NASCAR Announces Nominees for Hall of Fame Class of 2023, Landmark Award

NASCAR has announced the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s (NHOF) class of 2023, a group that will comprise the first Hall of Fame ballot in two years following the pandemic. Award winners are also eligible for NHOF enshrinement. The NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel, comprised of 62 industry professionals, will vote for the class of 2023 and Landmark Award on Wednesday, May 4. The 63rd vote goes to winners of a NASCAR.com Fan Vote (nascar.com/halloffame), which is will close on April 29. Following are the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2023 nominees and Landmark Award nominees:

Modern Era Ballot

• Neil Bonnett, won 18 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including consecutive Coca-Cola 600 victories.
• Tim Brewer, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief.
• Jeff Burton, won 21 times in the NASCAR Cup Series including the Southern 500 and two Coca-Cola 600s.
• Carl Edwards, winner of 28 NASCAR Cup Series races and 2007 Xfinity Series champion.
• Harry Gant, winner of 18 NASCAR Cup Series races, including two Southern 500 victories.
• Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR Cup Series championship crew chief.
• Matt Kenseth, 2003 NASCAR Cup Series champion and winner of 39 Cup races.
• Larry Phillips, first five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion.
• Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR Cup Series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400.
• Kirk Shelmerdine, four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion crew chief.

Pioneer Ballot

• Sam Ard, NASCAR Xfinity Series pioneer and two-time champion.
• AJ Foyt, won seven NASCAR Cup Series races including the 1972 Daytona 500.
• Banjo Matthews, built cars that won more than 250 NASCAR Cup Series races and three championships.
• Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR West Series champion.
• Ralph Moody, two-time NASCAR Cup Series owner champion as the “mechanical genius” of Holman-Moody.

Landmark Award

• Janet Guthrie, the first female to compete in a NASCAR Cup Series superspeedway race.
• Alvin Hawkins, NASCAR’s first flagman; established NASCAR racing at Bowman Gray Stadium with Bill France Sr.
• Mike Helton, named third president of NASCAR in 2000; career included track operator roles at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
• Lesa France Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice chair and one of the most influential women in sports.
• Dr. Joseph Mattioli, founder of Pocono Raceway.

Nitro Rallycross to Launch Global Series in June, Announces All-Electric Class  

Nitro Rallycross (Nitro RX) will launch its inaugural global season on June 18–19 at England’s Lydden Hill Race Circuit for the first of ten races staged in six countries, including Sweden, Finland, Canada, Saudi Arabia and the United States. The 2022–23 Nitro RX season will also feature competition with the debut of the FC1-X in the new Group E division. Created by First Corner, LLC, in collaboration with QEV Technologies and Nitro RX, the FC1-X delivers the electric equivalent of 1,070 peak hp and accelerates from 0–60 in 1.4 seconds. In addition, the Supercar class and NRX Next class return for this season.  

2022–23 Nitro Rallycross Championship Schedule (subject to change)

• June 18–19: England (Lydden Hill Race Circuit)
• July 30–31: Sweden
• August 27–28: Finland
• October 1–2: Minneapolis
• October 29–30: Los Angeles
• November 12–3: Phoenix
• December 10–11: Saudi Arabia
• January 21–22, 2023: Quebec, Canada
• February 4–5, 2023: Alberta, Canada
• March TBA, 2023: Nitro RX 2022–23 Series Finale, TBA, USA

For more information, visit nitrorallycross.com.

Toyota Gazoo Racing Announces New Single-Make Series “GR Cup”

Toyota Gazoo Racing North America has announced a new single-make series, the “GR Cup,” featuring the Toyota GR86. Based in the United States, the GR Cup will feature seven race events with dates and locations to be announced later. Each competitor will run identical Toyota GR86 vehicles, emphasizing driver skill and car setup. For more information, visit toyotagazooracing.com.

Las Vegas to Host Formula 1 Night Race in 2023

Formula 1 has announced that Las Vegas will provide the backdrop to Formula 1’s newest race when the American city hosts a night event beginning in 2023. The Las Vegas Grand Prix will take place on a Saturday next November and be one of three races in the United States, joining Miami and Austin. Las Vegas hosted races in 1981 and 1982, but this will be the first time F1 cars will race on the Las Vegas Strip. The 14-turn track will run for 3.8 miles with top speeds expected to hit around 212 mph. The design features three straights, a high-speed cornering sequence and a single chicane section, with the Grand Prix to be run over 50 laps. For more information, visit formula1.com.

Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park to Close After 2023 NHRA Race

The Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona, has announced that the 2023 NHRA race will serve as the final event for the facility. The park will celebrate its 40th year of NHRA racing during next year’s Arizona Nationals. The park features four race tracks, including a 1/4-mile, NHRA-sanctioned dragstrip; a 1.6-mile road course; a 10-turn, 1.25-mile road course; and a 1.1-mile road course with a 0.375-mile straightaway. It also features a 2.4-mile IHBA- and APBA-sanctioned oval lake. A new overpass roadway for an I-10 extension will utilize the space now occupied by the track. For more information, visit racewildhorse.com.

PPG Renews Tasca Racing Sponsorship for 2022 Season

PPG has announced its renewed sponsorship of the Tasca Racing team for the 2022 NHRA season. Bob Tasca III, Tasca Racing team president and driver, will compete in 22 events across the U.S. in this year’s NHRA Nitro Funny Car division. The team’s Ford Shelby Mustang Nitro Funny Car will display PPG’s colorful livery in the races at the New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire and the Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.

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

By Fredy Ramirez, Jay Carpio and Carr Winn

Chris Forsberg got his hands on a ’23 Nissan Z and made it into a drift car.

Debuting at Formula DRIFT Streets Of Long Beach, SEMA caught up with Chris to see what he did and what the aftermarket might want to consider.

SEMA eNews highlights new products from industry companies when available. To have your product considered for upcoming issues, send product press releases to editors@sema.org.

Autotek
Mean Machine Amplifers

New for 2022, Autotek Mean Machine amplifiers bring extreme power in a smaller footprint. No matter the installation size or space available in your vehicle, Autotek Mean Machine amplifiers deliver an experience that brings out higher sound quality with minimum distortion levels in a more compact and slimmer size. Embrace clear sound that brings out every detail of any song from any genre of audio. Showcased in a sleek, black finish, Mean Machine amplifiers make a bold statement wherever placed in audio installations.

Features

• Low Noise Preamplifier Circuit—Maximum low voltage signal from the source unit comes into the amplifier through a low voltage circuit
• RCA Inputs— RCA inputs and outputs provide the highest sound quality connection.
• Electronic Equalizer—Electronic equalizer provides control of amplifier output with onboard electronic crossover to tailor frequencies to speakers and subwoofers.
• Output Connections—Nickel-plated brass connection with hex set screw terminals allows for secure connection while resisting erosion.

Brass Knuckle
New Catalog

Brass Knuckle’s new catalog is a bonanza of eye, hand, and ergonomic protection, showcasing gear that stands up to the biggest challenges while maintaining ultimate wearability and style. Brass Knuckle has made its bones by bringing a dash of style to PPE, figuring you can be well-protected and still look great. The new catalog offers page after page of eye-catching color, smart lines and robust protection.

The new catalog is packed with information about each product to make it easier to specify the right one for the task. Everything is covered, from the coatings and base fiber blends of gloves to lens coatings, gaskets, and comfort features of eyewear, and beyond.

Check out what’s new in the Brass Knuckle line, including the wave-making Vader Combo with its superior goggles and integral face shield that moves with the face, not a helmet! Also, a new lineup of great-looking BK-Anti-Fog glasses that feature the strictest anti-fog protection in the world, but still look sleek and fashionable.

The new catalog is also available electronically.

Holley
Transmission Installation Kits

Holley Transmission Installation Kits come complete with everything needed to bolt a T5 transmission to a 28- or 50-oz. externally-balanced small-block Ford V8. The kits are built with a mixture of our best brands, including Lakewood, Hays and Mr. Gasket.

The kits include a roller pilot bearing, bellhousing with dust shield, a billet steel flywheel, the clutch and pressure plate, a hydraulic release bearing and all the hardware needed to install these components.

Livernois Motorsports
F-150 Truck Support: ’22 Models, and the 3.5L PowerBoost Engine

Livernois Motorsports is proud to support and tune ’21 and ’22 Ford F-150 trucks while expanding its trim selection to include the 3.5L PowerBoost engine.

As the first to support ’21 F-150 trucks with a 2.7L, 3.5L and 5.0L engine, the expansion to include ’22 models and the 3.5L PowerBoost engine further cements the company as the first choice for late-model vehicle tunes. The MyCalibrator tuner delivers gains of 90 horsepower and 65 foot-pounds of torque.

The cutting-edge design and color LCD touch screen of the tuner itself allows for easy operation. Standard features include real-time data logging, up to six live display gauges, the ability to clear/read DTC codes and built-in service functions for diagnostics and vehicle configuration adjustments. Plus, it’s all cloud updatable.

www.livernoismotorsports.com

Yokohama Tire Promotes Ray Polentz to Senior Director of Supply Chain and Logistics

Yokohama Tire Corporation (YTC) announced that Ray Polentz has been promoted to senior director of supply chain and logistics. He will report to Yokohama President and CEO Jeff Barna.Polentz, who works out of YTC headquarters in Santa Ana, California, joined Yokohama in October 2017 as regional distribution center manager. He was promoted to director of distribution operations in July 2018. Before joining Yokohama, Polentz had 15+ years of supply-chain and logistics experience. Previously he held senior positions at JCPenney, as well as Stein Mart in both operational and transportation roles. Prior to his supply chain and logistics career, Polentz served in the U.S. Army and was a police officer.

General Motors Names Gentex a 2021 Supplier of the Year

Gentex Corp. was recently recognized by General Motors as a 2021 Supplier of the Year during GM’s 30th annual Supplier of the Year awards ceremony in Phoenix. GM’s Supplier of the Year award recognizes global suppliers that distinguish themselves by exceeding GM’s requirements—in turn providing GM customers with innovative technologies—and are among the highest quality in the automotive industry. This year, GM recognized 134 suppliers from 16 countries with the Supplier of the Year distinction. Gentexis a long-time supplier to General Motors, and this is the 23rd time Gentex has received the award.

Continental Expands Fuel Module Program Coverage for Popular European and Domestic Makes

Continental has added new application coverage to its line of OEM fuel modules for popular European and domestic makes, including Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Porsche and Volkswagen models. In addition to the new fuel modules, the line now also includes a new fuel tank sending unit for Land Rover models.

Formerly available as “dealer-only” items, the Continental OEM fuel module aftermarket offering has grown to 173 SKUs and delivers coverage for more than 34 million VIO in the United States and Canada. The modules are designed to provide vehicle specific fit, form, and function and quality built in ISO/TS certified facilities. For more information, visit www.continentalaftermarket.com.

Have some company news you would like to share? Let us know and the news may appear in an upcoming issue of SEMA eNews. Send your items for consideration to editors@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has issued a proposed rule to amend the current procedures for reporting workplace injuries and illnesses. Under the proposed rule, establishments with 100 or more employees in the highest-hazard industries would be required to electronically submit Forms 300 and 301 once a year to OSHA, along with the already required submission of Form 300A. This rule was previously amended in 2019 to require only Form 300A be submitted instead of the two more detailed forms.

Establishments with 20 or more employees in certain high-hazard industries must continue to electronically submit Form 300A yearly; however, the proposed rule removes the Form 300A submission requirement for certain establishments with more than 250 employees that are not in high-hazard industries. (The term “high-hazard” includes auto-parts manufacturers and retailers.)

As background, OSHA requires employers with more than 10 employees in most industries to keep records of occupational injuries and illnesses. The information is recorded on Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) with a supplemental Form 301 if providing additional details about the injury or illness. At the end of each year, employers are required to complete OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) and post the form in a visible location in the workplace.

Additional information can be found on the OSHA website.  

For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

Ever heard the saying “a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its shoes on”? The notion is especially true in today’s digital age. Whether it’s fake news about an exhaust noise law or misconceptions about proposed automotive legislation going viral, the SEMA Action Network (SAN) is here to set the facts straight. For the first time, enthusiasts and industry members can submit tips and questions for fact-checking by experts.

Click here to submit your own inquiry or browse those we’ve already tackled.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

In advance of a change in New York’s exhaust noise law taking effect on April 1, 2022, a notification letter signed by the New York DMV Commissioner was sent to automotive retailers and vehicle inspectors in the state. Unfortunately, the letter is misleading and contains overly broad statements about what the new law does. SEMA is actively working with the DMV to clarify its guidance and address the industry’s concerns.

These are the facts: in 2021, the New York state legislature enacted a bill into law—the SLEEP Act—aiming to crack down on excessively loud vehicles. The new law doesn’t change the state’s existing exhaust noise laws, which require every motor vehicle to be equipped with a muffler in working condition and prohibits the installation of bypasses, cutouts or similar devices. Comparable language is used by states across the country and is designed to prevent motorists from deleting their muffler and/or catalytic converter. The new law simply allows police to write larger fines for those breaking existing law.

Thanks to SEMA’s efforts, the initial bill was amended to remove the unreasonable provisions prior to passage. The amended bill was then approved by Governor Kathy Hochul in late October, with the law going into effect on April 1, 2022. SEMA is working to ensure there is no confusion about the provisions of the new law and more information is available on the SEMA Action Network’s “Fact vs. Fiction” webpage.

For further details, contact Christian Robinson at stateleg@sema.org.

This story was originally published on April 5, 2022. For more industry news, visit SEMANews.com and subscribe to SEMA News at the bottom of the webpage to get the latest updates straight to your inbox, twice a week.

By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued stricter Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for new vehicles for model years ’24–’26. The new standards increase fuel efficiency 8% per year for cars and light trucks in the ’24 and ’25 model years, and 10% for the ’26 model year. The CAFE standards now require an industry-wide fleet average of approximately 49 mpg in the ’26 model year.

This new rule comes after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last December issued a final rule to set more stringent new vehicle greenhouse gas emissions for MY ’23–’26. The NHTSA and EPA rules have been harmonized in some areas to give automakers guidance and flexibility in meeting both standards. The rules are interrelated since the primary chemical regulated under the greenhouse gas rule, carbon dioxide, is released in the same proportion to the amount of carbon-based fuel that is burned.  Additional information on CAFE standards can be found on the NHTSA website.

For more information, contact Caroline Fletcher at carolinef@sema.org.

Co-hosted by the SEMA Garage and SEMA’s Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN), the Southern California Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is staging an event at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, California, Saturday, April 23, from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., to showcase its students in front of the local industry.

This event will provide a great networking opportunity between SEMA-member companies, additional industry professionals and university students who are part of Formula and Baja SAE competition teams. It will include a career fair, allowing companies to recruit upcoming graduates. Students will also have an opportunity to gain feedback from industry professionals on their engineering and business presentations as preparation ahead of their upcoming competition.

SEMA staff will provide facility tours and showcase product-development services utilized by automotive aftermarket companies. Lunch will be provided.  

Register here.

This event will provide a great networking opportunity between SEMA-member companies, additional industry professionals and university students who are part of Formula and Baja SAE competition teams.

The September 2022 issue of SEMA News will highlight rising stars in the automotive aftermarket industry who are age 35 and younger. If you know a leader in that age range as of September 1, 2022—whether they are in manufacturing and design, marketing, retail, events and media or distribution—we would like to hear from you.

Many SEMA members are currently working with creative young entrepreneurs and professionals who are already industry trailblazers. They may have played key roles in leveraging new and emerging technologies with a traditional automotive aftermarket business to expand company reach, improve product development, energize marketing efforts or upgrade customer interaction.

They could also be budding talents at an established company, entrepreneurs building their own brands or innovators who have launched companies that might become big names in the future. What they all will have in common are fresh ideas, enthusiasm, charisma and the drive to succeed.

SEMA News looks for candidates drawn from diverse industry segments who are already making a significant impact through their leadership within their organizations or businesses. Entrepreneurship, commitment, insight, innovation, integrity, responsibility, demonstrated skill, involvement and success within the marketplace weigh heavily in the decision-making process.

We’ll honor the winners in the September issue of SEMA News and on www.sema.org.

Nominate a candidate now for the 2022 SEMA News 35 Under 35. Nominations are due May 1.