S. Torrence and Tasca III Race to Wins at Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals in Brainerd

Steve Torrence picked up his 52nd career victory with a run of 3.866 seconds at 322.04 mph in his 11,000-hp Capco Contractors dragster.

Four-time defending Top Fuel world champion Steve Torrence drove to his first victory of the season, defending his event win at Brainerd International Raceway last Sunday at the 40th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals. Funny Car’s Bob Tasca III also won at the 15th of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season in front of another big crowd in Brainerd.

Facing off with eight-time world champ Tony Schumacher in the final round, Torrence picked up his 52nd career victory with a run of 3.866 seconds at 322.04 mph in his 11,000-hp Capco Contractors dragster. He improved to 5-0 against Schumacher in eliminations this year, also picking up his first win in four final round appearances in 2022. Torrence moved up to third in Top Fuel points with the win.

Funny Car’s Tasca won his second straight race and third in the past four events. He was the only driver in both nitro categories to make clean runs on every pass Sunday, finishing it off with a pass of 3.945 at 329.42 in his 11,000-hp Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang against defending world champ Ron Capps in the final round. Tasca moved up to fourth in points with one race left in the regular season.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action with the prestigious Dodge Power Brokers NHRA U.S. Nationals on August 31–September 5 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. 

ADRL Cancels Schedule, Shuts Down Sanctioning Body

The American Drag Racing League (ADRL) has canceled the remaining dates of the 2022 Extreme Racing Oil & Fuel ADRL Tour Presented by RJS Racing. ADRL as a drag racing sanctioning body is also being shuttered, effective immediately.

ADRL General Manager Andy Carter released the following statement:

“Regretfully, we have made the decision not to move forward with the remaining dates of the ADRL’s 2022 season. I have taken a new role within our industry that comes with a strict no-compete clause. Trying to manage an organization like ADRL is a big endeavor and rebuilding the brand makes it even tougher. Mel Roth, who ran the day-to-day operations, and I have discussed every option out there. Between his business, the races he already promotes, and other commitments, it would be impossible for him to continue running the sanction on his own. We are truly saddened to have to make this decision. Mel and I both believed in the brand and wanted to be able to rebuild the organization. Finally and most importantly, good luck to all the racers; you guys are really what drag racing is all about.”

For more information, visit adrltour.com.

Acura Unveils All-New Electrified ARX-06 Race Car

Acura Motorsports has revealed its all-new, electrified Acura ARX-06 prototype sports car, which will make its competition debut next January at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The ARX-06 features aerodynamics based around an all-new ORECA LMDh chassis, which utilizes an electrified hybrid power unit featuring an equally new, bespoke twin-turbocharged 2.4L V6 internal combustion engine designed, developed and manufactured by Honda Performance Development (HPD), the racing arm for Acura Motorsports in North America. For the complete specs, visit the announcement here.

Dodge Reveals “Future Of Electrified Muscle” Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept

Dodge has unveiled the two-door Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept battery-electric vehicle (BEV) during Dodge Speed Week at M1 Concourse in Pontiac, Michigan. The Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept includes three “game-changing,” patent-pending features:

• R-Wing: Front aerodynamic wing retains Dodge profile while achieving aerodynamic efficiencies.
• Fratzonic Chambered Exhaust: Exhaust system for an electric vehicle delivers a 126 dB performance sound that rivals the SRT Hellcat.
• eRupt: Multi-speed transmission with electro-mechanical shifting designed to provide distinctive shift points.

A new 800V Banshee propulsion system powers the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Concept, which is designed to “revolutionize the look of a BEV while offering subtle nods to Dodge brand’s muscle car legacy.”

The Charger Daytona SRT Concept also boasts a PowerShot push-to-pass feature. Activated by pushing a button on the steering wheel, PowerShot delivers increased horsepower for a quick burst of acceleration.

For the complete details, visit the announcement here.

Andretti Global to Build Racing and Tech HQ In Fishers, Indiana

Andretti Global, the parent company of Andretti Autosport, has announced plans for a new global motorsports headquarters in Fishers, Indiana. The team intends to build a 575,000-sq.-ft. facility that will occupy approximately 90 acres alongside the Nickel Plate Trail, the Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve and near the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport. The new global headquarters is expected to add up to 500 jobs to the local community by early 2026.

The $200 million facility is planned to serve as the headquarters of Andretti’s global commercial functions and the base of operations for the team’s current NTT IndyCar Series, Indy Lights, IMSA programs and other future racing initiatives.

In addition to day-to-day operations for the racing team, the building will be home to advanced research and development, and the collaborative campus will feature modern technologies to “create a work-life environment for the benefit of our team, fans and partners.”

Andretti Global will also welcome the Indiana community and race fans worldwide through involvement with the Fishers Parks Nature First program, a planned indoor amphitheater and a museum and innovation center aimed at preserving and showcasing the Andretti legacy and inspiring the future of motorsports.

The team, led by Michael Andretti, operates worldwide in seven racing championships and across eight types of motorsports with 17 full-time drivers.

For the complete details, visit the announcement here.

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

SEMA Show exhibitors and attendees preparing for the 2022 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.

The Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino is one of several hotels in the SEMA Show block located within one mile of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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.

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 more than 45 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.

The following hotels are located within one mile of the Las Vegas Convention Center:

• Courtyard by Marriott – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)
• Embassy Suites by Hilton – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.6 miles)
• Hilton Grand Vacations – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)
• Las Vegas Marriott (0.9 miles)
• Residence Inn by Marriott – Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)
• Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (0.1 miles)

Book your hotel now!

To reserve your booth for the 2022 SEMA Show, visit www.SEMAShow.com/buyabooth.

By SEMA Editors

The 2022 SEMA Show is about 10 weeks away. Here’s a rundown of key deadlines, including early-bird and advance rates available for several booth services, as well as checklists to keep you on track and on budget.

Complete Deadlines Checklist – Take advantage of Early-bird rates—order before the deadlines!

The deadlines checklist provides a breakdown of all of the deadlines for booth orders, rentals, booth vehicle applications, celebrity appearance notifications and much more.

Budget Checklist – Double check your Show prep.

The budget checklist form allows you to keep track of all your costs and ensures that you are adequately prepared for your experience at the SEMA Show. 

Upcoming Exhibitor Deadlines – Take advantage of discounts by acting before the deadlines.

• September 1 - Celebrity Appearance Notification (to be included in printed Show material)
• September 2 - Booth Design Notification (Required for all exhibits 20x20 sq.-ft. or larger)
• September 2 - Multi-level Booth Design Notification (Required for all exhibits 20x20 or larger)
• September 2 - Permit Application to Clark County–Hot Works
• September 3 - Permit Application to Clark County–Spraying & Dipping
• September 2 - Permit Application to Clark County for Outside Exhibits, Tents, Staking Plans
• September 2 - Hanging Sign Design Notification Form to Show Management
• September 9 - Booth Vehicle Display Application (Vehicles displayed in booth)
• September 18 - Lead Retrieval Rental (Advance Rate)–CompuSystems
• September 16 - Sponsorship Artwork/Materials Due to Freeman
• September 22 - Freight–Freeman Warehouse–first day to accept advance freight
• September 30 - Target Move-in Date Change Request-Freeman
• September 30 - Internet/Telephone Order (Advance Rate)–Cox Business (LVCC)

Click here for a complete listing of 2022 SEMA Show deadlines.

More information on the 2022 SEMA Show is available at www.SEMAShow.com.

By SEMA Editors

In partnership with Ford Motor Company, the SEMA Garage has announced a Measuring Session for the all-electric ’22 Ford E-Transit, September 27–29, at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California.

The event will allow SEMA members to have a close-up experience with Ford’s first all-electric E-Transit van.

Features on the new E-Transit will include:

• 350 cargo model
• High roof
• one-speed transmission
• 148-in. wheelbase

This will be an in-person event. In order to comply with state and local health guidelines, scheduled appointments will be required. Due to high demand, all appointments will be time-limited.

Register now.

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

Content Marketing Strategist
QA1

QA1 is hiring a content marketing strategist responsible for translating business goals into content strategies to be delivered through a wide variety of mediums and leading the strategy and development of messaging to be delivered in all forms of media. This position requires a high level of creativity and ability to facilitate the creation of highly engaging content to the QA1 audience.

Sales Account Manager
Meyer Distributing

Meyer Distributing Canada is hiring a sales account manager responsible for all inside sales functions, including but not limited to, inbound/outbound telephone calls and the processing of sales documents, representing Meyer and its interests with the highest regard to customer satisfaction in a professional manner. Candidates must have a college degree. More than three years of sales and/or portfolio management and automotive experience is preferred.

Design Engineer
Hellwig Products

Hellwig Products is hiring a design engineer to research, develop new products, redesign existing products and perform research and testing on product concepts. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, at least four years of experience in related field and experience in AutoCAD, Solidworks and FaroArm.

  Exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.

The list, which will be updated in SEMA eNews, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2022 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.

Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2022 SEMA Show.

View the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list.

  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.

By SEMA Editors

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

By Ashley Reyes

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) named Daina Dalesandro as this week’s #SheIsSEMA spotlight member. Dalesandro is a customer relations specialist at ORACLE Lighting, which manufactures designer lighting products and technologies for the automotive powersports, motorcycle and marine markets.

Learn about Dalesandro in her interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What do you enjoy most about working at Oracle Lighting?

Daina Dalesandro: I love my job because we are like a big family. I enjoy the company of every single person I work with. We also have amazing women that are making an impact. It is truly an inspiration every day to work alongside them.

SEMA: What is most challenging part of running your business or job?

DD: I cannot think of anything that is too challenging for my job. I love everything I do, so it makes all of my tasks more enjoyable.

SEMA: What was your first industry job?

DD: ORACLE Lighting is my first job in this industry.

SEMA: What are three qualities that got you to where you are today? How have these qualities benefited you?

DD: Patience, optimism and perseverance. My patience enables me to analyze things and situations beyond their face value. My optimism improves my emotional well-being, helps me foster better relationships and also provides protection against adverse events. I feel my perseverance is a value that drives me toward success and achievement helping me to overcome challenges along the way.

SEMA: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?

DD: Every so often, I will have someone call in stating they want to speak to a “man," assuming I don’t know as much. In these situations, I do all that I can to assure them that I know what I am talking about. I have always been able to help these people out and it is a great accomplishment to win these people over.

SEMA: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry? How have they helped you along the way?

DD: Tiffanie Hartenstein, Sandi Crespo-Mossi and Missy Boudreaux are the three women I look up to in my company. These ladies help me strive to uncover my true potential. They serve as examples of how far women can go in a male-dominated industry.

SEMA: What is the best career advice you have received?

DD: Success is a journey, not a destination. It means that what matters is not necessarily where you are at the end, but what you accomplish while you are trying along the way. It means that no matter what, as long as you try, you can never fail.

SEMA: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry? What keeps you here?

DD: It gives me motivation knowing that there are so many strong and independent women out there in this industry killing it without regard to what people say or think about them. Also, this industry is so innovative. We push the limits of technology, every day.

SEMA: Who was the most influential person on your career/goals?

DD: Mary Barra is making history in the auto industry as the first female CEO of major global automaker General Motors. She is a true inspiration to all women.

Do you know, or are you, a woman with a career in the automotive industry? Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and recognized on the www.sema.org/she-is-sema website.

By Ashley Reyes

Dallas Johannes is the SEMA Future Leaders Network's (FLN) newest spotlight member. Johannes is the associate product manager at Restoration Parts Unlimited Inc. (RPUI), an automotive parts retailer of classic car parts for the automotive aftermarket.

Get to know Johannes in his interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What is the best advice you have ever received?

Dallas Johannes: Always keep the end-user in mind. Whenever I am working on anything that a customer will see on the website, I consider what their impression of a product page will be or how they will interpret a description. Product data also reaches an end user, so I focus on quality and completeness when preparing product information.

SEMA: What keeps you in the industry?

DJ: I have been interested in cars from a very young age and I have always wanted to work in the automotive industry. I have worked odd jobs on the fringes of the automotive industry to get where I am now. Working in something automotive-related has always been the goal. I stay in this industry because cars have been one of the only things that I have been passionate about. I am here to show my younger self how far I can go.

SEMA: Where can you be found on a Saturday?

DJ: On Saturdays I can be found at a car meet, at Cars & Coffee, watching Formula One qualifying, or working on one of my project cars (an ’89 Chrysler TC by Maserati and an ’88 Volvo 740).

SEMA: How do you prepare for an important meeting?

DJ: I like to do some research on the topic, company and products beforehand if the meeting is about new product additions. If the meeting is about something on the creative side, I like to go in with an open mind. I try to go into a meeting with a list of things I want to touch on or concerns I have.

SEMA: If you could go to lunch with one industry leader, living or dead, who it would be?

DJ: I would have loved the opportunity to have lunch with Lee Iacocca. My family and I have had multiple Iacocca-era Chrysler vehicles. My parents had a first-generation Dodge Caravan and a first-generation Plymouth Voyager when I was growing up. I went on to buy my ’89 Chrysler TC by Maserati and my dad owns an ’82 Dodge Rampage. I want to talk to him about how he worked through Chrysler's bailout in 1979, led Chrysler’s AMC acquisition, the project surrounding the TC by Maserati and the introduction and evolution of the Chrysler K-Car line.

Fill out an FLN member spotlight form. Selected candidates may be featured on FLN's social media, SEMA News and FLN member updates.