Dave Despain Signs a Two-Year Contract With MAVTV
Renowned motor racing broadcaster Dave Despain has signed a two-year contract with MAVTV American Real to host the network's five live events, beginning with the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals presented by General Tire on January 18, and a series of 30-minute, one-on-one programs interviewing drivers and other personalities from across the American racing landscape.

The Chili Bowl is an indoor event for midget race cars with about 275 entries in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The network will also broadcast live the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series' East Bay Late Model Nationals from Tampa, Florida, February 15.

Despain, a motor racing broadcaster for 40 years, has worked for ABC, CBS, ESPN and SPEED.

Toyo Tires Dakar Rally Blog Features Daily Race Coverage
The Toyo Tires Dakar Rally Blog is back at ToyoTires.com/Dakar with exclusive pre-race features and daily coverage of the Dakar Rally, beginning January 5. This year’s 13-days of Dakar competition will cover 3,500 miles of grueling terrain through Argentina and Chile.

Embracing the theme Meet the Unexpected, Toyo Tires will provide exclusive, first-hand reports from the Dakar Rally while following Team Toyo racers Robby Gordon and BJ Baldwin, as well as accomplished French-American racer Guerlain Chicherit. Fans can also depend on the Toyo Tires Dakar Rally Blog for never-before-seen interviews, footage and photos.

	The ProMedia Competition Department announced that an Electrimotion Shutdown Transmitter will be in use at all of its 2014 NMCA, NMCA WEST and NMRA events across the country.

ProMedia Invests in Electrimotion Shutdown Transmitter for all NMRA, NMCA and NMCA WEST Events
The ProMedia Competition Department announced that an Electrimotion Shutdown Transmitter will be in use at all of its 2014 NMCA, NMCA WEST and NMRA events across the country. The investment in the transmitters is part of ProMedia’s continued efforts to enhance event safety, and the ProMedia Competition Department highly recommends that all Pro Mod competitors in the upcoming season install the Electrimotion safety device. The device, when used in conjunction with the Electrimotion Safety Box, will automatically shut off fuel and ignition and deploy the parachutes once the vehicle has passed the finish line (if the driver has not done so already). The system activates when the car passes the wall-mounted transmitter just past the finish line.

"As part of our ProPledge initiative to our competitors and fans, we felt it was important to invest and implement the transmitter at our races and recommend the safety device for Pro Mod racers," said Rollie Miller, ProMedia National Event Director. "Our tech department will have the system installed at every event beginning with the NMRA race in Bradenton, Florida on March 6-9."

The ProPledge initiative includes more racer-appreciation events, safety programs, and additional support for all racers, fans, and sponsors.

This Mini coupe, caught testing on the public roads of Germany by KGP Photography's shooter in Europe, is rumored to be running BMW's next-generation of electric car running gear, compared to the first Mini E effort that ran a sub-10-minute lap on the Nürburgring in the spring of 2010.

While the shots of the coupe are enticing, the team had no specifics on the changes made, beyond the all-electric running gear. However, judging by the massive rear wing and racing Recaros, several performance-minded upgrades are likely in the mechanical mix. KGP expects a future timed 'Ring run, and what else BMW/Mini has in store remains to be seen—although a limited production isn't expected to be in the cards, unlike the prior Mini E.

This Mini coupe, caught testing on the public roads of Germany by KGP Photography's shooter in Europe, is rumored to be running BMW's next-generation of electric car running gear, compared to the first Mini E effort that ran a sub-10-minute lap on the Nürburgring in the spring of 2010.

While the shots of the coupe are enticing, the team had no specifics on the changes made, beyond the all-electric running gear. However, judging by the massive rear wing and racing Recaros, several performance-minded upgrades are likely in the mechanical mix. KGP expects a future timed 'Ring run, and what else BMW/Mini has in store remains to be seen—although a limited production isn't expected to be in the cards, unlike the prior Mini E.

This Mini coupe, caught testing on the public roads of Germany by KGP Photography's shooter in Europe, is rumored to be running BMW's next-generation of electric car running gear, compared to the first Mini E effort that ran a sub-10-minute lap on the Nürburgring in the spring of 2010.

While the shots of the coupe are enticing, the team had no specifics on the changes made, beyond the all-electric running gear. However, judging by the massive rear wing and racing Recaros, several performance-minded upgrades are likely in the mechanical mix. KGP expects a future timed 'Ring run, and what else BMW/Mini has in store remains to be seen—although a limited production isn't expected to be in the cards, unlike the prior Mini E.

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

• The Wheel Group, located in City of Industry, California, is hiring a salesperson to provide information regarding products, account inquiries and order status via phone or e-mail. The successful candidate will have prior sales experience and strong customer service skills. Aftermarket wheel experience and bilingual candidates (Spanish/English) are preferred.

• Power Stop LLC, located in Chicago, is hiring a product manager to manage the distribution and timeliness of the company's internal data systems and facilitate a smooth operation and act as a resource of technical information for customers and employees. The successful candidate will have prior data and catalog management experience.

• MGP Caliper Covers, located in San Diego, is hiring two inside salespeople. Applicants should have exceptional communication, computer, time management and organizational skills, and the ability to generate new customers, close new accounts and nurture and grow existing accounts.

• Coker Tire, located in City of Industry, California, is hiring a highly motivated sales and customer service representative with a coachable attitude and strong desire to succeed.

View more listings from SEMA's Automotive Classifieds listings.

Are you hunting for a new job? The “Positions Available” section in the SEMA Member Classifieds lists more than 50 job openings around the country. Here are some of the latest classifieds posted to the website.

• The Wheel Group, located in City of Industry, California, is hiring a salesperson to provide information regarding products, account inquiries and order status via phone or e-mail. The successful candidate will have prior sales experience and strong customer service skills. Aftermarket wheel experience and bilingual candidates (Spanish/English) are preferred.

• Power Stop LLC, located in Chicago, is hiring a product manager to manage the distribution and timeliness of the company's internal data systems and facilitate a smooth operation and act as a resource of technical information for customers and employees. The successful candidate will have prior data and catalog management experience.

• MGP Caliper Covers, located in San Diego, is hiring two inside salespeople. Applicants should have exceptional communication, computer, time management and organizational skills, and the ability to generate new customers, close new accounts and nurture and grow existing accounts.

• Coker Tire, located in City of Industry, California, is hiring a highly motivated sales and customer service representative with a coachable attitude and strong desire to succeed.

View more listings from SEMA's Automotive Classifieds listings.

Auto Scholarship PSAs to Air During “Two Guys Garage” and “Truck U”
“Two Guys Garage” and “Truck U” will air public service announcements beginning January 4 promoting the virtues of education and the availability of scholarships for people seeking careers in the auto care industry. The public service announcements—created for the University of the Aftermarket Foundation by Brenton Productions, producers of “Two Guys Garage” and “Truck U”—share information about the auto care industry scholarships available at www.automotivescholarships.com. To view the University of the Aftermarket Foundation public service announcements online, visit the foundation’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/UofAFoundation.

	Premier Street Rod produced a rendering of a ’57 truck that the company will build to promote the new truck-body line.

Premier Street Rod’s Interactive Build to Promote New Truck Bodies
Premier Street Rod (Lake Havasu, Arizona) announced that it now manufactures ‘55–‘59 Chevrolet all-steel GM-licensed truck bodies. The company expects the price range to be similar to the ‘47-‘53 truck bodies that Premier has manufactured for several years. The company produced a rendering of a ’57 truck that the company will build to promote the new truck-body line. The progress of the build will be posted on the company’s website, www.premierstreetrod.com, and fans can follow the build and ask questions on how to install specific parts.

Bridgestone Retail Operations to Rebrand Expert Tire Locations
Bridgestone Retail Operations (BSRO) will rebrand 63 of its Expert Tire locations to Firestone Complete Auto Care stores and two Expert Tire locations to Hibdon Tires Plus stores. According to BSRO, the Firestone Complete Auto Care brand received attention this past year following the launch of the “Drive a Firestone” brand campaign. BSRO expects the conversion to be completed by Q2 2014. The products and services offered by all BSRO stores – Firestone Complete Auto Care, Tires Plus and Wheel Works – will remain the same during and following the transition.

Painless Performance and InGear Media Team-Up
Painless Performance has selected InGear Media to assist with media and promotional support for 2014, According to the companies, InGear Media will help Painless target the best media outlets, including print and Internet, as well as other projects and opportunities for the Painless product mix and promotional plans. “With our aggressive marketing and media plans for the future, Todd Ryden and InGear will be able to assist Painless in filtering through the multitude of media outlets, projects and opportunities to best fit our goals and new product mix,” said Adrian Murray, President of Painless Performance.