Each December, as you walk the aisles of the PRI Show in downtown Indianapolis, it's clear that transforming the Indiana Convention Center into the hub of motorsports business begins long before showtime. 

You see rows of meticulously purpose-built race cars—from dragsters to sprint cars, late models to off-road trucks and everything in between—sit proudly beside the cutting-edge innovations, products and components that make them win. You also see experts sharing their latest techniques and wired machinery working side-by-side, and maybe get an autograph and handshake from your favorite driver. But what you don't see is the countless hours of preparation that began, well, the minute the previous PRI Show closed its doors last year. 

“We look at the customer experience from the day after the PRI Show to the closing day of the next Show. Exhibitors are on a 365-day journey with us from booth registration, plotting, registering their staff, hotel bookings, maybe seminar scheduling, and all other logistics,”  said PRI President Mike Good. “The booth plotting process is one piece of that overall customer journey, and we try to make it a best-in-class experience. I think the team has done a knockout job with it this year.”

It's fitting that the 2025 PRI Show booth plotting process, a three-day event, took place the week of the Indy 500. With the grit and determination of a field of 33 racers zipping around Indianapolis Motor Speedway, some dozen PRI team members gathered to strategically organize the PRI Show floor in the Indiana Convention Center.  

And yes, while I was able to confirm fan-favorite Show features and experiences are returning—and some even expanding (more on that here)—the most exciting takeaway from the booth plot was how well everything came together this year. In fact, the PRI team placed an estimated 60% of the Show floor after the first day of plotting.  

"I attribute this year's successful plot to the Sales and Show teams coming organized and planned. The sales reps build relationships with the exhibitors all year long, so they know what they need and want ahead of time. Plus, all the systems and platforms came together—it's crucial to have things lined up and everything fell into place this year," said PRI Show Director Karin Davidson.

"[We use a priority process for our exhibitors.] We started the day with our 35-year priority customers, and we made it down to our 5-year customers," said Jeff Dahlin, industry sales director, on the first day of plotting, noting that the 35-year customers have been exhibiting since the inception of the PRI Show. "We've made more progress [today] than ever before. And best of all, the exhibitors are all happy!" 

If you want to see your motorsports business among the aisles of innovative brands at the 2025 PRI Show, December 11-13 in downtown Indianapolis, there is still time to secure a booth. Learn more at prishow.com/exhibitor. 

Attendee registration for the 2025 PRI Show opens in July. Learn more at prishow.com. 

NASCAR has announced the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and winner of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR. The three-person class includes Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick. Humpy Wheeler was named the Landmark Award winner.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2026 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The Class of 2026 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano). In all, 49 votes were cast. 

Busch and Gant both received 61% of the Modern Era ballot votes. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton. Ray Hendrick received 31% of the Pioneer ballot votes. Bob Welborn finished second.

The two Modern Era inductees came from a group of 10 nominees that included: Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, Randy LaJoie and Jack Sprague.

Nominees for the Pioneer Ballot included: Jake Elder, Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips and Ralph Moody.

Nominees for the Landmark Award included Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Les Richter and Humpy Wheeler.

Ten nominees appeared on the Modern Era ballot, which was selected by the traditional Nominating Committee. The same committee selected the five Landmark Award nominees. The Pioneer ballot, which included five nominees whose careers began in 1966 or earlier, was selected by the Honors Committee.

The Class of 2026 Induction Ceremony is set for Friday, January 23, 2026 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

The FIA has successfully debuted its new Impact Data Recorder (IDR) at the 2025 FIA Karting Academy Trophy in Portugal, with all competing karts carrying the device during the event.

The device, developed by the FIA with the support of the FIA Foundation, was launched globally in 2024, and is a low-cost data recorder that registers key metrics such as impact G forces.

The IDR is aimed at categories from national to regional level where more expensive, bespoke data recorders may not be available, according to the FIA Thanks to its small size (2-in. long) and low weight (just .4 oz), it is the first FIA-developed accident data recording device to be fitted to a kart.

The FIA's global network of National Sporting Authorities (NSAs) are able to purchase and fit the IDR in grassroots and national competitions, and paired with bespoke software, the devices can provide unprecedented insights into the nature and frequency of crashes, allowing NSAs to adapt and improve their safety infrastructure over time, FIA officials said.

The data collected from the introduction of the IDR to FIA Karting events will provide the FIA and by extension organizers of karting events at every level with data that can inform the next generation of integrated safety systems--from circuit layouts to barrier positioning and improvements to safety equipment.

In 2025, the IDR will be fitted at every round of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy events, and through wider uptake from 2026 onwards at international and national levels, the benefits will only increase.

For more information, visit fia.com.

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

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Event: 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge
Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Speedway, Indiana
Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)
Broadcast: FOX

NASCAR CUP SERIES

Event: 66th Coca-Cola 600
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway – Concord, North Carolina
Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: Prime Video

WORLD OF OUTLAWS SPRINT CAR SERIES

Event: Attica Sprint Car Showdown
Location: Attica Raceway Park – Attica, Ohio
Date: Friday, May 23

Event: Sharon Speedway Sprint Car Showdown
Location: Sharon Speedway – Hartford, Ohio
Date: Saturday, May 24

KUBOTA HIGH LIMIT RACING

Event: Bob Weikert Memorial
Location: Grandview Speedway – Bechtelsville, Pennsylvania
Date: May 23–25

XTREME OUTLAW SERIES

Event: Midget Round Up
Location: Airport Raceway – Garden City, Kansas
Dates: May 23–25

LUCAS OIL LATE MODEL DIRT SERIES

Event: The Tribute to Don and Billie Gibson
Location: Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Missouri
Dates: Friday, May 23

Event: 33rd Annual Show-Me 100
Location: Lucas Oil Speedway – Wheatland, Missouri
Dates: Saturday, May 24

SCCA HOOSIER SUPER TOUR

Event: Tire Rack SCCA Lincoln National Tour
Location: Lincoln Airpark – Lincoln, Nebraska
Date: May 23–25

Are we missing an event? Contact editorial@performanceracing.com to let us know! 

The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA)—the organization founded in 1976 to preserve the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, and motorsports events at the historic venue—has announced a Test & Tune event is set for June 27-29, 2025.

Registration is now open online here. A USFRA Club Membership is required. Driver licensing will be available along with log and driver books. In addition, officials will inspect new vehicles.

USFRA will also host its monthly Club meeting on Wednesday, June 4, at Structural Steel, 125 W 500 N, North Salt Lake, Utah.

In addition, registration forms for the legendary World of Speed event, September 5-8, are also available on the USFRA website here.

Visit the USFRA Facebook page at facebook.com/TheUSFRAOfficial for the latest information.

Photo of the Big Block Ford powered Thundersalt 2 courtesy of The Utah Salt Flats Racing Association (USFRA), Facebook.

PRI opened its doors to the public on Fast Friday—the annual practice day before Indianapolis 500 qualifications begin—joining in on the Month of May festivities alongside its Speedway, Indiana, neighbors.

Hosted in partnership with Bell Helmets, which runs a pro shop inside the PRI Headquarters, the PRI Open House and Lunch Pop-Up on the PRI Patio marked major milestones for both organizations, including the third anniversary of PRI's move to Speedway, as well as the 70th year of Bell Helmets protecting drivers in the Indianapolis 500.

To celebrate, the organizations teamed up to host the event, which featured tours of the building, close-up looks at vintage race cars, demonstrations from helmet artists, a silent auction benefiting the Della Penna Foundation, food trucks, a kids coloring contest judged by Bell-sporting INDYCAR drivers, and much more.  

The event also served as an opportunity for PRI to further engrain itself in the community in which it has established its roots, opening up its doors to show off what is usually closed to the public.

"We're right here in the racing capital of the world and we couldn't be more excited," said PRI President Michael Good. "We opened our doors to let the public see inside and see what we do to move the industry along as a trade organization."

Good, along with membership and other PRI staff, spent the evening educating visitors on the mission, services and role PRI plays not only in the local community, but Indiana's thriving motorsports ecosystem—and beyond.

"Racing is a big part of who we are when you think of the jobs created, the industries supported by racing, all that we're doing in higher-ed with motorsports engineering programs, and all the significant employers in the state," Good said. "Racing, in Indiana, is part of the fiber of who we are."

There was no better example than the second event held at PRI HQ on qualifying weekend.

As part of its Inspire Program for local high-school girls interested in motorsports careers, the Della Penna Foundation held an early-morning event at PRI HQ featuring numerous speakers from all corners of the industry, offering advice and words of wisdom for pursuing a job in racing.

The foundation--named for former racer and team owner John Della Penna, and established by his daughter, Michelle Della Penna—aims to increase female representation in the industry and provide opportunities for girls to pursue their passion for motorsports. The Inspire Program is a direct attempt at accomplishing that mission, taking 25 local students to a variety of motorsports businesses—including local teams and manufacturers—before capping the weekend with some on-track action at IMS.

"It's a fully immersive weekend," Della Penna said, listing off an itinerary that included stops at Arrow McLaren, the IMS Museum, Dallara, General Motors, and even a local go-kart track. "It goes from drivers to marketing and everything in between, and hopefully they will be inspired and find something they love."

During their stop at PRI HQ, the students got to hear from representatives of many of those organizations, getting a cross-section of the industry ranging from the on-track accomplishments of Lyn St. James, the trailblazing racer and 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, to the behind-the-scenes work of TaiJaune Robinson, engineering business manager at GM Motorsports. The varied perspectives offered a crash course on the many ways to break into the industry, Della Penna said.

"Every component is just so vital. It all just means so much," she said. "It adds a roundness to everything, so being able to have such a wide breadth of people and experts is huge, and it gives the young ladies so much more perspective on what they could really do."

If you or your business is interested in supporting the Della Penna Foundation through donations, experiences for students or in-kind donations, visit dellapennafoundation.org for more information.

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) recently reintroduced S. 1763, the "Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act," necessary legislation that will help ensure the fiscal viability of race tracks across the nation. The SEMA and PRI-backed legislation would make permanent the seven-year cost recovery period for investments in motorsport entertainment complexes.  

• Click here to send a letter to your members of Congress telling them to support the Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act and include it in the tax bill currently being negotiated. 
   

S. 1763 is a companion bill to H.R. 2231, which U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-N.Y.) introduced with bipartisan cosponsors earlier this year.   

The tax incentive for race tracks, along with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, is set to expire on December 31, 2025. Without congressional action, race tracks' depreciation period would revert to 39 years. By making the incentive permanent, Congress can provide track owners with much-needed certainty that they can recover the costs of long-term investments on an accelerated basis. 

• SEMA and PRI encourage you to reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to include the Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act in the tax bill that's currently being negotiated in the House and Senate.  
   

Background: 

The Federal Tax code defines a "motorsports entertainment complex" to mean a race track facility that "(i) is permanently situated on land, and (ii) during the 36-month period following the asset being placed in service, hosts one or more racing events for automobiles (of any type), trucks or motorcycles which are open to the public for the price of admission." 

Accelerated depreciation of investments in a motorsports entertainment complex applies to capital expenditures in a facility's ticket booths, race track surfaces, suites and hospitality facilities, grandstands and viewing structures, props, walls, facilities that support the delivery of entertainment services, other special-purpose structures, facades, shop interiors, and buildings in addition to support facilities (including food and beverage retailing, souvenir vending, and other non-lodging accommodations), parking lots, sidewalks, bridges, fences and landscaping. The tax incentive does not, however, apply to transportation equipment, administrative services assets, warehouses, administrative buildings, hotels or motels. 

For additional information, contact Juan Mejia, SEMA's senior manager for federal government affairs, at juanm@sema.org.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

Heat-treating company Solar Atmospheres is opening its seventh heat-treating facility in Berlin, Connecticut, slated to open in 2026.

The 28,000-sq.-ft. facility will further expand Solar Atmosphere's footprint and capabilities in the Northeast, the company said.

"We are excited to establish a new presence in Connecticut," said Jamie Jones, president of Solar Atmospheres of Eastern Pennsylvania and Connecticut. "This strategic location allows us to better serve our growing customer base and continue supporting the aerospace, medical, and commercial manufacturing markets throughout New England."

The company will provide updates as it builds the new facility, the company said.

For more information, visit solaratm.com.

AVL RACETECH, the Austrian engineering service provider, and Penske Autosport DS Automobiles Formula E World Championship team, have expanded their partnership to develop an optimized energy management system.

The team previously partnered with AVL RACETECH to use its AVL VSM RACE simulation solution, which enables up to five driving simulators to be linked within a unified environment, allowing for a realistic reproduction of multi-vehicle interactions to develop race strategy processes.

The expanded partnership will see the team use AVL RACETECH systems to optimize its energy management system utilizing a virtual model of the current Formula E car and intelligent algorithms to analyze and optimize the available energy harvest and deployment.

According to the company, the simulation will help the team refine the optimal energy management strategy for real-world races.

For more information, visit avl.com.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) has announced that all reserved seats, including those in the grandstands and suites, are officially sold out for the 109th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 25, track officials announced.

According to INDYCAR and IMS president J. Douglas Boles, the facility has more than 230,000 permanent seats.

“As promised, the very best fans in sports have delivered in fitting fashion for the stars of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, and every last reserved seat ticket has been sold,” Boles said. “Approximately 350,000 people will experience the ultimate spectacle that is the Indy 500 in person as everyone turns their focus to the 'Racing Capital of the World' on Sunday.”

Although reserved seats are no longer available, race day general admission tickets for the IMS infield are still available through race day, and the official IMS Resale Marketplace will be open through Wednesday, May 21, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The sellout of reserved seats also means the track has lifted the local broadcast delay.

For more information, visit ims.com.