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South Florida's popular Palm Beach International Raceway (PBIR), which closed its gates in 2022, is back on the market, giving hope to the local grassroots racing community that a new owner can save this historic track and once again bring safe motorsports competition back to the region. Since its closure, PBIR has been a point of focus for lawmakers, law enforcement and concerned local automotive enthusiasts, who have organized in an urgent attempt to preserve racing venues for local enthusiasts. 

The 174-acre plot was destined to become a two million sq. ft. warehouse complex with a contract agreement in 2022 to an industrial warehouse developer. But with the property returning to the market as a raceway, there is renewed hope that the historic facility can return to its glory days. The automotive community quickly took to social media to share the listing that went public in mid-January in hopes of identifying a buyer. The track is currently listed unpriced by CBRE and is open to offers. 

Efforts to save the track have been spearheaded by Madelyn Marconi, a resident of Palm Beach County and writer for Drag Illustrated. Marconi, who met her husband at the track, has organized local enthusiasts and small business owners to share their personal stories and the community impact of the track at countless county commission meetings. Marconi prioritized building relationships with local and state representatives while highlighting the massive economic impact of having an operational track in Palm Beach County. Enthusiasts also took to social media to raise awareness over its closure, garnering over 15,000 signatures on a petition and creating various social media pages to generate public interest. 

As mentioned, the automotive community was not alone in its fears over losing the iconic track. Florida law enforcement expressed concern with drivers taking their need for speed to the streets with the loss of a dedicated and safe area for racing. With the rise of illegal street racing and dangerous online trends such as "intersection takeovers," local tracks have served as a safe alternative for thrill seekers to enjoy the company of fellow speed enthusiasts. 

Currently, Palm Beach County is experiencing a lull in warehouse demand since the height of COVID-boosted e-commerce in 2020. The industrial market's overall vacancy rate has reached an all-time high at 7%, with more than 85% of new inventory still available for lease, a local industrial market report stated. On the other hand, the need for tourism has increased substantially as Palm Beach County leaders have recently prioritized tourism as a key goal for 2025. While the future of the property is still up in the air, hundreds of thousands of automotive enthusiasts are optimistic that current market trends will see that PBIR makes a comeback to South Florida.   

PRI's Washington, D.C., office and PRI News will continue to spread the word on this issue, which is important to the racing community. 

Attendees to the 2024 PRI Show were treated to an event with a slightly different pulse that kept the crowd searching for the newest speed parts and manufacturing tricks—and the often-understated cylinder blocks seemed to draw much of the spotlight.

"I don't know, the Show just seems a little more vibrant this year," said one buyer in the Holley booth while looking over a new high-ram intake manifold designed for the big block Chevy. "Which is good, right?"

Sure, any large trade event held shortly after a national presidential election could have had a sobering or guarded atmosphere as few would venture what the future holds for their industry. But the aisles inside the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium were busy with thousands of retailers, fabricators, shop owners, engine builders, and other motorsports industry buyers visiting just over 3,740 booths from 1,043 exhibitors to check out the latest products and services...

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 "PRI Show Report: Block Party" here and more PRI Show coverage in the January/February 2025 issue here. 

A TRACK-LEVEL UPDATE ON THE STATE OF SPORTSMAN DRAG RACING.

Sportsman drag racing is often considered the backbone of the sport, and for good reason. Week-in and week-out at tracks around the world, sportsman racers fill the staging lanes with hopefuls who race for the pure love of the sport—plus the occasional trophy and a few bucks to cover expenses.

Although sportsman racers rarely enjoy prime-time coverage, it's hard to overstate their importance to drag racing. "They are the base and the foundation of everything that we do," said Rob Park, senior sportsman racing mentor and a former division director for 26 years for the NHRA, San Dimas, California.

"The sport was founded on basically grassroots-type racing. NHRA hasn't lost sight of that. Not only NHRA, but the industry in general," he said. "I think drag racing is probably as large, as active as it has ever been with all the different types of drag racing that is happening all over the world."...

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 "Dialed In: An Update on Sportsman Drag Racing" here and more PRI Show coverage in the January/February 2025 issue here. 

Be the go-to source for all the latest parts and services that enhance your customers' motorsports programs.

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 "Race Shop" here and more PRI Show coverage in the January/February 2025 issue here. 

Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) has announced its fifth annual Women with Drive V summit will return to the PRI Show in 2025.

Scheduled for December 9-10, the summit with again kick off PRI Show week at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, the site of the successful Women with Drive IV summit held in 2024. The organization made the announcement at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Series 63rd Rolex 24 at Daytona International Speedway.

Additionally, Mobil 1 will also return as the presenting sponsor of the event, and Allison Melangton, senior vice president of Penske Entertainment, will again serve as honorary chair. Melangton, a prominent leader in motorsports for over a decade, is also recognized for her contributions to the Indianapolis community, serving on boards for major sporting events, including the 2025 WNBA All-Star Game and 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Additionally, she has won five Emmy Awards for her work with NBC during nine Olympic Games.

"We are thrilled to have Mobil 1 back for the fourth consecutive year," said Cindy Sisson, executive director for WIMNA. "From the very beginning, following our inaugural summit in Nashville in 2021, Mobil 1 recognized the significance of this event and has continuously demonstrated unwavering support. Its commitment to fostering diversity and empowering women in motorsports speaks volumes about Mobil 1's forward-thinking leadership. We are grateful for its dedication and partnership in advancing meaningful change within our industry. Returning to Indianapolis was an easy decision after the immense success of Women with Drive IV and support from PRI, Indianapolis Motors Speedway and so many more."

"I'm grateful to return as the honorary chair of Women with Drive V," said Melangton. "It's inspiring to see the continued growth and success of this summit. We're excited to expand on what is offered this year, including more impactful educational sessions, valuable networking opportunities and resources designed to empower and support the next generation of women in motorsports."

"We are proud to continue our partnership with Women in Motorsports North America and their Women with Drive summit," said PRI President Michael Good. "The work WIMNA is doing to empower and inspire women in the motorsports industry is not only important for the future of the sport, but also for the continued growth and success of the entire racing community."

For more information, visit womenwithdrivesummit.com.

Alan Reinhart, a longtime NHRA announcer, has joined the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) as its new vice president of racing operations.

Besides providing commentary at the IHRA Nitro Jam events, Reinhart will be a liaison for the professional teams and work with track operators and other stakeholders. He will also serve in a leadership role where he's involved with management in setting policies and procedures. One of his initial priorities is to work with new IHRA President Rich Schaefer on establishing schedules, the organization said.

"I'm looking forward to a new challenge," Reinhart said. "I was with NHRA a long time, and it was an adventure for 30-plus years going to all the races. The opportunity to take on this new venture at a management level, it was time for a change."

For more information, visit ihra.com.

Race Winning Brands (RWB), the Mentor, Ohio-based manufacturer of high-performance automotive components, has announced an organizational restructuring with the aim of better serving its customers.

In order to create a more focused customer experience, the company said, RWB has created five distinct business units, each concentrated on a specific market segment and each with its own respective internal leader:

• Auto (Engine, Air Intake, Exhaust): Craig Stark, president
• Auto (Transmission): Craig Stark, president
• Powersports: Sean Brown, president
• Electronics & Data: Nathan Clark, president
• eBusiness & Distribution:  Dan Seligson, president

"This new structure will allow us to be more agile, responsive and customer-centric," said RWB CEO David Buckley. "We are confident that this will translate into greater success for our customers, whatever their goals may be."

To further support these business structure updates, RWB has enhanced its leadership with internal promotions and new talent. Nick DiBlasi has been promoted to vice president of product management and Scott Highland to vice president of marketing and strategy. Additionally, John Wilkinson will be joining RWB as COO and Jeff Gilette will join the team as vice president of continuous improvement.

For more information, visit racewinningbrands.com.

McLaren Racing has announced that Alessandro Alunni Bravi will be joining McLaren Racing as its new chief business affairs officer, reporting directly to Zak Brown, and sitting as part of the McLaren Racing executive team. He will take up the new position on February 1.

Alunni Bravi will oversee a range of McLaren Racing business matters including legal, driver development, commercial, driver contract management and rights holders/governing body management.

Previously the managing director of the Sauber Group and Stake F1 Team, Alunni Bravi will also take over leadership of the McLaren driver development program, which will be transitioning over from Stephanie Carlin, who will be taking on additional responsibilities within Formula 1, continuing to report into Andrea Stella.

Alunni Bravi has also held leadership roles with ART Grand Prix, SPARK Racing Technology and Trident Racing, among others. 

McLaren Racing also announced that Steve Atkins, chief communications officer, will be leaving the team at the end of February.

For more information, visit mclaren.com/racing.

Penske Entertainment, the parent company of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, has taken over the promotion of the INDYCAR Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway in Tennessee.

Additionally, veteran motorsports executive Anne Fischgrund assumes the role of president of the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix. Fischgrund is relocating from Indianapolis to Nashville after her successful tenure as the general manager of the Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend at Iowa Speedway.

Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta served as promoter for the 2024 event and will serve as a liaison to Nashville's entertainment community and civic leaders, the series said. The Big Machine brand will also continue as the entitlement sponsor for the event in 2025.

For more information, visit indycar.com.

RIGID Industries, the off-road lighting company based in Gilbert, Arizona, has named Andy Kroll as its new president.

In his new position, Kroll will work closely with RIGID's executive team to set long-term objectives, pursue innovation in lighting technologies and foster strong partnerships with dealers, distributors and OEMs, the company said in a statement announcing the appointment.

Prior to joining RIGID, Kroll worked at Polaris for 12 years, leading sales and marketing efforts for Polaris Snowmobiles and Off-Road Accessories, as well as running Polaris' aftermarket businesses. He also brings eight years of branding and business strategy experience from his time as a senior brand manager at General Mills.

For more information, visit rigidindustries.com.