The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has entered into a new partnership with SPEED SPORT 1 to air its content on the live racing network.

SPEED SPORT 1, a F.A.S.T. channel with direct-to-consumer delivery, is on every stream platform including Amazon Prime, Pluto, Roku, Fubo and Sling. The partnership means IHRA content will be available to over 200 million consumers on mainstream platforms and 300 million users on every major mobile platform.

For more information, visit ihra.com.

GRIDLIFE is set to grow its National Festival Tour with nine events in 2025, up from five in 2024. The motorsports event will also expand to a three-day weekend format next season.

The announcement, made at the PRI Show in Indianapolis, revealed a lineup of events running from April to October, including two brand-new event venues and enhanced racing and entertainment offerings, organizers said.

The expanded weekend format introduces GRIDLIFE's newest racing class GRIDLIFE Grand Touring (GLGT) to attract GT4, TCR and similar speed machinery alongside established fan favorites GRIDLIFE Touring Cup (GLTC), GRIDLIFE RushSR Series, Track Battle Time Attack, and GRIDLIFE Drift.

High-Performance Driving Education (HPDE) will continue as part of GRIDLIFE's core offerings but will now take place during standalone events, with its schedule set to be announced later.

Beyond the track, GRIDLIFE remains dedicated to blending car culture with live entertainment, the organization said, showcasing vehicles from the '80s, '90s, and 2000s in its Concours, hosting the GRIDLIFE Arcade and live music performances.

For more information, visit grid.life.

See the full 2025 GRIDLIFE schedule below:

Long-time LIQUI MOLY Marketing Director Peter Baumann is retiring after 39 years at the company. He will be replaced by Marco Esser, previously the company's deputy marketing director.

Baumann started with the company in 1986 as an assistant to management before being promoted to Marketing Director in 1993. He helped develop partnerships with MotoGP, the Bundesliga and Formula 1 with Sauber Motorsport.

For more information, visit liqui-moly.com.

Formula DRIFT and Ultimate Drift have entered an agreement in which the Brazilian organization will operate as a Formula DRIFT Affiliate.

Since it was established in 2020, the goal of Ultimate Drift has been to promote drifting within the country and strengthen existing drift competitions by introducing fair and transparent organization structure.

The 2024 season saw more than 70 drivers compete across two Ultimate Drift championships, but 2025 will be limited to one division, with car capacity capped at 50, the series said.

It is hoped this measure will help the teams and fans focus on the competition, get to know the drivers and strengthen the smaller, regional championships that will now be able to qualify for places in the 2026 Ultimate Drift Championship.

The 2025 Ultimate Drift Championship will consist of five rounds, a reduction from the previous seven in an attempt to help the teams manage their budgets.

For more information, visit ultimatedrift.com.br or formulad.com.

With the support of his family, NASCAR legend Richard Petty has donated 403 acres of land to Victory Junction, a year-round camp for children with serious illnesses and chronic medical conditions.

The donation includes eight parcels of land adjacent to the camp's current 140 acres, 84 of which were originally donated by Richard Petty and his late wife, Lynda, to help launch the camp 20 years ago.

After visiting a camp that served children with serious medical conditions in 1999, racecar driver Adam Petty felt called to create a similar camp. Tragically, Adam lost his life in a racing accident the following year. To honor Adam's memory, his father Kyle Petty rallied friends, the NASCAR community and donors to bring his son's vision to life, and in 2004, Victory Junction opened its gates.

Kyle Petty said, "When I see the joy and the smiles this camp brings to kids and their families, I can still feel Adam's giving spirit and see his smile. I want to make sure [the] camp is here in 100 years, and we hope this gift inspires others to support Victory Junction so that it remains a place of joy for generations to come."

Richard Petty, founder and active board member of Victory Junction, remains deeply committed to supporting the camp and its mission. Petty shared, "My family and I are dedicated to leaving a legacy. By donating an additional 403 acres, we hope to ensure the camp can continue serving even more children for generations to come."

"We are eternally grateful to the Petty family for this incredibly generous gift, and we are honored to continue supporting Adam's legacy," said Chad Coltrane, president and CEO of Victory Junction. "There is a larger-than-life heart that lights up when campers are at Victory Junction. That light and the love it signifies will beat a little brighter at camp this year."

While there are no immediate plans for utilizing the land, Mark Curran, board chair at Victory Junction, said, "As we envision the future of camp, the land will remain a topic of strategic discussions. We will be sure to use this thoughtful gift in ways that both secure the future of camp and provide even more life-changing camp experiences for children."

For more information, visit victoryjunction.org.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council established new regulations for Esports and the World Rally Championship (WRC), as well as a global karting plan during its recent meeting in Rwanda.

During the meeting, the council approved the creation of an FIA Esports Code (Appendix E) – the first such framework created by a global sporting federation. All real-world motor sport competitions are ultimately governed by the International Sporting Code, and as virtual racing continues to grow rapidly, the FIA Esports Code will regulate Esports racing competitions, providing the necessary legal framework to conduct such events at the national level.

Additionally, the council approved new technical regulations for the WRC, focusing on cost reduction, flexibility and sustainability. The new regulations allow for innovative design options, allowing a wide variety of production car shapes and bespoke rally designs to compete, and embraces diverse powertrain solutions.

The FIA has also created a global karting plan to create a clearer and more accessible pathway into and throughout the FIA Karting system.

For a full recap of the meeting, visit fia.com.

Pictured from left to right: PRI President Michael Good, Indiana Rep. Beau Bair, SEMA President and CEO Mike Spagnola, U.S. Rep. Jim Baird and SEMA Board of Directors Chairman Kyle Fickler.

The 2024 PRI Show was popular not just with racers and those who work in the industry but also with elected officials, whose interests in the event ranged from meeting with exhibitors from their districts to pure enthusiasm for racing. PRI staff hosted U.S. Representative Jim Baird (R-IN-4), West Virginia Senator Mark Maynard (R-6), Maryland Delegate Kevin Hornberger (R-35B) and Indiana Representative Beau Baird (R-44), who toured the show and met with businesses from their districts and home states. 

"PRI thanks our friends in Congress and the state legislatures for visiting the PRI Show and seeing the racing industry's preeminent event in person," said Karen Bailey-Chapman, PRI's senior vice president of public and government affairs. "We value strong working relationships with these key lawmakers and the time they invested to meet with exhibitors and attendees. We believe they left Indianapolis with a better understanding of the issues that are impacting the motorsports parts industry."  

West Virginia Sen. Mark Maynard (left) and Christian Robinson, PRI's senior director of state government affairs.

Below is additional information about the lawmakers who visited the PRI Show: 

• U.S. Rep. Jim Baird is a member of the U.S. House Committees on Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Science/Space/Technology. He is a member of the Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus. Before being elected to Congress, he ran a home healthcare agency and a farm with his family and served eight years as a State Representative in the Indiana General Assembly. Rep. Baird is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, as his distinguished service to our country was recognized with a Bronze Star with a V device and two Purple Hearts.  
   
• West Virginia State Sen. Mark Maynard is the chair of the Outdoor Recreation Committee, vice chair of the School Choice Committee and is a member of the Education, Judiciary and Enrolled Bills Committee. He is a passionate motorsports enthusiast, including off-roading and racing. Before being elected to the state legislature, Sen. Maynard worked on Jim Head's Funny Car NHRA team. Sen. Maynard is a longtime State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus member and winner of SEMA's 2018 Stephen B. McDonald Lawmaker of the Year award.  
   

Maryland Del. Kevin Hornberger poses in front of his K5 Blazer.

• Maryland Del. Kevin Hornberger has served in the legislature since 2015 and is currently the deputy minority whip. He is a Ways and Means Committee member and the nationwide chair of the State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus. Del. Hornberger displayed his '74 Chevy Blazer K5 at the 2023 SEMA Show before putting it to the test at the 2023 SCORE Baja 1000. 
   
• Indiana State Rep. Beau Baird has served in the state legislature since 2018, representing Putnam County and a portion of Montgomery County. He is the vice chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee and serves on the Ways and Means Committee. Rep. Baird is the owner/operator of Baird Ranch and is the CFO of Indiana Home Care Plus. He also serves on the International Board of Directors for the American Quarter Horse Association and works with the board of directors for the Indiana Quarter Horse Association and Quarter Horse Racing of Indiana.  

Lawmakers are often looking for opportunities to meet constituents from our industry. For additional information on inviting them to participate in an event or visit your business, contact Eric Snyder, PRI's senior director of federal government affairs, at erics@sema.org.   

Victor Muñoz has joined SEMA as senior manager for state government affairs. Muñoz will support SEMA's state-based advocacy focus on the western United States, including California, where he will be based. 

Muñoz has built a significant resume in California politics, with more than a decade in government affairs and community engagement. He most recently managed government stakeholder relations for Southern California Edison. Before that, he led legislative efforts for Assemblymember Chris Holden in California's 41st district. 

"We're thrilled to welcome Victor Muñoz to SEMA's Government Affairs team," said Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director for state government affairs. "Victor's extensive experience in government relations and deep understanding of legislative processes will be invaluable as we continue to advocate for the specialty automotive aftermarket industry. His expertise in navigating complex issues and building strong relationships will strengthen our efforts to protect and promote the interests of our members." 

In his new role, Muñoz will lead local engagement with state lawmakers in states west of the Mississippi River, including Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Muñoz will work to secure the enactment of laws and policies that support the automotive aftermarket industry's ability to bring innovative products to market, as well as support the issues that impact the nation's millions of automotive enthusiasts. 

"Our nation's rich car culture was engrained in me from a young age, having been born and raised near Route 66," Muñoz said. "I'm thrilled to bring my government affairs skills and experience to bear in support of the vibrant aftermarket industry whose products help Americans restore, repair and modify the vehicles that help them work and play. Automotive-aftermarket manufacturers, retailers, distributors and the ultimate consumer--car enthusiasts--deserve a voice in government that matches their passion and what they contribute to the United States economy. I'm excited to be part of these collaborative efforts." 

Muñoz, a proud Angeleno, holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona. 
 

USAC Sprint Cars will compete in a points race for the first time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) in July 2025 for the opening night of Indiana Sprint Week takes place at The Dirt Track at IMS.

The USAC AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship will be featured during the 38th annual Indiana Sprint Week opener on July 24, the night before Brickyard Weekend opens on the 2.5-mile IMS oval for the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.

USAC Sprint Cars made their debut at the quarter-mile Dirt Track at IMS last September in a special invitational event won by C.J. Leary of Greenfield, Indiana.

For more information, visit ims.com.

PRI President Michael Good (left) and SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb. 

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) and PRI have announced a new partnership at the PRI Show aimed at driving the growth of United States motorsports. This collaboration will provide both PRI and SCCA members with benefits from each organization, fostering greater opportunities within the motorsports community.

Through this partnership, SCCA members who join PRI as an individual member will receive an exclusive membership rate, with a portion of their PRI annual membership supporting the SCCA Scholarship Fund. Additionally, SCCA members will enjoy a 20% savings on business memberships to PRI. With their PRI membership, SCCA members will gain access to a variety of exclusive offers from PRI's membership partners.

This partnership also aligns SCCA with the SEMA-PRI Regulatory and Legislative Advocacy efforts, as well as offering PRI presence at one or more of SCCA's National Championship events. SCCA, meanwhile, will exhibit at the 2025 PRI Show.

This announcement comes just one day after SCCA President and CEO Mike Cobb and IMSA President John Doonan took part in a PRI-hosted session entitled "Attracting and Training the Next Generation of Motorsports Leaders" in the T.O.P.S. HQ (Tracks, Operators, Promotors and Sanctioning Bodies Headquarters) during the 2024 PRI Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

"The partnership between PRI and SCCA is a natural one, especially considering that both organizations have the same goal of accelerating grassroots motorsports in the United States," said Cobb. "Thanks to this partnership, SCCA members will have access to PRI's resources, which include not only discount programs and access to a broad array of potential supplier partners but also to the latest industry news that is relevant to the hobby they hold so dear."

As part of this partnership, SCCA and PRI members will see relevant content from the other organization appear on their websites and in their e-newsletters. PRI members will also have the opportunity to join and participate in thousands of SCCA events each year.

"This partnership with the SCCA marks a significant step forward in uniting and strengthening the motorsports community," said PRI President Michael Good. "By combining the strengths of PRI and SCCA, we're creating new opportunities for enthusiasts, professionals, and businesses to grow and thrive in the U.S. motorsports landscape. Together, we're fueling the future of racing."