The City of Long Beach, in partnership with the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, announced the honorees for the 2025 Motorsports Walk of Fame are Scott Dixon, Jim Michaelian and Beverly O'Neill. The three will be inducted during a public ceremony on Thursday, April 10, ahead of the 50th Anniversary Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 11-13.

"As the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach turns 50, we are not just celebrating the spirit of the racing world—we are honoring the legends who helped shape it," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "It is a privilege to welcome this year's esteemed honorees to the Motorsports Walk of Fame and pay tribute to their incredible achievements and the lasting impact they have had on Long Beach and the racing community."

Dixon, Michaelian and O'Neill will be inducted into the Walk of Fame during a free, open-to-the-public ceremony at 11 a.m. in front of the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center on South Pine Avenue. During the ceremony, each honoree will unveil a 22-in. bronze medallion featuring renditions of their iconic cars and descriptions of their major achievements, enshrining their contributions to motorsports on the Walk of Fame.

Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion and defending Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach winner Dixon is entering his 25th season racing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, the past 24 of which have been with Chip Ganassi Racing, the longest tenure for a driver in team history. Dixon has 58 career wins, second in series history behind only A.J. Foyt (67). His six championships are also the second-most, trailing only Foyt (seven).

Nicknamed "The Iceman," Dixon produced another impressive season in 2024 winning at Long Beach and Detroit and scoring his 142nd career podium finish—an INDYCAR record. He won a race for the 20th consecutive season and the 22nd season overall. That extended his series records in both categories.

"It's an honor to be added to the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame," said Dixon. "The first time I came here was 1999 in Indy Lights. It's always a marquee event. There are not many events on any schedule that people can celebrate like this. I think what we really enjoy as drivers and teams is the atmosphere. This place is wild. It's got a lot of energy. It's a lot of fun. Hopefully, the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda team can get another victory there this season."

President and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach, LLC (GPALB) since 2001, Michaelian has been involved with the organization since its inception in 1975, serving in a number of functional areas, including finance, operations and marketing.

In his current capacity, Michaelian is responsible for the overall management of the annual Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach as well as its subsidiary, Grand Prix Special Events, which specializes in temporary structure rentals for such events as the Academy Awards, Rose Parade, Electric Daisy Carnival, Emmy Awards and various other events.

"It truly was a surprise and an honor to be included in this year's Motorsports Walk of Fame," said Michaelian. "When we started this event back in 2006, it was for the purpose of recognizing those who had achieved success here in Long Beach as well as at other major racing venues around the world. I'm very humbled to now be included with these venerable icons of the racing world."

O'Neill was born and raised in Long Beach, the city she often said she loved. After a 31-year career in education culminating in five years as president/superintendent of Long Beach City College, Beverly was elected Mayor of Long Beach in 1994. She was the first big city mayor to win a third term through a write-in campaign, serving 12 years.

Mayor O'Neill led the remaking of the city's economy after the U.S. Navy's departure, including rebuilding of the downtown waterfront, with the Grand Prix of Long Beach at its center. She was directly involved in adjusting the course to accommodate redevelopment while keeping the spotlight on the Grand Prix.

In her 12 years as mayor, Mayor O'Neill never missed opening ceremonies for the Grand Prix event, addressing the crowd in her trademark black and white checkered scarf. She embraced the role of biggest cheerleader, for the city and the race.

The Motorsports Walk of Fame is a joint project of the City of Long Beach and the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. It was created in 2006 to honor key contributors to the sport of auto racing, with Dan Gurney and Phil Hill as the inaugural honorees. Since then, 37 honorees have been recognized.

PRI and SEMA are requesting industry members sign a letter to federal lawmakers to demand Congressional action on unfair electric vehicle (EV) mandates. This letter explains why Congress should pass a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Air Act waiver for California's Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulation.  

In short, Congress now has an opportunity to stop California's disastrous regulation, which requires 100% of new cars, SUVs and small trucks sold in California and 11 other states to be zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) by 2035, pushing aside other viable technologies and innovations in the aftermarket. 

Click below to act now and add your name to the list! 

SIGN THE LETTER TO LAWMAKERS HERE. 

Congress is owed the opportunity to determine whether a single state should be empowered to enact a heavy-handed policy that would have broad, national implications for the economy, the entire automotive-aftermarket industry and consumers. 

If not stopped by Congress, the Clean Air Act waiver that the EPA granted in December would enable California to implement its EV mandates and ban internal-combustion-engine vehicles. Congress, though, can use the CRA to nullify the waivers, thus preserving vehicle choice for consumers and halting a policy that would have a disastrous effect on the automotive aftermarket industry. 

To sign your name to this important cause, complete PRI and SEMA's quick form here.

A late-breaking legal development has reinstated the requirement that small businesses must file a report with the United States Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on their beneficial ownership information (BOI). Following a ruling reinstating BOI reporting requirements by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, FinCEN issued a notice that reset the filing deadline for most companies to March 21, 2025. BOI reports are a requirement under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), a 2021 federal law that is intended to enhance transparency in entity structures and ownership to combat money laundering, tax fraud and other illicit activities. 

While the Trump Administration has defended the CTA in court there have been reports that FinCEN could revise the rules to reduce the compliance burden for "lower-risk entities, including many U.S. small businesses." PRI will continue to monitor any changes in CTA requirements and update its members if there is any official action delaying or refocusing enforcement of the regulation. 

Congress has also made progress in delaying the implementation of the CTA. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the " Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025" (H.R. 736), a bill that would delay the CTA reporting requirements until January 1, 2026. However, it is unlikely that H.R. 736 will become law prior to March 21.  

The CTA requires most small businesses in the U.S. to make a filing with FinCEN (more information HERE). 

Small businesses can be exempted from filing a report with FinCEN if they meet the following three criteria: 

• Employ more than 20 employees 
• Operate a physical office in the United States 
• Filed federal tax returns demonstrating more than $5 million in gross receipts or sales

If your business is required to submit a report, click here to file a BOI report with FinCEN. 

The Corporate Transparency Act requires most small businesses in the United States to make a filing with FinCEN (more information HERE).

Beneficial Ownership Rule Filing Requirements 

The CTA defines a "beneficial owner" as an individual who, directly or indirectly, exercises substantial control over the reporting company or owns or controls at least 25% of the ownership interests of the reporting company. An individual exercises "substantial control" over an entity if the individual:  

• Serves as a senior officer 
• Has authority over the appointment or removal of a senior officer or a majority of the board of directors 
• Directs, determines or has substantial influence over important business decisions 

Beneficial ownership information reporting is not an annual requirement. Businesses only must file a report with FinCEN once, unless the filer needs to update or correct information about their company's beneficial ownership. Generally, reporting companies must provide four pieces of information about each beneficial owner: Name; Date of birth; Address; and the identifying number and issuer from either a non-expired United States driver's license, a non-expired United States passport or a non-expired identification document issued by a state (including a U.S. territory or possession), local government or Native American tribe. If none of those documents exist, a non-expired foreign passport can be used. An image of the document must also be submitted. 

Companies must also submit certain information about themselves, such as their name(s) and address. In addition, reporting companies created on or after January 1, 2024, must submit information about the individuals who formed the company ("company applicants"). 

Filers can also view informational videos and webinars, find answers to frequently asked questions, connect to the contact center and learn more about how to report at www.fincen.gov/boi. 

For more information, contact Eric Snyder, PRI's senior director of federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org.

TWG Global, which owns stakes in the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chelsea Football Club, Professional Woman's Hockey League, Los Angeles Lakers and other ventures, has launched TWG Motorsports, a new division to bring together its portfolio of motorsports organizations. Dan Towriss will lead TWG Motorsports as CEO.

The motorsports division launches with a portfolio of motorsports businesses already on its roster:

Cadillac Formula 1 Team: TWG Motorsports has partnered with General Motors to create the Cadillac Formula 1 team, expected to join the grid in 2026.

Andretti Global: A motorsports organization with teams competing in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, Indy NXT and Formula E.

Spire Motorsports: A race-winning NASCAR team with entries in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Truck Series.

Wayne Taylor Racing: An sportscar team competing in the GTP and GTD classes of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America series.

Walkinshaw Andretti United: The Bathurst 1000 winning race team competing in Australia's Supercars Championship. The team is a partnership between Walkinshaw Racing, Andretti Global/TWG Motorsports and United Autosport.

For more information, visit twgmotorsports.com.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The SCCA Runoffs are returning to Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for a third straight year in 2026.

Scheduled for September 28-October 4, 2026, the Runoffs will stay at the 4-mile road course thanks to new improvements coming to Road America in the coming year, according to SCCA Vice President of Road Racing Eric Prill.

"There's no doubt Road America is an amazing circuit and premier facility located in an area with plenty of great food and lodging options," Prill said. "The track staff have been fantastic partners, and they were excited to welcome the Runoffs back to 'America's National Park of Speed.' Enhancements being made at the venue will be appreciated by drivers and spectators alike."

Upgrades to the Wisconsin facility include new track-out curbing at "The Kink," as well as an alternate entry to the false grid and safety enhancements to barriers around the track.

The North Paddock will also receive significant upgrades, including an all-paved surface, an overhauled water management system and a new garage structure. For spectators, the staired-access walkover bridge is being replace with a multi-use bridge for pedestrians and golf carts.

For more information, visit scca.com.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Indiana Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith visited the PRI Headquarters in Speedway, Indiana, on February 19, reinforcing the state’s deep connection to motorsports and the vital role the racing industry plays in Indiana’s economy. 

“Indiana is home to a thriving racing industry, and the PRI Show is a major force in supporting and growing that ecosystem,” said PRI President Michael Good. “We appreciate Lt. Governor Beckwith taking the time to visit PRI and engage with us on the issues that matter most to racing businesses. His support helps ensure that Indiana remains a global leader in motorsports.” 

Beckwith, who took office as Indiana’s lieutenant governor in January, is a pastor, small business owner, and longtime community leader. A graduate of Huntington University, he has advocated for economic development and business-friendly policies, making him a strong supporter of industries like motorsports that drive investment and job growth in Indiana. 

PRI’s annual trade show in Indianapolis is a cornerstone event for the motorsports industry. It brings together thousands of racing professionals, manufacturers and retailers from around the world. The show generates an estimated $70 million in economic impact each year, filling hotels, restaurants and businesses across the city while driving investment in Indiana’s motorsports sector. 

Engagement with policymakers like Beckwith is crucial to advancing PRI’s mission of protecting racing and strengthening the industry. Visits like this provide opportunities to discuss key legislative priorities and showcase the motorsports businesses that fuel Indiana’s economy. 

For more information, contact Christian Robinson, SEMA and PRI’s senior director of state government affairs, at christians@sema.org. 

Product developments in the diesel drag racing market manage torque, clean emissions, and ensure the future.

Components that stand up to the power of diesel engines, and tuning that cleans emissions from those engines, are pushing the diesel drag racing market to game-changing status.

Any developments in this arena start with controlling torque.

“The [torque] numbers we see in drag racing and pulling applications over the years continue to climb,” said Gregg Jolly from Scheid Diesel Service, Terre Haute, Indiana. “There are very few ‘factory’ parts that will handle the numbers we’re seeing today.”

To that end, Scheid is manufacturing billet aluminum Cummins blocks and billet aluminum cylinder heads in-house, options that help with the challenges of weight, longevity and, especially, torque.

Jolly said there needs to be constant innovation with almost every system in a diesel drag race vehicle to continue “pushing the threshold.” That’s exactly what the manufacturers and service shops we spoke to for this latest look at the diesel drag racing market are doing.

Some themes we’ll explore here, and what you’ll want to watch for in strengthening your connection to the diesel market, include advances in turbochargers, more sophisticated engine control management, and an opportunity to keep diesel drag racing growing by making it cleaner...

To read the complete article for free, sign up for a digital subscription to PRI Magazine on Zinio here.    

Once you download the Zinio mobile app or are logged into Zinio on a desktop browser, you will gain immediate access to more than a year’s worth of content, including “Diesel Directives: New Developments in Diesel Drags” here and more PRI Show coverage in the January/February 2025 issue here. 

An educated customer can be an ideal spokesman, particularly when it comes to selling fluids used in motorsports applications, such as oils, lubricants, and brake fluid.

It’s been said many times that the only thing saving an engine from destruction is a film of lubricant, a few thousandths of an inch thick, that keeps crucial moving surfaces from impacting each other and seizing. Or the only thing that makes brakes work is the fluid that courses through their hydraulic system.

For such absolutely essential products, promotion is paramount. The means for doing so have evolved considerably as the media landscape has changed in the past decade or thereabouts.

Manufacturers that serve the motorsports community have similarly adjusted their marketing strategies for race fluids in recent years. The performance properties of lubricants and other fluids are enhanced by research, development, and testing at the manufacturer level. From there, it’s a process of getting the products into the hands of racers who can see boosted performance and better results from using the product. Ideally, the newly competitive racer will then see the value of extolling the fluid’s virtues for fellow competitors via a variety of communications channels. It’s a never-ending process for manufacturers that continues as new products are introduced.

One could say that today’s procedure for marketing racing fluid effectively comes down to Three Es: experiment, evaluate, and then, exclaim. Getting the product known involves a whole range of tactics that are being continuously upgraded and fine-tuned to meet the sales moment.

“Different people respond to different branding and marketing activities, so you want to factor that into your approach,” said Dawn Cross of Schaeffer’s Specialized Lubricants, St. Louis, Missouri, which produces lubricants for engines plus gear lubes and additives, among other products. “A combination of in-store displays, paired with digital or online efforts, is ideal because you’re reaching potential customers when they encounter you at various touchpoints.”

To read the complete article for free, sign up for a digital subscription to PRI Magazine on Zinio here.    

Once you download the Zinio mobile app or are logged into Zinio on a desktop browser, you will gain immediate access to more than a year's worth of content, including "Pouring Profits: Selling Oils, Lubricants and Brake Fluid" here and more PRI Show coverage in the January/February 2025 issue here. 

Toyota is extending its partnership with World Racing Group.

The manufacturer will continue to serve as the official vehicle of the World of Outlaws and Super DIRTcar Series, sponsor the Toyota Dash at every World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series event and continue to serve as the presenting sponsor of the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series.

In addition to seeing Toyota branding at each race and on DIRTVision, Toyota Tundra TRD Pro trucks will continue pacing the field at every World of Outlaws Sprint Car, World of Outlaws Late Model, Super DIRTcar Series and Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series event.

Toyota will also retain an on-track presence with several Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series teams running Toyota engines, and Roth Motorsports running a 410 c.i. Toyota engine in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car tour with TRD development driver Michael "Buddy" Kofoid.

For more information, visit worldofoutlaws.com.

KW Suspensions, the German suspension component provider, has been named the official suspension partner of SRO Motorsports America and its series, including GT World Challenge America, GT America, Pirelli GT4 America and TC America.

As part of this collaboration, KW will be prominently featured across each of the series championships. Their presence will extend to event production elements and series materials, and will be featured in TV broadcasts and livestream coverage.

Additionally, the brand has partnered with Formula DRIFT (FD) driver Ryan Tuerck to provide his FD Rain-X Toyota GR Corolla with ST Suspension XTA plus 3 coilovers for the 2025 season and supply Tuerck with products from across the KW Automotive brand family for his portfolio of builds and competition vehicles.

Tuerck is currently collaborating with engineers from KW Automotive Group to develop custom suspension systems for some of his signature builds. These include the Mobil 1 heritage Stout project, featuring a bespoke Belltech suspension, a '90s rally-inspired Toyota Celica with a Reiger Rally Suspension and the upcoming Formula Supra, which is set to undergo testing for Time Attack with a specially developed KW Suspensions race setup.

For more information, visit kwsuspensions.net.