Planning for the 2025 edition of the world’s largest gathering of motorsports professionals--December 11-13, Indianapolis--is well underway, but it’s not too late to stake your claim to a piece of the 2025 PRI Show floorplan. Ensure your brand has a presence at this one-of-a-kind industry event by securing a booth now.

Securing your booth space is the first step toward success at the PRI Show, which presents an unrivaled opportunity for racing industry professionals to drive sales, meet new clients and increase brand awareness, December 11-13, in downtown Indianapolis.

Exhibiting at the PRI Show offers a myriad of benefits to your brand:

• Increase Your Brand Awareness: Whether you are an established brand or looking to break into the motorsports market, exhibiting at PRI is the best investment to advance your brand goals.
• Connect With Your Customers: See existing customers and connect with them on the Show floor. Determine their business needs and use this opportunity to strengthen relationships.
• Expand Your Sales Channels: Take your products to new markets, whether through retailers, distributors or other sales channels, expanding your brand's reach domestically and internationally.
• Introduce New Products: Ensure your latest and greatest products are seen by a large audience of potential customers at the PRI Show.

To reserve a booth at the 2025 PRI Show, visit here. For more information on why to exhibit, visit performanceracing.com/trade-show/exhibit.

Tariffs continue to dominate the headlines, and it's tricky to sort out the latest news and what it means to the racing industry. Here's the latest, as of June 3, 2025: 

Steel and Aluminum Are Scheduled to Double

President Donald Trump announced on May 30 that the United States will double tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%, effective June 4. The latest headline with implications for the automotive sector comes as businesses navigate the effect of tariffs on global and domestic supply chains, particularly for critical parts, components and raw materials.

The United States imported more than $31 billion worth of iron and steel last year, with much of it sourced from Canada. Because the steel and aluminum tariffs apply to derivative products, vehicles could be impacted, even if assembled in the United States, if they contain imported steel and aluminum components. 

Federal Courts Throw Global Reciprocal Tariffs Into Flux

The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) unanimously ruled on May 28 that the tariffs President Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unlawful and exceed IEEPA's authority. The following day, a D.C. district court judge also ruled that the tariffs aren't legal, although he paused his order for 14 days to allow time for appeal. Following the CIT ruling, the federal appeals court granted the U.S. Department of Justice's stay request, which means the IEEPA tariffs can still be collected while the appeal is pending. The appeals court has expedited its proceedings on the IEEPA tariffs, requesting that the plaintiffs provide their brief by June 5 and the Trump administration respond by June 9.  

The rulings apply to the following IEEPA tariff actions: 

Fentanyl-related tariffs: ​​​​​​

• Canada (EO 14193) and Mexico (EO 14194): 25% tariff for goods that do not claim or qualify for USMCA duty-free preference, and a 10% tariff for energy and potash imports that do not claim or qualify for USMCA duty-free preference. 
   
• China (EO 14195): 20% tariff for all goods from China. 
   

Reciprocal tariffs:  

• Applied to all countries (except Canada and Mexico) (EO 14257): The country-by-country tariff rate is currently 10% with duties imposed on most products (there are exceptions for goods subject to Section 232 tariffs and other goods listed in Annex II of E.O. 14257).  
   
• President Trump has given countries until July 9 to negotiate trade deals with the United States, threatening to increase tariffs on each country equal to those imposed on U.S. exports.  

The CIT and D.C. District Court rulings do not affect the following tariffs: 

• Section 301 tariffs imposed on China, which were reduced from 125% to 10% on May 12 (this temporary reduction in tariffs on China expires on August 12); and 
   
• Section 232 tariffs on automobiles, auto parts, steel, and aluminum. 

Date We're Watching: July 9 for European Union (EU) Tariffs

The United States has threatened the EU with tariffs of up to 50%. EU countries are currently subject to the 10% IEEPA tariff. The Trump Administration is targeting the trade imbalance between the United States and its European counterparts, which surpassed $235 billion in 2024. A 50% tariff on EU imports is estimated to impact $606 billion in imported products, including auto parts.  

The Motorsports Industry's Best Resource for Tariff News: PRI and SEMA

While President Trump's tariffs on imported products, materials and components are having a significant impact on most sectors of the United States and world economies, the speed and volume in which they have been imposed and subsequent changes have made it challenging for everyone from small businesses to corporations to Washington insiders to fully understand the impact of tariffs on imports. PRI's got your back and will continue to update members on this evolving issue.

For additional information, visit sema.org/advocacy/tariffs or contact Eric Snyder, SEMA and PRI's senior director for federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org. 

The World Drag Racing Alliance (WDRA) has announced that a deadline is approaching for registration to the WDRA Summit Racing Equipment Sportsman Drag Racing Series presented by SunCoast Performance. 

Racers who are the highest finishers at their home tracks are automatically qualified. However, WDRA has announced that racers can also qualify by winning a WDRA Summit Bracket Finals event, provided they are registered for the Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series.

"If you are not already registered for the Summit Sportsman Drag Racing Series but are planning on attending a WDRA Summit Bracket Finals event, you can register [online] before July 1 to maintain your eligibility," a series announcement states.

To register, visit racewdra.com/license. For more information, visit racewdra.com.
 

The countdown is on! The three biggest business days in motorsports will roar back to downtown Indianapolis from December 11-13! Housing for the highly anticipated 2025 PRI Show opens next week on Tuesday, June 10, at 10:00 a.m. EDT.

ROOMS FILL QUICKLY, so mark your calendars and set your alarms! This is your chance to secure the best accommodations for the most exciting event in motorsports.

Don't miss out: head to the PRI Show website for all the details and book your room at this link here when it opens on Tuesday, June 10.

The FIA has announced that competitor applications for the 2025 FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup will open on June 16 and close on September 1, as one of the world's premier drifting competition prepares for a relaunch this October with a return to Riga, Latvia.

Drivers wishing to compete must hold an international circuit license (ITD1, ITC-D, or above) and enter cars that comply with FIA DC1 technical regulations.

The 2025 FIA IDC will feature a refreshed sporting format designed to enhance international diversity and competition.

While entries are open to all eligible competitors, a priority nomination phase will give FIA Member Clubs the opportunity to select one driver, supporting broader global representation and diversity among entrants. Nominations can be submitted by National Sporting Authorities until June 15 at idc@fia.com.

In addition to the Drivers' title, a Nations Cup title will also be awarded, provided at least five different countries are represented, with a minimum of two cars per country. A maximum of 45 competitors will be accepted. The entry form will be available here.

The sporting regulations are published on both the FIA and the FIA Intercontinental Drifting Cup websites.

The 2025 FIA IDC is being organized in partnership between the FIA and the Latvian Automobile Federation and is set to take place from October 3-5 at Biķernieki, the country's only permanent racing circuit, which has previously hosted the FIA IDC as well as the Latvian round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

Mansfield Motor Speedway in Mansfield, Ohio—which was previously on the market since the close of the 2019 season—has been purchased by racer and former team owner Matt Tifft.

Over the weekend, Tifft shared a post on X, stating, "Left for dead. But now, we're bringing it back. [Mansfield Speedway] is our playground, and we're just getting started. Follow the journey, chaos, and fun as we revive this legendary track."

Tifft also shared plans to keep the speedway as a dirt track at least "for the first few years" and ship in fresh clay before the flag drops, possibly as early as the 2026 season.

The facility originally opened as a dirt track in 1959, before being transformed to asphalt in 1999. In 2017, the 4/10-mile speedway was converted back into dirt, and it closed after the 2019 Dirt Million event.

For more information, visit the Mansfield Motor Speedway page on X here.

Left for dead. But now, we're bringing it back.@Mansfieldspdwy is our playground, and we're just getting started. Follow the journey, chaos, and fun as we revive this legendary track😤😤🏁 pic.twitter.com/2MAW7mp342

— Matt Tifft (@matt_tifft) June 1, 2025

Photo courtesy of Matt Tifft, Facebook

Photo by Larry Chen, courtesy of Formula DRIFT

The 15-year-old drifting sensation Hiroya Minowa has claimed his first victory in only his second season of Formula DRIFT competition, setting the record for the youngest winner in series history. Minowa set the record following the recent "Round 3" at Orlando Speed World in Florida.

The following excerpt is from Formula DRIFT's Orlando results announcement:

There's been a buzz and palpable expectation surrounding Hiroya Minowa (Japan) ever since he joined the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship in 2024 as a 14-year-old. Pundits, teams and fans alike knew he was something special, and scoring two podiums in his Rookie season confirmed the speculation.

Born to drifting parents and brought up on a diet of sim racing and competitive seat time, Minowa was a race winner before arriving in Formula DRIFT, but few could have predicted his rise would be quite so meteoric. 

After placing seventh in Round 2, Minowa automatically qualified for Orlando and was paired against double FD PROSPEC Champion Dmitriy Brutskiy in the Top 32 heats. Unfazed by his more experienced opposition, the driver of the Enjuku Racing / BC Racing / Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GT86 claimed the win, albeit by a narrow margin, and advanced.

Minowa's Top 16 opponent was the hard-charging Connor Shanahan (Ireland), who used his Shanahan 79 Toyota GT86 as a stick to beat Minowa's Toyota. Tapping on the door in Outside Zone 1, Inside Clip 2 and Outside Zone 2, the Irishman was clearly signaling his intentions. However, the favor was returned on the second run where Minowa pushed back, unintimidated and receiving rapturous support from the grandstands. Again, Minowa was awarded the win thanks to the precision of his lead run.

Unfortunately, the Top 8 would bring an end to his run. Matched against three-time FD PRO Champion Fredric Aasbo (Norway) in the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra, the result was inevitable. Or was it?

On his lead run, Aasbo executed a signature pass with every zone filled at infeasible speed. The only problem was Minowa was glued to the Supra's door. On their second run, Minowa was able to replicate the Norwegian's precision but Aasbo uncharacteristically struggled to duplicate the proximity. It was unimaginable and yet inevitable that the judges awarded the win to the 15-year-old who would surely succumb to Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) in the Top 4!

Again, Odi has a fearsome reputation for speed and precision at the wheel of the Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9. And it appeared well deserved at the start of the run until Minowa nestled into Odi's door through Outside Zone 2. With the roles reversed, a small mistake by Bakchis where the two cars touched saw the veteran drop back and was unable to regain the proximity. 

Advancing to the Final, Hiroya faced Jhonnattan Castro (Dominican Republic) in the Metaldom GR86 who was experiencing his own breakthrough moment. In Round 2, Castro finished fourth, which was his best result since joining the FD PRO Championship in 2012. Reaching the Final in Orlando was the next milestone, created his own piece of FD history. 

Castro had dispatched Ryan Litteral (USA) in the Top 32, Ken Gushi (Japan) in the Top 16, Branden Sorensen (USA) in the Top 8 and claimed a tough One More Time victory over Matt Field (USA) in the Top 4. 

Field would finish fourth driving the Borla Performance / GT Radial / Heat Wave Visual / Leen Customs / Drift Cave Motorsports Corvette. It was a personal victory, representing his best result since placing in the Top 4 in the 2024 St Louis Round. The points tally bumped Field from ninth to seventh overall.

In the Final, Castro succumbed to Minowa's dominance. The Dominican driver's lead run was impeccable but he couldn't unglue his Japanese opponent. And with Minowa in the lead, Castro made a small error at Inside Clip 2 and was unable to regain the proximity. At this level of the sport, one mistake will bury you and the judges awarded the victory to Minowa, who became the youngest winner of any Formula DRIFT Round in its 22-year history.

"I'm so happy to get first place in Orlando. I want to thank my team, supporters, family and my spotter. I'm so excited to get to New Jersey. I've been pushing super-hard and will try my best at Round 4," Minowa told us after the podium celebration.

With every driver receiving ten points for a competition heat win (three points in qualifying) under the new Formula DRIFT points format, Minowa's 50-point haul saw him leap from eighth in the PRO Championship to third overall behind Deane and Aasbo.

For more information, visit formulad.com or gtradial.com.

Photos courtesy of Formula DRIFT

Parella Motorsports Holdings, the Charlotte-based owner of the SpeedTour racing event series, has hired Scott Duncan to serve as chief partnerships office, overseeing all business development and partnership efforts for the organization.

Duncan is a seasoned motorsports sales executive with extensive experience across multiple racing series, including NASCAR, INDYCAR, IMSA and F1. With a strong track record securing high-value partnerships and sponsorships, Duncan’s expertise spans sales strategy and business development, having worked with teams, agencies and sports properties, according to the company.

Beginning his career at Champion Spark Plug Company, followed by Talladega Superspeedway, Duncan later transitioned into agency roles, playing a key part in sponsorship sales for major racing organizations and delivering multi-year, seven-figure partnerships, including General Mills--with Cheerios and Pop Secret--and the Coca-Cola Racing Family. After introducing those sponsorships into NASCAR, Duncan then spent six years at the NASCAR Racing Experience, specializing in large-scale corporate programs. Following that, he launched his own consulting firm, DUNCO Marketing, which has allowed him to work with a range of top-tier motorsports clients over the last 13 years.

Duncan will begin transitioning into his new role effective immediately.

For more information, visit speedtour.net.

Motorsports competition is alive and well across the nation. Here's a roundup of racing events taking place this weekend:

NHRA MISSION DRAG RACING SERIES

Event: NHRA New England Nationals
Location: New England Dragway – Epping, New Hampshire
Date: May 30-June 1
Broadcast: FOX

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Event: Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix
Location: Streets of Detroit – Detroit, Michigan
Date: Sunday, June 1
Time: 12:30 p.m. EDT
Broadcast: FOX

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Event: Cracker Barrel 400
Location: Nashville Superspeedway – Nashville, Tennessee
Date: Sunday, June 1
Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
Broadcast: Prime Video

USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Event: Corn Belt Clash
Location: Knoxville Raceway – Knoxville, Iowa
Date: Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31

KUBOTA HIGH LIMIT RACING

Event: Driven2SaveLives Battle at the 'Burg
Location: Lawrenceburg Speedway – Lawrenceburg, Indiana
Date: Friday, May 30

Event: Mace Thomas Classic
Location: Butler Speedway – Quincy, Michigan
Date: Saturday, May 31

WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SERIES

Event: Don Mack Classic
Location: River Cities Speedway – Grand Forks, North Dakota
Date: Friday, May 30

Event: The Rumble on the Red
Location: Red River Valley Speedway – West Fargo, North Dakota
Date: Saturday, May 31

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) Museum has announced plans to build a new restoration and event facility located just outside IMS grounds in Speedway, Indiana.

The plans continue the museum's complete overhaul and expansion that began in 2023 with a $61 million renovation of the main museum building. The new restoration and event facility, located just South of the speedway, will provide dedicated space for the full-time restoration department to continue preserving and restoring the vehicle collection.

The new, 60,000-sq.-ft. restoration and event facility will include six restoration bays, two detailing bays and dedicated space for vehicle storage. Cars not displayed in the museum will be housed in the new facility, which will also host rotating exhibits and public tours.

The new facility will enhance the IMS Museum's newly established education program. Hands-on learning classes will be offered for students interested in pursuing careers in automotive engineering and restoration. Additional full-time and part-time staff will be added, increasing job opportunities within the organization.

For more information, visit imsmuseum.org.