Mark your calendars because the SEMA California Rally is back! On June 11, 2025, PRI- and SEMA-member companies across the Golden State are invited to join us in Sacramento for a day of advocacy and innovation.

This isn't just another event--it's your chance to make a real difference for the motorsports and automotive aftermarket industries. From supporting cutting-edge vehicle technologies to advocating for crucial manufacturing incentives, the SEMA California Rally is where our voices turn into action.

This year's Rally is open to all PRI- and SEMA-member companies based in California, and registration is officially live. Click here to secure your spot and find all the details you need, including lodging information.

By attending the SEMA California Rally, you're not just joining an event--you're becoming a part of a movement dedicated to the growth and innovation of our industry.

Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Join us in Sacramento on Wednesday, June 11, and let's drive change together.

For more information, contact PRI and SEMA Senior Manager of State Government Affairs Victor Muñoz at victorm@sema.org.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) has announced, as it did last season, that all iRacing members will be able to qualify for the FIA F4 Global Esports Championship presented by MOZA by running in iRacing's FIA F4 Regional Tour series during 2025 Season 3, which kicks off in mid-June.

The top 10 eligible drivers in championship standings across each of the Regional Tour series will be invited to compete in the championship. In order to qualify for an invitation to the championship series, drivers must provide the proper identification from the region they intend to represent, either with a Passport or an ID card.

Doubleheader events have been scheduled for October 25, November 8, November 22, and the finale on December 6. Track selections for each event will be announced 24 hours prior to the race, forcing drivers to adapt quickly to each course. Drivers will also compete with fixed setups, ensuring an equal playing field.

For more information, visit the FIA announcement.

In addition, the FIA has also announced that the World Motor Sport Council has given its approval by e-vote for the creation of the Formula 4 World Cup, together with the return of the FR World Cup and GT World Cup.

Following the first running of the FIA FR World Cup at the 2024 Macau Grand Prix, the event will continue as the ultimate test for junior drivers before they make the step up into international competition.

"Macau is an essential part of the education of a young driver, and we have a duty to protect its legacy and its future. There are so few challenges like the Macau Grand Prix left that we felt it was the right moment to introduce the FIA F4 World Cup. It will give the best drivers coming from the national level an opportunity to learn what it takes to drive the Guia Circuit in an F4 car, which is a bit more forgiving than an FR car, so that when they come back in one or two years for the FR World Cup they are ready to really show what they can do," said FIA Single-Seater Committee President Emanuele Pirro.

For more information, visit the FIA announcement.

The IHRA Outlaw Nitro Series is returning in 2025 with a five-race slate beginning July 9-12 at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Ohio.

The Outlaw Nitro Series will feature on-track competition from numerous classes, including Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, Pro Mod, Pro Nitrous, Outlaw Snowmobiles and a full slate of sportsman classes, as well as Pro-Am events Top Dragster, Top Sportsman, Stock, Super Stock, Quick Rod, Super Rod and Hot Rod.

See the full five-race schedule below:

• July 9-12 – National Trail Raceway – Hebron, Ohio
• July 23-26 – Milan Dragway – Milan, Michigan
• September 3-6 – National Trail Raceway – Hebron, Ohio
• September 24-27 – Dragway 42 – West Salem, Ohio
• November 5-8 – GALOT Motorsports Park – Dunn, North Carolina

More details will be released at a later date.

For more information, visit ihra.com.

Porsche has opened new headquarters for its factory Esports team near Cologne, Germany.

The Porsche Esports Performance Center, where the team will contest its online races, accommodates six professional racing simulators and an attached workstation for the team's performance engineer. The facility also includes additional open workspaces, a meeting room, a fitness and chill-out zone and a show car area.

The Esports factory team is the third factory-run motorsport squad from Porsche, alongside the Porsche Penske Motorsport sports car team and the Porsche Formula E team.

Additionally, Porsche recently became the official car of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

As part of the new partnership, a Porsche Driving Center will also launch at the raceway in 2026. Customers will be able to participate in and choose from introductory courses, which start with the basics of car control, through intermediate and advanced training for those seeking to sharpen existing skills.

For more information, visit racing.porsche.com.

The HOT ROD Power Tour West is returning to California in 2025 with a three-day trek across the state, December 5-7.

Following the annual HOT ROD Power Tour in the Midwest, scheduled for June 9-13, the HOT ROD Power Tour West will make three stops in California on December 5-7:

• Day 1: December 5 – Famoso Dragstrip, Bakersfield, California, which will feature drag racing.
• Day 2: December 6 – Street Legal Dragway, Perris, California (Moreno Valley), which will feature drag racing.
• Day 3: December 7 – Willow Springs International Raceway, Rosamond, California, which will feature autocross.

The three-day, three-city event will include thousands of cars and trucks of all years, makes and models, organizers said, that will be on display for tens of thousands of automotive enthusiasts.

The inaugural HOT ROD Power Tour West made its debut in 2023 and has been expanded to include drag racing, autocross and live entertainment.

For more information, visit hotrodpowertourwest.us.

Compressor manufacturer Kaeser Compressors, Inc., is expanding its facility in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and recently broke ground on the 80,000-sq.-ft. addition.

The new space will primarily support the assembly of Kaeser’s custom air systems—complete compressed air, low-pressure blower, and vacuum systems engineered for high-performance installations.

The expansion is expected to create approximately 30 additional jobs across warehouse operations and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades.

For more information, visit us.kaeser.com.

NASCAR has partnered with TelevisaUnivision to provide a free-to-air (FTA) broadcast in Mexico of the NASCAR Cup Series' inaugural race in Mexico City on June 15. Through the partnership, the race will be broadcast live on TelevisaUnivision's 'Canal 5' with full Spanish-language commentary.

In addition to live race coverage, TelevisaUnivision will also deliver weekly NASCAR highlights, including 52-minute race cutdowns and short-form clips from the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. These will be distributed across TelevisaUnivision's linear and digital platforms, including ViX, its streaming service and official social media channels, according to the sanctioning body.

The television partner will also provide marketing and promotional support for the Mexico City race.

For more information, visit nascar.com.

VP Racing has announced a new distribution partnership with Rebel Oil Company (ROC), resulting in a significant expansion of VP Racing fuel distribution throughout Nevada and California.

ROC is a leading fuel, renewable biofuel, race fuel, lubricant and oil distributor in the Western United States. Founded in 1954, ROC brings decades of experience operating fuel stations and servicing wholesale customers. With a presence in the Nevada market, ROC continues to serve Race Fuel customers through their bulk distribution, bulk plant/will call and cardlock operations.

This strategic partnership enhances the market presence of both the VP Racing and ROC brands, expanding access to premium fuels and additives for drivers, dealers and retailers across the region, the company said in a release announcing the new partnership.

For more information, visit vpracingfuels.com.

The Trump administration recently announced that auto parts that comply with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will now be exempt from the 25% tariffs in place for imported auto parts, effective May 3.  

The shift in policy follows significant efforts by PRI, SEMA and others in the automotive community to help the Trump administration understand the impacts of tariffs on domestic companies. Because tariff policy remains a fluid situation, PRI and SEMA continue to monitor and engage with the federal government on behalf of our members and the automotive aftermarket industry. 

President Trump in his April 29 executive order provided immediate relief to industry businesses that manufacture USMCA-compliant parts. The order extended the 0% duty rate for USMCA-compliant components, a decision that offers temporary but critical relief for Tier 1 suppliers and many aftermarket parts businesses.  

According to United States Customs and Border Protection, the exemption ensures that parts sourced from Mexico and Canada remain untaxed if they meet the trade agreement's requirements. The tariff reprieve comes as automakers face significant financial strain, with General Motors projecting a potential $5-billion cost from the broader tariff regime. 

Behind the Scenes 

In response to the rollout of tariffs on everything from steel and aluminum to auto parts to country-specific tariffs, PRI and SEMA sought direct feedback from their members on the impact of the various tariffs on their companies. PRI and SEMA have used this information when communicating the impacts to federal lawmakers and Trump Administration officials. 

Although short-term relief is welcome, PRI and SEMA remain vigilant about emerging updates that can impact the specialty-equipment industry. President Trump retains the authority to revisit the policy and impose tariffs--even on USMCA partners.  

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

Original publish date: May 6, 2025

Image courtesy of Shutterstock

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

NTT INDYCAR SERIES

Sonsio Grand Prix – Indianapolis Motor Speedway - Road Course – Speedway, Indiana – May 9-10

NASCAR

Cup Series and Craftsman Truck Series – AdventHealth 400 – Kansas Speedway – Kansas City, Kansas – May 9-11

IMSA

Tirerack.com Monterey SportsCar Championship – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca – Monterey, California – May 9-11

Formula DRIFT and GRIDLIFE

Road Atlanta – Braselton, Georgia – May 8-10

Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series

Farmer City Raceway – Farmer City, Illinois – May 9
Fairbury Speedway – Fairbury, Illinois – May 10

World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Morgan Cup – Williams Grove Speedway – Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania – May 9-10

Kubota High Limit Racing

Lakeside Speedway – Kansas City, Kansas – May 9
Tri-City Speedway – Granite City, Illinois – May 10

SCCA Hoosier Super Tour

Portland International Raceway – Portland, Oregon – May 10-11

Xtreme Outlaw Series

Creek County Speedway – Sapulpa, Oklahoma – May 8
Humboldt Speedway – Humboldt, Kansas – May 9
81 Speedway – Park City, Kansas – May 10

USAC Amsoil Sprint Car National Championship

Bloomington Speedway – Bloomington, Indiana – May 9
Tri-State Speedway – Haubstadt, Indiana – May 10

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

Photo Courtesy of Penske Entertainment – Amber Pietz