Advanced Clean Air Technologies (ACAT), manufacturers of lightweight, efficient catalytic converter products for automotive, commercial and industrial applications, has finalized the purchase of its 70,000-square-foot production facility in Charlevoix. The deal closed March 25.

ACAT Global started producing its line of clean emissions components at the facility in 2011. ACAT’s catalytic converter products are made for gasoline and diesel engines in automobiles, heavy-duty vehicles, power generation facilities, industrial plants and any other application which produces harmful emissions.

The company is currently using only a portion of this space, but the building layout allows for production line expansion and additional space for new equipment as needed. The property’s size offers ACAT the ability to further expand operations when the need arises.

ACAT Global purchased the property from DBS Development, LLC of Charlevoix. Previous tenants of the facility include E-Log and Hoskins Manufacturing.

In January of this year, ACAT Global purchased a significant stake in Oliver Racing Parts, including all of the company’s debt. ACAT is also investing in Oliver’s upcoming machinery and equipment upgrades.

For more, visit www.acatglobal.com.

Veteran announcer Brian Olson and seasoned drag racing guru Carl Robinson have been named as the announce team for the new X-treme Drag Racing League’s inaugural season.

The duo will serve as the voices of the X-DRL for its online live broadcasts and for the live audience at each of the nine X-DRL races during its debut campaign.



The 2013 X-DRL season begins on April 6-7 with the X-DRL Spring Nationals at Osage Casino Tulsa Raceway Park, and includes nine stops at many of the nation’s most prestigious tracks.



A 40-year veteran in the sport and an announcer for the past 31 years, Olson has announced races in the NHRA, IHRA, ADRL and much more, and also served as a television analyst for the likes of SPEED, Fox Sports and MAV-TV.



Olson has worked in all facets of drag racing, from Stock Eliminator to managing Top Fuel dragster teams, and his personal business, Olson Paint and Body Shop, entered its 29th year of service in 2013.



Robinson has been involved in drag racing since the late 1980s, including stops at Weld Racing Wheels and, since 2006, Mickey Thompson Tires and Wheels, which is also the sponsor of the X-DRL Top Sportsman class.



He also has been a regular guest in the announcer’s booth at various doorslammer events over the past several years.


For more information on the X-DRL, visit www.X-DRL.com.

JOES Racing Products has announced a season-long Contingency Program in association with all three American Canadian Tours (ACT).

The JOES program extends from the flagship ACT-US Tour to the Serie ACT Castrol Series and all three divisions covered under the Thunder Road Banner.

In total, the ACT-US Series, Serie Castrol Series and three Thunder Road divisions have 75 events scheduled for the 2013-14 season that will participate in the JOES program. Year-end awards will cap off weekly contingency awards that will be earned at every event during the coming season.

The season kicks off in April at LEE USA in New Hampshire.

For more information on JOES Racing Products, visit www.joesracing.com.

Specialty wheel and tire manufacturer and retailer The Coker Group has named Marla Moore as its new Director of Marketing.

Moore will oversee all marketing communication efforts for the company’s brands involved in the collector car industry. She reports directly to group Executive Vice President Wade Kawasaki on matters concerning advertising, public relations and sponsorships within the lifestyle and automotive enthusiast spheres.

For more than 30 years, Moore has been actively involved in the automotive aftermarket industry. In that time she has helped advocate on behalf of the industry, working with the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) in several capacities.
 
In 2012, Moore received one of the industry’s highest honors by being named SEMA’s Person of the Year. She also chairs the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network and led the SEMA Mustang Build Powered by Women that gained worldwide recognition.

Prior to that honor, she held seats on the select committees of the SBN and SEMA's Motorsports Parts Manufacturers Council (MPMC) and also chaired the Media Trade Conference. In addition, she serves on the SEMA Cares Committee and the Legislative Committee as well as a number of other organizations outside of SEMA.
 
Moore’s role has her as the marketing head for more than ten individual brands under The Coker Group umbrella, including The Coker Tire Company, Honest Charley Speed Shop, The Great Race, Coker Cycle Company, Phoenix Race Tires, M and H Racemaster, Pro-Trac Tire Company, Specialty Wheel, Roadster Wire Wheels, and Wheel Vintiques,
 
Prior to joining The Coker Group, Moore served as the Advertising Director at Hypertech, a Bartlett, Tennessee-based company specializing in high-performance engine tuning for modern computer-controlled vehicles.

Royal Purple has stepped up to the plate to present the Muscle Mustangs All-Female Shootout at the NMRA Keystone Automotive Ford Nationals series’ Norwalk, Ohio, event, taking place at Summit Motorsports Park the weekend of June 14-16, 2013.  

The All-Female Shootout will bring together some of the fastest females in the US racing their street-legal Mustangs and Fords for national glory.
 
“We are thrilled to be presenting sponsor of our first event on behalf of the Royal Purple Ladies initiative that was launched last fall,” said Marlena Solomon, Royal Purple Communications Specialist. “We hope to continue to celebrate and support the women who make a difference in the automotive industry and educate the ladies in our community. We are looking forward to some great competition on the track at the All-Female Shootout.”
 
These NMRA lady racers will first compete in their own all-female TREMEC True Street class, presented by Muscle Mustangs, on Saturday (must meet all TS rules) with their own cash prizes and awards. All-female True Street racers have the chance to win the following:
 
• Winner: $250 + 6’ Trophy
• Runner-Up: $100 + Plaque
• $100 + Plaque to Each Winner of the 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 & 15 Second Averages
 
On Sunday, the eight quickest racers from Saturday’s ladies-only True Street competition will race heads-up on a 4/10 pro tree in the All-Female Shootout for cash, Royal Purple product, awards, and the coveted title of All-Female Shootout champion.

All racers not eligible for the All-Female Shootout will receive a free entry into Sunday’s NMRA Bracket Showdown. All-Female Shootout racers will be competing for big money and prizes:
 
• Winner: $1,500 + Contingency + Acrylic Award + Royal Purple Complete Fluid Package
• Runner-Up: $750 + Contingency + Plaque + Royal Purple Complete Fluid Package
• Semi Finalists: $300 + Case of Royal Purple Motor Oil of Choice
• Quarter Finalists: $100 + Case of Royal Purple Motor Oil of Choice
 
McLeod Racing is offering a $1,000 product certificate to the winner of the All-Female Shootout if the vehicle is equipped with a McLeod Racing clutch.
 
For ladies-only True Street and All-Female Shootout class rules or questions, contact Gene Bergstrom at 714/460-3813 or email him at gbergstrom@promediapub.com. 

For more information on the NMRA Ohio event, logon to www.NMRAdigital.com/OH or call 714/444-2426.

Walt Allen adds to his racing-related resume as new director of IMCA’s World Products Empire State Series.

Allen will attend all 10 events in the 12th annual tour for IMCA Xtreme Motor Sports Modifieds, ensuring IMCA procedures are followed and that race reports are sent to the IMCA home office.

“I’m looking forward to this new endeavor with IMCA,” said Allen, a longtime employee at Skyline Raceway and Black Rock Speedway. “I really want to encourage drivers to support the series. I’m happy to see more weekend shows on the schedule, which makes it easier for more drivers to follow the series.”

Higher car counts, he added, lead to more interest in the series by potential sponsors.

As an impressionable eight-year-old, a chance encounter with young hotshoe Bobby Boynton in 1963 led to a 40-year partnership that saw Allen’s role evolve from washing race cars to working on and owning them.

Trackwise, he’s done everything from public relations and photography to helping tech and doing the groundwork for weekly and special events, working with local sponsors and media.

“I’ve especially enjoyed teching and putting together special race sponsorships,” said Allen. “I know what IMCA is about and want to help this series and the Modified division grow here in the Dirt Works Eastern Region.”

Opening night for the tour is April 14 at Five Mile Point Speedway. Nine more events at tracks in New York and Pennsylvania are on the series schedule through the November 2 finale, also at the Kirkwood speedplant.

SCORE International’s new era continues as online racer registration officially opens for one of the most popular motorsports events in the world—the 45th Tecate SCORE Baja 500 desert race.

Round 2 of the 2013 SCORE Desert Series will be held May 30-June 2 in Mexico’s Baja California Norte, starting and finishing in Ensenada, the seaside port on the Pacific Ocean, 80 miles south of San Diego.
    
Click here for online registration to the 2013 Baja 500.

Most of the world’s best desert racers will be in action at this year’s 45th anniversary of the Tecate SCORE Baja 500, the original desert race produced by SCORE on July 26, 1974.
    
With 40 Pro and seven Sportsman classes for cars, trucks, motorcycles and ATVs, a live drawing for starting positions within each class will be held during the broadcast of Roger Norman’s Dirt Live internet show on Tuesday, April 23, airing on the SCORE website. The live drawing party and webcast will be held at the SCORE Tech shop in El Cajon, California, a suburb of San Diego. It will be open to all SCORE members.

The race will feature a course that includes new or seldom-used areas as several new festivities will be held surround the event as the celebration continues for the 40th season of SCORE International desert racing. In order to be included in the start drawing, entries must be received with full payment by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 22.
    
Official entries received after the drawing will be given the next available starting position within their respective classes. Late entries received after May 24 or registering on-site will be assessed a $200 late fee.

SCORE has also announced the pre-running on the race course will begin officially on Wednesday, May 8, except for the portion from the start to Ojos Negros (approximately 35 miles), which will be used in both directions during the race.

The new SCORE online racer registration system requires full payment of all entry fees based on four levels for cars and trucks, depending on the type of class a racer is attempting to enter and two for motorcycles and ATVs. Payment is accepted via credit card with payment by check allowed although with a check the entry is not official until the check is received and processed by SCORE.

Questions regarding SCORE racer registration should be directed to Elise Norman at 775/690.2306.

For more, including qualifying and sponsorship information, visit the official website of the new SCORE Desert Series at www.score-international.com.

Released on April 3, Performance Racing Industry’s redesigned eNewsletter features a vibrant new layout, easier navigation, and more entry points to exclusive racing industry news and information.

The magazine’s monthly eNewsletter was already a highly read online property of the industry-leading publication. In developing the refresh, PRI has further capitalized on its strong brand awareness and standing as the unquestioned voice of the racing marketplace.

“The key elements that comprised PRI’s popular monthly eNewsletter have been retained—in fact, they’re now presented in a much easier-to-digest format,” said PRI Editor Dan Schechner. “While PRI remains committed to producing cutting-edge content and solutions for racing professionals worldwide, we will continue looking for new ways to engage and excite our readers.”

As always, this online circular delivers up-to-the-minute information on the PRI Trade Show, Performance Racing Industry Magazine, Industry Events, and more. Each edition also includes a new installment of PRI’s online-only series of business management and operations articles for retail shop owners, engine builders, fabricators and more.

It's a winning formula that has produced astounding open rates and click-throughs far exceeding those of comparable B2B eNewsletters.

Click here to read PRI's April 2013 eNewsletter.    

In addition to launching a redesigned eNewsletter, PRI is making preparations for the return of its annual Trade Show to Indianapolis, Indiana. Now in its 26th year, the famous PRI Trade Show will be held December 12-14, 2013, at the Indiana Convention Center.

For more information, visit www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow.

With the recent signing of Atmore Dragway in Alabama and Hobbs Motorsports Park in New Mexico, the International Hot Rod Association has set an IHRA sanctioning record with 105 tracks now a part of the IHRA member track family.
 
Both Atmore Dragway and Hobbs Motorsports Park are welcomed additions to the IHRA family as they join Divisions 2 and 4, respectively. With the addition of the two new tracks, the IHRA now sanctions 105 tracks in 29 states and territories, four Canadian provinces, and New Zealand and Aruba.
 
Atmore Dragway, located in Atmore, Alabama, has undergone massive renovations over the past year. Under the direction of Gary Moore, Atmore Dragway has received over $1 million of renovations, including a completely new racing surface and shutdown area, asphalt throughout the pits, new concessions stands, a renovated tower, new timing system and more. The track hopes to be racing within the month.
 
Hobbs Motorsports Park is a ¼-mile facility located in the Hobbs Industrial Air Park near Hobbs, New Mexico. The facility is operated by Darrell Reid and is a popular track for racers in the area. A longtime NHRA facility, Hobbs Motorsports Park will hold its first IHRA Summit SuperSeries competition this month (April).
 
For more information on the IHRA, its tracks and racing programs, visit www.ihra.com.

Series officials have announced that Gary Trudeau has been appointed the Race Director for the Nitto Tires United States Touring Car Championship (USTCC) series. 

Trudeau’s job will include items such as coordinating the events, being the liaison with the host, carrying out event activities, overseeing the tech staff, and general rules enforcement.
 
Trudeau brings more than 20 years of experience in management and 10 years of experience racing in club racing. He started racing in 1994 and won the NASA Endurance Championship in 1999. In 2005, Trudeau’s team won the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with an overall win. 

His work background is diverse, with years of computer and automotive experience. Presently he is the owner of Gary’s Air Bag Service and Remote Automotive Diagnostics in Yuba City, California.