The 2025 PRI Show is in full swing as thousands of racers, buyers, builders, media members, content creators and attendees continue to descend on downtown Indianapolis. With the Show floor buzzing and deals happening in every aisle, many attendees say this year's event is already delivering some of the most meaningful business opportunities and industry insights yet. 

The day began with the PRI Grand Opening Breakfast set the tone for three successful days of business with PRI President Michael Good welcoming the crowd back to Indianapolis. During his address, he updated attendees on the organization's efforts to strengthen motorsports at all levels, from the top professional series to grassroots racers, and even the students studying for future careers in racing. 

PRI's three major initiatives in 2025 centered on building deeper, intentional relationships with sanctioning bodies, engaging with tracks and advocating for their rights, and creating a pathway for the next generation of motorsports professionals to enter the industry.  

"These initiatives aren't abstract goals," Good said. "They are actionable, measurable steps that support the people who make racing possible."  

As well as looking to the future, the industry took time to honor the pioneers who have helped to shape the backbone of the racing by inducting three new members into the PRI Hall of Fame.  

Now in its second year, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose careers, leadership and innovation have made a lasting impact on motorsports. Inductees are selected by an industry committee based on their achievements, years of involvement and integrity. 

This year, Paul "Scooter" Brothers, John Kilroy and Chris Raschke were inducted for their contributions to the industry. You can read the full story here. 

Following the Hall of Fame announcements, racing royalty took center stage as Mario Andretti headlined the Grand Opening Breakfast, and reminisced on his historic career, from life-changing wins at Indianapolis and Daytona to his early days racing a Hudson Hornet with twin brother Aldo. Despite his legendary status, his start in racing looked a lot like that of the grassroots racers walking the PRI Show floor last week.   

Fueled by their passion for racing--which started after a trip to the 1954 Italian Grand Prix, according to Andretti--Mario and Aldo did everything they could to get on track, even if it meant bending the rules.   

"When I started in 1959, we were underage," Andretti said. "Aldo and I started building a car two years after we arrived in America in 1957. We were 17. You had to be 21 to race professionally in those days. The car was ready at age 19."  

To overcome the age restriction, the brothers befriended a local sports editor in Nazareth, who helped them "update" the birth dates listed on their driver's licenses. "We fudged those pretty good," Andretti continued. "We came up with a fib that I used to race in Formula Junior in Italy. We actually purchased some Italian racing suits so we could look the part. So we started at age 19. We had two drivers, one helmet and one car."  

When asked by host Ralph Sheheen how he and Aldo found the speed to win, Andretti said that they learned like any other passionate racer would.  

"It was just by watching," Andretti said. "When you're absorbed in something, you notice things. You learn as it goes." 

Out on the Show floor, from manufacturing innovations to new track operations strategies and emerging youth-development programs, Showgoers spent Thursday uncovering the products, programs and partnerships shaping the year ahead. And the best measurement of PRI's impact comes straight from the people walking the floor. 

"We're out here to see the sights and sounds and check everything out. We do it every year. It's a really neat environment. It's all about racing and that's what we do. That's what we love to do. [We come back] for the new stuff, new things that we can put on the race car, new things that we can do with the race car. It's all about upgrading our performance and making our car better," said buyer Herb Stine of Vaccaro Motorsports, a dirt racing team based in Reading, Pennsylvania.  

"If you're into racing—any flavor—there will be something here that makes the trip [to Indy] worth it. [The PRI Show] is where you need to be," echoed Geof Hauser of Hauser Racing in Northants, United Kingdom. "We're based in England and work in drag racing primarily, but also road racing. The PRI Show is where we come to see all the people we work with. Most of my suppliers are here. All the big players are here, and it's the best place to have everyone under one roof." 

With more than 1,100 exhibitors across the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, buyers and content creators wasted no time sharing their discoveries—from new parts lines and equipment launches to unexpected solutions—but also connecting with longstanding business partners, too.  

"We come every year to see what the latest and greatest is. This is the place to come if you want to see what is out there or what's new, what's different. You cannot find this much stuff that is pertaining to the racing industry in one place anywhere else," said Dan Cansler, custom engine builder of Smokey Mountain Auto Parts in Sylva, North Carolina. "I go to Machinery Row and look at the newest [offerings], like the 632 Chevrolet here and the different cylinder heads they've designed for it."  

Track Operations in Focus: T.O.P.S. HQ & More 

One of Thursday's most-talked-about destinations was T.O.P.S. HQ—a dedicated space for track operators, promoters and sanctioning officials. Packed and standing-room-only sessions centered on safety, staffing, sustainability and growth, giving professionals from across the country a chance to workshop real-world challenges together. 

The T.O.P.S. panel on next-generation fans and participants drew significant buzz thanks to its lineup of five sanctioning body representatives. Featuring Evan Jonat, senior vice president of live events at NHRA; Jason Smith, president of USAC Racing; Joey Dennewitz, managing director of NASCAR Regional; Michael Cobb, president and CEO of SCCA; and John Doonan, president of IMSA, the panel highlighted ways the different organizations are engaging with the next generation of motorsports professionals and enthusiasts.  

While discussing many pressing topics for tracks, series and promoters, including barriers of entry for fans and racers, the five panelists all agreed on one thing: making access easier will get people interested. Whether it's a dedicated sim racing series, providing accessible on-track programs, engaging students and local communities with STEM programs, producing a hit YouTube docuseries or sub four-second races, meeting people where they are at will be the key to future generations becoming not just interested in, but engaged in motorsports.  

"What we try to do is meet the consumer where they're at from an experiential standpoint and try to provide the product and program they can access and that makes the most sense for them," Cobb said. "I don't think there's one club in the bag that will 'solve for X.' I think it's going to be a multi-discipline approach." 

It's a sentiment Jonat echoed, highlighting the role every person at the PRI Show will have in the future of motorsports. 

"Most folks at this show have some level of influence on what the next five years will look like," he said. "It takes guts to show up to an SCCA event or corner work for the first time. There is the community and we all need to work together to make this community as inviting as possible, regardless of when that person is coming for, whether they're a spectator, a participant or a volunteer. If we make them part of the family, it's going to grow." 

Among that same theme, out on the PRI Show floor is Booth #4904 featuring Lorain Ohio KartPlex (LOK), a new world-class 37.5-acre motorsports entertainment complex opening near Cleveland in April 2026. With a .49-mile gas-powered outdoor kart track and a .83-mile professionally designed circuit, the facility will also feature state-of-the-art racing simulators for training and competitive league play. 

"The goal with [being at the PRI] Show, because we are formally opening in April, was that extra exposure. Over the summer, we had a Tillotson T4 Series race, a ROTAX race, and our club races, but we're opening the facilities officially this April. "Again, this is our first PRI Show, but we've noticed a lot of karting companies," surrounding their booth in Yellow Hall. "You've got us here, Tillotson, Van-K Wheels, Tillet Racing Seats are all here—we've got a little karting section going." 

In fact, the duo thinks karting is having a resurgence moment right now, "because it's the lower end of racing as far as costs go. We have had some people say, 'Look, I was in autocross, motocross, for years. But I switched over to karting, and I've had more fun than I ever did, and I'm spending 10 times less money,'" said Haynes. "It's a rough economy right now, but people still want to have their fun, so now they're asking 'How can I have fun for just a little bit less money?'" 

The answer might just be karting at LOK.  

Another noticeable presence throughout the Day 1 of the PRI Show: high school and university students, soaking up the knowledge of the trade show floor. "[I'm here at the PRI Show to] make connections, get my foot in the door. My goal is to end up in a job on the manufacturing side, and PRI is a great place to make those connections," said Zachary Wyler, motorsports and mechanical engineering student at Purdue University. "I've been coming here for, this is my third year now, and every single time, everyone is so polite and very question-oriented, and it's amazing. It's an amazing atmosphere."  

From the attendee-favorite Hot Rodders of Tomorrow (HROT) to student-dedicated programs, young people at the PRI Show are engaging directly with teams, manufacturers and potential employers. 

PRI's Student Program, taking place tomorrow, is expected to bring even more aspiring professionals through the doors. 

"These programs reflect PRI's long-term strategy to strengthen the motorsports ecosystem by investing in education and workforce development," said PRI President Good. "By creating meaningful connections between students and industry leaders, we're ensuring the future of racing remains innovative and sustainable." 

The Takeaway: Business Is Getting Done at PRI 2025 

Across social channels, in breakout sessions and on the Show floor, attendees repeated the same message: PRI 2025 isn't just busy—it's productive, impactful and fueling the industry's next steps. 

And with even more sessions, networking opportunities and announcements still forthcoming, the excitement of PRI Week is only growing. 

Scenes from the 2025 PRI Show Day One