LSI Chemical, a division of Mt. Gilead, Ohio-based oil and fuel additive manufacturer Lubrication Specialties, has named Lorenda Stalnaker as the company's new business development manager following the retirement of Julie Blankenship.

Stalnaker brings more than 20 years of marketing experience in marketing strategy, market development, product management, brand management, public relations and advertising.

Reporting directly to LSI Chemical’s V.P. of Research and Development Kevin Adams, Stalnaker will develop the strategy for growing LSI Chemical’s global partnerships and product sales, creating support materials, and will represent LSI Chemical at all trade events.

For more information, visit lsichemical.com.

Ben O'Connor, an executive with extensive experience in the high-performance automotive industry, has joined Total Seal, the Phoenix, Arizona-based manufacturer of piston rings, as its new director of new business.

O'Connor previously served in various roles at Klein Engines, Bear Brake Systems, and Impact Racing.

"O'Connor's skills, vast industry experience, and contacts will be instrumental in driving the company's success," said Matt Hartford, CEO of Total Seal.

Visit totalseal.com for more information.

Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA) has selected Allison Melangton--senior vice president of Penske Entertainment, the parent company of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES--as the honorary chair of the fourth Women with Drive – Driven by Mobil 1 Summit set for December 9-11, in Indianapolis, in conjunction with the 2024 PRI Show, December 10-12, downtown Indianapolis.  

"I am honored to serve as the Honorary Chair for this important gathering of worldwide racing industry women and men in Indianapolis this December as a part of the PRI Show," said Melangton. "Women are continuing the drive for diversity and inclusion in motorsports at all levels, and the Women with Drive IV Annual Summit will bring together influential figures in motorsports for thought leadership and innovation."

Melangton is a highly respected leader in business in Indianapolis and has deep roots in the community. As honorary chair, she will provide her expertise through her many years of leadership, especially in the motorsports industry. Melangton will work closely with Summit co-chairs Lyn St. James and Cindy Sisson, as well as the host committee, which is made up of local industry leaders who are working to bring the event to a new level.  

Registration is available for the WIMNA Women with Drive – Driven by Mobil 1 Summit at womenwithdrivesummit.com. For more information, visit womeninmotorsportsna.com.

Dennis Overholser, one of the co-founders of Painless Performance Products, has retained full ownership of the Fort Worth, Texas-based company. The company offers a diverse range of wiring harnesses, EFI solutions, switch panels and more.

Established in 1990, Painless Performance Products has been one of the cornerstones in the automotive aftermarket and motorsports industries, renowned for its solutions that simplify wiring complexities. Overholser's ownership signals a new era of focused leadership and strategic growth for the company, according to a release.

Under Overholser's leadership, Painless Performance Products is poised to expand its product offerings, enhance operational efficiencies and strengthen its position as a market leader.

"We see a bright future ahead for Painless Performance Products," Overholser said. "Our focus remains on driving innovation and meeting the evolving needs of our customers. With ownership restored, we have the agility to respond swiftly to market demands and continue our tradition of excellence."

For more information, visit painlessperformance.com. 

Long-time Richard Childress Racing (RCR) competition executive Andy Petree has announced his retirement from the 55-year-old race team. Keith Rodden has been appointed interim competition director of RCR.

"I'm incredibly grateful to Richard Childress for the impact he has had on my career, as well as the wonderful memories and on-track success we have enjoyed together," said Petree.

A 35-year veteran of the motorsports industry, Petree first joined RCR in 1993 as the crew chief for Dale Earnhardt's famous No. 3 Chevrolet.

Petree most recently led RCR's competition team as executive vice president. In that role, he guided the organization to 26 race wins (nine in the NASCAR Cup Series and 17 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series) and helped RCR earn the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship in 2019.

Under Petree's leadership, RCR made seven NASCAR Cup Series Playoff appearances from 2017 to 2023. He was also instrumental in overseeing the development of the Next Gen Chevy.

Rodden, a veteran crew chief and race engineer, will take on a more significant role across the organization to help maximize the capabilities of RCR's Chevys and provide leadership, coordination and support.

For more information, visit rcrracing.com.

The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series is preparing visits to a trio of historic Virginia tracks and host one of the year's most prestigious series of Late Model Stock Car races. 

The Virginia Triple Crown will reward the driver with the best average finish over the contests at three famed short tracks--South Boston Speedway, Langley Speedway and Martinsville Speedway. The winner will receive $7,000, while second place gets $2,000, and third place earns $1,000.

The Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston, the first race of the Virginia Triple Crown, is set to take place this weekend on Saturday, June 29. Langley Speedway follows with the Hampton Heat 200 on Saturday, July 20. The Triple Crown champion will be decided at the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday, September 28.

For more information, visit nascar.com/regional.

Officials with USAC have announced that the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, joins the 2024 USAC Silver Crown National Championship schedule.

Slated for Friday, August 16, the 1.25-mile paved oval will feature practice and qualifying before the main event, a 60-lap, 75-mile Ranken Technical College Silver Crown Showdown presented by Welsch Heating & Cooling. The event will run in conjunction with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Bommarito Automotive Group 500, which is set for Saturday, August 17, and also features the INDY NXT Series. 

USAC Silver Crowns will then head to the Illinois State Fairgrounds for the 61st running of the Bettenhausen 100 on Saturday, August 17.

For more information, visit usacracing.com.

Jasper, Indiana-based Meyer Distributing has announced the addition of its Roseburg, Oregon cross-dock. The facility will have a direct feed from Meyer's Hermiston, Oregon, distribution hub, which houses one of the largest inventories of automotive accessories, 4x4/Off-Road, crash/collision, and RV parts in the region.

"Meyer continues to expand inventories significantly in RV, Towing, and Marine parts in our Northwest Megahub," said Ben Johnson, Meyer's RV, Towing, and Marine sales manager. "Whatever your need, Meyer has it for your RV or boat in the Northwest. Call our dedicated RV and towing sales team today at 800-222-3325 or our marine specialists at 800-828-6834."

"The Roseburg, OR dock will significantly improve deliveries to Southern Oregon, and we're excited about the expansion of our Northwest infrastructure," states Jeff Braun, CEO of Meyer. "Meyer will continue to focus on organic growth and investing via acquisitions to bring the best brands to market for our customers. Any wholesale-only distribution company that might be interested in entertaining an offer should reach out to acquisitions@meyerdistributing.com."

For more information, visit meyerdistributing.com.

The FG Series, a forthcoming all-electric racing series, has revealed the design of its dual-power single-seater race car ahead of its inaugural season in 2025.

Designed by Daniel Simon, the FG-Twin is a modular race car offering an all-electric powertrain with both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive. The model has the ability to run the front and rear axle at 350kW of peak power and offers two different performance levels for the FG1 and FG2 championships.

FG2 will be the entry-level series, operating the FG-Twin car on the lower power setting and is geared towards training drivers on their path to professional racing. For more experienced drivers, FG1 will use the FG-Twin cars’ greater power level, and offer increased downforce and greater freedom for setting up the car. With its modular design, the series says the same FG-Twin race car will be used by multiple drivers over the same weekend.

Digital screens will also deliver stats and information to spectators, including battery levels, race position, and other performance indicators.

For more information, visit fgseries.com.

(From left to right) Andy Morgan, Keystone Automotive Operations; Bill Rogers, Keystone Automotive Operations; Pennsylvania Senator Marty Flynn and Larry Montante, Keystone Automotive Operations, during the 2024 SEMA/PRI Pennsylvania Rally at the state capitol.

By the PRI Washington, D.C., office

Earlier this month, SEMA and PRI's Washington, D.C., office organized the SEMA/PRI Pennsylvania Rally at the state capitol in Harrisburg, bringing together automotive aftermarket and motorsports businesses to engage with lawmakers and advocate for industry-supportive policies. 

Participants tackled several vital legislative issues during their discussions with state lawmakers, and Pennsylvania's historical alignment with California's motor-vehicle emissions laws was a significant focus. Attendees strongly advocated for the state to maintain its current stance of not adopting California's 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles. Other critical topics included the corporate net income tax rate and net operating losses for small businesses. 

The SEMA/PRI Pennsylvania Rally highlighted the specialty automotive aftermarket industry's substantial contributions to Pennsylvania's economy, with a $9.26 billion economic output and support for more than 40,000 jobs, an economic impact that underscores the industry's vital role in the Keystone state's economy. 

Representative Ryan Mackenzie, the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania's 7th District, delivered an impassioned speech highlighting the pivotal role of individual industry members in advocacy efforts at the 2024 SEMA/PRI Pennsylvania Rally luncheon.

At a luncheon, Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, the Republican nominee for Pennsylvania's 7th District, delivered an impassioned speech highlighting the pivotal role of individual industry members in advocacy efforts. He underscored the significant impact of advocacy from within the industry on shaping legislative initiatives affecting Pennsylvania's automotive aftermarket. 

"Our collective voice gains strength through member engagement, directly impacting policy decisions that shape our industry," said Christian Robinson, PRI's senior director of state government affairs & grassroots, highlighting the critical importance of active member involvement during events like the SEMA/PRI Pennsylvania Rally. "These gatherings serve as essential platforms for fostering meaningful discussions, fostering collaboration, and propelling positive changes, all of which are crucial for ensuring a dynamic and prosperous future for the automotive aftermarket in Pennsylvania." 

For more information, contact Robinson at christianr@sema.org.