Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

VANDERGRIFF LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM ROLLING AT HOME EVENT: Bob Vandergriff and his C&J Energy Top Fuel dragster team enter the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on a hot streak after Vandergriff won the most recent event in Houston. Vandergriff continued his tradition of jogging from past the finish line to join his crew at the starting line to celebrate the victory. Atlanta Dragway is merely 60 minutes from Vandergriff’s home in Alpharetta, Georgia, and he will have a full contingency of friends and family cheering him on during the weekend. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com .For tickets, call 800-884-6472 or visit www.NHRATix.com.

BECKMAN HONORED BY U.S. AIR FORCE: NHRA Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman will visit the Gunter Annex of Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, May 2, to be presented with the U.S. Air Force Wall of Achievers honor in Enlisted Heritage Hall. Beckman, a former Air Force sergeant will visit the base the day before he begins competing in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. Beckman joins an impressive list of former enlisted airmen receiving the honor, including President George W. Bush, Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, singers Johnny Cash and Gene Autry, actor Charlton Heston and comedian Flip Wilson. Heritage Hall presents tributes to enlisted men and women who have contributed to the growth and development of the United States Air Force.

ALEXIS DEJORIA FEATURED IN UPCOMING ISSUE OF INKED MAGAZINE: Alexis DeJoria and her Tequila Patron Funny Car will be featured in an upcoming issue of Inked magazine which features the art, style and culture of tattoos. The issue will highlight the automotive theme and will be on the newsstands later in the summer. Photographers will be at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals shooting photos for the issue.

DON SCHUMACHER TO BE INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL MOTOSPORTS HALL OF FAME: NHRA pioneer and championship team owner Don Schumacher will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday night during a gala celebration at the Talladega Motor Speedway. Joining him as the 2013 inductees will be NASCAR legends Rick Hendrick, Dale Inman and Rusty Wallace. Schumacher joins NHRA legends, including Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Don Garlits, Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Shirley Muldowney, Wally Parks and Don Prudhomme.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, Atlanta Dragway, May 3–5: Greg Anderson comes into the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals as a four-time winner at the event and defending champion. The Charlotte resident has years of experience at the track and knows many of the nuances of the facility.

"I worked for 12 years with Warren Johnson, and that's where we tested all the time. He may have been inside the car, but I was right outside and so I've had a lot of experience with that racetrack,” Anderson said. “I think that's one of the main reasons we've been able to run there ever since we first formed this KB Racing team. Even though it's not our home track, it was mine for 12 years. It's another one of our favorites."

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is the seventh race of the 2013 season and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.atlantadragway.com.

NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS, Heartland Park Topeka, May 17–19: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series comes to Heartland Park Topeka for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17–19. The eighth event of the 24-race season will feature competition in three professional drag racing categories—Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. All of the biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will compete at the site of record-breaking performances. The 2012 winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event were David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock). The race action will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets are also available online at www.NHRAtix.com. Also vist www.HPT.com for more information.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

RETURNING TO SITE OF FIRST WIN: “It was unbelievable. All of the hard work we put into putting the team together all paid off that day. And it was made more special because my dad was with me.”

–Steve Torrence on getting his first career Top Fuel win at the 2012 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Torrence went one to win two more events in the 2012 season.



INSIDE THE NUMBERS

78 races: Number of races since a Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) or John Force Racing (JFR) Funny Car has failed to lead the points. Two-time Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon took the points lead from Matt Hagan on the strength of his second in of the season in Houston. The last non-DSR or JFR driver to lead the points was Cruz’s brother Tony in 2009.

DID YOU KNOW…
Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will look to regroup following the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. This was the first time since the 2011 season, 39 races, that a DSR Funny Car or Top Fuel car failed to make it to the finals.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

VANDERGRIFF LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM ROLLING AT HOME EVENT: Bob Vandergriff and his C&J Energy Top Fuel dragster team enter the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on a hot streak after Vandergriff won the most recent event in Houston. Vandergriff continued his tradition of jogging from past the finish line to join his crew at the starting line to celebrate the victory. Atlanta Dragway is merely 60 minutes from Vandergriff’s home in Alpharetta, Georgia, and he will have a full contingency of friends and family cheering him on during the weekend. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com .For tickets, call 800-884-6472 or visit www.NHRATix.com.

BECKMAN HONORED BY U.S. AIR FORCE: NHRA Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman will visit the Gunter Annex of Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, May 2, to be presented with the U.S. Air Force Wall of Achievers honor in Enlisted Heritage Hall. Beckman, a former Air Force sergeant will visit the base the day before he begins competing in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. Beckman joins an impressive list of former enlisted airmen receiving the honor, including President George W. Bush, Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, singers Johnny Cash and Gene Autry, actor Charlton Heston and comedian Flip Wilson. Heritage Hall presents tributes to enlisted men and women who have contributed to the growth and development of the United States Air Force.

ALEXIS DEJORIA FEATURED IN UPCOMING ISSUE OF INKED MAGAZINE: Alexis DeJoria and her Tequila Patron Funny Car will be featured in an upcoming issue of Inked magazine which features the art, style and culture of tattoos. The issue will highlight the automotive theme and will be on the newsstands later in the summer. Photographers will be at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals shooting photos for the issue.

DON SCHUMACHER TO BE INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL MOTOSPORTS HALL OF FAME: NHRA pioneer and championship team owner Don Schumacher will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday night during a gala celebration at the Talladega Motor Speedway. Joining him as the 2013 inductees will be NASCAR legends Rick Hendrick, Dale Inman and Rusty Wallace. Schumacher joins NHRA legends, including Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Don Garlits, Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Shirley Muldowney, Wally Parks and Don Prudhomme.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, Atlanta Dragway, May 3–5: Greg Anderson comes into the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals as a four-time winner at the event and defending champion. The Charlotte resident has years of experience at the track and knows many of the nuances of the facility.

"I worked for 12 years with Warren Johnson, and that's where we tested all the time. He may have been inside the car, but I was right outside and so I've had a lot of experience with that racetrack,” Anderson said. “I think that's one of the main reasons we've been able to run there ever since we first formed this KB Racing team. Even though it's not our home track, it was mine for 12 years. It's another one of our favorites."

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is the seventh race of the 2013 season and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.atlantadragway.com.

NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS, Heartland Park Topeka, May 17–19: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series comes to Heartland Park Topeka for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17–19. The eighth event of the 24-race season will feature competition in three professional drag racing categories—Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. All of the biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will compete at the site of record-breaking performances. The 2012 winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event were David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock). The race action will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets are also available online at www.NHRAtix.com. Also vist www.HPT.com for more information.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

RETURNING TO SITE OF FIRST WIN: “It was unbelievable. All of the hard work we put into putting the team together all paid off that day. And it was made more special because my dad was with me.”

–Steve Torrence on getting his first career Top Fuel win at the 2012 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Torrence went one to win two more events in the 2012 season.



INSIDE THE NUMBERS

78 races: Number of races since a Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) or John Force Racing (JFR) Funny Car has failed to lead the points. Two-time Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon took the points lead from Matt Hagan on the strength of his second in of the season in Houston. The last non-DSR or JFR driver to lead the points was Cruz’s brother Tony in 2009.

DID YOU KNOW…
Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will look to regroup following the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. This was the first time since the 2011 season, 39 races, that a DSR Funny Car or Top Fuel car failed to make it to the finals.

Compiled by SEMA Editors

NEWS NUGGETS

VANDERGRIFF LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM ROLLING AT HOME EVENT: Bob Vandergriff and his C&J Energy Top Fuel dragster team enter the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals on a hot streak after Vandergriff won the most recent event in Houston. Vandergriff continued his tradition of jogging from past the finish line to join his crew at the starting line to celebrate the victory. Atlanta Dragway is merely 60 minutes from Vandergriff’s home in Alpharetta, Georgia, and he will have a full contingency of friends and family cheering him on during the weekend. For more on this story, visit www.nhra.com .For tickets, call 800-884-6472 or visit www.NHRATix.com.

BECKMAN HONORED BY U.S. AIR FORCE: NHRA Funny Car world champion Jack Beckman will visit the Gunter Annex of Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, May 2, to be presented with the U.S. Air Force Wall of Achievers honor in Enlisted Heritage Hall. Beckman, a former Air Force sergeant will visit the base the day before he begins competing in the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals. Beckman joins an impressive list of former enlisted airmen receiving the honor, including President George W. Bush, Brigadier General Chuck Yeager, singers Johnny Cash and Gene Autry, actor Charlton Heston and comedian Flip Wilson. Heritage Hall presents tributes to enlisted men and women who have contributed to the growth and development of the United States Air Force.

ALEXIS DEJORIA FEATURED IN UPCOMING ISSUE OF INKED MAGAZINE: Alexis DeJoria and her Tequila Patron Funny Car will be featured in an upcoming issue of Inked magazine which features the art, style and culture of tattoos. The issue will highlight the automotive theme and will be on the newsstands later in the summer. Photographers will be at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals shooting photos for the issue.

DON SCHUMACHER TO BE INDUCTED INTO INTERNATIONAL MOTOSPORTS HALL OF FAME: NHRA pioneer and championship team owner Don Schumacher will be inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame on Thursday night during a gala celebration at the Talladega Motor Speedway. Joining him as the 2013 inductees will be NASCAR legends Rick Hendrick, Dale Inman and Rusty Wallace. Schumacher joins NHRA legends, including Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins, Joe Amato, Kenny Bernstein, John Force, Don Garlits, Bob Glidden, Warren Johnson, Shirley Muldowney, Wally Parks and Don Prudhomme.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS, Atlanta Dragway, May 3–5: Greg Anderson comes into the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals as a four-time winner at the event and defending champion. The Charlotte resident has years of experience at the track and knows many of the nuances of the facility.

"I worked for 12 years with Warren Johnson, and that's where we tested all the time. He may have been inside the car, but I was right outside and so I've had a lot of experience with that racetrack,” Anderson said. “I think that's one of the main reasons we've been able to run there ever since we first formed this KB Racing team. Even though it's not our home track, it was mine for 12 years. It's another one of our favorites."

The Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals is the seventh race of the 2013 season and drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will earn points toward the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championships. The 2012 winners of the event were Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock). For tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472) or visit www.atlantadragway.com.

NHRA KANSAS NATIONALS, Heartland Park Topeka, May 17–19: The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series comes to Heartland Park Topeka for the 25th annual NHRA Kansas Nationals, May 17–19. The eighth event of the 24-race season will feature competition in three professional drag racing categories—Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. All of the biggest stars in the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series will compete at the site of record-breaking performances. The 2012 winners of the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event were David Grubnic (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Allen Johnson (Pro Stock). The race action will be televised on ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. To purchase tickets, call 800-884-NHRA (6472). Tickets are also available online at www.NHRAtix.com. Also vist www.HPT.com for more information.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

RETURNING TO SITE OF FIRST WIN: “It was unbelievable. All of the hard work we put into putting the team together all paid off that day. And it was made more special because my dad was with me.”

–Steve Torrence on getting his first career Top Fuel win at the 2012 Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Torrence went one to win two more events in the 2012 season.



INSIDE THE NUMBERS

78 races: Number of races since a Don Schumacher Racing (DSR) or John Force Racing (JFR) Funny Car has failed to lead the points. Two-time Funny Car world champion Cruz Pedregon took the points lead from Matt Hagan on the strength of his second in of the season in Houston. The last non-DSR or JFR driver to lead the points was Cruz’s brother Tony in 2009.

DID YOU KNOW…
Don Schumacher Racing Top Fuel and Funny Car teams will look to regroup following the O’Reilly Auto Parts NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. This was the first time since the 2011 season, 39 races, that a DSR Funny Car or Top Fuel car failed to make it to the finals.

SEMA News—April 2013

INTERNATIONAL
By Alysha Webb

Case Study: Globalizing Sales

One Company’s Methods May Be a Model for Others

“We see the potential for double-digit growth in our international sales over the next 24 to 36 months, both on the consumer side and the industrial side,” said David Canitz, manager of the company’s international markets.

Royal Purple’s consumer products are high-performance lubricants for automotive, motorcycle, marine and racing enthusiasts. Its industrial product is high-performance synthetic oil to the petroleum industry. Its business in the United States is about 55% industrial and 43% consumer. Internationally, however, consumer products account for only about 20% of sales.

The company, based in Porter, Texas, now aims to change that. It has embarked on an ambitious program to grow sales of its consumer products by up to one-third this year.

The smaller market for consumer products was mainly because of the high cost of finding distributors and marketing the consumer products, Canitz said. But in July of 2012, privately owned Royal Purple was purchased by Calumet Specialty Products, a much larger, publicly traded company. That sale will provide the needed resources to grow international sales by adding more distributors.

“You know there is a good relationship when you have traveled to their country and they want to invite you to their homes for dinner or a drink,” he said.

Given the growing number of international attendees at the SEMA Show, it is also “a great place to make initial contact without the expense of flying all over the world,” said Canitz. SEMA’s business-development conferences are also opportunities to meet potential distributors, he said.

Canitz attended the Abu Dhabi conference last April, where he met owners of performance and repair shops and entrepreneurs who wanted to sell Royal Purple’s high-performance consumer lubricants.

“Without SEMA, it would have taken a long time to go out and locate those people,” he said, since most of Royal Purple’s previous business in the Middle East was for industrial products. “The last container for my Middle East distributor, a third was retail product, whereas it would have been 5% before.”

Overseas Distribution Basics

When evaluating a potential distributor, Canitz looks for “someone who is hungry and will work hard to promote your products. If they are too successful, they may not be hungry enough.”

Read the rest of the article, "Case Study: Globalizing Sales," featured in the April 2013 issue of SEMA News.

SEMA News—April 2013

INTERNATIONAL
By Alysha Webb

Case Study: Globalizing Sales

One Company’s Methods May Be a Model for Others

“We see the potential for double-digit growth in our international sales over the next 24 to 36 months, both on the consumer side and the industrial side,” said David Canitz, manager of the company’s international markets.

Royal Purple’s consumer products are high-performance lubricants for automotive, motorcycle, marine and racing enthusiasts. Its industrial product is high-performance synthetic oil to the petroleum industry. Its business in the United States is about 55% industrial and 43% consumer. Internationally, however, consumer products account for only about 20% of sales.

The company, based in Porter, Texas, now aims to change that. It has embarked on an ambitious program to grow sales of its consumer products by up to one-third this year.

The smaller market for consumer products was mainly because of the high cost of finding distributors and marketing the consumer products, Canitz said. But in July of 2012, privately owned Royal Purple was purchased by Calumet Specialty Products, a much larger, publicly traded company. That sale will provide the needed resources to grow international sales by adding more distributors.

“You know there is a good relationship when you have traveled to their country and they want to invite you to their homes for dinner or a drink,” he said.

Given the growing number of international attendees at the SEMA Show, it is also “a great place to make initial contact without the expense of flying all over the world,” said Canitz. SEMA’s business-development conferences are also opportunities to meet potential distributors, he said.

Canitz attended the Abu Dhabi conference last April, where he met owners of performance and repair shops and entrepreneurs who wanted to sell Royal Purple’s high-performance consumer lubricants.

“Without SEMA, it would have taken a long time to go out and locate those people,” he said, since most of Royal Purple’s previous business in the Middle East was for industrial products. “The last container for my Middle East distributor, a third was retail product, whereas it would have been 5% before.”

Overseas Distribution Basics

When evaluating a potential distributor, Canitz looks for “someone who is hungry and will work hard to promote your products. If they are too successful, they may not be hungry enough.”

Read the rest of the article, "Case Study: Globalizing Sales," featured in the April 2013 issue of SEMA News.

By SEMA Editors

Ninety-one percent of buyers base their decision on whether to attend the SEMA Show partly on which companies are exhibiting.

By SEMA Editors

Ninety-one percent of buyers base their decision on whether to attend the SEMA Show partly on which companies are exhibiting.

By SEMA Editors

The current SEMA Board of Directors.

Election materials for the (2013–2016) SEMA Board of Directors election have been mailed to the primary contacts at all eligible SEMA-member companies. The voting period is May 15–June 11, 2013. Votes must be cast by each company's designated primary contact. Learn more about each candidate on the 2013 Board of Directors Nominees, Bio and Questionnaire page. 

The SEMA Board of Directors is responsible for providing strategic direction to the association and shaping the future of the automotive specialty-equipment industry. For the election, candidates submit a questionnaire that clearly states the issues they feel are critical to the industry. For the first time in the SEMA Board election, the questionnaires will be posted online and made available to the SEMA electorate to help members make a well-informed decision and select the leadership they feel will make a positive impact on the Association and industry.

In addition to the questionnaires, each candidate also provides a detailed biography that includes career experience, personal insights and an explanation of their primary goals in running for a seat on the SEMA Board. The biographies offer more insight into the candidates' background, professional contributions and personal motivations for choosing to volunteer for the Board.

Here are the candidates campaigning for one of four open seats on the SEMA Board:

Chairman-Elect Category

• Doug Evans – Source Interlink Media
• Tim Martin – K&N Engineering

Manufacturers Category (two open seats)

• Al Azadi – OMIX-ADA Inc./Rugged Ridge
• Kyle Fickler – Weld Racing
• Steve Matusek – Aeromotive Inc.
• Tim Watts – Superlift Suspension Systems

Manufacturers' Representative Category (one open seat)

• Jeff Bates – Bob Cook Sales
• Greg Bernheisel – Considine Sales & Marketing

Winners will be announced in June and formally introduced as the newest members of SEMA's Board of Directors at the SEMA Installation Banquet in July. All industry professionals are invited to join the celebration and welcome the new Board members by attending the gala July 26.

For additional information on the 2013 SEMA Board of Directors election, contact Arlene Wood at arlenew@sema.org or call 909-978-6678.