GetInTheStands.com is hosting a series of free, 15-minute training sessions on social media.

Starting Tuesday, May 6, the three-part series will highlight tips and strategies for track promoters on how to overcome the challenges of social media and engaging more fans.

See the session schedule below:

• May 6 – Overcoming Keyboard Warriors
• May 13 – Making Social Karma Work For You
• May 20 – Optimizing Free Event Exposure

Promoters can attend any or all free sessions by registering at getinthestands.com. The sessions are also open to social-media managers, organizers said.

Scott Kosak, owner and founder of GetInTheStands.com, will lead the sessions. Kosak has hosted similar trainings at the PRI Show in 2023 and 2024, the Dragstrip Operators Meetings and Expo (DOME) in 2024, as well as many online sessions over the past several years. 

Tom Deery, PRI motorsport ambassador, commented on the value of training sessions like those offered by GetInTheStands.com.

"Understanding and utilizing the social-media platforms and options are now the top priority for successful event promotion," Deery said. "Taking 15 to 30 minutes per week to learn is a great investment of your time. Take advantage of every opportunity."

For more information, visit getinthestands.com.

Racetech, a New Zealand-based racing seat manufacturer, has launched an NHRA contingency program for 2025 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series national events.

The partnership launched last month at the 2025 American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Concord, North Carolina. 

Racetech USA has committed to more than $30,000 in potential contingency payouts in 2025 to racers who win or finish runner-up in the following classes: Stock Eliminator, Super Stock, Super Gas, Super Street, Top Sportsman, Factory Stock Showdown ((including OEM-equipped Drag Pak and Cobra Jet), Factory X and Pro Mod.

To be eligible, competitors must run Racetech seats and display the official Racetech decal on both sides of their race car. 

"Drag racing is the ultimate test of precision, performance, and durability – the same qualities engineered into Racetech seats" said Brian Oleshak, Racetech USA's vice president of sales. "We're proud to support NHRA racer safety in one of the most competitive motorsports in the world." 

Contingency decals will be available on-site at the upcoming Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals, held on May 15-18 at Route 66 Raceway in Elwood, Illinois, and distributed through NHRA Tech Trailer prior to the start of eliminations. 

Racers can look forward to enhanced support, increased visibility and new opportunities through Racetech's involvement with the NHRA community throughout 2025 and beyond, the company said. 

For more information on the program, visit Racetech-USA.com.

For full contingency rules and to request decals by mail, visit NHRA.com/Competition/Contingency.

Each year, The Racing Attorney Conference (TRAC) gathers legal minds and industry leaders from across motorsports for a unique event focused on education, policy and collaboration.

This year's TRAC was held April 22-23 at Lucas Oil Raceway Park and the Dallara IndyCar factory in Indianapolis and continued its tradition of tackling key legal and legislative topics affecting the racing community. TRAC 2025 brought together attorneys, racing executives and policy professionals to share best practices and address emerging challenges. The agenda included sessions on government funding, international affairs, private equity in motorsports, marketing law, diversity initiatives and evolving case law.

PRI attended the conference as part of its continual mission to build, promote and protect the racing community. PRI President Michael Good highlighted the value of TRAC, calling it a "vitally important" event for the future of the industry.

"You have a select group of attorneys coming together that are all connected by the motorsports industry," Good said. "They share best practices and themes of what they're seeing—whether it's navigating acquisitions, representing teams or drivers, or addressing topics like the political climate, tariffs and the international landscape. These are invaluable discussions."

For PRI, the event also served as a platform to share updates about its advocacy work and initiatives supporting manufacturers, tracks and sanctioning bodies across the nation. "We get the ability to share with this audience all that's going on within PRI," Good noted, referencing the organization's efforts in regulatory and legislative advocacy for race tracks. "Conversely, I'm able to hear how others are working through issues like private equity involvement in motorsports and gain insights into case law specific to our industry."

At the same time, the foundation of TRAC offers a rare opportunity to examine the intersection of motorsports and the law in a dedicated setting, an exchange of information and expertise that ultimately strengthens the broader racing ecosystem.

"TRAC benefits the overall motorsports community by being a place to share ideas, inform on the latest trends and bring together a diverse group of like-minded professionals for the betterment of the industry," Good said.

For those in the racing world whose work intersects with legal or policy matters, TRAC is not to be overlooked. As Good added, "If you are in motorsports and in any way tied to the legal landscape, you should look into TRAC."

In a sport where innovation often outpaces regulation, events like TRAC help to ensure the industry stays aligned, informed and ready for the future. PRI's involvement reflects its continued commitment to its mission: We build, promote and protect the racing community. Representing the interests of the PRI community: racers, enthusiasts, builders, tracks, sanctioning bodies and businesses. Of course, the hallmark of this mission is the annual PRI Show in downtown Indianapolis, this year set for December 11-13. Attendee registration opens in July, and exhibitor booth space is still currently available. Learn more at performanceracing.com/tradeshow.

For more information on TRAC, visit racingattorneys.com. For more information on PRI, including the PRI Show, visit performanceracing.com.

Images courtesy of the Indianapolis Bar Association and Foundation, Facebook

South Florida Motorsports, the promoter of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, has confirmed a 10-year contract extension to keep the race at the Miami International Autodrome through 2041.

The deal makes the Miami Grand Prix the longest-contracted race in Formula 1.

The Miami Gardens, Florida, facility hosted its first Formula 1 race in 2022, entering the calendar with an initial 10-year agreement. The inaugural event drew more than 240,000 spectators, according to event organizers, and saw a record-breaking 275,000 race-goers attend the 2024 event across the race weekend. 3.1 million viewers also tuned in, setting a United States television audience record.

For more information about the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix, visit formula1.com.

The Museum of American Speed in Lincoln, Nebraska, recently celebrated the opening of the Unser and Herzog galleries in its newly expanded facility.

The new addition to space allowed the museum to add enhanced displays for NASCAR, off-road racing and grow the museum's already established land-speed, drag-racing and custom show-car displays, according to Curator Tim Matthews.

"We've had a longtime relationship with the Unser and Herzog families and are honored to welcome their collections to the Museum of American Speed," Matthews said. "Over the last few years, we've worked closely with these amazing families to curate the exhibits and are excited to announce the opening of the galleries to the public."

Local dignitaries including Governor Jim Pillen, Mayor Lierion Gaylor Baird, members of the Unser and Herzog families, and Lisa Haight of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb were among those who shared remarks and participated in the ribbon cutting, held at the museum on April 25.

The museum now offers 240,000 sq.-ft. of exhibit space following its expansion.

For more information, visit museumofamericanspeed.org.

From the Washington, D.C., office

PRI and SEMA, on behalf of the nation's motorsports and automotive aftermarket industry and millions of enthusiasts across the United States, issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives' 246-164 vote to overturn California's Clean Air Act waiver for the state's Advanced Clean Cars II policy (a.k.a. electric-vehicle ((EV)) mandates or internal combustion engine ((ICE)) vehicle ban): 

If you're going to force 40% of the nation to do your bidding, you better deliver a stronger policy than California's Advanced Clean Cars II, which will cripple the economy, force families into vehicles they can't afford, and saddle communities with an untenable, impractical edict with which to contend. California would have you believe there is a pot of gold at the end of the EV rainbow, in the form of millions of jobs installing chargers and expanding the grid, but in truth California would have on their hands the blood of an entire, legacy automotive industry that Americans have grown to rely upon and trust. 

Lawmakers in the House on both sides of the aisle see through these lies and understand what's at stake, and we thank them for slamming the door on EV mandates by voting in favor of a Congressional Review Act resolution to strike down California's Clean Air Act waiver. Their bipartisan vote will preserve vehicle choice nationwide, particularly at a time when people are keeping vehicles longer, using them to transport their families, and kickstart businesses and careers. 

We're on to the Senate. It's time for Senate Republicans and Democrats to stand up, declare that California does not speak for our nation, that the Golden State's policies are not solutions to our country's issues, and that it is not partisan to say, "I believe in American ingenuity, not mandates." The Senate must now vote to reclaim what California has stolen: our nation's ability to bring all options to the table in service of solving the carbon emissions conundrum. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

ACT NOW: PRI and SEMA made it easy for industry members to make their voices heard on this crucial matter with just a few clicks. Learn more ⁠here or click below to support automotive technology innovation.

​

BACKGROUND  

To enact an ICE vehicle ban through EV mandates would represent a significant hit to the nation's economy by causing irreparable harm to an industry that annually delivers a $337 billion economic impact and supports more than 1.3 million American jobs through domestic manufacturing and sales.  

• 33% of the nation's automotive aftermarket industry is ICE-dependent, representing more than $100 billion in economic impact to the U.S. economy, and impacts roughly 330,000 jobs.  

PRI and SEMA are not anti-EV; rather, it champions a technology-neutral approach that fosters innovation and ingenuity. The association will continue efforts to preserve Americans' rights to vehicle choice and the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to design, manufacture, and bring to market products that help solve the emissions challenge.  

PRI, SEMA and a coalition of 335 small businesses from the automotive aftermarket in early April urged House of Representatives and Senate leadership to hold votes to put an immediate stop to the implementation of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation.  

During the 2024 presidential campaign, PRI/SEMA, through its Driving Force Action SuperPAC, educated voters about the damaging impact of EV mandates, and the profound importance of empowering the automotive aftermarket to develop innovative solutions to carbon emissions using American ingenuity.  

In celebration of "The Month of May," PRI will host special events at its headquarters located on Main Street in Speedway, Indiana. Industry members are invited to stop by PRI HQ at 1255 Main Street, Speedway, Indiana, on Friday, May 16, for tours of the PRI facility, show cars, giveaways, local food vendors, a silent auction of unique replica race helmets by Bell Racing Helmets benefitting charity, and much more.

Questions? See the flyer below or contact mail@performanceracing.com. 

The 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1--designed to reach 233 mph--will lead the field to the green flag for the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Designed for speed and performance, the Corvette ZR1 is up for any challenge, and the exterior and interior of the Corvette ZR1 will be on full display as the car fulfills responsibilities on and off the track.

The Corvette ZR1 delivers 1,064 horsepower at 7,000 rpm from a 5.5L twin-turbo V8, which is the most power ever from a factory Corvette and is designed to be the most powerful V8 ever produced in America by an auto manufacturer. For Pace Car duty, the ZR1 is equipped with the Carbon Aero package, including dive planes on the front bumper, underbody aero strakes and the rear wing, which creates more than 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speeds.

The Corvette ZR1 is designed to achieve incredible acceleration--capable of zero to 60 mph in 2.3 seconds before rushing through the quarter-mile in 9.6 seconds at 150 mph, making it the quickest Corvette ever.

Arctic White exterior paint and Jet Black interior accents pair nicely with the Indianapolis 500 logos on the Pace Car. The jewel tone, emerald green and gold of the logo are highlighted in racing stripes and additional exterior design elements. Carbon fiber wheels complete the car's iconic, race-ready look.

"As we anticipate another iconic Indianapolis 500, we are once again excited to have the incredible American sports car Corvette pacing the field," IMS and INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. "The race car-like performance of the Corvette ZR1 makes it the perfect car to pace the Indianapolis 500, and the distinctive sound of the Chevrolet V8 engine will echo brilliantly inside the walls of IMS."

Michael Strahan, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner, longtime "FOX NFL Sunday" analyst and "Good Morning America" co-host, has been named honorary Pace Car driver and will pace the field of 33 drivers in the Corvette ZR1 to start "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."

"Chevrolet is proud that the 2025 Corvette ZR1, our fastest Corvette ever, will be the Official Pace Car for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500," said Scott Bell, global Chevrolet vice president. "With a top speed of 233 mph, the Corvette ZR1 is the perfect fit to lead the Indy 500 field to green."

For tickets and more information on all Month of May events and activities, visit IMS.com.

(From left to right) West Virginia State Senator Chris Rose, West Virginia State Senator Mark Maynard, Tierra Hubbard of SEMA/PRI and West Virginia State Senator Ben Queen.
 

In a major victory for vehicle choice, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey recently signed into law SB 573, a landmark automotive bill strongly supported by PRI and SEMA which prohibits the state from limiting the use, sale, or purchase of motor vehicles based on their energy source. The new law effectively blocks potential future bans on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

SEMA and PRI's position on electric vehicle (EV) mandates is clear: innovation should be driven by consumer choice and industry ingenuity, not by restrictive government mandates. The government, therefore, should remain technology-neutral.

West Virginia's law is a significant win for the motorsports industry. It ensures that businesses can continue to develop and sell performance- and emissions-related products for all types of vehicles—gasoline, diesel, hybrid and electric. It preserves West Virginians' freedom to choose the vehicles that best suit their needs while supporting a diverse, thriving industry.

SEMA and PRI will continue to advocate for similar laws at both the state and federal levels, protecting consumer rights and promoting an open, competitive landscape for automotive innovation.

For more information, contact Tierra Hubbard, SEMA/PRI's senior manager for state government affairs, at tierrah@sema.org.

Motor State Distributing, the Watervliet, Michigan-based wholesale distributor of racing and performance parts, will host the 17th annual Motor State Challenge on July 24-26.

The three-day Pro-Touring event will test drivers' skills on the street, track and skidpad, and serve as a wildcard qualifier for the Optima Search for the Ultimate Street Car Finals in Las Vegas, held November 2-7.

Competing in everything from vintage muscle cars to modern sports car, and even a few modified trucks—participants will take to the track at GingerMan Raceway in southwest Michigan, then at the Tire Rack headquarters in South Bend, Indiana.

The event will feature multiple classes, including vintage, late model and manufacturer, as well as the QA1 #goDRIVEit class, which encourages racers to drive their vehicle to the event, race it and then drive it home.

For more information or to register for the event, visit motorstatechallenge.com.