Compiled by SEMA Editors

	The Hedman Performance Group is bringing its 60 years of all-American horsepower to the remaining eight events of the 2015 Hotchkis Autocross Series presented by Nitto Tire.

Hedman Performance Group Joins the Hotchkis Cup Series

MagnaFlow, Meguiar’s, Centerforce and Red Line Oil have already partnered with Hotchkis on the Hotchkis Autocross series, and now the Hedman Performance Group has signed on as the event series’ newest sponsor.

There are still eight events remaining in the 2015 Hotchkis Autocross series. Next weekend, the series heads back to the West Coast for the second NMCA West event of the year at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, California. The rest of the events this year include three Street Machines Nationals events in Du Quoin, Illinois; St. Paul, Minnesota; and Springfield, Missouri; two more NMCA West events in Fontana, and the Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

In addition to class trophies for quickest time and sponsor awards, Hotchkis will present the driver with the quickest average time with the “Hotchkis Cup” award, which rewards clean, consistent runs and superior car control. There will also be a special Hotchkis Cup mini-season taking place at the NMCA West events where drivers will compete in a season points chase where the scores from their best three events will be combined to determine the overall season winner.

	EnerSys sponsors Brian Adler’s #210 ULTRA4 (shown) and #10 Pro 4 vehicles for the 2015 season.

EnerSys Sponsors Greg Adler’s 2015 ULTRA4 Racing and LOORRS Vehicles

EnerSys—a provider of stored energy solutions for industrial applications and the manufacturer of ODYSSEY batteries—is sponsoring driver Greg Adler’s ULTRA4 Racing and Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) vehicles for the 2015 season. EnerSys will equip Adler’s vehicles with ODYSSEY batteries. As associate sponsor, the ODYSSEY battery logo will be prominently displayed on Adler’s ULTRA4 and LOORRS Pro 4 vehicles on the rear bedside, on all team apparel and in all team racing publicity materials.

12th Annual McLeod Racing NMRA Ford SUPER Nationals to Be Held Next Weekend

Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Omix-ADA’s Jeep Collection has recently expanded with the addition of two rare civilian Jeeps—a '59 Jeep FC-150 cab forward pickup (top) and '78 Jeep J-10 pickup (bottom).

Omix-ADA’s Jeep Collection Adds ’78 Jeep J-10 Pickup, ’59 FC-150

Omix-ADA has announced the addition of two rare civilian Jeeps to its Jeep Collection at the company’s Suwanee, Georgia, headquarters. Following a lengthy search, a ’78 Jeep J-10 pickup and ’59 Jeep FC-150 cab-forward pickup were added to the collection. Born of a desire to “preserve Jeep heritage,” the Omix-ADA Jeep Collection was started by company president and founder Al Azadi and currently showcases more than 20 rare and unique military and civilian Jeeps, ranging from pre-WWII prototypes to the modern-day JK Wranglers. The collection is a representation of all the models for which the company offers parts and accessories. Beginning in July, the Jeep J-10 and FC-150 will be on view at Omix-ADA’s headquarters as part of an all-new rotating display of more than 20 modern, vintage and historic Jeeps from its collection.

Valspar Acquires Performance Coatings Businesses From Quest Specialty Chemicals

The Valspar Corp. has completed the previously announced acquisition of the performance coatings businesses of Quest Specialty Chemicals Inc., which includes automotive refinish and industrial coatings. The acquired businesses had 2014 sales of approximately $190 million. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens Valspar's value proposition in automotive refinish and industrial coatings. 

Krisey Branton

Krisey Banton Joins The Marx Group, Marx Group Advisors

The Marx Group and Marx Group Advisors has added Kristine “Krisey” Banton to its team as executive assistant. In that role, Banton will support President and CEO Tom Marx and serve as the key support person to make sure both companies run smoothly. Her additional responsibilities include office management and client support. Prior to joining The Marx Group and Marx Group Advisors, Banton worked in finance at the headquarters of Restoration Hardware in the operations department, where she contributed to the work of the finance operations team, with direction from the vice president of business operations and analytics, as well as the CFO.

VP’s Jim Kelly to Retire From Racing Fuels

VP Racing Fuels' Regional Manager Jim Kelly has retired from the company, effective May 31. Kelly has been an employee of VP Racing Fuels since 1986, after spending many years as a motorsports writer/photographer and columnist. He will continue with VP as an independent consultant through the summer, helping with the management transition at the Delaware office and working race events, including providing on-site race fuel service and technical support during the Silverstone Classic in England in July.

HRE Wheels Becomes Distributor for Akrapovič Car Exhaust

HRE Performance Wheels has been selected as the official Akrapovič distributor of its car exhaust systems for the United States and Canada. Over the years, Akrapovič’s relationship with HRE has grown from a close partnership at marketing events to now leveraging HRE Wheels’ expertise, experience and extensive dealer network as its main point of contact for luxury, sports and supercar customers for the United States and Canada.

Confidential Employment-Search Service Launched at APASelect.com

APA Search Inc. has launched a new division of the company at APASelect.com to offer a web-based service that provides job candidates the benefit of remaining anonymous until a job opportunity opens that matches their career interests. For industry employers, APASelect provides companies with instant access to a pool of qualified, prescreened job candidates who were previously unreachable by traditional means. The website is now open for candidates to submit their credentials for membership in the site. Interested and qualified aftermarket professionals who apply for membership will be screened based on their professional references and automotive experience. Once they are approved for membership they can work with the APASelect team to produce a completely anonymous profile. APASelect will be open for employers to begin using in July, with the goal of having a minimum of 500 qualified and screened automotive professionals in all functional areas available for consideration.

ATC Truck Covers Launches New Website

ATC Truck Covers has introduced an all‐new website at atctruckcovers.com, offering improved functionality, a full accessories list, more product photos, updates to the dealer lead application and more. The website also features a newly designed downloadable product brochure with more photos, detailed info on specific products and models and expanded features information.

Gold Eagle Co. Earns Honda Supplier Performance Award

Gold Eagle Co. has announced it has been named a recipient of the Honda Supplier Performance Award for its outstanding service delivered to American Honda Service Parts. With a network of more than 600 OEM and Service Parts suppliers in North America, Honda recognized top-performing companies for excellence in key areas of operation, including quality, value, efficiency and delivery. This is the eighth consecutive year Gold Eagle Co. has been recognized by Honda. 

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.

The shooters at KGP Photography got their first look at a test mule for the ’17 Jeep Patriot, which uses a stretched version of the FCA-derived "small" platform that currently underpins the new Jeep Renegade. The mule shows a riveted section, which lengthens the Renegade donor body by several inches.  

The stretched Renegade-based Patriot mule largely confirms speculation that the singular follow-up to the Patriot/Compass duo will follow a path closer to the more rugged Patriot, instead of the more car-like (and oft-derided) Compass. Sources at AutoPacific suggest that the ’17 Patriot replacement (which may get renamed) will likely use an adaptation of the Renegade's independent suspension setup, which uses MacPherson struts up front with Chapman struts out back.

The timing of this mule seems to confirm earlier reports that the next Jeep Patriot will appear sometime in the second quarter of 2016, as a ’17 model—slotting between the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Renegade to better flesh out Jeep's model range.

The Patriot's engine lineup will likely mimic the more robust end of the Renegade's offerings, with AutoPacific reporting a direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0L 16-valve four-cylinder from FCA's Hurricane engine family as the likely volume engine option. A ZF/Chrysler nine-speed transmission is expected, while the Renegade's six-speed manual transmission is also an outside possibility.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography got their first look at a test mule for the ’17 Jeep Patriot, which uses a stretched version of the FCA-derived "small" platform that currently underpins the new Jeep Renegade. The mule shows a riveted section, which lengthens the Renegade donor body by several inches.  

The stretched Renegade-based Patriot mule largely confirms speculation that the singular follow-up to the Patriot/Compass duo will follow a path closer to the more rugged Patriot, instead of the more car-like (and oft-derided) Compass. Sources at AutoPacific suggest that the ’17 Patriot replacement (which may get renamed) will likely use an adaptation of the Renegade's independent suspension setup, which uses MacPherson struts up front with Chapman struts out back.

The timing of this mule seems to confirm earlier reports that the next Jeep Patriot will appear sometime in the second quarter of 2016, as a ’17 model—slotting between the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Renegade to better flesh out Jeep's model range.

The Patriot's engine lineup will likely mimic the more robust end of the Renegade's offerings, with AutoPacific reporting a direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0L 16-valve four-cylinder from FCA's Hurricane engine family as the likely volume engine option. A ZF/Chrysler nine-speed transmission is expected, while the Renegade's six-speed manual transmission is also an outside possibility.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography got their first look at a test mule for the ’17 Jeep Patriot, which uses a stretched version of the FCA-derived "small" platform that currently underpins the new Jeep Renegade. The mule shows a riveted section, which lengthens the Renegade donor body by several inches.  

The stretched Renegade-based Patriot mule largely confirms speculation that the singular follow-up to the Patriot/Compass duo will follow a path closer to the more rugged Patriot, instead of the more car-like (and oft-derided) Compass. Sources at AutoPacific suggest that the ’17 Patriot replacement (which may get renamed) will likely use an adaptation of the Renegade's independent suspension setup, which uses MacPherson struts up front with Chapman struts out back.

The timing of this mule seems to confirm earlier reports that the next Jeep Patriot will appear sometime in the second quarter of 2016, as a ’17 model—slotting between the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Renegade to better flesh out Jeep's model range.

The Patriot's engine lineup will likely mimic the more robust end of the Renegade's offerings, with AutoPacific reporting a direct-injected, turbocharged 2.0L 16-valve four-cylinder from FCA's Hurricane engine family as the likely volume engine option. A ZF/Chrysler nine-speed transmission is expected, while the Renegade's six-speed manual transmission is also an outside possibility.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

	To learn more about the candidates running for the 2015 SEMA Board of Directors, visit www.sema.org/bod15.

Ballots for the 2015 SEMA Board of Directors election are due June 9. SEMA members who are eligible to vote should have received an election-specific broadcast email on May 13.

SEMA partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer 2015 ballot information. To ensure that election-specific broadcast emails arrived safely in members' inboxes on May 13, voters were requested to add the following email address as an approved sender: noreply@directvote.net. 

If you have any questions regarding the voting process, call 909-978-6671 or email judir@sema.org.

Learn more about the candidates running in this year’s SEMA Board election at www.sema.org/bod15.

The SEMA board consists of 10 directors, the chairman, the chairman-elect, the immediate-past chairman and the secretary/treasurer. While there are a limited number of seats on the SEMA Board, the election process gives all SEMA-member companies the ability to influence the direction and future of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.

	To learn more about the candidates running for the 2015 SEMA Board of Directors, visit www.sema.org/bod15.

Ballots for the 2015 SEMA Board of Directors election are due June 9. SEMA members who are eligible to vote should have received an election-specific broadcast email on May 13.

SEMA partnered with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to administer 2015 ballot information. To ensure that election-specific broadcast emails arrived safely in members' inboxes on May 13, voters were requested to add the following email address as an approved sender: noreply@directvote.net. 

If you have any questions regarding the voting process, call 909-978-6671 or email judir@sema.org.

Learn more about the candidates running in this year’s SEMA Board election at www.sema.org/bod15.

The SEMA board consists of 10 directors, the chairman, the chairman-elect, the immediate-past chairman and the secretary/treasurer. While there are a limited number of seats on the SEMA Board, the election process gives all SEMA-member companies the ability to influence the direction and future of the automotive specialty-equipment industry.