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SEMA-model legislation to create a vehicle registration and titling classification for street rods and custom vehicles and provide for special license plates for these vehicles will be considered by the Ohio Infrastructure, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs Committee. Introduced by State Representatives John Hagan and Kenny Yuko, the measure defines a street rod as an altered vehicle manufactured before 1949 and a custom as an altered vehicle at least 25 years old and manufactured after 1948. The bill allows kit cars and replica vehicles to be assigned a certificate of title bearing the same model year designation the body of the vehicle most closely resembles.

For more information, click here. For details, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.

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BIG WINNER: Damion Gardner was fast all weekend in winning the 22nd annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals Saturday night at Tulsa Expo Raceway. Gardner also won Friday night’s preliminary program.

SPONSOR SIGNED: Mopar has signed on as title sponsor of the USAC National Midget Series. The series will be known as the USAC Mopar Midget National Championship.

TROPHY TIME: 2007 Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti was selected as the Jerry Titus Driver of the Year by the membership of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association. He received the award at the annual AARWBA All-America Team banquet.

COUNTING DOWN: The NHRA made several alterations to its Countdown to the Championship title format, which debuted during the 2007 season. The Countdown to 1 will now include the final six races of the season and feature the top 10 drivers in the standings after the 18th race, the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis.

PULLING OUT: Torco Racing Fuel is withdrawing its sponsorship of many teams in the NHRA and IHRA drag racing series, leaving many searching for funding with the season only a few weeks away. Torco will continue its event sponsorships and reevaluate its other programs prior to the 2009 campaign.

SOLD: Speedway Motorsports Inc. officially closed on its purchase of New Hampshire International Speedway, which will now be known as New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

LEAVING: AAA will end its sponsorship Roush Fenway Racing and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver David Ragan at the end of the season.

DEBUT: Both McLaren and Toyota unveiled their new Formula One cars for the 2008 season.

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NEWS NUGGETS

COUNTDOWN TO 2008: CARQUEST AUTO PARTS NHRA WINTERNATIONALS A MONTH AWAY

With only 21 days standing between now and the opening race of the 2008 season, many teams and drivers are making their final preparations for the 48th annual CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, Feb. 7-10 at the historic Auto Club Raceway in Pomona. For the latest news on team preparations, visit www.nhra.com http://www.nhra.com/. To request credentials for the season-opening CARQUEST Auto Parts NHRA Winternationals, click here.

RULE REVISIONS
COUNTDOWN: The 2008 NHRA POWERade Series will feature an 18-race regular season, followed by a six-race NHRA POWERade Countdown to the Championship playoff to determine world champions in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. The fields for the championship playoffs, which will be set at the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals, will be expanded to the top 10 in each category, up from eight in 2007.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, the season will feature a 12-race regular season and a five-race playoff. The top 10 riders will advance to the championship playoffs following the Mac Tools U.S. Nationals. Championship playoff competitors will have their points readjusted and separated in 10-point increments. However, points leaders in each of the four professional classes after the regular season will be awarded with a 20-point bonus, increasing their leads over the second place qualifiers to 30 points.

Here's what the drivers have to say about the new format:
-Tony Schumacher: "The Countdown to the Championship has moved from a good idea to a well-fine-tuned machine with these changes."

-Brandon Bernstein: "You're still going to get the drama you had before, only this time there will be 10 cars battling for the championship in the final six races. It won't be a walk-away win for anyone by any means."

-Jeg Coughlin: "It's going to bring a lot more drama and excitement to the U.S. Nationals, with the regular season ending there and the Countdown to One beginning the next race. It will definitely be a model that will be simpler to follow for the fans and media as well. I think this is a nice refinement to an already exciting Countdown format."

QUALIFYING: NHRA has announced a change in qualifying procedure that will create an even playing field for all teams in the NHRA POWERade Series that is often made lopsided by weather and atmospheric conditions. Beginning with the CARQUEST Auto Parts Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona, the top 12 elapsed times in each pro category will be provisionally recorded prior to the last day of qualifying.
    Those teams who were unable to earn a provisional spot in the top 12 will have an opportunity to make the 16-car starting order during the final day of qualifying. While the 12 provisional times are officially recorded prior to the last day of qualifying, those positions are not locked-in. All teams will have the opportunity to improve their positions during the final day of qualifying and can bump in or be bumped out of the field.
    The field of 16 for each of the four professional categories will be set at the conclusion of the final round of qualifying, using the traditional 16-car race bracket for eliminations. For more information, please contact NHRA Director of Media Relations Anthony Vestal at (626) 250-2425.

NHRA EARNS AWARD FOR DIVERSITY: NHRA was named the Diversity in Motorsports Award winner Tuesday at the Fox Theatre in Detroit during the 12th annual Urban Wheel Awards, held in conjunction with the North American International Auto Show. The Urban Wheel Awards ceremony is the only official event honoring African-Americans, Latinos and Asians during the North American International Auto Show. Popular NHRA drivers Tony Pedregon and Peggy Llewellyn joined NHRA Vice President of Public Relations and Communications Jerry Archambeault to accept the award on behalf of NHRA.
     
PARKS, DENSMORE EARN HONORS FROM AARWBA: Late NHRA founder Wally Parks was honored last weekend at the 38th annual American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association's All-America Team ceremony in Indianapolis, along with longtime John Force Racing PR liaison Dave Densmore. AARWBA saluted Parks for his lifelong dedication to the drag racing community, while Densmore received the Jim Chapman Award for excellence in his field, presented by ESPN's NHRA broadcaster Paul Page, Mike Harris and Michael Knight.
    Also receiving the Jim Chapman award was Bob Carlson, veteran Porsche Cars North America publicist. Reigning Top Fuel and Funny Car world champions Tony Schumacher and Tony Pedregon also were in attendance and were given All-America first team honors.

ELLIS SNAPPED UP BY DSR AS 'SILLY SEASON' GRINDS ON: Chip Ellis is the latest driver to make a move in what's already been a tumultuous off-season for NHRA POWERade Series teams. Ellis will ride the Don Schumacher Racing-owned Schumacher Electric Suzuki in 2008, with tuner Steve Tartaglia heading up the crew. Tartaglia was formerly the mastermind behind U.S. Army Suzuki teammates Angelle Sampey and Antron Brown. Brown will drive the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster for David Powers this season, while Sampey will pilot the Rush Racing Products Buell owned by Karl and Kim Klement.

COMING ATTRACTIONS
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS WINTERNATIONALS, AUTO CLUB RACEWAY AT POMONA, FEB. 7-10: Kick-off the 2008 NHRA POWERade Series Countdown to the Championship at the historic track where last year's winners included J.R. Todd, Gary Scelzi and Greg Anderson. To request credential for the event, contact NHRA Public Relations Manger Michael Padian at mpadian@nhra.com, or click here.

CHECKER SCHUCK'S KRAGEN NHRA NATIONALS, FIREBIRD RACEWAY, FEB. 22-24: This second race in the regular season features two defending event winners who eventually launched serious attacks for 2007 POWERade Series titles: Tony Pedregon, the season world champion in Funny Car, and Rod Fuller, who earned runner-up honors in Top Fuel after the best season of his career. Kurt Johnson (Pro Stock) also reached the winner's circle in Phoenix last year.

ACDELCO NHRA GATORNATIONALS, GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, MARCH 13-16: The Pro Stock Motorcycle category opens its 2008 season at the Gatornationals, annually one of the most popular stops on the NHRA POWERade Series. Defending event winners include: Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel); Ron Capps (Funny Car); Greg Anderson (Pro Stock); and Karen Stoffer (Pro Stock Motorcycle).

HE SAID, SHE SAID
WHAT THEY DID ON VACATION: The world's fastest race car drivers have been hard at work since the Auto Club NHRA Finals. Find out what they've been doing at NHRA driver blogs.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
18: Races NHRA POWERade Series drivers will have to make the 10-driver playoff field in each category.

DRIVERS TELL ALL
BECKMAN RETAINS MTS AND LONGTIME PARTNER VALVOLINE FOR 2008: Jack Beckman will start the 2008 season with the backing of Mail Terminal Services and its "Mail From Home" program, a way for fans to mail letters to American troops overseas, and Valvoline.
    "I tell you what I think is so cool, is that I'm able to race for companies I personally and overwhelmingly support," Beckman said. "With MTS, what we've been able to do for the troops with the Mail From Home program is outstanding and we still get thanks and e-mails from them. And I've been a Valvoline guy since my dad used Valvoline products when I was a kid."

Ask Patty hired Sarah Draley as national sales director and Karrie DeLay as director of marketing. Draley possesses a varied skill set with focus on lot management, eBay Motors sales and effective online automotive marketing. DeLay is responsible for the delivery and communication of all marketing components to certified female-friendly dealers.

Veteran automotive administrator Rex Simpson was named vice president of administration for the Yokohama Tire Corp. Simpson replaces Steve Kessing, who retired in December 2007 after 17 years of service. For the past 13 years, Simpson had the corporate responsibility for various human resource matters at American Honda Motor Co. Inc. He previously worked for both J.C. Penney and May Department Stores.

Rex Simpson

Pypes Performance Exhaust announced that Dave Gerard has joined its sales team as a major account manager. Gerard has been a fixture in the automotive aftermarket for years and is widely known for his technical and marketing prowess with Raceware Inc., a company he founded. He will concentrate on providing expert sales and marketing advice to Pypes' existing cadre of large clients and the development of new business and products. 

Mike Moore was named the new president of The Promotion Company-Family Events.  Moore, most recently the executive vice president and general manager of the company, joined The Promotion Company in 1993 and has held a number of positions in the firm. 

Mike Moore

Lokar Performance Products hired Brian Downard as vice president of sales and marketing. Downard has worked in the automotive industry since 1984 beginning with his father’s shop—Downard’s Automotive Specialties. He has worked with Summit Racing, Mr. Gasket, Mickey Thompson Tires and Stainless Works.

Brian Downard

The life and experiences of the “King of Kustomizers” George Barris is the focus of a special Saturday afternoon panel discussion at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum, presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. The event will feature other panelists, including legendary painter Hershel "Junior" Conway, Blackie Gejeian, Dick Jackson and Parks Museum Curator Greg Sharp.

They will offer insights and tell stories about working with Barris and what customizing was like in the fifties and sixties. The event is set for Saturday, January 26, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Tickets ($25 per person) are available at the door and include refreshments, museum admission and an event souvenir. For further information on special exhibits, museum events or directions, call 909/622-2133 or visit http://museum.nhra.com.

Sport-Compact Council (SCC)

Discover how SEMA can help specialty-equipment market businesses in 2008 by attending the State of the Association presentation, Thursday, February 7, at 12:00 p.m., at SEMA Spring Expo/SEMA OFFROAD in Indianapolis. All SEMA members are invited to attend, entrance is free, and we're even providing lunch.

Held annually, the SEMA State of the Association traditionally features SEMA executives discussing current programs and informing members about what to expect in the coming year. The 2008 program will feature a new format, with television personality and current SEMA Board member Dennis Gage moderating the hour-long presentation. Gage will be joined by SEMA Chairman Jim Cozzie, SEMA Chairman-Elect Rick Rollins and SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting, as they explore what the association is doing to assist members and overcome today’s tough economic challenges. Discussions will include topics, such as hiring and training, legislation, research, vehicle technology and more.

Those attending in person will be able to talk directly with Cozzie, Rollins and Kersting, and learn what specific programs are available to help them, whether they are manufacturers, jobbers, distributors, retailers, installers or in another category within the industry. Members unable to attend in person may participate in a live webcast of the event or listen to a recorded version afterwards. Details about both these opportunities will be available at www.sema.org.

To attend the State of the Association presentation, e-mail Peter MacGillivray at peterm@sema.org.

Registration for SEMA Spring Expo and SEMA OFFROAD, February 8–9, 2008, is in full swing and available for attendees online by visiting www.semaspringexpo.com and www.semaoffroad.com. The spring events deliver the acclaimed SEMA Show experience to the Indianapolis area and surrounding regions. With a special emphasis on trucks and SUVs, exhibitors will display a variety of products and services covering accessories, restyling, wheels and tires, and mobile electronics.

To see all industry manufacturers exhibiting at SSE/SOR, click here.

Additionally, make sure to watch for Ford's 2008 Styling Awards for Best Use of Accessories on a Ford truck/SUV. Awards will be judged by Ford's Warren Nally and are available to any Ford truck/SUV on display at SEMA Spring Expo/SEMA OFFROAD.

For more information about the events, contact Gary Vigil at: garyv@sema.org.

The SEMA National Education Conference, scheduled April 10–11 in Nashville, is a concentrated, two-day leadership program developed exclusively for automotive specialty-equipment executives. With the knowledge shared at this conference, you'll discover how to lead your company to new levels of success. You'll receive real-world skills for immediate application, targeted information presented specifically for the automotive specialty-equipment industry and inspiration to make the necessary changes to more easily and effectively meet the challenges of a rapidly changing future.

Dr. Chris Przirembel, vice president of research at Clemson University, will focus on emerging technologies in the automotive and motorsports industries from a research perspective, based on technological challenges and issues related to advanced materials, alternative fuels, computational modeling and advanced manufacturing.

Thursday, April 10
12:00 p.m. –1:00 p.m. (includes lunch)
Speaker: Dr. Chris Przirembel
Title: "Driving the Future Through Innovation"

For more on NEC, please visit www.sema.org/nec.

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