SEMA members are invited to connect with Sean P. Holman, content director for Motor Trend’s Truck and Off-Road Group, during the SEMA Young Executives Network Facebook live chat on Wednesday, September 15, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT).
A longtime automotive enthusiast and journalist, Holman has been with the Motor Trend since 2003 and has held editorial staff positions at Truckin’, Truckin’s SUV and Four Wheeler, eventually taking on the editor positions at 4x4 Garage – JK Edition and Diesel Power. He is an avid truck-industry expert and consults with major truck manufacturers on current and future products. He is also the co-creator and co-host of the truck enthusiast podcast “The Truck Show Podcast with Lightning & Holman.”
SEMA members will have the opportunity to ask Holman questions live as he discusses technology coming to the off-road segment, including active suspension and EVs during this live Q&A event.
Here’s another look at the Expedition Timberline, this time with even less camo and with the Timberline logo fully exposed.
The prototype seen here, a refreshed ’22 model, clearly shows the new headlight treatment, along with several other features, including a unique grille treatment, high-clearance front fascia and orange recovery hooks. There's also a set of black wheels wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain tires along with a fixed running board. Out back, the rear bumper also gets the high-clearance treatment, much like the front end. These elements are essentially identical to what we’re seeing on the Explorer Timberline, which Ford announced earlier this month.
The Expedition will also receive a refresh alongside the new Timberline model, both expected for the ’22 model year.
Here’s another look at the Expedition Timberline, this time with even less camo and with the Timberline logo fully exposed.
The prototype seen here, a refreshed ’22 model, clearly shows the new headlight treatment, along with several other features, including a unique grille treatment, high-clearance front fascia and orange recovery hooks. There's also a set of black wheels wrapped in Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain tires along with a fixed running board. Out back, the rear bumper also gets the high-clearance treatment, much like the front end. These elements are essentially identical to what we’re seeing on the Explorer Timberline, which Ford announced earlier this month.
The Expedition will also receive a refresh alongside the new Timberline model, both expected for the ’22 model year.
Steve Comella drove his ’68 Plymouth Barracuda from a
runner-up finish in last year’s event to earn his first
victory at the longest running, continuous, specialty race
in NHRA history.
Comella Drives ’68 Cuda to Victory at 20th Anniversary Dodge Hemi Challenge
The 20th anniversary edition of the Dodge Hemi Challenge saw a new winner crowned at Lucas Oil Raceway as Steve Comella drove his ’68 Plymouth Barracuda from a runner-up finish in last year’s event to earn his first victory at the longest running, continuous, specialty race in NHRA history.
Comella earned the victory from the No. 1 qualifier position with a dominant performance through eliminations to advance to the final, where he defeated Jim Daniels Jr., four-time (2016–2019) Dodge Hemi Challenge winner. He drove his Super Stock ’68 Cuda to an elapsed timed run of 8.364 seconds at 161.17 mph to beat his opponent’s 8.423-second/158.02-mph pass under the lights at Lucas Oil Raceway in a late-night showdown during the 67th annual Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals last Friday.
Fans will be treated to two NHRA Allstar Shootout
events in 2022, at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA
Gatornationals, March 10–13, and the Dodge//SRT
NHRA U.S. Nationals, August 31–September 5. Photo
courtesy: NHRA
NHRA Top Fuel, Funny Car Allstar Shootouts to Debut in 2022
For the first time in four seasons, the NHRA will host a specialty race among the stars of the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series nitro categories. Fans will be treated to two NHRA Allstar Shootout events in 2022, at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, March 10–13, and the Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals, August 31–September 5. The NHRA Allstar Shootout events will feature competition among the top eight NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car drivers in the world. The shootout will utilize a call-out format with the No. 1 seed getting their first choice of opponent.
The first shootout of the season will be the Top Fuel NHRA Allstar Shootout at the 53rd annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, in Gainesville, Saturday, March 12. The eight-car field will be set based on a combination of season end and qualifying points at the 2022 Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals and NHRA Arizona Nationals. The Funny Car class will have their Funny Car NHRA Allstar Shootout at the 68th Dodge//SRT NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, Sunday, September 4. Drivers will gain points toward the shootout from the 2021 Dodge//SRT NHRA US Nationals until the event before the 2022 Indianapolis event. For more information, visit nhra.com.
Keegan Kincaid took the victory and claimed the season
championship at the Crandon World Cup.
Keegan Kincaid Wins Crandon World Cup and Pro 2 Title
Despite entering Saturday’s Championship Off-Road finale more than 20 points out of the lead, Keegan Kincaid took the victory and claimed the season championship by the slimmest of margins. To back it up, he claimed his second career Crandon World Cup win by putting on a clinic in his Pro 2 truck, earning the biggest single-race payday of the season.
For Kincaid to reclaim the points lead in Saturday’s final points race of the season, a lot of things would have to go right. But the Crandon native focused on putting the #4 Lucas Oil/Cooper Tire/Vision Wheel truck where it needed to be, launching to the lead with a terrific holeshot, nabbing bonus points for leading at the halfway caution, and taking his fifth checkered flag of the season. The final tally saw Kincaid score 459 points—good enough to claim the championship by one point.
Sunday’s World Championship races saw Kincaid on the podium once again, as he kicked off the day with a third place finish in the morning’s Pro 2-only race. With a tough decision to make between sticking with the Pro 2 and switching to Pro 4 for the World Cup race at the end of the day, Kincaid chose track position with the Pro 2 rather than trying to chase the field down on a track that had shown plenty of wear throughout the day.
Kincaid now boasts three victories on World Championship Sunday at Crandon. Prior to this year’s World Cup, he won the 2015 Pro 2 World Championship race and 2016 World Cup, also in a Pro 2. His focus now turns to 2022, where he’ll return to the Pro 4 division full-time for the first time in multiple seasons.
The SRO America Series has finalized its 2022 schedule,
which visits some of the most iconic road courses in North
America.
SRO America Series Set to Visit Eight Venues in 2022
The SRO America Series has finalized its 2022 schedule, which visits some of the most iconic road courses in North America. In 2022, the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS will contest its fourth full season as part of SRO Motorsports Group. Sonoma Raceway retains its position as season opener, with the opening event set to run on April 15–17. The second round of the campaign is planned for May 20–22, with the location to be confirmed at a later date. Next up, Virginia International Raceway will stage its annual contest on June 10–12. Watkins Glen will host its race weekend on July 22–24, moving earlier in the season from its traditional Fall date. The only divergence between the series comes on August 5–7, when GT America powered by AWS breaks rank to join IndyCar on the streets of Nashville, forming part of the Music City Grand Prix.
All four categories will reunite at Road America on August 19–21, while Sebring International Raceway will host the series in Florida, September 23–25. The season will conclude when Indianapolis Motor Speedway plays host on October 7–9, as a part of the Indianapolis 8 Hour. For more information, visit sro-america.com.
K1 Speed has broken ground on the nation’s first professional
outdoor electric kart racing course in Winchester, California.
K1 Circuit Breaks Ground on First Outdoor Electric Kart Track
Indoor kart racing operator K1 Speed has broken ground on the nation’s first professional outdoor electric kart racing course. K1 Circuit will be based in Winchester, California, approximately 80 miles from downtown Los Angeles and San Diego, 70 miles from Orange County and 30 miles from Riverside. Set to open in 2022, the track will host its own pro-level electric kart racing series, said to be the first of its kind. The competition karts will be developed by Italian manufacturer OTL Electro Kart and will utilize lithium batteries.
In addition, K1 Circuit will also welcome classes of gas-powered karts from major professional kart series such as SuperKarts USA (SKUSA), United States Pro Kart Series (USPKS), ROK Cup USA, Rotax Kart and more. Recreational kart enthusiasts will also be able to rent a ride as part of a new Arrive & Drive program, with details set to be announced at a later date. The 1.1-mile configurable circuit is designed by pro racer Rocky Moran Jr. The course will feature a straightaway approximately 900 feet in length, a universal track width of 28 feet, CIK/FIA curbing and up to 6% of elevation change. For more information, visit k1speed.com.
SEMA Ignited, the official SEMA Show afterparty, is back in-
person and in Las Vegas. This year the event will take place at
the new LVCC West Hall parking lot.
It’s been two years since the sights of the parade of custom vehicles from behind the walls of the trade-only SEMA Show; Formula DRIFT competitors narrowly missing the cement drift box barriers; flames shooting from the chrome headers of vintage dragsters; the smells of nitrous and burning rubber; and the sounds of squealing tires, high-revving engines, the cheering crowd and rocking bands.
SEMA Ignited, the official SEMA Show afterparty, is back in-person and in Las Vegas. This year the event will take place at the new LVCC West Hall parking lot.
Credentialed 2021 SEMA Show attendees can access the event for free with their badge. Enthusiasts can access the event by purchasing one of two ticket types—a previously offered SEMA General Admission Ticket or the all-new SEMA Friday Experience that gives the ticket holder Friday access to the SEMA Show and to SEMA Ignited.
SEMA Ignited General Admission Ticket
View hundreds of cars and trucks as they parade out of the Las Vegas Convention Center, drifting by Formula DRIFT, food, music and much more.
What You Get: Includes entry to SEMA Ignited, Friday, November 5, from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Price: $20 if purchased online or at the SEMA Ignited Ticket Office on Friday, November 5.
SEMA Friday Experience Ticket
For the first time ever, SEMA is offering a limited number of enthusiasts entry into the trade-only SEMA Show through the purchase of the SEMA Friday Experience ticket. The SEMA Show offers an attendee experience like no other trade show on the planet. It’s the best place to see the newest automotive performance products and to discover the latest product and vehicle trends.
What You Get: Includes Friday entry into the SEMA Show from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and entry into SEMA Ignited from 3:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5.
Important Restrictions: Each person must pick up their own ticket. You may not send anyone else in your place. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please be prepared to show a valid government-issued photo ID when picking up your ticket. The name on your photo ID must match the name on this confirmation. No one under the age of 16, including infants, is allowed access to the exhibits. No exceptions. Show management does not provide childcare services on-site. Use of a school-issued ID to prove age is not acceptable unless it provides a date of birth. Tickets CANNOT be reproduced, transferred or resold. No day of purchases will be permitted.
Price: $60 if purchased by October 8, or $90 if purchased between October 9–November 4. No on-site ticket purchases will be permitted.
Networking has changed dramatically over the past year. Virtual networking became commonplace as the pandemic put a hold on in-person events and forced many individuals to adapt to a new landscape. While in-person events are beginning to come back, virtual networking will still be important and effective for individuals to meet new people, and for companies to reach new markets.
SEMA members will learn how to properly network through various channels and discover the ins and outs of different networking platforms during a live webinar on Tuesday, September 28, at 11:00 a.m. (PDT).
Discussion topics include:
Networking platforms that are best for you and your needs at a certain time.
How to use networking to your advantage for job leads.
How to stay connected over time once a relationship is established .
Attendees will even be able to connect with one another as they share ideas during an interactive breakout with other automotive aftermarket professionals. Participants will leave inspired and motivated to start networking their way to more beneficial connections.
The SEMA Professional Restylers Organization (PRO) is hosting a general membership meeting, along with two days of installer training, on September 16–17, at Auto Additions in Westerville, Ohio.
Installers, restylers, shop management, owners and employees of PRO-member companies will be able to connect with the PRO Select Committee and discuss current council initiatives with the automotive restyling industry at large. Attendees will also hear firsthand from accessory manufacturers, as they provide expert installation training on the following topics:
Katzkin: Leather and Cooled Seats
Llumar: Paint Protection Film and Tint
Brandmotion and Auto Additions: 12-Volt Electronics
SEMA Young Executives Network (YEN) members are invited to meet and socialize, while expanding and growing their network, during the YEN Virtual Happy Hour on Monday, September 13, at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).
YEN’s Virtual Happy Hours are the ideal events to meet and get to know other young professionals in the industry, while staying connected with the network and up-to-date on the latest YEN initiatives. Attendees will hear from YEN leadership and discover what resources and programs are available, before breaking out into small groups where they will meet and get to know other YEN members from throughout the country.
Young professionals who are not currently YEN members but are interested in getting more involved in the industry and networking are also encouraged to attend, as it is a great way to introduce yourself and learn about what YEN has to offer.
The SEMA Data Excellence designation recognizes the companies that have worked with SEMA Data to recreate and relaunch industry-leading product data sets. Here are products from current SEMA Data members that have achieved data excellence.
Retrax PRO XR
The RetraxPRO XR—Retrax’s premium Aluminum Series cover—combines industrial-strength aluminum construction with an incredibly resilient matte finish. The cover is outfitted with a Trax Rail System that works with most T-slot accessories from Yakima, Thule, Rhino Rack, and many more offering endless possibilities. Pairing this unique system with accessories offers double the cargo capacity and also frees up the hitch with the ability to mount bikes, coolers, outdoor gear, and more on top of the bed cover by combining with the t-slot accessories.
BoostLine connecting rods for LS engines are designed specifically for high-HP, power-adder applications. The patented design and forged steel construction maximize strength and minimize weight, making BoostLine rods ideal for high-cylinder pressure engine builds. After all, the fun only begins at four-digit horsepower, right?
Patented three-pocket design provides 60% improvement in bending strength and 20% tensional stress reduction compared to common H-beam designs.
Forged from ultra-strong, 4340 steel.
Standard-equipped with industry-leading ARP 2000 fasteners.
In-depth quality control with 25-point CMM inspection done in-house and detailed report provided with every set of rods.
AutoMeter’s visors for 2 1/16-in. gauges are ideal for reducing the effects of glare on the vehicle windscreen from both day and nighttime use. With the matte black finish, these parts are compatible with interior plastic safe paints for custom matching your vehicle’s interior. It is compatible with AutoMeter, STACK, and Spek-Pro 2 1/16-in. gauges.
Whether it’s a driver, industry icon, TV personality or famous
vehicle, featuring a familiar face or iconic vehicle in your
booth provides buyers with an identifiable, visual connection
of the company's target market.
SEMA Show exhibitors planning to host a special appearance in their booth may submit their Celebrity Appearance Notification form up until Show time. Whether it’s a driver, industry icon, TV personality or famous vehicle, featuring a familiar face or iconic vehicle in your booth provides buyers with an identifiable, visual connection of the company’s target market.
Exhibitors can learn how to get the most out of their 2021 SEMA Show, as well as additional options to reach buyers, by contacting an account rep at sales@sema.org or 909-396-0289.
Information about the 2021 SEMA Show is available on www.SEMAShow.com.
Click here for a complete listing of 2021 SEMA Show deadlines.
SEMA members are invited to connect with Sean P. Holman, content director for Motor Trend’s Truck and Off-Road Group, during the SEMA Young Executives Network Facebook live chat on Wednesday, September 15, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT). 
Networking has changed dramatically over the past year. Virtual networking became commonplace as the pandemic put a hold on in-person events and forced many individuals to adapt to a new landscape. While in-person events are beginning to come back, virtual networking will still be important and effective for individuals to meet new people, and for companies to reach new markets. 
The SEMA 
SEMA 
