Florida will hold its 2022 primary election on Tuesday, August 23, and it’s important to know which candidates support racing when going to the polls or voting early. For information on voting in the primary (including absentee and early voting), registering to vote and identifying your lawmakers and the candidates running in 2022, visit SEMA’s vote racing page.
The Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act (RPM Act), H.R. 3281 and S. 2736, enjoys strong support from Florida’s members of Congress. The bipartisan RPM Act guarantees the right to modify street cars, trucks, and motorcycles into dedicated race vehicles and safeguards the industry’s right to offer parts that enable racers to compete. For more information on the RPM Act, click here.
Below is a list of federal lawmakers who have co-sponsored the RPM Act in the 2021–2022 session of Congress and are running for re-election in 2022.
Sally McNulty and Skip Barber Racing Form Midseason Partnership
Sports car racer Sally McNulty and Skip Barber Racing have have formed a midseason partnership for the remainder of the 2022 TC America season, beginning with Rounds 9 and 10 of the championship at Road America in Wisconsin, August 19–21. McNulty will pilot the brand-new No. 780 Borla Exhaust Skip Barber 11th Generation Civic Si for the remainder of the 2022 championship. Only two turnkey 11th Generation Civic Si Honda Performance Development (HPD) race chassis was created for 2022 and are the beginning of the next generation of HPD racing.
“I am beyond pumped for the opportunity to race the new generation of Civic Si turnkey race car by Honda, as well as work with a championship-winning team,” said McNulty. “I graduated from Skip Barber School with my competition license, and it just feels right to race under their name as well. Looking forward to growing as a driver and competitor with them for the rest of the 2022 season!”
Brown, Tasca III, Coughlin Jr. and Gladstone Race to Win at Menards NHRA Nationals
Three-time Top Fuel world champion Antron Brown enjoyed a monumental day at Heartland Motorsports Park, picking up his first win as a team owner with his memorable triumph on Sunday at the 33rd annual Menards NHRA Nationals presented by PetArmor. Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Troy Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Joey Gladstone (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 14th of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.
Facing off with four-time defending world champion Steve Torrence in the final round, Brown powered to a run of 3.902 seconds at 309.49 mph in his 11,000-hp Matco Tools dragster to earn his 69th career victory and first since the third race of the 2021 season, snapping a 30-race winless streak in the process.
Tasca stayed red-hot in his 11,000-hp BG Products Ford Mustang and edging out the John Force in the final round with a run of 3.999 at 316.82.
Coughlin Jr. didn’t have to wait long for his second career Pro Stock win, making it two victories in a row with a phenomenal weekend in Topeka, including a final-round run of 6.680 at 206.54 in his JEGS.com/Elite Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro to knock off defending world champion Greg Anderson.
Gladstone wrapped up a perfect weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle, going 6.876 at 195.59 on his J&A Service Suzuki Hayabusa to knock off Eddie Krawiec in the championship round. He denied Krawiec his 50th career win, making his seventh straight run in the 6.80s to finish off a remarkable weekend in style. He also took over the points lead on Saturday and pushed it to a 64-point lead over Angelle Sampey with his stellar showing in eliminations as Pro Stock Motorcycle appeared in Topeka for the first time since 1997.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action August 18–21 with the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway in Brainerd, Minnesota.
2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Set for June 25
Officials with the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) have revealed the 101st Running of the Race to the Clouds will take place on Sunday, June 25, 2023. Drivers, teams and fans will converge on “America’s Mountain” for the 12.42-mile course with 156 turns on the 14,115-ft. summit.
“This race is an event like no other,” said PPIHC Board Chairman Fred Veitch. “Many drivers list the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at the top of their bucket list and are eager to accept the challenge. Others have competed for more than 20 years and keep coming back. We are really excited to see what the next century of hill climb racing on Pikes Peak will look like as we prepare for the 101st running next summer.”
The current course record is 7 minutes, 57.148 seconds, and was set in 2018 by French racer Romain Dumas in a purpose-built, all-electric ’18 Volkswagen I.D. R.
RealTruck Hires Tom Luttrell as Chief Information Officer
RealTruck has hired Tom Luttrell as its new chief information officer. Luttrell will be responsible for advancing the company’s information technology infrastructure to improve business capabilities at RealTruck, formerly Truck Hero Inc.
Luttrell brings substantial business and technology experience from a variety of previous roles, most recently as the senior vice president of information technology at Shiloh Industries, where he focused on enterprise research planning (ERP) consolidation and the company’s move to cloud-based computing. Before Shiloh, Luttrell was the chief information officer and vice president of customer care at the Masco Cabinetry business unit of Masco Corp., and prior to that, he was with Federal-Mogul Corp. for 17 years in various leadership roles.
RealTruck recently announced its name change and rebrand with its “In The Real” campaign to motivate people to get offline and explore the outdoors.
Nitrous Supply Inc. Launches New Website
Nitrous Supply Inc. has launched its new website: www.nitrous-supply.com. The company, founded by nitrous-oxide pioneer Mike Thermos, specializes in key components, including nozzles, valves and solenoids, that can enhance the performance of any brand system.
Thermos, who has recently received a Lifetime Achievement “Wally”from NHRA for his contributions to drag racing and named to SEMA’s Motorsports Performance Manufacturer’s Council (MPMC) Hall of Fame, is universally recognized as the “Godfather of Pro Mod” for his efforts in promoting the now-popular class. He has been active in the industry for more than 45 years.
Sand Sports Super Show Scheduled for September 16-18, Costa Mesa, California
The Sand Sports Super Show, September 16–18, Costa Mesa, California, will feature more than 300 industry-leading exhibitors, and attendees can get up close to the latest sand rails, UTVs, ATVs, side x sides and toy haulers, and check out the accessories, new apparel and much more.
The sand sports and off-road community come together at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, and enjoy the event’s features, including a performance marketplace, side x side and ATV/UTV demos and entertainment and music at the main stage all weekend. Dozens of prizes will be given out to lucky attendees, including the American Sand Association's (ASA) raffle of a Polaris RZR, and a Genesis Overnighter trailer. More event information is available at www.SandSportsSuperShow.com.
Cooper Standard Announces Joint Development Agreement of Innovative Dynamic Fluid Control Technology for EVs
Cooper Standard announced a joint development agreement with Industrie Saleri Italo S.p.A. (Saleri) to create a family of high-performance, coolant-fluid management devices for the electric vehicle market (EV). According to the companies, the new products combine the functionality of pumps with advanced fluid control, routing and connection technologies into single devices, enabling simplified EV architectures and improved performance and range. The devices provide flexibility in vehicle designs and can be integrated easily into existing systems and across vehicle platforms.
S&S Truck Parts LLC With Midwest Truck & Auto Parts Inc. Announce Merger
S&S Truck Parts LLC (S&S) and Midwest Truck & Auto Parts Inc. (Midwest) announced that the merger of the two companies is complete, creating an alliance between two best-in-class independent Truck Parts Distributors. The combination nearly doubles their collective business and forms a more diversified and scaled platform in the truck aftermarket space with the ability to source and offer a wider selection of high-quality products to customers.
The transaction unites two aftermarket organizations with more than 70 years of service to their communities and shared commitments to quality, service, and value. According to the newly combined company, an increased scale and an expanded geographic footprint will help its customers navigate a complex and challenged global supply chain, increasing available inventory and enabling faster delivery of products. In March of 2022, S&S Truck Parts was purchased by Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm.
Mullen Announces Andre Hudson as Vice President of Design
Mullen Automotive Inc., an emerging electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, announced the addition of Andre Hudson as its vice president of design. Prior to joining Mullen Automotive, Hudson was the head of product design at IndiEV. During his 25-year career, Hudson has worked for General Motors Co., Hyundai, and Icona Design.
“We are fortunate to have Andre on board. He will play a key role in working with various teams to develop the aesthetics of the Mullen product portfolio,” said David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive.
Speedway Motorsports Promotes Ramage, Hires Faber to Executive Leadership Positions
Speedway Motorsports—the marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment—has announced Texas Motor Speedway General Manager Rob Ramage has been promoted to Speedway Motorsports’ senior vice president of government relations and deputy counsel. Replacing Ramage will be veteran AEG executive Mark Faber, who joins TMS after serving as senior vice president of global partnerships at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Ramage’s promotion takes place immediately, and he will continue to serve as general manager at TMS until Faber assumes the position on August 22.
Ramage has worked for Speedway Motorsports since 2013, serving first as general counsel & director of governmental affairs and senior vice president of finance & compliance at TMS. Prior, he practiced law in Dallas, focusing on complex litigation, intellectual property and business transactions.
Faber joins Speedway Motorsports after spending the last 17 years with AEG, the sports and live entertainment company. During his tenure, he consulted on sponsorships and premium seating renovations for Daytona International Speedway and Phoenix International Raceway.
Lincoln Electric Announces New Role For Peter M. Pletcher
Lincoln Electric Holdings—based in Cleveland—has announced that Senior Vice President, President International Peter M. Pletcher will oversee the company’s businesses in the Middle East, Africa and the Asia Pacific regions. This is in addition to his current responsibility for operations in Europe, Turkey and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.
Pletcher succeeds Steve Hedlund, who was recently promoted to executive vice president, chief operating officer. Pletcher will lead the International Welding segment’s “Higher Standard 2025 Strategy” initiatives in an effort to accelerate growth and improve margin and return performance. He will report to Steve Hedlund and will continue to serve as a member of Lincoln Electric’s Management Committee. Pletcher joined Lincoln Electric in 1995 and has held leadership positions in sales, applications engineering, marketing, product development and operations.
Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.
In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage has announced a Measuring Session for the all-electric ’22 Ford E-Transit, September 26–30, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.
The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with Ford’s first all-electric E-Transit van.
Features on the new E-Transit will include:
350 cargo model
High roof
one-speed transmission
148-in. wheelbase
This will be an in-person event. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, scheduled appointments will be required. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time-limited.
The SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) named Jared Chavez, director of brand development at PROJECT X Offroad, as the council’s newest spotlight volunteer.
Get to know Chavez in his interview with SEMA below:
SEMA: What inspired you to pursue a career in the truck and off-road industry?
Jared Chavez: Growing up, my family always had Ford trucks and enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle. I spent a lot of time traveling in our Ford Bronco and our F-Series trucks, all of which were customized.
When I started working in the automotive aftermarket 16 years ago, I started in the street performance side but was introduced to the off-road segment slowly but surely. Living in California, it has gotten harder and harder with emissions regulations and the stigma of car meets to enjoy the hobby or work on vehicles, but the off-road side opened up new possibilities to enjoy vehicles as intended and mix that with my love for the outdoors.
After attending some off-road events nationally, I was hooked. Both the industry and community felt a lot closer to me; it felt like it just aligned with my passions and life and combined it with my career. After that, the path felt pretty clear to me, that it was the side of the industry that I wanted to be more involved with.
Eventually, I was given the opportunity to create PROJECT X, an innovative platform for off-road lighting and accessories that would bring some much-needed fresh ideas to the industry.
SEMA: Why did you decide to volunteer for TORA?
JC: I have volunteered on and off with SEMA for many years and formed so many great friendships and business relationships in the process. Participating with TORA has only continued to grow those opportunities by meeting people specifically in the off-road industry, both on the manufacturer and retailer side. It’s so much easier to grow your personal career and your business when you are able to reach out and work directly with people who you have made relationships with through TORA.
SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?
JC: Network often! Be involved in the industry and events, avoid operating in a bubble. When you meet people, take the approach of “what can I do for them?” and avoid “what can they do for me?” Making relationships where people view you as an asset is incredibly important.
SEMA: What is your dream truck or off-road vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend?
JC: Having grown up in a Ford family and traveling so much in an OBS Ford Bronco, building a luxury pre-runner Bronco has been a dream of mine. I currently daily drive a ’94 Bronco that is in a full-build mode that I would aspire to be my dream vehicle in the future.
Fill out a TORA-member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the truck and off-road specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on TORA’s social media, SEMA News and future TORA member updates.
Staying in tune and ahead of trends is one of the most important things any business can do. As the hot-rod market changes and evolves through different styles, capabilities and technology, it’s critical for businesses to have in-depth, inside knowledge of what they can do to position themselves to capitalize on trends.
After an exciting year and car show season, the SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) is bringing together industry leaders to look back and highlight the trends that got the hot-rod market where it is today and what will be changing business, design and fabrication in the year ahead.
Taking place on September 7, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT), the virtual panel discussion will be led by Amy Fitzgerald of Cool Hand Customs and feature panelists Jonathan Goolsby, Goolsby Customs; Stacey David, Rattletrap Productions; and Scott Parker, Power Automedia.
Participants will hear the panel’s insight on what trends led the way this past year, what they should expect to see at the 2022 SEMA Show, and what’s in store for the future of the hot-rod market.
Cars have become more complex and computer-controlled; virtually every major system in new cars is connected and because vehicle safety systems are involved, OEMS often lock down access to their computer controls, limiting the aftermarket’s access to these complex systems.
SEMA members are invited to join Chris Johnson, founder, SCT and JMS Performance Group, as he shares critical information on vehicle tuning during the live webinar “The Future of Tuning,” August 25, at 11:00 am (PDT).
Attendees will get expert insight on what the future of this segment looks like, and how innovative software companies can provide needed access to these vehicles and their computer control systems.
Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.
LIQUI MOLY USA is hiring a regional sales manager responsible for sales growth, marketing efforts and business expansion. With the opportunity to work independently, you are responsible for your own success. A minimum of five years’ experience in field sales management—preferably in lubricant products or the automotive aftermarket—is required.
Power Automedia is hiring an automotive editor to manage Chevy Hardcore, a leading magazine dedicated to classic Chevy cars and trucks. Responsibilities include writing and managing editorial magazine content, assignment of freelance editorial articles and news and automotive photography.
CarTech Books Inc. is hiring a freelance writer/photographer to author a complete step-by-step instructional book on paintless dent repair (PDR). The company will cover training/costs and the basics of running your own PDR business. The ideal candidate will be a professional PDR instructor, someone who owns a PDR business or PDR tool manufacturer. Writing and photography skills are a plus.
SEMA Future Leaders Network (FLN) and Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) members are invited to attend a cross council mixer taking place at the Custom Automotive Network (CAN) Conference in Phoenix, September 7, at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa.
The event will provide FLN and TORA members the opportunity to learn about what the council is currently working on. Attendees will engage in fun conversation, discuss new truck and off-road and industry trends and find out what volunteer opportunities are available in the industry.
If you’re an industry professional age 39 and under, or employed by a truck and off-road aftermarket company, this mixer is a great way to learn how to get involved in the many benefits that SEMA has to offer. FLN and TORA select committee leaders will be on site to answer any questions.
The deadline to update exhibitor information for the printed 2022 SEMA Show Directory is tomorrow.
The SEMA Show Directory is one of the strongest tools buyers use to learn about exhibiting companies and their products. In addition, more than two-thirds of Show buyers say the directory is a useful tool for navigating the Show.
Click here for more information about updating your SEMA Show Directory listing, or contact Maurice O’Connell at mauriceo@sema.org or 909-978-6660 if you do not receive an email to update your directory listing.
Click here for a complete listing of 2022 SEMA Show deadlines.
Florida will hold its 2022 primary election on Tuesday, August 23, and it’s important to know which candidates support racing when going to the polls or voting early. For information on voting in the primary (including absentee and early voting), registering to vote and identifying your lawmakers and the candidates running in 2022, visit SEMA’s vote racing page.
Sports car racer Sally McNulty and Skip Barber Racing have have formed a midseason partnership for the remainder of the 2022 TC America season, beginning with Rounds 9 and 10 of the championship at Road America in Wisconsin, August 19–21. McNulty will pilot the brand-new No. 780 Borla Exhaust Skip Barber 11th Generation Civic Si for the remainder of the 2022 championship. Only two turnkey 11th Generation Civic Si Honda Performance Development (HPD) race chassis was created for 2022 and are the beginning of the next generation of HPD racing.
2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Set for June 25
Sand Sports Super Show Scheduled for September 16-18, Costa Mesa, California
