SEMA Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) members and those involved in the hot rod segment of the industry are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual membership meeting on August 21, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

All SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) members and those involved in the truck and off-road segment are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual meeting and open call on August 14, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

All SEMA Truck and Off-Road Alliance (TORA) members and those involved in the truck and off-road segment are invited to join the council for their upcoming virtual meeting and open call on August 14, at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).

Compiled by SEMA Editors

Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

Capps Gets First Indy Win, Joins S. Torrence, J. Coughlin Jr. and Sampey in Winner’s Circle at Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals Presented by Pennzoil

Ron Capps picked up his first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, racing to the Funny Car victory last Sunday at the Dodge NHRA Indy Nationals presented by Pennzoil and also giving the longtime standout a win at every track on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Angelle Sampey (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won in their respective categories at the fifth race of the 2020 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season and third straight at Indy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Capps won for the first time in 2020 and 65th time in his career with a final-round run of 4.110 seconds at 294.63 mph in his 11,000-hp NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat to beat J.R. Todd in a battle of former world champs.

Defending and back-to-back Top Fuel world champ Torrence picked up his second win of the year and 38th overall in unconventional fashion last Sunday, outlasting Terry McMillen in the finals with a run of 4.273 at 224.17 in his 11,000-hp Capco Contractors dragster.

In Pro Stock, it was an all-Coughlin final round, as five-time world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. drove past nephew and first-time Pro Stock finalist Troy Coughlin Jr. in the championship round with a 6.680 at 206.92 in his JEGS.com Chevrolet Camaro.

Sampey picked up her first win since 2016 and 43rd overall, going 6.880 at 196.07 in the final round on her Vance & Hines Harley-Davidson EBR to beat Chris Bostick.

The Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway will host limited fans, Sunday, September 6.

Darlington To Host Limited Fans for Southern 500

The Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway will host limited fans, Sunday, September 6. The “Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR” also includes the Southern 500, Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race, Saturday, September 5, and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, Sunday, September 6. A limited, reduced number of fans will be in attendance for the Southern 500 in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities, as well as related safety protocols and procedures. All guests will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six feet of social distancing throughout the venue. For more information, visit www.darlingtonraceway.com.

USRA Announces Deal to Host Nationals Event at Lucas Oil Speedway

United States Racing Association (USRA) officials have announced a new agreement with the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, to host the Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass for at least three years beginning in 2021. The agreement means the Summit USRA Nationals will have a new home for the eighth running of the event next year. The dates are October 7–9, 2021; October 6–8, 2022, and October 5–7, 2023. The seventh annual Summit USRA Nationals powered by MyRacePass is still slated for October 1–3, 2020, at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster, City, Iowa. Officials from Lucas Oil Speedway also announced that American Racer USRA Stock Cars will be a regular weekly fixture. Beginning in 2021 and for at least three years, the class will take part in the track’s Saturday night Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series programs, along with the Modifieds and B-Mods that are already under USRA sanctioning.

NHRA Southern Nationals Canceled Due to COVID-19 Concerns

The NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, scheduled for August 28-30, has been canceled due the current COVID-19 pandemic. NHRA made this decision after exhaustive deliberation with track representatives, health officials and government authorities. NHRA and Atlanta Dragway came to this conclusion after carefully weighing the significance of the 40th anniversary of the NHRA Southern Nationals. The anniversary of the historic race will be celebrated in 2021. Event ticket holders will receive more information from NHRA via email soon and are encouraged to visit www.nhra.com to learn about their options.

Spire Motorsports Purchases LFR, Expands to Two Cars

Spire Motorsports has completed an agreement to purchase the assets of Leavine Family Racing (LFR). As part of the purchase, Spire Motorsports will acquire LFR’s NASCAR charter, the team’s race shop and all owned inventory. As a technical partner of Joe Gibbs Racing, LFR’s current fleet of vehicles and chassis will be returned to Joe Gibbs Racing upon completion of the 2020 season. Spire Motorsports will expand to a two-car operation in 2021 and relocate to LFR’s existing race shop in Concord, North Carolina.

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

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act,” S. 1014, creates a 15-person commission with representatives appointed by the president of the United States based on recommendations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House and Senate Republican and Democrat leaders and the Governors of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The bill provides the commission with two years from the time that each member is appointed to make recommendations to Congress for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history.

A similar version of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 66, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 by a margin of 393 to 22. Because there are minor differences between the two bills, the next step will be for the House to take up S. 1014.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act,” S. 1014, creates a 15-person commission with representatives appointed by the president of the United States based on recommendations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House and Senate Republican and Democrat leaders and the Governors of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The bill provides the commission with two years from the time that each member is appointed to make recommendations to Congress for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history.

A similar version of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 66, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 by a margin of 393 to 22. Because there are minor differences between the two bills, the next step will be for the House to take up S. 1014.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to create a commission that would recommend ways to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which was commissioned in 1926 as the first all-paved U.S. highway. The “Route 66 Centennial Commission Act,” S. 1014, creates a 15-person commission with representatives appointed by the president of the United States based on recommendations from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. House and Senate Republican and Democrat leaders and the Governors of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The bill provides the commission with two years from the time that each member is appointed to make recommendations to Congress for celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66. The commission may recommend the production of various written materials, films and documentaries, education programs, artistic works, commemorative memorabilia and celebrations to commemorate Route 66’s storied history.

A similar version of this bipartisan bill, H.R. 66, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019 by a margin of 393 to 22. Because there are minor differences between the two bills, the next step will be for the House to take up S. 1014.

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.

By Kyle Cheng

Since the beginning of April, SEMA Market Research has been tracking how businesses within the specialty-equipment industry have navigated through the disruption over the past few months. Overall, our industry continues to return to more normal operations and is increasingly more optimistic about their sales for the rest of 2020.

In a recent survey conducted July 24–30, approximately 95% of all companies said they were mostly business as usual or only impacted in the short-term. Nearly half (45%) stated that they were business as usual, compared to only 17% back in April. The number of companies reporting more severe disruptions have continued to decrease over the past few months as well.

Companies are growing equally optimistic about their sales. Today, nearly half of all companies expect higher or at least the same amount of sales as last year. That is a significant jump from April when only 20% of companies said that. Overall, most companies expect to finish the year better, at least the same, or with only a slight decline in sales compared to 2019.

Want the latest data and trends in the specialty-equipment industry? Check out the newest reports from SEMA Market Research:

• 2020 SEMA Market Report: The “2020 SEMA Market Report” provides a comprehensive look at how the products your company sells are purchased and installed. Also included is the most up-to-date information on parts buyers, key industry trends and forecasts, and insights into the vehicles currently on the road.
• SEMA State of the Consumer Report – July 2020: In this report, the SEMA Market Research team explores the current state of consumers within the United States and their outlook for the future. This quick snapshot looks at how consumers are emerging from coronavirus lockdown—including recent driving patterns, retail behavior and how they are interacting with the specialty-equipment industry.

All of these reports, and much more, are available for free download at www.sema.org/research.

By Kyle Cheng

Since the beginning of April, SEMA Market Research has been tracking how businesses within the specialty-equipment industry have navigated through the disruption over the past few months. Overall, our industry continues to return to more normal operations and is increasingly more optimistic about their sales for the rest of 2020.

In a recent survey conducted July 24–30, approximately 95% of all companies said they were mostly business as usual or only impacted in the short-term. Nearly half (45%) stated that they were business as usual, compared to only 17% back in April. The number of companies reporting more severe disruptions have continued to decrease over the past few months as well.

Companies are growing equally optimistic about their sales. Today, nearly half of all companies expect higher or at least the same amount of sales as last year. That is a significant jump from April when only 20% of companies said that. Overall, most companies expect to finish the year better, at least the same, or with only a slight decline in sales compared to 2019.

Want the latest data and trends in the specialty-equipment industry? Check out the newest reports from SEMA Market Research:

• 2020 SEMA Market Report: The “2020 SEMA Market Report” provides a comprehensive look at how the products your company sells are purchased and installed. Also included is the most up-to-date information on parts buyers, key industry trends and forecasts, and insights into the vehicles currently on the road.
• SEMA State of the Consumer Report – July 2020: In this report, the SEMA Market Research team explores the current state of consumers within the United States and their outlook for the future. This quick snapshot looks at how consumers are emerging from coronavirus lockdown—including recent driving patterns, retail behavior and how they are interacting with the specialty-equipment industry.

All of these reports, and much more, are available for free download at www.sema.org/research.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Utah Department of Natural Resources (DNR) agreed to create a “Restore Bonneville” program in April 2020, which will dramatically increase the amount of salt being pumped onto the Bonneville Salt Flats. The U.S. Congress appropriated more than $2 million in the BLM’s Fiscal Year 2020 budget to start the program, although the Interior Department has not yet released the funds. SEMA is calling on the land-speed racing community to contact the Interior Department and request that it allocate funding for Bonneville before the end of the fiscal year (September 30, 2020). To submit a letter to the Interior Department, click here.

Over the past several years, SEMA and the Save the Salt Coalition have worked with BLM, UDNR, Intrepid Potash and U.S. Congress to help create and begin funding the 10-year “Restore Bonneville” program. It is modeled after a 1997–2002 pilot program that pumped an average of 1.25 million tons of salt—dramatically more than the current 300,000 tons or less each year. The program strengthened the salt crust, and the salt flats began to expand before the program ended. Bonneville's existence is endangered under the current pumping levels. The Utah State Legislature funded the first year of the “Restore Bonneville” program at $1 million, although the agency is waiting to release the “Restore Bonneville” funds until the federal government allocates matching funds.  

The 2020 race season at Bonneville will commence with Speed Week (August 8-14, 2020) organized by the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) and Bonneville Nationals Inc. (BNI). The organizations have conducted the event since 1949. More than 250 teams, ranging from streamliners topping more than 500 mph to vintage 50cc motorcycles, are entered in this year’s event. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, SCTA/BNI have been working with local, state and federal government agencies to ensure the health and safety of participants of the event, which is set for one of the most socially-distanced racing venues in the world.

For details, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.