By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Since the U.S. House of Representatives will likely not tackle comprehensive tax reform in 2014, lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to extend a variety of yearly tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee has already approved and sent to the senate floor a bill containing a number of such measures.

Of interest to the business community, the SEMA-supported Senate bill would provide a two-year extension, through 2015, for the research and development (R&D) tax credit. It would also extend the 50% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased before January 1, 2016. Section 179 expensing would be restored for one more year at the maximum $500,000 deduction, with a $2 million phase-out level. Absent the renewal, the allowance reverts to $25,000, with a $200,000 phase-out level. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Since the U.S. House of Representatives will likely not tackle comprehensive tax reform in 2014, lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to extend a variety of yearly tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee has already approved and sent to the senate floor a bill containing a number of such measures.

Of interest to the business community, the SEMA-supported Senate bill would provide a two-year extension, through 2015, for the research and development (R&D) tax credit. It would also extend the 50% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased before January 1, 2016. Section 179 expensing would be restored for one more year at the maximum $500,000 deduction, with a $2 million phase-out level. Absent the renewal, the allowance reverts to $25,000, with a $200,000 phase-out level. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Since the U.S. House of Representatives will likely not tackle comprehensive tax reform in 2014, lawmakers have begun drafting legislation to extend a variety of yearly tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The Senate Finance Committee has already approved and sent to the senate floor a bill containing a number of such measures.

Of interest to the business community, the SEMA-supported Senate bill would provide a two-year extension, through 2015, for the research and development (R&D) tax credit. It would also extend the 50% bonus depreciation for qualified property purchased before January 1, 2016. Section 179 expensing would be restored for one more year at the maximum $500,000 deduction, with a $2 million phase-out level. Absent the renewal, the allowance reverts to $25,000, with a $200,000 phase-out level. 

For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.

NHRA News

THREE LIVE BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT NHRA COVERAGE ON ESPN: The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.

ALUND AMONG WINNERS AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: Appearing in his first career Pro Stock final, Jimmy Alund drove to victory in his second NHRA Four-Wide Nationals appearance. The Swede is substituting for four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson and ran a 6.562 pass at 211.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, becoming the first European winner and only fourth non-American winner in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Alund took out runner-up Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and recent Las Vegas winner Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.

POINTS STANDINGS UPDATED FOR NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The points standings for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are updated following the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and there was movement within the top 10 in all categories. Andrew Hines takes over the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time since 2010 and Antron Brown tightened up the points margin in Top Fuel. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.

He Said, She Said

"Those guys were phenomenal in their time with what they did through the ’90s with him and Dave Schultz was outstanding. It is cool to be tied with John Myers. I grew up around drag racing and around these drag racing tracks. I remember running around as an eight-, nine-, 10-year-old kid having rubber band wars with John Myers. Shooting rubber bands at each other whenever we could. So that is really cool to tie his stat and be associated in that elite group."

—Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines following his win in Charlotte. It was his 33rd win in the category and ties him for third in Pro Stock Motorcycle victories with the late John Myers.

Inside the Numbers

4: Number of consecutive final rounds Robert Hight has raced to in the first five races of 2014. Hight has won two of the events including the most recent race in Charlotte. He also is the Funny Car points leader. The record for the most consecutive final round appearances in Funny Car is 13 held by Don Prudhomme, which he achieved during the ’75–’77 seasons. The record for the most final-round appearances in a single season is held by Hight’s team owner John Force with 16 in 1996.

Did You Know

DOUGLAS MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK; PACEMAKERS RENEWS: Two NHRA Member Tracks—one brand new and the other a longtime staple—have committed themselves to the NHRA Member Track network. Douglas Motorsports Park—an eighth-mile facility located in Nicholls, Georgia. has become a NHRA Member Track, while Pacemakers Dragway Park, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, one of the oldest NHRA member tracks in the country, has extended its NHRA track membership. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.

View the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

NHRA News

THREE LIVE BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT NHRA COVERAGE ON ESPN: The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.

ALUND AMONG WINNERS AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: Appearing in his first career Pro Stock final, Jimmy Alund drove to victory in his second NHRA Four-Wide Nationals appearance. The Swede is substituting for four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson and ran a 6.562 pass at 211.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, becoming the first European winner and only fourth non-American winner in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Alund took out runner-up Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and recent Las Vegas winner Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.

POINTS STANDINGS UPDATED FOR NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The points standings for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are updated following the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and there was movement within the top 10 in all categories. Andrew Hines takes over the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time since 2010 and Antron Brown tightened up the points margin in Top Fuel. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.

He Said, She Said

"Those guys were phenomenal in their time with what they did through the ’90s with him and Dave Schultz was outstanding. It is cool to be tied with John Myers. I grew up around drag racing and around these drag racing tracks. I remember running around as an eight-, nine-, 10-year-old kid having rubber band wars with John Myers. Shooting rubber bands at each other whenever we could. So that is really cool to tie his stat and be associated in that elite group."

—Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines following his win in Charlotte. It was his 33rd win in the category and ties him for third in Pro Stock Motorcycle victories with the late John Myers.

Inside the Numbers

4: Number of consecutive final rounds Robert Hight has raced to in the first five races of 2014. Hight has won two of the events including the most recent race in Charlotte. He also is the Funny Car points leader. The record for the most consecutive final round appearances in Funny Car is 13 held by Don Prudhomme, which he achieved during the ’75–’77 seasons. The record for the most final-round appearances in a single season is held by Hight’s team owner John Force with 16 in 1996.

Did You Know

DOUGLAS MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK; PACEMAKERS RENEWS: Two NHRA Member Tracks—one brand new and the other a longtime staple—have committed themselves to the NHRA Member Track network. Douglas Motorsports Park—an eighth-mile facility located in Nicholls, Georgia. has become a NHRA Member Track, while Pacemakers Dragway Park, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, one of the oldest NHRA member tracks in the country, has extended its NHRA track membership. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.

View the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

NHRA News

THREE LIVE BROADCASTS HIGHLIGHT NHRA COVERAGE ON ESPN: The NHRA, in conjunction with broadcast partner ESPN, will feature three live broadcasts during the remainder of the 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Hosted by Dave Rieff and analysis by Mike Dunn, the first live event will air on ESPN with three hours of coverage of the Auto-Plus NHRA New England Nationals in Epping, New Hampshire, June 22, from 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (EDT). The next live broadcast will be the O’Reilly Auto Parts Route 66 NHRA Nationals in Chicago on ESPN2, June 29, for three hours from 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). The Mopar Mile-High NHRA Nationals in Denver on July 20 will be a three-and-a-half-hour show on ESPN from 2:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. (EDT). For more on the story, visit www.NHRA.com.

ALUND AMONG WINNERS AT NHRA FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS: Appearing in his first career Pro Stock final, Jimmy Alund drove to victory in his second NHRA Four-Wide Nationals appearance. The Swede is substituting for four-time Pro Stock world champ Greg Anderson and ran a 6.562 pass at 211.59 in his Summit Racing Equipment Chevy Camaro, becoming the first European winner and only fourth non-American winner in the Mello Yello Drag Racing Series. Alund took out runner-up Shane Gray, Vincent Nobile and recent Las Vegas winner Erica Enders-Stevens in the final. For more on the story visit www.NHRA.com.

POINTS STANDINGS UPDATED FOR NHRA MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The points standings for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series are updated following the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals and there was movement within the top 10 in all categories. Andrew Hines takes over the points lead in Pro Stock Motorcycle for the first time since 2010 and Antron Brown tightened up the points margin in Top Fuel. More on this story can be found on www.NHRA.com.

He Said, She Said

"Those guys were phenomenal in their time with what they did through the ’90s with him and Dave Schultz was outstanding. It is cool to be tied with John Myers. I grew up around drag racing and around these drag racing tracks. I remember running around as an eight-, nine-, 10-year-old kid having rubber band wars with John Myers. Shooting rubber bands at each other whenever we could. So that is really cool to tie his stat and be associated in that elite group."

—Pro Stock Motorcycle racer Andrew Hines following his win in Charlotte. It was his 33rd win in the category and ties him for third in Pro Stock Motorcycle victories with the late John Myers.

Inside the Numbers

4: Number of consecutive final rounds Robert Hight has raced to in the first five races of 2014. Hight has won two of the events including the most recent race in Charlotte. He also is the Funny Car points leader. The record for the most consecutive final round appearances in Funny Car is 13 held by Don Prudhomme, which he achieved during the ’75–’77 seasons. The record for the most final-round appearances in a single season is held by Hight’s team owner John Force with 16 in 1996.

Did You Know

DOUGLAS MOTORSPORTS PARK JOINS NHRA MEMBER TRACK NETWORK; PACEMAKERS RENEWS: Two NHRA Member Tracks—one brand new and the other a longtime staple—have committed themselves to the NHRA Member Track network. Douglas Motorsports Park—an eighth-mile facility located in Nicholls, Georgia. has become a NHRA Member Track, while Pacemakers Dragway Park, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, one of the oldest NHRA member tracks in the country, has extended its NHRA track membership. For more on this story visit www.NHRA.com.

View the 2014 Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. The measure would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Wisconsin in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. The bill also would have protected the design contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. The measure would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Wisconsin in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. The bill also would have protected the design contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year.

Legislation to require that motor vehicles display only a single license plate on the rear of the vehicle died when the legislature adjourned for the year. The bill did not receive committee consideration. The measure would have saved money, conserved resources and brought Wisconsin in line with other states that have moved to a single-plate requirement. The bill also would have protected the design contours of collector cars and relieved vehicle owners of the burden of having to create mounting holes on some fabricated and original bumpers.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed into law a bill to allow the display, on collector vehicles manufactured before 1979, of one or two historical registration plates from or representing the model year of the vehicle.

A bill to allow the display, on collector vehicles manufactured before 1979, of one or two historical registration plates from or representing the model year of the vehicle was signed into law by Governor Scott Walker. Under the new law, these plates could be used if the vehicle is being operated to or from a car show or parade and any current registration plate issued for the vehicle is carried in the vehicle.

In Wisconsin, a vehicle is eligible for registration as a collector vehicle if the vehicle is at least 20 years old, has not been altered and is being preserved for its historic interest, or if the vehicle is at least 25 years old and is a certain type of former military vehicle.

For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.