Our spy in Colorado caught the ’24 GMC Acadia undergoing high-altitude testing and confirmed the addition of Super Cruise.
The exterior grows in size compared to the current model, returning the Acadia back to large crossover proportions of the first-generation model.
Inside, the next-gen Acadia gets a whole new cabin complete with a new steering wheel. While we don’t see the screen, we can certainly see where it will be placed, along with the placement of the air vents and cup holders.
Torrence, Hight, Enders and M. Smith Claim Key Playoff Wins at NHRA Midwest Nationals
Steve Torrence put together a run of 3.741 seconds at 328.70 mph in the final round in his 11,000hp Capco Contractors dragster, slipping past Josh Hart, who went 3.749 at 329.67.
Four-time defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence is back in the title hunt, powering to his second straight win at World Wide Technology Raceway last Sunday at the 11th annual NHRA Midwest Nationals. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also picked up wins at the 19th event in the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season and the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Torrence put together a run of 3.741 seconds at 328.70 mph in the final round in his 11,000hp Capco Contractors dragster, slipping past Josh Hart, who went 3.749 at 329.67. Torrence jumped three spots in the standings to move into second in the title chase. He trails Justin Ashley by just 14 points with three races remaining.
In the Funny Car final round, points leader Hight took down defending world champ Ron Capps on a holeshot, as his run of 3.911 at 331.61 in his 11,000hp Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS was enough to get past Capps’ quicker 3.908 at 330.47.
Enders now has the most wins at World Wide Technology Raceway of any driver in NHRA history, claiming her sixth St. Louis win by knocking off Dallas Glenn in the finals in her Melling Performance/Elite Motorsports Camaro. Glenn went red, while Enders put together a pass of 6.535 at 210.28, extending her points lead.
Smith finished off a nearly-perfect weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle, rolling to the win—and moving back into the points lead—on his Denso Auto Parts Buell with a run of 6.756 at 202.00 against Jerry Savoie in the championship round.
The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action October 13–16, with the Texas NHRA FallNationals at the Texas Motorplex in Dallas.
Jessica Fickenscher Named Executive Director for 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race
Speedway Motorsports executive Jessica Fickenscher has been named executive director for the upcoming May 21, 2023, NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. A 23-year veteran with the company, Fickenscher will add planning, community relations and stakeholder coordination surrounding All-Star Race week to her current role as chief experience officer for Speedway Motorsports.
IndyCar Releases Complete 2023 Schedule
IndyCar has announced a 17-race schedule for the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series as the sport’s athletes will be showcased with traditional weekend dates, 13 races on NBC and a late-summer swing leading to another climactic ending to the 2023 championship. The 2023 season opens Sunday, March 5, on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. Racing then will take place all spring and summer, including the 107th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 28, before the season ends on Sunday, September 10, at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.
Complete 2023 NTT IndyCar Series Schedule:
Sunday, March 5: Streets of St. Petersburg
Sunday, April 2: Texas Motor Speedway
Sunday, April 16: Streets of Long Beach
Sunday, April 30: Barber Motorsports Park
Saturday, May 13: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)
Sunday, May 28: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)
Sunday, June 4: Streets of Detroit
Sunday, June 18: Road America
Sunday, July 2: Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
Sunday, July 16: Streets of Toronto
Saturday, July 22: Iowa Speedway
Sunday, July 23: Iowa Speedway
Sunday, Aug. 6: Streets of Nashville
Saturday, Aug. 12: Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)
Sunday, Aug. 27: World Wide Technology Raceway
Sunday, Sept. 3: Portland International Raceway
Sunday, Sept. 10: WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
IHRA Names New Director of Track and Racer Relations
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) announced recently that Paige Hamlin has been named the IHRA director of track and racer relations. Hamlin has worked with promoters, including Tommy Phillips, Luke Bogacki, Coalburg Promotions, Great American Bracket Races, and Final Call Promotions, and on major events, such as the Great American Guaranteed Million, the World Footbrake Challenge and the Million Dollar Race. In addition, she promoted her own major event, the Rudd Racing Engines Six Shooter Showdown at Xtreme Raceway Park in April. Hamlin also serves as social-media manager for Xtreme Raceway Park. She previously held a similar role with Drag Champ to help spotlight the Sportsman racer.
Steve Gilmore, chief designer at Ford, is the SEMA Professional Restylers Organiziation’s (PRO) newest spotlight volunteer. Get to know Gilmore in his interview with SEMA below.
SEMA: What inspired you to pursue a career in restyling/manufacturing?
Steve Gilmore: I’m an automotive enthusiast, but I always had a need to be more individual and personalize and customize all of my own vehicles. Getting into the industry was always the goal and the dream!
SEMA: Why did you decide to volunteer for PRO?
SG: I want to be able to share my knowledge from the OEM side to help the industry move forward.
SEMA: What advice do you have for someone pursuing a career in the automotive aftermarket?
SG: Follow your automotive passion and always stay creative!
SEMA: What is your dream vehicle? Where would we find you in it on any weekend?
SG: My father really sparked my interest in street rods. I’m also a truck guy, so a bed is a must! My ultimate blend would be a ’40 Ford pickup.
SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?
SG: Every constraint you are given is just an opportunity to find a creative solution.
SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?
SG: The constant change and creativity in finding “what's next.”
SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?
SG: Out for a drive!
Fill out a PRO member spotlight form to highlight how you or your company are contributing to the automotive restyling industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on PRO’s social media, SEMA News and future PRO-member updates.
Hot-rod builders showcasing a build at the 2022 SEMA Show have an exclusive opportunity to gain industry recognition through two new awards presented by the Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA).
New to the 2022 SEMA Show, the “Design & Innovation Award” will be presented a builder or shop in recognition of a vehicle that exemplifies the meaning of an exceptional hot rod, while the “Evolution of Hot-Rodding Award” will celebrate a vehicle that pushes the boundaries of tradition and embodies the evolving trends in the hot-rod industry.
One winner for each award will be announced and honored at the 2022 SEMA Show HRIA Reception, Tuesday November 2, at the Westgate Pavilions 9–11.
Hot-rod builders showcasing a vehicle at the SEMA Show are invited to submit their build for award consideration by posting a photo of their completed hot rod on Instagram now through October 30. The caption must include the hashtag #SEMAHRIA2022, year/make/model of the vehicle, builder name, shop name and booth number or relative location (i.e., Silver Lot) of the vehicle at the SEMA Show.
Submissions will be visited and judged in person by a committee consisting of three hot-rod industry experts who will serve as judges, and winners will be announced and celebrated at the SEMA Show HRIA Reception, November 2, at 5:15 p.m. in the Westgate Pavilions 9–11.
The “SEMA State of the Industry Spring 2022”study released earlier this year reported positive growth for the automotive specialty-equipment industry, with most companies having grown during the past year. However, 90% of the industry had concerns about supply-chain issues and many companies struggled to fill open positions due to a shortage of qualified candidates to hire.
Find out if these concerns remain and how the industry has performed in the past six months in SEMA’s upcoming market research, “SEMA State of the Industry Fall 2022.” Available for free download on October 13, the report is part of a series of studies conducted since the pandemic hit in 2020. The studies take a deep dive into how automotive specialty-equipment businesses are doing since COVID-19 hit, how new- and used-vehicles sales are doing and provide an outlook for the industry’s future. Issues such as supply-chain, production shortages and consumer spending are included.
The new Fall 2022 report will be available for download on October 13, and discussed in-depth during the SEMA Show seminar, “State of the Specialty-Equipment Industry: Trends and Directions,” Tuesday, November 1, at 11:00 a.m., in room N254 of the Las Vegas Convention Center. SEMA Showgoers can sign up for the free seminar at www.SEMAShow.com.
All members are invited to download previous “State of the Industry” reports at www.sema.org/research and mark their calendars to visit the site to download the new report on October 13.
More than a year ago, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced plans to update the travel-management plan for the Labyrinth Rims/Gemini Bridges Special Recreation Management Area near Moab, Utah. The travel management area covers more than 300,000 acres of BLM managed land in portions of Grand County, Utah, and includes highly valued OHV trails.
The SEMA Truck & Off-Road Alliance (TORA) hosted a trail run and off-roading event for SEMA members earlier this year in Moab. SEMA and the off-road community oppose the BLM’s Alternative B, which would close 39% of the existing trails near Moab.
The BLM has requested public comments on its draft travel management plan for the area, which includes four alternative approaches (A-D). SEMA and the off-road community are supporting Alternative A, which is the status quo, and oppose Alternative B, which would close 39% of the existing trails. Alternatives C and D would close less trails. Please click here to submit comments to the BLM on the travel-management plan.
In partnership with Ford Motor Co., SEMA’s Tech Transfer program is now offering OEM CAD data for the new all-electric motor from Ford Performance—the Eluminator.
The motor is the same that powers the all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Ford Eluminator crate motor specs can be found here.
Visit the Tech Transfer program for access to this 3-D CAD data. For more information contact techtransfer@sema.org.
The 2022 SEMA Show Education program will feature more than 70 seminars designed to inspire personal and professional development. Led by industry- and subject-matter experts, the program offers a customizable lineup of sessions and workshops that confront industry challenges, capitalize on emerging trends, highlight and reinforce business best practices, enhance leadership skills and much more.
One of the newest components of the 2022 Show Education program are four sessions focused on the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. The first DEI session, "Diversity and Inclusion: How You Can Advance Equal Opportunity in Your Workplace," takes place Tuesday, November 1, and will presented by James Pogue, Ph.D., President and CEO of JP Enterprises.
In addition to the DEI sessions, three new tracks have been added: “Inside the Shop,” “Enthusiast” and “Keynote.” The “Inside the Shop” series will motivate aspiring builders and technicians as they hear from leading customizers sharing their experiences crafting off-road machines, hot rods, musclecars and detailed restorations.
The new “Enthusiast” track, scheduled for Friday, November 4, from 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m., will feature industry personalities and celebrities providing insight on building cars, ideas for obtaining sponsorships and the importance of protecting the automotive aftermarket from overregulation. One of the five sessions, “Celebrity Insights,” moderated by African American Racers Association Co-Founder Chris Harris, will give attendees a glimpse into the lives of some of their favorite celebrities, legends and luminaries.
The “Keynote” track will feature the new “Main Stage Experience,” where some of the industry’s iconic figures and leaders will bring their unique perspectives on ways to strengthen business strategies. The Main Stage promises to be an immersive, informative and entertaining experience. The first presentation is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.–10:45 a.m., Tuesday, November 1, the opening day of the 2022 SEMA Show.
Building on the success the 2021 Show's education program, the “Leadership Essentials” track, presented by Dale Carnegie, returns to the Show offering six courses spread out over three days. The courses, which can be taken as a whole or individually, feature trainers from Dale Carnegie providing the institution’s acclaimed leadership, communications and sales program that improve both individual and business performance.
“The SEMA Show has a lot to offer, from seeing new products and vehicle builds, meeting with manufacturers, learning from experts and developing meaningful relationships that you can only get from an in-person event,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “We encourage Showgoers to take advantage of all the elements of the SEMA Show so that they get the greatest ROI.”
With a wide array of seminars and workshops, the education offerings at the Show provide something for everyone. The 14 tracks available are:
Aftermarket Updates & Future Trends
Business Management
Digital Marketing
Electric Vehicles
Enthusiast
I-Car Collision Repair Training
Inside the Shop
International Roundtables
Keynote
Leadership Essentials (presented by Dale Carnegie)
Legislative and Regulatory
SCRS Repairer Driven Education
Tire Industry Association
Vehicle Technology
All sessions are held in meeting rooms at the Las Vegas Convention Center, making it easy and convenient for attendees to schedule seminars between meetings with exhibitors. Registrants can sign up for the education program while applying for SEMA Show credentials at www.SEMAShow.com/register.
The New Products Showcase is consistently voted as the No. 1 destination by SEMA Show buyers and media. The first product entered in one category is free! The deadline to submit additional products for $75 each is October 7, after which, the cost is $150 per entry.
In addition, the New Products Showcase will expand to include two new product categories. Showgoers will find products related to electric vehicles (EV) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), along with products in 16 other categories, in what is the world’s largest display of new automotive aftermarket products.
Accessible exclusively to SEMA Showgoers, November 1–4, the New Products Showcase is the automotive aftermarket industry’s most comprehensive collection of new and trending products. SEMA Show attendees visit the area to discover and see parts and accessories before they hit the market. A Featured Products component includes items that may not qualify as new; the product may have been on the market for more than a year but is among an exhibitor’s top products.
“Through the SEMA Show New Products Showcase, buyers, retailers and distributors can easily discover and learn about all the hot products that they may want to carry,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “They will find details about the products, including the exhibitor’s booth number. They can then connect directly with the manufacturer on the Show floor to learn more. It’s no surprise that SEMA Show buyers rely on the New Products Showcase to help them stock their shelves.”
Details on all the products from the Showcase are also included in the SEMA Show mobile app, giving attendees a year-round resource to help them after the Show. The mobile app’s product-scanning feature enables attendees to flag items of interest and create custom lists of noteworthy products. At the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, attendees will be able to connect with all product experts from exhibiting companies for quality one-on-one discussions, demos and presentations.
Participation in the New Products Showcase, available as a benefit to SEMA Show exhibitors, is easy and affordable. All exhibitors qualify to submit one product entry at no cost. Subsequent entries range from $75–$150 each, depending on the submission date, and there is no limit to the number of entries. New this year is an on-site freight-delivery service to make it easier than ever for exhibitors in West, North and Central Halls to participate.
Through the new service, exhibitors drop off their products at a nearby designated area in their respective hall, and then coordinate to meet the product at the New Products check-in area in South Hall.
Qualifying products may also be recognized as a Best New Product. Winners and runners-up in 18 categories—including the new EV and ADAS categories—will be announced and presented at the Kickoff Breakfast, Tuesday, November 1, just before the official opening of the SEMA Show. Additionally, all products in the Showcase are professionally photographed. The photos are often used by outside media and help brand awareness.
“Exhibitors that participate in the New Products Showcase report much higher success than those that do not participate,” said Gattuso. “Research tells us that exhibitors with products in the Showcase see more buyers in their booths and receive more media coverage than those that do not participate in the Showcase.”
A nearby transportation hub that includes taxi and shuttle drop-off, as well as an entry point for the Las Vegas Convention Center underground tunnel, makes it easy for attendees to visit the Showcase. More than 2,000 product entries are expected to be included in this year’s Showcase.
“You can have a 10x10-ft. booth and be up against booths that are 100 times bigger, but in the New Products Showcase, you’re the same size. If you come up with something great, it’s going to get noticed there.”
Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show, the premier gathering for the automotive specialty-equipment industry, is now open at www.semashow.com/register.
Taking place November 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 2022 SEMA Show will build upon the positive momentum following last year’s event, which successfully connected the $47.8 billion industry in person in what was the largest automotive trade show in North America since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.
“The SEMA Show is where industry professionals go to grow existing relationships, create new ones and push their businesses forward,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Exhibitors are eager to showcase their products and services to the tens of thousands of qualified professionals in attendance.”
Anticipation for this year's SEMA Show ramped up in recent weeks as exhibitors selected their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, a weeks-long process that took place May 2–18.
“Enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to exceed last year’s, with more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed for the 2022 SEMA Show and confirmed spaces running 25% above last year,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.
Attendees at the 2022 SEMA Show will learn about the latest products, trends and technology in the industry from manufacturers exhibiting throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, including the surrounding parking lots. Educational seminars led by industry experts and networking events that bring market niches together will also be available during the four-day trade event.
“Our industry continues to thrive despite current challenges in the marketplace, and last year’s event proved that the value of conducting business and networking face-to-face can never be replaced,” said Gattuso. “Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”
Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor and media—and everyone must qualify to attend. Attendees are encouraged to register early at www.semashow.com/register so they can secure their credentials and receive updates on breaking news from the 2022 SEMA Show.
Attendees are encouraged to check the floorplan to see where the companies they need to interact with will be located at the 2022 SEMA Show.
For more information about qualifying documents and the 2022 SEMA Show, log on to www.semashow.com.
Jessica Fickenscher Named Executive Director for 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race
IHRA Names New Director of Track and Racer Relations
