LAGUNA BEACH, CA – With more than 45,000 attendees present for the 19th Annual PRI Trade Show in December, attendance was very strong for the record number of exhibitors displaying the latest in racing products in the show’s second year at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. A number of additional achievements were set for all events over the four-day program:
- Booth count was up at 4,110, with 1,400 exhibitors participating
- Visitors from across the U.S. were joined by attendees and buyers from more than 40 countries worldwide
- Fox TV NASCAR Commentator Jeff Hammond hosted a lively discussion at the Industry Roundtable with a number of expert panelists, and 800 in attendance
- Two-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Tony Stewart entertained a crowd of 3,800 at Opening Day Breakfast with stories and a visit by Ken “Santa” Schrader
- The first Snap-on Stars of Karting All-Stars, though dampened by rain, shouldered on with spectacular racing; Indy 500 winner Buddy Rice took the main event
- Friday night, Dec. 15th, more than 8,000 people were present for the 2nd Annual MOPAR-PRI Sprint & Midget Classic Presented by FedEx at Orlando Speedworld to see tight, exciting racing that attracted 130 teams which competed in four feature races – Sprint Cars, Midgets, Focus Midgets and Legends, along with a Nitto-sponsored Drifting exhibition
- Two motorsports engineeringconferences conferences, the SAE and AETC were well attended by motorsports engineers and auto racing industry specialists
- Mazda North American Operations’ sponsorship of the Skip Barber Racing School
- NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers Bobby Labonte and Kasey Kahne each will own new race teams with Labonte’s to compete in Dirt Late Model with sponsorship from Sunoco and Kahne to run USAC Midgets with MOPAR power
- Legendary motorsports journalist Chris Economaki announced 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion as this year’s Economaki Champion of Champions presented by Rockett Brand Racing Fuel
Growth within the Orange County Convention Center was evident as the PRI Trade Show filled nearly one million square feet of exhibit floor space.
“Once again, all this activity clearly indicates the strength of the racing industry and the importance of the PRI Trade Show,” said Steve Lewis, producer of the PRI Trade Show. “We saw strong attendance and an increase in exhibitors this year, with more coming from around the globe. What’s equally exciting is that we can all get together to watch Sprint and Midget races, and enjoy the fact that we share a common bond throughout, and that is the business of motorsports.
“The industry continues to grow – at all levels, and PRI is proud to present this expansion out on the show floor,” Lewis added.
Convention officials estimate that between $56 to $60 million in economic impact resulted from the show’s visit to Orlando.
The 20th Annual PRI Trade Show will return to Orlando on Dec. 6-8, 2007m when racing entrepreneurs and business people will return to Orlando for this all-important “hardcore” racing industry show.
The Performance Racing Industry Trade Show has been recognized as one of the top 50 largest trade shows in North America, according to Tradeshow Week magazine.
Reaching more than 45,000 show attendees, 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
