Compiled by SEMA Editors

Jeff Gordon will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019.

Five Legends Named To 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Class

NASCAR announced the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2019. The five-person group—the 10th since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010—consists of Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Jeff Gordon, Roger Penske and Jack Roush. In addition, NASCAR announced that Jim Hunter earned the 2019 Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The distinguished group will be honored during the NASCAR Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, February 1, 2019. The Class of 2019 was determined by votes cast by the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel. The Class of 2019 Induction Weekend is set for Thursday, January 31, 2019, through Saturday, February 2, 2019, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Class of 2019 marks a total of 50 legends inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. To celebrate, NASCAR has added new events and special programs throughout the extended weekend. Find out additional details about the Class of 2019 Induction Weekend schedule and ticket packages.

Timothy P. McGrane

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Appoints New CEO

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca officials have announced Timothy P. McGrane as CEO of the County of Monterey-owned facility, effective June 1. McGrane is a lifelong automotive enthusiast with an extensive background in event management, fundraising and sponsorship acquisition. He has been involved with classic car auctions for 30 years, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance through various associations for 25 years and most recently served as executive director of Blackhawk Automotive Museum since 2013.

Charlie Henry’s Kar-Kraft Book Goes Into Second Printing

Kar-Kraft: Race Cars, Prototypes and Muscle Cars of Ford’s Special Vehicles Program, has gone into its second printing.

SEMA member Charlie Henry’s car tech book, Kar-Kraft: Race Cars, Prototypes and Muscle Cars of Ford’s Special Vehicles Program, has gone into its second printing. The Antique Automobile Club of America awarded the book its M.J. Duryea Memorial Cup for outstanding contribution to automotive history for 2017. The book tells the story of Kar-Kraft—Ford’s exclusive contract special vehicle shop. Kar-Kraft designed and built the Le Mans-winning GT 40 Mk IV, factory Trans-Am Mustangs, Boss 429 Mustangs and other Ford race and performance cars of the ’60s. Documents and images illustrate the story from beginning to the sudden end in 1970. 

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

By Jim Graven

SEMA members are encouraged to take advantage of the SEMA Data Co-op’s (SDC) Platinum Rewards Program to receive $10,000 in marketing exposure at the 2018 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is offering $10,000 in marketing outreach to participating SDC suppliers exhibiting at the 2018 SEMA Show that achieve or maintain Platinum status. Enroll now, as the deadline is July 13—less than two months away! The SDC is an industry-owned and -operated project that provides full product data-management capabilities to participating suppliers at the lowest possible cost.

Participating SDC suppliers exhibiting at the 2018 SEMA Show that achieve or maintain SDC Platinum status (prior to July 13) will receive $10,000 in marketing exposure, including:

• Carpet/floor ad near booth location.
• Meter-panel listing in the SEMA Show’s lobbies.
• Ad listing in the 2018 September, October and November issues of SEMA News magazine.
• Ad listing in each of the four SEMA Show Daily magazines.

Questions? Visit www.semadatacoop.org. The SDC East Coast/Midwest contact is Jim Graven, 888-958-6698, ext. 4. The West Coast SDC contact is Tim Stewart, 888-958-6698, ext. 9.

By Jim Graven

SEMA members are encouraged to take advantage of the SEMA Data Co-op’s (SDC) Platinum Rewards Program to receive $10,000 in marketing exposure at the 2018 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is offering $10,000 in marketing outreach to participating SDC suppliers exhibiting at the 2018 SEMA Show that achieve or maintain Platinum status. Enroll now, as the deadline is July 13—less than two months away! The SDC is an industry-owned and -operated project that provides full product data-management capabilities to participating suppliers at the lowest possible cost.

Participating SDC suppliers exhibiting at the 2018 SEMA Show that achieve or maintain SDC Platinum status (prior to July 13) will receive $10,000 in marketing exposure, including:

• Carpet/floor ad near booth location.
• Meter-panel listing in the SEMA Show’s lobbies.
• Ad listing in the 2018 September, October and November issues of SEMA News magazine.
• Ad listing in each of the four SEMA Show Daily magazines.

Questions? Visit www.semadatacoop.org. The SDC East Coast/Midwest contact is Jim Graven, 888-958-6698, ext. 4. The West Coast SDC contact is Tim Stewart, 888-958-6698, ext. 9.

By Jim Graven

SEMA members are encouraged to take advantage of the SEMA Data Co-op’s (SDC) Platinum Rewards Program to receive $10,000 in marketing exposure at the 2018 SEMA Show.

The SEMA Data Co-op (SDC) is offering $10,000 in marketing outreach to participating SDC suppliers exhibiting at the 2018 SEMA Show that achieve or maintain Platinum status. Enroll now, as the deadline is July 13—less than two months away! The SDC is an industry-owned and -operated project that provides full product data-management capabilities to participating suppliers at the lowest possible cost.

Participating SDC suppliers exhibiting at the 2018 SEMA Show that achieve or maintain SDC Platinum status (prior to July 13) will receive $10,000 in marketing exposure, including:

• Carpet/floor ad near booth location.
• Meter-panel listing in the SEMA Show’s lobbies.
• Ad listing in the 2018 September, October and November issues of SEMA News magazine.
• Ad listing in each of the four SEMA Show Daily magazines.

Questions? Visit www.semadatacoop.org. The SDC East Coast/Midwest contact is Jim Graven, 888-958-6698, ext. 4. The West Coast SDC contact is Tim Stewart, 888-958-6698, ext. 9.

The Enthusiast Network’s David Freiburger talks about his transition from writing magazines to creating videos in the automotive industry.

The Enthusiast Network’s David Freiburger talks about his transition from writing magazines to creating videos in the automotive industry.

By SEMA Editors

Donnie Eatherly	Dan Kahn	Brian Lounsberry
Dr. Jamie Meyer	Steve Whipple

Results of the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Donnie Eatherly from P&E Distributors Inc., Dan Kahn from Kahn Media Inc., Brian Lounsberry from Motovicity Distribution, Dr. Jamie Meyer from General Motors and Steve Whipple from Edelbrock LLC elected to serve on the Board.

While Kahn is a current SEMA Board member who was re-elected onto the group, Eatherly has served as a past Board member, and Lounsberry, Meyer and Whipple will join as new SEMA Board members.

The following is the complete list of the 2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors, effective at the close of the board meeting, July 20:

• Chairman of the Board: Wade Kawasaki, Coker Group
• Chairman-Elect: Tim Martin, K&N Engineering Inc.
• Immediate-Past Chairman and Secretary: Doug Evans, Crower Cams & Equipment Co. Inc.
• Treasurer: Peter Lehman, Granite Creek Capital Partners LLC

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group
• Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors Inc.
• Kyle Fickler, Aeromotive Inc.
• Dan Kahn, Kahn Media Inc.
• James Lawrence, Power Automedia
• Brian Lounsberry, Motovicity Distribution
• Dr. Jamie Meyer, General Motors
• Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales
• Steve Whipple, Edelbrock LLC

David Goch of Webster, Chamberlain & Bean LLP, and Russ Deane, of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane, continue as general counsels.

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by all SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ rep and services.

The entire 2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation & Gala in July. At the same time, outgoing SEMA Board members Jim Bingham of Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc., Susan Carpenter of CPG, Laurel Dasher of MagnaFlow and Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing will be concluding their volunteer terms and honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees: Donnie Eatherly, Ed Pink and Chris Thomson.

Details and tickets to the SEMA Installation & Gala are available at www.sema.org/gala.

By SEMA Editors

Donnie Eatherly	Dan Kahn	Brian Lounsberry
Dr. Jamie Meyer	Steve Whipple

Results of the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Donnie Eatherly from P&E Distributors Inc., Dan Kahn from Kahn Media Inc., Brian Lounsberry from Motovicity Distribution, Dr. Jamie Meyer from General Motors and Steve Whipple from Edelbrock LLC elected to serve on the Board.

While Kahn is a current SEMA Board member who was re-elected onto the group, Eatherly has served as a past Board member, and Lounsberry, Meyer and Whipple will join as new SEMA Board members.

The following is the complete list of the 2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors, effective at the close of the board meeting, July 20:

• Chairman of the Board: Wade Kawasaki, Coker Group
• Chairman-Elect: Tim Martin, K&N Engineering Inc.
• Immediate-Past Chairman and Secretary: Doug Evans, Crower Cams & Equipment Co. Inc.
• Treasurer: Peter Lehman, Granite Creek Capital Partners LLC

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group
• Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors Inc.
• Kyle Fickler, Aeromotive Inc.
• Dan Kahn, Kahn Media Inc.
• James Lawrence, Power Automedia
• Brian Lounsberry, Motovicity Distribution
• Dr. Jamie Meyer, General Motors
• Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales
• Steve Whipple, Edelbrock LLC

David Goch of Webster, Chamberlain & Bean LLP, and Russ Deane, of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane, continue as general counsels.

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by all SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ rep and services.

The entire 2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation & Gala in July. At the same time, outgoing SEMA Board members Jim Bingham of Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc., Susan Carpenter of CPG, Laurel Dasher of MagnaFlow and Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing will be concluding their volunteer terms and honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees: Donnie Eatherly, Ed Pink and Chris Thomson.

Details and tickets to the SEMA Installation & Gala are available at www.sema.org/gala.

By SEMA Editors

Donnie Eatherly	Dan Kahn	Brian Lounsberry
Dr. Jamie Meyer	Steve Whipple

Results of the 2018 SEMA Board of Directors election are in, with Donnie Eatherly from P&E Distributors Inc., Dan Kahn from Kahn Media Inc., Brian Lounsberry from Motovicity Distribution, Dr. Jamie Meyer from General Motors and Steve Whipple from Edelbrock LLC elected to serve on the Board.

While Kahn is a current SEMA Board member who was re-elected onto the group, Eatherly has served as a past Board member, and Lounsberry, Meyer and Whipple will join as new SEMA Board members.

The following is the complete list of the 2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors, effective at the close of the board meeting, July 20:

• Chairman of the Board: Wade Kawasaki, Coker Group
• Chairman-Elect: Tim Martin, K&N Engineering Inc.
• Immediate-Past Chairman and Secretary: Doug Evans, Crower Cams & Equipment Co. Inc.
• Treasurer: Peter Lehman, Granite Creek Capital Partners LLC

Board Members

• Greg Adler, Transamerican Auto Parts
• Chris Douglas, COMP Performance Group
• Donnie Eatherly, P&E Distributors Inc.
• Kyle Fickler, Aeromotive Inc.
• Dan Kahn, Kahn Media Inc.
• James Lawrence, Power Automedia
• Brian Lounsberry, Motovicity Distribution
• Dr. Jamie Meyer, General Motors
• Les Rudd, Bob Cook Sales
• Steve Whipple, Edelbrock LLC

David Goch of Webster, Chamberlain & Bean LLP, and Russ Deane, of Trainum, Snowdon & Deane, continue as general counsels.

SEMA Board members are industry representatives who volunteer their time to lead and guide the association. They are elected by all SEMA-member companies and represent the key membership categories: manufacturers, distributors/retailers, manufacturers’ rep and services.

The entire 2018–2019 SEMA Board of Directors will be honored and recognized during the SEMA Installation & Gala in July. At the same time, outgoing SEMA Board members Jim Bingham of Winner’s Circle Speed & Custom Inc., Susan Carpenter of CPG, Laurel Dasher of MagnaFlow and Nick Gramelspacher of Meyer Distributing will be concluding their volunteer terms and honored for their service and contributions. The event will also feature a special tribute to the 2018 SEMA Hall of Fame inductees: Donnie Eatherly, Ed Pink and Chris Thomson.

Details and tickets to the SEMA Installation & Gala are available at www.sema.org/gala.

This is the ’19 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Double Cab, caught while testing undisguised in Arizona.

GM recently debuted the ’19 Sierra 1500 at a special event in Detroit, but only included two trims, and only showed the vehicle in Crew Cab guise at their introduction—the Denali and SLT. Later, GM debuted the Sierra AT4 (Crew Cab) at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, but still failed to reveal the rest of the Sierra 1500 lineup. The SLE seen here has a unique grille, fog lights 86’ed, a revised rear bumper and is fitted with a traditional exhaust setup.

This particular SLE is equipped with the 5.3L V8, which will use an eight-speed automatic, while the 6.2L makes use of the new 10-speed automatic.

Expect additional trims to be shown in the following months.

Photo credit: Brian Williams, SpiedBilde