As build crews and exhibitors worked around the clock to prepare the Indiana Convention Center for the opening of the 2025 PRI Show, December 11–13, industry members began arriving in downtown Indianapolis early, taking part in a full slate of education programs, conferences and exclusive events ahead of Thursday's official Show kickoff.

Savvy exhibitors and attendees once again maximized their time in Indy by participating in several cornerstone pre-Show events, including the International Council of Motorsports Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress, the Race Track Business Conference (RTBC), the Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) Women With Drive Summit V Driven by Mobil 1, and the AERA Engine Builders Association's Engine Professional Industry Conference (EPIC).

The ICMS Annual Congress returned to PRI with three days of specialized programming focused on the latest advancements in motorsports safety, research and technology. Sessions explored emerging safety considerations across multiple disciplines, with emphasis on innovation, collaboration and education throughout the global racing industry. 

During what was the best-attended edition of the ICMS Annual Congress in its history, according to ICMS Executive Director Tom Weisenbach, the community of motorsports safety and medical experts continued to push racing safety forward by sharing the latest knowledge and advancements with each other.

"The sanctioning bodies might try to put restrictions on cars and slow them down, but the engineers and the teams will find a way to go faster. And medical and safety at the race tracks--it's been great, right?" Weisenbach said. "But we can always get better. And so what we've really pushed through the ICMS the last five years: share the knowledge that you have, share the experiences that you have, share what went right, but also what went wrong? We all can learn from each other."

That includes drivers, too.

Attending both virtually and in-person, several former professional drivers, including Dario Franchitti, Jack Harvey and Davey Hamilton, Jr., contributed to the conversation with their perspectives on the injuries they sustained behind the wheel.

"How was your experience with the safety team? What would you even like to see us do differently? We're learning from drivers who are telling us about their injuries," Weisenbach added. "So again, it's the sharing of knowledge, sharing of experience, best practices, and in the medical safety world, that never stops. Race cars are always trying to go faster; we're trying to be better at what we do."

Meanwhile, track professionals gathered for the Race Track Business Conference (RTBC), an all-day program that delivered practical business insights for racing facility owners, operators, and promoters. The conference featured sessions on marketing strategies, karting programs, fan engagement, and evolving industry trends, creating an environment for collaboration across all forms of racing. 

For some track owners and operators, RTBC provides useful knowledge that can apply to all race tracks, from the large facilities hosting global events, to the local tracks trying to draw in the surrounding community.  

"The panels are incredible. They speak to things that are important to us," said Scott Gobrecht owner of BAPS Motor Speedway, a dirt oval in York Haven, Pennsylvania. "They make us think enough outside of our box when they talk about Formula 1 tracks and the Laguna Secas of the world. But it also connects with us at the grassroots level when we're talking about trying to get mom and pop in the grandstands, and everything in between." 

It also provides an invaluable opportunity to form connections with others in the industry and build relationships that will last long after the annual conference wraps.  

"For me, it's all about the networking and relationships. They are incredibly important because if there's a situation that we come upon for the first time, it's most likely not a first time for somebody else," Gobrecht said. "And the relationships we develop here give us the opportunity to reach out to [other track owners] to see if they've been there, done that and what they might have learned along the way." 

Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) returned to PRI with the Women With Drive Summit V Driven by Mobil 1, bringing together professionals, students and dedicated vendors for three days of networking, discussions and educational sessions centered on advancing women and allies across the motorsports industry. Programming highlighted leadership development, career pathways and the growing role of women across all sectors of racing. 

Several vendor booths also welcomed Summit attendees, including The Grandstand Project, a women-owned small business based in Los Angeles that "redefines race-day style by providing elevated apparel for all women in motorsports." 

"All of our patterns are our own. We develop them ourselves, choose the fabric, and put on the artwork however we want. Our silhouettes are made for the female body, and all of our sample models are women. We always take women's feedback and sizing into consideration," said Sherry Ma, owner of The Grandstand Project.  

While this was her first year at the Summit as a vendor, Ma had previously attended as an attendee. "I feel like [this event] always gets bigger. There are always more women in the space, more students, and more young people wanting to get into racing. Even though you may see familiar faces from the year before, there's always someone new trying to break into racing," she said. "So many women here are actively trying to network and teach younger women breaking in, giving advice. Something I really love about WIMNA is that there's no ladder here. Everyone you meet is excited to talk, share their story, and explain their journey."  

The AERA Engine Builders Association also returned with its Engine Professional Industry Conference (EPIC), presented by Motor State Distributing. The multi-session program delivered hands-on technical education for engine builders, featuring expert-led discussions and demonstrations focused on modern diagnostic tools, performance enhancements and best practices in engine development. 

One of those experts, Mark Malburg, president of Columbus, Indiana-based Digital Metrology, offered a detailed look at surface texture's impact on engine performance during his presentation. The annual conference for engine professionals, he said, is an opportunity to not only share his knowledge but learn a few things, too.  

"I'm really here to help people see things. The cool thing in my space is as people see new things, they share them with me. So, I get to learn more stories to tell, and I can help people better," Malburg said. "I'm kind of an information conduit in a lot of ways, and this is such a great place for that. The PRI setting, it's people who want to do better. There aren't a lot of people here who want to stay the same. And this idea of helping people see things they're not seeing, maybe to find performance they're not seeing, is awesome." 

While education and networking took center stage throughout the city, exhibitors inside the Indiana Convention Center were also hard at work, transforming raw floor space into fully realized and innovative displays. Crates were unloaded, banners raised and race-ready products carefully positioned as companies prepared to connect with customers, partners and industry leaders when the Show floor officially opened. 

"[With the PRI Show being a trade-only event], everyone is here for the racing industry, so you're talking directly to those involved. We're always looking for potential new business, new customers, and opportunities for different race teams and product lines we can expand into," said Pat McLeod of PAGID Racing, the exclusive motorsports brand of the TMD Friction Group based in Essen, Germany, with its USA office in Troy, Michigan. "This year, we're pushing our street performance line, which is great for autocross or weekend time trials. We also have a new true professional pad for long endurance racing called the RSX line." 

With education, collaboration and preparation happening simultaneously across Indianapolis, the energy of PRI Week was already fully underway before the Show doors even opened--setting the stage for three days of business, innovation and connection at the 2025 PRI Show. 

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Wednesday at PRI: Candid Photos From Set-Up and Pre-Show Events