Trade Show confirms traditional Thursday, Friday, Saturday dates for 2008.
LAGUNA BEACH, CA - With approximately 45,000 attendees present for the 20th Annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show, attendance remained strong for the show's third year at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
In major, late-breaking news, the traditional Thursday, Friday, Saturday dates for the PRI Trade Show have been confirmed for 2008. The dates for the 2008 PRI Trade Show will be Thursday, Friday, Saturday, December 11-13, 2008.
- Booth count was up to 4,250, with 1,450 exhibitors participating. Both are new records for the Show!
- Visitors from across the U.S. were joined by attendees and buyers from 47 countries.
- Fox TV NASCAR Commentator Jeff Hammond once again hosted a lively discussion at the Industry Roundtable with a number of expert panelists, with 700 in attendance.
- 2007 NASCAR Busch Champion Carl Edwards entertained a crowd of 3,200 at the Grand Opening Breakfast with personal stories about moving up the racing ranks from dirt to today's superspeedways.
- The second Snap-on Stars of Karting All-Stars produced a dynamic show, highlighted by its 18 pro drivers in the Masters division, from Jamie McMurray to Marco Andretti to Christian Fittipaldi and Ron Capps, all returning to their racing roots. Grand-Am's Michael Valiante took the All Star win, while ICC National Champ Gary Carlton won the Karter Division race (and also placed second in the All Star race).
- Friday night, Dec. 7th, 8,000 people were present for the 3rd Annual MOPAR-PRI Sprint & Midget Classic Presented by DHL at Orlando Speedworld to see tight, exciting racing in four feature races - Sprint Cars, Midgets, Focus and Legends. Bobby East won the Sprint feature race, while young Dakoda Armstrong took the Midget feature. NASCAR legend David Pearson served as Grand Marshall.
- The AETC motorsports engineering conference preceded the PRI Trade Show and was well attended by racing engine builders, motorsports engineers and auto racing industry entrepreneurs.
- Mazda North American Operations showcased the MAZDASPEED Motorsports Development Ladder and announced that Playboy would become the new title sponsor for the MX-5 Cup in 2008
- Legendary motorsports journalist Chris Economaki announced Two-time World of Outlaws Champion Donny Schatz as this year's Economaki Champion of Champions presented by Rockett Brand Racing Fuel
- Lyn St. James discussed her new motorsports program, Project Podium, the first ever endowed scholarship fund for women race car driver
- Grand-Am Road Racing Association announced a new racetrack for '08, Thunderbolt Raceway, at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, which will host a Labor Day weekend event for both its Rolex and Koni Challenge series
Growth on the show floor at the Orange County Convention Center was evident as the PRI Trade Show filled nearly one million square feet of exhibit floor space.
"There are many industries that would more than welcome as big an event, with as much business activity, as the PRI Trade Show," said Steve Lewis, show producer. "These past three days were extraordinary, and that's a tribute to the manufacturers that brought all of their ingenious new components, and the strength of auto racing in the US, and around the world, today. It's a great market, and it's going strong."
Convention officials estimate that approximately $56 to $60 million in economic impact resulted from the show's visit to Orlando. The PRI Trade Show continues to be recognized as one of the top 50 trade shows in North America, according to Tradeshow Week magazine.
With more than 45,000 racing industry entrepreneurs in attendance from 47 countries, the three-day PRI Trade Show is timed so that racing retailers, engine and car builders, wholesaler/ distributors, professional race teams and other industry participants can shop the latest new product introductions and have them in inventory for the next racing season.
for more information, please contact:
Pete Evanow
pevanow@performanceracing.com
714.289.2242 office
714.305.8083 cell
