The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced that Mark Stewart, former COO of Stellantis North America, has been elected CEO and president, effective January 29, 2024.

Stewart will succeed Richard J. Kramer, who previously announced his planned retirement from the company following 24 years of service, including 14 as chairman, CEO and president.

On the effective date, Laurette T. Koellner, independent lead director of Goodyear's board since 2019, will become non-executive board chair, and Stewart will be added to the Goodyear board as a director.

Kramer will continue to serve Goodyear in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition, the company said.

For more information, visit goodyear.com.

The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. The bipartisan legislation allows for immediate expensing of research and development (R&D) and investments in equipment, reduces reporting for small businesses using subcontractors, increases the small business expensing cap by nearly 30% and expands the Child Tax Credit.

The legislation now awaits consideration on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. 

PRI members and manufacturing businesses can benefit from the following parts of the legislation: 

• Research & development (R&D) expensing: Businesses of all sizes can immediately deduct the cost of their U.S.-based R&D investments instead of over five years, encouraging American innovation and improving our competitive position versus China and the rest of the world. 
• Interest deductibility: Continued flexibility for businesses forced to borrow at higher interest rates to meet their payroll obligations and expand their operations. 
• 100% expensing: Restore full and immediate expensing for investments in machines, equipment and vehicles. 
• Expand small business expensing cap: Increase the amount of investment that a small business can immediately write off to $1.29 million, an increase above the $1 million cap enacted in 2017. 
• Cut red tape for small businesses: Adjust the reporting threshold for businesses that use subcontract labor from $600 to $1,000 and index for inflation, the first update to the threshold since the 1950s. 

"American families will benefit from this bipartisan agreement that provides greater tax relief, strengthens Main Street businesses, boosts our competitiveness with China and creates jobs. We even provide disaster relief and cut red tape for small businesses, while ending a COVID-era program that's costing taxpayers billions in fraud," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). "This legislation locks in over $600 billion in proven pro-growth, pro-America tax policies with key provisions that support over 21 million jobs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this legislation." 

Read the section by section for more information on this comprehensive tax package. Last June, the PRI Washington, D.C., office reported on the Tax Cuts for Working Families Act (H.R. 3936), the Small Business Jobs Act (H.R. 3937) and the Build It in America Act (H.R. 3938) passing the House Ways & Means Committee. Read an in-depth analysis of the key provisions. 

SEMA and PRI, together with over 260 organizations, signed the National Association of Manufacturers' letter to U.S. House and Senate leadership in support of the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. Click here to read the letter. 

For more information, contact Tiffany Cipoletti at tiffanyc@sema.org. 

Drissi Motorsports, the California-based Trans Am Series team, has acquired Showtime Motorsports.

Tomy Drissi will compete full-time in the 2024 Trans Am championship for the team, and Ken Thwaits, driver and former owner of Showtime Motorsports, will stay on as team principal.

Drissi Motorsports’ newly acquired racing operations will continue in North Carolina while retaining the current talent, specialists and facilities. Drissi Motorsports' existing staff and facilities will handle business operations, sponsorship, marketing and social media content from its base in Hollywood, California.

For more information, visit tomydrissi.com.

Hyundai is set to field seven Hyundai Elantra N TCR entries in the 2024 IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) season.

Hyundai will be represented by reigning IMPC team champions Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) with four race cars, as well as Deily Motorsports with one entry and Victor Gonzalez Racing with two.

Additionally, the Hyundai Hope On Wheels program will return for the full season in 2024, pledging $100 to support pediatric cancer research for every lap a Hyundai Elantra N TCR is in the lead during every race of the season. In 2023, the manufacturer donated $100 for every lap a Hyundai vehicle was in the lead during the final two races of the 2023 season, raising nearly $20,000 to support pediatric cancer research.

For more information, visit hyundaiusa.com.

 

Manufacturers continually answer the need for more speed with their latest products and technology showcased at the annual PRI Show. Hundreds of those components are included in the Featured Products Showcase, which were determined by an esteemed panel of 13 judges who are entrenched in motorsports. Here we reveal the recipients of the Featured Product Awards.

 

There was no better display of the racing industry’s capacity to innovate at the 2023 PRI Show than the Featured Products Showcase. Ranging from engine blocks to race suits, the annual display shines a spotlight on hundreds of submitted products from PRI Show exhibitors from every segment of the industry.

According to Brian Havins, director of editorial and consumer marketing at Power Automedia and a judge for this year’s Featured Product Awards, the Showcase does more than just highlight products. It demonstrates the racing world’s ability to solve problems.

“[The industry] is stronger than ever. I was talking to a company, and as these cars and technology keep evolving, new issues keep coming up,” Havins said. “Now, noise and electrical interference are a huge issue, so people are working on spark plug wires and plugs and fixing these things that we might see in a modern-day hot rod.

“There’s always a problem that starts,” he added, “and these companies figure out what that issue is, how to fix it, and how to make it better.”

However, those problems don’t always have to be new or complex.

Guillermo Moeller, a content creator and one of this year’s 13 judges, looked not only for innovative ideas and game-changing products, but also for simple solutions that tackled problems in a different manner.

He eventually zeroed in on a product he could see himself using in his own shop: the Speedway Motors SoloSwap Ford 5.0 Coyote Mock Up Engine Swap Dummy Block Kit.

“There were a couple of products I really liked, then I just focused in on something practical. I ended up going for something really simple,” Moeller said. “I have a shop, and we do a lot of swaps. I saw the problems it would solve for me, and I liked that a lot.”

Not every judge took the same approach when selecting a top product.

KJ Jones, senior editor of HOT ROD Magazine, singled out the Garmin Catalyst, a cockpit-mounted racing coach and performance optimizer, despite not having much use for the product himself. “I don’t even road race,” he said. “I just thought it was really cool.”

Jones’ goal for the Showcase was to identify a ground-breaking or innovative product. The Catalyst fit the bill.

“It plots your driving along a course and pulls data over several laps. It stitches and weaves together what you’ve done, and as you continue to drive, it will find areas in your driving to offer suggestions on how to, in a sense, achieve the ultimate lap,” he said. “Among all the cool stuff there, that was a really cool thing for me. It will resonate among enthusiasts who are into driving cars like that.”

In his search for a product to highlight, Jones also came to recognize how the Featured Products Showcase benefits both exhibitors and attendees. “[The PRI Show] is your opportunity to get in front of stuff, especially if it’s new,” he said. “You go see it in the Featured Products window, then you go out on the floor and see it and touch it. That’s what I did with the Garmin piece. I went to the booth to check it out, ask questions, and that’s how I learned how it worked.”

Jones, as well as the other 12 Featured Product Awards judges, submitted a selection for best Featured Product. Additionally, the top vote-getters in each of the eight product categories received a 2023 Featured Product Award. Following is a complete list of winners.

 

Three days doesn’t seem like enough time to view the thousands of motorsports products on display, experience the highly anticipated events, connect with long-time friends, discover new product lines, and so much more during the PRI Show. We present this photographic coverage to recap some highlights and maybe some things you missed while in Indianapolis for the 35th Performance Racing Industry Show last December.

 

So much to see, so little time. Aisles upon aisles featured new racing components and technology at the 35th PRI (Performance Racing Industry) Show in December 2023. While the products are what draws racing industry members to the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium, it’s the ancillary events that keep Show attendees preoccupied, such as the Grand Opening Breakfast, which kicked off the Show with Indy 500 champion Tony Kanaan, a slate of more than 20 thoughtfully curated PRI Education seminars, special guest appearances, and the return of real race action during the PRI Happy Hour.

“The PRI Show is where the motorsports industry comes together to build the relationships that create the foundation for success in the coming year,” said Jim Liaw, PRI General Manager. “Those relationships, combined with the first look at innovative new products and the opportunity to gain professional expertise, will position our members to gain an advantage on the track and in the marketplace.”

And gain an advantage they will with more than 1,000 exhibitors filling just under 3,600 booths. Everywhere one turned to at the Show they witnessed the latest state-of-the-art equipment and products, with exhibitors ready to take their orders for delivery in time for the 2024 race season.

“Our Show programming is a dynamic combination of the latest industry trends, annual traditions, and several satellite events designed to create networking opportunities and deliver tremendous value to the time attendees spend in Indianapolis,” said Karin Davidson, PRI Trade Show Director. She referred to the 2023 Show as having “it all for motorsports professionals looking for the products and expertise to take their efforts to the next level.”

This photographic display shows just some of the highlights from last year’s Show, to tide you over until it’s time to make plans for PRI 2024!

FEATURES

From the drop of the flag to begin the PRI Show to the conclusion on Saturday, there were no shortage of events and activities to compensate time in between conducting business on the Show floor. Grand Opening Breakfast headliner Tony Kanaan started the buzz on Thursday morning while the new PRI EKarting Classic presented by Top Kart USA concluded the day’s events at the PRI Happy Hour. Throughout the Show, highlights included the Featured Products Showcase in its new location, not far from the new PRI Paddock & Podcast Studio, the return of the Hot Rodders of Tomorrow national championship, the Women in Motorsports panel, and more.

LUCAS OIL STADIUM

Racing action of the real and virtual varieties was under the spotlight in Lucas Oil Stadium. Three full days of electric kart action took place on a specially designed race track, not far from the Esports Arena presented by SRO America, which featured daily invitational Esports races broadcast direct to SRO and PRI livestream platforms. Completing the space were trailers and tow vehicles ready to be ordered along with the EV & Alt Racing section that incorporated cutting-edge technology related to alternative forms of racing propulsion and renewable fuels.

MACHINERY

CNC machines, parts cleaning equipment, welders, seat and guide machines, fabricating equipment, hand tools, all this and more were on display in the highly trafficked Machinery Row section of the Show floor. Builders of all sorts surrounded the equipment to witness live demonstrations as they determined which new piece should be ordered to improve the bottom line.

VEHICLES

Racers are drawn to the parts, but the completed cars featuring those parts also makes Show-goers stop in their tracks. PRI’s Featured Vehicles didn’t disappoint as the latest array revealed historic to modern-day vehicles that compete on dirt, asphalt, and even water.  Plus, the ever-popular hanging car display returned to greet industry members as they entered the Indiana Convention Center at the Capitol Cube entrance.

VIPs

Recognizable faces and record-setters were everywhere at the PRI Show. Erica Enders was onsite after recently being crowned as the “winningest woman in motorsports,” along with fellow drag racing competitors Antron Brown, Leah Pruett and Tony Stewart, who were joined by the First Lady of Motorsports Linda Vaughn, Clay Millican, former drag racer and now TV analyst Tony Pedregon, plus NASCAR and sprint car standout Kyle Larson. IndyCar veterans Pippa Mann, Conor Daly, and Tony Kanaan made appearances, as did IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge champion Robert Wickens, and Formula Drift’s Amanda Sorensen. Everywhere one looked, Street Outlaws was represented, including an appearance by Murder Nova.

 

 

Ford vs. Chevy, Toyota vs. Honda, Cummins vs. Duramax, engine rivalries are alive and well and on display at the PRI Show. For three glorious days each December in Indianapolis, we celebrate all things motorsports-related, with some brand-loyalty banter mixed in for good measure.

 

Horsepower is the focal point at the PRI Show. Everywhere one looks, there is plenty of eye candy on display, built into the vast selection of race engines sprinkled throughout the aisles. We scoured the entire PRI Show to bring you 10 race engines that were built for use in midgets, drifting, drag racing, road racing, and more. From
a personal project to the quickest side-by-side, and even one engine that arrived in Indianapolis fresh off the dyno, this selection represents what makes the racing industry so great.

 

Using social media platforms to build and promote your personal brand.

 

The sponsorship game has changed over the years, and social media now plays a large role in racer funding. Learning how to utilize social media to build your personal brand can help increase your chances of attaining sponsorship for your race program.

Driver Davey Hamilton Jr. indicated that having a strong social media presence is perhaps more important than winning races when it comes to sponsorship. “Winning races is fantastic, and it certainly doesn’t hurt, but what’s more impactful to brands that want to sponsor you is showing that you are a marketable brand. Be an asset to them with an active and large reach to an audience who they can advertise and sell to.

“Many big-name female racers out there, regardless of their results on the track, have a very large social media presence and gain tons of sponsorship because they are aware of the appeal of females competing in a male-dominated sport,” he continued. “They can be role models to other young girls, and if they can look good doing it, it’s even more marketable, which goes for anybody, man or woman.”

For new racers trying to build their social media following, Hamilton recommends strong visuals and action shots, along with utilizing photographers and/or videographers who will make you look good, in and out of the race car. “It’s important to look good out of the car and take care of your appearance and your brand. Show off the exciting parts of your life and what goes on behind the scenes of your career because people are interested in that and want to see it,” he explained. “If you do these things and stay consistent with it, sponsors will want to be part of that exciting lifestyle you portray.”

Hamilton has built his following by being versatile in his life. Through racing, DJing, promoting events, etc. he has created unique and engaging content to grab people’s attention.

After you’ve started to build a following and have attained sponsorship, you then need to get creative with how you highlight those companies on your platforms. It’s important to make sure the sponsor is happy with the coverage but also that the content aligns with your personal brand. “I will post pictures wearing branded materials from my sponsors, sometimes with a humorous caption,” noted Hamilton, “such as a photo I did wearing my Impact Racing helmet designed by List Designs, juxtaposed by my long-sleeved undershirt.

“If my sponsor is a person, like artist Ron Burkhardt, I will take a photo with him in an interesting environment with a lot of activity and a nice description, tagging that person,” he added.

Develop out-of-the-box ideas to incorporate your sponsors into your social media content seamlessly, rather than just a simple product shot that potentially won’t get much engagement.

To sum things up, create a consistent image that shows off your personality. And participating in fun, exciting interests, regardless of what they are, will attract more followers and gain the attention of sponsors, Hamilton suggested. “I like to be creative and spontaneous with my posts. Diversify your posts and you’ll engage a wider audience. And don’t be afraid to be funny and be yourself so people get to know you. It becomes more personal that way and allows potential sponsors to put a personality to a name.”

West Virginia Delegate Gary Howell, chairman emeritus of SEMA's State Automotive Enthusiast Leadership Caucus, introduced SEMA and PRI-supported legislation that would prevent any state or local government unit from restricting the use or sale of motor vehicles based on the energy source used to power them, including internal combustion engines (ICE). 

In addition, South Dakota has introduced SEMA- and PRI-supported legislation that would prevent any county or city in the state from limiting access to ICE and related technology. The bill awaits consideration by the House Local Government Committee.

West Virginia and South Dakota are the first states to introduce this legislation in the 2024 state legislative sessions but follow seven other states (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina) that have previously passed similar legislation and resolutions. 

PRI believes West Virginia and South Dakota residents, not the government, should be allowed to choose the type of vehicle technology that best serves them and their families. 

Click here to tell West Virginia lawmakers to support internal combustion engines, and click here to tell South Dakota lawmakers to support internal combustion engines. 

For more information, contact SAN@sema.org. 

Photo courtesy of Formula DRIFT

After 20 years of competition, Formula DRIFT judge Ryan Lanteigne and Race Control Director Pat Gentilli will be leaving their roles with the series.

Reese Marin, an experienced driver, instructor and competition spotter, will replace Lanteigne. Vernon Zwaneveld, a stuntman, drift instructor and a long-standing judge with the Drift Masters European Championship, will replace outgoing judge Chris Uhl, who will assume a new role as race control director.

Marin and Zwaneveld will sit alongside veteran Formula DRIFT judges Brian Eggert and Robbie Nishida on a rotating basis, with three judges participating in each round.

For more information, visit formulad.com.