The shooters at KGP Photography got their first look at some prototypes for the overhauled ’16 Kia Sportage caught cold-weather testing. The latest Sportage gets all-new styling, bringing it in line with the latest models to grace the Kia model range. The updated styling is expected to sit atop the same powertrain lineup as the current model. Sources say that increased attention will be given to the interior environment, with the latest updates available to the Uvo passenger interface, and a larger infotainment screen. Further attention is expected to be made toward refinements to the Sportage's ride and handling, and improvements to the noise vibration and harshness characteristics.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography got their first look at some prototypes for the overhauled ’16 Kia Sportage caught cold-weather testing. The latest Sportage gets all-new styling, bringing it in line with the latest models to grace the Kia model range. The updated styling is expected to sit atop the same powertrain lineup as the current model. Sources say that increased attention will be given to the interior environment, with the latest updates available to the Uvo passenger interface, and a larger infotainment screen. Further attention is expected to be made toward refinements to the Sportage's ride and handling, and improvements to the noise vibration and harshness characteristics.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

The shooters at KGP Photography got their first look at some prototypes for the overhauled ’16 Kia Sportage caught cold-weather testing. The latest Sportage gets all-new styling, bringing it in line with the latest models to grace the Kia model range. The updated styling is expected to sit atop the same powertrain lineup as the current model. Sources say that increased attention will be given to the interior environment, with the latest updates available to the Uvo passenger interface, and a larger infotainment screen. Further attention is expected to be made toward refinements to the Sportage's ride and handling, and improvements to the noise vibration and harshness characteristics.

Photo credit: KGP Photography

Compiled by SEMA Editors

	Rick Phillips

Yokohama Tire Corp. Announces Organizational Changes
Yokohama Corp. of North America (YTC) announced several organizational changes effective February 1. Rick Phillips was promoted from senior director, commercial and OTR sales, to vice president of sales, consumer, commercial and OTR. He will report to Takayuki Hamaya, YTC chief operating officer. Larry Kull, former senior director, tire business planning and sales operations, is now senior director, consumer sales. He will report to Phillips. Fred Koplin, former senior director, consumer sales, is now senior director, marketing. He will report to Hamaya. Andrew Briggs, former senior director, marketing, product planning and technical services, is now senior director, tire business planning, product planning and sales operations. He will report to Hamaya.

Action Car and Truck Accessories Acquires CTP Distributors
Action Car and Truck Accessories located in Eastern Canada has acquired CTP Distributors/Custom Truck Parts Inc. of Western Canada. The union enhances the company's competitive positioning within the wholesale, retail and fleet upfitting sectors while offering more choices and greater convenience.

"Now that we will be combined under one umbrella, CTP and Action will be the only truly national aftermarket accessory company that deals in all aspects of the aftermarket accessory business in Canada," said Bill Kluyt, CEO of CTP Distributors Inc. "I am very proud of CTP and what we have accomplished in 22 years, but even more proud and excited of what the combined efforts of CTP and Action will bring to the aftermarket accessory business in Canada!"

In addition to enhancing the wholesale and retail sectors, the new landscape will position the company as the largest commercial fleet installation network in Canada, a segment of the business with tremendous opportunity and growth potential. The combined companies will now consist of four major distribution centers (Surrey, Edmonton, Pickering, Moncton), four secondary distribution points (Calgary, Grande Prairie, Winnipeg, St. John's), 37 retail stores with installation facilities and e-commerce stores catering to wholesale, retail and commercial fleet segments.

"Action has the utmost respect for what the team at CTP Distributors has achieved and I have followed their success in becoming the largest and best source for truck accessories in Alberta and British Columbia." said John Chamberlaine, president and CEO of Action Car and Truck Accessories. "Combining our two entities to become Canada's undisputed overall national leader will allow for opportunities for all involved."

Surf City Garage Names Kahn Media Agency of Record
SCG Brands—parent company of Surf City Garage and Paradise Road Car Care—has announced that it has retained Ventura County-based Kahn Media Inc. as its agency of record. Kahn Media will be charged with public relations, social media marketing, brand journalism and strategic communications to help the Orange County-based company market its washes, waxes, polishes and surface care products, which are available nationwide and in more than 20 countries across the globe. Kahn Media will work with Surf City Garage and its associated brands to promote product awareness, educate enthusiasts about premium car care trends and forge new relationships in the automotive industry.

“Mopar Road Ready” Program Set to Launch in 2015 to Help Teen Drivers
Mopar has set plans in motion to give a helping hand to young drivers across the United States with an advanced driving program called “Mopar Road Ready,” designed to teach safe and defensive driving techniques. Sponsored by The Chrysler Foundation and supported by Mopar, the program is dedicated to training and educating teenage drivers will be available to those between the ages of 15–19 with a learner’s or driver’s license and at least 30 hours of driving experience. Three two-day sessions will be offered in Pomona, California, (February 14–15), Gainesville, Florida, (March 21–22) and in the Detroit area (May 2–3) free of charge to registered teens and their parents and guardians.

Mopar will work collaboratively with the NHRA Motorsports Museum and B.R.A.K.E.S (Be Responsible And Keep Everyone Safe), two nationally recognized non-profit 501(C)(3) organizations that share similar missions of promoting the importance of safe and responsible driving. Young drivers who are interested can register online.

PDRA Extends Partnership With VP Racing Fuels
The Professional Drag Racers Association (PDRA) has announced it has extended its partnership with VP Racing Fuels, which will be designated “Official Fuel of PDRA” through 2017. As part of the agreement, VP will provide trackside fuel service for the all-eighth-mile drag-racing series and post season awards up to $1,000 in each class for the series championship.

Adam Booth

MotoUSA Names Adam Booth Off-Road Editor
Motorcycle USA has announced the hiring of Adam Booth as its new off-road editor. Booth brings 17 years of publishing industry experience and a lifetime of off-road enthusiasm to the MotoUSA staff. Effective immediately, he will lead off-road content production for the publication’s 1 million unique monthly visitors. Booth joins MotoUSA after working at Dirt Rider for the past three years, where he served as senior editor. Prior to that, he spent seven years as associate editor for Dirt Bike. In addition to his motorcycle magazine experience, he also logged a seven-year stint as editor of BMX Plus! magazine.

As off-road editor, Booth's role includes bike reviews, multi-bike comparisons, technical features and industry news. He will be based in the company’s Irvine, California, office. Former MotoUSA off-road editor Justin Dawes remains on staff as senior editor. Dawes will continue to contribute dirt- and street-related feature content. He will also continue leading MAG Media Group’s ATV/UTV website, 4WheelDirt.com, where he serves as editor.

RxSpeed Launches as One-Stop Shop for Automotive Parts
RxSpeed, a comparison search engine for the motor vehicle aftermarket, has officially launched, featuring the an advanced product database showing consumers where to buy products at the lowest cost. Following the announcement of its beta version at the 2014 SEMA Show, RxSpeed.com has completed its usability testing and released its latest version for general availability. The company plans several more updates heading into the spring of 2015. RxSpeed is designed to aggregate automotive parts and retailers using its proprietary software platform. According to the company, RxSpeed is built on big data, taking in millions of records every week from a variety of brand sources, then organizing that data by linking the correct vehicle-fitment databases and part-category databases. The end result is an easy-to-use search engine that links shoppers to parts for their year, make and model vehicles, providing a list of retailers selling those products. RxSpeed currently features 470 different brands representing more than 1 million parts with 27 million vehicle applications to search in its database.

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.

Fred Offenhauser	Nile Cornelison
Jim Cozzie	John Menzler

SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.

Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.

Fred Offenhauser	Nile Cornelison
Jim Cozzie	John Menzler

SEMA members have the opportunity to submit their nominations for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame. The award has been established to honor outstanding persons in the automotive specialty-equipment industry whose creativity, dignity, integrity, industriousness and accomplishments on a national basis have enhanced the stature of and significantly contributed to the industry’s growth.

A rule of thumb to qualify could be to ask yourself the following question: “If this person had never existed, how would SEMA and the industry be different?”

The 2014 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees included Fred Offenhauser, Nile Cornelison, Jim Cozzie and John Menzler.

Please take a moment to review the Hall of Fame website and SEMA Hall of Fame criteria and listings of past inductees. In order to assist the Hall of Fame Committee in making their selection, please provide a brief statement, including accomplishments and comments as to why, based on the award criteria, the individual is deserving of this honor. Your completed nomination form is confidential and vital to helping the Hall of Fame Committee make their selection for the 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame.

Please submit your 2015 SEMA Hall of Fame form by Wednesday, March 18, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Bianco at 909-978-6692 or lindsayb@sema.org.

MAVTV will air highlights from the 2014 SEMA Show, starting Thursday, February 5, 2015, at 8:00 p.m. (EST), and repeating at 11:00 p.m. (EST) and Thursday, February 12, at 8:00 p.m. (EST).

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. The 2014 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers.

MAVTV will air highlights from the 2014 SEMA Show, starting Thursday, February 5, 2015, at 8:00 p.m. (EST), and repeating at 11:00 p.m. (EST) and Thursday, February 12, at 8:00 p.m. (EST).

The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, drawing the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. As part of the AAIW, the SEMA Show attracts more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries for unlimited profit opportunities in the automotive, truck and SUV, powersports, and RV markets. The 2014 SEMA Show drew more than 60,000 domestic and international buyers.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

TODD LOOKING FORWARD TO FULL SEASON OF RACING: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel standout J.R. Todd finished his 2014 season by racing in Pomona. He will start the 2015 season back at the historic drag-racing venue in Southern California with the Circle K NHRA Winternationals, February 5–8, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. For a driver who jumped into an ideal role with Kalitta Motorsports a year ago and will spend 2015 driving full time for the first time since 2008, that is a big deal. Todd is well aware of that, which has him as excited to start this season as any in his career.

"Competing in all 24 events is something that I have been looking forward to for a very long time now," said Todd, who finished second in Top Fuel in 2014 despite missing the first two events of the season. "There was definitely a period where I wasn't sure if I would ever get a shot at competing full time again. Now that I have the opportunity, I feel like I need to do everything possible to make myself a better driver and prove that I deserve to be out there competing with the best in our sport."

HEAD RACING ANNOUNCES TAYLORMADE SPONSORSHIP FOR CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS: TaylorMade Golf will sponsor the Head Inc. Toyota Funny Car team for the running of the 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona February 5–8. The sponsorship will reinforce the recent introduction of the company’s newest metalwood, the AeroBurner driver.

"We are excited about the opportunity to showcase the TaylorMade AeroBurner on our Toyota Funny Car and can’t think of a better parallel between the AeroBurner product attributes and the sport of NHRA,' said driver Chad Head. "This is a great chance for TaylorMade to introduce AeroBurner to the NHRA fan base both in Pomona and on the ESPN2 broadcast."

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES RETURNS TO ESPN2 IN 2015: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the NHRA’s Sportsman level racing series, will be featured in 16 one-hour shows on ESPN2HD in 2015. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series coverage from select national events will air on ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of the NHRA’s relationship with ESPN, in its second decade as the exclusive home of NHRA drag racing. All 16 telecasts will air on Saturday or Sunday. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series has a long-standing tradition of serving as a highly competitive developmental arena for the future stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

He Said, She Said

"We're the defending world champions, and it's a pretty awesome place to be. I guess it really hasn't completely sunk in because some days it'll just cross my mind, and I can't believe it. It's pretty cool. I've never been in that situation before, and we're really excited and honored to carry the No. 1 this year. It'll be a memorable year, and we're going to go to Pomona and give it our all and hopefully carry No. 1 into 2016 also. That's everyone's goal. I haven't gotten unfocused. What we accomplished last year doesn't change anything ever. It's a great accomplishment and really cool, but you can go from hero to zero really quick, week-in and week-out. I learned that a long time ago. We've got our work cut out for us, and we're going to swing for the fences just like we did last year."

—Erica Enders-Stevens on returning to the cockpit for the start of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. Enders-Stevens is the reigning Pro Stock world champion on the strength of four wins in 2014.

Inside the Numbers

6: Career number of wins Tony Schumacher has at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Two of his wins have come at the season-opening event, and his last came in 2008. Schumacher has 77 career Top Fuel wins and is fourth on the all-time NHRA win list. "My goal is to go out and win as many races as I can every year each and every time. At the end of my career, I'll look back on the wins and I'll appreciate the sacrifice that we all made to get those wins and be proud of those moments," Schumacher said. "Things were different when Bob Glidden raced. It was different. There were different amounts of races per year. So comparing apples to apples is really impossible. People try to do that with ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits, too, in Indy wins. It's a difficult thing to relate. Drivers are drivers. Now, back then they drove, worked on cars. It was so different. For me to sit back and try to compare myself to anyone, I'll let you guys do that. That's your job as the media. You can compare. You can make up those things and I'll read them, but I honestly at the end of my career I hope I have 500 wins. Right now I'm just trying to get No. 78, I think."

Did You Know

NHRA BOLSTERS OILDOWN POLICY FOR 2015 MELLO YELLO SERIES SEASON: Recognizing the need to reduce the number of oildowns at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events that cause substantial time delays and negatively affect the entertainment value for fans and TV viewers, the NHRA has increased the monetary fines and points penalties associated with oildowns in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. Oildown penalties for all other classes will remain the same as they were in 2014. Each Top Fuel and Funny Car team will be fined $1,000 and receive a five-point deduction following its first oildown violation of the season. A second infraction will result in a $2,000 fine and a 10-point deduction. The third violation will bring a $4,000 fine and loss of 15 points.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NHRA News

TODD LOOKING FORWARD TO FULL SEASON OF RACING: NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series Top Fuel standout J.R. Todd finished his 2014 season by racing in Pomona. He will start the 2015 season back at the historic drag-racing venue in Southern California with the Circle K NHRA Winternationals, February 5–8, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. For a driver who jumped into an ideal role with Kalitta Motorsports a year ago and will spend 2015 driving full time for the first time since 2008, that is a big deal. Todd is well aware of that, which has him as excited to start this season as any in his career.

"Competing in all 24 events is something that I have been looking forward to for a very long time now," said Todd, who finished second in Top Fuel in 2014 despite missing the first two events of the season. "There was definitely a period where I wasn't sure if I would ever get a shot at competing full time again. Now that I have the opportunity, I feel like I need to do everything possible to make myself a better driver and prove that I deserve to be out there competing with the best in our sport."

HEAD RACING ANNOUNCES TAYLORMADE SPONSORSHIP FOR CIRCLE K NHRA WINTERNATIONALS: TaylorMade Golf will sponsor the Head Inc. Toyota Funny Car team for the running of the 55th annual Circle K NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona February 5–8. The sponsorship will reinforce the recent introduction of the company’s newest metalwood, the AeroBurner driver.

"We are excited about the opportunity to showcase the TaylorMade AeroBurner on our Toyota Funny Car and can’t think of a better parallel between the AeroBurner product attributes and the sport of NHRA,' said driver Chad Head. "This is a great chance for TaylorMade to introduce AeroBurner to the NHRA fan base both in Pomona and on the ESPN2 broadcast."

NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES RETURNS TO ESPN2 IN 2015: The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, the NHRA’s Sportsman level racing series, will be featured in 16 one-hour shows on ESPN2HD in 2015. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series coverage from select national events will air on ESPN2HD on a tape-delay basis as part of the NHRA’s relationship with ESPN, in its second decade as the exclusive home of NHRA drag racing. All 16 telecasts will air on Saturday or Sunday. The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series has a long-standing tradition of serving as a highly competitive developmental arena for the future stars of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series.

He Said, She Said

"We're the defending world champions, and it's a pretty awesome place to be. I guess it really hasn't completely sunk in because some days it'll just cross my mind, and I can't believe it. It's pretty cool. I've never been in that situation before, and we're really excited and honored to carry the No. 1 this year. It'll be a memorable year, and we're going to go to Pomona and give it our all and hopefully carry No. 1 into 2016 also. That's everyone's goal. I haven't gotten unfocused. What we accomplished last year doesn't change anything ever. It's a great accomplishment and really cool, but you can go from hero to zero really quick, week-in and week-out. I learned that a long time ago. We've got our work cut out for us, and we're going to swing for the fences just like we did last year."

—Erica Enders-Stevens on returning to the cockpit for the start of the 2015 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season. Enders-Stevens is the reigning Pro Stock world champion on the strength of four wins in 2014.

Inside the Numbers

6: Career number of wins Tony Schumacher has at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona. Two of his wins have come at the season-opening event, and his last came in 2008. Schumacher has 77 career Top Fuel wins and is fourth on the all-time NHRA win list. "My goal is to go out and win as many races as I can every year each and every time. At the end of my career, I'll look back on the wins and I'll appreciate the sacrifice that we all made to get those wins and be proud of those moments," Schumacher said. "Things were different when Bob Glidden raced. It was different. There were different amounts of races per year. So comparing apples to apples is really impossible. People try to do that with ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits, too, in Indy wins. It's a difficult thing to relate. Drivers are drivers. Now, back then they drove, worked on cars. It was so different. For me to sit back and try to compare myself to anyone, I'll let you guys do that. That's your job as the media. You can compare. You can make up those things and I'll read them, but I honestly at the end of my career I hope I have 500 wins. Right now I'm just trying to get No. 78, I think."

Did You Know

NHRA BOLSTERS OILDOWN POLICY FOR 2015 MELLO YELLO SERIES SEASON: Recognizing the need to reduce the number of oildowns at NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events that cause substantial time delays and negatively affect the entertainment value for fans and TV viewers, the NHRA has increased the monetary fines and points penalties associated with oildowns in the Top Fuel and Funny Car categories. Oildown penalties for all other classes will remain the same as they were in 2014. Each Top Fuel and Funny Car team will be fined $1,000 and receive a five-point deduction following its first oildown violation of the season. A second infraction will result in a $2,000 fine and a 10-point deduction. The third violation will bring a $4,000 fine and loss of 15 points.