Compiled by SEMA Editors

Current Rockingham Dragway track owner and operator Steve Earwood has entered an agreement with Al Gennarelli and Dan VanHorn to take over the track.

Rockingham Dragway Announces Transition to New Owners

Rockingham Dragway in North Carolina will transition to new owners over a two-year period, according to track officials. Current track owner and operator Steve Earwood has entered an agreement with Al Gennarelli and Dan VanHorn to take over the track, which opened in 1968 and was one of the first drag strips to feature amenities like permanent restrooms, concrete grandstands and corporate suites. The pair will take the next two years to observe and learn about the race facility before assuming full ownership in October 2022. Earwood notes that it will be "business as usual" at the Rock during the interim, including a full slate of events, which can be found at www.rockinghamdragway.com/schedule. Earwood will continue to oversee day-to-day operations and will remain a consultant to Gennarelli and VanHorn after the sale.

This year’s all-LS event will again feature drag racing, autocross, the 3S Challenge, and a dyno challenge, Test-N-Tune, Show-N-Shine, car cruise, road course, time attack, Track X and more.

LS Fest East 2020 Pre-Registration Now Open

Pre-registration has opened for the 11th annual Holley LS Fest East event, scheduled to take place, September 11–13, at Beech Bend Raceway in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This year’s all-LS event will again feature drag racing, autocross, the 3S Challenge, and a dyno challenge, Test-N-Tune, Show-N-Shine, car cruise, road course, time attack, Track X and more. Grand Champion and autocross reservations are already sold out (waiting lists are available for each), but pre-registration is still open for Drag, $10k N/T Shootout Drag, Car Show and Road Course/Time Attack options. Pre-register online at the LS Fest website.

Steve Sisko was crowned the JEGS-SFG $1.1 million champion at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, last weekend.

Steve Sisko Claims $1.1 Million, Biggest Payday In Drag Racing History

Steve Sisko was crowned the JEGS-SFG $1.1 million champion at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan, last weekend. He defeated competitor Bill Swain during the final round to collect the biggest payday in drag-racing history. Sisko also went on to win Sunday's $100,000 event the following night. Swain finished in the runner-up position with two entries in the race. The SFG Million presented by SFG Promotions, which ran from June 29 through July 5, featured big payouts for bracket racers, including $100,000-to-win races and an all-female shootout run.

Featuring 555 cubic inches, 723 hp, and 652 lb.-ft. of torque (with Pro-Flo 4 XT EFI), the engine is built by legendary engine builder Pat Musi.

Edelbrock, Pat Musi Racing Announce 723 HP Crate Engine

Edelbrock, in conjunction with Pat Musi Racing Engines, has announced a new high-performance crate engine offering. Featuring 555 cubic inches, 723 hp, and 652 lb.-ft. of torque (with Pro-Flo 4 XT EFI), the engine is built by legendary engine builder Pat Musi. High-performance parts are also provided by Edelbrock, including CNC-ported cylinder heads manufactured at the new Edelbrock Race Center in North Carolina. The Edelbrock-Musi 555 comes in three configurations: AVS2 Carbureted, Pro-Flo 4 EFI and Pro-Flo XT EFI. With every 555 crate engine purchase, buyers also receive a one-on-one call with Musi to discuss the customer’s setup, a certificate of authenticity signed by Musi, and exclusive 555 owners club decals. For more information, visit www.edelbrock.com/musi-racing.

Knoxville Announces Three-Day Race In Lieu Of Postponed Knoxville Nationals

The Marion County Fair Board and Knoxville Raceway have postponed the 60th running of the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals presented by Casey’s until August 11–14. In lieu of the event this year, Knoxville Raceway will partner with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for three nights of racing, August 13–15, culminating with the Brownells Capitani Classic presented by Great Southern Bank (previously scheduled on Sunday, August 9). The event will pay $50,000 to win and $3,000 to start. Due to COVID restrictions, only 7,000 spectators will be permitted to attend each night.

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

SEMA’s “Industry Talks: Back to Business” Series returns July 17, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT), with a live panel discussion on “The Realities of Returning to Work,” powered by the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN).

During this free virtual event, SEMA members will discover how three industry leaders are adapting their business models to succeed in the current landscape and listen in as the panel answers questions from the audience on challenges and opportunities related to getting back to business. Topics will include working from home, staff changes, re-hiring, furloughing, salary reductions and how companies can expand their markets and products with less people and deal with staff childcare situations.

By SEMA Editors

Don Hellwig

Hellwig Suspension Products has announced the loss of one of its founders. Don Hellwig, who passed away at the age of 91, co-founded Hellwig Products in 1946 alongside his late father Rudy Hellwig.

An innovator with a passion for the automotive industry, Hellwig helped develop the company’s signature products, helper springs and sway bars. During his tenure as president of Hellwig Products, Hellwig transitioned the company from a father-and-son door-to-door sales operation into a manufacturing company known throughout the world. Hellwig took the company to the inaugural SEMA Show at Dodger Stadium in 1967, and the company has attended every year since. His granddaughter, Melanie Hellwig White, who is president of Hellwig Products, currently serves on SEMA’s Board of Directors.

Hellwig was an avid RVer who frequently traveled the country with his wife, often living up to half the year in their RV during retirement. A hard worker his entire life, Hellwig would often step out of his office and onto the factory floor to help team members bend steel. Even in retirement, he regularly visited the factory floor. Several members of the Hellwig Products team worked alongside Hellwig for decades.

“He loved our customers and was dedicated to always improving our products to create a better experience for them,” said White. “We look forward to continuing his legacy of love for our customers and our team as well as innovation and passion for the automotive industry.”

“My dad was fearless when it came to business. If he believed in a plan, a process or a person he was all in to assure success,” said Mark Hellwig, son of Don Hellwig and current CFO of Hellwig Products. “Above all, he believed his greatest asset was the people he surrounded himself with, in business and in his personal life.”

Hellwig is survived by his wife of 69 years, three children, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, as well as countless extended family members, friends and colleagues. The entire Hellwig Products team will continue to honor Hellwig and operate the company according to the values and principles for which he stood.

Here’s the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing track testing in Milford Michigan.

These shots show the upcoming CT4 family range-topper with its production-intent front end free of much camo, which haven't been seen until now. Compared to the regular CT4-V, the Blackwing model seems to have a smaller upper grille and a larger lower grille. That lower unit has horizontal “slats” on each side, something that the “regular” CT4-V doesn’t have.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the CT4-V Blackwing will be powered by a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 engine carried over from the ATS-V, where it made 464 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. The report said that output in the CT4-V Blackwing will be roughly the same, though a 10-speed automatic transmission will replace the eight-speed auto previously offered in the ATS-V. A six-speed manual will be offered, according to the publication.

Other elements of the CT4-V Blackwing include wider front and rear tires and air outlets behind the front wheels. A hood-mounted heat/air extractor present on the ATS-V will not make it to the CT4-V Blackwing.

Expect a debut later this year and an on-sale date in 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing track testing in Milford Michigan.

These shots show the upcoming CT4 family range-topper with its production-intent front end free of much camo, which haven't been seen until now. Compared to the regular CT4-V, the Blackwing model seems to have a smaller upper grille and a larger lower grille. That lower unit has horizontal “slats” on each side, something that the “regular” CT4-V doesn’t have.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the CT4-V Blackwing will be powered by a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 engine carried over from the ATS-V, where it made 464 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. The report said that output in the CT4-V Blackwing will be roughly the same, though a 10-speed automatic transmission will replace the eight-speed auto previously offered in the ATS-V. A six-speed manual will be offered, according to the publication.

Other elements of the CT4-V Blackwing include wider front and rear tires and air outlets behind the front wheels. A hood-mounted heat/air extractor present on the ATS-V will not make it to the CT4-V Blackwing.

Expect a debut later this year and an on-sale date in 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing track testing in Milford Michigan.

These shots show the upcoming CT4 family range-topper with its production-intent front end free of much camo, which haven't been seen until now. Compared to the regular CT4-V, the Blackwing model seems to have a smaller upper grille and a larger lower grille. That lower unit has horizontal “slats” on each side, something that the “regular” CT4-V doesn’t have.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the CT4-V Blackwing will be powered by a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 engine carried over from the ATS-V, where it made 464 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. The report said that output in the CT4-V Blackwing will be roughly the same, though a 10-speed automatic transmission will replace the eight-speed auto previously offered in the ATS-V. A six-speed manual will be offered, according to the publication.

Other elements of the CT4-V Blackwing include wider front and rear tires and air outlets behind the front wheels. A hood-mounted heat/air extractor present on the ATS-V will not make it to the CT4-V Blackwing.

Expect a debut later this year and an on-sale date in 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing track testing in Milford Michigan.

These shots show the upcoming CT4 family range-topper with its production-intent front end free of much camo, which haven't been seen until now. Compared to the regular CT4-V, the Blackwing model seems to have a smaller upper grille and a larger lower grille. That lower unit has horizontal “slats” on each side, something that the “regular” CT4-V doesn’t have.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the CT4-V Blackwing will be powered by a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 engine carried over from the ATS-V, where it made 464 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. The report said that output in the CT4-V Blackwing will be roughly the same, though a 10-speed automatic transmission will replace the eight-speed auto previously offered in the ATS-V. A six-speed manual will be offered, according to the publication.

Other elements of the CT4-V Blackwing include wider front and rear tires and air outlets behind the front wheels. A hood-mounted heat/air extractor present on the ATS-V will not make it to the CT4-V Blackwing.

Expect a debut later this year and an on-sale date in 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

Here’s the upcoming Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing track testing in Milford Michigan.

These shots show the upcoming CT4 family range-topper with its production-intent front end free of much camo, which haven't been seen until now. Compared to the regular CT4-V, the Blackwing model seems to have a smaller upper grille and a larger lower grille. That lower unit has horizontal “slats” on each side, something that the “regular” CT4-V doesn’t have.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the CT4-V Blackwing will be powered by a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 engine carried over from the ATS-V, where it made 464 hp and 445 lb.-ft. of torque. The report said that output in the CT4-V Blackwing will be roughly the same, though a 10-speed automatic transmission will replace the eight-speed auto previously offered in the ATS-V. A six-speed manual will be offered, according to the publication.

Other elements of the CT4-V Blackwing include wider front and rear tires and air outlets behind the front wheels. A hood-mounted heat/air extractor present on the ATS-V will not make it to the CT4-V Blackwing.

Expect a debut later this year and an on-sale date in 2021.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA joined with dozens of other trade associations in urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to forgive all PPP loans that are less than $150,000. The groups sent a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Small Business Committees requesting immediate passage of “The Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act” (S. 4117).

To date, more than 85% of the PPP loans provided to small businesses are less than $150,000. Under the current program, the loan has restrictions on how monies are spent, including a requirement that 60% be spent on payroll cost, and company officials must then spend many hours completing paperwork to document the spending. The proposed legislation would instead simply require borrowers to submit a one-page forgiveness document.

The U.S. Congress is expected to consider another COVID-19 stimulus package later in July. SEMA is urging that the PPP loan forgiveness legislation be enacted at that time, either as a stand-alone bill or as part of the stimulus package.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

SEMA joined with dozens of other trade associations in urging the U.S. Congress to pass legislation to forgive all PPP loans that are less than $150,000. The groups sent a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Small Business Committees requesting immediate passage of “The Paycheck Protection Program Small Business Forgiveness Act” (S. 4117).

To date, more than 85% of the PPP loans provided to small businesses are less than $150,000. Under the current program, the loan has restrictions on how monies are spent, including a requirement that 60% be spent on payroll cost, and company officials must then spend many hours completing paperwork to document the spending. The proposed legislation would instead simply require borrowers to submit a one-page forgiveness document.

The U.S. Congress is expected to consider another COVID-19 stimulus package later in July. SEMA is urging that the PPP loan forgiveness legislation be enacted at that time, either as a stand-alone bill or as part of the stimulus package.

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.