Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: FDML) announced the next step in its ongoing strategy to drive the global growth of its premium products and leading brands. Effective immediately, the company’s Vehicle Components division will be renamed Federal-Mogul Motorparts.

“For more than a century, we have remained focused on providing the highest quality components across each of the product categories and regions we serve. Vehicle manufacturers recognize this, as our friction products are found on seven of the top 10 vehicle models in Europe, and the best-selling vehicle in North America,” said Daniel Ninivaggi, CEO of Federal-Mogul Motorparts, and Co-CEO of Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation.

“Our aftermarket products are designed and engineered around the principle that vehicle safety and product performance matter most. Federal-Mogul’s premium brands are synonymous with quality, which will continue to be the way we differentiate our products from others available in the market. Notwithstanding recent trends in some aftermarket categories, our unrelenting focus going forward will be to support our premium products and clearly communicate their advantages to our channel partners, professional service technicians and consumers,” Ninivaggi said.

Federal-Mogul Motorparts manufactures vehicle braking, chassis, sealing and other service components, and also benefits from the engine expertise of the Federal-Mogul Powertrain division.

The new Federal-Mogul Motorparts name and logo will be rolled out globally effective immediately, leading into new marketing campaigns for its product brands.

MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. was presented with the Polk Inventory Efficiency Award from IHS Automotive during an awards ceremony at the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS), held in suburban Chicago. Ted Hughes (Manager – Marketing) and Chris Booth (Supply Chain Coordinator – North America) were on hand to accept the prestigious award.

The award, now in its 10th year, recognizes members of the automotive aftermarket for their efforts toward inventory efficiency and process improvement within their organizations.

Honored with the award in the Manufacturer category, MAHLE Aftermarket Inc. was recognized for the implementation of a systematic approach to managing its product portfolio, using vehicles in operation (VIO) data to prioritize trends and new coverage areas, while customizing inventory based on parts demand and consumption.

The approach also incorporated a new warehouse management system at its Master Distribution Facility in Olive Branch, Mississippi. The new system includes voice recognition picking for parts and provides part number and barcode verification, ultimately reducing excessive paperwork, increasing order fill rates and decreasing turnaround time. The implementation of the solution virtually eliminated errors, achieving 30 percent improvement in picking efficiency since its implementation in 2013.

Additionally, the inclusion of a supplier portal and scorecard for MAHLE suppliers allowed for more timely communication and data delivery, providing the means for MAHLE to award supplier achievements. In total, these improvements allowed for aggressive inventory reduction – nearly 25 percent since 2010.

“For any company in the aftermarket, managing inventory and supply chain are especially vital investments to synchronize product supply and demand for efficient product flow,” said Jon Douglas, General Manager, MAHLE Aftermarket North America. “It is a great honor to be recognized for this achievement today; and for our team’s diligence over the years in implementing these programs.”

“It’s a pleasure to recognize the efforts of the team from MAHLE with this year’s award,” said Mark Seng, global aftermarket practice leader, IHS Automotive. “Commitment to and success in managing a multi-faceted approach to achieving efficiency is one of the cornerstones of these awards.”

Since the introduction of the award in 2005, nominees have shown the ability to design and efficiently implement increasingly innovative solutions to the inventory management challenges facing the industry. The impressive list of winners, including both big and small companies, is a testament to the aftermarket’s ability to adapt and innovate in the face of adversity.

For more information about MAHLE Aftermarket and its brands, visit www.mahle-aftermarket.com, or contact your local sales representative.

Simpson Performance Products has introduced its new HANS Device Sport II Youth SFI 38.1 certified head restraint model, manufactured especially for young racers and smaller frames.

The Sport II Youth protects younger, still-developing racers with Simpson’s HANS technology in a rounded, smaller collar and similarly proportioned legs. The Sport II HANS Device is affordably priced protection for young racers.

The Sport II Youth follows in the tradition of the other Sport II HANS devices by making the same protection enjoyed by champions in major series around the world available at a greatly reduced price. Additionally, the Sport II Youth device is manufactured using eco-friendly materials.

Current research shows head restraints are needed by the vast majority of enthusiasts or weekend racers. The affordable price and the excellent resale value of the HANS Device is an investment in a young racer’s safety that we as parents cannot afford to ignore.

“Too often people think it’s only the racer who exceeds 200 miles per hour who will benefit from a head restraint,” said Chuck Davies, the C.E.O. of Simpson Performance Products.

“We know that is simply not the case. Life threatening injuries can occur at speeds of 40 mph, but many can be avoided by wearing a certified head and neck restraint. We engineered the HANS Sport II restraint to provide the weekend racer the same protection as Tony Stewart or John Force, at an affordable price. The HANS Sport II Youth extends this protection to our younger racers who are the future of our sport.”

Simpson offers certified head and neck restraints in sizes to protect racers 5 and older.

With every single component on the Nissan ZEOD RC down to the smallest nut and bolt modeled in computer-aided design technology, Nissan has released a unique image showcasing the inner workings of its new car.

The Nissan ZEOD RC will fill Garage 56 at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours—an additional entry reserved for new automotive technology never previously seen on track.

The car aims to complete the first all-electric lap of famous 8.5-mile circuit—running in virtual silence down the Mulsanne straight.

In addition to revealing the unique ZEOD “components” image, Nissan has also revealed video from the recent FIA crash test that every Le Mans prototype has to pass prior to competing.

“Our philosophy at Nissan is to really let fans get a behind-the-scenes look as to what it takes to develop the unique technology in the Nissan ZEOD RC,” said Darren Cox, Global Head of Brand, Marketing and Sales.

“Most fans don’t get to see what is under the skin of these cars and certainly don’t get the opportunity to see what happens at a crash test. We can’t have everybody in the garage at the race, but through revealing video and images like this and pushing continual updates via nismo.tv, the fans will feel closer than ever before.

“What we’re trying to achieve is actually quite remarkable. Taking a Le Mans prototype around the full 8.5-mile circuit at Le Mans on nothing but electric power is one thing, but doing it with a top speed of more than 300km/h and completing a lap faster than a GT car is incredible.

“We know it was going to be a very big challenge. We’re pushing battery technology to whole new levels. At Nissan we had a lot of data to refer to from our leadership role in electric vehicles for the road, but it has been a very intense development process.

“We’ve discovered why nobody has attempted this in the past. It has certainly presented plenty of technical challenges but that is why we undertake projects like this. Motorsport compresses the development cycles dramatically – we’re learning new things on a daily basis.”

The Nissan ZEOD RC is powered by two 110kw electric motors that transfer power to the wheels via the same gearbox that is connected to the internal combustion engine.

The car aims to complete a lap of Le Mans on battery power faster than a GT LM category Le Mans entry. The remarkable 400 horsepower, 40-kilogram, 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine will start the race with the electric motors taking over for a final all-electric lap after each fuel stint.

Sunoco, a company with an illustrious history in auto racing, will be the title sponsor of the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award.

Now in its 63rd year, the Sunoco Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award has been presented to an amazing list of legendary drivers including Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, Rick Mears, Tony Stewart, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Arie Luyendyk and many more.

“The Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year award has long been one of the most coveted honors that a first year driver in the race can receive and the list of its recipients is a ‘Who’s Who’ among professional racing drivers,” said J. Douglas Boles, Indianapolis Motor Speedway president.

“What makes the award exciting is that a driver who might not have had the best of practice or qualifying leading up to the race, could put it all together on race day and make a strong showing when it really counts. We are looking forward to seeing who that Sunoco Rookie of the Year is for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500.”

Sunoco has a long and successful history in motorsports. In the late 1960′s, the team of Roger Penske and Mark Donohue competed in several different series with Sunoco-sponsored cars. This legendary team won many major events including the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona, the 1972 Indianapolis 500 and numerous high-profile sports car championships.

“Sunoco is proud to sponsor this year’s Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year Award,” said Sunoco Director of Marketing Drew Kabakoff. “We are thrilled to expand the Sunoco Rookie program and our partnership with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway through this historic and prized award.”

Sunoco has been the official fuel partner of the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2010, providing the opportunity to demonstrate the performance and durability of Sunoco gasoline in the most demanding and competitive forms of racing in the United States.

Previous Sunoco Rookies of the Year entered in the field for the 98th Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on Sunday, May 25 include Juan Pablo Montoya, who won the race in his only Indianapolis 500 start in 2000, and Helio Castroneves, the last rookie to win “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” in 2001. Other entrants in this year’s race who captured top rookie honors include 1995 Indianapolis 500 winner Jacques Villenueve (1994), Marco Andretti (2006), Ryan Hunter-Reay (2008), Alex Tagliani (2009), JR Hildebrand (2011) and Carlos Munoz (2013).

* Operation Edelbrock: A distinct advantage of PRI’s Southern California location (besides the beach access) is our proximity to some of the world’s top racing and performance businesses. In fact, we recently got to spend time at one of the truly iconic manufacturers of the specialty aftermarket located just up the 405 Freeway in Torrance, California. Edelbrock Sales Manager Troy Hooker, VP of Sales Steve Whipple and Advertising Director Eric Blakely were incredibly accommodating for our visit, granting us virtually unrestricted access to their headquarters—including the manufacturing facility and “Toy Barn,” distribution center and Russell division, which houses the company’s hose and fittings, nitrous, and regulator and fuel pump operations. It’s hard not to be impressed with 50 CNC machines tooling products for the top teams in NASCAR, ARCA, etc. We saw LS cylinder heads getting ported, and witnessed up close the vacuum metalizing process that goes into their EnduraShine finish for intake manifolds. Though practically synonymous with manifolds and cylinder heads, Edelbrock is seeing gains in its data acquisition and supercharger businesses, too, Hooker reported. “The rules are always changing,” he told us, “and it takes a lot of effort to stay on top of the race game.” By the looks of things, for Edelbrock, the game may be just getting started.  


* In Tune With AEM: Had the opportunity to catch up with our friends at AEM Performance Electronics in Hawthorne, California, last month for a tour of the company’s global headquarters followed by a wide-ranging discussion over lunch. PRI Senior Sales & Marketing Manager Judy Kean joined me—or rather, I joined her—for a unique look at one of our industry’s truly progressive companies. Best known for its standing in the sport compact market (or “4-cylinder performance” if you prefer), AEM embraces a progressive stance that has it well positioned to serve future generations. In fact, AEM founder John Concialdi told us he was just now getting involved with nearby El Camino College on an advisory program for automotive technology students. “I thought it would be worthwhile to serve on this committee,” he said, “where local business people talk to and advise students. It’s a good opportunity for me to find out what these kids are into.” Connecting with the youth market is something AEM has traditionally excelled at—see: import tuner, drift, etc.—and we expect it will pay dividends for many years to come.


* Open Housing: Here at PRI we’ve established several traditions. Some, like the Grand Opening Breakfast and the Engine Charity Sweepstakes, we get to enjoy right along with the racing industry at our annual Trade Show in Indianapolis. But others are kept more informal, without the fanfare associated with a grand prize or big-name special guest. In this case, I refer to last month’s official launch of PRI Housing. Each year our exceptional Housing & Travel Manager Michelle Gallegos puts in countless hours locking down room blocks at top host hotels and negotiating the very best rates in order to make destination Indianapolis easy on everyone’s wallets, and ensuring our Trade Show guests feel as comfortable as possible during their stay in the Circle City. The good news is that based on the first few weeks’ projections, folks this year are getting an early jump on reservations. “It’s been an amazing response so far,” Michelle told us. “Most of it is coming from exhibitors, but we have gotten a lot of attendees booking as well. It makes sense—everybody wants to book early to make sure they get their preferred hotel.” Her advice for Trade Show visitors: “Don’t wait, and don’t hesitate. We’ve already sold out our blocks at a few downtown hotels, so book now!” For reservations, call 949/499-5413 and ask for Michelle or Cristina; or visit www.prishow.org and click “Hotel Reservations” under the Hotel/Travel tab. We’ll see you in Indy!

The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA) will honor legendary Indianapolis 500 mechanic and car builder A.J. Watson by awarding the A.J. Watson Tribute Trophy during the Brickyard Invitational vintage race event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) June 6-8.

The Brickyard Invitational weekend will be the largest gathering of race cars ever assembled for competition in America. The SVRA has 11 groups of cars spanning 100 years of vintage machines and all will be in action at IMS. Most of the races will take place on the Speedway’s 2.43-mile Grand Prix road course but for the first time in history cars will be at speed on both the world-famous 2.5-mile oval and the road course on the same day. All cars will have a chance to tour the oval at speed, including the crowd-favorite 1950’s-vintage Indianapolis 500 roadsters.

“Honestly I think that even for those of us who were not around for the roadster era at Indy those cars are still the ultimate iconic Indianapolis 500 race car,” said SVRA President and CEO Tony Parella. “No one is more recognized for his roadsters than the great A.J. Watson and we simply want to honor him.”

Watson roadsters won the Indianapolis 500 six times with some of the greatest names of the sport at the wheel: Pat Flaherty (1956), Rodger Ward (1959 & ‘62), Jim Rathmann (1960), Parnelli Jones (1963) and A.J. Foyt (1964). Watson reached the zenith of his career when team owner Ralph Wilke formed the Leader Card Team in 1959. Wilkie combined Watson’s incomparable mechanical talents with Ward’s immense driving skills. The press loved it, dubbing the trio, “The Flying W’s.” Watson, who first came to IMS in 1948, led Indianapolis 500 race teams through 1984 and returned frequently afterwards as a consultant to teams. Demand for his roadsters remains strong and collectors purchased new ones that Watson constructed well into his eighties. He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1996 and passed away May 12.

The SVRA is forming a special team of judges who will review roadsters at IMS during the Brickyard Invitational weekend. The cars will be judged on appearance, function and historical significance and the winner will be called, “best roadster.” The SVRA is recruiting veterans of the Indianapolis 500 to serve as judges and those names will be released soon. Parnelli Jones, who won the 1963 Indianapolis 500 in a Watson roadster, will serve as Brickyard Invitational Grand Marshal for the weekend. Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Unser will lead the Brickyard Invitational high-speed oval experience, which is open to all Brickyard Invitational cars including the roadsters.

The Brickyard Invitational has over 700 race cars on its entry list. It boasts exquisite examples of select pre-war machines, classic sports cars, Formula One and endurance prototypes as current as 2009. The feature event of the weekend is the “Indy Legends Pro-Am,” an intriguing competition for as many as 24 veterans of the Indianapolis 500. This will be a 40-minute race of American muscle cars utilizing the IMS Grand Prix road course on Sunday, June 8. The cars for the Pro-Am will be 1963 to 1972 vintage Corvettes, Camaros and Mustangs of “Group 6,” with an engine displacement limit of 355 cubic inches. The Indianapolis 500 veterans will be paired with amateur drivers, each taking a 20-minute stint. Five minutes will be allotted for driver change.

The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series announced a new contest for both racers and the fans this season. WELD Racing has increased its sponsorship with the LOLMDS in 2014 to include a Most Popular Driver Contest, voted on by the fans.

Starting at this weekend's 22nd Annual Lucas Oil Show-Me 100 presented by ProtectTheHarvest.com, fans can vote for their favorite Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series driver at the WELD Racing display booth. Fans will be able to cast their vote by filling out a registration form and submit it in the WELD registration box. The driver that collects the most votes during the season will receive $1000 from WELD Racing and be crowned the WELD Racing Most Popular Driver at the annual series awards banquet. Drivers eligible to receive votes include series stars: Don O'Neal, Jimmy Owens, Steve Francis, Eddie Carrier Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., Scott Bloomquist, John Blankenship, Dennis Erb, Jared Landers, Brian Shirley, Jason Hughes, and Jason Papich.
 
In addition, fans that register at the WELD Racing display booth will be put into a grand prize drawing for a set of new custom WELD Wheels for their personal vehicle. The display booth will be at all LOLMDS events this season, starting this weekend. The grand prize winner will be drawn during the Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park on October 18th. Fans will be able to view some of the new custom WELD Wheels designs at the WELD display booth, along with WELD brochures and literature.
 
"WELD Racing is excited to be a part of the Most Popular Driver Contest with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series. The series has some of the most passionate and loyal fans of any motorsports division in the country. We're looking forward to reaching all the great fans, drivers, and everyone that follows the series across the country. We feel the driver contest, along with giving a set of custom wheels to one lucky fan will be a great way to generate some excitement for our company and all the fans throughout the season that follow the series to the finale at the DTWC", stated Kyle Fickler, Marketing Director for WELD Racing.
 
Since 1967 WELD Racing has designed, engineered and manufactured technologically innovative wheels in the United States. Located in Kansas City, MO., WELD Racing LLC continues the tradition of providing street enthusiasts and racers the strongest, lightest, highest quality wheels with 21st century technology, excellent craftsmanship and proactive customer service. WELD Wheels can be found on all the top national cars in all forms of motorsports.
 
"The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is thrilled about the Most Popular Driver Contest that WELD Racing has stepped up to sponsor this year. It's always great to have companies like WELD Racing come on board and activate a great promotion for both their company and the fans that attend and follow the series. Our fans are some of the most loyal and passionate fans anywhere. We're sure they will fill up the ballot box with their favorite drivers," stated Ritchie Lewis, Director, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series.
 

Officials at VP Racing Fuels today announced its newest retail branding partner–D&D Energy Group, Inc., the largest Sunoco distributor in the Southeast U.S. Operating in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North & South Carolina and Virginia, D&D services 110 branded Sunoco sites, ten Coastal, four Gulf, and 20 unbranded Pacecar Express sites.
 
“We’re excited to become a VP distributor for several reasons,” said Dean Dorminey, President of D&D. “VP’s credit card rates are a big plus to save our dealers money and the program allows us to seek unbranded supply for our stores at a competitive price. It’s also nice to bring additional profit centers to our dealers with VP’s race fuel, specialty fuels and fuel additives.  It’s a bonus to deal with a private company that can make decisions on a timely basis.”
 
“In our first conversations with Dean, he alluded to how so many of his dealers asked him about VP that he felt compelled to check us out,” said Alan Cerwick, President of VP Racing Fuels. “As soon as he did, the competitive advantages of our program became immediately clear. Given D&D’s unique situation—one of Sunoco's largest distributors, their own PaceCar Express brand and everything else they have going for them—it speaks volumes that they recognized in VP a brand that offers things they can’t get from anyone else, and something they can’t build themselves. We’re very happy to have them become part of the VP Racing Fuels family.”

Three-time Formula One world champion Sir Jack Brabham died Sunday morning at age 88 in his native Australia.

Brabham, who was a mechanic in the Royal Australian Air Force, started his racing career on Australian dirt tracks in the late 1940s. He eventually moved to Great Britain and won the 1959 and ’60 world titles racing for the Cooper Racing Team.

Brabham later joined with fellow Australian Ron Tauranac to design and build his own Brabham race cars and became the only person to win the world championship in his own car in 1966.

Brabham, who won 14 grands prix and amassed 31 podium finishes during his career, retired from racing following the 1970 Formula One season.

He also made four Indianapolis 500 starts with a best finish of ninth in his first start in 1961.

Brabham’s three sons—Geoff, Gary and David—all enjoyed success racing on the international stage and his grandsons Matthew and Sam are each finding success on the race track.

Geoff Brabham made 12 Indianapolis 500 starts during his career and his son, Matthew, currently races in the Indy Lights series and is on track to become a third-generation Indianapolis 500 racer in the coming years.