Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD Named Official Truck & Tow Vehicle of the NMCA

Chevrolet, a longtime sponsor and supporter of the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals, has expanded its role with the popular sanctioning body by becoming the “Official Truck & Tow Vehicle of NMCA” for 2022 and beyond.

The NMCA national event series has partnered with Chevrolet Performance for more than 20 years in various programs from launching the LSX lineup of factory performance parts to celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famed COPO Camaro. As the Official Truck & Tow Vehicle of NMCA, Chevrolet has provided the series a pair of 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD dually pickup trucks for towing and fire/safety purposes with more than a dozen competitions on the schedule as both a sanctioning body and event production company.

“Our long-term relationship with Chevrolet is very valuable to NMCA from their deeply engrained performance division and now their line-up of new trucks and tow vehicles. We’re thrilled to showcase these trucks across the country, displaying their capabilities to our racing community and relying on them as key components to fire/safety response in our high-speed sport,” said Rollie Miller, general manager and national event director of ProMedia Events & Publishing, the parent company to the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals, Holley NMRA Ford Nationals and ProMedia Productions.

The top-of-the-line Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD trucks will be showcased at all events for racers and fans—even as they stand ready to respond on the racetrack. The NMCA/NMRA teams use the trucks to move two large-sized United Trailers from Jason Dietsch Trailer Sales from track to track. The trailers contain safety equipment, onsite transportation, a series merchandise store, and the office space needed to successfully operate the second largest sanctioning body in drag racing.

For more information on the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD visit www.chevrolet.com/trucks/silverado/2500hd-3500hd.  For more information about the Red Line Oil NMCA Muscle Car Nationals, visit www.NMCAdigital.com.

UPcarparts.com Named Headline Sponsor for 2022 C10 SLO Down

United Pacific Industries’ (UPI) subdivision UPcarparts.com is 2022’s main sponsor for one of the biggest Chevrolet C10 events of the year, the San Luis Obispo “C10
SLO Down.” Hosted at the 27-acre Madonna Inn, more than 800 classic Chevy and GM trucks are registered to show their vehicles on Saturday, July 23, from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (PDT). Originated by C10 Club Central Coast representative Paul Karp, the event began as a casual, annual meet-up at various locations throughout Central California, before being more formally coordinated this year. 2022 organizers are Tony Ortega, president of C10 Club Sacramento, Carlos Vidales of Dropped Lower, and John Oro of C10 Club, who hope to create a tighter bond between Southern and Northern California C10 fans at this free-to-attend event.

UPI will showcase four vehicles at its event booth: Tony Cole’s ’74 C10, Lance Teruya’s ’87 C10, Eddie Dean Franco’s ’86 Chevy K5 Blazer and Oro’s ’71 K5 Blazer (aka “Prom Queen”), all of which feature UPI’s line of LED lights. The UPI team will have C10 LED lights onsite for sale at a 15% discount, is raffling multiple items, and will be livestreaming on its @upcarparts Facebook and Instagram pages throughout the day.

Mishimoto Announces Summer Car Park Party

Mishimoto announced that it will hold its Summer Car Park Party—along with Turn14 and Pit+Paddock—at the Mishimoto Headquarters in Delaware, 5:00 p.m., Saturday, July 23.

The Summer Car Park Party will feature specialized custom vehicles, unique enthusiast builds and opportunities for for attendees to get sneak peek at Mishimoto’s R&D facility. The event will also feature a live DJ and food trucks.

Mullen Automotive Receives Order for 600 Cargo Vans

Emerging electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, Mullen Automotive Inc., announced it signed a binding agreement with DelPack Logistics LLC (DPL), an Amazon Delivery Service Partner, for DPL to purchase up to 600 Mullen Class 2 EV cargo vans over the next 18 months. Conditions to the binding agreement between Mullen and DPL include: DPL will place a purchase order for up to 600 Mullen Class 2 electric cargo vans over the next 18 months; the 600 Class 2 EV Cargo Vans will be fully homologated for the United States; and the first 300 fully homologated for the United States Mullen Class 2 EV Cargo Vans can be delivered to DPL by November 30, 2022, at the request of DPL.

All Mullen Class 2 electric cargo vans will be equipped with all airbags as required by United States standards and a cabin comfort package, including adjustable seats, cup holders, an infotainment system, and a comfortable passenger seat. In addition, the Mullen Class 2 electric cargo vans will carry a minimum of an 80 kilowatt-per-hour battery pack.

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

  Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show, the premier gathering for the automotive specialty-equipment industry, is now open at www.semashow.com/register.

Taking place November 1–4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 2022 SEMA Show will build upon the positive momentum following last year’s event, which successfully connected the $47.8 billion industry in person in what was the largest automotive trade show in North America since the pandemic shut everything down in 2020.

“The SEMA Show is where industry professionals go to grow existing relationships, create new ones and push their businesses forward,” said Tom Gattuso, SEMA vice president of events. “Exhibitors are eager to showcase their products and services to the tens of thousands of qualified professionals in attendance.”

Anticipation for this year's SEMA Show ramped up in recent weeks as exhibitors selected their booth locations during Priority Space Selection, a weeks-long process that took place May 2–18.

“Enthusiasm for the 2022 Show continues to exceed last year’s, with more than 1 million sq. ft. of exhibitor space already committed for the 2022 SEMA Show and confirmed spaces running 25% above last year,” said Warren Kosikov, SEMA vice president of sales.

Attendees at the 2022 SEMA Show will learn about the latest products, trends and technology in the industry from manufacturers exhibiting throughout the entire Las Vegas Convention Center, including the surrounding parking lots. Educational seminars led by industry experts and networking events that bring market niches together will also be available during the four-day trade event.

“Our industry continues to thrive despite current challenges in the marketplace, and last year’s event proved that the value of conducting business and networking face-to-face can never be replaced,” said Gattuso. “Our mission is to help continue that momentum by providing an unparalleled experience that builds meaningful business relationships.”

Registration for the 2022 SEMA Show is offered in three categories—attendee, exhibitor and media—and everyone must qualify to attend. Attendees are encouraged to register early at www.semashow.com/register so they can secure their credentials and receive updates on breaking news from the 2022 SEMA Show.

Attendees are encouraged to check the floorplan to see where the companies they need to interact with will be located at the 2022 SEMA Show.

For more information about qualifying documents and the 2022 SEMA Show, log on to www.semashow.com.

By SEMA Editors

Dates and locations have been scheduled for several upcoming SEMA-sponsored shows, measuring sessions and activities.

  Exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show are invited to expand their reach, product exposure and Show-floor presence by offering products to builders through the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list. The list connects manufacturers with builders looking to create or complete a vehicle project.

The list, which will be updated in SEMA eNews, features product offers and contact information provided by confirmed SEMA Show exhibitors. Builders interested in obtaining a product use the information to contact exhibitors directly. With each project vehicle required to be supported by a current 2022 SEMA Show exhibitor, all product-placement decisions, negotiations and agreements are the responsibility of the exhibiting manufacturer and the builder.

The list is open to exhibitors of the 2022 SEMA Show only. To be included in the list, complete the form.

Exhibitors: Each submission will appear on a first-come, first-served basis. As participation increases, all submissions will also be archived on www.SEMAShow.com.

Note: For verification purposes, the Project-Vehicle Builders form must be used to participate in the program; email submissions will not be included in the list. Participation in the list does not guarantee product or vehicle placement at the 2022 SEMA Show.

View the Products for Project-Vehicle Builders list.

By Ashley Reyes

Automakers have been creating high-performance vehicles for decades. The Big Three U.S. manufacturers have been a particularly dominant source for the aftermarket community.

SEMA members are invited to join a Facebook and Instagram live chat on Wednesday, July 27, at 12:00 p.m. (PDT), where three performance builders—each of whom focuses on a different brand—will share their expert opinions on where the industry is going, and why they choose to work with the OEMs that they do. Featuring Brian Tooley, Brian Tooley Racing; Sujal “Skip” Patel, partner at Demon Performance; and Joe Irwin, Fast Forward Race Engines, the live chat will dive into the unique characteristics of each of the Big Three OEMs and include live interactive questions and answers from the group.

Live Chat Location: SEMA Emerging Trends and Technology Network (ETTN) Facebook page and Instagram live (@ettn_sema).

By Ashley Reyes

Three customized third-generation Toyota 4Runners and two Jeep Wrangler TJs are now available for purchase via auction on BringaTrailer.com, as part of the SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program.

Each vehicle features dozens of donated parts from automotive parts manufacturers, and was built by students in high school automotive shop classes under the guidance of industry experts.

The public is invited to bid on the vehicles in auctions that are currently running on BringaTrailer.com.

The five vehicles and details, including the date the auction began, are:

July 18: A ’97 Toyota 4Runner customized by John Hersey High School in Chicago. The vehicle features the factory Desert Dune exterior color with a tan interior. Upgrades also include Alpine 7-in. screen multimedia head unit and backup camera, K&N cold-air intake, ICON Vehicle Dynamics Stage 2 suspension, as well as a True North Fabrications front and rear plate bumpers and a WARN winch.

Bid here.

John Hersey’s ’97 Toyota 4Runner.

July 19: An ’01 Jeep Wrangler TJ customized by Career Center High School in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The vehicle’s exterior has been fully custom painted in red, roll cage in black, with a complementing black vinyl soft top. Upgrades also include Katzkin front and rear custom leather seats, Azzy’s gauge overlay kit, and Rugged Ridge Drakon wheels on Atturo 33x12.5R17LT Trail Blade M/T Tires, 32.8-in. height.

Bid here.

Career Center High School’s ’01 Jeep Wrangler TJ.

July 20: A ’96 Toyota 4Runner customized by OPS Career Center in Omaha, Nebraska. The exterior is Sunfire Red Pearl with a black and tan interior. Upgrades also include PRP Enduro reclining seats and a custom back bench seat, Borla cat-back exhaust,True North Fabrications front and rear plate bumpers with spare-tire carrier swingout and RBP Saharan wheels on Atturo LT275/65/R18 Trail Blade M/T Tires, 32.3-in. height.

OPS Career Center’s ’96 Toyota 4Runner.

July 21: An ’02 Jeep Wrangler TJ customized by Santa Fe ECO in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The vehicle is custom painted in a USC Dominator Bed Liner tinted Matte Green with the original black hardtop. Both the OEM doors and trail doors are included, each with their own set of mirrors. The frame and under body are detailed and painted with 3M undercoating, topped with SEM semi-gloss hot-rod black.

Santa Fe ECO’s ’02 Jeep Wrangler TJ.

July 22: A ’97 Toyota 4Runner customized by Comstock HS in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The vehicle features a full exterior repaint in Quicksand Tan, Katzkin front and rear custom leather seats, Borla cat-back exhaust, True North Fabrications front and rear plate bumpers with spare-tire carrier swingout, and bronze-finished ICON wheels on Atturo 35x12.5R17LT Trail Blade M/T Tires, 34.8-in. height.

Comstock HS’ ’97 Toyota 4Runner.

Visit BringaTrailer.com to see all the upgrades and build details of each vehicle in the upcoming auction.

Ten participating high schools participated in the 2020 SEMA High School Vehicle Build Program, which was put on hold due to COVID-19 and resumed earlier this year. The program helps students learn about the automotive customization hobby and give them real-world, hands-on educational experiences. They also received build training directly from product manufacturers and industry members who visited the schools.
The remaining five vehicles will be auctioned off in late September. Proceeds from the auctions will be reinvested back into the program and other SEMA Education Youth Engagement initiatives.

For more details about the program and the vehicles, visit www.sema.org/student-builds.

The SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) named Kristina Coburn, marketing manager of the truck bed cover division at RealTruck, as the newest #SheIsSEMA spotlight member.

Get to know Coburn in her interview with SEMA below.

SEMA: What do you enjoy most about working at RealTruck?

Kristina Coburn: I love it for being such a large corporation but they keep the family feel.

SEMA: What is the most challenging part of running your business or job?

KC: The most challenging part of my job specifically is managing the several bed cover brands while making sure they all keep their unique brand voices throughout the market.

SEMA: How many years have you been in the industry and what was your first industry job?

KC: I have been in the automotive industry just under 10 years and it all started way back when at 4WheelDrive Hardware. I got hired in to be a customer service rep and fell in love with Jeeps and off-roading.

SEMA: What are three qualities that got you to where you are today?

KC: Three key qualities that I believe helped me get to this level in my career would be organization, addiction to problem-solving, and the big one—passion. The passion to be better personally, professionally and help my team and company.

SEMA: Being a woman in the industry, what have been your biggest challenges and accomplishments?

KC: I hate to say I have had challenges just because I am a woman in what they call “a man’s industry.”  Times have changed for the most part I think, but the biggest challenge was coming into the industry as an adult falling in love with it, and having to play catch up alongside colleagues and peers who, for the most part, have been living and breathing this industry since they were children.

SEMA: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry?

KC: Easy! There are two women in this industry that I have looked up to for several years, though they may not know this or know their stories and leadership have inspired me to grow and also get more and more involved in the industry as a whole. They are Erika Marquez and Marla Moore.

SEMA: What is the best career advice you have received?

KC: My grandmother would always tell me a situation can make you better or bitter. This works in my everyday life at home or in the office—something happens or just doesn’t go your way. Choose to be better, not bitter.

SEMA: Have you always wanted to work in the automotive industry?

KC: I stumbled into this industry about 10 years ago looking for office work to help build my resume. I was answering phones for 4WheelDrive Hardware, a Jeep-focused business, and fell in love. As I started to focus on my career and growth it was suggested to me to network and volunteer for a SEMA network. I got linked up with SBN and it’s all history from there. The people in this industry are amazing and always there to help you learn and grow and be involved.

SEMA: Who was the most influential person on your career or goals?

KC: My mother.

Do you know, or are you, a woman with a career in the automotive industry? Fill out a #SheIsSEMA spotlight form to submit a self-nomination or nominate a colleague and highlight how you or she is contributing to the specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are automatically eligible to be considered for SBN's #SheIsSEMA Woman of the Year award, featured on SBN's social media, SEMA News and recognized on the www.sema.org/she-is-sema website.

Pruett, Hight, Hartford and M. Smith Open Western Swing With Wins at Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals

Leah Pruett went 3.884 seconds at 316.38 mph in her 11,000-hp Dodge Power Brokers dragster to knock off Shawn Langdon in the final round.

Leah Pruett delivered the first Top Fuel win for Tony Stewart Racing, powering to the victory on Sunday at the 42nd annual Dodge Power Brokers NHRA Mile-High Nationals at Bandimere Speedway. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won at the 11th of 22 races during the 2022 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series season. The stop in Denver marks the first event in the three-race NHRA Western Swing. Pruett went 3.884 seconds at 316.38 mph in her 11,000-hp Dodge Power Brokers dragster to knock off Shawn Langdon in the final round.

In a Funny Car finals rematch of the most recent race in Norwalk, Hight delivered the same result against Bob Tasca III, continuing his incredible season by going 4.065 at 311.92 in his 11,000-hp Auto Club Chevrolet Camaro SS. That gives the points leader his second straight win, fifth this season and 58th in his career, and his fifth victory in Denver.

Hartford used a .004 reaction time and then a strong run of 6.967 at 196.36 in his Total Seal Camaro to knock off No. 1 qualifier Aaron Stanfield in the finals.

Smith capped off a dominant weekend in Pro Stock Motorcycle by going 7.097 at 190.22 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell to knock off Joey Gladstone and win for the second straight time in Denver.

The NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series returns to action July 22–24 with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals at Sonoma Raceway.

Chicago To Host First-Ever NASCAR Cup Series Street Race In 2023

NASCAR has announced the NASCAR Cup Series will race on the streets of downtown Chicago, July 1–2, 2023. The first-ever NASCAR Chicago Street Race will take place July 2, and be preceded by an IMSA-sanctioned race, which will run July 1. The specific IMSA series will be announced at a later date.

Officials will transform Lake Shore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and surrounding thoroughfares into a 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course, with the start-finish line and pit road located along South Columbus Drive in front of Buckingham Fountain. The course will pass through Grant Park, as well as approach the northern edge of Soldier Field—home to the Chicago Bears and the site of the only other Cup Series race to take place in Chicago in 1956.

The course layout was first developed on the iRacing platform, which was used in the 2021 eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series.

The Chicago Street Race will replace Road America on the Independence Day weekend schedule, as confirmed by Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of racing development and strategy.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

NMCA Announces ‘All-Star’ Event for NMCA All-American Nationals

ProMedia’s National Muscle Car Association (NMCA) has announced a new “All-Star” race is set for the NMCA All-American Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, August 25–28. The NMCA vs. Buckeye Stock/Super Stock All Stars presented by A&A Transmission class will feature a 32 cars. The field will include the top five in points for both the NMCA Stock Eliminator and Super Stock Eliminator classes, along with the top 10 in points for the Buckeye team, which runs its events as a single combination class of Stock and Super Stock racers. Then, the top points earner will be able to select a blocker from the non-seeded cars, and the remaining slots will be filled from the top qualifiers in Stock and Super Stock after Q1.

“There are basically two races for one entry fee,” NMCA’s Jim Bailey said in a release. “The NMCA and Buckeye Stock/Super Stock groups are each offering an extra $1,000 bonus if one of their cars wins. If a driver [wins] this deal, [they’ll] get $1,000 plus the other $1,000, and if [they] turn around and win the NMCA race that’s around $3,000—that’s a $5,000 weekend for a $150 entry fee.”

For more information, visit nmcadigital.com.

NHRA Announces First Four Races of 2023 Camping World Season

NHRA officials have announced the dates for the first four races for the 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule, as the upcoming season will open March 9–12 with the 54th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway. Fans can also look forward to all four professional categories (Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle) in attendance at Gainesville to start the season.

Following the March opener in Gainesville, the NHRA will head to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park on March 24–26 for the final NHRA Arizona Nationals. Drivers will look to end nearly four decades of racing in Phoenix with a victory, and the last NHRA Arizona Nationals also starts a three-race stretch over four weeks on the West Coast. The 63rd annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals takes place the following weekend, March 30–April 2, at Auto Club Raceway at Pomona.

After an off week, the NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series will go to The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on April 14–16 for the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals to wrap up the first four races of the 2023 NHRA season. It is the first of two races in Las Vegas, with the spring race featuring four-wide racing.

The full 2023 NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series schedule will be announced soon, as well as details on class schedules.

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

By Ashley Reyes

Shop owners can gain a competitive edge by becoming product experts. The SEMA Professional Restylers Organization’s (PRO) Installer Training and General Membership Meeting on August 18 will include activities that will help restylers, installers and technicians learn about some of the newest and hottest auto accessories, including installation tips, techniques and marketing messages. Participants will be able to answer any questions their customers may have about the products, and provide top-quality service.  

The PRO Installer Training and General Membership Meeting on August 18 will include activities that will help restylers, installers and technicians learn about some of the newest and hottest auto accessories.

The agenda includes hands-on installation techniques from Katzkin, Llumar, Brandmotion, Voxx and Champion Auto, and shop owners will engage in high-quality roundtable discussions with other shop owners and sales personnel from throughout the area.  

“There’s no other training that provides such an intimate setting for shop owners and installers to level up their skills and learn the product knowledge needed to give them a competitive edge,” said PRO Council Director Denise Waddingham. “Our specialists are targeted to help our members master their craft, which can ultimately boost their business.”  

This opportunity is free to PRO member companies and their staff, making it affordable for shop owners to grow their team’s knowledge. Attendees will also have the chance to attend a PRO networking event at Old Burdick’s in Kalamazoo from 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. the same evening, and are invited to attend a Cars and Coffee at the SEMA Garage Detroit on August 19 and stay for the Woodward Dream Cruise on August 20. Auto Image is a two-hour drive from SEMA Garage Detroit and the Woodward Dream Cruise.

Learn more and sign up here. 

By Ashley Reyes

The product-development process has evolved tremendously. In addition to having to adapt to complex vehicle technology, engineers today have tools and resources that impact the way products are made. The SEMA Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) is hosting a comprehensive event where engineers will learn how to develop products for today’s sophisticated cars and trucks while keeping the vehicles in compliance, as well as discover ways to streamline the product development process for greater efficiency and accuracy.

Called the Networking, Education, Resources, Development (N.E.R.D) Symposium, the first-ever event will take place August 16–19 in conjunction with the grand opening of the new SEMA Garage in Detroit. Participants will take part in in-depth training sessions focused on:

• Computer modeling electric vehicles for the performance vehicle industry.
• Emissions regulations and lessons learned for the performance aftermarket.
• Advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS).

Participants will also meet and learn about vendors that can assist with 3-D scanning, printing, data management and more.

The SEMA ETTN N.E.R.D. Symposium is the best place for automotive aftermarket engineers to connect and talk about the issues and challenges that affect them most.

“Meeting with experts is one of the best ways to stay informed, and this event will help engineers stay up-to-date on the emerging trends and tools related to electric vehicles, engine tuning, emissions compliance and advanced driver assistance systems,” said ETTN Council Director Nicole Bradle. “These technologies represent significant opportunities and challenges for the performance aftermarket, so it’s important to know the latest trends and hear from experts in these areas.”

Education sessions will focus on the latest emissions regulations that OEMs are tackling and common issues experienced while trying to emissions-certify aftermarket products, as well as the latest technologies and strategies for performance engine calibration within the constraints of emissions compliance.

Modeling and simulation of electric vehicles—which are critical tools for designing groundbreaking EV products—and the latest developments and techniques for responsible modification of vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems will also be presented.

View the full event schedule and register here by July 22.