A look at some of the country’s in-demand motorsports products and services by region and racing segment.

Motorsports retailers and service providers are constantly tracking the latest parts and trends to give their customers a competitive edge. For the latest on which products and services are moving the retail needle, we present the following sales snapshots from shops across the US. 

Boteler Racing Operations

Westminster, Maryland

Boteler Racing Operations is a dual-purpose company, selling a variety of racing parts while also manufacturing 1964 Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt fiberglass parts. This blended offering brings in a customer base that is roughly comprised of 85% racers.

Parts moving from the company’s shelves the fastest are Product Engineering PE 4400 fuel pumps, Remflex gaskets, Boteler’s own Thunderbolt fiberglass parts, and HJC helmets. Customers choose Product Engineering pumps because they come with a two-year warranty and are race proven. Remflex gaskets are preferred because they are designed to crush to fill gaps up to 1/16 inch. They won’t leak or burn out, and no re-torque is needed. 

Boteler’s own fiberglass parts sell well because of their fit, quality, and price. Their reduced weight means improved ETs and mph on the track. 

HJC Racing helmets provide a comfortable, fire-resistant, moisture-wicking, comfort-carbon interior and a large vision area, all while meeting/exceeding SNELL ratings. Additional popular products include Geddex Dial-in markers and Power Plus Lubricants fuel fragrances.

Boteler has a multi-faceted sales approach, selling parts through its website (botelerracing.com), social media, trackside, and at other motorsports events. While its customer base is widespread because of its Internet presence, most customers are regional and supported with a trackside presence at its home tracks, South Mountain Raceway in Pennsylvania, and Mason Dixon Dragway in Maryland.

Mar-Schan Motorsports

Douglassville, Pennsylvania

Mar-Schan Motorsports is primarily a retail safety gear business that also provides performance products from Holley, Jesel, Keizer Racing Wheels, Holeshot Wheels, and others. Owner Marc Schankweiler estimates 80% of his business comes from the drag racing market. A smaller percentage comes from dirt and asphalt racers, and he said he’s “trying to diversify into that market a little more.” Customers compete in NHRA, IHRA, NASCAR, USAC, and SCCA, and are primarily from the US, but include some international customers, too.

Fast movers over the last few years have been NecksGen head-and-neck restraints; SPA Technique fire system products, which include FireAde and FireSense+ by 4Fire; camlock harnesses and racing suits from Pro 1 Racing and Safety Products; plus helmets from Zamp Racing and Stilo. Schankweiler said, “Since the NHRA mandated head-and-neck restraints for Junior Dragsters, the NecksGen has been our bestseller. That’s what I put my son in two years before the mandate because I could see the sense it made to protect him with what I thought was the best.”

The SPA Technique brands are popular because of the company’s helpful tech support and SFI testing videos, reported Schankweiler. Users of the Pro 1 Safety harness rave about the webbing of the belts and the lightweight qualities of its racing suits. Zamp has numerous YouTube videos and attractive price points for its customers, he added.

A key component to Mar-Schan Motorsports’ repeat business is a simple principle. As Schankweiler proudly pointed out, “My phone is always on!”

RaceDay Safety

Dallas, Georgia

RaceDay Safety is a shop dealing in auto racing safety gear and equipment with a clientele that consists solely of racers. Its fastest moving items include Zamp helmets, G-Force Racing Gear helmets, and K1 RaceGear driver suits. 

According to RaceDay owner Kevin Shaw, these items are popular because “both Zamp and G-Force have a good selection of nicely priced graphic helmets. The younger racers (from 5–40 years old) enjoy adding some style. K1 RaceGear has done a really nice job of becoming the preferred brand for dirt and asphalt oval racers.” 

RaceDay Safety has been a Zamp and K1 RaceGear dealer for more than a decade and has just become a G-Force dealer this year, giving customers the benefit of products with a proven history behind them.

RaceDay Safety has customers throughout the US and Canada, with roughly 15% of the customer base from racers at tracks in its local area of north Georgia, east Alabama, and southeastern Tennessee. To capture new customers, its marketing involves traditional advertising in outlets including Speedway Illustrated magazine and RacingJunk.com. “We have scaled back our own social media,” explained Shaw, “letting our loyal customers spread the word through their own social media pages.”