Compiled by SEMA Editors

	A new video display board is being assembled in Turn 3.

Road America Invests Millions to Improve Race Day Experience

Road America is investing in four new networked high-definition LED video display boards. Currently, one video board is in place in Turn 5, and the additional video boards will be permanently placed in Turn 1, Turn 3, Turns 7 and 8, and Turn 12. For thousands watching from the stands and around the revered racetrack, the video display boards will deliver views of the on-track action. In addition to the new video boards, the four-mile racetrack was resurfaced in several areas, including Turns 5, 6, 8 and 14. There were no changes to the width of the racing surface. Road America's first event is quickly approaching, as racing vehicles from around the world will compete at the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) Spring Vintage Weekend, May 15–17.

DEI Sponsors First-Ever Circle Track Great American Racing Series

Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) has announced sponsorship of Circle Track’s inaugural 2015 Great American Racing Series (GARS). This series of six races is being billed as an affordable, high-purse, oval-track race series for cars that are essentially street stocks. Drivers will compete for a purse of $30,000 per race with the winner receiving $5,000. The champion will win $10,000 and a one-day test session of a full-bodied NASCAR-style stock car at Daytona International Speedway.

Developed with a mix of paved and dirt oval tracks in Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, the GARS series kicks off May 9 at the Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana. Two dirt races and four paved races are planned with the final event scheduled October 4 at the Memphis International Raceway. The top 15 finishers of each qualifying race will compete in the feature race, which is expected to be 75 laps for tracks greater than ½-mile and 100 laps for ½-mile-and-under tracks.

Design Engineering is one of a 10 financial GARS sponsors and a proponent of grassroots motorsports. DEI also provides a product sponsorship program for avid racers and project builders under the company’s Team DEI program.

	Don Walsh Jr. in the Precision Turbo & Engine ’14 Camaro scored the No. 1 position for the Pro Mod class.

PTE Camaro Wins NHRA Pro Mod Race at Houston

Don Walsh Jr. raced to victory April 26, in the Precision Turbo & Engine ’14 Camaro at the NHRA J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series portion of the O'Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway, presented by the Real Pro Mod (RPM) Association. Walsh had a qualifying run of 5.860 at 247.25 mph to score the No. 1 position for the class. Walsh was also the recipient of the Quick Drive Racing #1 Qualifier award.

ALM Endurance Race Series Schedule Announced

The schedule for the ALM Endurance Race Series at the Autobahn Country Club has been announced. This year's ALM Enduro Series consists of three races culminating with the ALM 12 Hour Enduro at the Autobahn—the longest in the Midwest. The schedule will start with a 3.5-hour race on the Autobahn's South track, June 13. The second race is a five-hour event September 19. The premier event will be the final, 12-hour, full-course competition, with the practice session scheduled for October 31, and the race on November 1.

	Patrick Clark won his first-ever Pro 2 race last Friday.

Patrick Clark Takes Home His First Pro 2 Win

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series took place last Friday on the outskirts of Phoenix at the Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park. Patrick Clark maneuvered his #25 Budweiser-Chevy Pro 2 into a pole position for round 4. The final race of the night was the Pro 2s where Clark lined up on the pole next Bryce Menzies. Clark held his line and by the end of lap one he was out front. A full-course caution brought the trucks back together halfway through the race. At the restart, Clark held off Menzies once again and continued his run toward the checkered flag. Clark led the race from start to finish and won his first-ever Pro 2 race. Clark now sits sixth in points. The next race weekend will take place May 30–31 in Lake Elsinore, California, for rounds 5 and 6.

Royal Purple Launches The Royal Treatment Sweepstakes

Royal Purple has launched The Royal Treatment Sweepstakes, offering one race fan the opportunity to meet famed Indy 500 and sports car racing driver Townsend Bell and attend the Lone Star Le Mans race as a guest VIP pit crew member of Scuderia Corsa at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, September 19, 2015. Until May 31, race fans can enter the sweepstakes at www.GetTheRoyalTreatment.com.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Holley is partnering with Detroit Speed Inc. and will attend more than 30 events this year.

Holley to Team Up With Detroit Speed in 2015

Holley has announced its partnership with Detroit Speed Inc. for the 2015 show season. Detroit Speed will display, promote and sell products from the Holley family of brands in their booth at all shows and events attended by the company in 2015. This partnership will increase awareness for both companies and allow consumers to see Holley products in action. Detroit Speed's test cars will use Holley products in 2015. Detroit Speed will attend more than 30 events this year, including Goodguys Rod & Custom Shows, Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car competitions and the Holley LS Fest.

Premier Performance Products Acquires RallySport Direct LLC

Premier Performance Holdings, parent company of Premier Performance Products—a warehouse distributor focused on diesel performance aftermarket parts—and Northridge 4x4—an Internet retailer of performance parts and accessories for the Jeep and Off-Road market—has announced the acquisition of RallySport Direct LLC (RSD), which was founded in 2003 by Nick Widdison. Under his leadership, the company has become a player in the sports-compact aftermarket segment—especially the Subaru, including the high-performance Impreza WRX STI. The company offers a full range of performance-enhancing products, including electronics, engine and drivetrain components, upgrades for exhausts, brakes and suspension components for Subaru, Ford, Mitsubishi, Toyota and others. The RSD team has also developed an eCommerce platform. Widdison will continue in his leadership role as president of RSD in the combined organization.

Champion Oil Announces New Master Warehouse Distributor in Brazil

Champion Oil has announced that Lugran Ind COM IMP EXP De Products LTDA EPP (Lugran) is its exclusive master warehouse distributor in Brazil. Lugran will offer Champion products in a number of categories, such as motor oils, transmission fluids, hydraulic fluids, coolant, diesel motor oil, differentials lubes, greases, power steering fluids, brake fluids and automotive chemicals and additives. Lugran now promotes the “Purpose-Built” line of Champion motor oils, chemicals and lubricants.

MAVTV Network Hits Canadian Market

Anthem Media Group Inc. recently announced a partnership with Lucas Oil Products to bring the rapidly growing MAVTV network to Canada. MAVTV features exclusive automotive/motorsports programming, such as “The Dave Despain Show,” “Full Custom Garage,” “Stacey David's GearZ” and “Speed Sport” hosted by Ralph Sheheen in partnership with National Speed Sports News and more. MAVTV Canada will be based out of Anthem Studios in Toronto, Canada. Media entrepreneur and Fight Network founder Mike Garrow will oversee the rollout and launch of MAVTV Canada, working with Anthem's technical and production teams.

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.

By Steve Wolcott

	The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races featured hundreds of pinewood cars racing against the clock for bragging rights and to support SEMA Cares charities.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. 

Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact derby@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.
 
Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today.

By Steve Wolcott

	The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races featured hundreds of pinewood cars racing against the clock for bragging rights and to support SEMA Cares charities.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. 

Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact derby@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.
 
Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today.

By Steve Wolcott

	The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races featured hundreds of pinewood cars racing against the clock for bragging rights and to support SEMA Cares charities.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. 

Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact derby@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.
 
Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today.

By Steve Wolcott

	The SEMA Pinewood Drag Races featured hundreds of pinewood cars racing against the clock for bragging rights and to support SEMA Cares charities.

If you're the hands-on type, SEMA invites you to attend one of several to-be-announced build days where you can help the children sand, paint and assemble cars for the races. Each child will build two cars: one to keep and one reserved for sponsorship by a caring SEMA-member company or individual. 

Members interested in participating in one of the build days are invited to contact derby@sema.org or visit the SEMA Cares Facebook page.
 
Proceeds from the races will benefit SEMA Cares charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction. Childhelp assists abused and neglected children by providing counseling and programs in a safe and secure living environment. Victory Junction provides the camp experience for children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses who otherwise would not be able to go to camp. Sponsoring a SEMA Cares Pinewood car or truck is easy and rewarding. Help a child in need today.

By SEMA Editors

Thunder Alley—a new Outdoor Celebration of Speed, Power and Motorsports Technology—will be held at the NHRA Motorsports Museum during the L.A. County Fair, September 4–27, 2015. With nearly 1.5 million in attendance, the L.A. County Fair brings to one location hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians with a passion for motorsports.

Thunder Alley is an opportunity for SEMA members to showcase examples of a wide range of performance and custom vehicles that represent their products and services. The NHRA is seeking everything from the most competitive rock crawlers to the wildest customs, and is not limited to cars and trucks; vintage dragsters, motorcycles, boats and even some aircraft, including a WWII Fighter plane, will be included.

Every evening, Thunder Alley’s IGNITE! celebration will feature a Cacklefest with Nitro-burning vintage dragsters and other vehicles. There are opportunities for your company to join in the IGNITE! celebration and add your firepower to Thunder Alley.

Participation in Thunder Alley comes with a variety of tax-deductible sponsorship and recognition opportunities, or simply bring a vehicle for display.

For more information on how your company can participate in Thunder Alley at the NHRA Motorsports Museum this September, contact Executive Director Larry Fisher at lfisher@nhra.com or 909-622-3454.

By SEMA Editors

Thunder Alley—a new Outdoor Celebration of Speed, Power and Motorsports Technology—will be held at the NHRA Motorsports Museum during the L.A. County Fair, September 4–27, 2015. With nearly 1.5 million in attendance, the L.A. County Fair brings to one location hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians with a passion for motorsports.

Thunder Alley is an opportunity for SEMA members to showcase examples of a wide range of performance and custom vehicles that represent their products and services. The NHRA is seeking everything from the most competitive rock crawlers to the wildest customs, and is not limited to cars and trucks; vintage dragsters, motorcycles, boats and even some aircraft, including a WWII Fighter plane, will be included.

Every evening, Thunder Alley’s IGNITE! celebration will feature a Cacklefest with Nitro-burning vintage dragsters and other vehicles. There are opportunities for your company to join in the IGNITE! celebration and add your firepower to Thunder Alley.

Participation in Thunder Alley comes with a variety of tax-deductible sponsorship and recognition opportunities, or simply bring a vehicle for display.

For more information on how your company can participate in Thunder Alley at the NHRA Motorsports Museum this September, contact Executive Director Larry Fisher at lfisher@nhra.com or 909-622-3454.

The shooters at KGP Photography have some new shots of GM's facelifted fullsize pickups, with prototypes for the Silverado and Sierra caught running on the streets of Milford, Michigan. Sources suggest that the redesign will provide a little more differentiation since the current trucks were criticized for looking too similar to the prior-generation models. There may also be some cues to tie the fullsize trucks to the new Canyon and Colorado midsize trucks.

According to KGP, GM may go the aluminum route to battle Ford's F-150, but that change won't come until the next-generation trucks, reportedly due for the ’19 model year.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography have some new shots of GM's facelifted fullsize pickups, with prototypes for the Silverado and Sierra caught running on the streets of Milford, Michigan. Sources suggest that the redesign will provide a little more differentiation since the current trucks were criticized for looking too similar to the prior-generation models. There may also be some cues to tie the fullsize trucks to the new Canyon and Colorado midsize trucks.

According to KGP, GM may go the aluminum route to battle Ford's F-150, but that change won't come until the next-generation trucks, reportedly due for the ’19 model year.

Photo credit: KGP Photography