By SEMA Editors

Last year’s SEMA Young Guns winner Kyle Kuhnhausen in his ’72 Datsun.

The nationwide search for aspiring, up-and-coming young vehicle builders comes to Southern California, as the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program joins Formula DRIFT in Long Beach, California, April 6.  

As the second stop of the 2019 SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, the Formula DRIFT event will feature 10 builders age 27 or younger competing for a chance to participate in the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders program and showcase their vehicles at the SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Since 2014, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition has served as the automotive industry’s premier vehicle competition. Open exclusively to builders with vehicles on display at the SEMA Show, the competition expanded in 2017 to provide exposure for a limited number of rising young builders. This year’s program includes partnerships with nine venues, with one winner from each venue awarded an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the Show and entry into SEMA Battle of the Builders.

“We’re excited to have the SEMA Young Guns Program join us at our season kickoff of the Formula DRIFT Black Magic PRO Championship, April 5–6,” said Jim Liaw, president of Formula DRIFT. “Supporting and discovering new, young talent in the industry is an important initiative that we’re proud to be part of.”

As part of Formula DRIFT’s O'Reilly Auto Parts Streets of Long Beach presented by Permatex, vehicles from 10 young builders will be on display as the builders compete for a chance to advance to the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in Las Vegas. The 10 participants will be selected from applicants who enter the Young Guns regional competition at www.semayoungguns.com before March 30, 2019.  

“As our only Southern California stop, Formula D’s Long Beach event will be one of the most exciting of the season,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, PR and communications. “The region has a long history of vehicle customization, and we’re looking forward to discovering some amazing talent at this event.”

For additional details, visit www.semayoungguns.com or contact marketing@semaignited.com.

By SEMA Editors

Last year’s SEMA Young Guns winner Kyle Kuhnhausen in his ’72 Datsun.

The nationwide search for aspiring, up-and-coming young vehicle builders comes to Southern California, as the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program joins Formula DRIFT in Long Beach, California, April 6.  

As the second stop of the 2019 SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, the Formula DRIFT event will feature 10 builders age 27 or younger competing for a chance to participate in the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders program and showcase their vehicles at the SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Since 2014, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition has served as the automotive industry’s premier vehicle competition. Open exclusively to builders with vehicles on display at the SEMA Show, the competition expanded in 2017 to provide exposure for a limited number of rising young builders. This year’s program includes partnerships with nine venues, with one winner from each venue awarded an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the Show and entry into SEMA Battle of the Builders.

“We’re excited to have the SEMA Young Guns Program join us at our season kickoff of the Formula DRIFT Black Magic PRO Championship, April 5–6,” said Jim Liaw, president of Formula DRIFT. “Supporting and discovering new, young talent in the industry is an important initiative that we’re proud to be part of.”

As part of Formula DRIFT’s O'Reilly Auto Parts Streets of Long Beach presented by Permatex, vehicles from 10 young builders will be on display as the builders compete for a chance to advance to the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in Las Vegas. The 10 participants will be selected from applicants who enter the Young Guns regional competition at www.semayoungguns.com before March 30, 2019.  

“As our only Southern California stop, Formula D’s Long Beach event will be one of the most exciting of the season,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, PR and communications. “The region has a long history of vehicle customization, and we’re looking forward to discovering some amazing talent at this event.”

For additional details, visit www.semayoungguns.com or contact marketing@semaignited.com.

By SEMA Editors

Last year’s SEMA Young Guns winner Kyle Kuhnhausen in his ’72 Datsun.

The nationwide search for aspiring, up-and-coming young vehicle builders comes to Southern California, as the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program joins Formula DRIFT in Long Beach, California, April 6.  

As the second stop of the 2019 SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, the Formula DRIFT event will feature 10 builders age 27 or younger competing for a chance to participate in the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders program and showcase their vehicles at the SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Since 2014, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition has served as the automotive industry’s premier vehicle competition. Open exclusively to builders with vehicles on display at the SEMA Show, the competition expanded in 2017 to provide exposure for a limited number of rising young builders. This year’s program includes partnerships with nine venues, with one winner from each venue awarded an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the Show and entry into SEMA Battle of the Builders.

“We’re excited to have the SEMA Young Guns Program join us at our season kickoff of the Formula DRIFT Black Magic PRO Championship, April 5–6,” said Jim Liaw, president of Formula DRIFT. “Supporting and discovering new, young talent in the industry is an important initiative that we’re proud to be part of.”

As part of Formula DRIFT’s O'Reilly Auto Parts Streets of Long Beach presented by Permatex, vehicles from 10 young builders will be on display as the builders compete for a chance to advance to the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in Las Vegas. The 10 participants will be selected from applicants who enter the Young Guns regional competition at www.semayoungguns.com before March 30, 2019.  

“As our only Southern California stop, Formula D’s Long Beach event will be one of the most exciting of the season,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, PR and communications. “The region has a long history of vehicle customization, and we’re looking forward to discovering some amazing talent at this event.”

For additional details, visit www.semayoungguns.com or contact marketing@semaignited.com.

By SEMA Editors

Last year’s SEMA Young Guns winner Kyle Kuhnhausen in his ’72 Datsun.

The nationwide search for aspiring, up-and-coming young vehicle builders comes to Southern California, as the SEMA Young Guns Regional Program joins Formula DRIFT in Long Beach, California, April 6.  

As the second stop of the 2019 SEMA Young Guns Regional Program, the Formula DRIFT event will feature 10 builders age 27 or younger competing for a chance to participate in the 2019 SEMA Battle of the Builders program and showcase their vehicles at the SEMA Show, November 5–8, in Las Vegas.

Since 2014, the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition has served as the automotive industry’s premier vehicle competition. Open exclusively to builders with vehicles on display at the SEMA Show, the competition expanded in 2017 to provide exposure for a limited number of rising young builders. This year’s program includes partnerships with nine venues, with one winner from each venue awarded an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the 2019 SEMA Show, transportation of the winner’s vehicle, a designated feature spot at the Show and entry into SEMA Battle of the Builders.

“We’re excited to have the SEMA Young Guns Program join us at our season kickoff of the Formula DRIFT Black Magic PRO Championship, April 5–6,” said Jim Liaw, president of Formula DRIFT. “Supporting and discovering new, young talent in the industry is an important initiative that we’re proud to be part of.”

As part of Formula DRIFT’s O'Reilly Auto Parts Streets of Long Beach presented by Permatex, vehicles from 10 young builders will be on display as the builders compete for a chance to advance to the SEMA Battle of the Builders competition in Las Vegas. The 10 participants will be selected from applicants who enter the Young Guns regional competition at www.semayoungguns.com before March 30, 2019.  

“As our only Southern California stop, Formula D’s Long Beach event will be one of the most exciting of the season,” said Ira Gabriel, SEMA vice president of marketing, PR and communications. “The region has a long history of vehicle customization, and we’re looking forward to discovering some amazing talent at this event.”

For additional details, visit www.semayoungguns.com or contact marketing@semaignited.com.

The ’19 Talon 1000R has a longer wheelbase, a wider vehicle track, and more suspension travel.

The ’19 Talon 1000R has a longer wheelbase, a wider vehicle track, and more suspension travel.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to measure the new ’20 Supra, well in advance of its summer 2019 release.

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to measure the new ’20 Supra, well in advance of its summer 2019 release.

SEMA-member companies have posted several new listings for job opportunities in the Classifieds page of SEMA.org.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Richie Crampton defeated Clay Millican with his pass of 3.769 seconds at 329.89 mph in his DHL/Kalitta Air dragster.

Crampton, Hight, Butner and Hines Victorious at 50th Annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals

Top Fuel pilot Richie Crampton secured back-to-back event victories last Sunday at the 50th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the third of 24 events on the 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

Bo Butner picked up his second win of the season with a final-round defeat of Alex Laughlin at he 50th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals.

Crampton locked in his first victory since this event last year on a holeshot win against Clay Millican with his pass of 3.769 seconds at 329.89 mph in his DHL/Kalitta Air dragster. He had not won a round this season, prior to securing his ninth career win.

Hight claimed the Funny Car title with his run of 3.867 at 331.61 in his Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS to defeat Tim Wilkerson in the finals. After earning his third No. 1 qualifier of the season on Saturday, Hight secured his second Wally of the season and 47th of his career.

In Pro Stock, 2017 world champion Butner powered his Jim Butner’s Auto Chevrolet Camaro to victory with a run of 6.505 at 212.29 over Alex Laughlin. Hines raced to his first win in the category since 2017 with a run of 6.752 at 199.17 on his Screamin’ Eagle Vance and Hines Harley-Davidson street rod.

The 2019 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, April 5–7 in Las Vegas.

Perris Auto Speedway Signs 20-Year Contract Extension

Perris Speedway

President Don Kazarian of Oval Entertainment announced that he has signed a 20-year lease extension for the Perris Auto Speedway to remain open on the SoCal Fair and Event Center. The speedway has been run under the banner of Oval Entertainment and the Kazarian family since 1996.

When it opened in 1996, the Riverside County clay oval filled a void left in the greater Los Angeles area when Ascot closed in 1990. Since then, it has become one of the most popular dirt tracks in the world, and has been the home track to the USAC/CRA and SCRA Sprint Car Series’ as well as the PASSCAR Stock Car Series. 

The Garage Shop’s ’39 Ford truck, called Project 39, will race at the Arkansas 1-Mile Challenge, April 26–28.

Arkansas 1-Mile Challenge to Host Land Speed Racing Vehicle From the Garage Shop

The East Coast Timing Association (ECTA), the principal sanctioning organization for Land Speed Racing (LSR) in the Eastern United States, has announced that The Garage Shop, the vintage race car restoration and track support experts, will race at the Arkansas 1-Mile Challenge, April 26–28.

The Garage Shop’s ’39 Ford truck, called Project 39, is the only vehicle to break 200 mph on a street-legal gas engine, and is the current AA Gas Real Street record holder. It ran 200.4 mph in 2014 and has yet to be beat. This is an 80-year-old all-steel truck with a 358 Ford small-block that was developed and built by Aaron Brown, owner of The Garage Shop, and his crew, and sponsored by Performance Plus Motor Oil.

Brown, who is a former NASCAR engine developer, is also going to race an ’18 Ford Fusion stock car from Roush Fenway Racing. It has a Roush Yates motor and should be capable of hitting 220+ mph.

Dai Yoshihara will attempt the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in the 900hp ENEOS Racing/Evasive Motorsports Toyota 86.

ENEOS Teams With Dai Yoshihara and Evasive Motorsports for 2019 Pikes Peak Attempt

ENEOS will make its first-ever attempt at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 30 by supporting 2011 Formula DRIFT champion Dai Yoshihara, who will swap his 1,000hp Turn 14 Distribution/Falken Tire/ENEOS Subaru BRZ drift racer for a 900hp Toyota 86 specially prepared for the 12.42-mile Race To The Clouds by Evasive Motorsports.

The Toyota Supra-sourced 2JZ engine is stroked to 3.4L and fitted with a Garrett GTX4292R turbocharger and mated to a Samsonas sequential transmission for rapid shifting on Pikes Peak’s 156 turns.

The ENEOS Racing/Evasive Motorsports Toyota 86 will be displayed in its new Pikes Peak livery at the opening round of Formula DRIFT: The Streets of Long Beach, April 5–6, where Yoshihara will take a break from his Pikes Peak preparations to begin his pursuit of the 2019 Formula DRIFT championship in his Turn 14 Distribution/Falken Tire/ENEOS Subaru BRZ.

FD Studios will create more than 100 hours of original content featuring specific shows with air dates on Facebook Watch, focusing on the action and drivers of the Formula DRIFT Championship.

Formula DRIFT Announces Partnership With Facebook

Formula DRIFT will deliver live and on-demand content produced by FD Studios on Facebook Watch. Live and on-demand shows will kick off from April 1, in conjunction with the first competition round of Formula DRIFT: The Streets of Long Beach, April 5–6. The newly-formed FD Studios will create more than 100 hours of original content featuring specific shows with air dates on Facebook Watch, focusing on the action and drivers of the Formula DRIFT Championship.

In addition, Formula DRIFT will continue to deliver drifting livestream to fans on Facebook by utilizing Facebook Live. With this new partnership, Formula DRIFT will livestream from every round on Facebook Watch and www.formulad.com.

The Formula DRIFT Championship is also shown on CBS Sports Network. FD Studios will also create exclusive content, which will be available on Facebook Watch.

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