Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris made her highly anticipated selection of a running mate, tapping two-term Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Gov. Walz is a veteran and previously served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Here's what PRI members should know about the pick: 

He led Minnesota in becoming a CARB state. Climate policy is a core issue for his administration. During his tenure as governor, Minnesota became a "CARB state," a state that has adopted California's vehicle emissions standards. This plan has been subject to litigation by the Minnesota Auto Dealers Association, which opposes Minnesota's clean cars plan and asserts that the state is not allowed to delegate its authority to CARB regulators in California. 

Walz knows cars. Walz, a former public school teacher, once delivered an impromptu lesson in auto repair while on the campaign trail, in the process going viral online for his folksy, clear explanation of the problem and fix. 

Walz is a Midwesterner. Walz was born in Nebraska and entered the public eye as representative of a significantly rural congressional district in southern Minnesota. His Midwestern appeal is seen by some as a counterweight to Harris's California roots--particularly as she attempts to win over rural and working-class voters who largely lean toward Donald Trump. 

The SEMA and PRI Public and Government Affairs team is advocating for policy issues that are core to PRI's mission by ensuring policymakers hear a clear, strong and unified voice representing not only PRI members, but also the motorsports industry, racers and enthusiasts. Get involved and contact the PRI Washington, D.C., office at sema.org/advocacy.

The June 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down the decades-old Chevron doctrine is poised to potentially transform the automotive aftermarket industry. To help SEMA and PRI members understand what the decision means to the industry and where things are headed in a post-Chevron doctrine world, Karen Bailey-Chapman, SEMA's senior vice president of public and government affairs, and Jim Moore, SEMA's vice president for OEM and product development, sat down for an in-depth discussion of the ruling. Watch their 18-minute conversation below: 

The SEMA Public and Government Affairs team is advocating for policy issues that are core to SEMA's mission by ensuring policymakers hear a clear, strong and unified voice representing not only SEMA members, but also the specialty-equipment industry and auto enthusiasts. Get involved and contact the SEMA Washington, D.C., office at sema.org/advocacy.

The management of Big Diamond and Grandview Speedways, both located in Pennsylvania, will ban the left side pan hard bar suspension for 358 Modified and 602 Sportsman race teams that compete weekly at both raceways. The new rule will take effect in 2025.

Both speedways announced the change before the start of the 2024 race season.

The rule change for the 2025 season will read as follows:

• Right rear pan hard rod or W-link only mounted on right side of the rear.
• No left rear pan hard rod or J-bar permitted.
• Right and left rear radius rods must be a minimum of 24 in.
• Left rear radius rod maximum height of 14 in. from floor to center of front heim.
• Right rear pan hard rod minimum length of 15 in.

For more information, visit grandviewspeedway.com or bigdspeedway.net.

The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has released its expanded calendar for the 2025 season.

The 14-event calendar will begin in January with the championship's traditional Monte-Carlo event and conclude in November in Saudi Arabia. The 2025 season will also include events in Africa and South America, and additional events in Europe. It will be the championship's largest calendar since 2008, FIA officials said.

New and returning events include the Rally Islas Canarias in Spain, the Acropolis Rally Greece, Rally Estonia and more.

See the full 2025 calendar below:
 

For more information, visit wrc.com.

McLaren Racing has extended the contract of McLaren Formula 1 Team Principal Andrea Stella.

Since taking on the role of team principal in December 2022, the team has earned two grand prix wins, 18 podiums and one sprint win.

Prior to taking the team principal role, Stella worked as head of race operations and performance director, before being promoted to executive director, racing in 2019.

For more information, visit mclaren.com.

Former Ferrari Team Principal Mattia Binotto and current Red Bull Racing Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley are joining the Sauber Motorsport-run Audi F1 Team.

Mattia Binotto is joining the effort—currently racing as Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber—as COO and CTO of Sauber Motorsport. He will report to the Sauber Motorsport Board of Directors. Binotto served as the head of Scuderia Ferrari from 2019 until 2022.

Wheatley, leaving his role as Red Bull's sporting director, will become the team principal of the Audi F1 team in July 2025. He will remain in his current position until the end of the 2024 season.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

Oliver Oakes is set to join the BWT Alpine Formula 1 team as its new team principal, following the news that Bruno Famin would step down from the role to lead all other motorsports-related areas for the Renault Group.

Oakes, a former racer and founder of the Hitech Grand Prix Formula 2 and 3 team, will start in the new role after Formula 1's summer break. He will report to Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo. At 36 years old, Oakes will be the second youngest team principal in Formula 1 history.

For more information, visit formula1.com.

According to published reports, Michelin, the French tire manufacturer, will introduce new tires for the IMSA GTP and FIA WEC Hypercar categories in 2026.

The new specification of tire is expected to make its debut in January 2026 at the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Rolex 24 at Daytona.

For more information, visit michelinmotorsport.com.

World Wide Technology Raceway, located in Madison, Illinois, has repaved the racing surface of its drag strip.

The St. Louis-area track completed the project in July with guidance from the NHRA and leading motorsports racing surface consultants, track officials said, and used a specialty blend of polymers and aggregate designed to maximize track preparation and withstand the demands of top fuel dragsters and nitro funny cars.

For more information, visit wwtraceway.com.

Lyn St. James, the accomplished Indy car and sportscar driver, has been added to the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Legends Collection.

The honor recognizes St. James for her outstanding contributions to motorsport and her enduring influence as a trailblazer for women in racing, track officials said. The Legends Collection highlights individuals in motorsports and is featured in the Legends Club VIP Experience at the track.

St. James competed in multiple classes and categories during her career. She was the first woman to win the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, claimed victories at the IMSA 24 Hours at Daytona and IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring, became the first woman to exceed 200 mph, and was included in the Sports Illustrated list of “Top-100 Women Athletes of the Century.”

St. James is also a co-founder of Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA), an organization dedicated to promoting opportunities for women across all disciplines of motorsports.

Click here for more information.