OHV staging area maintenance and infrastructure development, to trail rehabilitation, signage and mapping. National collaborations focus largely on land stewardship programs and outdoor recreation education, promoting the benefits and diversity of outdoor experiences to families and youth across the country. The first and second quarter 2020 Yamaha OAI grants totaling more than $155,000 were awarded to the following organizations:

• The Great Outdoors Fund, Washington, D.C. (Kisatchi National Forest, Louisiana)
• North Country ATV, New Stratford, New Hampshire
• Indian Creek Valley ATV Club, Indian Head, Pennsylvania
• Lake County Department of Forestry, Lake County, Minnesota
• National Hunting and Fishing Day
• Northwest Motorcycle Association, Washington State
• Ravalli County Off Road User Association (RCORUA), Hamilton, Montana
• Ride with Respect, Moab, Utah
• Southern California Mountain Foundation, San Bernardino, California
• TreadLightly!, Inc., Centerville, Utah
• Upper Peninsula Recreational Off-Road ATV Riders, Kingsford, Michigan

For more than 10 years now, Yamaha has been issuing quarterly grants to non-profit organizations supporting the program’s mission. To date, the program has contributed more than $4.25 million in aid to more than 370 projects across the nation. Yamaha’s OAI-supported efforts work to improve access to public land for outdoor activities including riding, hiking, biking, camping, hunting, fishing and motorized recreation. The 2020 Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative application schedule, submission guidelines and application forms are available at www.yamahaoai.com.

Riley Technologies Acquires Kar-Kraft, Set to Build Mk IV Continuation Cars

Riley Technologies—owned by father-and-son design and engineering team Bob Riley and Bill Riley—along with Jim Matthews, have acquired the assets of original Ford GT40 Mk IV constructor Kar-Kraft. Kar-Kraft assets have been delivered to Riley Technologies’ multi-disciplined engineering and manufacturing facility in Mooresville, North Carolina, where the Riley team will engineer and construct the next generation of the American-made sports prototype race cars. According to published reports, initial plans include a production run of up to 10 period-current Mk IV continuation cars, with a projected 2022 release date. Tooling, fixtures, and original design drawings—some with Bob Riley's name—were among the acquired assets.

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.

SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) members and those involved in the hot rod segment of the industry are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual membership meeting on August 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) members and those involved in the hot rod segment of the industry are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual membership meeting on August 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

All SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) members and those involved in the truck and off-road segment are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual meeting and open call on August 14, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

All SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) members and those involved in the truck and off-road segment are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual meeting and open call on August 14, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

Capps Gets First Indy Win, Joins S. Torrence, J. Coughlin Jr. and Sampey in Winner’s Circle at Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals Presented by Pennzoil

Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil and also giving the longtime standout a win at every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and third straight at Indy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Capps won for the first time in 2020 and 65th time in his career with a final-round run of 4.110 seconds at 294.63 mph in his 11,000-hp NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to beat J.R. Todd in a battle of former world champs.

Defending and back-to-back Top Fuel world champ Torrence picked up his second win of the year and 38th overall in unconventional fashion last Sunday, outlasting Terry McMillen in the finals with a run of 4.273 at 224.17 in his 11,000-hp Capco Contractors dragster.

In Pro Stock, it was an all-Coughlin final round, as five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove past nephew and first-time Pro Stock finalist Troy Coughlin Jr. in the championship round with a 6.680 at 206.92 in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro.

Sampey picked up her first win since 2016 and 43rd overall, going 6.880 at 196.07 in the final round on her Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson EBR to beat Chris Bostick.

The Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway will host limited fans, Sunday, September 6.

Darlington To Host Limited Fans for Southern 500

The Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway will host limited fans, Sunday, September 6. The “Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR” also includes the Southern 500, Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Saturday, September 5, and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Sunday, September 6. A limited, reduced number of fans will be in attendance for the Southern 500 in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities, as well as related safety protocols and procedures. All guests will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six feet of social distancing throughout the venue. For more information, visit www.darlingtonraceway.com.

USRA Announces Deal to Host Nationals Event at Lucas Oil Speedway

United States Racing Association (USRA) officials have announced a new agreement with the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, to host the Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass for at least three years beginning in 2021. The agreement means the Summit USRA Nationals will have a new home for the eighth running of the event next year. The dates are October 7–9, 2021; October 6–8, 2022, and October 5–7, 2023. The seventh annual Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass is still slated for October 1–3, 2020, at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster, City, Iowa. Officials from Lucas Oil Speedway also announced that American Racer USRA Stock Cars will be a regular weekly fixture. Beginning in 2021 and for at least three years, the class will take part in the track’s Saturday night Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series programs, along with the Modifieds and B-Mods that are already under USRA sanctioning.

NHRA Southern Nationals Canceled Due to COVID-19 Concerns

The NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, scheduled for August 28-30, has been canceled due the current COVID-19 pandemic. NHRA made this decision after exhaustive deliberation with track representatives, health officials and government authorities. NHRA and Atlanta Dragway came to this conclusion after carefully weighing the significance of the 40th anniversary of the NHRA Southern Nationals. The anniversary of the historic race will be celebrated in 2021. Event ticket holders will receive more information from NHRA via email soon and are encouraged to visit www.nhra.com to learn about their options.

Spire Motorsports Purchases LFR, Expands to Two Cars

Spire Motorsports has completed an agreement to purchase the assets of Leavine Family Racing (LFR). As part of the purchase, Spire Motorsports will acquire LFR’s NASCAR charter, the team’s race shop and all owned inventory. As a technical partner of Joe Gibbs Racing, LFR’s current fleet of vehicles and chassis will be returned to Joe Gibbs Racing upon completion of the 2020 season. Spire Motorsports will expand to a two-car operation in 2021 and relocate to LFR’s existing race shop in Concord, North Carolina.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act,” S. 1014, creates a 15-person commission with representatives appointed by the president of the United States based on recommendations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House and Senate Republican and Democrat leaders and the Governors of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The bill provides the commission with two years from the time that each member is appointed to make recommendations to Congress for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history.

A similar version of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 66, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 by a margin of 393 to 22. Because there are minor differences between the two bills, the next step will be for the House to take up S. 1014.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act,” S. 1014, creates a 15-person commission with representatives appointed by the president of the United States based on recommendations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House and Senate Republican and Democrat leaders and the Governors of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The bill provides the commission with two years from the time that each member is appointed to make recommendations to Congress for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history.

A similar version of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 66, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 by a margin of 393 to 22. Because there are minor differences between the two bills, the next step will be for the House to take up S. 1014.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act,” S. 1014, creates a 15-person commission with representatives appointed by the president of the United States based on recommendations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House and Senate Republican and Democrat leaders and the Governors of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The bill provides the commission with two years from the time that each member is appointed to make recommendations to Congress for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history.

A similar version of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 66, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 by a margin of 393 to 22. Because there are minor differences between the two bills, the next step will be for the House to take up S. 1014.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Kyle Cheng

Since the beginning of April, SEMA Market Research has been tracking how businesses within the specialty-equipment industry have navigated through the disruption over the past few months. Overall, our industry continues to return to more normal operations and is increasingly more optimistic about their sales for the rest of 2020.

In a recent survey conducted July 24–30, approximately 95% of all companies said they were mostly business as usual or only impacted in the short-term. Nearly half (45%) stated that they were business as usual, compared to only 17% back in April. The number of companies reporting more severe disruptions have continued to decrease over the past few months as well.

Companies are growing equally optimistic about their sales. Today, nearly half of all companies expect higher or at least the same amount of sales as last year. That is a significant jump from April when only 20% of companies said that. Overall, most companies expect to finish the year better, at least the same, or with only a slight decline in sales compared to 2019.

Want the latest data and trends in the specialty-equipment industry? Check out the newest reports from SEMA Market Research:

• 2020 SEMA Market Report: The “2020 SEMA Market Report” provides a comprehensive look at how the products your company sells are purchased and installed. Also included is the most up-to-date information on parts buyers, key industry trends and forecasts, and insights into the vehicles currently on the road.
• SEMA State of the Consumer Report – July 2020: In this report, the SEMA Market Research team explores the current state of consumers within the United States and their outlook for the future. This quick snapshot looks at how consumers are emerging from coronavirus lockdown—including recent driving patterns, retail behavior and how they are interacting with the specialty-equipment industry.

All of these reports, and much more, are available for free download at www.sema.org/research.