Women in Motorsports North America (WIMNA), an organization dedicated to promoting opportunities for women across all disciplines of motorsports, officially kicked off planning for its Women with Drive IV summit at the PRI offices in Speedway, Indiana, earlier this month.

Joined by a cast of local industry members, WIMNA Co-Founder Lyn St. James and WIMNA Executive Director Cindy Sisson led the luncheon to begin the early stages of programming development and to establish a "host committee" for the event.

Scheduled for December 9-11, 2024, in Indianapolis, WIMNA's event will precede the 2024 PRI Show, and aims to build on momentum from its 2023 Women with Drive III event at Phoenix Raceway, which drew a capacity crowd of more than 450 attendees.

A first for Women with Drive, the host committee--made up of local industry leaders representing all corners of the motorsports community--will assist WIMNA in building out its schedule of panels, speakers, breakout sessions, site visits, and activities.  

"We've never had a host committee for any one of our summits. And in our fourth year to have Indy, PRI, and all these amazing men and women come together as a team, this is going to be the best summit ever," said Sisson. "We asked the locals, what do you want? How can you participate? What can you bring to the table? There was a lot of enthusiasm and I think the fruits of our labor will bear out."

St. James, the 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year, is hopeful that the committee will play an important role in making Women with Drive IV the organization's best summit yet.

"We know how to do this, but to be able to engage the community is so important, and not just the motorsports community, but the women who work in the business," she said. "I also have a theory that the people of Indiana show up. They don't just write checks. They actually show up. That's what we saw today, and I know that they will continue to show up as we develop the program so that it is relevant and effective."

As development continues, PRI will be a key partner in the process. By teaming up with the organization and the PRI Show, WIMNA is hoping to continue its rapid growth and make Women with Drive a can't-miss event at the world's largest gathering of motorsports professionals.

"Aligning with the PRI Show could not be more perfect," St. James said. "We're on the same platform, at the same place, at the same time. It's just a great merging of resources."

"What's so exciting is that PRI has been around forever and it's the industry standard," Sisson said. "Now, as more and more women are getting into motorsports, it's a perfect opportunity to marry our summit with PRI and shine a light on the men and women working in this industry."

More importantly, the partnership will further WIMNA's ultimate goal: securing opportunities for women and creating a diverse and inclusive environment within the industry. 

"Nothing pleases me more than to hear that somebody got a job, or an internship, or a mentorship out of our efforts to help promote Women in Motorsports within the industry," Sisson continued. "I pinch myself every day."

"This is a way to show that men and women in the motorsports industry are inviting women to be in this industry," St. James added. "When you pull the industry together, that's how you make a change."

For more information on Women in Motorsports North America, visit womeninmotorsportsna.com.

Santa Maria Speedway, a dirt oval located in Nipomo, California, is reopening after closing in November 2022, according to a report from the Santa Maria Times.

The speedway will host 410 sprint car and go-kart racing under the new ownership of David Castaneda, the facility's former general manager.

To read the full story, visit santamariatimes.com.

The SEMA and PRI Washington Rally is quickly approaching. The government affairs team looks forward to hosting industry advocates in Washington, D.C., on May 8-9. The Washington Rally allows SEMA and PRI member companies to come together and advocate on behalf of the specialty automotive aftermarket and motorsports parts industries with members of Congress. Click here to register for the event (registration closes on April 15). 

By attending the Washington Rally, you will have the opportunity to meet with your members of Congress and their staff, discuss critical issues and advocate for policies that will benefit our industry. Your participation will help ensure that our industry's concerns are heard and that we can continue to innovate and grow. 

Whether it's combating vehicle technology mandates that limit consumer choice, protecting the right to repair and modify vehicles with advanced technology, or protecting motorized access to federal government lands, there are many issues facing SEMA members in the nation's capital. With the 2024 presidential election heating up and the balance of power in both the House and Senate up for grabs, it's more important than ever for our members to come to Washington, D.C., to advocate for the industry! 

SEMA and PRI have a limited number of rooms available at the Royal Sonesta Washington, D.C., Capitol Hill for $409 per night, plus tax. The deadline to receive the event rate is April 15, 2024. 

Book your room today! 

Our government affairs team will offer a virtual webinar on April 25 to prepare Washington Rally attendees to lobby their lawmakers. The webinar will highlight key issues and the finer points of meeting with members of Congress. Webinar details will be emailed to registered attendees. If you cannot attend the webinar, we will email the recording to you.

Below is a list of 2024 Washington Rally events (all times ET): 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024  

• 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. -- SEMA-PRI PAC Reception* -- Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, Sapphire Room and Terrace -- Penthouse level 

*A PAC contribution is required to attend in the suggested amount of $250 per individual. If you have already contributed to the SEMA and PRI PAC in 2024, this event may be complimentary as a part of your PAC Membership Benefits. Please contact PAC Manager Alicia Steger at alicias@sema.org if you have any questions. 

• 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. -- Washington Rally Congressional Dinner -- Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, Crown Ballroom -- Penthouse level 

Thursday, May 9, 2024  

• 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. -- Breakfast and Welcome Briefing -- Royal Sonesta Capitol Hill, Crown Ballroom -- Penthouse level 
• 9:00 a.m. - 12 p.m. -- Meetings with Congressional Representatives -- House & Senate Office Buildings 
• 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. -- Cars at the Capitol Event -- Southwest side of the U.S. Capitol on Maryland Avenue (across from the Botanical Garden) 
• 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. -- Congressional Luncheon -- Capitol Hill Club, Eisenhower Room 
• 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. -- Meetings with Congressional Representatives -- House and Senate Office Buildings 

For more information on the Washington Rally, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org.  

Unlimited Off-Road Racing announced today that Off-Road Motorsports Hall-of-Famer Tommy Morris has joined the Unlimited Off-Road Racing technical advisory board.

Morris joins fellow Off-Road Motorsports Hall-of-Famer and technical director Bill Savage on the technical board.

With a career spanning 40 years in the off-road industry, Morris' resume includes driving, team management, vehicle and component engineering, and military training experience.

"Tommy Morris is an icon in our culture and has built and advised on some of the most technically advanced vehicles in off-road racing. His time running the legendary PPI race program also exposed him to a variety of disciplines of racing giving him a unique perspective bringing knowledge back beyond our world of racing," said Unlimited Off-Road Racing CEO Matt Martelli. "Together with our technical director Bill Savage, I believe this gives our organization better insight into the history and the future of off-road racing. Our goal is always to improve our great sport and keep the competition fair and financially approachable."

For more information, visit unlimitedoffroadracing.com.

Genuine Parts Company, a distributor of automotive and industrial replacement parts, has appointed James F. Howe as president of Motion, the company's industrial business.

Most recently, Howe served as the executive vice president and chief commercial and technology officer, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the corporate trajectory of Motion, the company said. His leadership in overseeing eCommerce, strategic pricing, sales excellence, corporate accounts and human resources has been instrumental in driving the company's success.

In his new capacity, Howe will continue to report to Randy Breaux, group president, GPC North America.

For more information, visit genpt.com.

World Racing Group is expanding its safety efforts to the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) with the addition of the ASCS Fire and Rescue Team.

Like the addition of a traveling safety team for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series at the beginning of the season, the ASCS National Tour will also have its own safety crew at every event.

The team will be led by Billy Hurt, whose crew has been with the ASCS Warrior Region for several years, according to the series.

For more information, visit ascsracing.com.

The Trans Am Series has named Doug Nagy as its new technical director for the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series, replacing Ricky Brooks.

In his new role, Nagy will lead the technical inspection process, manage the class's rulebook, and serve as a liaison to TA2 teams, chassis manufacturers, vendors, and suppliers.

Nagy comes to Trans Am as an FIA-licensed technical inspector and currently serves as the technical director for the American Rally Association and the chief of tech for King of the Hammers. He previously held positions at Saleen, Bell Motorsports, and Mosler Automotive.

Brooks has served in the role since 2016 and departs the series after being named the general manager of Cordele Motor Speedway.

For more information, visit gotransam.com.

The United States Auto Club (USAC) has revealed the USAC Hall of Fame Class of 2024.

This year's class includes photographers Gene Crucean and John Mahoney; the Hoffman family of car owners; champion drivers Rickey Hood and Levi Jones; plus, promoter Tom Marchese and mechanic and car owner Jud Phillips.

The induction ceremony will take place at USAC headquarters in Speedway, Indiana on September 27, 2024, during the Driven2SaveLives BC39 weekend for the USAC NOS Energy Drink National Championship at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

For more information, including a biography of each inductee, see the full announcement.

Sumitomo Rubber North America (SRNA), the parent company of Falken Tires located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, has promoted Wayne Horne to strategic account manager.

Horne has been at SRNA for nearly eight years and held various roles throughout his tenure. Starting in customer service, Horne worked his way up to account manager, where he oversaw all direct passenger car and light truck business in the western region, then took on the role of sales strategist for 16 months before being promoted to strategic account manager.

"Over my eight years in this industry, I have developed strong relationships with my dealers, mainly because of my support to our customers," said Horne. "As the strategic account manager, I am looking forward to working with new customers and contributing to the company's growth."

For more information, visit falkentire.com.

Shelor Motor Mile and its affiliates, the manager of Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway, have gifted the storied facility to the county of Pulaski, Virginia. Shelor Motor Mile also gifted the historic Calfee Park baseball park to the county. 

As part of the announcement, Shelor Motor Mile intends to lease both the speedway and the ballpark back from the county. It will continue to manage the operations of both facilities for the next three years to maintain each enterprise's existing functions and better allow for a training period and smooth transition of ownership to the county.

"These gifts will be deeply cherished and will help ensure Pulaski County and the New River Valley continue to enjoy two of Southwestern Virginia's most valuable outdoor sport and event venues," said Laura Walters, chair of the Pulaski County board of supervisors. 

Pulaski County will possess these assets immediately upon transfer of ownership but will rely on the professional staff of each respective operation to continue business as usual. However, Pulaski County will be able to utilize both assets for its own purposes as a means of tourism, economic and community advancement when events are not being hosted by Shelor or its affiliates.

Motor Mile Speedway & Dragway--recently renamed the Pulaski County Motorsports Park--features more than 152 acres, a 0.416-mile paved oval, and an IHRA-sanctioned drag strip.

For more information, visit motormilespeedway.com.