By Chris Shelton

Three-time Super Bowl champion and serial record-breaker Emmitt Smith recently reentered the competitive world, albeit in a different category and capacity. He partnered with an old college friend who manages an up-and-coming driver in the NASCAR circuit. Jesse Iwuji Motorsports--the organization’s most recently formed team—runs the number 34 Chevrolet Camaro in the Xfinity series.

Some may call this an unlikely pairing, but consider the possibilities it opens up. For starters, the organization is looking to boost its fan base. At the heart of the matter is NASCAR's desire to attract and retain the most-valuable 18-49 demographic. This is not a monolithic issue, and NASCAR has signaled it’s looking at numerous ways to welcome a new generation of motorsports enthusiasts.

Football legend turned NASCAR team owner Emmitt Smith (left) shared his vision for broadening opportunities in motorsports during a 2022 SEMA Show keynote event hosted by "Overhaulin's" Chris Jacobs.

Among them is a greater drive toward inclusion. Only two Black drivers in NASCAR history have ever won a Cup-series event. In fact, the organization can claim only 19 Black drivers in its 75-year history. Five of those are current contenders. And Iwuji is among them.

Moreover, last year NASCAR announced that Black enthusiasts make up only 3.3% of its followers--a figure that’s actually just a little up from a prior 2.7%. In real numbers, 3.3% of NASCAR's fan base translates to 129,000 enthusiasts. If NASCAR could bring that 3.3% up to the national average of 13.6%, it could benefit from another 402,000 pairs of eyeballs. Diversity isn't just good for people; it's good for business.

But Smith isn't in it for any kind of financial gain. (As the joke goes, the surefire way to end up with a $1 million in motorsports is to start with $2 million.) He's in it to break new ground and show enthusiasts that there is a place at the table for everyone. You could call it Smith's stock in trade: Even while still actively playing, he co-founded the Pat and Emmitt Smith Foundation. Over a five-year period, it gave kids from similar upbringings the ability to thrive in a culture that can be hostile.

"I believe limitations are placed upon certain communities," he said during a keynote SEMA Education event hosted by "Overhaulin's" Chris Jacobs at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Smith evoked experiences from his youth, explaining how he and his boyhood pals had to improvise to create what some consider basic resources. "I mean, if you didn't have a basketball hoop, you took the tire off a 20-in. bicycle wheel and knocked the spokes out of it," he recalled. "You nailed it to a tree, and the tree was the backboard. If you wanted to play golf, you hit a tennis ball with a 2x4 into a hole that you dug."

Upon retirement, the master reprised the role of student, soliciting business advice from second-act greats Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. A partnership with Roger Staubach's development connections led to E Smith Communities, a commercial development firm that transforms underserved urban spaces to thriving communities.

"I see [these limitations] a lot more now because I'm in a real-estate space," he says. "I'm also in the technology space. I'm in the construction space. And I see now how certain things have been developed. I see the landscape of America a little bit differently."

This opportunity to be the change he wanted to see in motorsports presented itself in 2021 when Matt Castro--an old college alum that he knew through fellow football pro Reggie Johnson--came calling. "There [was] a race going on at Texas Motor Speedway and they wanted to know if we wanted to sponsor Jesse [Iwuji]," he says. The prospect of giving a Black driver a chance in a historically not-so-diverse field was almost all that Smith needed to hear. That Iwuji wore Smith’s number in high school probably didn't hurt, either.

"He's driven to race cars," Smith says. "Some of the things that were limitations for me that I mentioned earlier, how we improvised with basketball hoops and 2x4s and things like that--Jesse's family couldn’t have afforded to get him into a kart series. Some of these kids are home schooled just so they can drive cars. That was not in the cards for him."

Iwuji and Castro returned after the race. As they explained, NASCAR was looking for diversity partners, and they wanted to know if Smith wanted to play a role. "To see someone [who] has the passion break through this clutter and become a part of a [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)] program for NASCAR is what motivated me," Smith says. "It’s the same thing that motivates me to knock down walls and create opportunities for those who might not have those opportunities or might not [know] that these opportunities even exist.

"Because I'm a firm believer, if you can't see it, you don't even believe that it's achievable," he continues. "Oftentimes, we see people achieving things which sparks interest in us. And oftentimes, we're looking for people that look like us. But if you don’t have representation of that anywhere, you're like, 'Oh, shoot, that's not for me.'

"How many kids know that Bubba Wallace and Jesse Iwuji and others are in NASCAR? A lot of kids may not even know who [Formula 1 phenom] Lewis Hamilton is. But when you know who he is, it becomes, 'Oh, I have the opportunity to do that?' Isn't that the American Dream? It's being able to see something and say, 'I can do it.' If a person says, 'I can,' now that person wants to know how.

"And that's what DEI needs. It represents an opportunity for cross-pollination, and it opens the doors for communication and [the] exchange of information to make you better, to make me better, to make us better as people. That's what collaboration brings: an opportunity for us all to get better. And if we embrace that opportunity, we will get better. We will break down the limitations of fear. Oftentimes, it's the fear of not knowing that holds us back. And fear is one of those things that can paralyze any man or woman.

"The one thing I learned is that no one becomes successful by themselves," he says. [There's] always someone there to help prepare you, to give you the information that you absolutely need when you need it, but also to help you open doors to places that you cannot get into. And if you have a quality person there with you, they might even help mentor you through the process. And so success is there for those who are willing to seek information in various places, but also to seek people who are humble enough to share that information. Because not everybody's willing to share information. There are a lot of proprietary things, and I understand when it comes down to technology and so forth. But some information is free to give, like the information that I’m sharing right now, the thought process, the work ethic, the things that make me who I am.

SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola (left) thanked Smith (center) for his keynote presentation at the 2022 SEMA Show, while underscoring SEMA's commitment to fostering an industry marked by diversity and opportunity. Also on stage is Jacobs (right).

"When you start to see how all that stuff works, then you start to believe in something that's greater than you," he says. "Because you put it in the atmosphere that this is what I want to accomplish. So, you're reminded every day, that if you want to accomplish something, you have to get up with the proper attitude, with the proper work ethic and the proper motives, and go out there and make it happen every day and push yourself further than you ever thought you could.

"Today, we call it vision boarding," he says. "You got a vision for this old raggedy car. It starts with how you see that car. And then you put the things in place to make that car turn from this piece of junk to Bumblebee on Transformers. It's that kind of thought process that I used as an athlete to become a professional athlete. And along the way, you meet quality people to help you go beyond just talent.

"For me, I'm putting Jesse there. It's not about me: it's me supporting Jesse and uplifting Jesse and pushing Jesse and being a good partner to Jesse because this is his time. This is his vision that I’m able to attach myself to, to expand selflessly. I want him to be in that car week in and week out. I want to see him go from 34th place down to 15th and down into the Top 10. If he's successful, then the organization becomes successful, regardless of whether I'm in it or not. Because that's what's important: helping him do the things because he has a vision that he wants to see.

"Life itself continues to evolve, no matter who you are," he says. "The question is, when they put you in the ground, what have you accomplished? How have you impacted your community? How have you impacted your industry? How have you impacted people's lives? All of that becomes part of who we are.

"I'm talking about these connections--these spiritual connections. I'm talking about the drive and determination wrapped around purpose. As difficult and challenging as NASCAR is, we have to stay diligent, continue to persevere through challenges that we all face. To get on that track and continue to improve as Jesse Iwuji Motorsports. The organization must continue to improve because [it] can be around a lot longer than Jesse or me.

"And so therefore, taking that leadership role, owning our place, respecting where we are and giving respect where respect is due, and earning the right to be there is really what we're after. And this is just part of that process."

See the Full Presentation

Emmitt Smith's complete interview at the 2022 SEMA Show has been released as a SEMA Education on-demand video series. You can view it at https://bit.ly/Emmitt-Smith-Leadership-Series.

  By SEMA Editors

SEMA Showgoers who want to stay close to monorail stations are encouraged to make their hotel reservations while rooms are still available.

Exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2023 SEMA Show can lock in the guaranteed lowest hotel rate now by booking in the SEMA Show Block. Making hotel reservations in the block provides you with the most affordable and convenient options for a wide range of hotels located on and off the Strip.

All of the hotels available through the SEMA Show Block come with a low-price guarantee. To help ensure that your price remains the lowest, SEMA will price-match lower advertised rates, even after your reservations are set. Whether you're looking for your favorite place to stay, or for a hotel within close proximity to the Show, you can book with confidence knowing you will get the rooms you need at the the most affordable price available.

Here are nine hotels in the SEMA Show block with easy monorail access:

• Caesars Palace
• Flamingo
• Harrah's
• Horseshoe Las Vegas
• MGM Grand
• Paris
• SAHARA
• Westgate
• The LINQ

The SEMA Show also provides shuttle service to and from the Show for the hotels listed that are not within walking distance to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

There are nearly 50 hotels available in the block. For more information on the hotels listed below, including rating, price per night and distance from the Las Vegas Convention Center, visit www.SEMAShow.com.

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2023 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

United States law restricts trade associations, including SEMA, from funding elections. A political action committee (PAC), however, allows these same companies and associations the ability to solicit their employees for voluntary donations to fund political campaigns during an election cycle. SEMA PAC supports lawmakers and candidates who stand up for the specialty automotive aftermarket industry and support policies that help our companies and the enthusiasts who modify their vehicles.

Why would SEMA need a PAC? Members of Congress do business in Washington, D.C., where despite the consistent flock of tourists, it is not exactly an ideal location for those in the aftermarket and racing industry. SEMA's Government Affairs team, however, is located centrally downtown, adjacent to the White House and a few minutes away from the Capitol. The SEMA PAC is an indispensable resource needed to advocate on behalf of the SEMA community as we work to protect the right to repair and modify vehicles and aftermarket businesses from excessive regulation, fight zero-emissions vehicle mandates and to expand motorized access to public lands.

Again, government rules require us to take an additional step before asking for your support. Click here to learn more about becoming prior approved.

For more information, please contact SEMA PAC Manager Alicia Steger at alicias@sema.org.

The September 2023 issue of SEMA News will highlight rising stars in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. If you know a leader who fits that description as of September 1, 2023—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media or distribution—we want to hear from you.

Many SEMA members work with creative young entrepreneurs and professionals who are already industry trailblazers. They may have played key roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach, improve product development, energize marketing efforts or upgrade customer interaction.

They could also be budding talents at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that might be big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

SEMA News looks for candidates drawn from diverse industry segments who are already making a significant impact through their leadership within their organizations or businesses. Entrepreneurship, commitment, insight, innovation, integrity, responsibility, demonstrated skill, involvement and success within the marketplace weigh heavily in the decision-making process.

We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2023 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 1.

Are you hunting for a new job? The SEMA Career Center has a comprehensive listing of automotive-related job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest jobs posted to the website.

Latest Jobs Added to SEMA Career Center

Sales Manager
Wheel-1

Wheel-1 is hiring a sales manager to direct the sales team and provide leadership toward the achievement of maximum profitability and sales growth in line with company vision and values. The sales manager establishes and implements plans and strategies to expand the customer base and channels. Candidates must have a proven track record of sales success working in automotive parts industry and experience selling to retail wheel and tires stores.

E-Commerce Manager
Delta Lights

Delta Lights is hiring an e-commerce manager to promote sales on all digital platforms of more than 600 SKUs of U.S.-made automotive lighting accessories to a very wide audience from classic cars, hot rods, Jeeps, trucks, SUVs, motorcycles, RVs and industrial sectors. Candidates must have 3-5 years of IT, e-commerce and social media experience.

Testing and Test Asset Engineer
Nostrum High Performance

Nostrum High Performance is hiring a testing and test asset engineer responsible for the health and life of critical test assets. Candidates will be responsible for both production and development testing of Nostrum products and conduct hands-on development and validation testing. Additional responsibilities include the design, build, qualification and maintenance of testing assets and new test equipment design engineering. This position will work with engineering staff and suppliers and directly with the calibration and controls engineers. This position reports to the director of product validation and is stationed at the Southeast Michigan office in Ann Arbor. Up to 10% travel to various domestic and international locations is required.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

Here's first look at a mule for the upcoming Ford Mustang Shelby GT500.

The mule, based on the S650 GT, features slightly modified front and rear fascias (not for production), along with a track that's clearly meant for wider fenders, with wheels that stick out way past the body.

Surprisingly, this prototype is also a convertible, likely indicating that the next-gen GT500 will be available in the drop-top body style. Out back, there's a set of quad exhaust outlets similar to the S550-gen model, with the inner tips sitting slightly above the outer tips.

Details are scarce at this point, but sources tell us that the S650-gen GT500 will arrive in 2025 as a '26 model.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde

It was a historic double-up for Tony Stewart Racing on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as Hall of Fame racer Tony Stewart and Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan both claimed victories in front of a capacity crowd at the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals. Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) also won the fourth of 21 races during the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season.

Stewart, who made his NHRA debut last season in the Top Alcohol Dragster ranks in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, won in just his fourth career start, going 5.324 seconds at 269.62 mph in the final round in his Mobil 1 dragster. The legendary racer was the runner-up in his NHRA debut at the fall race in Las Vegas last year, picking up a memorable first win on Sunday, now giving Stewart wins in NHRA, NASCAR and IndyCar, as well as victories on every track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Hagan strengthened his points leads with his third win in the first four races in the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series, going 3.943 at 326.79 in the final round in his 11,000-hp Haas Automation Dodge Charger Hellcat SRT. It gives Hagan his 46th career win.

Brown claimed his first win of the Top Fuel season in his 11,000-hp Matco Tools Toyota dragster and 72nd in his career, delivering his best run of the day in the finals, going 3.760 at 319.75 in a final round that also featured Steve Torrence, Brittany Force and Josh Hart. Brown finished second to Force in both of the first two quads but posted a .053 reaction time in the final round to grab his third career victory in Las Vegas. Torrence finished as the runner-up and also moved into the Top Fuel points lead.

In Pro Stock, Dallas Glenn got his redemption from last year's four-wide race in Las Vegas, picking up his second straight win by going 6.649 at 206.29 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. It gave him his sixth career victory and it came on a holeshot, as Glenn posted a .039 reaction time, which was enough to hold off Troy Coughlin's 6.646 at 206.35 in a final quad that also included Cristian Cuadra and Deric Kramer. Coughlin advanced to the final quad by winning the first two quads, earning his ninth career final round berth.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action with the Circle K NHRA Four-Wide Nationals on April 28-30 at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

All-New '24 Ford Mustang GT Makes NASCAR Pace Car Debut

The all-new '24 Mustang GT made its NASCAR pace car debut last weekend when all three of NASCAR’s top touring series competed at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia. It marks the first of seven NASCAR races that the seventh-generation Mustang GT is scheduled to pace in 2023. The other NASCAR races include: Talladega (April 21-23), Dover (April 29-30), Darlington (May 12-14), Nashville (June 23-25), Chicago (June 30-July 2) and the annual Labor Day Weekend at Darlington (September 1-3).

The Grabber Blue Mustang GT pace car is stock, other than pace-car visibility items that include the light bar and custom Ford Performance and Mustang exterior graphics. The Mustang is powered by a new fourth-generation Coyote V8 engine, and the available active-valve performance exhaust system enables the Mustang GT coupe and convertible to deliver 486 hp and 418 lb.-ft. of torque. The standard Mustang GT delivers 480 hp. The fourth-generation Coyote V8 features a segment-first, dual intake and dual throttle-body induction system. Under the hood is a choice of two advanced engines: a 2.3L EcoBoost or a 5.0L V8.

Electric Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800 Targets New NHRA EV World Records

Ford Performance has unveiled the continued evolution of its electric-powered motorsports efforts with the Mustang Super Cobra Jet 1800, an aggressive revision to the NHRA world-record-holding Mustang Cobra Jet 1400. It is targeted to best the Cobra Jet 1400's standing world record for full-bodied electric vehicles (EVs) in the quarter-mile, 8.128 seconds at 171.97 mph.

In June 2021, Bob Tasca III drove the Cobra Jet 1400 to its reigning time in Norwalk, Ohio. The vehicle, originally built as a collaborative effort between Ford Performance, MLe Racecars, AEM-EV, Cascadia Motion and Watson Engineering, was then ready for its next challenge.

The Ford Performance led team went back to the drawing board and poured their effort into revisions and upgrades to the chassis, powertrain and control systems. To match this work, Ford Performance brought back the Super Cobra Jet name, first offered on '69 model-year Mustangs as an improvement to the standard Cobra Jet package.

The Super Cobra Jet 1800 utilizes the same four PN-250-DZR inverters coupled to two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings as before, but now attached to a new transmission from Liberty and powered by an entirely redone, lighter-weight battery system designed by Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. The power is sent to an MLe Racecars-revised rear end featuring improved suspension geometry from PMR and larger Mickey Thompson drag radials to optimize launches.

"Our changes have made significant improvements to the car, including removing hundreds of pounds in weight and increasing horsepower to 1800," explained Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports.

On top of going for a new full-bodied EV record, the Super Cobra Jet 1800 will also attempt to claim records for fastest EV 0-60 mph and fastest two-wheel-drive EV 0-60 during an NHRA event later this season. MLe Racecar's cofounder and official program test driver Pat McCue is planned to be in the driver’s seat.

NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Race Results

The Holley NMRA Drag Racing Series completed its second event of the season as the 15th Annual NMRA/NMCA All-Star Nationals Presented by MAHLE Motorsport took over Rockingham Dragway last weekend. More than a dozen individual champions were crowned at the event, which features many of drag racing’s quickest Ford-powered vehicles.

Edelbrock Xtreme Street/VP Racing Madditives Renegade: Jeff Kinsley raced past Martin Connelly's Mustang in the final round. Kinsley, in his Camaro, turned on the win light with a 4.646 on the eighth-mile course to cover Connelly's competitive 4.899.

Whatever It Takes Transmission Parts Limited Street: Samantha Moore won the season-opener against Stacy Roby in Orlando, but Roby evened the score in Rockingham after Moore fouled by eight-thousandths of a second at the start.

Fastest Street Car Coyote Stock: Former class champ Frank Paultanis used a holeshot in the final to claim his latest title. Paultanis shifted his way past Ed Bennett in the final round, 9.775 to a quicker 9.762.

Richmond Gear Factory Stock: Matt Williams topped Mark Anderson in the final round. Williams gained a big lead off the starting line and won via a holeshot with his 10.205 elapsed time getting to the finish line before Anderson’s 10.108.

MagnaFuel Open Comp Exedy Racing Clutch Modular Muscle: Susan Roush McClenaghan drove her Roush Performance Mustang in both classes, topping Jody Blalock to earn the Open Comp crown and then won the Modular Muscle title by topping Charlie McCulloch.

Suncoast Performance 8.60 Street Race: Casey Flora won the final round after opponent Bo Webb fouled at the start. Flora's path to the final round included wins against Kevin McKotter and Terry "Beefcake" Reeves.

ARP Open Comp: Will McKay made up for his early loss last month in Orlando when he stopped Tom Hoffman in the final with an 11.444 on his 11.41 dial. Hoffman also quickly bounced back from a tough start with a runner-up finish. Hoffman broke out by a hundredth of a second at the finish line.

HP Tuners Super Stang: Rodney Ward drove his '14 Mustang past Anthony Jaeger's Cobra Jet replica to seal the victory. Ward gained a reaction-time advantage and then sealed the victory with a 12.54 against his 12.50 dial. Jaeger made it close with an 11.49 against his 11.43 dial.

Fastest Street Car Ford Muscle: Lloyd Mikeska topped Cindee Hall and her Ford Falcon in the final round. Mikeska posted an 11.781 on his 11.75 dial for the win after Hall broke out with a 12.699 on her 12.75 dial.

CJ Pony Parts Truck & Lightning: Johnny Lightning captured the title when he topped Robert Chuhran in the final round. Lightning was first off the starting line and held on for the double-breakout win with an 8.630 against his 8.64 dial. Chuhran ran quicker than his 9.23 prediction with a 9.195.

Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales Open Comp All-Star Showdown: James Johnson Jr. captured the win against Bill Wittenauer, who became the highest-placing Ford driver in the after taking his Mustang to a runner-up finish.

True Street: Peter Delpino earned the top honors with a 9.276-second average in his 2019 Mustang GT. Delpino held off Jason Wagoner, who was close behind with a 9.303 average. The individual index winners included Ramon Roman (9-second), Timothy Bradshaw (10-second), Kevin McKenna (11-second), Chris Parisi (12-second), Jerry Jones (13-second), Elaine Moistner (14-second), and Ken Mason (15-second).

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

Developed from the ground up for those seeking extended adventures, Tacoma Trailhunter will build upon Toyota's off-road and overlanding credibility with purpose-built engineering and robust components. Stay tuned for more.

Speedway Motorsports' Michael Hodge Promoted to CFO

Speedway Motorsports has announced Michael Hodge has been promoted to CFO. Hodge, who previously served as the company's chief accounting officer, brings more than 15 years of financial and accounting experience with the company to his new role. As CFO of Speedway Motorsports, he will be responsible for overseeing the company's financial strategy, reporting and analysis. In addition to his role at Speedway Motorsports, Hodge will also serve as CFO at Sonic Financial Corp., where he has been an officer since 2016. Since 2022, Hodge has also served as a member of the board of directors at Sonic Automotive, the automotive retailer based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Hodge joined Speedway Motorsports in 2006 and has served in various financial management positions with the company. Prior, he worked as an audit and assurance manager at Deloitte.

Ford's Oakville, Ontario, Complex to Build Next-Gen EVs

Ford Motor Co. is investing C$1.8 billion in its Oakville Assembly Complex to transform it into a high-volume hub of electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada--a key part of the company’s plan to scale production of electric vehicles and make them more accessible to millions of customers. The campus, to be renamed Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex, will begin to retool and modernize in the second quarter of 2024 to prepare for production of next-generation EVs.

The investment allows Ford to repurpose and transform existing buildings into a state-of-the-art facility that leverages Ford of Canada's skilled and experienced workforce. Ford is building new greenfield sites and also transforming existing manufacturing sites, such as in Oakville and Cologne, Germany.  

The current 487-acre Oakville site includes three body shops, one paint building and one assembly building. The transformed campus will feature a new 407,000 sq.-ft. on-site battery plant that will utilize cells and arrays from BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky. Oakville workers will take these components and assemble battery packs that will then be installed in vehicles assembled on-site.

Metra Electronics Reintroduces Tsunami Brand

Metra Electronics has announced the revival of its Tsunami brand, to be sold exclusively to brick-and-mortar dealers for in-store sales only. New clean wire solutions are available now. Products from this brand will include audio connections; power, ground and speaker wire; amp installation kits; battery terminals; distribution blocks; fuse holders; and more. Tsunami is also offering an economy series with RCA audio cables, fuse holders, amp kits and speaker wire. These new products will be serialized using unique labeling, with no online sales permitted, for better supply-chain control, according to the company.

2024 Acura Integra Type S to Go on Sale in June

Making its public debut last weekend at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the '24 Acura Integra Type S delivers a new interpretation of ultimate street performance for a new generation of enthusiast drivers. The Integra Type S features a four-cylinder engine producing 320 hp. Standard hardware includes a turbocharged 2.0L VTEC engine, class-exclusive six-speed manual transmission, limited slip differential and performance-tuned Adaptive Damper System. Brembo front brakes and lightweight 19-in. wheels wrapped in high-performance summer tires complete the dynamic package.

The fourth Acura Type S performance variant to launch in the last 24 months, the Integra Type S features an aggressive wide-body design, center-mounted triple exhaust outlets, large front air intakes, hood vent and a rear diffuser. The high-performance sedan is available with an extensive list of Genuine Acura Accessories, including a carbon-fiber rear lip spoiler, carbon-fiber mirror caps, black illuminated front Acura badge, copper metallic finished 19-in. wheels and an Integra Type R-inspired titanium shift knob. The '24 Integra Type S will go on sale this June.

EGR USA Introduces Creator/Influencer Program for Truck Accessories

EGR USA now offers truck content creators/influencers the opportunity to promote EGR products under the hashtag #EGRUSA in exchange for free or deeply discounted EGR products. The program is directed to influencers in the United States and Canada only and requires installation on the proposed vehicle. Products cannot be resold. Truck influencers/creators with strong social-media presence on the top platforms (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube) are encouraged to fill out the online application form located on the EGR USA website. Images of the applicant's truck are required.

LEER Group Cuts Ribbon for New Commercial Aluminum Cap Manufacturing Facility

The LEER Group, a business unit of  J.B. Poindexter & Co., has completed its first targeted reinvestment, focused on increasing the manufacturing capacity of commercial aluminum truck caps. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the start of this dedicated facility was held on April 5.

"The facility will provide increased production capacity needed to accommodate significant growth, specifically in the commercial and fleet segments of our business. This facility opening couldn't have come at a more opportune time; when lead times are extreme, it gives us the capacity to reduce delivery times to better meet the needs of our customers in today's important commercial segment," according to Curt Cline, vice president of operations at J.B. Poindexter & Co. "LEER Group's engineering and advanced manufacturing teams have designed and outfitted this facility with more than $1.5 million of the latest equipment and technology."

Turn 3 Media Appoints Angie Skinner Director of SPEED SPORT Sales

Turn 3 Media has announced Angie Skinner has joined its team as the director of sales. In her new position, Skinner will be responsible for developing and managing advertising and sponsor relationships against SPEED SPORT's portfolio of editorial, digital and television media projects and services, as well as the new SPEED SPORT 1 TV network. She will also play a key role in developing new business and strategic partnership opportunities, the company stated.

Prior to the appointment, Skinner helped manage the career of her husband Mike Skinner, a longtime NASCAR driver. She served as the vice president of business operations at Mike Skinner Enterprises in 1999 before joining SiriusXM NASCAR Radio in 2011 as co-host of Sirius Speedway and later on Skinner Round-Up, a program she still works on with her husband today. She also owns Accelerated Communications Solution and Skinner 5 Media.

For more information, visit the announcement here.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA News. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

By Della Domingo

SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola released the following statement in regards to the Biden administration's strict new greenhouse gas emissions standards announced yesterday:

On behalf of more than 7,000 SEMA members, we have significant concerns regarding the impact of these proposed regulations on automotive small businesses. The specialty aftermarket industry supports more than one million U.S. automotive manufacturing jobs, yet these people and businesses are often overlooked in the push to electrify our automotive sector.

We fully support the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but actively advocate for the ability of consumers and the marketplace to choose what works best for them. There are many options on the road to zero emissions, and we feel it is crucial for government policy to remain technology neutral. The specialty automotive aftermarket business has been built around the internal combustion engine. It is also the same industry that has led the way in fuel innovations and conversions of old vehicles into new and cleaner technologies. Yet it is clear from the Biden administration's actions and words that electrification is their technology of choice.

This large-scale shift will significantly disrupt automotive industry supply chains and potentially eliminate large numbers of jobs in vehicle manufacturing, parts production and repair shops. We are here to support the work of small business innovators while protecting the small business owners and those they employ by letting the market and innovation drive solutions to the environmental challenges we all seek to solve.